The Vest...and more!

Many moons ago, I mentioned doing some sewing for my son. I made him a vest and tie for Prom. I believe it turned out AOK.

Hardest part was finding out my button hole feature did not work on my sewing machine...a machine I have had since I was 17 years old...eeeekkk! So, I made button holes by hand. Maybe you all know how to make button holes by hand? Not me. Had to look it up on the Internet and then do it! The last hole I sewed was by far the best. The first....room for improvement.

Dropping a car off at the school before my son headed to his Prom meeting spot.


Hubby and son, shooting the breeze with snacks and drinks at the designated meeting house for all the Prom goers in this particular group. Lots and lots of pictures were being taking, of course.

Got to love that look on my son's face. He and the boys seem very comfortable hovering around the food table while the girls were having their pictures taken.

After many years of taking pictures of our 3 older girls going to dances and Prom, it was nice to switch things up and hook into the boys side of picture taking.

Got to love this pose.

And, the smiles.

Only boys would think to get into a tree for a picture!

One of our favorite friends, Samantha

Heading down to the lake and garden area for more fun pictures.

This truly was a happy group of kids----actually, these kids have been friends for many, many, many school years and just enjoy being together.

A great group.

Looking back up to the house from the lake. This was back at the beginning of May, so, the beautiful gardens are just getting the hang of having to grow again. The lady of this house, had placed little name makers next to each and every flower, bush, or growing thing. It was so lovely.

And, here is the shed with the garage behind it. So cute and so fun.

More man poses!

And, more laughing.

The blue bottle tree.

Last picture because it was time to head out for dinner and dancing.

Great memories...loads of fun...see more of these kids next school year.

Sure brought back fond memories of my own Prom days. How about you? Were you a Prom goer?

Food and Blooms

Prepare yourself! This is a healthy recipe. Shall we just say this mac and cheese takes on a modern tone and taste. All you need for this dish is seen below. Super easy...good hot or cold.

Cook your pasta and either microwave or stove prepare your light-cheese sauced broccoli. I have never used a vegetable that had a prepared sauce along with it. So, I was really curious about how this would all taste. Add together with 3 wedges of the Light, Laughing Cow cheese.
Warm until cheese is that gooey, yummy texture.

Add a little salt and pepper and their you have it. I really liked this dish. It was so quick, so easy, and low in calories. Really a great twist on an old standby. And, thinking of adding chicken to this dish, next time round.


And, please try this recipe. You won't be sorry. Thanks to my blogging friend, Julie (http://www.circlecliffviews.blogspot.com/), who has some of the best recipes ever! This is one of the really, really, really great one's. My family loved these. And, yes! Carrots. Carrot fries. Lot's and lots of carrots. I used about 6-7 large carrots and chopped them into french fry type pieces. Put them in a bowl and add in 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp cornstarch and a Ranch Dressing packet. Shake and mix until all carrots are coated. Bake at 400 degree's on a sprayed or parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes. YUM!

And, we ate the carrot fries cold, along side our spring salad and slice of focaccia the next day. Carrots...still tasted great.

Now that we have had our fill of food, let's take a little walk in the yard and enjoy all the beauty of spring.

Glad to get my wind chimes hung for the season. Oh, and loved getting the humingbird feeders ready and cannot count how many times I am refilling bird feeders. All great fun and such beautiful birds fill our yard. Wish you could smell the fragrance of all these blossoms.

We gutted out our flower boxes in our backyard and have begun to refill them with wonderful perennial greenery and blooms. Wow do they ever smell so good.

I do love hostas and the baby blue forget-me nots! I love blue flowers.

So petite and so sweet.

The tree's off the front porch are all "popcorned" out! You can hear the bee's a buzzing, doing their work. And, you can spot a golden oriole or two, ever so often.

Love sitting on my front porch.

Preparing a new rose bed for new roses....we have a few Blue Girl Tea Roses, a few Sunny Delight (yellow) Tea Roses and a few Arizona Roses....which are yellow, orange, cream and pink.

And, we are revamping an area for raspberries and grapes. Much to do.

Ooh..heavenly!

Meadow view on a rainy day. Trying to be thankful for the bounteous rain we have had this spring. It has been more rain than I have ever seen in a single spring season. Loving all the greenery.

How are things cooking and whats blooming/growing in your yard? We are still waiting for our garden spot to dry out enough to rototill and plant. My seedlings are bursting at the seams to get out in the garden. Yipes. xo

And The Rain Came Down....And There Was Music!

Whew! Seeing a little more water than usual in our neck of the woods. But, there is much worse flooding in other States in our country.

As the sun shone this afternoon, this little beauty stopped by to take a little walk in the left over rain water in our meadow.

Slowly, slowly.... and I do mean slowly, we are "greening-up" and enjoying a very cool spring.

Some beautiful artwork ahead, in one of the fun parks on the edge of town. The community garden is just about to open for the season. Although, it did frost last night.

So pretty and fun to explore this art. Eager to get out and see other art exhibits in our community this spring and summer.

Busy day as we made our way to our Middle School for our school districts
music fundraiser....Mardi Gras.

