Yellow-Lemon

lem·on n

1. a yellow or, in some climates, green oval citrus fruit with a thick fragrant rind and sour juicy flesh

2.  the tree with glossy almond-shaped leaves and spiky branches that bears lemons. Latin name: Citrus limon

3. a pale yellow color typical of the rind of a ripe lemon.

Also called lemon yellow

This is my favorite treat to get a Starbucks, but paying $2.25 a slice,

 seems a bit pricey and so I thought I would google

 a "knock off recipe to satisfy my lemon tooth craving.

The real Starbucks lemon pound cake

STARBUCKS LEMON (knock off) CAKE

1 box  lemon yellow cake mix

1/2 cup olive (vegetable) oil

4 large eggs

1/2 cup milk

8 ounces sour cream

6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Icing

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3-4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

~

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray 2 loaf pans generously with cooking spray.

2. Place all cake ingredients in no particular order into stand or electric mixer, beating until well combined, about 1 1/2 minutes. Divide cake batter between two prepared loaf pans spreading evenly. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and let cool for 15 minutes before removing loaves from pans.

3. To prepare icing, place powdered sugar into a large bowl. Drizzle in lemon juice stirring until smooth and thick. Should be a good drizzling consistency. Drizzle icing over cakes and let set for 20 minutes for a firm icing. Otherwise slice while still wet if desired.

Makes about 24 slices

Here is my cake.
 It is so yummy, my family loved this so 

much, I think I will make it again!

Happy Spring!

Mid Wifery

I am way past my child bearing age, and I couldn't have a child even if I had all the plumbing 

(of which I don't anymore).

But since I am a woman and a mother, I am interested in the

 birthing process, it is one of those miracles that seem to stagger the mind, 

because, of the hazards that it could bring to a woman.

I have started watching a BBC series called; CALL THE MIDWIFE. 

(you can check it out by clicking the title.)

These are the nurses that are the midwife's

These women are all very caring, there is not one

 that is the bad girl or the villain. 

It is an old fashioned story, tenderly written.

Here is a saying that started one of the episodes that I really 

liked enough that I had to listen over and over again to copy it exact.

Health is of the greatest of God's gifts, but we take it for granted,

 It hangs on a thread as fine as a spiders web and 

the smallest of thing can make it snap, 

Leaving the strongest of us, helpless in an instant,

 Hope is our protector and our love the baluster. 

...now onto episode 2

Easter Time

 For the next two weeks, the world will be focusing on the 

the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I  have learned by watching the seasons and preparing to plant my gardens 

 that the earth goes through this

incredible re-birth during Spring.

I believe that it is because God our Heavenly Father 

and Mother wept for their son during this moment in 

the earth's history that their tears brought a re-birth to the world.

"For God so loved the loved the world that 

he gave his only begotten son. 

-John 3:16

I love the art of the Resurrection.

 Here are a few images that really 

tell the viewer a sacred story.

(I apologize for not knowing the authors.)

He is not here for he has risen..

-Matthew 28:6

Luke 24:1-12


I feel so very blessed to be a disciple of Him.

Tribute to Ireland

Today is March 17, 2013. 

In the US, we celebrate this day as St Patrick's Day

It is a day that I have been apart of and celebrated for 40 some ott years. 

I am not Irish nor do I know of any Irish ancestors. 

I like to wear green and indulge in some basic Irish foods on this day.

I just finished reading this book.

Mary Robinson was the first woman to become Irish President.
Mary served in the United Nations as the High Commissioner for Human Rights
She has established the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice

I really recommend reading this book if you like history, if you are a human rights activist.

Here are some very special and noteworthy quotes from the book.

*Note: I have taken these quotes and statements from
her book, there might be some small discrepancies.

