Cake, soup and a book

This ends my snowy pictures series I took from last week.

☃     ☃     ☃    ☃

I really thought I'd be able to walk outside this morning but it was not to be today.  When I got up it was snowing like crazy and blowing sideways so another walk in the basement today.

I baked a Yum Yum Cake this morning for tomorrow. The recipe is my grandmothers (moms mom) and the only recipe I have of hers.  She was a good but plain cook and didn't cook from recipes so I am happy to have this one.  It is kind of a like a fruit cake. 

 Yum Yum Cake

• 12 oz jar of mince meat 
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup Crisco
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups raisins

Boil ingredients for 3 minutes in saucepan.
Cool

• Add 3-1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Mix
Pour in greased angel food or bundt pan and bake in a 325 oven for 1 hour.

I also made some broccoli cheese soup but have to make more because I don't think one batch will be enough for 8 people so will make another one tomorrow.  I got the recipe from blogger friend Debby.

Finished reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. 
Harold gets a letter from a dying friend and walking to the post office to mail a letter back, decides to keep on walking and deliver the letter in person.  The book is about his journey.  Thing is it is 500 miles away. The book takes place in England which added to the reason why I liked it.  I thought the book was excellent.   It was a book club book and I'm looking forward to hearing what the others thought of it. 

Seems my office/craft room is once again quite a mess so I'm going to straighten things up again.  Hard to keep this room neat.

A happy day to you.
happyone : )

Courage is not the absence of fear,

but rather the judgement that something else

is more important than fear.

~ Ambrose Redmoon

Sorry I can't remember who, but a while back someone asked if we would be putting insulation in the cabin at Happy Trails and the answer is yes we are. 

Baking

Left the house this morning right at 7:00. 

 Not quite light but not dark either.

No wind, a mix of sun and clouds and the temperature 21 degrees.

Didn't even have to wear my super warm coat.

Once again I walked down the hill and up to town.

Went to the cemetery up the hill, walked around there

and then walked down by the Drane house.

Wanted to see if the horses were around.

 I was surprised to see a bunch of cattle down where the horses are.

Farmer Marvin must have just gotten these because I haven't seen them

before and they are in a fenced off section in the barnyard.

  The three musketeers here seemed to be really enjoying their breakfast.

You can see the horses in the background.

After taking a few pictures I headed back home.

Saw a few deer but still no people.

My friend Kathy walks later in the morning and I haven't seen

her for a while.

She always walks around the cemetery so I wrote her a message 

up there in the snow.

Walked in the snow to make letters which said

Hi Kathy.

I wonder if she will see it. 😊

🐄     🦌     🐴

Did some baking this morning.

Made little Pumpkin Bread loaves to give as little gifts.

Also baked little Yum Yum Cakes.
Pumpkin on the left Yum Yum on the right.

The Yum Yum Cake recipe is for one cake but I decided to make some little ones.
The one in the bigger loaf pan is for us.
Now I have 14 little loaves to give away.

Wrote out some Christmas cards this afternoon.
I don't send very many out anymore but still like to send them.

Did a little reading and knitting too.

Hope your day was a happy one.
happyone  💕

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year."
~Charles Dickens

Yum Yum Cake

A cloudy sky for my walk this morning.  It was 31 degrees but there was no wind so it felt quite warm out.  I didn't walk any special route today, just walked down some streets and paths around the neighborhoods.

Some of the paths were cleared and looked like this.

Others were still icy and looked like this.

I didn't see anyone else out walking and not much wildlife either.  Just the usual birds and lots of squirrels.

I walked four miles and then stopped back home for a pit stop and to shed two layers of clothes.  Then continued and walked another three miles.  That makes seven miles in all.  I guess you could have figured that out for yourself. :-)

Sunrise 7:24

Sunset 4:48

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I made a Yum Yum Cake.  For the recipe click HERE.   It is a recipe from my grandmother (moms mom) and the only recipe I have from her.  I don't come from a family who likes to bake or cook so we don't have the recipes passed down book.
It is very easy and quick to make and is delicious.

Ready for the oven.

Out of the oven and cooling.

 Turned out of the pan and reading to eat. 

Just a typical day around the house today.  House cleaning chores to do, exercising, and now for a little knitting and reading.  Still trying to get those 75 books read! :-)  

And that's my day so far.

A happy day to you.

Happyone :-)

The universal joy of Christmas is certainly wonderful.

We ring the bells when princes are born,

or toll a mournful dirge when great men pass away.

Nations have their red-letter days,

their carnivals and festivals,

but once in the year and only once,

the whole word stands still to celebrate the advent of a life.

~ Author Unknown

The only recipe

A bit chilly out there this morning.  23 degrees but there was no wind at all.  Though I wasn't cold when I started out I wasn't warm either, that comes after about a mile into my walk, then I'm toasty warm.
I saw the sun rise but by the time I got home it had turned into a cloudy day.

