Weekend in the Country

If the title of this post has you thinking of leisurely walks down woodsy lanes, I feel sorry to bust your bubble. Weekends in the country are usually about work. At least on Saturdays.

And especially when one tree loosens its roots from the soil on the bank of the river, falling and taking down two other trees with it.

We have been looking at the mess for eight months. But let's face it - the job couldn't be tackled until winter weather arrived. Who wants to wade into the grassy, weedy mess that surrounds fallen trees when it's snake season on the banks of the river? In case this one stumps you - ABSOLUTELY NO ONE.

A particular boy believes it is better to play "king of the hill" on the bonfire pile than to actually haul limbs to it.

See how precious-wecious my little one is on his four-wheeler pulling a trailer-full of limbs? Don't tell him I said precious-wecious. No self-respecting 9-year-old boy wants to be called precious-wecious by his mama.

Meanwhile, back at the homestead....

Miss Pitty Pat was working, too. (No animals were hurt in the production of this post. Well, that's not absolutely true. But if you want a truckload of field mice, I can deliver them to you.)

Thanks for all the hard work, everyone.

Love,
TCB

2012 Goals

Forget the resolution(s) this year. I'm all about the goals. Looking through some of my old journals, I recognized the goals I had written down actually came true. I know I've read over and over to write down your goals, but I guess I never really realized how powerful that one step can be.

So....moving into the current age (I won't tell you how old those journals actually are). I just downloaded a cool new app on my iPad called "Index Card." It allows you to write notes on virtual index cards that you can organize into multiple projects. For someone like me who's a visual person, this works as a great way to take notes in a clutter-free manner.

The first project I set up was "2012 Goals." Here they are. I thought if I listed them, you could hold me to them.

1. Get my new web site live
2. Start a business blog
3. Lose five pounds
4. Begin writing my book
5. Make five new business contacts per week
6. Declutter the house (this one crops up about every other year).

What are your goals this year? I'd be interested to know what everyone is focused on.

Happy New Year!
TCB

Runaway Horse

If you don't have an adventure out in the country, you can always make one. We're good for that.

On Friday, my son and I traveled to "the  barn" so he could take a horseback riding lesson. Usually the time passes without incident, and everyone has a good time. But I suppose fate decided we needed one more good story to close out 2011.

After about 15 minutes on Penny the horse, she decided the lesson was over and almost bucked my son off onto the dirt below. So the teacher said it was time to give King, a larger, male horse, a whirl.

My son was riding in the open pasture, as the ring had not been dragged by the tractor post-rain. King took this as a sign that it was time to all out run. And he did. Across the entire pasture, through the pasture gate, across the barnyard, behind the barn, and clear to the other pasture. All I saw was a blur, and all I heard was "Whoa, whoa, whoa!"

Two females - humans, not horses, ran after the runaway horse carrying my son. I'm not sure why we did it; we had absolutely no hope of catching King unless he decided to stop running.


Eventually, either King stopped or my son persuaded him to do so. I was shaky, but my son was happy for the adrenaline rush. Typical adrenaline junky. He did not get that from me.

I'm just happy his rumpus remained in contact with the horse's back.

Hope your 2011 ended with a bang and that you accomplish all your 2012 goals.

Love,
TCB

A Year of Firsts

One of the best things about having a young child at home is experiencing the "firsts" with them. 2011 was a year of "firsts" for my son.

First kill.

First sleepover. (I was being brave with all the boys in the house).

First time to build a chicken coop.

First lunch preparation.

First fish caught in the big, deep sea.

First time staying at Disney's Animal Kingdom lodge.

First time eating a Zesto's chocolate-dipped ice cream cone.

First horseback riding lesson.

I wanted to share our year of firsts, hopefully to get you thinking about the "firsts" in your life this past year.

I am taking a "bloggie break" for the next 11 days to rest and catch up with family and friends. See you at the first of 2012!

Merry Christmas,
TCB

Scared or Sleepy at Disney?

We traveled to Florida to go to Disney World last week. I psyched myself up to ride the rides with my son and husband - well, most of them. If it twirled me 'round and 'round or had a huge hill to free fall down, it was promptly marked off the list. "Everyone knows...." (do I sound like Phaedra on the Real Housewives of Atlanta??) Anyway, everyone knows motion sickness stalks The Country Belle like Miss Pitty Pat the kitty cat stalks a lizard in our backyard. But not everyone knows I am afraid of hills on roller coasters. I will turn and twist upside down and sideways, but please do not put me on a Thunder Road of a roller coaster.

Here I was on a coaster. Multiple choice: Am I about to... (A) hurl (B) sleep (C) pray.

C is the correct answer.

I think my son may be about to doze off. Show-off.

Have a happy day.
Love,
TCB

Mama's Five-Flavor Cake

I made an easy and great cake over Thanksgiving, which is actually a little early for me. I usually bake this cake over the Christmas holidays. It's one of "Mama's" recipes. She used to make it for a few customers each year who couldn't get enough. I love it because I'm not much of a baker and it starts with a cake mix but SO TASTES 100% HOMEMADE. I believe Sandra Lee calls that "semi-homemade."

Five-Flavor Cake

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix
1 sm. package (4 servings) instant vanilla pudding
3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
3/4 cup oil (I use canola)
5 eggs
1/2 cup water
1 tsp. each: vanilla, butter, rum, coconut, and lemon flavorings

First, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Then spray bundt cake pan and spread pecans in the bottom of the pan.

Mix together dry ingredients - cake mix, instant pudding, and nutmeg.

Add the wet ingredients - oil, eggs, water and flavorings. Beat with a mixer for about 2 minutes on high speed.

Pour into the prepared bundt pan and bake 45-50 minutes.
Meanwhile, about 10 minutes before the cake comes out of the oven, prepare the glaze.

Glaze:
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. each: vanilla, butter, rum, coconut, and lemon flavorings

In a boiler on the stove top, combine all the above ingredients and boil for 3 minutes, constantly stirring. You need to stay by the pot and stir, because the ingredients will boil over in a skinny second.

Here's the finished glaze.

When the cake comes out of the oven, pour half of the glaze over it immediately. Let it sit in the pan 10 minutes.

Turn the cake onto a cake plate and drizzle the remaining glaze over the top.

The glaze puddles around the bottom. Delicious.

Let the cake cool completely before you cover it.

This cake is particularly good a day or two after you make it. It gives enough time for the glaze to fully penetrate the cake and make it extra moist.

It may not be the most beautiful cake in the world, but it is one of the most flavorful I've ever had.

Love,
TCB

Gracias. Merci. Grazie. Thank you.

My son brought home a list of "thank you's" from his church-school class this past Sunday.

Gracias (Spanish)
Merci (French)
Grazie (Italian)
Asante (Swahili)
Anku (Dutch)
Obrigado (Portuguese)
Klitos (Finnish)
Salamat tagalog (Filipino)
Thank you.

On this Thanksgiving week (my favorite holiday, by the way - devoid of gifty commercialism or continuous parties just delicious food, fun, family and friends), I am thankful for:

A nice, sturdy, house with a non-leaky roof

Plenty of food

Every single family member under my roof and under other roofs

Good health

A church to call my own with lots of friends there

My friends who live in other states and just down the road

My cell phone to call all those in other states (and those just down the road)

A reliable car

Enough money for gas for that reliable car

Rain

A job

My husband's job

A Savior who gives me hope.

Don't think this is the full list. It's just the beginning. When I sit and write it all down, I realize I don't have one reason to complain. If something is not right, I need to sit and read this list and realize that enough is just as perfect as it can be this side of heaven.

Happy Thanksgiving.
Love,
TCB