Cake Instructions, Step by Step:

Good Morning/Afternoon to all who come and visit. I am so happy that some of you have already made the cake--it is a really yummy cake and easy to make. Today I am showing step by step instructions on how to make the cake---->

First make sure you have all the ingredients:

Yellow Cake:
2 3/4 Cup of All Purpose Flour
2 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powdered
1/2 cup Butter or Margarine
1 3/4 cups Sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla
2 Eggs
1 1/4 cups Milk


This is how I butter and flour my pans--I use two 9 inch rounds and I get a little baggy and put some butter on it and use my hand in the baggy to butter the pan all around:

Then I put a spoonful of flour in the pan and shake it all around until the flour is well coated all around the pan as shown:
These are my two well coated buttered and floured pans:
Now for the ingredients---use a measuring cup and measure out the amount of flour and use a butter knife or the side of the jar to measure evenly:
Pour the flour into

a bowl: salt:
Baking powder--put the bowl of dry ingredients aside:
In a mixing bowl put your room temperature butter or margarine in a mixing bowl and beat for about 30 seconds. I used a hand mixer, but you can also use a stand mixer or your own hand:)
Then add the sugar and the vanilla and beat until well combined:

Add eggs, one at a time, mixing one minute after each:

Add milk and the dry ingredients alternately, little by little, beating each time:
Beating:
Adding some of the flour:
All the ingredients are all together now:

Pour the mixture into the floured pans, and use a spatula to get every drop:

Here are the pans filled with the cake batter all ready to go into the oven:
Cook the cake at 375' for 30- 35 minutes---only you know your oven, so you will have to keep an eye on your cakes, my cake was actually done cooking at 26 minutes: I use the toothpick trick to make sure the cake is cooked all the way through. Stick a toothpick in the center and if it pulls out clean your cake is done:


See the toothpick is clean--cake is done--yay!!! I let the cake cool on that wire rack for about ten minutes, then I turned them over onto two plates and let them cool completely before I frosted them:

Tomorrow, I am going to show you step by step how I made the lemon frosting to go on the cake:) I hope you enjoyed my cake making adventure--have a wonderful Tuesday my friends!!!

The Cake Recipe

Here is the cake recipe I will be making. Get all your ingredients ready.











Yellow Cake with Lemon Frosting:












Yellow Cake:

2 3/4 Cup of All Purpose Flour
2 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powdered
1/2 cup Butter or Margarine
1 3/4 cups Sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla
2 Eggs
1 1/4 cups Milk

Grease and lightly flour two round baking pans. Combine flour, baking powder and 1 teaspoon of salt. Beat butter about 30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla, beat till well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating 1 minute after each. Add dry ingredients and milk alternately to beaten mixture, beating after each addition. Turn into pans. Bake 375' oven for 30 to 35 minutes or till done. Cool 10 minutes on wire racks. Remove from pans. Cool. Serve 12.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons lemon zest1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups powdered sugar

Frosting:Beat cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, lemon rind, and vanilla together until smooth and fluffy. Add 3 cups powdered sugar and beat together. Add the additional 2 cups of powdered sugar. Beat until creamy. Add more icing sugar or juice as needed for easy spreading.

Ladies Finishing School

You must go to Elizabeth's blog for her Ladies Finishing School--it is absolutely wonderful. Starting on Monday, I will be making a cake with step by step instructions and pictures. This should be a lot of fun.

The Wooden Bowl

I have read this many times on other blogs and I have just received this in an email, which I think is worth repeating (again)---Have a wonderful Sunday Friends


The Wooden Bowl

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table.But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl! When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life...”I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I’ve learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn!

(Courtesy of an email)

Show and Tell

Good Morning/Afternoon. Kelli is hosting her Friday Show and Tell---so make sure you follow the link and look at everyones' lovely show and tell and add your own too.

Today I am showing my little birdhouse. I have had this little birdhouse for so many years, I can not tell you where or when I got it----but I just think it is the cutest little birdhouse.











Here it is a little closer. If you click on the picture it will enlarge for a better look.

I hope everyone that comes by has a wonderful Friday, Thank you so much for looking--I can not wait to hop on over to your Show and Tell and see what you have:)

Thursday-Cookbooks

Happy Thursday everyone. Today, Alexis finishes this class level of swimming and will start the next set of swimming lessons. She loves it!!

