A Frog in the river,

Thinking about summer!  Really something i spend much tooooooo much time doing!   I keep watching the sky, looking for birds, checking to see if the buds on the maple tree are swelling {not yet}, however the grass is turning green and growing, surely Spring is here! 

 

Just as my parents took us for a long ride thru the woods each Spring, i would take my little one for long rides on backroads,  His favored  destination was the "Frog in the river"  a favorite destination for me and my siblings when we were very young also.     Became an almost seasonal trip to see the "frog in the river".   It began  as total surprise we had no idea  that it existed.   I have always claimed i saw it first, and may-be i did. Imagine being  in a car with three excited kids, who saw a giant green frog in the middle of a river. We were old enough to know it was manmade, but still gobsmacked to see it.  Dad calmly pulled the car over to the side of the road , everyone got out and gazed at the big stone frog painted "front porch green".   Curiously no one said much, not even my Mom, like we were in awe of what we were seeing.  Have often wondered if my parents knew it was there, because there it was a vivid green frog in the middle of Tionesta Creek!!!!  

  It looked a bit different in those days,  which should not surprise anyone.  
It is repainted every few years and details do  change a bit each time. Also no one seems to know who this devoted caretaker is. 

 

  Look at those huge slabs of ice on the riverbank!!  Also look how much the water has dropped since those blocks of ice where deposited there! 

 

 

   Indeed curious after all of the Springs that have passed since i last drove down that road.  Just wondering out loud,  i keep telling myself, i will drive down Tripple6s  again, may-be do a little fishing and scramble down the hill for a close up visit with the "Frog".  Then inch my way back up the hill. Perhaps by now there is a nice path.  I could do the smart thing and  admire it from the road. Nah,  i'm not that smart. 

 

Peaches and cream dessert,

Nope, this isn't an old family recipe i picked it out of a newsletter, but it is good, really good. Ok better than good!   Not really the same as something my Gran would make but more like what my Aunts would cook up, they were forever trying new recipes. 

 

 

allrecipes.com

This Peaches and Cream Dessert Was Found in an Old Family Bible—I Had To Try It

 

Ashia Aubourg

The original post came from someone who’d discovered their late "mom-mom’s" recipe for "peaches and cream pie," inside an old family heirloom after she passed. "I have been leaving no bible, cookbook, or other book un-leafed through in a quest to find a written down version of my mom-moms regionally famous peach pie recipe. It won two blue ribbons at our local town fair..." Finally, the Redditor found it, "Tucked away inside a family bible in her fabulous handwriting, along with two four leaf clovers and this tiny picture of her when she was around my current age. Mixing peach jello and vanilla pudding for the filling is such a chaotic move, I can't wait to try it out for myself."

The post now has over 2.1K upvotes and countless comments raving about the dessert.

"Wonderful story! Exactly why old recipes are so meaningful. They bring back memories. Tie us together in ways like nothing else. And, often remind us of the fabulous 'cook' who first shared the recipe with us," one commenter wrote. Another added, "Such an amazing treasure and connection to past generations when you find these hidden gems!"

Reading through those comments, I’ll admit I got teary-eyed (and even more determined to make this pie). Keep reading to see how I tackled it, how it turned out, and how to adapt it for your own taste preferences.

How To Make the Reddit-Famous Peaches and Cream Pie Recipe

I couldn’t wait to make this "peaches and cream pie," so I gathered my ingredients and got started on the crust. First, I preheated the oven to 375 degrees F. In a bowl, I combined 18 squares' worth of crushed graham crackers (about 2 cups), 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, and 6 tablespoons of melted butter. Then I pressed that mixture into a prepared 9-inch pie pan and baked it for 6 minutes.

Next, I added 2 ounces of room temperature cream cheese and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar to a bowl and beat them together with an electric hand whisk. I folded in 1/2 cup of Cool Whip and spread the mixture evenly into the cooled graham cracker pie crust.

For the topping, I added one (3-ounce) package of peach Jell-O powder, one (3-ounce) package of vanilla pudding powder, and 1 1/4 cups of water to a saucepan on medium heat. I whisked the mixture until smooth, then cooked it for about 6 minutes until it nearly reached a boil. Then, I let it cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, I sliced 2 cups-worth of fresh peaches and arranged them in a radial pattern over the creamy layer. Then I poured the peach Jell-O mixture on top. Finally, I popped the pie in the fridge for 4 hours to help it set before enjoying.

