SUNDAY NIGHT GRAB BAG

Thank you Leann for the lovely rose award. How sweet of you to think of me. I am delighted!

This distinguished looking gentleman, James Jenner, is my son-in law's great grandpa. Can anyone tell me anything about the uniform he is wearing, like what war, etc., he served in. I know he was born in the late 1800, lived in Canada, and am tring to do a genealogy report on his family.

On Thursday I dug out hundreds of weeds then planted 30 primroses and pansies in one of my upper gardens. They look so colorful it made my heart sing!

On Friday we got a little snow. On saturday we got a LOT of snow.

This picture was taken Saturday when it had just begun to snow and the flakes were huge, some the size of a lemon. It piled up fast. My pretty posies were totally buried. The snow was gone by late afternoon and today the flowers look just fine.

Sigh of relief!!

This picture of Julia was taken before the recital. Isn't she a cute nine year old. She knew her dance steps so well too.

Patty-Jo and I were having a terrible time trying to decide what to do on Saturday. We wanted to drive to the country to see Julia and Hailee's dance recital, but neither of us wanted to take a chance on getting stuck in a snow bank.

Enter Son-In-Law #1, John. He bravely drove us out. He's a good driver. Thank you John for giving up your afternoon for us. I won't forget.

Several years ago he drove us all the way from Duluth to Bellingham. Another time when I was visiting them in SanDiego, he took me for a ride to Yuma so I could experience the desert. I won't forget that either. I love the desert!

And here is our pretty miss Hailee. Dance is so good for children. They learn balance and grace. What kid can't use that?Hailee danced just beautifully. Speaking of grace, she brings the word to life!

Here is the group they danced with. Hailee is standing, far left and Julia is standing in back third from left. Their Nana is getting a video of the entire recital and I'm looking forward to seeing it without a camera in front of my nose. You know how it is. The photographer never gets to see the show!!

Here is a cute little posy I thought you'd want to see. The Parrot flower (Impatients Psittacina) was discovered in Burma in 1899 and is only found in certain portions of Burma and Thailand. It's quite rare and difficult to grow. Isn't it a sweet little flower? I'd like to try growing some but it is forbidden to export the seed.

It sort of reminds me of a ballerina, but maybe it's because I have dancing in my head right now.

Well my dear friends, it's Sunday evening and ten minutes to nine. I did more yard work today as I have decided to landscape an area beside my upper pond, and I am really tired so need to log off and get my nightie on.

I forgot to ask for prayer too because I have a sliver or something in my pointy finger. I saw the Doc on Friday and he tried to dig it out but said he couldn't find anything. It hurt like blue blazes so I don't want to do that again, but it's still quite swollen and he wants me to see a surgeon. Can you imagine? All that for a stupid sliver. I pray the Lord will just make it go away.

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OUR RESURRECTION DAY CELEBRATION

Here is some of our feast, casseroles, salads, chips and dips, deer sausage and cheese, sliced ham and turkey, rolls, and all the trimmings for bunwiches. Desserts were blackberry pies, upside down German Chocolate Cake, cream puffs, and lots and lots of chocolate candies.

I made a fruit bouquet too.

Cyndi is holding her youngest granddaughter Victoria. Her next youngest granddaughter Madalyn is apparently asking a question and from the look on her grandma's face I think the answer is no.

And here is our hostess, my second daughter Kathy, holding her grandson Ethan.

Ethan's daddy Jake is holding his sister's chihuahua, Tucson, while visiting with Patty-Jo.

Hailee decided to keep a close watch on her basket by putting the handle around her neck. LOL! This weekend I get to go to her dance recital. She won't be wearing the basket.

Auntie Patty is giving Victoria her very first taste of 'wild' blackberry pie. These tiny berries are native to the Pacific Northwest, and are not the Himalyan or evergreen variety which were introduced from Europe in the 1800's.

Mmmmmm! She likes it!

Just look at the colorful plastic eggs. Some still full, and some empty.

When I was a girl we dyed hard boiled eggs but were never able to obtain such vibrant colors.

It rained really hard so the kids hunted eggs indoors. I think they enjoyed it just as much as if they were outside.