I walked on over to the lake and it was like a Sunday morning.  Just a few people and hardly any cars on the roads either.  Down at the narrow end of the lake there was a very light coating of ice.

I walked down by the water a few times and took some pictures and just watched the ducks.  So nice and peaceful around the lake early in the morning when there are no people about.  I am so thankful that I live near this lake and that I get to walk around it whenever I want. : )

Didn't go right back home, but walked around the neighborhood a bit before going in the house.  Passed by the liquor store and found a dime.
My steps for my walk were 14,209.

Sunrise 7:25

Sunset 4:50

*********************

I was happy to add two Thank You notes to my thank you basket this weekend.  Though I never expect thank you notes, when I get them I can't help but smile and feel good.  Both were to thank me for the scarves I made.  It was especially nice getting one from Meghan who is young and that there are young people out there who are still considerate to take the time to sit down and write a note!

 ********************

I was happy that I didn't have to go anywhere on this Christmas Eve day.  I just know it must be a mad house out there.  I've been enjoying my day at home.  Only did the minimum of work around the house.

I made a Yum Yum Cake today.  It is my grandmother's (mothers mother) recipe and the only one that I have of hers.  I don't remember her baking except for this cake.  She was a simple meat and potato kind of cook - good simple food so don't think she kept many recipes.  I am glad that I have this one.  The cake is made with mince meat and is more of a fruit cake type of cake.  It is as the name implies, Yummy. I've put the recipe on line HERE.  I usually just make it at Christmas time and it always makes me think of Grandma. : )

I've gotten a few candles from people and have had them lit throughout the day.  The candles and the cake baking made for a good smelling house and a cozy warm feeling.

I sewed together some weave-it squares and have done a little reading too.  It's been a lovely peaceful Christmas Eve Day.

It has just started snowing - how perfect is that for Christmas Eve!!  Here's a look out of my window.

Merry Christmas Eve!!
Happyone : )

Away in a Manger,

No crib for His bed,

The little Lord Jesus

Lay down his sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky

Look down where He lay,

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing,

The poor Baby wakes,

But little Lord Jesus,

No crying He makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus;

Look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle

Till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus;

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care,

And fit us for Heaven

To live with Thee there.

Out to eat

When I got to town and started walking it was 30 degrees with light snow flurries.

Stayed all along the main road this time where I knew it wasn't slippery.

Walked through town, past the DG Market to the bend in the road and turned around here by one of the farm driveway. 

Walked back through town and down the road toward home, turned around again and went back to town.

By the time I got back I had walked 10,658 steps.

Another morning when I didn't see anyone.

🌨    🎄    ☁️    🙂

This morning I baked a Yum Yum Cake for the Assistant Pastor Matt and his wife Courtney from our church.

He had mentioned that he liked fruit cake.

Though it isn't exactly a fruit cake it has the same consistency and reminds me of fruit cake and I think delicious.

Hope they like it too.

I've been looking for a nice 2025 calendar with squares big enough to write things in to keep on my desk.

They are not cheap!!!

I went with Ken to the lumber yard here in town and at the counter were calendars they were giving away.

Nice big squares to write in with beautiful monthly pictures and a Bible verse for each week.

Like you Ginny, I'll be posting a monthly calendar picture each new month. 🙂

Also baked 7 small loaves of Pumpkin Bread today.

These I'll bring and give to my stitching friends tomorrow at the library.

A special supper tonight.

We went out to eat at the Hen House with a group of people from church.  

We call ourselves the Super Seniors.

Ken and I had the Chesapeake Chicken which was fabulous.

We rarely go out to eat so this was a special treat.

Hope your Friday was a great one.

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit and a special thanks to all who take the time to leave a comment.

HappyK🙂

I knitted the stockings some years ago.

My mom made the three little guys inside. (Not the little bear but he is in a red stocking which she knitted.  

I should replace the eyes in that are missing!!

Baking day and a happy surprise

Today when I walked it was cloudy, but the temperature was 36 degrees and after the last few days it felt almost balmy!! After walking a little over 6 miles I came back home and got a package that I had to mail and walked back to the post office. I had to go back out because the post office doesn't open until 8:30. I was there at opening and there was only one other person there. I spent the rest of the day at home making one last Christmas present and baking. I baked He Man Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies but I put in raisins instead of the chocolate chips. I think I like them better with the raisins because I think oatmeal cookies should have raisins in them. They are very good with the chips too though.

Next up was the Yum Yum Cake. It is my grandmother's recipe (mom's mom) and the only recipe I have of hers. The cake turned out perfectly and tastes "yummy" just like the name says. I took this picture of the cake and added the recipe to Happyone'sCookbook.

