Nana's Chocolate Cake Icing

Insomnia. Is there a cure? I'm up again and to make matters worse I didn't eat dinner so I'm eating peeps!  Tawna, you are evil for bringing me peeps.  Next time I make chocolate nutty delight, I'm bringing you some.  Since food is on my brain, I am going to write out the recipe for Nana's chocolate cake icing.  Freaks that we are, we love this icing on german chocolate cake, put the cake into a glass and pour milk over it.  Scoop it up with a spoon for a little bit of heaven.  Hey, don't knock it if you haven't tried it.  It's kind of like a chocolate cake milk shake, only not as cold as ice cream.

I guess you could be boring and eat it on a plate with a glass of milk, but now you have to wash two things instead one.  Here goes:

4 T. butter or margarine (the stick kind)

4 T. hershey's cocoa powder

1 t. vanilla

powdered sugar

a little bit of milk

In a saucepan ( on low heat) melt the butter and stir in the powdered cocoa until dissolved.  Add vanilla and maybe 2 T. milk.  Stir in 2 cups powdered sugar until dissolved and creamy.  Keep adding powdered sugar and milk until you have enough to frost your cake and it is thick and creamy. I learned the hard way to remove the pan from heat while mixing the milk and the sugar.  Only put it on the heat long enough to melt the sugar into the mixture now and then.  If the mixture gets too hot it will set up like concrete and you will have to use a jack hammer to eat it.  (Yes, it was embarrassing when I did that very thing, and took it on a picnic to impress a date.)  I usually double the above quantities for a two cake mix cake in a long pan.  The measurements are just a guideline, you can use more butter or vanilla to taste.  It take less than a quarter cup of milk total to almost a whole poly bag of powdered sugar.  

If you make it without the chocolate in it, it is great icing for sugar cookies.  You may have to warm it up a little as you ice the cookies to maintain a good spreading consistency.  Of course you can color it any color for this.

Lick the spoon, the pan - Gotta love it

Custom Dinnerware…

All twelve plates are finished now.  I still have to take Madison's finished plate pictures, so I will add them to the slide show when I catch her later.  Grumpy and I are very pleased with our priceless plates and suitably impressed by the talent displayed by these sweet kids.  They all did their own painting, Granny just supplied a little detail work at the finish up stage.  The backs are as wonderful as the fronts.  Now if those four little ones could be helped just a little, we could add another 4 plates to the stack.  Maybe in a few months…

The Puppy that snuck in to work!

Wednesday Nathan, Robert, Jeff, R.B. and Richard all came over to Papa's house to take some things out of the basement.  I really am getting ready to paint down there and it make it a lot easier to sort of clear the decks.  Robert was taking one of the couches that was down there to store over in Cave Creek so when he gets his own place he will have something to sit on.  The boys put his couch on the trailer, we finish up and everyone goes home.  Thursday morning Robert gets up, takes off for work.  He gets to his first glass pick-up for some windshields and goes back to check the load.  To his astonishment, a head pops up between the two couch sections and he is looking at a terrified puppy.  Apparently this little guy was asleep between the couches and was trapped on the trailer.  He had no collar, or tags and is very skinny (ribs showing).  Robert went to Food City and got some food for him, gave him some water and is currently looking for a home for him.  Cute puppy, looks like a lab/boxer mix maybe.  Looking for a puppy anyone?

Easter Dinner

I took the easy way out this year and had a potluck.  It was the best.  We had sliced ham, croissants with condiments to add for a sandwich, potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salad, broccoli salad, texas potatoes, jello salad, deviled eggs, chocolate pie, coconut cream pie, adorable cupcakes, chocolate bird's nests and strawberries over pound cake with half & half or cool whip.  No one went away hungry.  Our tables were pretty, but when dinner is buffet style never as pretty without the plates on them.  I will have to rethink that.  We had a special table set on the patio for the kids, but I think I like everyone all together better.  Ever the helper, Rylan was there to put all the individual salt & pepper shakers away for me after dinner.  He does a great job. Thanks Rylan.  And thanks to all that brought such tasty dishes.  I love it when dinner comes together as a composite of culinary effort.  It just tastes better!

Pop's House Looks Beautiful!

It's true, Papa's house is sporting a new tan this year - and looking mighty good.  It is great to see this homestead revitalized.  I am still painting away on the inside.  It seems like I'm moving as fast as I used to, but only half the stuff gets done comparatively.  Oh well, at least I'm still moving.

…Eleven…Twelve!

