“Oh give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.”

Robert Frost

 

He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.  Joel 2:23

 

It is the first morning of May 2014.  Little Sarah went with me to the chicken coop wearing her pink water boots.   Oh, we had a lovely time.  There were plenty of clear, cold puddles for us to walk through, and a roaring stream to visit, too.

Grace had a dentist appointment at 10am.   Our family dentist is right in town so these times are nice.  I like to take the opportunity to spend quality time with whatever child has an appointment (last week it was Jacob).  Grace has been working overtime in her High School musical, “Singing in the Rain”, the rehearsals are each afternoon until 8pm and opening night is tomorrow.  I haven’t seen much of her lately because when she gets home she has to do homework and get to bed and sleep.   We had a lovely visit today, she talked and talked to me after her appointment was over.  She didn’t want to go right back to school so we went to the thrift store and then to the diner for lunch.  I love looking at her pretty face and hair as she talks and laughs.  She’s such a good girl, so level headed and secure in herself.  She loves school and her *people* (the word she herself uses).   I am just so proud of her and who she is becoming.

Meanwhile, Seth and Sarah were a terrible twosome and when I came home after dropping their big sister off I had to sit down and give them a little lecture.  I can’t tolerate nonsense while shopping.  I was at Rite Aid with them while Grace was getting her teeth cleaned and they would not stay with me and would not stop touching every interesting thing they saw.  After about five minutes, I put them both in a cart and it still didn’t help, they were full of it.  Oh well, it’s all part of the training we must do as mothers, but it does get old after a while.  They seem to think going to Rite Aid is right up there with Six Flags.  I plan on “practicing” with them here at home by taking their hands and walking around as I go on and on about Proper Shopping Behavior.   They will love it, I’m sure.

It rained lightly all morning long, but it has stopped for the moment, the sky is pure white with clouds.  The road is starting to dry.  I wonder if the boys will have their little league games this evening?

It’s a laundry day and things are humming.  I do love the smell of clean clothes.

I finally remembered to buy matches and I have some pretty candles lit in the kitchen.

For the moment it is quiet and peaceful, a nice beginning to this new month.

Happy May!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What would the world be, once bereft
Of wet and wildness?  Let them be left,
O let them be left, wildness and wet,
Long live the weeds and the wildness yet.
~Gerard Manley Hopkins

*****

Lavender-Lemon Shortbread

3/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried lavender
1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
3 tablespoons sugar

In a medium bowl, and using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon extract until creamy.

In a separate medium bowl, sift together flour and salt.  Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until combined.  Fold in lavender and lemon zest.

Shape dough into a ball or disk, and wrap in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate at least 2 hours, or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness.  Using a 2 inch cutter, cut cookies, re-rolling remaining dough only once.  Place cookies on prepared sheet, and evenly sprinkle each with granulated sugar.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges of cookies are slightly browned.  Cool on pan 1 minute; transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 36 cookies.

Recipe source:  Victoria magazine,  April/May 2008