The Great American Eclipse

This was the "money shot" from Gainesville, FL. 86% of totality. Somewhat underwhelming all in all....

Hello Kitty!

Make me some ice cream please!   We finally tried making ice cream in Elle's Hello Kitty ice cream maker.  It never froze but made for a great shake.  There mistake was hours as the bowl was supposed to be in the freezer a few 12 hours prior to the big churn.  We'll try again this weekend!

Gators v. Huskers!!!

The benefits of living in a big-time college town like both Lincoln and Gainesville are cool!

Dr. Zevia!

The Famous "Stevenson" Banana Bread

Here's the famous banana bread recipe passed down through the Stevenson family to it's current resting spot in the Tangeman family.  This recipe yields some of the best banana bread you'll ever eat!  Steph laments the middle of the bread will sometimes collapse but in my view that's the secret goodness.  Moist, flavorful and basically the best way to rid yourself of 2-3 browning bananas!

Jack Turns 10!

Jack turned 10 today!  

We had a family day of celebrating and Elle and I tricked him with magic candles that re-light themselves after being blown out!   They worked!

Myzithra!

We scored a hard to find massive chunk of the kids favorite Myzithra cheese from The Cheese Lady in Michigan!

Deep Fried Twinkies!

Who knew Hostess would actually make a fried twinkie!  Watch out state fairs.

Lake Michigan Sunset

Sunset over Lake Michigan!

Ready for Dinner!

Jack's ready for dinner while a "monkey in the middle" game happens in the background.

Monkey in the Middle

My Spider Web - A Poem by Jack Tangeman

My Spider Web

My spider web is a work of art.

You know, we spiders are pretty smart.

My spider web is pretty.

My spider web is STRONG!

My spider web catches bugs.

My spider web is BIG!

If my spider web gets ripped apart,

I work and make more art!

Falling Colors - A Poem by Jack Tangeman

Falling Colors

Leaves as red as cherries are twirling down.

Leaves as orange as fire a whirling down.

Leaves as yellow as the sun are swirling down.

Then all the colors turn crunchy brown.

The Swamp!

Happy Mother's Day

Peep Frenzy!

Peeps are going mainstream!   

The Gator Statue!

Sunshine in My Pocket! Elle's Dance Party

Snow Forecast for Folsom!

Here's something we rarely see in our Folsom weather forecast...snow showers!

The Pink nosed Reindeer!

Merry Christmas!

Steph Celebrates!

Pink Would Be Proud!

Our Thanksgiving Mannequin Challenge!

Actually one of several we did..

Happy Thanksgiving!

More fun at the dog n suds!

Eating with Grandpa at the Muskegon Dog'n Suds!

Jack Avoiding the Starfruit

The Grand Wagoneer!

Supposedly, Jeep will be out with a new Grand Wagoneer soon.  It will be hard to top this puppy though!

Out for Dinner!

Soccer Season Wraps Up!

Elle is wrapping up her 2nd soccer season this week! 

Dentist Time!

Elle for President!

In 2056!  In the meantime, don't forget to vote today!

Sometimes My Brother Reads To Me!

Pumpkin Spice Cheerios! Reviewed!!!

Jack talked me into this huge box of pumpkin cheerios and he's dutifully eating through them.  The boy eats a lot of cereal in the morning and rates these as pretty good.  Elle and I are a bit more mixed on them and wish they came in a smaller box!

Goofies!

Granny's Famous Gumdrop Dish!

Here is the famous gum drop dish that long stood on the round marble table in Granny and Grandpa's reading room.   When the four cousins gathered we would put a big dent in Granny's gum drop supply.

Elle loves her brother!

Little Rock, Arkansas

Flying westbound

Sunflower, the rat

Elle's school has lots of pets including two bearded dragons (Bruno and Skinny) and Sunflower (the rat).   At some point, Sunflower will come and spend the week-end with us!

Blueberry Pie Oreos!

These cookies rate highly!

Our Last Swim

Elle and I had our last swim about a week ago.  Here's an earlier pic of Elle and her friend mid-air!   Good-bye swimming season!

Back to School Time!

Here's a pic of us shoe shopping a few months back.  Obviously, we scored!

Elle with Treat!

Happy Elle scores a mini Vanilla Bean Frappaccino!

The Plott Hound!

I stumbled across a new hound I hadn't encountered before.  A Plott Hound.  Somewhat larger than a beagle the Plott Hound kind of looks like a tiger!

Barb's Famous Pumpkin Cake

October seems like a good month to share the famous, and until now secret, recipe for Barb's famous pumpkin cake.  This is the same cake we are always greeted with each year with our arrival in Michigan.  The cake, which is huge, lasts about 2 days - mainly due to Rick and I continuing to sneak pieces throughout the day and late into the night.

One year, during the great pumpkin shortage, we were in serous trouble because you couldn't buy a can of pumpkin.  Once the shortage was resolved we began keeping a small stash of canned pumpkin "just in case".

Without further ado, the recipe:

2 cups white sugar

1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup canned pumpkin

4 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 t easpoonsbaking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 12x18 inch pan.  Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Set aside.

2.  In a large bowl combine sugar and oil.  Blend in vanilla and pumpkin, then beat in eggs one at a time.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Spread batter into prepared 12 x 18 inch pan.

3.  Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Allow to cool.

Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese

2 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup oleo

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons milk

A "Michigan" Plate from North Carolina!

Don't see these every day.  Go Blue!

Paying Respect During a Flag Retirement Ceremony

Jack and his pack retired a couple of heavily worn American flags at their campfire.

Barenaked Ladies w/ Howard Jones

This one was one of the best from the show we went to earlier in the summer.

Giddyup!

Elle rides Granny's sock-horse up the stairs!

Popcorn Sales Time!

Jack getting in his popcorn selling shifts for scouts.  He remains a great sales-kid!

Leaping Lizards!

Flying Over San Francisco!

A nice view of the city coming flying South towards San Jose.  Angel Island and the new bridge are left-center.

Scout Camp!

Jack and I went to camp last week-end and got to spend the night out in the wilderness a few miles from  Placerville.

Elle named student of the month!

Elle was named one of the very first Star Student's of the month!  Her teachers are taking her to lunch next week!  Super proud of this good girl!

Elle Eats the Ingredients!

Elle's Curious Bunny Dance