Happy Rabbits

Can you tell what these sweet little feet belong to?























That's right! Bunnies. Mr. Perfect (my husband) bought these little guys for me last weekend. Aren't they cute!























But there seems to be a little problem.







Oh, that's much better!
























See, bunnies are all happy now. They have lots of candy.
































I know. I'm bad. Can't help it. Got to have chocolate!





Have a great evening.


~Elaine~

Chickens!!!

This little girl showed up in my mail today from my sweet sister Sue, who just couldn't bear to wait for my birthday to send her on her way!








And she brought lots of goodies with her. Don't you love the Peeps?

And I've already hung this nice little string of chickens with their pretty brass bell. Don't they look happy?









Thanks, Sue! That was such a sweet surprise. (Can you guess how much of the candy is gone??) XOXOXO

Hope you got something nice in your mail today!

~Elaine~

Applesauce Cake on a Free Plate

I snagged this little plate from my Mom's house on a visit several years ago. I can actually remember when little goodies like this were routinely given away to attract customers to certain products. I believe (but am not sure) that this one came in a bag of flour.




Look at this printing on the back. It is actually edged in 22K gold! Hard to find that anywhere now, certainly not on give away plates.

Today, I have this nice little slice of my applesauce cake on the plate

Want a closer look??

How about a nice, big bite?

I know, I know, that was needlessly cruel. (But the cake really IS good!) Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it:




Applesauce Cake

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
2 cups unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13 X 9 X 2 inch pan with non-stick
cooking spray. Measure all ingredients into large mixer bowl. Blend 1/2
minute on low speed, scraping bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes on high speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.

Bake 60 to 65 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out
clean. Cool.


Frost with:


Browned Butter Frosting

Melt 1/4 cup butter until golden brown, then pour over 2 cups sifted confectioners sugar. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 teaspoons milk. Beat on high until spreadable, adding more milk if necessary.



Have a great evening!

~Elaine~

Joy and Rejoicing in Chicken Land

Our chickens love it when I pull weeds. This nice bucket was filled several times with weeds, and this is what happened when I dumped it into the chicken yard:


Like I said, joy and rejoicing.

Here's some of the beauty going on in our yard right now. Have I said before? I LOVE SPRING!!;

And then, just when I thought it couldn't get any better, UPS showed up with some plum and blueberry plants I had ordered a while back.



It was almost dark by the time I got them all planted, but oh so worth it!


Have a great evening!
~Elaine~

Wow! I'd better be careful....

This little poem showed up in my email today. It really struck a chord with me. How often we (and I mean "I") tend to complain about the things we're unhappy with instead of concentrating of the many things for which we are thankful. As our Pastor said on Sunday, we need to count our blessings!

THE GRUMBLE FAMILY

There's a family nobody likes to meet;
They live, it is said, on Complaining Street
In the city of Never-Are-Satisfied,
The River of Discontent beside.

They growl at that and they growl at this;
Whatever comes, there is something amiss;
And whether their station be high or humble,
They are all known by the name of grumble.

The weather is always too hot or cold;
Summer and winter alike they scold.
Nothing goes right with the folks you meet
Down on that gloomy Complaining Street.

They growl at the rain and they growl at the sun;
In fact, their growling is never done.
And if everything pleased them, there isn't a doubt
They'd growl that they'd nothing to grumble about!

But the queerest thing is that not one of the same
Can be brought to acknowledge his family name;
For never a Grumbler will own that he
Is connected with it at all, you see.

The worst thing is that if anyone stays
Among them too long, he will learn their ways;
And before he dreams of the terrible jumble
He's adopted into the family of Grumble.

And so it were wisest to keep our feet
From wandering into Complaining Street;
And never to growl, whatever we do,
Lest we be mistaken for Grumblers, too.

Let us learn to walk with a smile and song,
No matter if things do sometimes go wrong;
And then, be our station high or humble,
We'll never belong to the family of Grumble!

I purpose in my heart NOT to be a member of the family of Grumble.

How about you?

~Elaine~

Blackberries/Springtime

Spring just keeps cropping up in all the usual places, and it's wonderful! The blackberry bushes in the back yard are starting to bloom, and leaves are coming out on more and more shrubs and trees.

My sweetie will have a little extra time next week to help and we'll try to get the yard in shape for all the new growth.

The days are starting to get a little longer and warmer, even though it is still cool at night. My favorite weather!

~Elaine~

Links - Past, Present and Future

If you really want to induce some droolage in your life, check out Flower Garden's post today. Some of the most beautiful flowers in her yard, and the quilt she's been working on is just gorgeous. Serious drooling going on here!





My kind neighbor has just brought over some flour sack towels she included in one of her orders for me. So I have another project:). We're going to embroider some of Alicia Paulson's dish towels. I do not know how Miss Posie Gets Cosy keeps coming up with all those wonderful projects, but I sure am glad she does!

This little pile of sweetness needs ironing, but is some of the things I've held on to from people who've been a part of my life. I like to think of these women putting the tiny stitches in so carefully and crocheting and tatting with love in every stitch. It comforts me that these bits of handiwork have survived for so many years, and I hope that some of what I do will also last and bring comfort to those I love.

It's a beautiful day here, and we're about to go and get out in it!

Have a wonderful day.

~Elaine~