Pass the Soup

January is winding down and, for most of you, it's cold right now. What's better when it's cold out than a nice bowl of warm soup? So today I'm sharing my recipe for Broccoli Cheese Soup. The recipe card for this one is barely recognizable, splattered and faded from use. That's when you know it's a good one. Add some rolls and a salad and you've got a quick and delicious dinner that'll warm your stomach and your heart.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

1/4 c. chopped onion
1 Tbsp. butter
2 c. milk
1 (8 oz.) pkg cream cheese, cubed
3/4 lb. Velveeta, cubed
1 (10 oz.) pkg broccoli (I only like the florets), cooked
1/4 tsp. nutmeg (don't skip this, even if you do think it sounds weird)
dash of black pepper

In a large saucepan, saute onions in butter until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add milk and cream cheese, stirring until cream cheese is melted. Add remaining ingredients, stirring occasionally until cheese is completely melted.

Also wanted to let you know that my friend Amy over at http://amygking.com/ is having a giveaway of the the book Made to Crave. I told you about the live webcasts on Monday nights that go along with the book. The book has been hard to get hold of, all the stores have been out of stock, so this is a great giveaway to be part of.

You know, we haven't had a Thankful Thursday in a while. What am I thankful for?

1. I'm thankful my husband woke me up this morning. I was having this dream where I was frantically searching for a coupon to turn in at a drive-thru. I can't remember what restaurant, just that I'd phoned in my order and they said I had to bring my coupon. Searching for coupons and discussing Jewish history in the car industry (not that I had much I could contribute to that conversation, I'm not even Jewish). When I woke up, I'd been gritting my teeth and contorting my neck. I don't like having to work that hard in my sleep.

2. I'm thankful for a son who asks for a new Bible and devotional book and to be awakened a little earlier so he can spend more time reading them. Makes a mama's heart melt.

3. I'm thankful for birthdays and watching my little ones grow up. It is happening so quickly!

4. I'm thankful for all my blogging friends. It amazes me what wonderful insights and creativity people have. We may even know these people personally, see them and talk to them all the time. But there's something about seeing it in print that reminds you of how wonderful they are and how important it is to listen to what they have to say.

5. I'm thankful for coffee, 'cause it sure is hard to get going this morning after Thankful #1. =)

Have a great day!

Kiddie Christmas Tree

It's been one of those mornings. I started to take the pictures for my post and the camera battery died. I spilled an entire bowl of cereal in my lap and got milk in my underwear and a Fruit Loop stuck to the rear of my pants. I accidentally threw the silverware in the trash. One little person forgot their bookbag and we had to turn around and go back for it. All before 7:30 a.m. Things can only get better...right? It's Thankful Thursday and you'd better believe the thing I'm most thankful for is a change of clothes.

Today I thought I'd share a few pictures from the kids' tree. I found a small tree, four feet, at a yard sale for $5 last fall. It has colored lights, our big tree has white ones. This tree is totally theirs. The get to decorate it any way they want. They take the ornaments on and off and rearrange at least once a day. It's full of things they've made or ornaments they like. I'll show you a few of the crafty ones they've done at school or church. The one above is Santa made from a popsicle stick. My cousin Sharon actually did this with her kindergarten class. I like his little beard.

This angel looks like she's having my kind of day. Her hair is on crooked and her poor star is upside down. Maybe she's just from the future...5002.

This is a very old one that somehow survives each year. That's me when I was a toddler. See the overalls? I was a farmgirl even then. And notice the curlers in my hair. I've always had my own "special" style.


A reindeer made from a clothespin.


And here's my personal favorite. I did this with Riley's preschool class. Write the child's name on a round blue plastic ornament with a paint pen. Brush white paint on their hands (a thicker paint will give more texture). Place the ornament in the palm of their hands and have them grasp it with their fingers. The palm will form the snow on the ground and the fingers will form the snowmen. You may need to give their fingers a little wiggle or you'll end up with some very skinny snowmen. When the ornaments are dry, go back and draw on scarves, hats, buttons, etc. with permanent markers. You can see the handprint when you hold it upside down.

