Who Has Seen the Wind?

The poet who wrote "Who has seen the wind?" didn't live in Kansas! Last week we saw the wind. We saw it in the dust that rolled across the yard. We saw it as the weak and dead limbs fell from trees. We saw it as the dry grasses bent over in the landscape. And we saw it as the fire from a careless cigarette tossed out on the highway one mile away roared toward us.
Prairie fires are one of the dangers of living here. A controlled burn in the spring makes the grass grow green and lush to feed the cattle we raise on our ranch, but when the wind blows and the land is dry we fear the fire.
Last week the section south of us burned on a windy day when the wind howled from the south. Fourteen fire trucks from three towns and their volunteers were our heroes. Neighbors and family on four wheelers and pickups worked at the edges. The biggest truck, unable to maneuver the pastures, sit in our driveway, making us feel safer for our house.

When things like this happen, "thank you" is never enough. But sometimes little things can add to the "thank you". We took cake to the firemen sitting in our driveway and got a tour of the big red fire truck.

A firetruck in Nana's driveway is pretty exciting! 

Wearing o’ Green Cake

(flavors of pudding and gelatin could be varied for different colors/holidays)

Ingredients:

1 package white cake mix (regular size)

1 package lime gelatin

¾ cup boiling water

¼  cup cold water

Topping:

1 cup cold milk

1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla (or pistachio) pudding mix

½ - 1 carton frozen whipped topping, thawed

green sprinkles

Directions:

1.     prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Cook on a wire rack 1 hour. In a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water; stir in cold water and set aside.

2.     With a meat fork or wooden skewer, poke holes about 2 inches apart into cooled cake. Slowly pour gelatin over cake. Cover and refrigerate.

3.     In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix 2 minutes (mixture will be thick). Fold in whipped topping. Spread over cake. Decorate with sprinkles. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Yield: 12-15 servings.

The baked cake with holes and lime gelatin poured in.
Not too attractive looking at this stage! 

The whipped topping frosting adds to the appearance
and the taste! 

tunnels of green gelatin