Young Man or Little Boy!!

Here is a picture of my young man, I have been told I am not allowed to say he is my little boy any more, don't you know he is all of 10 years old, so he reminds me as if somehow I had forgotten, well I guess at 10 that does qualify him for young man now instead of little boy! I feel blue! Anyone else out there got these same blues??????

Dreamy Dining Room

This is my dream dining room, the table, chairs, lights, the colors, I love the whole room but have a moderate budget, if you could only do part what would it be, looking forward to the ideas. Have a great day!

*courtesy of Pottery Barn Fall catalogue

The Leaves are Storming!

The things I love about fall are the cool, crisp air, the colors and most of all the leaves stormin!

Jim and Victoria

Here they are on they're way to Homecoming! Oh to be young again!!!!!

Josia's Pumpkin

I must say here is the most beautiful fall picture I have ever had the privilege to see, you see my little guy is the artist who made this, he is six years old and a artist in his own right, I love this picture and will always cherish it, have a sweet evening!!

The Brunette!

The Redhead!

The Fall Cake

Fall just isn't fall without this delicious moist wonderful calorie free cake, ok well maybe the calorie free part is stretching it but the rest is the truth! The recipe follows:

Hummingbird Cake

Ingredients:
Serves 12

* FOR THE CAKE
* Nonstick vegetable spray
* All-purpose flour, for pans
* 3 cups self-rising flour
* 2 cups granulated sugar
* 3/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
* 2 very ripe large bananas, mashed
* 1 (8-ounce) crushed pineapple, with juice
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 4 large eggs, beaten
* FOR THE FROSTING
* 1 pound (1 box) confectioners' sugar, (for the frosting)
* 1 (8-ounces) cream cheese, room temperature (for the frosting)
* 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, softened (for the frosting)
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, (for the frosting)
* 1 tablespoon milk, or more if needed (for the frosting)
* 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, (for the frosting)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray and flour three 8-by-2-inch round cake pans, tapping out excess flour; set aside.
2. Prepare the cake; in a large bowl, stir to combine self-rising flour, sugar, oil, pecans, bananas, pineapple, vanilla, cinnamon, and eggs.
3. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans, smoothing with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until the tops spring back when gently pressed with your fingertips, 26 to 28 minutes.
4. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto wire rack. Re-invert cakes and let them cool completely, top sides up.
5. Prepare the frosting; in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine sugar, cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon milk on medium speed until frosting is smooth. If needed, add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to achieve the proper spreading consistency.
6. Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to make level. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate or lazy Susan. Place the first layer on the cake plate. Spread the top of the first layer with 1/4 of the frosting. Place the second layer on top and repeat process with another 1/4 of the frosting. Place the remaining layer on top of the second layer bottom side up. Spread entire cake with remaining frosting. Sprinkle the top with pecans. Remove parchment paper strips; refrigerate until ready to serve.
*courtesy of Martha Stewart website.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

I know it seems crazy, but I am so ready to start the holidays, I have always loved fall and winter but I have had enough of summer I want the fall and winter to be here, maybe it is the cozy feelings I get knowing my kids and family will be together and the fireplace will be going and cookies and the christmas cookbooks, wow, anyone else out there feel the same way!!!

Just Dreaming!!!

What a home, notice I said home not house.


Phelps Settlement House One . www.PhelpsSettlement.com

Birth of the Sunflower!

video: dolphinsonia

The Mexican Sunflower!!!

This is absolutely one of my favorite colors, one of my most favorite flowers, and one of my favorite cultures!
photo: simplyspike

abstract sunflowers?

Here is what I see in this piece of art, Abstract Sunflowers, but this work can dictate many different opinions of what it represents.

What a Night Owl!!!!

Life of Wine

…but I do like to think about the life of wine, how it’s a living thing. I like to think about what was going on the year the grapes were growing, how the sun was shining that summer or if it rained… what the weather was like. I think about all those people who tended and picked the grapes, and if it’s an old wine, how many of them must be dead by now. I love how wine continues to evolve, how every time I open a bottle its going to taste different than if I had opened it on any other day. Because a bottle of wine is actually alive — it’s constantly evolving and gaining complexity. That is, until it peaks — like your ‘61 — and begins its steady, inevitable decline. And it tastes so good
*Excerpt from Sideways.

Beauty

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Enlightenment

A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, how many steps have we all taken in this journey of life?

Tree of Luv

photo by sk8much, photobucket

Bowl full of Luv!

Here I am thinking about how love is expressed in so many different ways, with the most sweetest day of all upon us shortly, what are some of the ways one will show their sweetest their love?? Have a gorgeous day!!

First In Time

Well here I am for the first time writing a post, I don't know if I am doing this right, but is there a right way to write something or can it just be from the very center of someone's soul! I look foward as I venture forth to meeting new people, have a beautiful evening!! Diana