Last up was the Pfeffernuesse Cookies. They are another one of my favorites and I make them every Christmas. I had such a nice surprise today. :-) I got a Christmas card from my cousin Patty (our moms are sisters). We spent a lot of time together when we were kids and I haven't heard from her in years and years and we haven't seen each other since we were kids. Here is a picture from 1962. That's Patty on the right and me on the left holding my dog Cookie. Linda if you are reading this please tell Patty how much it meant to me to receive the Christmas card from her. :-)

I'll end today's post with a picture of the Christmas card that I made and mailed out this year and a wish that you have a Very Merry Christmas!

A closer look

I took this picture Monday morning on my walk before the snow.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

Another basement walk for me today.  More snow this morning and the temperature was only 7 with some gusty winds.  Walked  3 miles in the basement while a load of laundry got done.

 This is my winter drying room when I can't hang the clothes outside on the line.

I've walked some laps around the house upstairs too today.  Something different to look at walking around and around.  Upstairs I get to look out of the windows.  : ) 

I have these two needle point pictures I made years ago hanging on the wall in our bedroom and never really see them anymore.  Today walking around I took notice and stopped to look at them.  Maybe I can find a winter one to do too.

This morning for breakfast I made us French toast with the bread I made yesterday.  I won't even make it anymore if I don't have home made bread.  It was delicious.

This morning I baked another Yum Yum cake.  I had half a jar of the mince meat left that I had to use up.

After lunch I went outside to shovel off the driveway.  Just got a few more inches of snow so Ken didn't bother with the snow blower.  Today the cardinal came back with two friends - a male and a female.

I walked around the yard again and got the rest of my walk in that way.  I walked a picture in the front yard. : )  I drew a house and a tree by walking in the snow.  Took a picture but you couldn't really tell what it was.

My bread machine is getting a work out this week.  Today I made pizza dough.  The bread machine is starting to make a strange noise.  Hope it isn't breaking.

Waiting for the dough to get done and then Ken will make the pizza.
I'm almost done with my book and hope to finish it tonight.

That's it for today.
Hope all is well in your world.
A happy day to you.
happyone : )

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss

at the bottom of which you 

will always find forgiveness.

~ Honore de Balzai

Up and running

Took this picture last Wednesday walking up the lane to my neighbors house.

All the snow is gone for now.

Nice to be back blogging again.

Got my new iMac a couple of days ago and have been trying to get used to a 

new computer.  It sure can be frustrating at times but I'm sure I'll get used to it

before long.

A warm morning at 48 degrees this morning and cloudy when I left at 7:20 but very

windy and the temperature got colder as the day went on.

Walked down the hill and up to town and I've planned out a nice town route to walk

before walking back home.

My walking friend Kathy was out earlier than usual so she was walking when I was

and we walked together for a while.

Walking down the main road not far from the turnoff to my road

I watched a car speeding down the road and right behind it a cop car

with flashing lights.  The car pulled over and got a ticket.

We've done a few puzzles while I've been on my break.

These first two were just 300 hundred pieces and we did each one in just

a couple of hours.  They were fun puzzles to do and were great interlocking ones.

This next one was 500 pieces and took us a couple of days.

Another fun one with great interlocking pieces.

Did some cleaning today and baked a
Yum Yum Cake.
Gave all the little ones I made away so this one is for us.
Baked it in a bundt pan.

There has been a heavy cloud cover all day and it never quite seemed
like the day ever got started before it got dark again.
Though the days have started to get a bit longer each day, where
I live it has only been on the sunset part of the day.
Sunrise has stayed at 7:37 for three days in a row now but
I think tomorrow the morning will start to get longer by a minute.

That's about it for this first day of the new year.
May 2019 be a good one for you,
with good health, happiness, and thankfulness,

A happy day to you.
happyone 

Snowy Day

 22 degrees and cloudy this morning when I walked.
Drove to town and walked all over town.
Stayed away from the cemetery on the hill because because
it being out in the open the wind would have been worse.

Walking around the ball park I saw the man walking his
little dog.  Still don't know their names. 

A couple pictures along my walk.

It was supposed to start snowing at 7:00 but it held off till
I got home.  After about 5 miles I started to see a few flurries
floating around in the air.

Walked 6 miles
Found a Penny.

☁️    🙂    💰    🌨

Got some house work done in the morning.

Finished the puzzle. 🧩

Took it apart and started another.
The puzzle we are doing now is a set of three - different rooms in a house -
each 500 pieces.
We almost mixed all the pieces together but in the end
decided NOT to do that. 

Baked a Yum Yum cake this afternoon.
It has mincemeat in it and the recipe is my
Grandmothers - mother's mom.

Today's ornament is a reindeer, a gift from a friend.

The snow continued all day.
I went outside to get the mail at 3:45 and then stayed out for a little
while walking around in the snow.  I love being out when it's snowing.

Here's the snow angel I made.

That's all for today.
Thanks for stopping by.
A happy Wednesday to you.

👩🏻‍🦳 happyone ❤️

Life is like a blanket of snow.
Be careful how you step on it.
Every step will show.
- unknown -