*surprise in the holly tree

I think we all love the surprise of a hidden birds nest in our nicely shaped shrubs and trees around our houses. I recently noticed a couple of brown birds flying in and out of our holly bushes/trees around the front corner of our house. I started watching the birds dutifully build their nest, twig by twig. Only a few days later the nest was complete and filled with these beautiful turquoise eggs with brown spots.

 Being the camera bug that I am, I went for my dear husbands phone when I realized that I left my camera battery charger "somewhere" in my recent travels.  I am very please with the quality of pictures that it took, nonetheless. Isn't this sweet?

These little babies are so ugly right now, but precious.  It looks like one egg has not hatched.. I wonder if it has a chance at this point?  Birds really are not safe in our yards with all the cats we have, but these birds were smart enough to make home in our front yard instead of our back yard (where most of our cats spend their time).   To my delight, this morning I saw another bird flying in and out of our porch area, only later to find out that another nest is being built on a spring wreath in that area.

*blueberry crumb cake, yum!

Blueberry Crumb Cake is in order! I have recently made some changes (again) in some of my eating choices and exercising habits or lack therein. I have been known to drive to Starbucks several times a week to purchase my beloved Cinnamon Dolce Latte paired with a slice of "low fat" Blueberry Coffee Cake. Since I started exercising on a regular basis I subconsciously choose not to eat things like this. I mean, after all, do I need to consume close to one thousand empty calories for breakfast? Uh, no. Do I still enjoy a coffee from Starbucks from time to time, of course.

In my recent copy of "All You" magazine this recipe for Blueberry Crumb Cake caught my eyes. Eric always liked the Starbucks Blueberry Muffin, so I figured he would really like this as well.


Blueberry Crumb Cake (by AllYou)
Prep Time 15 min
Bake Time 55 min
Serves 12

Topping
1/2 cup of sugar ( I use sucanat 1/3 c would have been plenty)
1 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 Tbsp light tasting Olive Oil
1/2 cup All Purpose Flour


Cake
1 1/4 cups of All Purpose Flour (fresh milled wheat berries - use half hard wheat and 1/2 soft wheat)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp nonfat sour cream (didn't have so I used 2%Greek Yogurt)
3 Tbsp unsalted melted butter at room temp
3/4 cup of sugar (again- I used 1/2 c sucanat)
2 large eggs + 1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup of Greek yogurt (2% Fat)
1 cup  frozen blueberries (I used fresh)

*Make topping. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. use fingertips to blend until mixture resembles large peas. Refrigerate. (oops.. I didn't refrigerate)

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9 inch round cake pan with cooking spray ( I used the Pampered Chef Large Deep Dish Baker).

*Make cake: In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Ina separate bowl, beat sour cream, butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and egg white. Beat until frothy, about 3 minutes. Blend in vanilla and yogurt until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Fold in berries. Spread batter evenly in pan. Sprinkle with topping.

*Bake cake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

252 Cal. per serving (if you cut into 12 equal slices)
9 gr. fat
40 gr. carbs (simple carbs if you do NOT use sucanat and freshly milled wheat berries)


One of the things that caught my eye when I turned the page in my magazine is the little blurb.. You save 188 calories and 10g fat (compared with a single serving of Starbucks classic coffee cake). Uh.. hello?  There are a few changes we can make in our favorite recipes to make them a bit lighter but still quite tasty.  These are a few of the suggestions: replace full-fat sour cream with 2% Greek yogurt; cut back on the required butter in a recipe; when a recipe calls for 4 eggs- try using a combination of 3 whole eggs and one white in the recipe etc; cut back on the sugar that is called for.

Happy Baking!

*may flowers indeed

I love the deep pinks and strong yellow orange flowers blooming alongside each other.

These beautiful pink flowers are some that I got from my friend Cheryl many years ago. I have them growing in several places around the back yard.  Just beyond them you see some of the ferns that have been brought up from the wood line of our property. The two greens contrasting against each other create such interest, don't you think?

When Franziska's mother and father moved from the area she left behind two planters of clematis. Oh.. so beautiful in the spring and fall as well.  (these pictures were all taken in the month of May)

What is blooming in your gardens?

*2010 12-N-12 May Beauties!

The May update for the quilt challenge is a bit delayed. Sorry about that, doesn't that simply mean that June's update will come quicker? Are you all working your fingers to the bones on the next project?

As you can tell from this post many of us have been unable to get to our sewing machines as much as we would like.   Summer travels and more family time have been put in the mix among other things.

Jenny was the only one to submit a finished project this month and boy is it a beauty!  I love this quilt. I don't know about you, but it is another one of those quilts that I feel like I must make!  This one was finished and given to her son just before taking a trip to the Keys with her husband. What a sweet bundle of love to wrap in while momma and daddy are away on their trip! 

