Have a Blessed Easter

Signs of Spring

It's been cold, windy and rainy this weekend, but the sun is out today. The wind is still bitter, but there are some signs of Spring. When it warms up, I think it will really start getting green. The oaks on our place are budding out with catkins and tiny leaves.



Black Jack Oak

Post Oak

Things are greening up!

I'm looking forward to the wildflowers that should be out in another week or two. I'm really enjoying watching the change of seasons since this is our first Spring here.

 

 

The granddaughters have given me a start for my herb garden. This rosemary in my kitchen window, plus some dill basil that are just coming up in other containers. (My little point and shoot camera doesn't do it justice.) They'll be out here on Sunday to hunt eggs-hoping for warmer weather!

 

What a Difference a Day Makes...

...or three days to be precise. Last week, my hubby's mom came out to visit and we took her back home on Friday. When we left, the post oaks on our land were bare and the hills and valleys on the road looked pretty bleak. Coming back today, a soft green had begun to creep across the hills. Most of our oaks seem to have suddenly decided to start coming out, and mockingbirds are everywhere. It is definitely spring, even though the calendar says we have to wait until Wednesday.

We stopped at our son and daughter in law's for the weekend so that we could all be there for our newest grandson's baby blessing day at their church. I'm told it was beautiful, but unfortunately, I spent most of the weekend at the hotel with a nasty stomach bug. The other grandmother took this picture.

He's ten weeks old and absolutely beautiful! (Not that I'm in any way prejudiced!) Our daughter called today to say that our other grandson who is six months old has started crawling in earnest since we left and now says "mama". Seems like everything is growing and changing with the season!

The Black Hole

We have a finished out attic room that we hope to turn into a spare bedroom someday, but in the meantime, it has become the place to put everything we don't want to deal with right now. I don't know what goes on in there when the light goes off, but I suspect that all those boxes of stuff are breeding new boxes of stuff because there always seem to be a few more when I open the door. It wouldn't surprise me to find all the mates to our unmatched socks in there as well as the stamps I bought for mailing Christmas cards last December. 

My plan is to try to unpack just one box a day...ok, a box a week...or so...maybe.

Let's change the subject...that Cinnamon Roll Cake I made last night was wonderful!! (Definitely not good for us, but wonderful.)  Here's the recipe as promised:

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Cake:

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

Topping: 
1/2 cup butter melted
1 cup butter softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 TB flour
1 TB cinnamon

Mix flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, milk, eggs and vanilla together.

Stir in melted butter, slowly. Pour into greased 9x13 pan.

Mix topping ingredients (1 cup butter softened, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon). Drop over cake mixture evenly. (I also added some chopped pecans on top).

Swirl your topping and cake mixture with a knife going up and down the length of the pan.

Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.

Top with a glaze which is made by mixing 2 cups powdered sugar, 5 TB milk and 1 tsp. vanilla. Drizzle over the cake while it's still warm. ENJOY!

Hmmm...I believe I'll go have another piece of cake and try not to think about those boxes...

Sunday

It's been a quiet day, we went to church with our daughter and our three grands. Quite a handful, but they have activities for the children during the service, and the baby slept so it was nice. Our poor son-in-law is down with pneumonia, but is doing better.

It's been a clear, beautiful day, but the wind is kicking up and nasty weather is forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Storms after midnight and wind and possible snow tomorrow. Some trees are starting to bud out, but looks like winter isn't over yet! I'm trying a new recipe for dessert tonight-cinnamon roll cake-if it turns out well, I'll post the recipe!

Visit to Mimi and Pop's House

(Warning-lots of grandkid pictures!)

We had the grandkids out to our place for a sleepover Sunday night. Yesterday was their mom's birthday and we thought we'd give her the day to herself. We all had so much fun!

We had tractor rides...

 

visited the neighbors...

 

baked cookies...

and had a mega bubble bath!!
 

Country Folk

...or at least a little more like country folk! This is my husband's latest purchase-delivered today. It belonged to a gentleman who could no longer use it, so we were able to get it at a very good price which included a mower, a blade (?) and two bucket type-things. (Notice my firm grasp of tractor attachment names! You can take the girl out of the city, but evidently you can't teach her much about farm equipment!) 

He has been out mowing this afternoon and enjoying himself thoroughly! This is something he's been shopping around for since we moved out here. He's no stranger to driving one as he drove his dad's tractor many times. (Unlike me, he grew up out in the country.) I think I'll leave the tractor driving to him! 

We're bringing the grandkids home with us Sunday after church to spend the afternoon and sleep over. Monday is our daughter's birthday, and we're giving her a day all to herself then bringing the kids back Monday evening for a birthday dinner out. Should be lots of fun!