Our community is so supportive of people who need our help. It is very refreshing to see so many people work to benefit someone else. Our community does this quite regularly for people with various illnesses or losses after a fire, etc. Tonight was an example of the thoughtfulness and generosity of the people of the Kenai Peninsula.

There is a 10 year old boy who was recently diagnosed with a leukemia rarely found in a child and very difficult to treat successfully. The community has gathered together to help his family pay for housing and other expenses while they are with him in Seattle. Tonight was just one of several benefits in his behalf as the Middle School transformed into a carnival with many booths, games, and entertainment. The large parking lot was filled to overflowing as people came and went. Entrance was $1 and tickets were 50 cents for each game, trinket, or snack. I know they raised lots of money tonight.

I had to stop the car on the highway a couple blocks from home two days ago as a mother moose and year-old twins crossed the road. They looked to be in fine shape for this time of year. This winter has been fairly mild even though we did have a fairly lengthy cold spell. The cold weather isn’t nearly so bad for the wildlife as the deeps snows. In a month the new moose calves will arrive.

Last night I made a rice pudding using leftover rice, raisins, agave nectar, eggs, rice milk, and cinnamon. It turned out quite well. Rice pudding is one of my favorite desserts. Even Muppet enjoys a nice spoonful of pudding for his treat.

I bought most of the seeds I’ll need for this year’s garden, most of which will be in containers. A few year’s ago I completed the Master Gardener’s course and promptly broke my ankle which has prevented me from doing much gardening. My ankle turns on uneven ground, so I do have to be careful. But, if I do most vegetables up in containers I should be able to work it out okay. I’m especially hopeful that the root crops will do well, but then there are the lettuces, broccoli, kohlrabi, and summer squashes, too.

Planting out of doors can usually be done around the first of June. So, I’m going to start some seeds now and more each week until the first week or so of May. Hopefully they will ripen at slightly staggered times. Sometimes the zucchini get a bit out-of-hand and we wind up with more than we can eat, but I may try the dehydrator for some veggies this year. Such wonderful thoughts of all the upcoming bounty while the yard is still knee-deep in snow!

Till next time…. Take care!