BIBLE CAKE

Let me be the first to say it (cause I know that some of you that know me in real life are already thinking it)...I did not make this cake and I do not intend to make this cake. But, I know that some of you really like that sort of thing :). So, if you decide to try this, I'd love to hear about it.

What's that you say? You do not have the time to look up all the references? Well, I don't want to spoil anyone's fun...so if you want the challenge of looking up the ingredients yourself...DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER. If just the thought of trying to figure this whole puzzle out makes you want to run screaming into the night...the deciphered recipe is below.

BIBLE CAKE

1/2 c. butter
2 c. sugar
2 tbs. honey
6 eggs
1 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
Spices to taste
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
2 c. figs
2 c. almonds
2 c. raisins

Beat the butter, sugar, and honey until light. Beat the 6 egg yolks and add. Add flour, baking powder, spices, and salt alternately with the milk. Fold in figs, almonds and raisins, then add the 6 egg whites beaten stiff. Bake 2 hours in greased 10" tube pan at 300F. Makes 28 servings.

No. No, I still do not intend to make this cake!

RUNNING ...so to speak...

I started out the day, yesterday, with a mission...see my friends for breakfast...get a hair cut...visit TJM*XX....go to Dr.....purchase at Office store...purchase book at the Book store...stop by W/D for Alex... I am his official grocery-getter. (years ago when my boys were quite a bit younger, we had a station wagon. A REAL station wagon. You know the ones that were as long as a train, and the back seat made into more seats...or laid flat for grocery getting...or young-uns sleeping. It was yellow with 'real wood' on the side! And, I was QUEEN OF THE ROAD in that thing! Oh, my, it was a big, big, car.
My boys and all the other kids in the neighborhood called it The Grocery Getter! And, EVERYTIME I pulled out of my driveway, what ever child happened to be outside would have the responsiblility of yelling to every house within shouting distance, "There goes that Grocery Getter!" Except Ian...the baby...he would yell,"DERE GOES DAT GO GETTER MOMMY!" Whichever..the whole neighborhood was made aware of my comings and goings.) (I once took my mother, my mother in law, my sister, and 5 grandchildren in that tank all the way to NC, which was 13 hours driving time...on a good day---we did not pick a good day. We had the first unplanned stop about 20 miles from home. For some reason my 2 youngest boys figured that since I was driving, all the teaching and training and rules and decent behavior was not necessary because WE.WERE.PACKED.LIKE.SARDINES.INTO.THE.GROCER.GETTER.

I warned a few times and then I came to my senses...this was not going to get better and we were less than an hour into the trip. I pulled off the road...we were in the country...not much traffic. I walked down a little dirt road until I found a bush that was growing the most wonderful switches. It was covered in switches...so, I decided to 'borrow' a few. And, I, the boys and the switches had a quick review lesson of proper behavior. AND, one of the swiches decided to travel along with us. It was placed in a prominent place...easy for all to see!)

Back to the present...I did quite a bit of running! I met my friends for breakfast. Before I even got there, I knew that my lower tummy area was in some distress. And, boy was it! And, it got more distressed. But, I was able to visit with Kathy, Judy, and Ann....between runs to the bathroom!

The girl who cuts my hair called me and said she was ready for me...so I left quickly and made the run to the salon.


I hurried to TJM, but did not buy anything. Really! I ran into my friend,Dawn, and we chatted a while. I really miss her...and all the girls I worked with! It was nice to catch up a little.


I went to the Dr., who put a shot in my back, up near my shoulder. FUN.


But, at least my irritable bowel is feeling much calmer now. Got my book...I'm gonna save it to read on a trip coming up.


And stopped by the grocery store. Got Alex's list of THINGS I HAVE TO HAVE.

And my running is over. The only thing moving on me is my fingers. And, that is all I can tell you about today.

RUNNING

If you have to 'run around' today....be sure to look cute and have fun!

Oh, and take a friend, if you can.....it makes the journey so much nicer!

PARADISE

It has been sooooo cold and damp and dreary here today. I think it would be nice to wake up here tomorrow. My favorite place in the world...Maui.

CHOICES

There are not many times at this stage of life, that I am called upon to face a dilemma. It's not often that there is a choice to be made that causes me to weigh the situation. Not often am I called upon to list the pros and cons of what I am facing in order to make the best decision.

Really, all of the hard decisions that I face...have already been faced. I know the right answers, and I know what to do. I do not even have to think about most of them anymore. And, that makes my life easier.

