Someone someplace

Someone someplace wanted the recipe for Orange Slice Cake and typically, I can't remember who it was so...here 'tis. Hope the ones who wanted it sees it here. I often use this instead of the ordinary Fruit Cake on holidays.

ORANGE SLICE CAKE

1 cup solid type margarine or butter (sub. butter flavored Crisco shortening?)
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs (large)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
3 1/2 cups unsifted flour
1 lb. chopped dates
1 lb. jellied/candy orange slices (diced small. I find that if I dice the candy in the flour it is easier to dice)
2 cups chopped pecans or English walnuts
1 can Bakers flaked coconut.
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The next ingredients are for top of cake after baking.

2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 cup orange juice
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Let margarine warm to room temperature then cream with sugar until smooth.
Add eggs, one at a time and beat well.
Disolve soda in buttermilk and add to creamed mixture
Place flour in large bowl, add dates, diced orange slices and nuts.
Dredge with hands to coat.
Add flour mixture and coconut to creamed mixture.
Mix with large spoon as the mixture is too heavy to use the mixer. (I have a large KitchenAid and it is OK to use)
Pour into 10" tube pan that has been greased well and floured.
Bake at 250 to 275 degrees for 2 hours or until well done.

Leave cake in pan & pour the powdered sugar/orange juice mixture on top while cake is hot. Leave in pan all day or over night. Remove & refrigerate or can be frozen. I RECOMEND EATING IT! YUM!

Home again, home again, JIGGITY JIG

Gotta come up with a new title if I keep vacationing.

We Three Musketeers (home again where my little electronic dictionary ((very important)) is, tells me how to spell Musketeers, I knew it was not correct in my last blog) arrived home last night about 9 p.m. after a 13-14 hour drive and oh so very grateful to be out of the car and JIGGITY JIG...home again.

The day after the celebration we did some sight seeing along Hwy 1 along the ocean and then over to OB's home for a few hours visit and the night. OB and wife were leaving the next morning for CO to see a brand new grand baby that was going to be born...TODAY come to think of it. Baby was to be induced last night about 8 p.m. CO time.

The celebration of the marriage of my BB's oldest daughter was not w/out problems, but what occasion is w/out flaws? One of the problems was that the batteries died in my camera and I forgot to take new ones with me!! But, as the saying goes: "A good time was had by all". Said Oldest Daughter is a whiz at planning a wonderful party. The celebration included a sitdown dinner in an upstairs private room in a restaurant. Three choices of either a salad (No ordinary salad, unh un, so siree, my salad included Scallops!) or an absolutely humdinger of a butternut squash soup, YUM! A choice of a duck dish, a beef dish or fish. 'Nother YUM. and of course the desserts were unique and YUM! You don't need to see the descriptions of the deserts. That would be just too cruel.

#1S, BB and I walked to and from the celebration restaurant. It was about 1/2 mile. We arrived FIRST, before all the others traveling in auto's. The weather was perfect, the walk was wonderful, the food was perfect. GREAT PLANNING, and plaudits to BB's oldest daughter. Thank you for including OA, That is me OL' AUNT. We Two Odd Musketeers were very happy to be included and we thank you.

One Day in California

We three Muscateers drove to N. CA in one day. It would have taken me two and I would have spent the night in Buttonwillow, CA. BB drove and drive us he did. We made it in appx. 12 1/2 hours. We were happy to see The Courtyard all alight when we arrived. They left the light on for us. It was a long day but we enjoyed the drive and each other.

Yesterday, pre-celebration, we went to the beach (a must do for us desert rats) cigar stores and memory lane. I spent 29 years in San Jose, CA. Married a 30 year career IBM'er and started the moving bit. We moved from San Jose when my 3 children we 5,11 & 13 or appx. those ages. #1 son didn't have the memory's BB and I had. We didn't actually get to SJ but BB lived in the area in which we spent most of our time yesterday. He drove us all around memory lane.

The weather could not have possibly been more perfect for November & near the ocean. The area is heavily farmed. I tried to identify all the things growing (from a moving car) but failed for the most part. We made our memory trip most of the time with the car windows down. I told "Da Boys" the the day was an Olafactory (can't spell that word) Treat! For us ol' desert rats all the smells of the fresh ground being turned over, the smells of GREEN things growing was just wonderful.

I will write more later, 2 of the Muscateers are packing and getting ready to head over the mountains to OB's (oldest brother)
home and then on to the desert on Sunday.

November 4th

I guess everyone all over the U.S. was thinking about voting yesterday. Even the grammer schools took part in their own way. In TN the little kids voted as did the little kids in AZ. Yesterday Beth ask Lily who she voted for and she answered Obama. When ask why she voted for Obama she answered: "Because he is brown like me".

