"Our Extended Family"

Just a few shots of our animal family. The sheep are so happy to be out and about. Each year when they are put to pasture, it seems so "lonely" around the barn because each time we entered the door all you could hear was "baa, baaaaa" , now there is just silence. There is something about that feeling that I can't put my finger on....






Our Pet....he is growing like a hop..... Bottle feeding is agreeing with him, for sure...

Gardening

There is an old saying that goes "time flies when you are having fun" and even though this type of work is back-breaking, Yes, time does fly...

We have completed our Main vegetable garden and here are a few photos to show you what it looks like right now:







Then there is my flower garden and while I am not a" green thumb" person, I feel obligated to work on it nevertheless. These photos are just the beginning and hopefully, as time goes by, I can show some improvement. Of course, that depends largely on the weather which has not been co-operating with us over the past number of weeks. Today is the second sunny day that we have had since May....

My two sisters-in-law bought me these two tan colored garden lights when they came for a visit. Aren't they adorable??? Naturally, I had to shop around and found the little white guy..





Then there is my Inukshuk next to my bleeding heart. I think a solar light or two is needed here. I am in the process, so a lot needs to be done yet.

Remember when I told you that I would post a picture of a "BARREL" of flowers that I have done over the years. I truly love it. I fill the top with Petunia Waves and poke Regular Petunias in the holes in the side. This is what it looked like at some point last summer..

...

Happy Gardening to All of you good people who dare to take on such a task.. to lots of people it is considered "therapy". My therapy is hooking mats and right now, it seems I cannot get to it. Part of the reason is that at night time, I am "head over heels" into watching the HOCKEY games....

Carrot Recipes

These are the two recipes for those delicious Carrot Cakes that I promised some time ago...Sorry it took so long...Enjoy!!!

Moist Carrot Cake:

Ingredients

* 4 eggs

* 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil

* 2 cups white sugar

* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

* 2 cups all-purpose flour

* 2 teaspoons baking soda

* 2 teaspoons baking powder

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

* 3 cups grated carrots

* 1 cup chopped pecans

*

* 1/2 cup butter, softened

* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

* 4 cups confectioners' sugar

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.

2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into prepared pan.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

4. To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in chopped pecans. Frost the cooled cake.

Surprise Carrot Cake Recipe

* 12-16 Servings

* Prep: 25 min. Bake: 55 min.

25 55 80

Ingredients

* 3 cups shredded carrots

* 1-3/4 cups sugar

* 1 cup vegetable oil

* 3 eggs

* 2 cups all-purpose flour

* 2 teaspoons baking soda

* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1/2 cup chopped pecans

*

FILLING:

* 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

* 1/4 cup sugar

* 1 egg

*

FROSTING:

* 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

* 1/4 cup butter, softened

* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

* 4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

* In a large bowl, beat the carrots, sugar, oil and eggs until well blended. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually beat into carrot mixture until blended. Stir in the pecans. Pour 3 cups batter into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan.

* In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg. Spoon over batter. Top with remaining batter.

* Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

* For frosting, in a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar until smooth. Frost cake. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 12-16 serv