Can You Believe These Nerds?

Ella Loves to Laugh

Dan and his "Super Hero"

Coconut Cake

Can be layer or sheet cake, or cupcakes.

2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons unsifted bleached all-purposed flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg----(I didn't put this much nutmeg--maybe 1/4 teaspoon)
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups superfine sugar----(I used regular granulated sugar)
3 large eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup thick, cultured sour cream
1 cup tightly packed sweetened flaked coconut

1. Cream the butter in the large bowl of a freestanding electric mixer on moderate speed for 3 minutes.

2. Add half of the sugar and beat for 1 minute; add the balance of the sugar and beat for 2 minutes longer.

3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing for 45 seconds after each addition.

4. Blend in the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl frequently with a rubber spatula to keep the batter even textured.

On low-speed, alternately add the sifted mixture in three additions with the sour cream in two additions, beginning and ending with the sifted mixture. The batter will be smooth, moderately thick, and buttercream-like. On low speed blend in the coconut.

What I Think..... Today

I have two daughters, one son, one son-in-law and two granddaughters ... They fill me up with inspiration.......My faith and good friends, take care of the rest...

Recipe For Life

If you know me and as you can probably tell by my blog contents, I enjoy recipes. I recently read an article that talked about leading a happy, stressless, productive life (or at least close). It listed several items that should be on everyone's "to do list" every single day. What a great idea. I have borrowed that concept and tweaked it to be what I call my "recipe for life".

Everyday I want to:

1. Do something for someone else.
2. Do something for me.
3. Do something that I don't want to do that needs doing.
4. Do a physical exercise.
5. Do a mental exercise.
6. Do an original prayer that always includes thanksgiving for my blessings.

Can life be lived by this "recipe"? I'm certainly going to try. I believe this recipe will improve my days, and those days will quickly add up to a life.

Instructions For Toast Arm Warmers

Materials Needed:
* 1 Skein Soft Yarn (I bought a 100 yd skein and did not use all of it-depends on needle size and stitch length
* Size 7 circular needles (I bought the "turbo" needles. A bit pricey but I love them!)

1. Cast on 34 stitches. Divide equally on circular needles using the "magic loop" method.
2. Join for knitting in the round. Knit for 11 inches
3. Bind off and weave in ends.

See! You can make them!

Cinnamon Toast Arm Warmers

I just completed my first set of arm warmers and was immediately rewarded with a VERY cold day to wear them. We had another snow day this week and temperatures dropped to the single digits. Here is a picture of my completed arm warmers that I am calling "cinnamon toast".

Who Me? Knit?

Knitting... Such a simple joy. It takes so long, but it feels so good to be able to see the progress and to gift it to someone who really appreciates what you have done. It provides warmth, function, beauty, and serves to represent a feeling of love towards another person when given as a special gift. It takes few tools, and can be picked up/put down (HA!)/carried around easily. There are only two stitches; simply knits and purls.....it's like 0's and 1's in math!

If you don't know how to knit, I encourage you to give it a try and pick up the sticks. Knitting is NOT just for your grandma, this is not so hard that it takes a rocket scientist has to be present for you to figure it out, and it takes no more time than anything else you do.

Are you interested, but don't know where to start? You can start at your local yarn shop (btw-our local yarn store moved to "Carriage House Framing" in front of Ingles) or department store chain (Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc) for supplies. Knitting Help or You Tube are great online video resources, which is convenient when you want to figure out purling at 2 in the morning. But likely, you have a friend that knits, that you never knew possessed this skill -- ask around and you might be able to find a "new or used" knitting friend and use him or her!

2009 Is Going To Be Fine

Today was the first "snow day" of the 08-09 school year. We didn't have that much snow but what little we had was frozen (and continues to be) because of the extreme low temperatures.

What an amazing day for America (and the rest of the world). History was made today as our new 44th president, Barick Obama was inaugurated. I watched several of the festivities surrounding the event on tv. Here is a quote I like:

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Martin Luther King, Jr.
1929-1968, American Civil Rights Leader

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One of my 09 resolutions is to take the time to blog more often. Other intentions for the upcoming new year are........so many things.......wasting less, giving more, being creative, spreading joy, and this, so much more wondrous than achieving a goal... relishing the ride.

I've Never Seen A Smile That Wasn't Beautiful

The Girls Go To Gatlinburg

After Christmas everyone had a great time in Gatlinburg Tennessee. Aubrie and Ella's cousins, Zeke, Sofia, Cooper, and Carter, had a great time as well.

Welcome Ella

Ella Reed Akins was added to the Akins family on August 11, 2008. She is growing so fast! She is a very calm, sweet smiling little girl. Her sister, Aubrie, loves her very much as we all do.