Ready for Spring

I am so ready for spring! The first of the year always gets me so far behind in everything! I've got so many projects planned and not enough time. I'm barely able to keep caught up on reading all my favorite blogs.

The trees are starting to bloom and in another few weeks, the wildflowers should start appearing. The landscaper came and scalped the yard this weekend and should bring the sand tomorrow to level it up. He's really a little late this year because the grass is already starting to turn green and grow. I'm ready to plant some flowers, but around here it's best to wait until after Mother's day.

Spring is such a wonderful time of year!

"If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies."
Nadine Stair

WE NEED RAIN!!!

It has been so windy and dry here, which makes for ideal conditions for wild fires.






This fire came within a few hundred yards of my brother-in-laws house.




Lots of friends, neighbors, employees and family showed up to help. The Texas Forest Service was there along with Air Attack Helitankers and seven area fire departments. They were able to contain the fire and only one house burned down.

And now today, there are more fires underway. Please pray for rain, the safety of homeowners in the path of the fires and the men and women that are putting their lives in danger to battle the fires.

Some Projects

I've been working on a few things lately and thought I would share them with you. My granddaughter's school has an auction and a carnival each year as one of their fundraisers. I made a few baby things for the auction. Here's the girl's burp cloths and blanket.

And some things for a baby boy.




If you're anywhere near Lewisville, Texas on Saturday, March 7th, be sure and stop by the auction. There are some really great things to bid on. Go here to check out some other items donated by area businesses.

Now that I have those done, I can start on my next project. My son, Brandon, made this for me for Christmas.

Just look at the detail.

He started out making this for Kellie and then when they moved into their new house, they decided it wouldn't work where they were going to put it, so I got it. Isn't it pretty? I think I'm going to stain the top and the drawers and then paint the rest of it. It's going to go in the game room and I'll hang the TV on the wall above the cabinet. Now if I can only decide what color I want.

Sad Cake

Super Bowl Sunday!!!!!

I hope your team made it to the Super Bowl. My team, The Cowboys, sure didn't!!!! The Boys really disappointed me this year!

Yes, Tony, hang your head in shame.

As we keep saying year after year after year, "Oh well, there's always next year!"

It's been a tradition that whenever the Cowboys don't make it to the Super Bowl, then I make this cake, Sad Cake, on Super Bowl Sunday. Unfortunately, I make it way too often!

It's really simple with only four ingredients. You can't get any easier than that!



2 cups of biscuit mix, 1 box brown sugar (2 2/3 cups), 1 can coconut (1 1/2 cups) and 4 eggs.




Put all ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix.



It will be rather thick, like a cookie dough. Then put into a 13 X 9 pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.



The cake actually gets it's name because it rises then falls. It really turns out more like a bar cookie instead of a cake.

I think I'll cut me a piece and go watch the Super Bowl.




Sad Cake

2 cups biscuit mix
1 box brown sugar (2 2/3 cups)
1 small can coconut (1 1/3 cups)
4 eggs.

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a greased and floured 13 X 9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

I'm a Pepper, You're a Pepper

My favorite drink is Dr Pepper. And when it's cold outside, it's great warmed up and served with a slice of lemon. Ummm, Ummm good! And there's nothing better than good ole Dublin Dr Pepper because it is still made the old fashioned way with Imperial Pure Cane Sugar. Dublin Texas became the site of the world's oldest Dr Pepper bottling plant in 1891, just six years after the drink was invented in nearby Waco, Texas. It wasn't until 1904 that Dr Pepper gained national exposure when it was introduced to the rest of the U.S. and the world at the 1904 World Fair in St. Louis. I'm lucky enough to live close enough to Dublin, that many of the grocery stores will stock Dublin Dr Pepper along with ones bottles in other places. But, Dublin Dr Pepper is absolutely the best!!!!

Take a look at this 1934 ad, Makes a Guy Snappy, Happy and Keen!




In 1936 it tells us how it aids with digestion and combats acidity.





Doesn't little Miss Judy Mae look sweet? This was in 1939.





Here's one from 1943.





And of course Dr Pepper reminded everyone to help America remain free in 1944.





In 1947 we were reminded of the sweet life.




The 50's and the good life!




In 1962 you've got it served cold.




And in 1965 served my favorite way, hot.




And in 1969, supporting Miss Teen America.




And in the 70's, they told the story.



Ahhh, all this talk of Dr Pepper is making me thirsty.



and hungry. I think I'll fix a Dr Pepper cake



made with




Dublin Dr Pepper!

Look What I Won On Ebay

Remember when I told you about unpacking my mother's pretty china? You know, the Royal Doulton Kirkwood set. Here's the teapot from her collection.








Anyway, I've been keeping an eye on Ebay for some bowls to go with it. And look what I found!






An egg cup! I just love it. Although, I doubt if I will ever use it for eggs. I'm not a fan of soft-boiled eggs. But I'm sure I can find some other way to use it.

