College Interview

Can this little girl really be old enough to have a college interview?

Urbane, Karen, Whitney and Blake were at the Home Front on their way to Grove City, PA where Whitney was scheduled for an interview on Monday.

Chocolate Celebrations

Phebe had chocolate cheesecake for dessert Friday night Rachel called this her "Chocolate Dance"

This would be Emma's Chocolate Face!

Cutie Pies

Emma and Rachel with one of their many stories.

Snack time with Uncle Kendall

Counting Pa's change after looking at the state quarters.

Emma even got Uncle Kendall to read a story

The girls snuggling in with Pa

Sights and Tastes of Home

A fire in the fireplace to ward off the chill in the air

Deer in the yard

Snow flurries as we left this morning

Cinnamon Rolls

Mom's Famous Chocolate Cake

From my Sister Lois' Blog:

Saturday, April 01, 2006
Mom's Chocolate Cake

In my home community in western Maryland and among those in my extended family, Miriam's Chocolate Cake is well known and brings a pretty penny at MCC auctions. Everyone says, "no one can make it like Miriam makes it," and I think they're right. But I try anyway. Here's her recipe, so take on the challenge and give it a try yourself!

Mom's Chocolate Cake

1/2 cup butter
1-3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup cocoa
2-1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup sour milk
1-1/4 cup hot water
1-1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter and sugar together. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa, and salt, then add sour milk and mix well. Dissolve soda in hot water and add to mixture. Pour into a greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until it springs back when lightly pressed with finger.


Mom's Chocolate Icing

3-1/2 cups Domino brand granulated sugar
3-1/2 tablespoons Hershey's cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup half-and-half

Mix all ingredients except vanilla. Bring to a full rolling boil and continue to boil for about 3 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when drips of icing hold together and form a soft ball when dripped into a cup of cold water. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Set the pan in a bath of cold water bath. Be careful not to let any water get into the pan. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the water bath and beat the chocolate slowly until it begins to lose its shiny gloss. Quickly spread on top of the cake before the icing hardens.

For this one truth I am eternally grateful: You're never too old to lick the beaters!

Kendall the Master Plumber

This weekend we went home to Maryland to visit the folks and Kendall updated plumbing fixtures.

Kitchen sink

Added filtered water and also changed garbage disposal.

Guest bath toilet and sinks. Also in the master bath that is being redone - he connected the sink and fixed the shower.

Fall

The temperatures are in the double digits again and the mornings are cool. Fall has even managed to come inside the house to a few places.

Page, Arizona

We were in cool northern Arizona this weekend for another race. We get to see some awesome scenery where the races are located.

Kendall coming into the Pit area.

Finished! (Note the triumphant sign)


And of course, first place again!

As we were leaving they called Kendall's name again. This hasn't happened before, but a local Honda shop donated a $100 gift certificate to the fastest rider in the race who wasn't a Pro. That would be my guy!

Denver Again

It was back to Denver for another business trip. We were greeted by a double rainbow at the airport.

How fitting for a princess! The first night we were in a castle on the north end of town. Then I moved downtown where the conference was being held.

"Meet me under the bear." This is at the Denver convention center. You needed spots like this with over 3,000 in attendance so you could reconnect with your group.

First Day On The New Job

Traffic moved fairly well in the HOV lane today and I was welcomed with a beautiful floral arrangement. I feel good about the move.

Las Vegas

My friend (and boss again starting tomorrow) was honored as a finalist for the Western Region of the United States for a Nursing Leader award (pretty much everything west of the Rockies). Kendall and I were two of the guests. It was a quick trip up Friday and home again Saturday afternoon.Kathy and Dan

Deb and Kendall

A Day of Transition

Today was my last day at the hospital where I have worked for the past 2.5 years. It has been a wonderful place to work and try my wings at new things.

I start my new job on Monday. It is a nice promotion, but I can't say I'm looking forward to the commute downtown! Can you say car pool and HOV lane?

I was treated very nicely today with a cake reception open to the hospital. This is a picture of the left overs. Yummy fruit garnish and white chocolate curls on top of a layer of chocolate and a layer of white cake!!

Flowers, M&Ms, Cookbook, generous gift certificate to Sur LaTable... Do they know me or what?!

Hesston College Reunion

This weekend we traveled to Hesston, Kansas for Kendall's 25th college reunion. Deb met a lot of great people and we had a great time! The time was well planned and there were activities from Friday at 6:00 pm to Sunday at noon.

Check out the website: http://www.hesston.edu/

After dinner we gathered at a barn that had been relocated from a family farm in PA. It is a great combination of old and new coming together for a great purpose.

Deb has no eye foot coordination so Jenni was kind enough to be Kendall's partner at the square dance Friday night. Here they are getting instructions from Todd who does this a lot in Michigan.

In full swing!

A tradition at Hesston College is the run to Drubers for fresh donuts at midnight. Luckily for us they now open at 11:00! No need to wait so long for a treat. I finally did the donut run that I've heard about for years!

Kendall, Deb, Todd and his wife Faith

Kendall's parents live in Hesston and it was great to spend time with family as well - Kirby, Darcie, Chase, Brock, and cousin Marge. Mom had a fantastic Sunday dinner for us! She had Kendall's favorite meat loaf and all the trimmings. Yummy ending to the weekend!

Ice Cream and Stars

It may not be Katie's, but Cold Stone is right up there with the best for us! We hit the ice cream shop on the way to the Challenger Space Center for some space fun.
Emma REALLY enjoyed her "chocolate devotion" with chocolate ice cream, chocolate chips, fudge sauce and fudge brownies!
By the time we left it was dusk and time to go look at stars.

Two budding astronauts. We watched a "show" about space travel and looked through some telescopes.

Wildlife Zoo

This morning we went to the Wildlife World Zoo and met our friend Kathy and her granddaughter Faith for a fun morning.We rode the sky tram over the animals. Faith and Kathy
Emma had fun feeding the giraffes
Then we took a train ride through the wild country side through the animal's enclosures.
Rachel and Uncle Kendall enjoying the views
Deb was attacked in the petting zoo because she had the food
Rachel liked the small animals

Happy Birthday Urbane!

Happy Birthday to Uncle Urbane. Here is the card that Emma, Rachel and I did as a "Project".
We made a birthday cake in his honor and Emma helped with the frosting and putting green sprinkles on the cake.
Sorry we didn't have birthday candles. We improvised with a tea light.

Notice the phone on the counter. That is Urbane on the other line after we sang Happy Birthday.