My grandmother had given me some cookbooks--and they are just so fun to read and they have some really good recipes too. The first copyright was 1954--how precious. I just love my little cookbooks.

They are titled:
Salads and Salad Dressings
Cooling Dishes For Hot Weather
Tempting Low Calorie Recipes
Dishes Children Love
The Cheese Cookbook
The Casserole Cookbook

If you click on the pictures they will enlarge and you can read the recipes.


















Molded salads...LOL. When was the last time you made a molded salad? I think I will make one and and see how my family likes it. Jumping back into the 1950's should be fun.
















































I am so glad to have these books--I just love cookbooks. I enjoy looking up recipes on the Internet, but there is nothing better then reading a good cook book. In the near future sometime, I will share some more of my cookbooks--I have a lot. Have a great day, and thank you for coming by for a visit. xoxox

Wednesday

Happy Day to everyone.

Alexis had her swimming lessons this morning--she is doing really well. Everyday we practice a letter just so we don't forget them before school starts. Today we are doing the letter M. We write out the capital and lower case M 6 times, then we write down as many words that we can think of that starts with M, then we write a sentence and last but not least we make a picture using construction paper scissors and glue.


I put a pretty table cloth on my kitchen table, it is full of sunflowers. It brightens up the kitchen.















Then on the dining room table I put different place mats on it. When I do my big grocery shopping on Friday, I am going to pick up some flowers for the table. Maybe some daisy's to go with the place mats.















I have ground beef out for dinner---I will make beef patties, with perogies(frozen), steamed carrots. Plus, I am going to run to the store for some lettuce for our salad, I am all out--and we just love salad.

Surprisingly it is cool here, I see it HOT every where else, but here it is cool. Have a wonderful day!! xoxox

*Ma*

When I was a little girl, and watched Little House and read the books, I related to Laura--now that I am grown and have a family of my own, I relate to Ma. Isn't it funny how you see a movie one way when you are one age and then you see it a different way later? When ever I feel unmotivated, I just pop in a Little House DVD or read a few chapters of the books and just like magic, I am more motivated then ever. There is just something about seeing Ma in an apron making a pie that makes me want to put my apron on and make a beautiful dinner. Even when she was working in the fields she always looked beautiful. I wonder when I am scrubbing the floor or doing something difficult, does my husband think I am beautiful too..LOL. Us, women now have it so easy. Ma had so much work to do from sun up to sun down--and always had a smile on her face. I remember when my dryer had the wrong plug and my husband couldn't get it to work when we moved---I was in a panic, how was I going to do laundry? I love all my machines, and if one breaks I sure do miss it. I have stated many times and also in my profile, there is nothing I would rather be than a wife and mother. I try and do my very best---Kevin will tell people, that he takes care of what goes on the outside of the house, and that I take care of what goes on in the inside:)

On another note, I received my Above Rubies magazine last week, and I so enjoyed it. They had letters that women had sent in about nursing stories, they were so sweet to read--even more so since I am currently bre*astfeeding. If you have not subscribed to this magazine you just must--it is wonderful.

Well swimming lessons are calling---and then I am going to make some fresh bread. Remember the lists I was redoing in the kitchen? Well, I finished those, and they look so nice. I am keeping my eye out for the school supplies to go on sale, I just LOVE stocking up on school supplies. To all who come and read, have a glorious day--and I will be by your blog too xoxoxox

Ma's photo courtesy of -----Little House Memories

Sunday Seeds

A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. ?I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO" One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story.She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by--still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!" All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive! His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO the others said? Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
If you plant hard work, you will reap success
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest

Happy July Saturday!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. I really enjoyed everyone's Show and Tell, and thank you all for looking at mine. Today, I am going to be getting Tony ready to go to Washington for a couple weeks, I have some laundry of his to get ready---and pack. We may take a drive and visit my Grandmother today--if things get done that I need to before tomorrow.

I have some ground beef out for dinner tonight--I am not sure what I am going to make, I may do spaghetti, but then I will have to stop and get some Parmesean cheese.

I am updating all my lists in the kitchen--the phone number list and the birthday lists----I am in the middle of the phone list, I can not believe how many numbers have changed ...LOL--it is looking so nice and neat--and I am getting everything ready slowly so I will be totally organized for school.