I also picked up another egg cup from the same shipper. I'm not a big fan of it, but I have to tell you, when I'm at an auction, I tend to get carried away. So, I went ahead and bid on this one and got it too.




I really shouldn't be spending so much time on Ebay. It's very contagious. Before you know, you're finding all kinds of things to buy. This is not a good time for me to be buying more stuff because I've been cleaning out closets and cabinets for weeks.

Now excuse me while I go clean out more junk so I can buy more pretty stuff to cram into the closets I just cleaned.

Through the Eyes of a Child

Guess who's getting a make-over????? Last week Mike and I took Friday off and went to see Jennifer and Nate. We had promised to take Kaylee to the American Girl Store, so earlier in the week we made reservations for lunch and also made a hair appointment for her doll, Nikki.

Nikki was really needing a make-over!!!!! Her hair was a mess and I wasn't even sure if they would be able to do anything with it. Just take a look at it:




What an exciting day this was going to be! They put Nikki in her only little beauty shop chair and draped a cape around her. Kaylee got to pick out the hairstyle she wanted and the color of her hair ribbons.




She was so excited watching the procedure. Mike had found a couch to sit down and wait. Every so often, Kaylee would turn around and exclaim, "Grandpa is missing it!". Then, she would run and get him (or drag him) over to ooh and ahh over what the lady was doing to Nikki.





Then Mike would go sit down for a little while and Kaylee would just stand there and watch her doll and all the others getting their hair fixed. She was taking in everything!!!!







Didn't it turn out pretty????

Now, off to lunch at the bistro upstairs.





They had the cutest little chairs for the dolls and they even had their own little menus. (Grandpa was a little worried that we were going to have to buy lunch for the doll, too.)



Now we got to go shopping for a new outfit for Nikki. There was so much to choose from.





Kaylee ended up picking an outfit from Julie's collection. Julie is the American Girl Doll from the 70's, and I could really relate to her! Many of her outfits looked like they could have come from my high school or college closet. Even though it was very cold, Kaylee chose the cutest little bathing suit. They called it a swim suit, but I think it was a little sundress with matching panties. You see, in the 70's, we wore really short dresses. In fact, they were so short, that often times we had matching panties (or sis pants) that we wore over our regular panties. Anyway, here's the doll with her hair all fixed in her new outfit.




The absolute best part of the whole day was getting to see and experience all of the excitement and wonderment through the eyes of a child! Kaylee seemed to really have enjoyed the day.

Pineapple Rum Cake

Pineapple Rum Cake! Doesn't that just sound delish????

This Christmas I cooked two hams in my roaster oven and I have to tell you they were the best hams I've ever cooked! I got the recipe from Jennifer. All you do is pour a can of coke, 1 1/2 cups of pineapple rum and squeeze fresh lime over the ham. Delish!

Anyway, the pineapple rum was so good, it got me thinking about changing my rum cake recipe and adding pineapple and using the pineapple rum. So, let's try it!


Here's all you need.

Oops, I left out the sugar for the glaze in the picture. Sorry.


Put the yellow cake mix and the pudding mix into a mixing bowl. Add 4 eggs.



Add 1/2 cup buttermilk and 1/2 cup oil




Now add 1/2 cup pineapple rum



Wait a minute, take a better look at that.




This is so good! And not just because Cruzan sponsors this cutie:





It's really good! In fact you can sip on it all by itself or add a little sparkling water to it, pour over ice and add a fresh wedge of pineapple. Fantastic.

Now, back to the cake. Add the drained pineapple. And mix all ingredients. Put the chopped pecans in the bottom of a greased and floured bundt pan. Now pour batter over the nuts.





Bake in a 325° oven for one hour. Cool. Now poke holes all in the cake. I use bamboo skewers rather than toothpicks because they're longer.






Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 - 1/2 cup pineapple rum. Slowly pour over cake.





Let the cake completely absorb all the glaze.






Now cut you a piece and sit back and enjoy! Wow, not bad if I do say so myself. Uhmmm, I wonder what it would be like to add coconut, then you would have a very tropical pineapple coconut rum cake. I may have to try that next time. Excuse me while I cut myself another piece.

Pineapple Rum Cake

1 cup chopped pecans
One box yellow cake mix
One box instant vanilla pudding mix (3.5 oz package)
4 eggs
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained (and reserve juice)*
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup pineapple rum

Preheat oven to 325°. Grease and flour a bundt pan. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan. Mix remaining ingredients together. Pour batter evenly over nuts. Bake for 1 hour. Cool. Invert on plate. Prick top with toothpick or long wooden skewer. Drizzle glaze evenly over cake top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze.

Glaze

4 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup water (or use reserved pineapple juice)
1 cup sugar
1/4 to 1/2 cup pineapple rum

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in rum.

*The next time I made this, I reserved the pineapple juice and used it instead of the water for the glaze.