Finally, the last two dinner plates are painted.  Jaxon and Ryker painted their creations on Monday, so now all that is left is picking up the fired pieces.  I will still have more pics to add on to the side show as plates are picked up and the final shots taken of the finished products.  What more could any Granny ask than custom painted dinnerware by such talented artists?  There is a wide assortment of designs and color choices.  As different and unique as each grandchild. Grumpy and I will find the best way to display and use these dishes so everyone can enjoy them as much as we will.  Thanks for painting with me kids!  (and thanks to the moms that came and helped!) Love you all.

It's A Mother's Duty…

How true it is.  Mother's live to share their treasured pictures of children long grown - to their absolute and complete embarrassment.  It can't be helped.  This cycle of life will continue beyond the mortification of this birthday tribute and I'm sure will pass on to the next generation.  It was actually fun to see Richard and I looking so young and thin.  I love old pictures - the memories of those days are precious.  Wasn't Nana so pretty in that pic taken at the Temple at Easter.  Tawna and Taya, I hope you enjoy your birthday, and that I haven't embarrassed you too much.  (Hee Hee) You were, and are still so cute–and we all know how much I love crazy hair.  Have a great day!

Happy Birthday Tawna and Taya…

Spring Break/Paint Break

We've been at it again.  Spring break has been the perfect time to get kids into As You Wish for some pottery painting fun.  I think this has been the most enjoyable, (at least for me), gift I have ever given to the grandkids.  I hope they have learned as much as I have!  This could be the start of a great new tradition that we can do for other occasions as well.  I am amazed at their creativity and willingness to just go for it.  We should be getting the finished products back soon, so there will be more photos to come.  Tomorrow will be four more plates - then only two left to do their painting.  Jordyn is the only one to finish her tree ornament, so there will be more ornament designs to do for the rest.  I'm loving every minute of this…why didn't I think of this sooner?

Wow, what a week!

I think last week must have been twice as long as usual.  It was a week of starting some big projects.  Papa hired a company to paint the outside of his house.  The prep commenced, colors were picked and the project is underway.  There are such wonderful memories in this home and it is so nice to see the beauty restored.  Inside we began our own painting projects and I must say I'm not as fast as I used to be!  I guess I just have to accept that and be thankful I can still paint (albeit more slowly) at all because I so enjoy making a room new again.  Nathan and Robert have been great to come help move furniture and stuff to clear the decks and of course will be helping to move it all back again when the time comes.  I appreciate them, and their muscles so very much!  The painters outside are almost finished and so far have done an excellent job.  Our saga inside is only beginning.  

As if all of that wasn't enough, I decided to refinish my old dining room table for Taya to use for a while.  Gel stain is an ingenious invention (wish I had thought of it), but doesn't have a very long window for application.  You pretty much have to get it done fast, or your project just got a lot more complicated.  At least that has been my experience.  All in all, the table is turning out well and will host many meals to come.  Taya and Kevin have been preparing for their kids to come from Texas for spring break.  It is always such a happy time when they get to come for any length of time at all.  Now they can sit together for family meals around the “family round table” and the happy talk that is part of that as well.

Summer has double ear infections, and is just not feeling well at all.  I guess working at an elementary school does have it's down side.  She is a trooper though, and gets through the best she can.  Hopefully she will be back to her healthy self soon.  I love the long talks we sometimes get to have - I love that she lets me be such a part of her life.  It is a joy to see her doing so well with her family.

Stacie's mom, Susan was married on Saturday and we were helping with her celebration at RB and Stacie's home.  Stacie always says large groups intimidate her, but she did such a great job planning, shopping and executing this event.  Everything looked pretty and inviting, she coordinated the food and it's presentation very well.  You did an awesome job Stacie, and everyone was happy to help.  Jade traveled from Pima and was on hand to help make everyone beautiful, (she is quite another story)!  After some advance prep together, Grumpy and I did the divide and conquer maneuver that works so well.  He and RB handled the food at the luncheon, Tawna and I went and painted ceilings and walls.  

While Jeff got in a trip to the dunes, Jade and the boys came to beautify and play.  She is so good to us and with the cuts, the color and all time that takes still manages to be wife, mom, sister, daughter and aunt rolled into a day and a half visit.  I need her to teach me her happy dance - no ones does it quite like her!

Robert and Jennifer took Chance and Faith to the Zoo and we were happy to note there were no melt downs (by the adults, or the kids) and the children were not kept in the monkey cages, but returned home safe and sound.  Robert is so good to help whenever he can, I have always been grateful for his generous nature.  Jennifer is so good with the kids, it is really fun to get to know her better.  

I have such great kids and grandkids.  Wouldn't trade them for anything.  

