Travel Plans for Spring Break

A picture of the Columbia Gorge between Washington and Idaho.

Tomorrow I only attend school until lunchtime and then it will be spring break. We have been planning a trip for weeks. We are taking a driving/camping trip south through Washington state to the Columbia River and then spend time on the Columbia Gorge. For me the planning is as enjoyable as the actual trip. I love reading up about places to tour, restaurants to try, and campgrounds to explore. There is still much to be done, but the time is getting closer.

Since we had snow again yesterday I am hoping to see anything green! I also look forward to experimenting with my digital camera, resting and relaxing, catching up on some reading, and meeting up with my brother RP for a visit. The dogs know the time is drawing near for a trip and of course they will be going. Shelby is resting up for the big car trip.

Annie is keeping an eye on the tent trailer so it doesn't take off without her.

I am off to check more to-do lists before bed.

Homemade With Love and a Keeper from the Recipe Box

My mom sent me this cookbook for Easter. I love community cookbooks that include recipes I love from people I know. The Kellogg Ladies of Elks put this collection together. As I thumbed through I found the following recipes:

Super Potatoes from my Bluebird and Camp Fire leader Beth Williams

Huckleberry Crumb Cake from Mary Lennon

Chicken Breasts Eden Isle from my former English teacher and drama coach M. R. Faraca

Thousand Island Dressing from Charlotte DeAndre and Inez Muir

Russian Dressing from Jeanie Brennan

Zucchini Casserole from another checker at IGA Bernice Zittel

and Ham-Mandarin Salad from my mother's childhood friend (that ended up in Kellogg also) Jody Robinson

I decided to share Marjean Jarvey's Pretzel Salad. This is a favorite recipe around my area for wedding receptions, church functions, and school potlucks. It must be popular in Kellogg also.



Pretzel Salad

1 1/2 cup crushed pretzels
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 med. size Cool Whip
1 large pkg. strawberry jello
2 pkg. frozen strawberries


Cream butter and sugar. Add crushed pretzels. Press into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 6 minutes. Cool. Mix together cream cheese, sugar, and Cool Whip; spread on top of cooled pretzel crust. Dissolve jello in 2 cups of boiling water, add partially thawed berries and refrigerate until jello is thickened, but not solid. Pour over cream cheese mixture and refrigerate.



As I move through the cookbook I will post other keepers from the recipe box.

Let Evening Come

Let Evening Come

by Jane Kenyon
Let the light of late afternoon
shine through chinks in the barn, moving
up the bales as the sun moves down.
Let the cricket take up chafing
as a woman takes up her needles
and her yarn. Let evening come.
Let dew collect on the hoe abandoned
in long grass. Let the stars appear
and the moon disclose her silver horn.
Let the fox go back to its sandy den.
Let the wind die down. Let the shed
go black inside. Let evening come.
To the bottle in the ditch, to the scoop
in the oats, to air in the lung
let evening come.
Let it come, as it will, and don't
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come.

Spring Project #1: Extreme Deck Makeover

When the previous owners of our house did an addition on the deck the wood wasn't treated and the boards were put close together. After twelve years of hot sun, rain, snow, and cold that part of the deck was a wreck. We knew we had to do something and after much debate decided to just take that part of the deck off. That meant moving the railing and relocating a few plants, but it was a good decision.
Taking that part off left room for me to create a new garden that will get lots of sunshine.
JEJ moved the railing then hauled off the posts to use for another project. Here is the extreme deck makeover. I appreciate all the hard work JEJ put into this project.It is smaller, the rotten steps and boards have been removed, and the railings are readjusted. Some of the wood that was still good was recycled into raised beds and a border. I have already planned the new cut flower garden to be seeded into the beds in front of the two railings.
Kit was a bit concerned when his favorite sitting spot was down, but now that the railing is back up and attached he is one happy cat!

Weekend Snapshots: Spring Is Fickle!

It was warm and sunny on Saturday. JEJ and I enjoyed the sunshine, we worked in the yard, and I was able to finally catch the rabbits for a picture. They loved sunning themselves in the afternoon warmth.

These two rabbits are not Easter Bunnies. They are Rose Rabbits. Let me explain. When I was attempting to amend my soil... I mean sand ... when I moved to this house I read that rabbit droppings were an excellent cold fertilizer that can be added immediately to plants. Roses love rabbit fertilizer. We enjoy our two rabbits, but they are also workers. They produce the food that makes our roses (and other plants) grow. We have two males so we don't have to be concerned about a population explosion. Sherman and Barnaby (named for creeks close to us) have been loyal providers and have outlived our expectations and continue to give us fertilizer year after year. If we can figure out how to discourage Annie from sampling the rabbit droppings we will have a perfect system!

After a day of yard work and garden tours it was amazing to be able to sit at the table outside and have it warm enough to enjoy the evening sunshine while eating dinner.
What a difference this morning. Easter Sunday dawned with huge snowflakes falling. Celebrating Easter with a feast outside was not going to happen. I am glad the tablecloth is waterproof and I picked up the cushions before I went to church.

I know... don't fool with Mother Nature.... but come on.... this is getting old!

To find other Weekend Snapshots go here.

Sunshine Cake: A Keeper from the Recipe Box

A few years ago my friend GS baked this cake for a church potluck. It was a big hit and everyone asked her for the recipe. I made it again last week for a school potluck and the same thing happened. I whipped up The Sunshine Cake yesterday for our Easter Dinner. This is one of those cakes that tastes better after it sits in the refrigerator for awhile. As you can see- we decided not to wait until Easter. I wanted a good picture and before we gave some to our neighbor it needed a taste test. Right?It is very easy to make, tastes wonderful, and lasts in the frig.

Sunshine Cake

Mix:
1 yellow cake mix
4 eggs
1 stick butter or ½ cup oil
11 oz. can mandarin oranges with juice ( you can cut up the oranges if desired)
Beat 3 minutes.
Bake at 350 in 9x13 pan for 30 min
Bundt pan for 45-50 min

Icing
1 8 oz. container of Whip Topping
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
2o oz. can crushed pineapple, drained ( save liquid)
Mix together. Slowly add juice from pineapple until you get right spreading consistency.
Put on cake when cool. Refrigerate.

I had extra mandarin oranges and added them to the icing also.