Pecan Pound Cake

While browsing the library used book room, I came across a Homelife magazine from March 2017. I remembered these magazines from my childhood in the Southern Baptist church. I always enjoyed reading the stories once my mother had finished reading the copy we received at church every month. Home Life has changed a lot in 40 years....it is much more fashionable in look and content. They even have recipes now. I found this recipe for Pecan Pound Cake and I knew I had to try it.

 It was so tasty. I took a portion of the cake to Chatsworth for our Thursday night family dinner. I also cut up some pieces and froze them for dessert at a later date. 

I have to say I think this might be my new favorite pound cake recipe.

Pecan Pound Cake

1 cup salted butter

3 cups sugar

1/2 c shortening

6 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp baking soda

3 cups all purpose flour

2 cups chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Combine sugar, butter and shortening in bowl of electric mixer. Beat until creamy.

Add eggs one at a time beating after each addition.

Blend in sour cream and vanilla

Combine baking soda and all purpose flour. Add one cup at a time beating after each cup.

Mix until creamy..fold in pecans.  Spoon into greased and floured tube pan. Bake one hour and 15 minutes. Let cake cool in pan before turning it out onto cake plate. 

I did take about 1/4 cup of flour and mixed it with my pecans ...this helps to prevent the pecans from falling to the bottom as the cake bakes. 

Enjoy! This recipe is a keeper.

Stitching Saturday

Well Ladies, I did it. I finally finished my Prairie Schooler Village number 15.

This has been one of my favorite stitches! I just love Prairie Schooler and now I think I may used overdyed flosses on some of my other Prairie Schooler charts that I plan to stitch in the near future.

It took me three months to stitch this piece in a rotation of six pieces.  Of course once we stitchers finish a piece we are on the hunt to find another chart that tickles our fancy!!

I found a cute clip on You Tube entitled Happy Stitching Song. I tried to link it here without success but if you are interested do a search for it. A  young lady who is a stitcher and a singer did a parody of Happy Working Song from Enchanted.  She has a lovely voice and it was very entertaining if you are a stitcher.

Happy Stitching !

Friday Photos

Amelia shared some pictures of their trip to Arkansas and it looks like the Roberts fam had a good time. ( So take that Disney World.):)

Here is Kendall on the Big Dam Bridge.

All the kiddos...you can tell Hampton is thrilled to be in this picture. He is rapidly becoming a teenager.

This was their favorite restaurant.

Purple Ice Cream!

Brain Freeze for Hudson.

I love this picture of Kendall. She has always been fascinated by the stars and planets.

Our kids love a good science museum.

Looking at the Little Rock area from an observation deck.

Hampton says no to holding the alligator at the Alligator farm. ( I agree!)

Notice the mouths are clamped shut...the alligator's not Hudson's/

The little boys are brave.

Brave mommy too.

The kids enjoyed a petting zoo as well.

They stopped in Memphis on the way home to see the Peabody Ducks then it was home sweet home. They packed a lot into four days.  School starts back here on August 8th so all the vacations are finished for the summer. Soon car line and home work will be our normal routine again.

Using What You Have

This week I finally put away most of my patriotic pieces and I was puzzling over a centerpiece for my dining room table.  As I have said before, I am trying to get rid of a lot of those extras that tend to clutter up my home.  I did not want to go shopping at TJ Maxx, where I KNOW I would find something so I "shopped" my house and my craft room where I store extra decorative items. I came up with this...

I took two cake plates I had in the china cabinet, stacked them on top of each other,  then began playing.   It reminded me of playing as a little girl, how we enjoyed making a play house outside in the hot Georgia summers.  Our imaginations and cast offs from our mothers could create a castle in our minds.   I did find a bag full of mossy pieces and other decorative items that I had stored in the craft room. I put them on the plates and I liked the effect but I needed something for the Topper. I cleaned my little silver bowl that was a wedding gift 40 years ago and popped a great big fake pear inside.  If you know me, you know Pears are one of my favorite things.  My brass candle sticks, one on either side, finished the late summer look.  I used what I had and I saved money! It was a Win Win.

I will leave you with this sign that spoke to me this week on Facebook.

It costs us nothing to say hello to a stranger, hold the door for an elderly person or a young mom with her hands full or just smile!  We can each do one small thing to make the world a better place.

It's Baylor Day!

I shared some pictures of my other grands on Monday but Baylor is sometimes hard to capture in a photograph. I texted Katy and asked her to send me some from her phone. And she did! I wanted to thank you all for praying regarding Baylor's education this fall. Hoover school system did come up with a transitional kindergarten for some special needs children who are not ready to be mainstreamed but they have the potential to be prepared for entering regular classrooms. We are so happy for this option for our spectrum boy. ( For those of you who are new readers, Baylor is our six year old grandson who is on the autistic spectrum.) Katy also reported that Baylor has made huge strides in his speech in recent weeks. We are so happy to hear that, while he does say certain words, he would be classified as non verbal for the most part.

