Archive for October, 2008

Ingredients

· 1 lg coffee mug

· 4 Tbsp flour (plain, not self-rising)

· 4 Tbsp sugar or Splenda

· 2 Tbsp cocoa

· 1 egg

· 3 Tbsp milk

· 3 Tbsp oil

· 1/3 tsp vanilla

· 1 Tbsp chocolate chips and/or chopped walnuts – **optional**

How To:

• Add dry ingredients to mug, mix well with a fork.
• Add egg and mix thoroughly.
• Pour in milk and oil and vanilla, mix well.
• Add chips/walnuts, if using them.
• Put mug in microwave – cook 3 minutes on 1000 watts.
• Cake will rise over top of mug — do not be alarmed!
• Allow to cool a little, tip onto a plate.
• Add drizzles of chocolate syrup, dollop of cool whip – -
• Or just spoon right out of the mug and into your mouth!
• Now we can be only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night — Can be dangerous, ya think???!

Yikes! The Market plummets, Europe steps into boost the economy! Was that 777.78 points down boys and girls? The only consolation at this time is, we are making history! This is what history making looks like when you are living it. When I say my grandmother raised a family during The Great Depression it sounds like great history but my grandmother wasn’t feeling that way. When I say my father froze his back side in the Ardennes during the Battle of Bulge that makes for a good story but my “dad” didn’t think that glamorous.

The news (if you can believe it) says this is all a case of Capitalistic greed. Hmmm? Well this didn’t happen overnight so how come no one caught it sooner? I know! Lets do the American thing, lets blame someone for it. I don’t know about all of you but I am not pleased my retirement is going up in flames. That the cost of living is soaring while many fear for their jobs and homes. My point is, history making isn’t pleasant while it is happening and what we do while we are living it is the big question isn’t it? (After the markets closed, the Dow had fallen a staggering 777.68 points to finish at 10365.45 – surpassing the previous worse point-drop in 2001 of about 684 points.)

Check out this amazing gallery of aerial photography!  Amazing natural and man-made scenery from a birds’ eye view!

Fall has finally come and the trees are turning, so where is the best place to see beautiful color this time of year? Since the trees need cold nights to change here are few places you might consider.

The New England area always comes to mind when considering the fall foliage. Possibly Massachusetts, New Hamphire or Vermont?

I live in Alabama and we’ve got some fantastic views at the Cheaha State Park. October – November is peak season for this park which is surrounded by the Talladega National Forest.  The drive is breathtaking any time of year but in the fall …

So slip on that sweater, grab some warm drinks and head out to enjoy the trees. Except for gas to get there it is virtually a free escape from all the cares of the day.