annie blog

Some Questions for Y’all
Who else has the feeling that hearing or seeing one more political thing (with the exception of anything said on the Daily Show or Colbert Report) will make them scream?

And, who knew that November 9th would be one of the prettiest days of the year?

Who would have guessed that my youngest would stay awake (after the 2nd day of waking at or before 4a.m. — thank you, once again, evil time change) for the entire duration of a 1.6 mile stroll just on the chance of possibly seeing a chipmunk?

Who else is having a hard time believing that Thanksgiving is in exactly 2 weeks?

Some Questions for Y’all
Who else has the feeling that hearing or seeing one more political thing (with the exception of anything said on the Daily Show or Colbert Report) will make them scream?

And, who knew that November 9th would be one of the prettiest days of the year?

Who would have guessed that my youngest would stay awake (after the 2nd day of waking at or before 4a.m. — thank you, once again, evil time change) for the entire duration of a 1.6 mile stroll just on the chance of possibly seeing a chipmunk?

Who else is having a hard time believing that Thanksgiving is in exactly 2 weeks?

Some Questions for Y’all
Who else has the feeling that hearing or seeing one more political thing (with the exception of anything said on the Daily Show or Colbert Report) will make them scream?

And, who knew that November 9th would be one of the prettiest days of the year?

Who would have guessed that my youngest would stay awake (after the 2nd day of waking at or before 4a.m. — thank you, once again, evil time change) for the entire duration of a 1.6 mile stroll just on the chance of possibly seeing a chipmunk?

Who else is having a hard time believing that Thanksgiving is in exactly 2 weeks?

Thanks !
I want to thank everyone who wished me a “Happy Birthday” — either here, in email or on Jon’s blog. Thank you, thank you! I definitely feel blessed by my family and friends. Meanwhile, I’m settling in to liking 3 X 11 as much as 8 X 4, but you know, I think that it’ll take awhile.

A Sick and Funny 2 Year Old
In addition to the great birthday that started out this week, I also got a 2 year old who has a double ear infection as well as an eye infection. He is also cutting two big molars in the back of his mouth. Stoic child that he is, he is acting like he is feeling pretty good — he is still getting into things, so I’m sure that is a good sign. The other day, I heard the phone beeping, and since I have more than one child who will play with the phone, I called out, “Who is messing with the phone?”, and then set off to find the culprit. I stuck my head in the door of my bedroom and caught the 2 year old in the act. I asked him, “What are you doing?” And, just to prove that he heard me (while continuing to make the phone beep) he answered, matter-of-factly, “I’m messing with the phone.” Aha.

Thanks !
I want to thank everyone who wished me a “Happy Birthday” — either here, in email or on Jon’s blog. Thank you, thank you! I definitely feel blessed by my family and friends. Meanwhile, I’m settling in to liking 3 X 11 as much as 8 X 4, but you know, I think that it’ll take awhile.

A Sick and Funny 2 Year Old
In addition to the great birthday that started out this week, I also got a 2 year old who has a double ear infection as well as an eye infection. He is also cutting two big molars in the back of his mouth. Stoic child that he is, he is acting like he is feeling pretty good — he is still getting into things, so I’m sure that is a good sign. The other day, I heard the phone beeping, and since I have more than one child who will play with the phone, I called out, “Who is messing with the phone?”, and then set off to find the culprit. I stuck my head in the door of my bedroom and caught the 2 year old in the act. I asked him, “What are you doing?” And, just to prove that he heard me (while continuing to make the phone beep) he answered, matter-of-factly, “I’m messing with the phone.” Aha.

Thanks !
I want to thank everyone who wished me a “Happy Birthday” — either here, in email or on Jon’s blog. Thank you, thank you! I definitely feel blessed by my family and friends. Meanwhile, I’m settling in to liking 3 X 11 as much as 8 X 4, but you know, I think that it’ll take awhile.

A Sick and Funny 2 Year Old
In addition to the great birthday that started out this week, I also got a 2 year old who has a double ear infection as well as an eye infection. He is also cutting two big molars in the back of his mouth. Stoic child that he is, he is acting like he is feeling pretty good — he is still getting into things, so I’m sure that is a good sign. The other day, I heard the phone beeping, and since I have more than one child who will play with the phone, I called out, “Who is messing with the phone?”, and then set off to find the culprit. I stuck my head in the door of my bedroom and caught the 2 year old in the act. I asked him, “What are you doing?” And, just to prove that he heard me (while continuing to make the phone beep) he answered, matter-of-factly, “I’m messing with the phone.” Aha.

