First Day of Spring Weather

The nice day inspired us to turn our 30 minute walk into 55. Someone has cut all the brush down along a nameless pond, exposing the ducks, geese and turtles to view. Lots of mallards about. I'll bet anything that's where the baby ducks came from that paddled around the slough behind the house last year.

Speaking of which, last year's baby calf and the young bull with the sweet face seem to be a couple. They are always rubbing noses. This year's baby gamboled in the pasture yesterday. Scottish Highland Cattle like spring, too.

Turtle doves (a pair) have returned. So have house finches. Greedy little beggars. We have a big flock of chicadees eating the suet. It is so nice to hear the birds singing when I awake in the morning. I do NOT awake with the lark, by the way.

We had a nice group at our presentation in Norfolk tonight, and I sold 3 books. By now I have moved beyond that particular book, and really really want to get the two completed tomes I wrote after The Shadow Warriors finished. And write Festival Madness. And...and. . . and.

Tonight I made a casserole tht dates from when my kids were tiny. Something called "sour cream noodle bake." Haven't made it for ages. We still love it.

Cook 8 oz. of noodles. Rinse, drain and mix with 1 cup sour cream (can be "lite") and a cup of cottage cheese, low-fat fine, fat free not fine. Add 1/2 cup finely chopped scallions and mix the whole business well.

Cook1 lb. ground beef until brown in 2 T. butter. Season with salt, pepper and garlic (Penzy's granules good) and add an 8 oz. can tomato sauce. Cook for 5 minutes.

In a casserole, put a layer of the noodle mixure, a layer of the meat mixure, add another layer of noodles and end with a layer of meet. Sprinkle top with 1/2 cup cheddar (or a cheddar mixture) cheese. Bake in 350 oven for 30 minutes. Serve proudly. Will serve 5-6 or 3 hungry teenage boys.

Aloha,

Grapeshot