One must start out in herculean fashion ...

Dear readers, round two. Second batch of photos. So I spent the entire day cleaning our backyard and preparing the plants (yey!) for spring (so exciting, do not even ask me what temperature it is right now, I. am. in. denial.). The kind of cleaning that has you sweeping and scrubbing, moving things and sweeping and scrubbing under said moved things, flooding decks with scalding water sole purpose being to assassinate any germ bold enough to hang on after initial mad sweepscrubmovesweepscrub. That has you on your hands and knees cleaning in between cracks with a metal spatula in your hands and a farash ready for any dirt that pops up.  That has you scrubbing your beloved barbeque until your hands are slightly raw. That has you hammering in shelves so that your candles can have a lovely landing space outside (okay so this is more construction less cleaning but whatever). That has you scrubbing white brick walls and then deciding after one wall that this was a job to be finished the next day because after eleven hours of work, it might be a little much. The kind that has Napa curling up at your feet, at the end of the evening because she was outside with you all day inspecting your work (and maybe rolling around in a little dirt). That leaves you with puffy feet, dirty clothes, dirty hair, sore muscles...The kind, that leaves you utterly, completely, content.

A corner in the beginning ...you see that dirt there ...its time is numbered ...

A moment of sunshine ....

Chives! Look at them in their green beautiful beautifulness!

The Idon'trememberwhattheyarecalledrightnow's! The are so perfect. I love them. Ouff. 

The peony plant made it! I gave it a little kiss. 

Swollen, puffy, dirty, happy, tired feet...

A cup of hot, dark cocoa at the end of a hard day's work ...you can spike yours with Barbancourt ...if you wish, of course ...

A little softness and romance ...

A little more ... notice the scrubbed white walls ...

It's been a long day inspecting and rolling ...

Now, to be able to actually survive such a day, one must start out in herculean fashion with a breakfast of ... well ... herculean proportions.

Time to dish.

Hercules porridge, oh yeah.

Here is what you need:

• 1 cup of oatmeal
• A tiny handful of cranberries, diced black mission figs, dried apricots also diced, beautiful golden raisins and diced dried prunes
• A pinch of sea salt (only salt, you don't need sugar because the dried fruits will take care of the sweetness for you)
• To garnish, if you have it available (I didn't in the moment but it makes an awesome difference) fresh lemon balm, fresh mint

Here is what to do:

1. Add a cup of water and a pinch of salt to your oatmeal and cook to desired consistency. Depending on the type of oatmeal you have this can be anywhere from 10-45 minutes. Choose your oat and follow the instructions :). When almost done add all of your dried fruits and warm through, stirring, for about 3 or 4 minutes. Plate, add your chopped fresh herbs, have a seat, inhale the amazing aroma and chow down darlings. Then get to work. Or back to bed. Whichever you prefer.