Pecan Pie

There is nothing that we like better in the summertime, in the South, than a good, ole pecan pie. What makes this recipe so good is the texture of the pecans. They have to be chopped really, really good....none of those whole pecans in my pie. This is my Mama's recipe that she has had since the 60's. It is very easy and really good. It makes two, so you can take one somewhere and leave the other one at home to enjoy. For more recipes, visit Foodie Friday over at Designs by Gollum. These are the ingredients:

1 stick butter
1 cup karo syrup
1 cup sugar
1/2 t. salt
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups chopped pecans

Mix together first 4 ingredients and cook until dissolved. Beat the eggs until they foam. Mix together all of the ingredients and pour into 2 unbaked pie shells. Bake at 325 degrees for 40 min.

Billy Graham Museum

This is the new Billy Graham Museum that we visited last year in Charlotte, NC. It's only an hour away and it was around Thanksgiving, so they had it decorated for Christmas. He is from here so this is his boyhood home that they moved there from not far away. They built a museum that houses all of his memorabilia. It's a walk-through self-guided tour with slide shows and pictures of him with all kinds of famous people. Then a book store where you can purchase items. This is also where Ruth Graham is buried. It was really really cold out that day, so we didn't walk around much outside. It is probably really pretty this time of year with all of the flowers blooming. If you live nearby, you should venture over and take a tour. For more Outdoor Wednesday pics, please visit Susan over at A Southern Daydreamer.

Today's Thrifty Treasures

These are my finds at the Goodwill store on Saturday. I think it turned out to be a pretty good haul myself. The cake stand was only 1.00, which I think I will paint black and find a cloche to go on top of it. The heart and dove napkins rings were only 1.00. The green wire basket was 2.00. The little black lantern was 1.00 and this 20 piece silverware set was on 4.00. I thought I might do a 4th of July table setting with them. For more Thrifty Treasures, click on over to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.

Father's Day 2009

We had a busy Father's Day yesterday. We went to my parents and then to his parents, which is about an hour and a half away. But Hubby got to see his two brothers and their families and their new addition. My nephew and his wife just had a new baby and he is 1 month old. His name is Aidan. Travis got some practice in. He held him until he went to sleep.

Happy Father's Day 2009

This is Hubby's 21st year of being a father and still to this day he is the best daddy anyone could ever ask for. Here's why:

1. He has more patience than anyone I know, (especially with me) or Travis.
2. He hardly ever gets upset.
3. I stayed home with Travis until he was 12, and then I went back to work, but he was and still is a daddy's boy....even after I birthed him, fed him, took him every where to keep him entertained during the summer, took him to school, picked him up, helped with homework (best I could) and he STILL wanted his daddy!
4. When he was first born, Hubby couldn't wait to get home to him after work
5. He played with him, fed him his supper, played some more, gave him his bath, played some more and read to him and put him to bed. You can see by the pictures above that they still wrestle like when he was little.
6. We had an agreement when he was born, that since I didn't work, I would get up during the night with him during the week and he would get up on weekend's. NOT!! He got up with him during the night and when I woke up in the mornings, he had washed his bottles, refilled them and put them in the refrigerator for the next day.
7. He went to ALL the parent/teacher conferences at school. I don't think I ever went to another one after 3rd grade. There wasn't any need to because I could never get in a word.
8. He helped with ALL the homework, especially math (not my best subject).
9. Travis tells him way more stuff than he does me, and he can keep a secret!
10. He also spoils me as well: washes my car, pumps my gas, still opens my car door for me, goes shopping (sometimes just to carry the packages), eats my supper even if it's not his favorite, goes to chick flicks if I insist, and looks after me when I'm sick.

Like I said, he is the best father, and the best husband, in the world and Travis and I couldn't ask for any better than him, plus, Travis has inherited his really blue eyes.

Cloche Party

Today is the cloche party over at A Stroll Thru Life. I have never put a light in one of my cloche's before so I would try that. I have had everything imaginable in it so I thought this would be different. For a lot more ideas please visit Marty over on her blog.

Outdoor Wednesday - Stone Mountain NC

Susan of A Southern Daydreamer is hosting Outdoor Wednesday today. She is blogging about Stone Mountain, Georgia and I'm blogging about Stone Mountain NC....how funny! Anyway, Me, Hubby and Travis went hiking on Stone Mountain (NC). We walked up trails...it's not like we scaled the side of the mountain. It's only about 30 minutes from our house, so it was just an afternoon trip. We climbed to the very top and it was such a beautiful view up there. Of course we had to rest before the trip back down. Then when we got back to the bottom, there were several deer who didn't even seem to be afraid of us. Of course, we didn't get too close. Please visit Susan for more outdoor pics.

