CANDY!!!

CANDY!!!

CANDY!!!


Not only is June the month we honor our dad's, attend weddings, and go on vacations, June has the privilege of being the official candy month.

Bits of candy history: The origin of candy can be traced to the ancient Egyptians who combine nuts with honey. Greeks used honey to make candied fruits and flowers. The first modern candies were made in the 16th century and soon developed into an industry during the early 19th century.

Candy Bar History: The First chocolate bar was made in 1847 by Joseph Fry in England. Named: Fry's Chocolate Cream Bar.

Candy Cane History: Stems back to Germany around 1670. Later, Bob McCormick began making candy canes as special Christmas treats.

Cotton Candy History: A Nashville team of Wharton and Morris patented the first modern candy machine in 1897.

As you can see, candy has been with the human race for quite a long time. Below, is one of my candy recipes for Peanut Butter Fudge. I make this recipe throughout the year and it has never failed. The fudge calls for only seven ingredients, you probably have most in stock. If you're like me, I like easy and proven recipes from people I trust. This candy recipe was my mom's. Well trusted and proven.

So, celebrate the month of June with your dad, attend a wedding or have a great vacation, but remember your sweet tooth and give this proven recipe of peanut butter fudge of try. You'll be glad you did.

Ingredients:
No-Stick Cooking Spray
3 Cups sugar
1/2 Cup butter
2/3 Cup Pet Evaporated Milk
1 2/3 Cups Jiffy Creamy Peanut Butter
1 (7oz.) jar marshmallow cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Line 13 x 9-inch pan with aluminum foil. Spay with cooking spray.
Combine sugar, butter, and milk in large saucepan, stirring constantly on medium heat, until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
Add peanut butter. Stir until well blended. Add marshmallow cream and vanilla. Beat until well blended. Spread in prepared pan. Cool. Cut into candy-size pieces.
(Note:)You may add walnuts or pecans, if you like. I add them just before I spread the fudge into the pan. I also let the fudge cool overnight in the refrigerator. This gives the fudge time to blend and settle. It also slices into cubes better.) Enjoy!

Make the world a better place

Best,
Sherry

LITTLE SEEDS

Hey all. It's that time of year again when we start thinking about planting those little seeds. It's a good thing, I don't get manicures this time of year, because it would be a waste of my money. I love planting and watching my seeds grow.

Below is a photo of my lily and mum garden from last season.
               "Happy Growing Season to you!"

Poems:
How does it know, this little seed,
if it is to grow to a flower or weed,
if it is to be a vine or shoot or
grow to a tree with a long deep root?
A seed is so small, where do you
suppose it stores up all of the things it knows?
(uua.org/tapestry)

The love is spreading to me and to you.
Hearts are opening wide.
Sun warms the earth, we all are flowers.
The love starts deep inside. (uu.org/tapestry)

"Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
how does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockleshells,
and pretty maids all in a row
(Mother Goose)

In my garden there is a large
place for sentiment. My garden
of flowers is also my garden of
thoughts and dreams. The thoughts
grow freely as the flowers and the
dreams are as beautiful
(Abram L. Urban)

Who loves a garden, finds
within his soul life's whole
He hears the anthem of the soil
while ingrates toil and see
beyond his little sphere the
waving fronds of heaven, clear
(Louise S. Jones)

Make the world a better place.

Best,
Sherry

Sacred Trees/ Poem by: Joyce Kilmer

April celebrates Earth Day and Arbor Day.

Tree Astrology:
What's Your Sign?

April babies represent The Willow. You are highly creative, intuitive, and you understand that life teaches a lesson.

A personal tree story:
One sunny afternoon, my eighth grade teacher took our class outside to sit under a tree. She passed out bags of popcorn and told us to eat in silence."Study the tree as a whole tree first," she told us, "then separate the tree into leaves, branches, and its trunk. Remember as much as you can about this tree." We all giggled thinking our teacher had lost her mind. But, we knew our teacher, she was serious. I guess we sat under that old tree for about twenty minutes. Probably, the quietest we'd been all day. Back in the classroom, our teacher instructed us to compose a short poem about the tree. We all moaned of course. As we engaged in our writing, she quietly wrote this poem on the blackboard.

I think that I shall never see
a poem lovely as a tree

A tree whose hungry mouth
is prest against the earth's
sweet flowing breast

A tree that looks at God all day
and lifts her leafy arms to pray

A tree that may in Summer wear
a nest of robins in her hair

Upon whose bosom snow had lain
who intimately lives with rain

Poems are made by fools like me
but only God can make a tree

Joyce Kilmer

(Note:The tree poem I wrote that day ended up in the trash. Today, I honor 'all' teachers who make a difference in their class.)