Fun picture

This is a picture of Kala, my oldest grand. I can't remember where this boneyard of cars is, someplace in TX or OK. I have seen it in the past. This picture was taken on her way home from AZ to TN. when she was leaving me. Sob! I haven't anything else to share this a.m. so grandkids always is a top topic with me.

Gonna lay off BB for a while

Enough about BB even though he makes such a good subject. Yesterday I had such a clever blog post and now it is gone. Should have entered it when it was on my mind. As my dad used to say when ask something, "Can't remember, I've slept since then".

My baby daughter has set me up on a Facebook page so that we can play Scrabble long distance. I am playing several games at a time and also with Rini, a lady whom I met in TN several years ago when visiting BD. I keep telling myself it is not a waste of time but a mind builder. I think that is simply an excuse but I have been enjoying it.




Here three pictures I took at Homecoming while in Tennessee. The first one is of Spencer after the game talking with his baby sis, my little China Doll, Lily.








Kala came home this weekend. Saw many friends and had a great time.



My grandkids have always been great posers. They have somehow been in front of a camera since they were born.

Honest to goodness goblin

BB is both a coomputer tech and an artist. He has an artist imagination. The header is BB face under all the "artistic" arrangement especially for Halloween. I just had to do it.

How could I not?

BB works as a computer tech at a grammer school. Halloween costumes are, if not required, are at least expected. How is this for a fellow born in 1950? He is such a self proclaimed Hippy. This is SO him.

Forgiven

It is good to have a BB. He forgave me for putting his picture on yesterday in the coat. He even laughed about it and showed the blog to a couple of people where he works. It is good to be loved.

I should entitle the pictures below: PERPETUAL MOTION! When you see the pictures you will see why. I don't believe I got a clear shot. The pictures are of my China Doll, aka Lily Bird and her brother Sam. I believe the items I made for them will keep the chill off for a while. I have request for other things also. Right now it is a MAYBE.

Carl: SO SORRY

This is a very DIRTY thing to do to a loved Baby Brother. I am so sorry BB but I have tried and tried to send these pictures to Beca via e-mail and can't get it done. I simply don't know how. This is the only way I know to do it.

To all you out there in cyberland, I knitted this coat for me, can't wear it for various reasons, one being that it is a very heavy coat, knitted out of 4 strands of yarn at once and it will never, ever, ever, ever be cold enough to wear here in my desert. Carl's daughter lives in Baltimore and I am hoping the coat is "her" and I will take it to CA next month when we go to her wedding and she can lug it home.

Again Carl, thanks for being willing to try it on, sorry I couldn't not find another way to send the pictures.

HOME COMING DAY AFTERNOON

Finally. I brought my camera in from the car, got the pictures all downloaded and then had to find them. They were there all the time but I couldn't see them.

The afternoon of the Homecoming game at my grandson's high school, a longtime friend of Grand daughter came over and brought her sister's PUPPY! This PUPPY! is only a few weeks old. It is a St. Barnard and such a gentle giant. Lily played and played with it, pulling it around (when the PUPPY was willing to be pulled around) closed it's mouth time after time on Lily's arm and it was so gentle that Lily didn't even have a thought that her arm might be threatened. AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.

















Kala drove home for Homecoming and GRAMMY! Thank you Kala. It was a long drive from her school. We were all happy to see her.











Kala's mom (my baby daughter) found Kala a pretty dress for a wonderful price and brought it home to her. Who knows when and where she will wear but by golly, she has a great dress for a wonderful evening, whatever it might be.








MORE TOMORROW

This and That

I don't have much of anything to share so I will just share a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

I am catching up on my blog list. It is taking me a while because I was away from home for about 2 weeks. I just checked up on my friend and former pastors blog. I like the one he posted yesterday and the one on Oct. 23rd. The one yesterday gave me hope of a new romance in my life HAHAHA! and the one on the 23rd made me laugh. I love laughing above most anything. His blog address is www.clifditmoresblog.blogspot.com

I have not even brought my camera in from my car since vacation. I took a few pictures. I will share them when I finally remember to get the camera into the house.

BB, MD, and I went as vendors at a new street fair yesterday. I DON'T BELIEVE I WILL EVER, EVER, EVER DO THAT AGAIN!!! We were there about 7 a.m., the recommended time to be there to set up. Unnecessery. It probably reached almot 90 degrees before we three called it quits. No one was really interested in shopping. Most were just out for a nice, free from any charges, get the family out of the house day. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY NO ONE WAS INTERESTED IN EVEN LOOKING AT ALL MY WINTER WEAR!!! BB had both origional artwork and artwork he had collected over the years. He got his entrance fee back. $5. Becky sold one pair of bead earring for $2 and NOTHING for me. NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER AGAIN!. Lesson learned.

This week, I need to clean the house. It was ignored before I left and being away for two weeks gave the cat a chance to spread more JOY! Kat Hair, to be exact. No way out. Gotta do it.

I will see ya' all later, after I get the cat hair under control and the camera in the house.

