Making pine needle soup with my great granddaughter Rachel while on the deck, 46 degrees in bright sunshine.

A white ceramic pot filled with a scoop of dirt containing some whole corn and bird seed, then a couple of scoops of snow, add some pine needles, more dirt combo, then several scoops of snow, add some more pine needles, stir well with a small gardening rake, add a pinch of flower stalk and garnish with several small branches.

Delicious! No, but how fun to watch a child’s mind work and a nice diversion from political ads and columns from know-it-alls.

John Schumaker Monument