Spring really HAS sprung!  We have apple blossoms outside our bedroom window and as I stand at our kitchen sink to wash the dishes and prepare our meals, I can look out over several back yards filled with the bobbing yellow heads of dandelions AKA “daisylions.”  Another feature of spring are the cheery purple blooms greeting me as I make my way to the clothesline.  Oh, yes-a neighbor graciously shared some fresh asparagus from their garden!  It was tender and DELISH an very much a piece of SPRING!

Different names are given to those purple hued posies.  I think they are violets but we had a landlady once who called them Johnny Jump Ups.  The Normanator calls them weeds.

In any case, they are some of my favorite blooms.  They spring up all over peoples’ yards and their purple “faces” seem to smile that they have succeeded in survival.  Makes me think of how some of us struggle to survive as we manage our grocery budgets, perhaps assisted by SNAP, food stamps, commodities and community food pantries.

When my mom lived with us I would pluck the sweet little purple blooms from the front yard and garnish her breakfast fruit with them.  She always delcared she was living in a Five Star Hotel with room service that paid attention to detail.  She really raved when I had pansies for her plate; she truly enjoyed the peppery flavor of pansy blooms.  She also liked nasturtiums.  She said they made her feel more alive.  These are delightful memories of my mother and as Mother’s Day approaches I find great comfort in the sweet memories of my mom.

Today I cooked some brown rice and scattered some bright, honey-sweet “daisylion” blossoms over the dish.  Then I placed some violets on the mound just to give it a little boost of style.  I can’t honestly say I cooked like a rock star-although I FELT like one, but there was an encouraging “ooh” from The Normanator, which indicates his approval. 

SIDEBAR: A positive vote from the man of the house is a RAVE for the woman of the house!  END SIDEBAR.

SIDEBAR #2: If I live long enough to learn how to post photos on this blog you will be treated to the visual I enjoy from my perspective.  I should live so long!  END SIDEBAR #2.

If you have “daisylions” or violets to pluck make certain there have been no sprays or pesticides used on the lawn before you harvest them.  We don’t want any sick people, for crying out loud!

Your precious messages are reaching our Inbox!  Thank you all for taking the time to comment and to send your ideas.  You can send messages about “daisylions” or violets or your mother to foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com .  You are welcome to visit any of the partners whose banners or messages you see on this page.  They have all been selected because they can help you solve many of your life’s problems.

Connie Baum