Monday Morning, Memorial Day, Motivation,

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  

John 15:13

"All gave some, some gave all".  Great quote and so true.  Everyone is touched by war. I grew up hearing stories of WWI and WWII.  My great Uncle Leslie, who lived to be nearly 103, served during WWI. My Grand Father, on my Mom's side of the family, that I never met.  He fought in WWI and died due effects of mustard gas.  My Mom and Dad told stories of living through WWII.  My Dad was a farmer and wanted to serve but was not permitted to join because they needed farmers on the home front.  My Mom talked many times of friends that she lost in WWII. I remember her saying there were very few young men left in her town.  She talked of how everyone's lives changed.  Today my son-in-law Josh is a marine and has been deployed several times.  Our friend Josh Z. is also a Marine and is deployed in Japan.  Thank you "all" for your service to our country, to our families, and to God who loves you.

No one is more cherished in this world 

than someone who lightens the burden of another.  

Thank you.  

~Author Unknown

Recipe Review..."My Mom's Moist Yellow Cake" by Dorothy Hansen

My mom was known for three things as far as her cooking was concerned.  People loved her sweet iced tea, her "sticky buns" and her moist cake.  Here is her easy recipe for Moist Yellow Cake.  As far as icing is concerned you can use the one of your choice.  I used a chocolate icing I found on line, it was yummy:-)

Mom's Cake Recipe

1 Box of Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Cake Mix (I used the yellow cake mix)

1 pack of vanilla instant pudding mix

1 1/4 cups of water

1/4 cup of oil

4 eggs

Mix it all together.  Put in a greased and lightly floured pan and Bake at 350 degrees.

11x9 inch pan bake for 35 minutes

round cake pans bake for 25 minutes

or until inserted tooth pick comes out clean and dry. 

This cake was yummy and did not last very long over the mothers day weekend when everyone was home.... 

The bakers chocolate was for the icing I made, it is not part of the cake mix....

...batter in the pan and ready....

..lightly browned, looks good...

A very moist and easy cake recipe.  At the bottom of Mom's recipe I found instruction on how to make a coconut cream cake.  You just have to change up the pudding mix.  You would still use the yellow cake mix but use coconut cream pudding in place of the vanilla pudding....easy!  I remember mom would make an amazing icing for her coconut cream cake.  Then she would cover the iced cake with coconut....Yum:-)

So how would I rate this recipe.  It is in my 8-10 range for sure.  Since Mom is probably looking down at me right now I feel I must give it a 10/10 on my cooking scale.  Great Cake Mom!!!:-)

Happy Eating!

Enjoy Your World:-)

Exploring Kathiey's Local World. "Got to Be NC Festival" Raleigh NC

Last Sunday Joe and I were looking for something to do.  We did not have much money to spend so we were looking for something cheap or free.  I came across the 2011 "Got to Be NC Festival" in Raleigh. ....Here is how they describe it on their site....
"Join your friends and family for three great days of down-home celebration North Carolina-style at the 2011 Got to Be NC Festival. Coming to the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh May 20-22, the festival will feature North Carolina’s agricultural bounty and mix in a generous dash of music and fun for everyone. General admission is free to all ages, including all grandstand events. But bring a little money for pay as you go rides, games and food."
Sounded interesting so off we went.....

Joe would agree with the quotes below.....:-)

Tractors everywhere...

 ..they even had a tractor parade...

..Joe's kind of tractor....

..my kind of tractor...:-)

A wind up tractor...

Steam powered tractor...

Looks a bit angry...

so cute...

 Had to fork out $2 each for this event..but it was worth it...food and wine samples galore...

Look for Cathy's Biscuits in the freezer dept very soon.

Our favorite BBQ sauce
was Hawk Sauce...Yum!

Our next fav. was
Uncle Yammy's...

Look its Uncle Yammy!.....

 Wine tasting,
I liked the
Southern White...

Hush puppies....

 A 1907 tractor.

If you have never had John Deere ice cream you don't know what you are missing.
We enjoy it every year at the NC State Fair.  Our yearly ice cream treat:-)

We had a nice time at the Got to Be NC Fest.  Fun time at a very low cost.

Get out and try something new.

Enjoy Your World:-)

Monday Morning Motivation

Have you ever felt like an after thought?  A throw away? Have you ever felt inconsequential, neglected, alone, worthless, like a tiny speck in the vast ocean?  I have.  I feel that way today.   I read something last night by Max Lucado that made me cry because it gave me hope....
"The shepherd knows his sheep.  He calls them by name.  It may be difficult for you/me to believe that God knows our name.  But he does....Written on his hand, spoken by his mouth. Whispered by his lips"

The sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. 

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out

John 10:3

I have written your name on my hand

Isa. 49:16

Happy Monday 

Enjoy Your World...

Exploring Kathiey's Local World. "The Orchid Trail" Morrisville NC

Great, I have today off:-)  I don't feel like staying home to clean or do laundry, although it does need to be done.  I just want to get out and explore.  What to do?  No money to go fun shopping, no money for gas to go a great distance.  Hmmmmm???  I rush to the computer to consult a local event calendar to see if there are any free activities in our area.  Happy day I found something....The Orchid Trail

 I saved my favorites for last.....

What a wonderful "free" day.  The orchids were beautiful! I came home with over 300 pictures, what fun!  Thanks goodness for the digital age:-)
Get out and explore, discover something new.
Enjoy Your World Everyone:-)