 

Strawberries and What?

Tonight for dessert I made Rylee's favorite dessert…and she wasn't here to eat it!  It is kind of an odd combination, but it is delicious.  You wash some nice strawberries, leaving the tops on them.  Put a dab of sour cream in a bowl, and a scoop of brown sugar in another bowl.  You dip the strawberry into the sour cream, and then into the brown sugar and enjoy.  Many years ago when Richard was stationed at Lowry AFB, Denver we were welcomed into town by my Aunt Charlene.  She was so sweet to us, and made us a wonderful dinner, finishing with the strawberry dessert above.  We have now handed that down two more generations.  I so appreciated her hospitality and kindness to us while we were there.  She was a crazy lady, in a long line of crazy ladies.  Aren't we all?  

I guess Rylee and I will have to have dessert tomorrow.  Just goes to show you, it doesn't pay to miss dinner at Grannys!

Standin' On The Corner In Winslow, Arizona…

This weekend found us in Winslow, Arizona where the flying club Richard belongs to met to have lunch and get acquainted.  They chose a landmark hotel that was built in 1930, La Posada Hotel.  It was quite educational as we opted to take the tour and our guide was a “Harvey Girl”.  Mr. Harvey hired young women 18-30 years old to hostess for his hotels.  He built some very nice Inns, about every 100 miles along the Santa Fe Railway.  It was really fun to learn about some of the history in Arizona.  I, who never wins anything, actually won a replica plate of the china designed by an Indian tribe that was used for the first class passenger trains of that era.  That was the way to travel back then, and they made it with all the creature comforts they could.  It was rare to get to spend the whole day with Richard and enjoy the character of this beautiful old hotel.  They are rennovating all the time to restore it as best they can.  If you are ever in Winslow, stay at the La Posada.  Charm, really wonderful food and oh yes, they have some very nice things in their gift shop!

This year is going too fast!

March is here!  This year is slipping by entirely too fast.  I just have one question…what's with Easter in March?  I know there's an equinox or something and passover is in the equation somewhere, but April really needs Easter.  March already has St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break and of course there are always birthdays, but April is barren without Easter.  I know April Fool's Day is in there, but that's so minor.  Our two weeks of Spring is supposed to be around Easter, and when that is March it makes the summer arrive so quickly.  Easter in March is just wrong.

Meanwhile, birthdays coming up are Tawna and Taya on the 22nd and cousin Ali Stewart on the 23rd.  I can still remember how odd it was that Jacque and I had babies just a few hours apart.  Gramma and Papa Harmon had 3 grandkids in 12 hours.  Crazy days.

More classes coming up - can't wait to learn how to embroider on the computer/sewing machine, learn how to make awesome rolls for Easter dinner (in March), and finish Jade and Jeff's afagan.  It's all done except the fringe.  Pretty exciting for me, but now I need to start another one, so I'll have something to take with me when I go places and have to wait.  I've made several afagans just by hauling them with me to hospital waiting rooms, Dr. office waiting rooms, road trips and even D-Back games.  There's lots of history crocheted into them by the time they are done.  I think it's Taya's turn next, but I may do two at once and get started on Robert's too.  It seems like I wait around a lot these days.  

Today is my brother Curt's birthday.  He would be 49.  He passed away on my 12th birthday, it seems like another lifetime ago.  He was such a special kid, sort of wise beyond his years.  Gentle and so slow to anger.  It was a privilege to be his sister and know him for the five short years he was here.  He taught us to be forgiving and kind, because he was.  I still remember the matchbook car collection he kept in a small suitcase.  He loved to play with those cars and would spend hours pretending the things little boys pretend with their cars.  He had one little friend that was not nice to his cars and it bothered him to have to share with him when he came to play because he always broke the cars he played with.  One day he asked Mom if he shared all his others toys with this friend, could he please just but his cars away somewhere while he was there to play.  When Mom asked him why he didn't want to share his cars with him, he told her it hurt him to see his friend break his special toys.  She agreed that he could put his toys in her room while this friend was there so they wouldn't be there to play with.  He never fought with his friend or was mean about it.  He was only 4.  We could learn a lot from that.  I still miss him and am grateful for the knowledge that I will see him again someday.  Even though I miss my Mom terribly I take such comfort in knowing she is able to be with him after so many years apart.    For me the loss of these loved ones isn't worry over their well being, or confusion about where they went, it's trying to make the hole they leave not hurt so much.  The hole never goes away, but with time it at least becomes manageable.  I love you Curt and think about you and Mom and the time you get to spend together now.