Planting for New Growth

A Journal During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Reflections and Inspiration from Maple Grove
April 12, 2020 - Easter Sunday

Here we have been in our fourth week of stay-at-home confinement due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.  We enjoyed beautiful Spring weather again this week, even reaching into the low 70's F.  Last week we cleaned out the flower beds and mowed, and this week we power-washed the deck and porches, got out the porch furniture, and set up the sunroom.  Of course, my favorite part of springtime is getting ready to plant my Kitchen Garden.  Fortunately, I bought my seeds several weeks ago and had everything on hand to get them started indoors.

The Grass is Always Greener

A Journal During the Coronovirus Pandemic
Reflections and Inspiration from Maple Grove
April 5, 2020

There is an old saying that goes like this:  "The grass is always greener on the other side," meaning that other people seem to be in a better situation than you, although they may not be. During this Coronovirus Pandemic, I am hearing many people expressing the opposite--how much better their situation is compared to some others. We are now at the end of the third week of "social distancing," "sheltering-in-place," and "staying at home."  The latest orders from our Governor are that "stay-at-home" means exactly that and has been extended to the entire state of Pennsylvania.  Furthermore, if
we do have to leave our home for essential reasons such as food or medical, we are instructed to wear face masks.  This crisis is not easy for anyone, but there are valuable lessons to be learned from it, and hopefully they will be remembered.

Irish Soda Bread in time for St. Patrick's Day

Irish Soda Bread isn't just for the Irish.  In fact, Native Americans were making soda bread before the European settlers arrived. It became known as Irish Soda Bread because it was considered a poor man's bread; it was the easiest and least expensive bread to put on the table during the great potato famine in Ireland.  It has become a common tradition to buy or make soda bread for St. Patrick's Day.

Chicken Feeder Candy Dish

What a cute and inexpensive candy dish in time for spring and Easter!  Buy and wash a galvanized chick feeder from your local Tractor Supply or farm feed store.  Fill a mason jar with candy and attach it to the feeder.  What could be more simple?