What's in the oven.....

County Fair Cake

3/4 C butter, soft
2 1/4 C. sugar ( that's why it's so good )
4 eggs
2 1/4 C. plain flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 C. sour cream ( I like to make it an overflowing 3/4 C )
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1/2 tsp. lemon flavoring (optional)

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time.  Add sour cream and  flour.  Mix until just blended well. Add flavorings.
Pour batter into a greased and sugared (granulated sugar) bundt pan.  Bake at 325 for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

ENJOY!!!

Note:  I just use a regular pound cake pan.   This is hands down the best variation of a pound cake I've ever made.  It's so easy and my family loves it. 
Let me know what you think if you get a chance to try it !

Just a few pics from Thanksgiving weekend....

Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday!!!  We sure did....Ivan was home all day Thursday....we got to see my side of the family on Thursday night....lots of deer meet was added to the freezer....we enjoyed lots of togetherness....plenty to eat......our first Christmas parade of the season and beautiful weather all weekend :)
Take care and "thank you" for visiting  !!!

{ Thanksgiving }
One of my favorite holidays of the year....a holiday that takes me way back to when I was just a little girl.   I can remember my mother and grandmother baking and preparing a little at a time several days in advance, so we could all be together on Thanksgiving Day without anybody spending the day in the kitchen.  It was a time when our whole extended family would get together....we knew we could count on lots of cousins (some of them we hadn't seen all year) to play with.  It was so wonderful to get out and rake big piles of leaves ( and of course jump in them ) and to have our first real break from school....the long weekend when we had time for a sleepover or two.  I am so thankful for all the memories I have of growing up with so much love in our family.  Although my grandparents have gone on now, I am so blessed to still have my parents, siblings, lots of friends, and of course my own family, too!!!  How does a girl get so lucky?   Now, as I go about each day trying to raise my children and teach them about what really matters in life,  I hope they will be able to look back and have lots of good memories, especially of the holidays!!!  Wishing each and every one of you a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!!! .....  and "thank you" for taking the time to visit us here on the blog :)

Congratulations to Kimberly!!!

She didn't think Monday morning would be any different than the other mornings she had been out huntin'.  She had gotten pretty used to going out early and sittin' a while and headin' back freezing cold and a little discouraged........but you have to know Kimberly to understand the word "Determined"!!!  She didn't even make it to the blind this time.....Congratulations Kimberly!!!.....and a big thank you to Jeffrey for helping her get them ready for the freezer :)   She's bagged more game than any of her brothers this season.....might be time to take some lessons boys!!!

Johnny's latest adventure.....
 has been training in his spare time to become a forest firefighter.  He recently landed a part-time job with the NC Forestry Service.  There are county rangers that work this area but he is one of their first actual firefighters.   His job is to travel with the bulldozer and assist the dozer driver in plowing firelines as well as setting backfires.   He is working with District 12 ...... serving Union, Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties but can be dispatched wherever he's needed in the state.  This will be seasonal work depending on the weather and when the fire hazard is readiness plan 3 or higher.  He is pleased beyond words!!! If you happen to love firefighting like this feller does, it just can't get any better than this :)

........this moment.........

this moment.   A Friday ritual.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.   A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.   Happy weekending !!!

 

Inspired by Soulemama

Laura Ingalls Wilder has always been (my favorite) author of  children's books.  My mother read them aloud to us when we were growing up and now I get to read them to my children.  We never grow tired of them.....even the older children listen in and enjoy going back in time with the Ingalls family.  The following is a quote from Laura that a friend of mine shared with me and I wanted to pass it along to you.  Laura knew just how to enjoy and appreciate the simple things in life and how to encourage others to do the same.  Hope you enjoy :)

Happy Monday......
after 2 1/2 years of braces, Kimberly gladly said "Good-bye" to them this morning!!!  We are so pleased with the results :)

Right before....

 After....

Hope your week is off to a great start!!!

{ this moment }

 

this moment...A Friday ritual....a single photo....no words....capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  Happy weekendng !!!  

 

( inspired by soulemama )

{ HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACOB }
Our youngest turned 7 on Sunday!  Where does time go?  Seems like just yesterday we were welcoming him into our family......He has always been my easy-going little man....easy to please and always ready to hang out with his oldest 2 brothers.  This could have something to do with the fact that they like to take him hunting and fishing or whatever their latest adventure happens to be!!!  Love watching my older children spend time with the younger ones :)  Happy 7th Birthday Jacob!!!  We love you and hope you have a great year :)

Thought this was too good not to share...


Thank you for stopping by for a visit!!!  Let's make it a great Monday!

{ this moment }
this moment. A Friday ritual. A single photo...no words...capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.   Happy weekending!!!