Spring

Hi All
I am on the bumpy road to recovery from my knee surgery
Thanks to all for caring about my old knee
It is time now to focus or di-focus on sickness and pain
I will be emailing to all I owe in the near future



Spring–She’s Bustin’ Out All Over
And it’s about time! Old Man Winter slowed things down a bit with some out of season snow storms, but the hardy survived and all is in bloom.
For me, spring began several weeks ago when my friend, Bill, called from Tennessee. He is a North Woods native, but he and his wife, Judy, opted to enjoy the Tennessee springtimes on a permanent basis.
"The dogwoods are in bloom in Tennessee." he teased. I came back with, "The magnolias are budding in Wisconsin." Today I could tell him they are blooming.
There is nothing prettier than a flowering tree. Unless it is the first peek of the daffodils and tulips, signaling the rest of the flower parade to get ready.
The most beautiful tulips I have seen so far are not even in the ground. They are purple and big, decorating my TV in a clear glass vase with pebbles on the bottom. They are pretty on their own, but the reason I have them makes them more enjoyable.
My daughter Kelly has a dear friend who lives nearby. I live closer to Elaine than Kelly, so sometimes I do the "mother of the friend" duty until they can get together. She came to visit and brought the tulips. For me to enjoy. And enjoy I do. (She also brought something else. See recipe.)
Back to the outdoors. It was that perfect spring day, and a lot of piers were going in. Since I "don’t do piers." I was looking around the yard, at all the work there is to do. The thing that bothers me most if it doesn’t get done, is the flower bed by the mailboxes. I wanted to get the old rake out and get the dead leaves off of the green stuff coming up.
I thought, "When am I ever going to get this done?" Then I just went out back. I was hoping–out of sight, out of mind.
The next morning I went out for the paper. Was I seeing things? Or not seeing things. Someone had raked and cleaned out my bed of plants, and it was looking pretty good. I just found out who did it. Thanks, neighbor. You have given my favorite gift. The gift of time.
A bloom here and a birdhouse there, and Spring is in Swing again. I love it. There are other days for thinking and planning. Other days for complaining and even giving thanks to all who deserve it. This is one of Mother Nature’s finest hours. So just BREATHE and enjoy the day.
Something else to enjoy is the other thing Elaine brought with the tulips. She brought what in one bite has become my favorite cookie. I call them Elaine’s cookies. But this is what is on the recipe. And I guarantee you do not have to be a Republican to enjoy!
Laura Bush’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies
(Campaign Cookies)
you will need:
3 sticks butter 1 ½ cups room temperature 3 cups quick oatmeal
1 cup sugar 2 cups chopped walnuts
1 ½ cups light brown sugar 3 cups chocolate chunks
3 eggs 2 cups dried cherries, chopped coarse
1 t vanilla
3 cups flour
1 T baking powder
1 t salt
2 t cinnamon
Heat oven to 350 degrees
with electric mixer, cream butter and sugars
Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla
add flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and oats
Slowly beat until blended
By hand, stir in walnuts, chocolate, and cherries
Drop by T onto cookie sheet covered with parchment paper
Bake about 14 minutes ‘til just golden brown
yield: 8 dozen or so
P.S. It does not take very long to enjoy a dozen or so of these really good cookies!