The Old Neighborhood

Today we made our yearly trip back to the old neighborhood.

I don't want to offend anyone but once a year is just fine with us.

Yes it has its pluses and it also has its minuses like a lot of them!!

especially when your gone so long you see the decay its sad.

And just a few blocks away its actually not to bad at all.

The homes are all so crowded together it looks cluttered and looks crowded.

No we do not miss the old neighborhood just the special restaurant's and bakeries.

Sorry!!

  Chicago has a lot of great little restaurant's and bakeries and its a kick that we can go back and indulge our selves and then go back to our little heaven on earth.

 We made the trip to our Favorite Corner Shrimp House.

 There is none any where as far as we are concerned as good and well worth the trip.

We bought our usual 1 1/2 lb of  Jumbo Shrimp with fries and kidney bean salad.

We have been eating it for I cant tell you how many years.

We even have friends from here going there, we should get a discount LOL

I'll have to tell them

We usually buy our shrimp and take the ride to Hale Park sit in the car and eat it.

On paper plates with napkins, plastic forks and diet soda from home.

 Its our picnic in the car in the park as we call it.

Of course when we lived there we brought it home.

We watched the people come and go

walking,  walking there dogs,  jogging

 its amazing how active that park has become. 

Kids swimming in the pools

 

 There was a lot of activity going on all around us.

 We had our picnic in the car.

And enjoyed the view.

At one time this was our first pizza delivery resturant and  favorite
over the years we found others we liked better.

 

Here is a famous Old Neighborhood hot dog stand

with good beef sandwiches.
This place goes back to my grammer school days.

A neighbor hood oldie been there many times.

The First convenient type store in the neighborhood.

It used to be In and Out now its 7 eleven.

On the way out of the neighborhood how could I forget the speed bumps.

The Pit Stop

before we start to do any serious driving home.

Bills favorite restaurant from the old neighborhood.

And here are a couple more on the way out of the

 Big City

Chicago Fire Soccer Field

I thought this was funny.

Truck Accident

Of Course Bumper to Bumper

Truck Traffic a familiar site in the Big City.

Summer Time Road Construction

Back to the corn dessert where living is easy.

Home Sweet Home.

Thanks For Looking

I hope you enjoyed your trip to the South Side of Chicago

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

Good Morning

Early this morning before it got to hot! another day in the 90s. 

I cleaned out the storage shed and I threw away a few things that I really don't want, like old bird seed bags LOL I know what are you saving them for I really don't know so that's why I threw them away. We have a different garbage system now and there is no need to put leaves and twigs in bags now so out they went with the garbage pick up. I even threw away an old lawn chair for kids that Bill found blowing down the street years ago for Julie, will I think she sat in it maby two times in 6 years so out it went it felt good to get rid of it. Sorry Bill :)

This week I made four meals!

 I made them on Monday and baked and cooked them all on Tuesday getting them ready to take to Aletha's on Wednesday. I also made a Blue Berry Sour Cream Pound Cake. Which turned out so amazing better than I expected but than how can you go wrong all made from scratch the only way. 

Here is a photo of a pair of swans that are in a retention area behind her house.

 I took a snap shot of them and made a little creation out of it because that's what I like doing creating in PSP.  I haven't been doing much of it since I dropped out of a few groups it was to stressful punching a clock. I did that enough years doing assignments and having to send them in by a certain time.

Now I do art work when I want so much more fun. I did make many beautiful thing being in groups and I sure did learn a lot but its just time for me to do something different. 

I still have a lot of house work catching up to do today, so I will cut this short.

Here is the recipe for my

Blueberry Sour Cream Pound Cake

with

Cream Cheese Glaze

3 cups flour

3 cups sugar

 2 sticks butter

6 eggs

1 talb vanilla
1 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cups frozen

thawed blueberries

drain berries in colander

after drained put in bowl adding about 3 to 4 tablespoons of sugar coat berries.

set aside

In a large mixing bowl cream sugar, butter add vanilla 

 adding eggs one  at a time beating after each

 until all ingredients are combined and well mixed together.

 add three cups of flour slowly beating together.When thoroughly mixed

Fold in sugar coated berries.

Pour into prepared Bunt or Tube pan

Bake 350 1 hour 

or

until the cake tester comes out clean.

For The Cream Cheese Glaze

3Oz's cream cheese softened

3 talk spoons milk

3 tablespoon's powdered sugar

combine all ingredients well pour

Place in microwave oven for a few seconds mix well.

Pour on top and spread over pound cake.

Thanks For Looking

Busy Busy Busy

This is how I start my day

Then I do my daily projects!!

 Early this morning I got up the courage to trim the back bushes.

 I usually do that once a year.  We  rode by them yesterday just to check to see how it looks from the School Drive way and thought they need to be trimmed they look messy to me and the original owner who wants the house back always rides by LOl (so sad.)

