Hydrangea and Grandma

My Grandma McQueen had the most beautiful Hydrangea bush on the east side of her home when I was a little girl and I always said I would have one of these bushes one day.

Thank You W.O.Bearden/Southern Shade Nursery

Chocolate Decadence

Chocolate Decadence

Cake
1 (18 ounce) box Betty Crocker Super Moist Chocolate Cake
1/2 cup chocolate milk
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 eggs
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 (5.9 ounce) box instant Jell-O Chocolate pudding
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions
1
Heat oven to 350degrees.
Spray a 12 cup fluted tube cake pan(bundt) with baking spray .
In a large bowl mix cake mix, chocolate milk, butter, eggs, sour cream and dry pudding mix with a spoon until well blended. Stir in the chocolate chips and then spoon the batter into the pan. The batter will be very THICK.
2
Bake 55 to 65 minutes or until the top springs back when touched lightly in the center. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn it out onto a heatproof serving platter or onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

* The glaze on the cake was a recipe I found and when ready to serve was quite tasty if you like Tootsie Rolls. I think I will use this recipe for candy at Christmas.

Glaze
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 1/2 teaspoons water

In a 3 quart saucepan heat the glaze ingredients over low heat. Stir frequently until the chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Drizzle the warm glaze over the cake. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Strawberry Pretzel Pecan Salad

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Layer 1

2 c. pretzels (crushed fine)
1/2 c. (crushed pecans)
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
3/4 c. butter

Layer 2
1 ( 8 oz ) pkg cream cheese
1 c. sugar
8 oz. cool whip
Layer 3

1 (6 oz) pkg instant strawberry jello
1 10 oz. pkg. frozen strawberries or small container (16 oz) sliced fresh strawberries (I prefer fresh)

Directions

Layer 1

Combine pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter and press into a greased 9 X 13 pan. Bake @ 350 for 10 minutes.

Layer 2
Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Blend in cool whip. Spread over very cooled crust.

Layer 3

Make jello according to directions and add the strawberries. Refrigerate until partially set. *If it is not set enough it will leak through your cream cheese layer and make your pretzels soggy.

Pour Jell-O over cream cheese layer and refrigerate for a few hours longer

*Note any flavor Jell-O and fruit can be used so be creative

Orange Jell-O and Mandarin Oranges are also good!

Skywatch Friday

Norman Smith Potter A Family Tradition

The two moonshine jugs above are very dated Norman Smith Pottery that I have had in my collection for some time.The one one the left was given to me by my mother in law Adelle Atchison Wright whose mother was also a Smith.The art piece was created by son in law of Norman Smith, Cecil Cash

While attending Plantersville Heritage Day May 15th, 2010 I happened on a link to an artist that I have admired for many years, Norman Smith (1904-1990).At an given time you can pull up on auction sites and find his work.

In a very interesting PDF file interview.... HERE

Normans work is also featured in The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC

Cecil Cash

Well on with the rest of my story... as always my eyes are attracted to anything with art so I make a beeline to the potter standing under his booth in the sultry southern heat of late morning.We start talking about Norman Smith and he let me go on telling me about Norman Smith.After about 20 minutes the potter standing in front of me tells me he is Norman Smith's son in law as his wife walks up and introduces herself as Norman Smith's daughter and I begin to laugh. They tell me I have done my homework and proceeded to tell me more about the potter, "Norman Smith"

It seems the son in law Cecil Cash has taken up the father in law Norman Smith's craft and his work is just beautiful.
Norman Wright Pottery

The bowl happens to be a private pottery lesson that Norman Smith gave Norman Wright (my father in law) many years ago.My father in law told me he was trying to make a moonshine jug and all he was able to achieve is a bowl. I'm very proud to have this in my collection as well!

Butterfly

While sitting on Mulberry Creek......

Ribs!!

Bloomin'

Good Morning

Baby Birds

Skywatch Friday

Spring Time In Alabama

Lonely Tear

Skywatch Friday

The Year was 2007 July our community lost a dear friend and Uncle to Kimberly to Pancreatic Cancer.A few months before Tony and I started to swap plant starts and he gave me a start of his mothers climbing rose .Everyone said it would not make it because it needed to be planted in the fall.Weeks passed and the plant looked like it was not going to make it.
The sad day came when Tony passed away.I walked out to the garden crying and looked down to pull up the climbing rose that I thought had not made it .As I looked down there was a tiny little green leaf at the bottom the size of a dime.I started laughing with tears as I remember the words from Tony "Kat, It will live".
On this day it is over head high and the most beautiful pink roses.
God Bless You Tony And We Miss You

Great Grandma and her new student

Music has been in our home for as long as I can remember.

While my mother was visiting us she had to teach Miss Aubrey a few songs.

Father and Son

Happy Mothers Day

Skywatch Friday

Spring in Alabama

For more SkyWatch Friday click above link

Our 27th Anniversay

The Knock Out® Rose

Blue Iris

Blue Iris

I wonder what this one will look like?

Dandelion at Sunset

Clicking on image is a must today