Friday morning this and that . . .

Do little things to brighten up
The spot on which you're standing
By being more considerate
And a pickle less demanding.

Our dark old world would very soon
Eclipse the evening star,
If each of us would brighten up
The corner where we are.
~author unknown

What a delightful little poem and so very true too! I'm doing my bit, how about you??

It's really wierd this morning. I seem to have forgotten how to type. I keep pressing the wrong keys and getting the wrong letters, so it's taking me a bit longer than usual. I hope that this is not a portent of things to come and that I'm not becoming all doo lally!!!



Mayhap it's the result of a bit of a sugar rush yesterday afternoon. I received the most delightful package in the post yesterday, all the way from California. It was quite a surprise! I have a wonderful friend over there, Kim, that has a blog called Gerushia's New World. She's a very talented artist and does the most wonderful little pieces created out of old photographs, new bits and scraps and paint.



I think she calls it anthropomorphic art. Whatever it is called, it's delightful and I am so lucky to own a couple of her pieces that I purchased some time ago! I hope she doesn't mind me showing them to you. Anyways, I got this package from her and what do you suppose I found when I opened it up??? This will show you just how thoughtful she is.

Sometime ago I must have posted a comment on her blog about how much I loved Candy Pumpkins and how we couldn't get them over here. It is completely true, but just something I have had to learn to live with over here. I'd buy some when I go home to visit my mom . . . but it's always in July and there is not a lot of Candy Pumpkins or Candy Corn (another of my loves) around the shops in July. Well, lo and behold, I open this package yesterday and hidden in it's depths is a lovely big bag of Candy Pumpkins and two sweet little Halloween Pez dispensers!



I had so much fun yesterday afternoon, introducing Todd to Pez and Candy Pumpkins! He'd never tasted either one! Thanks so much to my dear friend Kim for her heartfelt thoughtfulness and this wonderfully kind gesture! (Thanks also to Todd for letting me take this silly picture of him. I did take another one where he has a Candy Pumpkin Mohawk, but he won't let me show you that one, lol)

I just had to use the pumpkins right away and because it was Seminary Night, I baked a sweet little cake to take along to treat my students with. Since it was not for home, I even got away with baking a chocolate one as well! It went down a real treat with them and, I confess to having a bit of a nibble as well! (Did you know that smarties taste like the colour that they are? It's true! Orange ones taste like orange, and green ones taste like green!)



This has to be one of the easiest chocolate cakes in the world to make and it always turns out moist and delicious! It makes two layers, so I used one for my Seminary Students and the other one I am taking in to work for a few children that will be visiting up there this weekend.

Isn't it wonderful how small kindnesses and bright spots work? Kim's kind gesture has not only brightened my day, and Todd's, but also my Seminary Student's and several other children's as well. Thank you Kim!!!



*One Bowl Chocolate Cake*
Makes 2 9-inch layers
Printable Recipe

This is a rich and moist chocolate cake which goes together in a jiffy, all in one bowl. Frost as desired with your favourite frosting.

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 2ggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup sunflower oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water



Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Grease and flour two nine-inch round cake tins. Set aside.

Place all the cake ingredients,except for the boiling water into a large bowl. Beat for 2 minutes on the medium speed of an electric mixer. Stir in the boiling water and divide the batter amongst the prepared cake tins. The batter will be thin. Don't worry, this is normal.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to finish cooling.

Frost and decorate as desired.



There's another little treat posted for all your little Goblins over on The English Kitchen this morning. It's called Ballpark Pizza!

See you tomorrow! Happy Friday!