Bits & Pieces

I haven't done a Bits & Pieces post for a long time. I figured now would be good since my daughter has told me she doesn't have time to read my blog because I use so many words. :)

I'm still getting caught up on e-mails but it is much (much) easier now that I have a computer in our home office again. I can work at my own pace and on my own time. If you haven't heard from me and you sent an e-mail, just be a tad patient!

I finally have the cream cheese pound cake recipe on the recipe blog (Susan was very patient!). I'm hoping to add a lot more recipes soon. It really isn't a blog, more of a recipe site but I have all the recipes by type (ie: cakes, main dishes, etc.) so they are easy to locate.

My husband purchased a subscription to Southern Living for me when they offered it for $12.00. I love their recipes and was happy to see an article in this month's issue about their favorite pots and pans. They, too, liked Cusinart and All-Clad (whew!). It's a very interesting article.

Also, I purchased the latest issue of Taste of the South just for their article about pound cakes. There are six (or more) great pound cake recipes. I love to make them since they freeze so nicely. Sometimes I make them as little bundt cakes instead of the big granddad size cake. I also like to make them in two loaf pans (very easy to freeze this way). The cream cheese pound cake I just posted was originally from Southern Living and I added the cooking time if you would prefer making it in two loaf pans.

If you haven't picked up the newest issue (Spring) of the new Victoria, it is absolutely wonderful. I read through it quickly to just admire all the photography, then I went back and read the prose. This is the best one yet, it is definitely just as good as the "old" Victoria. Speaking of which, I'm going to have another give-away soon with one of the books being Flowers from Hoffman Media... just in time for Spring. More on it later this week.

Bits & Pieces

I've had comments and e-mails from a lot of new readers. How wonderful to meet new "kindred spirits". What a variety of places we live, various ages, etc...men and women! I just love what Blogland has provided for people. As C. S. Lewis is often quoted as saying, "We read (blogs) to know we are not alone". Okay, I added the blogs part. :)


I don't know if anyone else had their Bloglines do something a little crazy. When I checked this morning, I had something like 550 new posts to read! Yikes...someone was busy overnight. Then when I checked both of my blogs and each showed over twenty new posts, I knew something was in error. I haven't added a new recipe to my recipe blog for a long time. Hopefully, that will be corrected soon.


Becky G. e-mailed me to remind me there is a fourth book in the L'Engle "Time" books that I should read. It is called Many Waters and the storyline revolves around the twins. I do have it but I haven't read it, yet. It will have to go on a future Reading Challenge! I am re-reading the first three.

I had planned to set aside the books until I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle...which is due back at the library next week. I couldn't help it, though. It has been so rainy and I was quite weary last night, so only L'Engle would help take me away. That's what I love about good fantasy/Sci Fi, it can take me to another world...literally! :)

I'm reading the second in the series right now and it is just as good as I remembered it. I'm thinking a re-read of the C. S. Lewis Space Trilogy is due soon. They are...amazing. I never looked at our "Silent Planet" the same way after reading them.


In response to a couple of comments, I had promised to let you know how the German Chocolate Gooey cake turned out (the recipe is from the latest Paula Deen magazine). Everyone loved it. It's rich so a small piece can be quite filling, as can four or five pieces. :) There are other recipes I want to try soon.

There is a recipe for Mountain Dew cake (which sounds horrible). However, a couple of my local grocery stores sell these cakes for $6.95 each ...including Dr. Pepper cake. I'm curious as to what they would turn out like so I will make one eventually and share it with others.

Oh, and yes...you can use canned pumpkin for the pumpkin cookies on my recipe blog. That's what I use. :)

Lots of Bits & Pieces

I'm sorry if you are one of the people to whom I owe an e-mail (poor Linda has been waiting a couple of weeks). I've been busy with the daily gotta do's and the times I normally work on correspondence have been taken over by my husband working on a major project with the computer. At least it isn't as challenging as when there were three of us using one machine!


