In this issue, we are thinking about food—for you, for the birds, and for the garden!
In the kitchen, we're cooking up soups and stews. Outside, we're helping our feathered friends with some winter suet. And what do bees have to do with food? These busy pollinators are responsible for one out of three bites of our food—and are on the decline. Consider a bee box in your backyard to help pollinate your flowers and crops!
Sincerely,
Your Almanac Editors
Poor robin redbreast,
Look where he comes;
Let him in to feel your fire,
And toss him of your crumbs.
–Christina G. Rossetti (1830–94)
One of the most memorable blizzards just a few years ago this month happened on February 1–2, 2011. This storm brought heavy, blowing snow from northern Texas to New England and eastern Canada. Hardest hit was Chicago with 21.2 inches of snow and 60 miles per hour winds. Learn more: Worst Blizzards in History.
This is the perfect season for soup recipes! Warm and nourishing in cold or rainy weather, soups serve as a delicious lunch, side, or main meal with some good bread and salad. Here are some super-satisfying soups, chowders, and stews.
Our delicious dip recipes are perfect for Super Bowl, game days, or snack time. We’ve got all the favorites: onion dip, guacamole, spicy buffalo chicken dip, spinach artichoke dip, nacho layer dip, and more. Just add tortilla chips, pita, or crackers and you’re set to kick back and enjoy the game.
Our homemade bird food recipes can be made at any time of the year, but especially in the cold winter months when natural resources are scarce. When is it OK or not OK to feed birds? When should you put out bird feeders? See our tips.
A silver-toned caddy holding our popular foaming hand soap and rich hand lotion together in one place, whether in the bath or the kitchen. Very elegant, very convenient.
If you’ve decided to move forward with raising bees, let’s get down to business: Know beekeeping rules and regulations, choose the right location for your hives, and make sure you have the right habitat. Here are answers to your practical questions.