So here is our Beautiful Boy. He has such a sweet spirit and a lovely innocence that is quite refreshing in our present culture.

I am going to have to frame this one.

Loving on Elliott at the grocery store.

This one melts my Nana Heart.

This boy loves water!  You may notice his little bracelet. It gives his name, address and states that he is non verbal.  It provides a lot of peace of mind for Ben and Katy.

And finally...

He has always struggled with sleep. Katy says that seems to be improving as well.  We are thankful for each step forward this little man is making.  Grandpa and I are very proud of our Baylor Man.

The Stream

Good Morning Ladies.....please take note of the information above!!:)

1. It has been good to get back into our normal routine after two and half weeks of doctors appointments, pain and nursing duty. I found out a lot about myself and some not so complimentary. While I am a nurse and I feel capable in my nursing practices, I am lacking a servant's heart.  My hat is off to those of you who are caregivers on a regular basis. I am in awe of my mother who cared for my daddy for almost ten years before his death.   It was hard seeing my husband in pain and being reminded that we are getting older and things will change as our bodies age.  So I am going to focus on enjoying every day that I can be active and enjoy my world.

2. I have to say my Stitchy Heart is full this evening. My friend, Sandy, and I often trade up cross stitch charts when we are finished with them. Today I received an envelope full of cross stitch patterns in my mailbox.   Sandy and I are both working on decluttering our homes and that includes charts that we are finished stitching. It has been so fun trading patterns. Are there any more of you out there that might be interested in a chart Round Robin? I love my stitchy sisters.

3. Today is Charles and Nancy's  8th wedding anniversary. Their wedding was held in Little Ferry NJ.  The brides maids luncheon was at a neat restaurant in Hoboken and can we say, Wonderful Bread. Being a carb o holic, I really enjoyed myself.  Kendall was just a little girl and at the rehearsal, she was being a pain. Grandpa took her outside to the small playground by the church for a break. After a bit, he asked if she wanted to be nice and go back inside. She replied, "No, she wanted to stay outside and be ugly."  In the South, being ugly is a euphemism for acting badly. We still laugh about that one.

4. I really enjoyed my book club today. We discussed the book, Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. It is  a book I read long ago but did I remember it? No.  It is a  book about  a young boy of 14 who writes about his family as he sees them. ( So you know it is a good book.) It takes place at the turn of the 20th century and is filled with words and memories that reminded me of my own upbringing in North Georgia.  Robbie, our hostess served Sassafras Tea as this was mentioned in the book. It was very refreshing....it tastes like Root Beer without the carbonation. We also had cake and pimento cheese tea sandwiches. Our club is made up of women who like to read all sorts of books so we will be reading some books I would not have chosen on my own. It is always good to stretch yourself as a reader.

5. I am finishing the border on my Prairie Schooler Village.  I will be sad to say goodbye to this piece of needlework.

6. I know a lot of you are fans of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge...aka William and Kate. I have enjoyed seeing this young family on their trip to different European countries. That Charlotte is such a cutie and looks so much like her great granny.  George turns four this week and what a handsome fellow he is!  One of the things I like about the royal couple is that they seem to be devoted to one another and their children. I was one of the many who fell for the fairy tale that was Charles and Diana only to find it was a Fractured Fairy Tale.  I think all young girls love to think there is a prince waiting for them. I am so thankful I found mine!

Have a blessed day Bloggy Friends.

Grimmlins on Parade

Pardon me for bragging....but this is Nanaland as I remind you from time to time.  I have some new pictures of the grands.

Margaret had a friend come to spend the night and as you can see they enjoyed playing dress up. Elliott aka Spiderman, had the top of his costume on inside out. Katy clued him in on this and he responded, "Don't Talk to Me." That boy....

Amelia and Todd took the children for a long weekend to Arkansas.  I love this picture of the family.

Here are Landon and Kendall in a recent picture.

Be sure and read Landon's shirt. All girls are to leave this boy alone. Boys should do the same for Kendall.

And finally, the littlest Grimmlin.

Charles says this is why you have children.:) Audrey does love to be of assistance in putting on shoes.

Marvin continues to improve. Please keep praying for him. We had a good weekend.  I am off to have breakfast with Deborah before heading to my Bookclub at ten. Susan is at a genealogy conference at the University of Georgia so it will be just the two of us.  It is super hot here in Alabama...yall keep cool and drink lots of water.

Saturday Stitching

Did you know that July 19, 2017 was a historic day? It was the 325th anniversary of the first hanging in the Salem Witch Trials.  To honor the women who were put to death, there is a Stitch Along Called Salem Not Forgotten online.  I joined it as I have always been interested in that era and the hysteria that led to the death of innocent women.  Here is the piece I am stitching...

While this is stitched on 40 count linen...I am changing the fabric to 28 count linen as my old eyes cannot stitch on 40 count, even with my magnifier.  The designer for this piece is Plum Street Samplers.

Here is my start.

I thought the needle minder was appropriate.  Those poor ladies...

Here is another pattern I like as well.   It is designed by Little House Needleworks.

 I did see some news articles featuring memorials to these women this week...so they are not forgotten.  It was a  certainly a sad time in American History.  I recently read a book about Nathaniel Hawthorne and it stated that his name had been Hathorn but he changed it because one of his relatives was a judge in the witch trials and Nathaniel did not want to be associated with him.  I guess the w and and the e  would disquise him. :)

I am also working on a primitive for fall...it is a Stacy Nash design.

I think it is so cute.

This weekend I am focusing on a finish. I hope to complete my Prairie Schooler Village that I have been working on.  I will be like the Little Engine that Could...I think I can , I think I can.  Because when you finish one piece, you get to start another!

The Way

I am a Protestant but there is a little part of me that is Catholic.  I enjoy watching EWTN on tv and I have read a lot of good books by Catholic theologians that I was totally unfamiliar with from my religious upbringing. Francis De Sales is a favorite of mine along with Pope Benedict.   One of our Catholic cousins recommended the movie, The Way, to me several years ago and I loved it.

This movie stars Martin Sheen as a father who takes up his son's pilgrimage after the son's untimely death on the trail.   The Way refers to the Camino De Santiago which is a pilgrimage that believers have been making since the middle ages. It is not just a short walk either...

It is a walk that takes you from France to Spain where you will reach the church that holds the relics of the apostle St James. Legend has it that his disciples placed him in a boat after his martyrdom and sent his body back to the place he had preached the gospel.  

A shell is the symbol for The Way. You will see sea shells marking the trail and many pilgrims tie a sea shell to their backpacks.

You also have a passport that you carry with you.

It is stamped at different hostels along The Way. At the end of the pilgrimage you turn this in and receive a certificate stating you have completed the walk.

I was excited to see that EWTN is doing a virtual pilgrimage that allows me to sit comfortably in my armchair and follow the pilgrims online.

I have enjoyed watching online and I hope they will do a documentary of the trip when it is completed.   If you are looking for a an inspiring movie, check out The Way.

Farm to Table

Well one good thing about Hobby Lobby pushing Fall and Christmas, there is a good sale on the Summer items. 80% off of what is left in the Summer Aisle. Yes Please!

I did find a pretty plate that I will take to Grimmwood.

It was originally priced at $25 but I got  it for $5!

Thank you for praying for Marvin's cousin, Susan. She passed away today at her home, surrounded by her family. She fought a valiant fight and I am glad that she is at peace.  We wish we could attend the funeral but with Marvin's back problems we know an 8 hour car trip is out of the question.

Marvin is continuing his therapy for his back and it seems to be helping. He is diligent in doing his exercises every day as well.  We are hoping to get back to Grimmwood next weekend. I will have a new job, doing the weed eating!!

Its a Daisy Day

My next door neighbors have a lovely bed of daisies that are blooming right now. Daisies are such a cheerful flower.   I remember one of my friends used them in her wedding as they were her favorite flower.

I put a few in a vase with sea shells at the bottom...just says summertime to me.

I was reading up on Daisies. The name comes from an old English word that meant Days Eye. These flowers bloom on every continent except Anartica.  They are rather like Poinsettias in that the middle part of the daisy is considered a flower on its own. Two flowers in one is how it is described in my reading.

Marvin was able to go to work Monday and Tuesday. He seems to be doing better and if we can get that pesky knee under control, I think we will be on the road to recovery. Thanks so much for all your prayers. Also, Marvin's cousin, Susan, has gone home with Hospice. Please pray for her family. Her daughter is expecting a baby in September and had hoped her mama would make it until the birth.

I hope all of my blog friends have a blessed Wednesday.

Jane and Lucy

After watching many Braves Baseball Games and  Wimbledon Tennis matches, I was tired of sports. Since Marvin cannot climb the stairs to the Man Cave, we have been sharing the tv in the living room.  And while I am glad the Braves have turned a corner and are doing well, I was ready for a change.

I turned on my Floss tube online and watched that for a bit.  Then I became intrigued with a suggested video...Jane Austen Behind Closed Doors.  It just popped up as a video I might enjoy as I have watched many Lucy Worsley presentations on You Tube via the BBC.

  Jane Austen died two hundred years ago today so it is very appropriate to take a look at one of my favorite authors.  She was only 41 years old and probably died of a disease that could be easily treated  today.   But before we remember Jane, let's meet Lucy.

 

Here is the lovely Lucy. She is a historian, Royal curator and tv hostess. She makes history come  alive. You may have seen her on PBS  presenting The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth. After I watched this series I wanted to see more history with Lucy.

Her one hour program is a must for any Austen fan. Lucy takes us to the houses where Jane lived, describes Jane's complicated family life and shares with us the inspiration for Jane's novels. Sadly Jane did not live to enjoy her popularity as a novelist.  Her novels sold well but as she sold the rights for the first works, she never received a royalty  for Pride and Prejudice. She did wise up a bit and refused to sell the rights of later novels.  I enjoyed seeing the houses where Jane lived, her visits to Bath and Lyme. Her position in life and her travels definitely had an impact on the themes of her books.

So if you have a lazy afternoon with nothing to do, go to You Tube and check out this interesting program.

Hurray for Habitat for Humanity

I had the pleasure of attending the dedication of the newest Habitat House here in Decatur.  And it belongs to my friend, Kathleen.

Kathleen, her husband, Harold and son, Michael, will be moving into their new home next weekend.  Kathleen is quite a woman.After her husband became disabled due to complications from a surgery, Kathleen stepped up to the plate to care for her husband and her family. Originally from Upstate New York, Kathleen and Harold are true southerners now.  The Moores attend First Bible Church and Kathleen is in my small group of ladies who meet for encouragement and prayer. I can still remember the day Kathleen told our little group that she and Harold were applying to be accepted into the Habitat program. And believe me, it is not easy. It has been a three year journey for this family. They took required classes and worked on the houses of other Habitat families while waiting for their home to be built.

Today was a very touching day...celebrating this accomplishment! Our church, First Bible, was one of the sponsors in building the home. In addition to giving money for the project, many FBC members worked on the house.

And here it is...just lovely. It is a two bedroom two bath home. In the master bedroom is a nook devoted to Harold's dialysis, which Kathleen does all by herself. She shared with me that she was not pleased with the dialysis center so she learned to administer the dialysis.  As an old nurse, I do not know if I would be comfortable doing that so my hat is off to my amazing friend.

The kitchen and the living room are one big area. The Moores are going to really enjoy this new home.

And here is a gift for the family from our small group. Moore with The blessing house in white across the name. established 2017.  Kathleen and Harold are planning to use their new home to be a blessing in the neighborhood.  God Bless this wonderful family in their new home.

Crispy Critter

  I do not usually post on Sunday but several people were so sweet to ask how Marvin is doing so here is a short update.

The epidural went well. We found the hospital and the area where we were to be. The nurses and doctors were very nice and efficient. However by the time we went for his epidural his knee was bothering him because he had been walking in such a way that he put strain on it to avoid back pain. So we came home from the procedure and iced it good. We did the same thing again today and it seems to be helping. He was able to shower and do the exercises the physical therapist gave him so we are going to call today a victory.

We have decided that we will see a chiropractor for some help as well. Marvin is very limited in the pain meds he can  take so we are going to look for some help with pain management.   So we have a plan. Thanks so much for all the prayers and the good wishes.  It has been a hard three weeks and frankly I am ready to see some forward progress.  Hopefully we are moving in the right direction.

Saturday Stitching

I hope this is true...I do know stitching keeps me on an even keel and produces some nice items for my home and for gifts.

This week I took some time to work in my Stitchy Journal...purchased from Amanda's ETSY store. You can find Amanda at Dixie Delights on my blog roll. These are the pretty threads I got this month from Colour and Cotton.  And that blue came in handy as I was working on some ornaments for my Grands for Christmas.

Here is the start of my next Christmas ornament for Grimmwood along with a car for Margaret and a truck for Elliott.  I am not sure how I will finish the kids ornaments but I will share them here when they are completed.

And here are my present Works in Progress.

This is Prairie Schooler Village number 15. It was designed in the 1980s but I am bringing it into the future with some overdyed flosses along with some changes in the pattern.

The most wonderful Fright of the Year by Sue Willis. My little witches hat needle minder came from Tonya's Sewing Room on ETSY.

A bit more progress on Smoky Mountain Christmas. I will be working on it this weekend. I am part of a Facebook Stitch Along  with this piece. Several ladies are stitching it. My online stitchy friend, Dena, finished hers and it is just beautiful.

And a new start...a Primitive by Stacy Nash Primitives.

I like the old fashioned tone of this Halloween primitive.

So there is my work this week.  I am beginning to focus on fall pieces. I did not complete all the Summer pieces I had hoped to complete but maybe next year!!