Finalized . . .

Yep, Mama and I spent quite a while on the phone this morning getting everything straight, plotting, planning, and yes, finalizing our Thanksgiving menu. I'll be going to get her on Tuesday so we can spend most of Wednesday cooking and prepping things that can be done ahead. And she's bringing a few things that she'll be making ahead, like sweet potato pies and chocolate delight pie.

Now never mind that there will be three (3) or possibly five (5) people here for Thanksgiving! Because Thanksgiving and Christmas are two days that we go all out, full tilt, and make it special, especially where food is involved. Here is our menu:

Roast Turkey

Homemade Dressing and Giblet Gravy

Green Beans

Buttered Carrots

Cheesy Corn Pudding*

Candied Sweet Potatoes*

Creamy Slaw

Potato Salad

Congealed Cranberry Salad

Deviled Eggs

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Chocolate Delight Pie*

Sweet Potato Pie

Ambrosia

Sweet Tea

* means recipe is coming soon!

Links are for pound cake and cranberry salad recipes previously posted.

Sounds yummy, doesn't it! And we will eat leftovers for a week, but it's all good! Mama will be here a couple of days, and on Friday hubby and I will be dragging the Christmas decorations down from the attic, so I won't have to worry about cooking for a while.

(And off topic, did I tell you hubby and I have ordered our large, joint Christmas gift for each other??? Well, I won't say what it is, but it plugs into a TV and you can do things like go bowling, canoeing, fishing, wakeboarding, etc. and even do exercises with it! I'm so excited!!!)

So, tell me, what is on your menu for Thanksgiving??? Blessings friends! Becky

Recipe - Fabulous Fay's Fabulous Cream Cheese Pound Cake

I’m sorry it’s been so long between recipes, but I promise I’m working on it! This recipe is very special to me ~ almost as special as the friend who gave it to me!

Fay moved from Birmingham to Atlanta to work in the same office where I worked. Over time we began to strike up a friendship, and that friendship grew and grew and grew! Eventually she even joined the church we belonged to, and almost every Sunday we went to lunch together after church. She retired several years before I did, but we kept close contact and did things together like yard sales and antique shopping and going to festivals and such.

One day she told me she was moving back to Alabama to be closer to her son. I don’t think she knows this, but I just cried to think my best friend was moving away. And the day she moved I carried her a small gift, and when I left her house I had to pull over down the street and just have a good cry. (So, okay, she knows it now, because she reads my blog regularly!) I missed her already!

And I still miss her, although we keep in touch via e-mail and occasional phone calls. I even went to visit her several times, but when my dad got so bad those trips had to stop for a while. Now I’m hoping that after the holidays are over, I can go back down to her home and visit her for a few days.

Anyway, Fay gave me several good recipes, but this one is the best, and I’ve made it numerous times. In fact, I made it for us to carry on our Savannah trip, and one day we stopped at the grocery store and got some Mayfield chocolate ice cream, and every night I would have a big slice of this cake with chocolate ice cream, and almost just faint away because it was such a scrumptious combination!

As you can see by one of the later pics, the day I made it Mama and I had to cut it and put butter on a slice while it was still good and warm. There’s nothing like warm pound cake straight from the oven with a little butter melting all over it! When my brother and I were in school my mom would often make a pound cake and time it to be done when we got home and that would be our afternoon snack - warm pound cake with butter - oh, the memories!

So, here’s the recipe:

Fabulous Fay's Fabulous Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour tube pan thoroughly.

Ingredients:

3 sticks butter or margarine, softened (of course 'butter is better' but margarine will work fine)

1 8 ounce pkg cream cheese, softened

3 cups granulated sugar

Dash of salt

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1 Teaspoon Vanilla, Butter and Nut Flavoring

(Note: Although Fay's recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 teaspoon of vanilla, butter and nut flavoring, sometimes I use both, but if I don't use the vanilla, butter and nut flavoring, I substitute it with 1/2 teaspoon extra vanilla. And, do I need to tell you that the better the vanilla the better the cake???)

3 cups plain (all purpose) flour

6 eggs

Cream together the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add salt and vanilla. (I usually add the salt to the flour, but either way works)

Add eggs, one at a time, beating very well in between each egg. (Fay told me the more you mix between the eggs, the better the texture of the cake, and it is TRUE!

Spoon in flour, mix well.

Pour into greased tube pan and bake for 1 1/2 hours or until done.

Now for the good stuff - pictures!

