Age Related

            As you know, or may not, I'm 51. This age thing isn't for sissies, it's hard! I want to grow old with grace and dignity.  When I turned 40, I thought my life was half over, it was like a half way point and I had so much I wanted to do, to achieve and to conquer. Here I am at 51, with the same to do list but with less time to work with, I swear I got more done when all 5 kids lived at home!  Where does the time go, really?

      I'm a morning person who drinks coffee faithfully, and my energy level is pretty good till about 2 or 3pm when I slow down to a snails pace, if  I were a napper, I could nap daily. I wonder how women function on little sleep, I average about 5-6 hours a night, but some manage on less than me? I have so many questions, ones I wished I could of had my Mom answer, they say our journey through menopause will be much like our Mom's? No official report, but I'm pretty certain I'm entering this last phase of womanhood, and for the most part, I'm ready, just a little frazzled! My brain doesn't work as hard as it once did. I'm not as strong as I used to be.  I don't get alot accomplished even when I think I do. I'm praying when or if I get hot flashes, it's in winter! I don't take to the heat anymore either, it wears me out and makes me cranky!

     I love being a woman, I'm accepting my age as a state of mind, and not a number. It's my gate pass to a open mind, where I"ll fill it with new ideas and challenges.  I want to accept my body as it is, not perfect. I will never be skinny, but I will stride to be healthy.  My spirit needs feeding daily, a well rounded diet of bible verses, recipes, sewing patterns and journaling keeps my inner self maintained and balanced . Fellowship of the female race is what  grounds me and keeps me happy and sane.  This age thing, can be done with grace, dignity and bonds like ours! Blogging is a basic need and I want to thank you for your visits and friendship. And if you have any advise to help me get over this hump, please share!

Tasty Tuesday

          
                 Blogger wouldn't let me post yesterday for some unknown reason so this post comes a day late but still sweet and a bit different this week.  I'm plugging a favorite website from a favorite blogger that I'm sure most of you are familiar with, The Pioneer Woman. She has a yummy sister site, called The Tasty Kitchen so I thought I'd share a sweet link with you where you can browse the recipes to your hearts content. I found those coconut cream filled donuts this morning, don't they look tasty? I also saved a recipe for donut muffins, that's perfect for my muffin mission!  So, this week our Tasty Tuesday visits The Tasty Kitchen, come join us but be for warned, you will be addicted like the rest of us!  Tasty trails...........

Heart Vision

          
                  I'm joining forces in bringing you a Heart Vision whenever I find one!  Not sure who the forces are, but I have seen a couple of blogs post hearts lately that they have found naturally here and there.  I did not plant morning glories here in my mum bed, but one found it's way in and proudly announced it's being the other day when I just happened to have my camera handy. So, please join us, if you find a heart out of place but naturally, feel free to post it in our Heart Vision journey! Look for more to come, as I have my camera handy and my eyes wide open now!

Falling......

               I'm not alone in my thinking about this summer and wanting it to be over, already! I really try to savor each season and enjoy the best they have to offer, but this summer goes down in the record books as one of the hottest and most humid ones, since 1954 here. So, yes, I'm ready for fall. I can't help it, I'm just not as tough as I used to be. I've noticed on many blogs, others have had it with summer too so I don't feel so bad. I"m ever so grateful for air conditioning and pray it can keep up.

      Hobby Lobby had their fall goodies out a month ago when we were in the big city, even bringing out Christmas decorations, now that's rushing it a bit, but I get it that places like that must be early for all of us crafters who think and plan ahead.  Just the other day, my fall china arrived, that's it pictured above. My hubby didn't understand why I wanted more dishes, or why I needed some for each season. Men, just don't get it, but I reminded him that I use all my china and like to change it up accordingly, do I dare tell him, my next set will be Christmas china? lol

      I couldn't pass this set up, I got it from Seventh Avenue, a nifty catalog that let's you make payments on their products, allowing my budget a treat now and then. So, a girl like me, can enjoy the fine things in life and pay as I go! lol  I feel in love at first sight and I'm falling for fall.............bon fires, cool nights, crisp mornings, pumpkins, hot cocoa and sweater season!

