HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!

I really don't need a groundhog to tell me spring is on its way.  Yesterday, when I was out surveying the back fourty, I heard the little chickadees chirping away merrily.  A sure sign that spring is just around the corner.  And we heard the snow geese  honking overhead, returning from their winter vacation.  Speaking of snow geese, one time we happened to come across a huge flock of them, dining in a farmers field.  Acres and acres of them!  The sound was deafening.  But what a memory!  We always hoped to come across them again, but unfortunately we never were so lucky.  But it remains in our memory forever.  Some of our best family memories are those unexpected glimpses into Heaven that nature gives us; the Northern lights, a falling star that was so bright that it made us flinch, the meteorite showers, a giant stag looking majestic as he stood at the edge of the road, the list goes on and on.

Another sure sign of spring is the daffodils that my husband brings me every year.  I never know when he'll bring them, but he just knows when I need a little lift after winter starts to wear long on me.  Guess that's why I love him!

When the boys were at home, I always made porcupine meatballs for Groundhog Day.  I guess I thought they kind of looked like them.  Anything to make a little celebration, especially after all the fun of the holidays has worn off, and we get into a rut of the day to day things.

Here's the recipe:

Porcupine Meatballs

1/2 C. white rice (uncooked)
1/4 C. water
1 med. onion chopped
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 -1/2 tsp garlic powder (depending upon how much you like garlic)
1 lb. ground beef

Combine and shape into  1 1/2" meatballs.  Place in a shallow casserole.

Combine:
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 C. water
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Pour over the meatballs.  Cover and bake for 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes.

This is a good way to stretch a pound of ground beef too!   Oh!  I almost forgot!  Look at what a difference a year makes.  This is what it looked like around here last February 2nd: http://hopeandthrift.blogspot.com/2011/02/happy-grounghog-day.html