Quick break to look that up to settle my own curiousity led me to find that it refers to when dogs literally vomit when something disagrees with them. I guess in Britian (where it originates from) being sick means to vomit and feeling ill refers to a cold. So if I looked at it that way it makes sense but not really in my case. Hmmmm so maybe I'm not really sick as a dog after all but instead under the weather....uh oh...hahah there is another one. Ok I looked that one up too and that one works.
Straight from medicinenet.com
Under the weather: Colloquial expression for sick or ill as, for example, to be under the weather with the flu. The phrase "under the weather" came from British sailing ships. When a sailor became ill he was confined below deck out of the weather, so it was said that he was under the weather.
So that settles it...I am not sick as a dog but more under the weather. In fact Ava seemed to have picked something up from gymnastics last week and then I came down with it. Now Aaron and Kate seems to be getting it. Ava seems to be about 80% better so there's hope in that for the rest of us.
Even though Ava and I felt like crap on Sunday we put on a brave face and went apple picking. Ok well actually I figured that Ava really needed to nap and she hasn't "napped" since she was about 1.5. My logic behind the trip was that Ava would nap either on the way there or back and would rest more in the car than at home. It worked out well and she got a nice nap in and got to pick apples. I made some apple dip the other night but we have only gotten through a few apples with that. So I think we will be making an apple pie today or tomorrow to use up some more. If I can find a few small jars I will make some small jars of pie to stash in the freezer for a later date. If not I may just make a spare pie and freeze it. Of course I have to make apple dumplings because everyone LOVES my apple dumplings. If fact I have been told by my Mom, Uncle Doug, and Grandad that my apple dumplings taste like my Nanny's so that to me is quite the complement. Nanny was German and German's know a thing or two about pastry. Yummm apple dumplings...sounds like a good dessert for Sunday.
Now to get caught up on pictures...here are some from my cousin's son Collin's first birthday. I didn't get as many as I had liked because my flash is broken and I haven't invested in a speedlite yet (maybe Christmas) so I could only really get them to turn out outside and it was a bit cold and rainy. Darn September weather.
The birthday boy
The kids went to the playground for a bit before the rain started.
Ava enjoyed playing with her cousins
I wish Ava hadn't pulled me away down to the water right after these because he started dancing and singing and it was so cute.
Hard to believe those "leggings" were pants last year. Time for new clothes.
After the party we went to see baby Reece Aaron. Aaron's sister had her second son on September 13th. He was 8Ibs 13oz and 21 inches long. Photos of baby Reece to come in a separate post :)
Last week Aaron was having a bad day so Ava and I decided to bake him a chocolate cake from scratch. Yum this cake and icing were to die for. Definitely my new go to chocolate layer cake and icing recipes.
Ava loves to bake so I normally get things started by measuring everything out for her ahead of time. This was I can tell her what to add and she feels like she is making it all by herself.
Yum!!
Watching her cakes rise
Double Yum!!
Ready to make the icing
It spread like a dream
We added fall leave sprinkles as a quick decorative touch.
Snug as a bug in a rug..or well as a cake in a cake container
While I was doing dishes Ava was "cleaning up" some spilled powdered sugar ;)
Well that's all for now. There is lunch needed to be made, a laundry room floor needing to be mopped, and some Ava clothes needing folding. I'll try to get back on this afternoon to catch up some more.
Wait quick recipe share then I'm off...
From the fine folks at Hershey
"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE CAKE
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING (recipe follows)
Directions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
- Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING. 10 to 12 servings.
VARIATIONS:
ONE-PAN CAKE: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350° F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.
THREE LAYER CAKE: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.
BUNDT CAKE: Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.
CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.
"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.
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