Tasty Tuesday

              I never used to give cupcakes much thought, so I don't know when my love affair with them began? But besides from being cute and sweet, they are also the perfect portion size for kids and adults alike. Maybe that is it? Regardless, I"m always on the hunt for cupcake recipes, not just your everyday cuppie but recipes that make me go "yum" and I found another one I had to share to with you.

      If your a hot tea drinker like I am, your probably not drinking much hot tea in the summer time, and I hate to think of it just sitting in my tea drawer waiting for cooler weather (like I am).  If you've been here longer than most, you know I make jelly out of teas, and you can too with my Tea Jelly article on the side bar over there,  but what about using your favorite Chai tea in cupcakes? Sounds good to me!

Chai Cupcakes

1 pkg. white cake mix
1 1/4 c. half and half or light cream
1/2 c. canola oil
2 eggs
1 1/2 t. chai spice tea bags
Butter cream frosting
Chai spice blend
Line 24 muffin cups with paper cups and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the dry cake mix with the half and half, oil and eggs. Blend well with a electric mixer then add chai spice from the teabags (crush till a  fine powder) equaling 1 1/2 t. Continue on med. speed to blend well.  Spoon into bake cups filling each one about 2/3 full. Bake in a 350 oven for 15-18 min. or till a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cupcakes completely before frosting.  Makes 24 cupcakes
Butter Cream Frosting:
In a large bowl beat 1/2 c. butter with a mixer on med. speed till smooth. Gradually add 2 c. powdered sugar beating well. Beat in 3 T. milk and 1 1/2 t. vanilla. Slowly add 4 more cups powdered sugar, beat in additional milk to reach frosting consistency if necessary. You can add a teabag of chai spice tea (crush again) to the frosting mix for added flavor.

      

Garden Girls

        Gardeners come in all sizes, this is one of my little garden girls, this is my granddaughter May. She grew this cabbage for a school project, the Bonnie Project.  At the end of school in May, they handed out cabbage seeds to be grown over their summer break. The biggest cabbage wins a $1000 scholarship, this is her entry. May planted the seed, tended to it until it out grew her little peat pot, she planted it in our garden and checked on it every time she came over, she had a little help from Grandma, I just made sure it got watered when it got too dry due to a lack of rain.  She was so excited when her Daddy dug it up over the weekend.  She will take this photo back to school next month for the competition, were hoping she wins!

     But, either way, a seed has been planted in her soul and my love of gardening is safe in her hands. My little garden girl is hooked and a future "farm girl" is born! Where do we get our love for such things? I know my love of gardening was passed down from my Dad. He loved his roses the best, and just growing up watching him tend to his flower beds must of stuck with me. My veggie garden feeds my family, but my flower gardens feed my soul. I feel closer to God when my hands are idle in the earth. Little girls love flowers too, so make sure you share your gardens with a child, so the world will always be in bloom!

Fair Days

 
           This week is our county fair, and I always enter some of my photography with hopes of winning a ribbon but more for the exposure and to learn what judges look for and see what other photographers are shooting, it's a great way to gain insight and inspiration.  This is my 7th year and I think there was only one year I didn't place at all, so I up my odds and enter more than one.  My barn photo above placed second this week in the scenic category, my first second place! woohoo! I entered three total but this was the only one to place.  I'm happy, as this photo if you remember was requested by a Texas painter to paint from my shot that I posted on Facebook late last year, I was honored then and again now.  I love this photo and now it will grace my library walls along with the other two that didn't place, all will double as wall art!

      Fair days also mean HOT days, and with the heat index, it's super HOT today and will continue for the rest of the week, just looking at this photo and the foggy morning we had this morning, I'm more than ready for fall and all that brings.......cooler days, crisp night, bon fires, mums, fall decorating, fall candles and baking!  Hey, a girl can dream, it's a good way to beat the heat! :) Stay cool and safe out there!