It was another wonderful day with some of my family. These times renew me and lift my spirit. I thank the Lord for them and for my family.

I hope your day was as nice.

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Jesus said unto her,
"I am the resurrection, and the life:
He that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live"
~~~~~~~
I wish you a blessed Resurrection day celebration

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HAPPY SPRING!!!

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THE INCREDIBLE HONEYBEE

I gleaned a bit of info from the internet about these interesting little creatures and thought I'd share.

One site said that Native Americans called bees the 'white man's fly' when they were brought here from Europe in the 1600s. I don't know if this was the honeybee. I thought Bees were always here.

I learned that Albert Einstein once predicted that if bees were to disappear, man would follow only a few years later. The depopulation of bees could have a huge impact on the environment, which is dependent on the insects for pollination. If taken to the extreme, crops, fodder, and therefore livestock could die off if there were no pollinating insects left.

From 1971 to 2006 approximately one half of the honeybee population have vanished. It is believed that numerous factors contribute to the decline. Urbanization, pesticides, mite infestation are part of the problem, but now there is also something called Colony Collapse Disorder, where bees fly off to find nectar and just never return to the hive. There is a lot of speculation as to why this is happening but I believe that insecticides are the biggest problem. I don't use them but resort to natural remedies.

Bees from one hive can visit a million flowers within a 400 mile square kilometer area in just one day.

It takes two million flowers worth of nectar to produce one pound of honey.

As for the benefits of honey and honeycomb, they are practically endless.

They have been used for centuries as medicine.

You can do a google search on this and learn a lot.

Lets all do our part to save these wonderful little insects. We need them.

Have a great weekend everyone.

God bless

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VICTORIA IS ONE

Here's her pretty cake

She got to grab a handful of frosting, and of course she put it in her mouth. She liked it too. Really liked it.

But she didn't like it one little bit when her grandpa took the cake away to make room for gifts.

When the gifts were unwrapped she forgot about the cake. Just look at that happy smile!

She had lots of help with the unwraping.

Time for cake and ice cream. You can tell kids live here. See the dolly and other toys among the treats?

I'd say Victoria is one tickled little one year old. I love this picture. Her sister is enjoying her gift bag toys.

Cousin Ethan Michael is giving Victoria a birthday kiss. His mommy says he loves to kiss. He proved it by kissing Victoria several times.

It looks like he really liked her hair do too.

Hey everyone, I'm a big girl now. Got a new hair do, had my first birthday party and I've been kissed.

Oh my, life is so good!

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REGATHA'S GOOFY CAKE

When I was a girl we had a neighbor lady who had several children. Some were grown and a few were still at home. Nettie Mae was my sister Bonnie's age and Allan Jr, was younger still.
We all played together, making mud pies and the usual kid type entertainment. Kick the can and hide and seek were a few favorites.

I can still see mom and Regatha sitting at the kitchen table over their coffee, chatting away about all the news in the neighborhood. They both loved gardening and had incredibly beautiful gardens to show for it. I will always remember Ragatha's sweet peas, and mom's dahlia's. They could have won prizes.

One day Regatha gave us a recipe. I don't know if she gave it to mom or my sister Bonnie, but it became an instant hit at our house. There was nothing goofy about Regatha's Goofy Cake, except the method in which it was made. Remember, up till then we didn't have cake mixes. They weren't invented until 1949, and the cakes we made from scratch were time consuming and a lot of work, especially when you didn't have an electric mixer yet and had to beat it by hand with the strongest big spoon in the house.

I made this Goofy Cake many times and usually burnt it because I didn't know how to regulate the oven heat in our old wood cookstove.
But after I slathered the frosting on we hardly noticed that it was black on the bottom and sides.

REGATHA'S GOOFY CAKE
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon vinegar
6 tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup cold water
SIft the first five ingredients into an ungreased 8"X8" baking pan.
Make three holes in mound. In first hole put vanilla, in second hole put vinegar and in third hile put oil.
Pour the cup of cold water over all and mix with a fork till blended. (DO NOT BEAT)
Bake 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool and frost.
NOTE: If you like a chocolatier cake add more cocoa.
We made a cooked fudge type frosting for this cake but I can't find the recipe. Anyone out there have one to share?

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