We had our BBQ yesterday because some of our family has to work today and some had to work yesterday but we did manage to have dinner together.

Bill made Ribs and Hamburgers we all ate the ribs even Julie.

Today he is making Smoked Polish, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs to have today and  during the week.

Someone is always coming by.

I made Spaghetti Salad we loved it, and Potato Salad. YUMMY

 Cindy brought Hummus and Pita Chips

 I have never had it be for and to my surprise it was GOOD.,

Brittney made fruit salad it was a big hit, Bill finished it off last night.

That's Liz with the fruit salad.

Megan made a Butter Cake and it was so delicious we all loved it.

 I'll get the recipe from her and post it (so good).

Julie decorated with sprinkles.

She loves sprinkles.

Kentucky Butter Cake

Original Recipe Yield 1 - 10 inch Bundt cake

Ingredients

3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 cups white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup butter

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 eggs

3/4 cup white sugar

1/3 cup butter

3 tablespoons water

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.

2.In a large bowl, mix the flour, 2 cups sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Blend in buttermilk, 1 cup of butter, 2 teaspoons of vanilla and 4 eggs. Beat for 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3.Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Prick holes in the still warm cake. Slowly pour sauce over cake. Let cake cool before removing from pan.

4.To Make Butter Sauce: In a saucepan combine the remaining 3/4 cups sugar, 1/3 cup butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and the water. Cook over medium heat, until fully melted and combined, but do not boil.

Butter Cream Frosting

Original Recipe Yield 2 - 1/2 cups

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/8 teaspoon salt

4 cups confectioners' sugar

2 egg yolk, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk

Directions

1.Cream butter until soft. Add salt and part of sugar gradually, blending after each addition. Then add egg yolks and vanilla; blend well. Add remaining sugar, alternately with milk, until of right consistency to spread, beating after each addition until smooth. Makes 2 1/2 cups or enough frosting to cover tops and sides of two 8 or 9 inch layers.

2.Note: If desired, 1 whole egg may be substituted for the 2 egg yolks to make 2 3/4 cups frosting.

Enjoy Your Day

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

Enjoy Your Day

Hi From Me Again

Yes I changed a few things on my Header, and a few days ago I put my music back on. I also add some more pictures to my Spring Photos hope you like all the changes.

I haven't Blogged for a couple of days and thought I had better add something or you will think I don't Blog any more or maybe you don't care. One thing is I would miss it  so if your interested here is a little catch up. from me.

We all went the other night to Dairy Queen it was fun but I couldn't stay long the bath room called me not sick mind you and I didn't want to ask at Dairy Queen if I could use there's because I know they wouldn't so why bother. I wish I would have take a couple of pictures just of Julie alone with sprinkles all over her face and Steve trying to not have her touch him with her sticky sprinkled covered hands it was funny.
 That's what he gets for wanting to sit next to Liz. LOL so funny.

 Brittney came straight and met us there it was fun Cindy, Meg, Julie, Steve, Liz, Bill and Me. We do that a few times during the season meet at Dairy Queen and sit at the tables and watch the people and traffic go by its a fun thing to do.

Were country people NOW a different life style.

Our guy cut the grass today he had to go over it 4 times in the back yard that's how high and thick it was, it was actually up to my calf! NO Kidding. that's just from one week, the dogs avoided walking in it especially in the morning when its Dewey they hate it. It always looks so beautiful when its just cut everything looks so neat.

Here is one of the Arbor it will be better in a few more days. its loaded with buds.

 My roses are finally starting to open up it just looks lovely to me a hint of color here and their so pretty.. I love it. I just notices Joe one of our guys chews tobacco I see the outline of the tin in his back pocket that explains why his one side of his face it puffed on the bottom lip. so funny I thought there was something wrong that explains why!!

This is the country sort of they chew out here the old time local boys..

As soon as they finish we will let the dogs out and then head over to Cindy's to visit, and see the new puppy, Ill take pictures. 