Look at that crust! To me, that's the best part of the pound cake!

See how the cake has come away from the pan? That's a sure sign of 2 things: It's done, and you did a good job of greasing and flouring the pan!

Perfection!!! Isn't that pretty? One of the 'prettiest' pound cakes I've ever made. The taste was perfection, too!




Delicious!


Whoops, I smell a rat. Oh yeah, I'm the rat - so sorry!

Ahhhhhhh! Absolutely delicious!

Now, a little note. Usually at Christmas I make this exact same cake, but I reserve about 1/4 cup of flour. Mix about 1/2 to 2/3 cup chopped black walnuts and coat them with the reserved flour. Right before pouring into the tube pan, mix the nuts into the batter and blend well. Bake as usual. Then while it's still warm I put the cake top down onto a pretty cake plate. Then I take a fork and make holes in the top. I use some powdered sugar and milk and just a touch of vanilla to make a glaze, and pour it all over the cake, and sprinkle more walnuts around on top. This is so good, you just won't believe it!!!

I hope you'll try this recipe, and let me know if you do! I promise you will love it! Blessings folks, Becky

Back In The Saddle Again . . .

Since I've started making cards again, I've 'revived' my other blog - Camellia Cottage Designs - which showcases my crafts. I'd love you to pay me a visit over there! Becky

Savannah Trip - Tuesday and Wednesday

We decided to make Tuesday a kind of lazy day. Hubby and Mama ran up to a pier to try to fish, but other folks made it hard for them, even made it clear they weren't welcome, so they weren't gone long. While they were gone I got a shower, did a bit of housekeeping and then got out my Trikke. One of the reasons I love this campground so much is that there are 2-3 miles of paved roads that have very little traffic - just perfect for Trikke-ing. I probably rode between 16 and 18 miles during the week we were there, and rode every day except Saturday when we were packing up to come home. I had so much fun doing that, and I'll say once again . . . "I LOVE MY TRIKKE!!!".

We had a snack lunch at the camper and decided we wanted veggies for dinner. Oglethorpe Mall is only a few miles away, so we went to the Piccadilly Cafeteria in the mall. It was okay. Nothing wonderful, nothing horrible, just a decent meal for a decent price.

While Tuesday was kind of laid back and lazy, Wednesday was fun and delicious! We left the campground around 10 am because we were going downtown and wanted to get there early and get our name in for a table at The Lady and Sons - Paula Deen's restaurant. Hubby and I have been there once and it was delicious, but this trip was for Mama! Once we got within sight of the building I sent hubby on to put our name in the pot - it was 10:35 and they had two choices: 11 am or 1 pm! Other than that they were booked, so hubby took the 11 am seating.

We waited outside for about 30 minutes and then were told to go to the third floor, seated and then greeted by our server, Adam. He brought our drinks and we told him we would have the buffet. That day they had fried chicken, baked chicken, a pasta with ham, chicken and sausage, lima beans, green beans, black eyed peas, mashed potatoes and gravy, collard greens, sweet potatoes, cabbage, creamed corn, mac and cheese and a salad bar. I may have forgotten something, but you get the idea! OH, and they bring you biscuits and cornbread 'hoe cakes' to the table. We ate and ate and ate! When it was time for dessert the choices were peach cobbler, banana pudding and gooey butter cake with chocolate chips, which I chose - and it was so good, and sooo rich! Hubby wolfed down the cobbler so fast I don't even know if he tasted it, but Mama had the banana pudding and told Adam (server) it tasted just like hers! Mama has prided herself on her homemade banana pudding for years, so that was high praise indeed!

As we were eating Adam told us the Deen boys were downstairs in the gift shop for a 'meet and greet'. Paula was at her home on Wilmington Island filming for her Food Network show. When I finished dinner I left Mama and Hubby and went down to get in what I assumed would be a long line for the Deen boys - NOT! Just a few people, so I waited and waited for them (Mama and Hubby) to come down and join me so we could go meet 'the boys'. After quite a while I went back upstairs and met them as they were leaving. Mama was so happy! Adam had given her two Paula Deen ink pens - one for each of us - and told her to please not let anybody see them, because everyone would want one, but we were special!

