Friends!

This week we have had the privilege of hosting some friends!

Sorry for the blurriness. 

Headed to bed...

Swimming in the rain! (The best way to swim)

Playing golf. Yes, she's winning. Can you tell by the smile?

And this is one of the funniest texts I've ever received!

~Caroline

Summer, haying, and swimming

I can't believe summer is already here! And now it's over 100 degrees outside.  Animals have been needing special attention with water and shade these last couple of days.  The grass isn't growing at all.  We need rain!  We have actually been watering the pasture Daniel's cows are in. 

A few weeks ago, we went haying in a friends pasture.  Then we realized we forgot water.  So the Tin Roof kept us going with vitamin water.  Or at least some of us.  

 Then we had to go deliver the hay which is much more fun, especially on the really steep hills. 

Swimming has been the highlight of the summer.  I don't know how many

 times we've gone.  And the summer has just begun!  School is out, and God is so good!!!

~Caroline

An awesome giveaway!

Check out this giveaway here:

 http://www.acornerpillar.com/2012/06/my-lilla-rose-video-review-and-giveaway.html#comment-form

Day 19 - a favorite place

Celebration, FL  

~Caroline

Day 18 - something you made

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread.  Here is the recipe. :)

1/2 cup room temp. butter

1 2/3 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups mashed bananas

2 TBS. sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla

6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1. Butter and flour a 5 by 9in. loaf pan.  In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.  

2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs.  Beat in bananas, sour cream, and vanilla.  Beat in flour mixture and chocolate.  Pour batter in the pan.  Bake 50-60 minutes.  Makes one loaf. 

~Caroline

Day 17 - snack

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter cookies. :) 

~Caroline

Day 16 - what you're reading

I am thoroughly enjoying this book. 

~Caroline

Day 15 - love

Yes, I'm behind :-/

~Caroline

Day 14 - Grass

Isn't grass fasinating? 

~Caroline

Day 12 - Something that makes you happy

We discovered yesterday that five of these

cuties are under our deck!

~Caroline

Day 11 - Kitchen

This one was fun!!!

This is our view from the sink.  Yes, that's a HUGE 

aloe plant and three small ones :)

~Caroline

Day 10 - A favorite word

This is one of my favorite words. 

~Caroline

Day 9 - something you do every day

I take care of my chickens every day and this is what I get in return :)

~Caroline

Day 8 - a smell you adore

 I love the smell of homemade vanilla!

Hot chocolate is one of my favorites too. :) 

~Caroline

Day 7 - someone that inspires you

My awesome sister inspires me daily. 

~Caroline

Day 6 - You

Me and my friends. :)

~Caroline

Day 5 - Bird

This picture wasn't taken today but I thought it'd be awesome anyway. :)

~Caroline

March 4th - Fun

Planting seeds and watching them grow is so fun.

And yes, most of those are green beans.  :)

~Caroline

March 3rd - something you wore today

Yes!  This shirt is from Celebration, FL. 

~Caroline    

March 2nd - Sky

I decided to do just the sky instead of a skyline for day two.  :)

I love this tree!  It's gotta be really old.

~Caroline

May 1st - Peace

Day one was harder than I thought! :-/

This little guy has a lot of peace in his life.  

Our "hard-working" farm dog. 

~Caroline

May Photo Challenge

So, I'm gonna try this May photo challenge. 

 

Bare with me because I know I will miss some days!

~Caroline

"Bacon Strips"

So, mom bought these "bacon strips". 

Enough said...

Plants

Last week I got around to planting! Not much, but a start!  

These are red velvet tomatoes.

And if you can see the little sprout there, those are Bull Nose bell peppers.  

I got all my seeds at Seed Savers; a great place to buy seeds!

~Caroline

Chocolate Creamcheese Cake

I found this recipe online and thought I'd give it a try.  It's really easy!
Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperture (plus more for the pans)
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (plus more for the pans)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teas. baking powder
1 teas. baking soda
1 teas. salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teas. vanilla
3 eggs at room temperture
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups coffee icing (I used just plain vanilla icing)
2 cups crushed oreos

Directions

Heat oven at 350 degrees.  Butter two 9-inch round cake pans, line bottoms with parchment, butter again, and dust with cocoa.  In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. 

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy, 2-3 min.  Beat in the vanilla, then the eggs one at a time. 

Add flour mixture in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending witht he flour mixture.  Mix just until combined (do not overmix).

Transfer batter to the prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 min.  Cool cakes in the pans for 15 min. then turn out onto racks to cool completely. 

Transfer one of the cooled cakes to a plate and spread with 1/2ish cup of the frosting.  Top with the remaining cake and spread the top and sides with the remaining frosting.  Using the palm of your hand, gently press the cookies into the sides of the cake.  Enjoy!

~Caroline

Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

This recipe was found on Pinterest. Where else?  :D

For the Crust

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup flour
1 cup chocolate chips

For the Cheesecake Filling

10 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper or foil allowing a little overhang and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Mix the melted butter and graham cracker crumbs until thoroughly combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 6 minutes. Remove pan to a cooling rack. Do not turn your oven off.
3. While the crust is cooling, prepare the chocolate chip cookie dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and vanilla until smooth and thoroughly combined, about 1 minute. Mix in the flour on low speed, and mix until just incorporated. Mix in the chocolate chips. Set aside.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the egg and vanilla on low speed just until incorporated. Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared crust. Using your hand to form clumps. Flatten the clumps of dough in your palms to flatten them out a bit. Distribute the cookie dough onto the top of the cheesecake batter. Be sure to use all of the dough. You will cover most of the cheesecake batter.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top feels dry and firm (the cookie dough) and the entire pan looks set if given a gentle shake. Move bars to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
6. Lift the bars out by the overhang; slice into desired size and store in the refrigerator. Serve cold or at room temperature.

It makes 12 delicious bars.  

~Caroline

A jean skirt cut into an apron!

Yesterday I was digging threw my "clothes to fix" pile and I decided to cut this jean skirt into an apron.

The skirt was a four piece skirt so I cut out one of the pieces, and left the rest to be the apron.

Then I just cut off the waistband from the skirt, and sewed it onto the 

apron leaving the button hole and button.

The finished front

And the finished back! 

~Caroline

Tagged

I was tagged... a while ago by Gabby.

7 random things... Hmmmm.

1. I hate shrimp

2. I'm really slow at reading

3. I've been stretched about 2 inches in two weeks

4. I've sewn a skirt into my brother's seat cover on his truck

5. I've painted a chicken's nails pink

6. I've had my teeth blackened. :P

7. I listen to Rascal Flatts more than any other artists.

Thanks, Gabby!

And I'm going to tag the following:

Sierra, Olivia, Laura, and Delaney!

~Caroline

Trip to Florida!

A few weeks ago we went on a trip to Florida for two weeks. So, here are a few pictures!

Chilling on the front porch.

you can come up with a caption for this one...

and this one :)

~Caroline

Hmmmmmm

What would you call this?