Sorry its a bit blurry we went at an off time so we had the whole place to our selves.

We went out to lunch at a local spot they live in a Antique town it doesnt look like much but the inside is so rustic and adorable and the food it amazing.

All in all it was a good day and tonight is our book club we are all going to a non members house for drinks and ordorvers now that sounds like fun.

Chow for now

 Thanks for looking.

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

Hi and Good Morning time to come in and its only 10 am.

A Pot of My Flowers

 Were expecting 90s today, I'm not complaining about that I waited all winter just to be able to sweat and turn on the air. I crawled out on the rock, and grass which is probably 3 inches high, our guy cuts it high he must have a reason because it looks amazingly plush, could it be that or the fact we have it treated or maybe because I throw grass seed out there 3 to 4 time a year Kentucky Blue I love it.

I also  trimmed some  bushes  they were kind of blocking the buds onthe lower part of the rose arbor. another bush blocking  the meter on the side of the house.

 I'm covered with dirt as I write and I finally broke down and turned on the air. OH it feels so good! Now to take time to take a shower, more trimming tomorrow. I'm to old to be killing my self I will be gone soon enough no sense in speeding it to the Max.. Some one just might miss me LOL :)  Sally and Abby they are my surgakley attached buddies. LOL they will miss me for sure and Bill who will nag him LOL just kidding.

Not much more to write about since I just wrote late yesterday.  I will be cleaning a bit today you know the usual. Laundry, vacuming.

 Putting things away where they belong. 

OH

 Got my shorts on from last summer.

 They fit no problem there still just as fat as last year.
 LOL

Here are a couple of more Peoney bushes that are just starting to open up.

 so exciting to see that.

This one took 3 years to finally open up.

Beautiful!!

A few more days  this one will be loaded with blooms.

Todays Recipe Share Idea

 Comes from my cousin she had them for her Dads birthday and since I never heard of them I looked up this recipe and they sound fantastic to me.

Butter Pecan Cupcakes With Brown Sugar Frosting

 

Ingredients:

•2 cups cake flour, stirred before measuring

•2 teaspoons baking powder

•1/2 teaspoon salt

•6 tablespoons butter

•1 cup light brown sugar, packed, muscovado if possible

•1 large egg

•2 teaspoons vanilla extract

•3/4 cup (6 ounces) milk

•1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

•***Brown Sugar Frosting***

•1/2 cup (4 ounces) butter

•1/4 cup half-and-half or milk

•1 cup light brown sugar, packed, muscovado if possible

•2 cups confectioners' sugar

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350°. Line 18 to 21 muffin cups with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat 6 tablespoons butter and 1 cup brown sugar until light. Beat in the egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract until well blended. Add about half of the flour mixture and about half of the milk, slowly beating until blended. Blend in the remaining flour mixture and milk, then fold in pecans.

Fill paper liners 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake for 24 to 28 minutes, until the cupcakes bounce back when lightly touched with a finger. Cool in pan on a rack; remove from the pan, then frost with brown sugar frosting or dust with sifted confectioners' sugar.

Frosting:

In a saucepan over medium-low heat, slowly bring 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup half-and-half or milk, and 1 cup light brown sugar to a boil, stirring frequently. When the mixture begins to boil, remove from heat and set aside to cool to lukewarm. Sift 2 cups of confectioners' sugar into the lukewarm brown sugar mixture and beat until smooth and creamy. Add a little more confectioners' sugar if needed, or beat in a little hot water if the frosting becomes too stiff. Frost the cooled cupcakes.

 Time to close

A Dove in our gutter.

Sunday almost the end of  May

 Our first heat wave for the season. I just hate the thoughts of putting on the air but Iam sitting here dripping sweat. I put the ceiling fan on that helps whoo for ceiling fans wouldn't be with out them.

I just came in from watering the plants out in the front.  My  abby is panting she cant take the heat. Sally is a little more refined LOL abby just  doesnt care she plops down where she can find a cool space...

Just had to share him perched on our shed.