However...a dilemma has presented itself to me today, that I have no experience in dealing with. I have never come up against this exact choice before...so I have nothing to fall back on. I am going on instinct here. There is nothing I can read to help me decide. And, whichever way I decide...someone is going to be left out. And, I am going to be the one doing the suffering. Why must life be so hard?

And, so...I must decide...and I must decide quickly...there is a time limit. It is possible that you may have dealt with something similar, so let me explain...

Tonight...at 7:00...

All 3 of these shows come on! All at the same time! Life, it seems, has dealt me a cruel blow!

OK...I have a DVR, so I can record one of them. And, truth be told, it will not REALLY matter if I miss American Idol. Actually at this stage of the game, it's really hard for me to keep them all straight anyway. I tend to enjoy it better when I start watching when it gets down to the top 10. So, that takes care of that...and I'm down to 2 choices.

LOST...I have been watching since the beginning...and everything that happens now is tying the story up. They are laying the groundwork for the big mysteries to be solved.

OLYMPICS...I am not much on most of these games. Especially the little bumper car things that go around the track by themselves...does it count if they get into their little cars the quickest? And, why do they have to push themselves off? Couldn't they have pit crews like at the Nascar drivers do?

And the skiing...who knew there were so many different ways to go down a hill? Some times, they are alone...then groups of 2...or 4. Sometimes they have ramps to propel them skyward. And, on the way down they twist and spin and twirl. Sometimes they follow a track...and sometimes, they take a break in the middle and shoot at some targets with the guns they are carrying on their backs....which doesn't seem all that safe to me...but no one asked me.

I suppose if you were a hockey fan, those games would be exciting to watch...but, I'm not.

What I am a fan of, though, is the figure skating. I love watching them as they slide and glide and twist and turn and fly over the ice. I wonder how they get their bodies to rotate like they do . I wonder how they manage to keep from tripping over their own feet...or their partners.

So, that's where we are...take Idol out...that leaves skating...and Lost. Skating and Lost...Lost and Skating.

Can you guess which one I chose?

EDITED TO ADD---I watched LOST! And, that was the right decision. All of the girls that I wanted to watch came on after LOST was over!

ROOTS

I have nothing clever to say about this picture. It was just so captivating!
Gives new meaning to the words...tree house...doesn't it?

HAPPY 101

Many thanks to my friend, Jewel, at Musings from the World of Jewel
for this lovely award. If you don't know Jewel, she is quite an extraordinary young woman. Working on her college degree, her heart is dedicated to the Lord's work. She has a true heart for spreading the gospel and reaching the world for Christ.

And, so, I am to list 10 things that make me happy.

1...My sweet daughter-in-love is a 3rd grade teacher. I can count on my phone ringing almost every day between 3:30 and 4:00 as she calls to check in with me.

2...Seeing my nightlight ON if I have to get up during the night. (Someone, who shall remain nameless, thinks I am old enough NOT to need it on and tends to turn it OFF after I go to sleep) It's not nice to fool with the Queen of the House!

3...I still have a Christmas Tree up in my studio. It is my rustic twig tree decorated with nature items. It makes me happy to look at it...so I think I will, until it doesn't!

4...Going to a bookstore...with no limits on my time!

5...Watching Joy playing the piano at church.

6...Watching LOST with Alex. We've watched it together since the beginning.

7...Having the correct change...to the penny!

8...A Diet Cherry Coke with extra syrup...at Sonic. Shhh! Don't tell Diet Dr. Pepper.

9...The promise of Spring!

10..My Pop!

Thanks again, Jewel!

SNOW BIRDS

All of our snow is gone, and for sure it won't be back till I'm an old lady! And, that will be a good long while!!! But, I ran across these birds in the snow and thought I'd share. They look so cold, don't they? Be sure to notice where the blue jay flew into the snow...it looks like angel wings!








Hope you and all God's creatures are warm tonight!

GREEN.........PLEASE ?!!!

This is what I want to see. GREEN! Lots and lots of green!

MAKING UP

This is the moisturizer I have used for years. Once I found it, I've never used anything else. Because it works on my dry skin! Nothing else ever did, and I tried many. So, I am a lifetime user!



I have always used a liquid foundation from Clinique also. And, I was very pleased. But, the last time I went in to buy makeup...the clerk showed me this. And, I guess I was in a "let's try something new" mood. I bought it, and tried it, and I'm sold!


