100 Things I LOVE about America!-The Second 20

Each night as I watch the news, it seems to bring more  distressing news about scandals, hits, terrorism, trauma, drama and greed in America. It hurts to watch it. It hurts to think about it. 

With that in mind, I decided to come up with my own list of why I love America  For the next five Mondays I will write 20 things I love about America. None of them are monumental or earth-shattering; but they do make me remember what sets America apart from the rest of the world and makes our freedoms so great.

100 Things I LOVE About America

The Second 20---Traditions:

1. Uncle Sam--No matter how Uncle Sam's image has changed

over the years,

he still 'wants us'.  His image

draws us and helps us 

remember why it is important

to defend our freedom.

2. Thanksgiving-

Clearly a very American holiday.

We celebrate it with family and friends

and those we hold dear.

Just the name of the holiday holds special meaning.

3. Friday Night Lights--Or in other words

High School Football Fridays.

I realize at some high schools football has become

a business...almost.

But in many small towns it is still

pure, raw, innocence of

high school boys

meeting on the gridiron

to outdo the other team.

There is absolutely nothing like it.

4. Christmas Trees

I grew up going to hunt our 

own tree

on our family farm each year.

They were always cedar

and I always thought they were beautiful.

I still think Christmas trees are beautiful,

I just don't use cedar anymore!
There is magic as soon as
the lights are turned on.

5. Cowboys--

I love cowboys in their boots and hats.

I love cowboys in their Wranglers.

I love cowboys that have big belt buckles that

stand for something important in their lives.

I love cowboys that can spin a yarn,

cowboys that can sing,

and cowboys that love their animals.

I love the cowboy legend and how

important they have been throughout America's history.

6. Gideon's Bibles--Really, what other country can you 

go to and just know you can find a Bible

in the nightstand at the motel/hotel 
where you are staying?

I still have my Gideon's Bible I got in 5th grade.

7. The Super Bowl--Yes, it has become unbelievably

commercialized.

But there is still something about the fact

that as Americans we gather around

the TV, 

hold parties,

bet,

dress up,

yell at the TV

all over a piece of pigskin and a bunch

of very well paid athletes!

8. Sale Barns and Auctions

I grew up going to Cattle Sale Barns with 

my grandfather to sell and/or buy

cattle.

I loved the sights, sounds...and some of the smells!

I also went with my mom to lots of auctions.

I caught the auction bug early.

I love the fact you have to have patience

to get what you really want!

9. Church Bells on a Sunday morning...

Again, this could be a small town thing,

but I love hearing church bells ring out

on Sunday mornings,

as they welcome all parishoners

to come and worship

the Lord.

10. Soap Operas---The TV kind!

These are becoming almost obsolete! Did

you think you would ever see that day?

The soap operas are so corny and contrived,

but somehow they manage to hook

millions of Americans.

Perhaps it is because after watching

you feel so much better 

about yourself and

your own family!

11. Swimming

I love to swim. I would swim every single

day of my life if possible.

 When summer comes and the pools 

open, 

people come from everywhere to swim,

cannonball, swan dive and belly flop.

12. Cheering for the Underdog...

In America we love a hero.  But even more than

a hero,

we love the Underdog to come out

on top,

to defy all odds,

to show us their mettle,

to remind us that

anything is possible...in America!

13. Pow Wows--In Oklahoma our state is 

rich in
Indian culture.

My parents took me to the Pawnee Pow Wows

for as long as I could remember.

If you have never been to one,

I suggest you add it to your 'bucket list'.

The sights, sounds, drama, regalia, tradition and 

heritage is rich.

The costumes all have meaning.

Each dance has its own meaning.

And the drum, the central part of the Oklahoma pow-wows,

holds meaning.

You will come away glad to have seen true Native American culture.

14. Groud Hog Day--
Does anyone really believe if the
ground hog sees his shadow 
that we will have 6 more weeks of winter?
Yet, every single February 2nd we all talk about it.
Did he see his shadow?  Did we escape the wrath of 
more winter?


15. New Year's Eve countdown..
Whether it is watching Dick Clark (and feeling so sad for him now)
going to your own party,
popping fireworks,
watching TV as the New Year rings in across
our America's time zones,
there is something magical
about starting 
a new year.
Fresh.
Clean.
A new beginning. Again.

16. The Noon Whistle--
I grew up in a town that rang the Noon Whistle
every single day at noon.
You could plan your day by it.
You could set your watch by it. (literally!)
But you just knew that every single day
the noon whistle would blow.
(For those of you that have no clue, the local fire department
would blow the fire whistle every day at exactly
12 (noon).
The town where I now teach does that too.
It makes me smile each day.

 17. Waiting on the leaves to change color...
We know it is coming,
and each day we scan the trees
in our yards,
on our commutes,
as we go hither and yon,
and we are so excited to see
the golds, reds, oranges, crimsons,
yellows, browns and faded greens
of the fall leaves.
The town we moved from was the 
"City of Beautiful Maples".
You cannot even imagine the beauty
we experienced each fall.
God reminds us in wonderful ways
of his miracles.

