Ooey, Gooey Butter Cake

Good Tuesday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from our Fun Fall Ride #5, which was also our trip to Jacksonville this past weekend to tailgate with friends and family. It was a cold, crisp football kind of day. The colors were vibrant, and it was a really pretty drive.

Mike and I took Fun Fall Ride #6 this past weekend, too, but I'll add those pictures (along with some Halloween pics) as the week goes on. There are just too many for one day.

RANDOMNESS #1 - I will have to say October 2011 was one of the prettiest months ever. I tried to get out and enjoy something each and every day. November looks like it is going to carry the torch, and I'll be out and about today, too... just soaking in the fall colors.

RANDOMNESS #2 - Mike and I were able to take Fun Fall Ride #6 as a date this past weekend. We drove up Highway 31 all the way to Cullman and spent a few hours finding the three houses we lived in during our five-year stay in that fair city, eating at All Steak (a Cullman tradition) and walking through the very familiar German store (A Touch of German).

I love their nutcrackers, and since Roxie is a collector, I want to take her to this particular store. She is going to love some of the more unusual German nutcrackers.

We came very close to buying Cranberry Stollen. Well, I came very close. Mikie didn't seem to have a problem saying, "No, thank you." It looked delicious... and when Roxie and I go back to check out the nutcrackers, we'll be leaving with a $12.49 loaf of Cranberry Stollen in a bag, I assure you.

RANDOMNESS #3 - In case you haven't heard the story about the Cullman housing situation (and you probably haven't, because it is still not pleasant to talk about), it goes something like this.

Mike and I married in January of 1988.

In June of 1988, we moved to Cullman for Mikie's job. We rented a nice, little brick home since we weren't quite ready for home ownership yet.

Four months later in October of 1988, our landlord came to the house, knocked on the door and told us someone had offered him CASH for the house he was then living. He accepted the offer even though his house wasn't even for sale. AND he needed somewhere to live so we had until October 31, 1988 to move. Lovely, lovely landlord.

November 1, 1988 we moved into the Shack by the Tracks. It was a little rental home beside the very busy railroad tracks in Cullman. There was no front porch or stairs. You had to be something of an athlete (or have very long legs) to get in the front door. (I had the long legs going for me.)

We quickly found and bought a little starter house and moved in February of 1989.

If you are having trouble keeping up with the math, we moved FOUR times our first year of marriage (counting Mike's move to my little Hoover apartment after we married).

That's kind of a lot. That's kind of why I still don't talk about it much.

We thought we would be laughing about it now (almost 24 years later), but not so much.

Little Houses #1, #2 and #3 are pictured below. Let it be known Little House #3 had lots of trees, azalea bushes and a big fenced-in backyard when we lived there. I have to have trees in the yard when I live somewhere. I just HAVE TO!

RANDOMNESS #4 - Mikie is heading to Jacksonville again tonight. The boy's been on the road lately, but this was totally his idea.

There is going to be a Girls' Night Out held by the women's basketball team. Roxie and Kelci are going to get to meet the coach and the players, get some pointers, eat some pizza and win some door prizes. Oh, yeah. They are definitely going to win some door prizes.

While the girls are playing basketball, Mikie is going to head to the radio station. Austin gave him permission to "Come on in and sit on the couch," during his Tuesday evening sports radio show... and Mikie is pretty excited.

This could be interesting.

Ooey, Gooey Butter Cake

They had a bake sale at Mike's office, and he very wisely bought the above-mentioned cake. Oh... my... goodness!

You will need the following:

1 box yellow cake mix
1 stick melted butter (real butter)
1 egg slightly beaten

1. Mix together and press into a 9" x 13" pan.

Next, you will need:

8 ounce cream cheese
1 box confectioner's sugar
2 eggs
1 stick melted butter (real butter)

2. Cream together and pour over cake dough.

3. Bake 30 or 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Do not deviate from this recipe. If she says use real butter, use it!

If you have a sweet tooth, this cake is the cure.

Have a terrific Tuesday. I'll be back in the morning with Wednesday Wisdom, a Seasonal Tradition or Party (I cannot decide) and more pics.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda