Hummingbird Cake ~ Recipe

I first saw this cake on Abigail’s blog, In the Garden. I decided to make it last Thursday night and Dear says it’s a keeper. You really do not need the cream cheese frosting but I’ll include the recipe for that, too. A little on top is nice.

Hummingbird Cake

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple with juice
2 cups diced bananas
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 12 cup Bundt pan.
2. Measure flour, sugar, soda, salt, cinnamon, oil, eggs, vanilla into mixing bowl. Beat until smooth*. Stir in pineapple with juice, bananas, and pecans. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake in oven for about 70 minutes. (I checked it after 60 minutes) Turn cake out onto rack or plate after cooling for 20 minutes. Cool, and ice with cream cheese icing.

*My mixture never got smooth until I added the pineapple and banana and nuts. Then it got smooth quickly and I put it into the greased and floured pan.

Cream Cheese Icing

1-8 oz. cream cheese softened
1/4 cup butter softened
2 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. package powdered sugar

Beat cheese and butter till smooth. Blend in Vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar.

Enjoy!

ht: Allrecipes.com

The Old Rugged Cross ~ Hymn

 

The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain

Words and Music by George Bennard

Happy Mother’s Day Mom

Mother Knows

Nobody knows of the work it takes
To keep the house together,
Nobody knows of the steps it takes-
Nobody knows but mother.
Nobody listens to childish woes,
Which kisses only smother;
Nobody’s pained by the naughty blows-
Nobody, only mother.

Nobody knows of the sleepless care
Bestowed on baby brother;
Nobody knows of the tender prayer-
Nobody knows but mother.
Nobody knows the lessons taught
Of loving one another,
Nobody knows of the patience sought-
Nobody, only mother.

Nobody knows the anxious fears
Lest darlings may not weather
Storms of life in coming years-
Nobody knows but mother.
Nobody knows of the tears that start,
The grief she gladly smothers;
Nobody knows of the breaking heart-
Nobody, only mother.

Nobody clings to the wayward child,
Though scorned by every other,
Leads it so gently from pathways wild-
Nobody can but mother.
Nobody knows of the hourly prayer
For him, our erring brother,
Pride of her heart, so pure and fair-
Nobody, only mother.

ht: Poem from Moral Lessons of Yesteryear

To all the mom’s out there who come by here I wish for you a wonderful Mother’s Day filled with thanksgiving to God for giving you the privilege of being a Mom.

Photo Hunters ~ Anything Goes!

This little replica of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-on-Avon was built at the Dallas Arboretum. The roof is an authentic roof thatched by Irishman William Cahill. We were in Dallas, Texas last weekend and got the chance to stroll through the beautiful grounds of the Arboretum.

For more Photo Hunters head over to Tnchick.

A Succulent Walk in Willow’s Neighborhood

Succulents offer dazzling possibilities for garden design and require only minimal maintenance to remain lush and alluring year round. Their water retaining qualities make them easy to care for plants.

 

 

 Succulents are well suited as houseplants, in rock gardens, or nestled into the perennial garden. 

 

 Succulents offer a wide variety of flowers as well as an intriguing display of foliage. 

 

 

 

This is Larry the Cucumber’s cousin. His name is Cal the Cactus. His mother married “out” of her vegetable group. Cal’s cousins complain that it’s hard to get close to Cal. He’s a bit abrasive and not at all touchy feely.

If you aren’t growing succulents, finding a spot for them in the home or garden won’t be difficult, and you’re sure to be pleased with the results.

 These are such exotic blooms and the colors are so vibrant.

        

Southern California has a great climate to support succulents. These plants are all from one yard that Willow and I walk by on our walk.    

Enjoy your day…

 

 

For Katie and Flower~ Check it out…

Hi Flower! I thought of your blog site when I saw this window in Old Town Camarillo today!

Fun Flower Power!

Katie, these 5 cups cost me $2.00!

What do you think?

Here’s the bottom of the cup…

Sky Watch ~ Texas Skies

The first two photos are from the Dallas Arboretum that we visited on Saturday May 3rd.

On our flight home from Dallas, Texas. Somewhere over Texas…

For more Sky Watch photos visit Wiggers World.

Set The Tea Table ~ Bavarian Dishes

Some of you know already that I’m living in a small condo in Southern California right now and my regular home with my kids and my stuff is in the Seattle Area of Washington. Most of my tea goodies and entertaining goodies are in Washington. I didn’t have any tea-cups and saucers in California until today! Look at the bargain I found at a thrift store in our little downtown today.

6 cups and saucers, 6 dessert plates, 5 salad plates, and a creamer. It’s Bavarian H & Co. china. Now here’s the real exciting thing, I got all of this for $15.00!! Now I’m going to be able to have a fun tea here in California with the goodies I found today and with what I can add from the condo stash. Here’s my mock tea table without food.

The inside of the tea-cups are iridescent.

“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. “I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone: “so I can’t take more.” “You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.” ~ Lewis Carroll ~ Alice In Wonderland

Oh and the store threw this Bavarian bowl in for nothing!

You can click over to LaTeaDah’s to see more Tables Set for Tea.

Tea Blogathon ~ Set the Table Pink & Green

This is my third tea table. I’m using some of my archive photos since I’m not at my home in Seattle where all my goodies are to set a new table.

I have a lot of pink and green accessories and enjoy setting a table in these colors.

My China is Royal Albert Moss Rose.

For more Tables set for tea visit Gracious Hospitality.

I made a wonderful find today at a local thrift store so I have one more Set the Table post for tomorrow!

Dallas Arboretum ~ The Star of Texas

It was a beautiful day at the Dallas Arboretum last Saturday.

Just in case there’s any confusion as to what state you are in here’s the Star of Texas, a Longhorn, an Armadillo and a cowboy hat to set you right.

It was so lush with pinks, purples and many shades of green.

Lots of beautiful trees. The crape myrtle had such smooth interesting bark.

We were a little late for the wisteria but I can imagine how lush this was about a month ago. On our way out I bought a souvenir here that I will share in a future post. The afternoon was so lovely, sunny but not hot.