hummingbird cake

I have been trying to come up with some kind of post. The only thing exciting I have done this week is make this cake. The picture is not mine but from Southern living. The cake is wonderful and I even put store bought cream cheese icing. Enjoy!

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Nutritional Information
Amount per serving

Calories: 642
Fat: 34.2g
Cholesterol: 71mg
Sodium: 312mg
Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy LivingIngredients
3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 large eggs, beaten 1 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained 1 cup chopped pecans 2 cups chopped bananas Cream Cheese Frosting 1/2 cup chopped pecans Preparation
Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not beat.) Stir in vanilla, pineapple, 1 cup pecans, and bananas.
Pour batter into three greased and floured 9-inch round cakepans. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake; sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped pecans on top. Store in refrigerator.
Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook

My sweet nephew

How cute it he!

My little guy

I should have a pic every week of my little guy. He loves to dress up. Here is a pic of him in the clothes he picked out.

Sometime Things Happen!

My sweet awesome hubby and his twin were trying to fix things in the attic. I guess they were hooking up fans or something like that. I was working on my front flower bed when all of a sudden I hear a loud pop. At first I thought for sure my husband shocked himself but no I look over and see stuffing fly everywhere. I walk in the house to see stuffing on everything and a huge hole in the ceiling. My Blaine screams "how are we going to fix this!!!" A couple of years ago I would have been the same way but instead I yelled to see if everyone was ok. Everyone was ok but the ceiling was not. Since that day it has yet to be fixed all the way but I am ok with it. Just as long as everyone is ok....sometimes things happen!

NO more hedges

I am not a fan of hedges. I hate having to trim them! So I got the idea to rid of them and rid we did. In their place I planted some hydrangeas and other perennials. I like it so much better now!

Fall Decor

I made my first fall wreath today. I found some stuff around the house so I didn't spend a dime.

Jalapeno Jelly

I know that I am getting old because I made homemade jelly. I got the recipe from all recipes.

Ingredients
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped jalapeno pepper
5 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 (6 fluid ounce) container liquid pectin
Directions
1.Remove stems, veins and most of the seeds of the bell and jalapeno peppers. Mince peppers in a food processor.
2.In a 5-quart pot over high heat, combine bell peppers, jalapenos, sugar and vinegar. Bring to a rolling boil; boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
3.Stirring constantly, add the pectin and let mixture continue to cool for 2 minutes more. Now stir for 1 minute.
4.Pour into hot, sterilized jars and top with sterilized lids. Secure lids with bands and allow jars to cool slowly, creating a vacuum seal.

Cherry Dump Cake

This is the easiest cake ever. It is so good.

1 can of cherry pie filling
1 can of pineapple pie filling
1 box of yellow cake mix
1 stick of butter

Butter your 9x13 cake pan. Pour cherry in it and then pineapple. Sprinkle the cake mix on top. Melt butter and pour on top of cake mix. Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes. It should be golden brown.

Rmembering 9/11

I can't believe it has been 10 years since that horrible day. I will always remember where I was during the Okc bombing and of course 9/11. For the bombing I was in 11th grade in English. I felt and heard the rumble but had no idea what it was. The teacher turned on the tv and we were all glued to the tv. It was a long weird day. Now for 9/11 I was working at Hampton Inn in Edmond. I was going to school and working 2 jobs then. WOW! I was working at the hotel and there were a couple of guest who were on business from New York. Most of the guests were down eating breakfast when we saw it on the tv. These poor guest (most of them business men) were without their family and scared to death. It was one scary day. I have kept the USA today paper from that day. I will never forget that day!

What I'm Reading

I am reading a pretty good book called The Dry Grass of August. I am on chapter 8 and so far pretty good. It a little like The Help.

It is by Anna Jean Mayhew

Hi my name is Shawna.

I got to enjoy a trip to Target with my sweet 7 year old. While we were there he told me all about 2nd grade. My little boy was so excited to tell me that the gym teacher called him by his name. Blaine is a very shy boy and for his gym teacher to call him by his name is a big deal. When I was subbing at the school I realized that you only know the kids names that are loud and in trouble. I made it a point to know the quite ones because they are just like my little Blaine. I remember thinking I was really cool if a "cool" teacher or student knew my name. I am going to make it a point to start calling people by their names! It may just make a little kids or adults day.

Homeschool

My babies started school a couple of weeks ago and I am just now getting pictures up. Blaine is now in 2nd grade and has the same teacher he had when he was in Kindergarten. I requested that teacher because I felt like he would do better already knowing his teacher. I have learned now to let things be. When I went to the teacher meeting I realized there is 3 more awesome 2nd grade teachers that BLaine would have loved. I guess it takes me some time to learn about being a momma. He is doing good though and I am proud. He is very shy and has never been in trouble at school. I told him to have fun and if he gets a yellow face (that means he got in trouble) then I would not be mad. He about had heart failure at the thought of getting a yellow face. Oh Blaine my dear you are one of a kind. LOve him!

Logan is my fiesty one. He could care less if he got in trouble unless it was from his beloved grandpa. I have made the decision to homeschool him. It was not an easy decision but one that I am SOOOO glad I made. I tell you all summer I stressed over this decision. For once in my life I have no regrets. The school that he got in was to far from Blaine's school so I wouldn't have time to pick them both up. Homeschooling I have learned a lot of things. For one I have patience with him and to enjoy my time with him. I also learned on my next child to name him or her an easy name to spell, like Eli. Teaching him how to write his name is hard. I have learned that I like teaching. I don't want to do it for a living but I do have fun. Some days my little guy is not in the mood to learn and I don't push him. I stress all day about not doing the learning that day but I am getting much better at that. I love it and love him. So glad I am now a homeschooler.

Now this butters my toast!

Have you tried this awesome butter yet? Land O Lakes cinnamon butter is oh so good. I thought about how easy it would be to make your own flavored butters like these....

Cranberry Butter

1/3 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup unsalted and softened butter

Mix cranberries and maple syrup with softened butter. Be sure not to over-mix or butter will turn pink. Place half the mixture in the butter crock and serve. Refrigerate remaining portion until ready to use. Scrumptious spread for warm waffles and pancakes.

Sweet butter from all recipes
1/2 cup softened butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 pinch ground ginger
Directions
1.Place the butter into a bowl, and stir together with brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger until the mixture is completely blended.

Honey Butter
1/2 cup of butter
1/2 cup of honey

I am sure there are tons of awesome recipes out there for some good ol butter