A Little Late

I know July has come and gone, but a promise is a promise. One of the goals on my Project 52 list was to make an awesome flag cake. 

I've always wanted to make a flag dessert for the 4th of July. Usually, my ideas have consisted of using blueberries and strawberries to make stripes on top of a cake. Until I found this cake on Pinterest: 

Source: cakecentral.com via Lou on Pinterest

Wow! How cool is that? I decided that I was up for the challenge. I started a few days ahead so I could freeze the layers. It was a little tricky, I won't deny it. 

This is how my cake turned out. Not quite Martha Stewart quality, but, not bad for my first attempt. I thought I had cut my slices much more evenly, but the evenness (or in my case, unevenness) was hard to tell until everything was all sliced, iced, and stacked.

Here is how to make this little ditty:

Opps! My center layers were a little too high. I just took off the top layer, and may have eaten it while working on the rest of the cake.

(Admittedly, I felt like draping my cake in black as we had just received the stab in the back from Supreme Court Justice Roberts about Obamacare, on June 30. However, I just might feel like baking my cake again after tomorrow night.)

Hopefully, you have made an educated decision on which candidate you want to vote for to be the next President of the United States. It is our privilege and responsibility as citizens of a free country to be informed. Remember, men and women have died to preserve our freedom. Vote!

May God bless the United States of America!

Until next time,

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Raising the White Flag

Well, I'm back from another unintended break, but only temporarily. In fact, just long enough to say, I'm gonna have to take a little break. I didn't want to, but since I haven't been blogging much, I decided to make it official. Hence, the raising of the white flag. I surrender. Oh, how I hate saying that! 


But, before I surrender, you may be wondering what I have been up to. Well, last week, during the hottest week of the summer (so far), Hubby and I were up on a rooftop. A two-story high, steep roof. Not a fun place to be. He spent most of the time on the roof, while I sprinted gingerly climbed the ladder carrying a myriad of supplies that were needed. While I was climbing the ladder I wondered which was worse, to make 1000 trips up and down, or to be perched up on the top of a steep roof. But, when I was perched on top of the steep roof, I decided that I would much rather be drudging up and down the ladder. My job was to cut the shingles to size to make the process go faster. I'm getting really good at it. We should be able to really fly when we do our roof this next week! After that roof job, our single story roof job will seem like a piece of cake!


And speaking of cake, (wasn't that a nice transition?) this is what I am going to attempt to make for the 4th of July:

Source: s3.media.squarespace.com via Darlene on Pinterest

I found this on Pinterest. I'll let you know how successful or unsuccessful my attempt was. I'm hoping it slightly resembles the flag, but we'll see. 


Son, JT, and Sweetie Pie will be arriving on Saturday. Between now and Saturday I have to get ready for a yard sale (Wednesday thru Friday),and get the house cleaned. What the heck am I thinking??? Well, it must be done, otherwise there is no place for Sweetie Pie and Son to sleep, because all of our yard sale junk treasures are being stored in the "living room". 


I'm not even going to discuss the garden! Sigh Everywhere I look there is work and more work to do. Next year, HOPEFULLY, we won't be so overwhelmed.


I've also be editing two books, not mine - are you crazy? Amazing Daughter is getting ready to publish her first book. I'm so excited for her. Her dream is coming true. 


Also, one of my SILs has written a book. She passed a copy (rough draft) out to all the family members to read, to get everyone's opinion. I'm having a hard time reading it without being in "edit mode". She assured us that she wants honest opinions. So, she will either hate Amazing Daughter and I, or love us. But, when someone says, "Give me your honest opinion", and you do, you discover they really didn't want honesty. And, bye-bye friendship. I like her story, but...what do I say now? Let's say it needs more development.  I hope it doesn't make me sound judgemental, because I could never begin to write a book.


I'm reading another book, no editing needed! Remember that little contest a few weeks ago over at Craziness Abounds? Well, I won first place, by default. The first place winner already had her book, so she graciously said someone else could have it. I came in second place, so I recieved not only the just released book, "More Nonsense", but also the first book, "Just Nonsense", by my wonderful friend, Melynda Fluery. And, they are great, entertaining books. I'm loving them. You can get your copy by clicking on the book at the top of my    blog.


