My visit to our local candy store with my daughter Alisha and granddaughter Savannah. Their new downtown location, is in the lobby of Center in the Square, beside the Roanoke Weiner Stand. Find their website here...The Candy Store. The Weiner Stands Facebook page can be found here...Roanoke Weiner Stand. Stop by the Roanoke Weiner Stand for lunch and then visit the candy store next door!

An endless variety of candy, truffles, novelty items like bacon toothpaste and body wash (shown below) soft drinks and more! A great place to visit with family and friends!

Bacon bodywash

Bacon toothpaste

Rows and rows of colorful candy, with a candy description label on each jar!

For our drinks, I chose a Big Red, it tasted like a cream soda, Alisha's choice was a prickly pear, she said it was a combination of pear and watermelon, and Savannah's pick was a Dog Drool drink! She said it had a orange and lemon flavor.

My granddaughter Savannah really enjoying her first Dog Drool drink! She is brave like her mom, and will try things, I wouldn't try :)

They have more drink flavors to choose from like Sweet Corn, Ranch Dressing and Pumpkin Pie. 

 My fisrt visit to the Homeplace Restaurant

My daughter Alisha and granddaughter Savannah took me to the Homeplace restaurant for a belated birthday dinner. This was my first visit to the restaurant and I enjoyed it very much! I like the old 1907 farmhouse, the decor and country landscape. We even spotted a black bear for a brief moment just as we where arriving at the restaurant! It's not every day we see a bear, so that was exciting for all of us! The Homeplace's Facebook page can be found here...The Homeplace

The restaurant is located 4968 Catawba Valley, Dr. in Catawba, Va. 

I look forward to another visit soon!

 Above is the menu for the Homeplace restaurant with their hours, menu, prices and a picture of the restaurant, along with a little history.

They serve your meat and side dish selections, which included fried chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and biscuits, with apple butter, in individual bowls, at your table, just as you would if your were enjoying a meal at home with your family. And don't forget the sweet tea.

We enjoyed blackberry cobbler a la mode, for dessert.

My meal, delicious home cooked food, enjoyed with my family, while creating wonderful new memories. Thank you Alisha and Savannah for a delicious dinner! I enjoyed every minute of our time together!

It's Fair Time!

  Fair time is always an exciting time of the year! This is my daughter, Alisha's entry in this years fair, pen and ink category. Her angel art, won a first place, blue ribbon! Congratulation's Alisha! You've got talent! Now it needs a pretty frame!

It's Fair Time!

My granddaughter Savannah's art work, 
received the gold award ribbon at the 2014 Salem Fair! 

Way to go Savannah!

Wilton's Christmas in July Cupcake Contest ~ Blue Ribbon and Best in Show Winner!

This is my daughter Ashley's entry in the Wilton's Christmas in July cupcake contest at the fair. She made two rose and berry cupcakes, two snowflake cupcakes, a Santa cupcake and a wreath cupcake. She won first place and best in show. 

Cupcakes

1 box triple chocolate fudge cake mix

1 small box instant Hershey's milk chocolate pudding mix (dry)

4 packets Duncan Hines  mocha flavor creations flavoring packets

1/2 cup milk

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix with dry pudding mix,  and mocha flavor creation packets. Add wet ingredients as directed on cake mix package, then add 1/2 cup milk.

Bake as directed on package.

Pepperming Frosting

1 cup Crisco                           

1/2 cup butter, room temperature                         

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 teaspoon almond extract                          

1 teaspoon of milk at a time, until desired consistency is reached                           

pinch of salt                           

1 teaspoon meringue powder                            

2 (lb) bag confectioners' sugar                            

Gel food coloring , if desired                              

~ Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, in a large bowl blend together the Crisco and butter until well blended.

~ Add extracts and milk, as needed, mixing until well blended.

~ Add salt, meringue powder and confectioners sugar. Mix until well blended and smooth.

~ Use to frost cake or cupcakes

Peppermint Buttercream Frosting

1 cup Crisco                           

1/2 cup butter, room temperature                         

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract                          

1 teaspoon of milk at a time, until desired consistency is reached                           

pinch of salt                           

1 teaspoon meringue powder                            

2 (lb) bag confectioners' sugar                            

Gel food coloring , as desired                              

~ Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, in a large bowl blend together the Crisco and butter until well blended.

~ Add extracts and milk, as needed, mixing until well blended.

~ Add salt, meringue powder and confectioners sugar. Mix until well blended and smooth.

~ Using desired gel food colorings, decorate cupcakes as desired.

~ Recipe Source: My daughter Ashley ~

Alisha And Her Family

This is my other beautiful, first born daughter, Alisha with her daughter Savannah on a trip to... you guessed it, Tennessee. They were there to see the Ripley's Aquarium. We have made the trip there ourselves. It is a wonderful place to take your family.

This is her husband, my son-in-law, Jason. Savannah, where are your sunglasses honey!

Savannah is a beautiful young lady with lots of energy. Her Ganpa and GanGan love her very much!

We are very proud of her. Our children and grandchildren truly do grow up so (too) fast. They are truly blessings in our lives.

My Daughter Andrea

Until I learn more about blogging and get my blog in better shape, I will be adding post in no particular order just to add some interest. I have so much to learn. For all you experienced bloggers out there, with wonderful blogs. Feel free to leave a comment on any ideas you have that would help to make my blog better. I enjoy finding ways to make my blog a interesting and pleasant place to visit. This is my youngest daughter, Andrea with her face painted for Halloween several years ago. She is growing up faster than I want her to.  

She really enjoys Halloween!

She loves posing for the camera also.

Ashley's Is Expecting.......a Baby Girl!

        This is my beautiful daughter Ashley and her 
                             husband Bryan.

This wonderful waterfall was located behind the building of her doctor's office. Each time she went to her appointments we would stop by the waterfall to take a picture. It is fun to see the different stages of her pregnancy and the changes in the weather also.

Meet Ashley and Bryan's beautiful baby daughter Kylee. Ashley named Kylee after her Father, Lee. What an honor for him!

She is a wonderful blessing in all of our lives!

She is loved very much!

Halloween 2008

My grandaughter Savannah Rose in her Raggedy Ann costume. She won the costume contest in her age group, at our local mall, Halloween 2008. I think she looks adorable!

Halloween 2009

This is my grandaughter Savannah Rose, in her peacock costume. This picture was taken on Halloween night at a costume contest she entered at our local mall. Isn't she cute! Her Gan-Gan thinks she's a winner!

Halloween 2007

This is my  grandaughter, Savannah Rose in her spider costume. I don't usually like spiders, but I really love this one! 

Andrea Gwen And Freckles

This is my daughter Andrea Gwen and a friend she named Freckles. She met this shy box turtle several years ago, passing through our backyard. She loves all kinds of critters.