Make the world a better place

Best,
Sherry

St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes

Cupcakes! Cupcakes! Cupcakes!

"Nothing like a cute cupcake to make you smile"

Want something different for dessert this St. Patrick's Day? How about cupcakes. They are fun and easy. My mom baked cupcakes almost every Sunday when I was little. I thought they were the greatest. They fit just right in my small hand as I raced out the backdoor to play. She let me pick the color wrappers. I always picked the purple and pink ones. A girl thing for sure. The cupcake smell floated through our house and drove my dad crazy. He would make several trips to the kitchen and ask, "how much longer on those cupcakes, Dorothy?" Cupcakes, pot roast and potatoes was a big deal on Sunday. Homemade bread or cornbread topped with butter made the meal, perfect. Sitting around the table and sharing good food made for warm family time.


Below is a delicious and super quick cupcake recipe. The pistachio pudding flavor is awesome.








1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant pistachio pudding mix
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1-1/4 cups 2% milk
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Green food coloring, optional
Cream Cheese frosting

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, pudding mix, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, beat the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; add to dry ingredients and mix until blended.

Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 375 for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack to cool completely. Add food coloring to frosting, if desired; frost your beautiful St. Patrick's cupcakes. Enjoy.

If you have a tasty cupcake recipe, I would love to hear from you.

Make the world a better place.

Best,
Sherry

Coloring

Hi guys,

Coloring isn't just for kids anymore. Last year, I received crayons and two adult coloring books for Christmas. I have to say, I have a new respect for coloring. Coloring can be relaxing and a stress reliever. It also can stimulate your brain in the areas of motor skills and creativity. Personally, sitting quietly with my coloring allows me to focus on (it) and not my worry for the day. That's a good thing. Right? So, if your looking for a new hobby for the winter, pick up an adult coloring book at your local Wal-Mart, Target or Michael's.

Here are three of my coloring projects. As a personal touch, I framed them and gave as gifts.

Make the world a better place Best,
Sherry

New Year, Discipline & Sequel

HAPPY NEW YEAR READERS AND WRITERS









Hope your holiday season was happy and productive. My family shared delicious food, gift giving and games. Winter has arrived in my area of the country with single digit numbers. Burrrrrrr!!!!!!

With the new year in front of us, I've been thinking about my writing and what I want to accomplish. Last year, I finished my YA novel Hybrid: The Egg Harvest. A long three years, I might say. But, those three years taught me a lot on how to write. Spending time with my critique group, reading books on how to write, and laboring at the keyboard has lodged the word 'discipline' deep inside my brain. Most days are a joy to write, others complete drudgery. I've learned a daily writing schedule is a must for productivity. As we all know, life gets in the way of our writing, but with discipline we must make up the time the next day. It matters little whether our schedule is word count or hours, making up the time is crucial to the success of finishing our story's. My word count for each day is 500. So, if I miss a scheduled writing time, my make up count for the next day rolls over to 1,000 words. If it's a low energy day for me and the words aren't flowing that's the drudgery day I hate.

For the new year, I've decided to try a sequel to Hybrid. My working title is Interweave. I'm five chapters in, and the plot and characters are coming together without much headache. The joy of writing is flowing.

I hope your reading and writing is off to a great start for the upcoming year. My new read this week is Cassandra Clare and Holly Black's, The Iron Trial. 

Best,
Sherry

Never To Late

Hello, again, 

If your reading this, THANK YOU. However, it's crazy to think it's been three years since I posted on my blog. I've let this blog slide for one reason only, FINISHING MY NOVEL. YAY FOR ME!!!!
By far, I think this was harder than giving birth. At least with labor it's over in a few hours. This story literally took over my life. As I pounded away at my keyboard the days seemed sluggish at times, yet too fast with family and friends. Writing is vigorous work. It takes effort, planning, and ass in chair. 
For me, discipline to write each day finally paid off when I wrote the last paragraph of HYBRID-THE EGG HARVEST. Happy to report, hard at work on the sequel, HYBRID-INTERWEAVE.


I'm looking forward to the holiday season to celebrate good health, good food, and spending quality time with the people I love. 

So, that's it for now. I don't think it will be three years before you here from me again. I wish each and all a wonderful holiday season and that the new year will bring you joy and happiness.

Best,

Sherry 
(P.S.) HYBRID- THE EGG HARVEST is in its third editing.