today, i just walked

yesterday i went to the botanical gardens.  it was the most beautiful day with sun on my shoulder and not a single cloud in the sky.  i grabbed my camera and hiked around as I normally do.  over the years I have developed a habit of bringing my camera everywhere i go.  this way i can never say, oh i wish i had my camera.  well walking through the gardens i took my first picture of some lovely magnolia blooms.  NO MEMORY CARD!  at first i was pretty bummed that i forgot it and then thought.... i could just walk.  it was one of those things that felt so different to me.  i realized that we live in an age where we always have technology to capture every moment.  taking the time to just open all of my senses to nature was eye opening and liberating.  while i will never say that developing a habit of taking your camera nearly everywhere you go is a bad thing, sometimes it is nice to just walk.

first daffodils

it is always a treat when the daffodils start opening up...they are like sunshine!

words and photographs by rinne allen

spring sunrise

photo by rebecca wood

potato leek & fennel soup.... vichyssoise

months ago, my husband and i were having dinner at the national and i ordered vichyssoise.  i really loved the way it sounded, which may have been the reason why i ordered it.  needless to say, i enjoyed the soup so much that i have not forgotten about it.  vichyssoise is a potato soup that can be served either hot or cold.  we had just gotten some fennel in our weekly vegetable box so i added some of that to bring out some more flavor.  give it a try!  

ingredients

8 medium sized russet potatoes

1 Tbsp olive oil or butter

5 small or 2 large leeks (white parts)

1 medium sized onion

1 bulb of fennel (bulb only)

1 quart of vegetable stock (or chicken stock)

1 cup heavy cream or whole milk

2 teaspoons salt (or more if needed) freshly ground pepper to taste

directions

-in a large saucepan or soup pot, sauté the olive oil or butter, onion, leeks, and fennel until tender, stirring often

-while sautéing, peel the potatoes

-add potatoes to the onions, leeks, and fennel

-add the stock

-bring to a boil and then simmer until potatoes are tender

-in small batches blend the soup in a high speed blender

-return to pot and whisk in the cream or milk and salt and pepper if the soup needs more liquid, add more broth or water

-chill the soup before serving over an ice bath or in the fridge or eat the soup warm

words and recipe by kristen bach

edgeworthia

photo by rinne allen

red clay paint

our friends cassie and david redid their house and their living room is now a deep red clay color. they actually used red clay from their yard, mixed it with a little water, and spread it across their walls…how great and how southern. plus, we love how the colorful art from lou kregel and terry rowlett looks against it too.

photos and words by rinne allen

peeling pinks

photo by Kristen Bach

snowy day in the country

the "historic" ice storm didn't turn out to be so historic, but it did leave behind some snow. i sheltered at some friends' warm house, and got to walk in their woods the next morning before it all started to melt. i found this mysterious snow pond in the woods that was all japanesy on closer inspection.

photos and words by rebecca wood

ice

photo by kristen bach