J is for Japanese Fruit Pie ~ A to Z on Monday Food Meme

Japanese Fruit Pie

Coconut, raisins and pecans make this a simple pie without too much sweetness.  You need to try it!

Ingredients

•1 C. granulated sugar
•1/2 C. margarine, softened
•Pinch of salt
•2 eggs, beaten
•1 tsp. vinegar
•1/2 C. coconut
•1/2 C. pecans
•1/2 C. raisins
•1 (9 inch) pie shell

Directions

Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth. Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until set in center. Cool at least one hour before cutting.

To see more yummy food, visit Jen at http://unglazed.blogspot.com/  and check out her sidebar.

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Today I'm thankful that Jesus loved me enough to die for me!

Scenic Sunday

The first two pictures of these beautiful pear trees were made from the car.

                            
                               I wonder just how many blooms are on these trees!

                                             Pure white, Mount Hood Daffodils

Above and below are Japanese Magnolias.

                                                   A different kind of daffodil

                I wish I knew the names of all these flowers!  All of these are at the homes of my sisters.

                                                I think it's about time to eat this Pineapple!

My sister grew this Pineapple in her yard and then in her greenhouse this winter.   She rooted it from the top of another Pineapple.   It is as large as the Pineapples I see for sale in the grocery store!

Click HERE to see more Scenic Sunday pictures.
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Today I'm thankful that it is Spring!

Hang in there! You can do it! Way to Go!

Jennifer, Jackson and Bryan

I invite you to stop by my step-daughter's blog, http://mississippirawfootage.blogspot.com/, and give Jennifer an encouraging word as she begins Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, in an attempt to lose a little 'baby weight'.  Jennifer looks great like she is, but wants to reach her goal of losing the few extra pounds she put on while carrying her darling little boy, Jackson.

Today I'm thankful for our precious, healthy, happy grandchildren!

Afternoon in the Sun

I spent some time sitting in the sun and just soaking it in this afternoon.   It was at a spot out near the woods and I carried my camera just in case I saw a bird or something to photograph..

The trees have little new buds or tassels and the birds were eating them.  

 The only birds I saw were Cardinals and Chickadees.

The Pansies survived the winter and are beginning to bloom again.  

 I like this purple one that looks like velvet.

Some of the purple Iris are beginning to bloom. 

This white Daffodil may be the one called Mount Hood.

Today I'm thankful for the warm sunshine and the first flowers of Spring!

I is for Ice Cream, of course!

A to Z on Monday ~  About Food

I Scream, You Scream!  We All Scream for Ice Cream!
Visit Jen at Unglazed to see what others are screaming for.

I want to share a favorite Ice Cream recipe we have enjoyed for years.  It is so good, and just in case you can't eat the whole thing, it freezes well and remains nice and creamy.

Butterfinger Ice Cream

12 oz. carton of Cool Whip

6 regular size Butterfinger candy bars

1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk

Freeze candy bars, remove wrappers and place in a zip-lock bag and crush with hammer.

Mix all the ingredients together in a large container then put it in the freezer can and add chocolate milk (a half gallon will be more than enough) to bring to the fill line.  Freeze and enjoy!

I don't have a picture of the actual Butterfinger Ice Cream, but here is a picture of my Daddy, made about 1970, that shows you how its done. 

Today, I'm thankful that I had my Christian Daddy for 40 years!

Scenic Sunday

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While looking through a file of miscellaneous things I’ve saved, I ran across the following piece I’ve kept for many years, by Charles Swindol:  I totally agree with what he says!

ATTITUDE

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company ...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90 % how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes."   by Charles Swindol

Today, I'm thankful that my glass is half full instead of half empty!

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For more Scenic Sunday posts click on http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

My Sister's Yard / Skywatch Friday

I stopped by and visited with my sister, Allene, as I was returning from running errands in town this afternoon.   Her yard is beginning to get the message that it's Spring. 

She has several huge Japanese Magnolias that are in full bloom. 

(P.S.  I just now learned that the photo above won the Approver's Choice Award on WeatherUnderground's Wunder Photos.  You can go there at this address:  http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/dypepper/

The next three pictures are my skywatch post.  Click HERE or on the button on my sidebar to see skies from all over the world.

The pictures above and below are some of her largest trees.

This is a bloom on the white flowering Quince.

Below is an ornamental Peach that is growing in a pot.

Here are some Coleus plants that she kept over the winter in her house.

Today I'm thankful that I have two sisters!   Both could be called Master Gardeners!

Brown-headed Nuthatch

For the last few days two Brown-headed Nuthatches have been checking out the Bluebird house. 

(This first picture is from the Internet.)

There is a flash of blue/gray feathers when they fly, and at first I thought they were Bluebirds.

The second day, one bird went inside the house and stayed a long time with just its head sticking out.     It will be interesting to see if they build their nest there.

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Today, I'm thankful for the excitement of seeing a new bird!

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H is for Hummingbird Cake ~ A to Z Food on Mondays

Jen at unglazed.blogspot.com is hosting this fun food meme.

Check out her sidebar to see what others are posting for the letter H.

Hummingbird Cake

Ingredients

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.

Nutritional Information
Calories:642
Fat:34.2g
Cholesterol:71mg
Sodium:312mg

From:  Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook, Southern Living,

Thank you, Lord, for supplying all our needs!

Trip Blog

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I haven't posted much lately because I've been toying with the idea of a new blog.  This would not be an ongoing thing, but it would be a combination of the journal I kept day by day during our 5 week honeymoon trip to the west coast along with some pictures of the places we saw.   You might not want to read/look at the whole thing at one time, but it would be there if you want to see it in small doses.

I would like to get your brutally honest feed-back as to whether anyone would care to see such a thing.

Don't tell me 'yes' because you think that's what I want to hear, please.   Although this will be a big project and a lot of work for me, I would like to do it just for me and my family, and if enough are interested, I would make it public.

We thought it was an awesome, once-in-a-lifetime trip!

In my wildest dreams, I never dared to hope, or even imagine, that I would have the opportunity to see so much of our beautiful America.

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Today, I am eternally grateful that God gave us the blessing of seeing so much of his Creation! 

Getting Outside Today

It was good to get outside today and enjoy walking around the yard after a very long and wet winter!

Here comes the kitty cat again.  He sneaks up very slowly as if he hopes to surprise one of the birds.

This Goldfinch still has its winter feathers but some of them are already getting their bright yellow ones.

The neighbor's horses were munching their evening meal of hay. 

The trees still look like winter but the air felt like Spring.  I sat out in the sunshine for a while hoping to see a bird to photograph.  The clear blue sky and the warm breeze made me know that it will be Spring very soon.  I think we are all ready for it!

As I walked around the yard there were two Robins out by the driveway looking for their next meal.
They paid little attention to me as I tried to get closer to them.

 

This one was finding some nice worms and bugs.

"Do you have to watch me while I eat?"

One last look over his shoulder and he decided I was getting too close.

 "Gotta run"!

Click on the title of this post or on the button on my sidebar to see more My World Tuesday posts.
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Today I'm thankful for the sunshine and warmer weather!