A Quiet Celebration

Hello friends!  It was a low-key birthday for me this year.  We're usually at the beach in our caravan/trailer or even somewhere fun like Victoria BC.  But not this year!  But it was still good.  I found something for Dayle to get for me, I always have to, he's not much of a shopper.  :-)  On Facebook Marketplace, I was looking under antiques and found a vintage doorstop to finish out my collection, now at 5.  It was in an antique mall in Tigard so I called them and they had it at the front counter.  The door was locked, they only open on appointment, Dayle went in wearing his mask, plunked down $20 and was back to the car in less than 5 minutes.  :-)

This photo shows the paint much better, I love how realistic it looks!

My daughter Amy sent me these wonderful plant markers for our new garden, now I just need to obtain the plants.  She also sent me some yummy sugar-free caramels.

Dayle spoiled me all day.. he asked me what I wanted for my birthday dinner and I chose home-made macaroni and cheese and peas!  Yum!

Then I requested a homemade carrot cake for my birthday dessert and he made his first cake from scratch, with lots of advice from me.  I'm sure he enjoyed that part.  

When the cake was cooled he made cream cheese frosting.  Oh my goodness.  Delish!  He had the icing all smooth and I said, mom always swirled the top, so I did that part.  I'm so helpful.

My brother and SIL called and sang Happy Birthday to You in 2 part harmony and then we had a long chat.  Then my son Travis called and wished me HB in Espanol.  I said, "Gracias"!  We also had a nice chat.  Then my friend Shirley called and she face-timed me and gave me a tour of her garden.  Sister Denise called too, and then daughter Amy called and both granddaughters wished me HB.  My older son did not call but typed out HB on Facebook.  Speaking of which, I got 40 wonderful BD wishes on FB, lots of friends and cousins! 
🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

Would you like a slice?  I will add the recipe at the bottom, also the mac and cheese.

Our Irises are in bloom.. or at least some of them.  I was walking by and saw this one covered in rain droplets.. I skidded to a halt and pulled out my iPhone to get this shot.

The Bluebells are nearing the end of their bloom.  Love them.

The lettuces are growing!

We've been training Miss Mocha.  This is sit.  Check.

Next up.. Shake!  That took me a while but she's a master of it now.  :-)

Lastly - Lay down!  Yep.. she has it.  Next up - Stay!  I think I will not do roll over or dance.  :-)

The big Hosta is doing WELL!

Dayle's Chinese Warrior garden statue had fallen over, he moved it so we could see it better.  He's now near the Buddha Dayle got while he was in the Army during the Vietnam war in 1968 while serving in Texas.

We gardened yesterday - we planted 2 rows of radishes that we started from seed.  Then Dayle filled a basket with soil and planted some flowers.  

Planted, fertilized, hung up and watered!

He got one pot of "Confetti", mixed flowers and this pretty light pink Verbena was in it.  

"In the dooryard fronting an old farm-house near the white-wash’d palings,

Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
With many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love,
With every leaf a miracle—and from this bush in the dooryard,
With delicate-color’d blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
A sprig with its flower I break."

Walt Whitman
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Our huge old-fashioned Lilac lightens up as it blooms.  

This one is next to it and decidedly pinker.

We got this low water trough years ago and planted it with strawberries, it wasn't doing well where we had it so Dayle moved it in a sunnier spot, using the tractor, added more soil and it's doing much better.

When we pulled out of the driveway on Friday to run our errands, we saw a huge Turkey Vulture dining on road-kill right in front of our property - it's unnerving to have vultures circling when you get to my age.  :-)

TERESA'S HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH PEAS

NOTE! This is a double batch, if you want a smaller amount, please do half of everything.

Preheat oven at 350 degrees

24 oz macaroni

6 TBS Butter

5 TBS Flour

1/4 tsp salt

4 Cups milk

1 1/2 lbs Velveeta

1 Can baby peas, drained

Sliced Cheddar cheese for the top

Get the water to boiling - like 3 quarts, with 2 tsp of salt.

While it's coming to a boil, melt butter in saucepan and add flour and salt - stir until blended and cook for a minute or two, then add the milk and stir until slightly thickened - it won't thicken much.  Add sliced Velveeta and stir until blended, add drained peas and stir in.  When the water came to a boil you added the pasta and stir often - check OFTEN to see if the pasta is done "al dente" which means done but chewy, (never ever overcook pasta, it turns to mush).  When the pasta is cooked, drain in a colander.  Toss till well drained, then add to cheese mixture in an oven proof stock pot - stir well, sprinkle with pepper and stir again.  Then lay cheddar slices over the top.

Bake for a half hour or up to 3 quarters of an hour until slightly browned on top and bubbly.

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TERESA'S CARROT CAKE

CAKE INGREDIENTS

3 Cup finely grated carrots

2 Cup flour

2 Cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 Cup oil

4 eggs

FROSTING 

1 Cube butter (room temp)

1 8 oz block cream cheese (room temp)

1 Box powdered sugar (3 1/2 cups)

2 tsp real vanilla

Put dry ingredients in mixing bowl and stir together, add oil, eggs and grated carrots - beat well.  Pour into 2 round cake pans or oblong cake pan.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean and top is lightly browned.  Cool.

While cake is baking, make frosting - or you can make it while it cools.  Cream butter and cream cheese together, add vanilla, then add powdered sugar.  Beat well for fluffy frosting.

Spread with cream cheese frosting.  This cake keeps well for several days.  Great for breakfast, with coffee.

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((hugs)), Teresa :-)