January 26, 2010

He Finally Posed!

after much begging on my part and following him around with the camera, Biscuit decided to give in and let me catch a few of his personality traits.

I am so in love with this guy!

Mr. Serious
Photobucket
Mr. I'm Perfect, You Gotta Love Me!
Photobucket
Mr. I Love My Boy and He Loves Me
Photobucket
and Mr. I Look Like A Bobble Head Doll - Is That A Treat In Your Hand?
Photobucket
He's such a smart guy and he's a tattle tale! If I'm in my office working and he starts barking then I know Bessie is doing something she's not supposed to. He will bark until I come and take whatever she's chewing on or dragging around. Yesterday, he even barked like crazy until I came and found a little pile of poop in the corner LOL. We're still working on the "no pooping in the house" part!

January 24, 2010

Please Welcome

Biscuit and Bessie, full-blooded, adorable, sweet, loving Bassets! We have had Biscuit aka "Big Boy" and Bessie aka "Sweet Girl" for 10 days now and they have stolen all our hearts.

Biscuit is the red and white, Bessie is the blue/gray (close to tri-colored but her black has a gray sheen to it). I can already tell you all that you're going to be seeing a lot of these guys and hearing plenty of hound dog stories!

They've got Daddy wrapped around their big fat paws already!
Photobucket

Photobucket
Oh and me too, of course! Please excuse my lovely twisted-up-in-a-knot, I'm-a-farm-girl hair style.
Photobucket
and the boys are in Heaven
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Bessie is the camera hog. She knows she's beautiful!
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
and then there's Biscuit, I usually get something like this from him.
Photobucket
or this, the "get that camera outta my face" look!
Photobucket
Unless he's asleep..
Photobucket
but sometimes he wants attention too!
Photobucket
They are such sweethearts and already a huge part of our family! Just look at them faces! How could you not love something so precious??
Photobucket

January 8, 2010

Snow Birds!

Took a few shots of the birds today. I love watching the bright splash of red against the snow that the cardinals make. I am proud to call this guy our state bird!
Photobucket
We also have goldfinches. They lose that bright yellow color during the winter months.
Photobucket
And the dark-eyed junco. These are the ones that my grandmother always called "Snow Birds".
Photobucket
and then there is the ever entertaining NutHatch!
He's always upside down!
Photobucket
He loves the rustic suet feeder I made.
Photobucket
There's also the cute little titmouse, the chickadees, the finches and the doves that I didn't get pics of because these guys showed up.
Photobucket
I know they have to eat too, but I don't like them very much!
Photobucket
But even more than the brown-headed cowbirds and the boat-tailed grackles, I dislike the European Starlings!
Photobucket
Anyone know how to keep the guys from emptying all your feeders and running the little guys off? If you do, please tell me!!!

Hope you enjoyed the pics!

January 2, 2010

Mandarin Orange Cake

Christmas was great here with the kids! Santa was very generous this year. I even got another cast iron skillet but it's still going on! My mom had to have surgery on the 23rd and was in the hospital until the 26th so Christmas with my side of the family was postponed until last night and Joe's family will be coming in from Tennessee tomorrow so we still have 1 more gift opening to do!

Mom is recovering well and is feeling better than she has in a long time. I was thumbing through the cookbook looking for something to take to the dinner for dessert last night and saw the recipe for a Mandarin Orange Cake (better known as the "Pig-Lickin' Cake" to most people in this area). Thought I would share it with everyone.

Here's the one and only pic I got of it, and as you can see, the hounds got at it before I had a chance to take this one! Hounds meaning my brothers and brother-in-law!
Photobucket

Mandarin Orange Cake
1 box yellow butter cake mix
1 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 (11 oz.) can manadarin oranges with juice
1 (9 oz.) container Cool-Whip
1 lg. box vanilla pie filling
1 can crushed pineapple (drained)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix, mandarin oranges, eggs and oil. Beat 2 minutes on highest speed the reduce speed to lowest setting and and beat for 1 minute. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, remove layers and cool completely. Combine Cool Whip, dry pie filling and pineapple. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed. Let stand 5 minutes or until mixture is to spreading consistency. Spread pineapple mixture between layers and on top and side of cake. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Store in refrigerator.

This cake is easy to make and delicious!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

For those of you who are new followers/readers, don't forget to check out the forum and join in on our discussions there.

My Country Blog of This and That Forum

I love each and every comment my blogging friends leave for me!


All images and graphics on this page were made by me with the exception of that little rooster! He came from Beth Logan's Checkered Chickens at pccrafter.com. Photos were taken by me and graphics were created using Photoshop CS2.
If you see something you like please ask for permission before using it!
Thank you!