Fat squirrel

While walking around the yard this afternoon, I came upon a chubby squirrel sitting in the sun. He was snacking on an acorn, turning it over and over in his tiny little hands. He was so cute! and fat! Goodness, this squirrel did not go hungry this winter!

handmade exchange

About a month ago, while visiting the blog happily married to the cows, I signed up to be a recipient of a hand made item made by the author of the blog. Playing by the rules, I, in turn, was to offer the same deal to my readers...a handmade item, made by me, going to the first 5 readers who comment. So, today, I am making this offer but...I am changing it up a bit. Here it is!

Would you like to participate in a handmade exchange? The first 5 readers to comment on this post will engage in a handmade exchange with me. Get your creative juices flowing! You and I will both make something with our own two hands. It could be anything you like, but keep it a surprise!

Mail your handmade item to me and I will mail mine to you! There is no deadline...except please, let's keep this within the year 2011. Hee Hee! I think this will be a lot of fun! You can also start a handmade exchange on your blog as well, but I won't hold you to it. If you just want to participate in mine, that's fine. But think about it...I'll be getting 5 wonderfully handmade surprises in the mail (in exchange for my own of course). You could have the same too!

Within a couple of days, I will contact the willing participants via e-mail to exchange address information.

Hope some of you are interested!

a poem for March

March

The sun is nervous as a kite,
that can't quite keep it's own string tight.

Some days are fair and some are raw.
The timid earth decides to thaw.



Shy budlets peep from twigs on trees,
and robins join the chickadees.

Pale crocuses poke through the ground,
like noses come to sniff around.

The mud smells happy on our shoes.
We still wear mittens which we lose.



Poem by John Updike

mini chocolate cupcakes

The Sunday evening service at our church is a special time. It differs a lot from the Sunday morning services. After 3 songs of worship, announcements and the offering, we are dismissed to go and enjoy coffee, pop and snacks as well as fellowship with friends. After 15 minutes of eating and socializing, the pastor flicks the lights on and off and that's the signal to head back into the sanctuary for the sermon.

So, let's back up to the snack part! Every month, a sign up list is passed around. I sign up once a month and have enjoyed partaking. Last month, I made mini chocolate cupcakes with yellow buttercream frosting sprinkled with chopped Hershey almond chocolate bars. Oh my...they were delicious! Not only were they delicious, they were beautiful!



Recipe:

Mini Chocolate Cupcakes

3 Tbsp. butter, softened
½ Cup sugar
1 egg, separated
½ tsp. vanilla extract
2/3 Cup flour
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
½ Cup milk
2 Hershey’s Milk Chocolate
Bars with almonds, chopped

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease mini muffin pan. In small bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolk and vanilla. Mix well. Stir together flour, cocoa and baking soda. Add alternately with milk to butter mixture. Beat egg white until stiff peaks form and then fold into batter. Fill muffin cups half full with batter. Bake 13 to15 minutes. Cool and remove from muffin pan. Frost cupcakes when completely cooled

Vanilla Butter Frosting

3 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 ½ Cups powdered sugar
1 to 2 Tbsp. milk
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
4 drops food color (optional)

In small mixer bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add milk and vanilla, beat until smooth and spreadable consistency.


Enjoy!!!

I'm impressed!

I just wanted to share with you, a photo that my 9 year old son took.
I am so impressed!
He makes me so proud with his artistic nature.
He got this cute little rubber froggy out of a bubble gum machine in a pizza shop for 50 cents.
The shot was taken on the windowsill in our living room.
Happy Saturday!