Great Uncle

Cousin Howie put this photo on Facebook and I snipped it from there. I think it is a great picture in a spooky sort of way.

Grandma Brock's Chocolate Cake

My Grandma Brock was a great Grandma. Whenever we stayed with her she would not only let us do whatever we wanted to do, she would help us. I remember one time my sister Jayne wanted to make a chocolate cake at 9:00 PM. Grandma says okay so we do it! Of course we always ate a great deal of the batter before it was actually baked. Grandma's Chocolate cake was her standard recipe and I never saw it written. But we grandchildren helped her make it so frequently that we knew the recipe as well as grandma did. But time marches on and the fine details of the recipe became vague to me. And then one day I ran across this recipe and it was exactly like Grandma's recipe!!


Grandma's Chocolate Cake
1 1/2 C Sugar
2 eggs
1/2 C butter
1/2 C buttermilk
2 tsp baking soda
4 T. cocoa powder
1 C hot water
1 1/2 C flour
Cream together eggs, butter and sugar. Add dry ingredients,soda, flour and cocoa alternately with the buttermilk. After you have mixed this well, add the cup of hot water. Batter will be thin. Use two round cake pans and dividiing batter evenly between the two. Bake at350 degrees for 20 minutes.
(Grandma rarely had buttermilk on hand so we put a teaspoon of vinegar in regular milk)

Icing:
1 Box powdered sugar
1 C butter
1 C. flour
4 T. Cocoa powder
Mix sugar, flour and cocoa. Blend in the butter. Make some strong coffee and use the coffee to make the icing the right consistency.

As I start...

As I start my day I think what is on the agenda for today and when we are in sunny south Texas every day holds something. Today is computer class and I need to get there in the next few minutes. An interesting note is that each and EVERY computer  I have had an issue with has been on a computer with Vista. I will be so glad when Vista fades off into the sunset and I feel truly sorry for those folks who are saddled with it. With the average life of 3 - 5 years for a laptop it will happen but seniors being such as they are, can make things last a very long time. Here is to a hopeful future!!

Brain Study

Good example of a Brain Study: If you can read this you have a strong mind: 7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17, B3 PROUD! 0NLY C3R741N P30PL3 C4N R3AD 7H15. PL3453 F0RW4RD 1F U C4N R34D 7H15.

PS: The third word in the first sentence has me a bit stumped but other than that it is easy. 

Pixel of Ink

Why some books are free for Kindle and other answers. I thought this page was very informative. I do know you have to grab those books when you get notified because they may not be free for long. I read the blurbs or rather scan might be a better word and if I find one that interests me I "buy" it right away. There is a lot of good literature out there and it is just a click away
http://www.pixelofink.com/an-introduction-to-free-kindle-books/#WhyAreTheseFree

From Grandpa Gary

Elise loves reading books and Amanda requested we get a video of her reading one of her favorites. There are many where she knows all the words like her opposites or her New shoes, red shoes.

Llama Llama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y6Hhq0Ta08

The other video is just Gary on his latest purchase
Inversion table: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8GLT5JA8mA

PS: Butch wanted an inversion table last summer but I argued that we did not have room for it. So Butch may just move in with Gary now.

Our Lucky Day

Here are some very adorable pictures of Sweet Elise. Thanks Grandpa Gary!!

Senior Valley Olympics

 Butch couldn't play shuffleboard this morning because he will be going to the Senior Valley Olympics playing pool. He will be representing the park in golf as well. He is a busy boy.

Days Whiz by...

We have been taken back by how the time flies by. I get our vitamin supplements ready each week putting all the capsules into containers by the days of the week. I generally do this on Sunday mornings. It seems like I am doing it frequently. We are into the middle of January in a new year and it does not seem possible but here it is. Jason was saying that some people worry about how they might fill their time when they retire and he was asking if I knew of anyone that was a problem for. My answer to him basically was that if that were so it was by choice. The days fill up and fast and when we are here in this warm weather area it happens at lightening speed. It is impossible to take part in everything offered. I gave up trying to do it all a long time ago.
The number one thing that will stop retirees from getting to do all they want to do are health issues so my advice to the young is take good care of yourself and when you reach the senior years you will be glad you did.
I know Butch plans to play shuffleboard this morning and after he gets up I plan to wash the sheets. This afternoon is crafts for me and he will probably meander over to the pool hall. I really need to get over there too. I enjoy playing pool when I get there to do it.
It promises to be a warm day today so we seniors will be out and about saying "hey" to all we meet.