Home-Baked Goods 2 - I DID IT!

I did it! This is my second attempt and 100% of that sucker came out of the pan! Hooray! It is a Williams Sonoma Almond Bundt Cake. Actually, I'm sure I just paid big bucks for a box of sugar and flour - but it DID come out of the pan.

Now - tomorrow at lunch we find out if it's edible! Cross your fingers, please. And. Coach, things are looking up!

Home-Baked Goods - The Fun Starts Today

Back in my old principal-ing days, Coach Kidd would always ask me about bringing in home-baked goods. He seemed to be serious, as if I should be expected to bring in goodies for such a great staff. Didn't he know that I was a busy woman who could not concern herself with such as that? Didn't he know that I didn't even have a cake pan - much less a mixer? Didn't he know I thought he was great even if I never made him a pound cake?

When all my friends were getting married (some of them over and over) and having showers and receiving mixers and cake pans, I was in school and working. (Not that Mom didn't warn me - she asked if I would be happy spending my life with my books - and yes, I am pretty happy with them...)

But I must admit that I have fond "growing-up" memories of home-baked goods. Mom and I would bake - with varying degrees of success. Once we had the GE oven man come check the oven. When it was found to be calibrated exactly right and performing properly, Mom and I had to take a bit of responsibility for a few disasters. But we got quite good with Lemon Supreme and Prune Cake (Yes, you read it right - had a jar of baby-food prunes in it - tasted like spice cake.)

My grandmother and my aunts were/are great cooks. I watched them for years and learned a lot.

Martha's Mom and Dad were pound cake bakers. I loved to show up when the cake was in the oven and the milk glasses were in the freezer! Yummm!

My sister and I would bake and still do, actually. We're still perfecting our cookies with royal icing and she's a pro with the gingerbread house. JM and I made a pecan pie once and left out the sugar. About half way through the baking time, we found the sugar bag still out and added it then. It was perfect, teaching us that all these silly steps in these recipes are not all really necessary. And the carrot cake I made for JM's dad's birthday cracked and fell off the plate - so I delivered it in baggies and he said it was the best cake he had ever eaten. He was a precious, precious soul!

Well, I bought my new mixer today and I'm ready to figure out how to bake. I made my first pound cake tonight and I'm proud to announce that over half of it came out of the pan. I felt compelled to eat all that part that stayed in the pan and I'm sure I'll feel better tomorrow.

If you have recipes I must try, send them on - and please don't leave out any key ingredients - I'd never know it!

So, Coach, give me a bit of time to practice and then come on over. The home-baked goods will be waiting!

There's a New Dawg in Town - UGA VII!

If Squirrels Could Cuss - Brought to You by Our Friends at Squirrel Buster Plus

You Need a Day Like This Once in a While

If you walked into my backyard or sat down in my sun room, you would not notice a single thing. Only if you had a before and after photo would you have a chance of knowing what all I did today.

I spent HOURS in one flower bed - the one with the bird feeders. I pulled up trees and weeds and sticker vines. I cut the limbs that the squirrels were using to get on my roof. That led to cutting other low hanging limbs. I cut dead limbs out of hydrangeas. I dead headed flowers and shrubs. I cleaned and filled feeders and the birdbath.

The birds kept on eating when they realized I wasn't going away. So, of course, I had to get my camera and take 126 pictures - OK - that took a while...

I was wearing flip flops and no gloves during all of this and copperheads did cross my mind a time or two as I reached into the dense ivy. The only scary moment was when this guy showed up. At first, he didn't mention that he was only a lizard - I thought I heard him say the snake word...Oh well, I got his picture and we didn't scare each other to death after all.

I had lots of time to think and solve the world's problems. I needed a day like this!

The Romanov Prophecy

Recently I finished Steve Berry's Romanov Prophecy. It is fantastic. It is full of good history with excellent fiction woven within it.

I've been to Russia twice and knew or at least knew of many of the places mentioned in the book. Stalin's metro stations, the train ride from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's tomb, the onion domes of the Russian Orthodox Churches, the Alexander Palace and Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo - all fond memories of two remarkable trips. I think it's time to get out my photos and journals and relive them without the pressure of Berry's characters rushing me forward through an excellent book...

So if you're a fan of Russian history, the Romanovs, great historic fiction, or fast-paced thrills, you will love The Romanov Prophecy!

AND Berry lives on the Georgia coast...

Baby Bulldogs - I Hope!

What could be nicer than a couple of baby bulldogs in the family. Here are Logan and Mason with their Mom on their first trip to Athens. These are the grandchildren of a cousin of mine - (sadly her son is a Tech graduate - so I will NOT be posting pictures of their first trip to the North Atlanta Trade School.) Adorable! ...and they look right at home in Athens, now, don't they! Go Dawgs!

Guard Cat, Guard Hummer

Those of you who know me know I don't even have a cat. However, this is my gazebo in my backyard. The cat comes to enjoy his freshly cleaned gazebo, freshly cleaned furniture, new seat cushions in the rockers, and full feeders to attract those birds he loves to listen to and watch. What a great place for a summer nap! (Good thing I have two rockers!)

As for the hummer, he's guarding his juice - the feeder I clean and fill religiously so that he and his family, but no others, mind you, can always get fresh, yummy food.

So today, I finished cleaning the cat's gazebo and the hummer's new feeder. And with all that guarding going on, I know I will sleep well tonight!

Greet Each Day

I will greet each day with love in my heart. And how will I do this? Henceforth I will look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. ... I will greet this day with love in my heart.

Og Mandino, The Greatest Salesman in the World

Now They Tell Me!!!

Your Career Personality: Independent, Insightful, and Ingenious

Your Ideal Careers: Architect Artist Business strategist College professor Computer programmer Mathematician Neurologist Philosopher Photographer Video game developer

The Quick and Dirty Career Test

Oh, Italy!

What could be better than a good looking Georgia guy in a good looking Georgia jacket standing outside the Bulldog Inn in Rome, Italy! What a life!

I'm ready to head back to Italy.....

A Parable for Our Time

I just finished reading The Shack by William P. Young. It is a very interesting story. If you have read it, what did you think?

I love a book that makes you think and this one does!