It’s a very restless time of the year for those of us who love to work in our yards.
It’s too warm to stay inside and not warm enough to get too involved.
There’s not a lot you can do beside pick up sticks, rake up the last bit of leaves and take inventory.
The hydrangeas are starting to show some growth at the bottoms and the Yellow Jasmine on the patio will be blooming by the weekend. Our red and purple coneflowers have punched through the ground and the Knockout roses are showing new shoots.
Lisa McNeece
But in the bad news department, the blueberry bushes that I planted last year didn’t make it through the winter. The gardenias that have been in the bed next to the patio for three years, look like they are half dead, and one of the Carissa hollies look like the dog sat in it– which he may have.
Another issue this week is something that is digging four to five inch holes all over the back yard. It’s not a tunnel like a mole, so I guess it could be a vole.
The main question of that is what our big yellow Lab is doing while all this is going on. My guess is he’s sound asleep on the bed or watching from the couch.
***
If you have a young daughter or granddaughter who’s into the movie Frozen, I bet you have heard the theme song “Let It Go” more than once.
Addi Claire has been singing it for months. She sings it at the kitchen table, she sings it in the bathtub, and she sings it in the backyard at the top of her lungs which makes James Drake’s dogs bark.
Now 2-year-old Ellie Kathryn sings it, too. She doesn’t know many of the words except “Let it go” and “I don’t care,” but she still sings.
***
I got bored with my reading material the past month– too many murder mysteries. After seeing where Jody Clark, of Bruce, posted about the movie Divergent on Instagram saying it was as good as the book, I ordered it on my e-reader. I’ve only read a couple of chapters, but it’s very interesting, along the lines of The Hunger Games.
People often asked me my favorite type of book– I don’t have one. I will read mystery, drama, science fiction, anything. Short stories aren’t my favorite, but everything else is fair game.
***
After a couple of weeks of looking, I found a Loaded Potato Casserole recipe that I liked. I found this one online, it’s easy and delicious.
Loaded Potato Casserole
3-1/2-4 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1-1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
8 slices bacon, cooked, chopped, divided
(I used one jar of real bacon bits)
Put potatoes in a sauce pan, cover with salted water and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Cook until tender, drain well.
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Transfer potatoes back to sauce pan, mash with potato masher until almost smooth. Add cream cheese, sour cream, milk, butter, salt and pepper. Continue mashing until smooth. Stir in one cup of shredded cheese and half the bacon. Spoon mixtures into a lightly oiled 3 quart casserole dish.
Bake for 20 minutes, add remaining cheese and bacon and cook for five more minutes.
***
It was so nice to see a wedding on the Bruce Square. Kela Watkins and Rod Malone married Saturday afternoon under the gazebo and then had their reception at the Museum.
There was a flurry of activity all day long, and by wedding time, chairs were set up, pink and white banners were hung in the gazebo, and flowers adorned several places on the square.
We got a lot of positive feedback from photos we posted and many people commented favorably.
Mayor Rudy Pope said they, too, had gotten a lot of good feedback and they were discussing partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to create a wedding package with the square for the wedding and museum for the reception.
E-mail Lisa McNeece: lisamcneece@gmail.com follow her on twitter @lisamcneece