Back to Thanks

It's been a while since I posted a Thankful Thursday post, so I thought I'd better get back at it. I've been busy this morning around the house and then have to head off for errands and a program at school. It's nice to take time and realize all that we have, large or small, our lives are filled with many blessings.

Right this moment, I am thankful for
1.) a cool autumn breeze blowing in the window
2.) and the yummy smell coming from my oven.
3.) I'm glad for the little beeping noise coming from my washing machine to remind me it's time to add bleach. (It's nice when appliances help you think.)
4.) I'm thankful for a sweet mom who has wonderful ideas for Christmas
5.) and for upcoming visits with family and friends.

What about you, what are you thankful for?

Aunt Betty's Chocolate Cake

Yesterday was my aunt Betty's birthday. She is famous for making her chocolate cake. For all family functions, she is required to bring three things--macaroni & cheese, rice consumme, and her chocolate cake. I had been thinking of her and decided to make the cake myself. You make it in a 13x9 pan and it cuts well for lunch boxes. The cake is very dense and rich, almost like a brownie or fudge. I thought you might all enjoy giving it a try. Maybe it will become one of your family traditions as well.


Aunt Betty's Chocolate Cake

2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. butter
1 c. water
1/2 c. buttermilk
1/2 tsp. baking soda
4 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 c. sugar

Add baking soda to buttermilk; set aside. Mix flour and sugar in a large bowl. In a saucepan, beat butter, cocoa powder, water, and oil until it boils. Pour mixture over flour; mix well with a spoon, not mixer. Add buttermilk and eggs. Add vanilla. Pour in a 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Frosting:

1/2 c. butter
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
6 Tbsp. buttermilk
4 c. powdered sugar, sifted
1 c. pecans, chopped
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix butter, cocoa powder, and buttermilk until boiling. Pour over powdered sugar; stir until blended. Add nuts and vanilla. Pour over warm cake.


So today for Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for my aunt Betty, for her sweet and giving ways, for traditions passed down on dinner plates, and for a life blessed with lots of love.

Cornbread Sticks and Fine Art

I tried a new recipe for cornbread from Southern Living and it turned out great. It was one of the few times I've actually used my great-grandmother's cornbread stick pan. I guess I'm always a bit timid of the food getting stuck in all those nooks and crannies. But, this recipe made it so simple to cook in it and gave me confidence that it would turn out right, which it did. I'll use it more often now, following this same technique. I guess that's one of the main reasons I liked this recipe. It not only tasted good, it gave me a way to draw closer to my past.

Now for the fine art. I appreciate a painting or sculpture as much as the next girl, but for this I'm talking about an art form closer to a southern girl's heart--brunswick stew. I can't really give you a recipe, because it's never the same way twice. It's one of those things you have to keep going back to and working with until what is in the pot matches the taste you have in your mind. It depends on region or family tradition.

I have an old recipe hanging on my wall of the best one I've ever had. It came from a little old lady that I knew growing up. I never realized until I got the recipe as an adult that the main ingredient was '1 whole hog head'. Never fear, I'm not that much of a traditionalist. I work hard to get my modern ingredients to match the taste of hers, without having something staring back at me from the pot. I often use a smoked Boston butt as my meat. Last night I tried a packed of prepared barbeque that I bought at the store as my base. It worked fine. I was so glad I'd done that because it cut my time and ingredients way down, and yesterday was the day I needed a little extra help in the kitchen.

That leads me into Thankful Thursday. I have just one big one today. I am thankful that my younger son's accident yesterday wasn't worse than it was. I've never been so glad that he's so hard headed! I'm going to have to buy that boy a helmet. If he gets hurt, it's always on his head. He was playing tag at recess and was running full force (do 9 year old boys know any other way?) when he tried to duck under some playground equipment. Fast boy + metal pole + bad judge of distance = slight concussion. After a long afternoon in the doctor's office and a long night of waking him up every two hours, this mom is also thankful for the nap I am going to take when they're all off to school.

P.S. I told him he is now officially banned from tag. (This is his third whack to the head since school started this year.) But I have to smile when I say it, because I am officially banned from the skating rink. But that's a story for a different day.