Well, it is time for me to start carrying stuff out of the basement and out of the living room to get ready for the yard sale tomorrow. Hubby is busy scraping off shingles as I type this, so I will be setting up the yard sale by myself. At least I'll be on the ground!


I am missing you all, my bloggy friends, and hope to be back to visit you come mid-(or late-) July. To all my American friends, have a wonderful Independence Day, and celebrate by reading the "Declaration of Independence".


Oh, in case you are wondering, we now have a full and functioning bathroom! YAY! Pictures will be forthcoming when I return!


I hate to say good-by, so I'm dragging it out. I do the same thing when I'm talking on the phone. It drives my kids crazy. Finally, they will tell me, "Are you going to say good-bye or not? You said your first good-bye 30 minutes ago!" 


OHH-KAAAY! Ta-ta for now. Talk to you again in a few weeks! 

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Happy 4th of July

The United States is the only country with a known birthday. - James G. Blaine

Happy 235th Birthday, USA!

"We don't celebrate dependence on the Fourth of July, we celebrate independence." - Ronald Reagan

Here is the reason we must be vigiliant.
How much debt has the government put on her shoulders??

 Ronald Reagan was one of our greatest presidents. The following quotes are from "The Common Sense of an Uncommon Man, the Wit, Wisdom, and Eternal Optimism of Ronald Reagan" by Michael Reagan

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of these United States are covenants we have made not only with ourselves but with all mankind. Our founding documents proclaim to the world that freedom is not the sole prerogative of a chosen few. It is the universal right of all God's children. - Ronald Reagan, 1991


I had a copy of the Soviet Constitution and I read it with great interest. And I saw all kinds of terms in there that sound just exactly like our own: "Freedom of assembly" and "freedom of speech: and so forth. Of course, they don't allow them to have those things, but they're in there, in the constitution. But I began to wonder about the other constitutions--everyone has one--and our own, and why so much emphasis on ours. And then I found out, and the answer was very simple--that's why you don't notice it at first. But it is so great that it tells the entire difference. All those other constitutions are documents that say, "We, the government, allow the people the following rights," and our Constitution says "We, the people, allow the government the following privileges and rights."


We give our permission to government to do the things that it does. And that's the whole story of the difference--why we're unique in the world and why no matter what our troubles may be, we're going to overcome.
-Ronald Reagan, 1981


If we want to keep our country great and free, then we need to be interested in politics. I recently read on another great blog, Capitalist Preservation, that only 58% of Americans know that the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776! I find that beyond appalling! No wonder our country is in the shape it's in, on a fast road to socialism. And, fyi, the road to socialism always leads to that great and wonderful utopia of communism. We don't even know our own history. And, much of our history is being rewritten. (I will save the rant that is going on in my head for another day.)


So, in the midst of hotdogs  (I've heard enough about weiners), hamburgers, beer, and fireworks, take a few minutes to remember those great men, who with a firm reliance on Divine Providence (GOD) pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor, to give us freedom.


Have a Happy 4th of July!

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Freedom Rings

In honor of our upcoming Independence Day celebration, I have decided that for the month of July, many of my posts will be dedicated to the topic of Freedom, and/or U.S.history.

"We don't celebrate dependence on the Fourth of July, we celebrate independence." - Ronald Reagan

Two hundred and thirty-five years ago, this is what was happening:


July 1, 1776  John Adams spoke at the Continential Congress to the delegates from the Thirteen Colonies:

Source

   " Before God, I believe the hour has come. My  judgement approves this measure and my whole heart is in it.  All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it.  And I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration.  It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, and Independence for ever.' 


July 3, 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, reflecting on what he shared in Congress and, with prophetic insight, declared the importance of what had happened the day before: 
    'The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, gun, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever.
     You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States.  Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means; that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction, even though we [may regret] it, which I trust in God we shall not.' "
  -From America's God and Country by William J. Federer

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