We constitute a human family;
Instead of allowing diversity of race and culture to become
 a limiting factor of human exchange and development,
we must refocus our understanding, discern in such diversity the potential
 for mutual enrichment, realizing that it is the interchange between
great traditions of human spirituality that offers the
best prospects for the best human spirit itself. (human family)
~
The power of human rights is the idea that all people
 are born equal in dignity and rights.
But it's an idea that doesn't have an enormous army behind it.
Its an idea whose effectiveness depends on people
themselves believing in it, taking it up, and being willing to defend it.
-Dorothy Q. Thomas
~
 Realizing Rights
Everyone should realise that he or she has birthrights of human rights-
(Countries that have signed up for (Click to the blue link to read that declaration.
 The  Universal Declaration on Human Rights) 
-should realise those rights by implementing and Respecting them.

Women's Rights

If women are empowered to earn an income, or benefit from 
a minimum protective financial safety net (if not in a position to earn..)
children will not go hungry.

Women need not have power over men; but to themselves.

Women Activist + Feminist =STRONG
(affirmative connotation)


People whom Suffer

They are begging us, you see, in their wordless way,
To do something, to speak on their behalf,
Or at least not close the door again.-Derek Mahon
They need our action, not our tears, our practical
downright, problem solving help. Not our wordless horror.

Our prayers, our pleas.... to listen-to bear witness.

Climate Change

Mary asked African villagers; " isn't  this just a bad patch of weather?"
The villagers answered; " This is different,...this is outside of our experience ".
(What is outside of our experience? estimated two hundred years ..
some ott yrs of words being passed down from one generation to another generation. )
Impacting the Horn of Africa
2011: 1.3 billion people out of the worlds population of 7.0 billion
 have no access to electricity, they rely on kerosene & candles, wood, 
coal, animal dung for cooking and heating.

I really feel that I can do more as a citizen of the world.
Here are some of Mary Robinson's suggestions:

Click on any of the below websites to learn more

1 Million Women-Global Alliance for Waste pickers

WIEGO-
Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing

Women's Learning Partnership

ICRW-International Center  for Research on Women

*Let me know if you participate in any organizations that helps women.

Thanks for reading and thank you Mary Robinson
 for your passion to help others.

Melanie

Poultry, Hens, Chicks

The "swede" and I are what you could call urban farmers. 

Even though we are in our "fifties" we still dream about having a plot of land 

(5 acres or more) to have a sustainable lifestyle.

(I did say; in our dreams...)

We have been raising and nurturing our four hens for 

the past year, they have brought us joy when we go out to retrieve the 

brown eggs they have laid for our consumption. 

Our chicken coop

They LOVE to eat!

Egg laying nest

Horray...they did their best work today!

85th Academy Awards

Yup, another one is just a small blip in the universe.

I have told myself and my family that this is the last year

 I will host an Oscar party..

I decorate, cook, clean for this event which is all good.

But there comes a time when this woman needs to relax and not put anymore stress in her life and so to do this I am officially announcing(to my blogisphere) that this is will the last

Academy party I will host.

 Y E A H!

Done.

*************************

Here are some photo's of the "last" Oscar event at my home.

Silly me

Cast of Celebrities

Gotta have the munchies for the show

We did have a winner: My sister Jeana marked her ballot
 with 13 right winners!

Back drop, stage prop

Floating Hollywood

ACTION....Oscars!

We were honored with this group of attendees.

I feel so much better that I declared that I will not

 host another Oscar party at my home.

Now I can move forward without regret!

The End.

The B-Day came

My birthday came and went so fast, I was rather delighted that it did.

For me that day is special, but I don't like the attention it brings as I age into
I n f i n i t y.

MY DAY

Went to work: worked 11 hours including 1 hour lunch.

Drove to Katlins (7mins) away from my work place.

She was not there so I raided her freezer and found

 3 frozen pancakes from Trader Joes.

Made my bed on her couch

Ariel and Katlin came home, we visited for awhile and Ariel left to go home.

Katlin went to bed, I read for an hour or so

Goodnight Birthday. 

Sweet Dreams.

P. S. I changed my heading to my blog to reflect the new me!