Rest in Peace George Infanti

A wonderful husband to an equally as wonderful woman and my daughter's Girl Scout leader-with (whom I have loved volunteering with for each meeting), father of a two beautiful and smart girls, and a dedicated and well loved community leader; selectman for 9 years. George Infanti will be greatly missed.

Read about this wonderful man, here --> Amherst Patch

Thank you so much for dropping by. Please come visit again, soon.

A Beautiful Day

Great weather and the day seemed to go on for ever!

Took some really nice pictures of the garden and while standing back, I noticed a huge Pileated Woodpeacker banging away on one of our trees! Totally not the least bit interested in me however.

Black Iris I planted these the fall before my mother died. They were beautiful their first spring with me and every spring since.

Pileated Woodpecker, isn't he handsome?

Thank you so much for dropping by. Please come visit again, soon.

Mike's Day on the Cape

Hi

There's huge coastal rain storm coming this weekend and we are supposed to be in Chatham, at the Cape, for Mike's memorial ceremony (my cousin's husband). He died this past February and his funeral was the same month. The weekend of his funeral was the same weekend the east coast was hit with a huge blizzard, shutting down all the roads, rails and runways. I couldn't make it, no matter how I tried.

Let's hope this storm keeps moving quickly and is out to sea by the time we reach the cemetery.

Tracy likes peony, since it's one of the flowers blooming in the garden I'll be making a bouquet with them and some of the black irises (which are almost ready to open). Will be pretty to lay on the family plot.

Hope Mike will watch down on us, tomorrow and continues to rest in peace.

Cupcake Celebration

Hello again!

Last night was the Girl Scout's Bridging night. Made these cupcakes for the sharing table. Wish we could have made the event but Meredith wasn't well again and couldn't be at school. Next year Laura bridges and we will be there for her!

Coffee, Nutmeg and Cinnamon Cupcakes. UMMMMM my favorite.

Recipe for the Coffee, Nutmeg and Cinnamon Cupcakes Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake cupcakes for 18-20 minutes. Wet 6 tsp Butter, softened 1 1/2 C Brown sugar 2 medium Eggs 5 TBSP strong black coffee 1/2 C Whipping cream 3 tsp Vanilla extract Dry 2 C Regular flour 3 tsp Baking powder 2 pinches salt 2 TBSP Instant coffee 1 tsp Ground cinnamon 1 tsp Ground nutmeg

Combine wet ingredients in a bowl until fluffy. In separate bowl, combine dry ingredients; sift well. Slowly adde dry ingredients to wet. Mix well until fluffy. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full.

Frosting 2 1/2 C Powdered Sugar Whole stick of Butter, softened 2 TBSP Whipping cream 2 TBSP Strong black coffee 2 TBSP Vanilla extract 1 tsp Ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp Ground nutmeg 3 tsp Instant coffee

Combine all ingredients until light and fluffy.

Chocolate Cupcake Sliders

These chocolate cupcakes sliders are frosted with either strawberry, blueberry or plain vanilla frosting. I think mini-cupcakes are the best. Pop them into your mouth, in all one bite they are gone. Sometimes the larger cupcakes are harder to eat.

Recipe for the Chocolate Cupcake Sliders Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake cupcakes for 18-20 minutes. Dry 1 1/3 C Regular Flour 1/4 tsp Baking soda 2 tsp Baking powder 3/4 C Unsweetened cocoa 1/8 tps Salt Wet 3 TBSP Butter, softened 1 1/2 C Sugar 2 medium Eggs 3/4 Vanilla extract *1 C Milk*

Sift dry ingredients; set aside. Cream wet ingredients EXCEPT MILK, adding eggs one at a time, mixing well in between. Slowly add dry ingredients and milk, alternating between the two. Mix well until fluffy. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full.

Frosting 2 1/2 C Powdered sugar Whole stick of Butter, softened 1 TBSP Vanilla extract 1/8 tps Salt 4 TBSP Whipping cream

Mix ingredients until fluffy.

Love Balloons!

Spring and fall (and one time, several winters ago) are the times to see balloons floating overhead. Usually in the early morning, when the air is nice and crisp. Today's morning temps certainly were.

Isn't this balloon beautiful?

Balloons used to land in the field behind my childhood home, all the time. We'd have front row seats, sitting at our kitchen table!

My Top Topiaries!

Hi there!

Just gave the topiaries their trim for the year. Can't believe I shaped these almost 9 years ago!!! It's always a nice day, sitting and trimming these trees. There was so much growth this year, I got a huge blister on my finger, just after cutting only 2 trees. Have two more to go... I use scissors. So you think I should get a more appropriate tool?