I am a little late serving corned beef and cabbage but this has been an unusual year all around. Each week end we make dinner for Patty and Becca. They both work very hard and with the three little ones they are so busy through the week we don’t get to visit with them much so on the week-ends when the kids are with their father we have Patty and Becca over for dinner one day and get a wonderful time to visit with them. We see the kids when we go to Patty’s house, they are happier to see us there also as they don’t have to be on their best behavior as they have to be in my house and we enjoy them much more also. I love my great grand children but they are hard to keep up with for more than an hour at a time. Anyways the first of March Patty asked if we could have Corned Beef sometime in March and this week end was the only one free enough to work it in. I got a beautiful piece of corned beef at Save-A-Lot, almost 4 pounds and this week I got the red potatoes, green onions, and cabbage to go into it. I can’t have carrots or even cook with them so I always put it a rutabaga instead. Right now I am waiting for the meat to cook and have all the vegetables ready to go into the pot at the correct time. I have the green onions cooked and chopped with the garlic to toss with the red potatoes when they are done and will pick and chop the parsley to toss with them and the butter. Everything looks great and is going well so it should be a success. I haven’t done a corned beef and cabbage for years but Norman’s mother always made one a couple times a year when she and Grampa was alive. I miss them and hope my dinner today would make her proud. 
I am almost finished with my Swagman. I have his face marked off but need to sew on this eyes, make the eye lashes and eye brows and sew the nose and mouth. Norman just finished his “Billy” for me. That is the black pail that hangs on his bed roll. It was used to boil his dinner in over the open fire. In my day these men were called tramps now they are called homeless. I have more hair to put on and his beard and mustache, then he will be done and I can start on my white bear. I got the pattern copied out today so need to finish up Swagman so I can cut out the bear. The story for Swagman is due to arrive Wednesday. 
James keep reminding me I need to make more strawberry jam for them, so if they berries are still down at $13 a flat I will take time out to make up another half dozen pints of jam. I don’t know what I will do when the strawberry season is pasted.
Have a great day and keep happy.
Oumapetts's Blog 
Hello, Carol, Last evening I couldn’t make this reply work but it is fine now. My mother used to make corned beef and cabbage almost every week! I would eat the carrots and have never tasted the cooked cabbage. Some people don’t eat like they should! Everyone liked it but me!
Your lovely letter and poetry books arrived last Thursday. I have been enjoying them very much and my thanks to you. I appreciate you taking the time to write to me like that.
We are still having cold weather with flurries to come tonight. No one is planting here and won’t be for a long time. Our strawberry jam won’t get made until the first part of July!! There are Mexican and California strawberries for sale i nthe stores but I still have frozen ones!
Rosemary
I love hearing from you. Now that we don’t drive out of town I never get to see many people and fell so isolated most of the time so when I get your comments it is like having a visit from you and it makes me feel more connected for another week.
I do miss the planting but know I could not do it now. We pushed it farm work as long as we could and got out from under just in time. I am so stiff most days but do manage to keep walking and doing the cooking and house work. We go to White City each week and that is as far as we drive about 10 miles. Last week I strained my back lifting boxes of books and dishes to put in the shop to sell. That reminded me of the farm work and the fact that I can’t do that any more. I have taken it easy this week and am now back to normal. I’ll be careful from now on and let Norman do the lifting and not put so much in a box.
I am lucky to be able to get the strawberries at the price I do, otherwise I could never afford to make the jam for my grand kids. I get a flat of about 14 pints for $12 but this price will not last long. Tomorrow I hope to get one more flat and the kids will eat most of those fresh.
Love Carol
Hello, Carol, Yesterday at the grocery store here, there were strawberries for sale, product of USA. They were two pounds for $5.00. I smiled as I walked past!! Our frozen ones taste just fine!
Hi Rosemary, I love hearing from you. I don’t blame you, I would far rather have my own grown fruits and vegetables. That is the one thing I miss the most here and someday I am sure I’ll get a small garden again. I have added a small herb garden and have sweet basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme and marjion (can’t spell it but like it). I go out each day to water them and cut some to use in my cooking that day, the fresh herbs make every thing taste better but I am sure it is only because I am growning them . Keep up the good work. I imagine right now you are busy with the new growing season – wish I could help. Keep me posted on the season.