goodbye, january...

~*~

~*~

musical interlude...

I've changed the music...

I've been posting photos to my flickr...

I'll be back here soon...

You know...just in case you've been stopping by... J

~*~

we traded up...

The birthday boy was not-so-happy with what I thought was the "awesome deal" guitar.  It ended up being a bit small for him, and, had other issues.  So, today...we headed up to Princeton to return that one and replace it with one of his own choosing.

Judging by his smile -- I would say this one is the "awesome deal" guitar! :-)

friday afternoon power nap...

stay tuned...

~ the birthday presents are wrapped ~

~ the cupcakes are frosted and waiting ~

~ for the guest of honor to arrive ~

...he's "due" in at 7:44 p.m.  J

 

~ He arrived as scheduled ~

~ but, would not cooperate ~

~ at all ~

~ for the photos ~

 ~ Happy 16th birthday, Nicholas! ~

best apple crumb cake...

...ever!

A longtime family friend shared this recipe with us over the holidays {thank you, Jeannette!}.  The ingredients are simple -- and it is a crowd pleaser.

Cinnamon-Apple Coffee Cake

 cake ingredients:

  1/4 cup butter or margarine (I melted the butter and then let

    it cool to room temperature. The original recipe does not

    state this.)

  3/4 cup sugar

  1 egg (room temperature)

  2 cups Aunt Jemima Self-Rising Flour

  1 cup milk (room temperature)

  2 medium apples, peeled, thinly sliced

cinnamon topping ingredients**:

  1/2 cup sugar

  1/2 cup Aunt Jemima Self-Rising Flour

  2 teaspoons cinnamon

  1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

For cake ~ beat together butter (cooled to room temperature*)

  and sugar until creamy; blend in egg. Add flour alternately with

  milk, mixing well after each addition. Spread half of batter

  into greased 9 inch square pan. Top with half of apple slices and

  with half of cinnamon topping. Repeat with remaining batter,

  apples and topping. Bake in pre-heated moderate oven

  (375F degrees) 45 to 50 minutes. Cool slightly; serve warm.

*Note(s): Do not add the egg to hot melted butter -- the heat

    will cook the egg!

     I have a convection oven -- and after 30 minutes, the crumb

    topping was well done, so it was necessary for me to cover

    the cake with a loose piece of foil and then bake 12 minutes

    longer (42 minutes).

For cinnamon topping ~ combine dry ingredients. Add butter,

    mixing until crumbly.

**Note: I mixed the topping ingredients first and set the bowl

    aside while mixing the cake ingredients. The mixture

    hardened slightly and I broke it apart with a fork into

    the "crumbs". 

it's your day...

Hope it's great!  Happy Birthday, big sis!

new couch...

...freshly delivered! 

busy...

... :-) ! 

oh, what a beautiful morning...

You will to turn off the music in the sidebar before viewing this video clip.

Happy 2012!  :-)