Signs of Spring.....

........fresh mowed grass, lilacs, red buds, rhubarb, perennials. Won't be long and I can make the first of many rhubarb desserts.

Monday Night Baseball

Danny played baseball last night. He had a scrape and dirt on his leg from "sliding into home plate". He wasn't happy when I made him take his shower last night. He wanted to show the kids at school his "sliding scars". Not sure what he was trying to prove with this above pose!

He has been looking at the book I have been reading about Down Syndrome. Yesterday he asked:

Danny: What is Down Syndrome?

Me: It means you have an extra 21st chromosome.

Danny: Wrinkling his nose, Huh? What does that mean?

Me: (trying to figure out how to explain so he can understand)

Danny: I know! I'll look it up on the computer. I'll google "What is Down Syndrome".

And I'm sure he will. Somebody was on the computer so he wasn't able to yesterday.

Kendall Jade

Amanda and Paul had a little girl last night. Kendall Jade. She weighed in at 7 lb. 6 oz. Mom (and Dad) and baby doing great.

Easter Eggs

Dan & Jeanie did Easter eggs. Conversation with Beans:
Jeanie: Mom, How come Danny is so popular at church?
Mom: I don't know. Probably because he has Down Syndrome and people like kids with Down Syndrome.
Jeanie: ahhhhhhh, I wish I had Down Syndrome.

Attention Cooks

My sister is putting together a family cookbook. The 408 Magnolia Lane Cookbook. (My childhood address.) My mother loves to cook and her children and grandchildren have inherited that love. We are offering this book to our families and friends. In order to get a preliminary count so we can come up with a cost, I am to give my sister a "guesstimate" on how many I want. We are hoping to keep the cost around $10. At this point she has between 600-700 recipes that we have collected (some may have come from you!) over the years that have become favorites in each of our families. And I quote:

I am truely having a blast doing it. The great thing about it is that I will know exactly what is in this cookbook. Sometimes when you look over a new cookbook, your eyes start to glaze over after about 6 recipes.... Also, so far, I haven't entered a single recipe that doesn't sound awesome!

Sarah

If you think you may be interested in one, comment on this post. (Or email or call me.) WHEN I have an exact cost, I will let you know how much to send me as these will be prepaid only.

Brett Trims the Tree

Dad got as far as the top of the yellow ladder in the bottom photo when I suggested he waited for Wade to stop by. He didn't argue. Brett got up and I was hoping they would do this while I was gone. (Kaitlin and I went to give blood.) Unfortunately I came home to this........I took out the camera and quickly shot a couple pictures, with weak knees. Then I went back inside until they were done! Brett did have a safety harness on, but still.........There was a branch that was almost hitting the house that Dad wanted cut. He had Brett cut a few more. Hopefully I'll have a little more sun for my flowers on the deck. It has become so shaded.

Molly Turned 15 Yesterday

We didn't have a very good photographer for Molly's birthday. This is the best we got! Gretchen was up north and Jeanie was at her cousins. (And no, we didn't have candles. We put the toothpicks but decided it might not be a good idea to light them!)

Danny is "Thankful

The other night at supper,
Danny: Oh, Dad. I have something for you.
Dad: You do?
Dan: Yeah, from school and he jumps up and gets this out of his back pack.
I asked him why he made it. He said they had to write about something they were "thankful" for.

Winter's Back!

I was cleaning out gardens on Saturday. I thought I was going to hang laundry out today.......I guess I'm not......We got at least six inches of wet and heavy stuff.

Trampoline Repaired

The hole from last summer turned into this large rip.

We received a new mat and this has become a popular activity again.

Chicken Salad Recipe

This recipe was in our local newspaper last week. I made it for a ladies lunch on Wednesday. It was very, very good! I was going to take a picture of my croissant with the salad today at lunch but I forgot and ate it all gone before I remembered! It was delicious!

Four Chicks’ Chicken Salad

2 cups cooked chicken (your own or rotisserie)
½ cup dried cranberries
Butter for sautéing
¼ cup sliced almonds
¾ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup golden raisins
¼ cup diced celery
2 tablespoons diced red onion
Salt and pepper to taste (about ¼ teaspoon each)

Chop cooked chicken to yield 2 cups.

Soak cranberries in just enough hot tap water to cover for about 15 minutes to plump them; drain and dry on paper towel. (Don’t skip this step or the cranberries will draw the moisture out of the mayonnaise and salad will be dry.)

In a small skillet, melt a little butter, toast the sliced almonds. Gently mix chicken and mayonnaise then fold in other ingredients.