Whether rain or snow, sun, fog or inversion, the chickengrrls must be fed. We've wondered over the same path to the coop all winter long, but Sunday we detoured by our garden patch. Smith had planted a few root vegetables last fall in the hopes they'd be ready for early winter harvest.
Since the winters are usually temperate in SLC (throw in a a few bitter cold days, a foot or two of snow, and perhaps an inversion) the root veggies not only survive in the ground, they grow sweeter and more tasty by the day. (We also pulled beets!) I wish I felt their hardiness and their love of the cold.
We've had our share of bitter cold snowy days and days of inversion, but a wintry beauty, created of clouds, white mountains, and stunning blue sky, has made a showing, too. Days this beautiful shouldn't be wished away and, in any case, January will be over soon enough (or so I keep telling myself).
You take the best pictures, Margene! I'm glad you're able to capture the winter beauty in between times of inversion.
Posted by: Joyce L. | January 20, 2011 at 04:15 AM
What gorgeous color in a dreary month! Bright orange (lovely) carrots and that deep blue sky just brighten my day. . . and I'm over a thousand miles away! January is creeping along. . . but nearly finished.
Posted by: Kym | January 20, 2011 at 04:47 AM
Lovely veggies, what a welcome shot of color! We're in the home stretch for January now.
Posted by: Carole | January 20, 2011 at 04:58 AM
Winter veggies! What a welcome treat! As is that beautiful blue sky. I hope you've got more like that in the coming days.
Posted by: jill | January 20, 2011 at 06:19 AM
Oh yum! Those carrots look absolutely amazing!
Posted by: Kristin | January 20, 2011 at 06:23 AM
Wow. Here? You'd be chipping the frozen ground trying to get your frozen veggies out.
Posted by: Chris | January 20, 2011 at 06:29 AM
Nothing is better than cold-harvested root veggies! Yum!!
Posted by: Anne | January 20, 2011 at 06:36 AM
What a lovely carrots and beautiful snowy scenery!
Posted by: Rachel | January 20, 2011 at 06:59 AM
Only 11 days left, sweetie! I love that you go to feed the chickengrrls every day. I even checked to see if we're zoned for chickens, but alas, there is a neighborhood covenant against them that my deed is bound to. I'll have to wait until we move to Montana. Then I'll be cold too! MUST SPIN/KNIT FASTER.
Posted by: DebbieB | January 20, 2011 at 07:01 AM
Nothing better than fresh carrots. Glad the chickengrrls are doing well with your loving care. :-)
Posted by: Laurie | January 20, 2011 at 07:27 AM
Beautiful veggies! So your ground doesn't freeze hard? Or does Smith use row cover and a hot house set up?
Posted by: Manise | January 20, 2011 at 08:07 AM
Only 11 more days!
Your veggies look delightful!
Posted by: Vicki | January 20, 2011 at 08:21 AM
Now that the snow has melted, I've been thinking about taking a look at the carrots. Should do that today. At least January is more than half over.
Posted by: Cheryl S. | January 20, 2011 at 08:49 AM
Wow....how nice that you can still get veggies from your garden!! I love seeing pictures of your mountain. :-)
Posted by: Kim | January 20, 2011 at 09:14 AM
Friends of ours host a root vegetable party for the winter solstice every year - in part to celebrate the veggies that get us through the winter, as well as the returning of the light. It's vaguely pagan and a lot of fun.
Posted by: Mel | January 20, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Funny how life is...here you are wishing January away and I'm on the other side of the world clutching at every second trying to make January and my summer holidays last longer!! Nice veggies by the way!!
Posted by: Anna | January 20, 2011 at 01:17 PM
Such lovely photos. I'm so glad that Smith planted in the fall. I'm getting ready to do some early spring planting here in the hopes of having some radishes and things before it gets crazy here.
Posted by: Cookie | January 20, 2011 at 03:58 PM
Woke up this morning to 9" of snow and cold temps. Are we in February, yet? Enjoy those veggies. I love love love root veggies and they are so good for us. Hugs for warmth and friendship, grrl!!!!!
Posted by: CindyCindy | January 20, 2011 at 05:37 PM
Vegetables in January...amazing! Our New England soil is like rock solid cement! Enjoy every bite...carrots are great roasted at high temperatures with a little EVOO and sea salt!
The days are growing longer and you'll be back in your garden full time before you know it! Hang in there!
Posted by: Maureen | January 20, 2011 at 07:07 PM
I'm jealous of your root veggies! :-) I had thoughts of doing the same, but time got away from me.
Posted by: Kristi aka FiberFool | January 20, 2011 at 10:40 PM
Those veggies look so tempting! Parsnips really benefit from hard frosts for the same reason and they taste of practically nothing without it.
Posted by: AmyP | January 21, 2011 at 02:40 PM
Oh WOW, I envy you your fresh veggies in the dead of winter!!!! That could never happen here. They look just marvelous.
Posted by: Norma | January 22, 2011 at 11:20 AM
veggies.. yumm.. our winter ones would rot from the rain around here - I miss the cold that allows for wearing our woolens.
Posted by: Teyani | January 24, 2011 at 11:20 AM