Walking is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things. It is the one way of freedom. If you go to a place on anything but your own feet you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that were waiting for you by the wayside. Elizabeth von Arnim

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Thursday, March 03, 2011

A cold morning and chocolate cake

I was surprised that the temperature was only 21 degrees this morning when I started walking and still only 24 when I got home.  There was no wind and the sun was out in a bright blue sky so it was still a wonderful morning for walking.  I stayed away from the lake and walked one of my connect the path routes.  I passed a few others out walking too.
I stopped on one of the foot bridges to watch three deer.  They all stopped to look at me too and when I just stood still they went back to eating.  It was nice to just to be able to watch them.
I heard but didn't see a woodpecker and an owl, and saw cardinals and lots of squirrels.
I liked how this ice puddle looked.
 And then couldn't resist stepping on it.
Most people do NOT stop at cross walks, even though it is the law in Maryland to do so, to let you cross the street.  If anyone does stop it will more than likely be a man.  Today I was surprised that a school bus didn't stop to let me cross the street.  She just went sailing by, way over the speed limit I might add.  I don't know why I am surprised.  Just an observation.
I walked 6.4 miles.
Sunrise 6:38
Sunset 6:02
I'm liking not starting my walk in the dark, but just realized that in just over a week it will be dark again because we have to change the clocks ahead.  I don't like to change the time and wish we didn't have Daylight Savings Time.  I always want to move to Arizona around now because they don't change the clocks.  :-)
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I made a chocolate cake today.  If you like chocolate, Helen's Chocolate Cake is for you.
Helen was a good friend of my mothers who she worked with years ago.  Helen was always nice to me and I liked her a lot. She also had a son named Gene who was three years older than me who I had such a crush on and he didn't even know I existed.  Any way if you would like the cake recipe click HERE.
It is easy to make because you can mix it right up in the pot where you melt the butter and chocolate.
 Here it is ready for the oven.
 The icing is made on the stove too. 
Behind the icing here you can see the cake just out of the oven.
 And here is the cake after pouring the icing on.
The icing is not a real sweet icing but delicious all the same.  It tastes really good with a nice dollop of whipped cream on top. I just keep the cake right in the pan and store it with plastic wrap over it in the refrigerator.  I can hardly wait for tonight when I can have a piece for my snack.

I spent some time up in the loft today making some weave-it squares for the afghan and sewing some more of them together.  It is nice that I can lay everything out and not have to worry about picking it all up.  I'm glad I left a nice big open area up there.

Now I'm going to read until Ken comes home.  Then it will be off for a pizza supper.

Hope you're having a happy day.
Happyone :-)
Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste
that they hurry past it.
~ Soren Kierkegaard

12 comments:

Vee said...

Well I can see why you won't want it to be dark again at the time you wish to get out. When I lived in Arizona, I wished for more light in the evening. Have you ever considered moving to Arizona? It's closer to Colorado. I hope that this snap of cold weather is short-lived.

Barb said...

My motto is never trust a car to stop for a pedestrian. It's what has kept me alive for 66 years! That cake looks yummy - wish I lived closer.

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Aren't puddles like that, amazing??? Does it just happen, in certain weather, I wonder? The rings of freezing, or whatever they are? In deep winter, ice doesn't look like a painting, does it? But this does... Look like a painting, I mean.

And it's so cute, that you just *had to* step in it!!!!!! I love it. The little kid in you, is alive and well! :-)

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Yeah, I just noticed that day light saving time is close on our heels, too. Phooie. I like Nature's Time!!!!!!! I do. I do. I do. So there!!! ,-)

I'm just beginning to wake in the morning, when I want to, again. At about dawn. And this time change may mess with my internal clock. Repeat... Phooooie!

:-)

Happy@Home said...

We have a stop sign in front of our house and it never ceases to amaze us how few people actually stop at it. So, I am familiar with making those types of observations.
Your cake looks sooo good. Thanks for sharing your recipe. The story that went along with it is cute too.
Enjoy your pizza and cake.

Noofy said...

Wow, the cake looks delicious, hope you enjoy some this evening, after the pizza. The ice puddles have different patterns, loved your foot to crack one, I would have too :) Hang in there, after the time change, nature will catch up and the days will start getting longer on both ends.

Sue said...

I am sitting here tonight craving something sweet and chocolate. This looks delicious.
I don't like daylight savings time either, and never have!.
I would have stepped in the ice puddle too!1 lol. As always enjoyed the walk.
Sue

George said...

The chocolate cake looks delicious. I think it's funny that you couldn't resist stepping on the ice puddle.

Rathi said...

The cake looks yum.

We don't change clocks here. Summer, winter the time is the same. You know what I always think, to move up and down during the different seasons. The summers here will be terrible this time, I am assured.

Mary said...

Never, ever pass a small ice puddle without giving it a "toe tap." Toss a small stone on a larger puddle. Who knows you might be making a drinking place for a small animal.

Thanks for the Choc Cake recipe. I've printed it and will make it late today. We'll have it for tomorrow's gathering and the boys can take the rest home for their after dinner snacks next week.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Anita said...

I am not fond of "fast time". On my own, I've been waking up at daylight and usually I go ahead and start my day.
Over the next week, I will begin getting up and going to bed 10 minutes earlier each morning and night, and hope to adjust better than in previous years. I'm generally disgruntled and snappish when the time changes. I shall attempt to remain my sweet self this year.
My mother used to refuse to change her clocks or her habits. She'd just leave an hour earlier to be someplace at the correct time.

KathyA said...

Looks yummy!!
Not only does chocolate cake taste great, but you get the added bonus of having your whole house smell wonderful!