Happy National Puppy Day, Nana B Stories and Apple Dapple Cake

Good Wednesday afternoon!

RANDOMNESS - It's National Puppy Day, and it just so happens a puppy lives with us.

Coincidence?

I think not!

Roxie rescued Tucker the day after Christmas. He was approximately four to six weeks old...

Which means now he is between four and four and a half months old.

Which means he is/will be a very large dog!























Here are a few things you should know about Tuck...

1. He LOVES the Dog Park.

2. He tolerates the creek.

3. He wants to play ALL THE TIME.

4. When you play with him and finally go back into the house, he howls and cries for about three minutes before something diverts his attention.

5. When he lunges (in love) at you, it would be smart to always be braced against a large, sturdy oak.

If a large, sturdy oak cannot be found, I cannot guarantee you will be able to stay on your feet for any length of time...

From all the "love lunging," you know.

6. He is the sweetest dog...

7. And we love him lots.

Nana B Stories - I kind of have the best job in the world right now, and this is why...

1. I hang out with the six and under crowd three to five times a week. There is not a lot of judgment in this age group. As long as I get in the floor, play and give them LOTS of one-on-one eye contact, they are pretty pleased with my job performance.

2. I am greeted at doors with squeals of delight, jumps, skips and arms thrown open wide. Sometimes, depending on the age of my peeps, I even hear, "She's here! She's here!"

3. When I am inevitably asked, "What are we going to do today," I respond with, "Paint, build a fort, read a ton of books, play a new game, go on a nature walk and MAKE RAIN!"

4. My skin is soft... my jewelry is "bootiful"... my van is SO big... my impressions of Disney characters are dead-on... I am the BEST COOK EVER... and my singing voice is superb. I know this because I am asked to sing the same songs again and again and again.

All of the above is true, but I would be a little dishonest if I didn't also tell you sometimes there are tears and frustration and a foot stomping or two. Just like kisses, hugs and tickles, those things are part of life when you are a member of the six and under crowd.

Thankfully, kids are made with the ability to move past the negatives a little faster than folks my age.

I think they have already figured out the positives in life are what we all should be spending the majority of our time contemplating... not the negatives.

Hmmm.

I think I may have to put that specific thought into a song appropriate for preschoolers...

Or stitch it on a pillow...

Or maybe a tattoo.

Yeah. Definitely, the tattoo thing.

Apple Dapple Cake

I've posted it before, but once again, it's a cake worth sharing!

You will need the following for the cake:

3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups raw apples, peeled and finely chopped

You will need the following for the sauce:

1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup butter

1. Mix oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla.

2. Sift together flour, salt and soda. Add to the first mixture.

3. Fold in pecans and apples.

4. Bake in a tube pan at 350 degrees for one hour.

5. For the sauce, mix and cook ingredients three minutes after it begins to gently boil, stirring constantly.

6. Pour over hot cake while cake is still in pan.

7. Let cake cool COMPLETELY before removing.

Great cake!

Have a good rest of the week. I'll be talking to you soon!

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda