Sunday Eve

Morning Glorious Muffins

When it's cold and snowy outside, it's enjoyable to watch the birds,
and admire the icy wisps on the trees
and the new look of the rustic plants against the ashen snow...

from the INSIDE where it's cozy and warm!

while treating yourself to... Morning Glorious Muffins.

This is an old old recipe of mine. For some reason, I started craving them during the snow days we've had. Must go back to the time when I used to make them for my girls on "no school" days due to snow.

Isn't it funny how memories remind you of certain foods?

And here's the recipe if you'd liked to try them yourself. This time I left out the dates and coconut since I didn't have any in the house. They were still delicious!

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 tsps baking soda

2 tsps ground cinnamon

1 1/2 cups shredded carrots

1 1/2 cups peeled and shredded apple (1 large)

3/4 cups coconut

1/2 cup snipped pitted dates

1/2 cup chopped pecans

3 beaten eggs

1 cup cooking oil

1/2 tsp vanilla

In a mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, soda, cinnamon and 1/2 tsp salt. In another bowl combine carrot, apple, coconut, dates, and pecans. Stir in beaten eggs, oil, and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients, stirring till moistened.

Grease or line muffin pans with paper-bake cups. Spoon batter into prepared muffin pans. Bake in 375 degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from pans: cook on wire racks. Makes 24 muffins.

Sharing this post with others at Outdoor Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Foodie Friday.

...in winter enjoy!

" In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy."

The unusual southern snow sparked my passion to shoot photo after photo of the new white blanket covering a formerly russet landscape. And taking photos is a new hobby that I really enjoy. I've learned so much from many of you who share with me the passion of photography. So joining in on Mary's Mosaic Monday and seeing what all of you have to contribute is such a pleasure for me!

Looking through my photo collection, I noticed I'd taken these same Adirondack chairs in past seasons; spring, fall and now winter. So I thought it'd be fun to group them in a mosaic to compare.Now, since I'm a southern gal, I don't own a pair of snow boots but that didn't stop me from braving the icy snow and the bitter cold. I just tied some plastic bags over my shoes and secured them with a rubber band. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! LOL!

And was it ever COLD! BRRRRRR!

You can see here, the accumulation of snow from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning.

I'd say at least three inches.

I know. Some of you northerners are silently laughing. :) My cardinal friend looked me right in the eye as if to say,

"So what are you waiting for? Fill up the bird feeder!"

And then he played peek-a-boo with me.

Even the dried up crab-apples...

...and crepe myrtle buds transform to a renewed splendor in the snow.
Of course, I'm not the only one in our household who enjoyed the snow.

pretty boy wasn't too sure about this makeshift sled (really a trash can lid),

but it didn't take long riding with mom...

before he got the hang of it!

Sunday Eve

Took this photo today

of my backyard broken-winged angel

laden with snow.

I think she is going to be one of my favorites.

Have a wonderful weekend.

I am sharing with Spiritual Sunday.

Snow down South!

We don't get snow down South too often. So when it does, it's a big deal. Like today, we got 3 inches in some parts and it's still snowing. No worry though since schools closed yesterday just on the prediction. That's right! I know you northerners can't believe it, but it's true.


And everyone goes to the store for bread and milk at least. Yes. I did too. I left early this morning before the first snowflake fell. I know some of you seasoned snow birds don't think twice about driving in the slippery stuff, but this southern gal doesn't drive in it. I did try it once when I was sixteen and stupid. Ended up sliding sideways down a hill. Dad had to rescue me and haven't tried it since.


Back to the groceries, I have a long list and I'm taking my time since the snow storm is not predicted to come through until noon. That's when cigar man called from work and said the roads were covered there. I panicked and headed for the check-out line. So I left a few items on my list. We're not going to starve!
The birds know when a snow storm's coming. I watched them out my window skirmishing about the bird feeder, bristling their feathers in the cold brisk air, preparing for the storm to come.

And it did come! And is still coming!

The birds were right. The weatherman was right. The schools were right to close.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Cigar Man came home early from work before the roads got any worse. But the roads weren't TOO bad to head out looking for a sled. Do you know, there were none to be found!

So what to do, but make your own, out of a trash can lid.

So it was pretty boy's first time to play in the snow.
He wasn't worried about preparing for the snow, just playing in it.

and playing some more.

All the while pretty boy #2 stayed inside where it was warm and cozy.

Two Raindrops

Two little raindrops were born in a shower,

And one was so pompously proud of his power,

He got in his head an extravagant notion

He'd hustle right off and swallow the ocean. A blade of grass that grew by the brook

Called for a drink, but no notice he took

Of such trifling things. He must hurry to be

Not a mere raindrop, but the whole sea. A stranded ship needed water to float,

But he could not bother to help a boat.

He leaped in the sea with a puff and a blare--

And nobody even knew he was there! But the other drop as along it went

Found the work to do for which it was sent:

It refreshed the lily that drooped its head,

And bathed the grass that was almost dead. It got under the ships and helped them along,

And all the while sang a cheerful song.

It worked every step of the way it went,

Bringing joy to others, to itself content. At last it came to its journey's end,

And welcomed the sea as an old-time friend.

"An ocean," it said, "there could not be

Except for the millions of drops like me.

~by Joseph MooreI hope this poem of two raindrops hold true lessons in life for you as they did for me.

I'm contributing to Outdoor Wednesday and Watery Wednesday.

January Thaw

"No one can look at a pine tree in winter

without knowing that spring will come again in due time."
~Frank Bolles The last few days leave me believing that spring is not too far behind. After several days of below freezing temps, it's so nice to have sunny days in the 50s. So we went for a walk, my grandson and I. Well, I walked. He strolled. We walked past the skateboarders and the jogger in shorts enjoying an unseasonable warm day.

We walked past an old antebellum home.

We looked up through the trees.

We saw creatures in the trees. Look closely. Do you see what looks like a bird, the beak and eyes on the left of the tree trunk? Yea, we were really killing time - bad case of cabin fever!

And then we saw a bird's nest leftover from a past season no doubt

which gave us hope of spring.

O, wind, if Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?
~Percy Bysshe Shelley

I'm contributing to Outdoor Wednesday.

Sunday Eve

Sharing this post with others at Spiritual Sunday and Mosaic Monday.