I don't know if many of you read my recipe blog. It has lots of my family recipes on it because it is where I'm typing out recipes to be put into a family recipe book. If you like old fashioned cooking, you probably like these recipes. I recently added my grandmother's recipe for Jam Cake and the "redo" of the recipe my oldest sister did to make it even easier. As I've mentioned, I was born when my mother was older and Mom was born when her mother was older...so...we're talking the end of the Victorian era recipe here.

My mother-in-law was older when she married and she has a Pennsylvania Dutch background. Add to that the fact I was born and raised in the Midwest...well, it's an interesting combination of old fashioned Midwestern, Amish, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Southern style of cooking. :) I'll continue to add recipes as I can...so check in once in awhile.


I'll be writing soon about my latest reading and how I'm doing on the Spring Reading Challenge. Last night I let myself get sidetracked from the Challenge by picking up the copy of a book I purchased at Goodwill (of all places) called The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard. I've heard so many great reviews of the book that I had to start it. I'll continue to read Edith Schaeffer's book at the same time. Since it is a reread, I can go through it when I'm tired and my brain does not want to be challenged. Edith's two volumes of letters are wonderful, I'll write more about them soon. I've reread them at least once each year for many years.


I feel a burden to place a little reminder about my other passion (emergency preparedness) here. As I've been reading about what is going on in the Persian Gulf, it takes me back to the early days of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was only a child but I can remember the feelings going on at the time. I also remember the sudden call from the government warning people to stock up on food and necessary supplies (of course, there was complete madness in the stores). Having been raised on a farm and she was a (very) young wife in the Depression, Mom always kept a deep pantry and full freezer, though.

Please pray about it and talk about it as a family. It wouldn't hurt to purchase some extra groceries and such (always purchase what you are used to eating). If everything calms down again, you'll still be able to use it. Reading Psalm 91 and other favorite scripture would be a very good thing. We're living in uncertain times but I firmly believe, as in Esther's day, we were created "for such a time as this". How exciting to be God's Light and Salt in today's world. As the angels say, "Feat Not"!

EDIT: Last time I read, the angels say FEAR Not...sheesh. Sorry!

Bits & Pieces

I once again wish I had a digital camera, to show off my quick "craft project" accomplished this morning. In my kitchen, I have a box of cute note paper which used to have a 2006 calendar on the top of the box. Since the beginning of this year, it has been plain with dried on glue, left over from taking the calendar off.

As I looked at it this morning, I realized the ugliness was beginning to annoy me so I found a pretty post card, one from Old Sturbridge Village...purchased when we visited a couple years ago. I keep craft supplies on hand in an "extra" medicine cabinet in my small bathroom (in a house with limited storage space, one takes what they can utilize) and used Modge Podge to glue the post card on the box (adding two layers on top to keep it there). I am very pleased with the results and it took only a few minutes of direct "crafting". I liked it so much that the box is now out in the open rather than on a bottom shelf, tucked away (and difficult to get to when a piece of paper was needed quickly).

It's probably a good thing I can't take a picture of my living room coffee table right now. I'm in the midst of coming down to the wire for the Winter Book Challenge and, like the office worker who needs all their current papers before them, I have all three of the books I'm reading now, plus a Grace Livingston Hill I hope to read soon, a decorating book I perused a few days ago, and the latest newsletter from a favorite Bible teacher...in addition to a basket of silk greenery, the dish that holds my reading glasses, and a little wooden bowl.

I had to go into town this morning for milk, cream and more cold medicine (we really should just purchase a cow). The rack containing clearance flowers was directly in front of me as I entered the store so I HAD to look to see if there were any good flowers left. Most looked rather wilted and even at half price, not worth purchasing. However, there was one beautiful bouquet of red carnations in excellent shape for less than $2.00. There's something about these types of carnations that give the illusion of roses and they are very pretty. So, upon arriving home, I cut off some of the bottom of the stems with my kitchen scissors and placed the tallest of flowers in a cut glass vase, displaying them on my dining room table.

