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Texas Sheet Birthday Cake

By Lorraine

Someone celebrated a birthday yesterday.  Someone who loves chocolate.
When I realized I never posted a recipe for a cake I have been making since this 23 year old was just a wee one, I thought it a perfect time to make a Texas Sheet Cake.

Yes, our baby is another year older.  Abbey is the caboose child, prayed for and planned and the one who bridged the space between children and grandchildren and prevented the empty nest in our home. She is the one who got her daddy’s gorgeous blue eyes and the youngest of four sisters.
Happy Birthday, sweet Abbey!
~❤~
Here is the recipe given to me by my sister:
Texas Sheet Cake
PRINT RECIPE
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
grease and flour a 10-inch x 15-inch baking pan
2 cups flour
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs
2 sticks butter
1 cup water
1/4 cup cocoa powder
6 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 stick butter
16-oz confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch x 15-inch baking pan.
CAKE
Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Beat in the sour cream and eggs. Set aside. Melt the butter in a saucepan; add the water and cocoa. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer 2 minutes. Stir cocoa mixture into the egg mixture, mixing until blended.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes.
FROSTING
In a large saucepan, combine the milk, cocoa and 1 stick butter. Bring to a boil, simmer 1 minute. Stir in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla, then fold in the nuts, mixing until blended. Spread frosting over warm cake.

Filed Under: Cakes & Cupcakes, Recipes, Sweet Treats Tagged With: Abbey, Birthday Family, cake, chocolate

Cream Cheese Apple Dip

By Lorraine

Easy recipe for Cream cheese apple dip is a perfect way to enjoy crisp, Autumn apples. Just three ingredients mixed together for a healthy snack.
Crisp autumn days are here at last and that brings thoughts of hayrides, farm visits and apple picking.  One of the best ways to enjoy the beautiful apples so readily available right now is in their most natural state. Wash and slice and serve with dip for snacking or with lunch. Cream cheese apple dip is super easy to whip up.Continue Reading

Filed Under: Appetizers, Recipes Tagged With: Abbey, appetizers, Apples, dip, Friends

Cousins Camp ~ Part 1

By Lorraine

We had an action packed July with grandkids and I know they are looking forward to seeing photos of our adventures together.  It will probably take me all of August just to recap July!
I guess I will start with this week and work backwards 😉

Cousins Camp

 
~ DAY 1 ~
 
Cousins Camp began by meeting at a halfway point (Clarks Summit, PA) to pick up our New York grandchildren.
We had lunch with their parents then piled the kids and luggage into our car for a week long adventure.
 

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren, Travel Tagged With: Abbey, Brenna, Cousins Camp, Grandchildren, John, Lorrie, Ryan, shaela

Oh, my Chloe Dear!

By Lorraine

The other night my phone sounded that a message came in.
It was from Chloe
Just as you guessed,  I have watched this sweet 25 second video over and over and over 
As promised, we met up with PopPop for our annual Shamrock Shake lunch
at playland
with Cambrie 
 hello, Chloe!
Aunt Abbey was able to stop in from work as well and give a hug to Jethro
Chloe’s newborn shamrock shake face
and last years sweet little face
This little leapling will be turning 2 in a few days ~ can you believe it?

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: Abbey, Cambrie, Chloe, Grandchildren, Jethro, John, Lorrie

Jethro’s Turn…

By Lorraine

…to have his photo taken in PopPop’s christening outfit

I have photos of all but two grandchildren in this vintage romper as well as our youngest daughter, Abbey who is now 22 years old.  Somehow, I missed grandchildren, Keri and Noah and never thought of it when our older girls were babies. That makes me a little sad since it has now become a tradition.

 

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren, Vintage Tagged With: Abbey, Brenna, Caleb, Cambrie, Chloe, Grandchildren, Jared, Jethro, John, Ryan, shaela, Silas

Cardinal in Winter

By Lorraine

I saw a cardinal on a branch outside our powder room window. I was able to get a few photos.  I wanted to add a verse or poem for my Sunday post but couldn’t find something I liked.  Our granddaughter, Keri Jill, told me she likes to write poetry and in a few minutes read to me the following poem.

