Been baking again - Lemon CUPCAKES and a Lemon CAKE

I admit that I'm a little late in posting these photos, being that I made these goodies a week ago today. -But it's new to you. LOL

 I began by setting some of my basic ingredients out to become room temperature. After mixing the ingredients, I realized that I had enough dough to make a few cupcakes as well. I did not use a recipe.

 The lemon cake, above, almost done.

 

The cake is done.

Needless to say, the muffins were super delicious, and didn't hang around for too long. Lets's just say that they were all gone by mid-day the next day. (no, I didn't eat them all)
The cake was, also, delicious. We ate most of it without any topping. (naturally lemon flavored wins)

I'm usually disappointed with store purchased cupcakes; and will be making more of my own.

My new Hand Quilting Frame / Hoop Stand

I usually handquilt with the "quilt sandwich" placed on my lap. Suddenly, it hit me a few days ago to go and purchase a quilting frame/stand for a, perhaps easier job.

 I love to handquilt; and after all these years, my brain just, out of the blue, realized that I needed a frame/stand.   I don't have enough room to accommodate the large frame type that would fill an entire room like what my grandmother used to use. I still have very vivid images of hers, and my little self sitting there rocking the needle with her, the grown up.

This frame is very adjustable.

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  By the way, I took a screwdriver and put all of those sticks and screws together. It was very scarry at first, and my immediate thought was that I would never be able to do it, and that I should just put it aside until I could get hold of my ex-husband, but then...

...the DIVA in me took control, and I realized that I did NOT want to wait for a chance to catch him; and that I would want to throw something on the hoop and give it a workout within the  next few days...

...so, I put my smart DIVA brains into action, studied the assembly guide, and , after a few trials and errors, I had the new toy all together. WHOOLA !!!

As shown in the photo above, the hoop size is 18 inches.

Luckily, my brains realized the need for a new toy on a week that Hobby Lobby was offering a 40% off coupon; therefore...

...I printed a coupon; jogged/drove on down to the famous craft store, and picked up the only one that was left. (yes, I did call first to make sure that I could use the coupon, and to know if they had any in stock)

So 99.99 minus 40.00 equals....hmmnnn, you do the math. Did I save a bunch or what???

Yes, by looking at the photo on the box, I was concerned, that the stand might be weak, wobbly and flimsy; and asked the cashier about their return policy just in case. To my surprise, the stand by itself is very structured and strong. Will let you know how it goes when I land my first quilt sandwich in its hoop.

I Made Cinnamon Rolls Last Weekend

Yes, I love cinnamon rolls; and decided to get into the kitchen this past weekend and cook up a few. Surprisingly, they rose, and came out better than I was prepared for. They are absolutely delicious. 

I cooked three, that's right, three  cookie sheets full. Shared two with the grands. I look forward to cooking more soon. I made them totally from scratch.

Fresh garden pickings

I collected these delicious vegetables from my garden recently. They were so fresh and delicious. Everyone should try gardening at least twice. With the right technique, you'll love the results.

This was a delicious and healthy dinner.

I  have got to become better on this blogging thing. Time passes so fast between my blogs. I have every intention to update in a couple days, but before I know it, a week or two or more has passed.

I enjoy blogging; and must learn to do it more often, or- to SLOW TIME DOWN. Hmmnnn. Which feat is the easier !!!

Anyway, the above photo shows a delicious and healthy dinner that I had a few days ago when it was too hot to cook. Loved the broccoli and the sweet and sour chicken.  It was better than I had expected; therefore, I had to blog about it. Frozen, but delicious. It was cooked/heated via microwave, of course.

My country VEGETABLE garden Part 2

Boy, did the week go by fast.  My original plan was to add this part 2 a few days later than the part 1 post. Guess I'd better become faster, or something.  It appears that a VAMPIRE took a bit out of this tomato.  Never mind, he has since ripened. Part is in my stomach; and the other part is in the refrigerator.  I cut the vampire area away. (couldn't let a fresh garden tomato go to waste). Will post photos of this tomato in its ripened stage in a later post.

The rain has really helped the garden the past few days.

The barren area above is where the eggplant and a few others did not grow.

I love the look of this little tomato.

For those not familiar with chicken life, when they emit a fresh lose pile, the flies see it as dessert.

I hated using fertilizer, and only applied one application.

Oh, no I don't put grape juice in my garden. Guess what's in that jug ???

My Country Vegetable Garden Part 1

I did good, well, compared to last year. I planted my garden a few weeks earlier this year than I did last year.  I am one of those people whose schedule is so full that I sometimes must make time for the important things.

I hope to get the onion planted this week, provided I'm able to find them. (stashed them somewhere)

This weed reminded me of a corn plant; therefore, I allowed it to grow. (it's an early country life flashback, my grand-dad used to plant corn)

I planted a row and a half of lettuce. Only three survived despite constant watering. Blame it on the drought/lack of rain.

My chickens peck the turnips every chance they get. Don't know who's winning, them or the worms.

Sadly, this sweet pea has died since photoed three days ago. I watered and pampered, still didn't help.

The only surviving pea above is not doing well either.I planted an entire row. They didn't live last year either. Couldn't blame it on the chickens this year, they are fenced; and are only out when I allow them.

The sweet potatoes are growing from cut up sprouted potatoes that I had purchased to cook and eat.

I think that I saw on some cooking show that some cultures cook and eat the  leaves. I might look for one of those recipes and try that.(grew up with them and never knew that the leaves were edible) The things that we learn on todays' TV.

I would be totally shocked if these actually produce those round yellow balls before the Fall season.

I planted yellow squash and zuchinni. But these might be cucumbers.(I have a written layout, but didn't reference it for this posting. Oops)

This is the end of part 1 of my garden of 2010. Part 2 is coming shortly, with totally different photos.(but of the same garden)
Oops, I misspelled cantaloupe.

Story of the LEMON TREE and the ants.

My lemon tree before the dirt transplant.

Oooh. I don't like ants on my plants. A while back, I noticed an increasing number of ants on, in, and around my lemon plant; therefore, I had to take action. This plant was grown from a single lemon seed that I pushed into the soil; having no idea that a plant would actually grow from it.

Ants were on the leaves.

Ants were on the stem.

After removing from bucket, and before the ants dirt was shaken out.

Can you see the ants?

The anty dirt is back on the earth for remixing with "old soil".

With most of the ants shaken out, the plant is laying on the ground, waiting to be planted.

Freshy planted in "new dirt".

A young plant. Yet so many thorns.

I couldn't resist pinching a leaf just to smell that vibrant lemon fragrance.

...and this is the dirt pit that was left after I dug the dirt for the lemon tree.