Sidewalk Chalk Art

Using the sidewalk as a canvas, the best Mother's Day card was drawn on the path for all to enjoy.  It was perfect for a photo op as walkers passed by.  I wonder how many did partake in having their Mother's Day photo shoot standing beside this piece of art, I know I did.  

Malia the artist💓

My Mother's Day card.

She met this cute little guy while we were on a garden tour.  I thought she was going to bring him home.

Mother's Day In Georgia

Martha, a dear friend sent me a text the other day and said, "I remember the day you became a mom."   That was thirty-three years ago and only god knows how many diapers.  Now my children are grown, only when they left home did I realize it went by way too fast.  I look back on those years like it was yesterday.  Like the time an elderly man says to Malia you are so cute, what is your name?  She had this look on her face like she couldn't believe he didn't know who she was.  With her hands on her hips and attitude in her voice she says ugh, Malia Girl!  And Abby Gail who would go to the grocery store with me wearing a tutu on her head all the while thinking it was a normal thing to do,  and in her eyes it was.  Or Lora Beth who was afraid when someone would vomit.  If we were in the vehicle, she would beg to be tied on top of the roof, if someone was car sick (Abby Gail) promising not to fall off.   Of course this we didn't do.    And lastly Michael, the only boy who was raised by not only mama, but three sisters.  One day he came home from little league football practice and said, "mom don't clean my football helmet with comet anymore, it makes it look like I don't get to play."

There are so many memories, many that I photographed.  All the birthday parties, the occasional trips to the beach.  The homework and meals shared around the kitchen table.  And yes many tears.  I think back at all the halloween costumes I made, enjoying every stitch.  They would return from a night of trick-or-treating and trade out the candy they didn't like.  Anything with coconut would always come my way.

They have their own lives now with careers, spouses and obligations.  The days of me braiding hair and running them to practice are over.   They are at the age that they do not need me anymore, but not a day goes by that I do not think of them.

Me with Malia 

 Jim and Malia

Stone and I

Malia Girl

We gathered on their rooftop patio to catch up and eat pizza as we watched the sun set.

Pizza on the roof.

The view from the rooftop patio.

Albert 

Smushie

Monster Cat

For Mother's Day weekend, we toured ten homes that were sponsored by the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  Among them were some of Atlanta's finest private gardens.

For Mother's Day brunch Jim had made reservations at Lure, a seafood restaurant in the heart of Midtown on historic Crescent Avenue.  After touring five gardens we had worked up an appetite.  I began my meal with the fried rhode island calamari, it might had been the best calamari i'd ever eaten, and i've had plenty.  For my entree I chose the steelhead trout, although I thought about getting the seared scallops that Stone had ordered.  From the looks of our plates you couldn't have made a bad choice.  Lastly three scoops of Rocky Road ice-cream.  This I had picked out before I arrived at the restaurant.

 Steelhead Trout

Stone's Seared Scallops

Rocky Road

Happy Mother's Day Ms. Betty

The official Mother's Day is this Sunday, but it's never to early to honor her.  Ms. Betty has been a mom of two for 62 years.  She has many memories of those years gone by, some she was recollecting just yesterday. She spoke of countless.  Memories which had her laughing were when the boys would want to sit on there grandfathers tractor, or when my husband was around four years old, a rooster was chasing him through the yard.   She said it was the funniest site.  She's told the stories how when Stone was a little boy he would sew up his stuffed teddy bear (preforming surgery), and how he would use M & M's for the medicine.  She knew before he did what he would grow up to become.  The years have passed and her children are grown, but the memories will last a life time.
Usually when we go for a visit I take Ms. Betty some goodies.  For Mother's Day I baked a Hummingbird Cake,  filled with pineapple, banana,'s and spices like ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  This cake is very moist and flavorful.

Ms. Betty and Stone

Hummingbird Cake

Hummingbird Cake

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cup all-purpose

1 cup pecan pieces

3 rupe bananas, chopped

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh pineapple

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoons salt

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1 3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

Frosting:

2 packages cream cheese (8 ounces) each, at room temperature

12 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature

4 cups confections' sugar

1 Tablespoon finely grated lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cake Directions:

Pre:heat oven to 350'. Spray with baking spray two 8" pans lined with parchment paper, I used (three 7" pans).

On a baking sheet toast pecans about 6-8 minutes.  Cool to the touch, and chop.  Toss with pineapple, banana, and 1/2 cup flour in a small bowl.

Mix the remaining 2 1/4 cups flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda  and salt in a bowl.  In a separate bowl beat eggs and granulated sugar with a mixer on high until thick and light, 5 minutes.

Gradually beat in the vegetable oil.

Sprinkle the flour mixture over the egg mixture, gently fold to make a thick batter.  Stir in the fruit-pecan mixture, then pour batter evenly into prepared pans.  Bake until cakes are firm and pick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 50-55 minutes, depending on size of pans you use.  Cool in the pans on a rack 20 minutes, then invert onto cake rack to cool completely.

Frosting Directions:

Make the frosting by beating the cream cheese in a bowl with a mixer until fluffy,  then beat in the butter until well mixed.  Add cream cheese to the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth.  Mix in the lemon zest and vanilla, beating until light and fluffy.

Frost in-between layers then on sides and top of cake. 

Dried Pineapple:

I used this for garnish.  Slice pineapple as thin as possible.  Place on cooling racks laid over parchment-lined sheet.  Bake on 185' for about 3 hours.  Turn the slices over ever 40 minutes or so. Depends on how thin your slices are.  When dehydrated remove slices from the oven place , push them into mini cupcake pans to form the shape of a flower, and continue to dry 3-12 more hours.

Happy Mother's Day Ms. Betty

Pansies at Ms. Betty's

Iris at Ms. Betty's

What is your favorite Mother's Day Cake that you have ever made?