Pecan Pie Cake

Our local volunteer Fire Department had their annual fundraiser and I made this cake for the auction. It is a Pecan Pie Cake from Southern Living. It is actually easy to make and really good.

Pecan Pie Cake

Three layers of cake and 2 layers of filling

Pasty leaves made from refrigerated pie crust

Packaged and ready for the auction

Lee's new puppy

This is Cole. My son and a group of police officers found him and his 5 siblings on the road near the Law Enforcement Center. They were covered with fleas and hungry. My son brought this one home and added him to the 2 other dogs he adopted. Cole is growing, and he is fiesty, and he is one of the family now.

Time to Shred

It is day 3 for me...on the 30 day Shred. I wasn't as sore yesterday, so that is good news. I am going to do it every other day for now and while I'm exercising, I'll turn off the audio and listen to music instead.  I just have to get off of the computer and start. I'm going.

Am I too old?.....

I did level one last week. Level one, modified version (easy). I had to modify it more, and stop and rest while the instructors continued. I was very sore for 2 days. This morning, I'm giving it another try. I really want to tone up and walking has been unappealing because of the heat. Level One is a 20 minute circuit of exercises that features cardio and strength training-wish me luck!
It is supposed to be 103 degrees this afternoon, and you know where I'll be....resting my sore muscles in a cool pool.

Busy, busy, busy.

I've been so busy...with wedding plans for my son.

I've been so busy...working at the church.

I've been so busy...working in my house.

I've been so......

okay, I have only been reading or relaxing in the pool.

It has been hot, and dry, and Texas is burning all around us.

I feel like I am just holding steady, waiting for the weather to cool, and waiting on some rain.

I am planning some things for the wedding though-in my head.

The Official news

My son Lee and his girlfriend Peggi are now officially engaged. Congratulations to you both!

Dire situation

Tuesday:  It was time to water the few planters I keep on my porch, just to have a spot of life and color to cheer us up. This malabar spinach climbed around an ornament and caught my attention. So pretty! But the background revealed the lack of green vegetation in my yard. Because of the extreme drought, there's plenty of brown dust and dirt, as well as leaves that are drying on the trees. Can you believe that 106-108 degrees is forcast for each day this week? It's kind of  "the nail in the coffin" for the last of our water and pasture. I decided to photograph the situation.

The tank has about 3 weeks of water left in it.

Lack of rain, 105 plus degrees, and the hot wind = dying catfish.

At first, I tried adding fresh water but soon figured out that it was a losing battle. So Mike got his big bait net and for the next 4 hours, we caught and cleaned as many fish as we could.

My freezer is full of fish and we are exhausted. I feel good that these fish were not wasted, but I'm really sad that today there are at least 20 dead fish in the tank. I'm afraid that's the last of them. Now I am worried about all the other animals finding a water source. Our tank was one of the last ones around here to have water. I'm thinking of buying some children's swimming pools and keeping them full of water in the edge of the woods. I pray that the heat breaks and the rains come. In the meantime, I will do what I can to feed and water the other living creatures.