Today Joy and I put flowers in the church in honor of Mom.  Her birthday was August 12.  Our dear friend, Billy Rich, did the flowers, as he does every year.  We never tell him what to do or what flowers to use…he just knows.  He was such a special friend to my Mom, and he honors her by using his talents to fix an arrangement that just shouts, “MRS. ELLA!”  He gets it perfect every year!  Thanks, my friend!

Mom, sure hope you liked your flowers today.  I bet they are nothing compared to those growing in Heaven, huh?  I also hope you heard all the kind things folks said about you, too.   You are remembered with such love and admiration…a true testimony to the life you lived.  We love you, Tonja, Joy, and Pop.

There is nothing exciting to post here today.  But, I think sometimes we forget to appreciate the ordinary, everyday things that happen on a given day.  So, that’s what I’m doing.  Because, when you think about it, some of your best memories happen on a regular day…no planning, no setting up…just everyday life.

Suzanne has started back to school, so that means Levi gets to stay with us and his other grandparents.  It’s been a long summer without seeing his love of life everyday.  I’ve missed the things we do together.  He was here a few weeks ago and watched me cut a lemon to add to some sweet tea.  He asked me is he could squeeze it and make lemonade.  I told him that he could and that could be one of our first projects when he came back to stay.  In the meantime, I found a little lemon juicer that I thought would make it easier.  So, here’s how it went…

And, I missed the photo where he looked up after taking a sip and said, “Now, that’s de-lis-ious!”  He loved it.  And, it really was good!

Then, I made a cake.  Yes. I made a cake.  I ran across the recipe for my Mom’s famous pound cake.  She used to make at least two or three of these every week or so and take them to folks who were sick or shut in.  She always made sure Alex had some, too.  So, I went to the grocery store and bought all fresh ingredients right down to the flavorings.  I wanted it perfect.  And, you know what?  It was!  Just eating a bite of it warmed my heart!

This is an old recipe…called Million Dollar Pound Cake.   Just be sure to use the vanilla and the almond flavoring.  Makes all the difference.  It is a dense cake, and I like to undercook mine a little because I like a little bit of gooey in the center.  My mother in law used to call this a ‘sad streak’.

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MILLION DOLLAR POUND CAKE

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 1 hour 40 min. + cooling MAKES: 16 servings
Ingredients
1 pound butter, softened
3 cups sugar
6  large eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk

Directions
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Gradually add flour alternately with milk, beating just until blended.  Fold in extracts with a spatula.
Pour into a greased and floured 10-in. tube pan. Bake at 300° for 1 hour and 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Yield: 16 servings.

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And, may I add…it is delicious with a little butter spread on a slice and toasted in the oven on broil.

A little later, Joy called and said Pop wanted to give the little boys a treat.  So with a set amount to spend, he was treating them to a mini shopping spree at Toys R Us.  Oh! My!  We filled the cart and then began the process of deciding what to put back.  Choices!  So hard for little boys to make when they truly want it all.  But, a great lesson, as well.  We weighed pros and cons of this and that and finally Levi decided on his favorites…two sets of Legos.  John Thomas was all set with cars and trucks.  What fun!

Thanks, Papa Clyde.  This was a real treat.  You’re the best!

The day ended with Don and Levi playing in the pool with their new water toys!  They played pirates and found all manner of bad guys lurking around the pool.  Their water cannons got ’em every time!

What a full day!  I may just take an early bedtime tonight…cause…Levi will be back tomorrow!