My little girl plays a boy in the Nutcracker Ballet

Not a bad looking boy I might add!

Getting ready for the Nutcracker

Today was dress rehearsal....only a couple of quick shots to share!

Apple Cake in Gingerbread mold

Here are a couple more pictures of the Apple Cake recipe below.  I only had one loaf pan and it was supposed to be for gingerbread....oh well!  My daughter preferred the dusting of powdered sugar....of course!

Fresh Apple Cake

This recipe was given to me by my dear family friend Dianne.  It's so easy to make and was a huge hit with my family!  Thank you Dianne!

Fresh Apple Cake

3 cups sifted flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 cups vegetable oil

4 cups chopped apples (macintosh or granny smith)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup finely chopped nuts (your choice!)

Sift dry ingredients together and mix in other ingredients.

After combining above, add 2 eggs (slightly beaten) and 2 cups of sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees from 35-45 minutes. 

Enjoy!

Show and Tell Friday

"Show and Tell Friday" was created by Kelli at There's No Place Like Home.  Each week she invites us to share something special.  Today I have a music box given to my daughter by my mother.

It is a beautiful carousel horse music box that plays "Somewhere In Time".  It reminds me of the good times we had together with my dad who is no longer with us.  When I hear the music I'm reminded of my daughter when she was 3 years old asking my dad to wind it up for her over and over again!  It's a sweet song and brings back sweet memories!  

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Superior Scribbler Award

Thank you to Michelle at Chocolate and Marmalade Tea for giving me a Superior Scribbler Award!  I don't know if I deserve it since all this blogging is so new (and so fun), but I appreciate every bit of encouragement!  Thank you Michelle!  Now I get to choose five more people who I think should be awarded this very special honor!  Thank you for making your blog so interesting and fun to read!

1)  There's No Place Like Home

2)  Cynthia's Cottage Design

3)  Counting Your Blessings

4)  Katherine's Dream

5)  Sea Cottage

Here are the rules:

1)  Post the award on your blog.

2)  Link me for giving it to you.

3)  Link the originating post here (Life of a Southern College Girl on Blonde Duck's blogroll).

4)  Pass the award on to five more deserving people.

5)  Post the rules for your recipients.

Congrats to you all and have fun!

I love Hydrangeas...

What makes a hydrangea flower purple?  The soil of course!  The ph level has to be just right to produce a purple flower.  A higher ph level is perfect for blue blossoms, and a lower level ph will produce a pink flower.  So, yes, the purple is a perfect blend of both!

Autumn celebration

This is truly the time of year I wish I could live where I can see these images in person!

A Moment for Autumn

Okay, I'll admit, we don't see it for very long, because here in Southern California season changes can be...oh so subtle!  Now that Halloween is in the past and Christmas is around the corner, let's take a moment to appreciate what autumn has brought us!

Nature's Web of Beauty

The day after Halloween it rained and left behind this beauty!

A Fresh Start

Trick or Treating 2008