no news is good news?

Just in case any one is looking for me...I thought I'd let you know that I can't get my home computer to go online. It makes for difficult communication...such is life.
I've got some neat photos to post when I get it figured out.
We woke up to snow..about 2 inches...on Christmas morn. No big deal if we didn't live in a southern state. The girls, of course, are thrilled. It took them all of 3 seconds I think to start throwing snowballs. After the second one hit grandma's window..if figured we might best put a halt to their exerberance.
The poor chickens and guineas!!! They are afraid of the white stuff and will NOT come out of their coops. Rachel tried to put her banty rooster out and oh how beautiful his red feathers look again the pure white...but the little guy just stood there trying to find a way back in to the nesting boxes. Today, a few patches have melted here and there and when we opened the doors to the coops, they all flew out in one big cloud of feathers. Straight into the trees and what ever clear ground they could find. They are not happy.
I leave you with prayers and best wishes. Ya'll stay warm and safe.

12 Days to Christmas

I don't see how we're going to shop for any gifts this year, but that doesn't mean we can't still celebrate Christmas. What are we celebrating anyway. Surely, it's not financial viability.

We started out by attending a 4-H Knitting workshop. I think we all learned a bit. I still can't knit, but I did pick up some information that helps. The girls got it and that's what counts most.

At home, we made a Pineapple Upside Down cake for the pot luck that evening. I'm including the recipe here. It's from my grandmother's cookbook...can't tell you which one, cause it's so old that it's fallen apart and the title/cover is missing. I think it might have been one of the first Betty Crocker's---but I'm really not sure. All I know is this is the one I use. It's quick, easy, and always good.

 

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

 

1 8 1/2 ounce can sliced pineapple

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

4 maraschino cherries, halved

***

1/3 cup shortening

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Drain Pineapple, reserving syrup. Halve Pineapple slices.

Melt butter in 8x8x2 inch baking pan. Add brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of the reserved pineapple syrup.

Add water to the remaining syrup to make 1/2 cup.

Arrange Pineapple in bottom of pan. Place a cherry half in center of each slice.

 

Cream together shortening and granulated sugar till light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla: beat till fluffy. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt: add to creamed mixture alternately with the 1/2 cup reserved pineapple syrup, beating after each addition. Spread over pineapple.

Bake in moderate oven (350 F) for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool 5 minutes; invert on plate. Serve warm.

 

Later, we attended a "Girls Night Out" with Girl Scouts. Especially for mom's and thier daughters. The food was great! There wasn't even a single crumb left from our cake. The twins and I did a couple crafts together, and they both loved being able to play the Wii. That's something they seldom have the opportunity to do since we don't own one.