The Journey is Interrupted… Going Covid!
You’ve heard the phrase “going postal”. Well, I know a lot of us are “going Covid” right now. We are living through extremely difficult times. Yesterday was a “going Covid” day for me. After I settled down a bit, I took inventory of where people find their happy spot, especially during times of frustration and worry.
Sister Becky Finds Happiness in Flowers
My Sister Becky, who lives in Kentucky, loves flowers and loves photographing flowers. We share this interest. When times get stressful or out of control, Becky sends me photos of her flowers. Over the last four months, we have shared a lot of flower photos!
Creating Vignettes of Memories
I like old stuff! So when I’m feeling a little off, I try to create something new or different around the house. I love apothecary jar memory vignettes. This one, that I made just a few days ago, has my mother’s old button-holer in it. I inherited a few from her. She hated making button holes! The old man is knitting. I don’t know who he is. I just liked the photo.
It’s 5 O’Clock Someplace
My neighbors across the street, Kathi and Mike, love to sit out in front of their house on nice evenings enjoying a glass of wine and inviting all they see to sit a spell. I love this as it epitomizes who our neighborhood is and what good neighbors do. It also conveys a sense of belonging. After a long hard day of Covid madness or anything else, it’s nice to go over there and sit a spell with them.
When all else fails, there is always chocolate!
Just last week, someone from the Victorian Tea Society was mentioning Texas Sheet Cake as being an all-time favorite dessert recipe. I couldn’t agree more! So here’s the recipe if you don’t have it. Enjoy!
Note: I think it’s extremely important that you use margarine in this recipe, not butter.
Texas Sheet Cake Recipe
Combine in a bowl:
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups flour
- ½ tsp. salt
In a saucepan, bring the following ingredients to a boil:
- 2 sticks margarine
- 1 cup water
- 4 TB cocoa
Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients.
After mixing well, add:
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. baking soda
Spread the batter in a greased and floured 10 x 15” pan and bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Frosting (Make this while the cake is baking)
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- 1 cup margarine
- 1 box powered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 6 TB evaporated milk
- 4 TB cocoa
Boil milk, margarine and cocoa. Stir in nuts, sugar and vanilla. Mix until smooth (hand mixing is okay). Pour over cake when it comes out of the oven.
Hi, Donna,
As in past posts, I can relate to this post. Love the ideas, flower photos and recipe. I am an avid gardener. Hubby saw a sign Recently and bought it for me: “Gardening is Cheaper than Therapy, Plus You Get Tomatoes”. It is definitely a therapy, a way to nurture and care, and the bonus (or coup de gras) is in the beauty of the process & final results.
The unidentified unique flower is the Passion Flower, Passiflora incarnata, a vining plant so named because missionaries in the 16th century felt the sepals, rays and petals reflected the crucifixion of Christ. Also known as a Maypop in the South (plants there seemed to pop out of the ground in May).
Stay strong, positive and healthy, Donna, and keep those posts going!
That flower is a passion flower. Delicious fruits. All the parts relate to the passion of the Christ. Google it and read the story of passion flower.
Oh dear, this is where I disagree with my sister-I always use real butter, unsalted type when baking. This is my favorite cake that I always request for my birthday. I usually only get it if I make it myself as my birthday is near Thanksgiving and I live too far away from my sisters for them to make it for me! Donna, this is just like my recipe, but my icing calls for only 1 stick of butter which is half a cup. You may need to check the recipe!! Thank you for putting my pictures up-you are right, flowers are my happy place. Love you!