Met Monday

I don't know if this post actually goes along with Metamorphasis Monday, but I guess in my head it does. My son was pushing my sister's son around the yard in the wheelbarrow the other day. When I saw it I had to run get my camera, because it reminded me of me pushing my sister around the yard in the wheelbarrow except it was 30 years ago. Oh my gosh! I can't believe it's been that long! Thank goodness it's not a very good picture or my sister would kill me. It was the 70's, what do you expect. So I guess what I'm trying to say is our sons metamorphasized (is that a word) into us doing the same thing all those years ago. For more and I'm sure a lot more interesting ideas, please visit Between Naps on the Porch.

Blogger's Books

I love it when my blogger friends write books. Well, I feel like they're my friends anyway, even though we've never met. I always buy their books because I feel like I know them. Two books that I bought recently are The Farm Chicks In the Kitchen by Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson of the Farm Chicks and Stitched in Time by Alicia Paulson of Posy Gets Cozy. They are both wonderful books! Also Tara Frey is coming out with one on August 4th, titled Blogging For Bliss. I will definitely buy this one also. You should check out their blogs and also their books. It makes me want to write one too, but I have no idea what it would be...rambling on about something I guess!

Outdoor Wednesday

These are some pictures that I took at Myrtle Beach last year. We started feeding crackers to the sea gulls and they started flocking in. I think it was a mistake, because we had to move, there were so many of them. I think we'll just watch them next time instead of participating. Please visit A Southern Daydreamer for more outdoor pics.

Hunter's Graduation

Today was my nephew, Hunter's 8th grade graduation. We tried to get to him before the tie came off, but as you can see it was too late. Next year he will be in high school. It seems so funny that he is that age, because it seems like yesterday that he was born!

Met Monday

I'm participating in Met Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch. You have to go over and see her beautiful blog. Here is my mantel that I have been working on for Summer/July 4th. I cleared it off recently because I couldn't decide what I wanted on it, until this weekend. Now I'm ready for summer/July 4th.

100th Post Giveaway Winner

Nancy from Nancy's Tidbits won my giveaway for my 100th post. She has a really cute blog that everyone should click over to. Thank you everyone for leaving such nice comments. I have met so many nice people during the few months that I have begun my blog. I have been busy this weekend decorating for July 4th. I love those colors, especially red. I hope everyone has a nice Sunday!

Cracker Barrel

I don't know if any of ya'll have been to the Cracker Barrel lately, but they are having a front porch sale. I have been looking at this birdhouse for a while now, but I could not see myself paying $30.00 for it....never! Well, guess what? It was on the porch sale marked down to $8.00. I about knocked someone (that someone being Mama) down to get to it. There was only 2 and she bought the other one. I love it!

Foodie Friday

Today I have a recipe for pound cake that my sister, Tina, made last nite and sent over. It was warm and delicious! She said that it's really easy to make (my kind of recipe). Please click over to Designs By Gollum to see the rest of the wonderful blogger recipes. Don't forget to leave me a comment so you will be entered in the 100th post giveaway on Sunday. Enjoy!

Pound Cake

1 cup Crisco shortening

1 stick margarine (4 ounces)

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs, room temperature

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease & flour a 12-cup Bundt pan.

2. Cream margarine and Crisco shortening in electric stand mixer until light and fluffy. Add sugar and mix well. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition.

3. In a separate bowl, stir flour and salt together. Add flour alternately with milk to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.

4. Stir in vanilla. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 25 minutes, or just until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Check early to avoid overbaking.

5. Cool in pan about 5 minutes. Then remove from pan and cool completely.

My Favorite Paint Color Party

I'm participating in My Favorite Paint Color Party over at 320 Sycamore. We just finished painting our kitchen so my favorite color is Tobacco Road (same as the Nester's) from Lowe's. Now I'm thinking about painting my den in the same color. I love it! Stop by 320 Sycamore and see all of the different paint colors. Everyone has different tastes and who knows, you might find one that you like so you can start a new project. We all like new projects!

Outdoor Wednesday - The Capitol

I know ya'll are probably getting sick of seeing the Washington pictures, but the weather was just beautiful when we were up there last weekend. It seemed to make the pictures stand out more with the blue sky in the background. These are some of the Capitol Building. The last one looks kinda like a postcard. By the way, my 100th post is coming up this Sunday the 7th. By leaving a comment between now and then I'll put your name in the hat for my very first give away. So stop by as many times as you like between now and Sunday for a chance to win. Also, be sure and stop by A Southern Daydreamer to see everyone's Outdoor Wednesday pics.