How To Make This Peaches and Cream Pie Your Own

Ashia Aubourg

When I pulled this pie out of the fridge, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it looked. Those translucent orange hues practically glowed, and slicing into it revealed gorgeous layers of graham cracker crust, creamy filling, and the fruity topping, all stacked perfectly. I worried it might be too sweet, but it struck a near-perfect balance: fruity and light, not cloying at all. It felt like eating peach cheesecake without all the fuss. If you decide to make it in your kitchen, below are some variations you can try:

• Swap in a different Jell-O. This recipe relies on peach-flavored Jell-O, but the brand offers nearly countless other flavors. Try strawberry, apricot, or raspberry—they’d all work wonderfully here.
• Try a special cookie crust. Swap the graham crackers for Biscoff, vanilla Oreos, or shortbread cookies if you want to tinker with the base of this pie.
• Decorate it with exciting garnishes. The pie already shines on its own, but you can really make it pop by piping homemade whipped cream around the rim or sprinkling edible pearls around the edges.
  

 

HAPPY, HAPPY,EASTER

 

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE !!!!!

t

Every year  the garden club in a nearby town holds  book sale.  

This year i only found one cassette and one gardening book.  In that well worn and well used book was a wealth of information, , some very outdated  methods for garden pest control, etc. But written in a beautiful script  on the fly leaf of  that old book on gardening was found the following.

 