WELCOME!
Silent auction. All sorts of goodies and services. Two of the all time favorites to bid on are, conducting the high school band during a concert (one song only) and sitting with the band on the stage during one of their concerts. Very fun.

Families and friends gather for the evenings musical events. Popcorn, pop and pizza are on hand for those who care to eat and listen to all types of music.

Busy hands...loads of beads being sorted.

Down the hallways of our middle school, you can find different small groups doing their thing! Oh, and anyone and everyone can make a Mardi Gras mask for themselves. Recognize this little group? They added in a few other pots and pans to the original bucket sound...my favorite---a pizza pan.

And, this was the outfit style the boys decided to wear...shorts and a dark shirt. So simple compared to girls, eh? Oh, and let's clarify--- boys do not call their clothing "outfits" either.

Switching chairs around and a little more of the original "Clean-Beats" sound. The crowd sure liked these boys and their music. They performed twice...once here and once on the BIG stage, as the closing act.

It was a good day from start to finish.

What will you be up to today? Besides my regular "to-do's", I will be making button holes for my son's suit vest for Prom. Crossing fingers for nice, even button holes. The tie turned out super great and ever so easy to make. And, then helping hubby, this evening, to finish putting up the new chicken wire around our coop. The baby chicks have outgrown their "warming" box, and need to move on to the great out-of-doors. Pictures to come. xo

Shall We Bake Today?

My April calendar pic!

Just had a very loud thunder and lightening storm pass over us this dark and early a.m. You would have thought it was the 4th of July! Whew. Our spring showers have been massive this year, as it has been for a lot of our country. I am beginning to think this spring calendar picture does not say "hope", but, sort of looks like it says "nope"--not quite spring...ha! Maybe so.

This is one of my very most favorite reading, photography, and recipe books, all wrapped into one. I use it a lot and not just for cooking and baking. Sure I have made the refrigerator pickles, and covered supper beans and rice. And, can't forget the peach buckle and lemon sour cream pound cake. All delicious. But, what I really love about this book are the stories that accompany each and every recipe section.....and every recipe has a little background of it's own. The photography is magnificent. Don't you just love a good read that includes recipes and beautiful pictures?

Ohh...sorry! You can't click to look inside. That would have been nice.

So, this book is where I got the recipe for Jenna's birthday pound cake. It is so good and mails rather easily. The first few times I sent this to Jenna, I baked it in a bread pan. Worked out well. Then, I dabbled in making it into cupcakes and then this last time, a little pan cake for mailing.
Do give this a try. It is really a spring delight...the lemon and the butter makes this oh so good. The smell of it baking, is divine.
3 cups all -purpose flour
1/2 t baking powder

1/4 t baking soda

1/2t salt

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs

1 t vanilla extract

Grated zest of 2 lemons

1 cup sour cream, at room temperature



Ok...let's get started. Ready, set and GO!

Oven, 325. Butter and flour a bundt pan.



Let's get right to it and sift the flour and all dry ingredients. Set this aside.



Now, beat the butter and sugar with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy.



Add eggs in one at a time, then, the vanilla and zest.



Flour mixture time. With mixer at lowest speed, slowly, slowly and slowly add in flour mixture, alternating with adding in portions of the sour cream. Beat until smooth. Getting so yummy!



Spread evenly into pan. Bake for approximately 1 and 1/4 hour.



This cake nearly melts in your mouth, on it's own, but, you have just got to make the Lemon Syrup.

Take 1 cup of fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup water and 2/3 cup sugar. Bring to a boil and cook until the syrup is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Cool.



Now here is a hint....if you adore very thick and tart lemon syrup, you are good to go. If you want it to be a little more sweet, up your sugar and a little more water and adjust to your liking.



Ok...almost done. The kitchen will be smelling more than wonderful at this point. So, when your cake is done, let it cool for 10 minutes. Pour 1/2 of the syrup over your cake. Then, invert onto a wire rack and brush with the remaining syrup.



Now, this recipe ends with ..."let cake cool completely". I dare you to let it cool completely..ha! It is so good hot and cold.

This cake is so fun. I have cut this recipe in half for a bread loaf size pan cake, and cupcake size pound cake. Very fun.



QUESTION... what is your favorite recipe book and why...would love to know and take a peek!

Happy baking to you all! xo



p.s. Now that the baking is done, sewing is next for me. Making a tie, and vest for my son to wear to Prom. Kids at our school are wearing more suits to Prom than tuxedo's these days...hmmm. Ok, we can do that! Show and tell, later gator.

Happy Easter Sunday!

A little reminder that spring and Easter have arrived. Precious new life.

Time for church and new, fresh, spring dresses.

After church, we will enjoy family and friends...visiting, celebrating and eating traditional and not so traditional Easter delights.

And maybe, just maybe, if our "April Showers, Bring May Flowers" holds off a little today...we will walk in the garden and continue to be amazed at the beauty of the earth.

And when Easter Sunday fades away, and everything is still and quiet, before jelly-beans begin to dance in our heads, we will smile as our eyelids gently close, thankful for our lives and the knowledge that Jesus Christ has risen.....

May all of you enjoy this Easter Sunday and the splendor of it all! xo