homecoming chocolate cupcakes

I asked Koda Bear as he was driving to Houston house if he would like vanilla or chocolate cupcakes when he got here.  He said chocolate.  My favorite chocolate cake recipe required beaten egg whites.  There was just one problem with that.  My right shoulder was sore and I do not own a mixer, hand or electric.  I decided to take my favorite Italian vanilla cake and modify it.  It is a one bowl cake so it morphed to nice easy chocolate cupcakes.  Well, easy for me.  I always make cakes and cupcakes and fairy cakes from scratch now.

This turned out well.  Nice texture.  Not too sweet but nice chocolate flavor.  You could add frosting but I was not feeling up to it and the boyos do not need it.

chocolate cupcakes

1 cup plus two tablespoons butter

1 cup  sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 1/4 cup flour

3/4 cup cocoa

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

3/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Grease 18 cupcake molds.  Or use papers.

Cream the butter and sugar together.  Mix in the eggs and vanilla.  Mix in 3/4 cup flour and 3/4 cup cocoa.  Mix in about half the milk.  Mix in 3/4 cup flour.  Mix in the rest of the milk.  Mix in the last 3/4 cup flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar.  Mix well.

Fill the cupcake molds about half to two thirds full.  I overfilled.  Bake for about twenty minutes or until a knife poked in comes out clean.  Take out of the tin and let cool. 

Frost if you wish.

the boyos are back

The boyos are back.  And more are back then left!  They got back on Sunday and by the end of the work day yesterday, I was a zombie. 

When I was gallivanting, I went up for a day and a half.  This is what I remembered from before.

But this happened.

And this is what it looks like now.  The trees are stacked and drying and we have the best view on the mountain.  Trees were cut down to dry for cabin building but to also see more trees.

Three structures got built.  I only saw two; the bathhouse and outhouse.  After I left, this garage was built.

It is not perfect but it will keep the vehicles dry.  There will be an apartment in back.  It was supposed to be higher in the air then it will be so there is going to be some wasted space.  But it is a dry place to sleep and will have a wood stove so it will be a warm space.  And it will not be a long thin rectangle!  I am so tired of the travel trailer shape.  There is never room to get people out of the way.

There will be another trip back in July to take boyos back to the Tall Short Person.  Time will again be spent on the mountain but the plan is for play and not work.  Or mostly play and a little work.  It should be interesting.

surfboard bag

My favorite surfboard has a bag that I made for it when I first got it.  The bag is in tatters.  It was made out of upholstery fabric.  At the time, I really could not afford a manufactured surfboard bag so I made a huge drawstring bag to protect my board during transport.  Also, to give me a couple handholds for when I need to carry it.  All my favorite surfboards are much taller then I am.  My Yater Spoon is 9'6".  With the wind blowing, to the beach and back is always interesting.

Which is part of why it is in tatters.

But I had some more upholstery fabric.  We had found an 11" board that still needs a bag but since this is the one I always seem to go for in the quiver, I thought it would take precedence.  A huge drawstring bag is not a lot of seams but they do take a bit of time to sew.  Especially since I doubled everyone.

But it is done.  A brown hibiscus print.  It should be good for another ten years.  That is about how long the last one made it.

Now, if the forecast as for anything but rain and flat surf this weekend.  I may just go out for a paddle to work my shoulders.  It is a bit of a sigh though because I had so much fun last week.

And yes, there is more rain in the forecast.

quiet clipping

I am quietly taking apart a dress to use as a pattern.  A clip here.  A clip there.  It will get done and then I have a piece of fabric I am going to use to try this.  It is an even simpler sheath dress then the one I normal make.  I have to admit that the original dress screams beach dress at me.  I am going to add some length to the hem but keep the cap sleeves.

I went out and chatted with co-workers tonight.  I needed it.  I am missing a boy and it took my mind off my being sad.  It will get better.

finished before I went gallivanting

I finished another sheath dress before I went gallivanting.  It is a black, brown, and orange wool.  It is a bit stiffer then most I pick out so there is not as much give.  It makes me stand up tall and my shoulders need to be in the best shape possible for me to zip it all the way up.  I actually had to ask Miss A at work for help when I changed out of my bicycle clothes.  My shoulders were just too stiff.

I really do like this fabric.  I do some more yoga and my shoulders may work well enough for me to zip it myself the next time I wear it.  I can get it unzipped! 

There was more rain today.  And sunshine.  There is supposed to be more rain this weekend and I just hope there is enough dry weather between now and then for some of the water to drain.  The bayous are still running extremely fast. 

I also found out today that next week I will have Koda Bear, Bandit (his dog), and my Beloved back.  It will be a strange full household.  I got a picture of a very nice unfinished garage/shed today.  The apartment will not be finished in it or cisterns for water capture but that will all happen.