Good Friday, Bugs, Bowling,

Happy Easter to you all. I hope you enjoy it and it relaxes you for a day or two.

Matt and I will be munching on Hot Cross Buns for breakfast today. Then there are some Lindt gold bunnies hiding somewhere. Normally we only have one each of course, but this year there was a shopping goof. I am not complaining.

Thursday I had an email from a friend in the building about something different. However, she added a paragraph which is so very apt. I thought I would share it with you and maybe with our realtors next week. With regard to the bed bug situation, both pest control and Schiketanz need to realize that many seniors do not have the stamina it takes to prepare an apartment for treatment. Also, some of us don't have the resources or family nearby to help us with any heavy work. It's unfortunate they don't understand that people slow down as they age and most of us do the best we can. It would probably save Schiketanz a lot of money if they hired someone to do both the prep work and the pest control for those who aren't able. I think they should make that investment for Joe (the neighbour where it started, for us anyway) and you and in my mind, that's the only solution that makes any sense. Stamina was a good word for her to use and one which didn't occur to me. It is also true that Matt and I do not have any family to help us as others do nor the finances to pay professionals to help us.

Bowling was useless today. I managed to get past the 100 every time, but that was about it. Matt bowled better than I but even he didn't bowl terribly well.  I was blaming it on my hip and said Matt could plead his chin which looks a right mess at the moment. He is telling everyone I beat him up. He certainly has more bruising than he did for his previous basel cell op. He does look like someone has been using him as a punching bag.

I couldn't resist sharing this recipe when I found it Thursday morning. Bit late for Easter but you could shop and make on Saturday if you were sufficiently keen I guess.

Bunny-Bottom Pudding Cookies

Kraft Kitchens

2 cups flour
1 pkg (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter or margarine, softened, divided
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
4 oz (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
4-1/2 tsp milk
few drops red food coloring
12 large JET-PUFFED Marshmallows
24 JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows

1. Heat oven to 375°F.

2. Combine flour, dry pudding mix, baking soda and salt. Beat 3/4 cup butter and brown sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Blend in egg, then vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well after each addition.

3. Roll dough into 24 balls, each about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets; flatten with bottom of cup.

4. Bake 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheet 3 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

5. Beat cream cheese, remaining butter, powdered sugar and milk with mixer until blended. Reserve 2 Tbsp. cream cheese frosting; spread remaining frosting onto cookies. Mix reserved frosting and food coloring until blended.

6. Use kitchen shears to cut each large marshmallow crosswise into 4 pieces. Top cookies with marshmallows as shown in photo. Spoon tinted frosting into small resealable plastic bag; cut small piece off one bottom corner of bag. Use to decorate marshmallow pieces as shown.

Servings: 24 - 1 cookie each

Have a great Easter.