Oops! It happened again!

Here we go again and by no means am I complaining YEP another snowday for me! A do whatever hits you day! The best of the best kind of day- in my opinion! Not a big snow just enough to knock you out of going to school but not enough to keep you from going! Although, I am very fond of the HOME bound type of snow my personal favorite- I get all my peeps here and I got 'em! But it's almost March and with each snow I'm thinking this could be it, so I'm happy with this not much but enough snow!

Today as with every "brr...chill" in the air day I BAKE! Today I decided to make chocolate fudge with walnuts- my Dad and my husbands favorite. Fudge always has the "if" factor but it was perfect! I'd like to say it's some type of secret family recipe but it's not... KRAFT! Try and enjoy!

I did my good deed for the day as well - I gave Sophie a bath.. you can thank me later Brooke!

Chocolate fudge with Walnuts

In medium saucepan melt:

1 and 1/2 sticks of butter

3 cups sugar

2/3 cup evaporated milk

Bring to a full boil and continue to boil for 4 min. or to 234 on candy therm.

Remove from heat add:

1 bag Hershey chocolate chips

1 jar marshmallow creme

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Pour into 9x13 buttered pan and let cool- cut into squares and enjoy!

A bittersweet Weekend

Ahh, this weekend... blue skies, warm temperatures and a spring like feeling in the air it ALL brings a smile to my face! The weather has been great! You look around on a day like this and can't imagine being anywhere else this beautiful.

But however blissful the weather- it has been a bittersweet weekend. Amid all the smiles and sunshine there has been much sorrow and sadness. My Uncle Dolly passed away this past Wednesday, after a long illness. His funeral was yesterday and the burial today.

Life is short. We have all heard that and for the most of us, especially the older ones, we know that's true. For me the thing I can't understand is when your heart is broken how the rest of the world goes on. My Aunt Delores's heart is broken. As I think of him tonight I can imagine being in a place more beautiful ... Heaven. My uncle was a good man, I loved him and he will be missed.

John 14:2

All good things must come to an end!

Thirteen days! All the days we went to school the entire month of January! Three days! The number of days we have went so far in February! Which can only lead to questions such as: will we go til' June? will spring break get axed? did I hear someone say SATURDAYS! Who's to say but one thing for sure we are in the hole! Has it been worth it... YES!

So, tomorrow it's back to school... ONE HOUR LATE- I'll take it! :)

Monday, Presidents Day, Snowday!

Dreaded Monday- as so many call it- isn't half bad today! Woke up to about 3-4 inches of snow! For once in many years it is actually snowing when they say it will! Hats off to our dedicated meteorologist AND to honest Abe while we're at it- my favorite president. Did you know that he was 6' 4" and the first president to have a beard!

I have decided today I will NOT sit and watch Kelly and Regis, The Bonnie Hunt Show or The View! I will listen! It will be on WHILE I work! At this moment I am "listening" to Bonnie Hunt while BLOGGING! That isn't really work but 2nd on today's "to do list" so it counts!

This is going to be a short one since it is Monday and there is much to do so Happy Presidents day, if this applies Fun Snowday and what can I say it IS Monday!

Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits

This a.m. Brooke and I ate enough chocolate to put a "normal" person in a coma! Not only did we have chocolate gravy and biscuits - on the side... baby chocolate chip pancakes. Luckily, we come from a long line of chocolate lovers or we may not have survived! There's just something about Valentine's Day that screams CHOCOLATE!

So for all you chocolate lovers that have never embarked on chocolate gravy- give it a try! If you like chocolate pie you'r e gonna LOVE chocolate gravy and biscuits. Happy Valentine's Day to ALL!

"Let all that you do be done with LOVE"

1 Corinthians 16:14

Chocolate Gravy:

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons flour

1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa

Mix above ingredients well- ADD:
1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup water

1/2 stick butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cook until thickens~ pour over hot biscuits

Snowless snowday!

