Tis the seaon

Have you ever walked out on your front porch and found that someone had left you a gift?
I am not sure about other places, but here if it is August the gift is probably zuchinni.
We found this morning that someone had left us that exact thing (thanks Don).
But I found a wonderful recipe to help use those large zuchinni's

Zuchinni Fudge Cake

1 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
3 cups shredded zuchinni

(HINT: put the zuchinni, eggs and buttermilk in blender and blend then no one will see the zuchinni.)

Combine all ingredients and bake in 2 8 by 10 cake pans or large cookie sheet for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
Cool and frost.

Frosting:

3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup softened butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk.
Mix all ingredients. Frosting will be runny but hardens as it sits

It is YUMMY!!!

Hello Blog world... we're here!

"It's about time!" - "You'll love it!" - "It's so user friendly and a great way to keep tabs on your friends and family!"... Perhaps these are comments you heard when you decided to post your life on the internet, or maybe not.

All things considering, it doesn't really matter what other people say about blogging... it all comes down to the actual blog. The finalization of how one wants the world (or at least the blog world) to view them. Oh the possibilities!!

As we now jump on the blogging bandwagon, we do so without maps, nets, bandaids, bug spray or an internet savvy Sherpa. We go in nearly blind - led completely by the example of other family members that have blazed the long dusty trail before us.

What better way to begin than by introducing our blog members? Our ever changing and growing family will all be part of this blog - which should make it that much more entertaining! So, ladies and germs, I give you the Simmons/Yates family! (*this is the part where fanfare plays and people ooh and ahhh*).

Tom, Rayna, Saundra, Cristi, Carri (Nick), Lindsey (Schuyler) and Jordan will all be contributing authors to our post and will each add a different element of fun and excitement! Plus, we'll even include pictures (ooooohhhh, ahhhhh!)!

Tom and Rayna are the ATVing parents (you'll see them on the center-right in the picture above) that are enjoying every moment of their "grown up but not retired" lives and a growing interest in domestic activities (i.e. grandchildren, canning, gardening and taking the road less traveled). Saundra is the creative genius with the patience of Job that would give you the world if she could - as long as she doesn't have to be in the spotlight. Cristi is the child with an incurable case of wanderlust and an unbelievable obsession with shoes and clothes. Carri is the down to earth child with the fiery disposition and a flare for some drama. Nick (Carri's husband) is the quiet and collected half of the marriage - that always seems to be wearing flip flops - even in the winter time. Lindsey is the accident prone sporty child that loves nearly every type of animal and anything western. Schuyler (Lindsey's fiance) is the physical definition of a "sparky" urban cowboy that would happily live the rest of his life fishing, hunting and doing things for Lindsey. Jordan is the child living in the city - but longing for the wide open space of the country - and the chance to work the land - not to mention an unbelievable amount knowledge about nearly everything on the planet.

Fascinating right? Just wait... there will be plenty of adventures to share and thoughts to express in the coming posts. We're excited to be here and can't wait to hear from all of you!