Under the Shade of the Pecan Tree

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Sardines Anyone?

Believe it or not,

I'm an official member of a

Sardine Club!

I joined when I was just a young child. I can't remember who's all in it, I DO KNOW that my Dad and Aaron are members as well. Growing up, every twice a year or so we would call for a meeting to eat the tasty critters (on saltine crackers). The majority of my family would all run to the other side of the house and plug their noses for the next few days. After a while they started feeling left out and started a candy club (Pathetic).

I would take Sardines over Candy any day!

Anyways, as my family has grown and most of the family has moved out, our sardine club meetings have dwindled. I'm blogging to say that,

IT'S HIGH TIME WE HAVE ANOTHER DELICIOUS MEETING!!!

So, who's all in? Everyone's Invited!

Friday, March 9, 2007

My FAVORITE Things

Little House On the Prairie

I could watch this show over and over again!

Tandem Bikes

They are soooo much fun and very romantic too

Girl Scout Cookies

My favorite are the macaroons (all chewy and chocolatey)

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Applesauce Cake in a Jar

My Sister-in-Law Andrea and I made Applesauce Cake in a Jar yesterday! I like it because it's delicious, easy to make, it slides right out of the jar, it lasts 6 months to a year, and it's nice to have something yummy to give away!!! So, here's how we made it:

Cream: 2/3 C. Shortening & 2 2/3 C. Sugar

Add: 4 eggs, 2/3 C. Water, 2 C. Applesauce

(It looks nasty at this point)

Mix: 3 1/2 C. Flour, 2 t. Baking Soda, 1/2 t. Baking Powder, 1 1/2 t. Salt, 1/4 t. Cloves, & 2 t. Cinnamon

Stir Together: Dry and Wet Ingredients

Optional:Add 1 Cup Chopped Nuts

(If you use a Bosch Mixer-It gets pretty full at this point)

Pour into 6 well greased, wide mouth pint canning jars. Fill to 1/2 Full.

(This gets a LITTLE MESSY- At least when I do it)

Bake on bottom rack 45 minutes at 325.

Remove jars one at a time. Cut off excess cake. Wipe rim clean and dip jar lid in boiling water. Place jar lid on top and screw band on tightly.

(We had to work quickly here-This is the most crucial part I would say)

Cool Jars.

Store, Give Away or Eat & Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Fun Finger Plays!

My Mother Used to Do Both of These Finger Plays With Me and My Siblings When We Were Little, Now I Do Them with Tate!

He Absolutely LOVES Them!

Knock on the Door

Peek In
Open the Latch
Walk In
Chin Chopper-Chin Chopper-Chin Chopper-Chin

We call this one "Dot & A Dot". It's Tate's very favorite of all!!! It doesn't make any sense, but we love it anyways! I remember as a child begging my Mom to do it "just one more time".

Dial vs. Dove

?
For as long as I can remember this has been a MAJOR topic in our household! Bryan insists upon using Dial soap and none other!!! As a newly wed, I didn't want to argue and I went with Dial for probably the first 4 years. Finally I stated my opinion of Dial and my stance in not using it any longer, (to be short) I've had to buy two different soaps ever since. There is NO WAY Bryan is ever going to budge on this one! MY THEORY IS THAT DIAL'S JUST A GUY THING, am I wrong? I personally don't like the sticky/squeaky feel of Dial. I like the soft/clean feel of Dove. Even the name of it sounds better! Alright-I respect the opinions of others in the kind of soap they choose to use, but
DOVE RULES, DIAL STINKS!
There, I said it!!!!

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Family Zoo Trip

Today was Family Saturday!

We decided to go to the ZOO now that Tate can actually enjoy it more.

It was our first time to the zoo as a family! We had an awesome time!

Once again Colby II (Tate's Doggy backpack/Harness) was a lifesaver.

Tate liked the monkeys best, Mom liked the snakes, and Dad liked the Rhinos. This is a picture I took of a "Rodent of Unusual Size" (ROUS). My camera is a little slow and right after I pushed the button, he yawned. It was so cool! His yawn lasted like 15 seconds!