"Baby its cold outside"

This is what I see every time I go out with Freddie. It has been growing all day. I'm trying not to get bummed by the cold and everything. So, winter has its good points, and this is a very pretty one I think.

Cake picture

Well here it is. Too bad I probably won't get any of it. I'm hoping it tastes good, theres so much chocolate in it, its triple chocolate cake!

Snow, snow, and more snow!

I'm basically stuck here for a while. I could go out if I wanted to, but the heater in my car doesn't work very well, so by the time I would get to where I'm going I would be frozen. Its ok, I had actually planned on this happening and went grocery shopping Monday when the sun was shining, and there was blue sky everywhere. Remember the good times.

I have baking to do today. Nick's friend Scott had a birthday yesterday, so I told Nick I would bake a cake for him to take tonight. Chocolate bundt cake, its a mix that Aunt Debbie gave me a while ago and I haven't had an excuse to use it yet. I'm also making a chocolate sour cream frosting to go with it. I don't know if I'll be able to send it with Nick, my mouth is watering already!
I'll probably make some scones as well if I find the ambition. They're really good for breakfast or a snack with tea, but they take a while to make.
There may be some pictures of my goodies later on...

More Birthday pictures

The first picture is the pair of mugs from Uncle Guy, Aunt Chris and Laura, too cute! I washed them last night, and with all this snow and yuck outside its perfect tea weather!

The next one is the candles from Jesse, Tinka, Aunt Chris, Laura and Uncle Guy. I love the little ladybug!

Everything else I got from Nick, I feel spoiled. All CDs, DVDs and books. I won't be hurting for entertainment around here any time soon! All in all, a happy birthday...

Birthday Festivities

Well my birthday started off with me taking care of sick hubby and sick cat. Nick has a bad cold, and Darcy was having some digestive issues Saturday night. Thankfully she is doing better. Nick is home from work today, sleeping as much as he can.

Saturday for lunch we went to Cats in Wellsville with my parents, my grandma on my Dad's side and his aunt and uncle. After lunch we came home and chilled for a bit, then Mom and Dad met us here in Belmont, and we all drove to Sprague's for dinner. There was no wait to get a table, and of course the food was amazing! I had one of my favorites, turkey and biscuits...

After eating I walked through the little gift shop and found an interesting line of popcorn they had. All kinds of different flavors. Nick and I typically have popcorn together on Sunday evening when we watch the Amazing Race, or CSI, its a tradition. (FYI, Nick makes the best popcorn I have ever had!) We decided to splurge and get a bottle of the Orchard blossom flavor, we haven't tried it yet, but it sounds good.

Sunday we stayed home from church do to the illnesses that we were dealing with. I hate it when sick people come to church and cough and sneeze the whole time. So when we have colds we stay home, trying to keep our germs to ourselves...

And for dinner we went to Hallsport to Nick's parents' and most of the family was there. A couple of people didn't come, but thats ok, it was still fun, and I felt very loved by the time the night was over. I got lots of gifts, that I'll post later, my camera batteries are dead.

My favorite gift would have to be the signed O'Grady print that I had purchased years ago and forgot was stored up in Hallsport. Mom and Dad found it and framed it for me, they really surprised me! I put it up in the dining room this morning, and I think it looks amazing!

Uncle Guy, Aunt Chris, and Laura got me the cutest mugs and a ladybug tealight holder with some candles to go with it. And a bunch of tea and Chai mixes too. Jesse (and Tinka!) gave me a Vanilla Cupcake candle that smells good enough to eat! As well as a Reese Peanut butter heart, which I am saving for when I get a chocolate craving.

Everything Nick gave me will have to be a whole other post!
It was a very happy birthday, I'm very blessed to have so much family to enjoy birthdays with.

Try not to focus on what you don't have, but all the things that you already have right in front of you.

Mmmm....

I can't find a granola that I like that isn't really expensive, and doesn't have all kinds of corn syrup and nasty stuff in it. So I made my own!

I had some with yogurt for lunch, yummy!

So pretty

I know this picture doesn't show him real well, but I had to put him up on here.

There are 3 cardinals that are typically around our apartment building. 2 males and a female. I haven't seen them in the longest time, but this morning I was cleaning our walk off and 2 of them were singing in the bush by my car! The female was there with him, but she blends in too much. Its not the best picture, he wouldn't let me get any closer. I was thrilled to see them at any distance!

Birthday week:

So far not much has taken place, I got my first card in the mail yesterday, and our new washing machine arrived Wednesday. THAT is the best gift I could get, even though I knew all about it coming and everything. It may seem stupid but I love it! It is such an improvement from the teeny tiny one we had in our apartment upstairs. This has been the highlight of my week. Yesterday, I washed all of our bedding, it was like once I got started I couldn't stop!