Spring

Spring

Frog pushed Toad out of bed.

He pushed him out of the house

and onto the front porch.

Toad blinked in the bright sun.

"Help!" said Toad.

"I cannot see anything."

"Don't be silly." said Frog.

"What you see

is the clear warm light of April.

And it means

that we can begin

a whole new year together, Toad.

Think of it," said Frog.

"We will skip through the meadows

and run through the woods

and swim in the river.

In the evenings we will sit

right here on this front porch

and count the stars."

"You can count them, Frog,"

said Toad. "I will be too tired.

I am going back to bed."

Toad went back into the house.

He got into bed

and pulled the covers

over his head again.

"But, Toad," cried Frog,

"you will miss all the fun!"

pp.7-10 from chapter Spring in Frog and Toad Together book written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel 1970

Yesterday I was in a classroom and the students were reading this book. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the Frog and Toad stories when my own children were in school. Since yesterday and today are the loveliest of spring days perhaps you will be motivated to skip through a meadow or run/walk through the woods and just enjoy spending time outside so as not to miss all the fun.

And then when you return... bake some of your favorite cookies. I am including one from the Betty Crocker Cookie Book (p.78) that is a family favorite.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup margarine softened
• 1/4 cup butter softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1- 1/4 cup flour ( I have done half white and half wheat before and works well)
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:

• Mix sugars, margarine, butter, peanut butter and egg. Stir in remaining ingredients
• Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or 45 minutes in freezer to speed things up
• Heat oven to 375. Shape dough into 1-1/4 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet
• Flatten just slightly in a crisscross pattern with a fork dipped in flour
• Bake 9- 10 minutes till light brown
• Remove from oven and immediately place a Hershey Kiss candy in center