  
18. Our Armed Forces.
No matter what America is going through.
No matter whether it is peace time or
war time.
No matter how others treat them,
we still have 
men and women
that volunteer
to serve our country,
keep us free,
keep us strong.
Our debt to them
will never be paid.

19. Volunteers-
Americans are quick to 
lend a hand
help others out
give the shirts off their backs.
When we know others are
in trouble
we arrive in droves.
We will do anything
for anyone,
or any country.
Americans give.
They give 
time and money.
Americans are generous...
to a fault!

20. Prayer
Prayer is an important part
of daily life.
We have the freedom to pray
as we like,
when we like.
We pray before meetings, ballgames,
school days and
meals.
We pray that
we can continue to 
live in a country
that we love.

Next Monday my third part of 
"100 Things I LOVE about America".
Part 3 will be
"Sounds and Smells".
Last week's first 20, 
Places I love in America
can be found here.
 

Simple Words To Live By.....................

"We are all stewards of the land and the sea."
                                            ---Kocian

Pray for our land and sea, all the people affected by the disaster and those trying to help.

I have linked with Tracey for weekly inspirational quotes.  

Hummingbird Cake

If you are from the South, you have no doubt eaten your fair share of Hummingbird Cake.  If you are from different parts of the country, then you probably have never heard of it.  Let me just say, you are in for a treat.  It is wonderful.  No, there are no Hummingbirds injured in the making of this delightful cake. 
There are different theories to explain the origins of this cake's unique name, and so far nobody agrees on which one is right. Here are several explanations.

►This cake is so yummy that it makes you HUM with delight, or happiness when you anticipate having a slice

►Hummingbirds drink nectar from flowers and this cake is just a sweet as a flower's nectar

►Hummingbirds themselves are associated with the lighthearted and sweet side of life, hence the name of this cake
►When the cake is served, people hover around it the way hummingbirds hover around nectar bearing flowers

►Although a cake made for people, it is a cake sweet enough to attract even hummingbirds

►Bananas and pineapples come from the tropics, and the national bird of Jamaica is a hummingbird...could this be how it got its name?

So pick the theory that makes the most sense to you, or embrace all of them as having a role in how Hummingbird Cake got its name.Go and make the cake....You can thank me later!


Cake Directions

1 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped--optional. (Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't!)
3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 large eggs, lightly beaten 
1 1/s cups Crisco oil
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 can (regular size) of  crushed pineapple, do not drain
2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 - 4 medium sized bananas)
 
Mix all ingredients together. Put in your pan of choice. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter or spray three - 9x2 inch round cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with a circle of parchment paper. OR I have also cooked this in a bundt pan (like pictured today). 

Cream Cheese Frosting (Plus)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
3 ⅔ cups icing (confectioners) sugar
The rest of the can of pineapple--although (drained for the icing) (This is optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup finely chopped pecans--again, optional

In the bowl of an electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and cream cheese, on low speed, until very smooth with no lumps. Add the pineapple (if you desire) at this point.  Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and beat, on low speed, until fully incorporated and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract and then stir in the finely chopped pecans.

Garnish with pecan halves if desired.

My Hummingbird cake is different than the traditional ones, as I put pineapple in the icing too.  I have yet to find someone that did not love that extra touch.  If you don't want to, then just leave the pineapple out and make the regular cream cheese icing.  Either way, you will love it.

I have linked with Foodie Friday.  Go by and check out all the delicious ideas.

Moving On Out................

Summer means swimming; whether it is at pools, lakes or oceans.  Summer means Memorial Day, Flag Day and the 4th of July. Summer means late nights outside.  Summer is happiness and shedding the heaviness of winter and the pastels of spring.  With that in mind, I like for my house to show it is summer. I like to reflect the mood of summer. So what to do? Change things around. I put up some of the darker objects I had out and bring out summer.

This:

Becomes this:

My family has raised cattle forever and I have a soft spot for cattle pictures. (My Dad and husband do not understand why either.)


This:

Becomes this:

This:

Becomes this:

And this:

Becomes:

and

My hubby has been known to ask (on more than one occasion), "Where did we get that?"  or  "When did we get that?"  
And most of the time it is something that we have had....maybe even for a while.  But by moving things around, he finally noticed!

Does that mean that when I change things around again and put new things out and put some back up that it will be like I had it before?
In a word: No! What would be the fun in that?  

I get bored easily.  Objects in my house change often all year long.  Things get put up and things get put out. 

I know I don't get that from my mother. She has the same things in the same place since I can remember. When I try to change things up for her she gasps!!


I think I get it from my Granddad Flanagan.  He also got bored and changed things around.  Although he did it a little differently.  He would just buy a new house and move!


