Mama's Zucchini Cake

Yesterday, I made my mother's recipe for Zucchini Cake.  I added a thin layer of cream cheese frosting.  Enjoy!

Mama's Zucchini Cake

Preheat oven to 325-350 degree F.

Sift together:

3 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

In another bowl, beat together:

2 cups of granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Gradually add flour mixture into sugar mixture. Gently stir until well combined.

Fold in 3 cups of shredded zucchini.  (I used a food processor to shred this.  You could also grate the zucchini.)

Grease a 9" x 13" baking pan.

Bake at 325-350 degree F oven for 45 min - 1 hour until done. Cool.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat together until smooth:

3 oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 cups confectioners sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Spread on cooled cake.

*I like to refrigerate this cake but you don't need to.

What The Sunflowers Do

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It's what the sunflowers do. ~Helen Keller

Cottage Garden Moments

It is a beautiful morning in the garden.  The flowers and leaves are dressed in dew sparkling in the early light.  Who can pass up this moment but to stop and smell the roses? 

Running on Coffee and a Prayer

The last six days have been challenging ones for the puppies and me.  My husband was away for a week on family matters and is due to return today.  There were many days that I was running on coffee and a prayer and may have not been in my right mind at moments.  Not is a frightful way but in a puppies running everywhere sort of way.

We are settling into somewhat of a routine here at the cottage.  Wake up. Playtime. Breakfast.  Playtime. Nap time. Repeat with Lunch and Dinner and with a little Garden time mixed in depending on the weather. Bedtime.  We generally are up before 5:30 am and then down for the night at 8 pm.

I did manage to "clean" house yesterday.  Sweeping about half the house, dusting, and cleaning bathrooms.  Little Honey Bea is fierce and fearless at 9 weeks old.  She was a bit hesitant of the broom though, not afraid but not as curious as usual.

We survived this last week.  Perhaps even thrived.  The puppies certainly did.  I'm a little worse for wear in body but content in spirit.  God is faithful.

Returning to the Every Day Ordinary

I look forward to returning to the every day ordinary.

There is a semblance of sanity in the rhythm of the ordinary.  Time to wake. Time to partake in breakfast. Time to work. Time to rest. Time to partake in a midday meal. Time to work. Time to create. Time to prepare the dinner meal. Time to enjoy family over dinner.  Time to rest and time to sleep. A constant tick tock tick tock rhythm of days.

These are the days I prefer.  These are the days that I look forward to.

A New Journey

 Before I begin a new journey, I take note of where I was and where I am now and where I want to go from here.  Though sojourns and adventures are wonderful things, my most favorite part is returning home.

I have missed writing and I have missed my gentle readers of not so long ago.  In this new season, I hope to embrace creativity and especially writing.  Thoughts waiting to become words like flowers waiting to bloom in the early summer morning.

I pray all is well and I look forward to reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Blessings!