Daffodils

It has been unusually hot on the mountain for the past week or so and the early daffodils have burst forth in all their golden glory two weeks ahead of schedule. I adore them and have thousands planted. Are things blooming at your house?

Eggs and Rocks

One of the best things about Easter on the mountain is the rocks. I know you are scratching your head thinking, "Um, Ok." But when it comes time for the annual egg hunt having three rock walls in which to tuck the hidden treasures makes the game for exciting.

Now that the youngest guests are older, the egg hunt can be a little harder.

But even with three rock walls, there were still eggs cowering in flower beds, floating in the bird bath, trying to squeeze into the bird house, hoping to blend in with the daffodil leaves and one hiding in plain sight under the table.

I love the kids running around the yard; peering into the shrubbery, poking into the emergent foliage, delving into the crevices.

Happily all but one egg was found. Luckily I noticed a glint of yellow as the last car pulled away. . I hope your Easter was as lovely.

Strawberry Glacé Pie

I make this pie almost every Easter.

Baked pie shell (I usually make a buttery tart shell.)
1 1/2 quarts of strawberries
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup of heavy cream, whipped
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Wash, drain, hull and crush 1 cup of berries
Combine sugar and cornstarch, add to berries and water.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking and stirring over low heat 2 minutes. The mixture will be thick and translucent. Reserve from the heat and stir in the butter. Cool.

Put whole berries in the pie shell. Pour cooled mixture over berries and chill at least 2 hours.
Put whipped cream over pie and garnish with nice whole berries.

Coltsfoot

As I drove over the mountain today, I noticed that the coltsfoot was blooming amidst all the pea gravel that had been deposited over the winter. Thrusting up through leaves and road debris they cast a cheery smile and shoot their feathery fist at old man winter.

Bear in the Backyard

I keep telling everyone that I live in bear country and that they stroll through the backyard often. Well for all you non-believers out there, here ya go. I actually had the camera handy this time.

Third Grade Homework and the Indian Maid

I had worked in the yard all day and had just settled in for a chat with my tweeps on Twitter when the phone rang. A small voice asked if she could come to my house to do her homework. She told me she needed a change in scenery. I have not helped with homework in years.
Deep breath. Alrighty then. Homework.

In addition to writing a book report, she had to create a poster reflecting the main character. As you can see, she was working on Pocahontas. We looked at the drawings in the book to get ideas, then scrounged around in the studio for yarn, beads, raffia, a feather, and some felt. The only thing she did not know how to do was braid hair. So I showed her how to do it.

I think the poster came out really cute.

I am now waiting for the next phone call.

Homemade Kahlua

Years ago I worked with a women who made her own Kahlua. While digging around looking for something to make one night, I came across her recipe. It is not as thick as the store-bought one, but just as delish.

4 cups sugar

4 Tablespoons of instant coffee

4 cups of water

a fifth of 100 proof vodka.

1 vanilla bean

Combine all ingredients except for the vodka and boil 40 minutes. Cool. Pour into 2 one-quart bottles. Divide the vodka between the 2 bottles. Split the vanilla bean with a knife and one half in each bottle. Let it stand for 21 days.