Ok, who went on vacation and left a stupid groundhog, (we call 'em woodchucks here in the sticks) in charge of the weather?  Phil has no clue!!!  Actually, it's pretty normal March weather for us in Potter County, but why waste a chance to gripe about something? Joe is happy, happy, happy that it's still cold so the apple trees will hold back blossoming.  Last year when it got so warm early, everything got ahead of itself and then it froze all the new growth and blossoms off in April and even in May.  He already has some things planted in the high tunnel.  A couple of days ago, he brought in a peck basket of huge onions that had wintered over beautifully.  I sauteed some of those this morning and made an onion pie with Gruyere cheese and a breadcrumb and Parmesan crust.  It's wonderful!

 I also made a tomato pie. I have finally gotten that down to where I think it's as good, if not better than the one served at the Tomato Pie Cafe in Lititz, Pa.  If you ever get near Lititz, you have got to go to that cafe.  What really strikes me about any place, be it a restaurant, church, etc. is if it brings all different ages through its doors.  The Tomato Pie Cafe does that.  Neat decor and really good, simple food, made interestingly. I've been there twice, thinking about a third visit.  Joe will not be impressed as it is not prime rib and potatoes.  Oh, well, I guess I didn't marry him for his gastronomic acumen.  He can grow the garden and leave this other stuff to me. Next time I make the Tomato Pie, I will do all the proper measuring, take pictures and put the recipe in a post.

Winter is the time Joe will give me to do all my fussing in the B&B rooms.  I won't go so far as to say he likes doing painting and redecorating, but doesn't complain about it and actually finishes the projects he starts.  I know..weird, huh? A man that finishes things! He painted lots of woodwork and changed a bathroom sink.  Then we set about decorating...his favorite!  His comments consist mainly of, "You want me to move that? Where?!"  And the other one, "Have you lost your mind?"

Here's our Blackberry Loft with a four poster bed in it. This room is one of the original first two rooms we started with back in 1992.  It still has the same wallpaper and since the ceiling is pretty high, I will NOT be the one to hang off a step ladder to re-paper.  But for now it is still in amazing condition and it will stay for a while longer.

 Kind of plain, right? Comfortable, but too plain and "dated".  I had a big white mantel in the common room of the B&B that was a little more Victorian than I was happy with against the wood wall. but it looked nice to decorate for holidays.  I lived with it long enough, but I really preferred a wood mantel I had in the breakfast room.  So after a lot of lugging and tugging, kind words from Joe on my mental state, brackets installed and a bench built to keep the pillows from falling into the mantle, (which I didn't think of), here is the finished project.

I scoured the barn for a bedside table and found a sewing machine base with a marble top, but the other table is one that I hand painted a blackberry wreath on and I don't want to get rid of it. Love, love, love doing the decorating for this place! It won't be long before there will be warm days and I can tackle the porches.

So that is how I tortured the poor man that bakes sticky buns, raises beautiful gardens and puts up with my nonsense.  I have to keep him busy in the winter or he gets down in the dumps.  Hey, I'm just doing my part to keep him healthy and happy.

You might notice that I finally got the comment thingy working, I think.  Somebody try it please.

Keep your chin up.  Spring's acomin'!!!