~This Week and the Perfect Mother's Day Cake~

Around the house . . .

In the Garden . . .

And in the kitchen . . .

~Blackberry Cake~

1/2 cup butter, cut into chunks

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 large eggs

1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries

powder sugar for sprinkling

Butter and flour a 9 inch cake pan with removable rim.

In a mixer bowl combine sugar and butter chunks. Slowly beat to combine and then beat on high speed for about 3 minutes.

Add flour, baking powder, and eggs.

Stir to combine, then beat on high speed until the batter is stiff and well blended, about 2 minutes.

Scrape batter into cake pan and spread smooth.

Scatter berries on top (you can add more than a cup- I did)

and sprinkle a little extra sugar on them.

Bake in center rack of oven at 350 until cake begins to pull away from the pan, about 55 to 60 minutes.

Run a knife around edge of pan rim. Let cool at least 10 minutes. Remove pan rim, dust cake with powder sugar and cut into wedges.

This is SO good still warm from the oven!

Have a lovely weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

~Whimsy Weekend~

The Husband is gone for the weekend up North for a special family event . . . meaning? 

I sorta have the weekend to myself.

Yeah, the boys are still here, but at 12 and 14 they kinda aren't all at the same time. They've got their own things going, and for me? Well, the clouds have rolled in and garden work is on hold.

So for now I'm takin' it for what it is . . . a Whimsy Weekend.

No plans- and no car, 'cause The Husband took our only working one. 

Just home to putter about as I please. :)

So far . . . I've gone on a walk, and explored a nearby rose garden I didn't even know existed. 

Got home just before the rain.

I watched an old home video of my boys from 7 yrs ago. Gosh, they were little!

I showered and tried out my new, two-dollar aqua eyeliner (The Youngest wasn't too keen).

I watered my neglected houseplants and filled in the May calendar.

I drank lots of coffee. :)

 And for this rainy afternoon . . . ? Kitchen cleaning and scone baking? Purging and organizing? Perhaps it's time to pack away the Easter decorations? Or clean out the Oldest's closet! Or do some feltie stitching? And I could really use a pedicure!

Who knows what way the weekend will go? 

Hope yours is full of whimsy as well!

~This Evening~

~first bloom on the climbing rose~

~the lavender planted last year is happy indeed~

~two 'welcoming blues' on the back porch~

~a full inspection of the new watering can~

 ~yes, you're my angel (that's a loose translation)~

~oh, AND adorable as well~

 ~but even better than a cat hamming it up~ 

a Husband working in the yard

~(be still my beating heart!)~

~all, this evening~

~Surprise!~

This guy turned 12 exactly one month ago. . .

We decided to throw him a surprise party and nearly our whole family drove down to celebrate. I took him shopping and while we were gone they all hid in the basement.

He was VERY surprised!

Litter box cake was the order of the day. Per his request months earlier . . . the recipe can be found in this book.

Appetizing, eh?

Gifts were given . . . with fanfare . . .

And the birthday boy was THRILLED with his cake!

Nothing like a litter scoop to make cake serving easy!

It was a fun weekend and a great way to celebrate my 'baby'.

Pictures courtesy of my sister.- thanks Nina!

~April's Garden~

Just some bits of what's been in bloom this month. 

As of now, the tulips are all nearly gone and there are buds on the roses- like gifts all wrapped and ready to be opened. The lilac bush is also near to blooming. When they are open I will sit on the old wooden bench next to them and let their homey fragrance transport me to childhood again. 

~Easter Morning~

the house was decorated . . .

the baskets stuffed . . .

eggs were died the night before . . .

and cuddled in crates for safe keeping . . .

 out of the fridge, the eggs are hid . . .

 and the hunt begins . . .

even the walking dead joins in . . .

a few eggs are found . . .

then a whole lot more . . .

breakfast was enjoyed . . .

then basket opening ensued . . .

 on this Easter morning.

cheers!

~Nothing But the Kitchen Sink~

The last three weeks have been a blur of activity in our household, so here I am hoping to get back into the blogging groove. It's so difficult to know where to begin when I've been out of this space so long and so much has happened during the interval! But I will do my best . . .

I'm thinking 'short and sweet' posts may be the best answer to it all . . . so to start off, instead of sharing 'everything, but the kitchen sink', I'll take it slow and show ONLY the kitchen sink! ;)

Now, prepare to be disgusted . . . 

here is what I have been washing dishes in for the past 8 years. Yes- I did indeed scrub it before I took the picture . . . yes, those are the nastiest stains ever. But do you see the good news?

Let's get closer, shall we?
What- What's that? . . . praise be to God!  A CRACK! A hideous, can't-be-fixed, leaks-everywhere crack! 
The perfect excuse to FINALLY replace the horrible, old kitchen sink!!! 
And The Husband cannot say no!! (insert maniacal laugh here)!!

Goodbye, monstrosity . . . ! 

Hello, gorgeous!!!!

No divider to make scouring pots and pans nearly impossible! No hideous stains or leaking cracks!! This baby cleans up like nobody's business . . .

And to add further excitement,  that dream beyond dreams . . . a sprayer!!! Be still my heart . . .

It's been three weeks now, and I can't stop cooing to it and petting it each time I walk by. Which may mean I'm crazy . . . crazy in love!

Back Soon- Cheers!