I bought this little plastic basket--perfect size for holding all the school papers. I had a ton last year, and used a tupperware, but this year I will use this.

.

For Sunday dinner, instead of a roast--I am going to make a whole chicken, they had an awesome sale on chickens, 2.00 a chicken--yay!!


Here is Kevin Jr.---> He is 2 months and 10 days old--I can not believe how fast the time is going.















He is a happy little baby.

Anyway, what are your plans for this weekend? ((Hugs))) have a great day friends xoxoxox

Show and Tell

Kelli is hosting her Friday's Show and Tell--so click on the link and hop on over to Kelli's and look at all the fun Show and Tell's and do one of your own--it is so much fun!!

I have mentioned many times that I collect cows--I have a small collection of cows, I used to have a lot more but a few things got damaged in a move we made years ago, so I am slowly adding to my collection. This is my sweet Cookie Jar. I have it on my kitchen counter right by my sink--it always makes me smile to look at it--what a happy little cookie jar. Well I hope all who come by have a wonderful day, and I can't wait to see all your show and tells:)

Thursday and My One Year Anniversary

Good Morning/Afternoon to everyone. Today is my one year blogging Anniversary, I can not believe it. When I started this blog I was in Georgia, and now I am back in California--where will I be next year. I hope everyone had a safe 4th of July--I had a quiet one----We BBQ-d, and then Kevin took the kids to the beach to see the fireworks--I stayed behind with (little)Kevin, it was nice, he went to sleep and I got to catch up on a few things(Did any of you notice late night comments on your blogs..LOL). I just thought he was way to little to be out late and I was scared the noise would scare him. There is always next year.

We have swimming lessons this morning--it is so nice to sit by the pool and get some sun while Alexis is swimming, I can't wait to take Kevin, he just loves his baths, so I know he will just love the pool.

When we get back, and if Kevin will nap, I am going to scrub my kitchen floor--it needs it bad--I am going to get on my hands and knees, i have been using my swiffer, but it really needs a good cleaning--I mean it, I really need to get it done---

I have to get going going for a little while, but I will be back --have a great morning!!!

Happy 4th Of July!!!

I hope everyone has a Safe and Happy 4th of July!!!

Well Baby

Kevin had his Well Baby checkup today --he is 2 months and 1 week and weighs 13 pounds and 8 ounces, 23 inches long---he is a great nurser...LOL. My girlfriend sent me a bunch of pictures she had taken, here are two--I will post the rest later--->
This picture was taken shortly after I had him--I was still in recovery:)

Alexis Turned 6

My daughter turned 6 on Friday, June 29th. On the night of her birthday, she asked for steak for dinner and a vanilla cake. I let her open her presesnts from Mom and Dad too.

Dinner time--everyone loved the steak.
That is a my nephew sitting by my son, he is visiting for part of the summer.
Kevin lighting the candle on her cake--she wanted the number 6.
Alexis opening her gifts.
The next day---she was so excited. We had a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese, and invited all out family and friends--it was a good day. She got very excited to sit in the car with out a booster seat. The law in Cali is 6 years old or 60 pounds-----she was so happy.The Birthday music comes on at Chuck E Cheese, everyone singing Happy Birthday!!!
Being silly and having fun!

She had a really great day. I just can not believe my baby girl is 6:) Thank you for looking at my pictures.

Alexis's Swimming Lessons

Alexis has swimming lessons through the summer. Here are some pictures I took--more to come.

Are you Wondering???

Where everyone is??? They are all at the beach..LOL. I dropped my son and his friends off at the beach, and it was packed---so many people. Then it occurred to me, it is Fourth of July week--everyone must be on vacation here and going to the beach---and it is in the 70's by the beach and 105 inland. (I learned to surf on the right side of that Pier)

This Weeks List

I have a few minutes so I want to make a list for things I would like to get done for the week.

Post pictures of Alexis's Party
Swimming Lessons
Kevin's Well Baby Checkup
Vacuum
Bathrooms
Make Bread
Make Cookies
Laundry
Sweep and Mop Kitchen floor really good--it needs a really good old fashioned cleaning!!!
Do stairs.

Okay phone just rang, I have to go pick Tony up--be back shortly.