NOT AGAIN! Hey.... Aunt Jenny look what we woke up to!

I never thought I'd be so sick of white! The forecast calls for this all day today, dwindling off by evening.

Okay, so I realize Spring weather is hard to schedule around getting clothes dry, but.... this is ridiculous. These clothes will most likely be on the line until late Friday afternoon. We have towels waiting in the basket and whites in the washer, ready to wrung out and hung. Thank the good Lord for drying racks and a relatively warm house.

We did manage to enjoy Monday and the sun and blue sky did show up around 10am. The front flowerbeds are all cleaned out as well as the front planters, on either side of the driveway. We did manage to get two large wheelbarrows of composted manure hauled and spread in the beds and planters. Now we just need to plant some seeds in them all. Zinnias( in which we seed swapped with a friend from NE, thanks again Dawn!) will go in the front beds on either side of the front walkway. We've had marigolds here for several seasons and thought a change would be nice. I'm sure some of the marigold will self sow, which will fill in under the zinnias and make for a colorful display. We're not sure what we're putting in the planters, I'm leaning toward Teddy bear sunflowers and possibly pansies as a filler but Cortney like petunias and alyssum. We also have Larkspur, Violas, Marigolds, Lavender and Canterbury bells started. Last year Cortney and Jon planted the planters for Mother's day, so we'll see what happens this year.

All the laundry was washed on Monday, just that the whites need to wrung out and they and the towels hung to dry. I also got my seed potatoes sorted out and cleaned out a few onions that were softening. Not sure if that was the entire "To Do" list from Monday, but close enough.

Our neighbor across the road was tilling his garden on Monday. Ours was and now is to wet. Tomorrow and the rest of the week are supposed to be well into the 60'sF so with our sandy soil my prayer is it dries enough to get that cover crop of spring wheat tilled in and spuds planted! Mike has this weekend off, so plans to get the tiller's oil, spark plug and air filter changed, so it ready for the new season. I also hope he has time to get our greenhouse set up and ready for use.

Today, my plan is to bake a few pies.

Rhubarb Custard Pie

Makes a 9" pie

3 eggs, slightly beaten

2-2/3 Tbsp. milk, add to eggs and mix.

stir in 2 c. sugar

4 tsp. flour

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

Mix in; 4 c rhubarb and dot filling with 1 Tbsp butter.

Add to par baked bottom pie crust and cover with a top crust,

or make a lattice top.

Bake @ 400F for 50-60 min.

Just in case you don't have a secret pie crust recipe, I'll share!

Pie crust

3 c. flour( is use 1 cup whole wheat)

1-1/2 c. lard and blend together in flour until crumbs size of

peas.

Mix together: 1 tsp salt, 1 beaten egg, 1 Tbsp. vinegar,

and 3-4 Tbsp. water. Now add to dry ingredience and mix

HINT! This crust is tender, so after rolling out, roll onto pin,

to place in pan.

Sour Cream Raspberry Pie

2 Tbsp. flour

1 Qt. raspberries ( if frozen, thaw and semi drain)

1c. sour cream

2-3 Tbsp. sugar

1- 9" unbaked pie shell

Sprinkle flour onto bottom of pie shell. Fill with raspberries.

Spread sour cream over the top of berries and sprinkle

with sugar. Bake @ 375F for 30-40 min. or until golden and

bubbly.

This next recipe we can't vouch for, as it's new to use as

well.

Elderberry Pudding

4c. berries

1 tsp lemon

1 Tbsp. butter

2 c. flour

1-1/2 c. sugar( well substitute honey or 1/2 the sugar called

for)

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 c. milk

Sift dry ingedience and work in butter. Add milk

and mix well. Combine berries, sugar and lemon juice

and mix into batter. Pour into a well butter baking dish

( one with a lid of possible, otherwise cover with foil)

Steam for 45 min @ 250-300F , or until toothpick comes

comes out clean. Serve with cream, while still warm.