First Ballet Lesson

Ever since Charlotte was three and a half years old she has wanted to take ballet lessons. Today her heart's desire was met while she danced at her very first lesson in classical ballet.She arabesqued across the dance floor!

Bon travail Charlotte! Bon travail!

Still Moment

For some reason or another I was weary this afternoon. I decided to do what my friend Jacqui does and take a quiet moment. Taking the time to brew Earl Grey Tea , taking the time to sit down and sip it from a Royal Albert teacup.
And the most positive thing to do, taking the time to feed the spirit. Therefore, I opened the scriptures to His Word and rested quietly in Him. Moments of worship provide moments of strength.

Fresh Apple Cake

We will be picking up various children at different destinations tomorrow after church.The first stop will be the airport to pick up son #1 who will be arriving from Rhode Island; then on to grandma's house where the girls have been visiting. Since I still have so many apples (even though we must all eat at least three a day), I decided to make an apple cake to take along for Sunday supper. Many people have given me apple cake recipes through the years, but I always find myself hankering for this cake. I almost dropped it today upon removing it from the pan, hence the lopsided effect. But it will not change the taste, no sirree it definitely will not!

Fresh Apple Cake

2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
3 cups flour
3 cups apples, peeled and diced
3 eggs
1 cup of pecans or walnuts
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup water

Peel apples and chop. Set aside. Pour oil into mixing bowl, add sugar and eggs, beating well. Sift flour, soda and salt. Add flour mixture gradually to creamed mixture. At this point I add the water because I like the extra moistness it adds to the cake. Fold in apples, nuts, and vanilla. Bake in greased tube pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour. When cool, glaze.

Glaze
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons water
1-2 teaspoons of vanilla

Mix together and drizzle over the cake.




This cake is best eaten with someone......or alone....or in a crowd.......

A Rainy Interlude

A deluge of rain slowed the traffic for a slight moment on the busy highway as we traveled this afternoon to take my girls for a weekend visit with grandma, granddaddy and visiting aunt. My husband and I were able to journey on for an evening with several stops as we headed back home. First, we dined where the lights were low, the food was satisfying and our seats were situated in a corner allowing our knees to touch. Then a stop to buy a new fragrance at Crabtree and Evelyn, Wisteria.


On the highway once again, I stared at a van carrying a mattress and box spring on top of its roof, tightly wrapped in plastic....thank goodness.....because it was raining once again.

Smelling Good

Psalm 144:12 "....that our daughters may be as cornerstones, polished after the similitude of a palace."

My daughter is growing up and it has always been my heart's desire that she would grow into a godly woman. Finding ways to foster this in her life led me to start a Bible Study/ Fellowship Group for her and a few of her same-aged friends last year. This afternoon we met together and made potpourri.
First little bags were sewn, then each girl mixed her own combination of rose petals, lavender, lemon verbena, thyme, monarda and yarrow. What a lesson it was in individual olfactory distinctions when it came time to add the tiny drops of essential oils.
Finished touches of femininity just waiting to be tucked in between "unmentionables".
Embroidering one's initial adds a special touch I think.


And the best part, my kitchen smells like a rose garden!

An apple, or two, a day....

There are apples covering my kitchen counters. Dropping by my son's place one afternoon, I discovered several trees loaded down with unattended, hence organic, apples. Not wanting them to all go to waste, or to the deer, we hurried over there last night after supper. Surprisingly, these "wild" apples are deliciously sweet. Good for eating and good for cooking. Charlotte donned an apron and assisted me in baking an apple pie for supper tonight. First we rolled the pastry crust, then we stirred the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg into the sliced apples. It was too much, we just had to taste one. Okay, two.

Tent Vows and Glass House Toasts

My husband, eldest son, and I attended a special wedding Sunday evening. The ceremony was held under a tent by a lake with ducks swimming by on the water. The bride and groom vowed to love, honor and cherish until death do them part in a hushed setting of serenity. The reception celebrating the marriage was in the Glass House just up the lighted pathway.
The white chair coverings and black bows added a touch of panache.
The guests were well-fed with these delectable morsels. Unfortunately, my plate was minus the jumbo shrimp. I think I like them....and I would like to like them, but I just don't!
Wedding cake was eaten while we visited with our dear friends, the parents of the groom. It was delicious, not too sweet.....just right (the cake and the conversation). A magical view of the lighted path to the Glass House. As we meandered our way back to our car we felt as if we had wandered into wonderland as the thousands of tiny white lights on the trees surrounding the parking lot dazzled us with their sparkle and glitz.

"Marriage is one of the most profound passages of life a person experiences.
This is because it includes three significant stages,
simultaneously incorporating
an ending, a merging, and a beginning."
Sydney Barbara Metrick

Morning's Memories

The morning after. Unwilling to be paparazzi-like and snap photos last night, this is the scene which greeted me this morning. Last night the food was all carried in by the hands of many helpers. The dishes were cleared and the lovely teenaged daughters loaded the dishwasher and hand washed the many extras before they became engaged with card games with all the others. The adults remained outside sipping our glass of blackberry wine until the darkness swelled around us. Happy memories. These lovely zinnias were from our guest's garden and were placed in the center of the food table that was surrounded by God's abundance to us:
Marinated grilled chicken
Fresh leafy green and romaine lettuces
Cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes , broccoli, sharp cheddar, almonds
Homemade dressings of green goddess and balsamic vinegarette
Yeast rolls
Watermelon
Homemade salsa and tortilla chips
Gallons of sweetened iced tea with lemon and mint
And who does not like a choice of desserts? Or maybe even having two desserts...... Peach cobbler with blueberries served ala mode, of course.
And because I love the smiles of people of all ages when I bring them out, Chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream smoothed in between to make ice cream sandwiches.



One fallen leaf reminded me that Fall is just around the corner.

Refreshment in order

When one is tired from dusting, vacuuming, washing an assortment of lettuces, making dressings, cleaning bathrooms, baking cookies ....



Refreshment is an utmost priority.

Now on to mopping the floors and setting the tables.....refreshed!

shop with love

Due to a rolling along type of day, I was unable to manage my time to get to the market. Since we are expecting a family of six tomorrow evening for dinner, my husband kindly offered to take me to the grocery store tonight.
How I love this man. Does this count as a date?

old herbs and new herbs

I happen to love herbs and the old ones especially hold a irresistible charm. Many years back I was given an old herb, costmary. I adore its musical name. Sometimes it is referred to as the Bible plant. The ladies of yore would press the leaves in their Bibles and use them to combat any soporiferous tendencies of long-winded preachers during church service. This particular plant was included in the "must not stay behind" group during our moves from once place to another. This year I decided I needed to transplant it from its first hurriedly placed spot in the far corner of my yard. Hopefully, it would not just survive but flourish. I am not disappointed. I am hoping it will bloom for me once again. In case you were wondering, it has a candied minty aroma.And these snipped leaves are Thai basil, a first-timer to my garden. This plant is thriving near my not so thriving tomato plants. Its fragrance is spicy and sweet. I couldn't resist filling a little jelly jar with its pertness to sit in my kitchen eating area this evening.