 LET YOU INNER CHILD DANCE WITH JOY

LET YOUR EYES SEE THE PROMISE OF  EACH  NEW DAY

 LET YOUR HEART BE FILLED BY ADVENTURES OF ALL SIZES

LET TOMORROW BE A BETTER DAY 

LET YOUR OPTIMISM  BE INFECTIOUS

LET  SHARING BE  THE REWARD 

 LET  YOUR LIGHT SHINE

LET YOUR WORDS AND DEEDS BE GENTLE 

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH 

 ~~~~~UNKNOWN

 

 

snow on the full moon, an easter ramble

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Snow falls this Easter

 Spring's first leaves trying to sprout

Calm soon fills with life

---

I wrote this haiku when contemplating the night before last's weather forecast, April weather has a mind of it's own hence snow is possible for this Easter.  On 3 out of those the last 40 years measurable snow did fall. Who knows may-be this year also.

 That brought back that bitterly cold morning, some 40 years ago.  When the big "kids" went out to hide goodies. The memory of that year is pretty much etched in stone, 

Being not much more than kids ourselves a "plan" was made. Instead of the egg hunt being held before lunch, it was held after lunch when the goodies had mostly melted out of the snow.  The kids {of all ages} loved it, and thanks to the the fastidious habits of one parent {certainly not me}, each  goodie, each item was sealed in a small plastic bag.

Lunch was particularly good that year also,  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written in  about and  egg hunt that happened about 40 years ago., The grown ups went out at dawn and hid Easter goodies for the little ones came back in for coffee and Easter gookies, when someone noticed it was snowing

 under the bluest sky

no coal smoke on the wind

only buds swelling

 

 

 
April's full pink  moon, it really doesn't mean winter is over, though i want it to be, there will still be the usual cold and  icy morning or two,many rainy days, and may-be a day or even two with measurable snow.  Here and there a a patch of early blooming bulbs, the  warm spring sun on your face, sparkling clear  light o midday.  No birdsong yet. The woods are eerily quiet.  If you look closely you might find a few ramps aka leeks. Perhaps some bits and pieces of something showing thru last Fall's  leaf litter.  A shingle,  bottles, or a tool, marking where a  home once stood.   Poking thru last years' leaves  as they break down into Mother Natures compost.  Letting you know you are not the first person to walk this ground.   

 

Full Moon in April 2026 farmers almanac

In April 2026, the full moon—traditionally known as the

Pink Moon—will occur on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. It is expected to reach peak illumination at approximately 10:12 P.M. EDT. 

Moon Details & Significance

• Traditional Name: The name "Pink Moon" comes from the early spring bloom of the North American wildflower Phlox subulata, or moss phlox. The moon will not actually appear pink; instead, it will likely have a golden hue as it rises.
• Paschal Moon: Because it is the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 20, 2026), it is designated as the Paschal Full Moon.
• Religious Importance: This lunar event is used to determine the date of Easter, which will fall on the following Sunday, April 5, 2026.
• Pink Micromoon: Some sources refer to this specific full moon as a "micromoon," as it occurs when the moon is at a farther point in its orbit from Earth. 

Alternative Names

According to various cultural traditions cited by the Old Farmer's Almanac, other names for April's full moon include: 

• Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin)
• Moon When the Streams Are Again Navigable (Dakota)
• Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit)
• Frog Moon (Cree)
• Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe) 

Farmer's Almanac Viewing Tips

• Best Viewing: Look toward the eastern horizon shortly after sunset.
• Moon Illusion: The moon often appears larger when it is near the horizon due to a visual trick known as the "moon illusion".
• April Fool's: Since it falls on April 1, the Old Farmer's Almanac notes the coincidence with April Fools' Day. 

 

 

 

and I wonder, outloud

And i wonder, wonder about all kinds of things

 [  wonder who designed  Men an Tol

I wonder what season they started to build it, what tools they had to work with, what the ate, did they , could they work if it was raining or snowing?    Where there women and children working? 

Did they get paid, and was it with money , or food and clothing, maybe tools?

I wonder what they would think if they could see their work today. 

This is Mên-an-Tol, in Cornwall, England (in the Cornish Language literally means "the hole stone"). It's a small formation of standing stones (small is the word - the two tall standing stones are just over 1 metre/ 3 1/2 ft high and the hole is just big enough for a person to squeeze through). It's thought to be a 4000 yrs old, and was, maybe an ancient 'calendar' or the remains or a tomb's entrance.

Mên-an-Tol is said to have a fairy or pixie guardians who can make miraculous cures. In one story, a changeling baby was put through the stone in order for the mother to get the real child back. Evil pixies had changed her child, and the ancient stones were able to reverse their evil spell. Local legend claims that if at full moon a woman passes through the holed stone seven times backwards, she will soon become pregnant. Another legend is that passage through the stone will cure a child of rickets. For centuries, children with rickets were passed naked through the hole in the middle stone nine times

 

 

Easter wheat pie from Grandma's kitchen

 

 Easter wheat pie

 

Pie Crust

• 2 Cups Flour
• 1 Cup Cold Butter
• 3 Tbsp Cold Water
• 1 Tbsp White Vinegar
• 1  Egg

Wheat Berries

• ⅓ Cup Wheat Berries

Filling

• 1½ Lbs Ricotta Cheese
• 3  Eggs
• ⅓ Cup Grated Chocolate
• ⅓ Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• ¾ Cup Cooked Wheat Berries
•  Each Maraschino Cherries (Chopped)
• 1 Tbsp Orange Juice P
• Powdered Sugar For dusting Pie {if desired}

Instructions

 

Crust

• Cut butter into  flour  until small pea-sized balls form.
• In separate bowl beat together the egg, water and vinegar. Reserve small amount of egg, adding a small amount of water to brush on top of dough just before cooking. This is an egg wash.
• Combine all ingredients (except for the reserved egg wash) and mix until a dough ball forms then cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Remove 2/3 of dough and roll out to a 15 inch circle. Transfer to 11 inch pie pan.
• Roll remaining dough to a 13 inch circle then slice into 1½” strips. Cover with a dry towel and set aside.

Wheat Berries

• Add wheat berries to 3 quarts salted boiling water and simmer 30 – 40 minutes or until tender.
• Drain wheat berries and allow to cool to room temperature.

Pie

• Beat eggs and add all other filling ingredients except for powdered sugar and mix thoroughly.
• Transfer filling to pie dough. Use pie dough strips to create lattice top. Crimp top edge to create fluted design.
• Brush egg wash on top of lattice and fluted edge.
• Bake in oven preheated at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes or until nicely browned.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar, {if desired} cool or refrigerate and serve

 

 

 Personal preference of mine is to not put the lattice strips on the pie.  Another personal preference the i/we serve the pie chilled/cold.