Signs of Spring

Good Timber

by Douglas Malloch

The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease:
The stronger wind, the stronger trees;
The further sky, the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.

Where thickest lies the forest growth,
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

 

 

 

     You can tell when the school year is winding down when Junior Prom comes and goes and Grandma is invited to go to her grandson's kindergarten program.  Both were amazing events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dancing, jump roping, hula hoops, ribbon dancing, a parachute and the chicken dance.  It doesn't get better than that!

 

 

 

     This is such a yummy dessert.  This is what I made for the kids to eat after Junior Prom.  Pretty decadent!  Thanks Tammy for the recipe!

Chocolate Trifle

1 package chocolate cake mix                              1 large container frozen

2 small packages instant chocolate pudding mix                    whipped topping

4 cups milk                                                                  1 large 1 lb. symphony bar,

                                                                                                 crushed

            In a 9x13 pan, bake cake according to package directions.  Cool and cut into 1 inch cubes.

Make pudding according to directions on packages mixing with the milk.  In a large glass bowl place half of the cake cubes in bottom of bowl.  Spread half of the pudding over the cake.  Spread half of the whipped topping over the pudding.  Repeat the layers.  Sprinkle crushed candy bar on the top as a garnish.  Refrigerate until serving.  Makes 12 servings.

 

This recipe was adapted from one in the Savoring the Seasons Cookbook from Our Best Bites.  It is a perfect choice for a grandkid slumber party at Grandma's house.

 

Chunky Monkey Pancakes

1 ½ cups flour                                                1 T. canola oil

3 T. sugar                                                        1 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. baking powder                                    2 ripe bananas

1 ½ tsp. baking soda                                     6 T. mini chocolate chips

1 ½ cups buttermilk                                                    tossed with 2 tsp. flour

1 egg

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk together.  Mix buttermilk, egg, oil and vanilla in a separate bowl and whisk well.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix just until moistened and combined.  Mash bananas on a plate with a fork.  Fold bananas into batter.  Add chocolate chips that have been tossed with flour and stir.

Heat a nonstick griddle to medium heat.  Coat griddle with a little cooking spray.  Pour on ¼ cup pancake batter for each medium-sized pancake.  Wait until bubbles form and edges are done and then flip.  Serve warm with Maple Peanut Butter Syrup.

Maple Peanut Butter Syrup

Heat ¼ cup peanut butter for 30 seconds in microwave.  Add ½ cup maple syrup and gently whisk to combine.  Heat in microwave for another 30 seconds and whisk again.

 

     I read another great murder mystery this month.  It also has a little bit of a romance interest in it to spice things up a smidge. 

 

 

I finally did finish my little robin quilt. I chose to do a little hand quilting on it. The pattern is called Summer's Song designed by Cheryl Haynes from Prairie Grove Peddler.