Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

I hope everyone has a fun and Safe Halloween!

Poor Toby

My poor Toby has an ear infection. I noticed this weekend that Toby's ears seemed to be bothering him. He was constantly scratching them, or rubbing them on the carpet. So, I took him to the vet this week, and my poor baby has an ear infection. Cocker Spaniel's are known to have problems with their ears, because of the way their ears hang. The Dr. did say that Toby's weren't as bad as some Cockers that he has seen. He gave me some cleanser to put in his ears twice a day, and an antibiotic to put in his ears once a day. The thing is, Toby hates for anyone to mess with his ears. So, three times a day, I have to wrestle with him until he submits and lets me put the drops in. I think I need a visit from the Dog Whisperer. I have to do the drops for 10 days, and I'm only on day 2. Please say a prayer for me.

Gatlinburg Pictures

This past weekend, Andrew and I went to Gatlinburg, TN. We were only there one night, but we had a great time. Here are some pictures from our trip.

View from the Parkway

At the top of the mountain

Visiting Ober Gatlinburg

View from the Top of the Mountain

Waiting to eat at the Old Mill

At the Old Mill
The big rocking chair!

Fresh Apple Pound Cake with Brown sugar topping

I found this recipe on the Apple Barn Website. It did take a long time to make, but it was so worth it! This might be one of the best cakes that I have ever made. The brown sugar topping is more like a caramel, which is fine with me. Think Pecan Pie - in cake form. So Good!!

Fresh Apple Pound Cake with Brown Sugar topping
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups corn oil
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups pecans, finely chopped
2 cups pared apples, finely chopped
Brown Sugar Topping ingredients:
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 teaspoons milk
1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
Instructions
Sift flour, soda and salt onto a platter or waxed paper. In a large bowl beat oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla at medium speed of electric mixer for 3 or 4 minutes until well blended. Gradually add flour mixture; beat until smooth. Fold in pecans and apples. Pour batter into a greased and floured bunt pan. Bake in a preheated 325 oven about 1 hour 20 minutes, or until cake tests done. Cool on wire rack 20 minutes. Serve warm or cold. Store in foil or tin can for a day or two. Yield: one 10" bunt cake, 22 to 24 servings Brown Sugar topping: Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil over medium heat; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Spoon hot sugar mixture over warm cake.

Cheap Japanese and great conversation

Last night, I met my dear friend Jessica for dinner at Fuji Express. We don't see each other very often, so it was a treat to get to eat dinner with her. Not only was the cheap Japanese food really good, we had great conversation. Having her as a friend is a real blessing to me. Thanks Jessica for being a great friend.

Yesterday was also my nephew Jalen's Birthday. I went by to see him and give him his birthday gift. He loves wrestling action figures, so I gave him some to add to his collection. He is such a sweet boy. I hope you had a wonderful Birthday Jalen! I'm looking forward to your party!

I got to see Leilani too. She is getting so big!

Christmas Cactus in October??

Well, it seems that October is a little confused. Last week - tomatoes, this week - Christmas cactus. They call it a Christmas Cactus for a reason. It blooms in December. I guess mine is a little eager to get the holiday season started. This Cactus is in my office at work. I have one at home that hasn't started yet, and doesn't look like it will bloom anytime soon. It really is beautiful, don't you think.

Tomatoes in October?!?!?!

Believe it or not, I still have tomatoes growing on my plant. It is the middle of October, and my tomato plant is still producing fruit!! It might not be big fruit, but it is still fruit!

Our day in the Country

This past weekend, Andrew and I drove up to Hendersonville, NC. We ate lunch at A Day in the Country, and then made our way to Grandad's Farm. We got some Apples and a pumpkin. We also got a carmel apple, hot apple pie, and a apple cider slush. Instead of coming home the same way we went up there, we decided to go down through Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. The leaves are still pretty green up there, but it was a beautiful day in the mountains. I had my camera with me the whole day, and didn't take one picture until we got to my parents house. This is in front of my dad's "set."

Blogging

I saw this on Jim's Blog and thought it was too funny.

One of those weeks!

It's just been one of those weeks. But my wonderful, loving husband surprised me in the middle of the week with these:

Thank you Andrew for knowing exactly what I needed. I Love You!

Life Lessons

This came in an e-mail from my Aunt Shelly. Thought it was worth posting here. Thanks Aunt Shelly for sharing this with me.

For over 7 years, Regina Brett was a columnist at The Beacon Journal in Akron , Ohio.
During that time, she was diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer. Regina is now a columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio.

Lessons in Life By Regina Brett
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It' s more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone, everything.
29. What other people thin k of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Fall is in the air!

This past weekend, I decided it was time to decorate for fall. I don't have much, but the few items I do have, I love. That little touch of fall colors puts me in the mood for candy corn, apple picking, a trip to the mountains, and pumpkin pie. Summer is officially over.

These Plates Hang in my kitchen

These plates hang in my Dining roomMy Table
My "Harvest" flag.