So we went down and met Jamie and Bobby Deen. They were so gracious and sweet and genuine and really sweet with Mama because sometimes she gets the shows mixed up, but her heart is in the right place. Paula, you raised your boys good! Be sure to watch the first slide show below because there's a picture of the four of us at the end!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

After lunch we left downtown Savannah behind and headed for Tybee Island. The day was warm and sunny, and the tide was out, so we had a wonderful walk on the beach. There was a dolphin feeding between the end of the pier and the beach in shallow water, and we stood and watched it for a long time before heading back to the car.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

And the final really fun time of the day - for me at least - was hubby agreeing to take me to Bonaventure Cemetery so I could take pictures. It's a gorgeous park-like setting on the Wilmington River. There are very, very old family plots there, with fences and gates and camellia and azalea bushes galore and this is all overshadowed by the huge oak trees draped in spanish moss. I took quite a few pics, and have done my favorites in sepia tones because they just seem to fit so well. Here, take a look!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I hope you've enjoyed this installment! I'll have the remainder in the next day or two, and be looking for one of my favorite recipes coming soon! Blessings friends, Becky

Savannah Trip - We're Here!

After loading up, hooking up, getting the girls and me settled in the back seat, and Hubby and Mama in the front seat, we were ready! A quick prayer asking for safety and a good trip, and we are on our way. It's 5:05 AM October 31st.

We had a great trip down, with no problems at all - if you don't count the fact I had planned on sleeping in the narrow back seat with two dogs sharing it with me. Trust me, sleep doesn't happen in the back seat of an F-150, especially not with 2 dogs in your face! We stopped at the rest area just north of Macon to walk the girls, take a potty break and get a cup of coffee for Hubby, who was doing all the driving.

Next we stopped at a Waffle House just south of Macon, near the Geico building for a late breakfast and gas, and we are back on the road! We got to Skidaway Island State Park just before noon, checked in and went in search of the perfect campsite. Luckily we got our favorite site (and yes, we've camped there a couple of times before), number 56 in loop 4. It's a long, and deep campsite with your own private pond that changes with the tides.

We got the camper in place, put up, the truck and everything unloaded and ready for a week's fun! After a short rest, we decided it was dinner time, and had dinner at Carey Hilliards at the intersection of Montgomery Cross Road and Waters Road. I couldn't find a website, but they have several locations, and the food, while good, isn't anything out of the ordinary. Mama and Hubby had flounder and shrimp while I had the special - a hamburger steak with grilled onions, two sides for $4.99!!!

Sunday we got up and ready and headed to Kellers Flea Market at Abercorn and Hwy 17 (Coastal Highway). It's a huge flea market, and we didn't see near all of it, but enjoyed our visit. The hardest part for me was visiting the pet section! There were several Dachshund puppies, but what stole my heart was a Papillon puppy - oh, be still my heart! But, alas, two pups are enough for us, and the $400 price tag was waaayyyy out of our budget! But I was impressed with the cleanliness and rules in the pet section.

While there, I decided I wanted some good Mexican food and ended up at La Nopalera near Oglethorpe Mall, and only a few miles from our campground. I have to say, the food was delicious! I had a combo plate with enchilada, chile relleno, rice and beans, and a tamale on the side. It was all good - the tamale wasn't great, but the chile relleno was wonderful!!! Then we headed back to the campsite to rest up for Monday. And yes, I did pull out the Maalox, but the food was worth the mild case of heartburn!!! :o)

Monday we headed north through Savannah up to Hilton Head - sorry, not one of my favorite places - and on to Beaufort, South Carolina, which IS one of my favorite places! Our main reason for visiting was to take Mama to see Hunting Island State Park, which is just a gorgeous place! We camped there a few years ago, and trust me when I say it is a very special place. If you like the movie Forrest Gump, some of the island will look familiar, as many of the Vietnam war scenes were filmed there.

We had a late lunch/early dinner at Barbara Jeans in Beaufort, and it's really good food! We got back to the campground late, and day two was ended.

That's it for now. Enjoy the few pictures in the slideshow below, and I'll share more with you later. Blessings friend! Becky

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Hints . . .

We're HOME!!! Didn't know I'd been gone for a week, now did you! Hubby, Mama and I left last Saturday for a week's vacation, and the last 3 posts were pre-scheduled before we left! Now, wanna know where we've been??? Well, here are a few hints that will have to hold you until I have time to do a real post . . . .

• south of here ('here' is northern Georgia)
• water, water, everywhere!
• lots of history, culture and fun
• lots of good food
• walks on the beach on a nearby island
• a famous Food Network star lives and works right in the town where we stayed (and we met and talked to some of their family, also Food Network 'stars')
• it's one of my favorite vacation destinations!

