Putting Summer Away...

As I sit here today 

contemplating bringing in my

plants from the porch

because we might, possibly

have a frost later this week,

I realize summer is over.

Of course it is!!!

It's mid October after all!

It's just that it has sped by SO quickly,

even though the warm weather has

lasted way longer this year

than we have any right to expect.

One summer event I should have ended weeks ago

is my family's 

2018 Summer Bake Off.

I've shared everyone's cake except my own.

So here it is.

I used the Updated Hummingbird Cake

recipe from DELISH.

The main difference between my cake

and those of everyone else

 is that the recipe 

called for the addition of 

unsweetened applesauce and less oil.

A healthier cake....

 ...probably not because of the 

Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting,

which was the BEST thing about the cake.

The cake was a bit too dense.

Probably because my recipe did not specify

what size can or how much 

crushed pineapple to use.

I used a large can and did not drain it.

So, although the frosting was first rate,

I wasn't too impressed with my cake.

After living here for almost fifteen months,

my violets finallllllly

began to bloom this summer.

I had wonderful luck with them

at my previous house.

But for some reason, no blooms here.

Don't they like this house???

Are they mad I moved them???

After feeding them a bloom boost for several months

and moving them to some direct sunlight,

I am seeing flowers again.

(Thank you for your advise M.)

I have "read"

or listened to some outstanding

audible books this summer.

These were two of my favorites.

And finally,

as I say goodbye to summer,

here's a little round up of

the gorgeous flowers M has kept

me supplied with over the past few months.

Come on Fall.

I'm ready for you.

Judy, Judy, Judy

Reminiscing today.

The picture above is of my cousin Judy and me.

It was taken when we were four years old.

Note the matching sun suits.

This picture was taken in Michigan,

where both our families lived at that time.

About a year later, my family moved 

to Alabama.

However,  Judy and I stayed friends

all during our childhood.

Vacations were family trips,

either north or south,

depending upon which family was

traveling that summer.

The above picture shows Judy and me at the door

of my family's home in Alabama.

I'm the one with the ponytail.

Our mothers, who were close sisters,

are on the porch

with my sister Nancy between them.

They are all eyeing Judy's and my

life-sized dolls.

These dolls were so large they wore

real children's clothes!

On a later trip south for Judy's family 

the above "cousin" picture was taken.

I'm in the middle, with Nancy between Judy and me.

My older brother Bill is beside me

with Judy's little brother Ron in front.

How's this for dressed up girls?

We were at Judy's house and

getting ready for 

her violin recital.

I am the older, by about a month, and larger.

Judy was always (and still is) petite and 

I always felt  a bit awkward next to her!

This is a picture of all the "girl" cousins,

at that time. 
We have a few more now.

It was taken in Michigan.

I'm the one in the yellow sweater,

with the gosh awful pixie cut.

Between Judy and me 

is Linda, Patty in the center,

Nancy in the blue (what a cutie!)

and little Terri.

Which brings me to why 
I'm revisiting my past.

Sadly, family trips back and forth 
have become obsolete.
Too much distance, time,
marriages, children and life in general
put us on different paths.
However, a few years ago
Judy and I reconnected
via Facebook

and Judy has been keeping up with the 

Hummingbird Cake Bake Off.

She surprised me recently with the above picture.

Very nice cake Judy!
And YOU  look great too!

Allrecipes was her inspiration for her cake.
She says it was "yummy" and that she'll
"be making this again."

Thank you, thank you, thank you Judy,
for joining in with our cake fun.
But more than that,
thank you for helping me remember
what special times we had growing up.
Sure do wish we lived closer!

Chef Rick's Cake

All the way from Germany,

here's my brother Rick's

Hummingbird Cake,

his submission for our

2018 Family and Friends Bake Off.

Two things to note,

the German flags

and

the little hummingbird

hovering above the cake.

No one has a better sense of

humor and fun

than my brother Rick...

He actually sent me pictures of his cake weeks ago.

But because of the colored layers,

 the obvious fake hummingbird,

and knowing how much Rick 

likes to jack me around,

I failed to realize

THIS was his cake.

I asked him today,

"Why the colored layers?"

He says originally is was supposed to

represent the colors of the German flag,

black, red and yellow.

"Major fail," his words.

Rick used a fairly standard cake recipe.

It's the frosting that made his cake,
German Vanilla Butter Cream Custard Frosting.
The cake was "just okay."

This is an old picture of Rick,
but one of my favorites.
Love you Bro!

Nancy's Hummingbird Cake

There she is,

the proud baker,

my beautiful sister Nancy

and her cake for this year's

Family (& Friends) Cake Bake Off

The cake looks wonderful

and Nancy reports it was "delish!"

She used the 1978 SOUTHERN LIVING 

magazine recipe.

Two things strike me as notable about Nancy's cake:

*it was baked in a toaster oven

(another story all by itself)

*she used 2 sticks of butter 

AND

 2 boxes of confectioner's sugar

for the frosting.

You can read all about 

her cake here.

Excellent looking cake Nancy!

I can almost taste it!

Still waiting to hear from you 

about your cake.

The Hummingbird Cake Bake Off - Our First Submission!

Here it is!

The first entry into our

2018 Hummingbird Cake Bake Off.

My sister in law, Pat has taken the plunge

and baked the first cake.

