Homemade Treats

Back in May Aunt Carrie sent us a package that included some homemade treats -- including homemade marshmallows. The kids were impressed that marshmallows could be made at home. Plus, they tasted pretty good.


So this year for end-of-year teacher gifts, we made batches of ... yep ... Marshmallows!

Sorry, but there are no photos of the softened gelatin or the boiling hot sugar syrup or the miraculous cloud of fluff produced when the two are whipped together. But after it's spread in a pan and allowed to cool and dry a bit overnight, the fluff becomes a lovely spongy slab of marshmallow that then has to be cut. A pizza cutter works pretty well for this.



The result is charming, yummy, irregularly shaped marshmallows.


We packaged ours with sleeves of graham crackers and several Hershey bars.


With a thank-you note stapled to the outside, Casey had teacher gifts for the last day of school.

Pampered Pooch

Though he is allowed on the furniture, Arnold generally prefers to nap on the floor.

But he insists on having a pillow.

What Did You Do Last Weekend?

I went white-water rafting with Beau and his Boy Scout Troop.

Good Dog

I don't mind having a dog. He's good company and good natured and patient and (being a terrier) doesn't shed. But ... he does smell like a dog ... So he's had to endure a few baths. He doesn't really like having a bath, but, like I said, he's good natured.

(Here he is: freshly bathed and wrapped in Beau's old baby towel.)

Spirit Week at Beau's School

This week was "Spirit Week" at Beau's school, and each day was a dress up day. Beau was an enthusiastic participant.

Monday was Dress Your Best Day:

Tuesday was Dress As Your Favorite Book Character Day:

(He's Gandolf the White.)

Wednesday was Crazy-Mixed-Up-Clothes Day:

Thursday was Crazy Hat Day:

(Beau embellished a silly foam fish cap with switches to make it light up, buzz, and spin a fan.)

Friday was School Pride Day:

He deserves an award for most-spirited family member...

SPRING!

Spring has arrived.

On Saturday it finally warmed up here, and the trees burst into bloom. Seriously. On Friday, the cherry tree had bare branches. By Sunday morning the view out our bedroom window was this:

While working in the yard this weekend, the neighbor's cat found a snake, which we rescued. Usually, we find brown snakes. This snake is a garter snake.


It actually bit Casey, so Casey prudently put on gloves when it was time to release the snake (back into the ivy where the cat probably found it again...)


Later in the weekend, the kids had their last pre-season baseball practice before the opening game on Monday (which they won).


And on Saturday, we celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. I cadged a last-minute reservation, and we had dinner at a new-ish restaurant in Cambridge.

Poetrees

Today, a sunny spring day, Beau and I arrived at this school to discover "poetrees" on the front lawn. Each student had written a poem, which was then mounted on colorful oak tag and hung from one of the just-blooming trees. A fun celebration of the long-awaited season.