Tasty Tuesday

            Whenever I need a new recipe, esp. for my muffin mission at church, I go to Joy the Baker, who never fails me.  And look what I found this week, combine two yummy treats and what do you get? Pancake muffins!  These are perfect for toting, placed on a plate and drizzled with maple syrup, melt in your mouth! I'm thinking of making a double batch to freeze for those quickie brunches!

Pancake Muffins

7 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1/3 c. whole milk
1 lg. egg
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
3/4 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
1 1/2 t. baking powder
Melt butter in saucepan over med. heat, melt and cook down butter will brown bits appeared in the pan. The crackling will subside and butter will begin to brown quickly after that, keep a eye on it. Remove from heat.
Whisk milk, egg, maple syrup and vanilla till combined. Add browned butter and stir to combine. Whisk together all the dry ingredients and add to milk and butter mixture all at once, gently stir well. Bake till golden about 20 min. or till toothpick comes out clean. Makes one dozen.

        I drizzle maple syrup over mine while they are still warm, talk about comfort food that is portable! Your mouth will love you for it! This post is in no way banning pancakes from my kitchen, but once in a while esp. when your baking for others, you want something good, fun and easy. Pancakes are classic, but these muffins come in a close second and they were a hit at church this past week! Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday

           When it's too hot to bake but you really want something sweet or your hosting a brunch do what I do and bake early in the morning before the sun heats the house up! This happened recently, I wanted something sweet for breakfast, a break from toast so I made this yummy breakfast bread, some call it a jam crumb cake, but I call it tasty!

Jam Crumb Cake

Crumb topping (below)
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/3 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1/2 c. sour cream
1 10 oz. jar favorite jam
Grease a 9x9x2 in baking pan and set aside. Mix crumb topping, set aside. In a small bowl mix flour, b. powder and soda, set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with a mixer for 30 sec. add sugar and beat well. Add egg, sour cream and vanilla and beat till smooth. Beat in flour mixture just till combined. Batter will be thick. Spread batter into prepared pan. Spoon jam over batter and spread crumb topping over all. Bake in a 350 oven for 40-45 min. Serve warm.
Crumb Topping
In a bowl, mix 1 1/4 c. all purpose flour, 1/2 c. brown sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Stir in 1/2 c. melted butter.

   Don't let the heat outside stop you from heating the house inside up just a little for this tasty treat, and it's just not for breakfast anymore, it's also great for picnics and potlucks!  Enjoy!

House Guests- Pro or Con?

  
              Time flys when your having fun! Or family for a week! My sister and her kids are on a college hunting vacation so since they were only one state away, they headed here and spent 5 days with us, five fast days full of busyness and fun! Were alot alike, enjoy the same things and almost think alike, although she doesn't quite understand my "no tv" rule during a family gathering. Nothing irrates me more than trying to get the whole family together for the holidays or a birthday only to have them all sitting in front of the tv and not visiting with each other! Life is too short to waste it glued to the box! So, a couple of years ago, I had enough, I banned the tv at such events and made everyone sit around and visit! As they all get older and attend to their own lives and the events of school and such, it's becoming a challenge just to find the perfect day and time to get everyone here, so my "no tv" rule is still a joke among some but one day they will appreciate it and hopefully be glad of it! Now, I'm considering a "no cell phone" rule!

     We've had a wonderful week, catching up, visiting, shopping, even got some geocaching in and plenty of late nights playing cards, I need a vacation from my sister's vacation! But, the loss of sleep is nothing compared to the time spent together! I got to know my youngest niece a whole lot better, so maybe now I won't be sending nerdy gifts, bless her heart!  She's the future college student in the family!

      Back to normal today, cleaning up, gearing up and heading to bed early! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July as we did! I'm so very proud to be an American, and happy to have spent her birthday with family and  friends here at home!