Winter Cardinal
by Keri Jill – age 10
When a cardinal’s
nose hits winter breeze
it shivers and
shivers and starts to freeze.
But, God gives a
blanket like shimmering gold
and even in
winter, he never gets cold.
Pop-Pop went to watch her play in our church Salao soccer league Saturday morning then brought her to our home for a visit and sleepover. She requested mashed potatoes and green beans for supper. I threw in BBQ chicken for good measure. Making Valentine’s Day treats, jewelry making with Aunt Abbey and a movie were on the list of things to do.

Aunt Abbey working on a project with Keri
and
few more photos

Filed Under: Birds & Butterflies, Home and Garden Tagged With: Abbey, Birds, Keri, poem

Double Birthday Party Dinner

By Lorraine

Wrapping up a whirlwind Christmas holiday with our extended family last night was the perfect ending to Jill and Brad’s visit.
Since many of our family members don’t get to see them very often and since two really awesome guys are having birthdays, we got together to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Joe (our nephew) and Brad (our son-in-law)!

These two little girls became instant best friends forever.
Does anyone know the genealogical relationship between children that share the same great-grandparents (their grandparents are sisters) ?
Cambrie is my grandchild and Olivia is my sisters grandchild ~ I think that makes them second cousins?

Our handsome, Joe married to … 

 our niece, Toni (with her cousin, Jamie’s baby Jethro) (1st cousin once removed?)

my sister, Carol, Toni, totally enjoying baby Jet and my niece, Eva 

 my brother, Frank and our son-in-law, Brad

 my sister-in-law, Arlene and our daughter Jill

 Carol, me, Carol’s daughter Chris and Chris’ daughter Alexis

Sweet Chloe
Abbey with her boyfriend, Ryan, a very nice mutual friend and our grandson, Jared

 Little one enjoying a movie in Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop’s room

Many years ago, our sister-in-law began a tradition of snapping Christmas photos of my brother (her husband) my sister and I.

 They have become cherished memories for each of us.

shivering kiddos giving their good-byes before cousins head home to upstate NY
~ regretfully, I did not get photos with Jamie, Josh, John, or niece Caitee ~

{happy sigh}… next comes January. A welcome time for me after the (enjoyable) hustle and bustle.
I love the newness of January and the whiteness of snow (hopefully) and a time to refresh.
Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: Abbey, Birthday Family, brad, Brenna, brother, Caleb, Cambrie, Chloe, Christmas, Jethro, Jill, Keri, Noah, Ryan, shaela, Silas, Sisters

Our 2013 Christmas

By Lorraine

CHRISTMAS EVE
church then back home for our traditional Christmas Eve meal served in the family roomContinue Reading

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: Abbey, Brenna, Caleb, Cambrie, Chloe, Christmas, Erin, Jamie, Jethro, Jill, John, Keri, Lorrie, Noah, Ryan, shaela, Silas

Love each other deeply

By Lorraine

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.
Matthew 19:5-6

Our sweet niece, Courtney married her beloved, Steve this weekend
 the ceremony (above photos from my sister-in-law’s facebook page)
(above photos from my sister-in-law’s facebook page)
 dancing with her dad
(Wes is my husband’s brother)
 Courtney and Wes
(Top) three of our four daughters: Jamie, (who is expecting her seventh baby next month), me, our oldest, Erin and our youngest, Abbey.  Jamie’s twin sister, Jill was not able to travel down for the wedding.

Having fun in the photo booth!
Josh and Jamie, Abbey, John and I. Just couldn’t coax Erin and AJ to join us for this silliness!

