Saturday Pictures - Cupcakes & Muffins

I have been on a cooking binge lately.  Do not ask me why ~ as I could not tell you what has possessed me. Anyway, cupcakes, muffins, soup, casseroles, beef pot pie. Hmmm. I made chocolate cupcakes, from scratch, then I did not have powdered sugar for the butter cream icing.  No problem.  I will just make the seven minute icing.  I cannot believe it myself.  Anyway, no problem, it turned out great.  Here are the pictures:


Well, I guess you can see by the picture on the right that I broke my New Year's Resolution about buying coffee.  Here I am Seattle Drip last night.  They were open and yes I did stop. What is life with out a little coffee?

 Skyline last night while waiting for my coffee. The colors were interesting. 
I made pumpkin muffins this morning for breakfast. They turned out really good. I may have to make another batch of those. The recipe was straight out of my old Betty Crocker's Cookbook.  Those old fashioned recipes are the best and they very seldom call for ingredients that you do not already have.





Here is the recipe from the book:

Pumpkin Muffins

Breakfast is served.

January 2011 Update - Beginings and Endings

The year ended with the untimely death of my cousin, Harry. Such a nice person who was taken away from all of us way too soon.  He left so much love for his family, and was such a kind, caring, gentle spirit. He was an amazing person. All of those humble qualities, and on top of that, an Alabama fan. I can hear the heavenly chorus singing Sweet Home Alabama for Harry.

Another ending.  My friend from our camping club - Ray Smith was found dead Sunday morning. Again, such a nice, unique Christian person. You always knew how you stood with Ray.  And he loved to grow and share his tomatoes.  A life well lived.



Christmas 2010 Collage





My Sisters and Cousins



Sunset - Traveling West on I20

My Cousin Virginia's Daughter and Granddaughter

I 20 Landscape

Ice Storm - Madison MS

Practicing Cupcakes for Owen & Joe - Joe, I have your root beers - Owen - we also have Yohoo's



Decadur Baptist Church



Happy Thanksgiving



Joe and Scout



Owen



Nate

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  It is 81 degrees in Madison. I have the turkey in the oven and the plates on the table. The air conditioner is running to offset the heat from the stove.  Pictured above are some of those I am thankful for.

Destin Pictures

November

Owen

Owen



My grandson snapped this one of me holding my little dog - Jack

 November 1st:  The start of a brand new month.  I like new beginnings that are full of such possibilities. I have that feeling every morning.  A brand new day to write on.  Hmm.  As I look across November what do I see.  My birthday on the 17th., my Mother's birthday on the 24th.  I have nieces that also have birthdays in November. Wanda's birthday is on the 4th, and Pam's birthday is on the 28th.  Thanksgiving will be the 25th of November, but we should celebrate thanksgiving every day.

We started off November by spending money.  My car had to be repaired - new water pump and radiator.  We went to a repair shop my son recommended - Manning's Tires in Canton.  He was very fair and quick. After leaving the mechanic's shop, stopped by to look at a new car. I drove a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer - dark burgundy - 44,000 miles. I liked the car; however, Richard - not so much.

On another interesting note, there was a road block on Highway 51 traveling from Madison to Canton.  It was a driver's license check. No problem, they glanced at Richard's license and waved him through.  After I picked up my car, I had the brainstorm that we should go to Trace Grill for supper.  I called Richard, to see if he was game for the plan.  He said he was again stopped in the same road block.  That made me think I had better pull off the road to locate my insurance papers, and get my driver's license out of my billfold so I would be ready for the check.  While I was stopped, I decided to check my inspection sticker on the front window. You can only read those things from the outside of the vehicle. Hmmm.  The sticker said it was valid through the month punched.  Is that April 2010?  OOPS.  This calls for an alternate route home. Whew that was a close call.  We will get that seen to today.  April is about the time I started working from my house.  I guess when you only drive 2 or 3 days a week, and them maybe 5 miles or less, you never think of  those things.

Saturday - Football-Cowbells and Halloween

Well, I made it to Saturday.  Richard is finally seemingly getting better.  He has really had a bad time.  I believe the antibiotics are working ~ or maybe enough time has passed to allow "Mother Nature" to work.

My prayers go out to my friend Melanie Pyle O'Malley.  Her 17 year old son is back in ICU with inflamation around his heart. 

I am posting some pictures of my grandsons. Joe is playing football and is such a nice football player.  Their team is undefeated, and they have 3 more games.  Owen who is 2 years old and Nate who is 7 weeks old, came to our house last week.  We had a nice visit, with lots of playing and messing up the house with toys. Fun Fun Fun.
We went to a garage sale yesterday. I found 2 BARGAINS.  

My first bargain - Coca Cola Glasses.  The old fashioned bell shaped clear glass.  My grandson and my brother's granddaughters always want their drinks served in those glasses.  Now I have plenty of various sizes as I found 9 glasses yesterday of various sizes, all for $3.50  total.  What a deal???

My next find was a set of placemats, napkins and a table runner. They are quilted placemats that were made the old fashioned way by actually piecing the fabric then quilting.  The color scheme is blue.  I will try to post pictures later.

I am glad it is Saturday; however, I do have some work I need to go before Monday. Also, I need to finish studying my Sunday School lesson for tomorrow.  The theme of our lesson is to recognize that a faithful relationship with God is its own reward.  Hmmmm. 

Well, the SEC is again after our cowbells.  I say "MORE COWBELLS".  And, I also say, have you ever been to the SWAMP?  Or ROCKY TOP?  Talk about loud.  Put 100,000 elephants in Tuscaloosa stadium shouting "Roll Tide" and you will start looking for the ear plugs. Come on SEC, get real.



Nate



Nate - (Another little Mississippi State Bulldog)

My niece made the cake. Her business is called "Just Plain Good", and the cake was just that.

Joe

Owen

Harvest Carnival at the Church - My Sunday School Class (Life Links)
Sponsored the Go Fish

Redskins win again

Book Club Last Night

I went to my book club meeting last night. What fun.  We discussed The Reliable Wife. What an interesting discussion.  I read all the time, but it is so much fun to discuss what I have read with other people that have read the same book.  The different perspectives everyone brings to the discussion and the interaction with other ideas.  It makes you realize that it is the same in all of life, just as in books, that what your reactions to something are very subjective just because that is who we are. 

Our library has an online catalog that allows you to place a hold on a book.  The library will notify you when the book is ready for pick up.  It is such a cool way to "shop" for free books from your easy chair, using your internet resources to help pick the book you may want to read.  My "TBR" stack by my bed is getting huge.

On another note, I noticed that the Vikings did not get the W against the Jets at the Meadowlands.  I tried to watch the game, but feel asleep before it was over. Another team that was not able to get a "W" - the Saints. It looks like the Saints had their one magical season last year.

My grandson saw my little dog this week-end.  That is what is left of him after "THE HAIRCUT" last week.  He said he looked "LIKE A GIRL - HE IS TINY - MAWMAW, HE LOOKS LIKE A BOBBLEHEAD" 

My dh is back to the doctor today for another post surgery check.  Please keep your fingers crossed that all is well. He is still recovering his strength.  He was able to walk about 3/4 of a miles Monday morning; but, was very tired by lunch time.

Here is my picture for today from my trip to New York City.