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

A Weekend in Las Vegas Part I

Last week ma chere sister Alyson came for a visit on her way back home from another semester at college...needless to say, we hit the town!





The fountain at Bellagio is always my number one spot when people come into town to visit. They are amazing! The rush-swoosh sound of the water shooting out of the ducts is like small rockets launching into the air.


They play music with it, choreographing the water to the sounds. If you've seen Ocean's Eleven you probably have a good idea of this.

The many faces of the wee babe. Not so wee anymore!

The Paris casino

Ah, reminds me of the good ole days in La Paris!

Inside the casino/hotel it looks like you're walking down the streets with cloudy blue skies overhead and street signs and cobblestones..

You'll notice there are no clocks or windows ANYWHERE. Nothing to give you any sense of how much time has passed since you came in. Smart one.

Believe it or not, this is the check in desk/foyer!

I want this to be the first floor of my house! This is also where Aaron and I went to see the Nutcracker performed a few Christmases ago.

It wouldn't be Paris without the Arc de Triomph and some shopping!

How 'bout a famous ex-pat? I always considered Hemingway so old and boring to read..The Old Man and the Sea? Hit me over the head! But I've devoured two of his books over the weekend so I don't know what else to say...he's now on my high list for books worth reading!

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

I'ts your.....BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

Well, well, well! Somebody is having a birthday today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENNA!

I think we should take a little walk down memory lane, don't you? It was a lovely spring morning. It was 9 am to be exact, and a Sunday. My husband had just left to go to an early meeting. I heard the door close and within seconds, and I do mean seconds, I jumped up out of bed because my water broke. I remember the shock and surprise--ha! It was April 20th...my due date was May 5th. So, a bit early. I of course, fetched my husband home.

Off to the hospital we went. I remember the happy and stunned feeling, that half smile on my face....it was really happening. I waddled into the hospital and was very surprised at how rapid and "true to life" my contractions were. Maybe this baby will arrive fast as lightening?

Silly me.

I remember labor. I will always remember labor. There is no cushioning of the contractions when your water breaks. And why is it that back labor is so out of this world? I vividly remember a fleeting thought---maybe, just maybe if I get up and out of this hospital bed and RUN...RUN like crazy, I can leave these crazy contractions behind. Of course, it was about this time (4pm) that I received an epidural. Relief. And, it is worth noting that this would be the first, but not last time when I was having a baby, that I saw my hubby have to breath into a brown paper bag to regain himself...poor fellow, the epidural was all a bit much for him-ha!

More of the story...

Around 7pm, I remember chuckling to myself and wondering if anyone was aware I was having a baby. This thought came to me from my view from the bed. In front of me, my husband and Doctor were kicking back, drinking juice, having a snack and watching a basketball game on tv...ha! Hello? Remember me? Having a baby over here. Ha!

And, soon enough, at 9:38pm, on April 20th, our little baby girl arrived....all 6 pounds 7 ounces of her 18 1/2 inch long, self. Lots of dark hair and sweet as pie. Whew!

Our lives would never, ever be the same. We were definitely ok with that little fact, and so happy because we were now a family of three.

So, here's to you, Jenna! Oh, I mean here's a picture of Jenna's favorite lemon sour cream pound cake I sent to her. I sent it in cupcake form last year. Hmmm...I think I need to post this recipe, but later, cuz we are having a celebration right now.
So, thank-you, Jenna, for being such a wonderful daughter and forever friend. Through the years, you have made such a significant difference in our family. Being the oldest child, and first born grandchild on both sides of the family, comes with such HUGE responsibility. You have been so successful in this role. You are loved deeply, respected, and admired by all of us, because of how you have lived your life.

And, now...you have a wee babe of your own. She is such a treasure and so blessed to have you, as her mama.

April 2oth, will always be your day (well, and Jared Nelson's--happy b-day, Jared) and the day that your dad and I will always remember...our hearts grew a little bit larger and a little bit softer, and our lives were changed...all because a little bit of heaven joined our family and made all the difference in the world.

Love you bigger than the sky................................

Classic Films for Springtime

I wish I was in Paris.
Those days seem so long ago..

Seeing as I'm in dry, dusty Vegas instead, it has befallen upon me to create a Parisian spring time in our little apartment. May I suggest one of these movies? (Feel free to substitute Sabrina with the later version with Harrison Ford. So good!)

Of course you must make crepes if you watch these in the morning. If you have time to yourself in the afternoon, be sure to have some eclairs or fruit tarts nearby.

Who says you have to go to Paris to have a Paris springtime!?

What other Paris/springtime films do you recommend?