I can hardly believe that we said “good-bye” to the month of April. Unfortunately this April wasn’t warm as it should be and the rains we’ve had, have been cold ones. However, rain is better than none at all. Now we need some drier weather so the farmers can get their crops in.

This last weekend we celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary. I always use our anniversary date as a time to really start some house cleaning and the date I open up the front porch and have it usable again. However, this year it didn’t work out. Craig, our son who lives in Overland Park, had a few days off so he came and did some hard jobs we weren’t able to get done. One of the biggest projects was removing part of the living room ceiling and replacing it. He finished it and even got it painted. He also power-washed the deck and got it stained with a couple of coats of water-proofing stain. We were so tired on that day, which was also our anniversary. I cooked supper even after he offered to take us out for a steak. Then he asked, “What we were going to do the rest of the evening?” which was to retire to our recliners and watch TV. He decided he could still get in a round of golf, which he did and even asked if his dad wanted to go along. Needless to say, he went by himself, played a round of golf, had a beer and came home to find his dad fast asleep in his recliner.

This week I’ll try to do a little more of deep cleaning. When it comes to house work and somehow it always seems to. I’d like to know how to maintain a respectful level of accomplishment, day in and day out, instead of being an overachiever one day and a “do nothing” the next. When I’m in tip-top shape I never have anybody drop in. However, on a day when I’m engrossed in a book, scrapbooking or just goofing off, everyone seems to come to my door. Perhaps in all it averages out and the sum total of what I did during the week is the same. Still I know the stop and start approach uses more of my gas and probably causes more wear and tear. After all these years I know I’m not going to change my housework patterns.

I have to tell Sandi Petersen I’m sorry I didn’t get the rhubarb recipe you asked for. Last week was kind of hectic and I wrote last week in a hurry and just plain forgot that recipe. I like it when my readers ask for recipes because then I don’t have to think of one to put in. I hope this is the right recipe.

RHUBARB CAKE DESSERT

4 or 5 cups rhubarb

1 small box red jello

1 cup sugar

3 cups miniature

marshmallows

1 box white or yellow

cake mix

Put in bottom of a 9 X 13 inch cake pan as much or as little as you like of chopped rhubarb. Sprinkle on small box of red jello and 1 cup sugar. Add 3 cups miniature marshmallows.

Next, mix 1 box of cake mix according to directions on the box and pour on top of rhubarb and marshmallows. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

“The less you talk, the more you’re listened to.”-Dear Abby