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Thursday, February 2, 2012

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

24 comments:

  1. Wow!! What a difference a year makes! That was alot of snow. I love hearing the birds! It is exciting when the songbirds come back in the spring...and hearing the woodpecker pecking on each home's (in my cul de sac) roof pipe during mating season! ha. We have a 913 bed hospital across the road from our development, and a man-made pond with lots of geese. Many times you have to stop and let them cross the road, or else be fined for running them over! You are so lucky to see the stars...too much light around my house...when I visited my son's new house, my husband made me go out into the yard at night to see all the stars. What a blessing to be able to live like that! My husband's company is laying off 7300 people,(and earlier laid-off 20,000 some, since 2007) just announced..maybe my country-life might come sooner then expected. (no word yet though for us, if I ever get word, I will blog it :), otherwise, no news is good news). your meatballs look like my cabbage rolls minus the cabbage...they sound good! love,andrea

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    1. We used to live in the busy corridor between Chicago and Milwaukee, Andrea. We never saw the stars and the night sky always had an orange cast from the industrial lighting, so now I just can't get enough of the stars. Well, I guess you are finding the silver lining with the possible lay-off! Hope that it works out the way you want! Yes, the meatballs is basically the same as cabbage rolls. It's fun to see the rice puff up and make the little porcupines!

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  2. The sparrows and finches are sounding outside my window as I write!

    Porcupine meatballs for groundhogs day? Hmmm... I'm in!

    Blessings, Debbie

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    1. I defy anyone to remain unhappy when the hear the birds chirping away, Debbie! Congrats on winning the give-away at Sassafras and Winterberry's!

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  3. Yes...Spring is around the corner. Just this morning I was blessed on seeing my daffodils beginning to spring a bit of green from the ground -

    Here in PA, Groundhog day is very festive - but it is very cold when he comes out of his little home :)

    m.

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    1. Yep, no denying it spring will soon be here. Even up here in MI we have buds on lilacs starting to form.

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  4. Dear Jane,

    Wow, you had a bit of snow last year! I have yet to see snow geese (other than some that looked like specks flying far away); acres and acres must have been quite noisy, indeed!

    It's so warm this year that we're wondering if we'll see our groundhog pop up from his/her tunnel soon. We miss him!

    Porcupine meatballs are such a cute idea. Since we're having baked potatoes tonight, we might have to turn them into groundhogs~ Thanks for the idea!

    Love,

    Marqueta

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    1. It truly was the most remarkable thing to see, Marqueta! They look a bit like swans. (especially if you don't have your glasses on!) Trying to figure out how to make vegan porcupine meatballs. Is that an oxymoron?

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  5. I just love those meatballs. I haven't made them in a while. Hmm....
    I think it's so sweet that your husband brings the daffodils! Love it!
    Hugs,
    Courtney

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    1. I think I reminded a lot of ladies about the meatballs, Courtney. Ha! Wonder how many will be making them this week.

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  6. Yum, I love Porcupine balls, we had these every so often as kids and I enjoy making them now, great way to stretch ground beef. My you did have quite a snowfall last year!! We never have anything even close to that much, the mountain areas get that though. It was so sunny and bright today it felt like late spring, but we still haven't had much winter yet, so we might have another go at it yet. Your daffodils are pretty, I love spring flowers. Happy Groundhog Day!

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    1. This has been a strange winter for sure April. It really has been an extended November. I worry that lilacs and apple trees are starting to bud,then we'll get the cold and it will ruin the crops.

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  7. Hi Jane, the meatballs sound wonderful, one of my favorites! I would have loved to have seen those geese. Once a couple of years ago I pulled off the main road and drove for awhile down a scenic dirt back road. It was really quiet and deserted and I came across a field filled with wild turkeys. There must have been about 20 of them at least. That really took me by surprise too. We have a flock of geese that fly over every year and land in our pond, usually about 12 or so. When I hear their honking it is like the feeling of excitement you get when a car load of unexpected relatives suddenly pull up into the driveway! :) Have a great evening Jane! Your flowers are lovely. Delisa :)

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    1. It truly was one of the most remarkable sights we ever saw Delisa. We always hoped to see them again, but never did. Must have veered a bit off their migration route. My son has whopping cranes that nest on his farm. That's quite exciting to see and hear. Living up here in the sticks we are used to seeing a lot of wildlife, but it still never fails to thrill me. Like your description of the return of the geese!

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  8. Isn't it great to be hearing the spring song of the birds! I love it!

    Thanks for the reminder of Porcupine Meatballs; haven't thought of those in ages. Now I'm hungry for them. (-:

    Have a good day, Jane!

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    1. It really is Sandy! They were all chirping like they were making their nest. Sounded cheerful and busy. Wonder how soon we'll see our first robin?

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  9. It feels like spring around here, too!

    And thanks for the recipe. It's been years since I've made porcupine meatballs and now you've inpsired me!

    Have a great weekend.

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    1. Isn't it remarkable Sandra? Really makes me start to get anxious to start gardening. The rhubarb is already about six inches out of the ground. Enjoying its pretty green and pink.

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  10. What a beautiful post! Our February this year is starting with record-breaking snow. I've been comforting myself with thoughts of spring as seen in my seed catalogs ;)
    -Jaime

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    1. Hi Jaime! That's exactly what I'm afraid will happen here. Just when we think winter has passed us by, we'll get a major snowstorm. It can snow here into May and one year we even had a few flakes in July! The seed catalogs are so beautiful. A lot of temptation, especially the flowers!

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  11. The settee is marvelous! I love the shape of it! And the colour... what a lovely idea to use the neutrals!

    These used to be my favorite receipe! We ate these all the time; we loved homemade Salisbury steak as well. Ground beef (or turkey) can be made into so many wonderful goodies!

    Would you believe that I saw daffies when I was below the mountain today? They were all coming up along the roads and on the banks in the sunshine. I bet it snows in three days! LOL

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    1. Thanks Matty! Yes, I remember all you southern friends talking about your blossoms in the early spring and making us that live up in the Tundra feel a little sad. Ha! But like I tell my son that lives in NC, remind me to tell you about our cool breezes when you are having weather in the upper 90s.

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  12. Love your daffodils! I have an amaryllis that is blooming now .. makes spring seem not to far away (even though we have a lot of snow on the ground right now!)

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  13. I wish I could grow daffodils down here, but alas. They sell them in the grocery store, so I enjoy seeing them there and in all the blog posts of spring blooms. That is real sweet of your husband to bring you them when you need an uplift.

    I haven't made porcupine meatballs in ages. What a sweet little family tradition you had for fixing them on groundhog day.

    It is chilly here this morning 47 and feels like it is 36, breezy, a day to stay indoors.

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

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