First gardening of the year

My little patch of garden near the street, shaded by our hawthorn, turns completely into grassland over the winter, so today I weeded the patch near the daphne and the gradually spreading forget-me-nots, leaving the worst of the grass for another day. I made an occasion of it, listening to John Whelan's Celtic Fire CD. He plays the button accordion. I'm afraid I can't really tell the pieces apart yet, except in the transition from one tune to the next.

I'm still kicking myself for missing Monarch of the Glen's two-hour "Hogmanay" special on BBC America last week, after having waited impatiently for it for more than a year, but today I decided to start watching season six anyway. Same gorgeous Scottish locations, same light but wistful storylines. I miss Archie, though, and find it hard to picture Lexie leaving too. She was a true laird.

I made a proper dinner tonight: roast chicken with garlic and thyme, steamed organic asparagus, freshly baked bread. Could be the first full-fledged non-pasta dinner I've made since Thanksgiving...

"Courage is only as good as the machinery that supports it." -- Artemus Gordon, Wild Wild West