It's Been 100 Days....

Goodness, 100 days of retirement!!!  Where has the time gone these last 100 days?  I am amazed...the older I get the faster time flies by!

Retirement has been an adjustment for me, to be sure.  Having worked somewhere since I was 16 years old, switching gears has been a tad hard.  So here's what retirement is not (thus far):

• Sleeping late- nope I still awaken around 5:00 AM every morning.
• Taking naps- there is no way I can justify naps in the middle of the day! (At least not yet...LOL)
• Getting everything done-just like my working life, things come up and cause me to go into reverse mode or to switch up what I planned to work on.
• Coffee shops- since everyone I know works; no one to sit in the coffee shop with just yet!!
• Organized and Regimented- I am a list writer and planner.  So I still need to get into the groove of sometimes just going with the flow!
• A bad thing- I am amazed at the number of people who look upon retirement as the worst thing you could do???  Geez...it doesn't mean I'm dead!!!   Just that I am choosing to move into new territory.

What is retirement then:

• A new life phase- a chance to catch your breath and find different priorities.
• A time to actually rebond with your grown children- "Mom and Daughter Days", cooking lessons, helping your children move, daily conversations, weekly family meals, celebrating their successes and so much more!
• Finding new outlets- blogging, line dancing, cooking, reading the latest best sellers, cleaning out all the "stuff" one has accumulated over the years, reunion meetings, dinner rides, photography....and learning what's out there!!
• Eating meals on a regular basis.
• Learning how to slow down and be thankful for all the blessings you have.
• A time to regroup and figure out what you want to be when you "grow up"!
• Hard to explain.  Sometimes people think you are suppose to have filled your days with thousands of things to do!!  Now that just doesn't happen right away...it takes time just like anything else.
• Keeping in contact with those you worked with for years and being aware of what's going on in their lives...awards, new babies, marriages, celebrations, challenges.  Just because you retire doesn't mean you want to cut that out of your life.  It's still a part of who you are and being included or sharing information helps maintain that special part of who you are!!
• Not being able to always answer the question "What are you doing with all your time?" or "What did you do today?" with a thrilling answer or totally exciting stories!!

Retirement, for me, is taking one day at a time as I try to find a new paths to take and new skills to grow!!  It's a new season of life and a learning process!

The Time's Ripe For...

Strawberries!!!  I was at the grocery store today and my goodness...strawberries were everywhere.  Now I don't mean the small ones you see during winter months...these strawberries were huge!!  Beautiful, gorgeous strawberries.  Of course, I had to get some and I certainly hope they are as delicious as they look!!

According to a recent newspaper article:

Strawberries, one of spring's first fruits to ripen, will soon be ready at nearly 200 farms across North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Strawberry Association (NCSA), this year's crop is expected to be early and plentiful.

"North Carolina strawberries handled the cold winter well this year, so we're looking forward to a good season," says Debby Wechsler, NCSA executive secretary. Reports from around the state indicate harvests in the Sandhills and Coast in early April, in the Piedmont in mid-April and in the mountain area in late April. Strawberry-picking season generally lasts from five to eight weeks, depending on the weather. May is peak season and officially regarded as Strawberry Month.

More than just a delicious and healthy fruit, the official red berry of North Carolina plays a major role in the state economy, bringing in more than $25 million annually. "We are No. 1 in the nation among states that sell strawberries directly to consumers. People like to pick their own produce from local strawberry farms because it's a great outdoor activity for families and they know the fruit is fresh," Wechsler adds.

In addition to supporting the state economy, produce lovers also boost their own health when consuming North Carolina strawberries. Strawberries are naturally high in Vitamin A, iron, calcium, and Vitamin C. Just one serving of fresh strawberries – one cup or about six to nine berries – contains 140 percent of the recommended daily allowance for Vitamin C with no fat, cholesterol or sodium.

I have decided I'll pick some strawberries this year and I can't wait!!  If the strawberries I bought today are any indication...I'll be in "strawberry heaven" for quite some time.  Interested in picking your own strawberries?  Then go to: http://www.ncstrawberry.org/index.cfm.  There's a strawberry farm locator plus other interesting strawberry tidbits.

Oh, by the way...I found the ultimate Strawberry Shortcake Cake recipe.  Hope you enjoy it!!!


Bon Appétit!!




Strawberry Shortcake Cake 

Cake Ingredients:

• 1-½ cup Flour
• 3 Tablespoons Corn Starch
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 9 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, Softened
• 1-½ cup Sugar
• 3 whole Large Eggs
• ½ cups Sour Cream, Room Temperature
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla

Icing Ingredients:

• ½ pounds Cream Cheese, Room Temperature
• 2 sticks Unsalted Butter
• 1-½ pound Powdered Sugar, Sifted
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 pound Strawberries

Preparation Instructions:

IMPORTANT: Be sure to use a cake pan that’s at least 2 inches deep! Before baking, the batter should not fill the pan more than halfway.

Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, and corn starch.
Cream 9 tablespoons butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well each time. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until combined. Add sifted dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just barely combined.

Pour into greased and floured 8-inch cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, or until no longer jiggly like my bottom. Remove from cake pan as soon as you pull it out of the oven, and place on a cooling rack and allow it to cool completely.

Stem strawberries and slice them in half from bottom to top. Place into a bowl and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons sugar. Stir together and let sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, mash the strawberries in two batches. Sprinkle each half with 1 tablespoons sugar and allow to sit for another 30 minutes.

Make icing: combine cream cheese, 2 sticks butter, sifted powdered sugar, vanilla, and dash of salt in a mixing bowl. Mix until very light and fluffy.

Slice cake in half through the middle. Spread strawberries evenly over each half (cut side up), pouring on all the juices. Place cake halves into the freezer for five minutes, just to make icing easier.

Remove from freezer. Use a little less than 1/3 of the icing to spread over the top of the strawberries on the bottom layer. Place the second layer on top. Add half of the remaining icing to the top spreading evenly, then spread the remaining 1/3 cup around the sides.

Leave plain OR garnish with strawberry halves.
IMPORTANT: Cake is best when served slightly cool. The butter content in the icing will cause it to soften at room temperature. For best results, store in the fridge!

It's Time For...

My 40th High School Reunion!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh my goodness....where in the world has the time gone???  40 years since I graduated from high school...it's hard to comprehend at times.  I certainly don't feel like it's been that long!!!  Actually, I am blessed to be able to say it's my 40th!!!

What's interesting about this is....I was only at that high school one year!  Yep, it's true.  I moved throughout my childhood years with my family, about every two years, due to my dad's job.  So.... my senior year in high school I was at a brand new high school!  Amazing huh! :)

If you know of anyone who graduated from Lexington Senior High School (Lexington, NC) in 1971, please have them go to Facebook and add their name to our Alumni page:  https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=135503386486167 and  https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=65295708853&v=wall.  I am always amazed at what a small world it is and you never know...someone you know may be an alumni.