and, heaven and nature sing..........

Merry Christmas!

                                                                

 

Stamp Club Celebration

Tuesday night's stamp club was loads of fun ~ that's yummy fun.  To celebrate the holidays everyone brought a dish to share.  Melissa (pictured in the right hand corner) brought Sausage-Pancake Muffins ~

Everyone thought that they were delicious and Melissa generously shared her recipe ~ you can print it out ~

Download Sausage Pancake Muffins

Persimmon Bread

I served Persimmon Bread at my stamp club this morning and several friends asked for the recipe so I thought I would add it here.  This recipe makes 2 loaves of a moist tasty bread.

3 1/2 cups sifted flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 cups sugar

1 cup melted unsalted butter cooled to room temperature

4 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten

2/3 cup Cognac or bourbon whiskey

2 cups persimmon puree (4 squishy-soft persimmons)

2 cups walnuts or pecans, chopped

2 cups raisins 

1  Butter 2 loaf pans.  Line the bottoms with parchment paper

2 Preheat oven to 350 degrees

3 Sift the first 5 dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl

4 Make a well in the center then stir in the butter, eggs, liquor, persimmon puree, nuts, raisins

5 Bake 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean

Will keep for about a week, well-wrapped at room temperature.  The Persimmon Breads tkae well to being frozen, too.  More Persimmon recipes on my Pinterest site ~ category YUMMMM!

 

 

 

I have persimmons for YOU.....

Seaside Bay.....

I posted a picture of 'my' stamp set on the 12th ~ SEASIDE BAY.  It is included in the next mini catalog (coming to you in December) and available to order in January.  And, it is part of a collection of products (thank you Stampin' Up!).  I have the stamp set but none of the other products and can't order until December 1 (top of my list for sure).  This picture was taken by my team member, Kathy Winter, who attended OnStage in Pennsylvania and shows the dies, ribbon and a little of the DSP in the collection.  I have found several other pictures online and will share with you soon.  In the meantime, my apologies for no recent posts ~ two events coincided ~ the arrival of my sister, Sarah, recovering from knee replacement surgery on Wednesday last week and a holiday event to raise money for CHKD on Sunday.  The third event will be Thanksgiving and all my family will be arriving soon.  I have a feeling that I will post again on Friday this week.  So, have a wonderful Thanksgiving ~ relax and make a Gratitude List ~ it's a blessing.  Hugs.

My stamp set.........

I thought I would introduce you to my stamp set, SEASIDE BAY.  Creation of the set was part of the ongoing event celebrating ONE MILLION in career sales.  It is on display now in the OnStage Pittsburgh demonstrator event and will be in the Jan/April 2023 mini catalog.

OCTOBERFEST

I am a member of the East Beach Circle of the King's Daughters, an organization committed to raising funds for Children's Hospital.  This coming Saturday we are sponsoring OCTOBERFEST ~ a fun family event at East Beach Pavilion Park.  Tickets are $20 (includes food ticket, drink ticket & entry in a fun Heads or Tails game) or $5 if you bring children 4 and under (includes food ticket & kids glow stick).  You can purchase your tickets online ~ www.kingsdaughters.ord/circle/east-beach/

All proceeds benefit the new Children's Mental Health Hospital.

Birthday Brownies

Today's my birthday and I wanted to share a Brownie recipe that I have been using for years and years.  Actually I should have done it earlier as I served the brownies in August and promised the recipe then ~ then, I forgot.  Marie reminded me last weekend so here it is ~ easy peasy and delicious ~ from James Beard!

Melt:      4 oz. sweetened chocolate

                1 1/2 sticks of butter (12 TBSP) OR 16 TBSP light

                    butter

Stir in:    2 cups sugar

                3 eggs, lightly beaten

                2 teaspoons vanilla

                1 cup walnuts (Alan loves the brownies without)

                1 cup flour, sifted

I make this recipe in a pan on the stove.  After I melt the chocolate and the butter I add everything else to the pan.  Pour into a 9" square pan, buttered and floured.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.  My birthday gift to you ~ enjoy!

            

NBG: Japanese Garden & Water Lilies

Yesterday at the Norfolk Botanical Garden the Water Lilies were huge!  Who knew that they could ever get that big!  

And, who knew that they had to be 'weeded' because they love the pond where they are planted.  That's what was going on yesterday when Alan and I stopped by the MARIGOLD & HONEY CAFE for lunch.

This young man told us all about the lilies ~ he has to weed them monthly from May to September.  He pulls them out by their roots, piles them up (below) and trashes them.  He let me have one from the trash pile!  What an amazing plant!

Some interesting WATER LILY facts ~ they are perennials and can live 15 to 20 years, the flowers display many different colors and last about 4 days.  There are 50 species of lilies that love shallow still water and full sun.  Norfolk Botanical Garden ~ a great place to visit!!!

 

Friday Fun from the Cat/Art Studio