To do list gone bad! Knew it would from the get go! Up early- dogs, coffee, Regis and Kelly THEN a text from my gal pals how 'bout lunch at the Cracker Barrel! I'm in! Ready and out the door and my good deed for the day - left early enough to get Brooke's lunch! Another fun "no school in Campbell County" day...

And it only gets better! Get home, put comfy clothes on, cuddle up with Sophie, watching "Dr. Oz" and Susan calls! How 'bout a movie at 4:00... I'm in! Back up, no need to change clothes WEAR the Colts sweatshirt ( I took over from "borrowed my Ipod and someone stole it" Justin)and I'm ready to go! Susan picked me up we went to the MOVIES at LaFollette. The only ones there were Susan and I and a little (looked 12) couple on the VERY FRONT ROW kissing the entire time, barely coming up for air. I'm thinking if this has to be SIT IN THE BACK. But on 2nd thought I don't think they realized anyone was there! SUSAN didn't realize THEY were there! We saw The Blindside and loved it!

Now, for those who know me they are probably wondering WHERE'S JEFF? I always make sure he has supper- yes, old habits are hard to break! How can you cook and keep the road hot! He was covered and all was well! :) Ah, I love snowless snowdays!

Monday, Tuesday, Snowday, Snowday!

This is how it should be - go to school 2 days, don't go to school 2 days! All in favor-say I...I ! Nevertheless (and that IS one word) being off is always a good thing. How I spend that time - which feels like FREE TIME is up to me!

I am a morning person- always have been. This a.m. up early, by choice, which always makes it better. Take the dogs out, back in- brr, cup of coffee in hand and straight to the couch. The intentional few minutes before I "get going" lasted through Regis and Kelly, The Bonnie Hunt Show and The View! By then it's lunch time.

Made a sandwhich, got my best pals Frank and Sophie a snack and straight to the couch. Then I was really "getting with it" that lasted through the news, Daniel Boone (Jeff enters the picture),
Little House on the Prairie which must have been a marathon because I watched, slept, watched, slept and it was still on!

Time for supper! My friend Susan took me to Cracker Barrel then home to open all the presents in the huge b'day bag! Now, that was fun! A little of everything wrapped seperately, of course! My birthday has been ongoing and I love it- kinda like these snowdays!

Tomorrow is a new day- I have a to do list but we won't go there! :)

It was a chocolate cake kinda' day!

This is my very first blog ever... no pressure since I don't expect a huge following and doubt anything I would say (or do) would make any life altering differences! Yet, having said that nevertheless Brooke is a blogger and now so am I!

This is a BIG year for me! I was 50 in January! I don't feel it- a closer look around my eyes and I'm thinking I look it! But, I didn't dread it or even think about it alot. In March I will be married 30 years. I tell you "the time flies" thing that you've heard all your life- it's so true!

I love to bake! When bored, when down, when all else fails... bake! The sweeter the better! Today, on this rainy day I woke up thinking I would try a new chocolate cake recipe- so I did!

New to me but an older recipe. I love allrecipes.com and the reviews are so helpful but I googled this one and it's a keeper! The cake and frosting are from scratch and although that can be scary this wasn't at all. It was delicious and moist and pretty... need I say more!

Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups flour

1 2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup Hershey's unsweetened cocoa (or other high-quality chocolate)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

3 eggs

1 1/3 cup water

1 cup Hellman's (Best Foods) real mayonnaise

Frosting

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine (I used butter)

2/3 cup Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease & flour bottoms of 2- 9" round cake pans. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, soda & powder, set aside. In a large bowl with mixer at high speed, beat eggs, sugar & vanilla, scraping sides of bowl occasionally, for 3 minutes or until smooth & creamy. Reduce speed to low; beat in mayonnaise till well blended. Add flour mixture in 4 additions alternately with water, beginning & ending with flour mixture.Pour into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes.Remove from pans; cool completely on racks.

Frosting-Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, mixing between additions. Use more milk if needed (I did not need any additional milk). Add vanilla and blend in well. Frost cake adding about 1/3 frosting between layers and the rest to cover top and sides of cake. Enjoy!