It was baked as a birthday cake

for her husband, my bother, Bill's birthday.

Pat used the recipe from 

THE CAKE DOCTOR

by Anne Byrn.

One variation Pat made to the original recipe

was that she baked the cake in

a bundt pan,

rather than making a layer cake.

Pat's motive for the change

was to reduce the amount

of frosting needed to frost the cake.

According to Pat,

"Very moist,

very tasty."
And that,
"the birthday boy did not complain."

The cake looks great.
My thanks to Pat for being the first
to jump in and bake this cake.
I actually baked mine last night,
although it is not yet put together
and frosted.
That will happen tonight.
It will be served to my 
knitting group tomorrow
during our weekly get together.
Updates to follow!

I'm waiting to hear from you
about your hummingbird cake!

Another Birthday Post...and Other Ramblings

Birthdays,

they just keep coming,

year after year!

What's to be done about that?

I have decided the very best

thing to do about birthdays

is to enjoy them.

No one that I know of...yet...

has figured out how to 

slow them down.

This time last year I was just moving into my new home.

What a year it's been!
Most of it has been very, very good.
Some of it has been difficult.
But overall it's been an lovely year for me.
I am even learning to do a little gardening!!!
The above pictures are from my yard.
I cannot take credit for the actual plants,
they were here before me.
But I am trying to maintain them,
and have been developing a few beds
into my own sensibilities.
No pictures to share just yet.
It's a process...

This year I have been trying to 
live with enthusiasm,
mindfulness,
embrace simplicity,
and most of all, 
be joyful.
Some days I fall a bit short,
but others,
I am a raging success,
thanks to friends, new and old,
and family,
who help me laugh daily.

Some house changes are in my future.
I have a small paneled room just off my living room,
which I will soon be converting into 
a screened porch.
Just waiting for my contractor
to come and work his magic.
I will be sharing as it happens.

The 2018 Bake Off continues.
While celebrating our birthdays
in Knoxville last week,
(his is one day before mine)
M and I discovered this one 
in a small eatery.

Since I chose the Hummingbird Cake
as our "cake to bake" this year,
it seems to be popping up everywhere.
Please remember to share your 
pictures, recipe, and stories
if you make one,
and I will in turn share here.

My birthday flowers from M.
Perfect as usual.

Hoping your June is perfect too.

Road Trip, The Wildflower Cafe, Hummingbird Cake, Hippy-Chic and Other Such Stuff...

I had the pleasure of a road trip 

with M last weekend.

We visited friends in North Georgia.

On our way home,

driving through Mentone, Alabama

we stopped for lunch at 

the Wildflower Cafe.

What a treat!

We were there in time for their Sunday Brunch.

While waiting for our table,

look what we discovered 

was part of the dessert menu!

Hummingbird Cake!!!

Karma...we're at the right place!

We had the "Brunch Extravaganza for Two"

and I HIGHLY recommend their

Tomato Pie.

Back to those desserts...

Of course we HAD to try the Hummingbird Cake.

Because the brunch was so huge we ordered

a slice to go.

The waiter brought it in a nice little box

but we asked if he would bring us a plate

so we could take a picture.

He accommodated us with a choice of 

three different plates.

How many busy waiters 

would go to that sort of effort???

The restaurant touts itself as "hippy-chic"

and with one step through the front door,

it makes perfect sense.

The art work on the walls was for sale.

They also have an eclectic  collection of

craftsman made items for sale including 

pottery, clothing, toys, carved wood,

jewelry, jams, and soaps.

All that in addition to 

a strolling musician playing

the guitar, taking requests

and getting foodies to sing along.

The Wildflower Cafe was voted the

"Best Cafe in Alabama"

by readers of ALABAMA MAGAZINE

in 2015.

It was also featured in the book,

"THE SOUTHERN FOODIE:

100 PLACES TO EAT IN THE SOUTH

BEFORE YOU DIE."

The grounds of the restaurant are of interest too.

So, it you have a bit of a wait, do a little exploring!

We did dig into the Hummingbird Cake

later that evening.

Yum.

This was the first time I have tasted one

and it confirms my choice for our 

2018 Bake Off

was a good one!

The Gauntlet has been Thrown Down!

It has been a while,

but yes I am still here.

I have been busy with...

....life.

You know how that is, right?

Do you remember the 

Family Bake Off

I have had with my siblings for

the past few years?

It's that time again!

Since my brother Rick 

and sister Nancy

picked our previous two cakes,

this year the choice is mine.

Notice the picture, it's a hint.

Any idea of the cake

we'll be baking this year?

The Hummingbird Cake.

Since we all live a distance apart,

we can't do a taste test.

So our bake off consists of

pictures and stories about our cakes.

This year I am inviting you to  join

our Bake Off.

Have you ever made this cake?

Have a favorite recipe for this cake?

Want to try your hand at this cake?

There are a ton

of different recipes out there.

I have chosen the one I will be baking.

So, put on your apron,

bake your version of this cake

and send me your pictures

and experiences with it.

I will share any that are sent my way.

Yum!

By the way, this is a really
informal "competition."
We don't have a timeline,
but should probably aim for 
the end of the summer
to be completely finished.

Pictures from Google Images