Jenny is also the winner of the quilting tool drawing for this month! It is not surprising though.. Jenny has the most quilt projects finished thus far. Go JENNY!  This is the tool that Jenny will be mailed this week..

*aunt Lynnie

Family.  In human context, a family is an exclusive group of people who share a close relationship.

After reading several definitions, I like this definition of family (from Wikipedia) the best.  To have a close relationship with family, that is my desire.  Family in this definition includes, for me,  others who are not blood related as well. 

I am the middle child of three children and the first to be married.  My oldest sister is fifteen months superior while my younger sister is six years behind me.  The fact that I married (and dated) first was not a surprise to anyone, though I am not sure what that says for all of us.   I was the first to have children, presenting our parents with their first grand son back in 1986.   Eric's brother and sister-in-love gave birth to our first nephew about seven years later.  And then my sisters added to the number a few years later.

I am so grateful for the position of aunt and I do not take it lightly, or at least I try not to be found guilty of that.  As an aunt we have certain "jurisdiction" that someone else may  not have in their lives.   Due to certain circumstances, our nephews and niece will not be spending time with us this summer.  This makes me sad.  I am trying daily to see God's will in this and trust Him.

JOEL

 Our nephew Joel is an amazing young man. I am  impressed by his focus on his future and his desire to do the things that will help prepare him for the next stages of his life. The last time I spent time with him he was telling me of his plans and if the first one should not be the one, he has a back up plan.   He is driven. He is purposed in the things he does.  He,with God's help has over come some familial issues as well as some learning curves.  It is exciting to watch his life and see the things God is doing in his life.  I know his mother and father (and grandparents who are raising him) must be really proud of his focus for his future.  After all, as a young man of sixteen we should only hope that our sons are beginning to plan for the next stage of the journey of this thing called life!

SKYLER

Our nephew Skyler is a sweet tenderhearted young man! Skyler is one of the most loving and nurturing young men I know. He is so helpful with younger kids, and caring.  He has two half sisters and two half brothers who he loves very much.  Skyler loves him some good southern food- you offer him junk food or  good home cooked meals and he will choose the meals every time!

AUSTIN

Our nephew Austin is a hot mess. No really, he is a sweet young man and I am really enjoying watching the young man he is becoming as well.  Austin is innovative, creative, hard headed (oops did I say that?), a delight. Austin is a hard worker and will step in and help but will also lead the job very well.  Austin likes to argue and has even told me so.  I am gonna really miss these boys visit this summer.

KIERSTYN

Our niece, Kierstyn is, well, a hot mess too.  Kierstyn is an only child. She is a leader, which one might call her bossy, but I like to say she is a leader.  One day she is gonna make history!  I tell my sister that all the time.  Kierstyn, much like our Henry, is a challenge to parent - but with God's guidance if we are faithful to seek it, will all work out just fine.  She is 110% girl, liking all things pink and girlie. She is a nurturer as well.   One day she will make history, for now her mother and father continues to invest in her life so that one day she will have the proper tools to make the right choices.


My name is Lynette to many but to my immediate family I am Lynne, however to my most of  my nephews and niece I am Aunt Lynnie. I love this.  I love them. I love every opportunity that I have to spend time and pour a little into their  lives.  It is a privilege to be an aunt to each of them.

*beaches- beauty and disgust

My oldest sister, Lori, has lived very close to the east coast beaches as well as the gulf coast beaches. As children, we all grew up near the east coast and enjoyed the beach regularly.   This past week while we were on the beaches of the gulf coast, both of my sisters were on the beaches of the eastern coast of Florida!

My niece, Kierstyn, enjoying her weekend visit to the beach.

An east coast beach of Florida. Look at the difference in the ocean on the gulf coast..

Navarre Beach Florida the beaches on the panhandle are so majestic!

Henry and his friend, Summit walking along the ocean shore.

 

The disgusting part, that was certain to happen at one point or another is the presence of the oil globs on the shore. We walked further up Navarre Beach to the National Seashore area and you could hardly walk five feet before you sighted another glob of crude oil, whether it be dime size or large pancake size. Many swimmers and surfers were enjoying the surf without care of harm at this time.  The ocean is still open to locals and tourist at this time.  We just happen to be at the ocean during the season of June Grass. June Grass can start hitting the shore in early May and last well after June. This year it is especially thick, due to currents and such.

The dark spots on the sand are the globs of thick oil all along.  There was several plastic bottles laying around that were covered with the nasty thick oil as well, but I only got a picture of this one. The sea grass, while a nuisance, was really pretty.  If you would like a closer look, just click on the picture.