I am just between here and there-

getting ready to leave,

hoping to get lots done when I arrive-

going back to the east coast to get the house

ready for the season.

So I don’t have a lot of time to write-

BUT-

I found this series of pictures that my son

took on my camera over the holidays

and thought I would share my own

version of this Australian method of eating

Tim Tams.

First you bite off the corners on two sides.

Get your coffee ready and hold the Tim Tam carefully so you don’t drop it into the cup!

Warn your son that he should not take any more pictures because this could get messy!

Apparently they missed the whole suck the liquid gently up into the biscuit -

and jumped to the have your mouth wide open so you can stick it into your

mouth without delay!

I’m not quite sure what this one is supposed to show- except that I took

two bites to eat it and didn’t end up with a dripping chocolate mess!

I have two sons.

My sisters each had a daughter and a son-

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my boys- but I needed a

little girl in my life- so I became Super Aunt and

took some of that little girl love from my nieces.

I played with my sister Robin’s daughter, Allyson,

babysat with much joy and just had an all around great time.

One of the games we played had music to go with it.

“Go in and out the window, go in and out the window,

Go in and out the window- as we have done before.”

Simple tune, sweet little game- almost a dance step and

easy to get tangled up and generate a lot of giggles.

So, when Aiden and Allyson came over on May day to

deliver a bouquet of flowers, Frank was changing the window

in the front door to a more seasonable screen. 

And I had grabbed my camera to get a picture of Aiden carrying

the flowers, so I still had it in my hand when she started playing

“In and Out the window”.

Or maybe just- “I’m going out your window- or should I say

your door!”

Love this girl/woman!

Every once in a while I start baking

and don’t know when to

quit.

Today was one of those days.

Started out with a buttermilk toasting bread-

and then on to pumpkin pies-

And then Cookies!!!!

Peanut butter and oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips.

And then, finally-

Devil’s Food cake with Frangipane filling and Dark Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt

glaze and almonds.

Really really good stuff.

Really really good.

Here are some of the pictures of my sister Robin’s gardens.

The church gate and the fenced area around the pool.

Lilies and columbines by the fence.

Sorry I’m not very good at scanning- but she was an artist with flowers.

I’ve been asked for this recipe by several who have commented on the latest IMK post.

Here it is.

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp 
butter, softened (this makes it taste more old-fashioned)

1/4 c
sugar

1
egg

1/2 c
dark molasses–amount depends on type( if you use light use 3/4 cup)

1 c
all purpose flour

1 tsp
baking soda

1/4 tsp
ginger, ground

1/4 tsp
cinnamon, ground

1/8 tsp
salt

1/2 c
hot water

Directions:

In a small bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg. Beat in molasses. Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with water, mixing well after each addition.

Transfer to a 9-in. square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares; garnish with whipped topping.

This is really good- not too sweet, not too spicy, just a good molasses flavor coming through!