Trimmed

Untrimmed Side

 I did one half the right side of the rose arbor tomorrow Ill do the other half tomorrow. 

 I don't want to do it all any more 16 bushes is a lot for an old Lady to tackle by her self.

 That's been my early morning besides checking e mail and checking out the family and friend face book. Which I do enjoy.

This afternoon I want to make my spaghetti sauce a request from Aletha she had back surgery last week. She wants me to bring her some when I go to visit her on Wednesday.

 She also requested my sour cream pound cake so I will be making that as well.

 

 I'm also making a tamales and chili casserole that we really like and bringing that as well.
I also will make a tuna noodle casserole and veggie beef soup with pasta.

 She will have a couple of meals for them to eat she cant do anything like that for a while.

We had our usual busy weekend Cindy, Meg and Julie came over Saturday we visited ate lunch and went shopping.

Sunday Steve and Liz called they were coming to town and wanted us to meat up with them at the restaurant where her father is the manager of course nothing else planned that we knew of.

Cindy, Bill, Brittney also met up with us there and it was nice Steve, Liz and Brittney came back to our house for a while to visit, so we had a great weekend as always.

The guys have been out there for hours they sure do have a lot to talk about.

They have been discussing the situation for hours.

This is it for today have a lot of work to be getting started with.

Thanks for looking

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

I haven't been writing in my Blog for a few days
I'm still trying to add this and that from the old hard drive and figure out this and that. I had over 5000 graphics crazy isn't it.

HOT Today

Here is a pretty sun rise I took the other morning

I'm out there letting the dogs out so I had to hurry and get my camera.

 There is a breeze actually quite a breeze.
If there wasn't we wouldn't be able to stand it.
 Especially when your used to air conditioning like I am.

Early this morning I went out and picked tomatoes and yesterday I dug up my first garlic.

 I was so excited my very first garlic.
 I have been trying to grow it for three years.
 I don't have a clue why it took so long to finally grow.
 Here it is my first one their is more out there I just haven taken the time to dig it up.

Isn't it a beauty.

I had some tolan bucks

 today I cashed them in they were burning a hole in my pocket as the expression goes,.

 Your probably wondering whats that..

 Will we have a local garden center in our area.

  When you make a purchase if its over a certain amount they hand you a tolen buck

 to use now up until August 4 on items that aren't on sale. They are worth $1 each.

  They have a lot of cute things and every year I look forward to going there with my bucks.

 This year I only had 14 dollars worth but that's OK I always spend more.

 I just cant resist all there little garden thingies.

I purchased the little bird house for Bill to admire in the tree out side his computer room.

Its so adorable and the  little guy is a bit heavy its made out of old barn wood from Southern Illinois

Bill being from Southern Illinois how could I pass this one up.

It makes it extra special..

 Bill and I were on a cook roll this week as well we wanted to get the heavy cooking over with because we heard it was going to be really hot at the end of the week so we made ahead of time Chili, Veg Beef Soup, Garlic Chicken Breast, and home made mac and cheese.

We brought some over to Cindy the next day.

We like to share.

I didn't take any photos but here is my recipe for

Baked Garlic Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breast

Bread crumbs in the can

seasonings

 wash the chicken breast.

dip breast in to 2 beaten  eggs coating chicken

In a zip lock bag add

 1 1/2 to 2 cups

 bread crumbs

1 tesp granulated  garlic

1 talb oregano

 1 talk basil

Shake breast well to coat breast

Place the breast into an iron skillet that you have melted 1 stick of butter and olive oil.

Place in 400 degrees over for 45 minutes turning ofter 

until breast reach meat temp for chicken.

Enjoy Have a great day what ever is left of it.

I just want to do a fast post my sister Aletha had  major spine surgery today and Im not up to really sending out a happy post until I know more about her recovery.

The Alan Jackson song is for Aletha!

 We went to his concerts together, went line dancing together, listened to it blasting at work together.  She Love's country music probably more than me.

 And loves to dance to it.
We even owned an internet group for a few years together
 along with a few friends.

Until you dance again Aletha and you will be strong you will be fine.

Keep The Faith!!

 I got the call from my brother in law Dennis they removed the cyst the surgery is over and she should pull Thur.

 Lets all say prayers for a speedy full recovery.

Yes Aletha is my Sister and  best friend

We have been best friends for ever.

Thanks for looking

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

Happy Christmas In July

I know you are wondering whats up with her

LOL

Nothing
 I just want to be creative and this is my version of being creative..

I got this Idea from my cousin It was her birthday and she mentioned she had a rum cake.

  I remember years back reading that Dinah Shore's Mother always made a rum cake for Christmas.

 This is as close as I could get to
 Dinah's Mothers Christmas Cake.

 I  made it a few times its really been a long time since I made it.
 I guess I am to lazy to look up the recipe. This one  its not the original recipe.