Facebook

OK. I tried. To make a link to my Facebook page so you could see my grandson of whom I am very proud. Of course. I don't know what I am doing but here it how you get there. Copy and paste the Facebook address in the http:// line from whatever I did and it will take you right there. I tried it and it worked. To the right of the page, there is a little box that says, "Pictures", "Videos" and I don't know what else. Click on the "Videos", then click on the one of the long tall skinny boy standing in front of the blackboard. That is my wonderful, clever, grandson. Enjoy. I have listened to his pitch several times and still enjoy it. Naturally.

Down on the Farm: Down on the Farm: Home again

http://www.facebook.com/home.php

Down on the Farm: Home again

Down on the Farm: Home again

Home again

I have been far, far away but close to the ones I love. I was in TN with youngest baby and her babies and hubby. Loved being there. On up to IN for a short visit with my late hubby's family. Loved being there but...I love being home again. THANK YOU GOD FOR A SAFE TRIP.

I have been trying and trying to put a short video clip on here so that you can see it. It is my oldest grandson, Spencer, filling an assignment for school. He is a senior in high school this year. His assignment was to sell a muffin. What a great job he did. If any of you can tell me how to get a video clip from Facebook to here I would greatly appreciate the advice. Connie

Tonight is the night

Tonight is the night I came to Tennessee at this time of the year for. Tonight is Homecoming for the high school Spencer and Kala attends and attended and the two little ones, with God's grace, will also attend. Kala will be coming home from college to be at homecoming and to visit with me (and of course the rest of the family and her many old friends). I am looking forward to the BIG EVENT! Beth told me to bring warm clothes because is had been cold here (my idea of cold at any rate) but I haven't seen (felt) the cold weather at all. Hopefully it will hold on through tonight.

I tried to attach a picture of The Football Hero but can't. I am using Beth's computer which probably has many pictures of said Hero but I can't find them nor can I pull in my own pictures while on her computer. I will have to show you the pictures I take tonight when I arrive home.

I am struggling with a laptop, which I hate. I don't believe I will ever be interested in owning one BUT... my mama told me, "Don't ever say never", so I will leave a tiny opening. Most of the places I stay when traveling have computers available for my use.

I have been prayed here, pray me home please.

Also, remember? I mentioned a week ago or so that my friend Roy A. was having problems and the problems looked like heart problems. From what I understand, he came through the test with flying colors. Thank you for the prayers. Now, his wife is going through a whole lot of stress. Her sister is in the hospital failing fast. Claudia is my friends name, her sis is named Rosie. Please pray for healing and comfort for all in this situation. God answers prayer, perhaps not the way we wish it to be answered, but HE always knows best.

Don't forget to pray me home and thank you to those who said you would pray for me. You know who you are.......................Connie

Fly Away with me

Hello from Tennessee:

I am away from home and will not be home until near the end of the month. I am visiting family here and in Indiana. I love to travel and enjoy traveling by myself. Stop when I want, eat when I want or not, make all my decisions w/out having to make an agreement with anyone. If I can't have my hubby I am happy traveling by myself.

It has been raining here off and on very hard since yesterday. For an ol' desert rat, it is a very nice change.

It is so nice to have a family who loves me and love to have me around. That also goes for my AZ. family. I am blessed.

I may not blog again until I get home. In the meantime, I wish you many blessings.

OBSERVATION: Stupid chickens!

This picture is just because I have no other picture to share. I have entitled it: :Enough Already".

OK. Here 'tis. BB was not hungry tonight. Didn't cook the fish I had thawed out. Middle child invited me to dinner. Declined. Came home and filled plate with Smoked Almonds, Mozzerelle Cheese Sticks & dehydrated Blueberrys. Very satifying. Sat and watched the STUPID CHICKENS!

OBSERVATION:
The Rooster and the largest hen rule the roost. I decided this a.m. that the chickens WOULD enjoy the new chicken house. I distroyed all the options they had for roosting.

OBSERVATION:
The rooster and the largest hen rule the roost. The rooster and the largest hen decided tha the TOP of the new chicken pen would be the place where they would spend the night, contrary to the wonderful upstairs BB built for them. I sat and watched the biggins run the smaller ones off the top of the chicken house again and again. The poor chickens that were the smaller ones frantically ran around the chicken yard looking for a place to spend the night. One even found a break in the top of the netting and gained the top and had decided to spend the night there. WRONG! I decided that was not a good idea and moved the chicken into the yard again and closed the breach. It finally got too dark to see. I don't know who won. I guess they will work it out. Meantime, I have a Southern Gospel Netflix to watch. See you tomorrow.

PTL

Just a little thanks for your prayers for my friend Roy A. His beautiful wife called yesterday and told me that there is no blockage to the heart. PTL. Now, I am already praying my thanks that they will find no further problems. God made him, God can make him all over again.