The guy who plows our driveway is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Every time it snows, he comes by and makes a huge mountain at the end of our front walk. I guess it hasn't occurred to him that we actually leave the house. At any rate, after the recent snowfall, there was a wall nearly four feet high and almost as wide. It was so wet and heavy that heaving every shovelful was a considered effort. Such a sisyphean task is what passes for a good workout here in the boondocks. And someone in my yoga class told me to spray the shovel with Pam to prevent the snow from sticking. Who am I and how did I get here?

It's hard to believe that this hard white winter will ever give way to a gentle, fragrant spring. But it will. Soon, the woods will run with cold, cackling streams and green will overtake everything. I am living for that moment.

Until then, while we are still snowbound or lost in the internal gaze that is winter, here are a few links and laughs and learnings I have collected for you:

A dear friend served this at dinner the other night and it was addictive

Don't even ask me how I came across this but isn't it fascinating?

Have you heard of the Kondo craze? (Stay tuned for photos of my newly Kondoized drawers!)

The ultimate recipe for pho (Pronounced "fuh," btw)

An interesting perspective on habits

My new obsession: face massage

This is fun

Do you know about NPR's Tiny Desk musical series? Love this one

I adore an efficient, ruggedly chic and well-priced bag

Has anyone else bought a Spiralizer? I've yet to open mine but here are some things I might make with it...

Articles like this, this and this would seem to indicate there's a real trend happening in "compost cuisine"

This book will help you start thinking about how to more efficiently use food in your own kitchen

Please consider planning a weekend getaway up in my neck of the woods (I may be offering some dinners and workshops this summer!) See here also; or stay here or here.

Speaking of weekends, have a beautiful one, my friends. Treat yourselves well and don't forget to "Spring Forward" on Sunday! xo