Compared to that...mine seems minor!

 

We Have A BALL With Dad....or Tie One On!!

The tablescape I had planned for this week I never got around to finishing parts of.  So at the last minute (like Wednesday afternoon in the blazing sun!!!!) I decided to get a jump on Father's Day. I had nothing planned for it, but came up with several ideas at the last minute.

I gathered up a bunch of ties.  When there have been four males in the house, there tend to be a lot of ties.  This is just part of them. I tried to pull out any tie that had sports, hunting, or a 'manly' theme to them.  The ties were going to become my tablecloth/placemats. 

 I simply spread the tie across the table I was using. Any kind/size/shape would work. If you look closely in this picture you can tell that one I crossed the middle I put the 'slim' end of the tie under the 'fat' end on each side.  But actually, it really doesn't matter. I think it would be fine to just drape the ties across and not hide the slim end. But I did and then it began to fill up.

 That's when I decided this tablescape should be called "Tie One On".  I tried to separate the different sports so that they were not beside each other and not put the same color next to each other, but I about drove myself crazy.  I decided that who would even think about that besides me? So then I began to try and figure out the rest of the tablescape. And not to mention I was sweating out in the afternoon sun!

I went to the den and tried to get some ideas (and cool off). I saw some of our ball stuff and trophies and decided to mix and match some of it. I knew I needed something big for the middle that would sit level on the 'hump' of ties that criss-cross there.

So I got one of my galvanized trays. That seemed manly enough.  Then I began shopping the den.

I gathered up things that have been important to our family as the children grew up. I got baseballs, game pieces, medals, trophies, golf balls and tees, pool balls, score cards and we absolutely could not forget the TV remotes!

And I ended up with this. 

I know, I know, a little bit busy and a lot chaotic! But it was very representative of our life raising five kids (that are only seven years apart from oldest to youngest!!!! gulp!!!!) and all the ballgames and events we went to. 


Notice I put some of the different balls,game pieces and remotes in different size glass containers and sat them in the galvanized tray. This kept those things together as well as staggered the height of the centerpiece. Then I just filled in around them with other objects.

Then I had to decide what dishes to use. (I told you I was doing this all at the last second). Oh by the way, by now I was dripping in sweat and beginning to worry about my camera: 1. the heat and 2. my sweat all over it!


I knew I needed to absolutely use solid dishes, since it was already so over the top busy.  Since I had not used anything football in the centerpiece I decided to drag out football dishes. (Drag being the key word because they were put way up!) Since I was using football dishes I decided to go with the brown plates.  Then I told myself that too much brown was dull (ha! on this table?) and I put a little pop of red in there with it.

I used big football platters for the chargers.  I also used big football shaped bowls and football glasses.  The football bowls are big enough to hold anything! 

By this time I had changed into my swimsuit to finish up this tablescape. I mean if I am going to be drenching wet, I might as well have my swimsuit on!  
I saw all the stuff sitting there that I had dragged out. Among it was lots of golf things. I saw the golf towels and thought, "Why not"? So the golf towels became the napkins. None of them were alike, but, hey what's a few more patterns at this point?

At this point my tablescape had become "We Have a BALL with our Dad". So then I figured since I was already into the cheesy, corny, creative tablescape that I would use golf head covers to hold the silverware. Then I saw all the golf gloves and I threw some of them in too!

At this point I realized I had to haul all this stuff back inside and I decided to quit. I shot a few (well a lot) more pictures and called it a tablescape.

 Not to mention I wanted to go cool (and dry!) off.

 Taken from under the table because I had fainted from the heat by then, I just thought it would be cool.

I was thinking, (I know, you are probably tired of me thinking!) that there are SO many clever ways to honor Dad even if he is not a sports nut like at our house:
If the dad at your house is more of the artsy type, you could use "Our Dad Is A Star" and do more of a Hollywood type. If he is into tools and a handy-man, you could do "Our Dad Hits the Nail on the Head"and use tools. If he an executive you could still use the ties and other executive type decor and say "Our Dad Suits Us Just Fine".  A cook-out master Dad you could use that idea and say "Hot Dog We love Dad". And two generic ones for any dad you could use red/white/blue and all the flag things that are out right now and use "All-American Dad"....or maybe my favorite idea...get lots of play money, wallets, old credit cards, etc. and use
"We Can Bank On Dad"...for all that money that Dad's have to fork over for years and years! 
Well I've given you almost three weeks to think about it.  Let me know (link back) or write me to make sure I look at your Father's Day ideas. It is fun to run with (and sweat to).  Let me know, or should I say "Game On!!"

As always, I have linked this to Susan at Between Naps On The Porch.  The ideas over there are endless.
I have also linked to The Style Sisters who show all kinds of cute (and maybe not so busy) centerpieces.  Go and check both of these out.  Thanks so much for putting up with this weeks tablescape!