It's a Whirlwind Kind of Week!

Oh yes it's been that kind of week!! Whirlwind!  First, a dance recital!  Now I must admit seeing the little ones performing their hearts out is just too, too cute!  All the preparation that goes into a recital is enormous!
And really, come on, tell the true, the whole year is a big success if they just get up on stage and smile!!

Such precious costumes! And do you happen to notice the feet? If I remember correctly that's 3rd position! (Yes, yes, I know! It's been a loooooong time since I was decked out in a ballet costume!!)

Naturally my friend and me never pass up an occasion to celebrate! (That means FOOD!)   A stop in at one of our favorite BBQ restaurants, Jim & Nick's, satisfied those hunger pains!  And these cheese biscuits will melt in your mouth!

Next, GRADUATION! A high school graduation; time to close one chapter and embark on another, excitement, sadness, anticipation! All the emotions that 18 year old young folks' feel at this time!

Then, what week can be complete without at least one trip to the local park?! My friend and me parked our chairs on the hillside close enough to home-plate to loudly cheer on our young team! Oh me, the excitement in their young eyes as the bat hits the ball, fielded cleanly at 2nd, and throw out the runner at 1st base for the 3rd and final out of the game! Then celebration for the winning team begins!


Yep, a whirlwind kind of week!!  How was your week? Was it overwhelming? Exciting? Send me your thoughts!

Here's wishing you a Happy and safe Memorial Weekend!


Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

Nesting--Second Time Around

Thank you, Thank you! A big thanks to y'all for your comments, friendship, encouragement and help!! Within thirty minutes of my "may day, may day" heeeelp shout out yesterday I was finally able to sign out! Whew, what a relief!

I have posted earlier about our resident osprey that nest on our channel markers each year...

 Very diligent, very nurturing...

So we waited for the little ones to appear just like last year!  And we waited, and waited...
Alarm, no parents, no little ones...nothing! Gone, empty...ziltch!

"So," my friend says, "they hatched early and are already gone." 

What a big disappointment, what a let down! Last season we were able to boat by and watch as the parents fed the chicks and witness their growth. See my sad face  :(  

But, the more we thought about it the more we decided that the chicks were just gone...not developed...had not had time.... As you know we've had a lot of storms this spring, a lot of storms! And on this lake very windy...high, direct winds. Maybe, just maybe, the eggs were lost in the wind....ummm good possibility.

Sooooo guess what has happened?  That's right! The two are nesting again! Happy Dance  :)

Now I do not profess to be an expert in this subject, I'm just saying they are back!!  And hopefully we will be able to watch the little chicks grow up this season! Keep your fingers crossed that our stormy weather is behind us now!!

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

Heeeeeeelp!!

I am not able to sign out! It keeps sending me back to my dashboard! Any others out in blogland having the same problems? I understand many can't post or comment. What's up with this?

 I've tried the "help" sign but no help!!

I may be logged in for the next day or so!!! Heeeeeelp!! Thanks
Blessings!!

Made from Scratch vs. Semi-Homemade!

Red Velvet Cake, a southern favorite! 

Do you remember licking the batter bowl? I couldn't wait to grab the spoon! It was better than ice cream!! My Mama (grandmother) would start after breakfast dishes were washed and put away baking the dessert for that evening meal! My Papa thought a meal was not a meal without a dessert!!

But today with our busy schedules we do not have that amount of time set aside daily for dessert making!  Sooo,

Made from Scratch Recipe:      (time consuming)
In a large bowl, mix in 1 cup buttermilk, 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 ounces red food coloring; stir in 2 large eggs, add 2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour, 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, with 1 teaspoon salt. Stir in 1/2 cup lard. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix until color is uniform.
Beat in by hand, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 Tablespoon vinegar.  Fold into batter with a wooden spoon.
Pour into 2 well greased and floured 9 inch round cake pans.
Bake 350 degrees 25 - 30 minutes.

Wheeeew! That's makes me tired just writing that down!!


Semi-Homemade Recipe:           (quicky)
 In a large mixing bowl beat on low speed, 1 German Chocolate Cake Mix, 1 stick butter, soften, 1 egg, 1 ounce red food coloring.
Pour into a prepared 13x9 pan.
Bake according to cake mix instructions.

Now it matters not about the cake itself as long as it is moist! It's really and truly the icing that makes a red velvet cake special!!

Frosting Recipe:
Add 1 cup milk to 3 Tablespoons flour slowly so that it does not form lumps!
Cook until very thick, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
Cool completely.
Cream together 1 cup sugar, 1 cup real butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla until fluffy.
Add to cooked mixture and beat until real fluffly!
Fold in 1 cup chopped pecans.

Yum, Yum, Yummmmmm!!! (We will add pecans to almost any food if we can!!)

Did you catch that addition of lard and real butter to the scratch made mixture? My grandmother believed in using whole milk, fresh eggs, and real butter! Of course there was always a lard bucket close by in the kitchen!!  Yep, my Papa celebrated his 90th birthday before his death and Mama was almost 96 years of age!

Of course my choice is the semi-homemade cake mix recipe! But I still like the original frosting and of course with lots of nuts!!

Do you have a favorite cake? Share with me! I will probably like it too!! (got that from my Papa too!)

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

And the Junkin' Road Ends In...

Red Bay, Alabama, home of Tiffin Motor Homes and Allegro! Yes, that's right! The junkin' road took my friend and me to this northwest Alabama town, a stone's throw from the Mississippi state line!

Nicer people can't be found! You've heard the phrase "How can I help you?" Well all these folks really mean it! They know the meaning of customer service! And they deserve an A+!!

They even have a campground available for those waiting to have their RVs serviced. There are probably 100+ full hookup sites! And in addition there's the "outback" for all the over flow! Now I'm not saying Allegro Rvs are constantly needing work; just that the Tiffin family (all the employees are considered family! Nice, huh?!) caters to your needs when you are in town!

We chatted and swapped stories of the road with folks from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Auburn, Alabama! It was a beautiful day!

(Ooops, sorry about the dumpster!)

If you are planning to purchase a Tiffin RV, waiting for work to be completed, or just interested in how a RV is built then take the tour of the plant! Very informative and lots of fun!

Do any of you remember these tanks...

Very cool, but unfortunately gasoline prices have skyrocketed since these were operational!

RVing is a great life!  ("How about let's go tent camping?", asks my friend. "Oh no, no, no! Been there, done that, Check!!  I like my microwave, my fridge, and my queen sized bed, thank you very much!!")

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan