Sunday, February 8, 2015....

                 "Be still, and know that I am God."

                                                 Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

The Mission Focus, as listed in the 2015 United Methodist Women Prayer Calendar, is Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock, Arkansas.

May this be a day filled with joy, love, and peace for you!

Go red!

Are you wearing red today to call attention to women's heart health?  Do you know the signs of a stroke/heart attack?  Do you know your risk factors for stroke/heart attack?  Be aware, and take care of your health! 

Have a great Friday!

Only the details....

Only the details remain for the flooring project The Husband has had underway.

Finished all the way to the sunroom!  Yay!

Quarter round needs to be completed....

....and that t-strip at the fireplace.  We will soon be able to call this project finished!  Time to move on to the next one! :-)

Have you had a special winter project for these cold days?

Another from the past....Cookbook Wednesday

At least 45 years ago, there was a locally produced television show that appealed to homemakers.  The hostess of this show featured recipes from local contributors.  In 1970, many of these recipes were compiled into a cookbook.

I would not have missed adding this book to my collection.

It has been well used through the years, with these favorites:  

Isn't it easy to see how popular this one is?  Love it!

This has been the "go to" pound cake for many years!  

We have really relied on this punch many times.

Mary Starr, and this cookbook, have greatly influenced the direction of many of my kitchen activities.  It is an invaluable addition to my collection.

Do you have a favorite cookbook that includes recipes from your area?

February....

The snowman decor has given way to -

Time to think about Valentine's Day!  Only eleven days away!:-)  What do you have planned for the "month of hearts and flowers?"

Time for another full moon!  Will it be clear where you are tonight?

A gathering....

We had a "gathering" here over the week-end.  Muncho Mom, Macho Man, and the Munchkins planned a short visit.  As often is the case when they come to town, City Girl came as well.  Country Girl and Country Man were also able to be here!  This was the first time for us to see one another since Christmas, so it was a special occasion!

A roasted chicken, a dozen eggs, and fewer than 24 hours later, they had all returned to their own places, but not before this was demolished.

You may remember the recipe from a Cookbook Wednesday feature a few weeks ago.  Perhaps this will jog your memory.

Unfortunately, Louise, I wasn't able to find that Calumet Baking Powder here, so it really wasn't an authentic Calumet Devil's Food Cake.  Nonetheless, it was apparently a hit as there were not any leftovers!

I do not remember the process Mother went through to make this cake.  I do, however, remember it when it was almost finished.  The top cake layer never wanted to stay in place, and the recipe for the sea foam frosting didn't cover the entire cake.  I had the same experience.  The top layer for this one kept sliding to the side, although the cake plate was level.  I finally just tilted the plate until the layer made that final slide into the correct place and stayed there!  

The sea foam frosting was a "first" for me.  To cover the entire cake, however, the recipe should probably have been doubled.  There were a few "disasters" while I was making the frosting.  First, I failed to have the beater in a low enough position while I was pouring the syrup into the egg white, and my shirt (where is that apron?) became decorated with tiny spatters of syrup!  Next, while unable to hold onto the large mixing cup that I had used for beating the egg white, it spun around out of control, encountered a spoon rest, and voila!  A broken spoon rest - plus - the ear of the cup broke off as well! I'm not sure I will try the sea foam frosting again anytime soon.:-)

The sun was out here this morning just long enough for that groundhog to see his shadow!  Now - what does that mean?   I'm not sure I trust a groundhog as a winter weather predictor.:-)

Keep warm, and stay safe!

Sunday, February 1, 2015....

Words for today once again come from Apples of Gold, compiled by Jo Petty.

                        "He who loses money loses much;

                          he who loses friends loses more,

                          but he who loses faith loses all."

As listed in the United Methodist Women 2015 Prayer Calendar, today's Mission Focus is the Bethlehem Community Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

May this be a day in which you are surrounded by love, joy, and peace.