Here is one of our flower gardens!

I know this has nothing to do with my flowers but had to add him.

I think its a goose flying over the house.

Here is another one a close up.

 I know its not exciting but to me it is.

 Our flower garden is just amazing this year it has been a wonderful year for the roses all over our yard. now just to win the war with the leaf and flower eating bugs and I will be happy. Its always a constant battle so we are prepared (I think.)

The buds are just about ready to open all over the place some have already done so but the majority are still trying.

Here are a couple of my peonies gotta love them

My Rhodendrum

Bill is grilling Pork Chops today with a special marinade he made, of course he is loading them with fresh ground pepper.

Peach-Mustard Pork Chops

Recipe From The Food Network

4 (1 1/2-inch thick) pork chops

Safflower or corn oil, for brushing

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Peach-Mustard BBQ Sauce, recipe follows

Prepare an outdoor grill with a high heat for both direct and indirect grilling. Position a drip pan under the grate on the cooler side of the grill.

Brush the pork chops on both sides with oil and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside for 15 minutes.

Grill the chops over the heat until brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Move them to the cool side of the grill and brush with some of the Peach-Mustard BBQ Sauce. Cook the chops, covered, turning and basting with sauce every 5 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted crosswise into the chops registers 140 degrees F, about 15 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes.

To serve: Drizzle the chops with more sauce and serve.

Peach-Mustard BBQ Sauce

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons minced onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons cider vinegar

1/2 cup whole-grain mustard

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

3/4 cup peach jam or preserves

1 tablespoon bourbon

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the vinegar and boil until almost completely reduced and the mixture looks like wet sand, about 4 minutes. Whisk in both mustard's and the jam or preserves. Simmer, whisking, until jam melts, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the bourbon and salt.

Cook's Note: The bourbon is stirred in at the end--uncooked--to give a genuine jolt to the sauce. This Southern blend goes great with pork but is also a good finisher for chicken, duck, or veal.

Yield: about 1 1/4 cups

Thanks For Looking

Hugs From Me

Hi From Me Again

Its raining again so time to come in and add something to my Blog. We just got back from shopping and I bought two Autumn Sedum. I need another plant LOL.

Bill says I'm running out of room.

 I remember them from last year my neighbor across the street has them in her garden and I really like them especially in the fall. I never heard of them befor but that's not unusual for me there are a lot of plants I haven't heard of coming from the city and now I'm a country girl.

Yesterday we went on a tour to the North Side to see a play
 Million Dollar Quartet.
Its a musical and these guys and girl were absolutely fantastic.
And believe it or not I have never been up by that neighborhood befor, its hard to believe us coming from Chicago.

I love the neighborhood it looks like a cool place to live.

The two above photos give you an idea what the neighbor hood looks like.

 crowded but so quaint I love it..

Its up by De Paul University.

We ate at Sopranos Restaurant and we had a really great family style luncheon.
Italian of course and that don't make me sad because I love Italian food.

That's our good friends Nate & Joanne 

 they adopted us when we moved out here.

So we try to go on day trips with them and visit with them at Barns n Noble.

I think that theater is the smallest one I have ever been in.

Here is a photo of the front of the Sopranos Resturant.

 

It doesnt look like a fancy place out side but its really cute in side.

In the back ground is Navy Pier a great place to visit.

I can remember going to Navy pier when there was nothing there except a parking lot all the way at the very  end.

My boy friend at that time was the parking lot attendant. that was 52 years ago

A long time, It sure has changed.

It was run then by the syndicate.

I was so stupid then I had no Idea what was going on.

Glad I found Bill who know what would have happened to me.

Here is another photo taken on the Outer Drive.

On the way up to the Restaurant and Theater.

Here is a Recipe Share from Me

Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

Ingredients

6 or 7 ripe plum tomatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped.