I have various shaped bottles on my kitchen window ledge, all in the same shade of green (with the exception of a small, clear, vintage milk bottle that has Mother's Cream in red...quite sweet). Anyway, I filled these with water and stuck the smaller stems in them. They look very pretty right now along with the pink rose that is in the milk bottle (free from my bank of all places). In February, I'll take color where I can get it. Beauty added for $1.94!

I have a lot of things on my "to do" list this week but this afternoon I'm going to spend time reading. Except for fixing dinner and doing dishes, my household gotta do's are pretty much finished for the day. I have one load of laundry to remove from the dryer and another to put in but there is one thing nice about laundry...you can read while the washer and dryer are going and still feel like you are accomplishing housework. :)

Bits & Pieces

I've had a few e-mails about the music that is now playing on the blog. The title is A Living Prayer and it is from the Alison Krauss CD called Lonely Runs Both Ways. I have long enjoyed Alison's music and even my husband (who did not know Bluegrass existed before we were married) likes to hear Alison Krauss and Union Station play good music. By clicking on the song title, you will be going to Amazon.com where short clips are provided of each song on this CD.

Did you love the old Victoria magazine? After you visit my blog, click over to Snilnsigh and join the comments about our beloved Victoria. I knew the magazine was doomed when Nancy Lendemeyer was replaced by another editor. I didn't care for her changes from the first issue in which she took over. She just didn't "get it". Slowly we saw the demise of Victoria but even then...the pictures were beautiful. Sigh...how I wish I had my old copies I had to get rid of for a move.

Lanier has once again written a beautiful post, this time about the love of good music. My daughter and I were chatting on the phone recently, talking about ways to teach children to love great art and music. I was sharing with her what I had just heard on the radio, the host was interviewing the head of a school for young musicians. He was asked that very question about music. He said "Vivaldi at the dinner table". Yes...Vivaldi's Four Seasons and homemade pizza...with candlelight. Does it get any better than that?

Bits & Pieces

I haven't done a Bits & Pieces post for a long time. I guess today is one of those days when all I have are tidbits of information. :)


I think I have transferred all of my recipes that I posted on this blog over Christmas to my recipe blog (see sidebar). It is so much easier to find them on that blog, since they are categorized by food type (other than yummy). I'm hoping to post some more favorite recipes next week.


I made great progress on organizing all my craft items today. I used to make crafts and folk art items to sell when my son was little. These items were all in their huge Rubbermaid containers and they hadn't been sorted since we moved from our very large house (with very large amounts of storage space).

I went through everything last night and this morning, giving to Goodwill those items I know I will not use (a very painful surgery indeed). I transferred all of these items to two smaller Rubbermaid containers (hmmm...medium size instead of gargantuan) with all my patterns and "bear stuff" in one and my basic supplies in the other. This will make my life much easier when I get back to making some of these items (which is one of my 2007 goals). Now I just need to sort through some arts & craft supplies.

I'm making a lot of new storage space, not only by giving items to Goodwill but also by repacking them in different containers. The large containers which worked in a larger house (larger shelves, larger storage rooms, etc.) now fit much nicer in the smaller containers. Fortunately, I have a small house but a rather sizable garage, especially when one doesn't try to get two cars in it. I figure one more day (hopefully) and that part of my organizing will be finished. I feel a huge weight off my shoulders already.


I encourage everyone who loves books to take part in The Winter Reading Challenge over at Seasonal Soundings. I had a great deal of fun deciding which books would be good to read, especially as I'm putting myself on the self-imposed-library-fast starting next week (except for school related reading). I have a lot of books, I mean a LOT of books, on my "To Read Soon" shelf. Some of them have been there a couple years, just waiting to be read because I wanted to read all of my "American Revolution Related Books" at one time...now is that time.

You can take part by clicking right HERE!