Apples, etc.
In honor of my finally getting myself over to the apple orchard (on the last free day of the season, no less) I offer a repeat of the great apple coffee cake that I blogged this time last year.

Little E and I had a great time, even though it felt like 30 degrees and we were nearly the only ones there. Hope that you enjoy the recipe.

Caramel-Apple Coffee Cake

2 C. sugar
1 C. vegetable oil
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 t. vanilla extract
3 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3 C. finely chopped apples
2 handfuls chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Oil and flour 2 8-inch round cake pans.
(Or, it will make about 24 muffins or 2 loaf pans.)
Peel and chop apples.Stir together sugar and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl.Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients; add to sugar mixture, stirring just until blended. The batter will be stiff. Fold in
chopped apples. Divide batter between the two pans. Bake at 350
for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool on wire racks. When the cakes are cool,
drizzle them with caramel frosting and sprinkle a handful of chopped
pecans on each cake.

Caramel Frosting/Icing

This is as easy, and as good, as caramel frosting gets. Use a little less
confectioner’s sugar if you want to drizzle it, a little more if you want to use it as frosting for a spice cake or yellow cake. This is really versatile, yummy frosting!

Makes 3 cups.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 t. vanilla extract

Bring first 3 ingredients to boil in a 3 1/2-quart saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly, about 2 minutes. Stir in milk, and bring to a boil; remove from heat. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth. Use immediately.

Apples, etc.
In honor of my finally getting myself over to the apple orchard (on the last free day of the season, no less) I offer a repeat of the great apple coffee cake that I blogged this time last year.

Little E and I had a great time, even though it felt like 30 degrees and we were nearly the only ones there. Hope that you enjoy the recipe.

Caramel-Apple Coffee Cake

2 C. sugar
1 C. vegetable oil
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 t. vanilla extract
3 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3 C. finely chopped apples
2 handfuls chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Oil and flour 2 8-inch round cake pans.
(Or, it will make about 24 muffins or 2 loaf pans.)
Peel and chop apples.Stir together sugar and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl.Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients; add to sugar mixture, stirring just until blended. The batter will be stiff. Fold in
chopped apples. Divide batter between the two pans. Bake at 350
for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool on wire racks. When the cakes are cool,
drizzle them with caramel frosting and sprinkle a handful of chopped
pecans on each cake.

Caramel Frosting/Icing

This is as easy, and as good, as caramel frosting gets. Use a little less
confectioner’s sugar if you want to drizzle it, a little more if you want to use it as frosting for a spice cake or yellow cake. This is really versatile, yummy frosting!

Makes 3 cups.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 t. vanilla extract

Bring first 3 ingredients to boil in a 3 1/2-quart saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly, about 2 minutes. Stir in milk, and bring to a boil; remove from heat. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth. Use immediately.

Apples, etc.
In honor of my finally getting myself over to the apple orchard (on the last free day of the season, no less) I offer a repeat of the great apple coffee cake that I blogged this time last year.

Little E and I had a great time, even though it felt like 30 degrees and we were nearly the only ones there. Hope that you enjoy the recipe.

Caramel-Apple Coffee Cake

2 C. sugar
1 C. vegetable oil
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 t. vanilla extract
3 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3 C. finely chopped apples
2 handfuls chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Oil and flour 2 8-inch round cake pans.
(Or, it will make about 24 muffins or 2 loaf pans.)
Peel and chop apples.Stir together sugar and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl.Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients; add to sugar mixture, stirring just until blended. The batter will be stiff. Fold in
chopped apples. Divide batter between the two pans. Bake at 350
for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool on wire racks. When the cakes are cool,
drizzle them with caramel frosting and sprinkle a handful of chopped
pecans on each cake.

Caramel Frosting/Icing

This is as easy, and as good, as caramel frosting gets. Use a little less
confectioner’s sugar if you want to drizzle it, a little more if you want to use it as frosting for a spice cake or yellow cake. This is really versatile, yummy frosting!

Makes 3 cups.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 t. vanilla extract

Bring first 3 ingredients to boil in a 3 1/2-quart saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly, about 2 minutes. Stir in milk, and bring to a boil; remove from heat. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth. Use immediately.

Happy Birthday,
Michael Gambon!
I really hope that you have a good day.
And I hope that you get lots of presents, namely, some books.
And I really hope that you READ them.
And, I hope that, after reading, you are really convicted about what a pitiful job you did portraying Dumbledore.
And I hope that you get your act together for this next movie, if you have the time.
That’d be great. It is not too late to redeem yourself.
Happy Birthday, again.