Texas Cornbread Sticks

1 c. yellow cornmeal (I used white and the world didn't end)
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
1 1/4 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 large egg
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Combine first five ingredients; make a well in center. Stir together buttermilk, butter, and egg. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened. Heat cast iron cornstick pans (you need two) in a 450 degree oven for 5 minutes or until hot. Remove pans from oven, brush lightly with oil. Spoon batter evenly into hot pans. Bake at 450 for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans immediately; cool slightly on wire racks.

Just 4 Today

Just for today...can't remember how the rest of that poem goes. Anyway, just for today, we will think of four things (at least) that we can be thankful for. We're always quick to gripe when things go wrong, can we be vocal about the things that are right? There's always much around here to be thankful for.

1. Dancing in the kitchen the other night with my little girl to some Willie Nelson. Who doesn't like to listen to Willie sing?

2. My new $4 jacket. We stopped at a yard sale the other day and I picked up the cutest red (oops, guess I should have shown that yesterday) quilted barn jacket from Old Navy. Red, barn jacket, my size, $4.00=SOLD. I love red coats.

3. Last night my oldest son spent two hours helping his younger brother do a project to earn some extra credit being prodded along and without one moment's complaint.

4. I started watching what I eat (yes I know, again) and I've stuck to it this week. And, I made chocolate cake and, no matter how many pieces I've cut, have not once had a bite or even licked my fingers when they had icing on them.


This has been a great week of finding bargains, having a good time with my family, even displaying a little will power in the food area. That's the good stuff in life and I am thankful. I even put makeup on a bear yesterday--my friend Dana had to dress up as a mama bear for her son's preschool program. I got to glam her up. If only I'd thought to take her picture!!!

I hope your week has been full of things to be thankful for, and a little unexpected fun. Caution--if you should have an urge to put a bow and lipstick on a bear of your own, just make sure they're not of the real variety. I've heard they don't particularly care for the pearls. ;)

Singing

I read John 10:10 yesterday, where Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Now the life part is easy to understand, it's the "to the full" that can be harder to comprehend. I've been ruminating on that one. I can tell you what it isn't. It isn't being busy that makes life full, activities don't add up to fullness. It isn't things. You can't buy enough stuff or get a house big enough to make you full inside. No, I think that God puts a song in each of our hearts, the life we are created to live, and those who have life to the full are those who are unafraid to sing it out loud. May we all choose to sing today the beautiful music of our maker's song.

Today I am thankful that I took the time to sit still and listen.
I'm thankful that He loves me, even though I sing off key.
I'm thankful that I've come to the place where I can stop comparing my song to everyone elses.
I'm thankful for lunches with friends and how they do wonders for the soul.

Necessary Things...Like Cereal & Diet Coke

Today is our day to be thankful. I thought I'd take a step back from my grandiose ramblings to be thankful for some of the simple things that are necessities in my day, plus one other that isn't necessary every day but much appreciated none the less.

1. Coffee, without which my poor little eyes would not open

2. Hazelnut cream, which makes opening those eyes a much sweeter experience
3. Diet Coke, a requirement for each day--we're great friends, Diet Coke and I

4. Cereal, I eat it for breakfast every day. Could eat it every meal but the rest of my family likes a little something more substantial

5. Debbie's serenade, she sang to me over Skype (it was my birthday earlier this week) and I appreciated it very much. She'll appreciate it very much if I don't return the favor. *Please note: this blogger is unable to carry a tune.

What are your must haves for each day?

If You Can't Shrink 'Em, Change 'Em

Notice anything different? I tried to follow BJ's advice and shrink my flower, I really did. My computer seems to be a little tempermental when it comes to new programs. So, I decided to scrap it (that's what I get for trying it at night) and going with a different picture. Different picture needed different background and so on and so forth, until we get to a blog with more of a rustic and kind of fall (I thought, minus leaves or pumpkins) blog. How do y'all like it.

Sorry I didn't get to post yesterday. I was knee deep in the pile that is my middle school son's room. When we started looking for something he needed for archery on Tuesday night, it became evident quickly that an intervention was needed. My plan was to blog after I got done in there. You see when I got done. It does, however, look very nice now, even under the bed and in the closets (places few feared tread). The rule at my house is, mommy will step in and clean your room if it gets to the disasterous stage but beware, she has free reign to get rid of whatever she chooses.

I did want to share a couple of recipes with you. The Chicken Divan we had for supper. It's the easy version, not the authentic french version. We're keeping things simple, remember? The first time I ever made this dish (the frenchier one)was in high school French class. We borrowed the home ec room and started cooking. After that, I was hooked. The other recipe is a new one I tried this week for taking to a PTO meeting and for afternoon snacks. It was a yummy keeper that came from a Taste of Home magazine. You know it must be good when I don't feel the need to fidgit with the recipe.

Chicken Divan

4 chicken breasts
1 pkg broccoli
1/2 tsp. curry
1/4 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
salt to taste
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 c. cheddar cheese, divided
Bread crumbs

Boil chicken breasts with onion and celery until cooked through; drain. Cook broccoli and season to taste; drain. Layer broccoli in the bottom of a buttered casserole dish. Layer chicken over broccoli. Combine lemon juice, curry, soup, mayonnaise, and 1/2 c. of cheese. Pour over chicken. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and top with bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.


Oatmeal S'more Cookies

1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. old-fashioned oats
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. mini marhsmallows

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the oats, chips, and marshmallows. Drop onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown. Let set for two minutes then cool completely on a wire rack.


Don't forget, it's Thursday again (already), so what do you have to be thankful for? For me it's the leaves beginning to fall, the wind beginning to blow, a small (we're talking miniscule since it's still above 90) drop in temperate, cookies right out of the oven, and seeing the floor in my son's closet.

Thankful for the Crazies

It's Thursday. And, yes, I'm still at it. What do we have to be thankful for today?
Here's my list--
1. That this day can only last 24 hours. It's packed full, but guaranteed to be over with tomorrow. Oh wait, tomorrow's busy too. Oh well, there's always Saturday.

2. I'm thankful for all the blogging friends who find their way to us. They're all so talented and full of great ideas. Be sure to visit them too.

3. I'm thankful Jack's science project is almost over. I too feel like a mineral that's been through the scratch test (unfortunately, on the Mohs scale, I'm pretty soft).

4. I'm a glass half full kind of girl and I'm thankful for that. Sometimes that glass is full of some pretty nasty medicine, but at least I've still got a glass! Some people never look around to notice they're drinking champagne while the rest have only water. They're too busy complaining that their glass isn't bigger. (Oops, I need to practice a little more thankfulness and a little less ranting.)

5. I'm thankful for your prayers today. It's an incredibly busy day and, among other things, includes a medical test for one of my children and ends with me having speak in front of a crowd tonight. I could use a little extra help for the day to run smoothly. Thank you.

Thanks Again

It's Thankful Thursday, a day to pause and count our blessings. Here are a few of mine. Don't forget to leave a comment with yours.

Today I am thankful for--
1.) Sitting at the lunch table with giggling five year old girls. Hearing that is good for the soul.

2.) Watching my quiet child find something he really loves and is good at. It's great to see when they blossom.

3.) Quiet days after busy ones.

4.) Commiserating with good friends. What a joy and strength it is to have people who go through the same things you do and can be an encouragement.

5.) Keeping busy. Having lots to do reminds us that we are useful, seeing it through proves we are capable, being tired at the end of it reminds us we are human.

The 'It' Number and Insanity Chili

Insanity chili? Well the chili's not insane, unless you count insanely good, but I don't think I'd go quite that far. Delicious...really good...but insanely good would require more tinkering with the recipe. Oops, I'm rambling--back to the point. I call it insanity chili today because my making it is insane. Do you know what the temperature was when I passed by the middle school entrance sign yesterday? 104!!! And I'm making chili. That's why I said insanity chili. I've just had a hankering for it lately. We'll just have to follow it up quickly with ice cream. It'll be a nicer meal for those of you who don't live in the giant oven we call south Georgia.

Apparently there's a new number. Well, an old number that's been repurposed. I didn't want y'all to be left behind so I thought I'd share. I've learned so much since Meredith started kindergarten. Here's the official transcript from her bedtime last night, after the obligatory kiss, hug, and great big squeeze.