do you suppose it was John’s glasses and sombrero that scared them away 😉 

Filed Under: Family, Family & Friends Tagged With: Abbey, Bible, Erin, Faith, Jamie, John, Josh, Love

when you take a boy fishing…

By Lorraine

he concentrates on everything his PopPop says to catch his first fish
 then littlest sister picks up a pole, casts the line and in an instant, gleefully catches her first fish
 before you know it, another sister takes a turn and catches her first fish
 then somehow, a friendly competition begins as his mom and dad try to out-fish each other
{but mom has the advantage of fishing this same lake a gazillion times when her dad brought her as a kid} 
 someone (Aunt Abbey) determines to get that BIG one everyone sees swimming near the water edge
(but settles for a small sunnie)
there are lots of laughs over yucky worms and  hearing dad moan as he untangles lines
and messy moments pulling the hook out of the fish before tossing him back
(not to mention the expression of someone when a flipping fish splatters, splashes and slaps about their face)
when you take a boy fishing
everyone has a good time

Sharing: Seasonal Sundays @The Tablescaper

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: Abbey, brad, Brenna, Grandchildren, Jill, John, Ryan, shaela

together

By Lorraine

 An impromptu overnight visit from Jill and family was super special!
They were returning from a week-long vacation in Myrtle Beach and made the 10-hour drive to our home to rest up before continuing another 5.5 hours to their NY home the next day.
See the center photo above… Ryan happily completed his first 5-mile run with his mom!
 We made the most of their time here by having all of the cousins together on this hot, humid day.
Since it was another stormy day, the boys laughed and played on their various devices.
 And the girls played dress-up and giggled a lot
 Chloe tried to sweet-talk PopPop into giving her the cell phone
Abbey had just a few okay hours after her wisdom teeth extractions before a week long time of great discomfort. Her face is puffy in these photos taken at the Gazebo on Main Street of our town.

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: Abbey, Brenna, Caleb, Cambrie, Chloe, Grandchildren, Jamie, Jared, Jill, John, Keri, Lorrie, Noah, Raider, Ryan, shaela, Silas

they call me mom

By Lorraine

my blessings…
Erin Lee ~ Jill Arlene ~ Jamie Lorraine ~ Abbey Diane
~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ 
The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26


If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.
Robert Brault

Filed Under: Family, Family & Friends Tagged With: Abbey, Bible, Erin, Faith, Jamie, Jill, Love, Think On These Things

Spring Break

By Lorraine

Our kids were on spring break last week but our New York kids are on break this week and spending the time here with us. That means lots of get-together’s and lots of photos 🙂

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: Abbey, Brenna, Caleb, Cambrie, Chloe, Erin, Grandchildren, Jamie, Jared, Jill, John, Keri, Lorrie, Noah, Raider, Ryan, shaela, Silas

My New Favorite Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe

By Lorraine

Sage-infused Fettuccine Alfredo is an easy recipe for a lighter, healthier version of Fettuccine Alfredo. Serve with a crisp salad or topped with grilled chicken for a lovely Easter dinner, romantic Valentine's Day or whenever you want a special pasta meal. 
 I recently saw Lidia Bastianich prepare Fettuccine Alfredo using just a few ingredients. Although I already have a favorite recipe, I know it is high in calories. I made this version lighter and love how quickly it comes together as the pasta is cooking.  Don’t be afraid to use the sage ~ it infuses just a hint of flavor.
Sage-infused Fettuccine Alfredo is an easy recipe for a lighter, healthier version of Fettuccine Alfredo. Serve with a crisp salad or topped with grilled chicken for a lovely Easter dinner, romantic Valentine’s Day or whenever you want a special pasta meal.Continue Reading

Filed Under: Pasta, Recipes Tagged With: Abbey, Caleb, Cambrie, Chloe, Easter, Grandchildren, Jamie, Jared, Josh, Keri, Noah, Silas

Sugar & Spice

By Lorraine

Sugar and Spice

and everything nice
 that’s what these little girls are made of

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren, Vintage Tagged With: Abbey, Cambrie, Grandchildren, Keri

My Blessings

By Lorraine

 around the table

and Face Time with Jill and family in NY 🙂

Filed Under: Family, Grandchildren Tagged With: Abbey, AJ, Caleb, Cambrie, Chloe, Erin, Grandchildren, Jamie, Jared, John, Josh, Keri, Lorrie, Noah, Raider, Schnauzer, Silas

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Hi! I'm Lorraine. Welcome to Grateful Prayer Thankful Heart. A place to find food for your tummy, projects for your hands, and encouragement for your heart.

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