It's lasagne tonight. So, because it is, and because I can, I went out into the herb garden just as the sun was setting, and I picked a good handful of basil, lots of parsley, and some lettuce thing that I can't name but tastes good (we've eaten it before, several times, and are all fine so far).

The scent of garlic is now heavy in the air (ahh - wonderful!), and I'm boiling the water for the noodles. It's nice to feel "homey" - I've been thinking about dinner earlier in the day, and actually prepping earlier too - so in the long run, we eat earlier. It's a good thing. Really.

But getting back to the green and growing things. Its such a joy to go into that patch of garden and pick things to eat that you know would cost a fortune so fresh at the store. Tomorrow I am making a vegetable tortellini soup, and I'll pick the last zucchini for it. Then it'll be time to plant more onions.

*happy sigh* I am my father's daughter. On Sunday, he sent me home with lemons, and tomatoes, and we would have had a pumpkin too but we forgot it and it stayed on the back porch. And when we go back at Christmas (if not before), the grapefruit will be ready, and the lemons will be readier.

And I know this is tempting fate, but I do have one orange still on my orange tree. It's big, and starting to turn a pale green from it's dark green color. I'm so excited! After 8 years, the poor thing is finally stable enough to produce one perfect orange (I'm hoping)!

Life...is...good.