That's all you are getting right now, but as soon as I get Mama back to her home tomorrow and start trying to make a dent on the mountains of laundry filling our hallway, I'll get back with you and tell you all about it!

Blessings folks! Becky

Because it's worth it!

Hi Folks! Things are kind of busy around here right now . . . I'll tell you all about it in a few days . . . but until then, I thought you might like a reminder of one of my favorite cool weather recipes. You can find the recipe for my Camellia Cottage Tuscan Chicken Soup right HERE!

I posted this recipe just over a year ago, and have gotten many good comments from folks who made it. The girls (above) even love a spoonful poured over their dry food for dinner.

Now, as soon as I can, I'll come back and let you know what I've been up to these last few days. I can tell you this . . . it's been fun! Blessings folks, Becky

Living, really living . . .

In the last few years, something I discovered about myself long ago has become much more certain to me. That thing is the knowledge that to me, if I am not creating, I am not living. And I mean really living the life that I need and want. Creating is just a part of me, and any of you out there who are creative know what I am talking about.

Let me tell you about the year 2008. It was probably the most creatively happy and fulfilling year of my life. It was also one of the most stressful and hard years of my life, too, but when I wasn't helping my parents, I was making cards. Lots and lots of cards! If you want to see pictures, you can check out my other BLOG or my gallery on Scrapbook.com.

But somehow when 2009 arrived, I just couldn't find that joy in making cards any more. A lot of it was that I wouldn't "LET" myself create until I got some things done around the house that I'd let slip for a long time. But then I couldn't get those things done either, so I just played on the computer and did a lot of nothing. Over time I did a bit of embroidery, made a few tiny pincushions and lavender sachets (see my Etsy shop to the right), but not much creating went on around here.

Depression does that to you, it holds on to you so hard you can't move, and when you do, it's only for the things that have to be done. Finally one day I made myself make something, and it felt so good. But then my dad's health got worse and worse, so I didn't have the time or energy to craft much. My dad's been gone 6 weeks now, and I'm beginning to relax, and breathe again, and CREATE!!! To play with one of my favorite things - paper.

The itch has been there for a couple of weeks, but this past Friday night I got the itch, and had the time, so I let go! And I made a couple of ATC's. Something small, quick, and something that 'said' something. Here they are as a set . . .



The birdies are made from the paisley Spellbinders Nestabilities set. Stickles, scrapbooking paper, cardstock, seed beads and bakers twine for legs make up the rest.



The first one I made says 'wherever you stand, stand tall', and it's not about height! At 4' 11" I've learned that it's not my height that dictates who and what I am. It was a long hard lesson, but one I learned well. I think most people who know me will not remember me for how 'short' I am, but rather for the person I am.



The next one says "do whatever makes your heart soar". Can you tell these are reminders for me as much as anyone else who sees them? I shouldn't have to remind myself how important creating is for me, but from time to time I do.



And the last one says "creating is NOT being afraid to let go and make a mess", and of course I did make a mess on this one! I got a little carried away with the Stickles and it looks kind of gunky, but to be honest, it is real and true, and so what if I made a mess - it was fun!

So, after I made the ATC's (artist trading cards) I decided it was time to make a card. Here are a few peeks . . .



The papers are from Daisy Bucket Designs 'In The Meadow' collection. The background brown and white stripe is from 'celeste', the flower cut-out above is from 'addison'. I trimmed around the flower, topped it with a couple of silk flowers and a cute button.


The bingo card is from Jenni Bowlin, and the cardstock is embossed using my Cuttlebug and the swirls embossing folder. The button in the center of the bingo card is an old bronze looking one, and I used platinum Stickles in the center.

The bow is brown silk ribbon, and I put a few tiny seed beads on a brass safety pin and pinned it onto the bow for a bit of color. If you want to find out how to make tiny bows easily, check out my place on Scrapbook.com ford my tutorial.

And here is the finished product. I just love how it turned out, and to be the first card I've made in about 9 months, I think it looks great! And with the reminder on the bingo card to LIVE! I think I'll post it somewhere over my work table for a while. I'm learning to live again, and it feels so good! Honestly, Saturday evening after I'd played most of the day, I was just giddy and gleeful, and those are feelings that have been missing for a long time.

Things are looking up, and I'm so excited to see what the next weeks and months and years bring. Live, folks! Find what makes your heart soar, and do it to the best of your ability. It doesn't matter if it's perfect or like everybody elses, just have fun, and it won't matter one little bit!

Blessings folks! Becky