3 - 2 - 1 Cake from Heidi (through Dionne McElroy)

This is the coolest quickest dessert in the world!  Mix a cake mix of a flavor you like with a Angel Food cake mix.  I mean mix the dry mixes together well and put in a large plastic sandwich bag.  Save!  When you want  a dessert put 3 T of the mix with 2 T water and mix well in a little Ramekin bowl.   Then microwave for 1 minute.  Add some topping. Whipped cream or some frosting and There You have It!  Last night I had some from my first mix and I added some  butterscotch  chips to the top. YMMMMM.  Heidi and I made this dessert a few times while I was in Atlanta recently visiting Heidi, Andres and Frankie.  One especially good topping is German Chocolate Frosting.  Anyway I was going to take a picture of the final product but I ate it! HA!  Next time!

mrm2@cox.net

Garden Plenty

Got  back to Kansas and look what was in my garden - Heirloom Tomatoes galore! An entire bucket full and Mike had already picked bunches already and there are bunches more to be picked. We grew the black beauties this year. They are dark purple and really scrumptious! And take a look at the mini peaches on our peach tree and it's only two years old.  I am going to bake a peach pie. NORMA I NEED YOUR PEACH PIE RECIPE!!!!!

Sewing!

I decided last week to sew. Looked for some fabric to inspire me from my fabric stash and this is the result. Placemats and napkins to go with my Anemone China  I have had for 40 years.  I love to go to this little fabric store with my sister when I visit McKinney, Texas so I stock up on cool fabrics and then they lay around until I feel inspired.  I think this is Robert Allen fabric.   A sort of large and bold toile. 

Trumpet Vine

Every year we have a wonderful wall of trumpet vine that grows along our privacy fence.  It's beautiful to look at. It now runs along the fence a distance of about 20 feet.  Alot of bees seduced by the the flower but really gorgeous!

The Garden this year!

Cannas, cucumbers, tomatoes!  This was all about a week ago. Stay tuned for the latest from this weekend.  Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow.... 

The Fish Pond!

A few weekends ago we cleaned our do it yourself fishpond.  When I say do it yourself I mean we really did it ourselves. Rented a backhoe, dug a humongous hole in our backyard (check for your utilities line placement first) lined it with rubber lining, hauled in rocks on our truck, put them in place, bought pumps off of ebay and other sites, and wired it all in and then ADD WATER and alot of it.  Then we got some fish from Mike's sister and brother in law and some pond plants from them too and  we were off to the races. Now it is about 7 years later and all we do is feed fish (we feed them a large cup of catfood every morning) add water from time to time, clean the filter (every day) and the hard part -----clean the pond completely out every year or two depending on how many fish and how dirty the water gets.  Well the cleaning is a day or weekend job let me  tell you.  But when it's over - you get a nice clean pond where you can watch your fish.  Beware you get fond of fish like other pets.  We even have named a few!

Flowers and containers!

Mike's been busy planting flowers in the new containers and pots he has scored around Wichita in the past month. He is as much of a scavenger as I am.  Between EBay, Purple Auction, Craig's List,  Sam's and driving around Wichita he finds some great stuff. The two pots on the bottom, which are large, about 2 feet in diameter were a steal at $18.  Can you believe it?  And he loves to plant. This year he has been in charge of the garden (tomorrow) and all the flowers.