Here is the information that went along with it...
NEW Superbalanced Powder Makeup SPF 15
"Smart" technology keeps dry areas comfortable, oily areas less shiny. No-waste grinder dispenses skin-defending vitamins with each twist. Fresh-shaved mineral powder clings evenly to skin. Lasts for up to 8 long hours. Includes antibacterial brush.
Skin Types: All
Formula: Loose Powder
Coverage: Moderate
Benefits: Balances combination skin, Long wearing, Mineral enriched, Natural skin-perfecting look, Oil control


Friends, this makeup is great! I love it. I love the coverage, I love how long it lasts, I love how quickly it goes on. I did have to get a big brush...this little one just doesn't cut it. I bought a big, fat brush at the drugstore.

Since I have retired, I am home much more than usual. And, I have a tendency to not bother with makeup and hair and the like. But, this is so quick...there's no reason not to brush it on...add a little blush...and I'm done. Of course, if I am going out, I'll do my eye makeup, too. (Naturally Glossy Mascara by---Clinique, of course)

Just wanted to pass this along because I tend to just stay with products that are tried and true and that I know work...especially when it comes to cosmetics. And, sometimes, there can be new products that are actually better. This one has been for me.

What about you? Do you have products that you feel a loyalty to? Products that you always buy and use? Share, please....

BLURRY

Last week, it snowed here. We were expecting it, and looking forward to it. I even found myself waking up during the night to look out the window to see if it had started. I watched it and marveled at it, and thrilled to see it...all by myself. When I could stand it no longer, I went to wake Alex up. Somehow I knew that it was much more likely that he would be excited about it than Don. As it turned out, he was already awake...but had not even bothered to look outside. Boys! Men! I'll just never understand them!

Anyway, he was so gracious to come and sit on the couch with me and look out the big picture window in his apartment. It is the largest one in our house and it looks out over the pool. The snow falling was beautiful...just beautiful. I'm sure there is much to be said about the fact that it is something that we have seen so rarely. When it floats down from as far up as you can see...it is mesmerizing!

Well, we watched for an hour or so. It was a sweet time spent together with my son. As we sat there talking about first one thing and then another...and always back to the snow...Alex said some things to me that touched me so deeply.

"If it had snowed last year, I would not have been able to see it." (No, at this time last year, he was legally blind)

"Do you know how wonderful it is to be able to SEE?" (I don't, for I have always been able to see. Even though my own eyesight is quite poor...I have always been able to see what I wanted with glasses.)

"Mom, I am so blessed! So blessed! I can see! I can see each of those snowflakes! I can see how many there are! I can see them when they fall! "

"Do you see that bird nest up there?" I remarked to him that I knew it had to make such a difference to be able to be able to see the branches and the leaves in the trees. He then went on to tell me something that I had never heard him say before.

"Mom, before my eyes were fixed, it was just like someone had filled my eyes with V*aseline. I always felt like like I was trying to see through it. But, now it is like someone wiped all the V*aseline out of my eyes!"

Oh, Alex, I am so happy that you can see. I am so happy that God choose to heal your eyes. I am so happy that He worked all this out in His time and in His way. I am blessed as well.

But, as much as I am blessed by the fact that you can see...I am just as blessed by the fact that you recognize that this gift came from God. Blessed that you realize that every good gift in our lives is from Him. Blessed that you don't take it for granted.

So revel in it! Thrill to it! And, use your eyes to see all the beauty there is in this world. God made it all for us to enjoy! Take the time to see it all...and take the time to say "Thank-you!"

But, don't count on seeing much more of that beautiful snow 'round these parts!

THE GREATEST OF THESE...

Know what day it is? Love Day! Valentine's Day!




How do we learn to love?

Guard your heart...keep it tender and sweet...

A beautiful verse! But, notice...there is a condition before the promise!


The greatest 'love story'...

Remember...


Hope you have enjoyed my "HEARTS WEEK". I have had fun putting it together! It is amazing how many things you can find with the 'heart' theme.

There has been so much focus on 'love' this week...looking for ways to do things for others, ways to show our love, ways to do that 'little bit extra' to show others how we feel about them. Let us try to keep that focus as we continue through this year. We would all be better off for it!

Hope you and yours feel loved today!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !

FRIDAY...HEARTS ALIVE !

All of these 'HEART' markings were natural occurances...

Perky Penguins...


Pretty Puppy...

Porky Pig...

Bossy Bull...

Classy Crane...

Cute Cow...

SNOW DAY

OK...I realize that 'big' is relative...but for us here in the deep South...it's BIG!
Just indulge me...we're mighty proud of our 'big' snow. The last time it snowed any where near this amount was in 1993!

MORNING...

AFTERNOON...

Amazing how the snow in my yard managed to form this lovely heart!!! Imagine that!!
I wonder if it has anything to do with my blog posts this week...