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 baguette French bread or similar Italian bread

1/4 cup olive oil

Method

1 Prepare the tomatoes first. Parboil the tomatoes for one minute in boiling water that has just been removed from the burner. Drain. Using a sharp small knife, remove the skins of the tomatoes. (If the tomatoes are too hot, you can protect your finger tips by rubbing them with an ice cube between tomatoes.) Once the tomatoes are peeled, cut them in halves or quarters and remove the seeds and juice from their centers. Also cut out and discard the stem area. Why use plum tomatoes instead of regular tomatoes? The skins are much thicker and there are fewer seeds and less juice.



2 Make sure there is a top rack in place in your oven. Turn on the oven to 450°F to preheat.



3 While the oven is heating, chop up the tomatoes finely. Put tomatoes, garlic, 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, vinegar in a bowl and mix. Add the chopped basil. Add salt and pepper to taste.



4 Slice the baguette on a diagonal about 1/2 inch thick slices. Coat one side of each slice with olive oil using a pastry brush. Place on a cooking sheet, olive oil side down. You will want to toast them in the top rack in your oven, so you may need to do these in batches depending on the size of your oven. Once the oven has reached 450°F, place a tray of bread slices in the oven on the top rack. Toast for 5-6 minutes, until the bread just begins to turn golden brown.



Alternatively, you can toast the bread without coating it in olive oil first. Toast on a griddle for 1 minute on each side. Take a sharp knife and score each slice 3 times. Rub some garlic in the slices and drizzle half a teaspoon of olive oil on each slice. This is the more traditional method of making bruschetta.



5 Align the bread on a serving platter, olive oil side up. Either place the tomato topping in a bowl separately with a spoon for people to serve themselves over the bread, or place some topping on each slice of bread and serve. If you top each slice with the tomatoes, do it right before serving or the bread may get soggy.



Makes 24 small slices. Serves 6-10 as an appetizer. Or 3-4 for lunch (delicious served with cottage cheese on the side.)

Hi From Me !

Just thought I would throw that in.

Im trying to get inspired to write today and its not happening.
Or I should say its happening slowly.

I made this little creation yesterday the girl on the trunk was an assignment.

I colored it pixel by pixel and made it into a cute creation.

thought I would share it with you.

Bill finally took the time to run a new cable cord from the TV in the family room to the box under the house.
 Since we moved my computer in there about three years ago, the picture has been really bad fuzzy junkie you know what I mean.
 Only on two channels  the two most watched channels, Of Course figures doesn't it. LOL.
 The picture now is amazing thank you Bill.
He couldn't wait for Steve to help him he wanted to do it his self, so he did it!!
 He crawled under the house on his hands and knees with his knee pads on.
 In and out, up and down the ladder.
 What a man he did it..
YAHOO

Steve and Liz came over yesterday and stayed for lunch or mid dinner what ever you want to call it. Liz left later for work and Steve hung out here for a few hours and then went to meet her for her break  and his friend Ali.

Bill made Italian Sausage with peppers in Italian Sauce it was so GOOD they ate it on buns.
 I cant stand the buns out here they don't sell  Gonella bread and there is a difference.
 I should buy it when I go to Chicago and freeze it but I always forget to do that.
He also made Macaroni Salad something three of us liked except Liz and that's OK we all have different taste.
 She isn't a fan of green olives and we are.

Brittney is coming over tonight she will be staying over night we are going to see a play tomorrow and she will be doggy sitting. This time we have it right not like last week when we were ready to go out the door and discovered it was the wrong day.

Talk about forgetful!!

Her boy friend doesn't live far from our house so she will be spending the evening with him first..
The girls will just have to wait to see her. LOL

Before I close

 I just have to mention.
 Congrats to Brittney
 She was at an Awards Dinner Saturday night and it sounds like she got almost all the awards that were being handed out.
And was even awarded the only scholarship as well..
It was from Her Acting Class she takes at JJC
 Congrats to you Brittney you definitely deserve it you worked so hard to get them.
Just Me applauding you. ... :)

That's All From Me

Hugs Diane Louise

Have a great day what's left of it.