Maine outdoors in April...muck, mess and misery.

It's not called Mud season for nothing! Just like Maine produces prize winning strawberries and lobsters, it also provides an abundance of that gooey Springtime mess. MUD
In my Maine garden, the only way to get from winter to spring is to pass through the least delightful of seasons – mud season.

Mud season is created when moisture from snow melt (often accompanied by spring rains,like yesterday and today) cannot drain away because the ground is still frozen. At first, all this moisture forms large puddles. Then, as the ground begins to thaw, it absorbs moisture, softens and turns to mud. As my neighbors and I drive in and out on our dirt lane, the soft ground forms muddy ruts.
At the front of the house by our farms sign, a forsythia is covered with buds.Today I cut some to force indoors.
MUD PIE
8 oz. cream cheese

1/4 lb. butter

1/2 to 1 c. confectioners' sugar

2 pkgs. instant pudding

2 1/2 c. milk

12 oz. Cool Whip

20 oz. pkg. Oreo cookies



Cream together the cream cheese, butter and confectioners' sugar. Mix the instant pudding and milk together, then add to the creamed mixture. Fold in Cool Whip. Crush Oreos in blender. Layer Oreo crumbs and pudding. Refrigerate until time to serve.