Vacancy! Canned Tomatoes and finally...Some ART!

There is finally a vacancy in the guest suite at the Richeys! We have had family since the week after we moved in, and I am now so spoiled by having extra help around the house. I am keeping busy this week so the boredom doesn't set in.




My neighbor taught me how to can tomatoes from her garden. We put up 20 quarts and I really had a great time learning how to do it!

My tax classes are going fine and I love the course. When I complete the course, I will be invited to do tax returns in January and February for H&R Block as a first year tax professional for the 2007 tax year. There are four of us in the class and I have learned lots of things after just the first week.

Today I went to Michael's to paint with my friend Lynda. Lynda was a classmate of mine at Certification and she is also the Event Coordinator at Michael's. We painted pumpkins, and I can't wait to finish painting the rest of mine. Here is what I accomplished at the store today:



Do you like pineapple upside down cake? Don's grandmother has the greatest recipe that Don's mom showed me how to make while she was here. It turned out great and was SO EASY!



Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a cast iron skillet melt 1/4 cup of butter and stir in 1/2 cup packed brown sugar. (stir together and smooth across bottom of skillet). Put pineapple rings on top of brown sugar mixture. (I put a pecan half in the middle of each ring, and I remember my Mom used to put a cherry!) Mix one cup of flour, 1 tsp of baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup of pineapple juice. Pour this mixture over the pineapple rings and bake 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and cake springs back. Dump cake on a serving plate when it comes out of the oven!

This weekend is "Pajama/Paint Weekend" at my house, so I am headed to my studio! The weather is very cool here....lower 60's during the day and down to 44 degrees tonight! I MISS THE SOUTHERN WEATHER!