Ria's Apron

Auntie Ria bought fabric and picked out this pattern for me to make her an apron. (Sunday Dinner Apron by Vanilla House designs.) It was fun to do but I had a little trouble with the pattern. I wrote down some of the problems and will email the company. Since I have been sewing for many years, I was able to figure out what to do but if a novice sewer tried to make this, they would have had a difficult time. I just received an email to pre-order the Lola apron. I ordered it and it is suppose to be sent out next week. Once I get it, I will be able to make your birthday apron Jen!

Graduation

It was a scorcher of a day for Brett's graduation. They held it outside on the football field. For the first time ever, Dad and I wore shorts to the commencement. Even Brett wore shorts and sandals. At the rehearsal Friday, they told the guys that they could wear shorts and sandals as it was such a hot and humid forecast.
These pictures below are from the graduation party Saturday. We had it at the middle school. It was another hot, humid day. Unfortunately the school had turned the air off on Friday afternoon for the summer! The school worked out real well for the party. (It's just too bad we didn't have it the week before so we could have had air.) We had the doors and windows opened but it was quite warm. There were 12 graduates at this party. Nine from our town and two girls from two other districts and one girl homeschooled.

Back row from left: Tahnee R., Kent D., Brett, Tommy K., Shannon P. Front Row from left: Brianne N., Julianna D., Janine P., Lorinna P., Stephanie K., Emma K., and Amanda G.
Pretty smart bunch. Most had honor cords and two (Stephanie and Julianna) were in the top 20. (Tahnee forgot to bring her cords to the party Saturday.)

Flowers

I got a few flowers planted last weekend. I still need some for one of the barrels on the back deck. It has become so much more shaded in the last few years that I'm trying to figure out what to plant in it. It's still too much sun for Impatients but some of the "full sun" flowers I had last year didn't do so well. I'll have to find something that takes "part/full sun". I'm not sure when I'll get out to find some. Today I am doing pasties for the last time until fall. Saturday night is Brett's Graduation Open House. (I tried to remember to mention it to the nieces and nephews I saw at the picnic on Sunday but if I didn't remember or see you, you are all welcome to come! It's from 6:30-9:30 at the local middle school.)

Bluebirds Are Back and The Pool is Open

About two weeks ago Dad happened to see a male bluebird near this birdhouse. He quickly emptied the nest that some other bird had left from last year. He was pumped when the bluebird returned and started building his nest. We use to have bluebirds around here many years ago but haven't seen them for years. So it is exciting to see them come back. There is a female around too, so hopefully they will successfully start a family.Dad opened the pool last weekend. Danny and Jeanie couldn't WAIT to get in. As you can see from the top middle picture, it was quite cold as the hose had been running all night to fill it up. Crazy kids didn't care. How they can ignore the cold is beyond me. The top right is Danny doing his breaststroke. He has gotten quite fast. It was funny, the last time at Special Olympic's swimming, he swam the whole length of the Hartland Pool without taking a breath!

Jake's Explosive Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake

JAKE’S EXPLOSIVE CHOCOLATE TURTLE CHEESCAKE

1 ¼ cups Oreo cookie crumbs
1 ¼ cups sugar, divided
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 ½ pounds cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup chocolate chips, whole
1 cup chocolate chips, melted
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs
TOPPING:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup Mrs. Richardson’s Butterscotch Caramel Ice Cream Topping
1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan.

In medium size mixing bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, ¼ cup sugar and 4 tablespoons of melted butter and mix well. Pour the crumbs into the bottom of the pan and press them out evenly. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, the remaining 1 cup sugar and vanilla. Beat together until light and creamy. Add the flour and beat until smooth. Pour in the cup of melted chocolate chips and sour cream and mix well. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing each at low speed. Fold in the cup of whole chocolate chips. Pour the filling into the pre-pared pan; bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the center is almost set. Let the cake stand for 10 minutes. Then run a knife around the side and allow it to come to room temperature. Refrigerate it for 8 hours or overnight. Remove the rim of the pan.

For the topping: In a small saucepan, melt the butter and pour in the chocolate chips. Mix together over medium-low heat. Pour the warm mixture onto the chilled cake. Refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes.

For final topping, drizzle caramel topping over cheesecake. Sprinkle with pecans. Serve. Keep refrigerated.

Small Party

There weren't too many home for Dad's Birthday Party. In fact, Danny was the only one that slept at home Saturday night! That was kind of strange. I had a little catastrophy with this cheesecake. I melted caramel candies for the top. I let them cool too long so I melted them again and then spread it on the cake. Well..............I COULD not get a knife in the caramel. I mean it was rock hard! So I had to peel it off and we ate it without caramel. I picked up some caramel ice cream topping and we had some yesterday with that. The cheesecake is almost better the second day anyway.