 The recipe below had a lot of good reviews.

 I thought I would post, it sounded pretty good to me.
As a matter of fact it sounded real good.
I have to ask Bill to make one
he's the main cook around here.
I do cook and bake but he really enjoys doing it.

 When I made the cake I  toast the pecans.
 That always made them extra special and I like the taste of the spiced rum.

So how can you go wrong.

 Christmas In July Cake

Toasted Pecan Rum Cake

Prep Time:

10 - 15 minutesCook Time:

50-60 minutes

Servings 18

Original Recipe Yield Bundt pan, standard size

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow moist cake mix

1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

4 eggs

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup Capt Morgans spiced rum

1/2 cup chopped pecans

3 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup water

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup Capt Morgans spiced rum

Directions

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

2.Combine cake mix and pudding mix.

3.In another bowl beat eggs, water, oil and rum until frothy. Add cake mix/pudding mixture and beat until well mixed. Spread pecans evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan and pour batter over pecans.

4.Bake cake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 50 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out dry when inserted in the center.

5.Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes and remove from pan. Place in serving dish immediately, right side up. (Pecans should be on the bottom)

6.To Make Glaze: During the last 15 to 20 minutes of baking time, combine butter or margarine, water and sugar in a sauce pan and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and boil rapidly until it's very thick and syrupy stirring very frequently. The syrup must be reduced quite a bit and very thick otherwise it will make the cake mushy. Remove from heat and add rum - will immediately 'thin' the glaze, so make sure it is very thick first!

7.While cake is still hot and in the bundt pan, drizzle/spoon 1/4 glaze over bottom of cake. 1/4 glaze down sides of cake (I pulled away sides with a thin fork and drizzled glaze from a soup spoon down the sides. With remaining 1/2 glaze poke holes all over top of cake with a toothpick or thin tined fork and spoon/drizzle glaze over top of cake.

8.Allow cake to sit at room temperature for one day then refrigerate. This cake has never lasted beyond 1 day, have yet to refrigerate it...

Thanks For Looking
Hugs From Me

Christmas In July Day 2

Hi

I think I will make the whole weekend Christmas in July why not we celebrate it,

 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so I'm doing it.

Early this morning I seen a runner when I was standing on my back deck

Its going to be hot and I know he wanted to get his run in for today.

I usually see Runners and Bikers going by early its kind of cool

to sit out there with the dogs drinking my morning coffee and watch them doing there thing

 early in the morning.

I actually got invited to go in my daughters pool

 naturally we have a graduation party to go to in the afternoon perfect timing right.

 LOL

So I wont be going there.

OK as you probably figured out Im not in a very good mood today hope it gets better.

I wont be saying much I have a lot to do this morning as usual and I just came in from picking the cherry tomatoes and its hot out there. its in the 80s and its only 10am

Aren'T they pretty!!!

I like the cherries the sweet 100s are the best

 better that a regular tomato.

I know if you read my blog I jump around

 Im not going for any contest so I write what ever comes to my mind at the time.

 Sorry about that.

OK Here it is

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

Stay Cool

 Its going to be another hot one for us today 90 plus.

Hope you all have a great weekend I know I will, tomorrow is a graduation party for 3 of my Great Nieces and 1 Great Nephew its always fun to be with the family for these special occasions.

Today I have to go out and hunt down graduation cards for the occasion.

Im going to make this real short I have a lot going on today.

I have an assignment to do by today or she will bounce me out of the group.

I shouldn't have come back from my leave this week it was  bad timing on my part with the new hard drive and all plus shopping HELP.:) but I can do it.

I am still trying to get recipes together from Family and Friends I have some ands thanks but not from everyone Please if you read this send me your two favorites so we can get this ball rolling.

Here is a great one that is a family favorite and of course everyone thinks there's is the best.

But I know mine is

Riley's Famous Fudge

This recipe was passed down from my Uncle Bill Riley

Many many years ago and we love it.

We try to make it to share for Christmas

 Since its Christmas in July

Here is his recipe

Uncle Bill Riley's

Famous Fudge

6-cups sugar

1-1/2 cups milk

1-cup light corn syrup

1-cup cocoa powder

1-stick butter (only use real butter)

1-1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

you can also in place of vanilla use maple flavoring

I sometimes add peanut butter in place of the coco powder

Combine,sugar,milk,corn syrup & cocoa powder in a large pan. Stir well & cook very slowly till it reaches the soft ball stage (240-242 degrees on a candy thermometer). butter a 13"x9" pan and have it ready.

after it has reached the soft ball stage remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. with a heavy duty mixer beat until it gets thick and loses it`s gloss. pour into the prepared pan and let it sit until cool.

cut into squares and enjoy.

Thanks For Looking

Thanks to Chris for reminding me of this great recipe and sharing it with us.