Antietam in Winter

During the Christmas break we took a little day trip to Antietam.  This time I followed the Map of the battlefield and toured the stops on the Auto tour in order. 

We really had an enjoyable, educational day and if you want more information about the battle at Antietam click on this link.

I also found out that on the first Saturday in December they have an illumination memorial where they light a candle for each casualty of that day!  I will definitely be marking my calendar to go this year!!

I just wanted to share a few pictures of our day there....most are of the scenery and I added a little watermark to the pictures...just my name but let me know what you think.

This is the Maryland Monument which pays tribute to both Union and Confederate soldiers from Maryland

This tree was by the Clara Barton Memorial

I believe this is the Miller Farm

Tree in the Mumma Farm Cemetery

The Sunken Road...also known as the Bloody Trail

Burnside Bridge...I could stay and take pictures of this bridge all day!



Antietam National Cemetery



Antietam National Cemetery with "Old Simon" in the background.
The monument text says "Not for themselves but for their country"

 

Bloody Trail

We had a really nice day and even saw a few snowflakes.  I am really excited for the next school break so I we can go exploring some more.
Thanks for looking and I love feedback!

XO
Bronwyn

Happy New Year

Hard to believe its been a month since my last post.  Time certainly flies!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. 

On Christams we finally met Casey's brother Gene (whom we had no idea even existed until the day before Thanksgiving.)

The story is that a young man in the Air Force in the 1960's

was in France and met a young lady.....one thing led to another and a little boy was born..... there's not much known about the time between then and now except that Gene had been looking for his father for many years.....

He found us almost a month after Mr. Milton died.  And while the timing stinks we have made the best of it!!

Gene came to visit us for a few days and fell into the chaos here as if he's always belonged. We went to a concert, a Raven's game (woohoo)

And toured Fort McHenry

We had a wonderful time getting to know Gene!!

On another happy note......Its's Playoff Time Baby!!!!    Happy Festivus!!!! 

Go Ravens!!!!  :)

XO
Bronwyn

Cake Mix Cookies

I have been so busy lately but wanted to make a little treat for my kids....and myself...who am I kidding right!!

And I had some cake mix in the food closet SOOOOO

Cake mix cookies!!!
Very easy...Super Yummy!!

Take any flavor cake mix, add 1 egg, and 1 stick of butter

Mix together

And then spoon in your chips or nuts or whatever you want...M&M's are very fun and tasty additions.

Now you can drop these puppies on a cookie sheet and bake like normal cookies

Or you can add a stick and have cookie pops...

OR if you are really lazy (like me!) you can spray a 13x9 inch pan with cooking spray and put all of the batter in...cookie bars anyone!?

Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10...Unless you are making the cookie bars then you need to bake them for 15-18 minutes.... 

They are yummy

For chocolate cake mix you need a little more fluid so they won't be dry so also add in 2 Tbsp of water.

Here's the recipe all in one place in case you'd like to copy and print. :)

Easy Cake Mix Cookies

1 box any flavor cake mix
1 egg
1 stick of butter
(If use chocolate cake mix add 2 Tbsp water)

Mix in your yummies....chocolate chips, nuts, m&m's....or leave plain if you'd like

Drop cookies on pan and bake for 9-10 minutes!

ENJOY :)

Bronwyn

Twinkle Twinkle

I am a fan of MCP Actions blog where the author Jodi has everything from photoshop tutorials to weekly photography projects.  The reason I'm writing about her blog tonight is because of the photography project.  She called it MCP 52, and each week a new theme is revealed for those of us who would like to take the challenge.  Each week 10 photographs are chosen and featured on the blog.
I joined in on the challenge two weeks ago and the theme of that week was water.  This is the picture that I submitted for that theme.

This weeks theme is Traditions.  My family goes to the cemetery every year to decorate the graves of our loved ones with Christmas flowers or wreaths.  We all were there today and this is the picture I chose to submit for this weeks challenge.