Mommy: I love you bunches.
Meredith: You're the best mommy in the universe. I love you zero.
Mommy: Zero? Zero means nothing, not at all. You don't love me at all? (Thinking I'm so clever for sneaking in a little math learning at the last minute.)
Meredith: No, I love you lots. Zero means lots. Nowadays.

Y'all, the girl actually used the word 'nowadays'. It never ceases to amaze me, the things that'll come out of a kid's mind. I thought you'd all want to know. I don't want you behind the times. I wonder if we could go buy a car with zero dollars. Do you think the salesman would buy it if I told him an expert says zero dollars is really a lot...nowadays?

Don't forget today's Thankful Thursday! Here's my list.
1. Air conditioning!!! A southern necessity.
2. Fall. Can't come soon enough.
3. My little expert. She keeps me informed.
4. I'm finally getting well.
5. Our transition into the new school year, especially with two going to new schools, has been so smooth.

Thanks a Lot!

I've got to get back in my routine today, sick or not. I'm starting with getting back to Thankful Thursday. Here's what I'm thankful for, what about you?

1. Medicine. It works when you need it. And, unfortunately, I need it. I'm thankful I live in a place where what I need is readily available to me.

2. Traffic flow. I know, that sounds weird. But I've been so amazed at how well the back and forth to the two different schools has worked...at a busy time of morning...on one of the busiest roads in town.

3. My husband. It's anniversary time. What a great life we have.

4. My kids. They continually surprise me how well they adapt to new situations. They are doing so well in school and handling all the changes we've had lately.

5. People. God has put so many wonderful people in my life and I am thankful for them all.

Maybe I sound mushy today, but sometimes we all need a little mush. Have a great (and mushy)day.

Will Be

It's Thursday, which means it's Thankful Thursday. Today and tomorrow are incredibly hectic for me, so I decided to do things differently. I decided that my thankfuls will be "will be"'s.

1. I will be thankful (oh so amazingly thankful) if my brochures make it here on time.

2. I will be thankful for the totes selling well and for the t-shirt ordering to go smoothly.

3. I will be thankful if I can get to both open houses in good time and not looking completely frazzled.

4. I will be thankful if I can get everyone to school on time tomorrow and the pre-k/kindergarten breakfast is a success.

5. I will be thankful even if none of the above happens, because life may have a lot of hiccups, but there's always much to celebrate.

Shopping, Be-Bopping, and Being Thankful

Hi y'all. I think I finally finished up the back to school shopping yesterday. They must like their new stuff, I've already had to make one of them go change clothes this morning. "It's for school. Were you wanting me to drop you off there today? It'll be lonely." Hello Kitty lunchbox is at the ready. Backpacks are packed. PTO stuff pretty much done. I think we're ready.

Let's don't forget, amid the busy-ness of it all, to stop and be thankful.
1. I'm thankful that I found everything that I needed. (All 50 billion things.)
2. I'm thankful that I could buy all the things I needed.
3. I'm thankful that almost everything I had to get I found on sale.
4. I'm thankful for the great attitude that my kids are having toward school.
5. I'm thankful for wonderful schools to be a part of and caring teachers. They make the experience so much better.

Are you ready for heading back to school?

Attack of the Giant Flower Header

I finally stopped for a second and figured out how to get a picture behind my title. I used the one I'd taken the other day because I really liked it. I was feeling really good about the whole thing until it showed up so big, and no amount of playing around with it can make it be smaller. Oh well, without it being so big I never would have noticed the little design on the bud. Can you see it down at the bottom? It looks like a little starfish. Our world is so amazing if we would just slow down and pay attention. And speaking of that, let's slow down and give thanks for the things we have seen. Here's mine:

1. Fresh cut grass. Love the way it smells, loves the way it looks, love that I'm not the one who has to do it.

2. A little girl's first school lunchbox. It's Hello Kitty. She's so excited. We had to get a matching metal thermos to keep chicken noodle soup in. There's never beeen anyone who loves that soup more, and she was worried about not being able to get it at school.