Last week (I saved the best for last) the theme was Twinkle Twinkle and there were a lot of pictures of Christmas lights.  I thought I would play with something different and let Gabe play with sparklers while I snapped pics.  I opened my shutter speed so I could get all of the light rays and this is what I came up with.  I played with the hue and saturation in Photoshop to get the different color and I really like the result.

Now the best news is that this picture was chosen and presented on MCP Actions blog!!!!   I am so thrilled and just tickled that my picture was chosen among all of the other fabulous entries.  Check out her blog and take a look.....and you could even join me for the challenge...

Have a great day!!

Smiles,
Bronwyn

Pumpkin Dump Cake

First I want to say I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed time with family and friends.  Our Thanksgiving was eventful this year because we gained another family member....but that's another story.... :)

Back to the cake...YUM

My mom made this cake for every Thanksgiving and it is part of our family holiday tradition.

My sister has made this in previous years but this Thanksgiving the task fell on me....

Just as a side note, when my mom died I inherited her recipe box and looking through the handwritten recipes in this box has been amazing.  What a treasure!

Mix the pumpkin, egg, evaporated milk, sugar, pumpkin spice and pour into a 13x9 baking dish (pre-sprayed with cooking spray)
Then sprinkle cake batter mix on top of the pumpkin mixture and follow it with crushed pecans.

Then melt some butter and drizzle over the pecan/cake mix crust

Bake on 350 for 50 minutes and enjoy when cooled....YUM

Here's the complete recipe :)

Pumpkin Dump Cake

1 Large can of pumpkin

2 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice

1 can evaporated milk

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 box yellow cake mix ( I used butter recipe cake mix)

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1 1/2 sticks of butter

Preheat your oven to 350 and spray 13x9 inch baking pan with cooking spray.  Mix pumpkin, pumpkin spice, evap. milk, and sugar with a mixer and pour into prepared baking pan.  Sprinkle dry cake mix on top of pumpkin and sprinkle chopped pecans on top.  Drizzle melted butter over top of it all and bake it for 50 minutes.  Let it cool and maybe even chill before eating.

Enjoy!!

Bronwyn

The Newseum

Last week I had the privilege to visit the Newseum in Washington DC with my sons 7th grade class.  I had never even heard of the place so I really did not know what to expect.

When we entered to building we were directed to a 4D movie experience.  They made this sound like it was optional but I am so thankful that we didn't skip it!!  WOW!!  I really don't know how else to describe it...just WOW!

After the movie (which is not very long), we went into the museum.  Put simply, the Newseum is a museum of news worthy events. 

The first thing we saw was a huge section of the Berlin Wall.

I remember when the wall came down so this was a very neat thing to see....I was completely mesmerized with the West Berlin side of the wall....
It never even dawned on me to look at the other side until my Drew said "Hey mom, look at the other side..."

Wow......I got chills. There really are no words.....Just a stunning thing to see.

This is one of the East Berlin guard towers.

As we walked through the Newseum we saw the remains of the antenna and the top of the North Twin Tower building from 9/11

We saw a short film that documented the media reactions and actions during the 9/11 tragedy and how important it was that the events were documented.

We also saw many other interesting items including The Unibombers cabin

And an original printing press....

We only had a short time to tour the Newseum but it was an amazing trip. 

Thanks for looking and as always...
Smiles :)

Bronwyn

Milton Willett

This post is dedicated to my father-in law Milton Willett who passed away on October 17th. 

My father-in-law was one of my favorite people! 

He loved to play with the kids, loved to tell jokes and just loved his family!!  He (and my mother-in-law) accepted me and Morgan & Andrew as their very own from the first time we met.  Words cannot express how much that means!

He died too young but he loved and lived life to the absolute fullest.

I don't know what else to say....I loved him and I will miss him dearly.

These pictures were taken last summer when we traveled to Louisiana to see our family there.

"God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be.

So He put His arms around you and whispered “come to me.”

With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away.

Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best."

(Author unknown)

All my love.....until we meet again.....