3. The excitement of reading a new book.

4. Tackling something I've been procrastinating about. I've got more of that to do. PTO sponsor calls here I come.

5. Coffee with friends. How sweet it is to sit and enjoy a moment with those you treasure. Be sure to visit Debbie over at http://flittingandflying.blogspot.com

What about you? Be sure to take a good look around today. Notice the small stuff.

Remembering to Give Thanks

I'm getting back at it this week, and that includes having a Thankful Thursday. We've had a lot to be sad about lately, but we've also had lots to be thankful for.

1. I'm thankful for the family God has blessed me with. I treasure the ones I have now and am forever grateful for the ones who are gone.

2. I'm thankful for the reminder of how many people really do love you, just when you need it most.

3. I'm thankful for waking up to flowers on my doorstep from thoughtful friends, for phone calls, for sweet notes, and especially prayers.

4. I'm thankful for the laughter of children that can brighten any day.

5. I'm thankful for Banana Pudding Ice Cream from Blue Bell (which happens to be on sale at Harvey's this week)that can offer a sweet moment--if only that scale wouldn't sass me.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's...

My kids love it when I wear this shirt and thought y'all would get a kick out of it too. Only problem is, when I wear it I feel like I have to be super productive. Oh well, I can use all the motivation I can get.

Speaking of motivation (to get crafty) and inspiration, I want you to go over and look at a blog I saw. Such a wonderful idea she had and beautiful things she's created. Plus, she's having a give away of one of her bird nests soon. So hurry on over and visit Vicki at http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com

Don't forget it's Thankful Thursday. What are you thankful for today? Here's my list:

1. I'm thankful God doesn't always listen to my suggestions.

2. I'm thankful for watermelon and peaches, yummy summer time.

3. I'm thankful for the blessing of freedom.

4. I'm thankful for the encouragment of friends, just when you need it most.

5. I'm thankful for laughing 'til you cry at the dinner table with your kids.

Oops, It's Gettin Late

Sorry y'all. I've had a phone call wanting to know where my post was. I didn't realize how late it had gotten. I was getting supper ready. I didn't get to the store earlier in the week and swapped my menus around. Tonight I've got steak kabobs on the grill. If they taste half as good as they smell, we've got a winner. I guess I'll keep our tradition going of Thankful Thursday. How can I skip a post about being thankful?

1. I'm thankful for my family. What a blessing they all are! My family, my husband's family--they are so special to me. I know that it is a gift to have so many wonderful people in my life.

2. I'm thankful for Marie and Ruth, who were so sweet to pick up some blueberries. You know how much we love them, especially Meredith. She's the only one I know who eats them straight from the freezer.

3. I'm thankful for summer days where I have all my little ones at home and can hear them playing. (Remind me of that in a few weeks after they start to get stir crazy and bored.)

That's all I've got time for tonight. Supper's ready.

More Photos...More Thankful...and Some Buttermilk Banter

Another day and another batch of pictures. These are a few more of the things I love--old barns, little streams, farm land. Tomorrow I'll have pictures from the home of another sweet friend, Jen. We started a couple weeks ago having Thankful Thursday. I thought I'd continue the tradition today.

1. I'm thankful that I'm getting my house back in order. It's so nice to have the piles of things put away after a trip.

2. I'm thankful for another day, for me, for my family. We always seem to forget what a tremendous gift it is simply to be.

3. I'm thankful that Jack is loving tennis camp. What a delight it is to watch your child discover something that they love.

4. I'm thankful for encouragement from friends--notes that brighten your day, phone calls at the exact minute you need them, just knowing that they're there.

5. I'm thankful for a garden that I can watch grow. It is always a delight to me to check on my vegetables. I know, I'm easy to please.


Now for supper tonight. It's breakfast for supper, a fun thing we love to do. I didn't figure you all needed a recipe for pancakes. You can holler if you do, I'll be happy to share. I did, however, want to share a tip for making them better. Buttermilk pancakes are better, fluffier. The key to great buttermilk pancakes is quality buttermilk. I'm usually all for what's cheapest, most of the time the store brand's the same. This is one instance where you want to splurge. Buy the more expensive brand, whatever it may be for your area.