Chocolate Zuchini Cake ~ Mid Week Munchies

With all the zucchini around my house this cake was calling to me. I love the zucchini and chocolate combination. It is just perfect with just a little dash of powdered sugar. It is a family favorite.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

2 cups zucchini (grated)

1 3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup margarine

1/2 cup oil

1 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

*mix all wet ingredients in a large bowl

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

4 tablespoons cocoa

*sift all dry ingredients and combine with wet ingredients

Pour in to a greased/floured 9 by 13 pan. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of nuts and chocolate chips over top of batter.

Cook at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

Linking up at:

30 Handmade Days

Tipsy Blog

Craft O Maniac

Garden in Progress ~ Mid Week Munchies

I have a small garden. I love it. I plant things I love to eat. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, squash. Heres' a little peek into my summer garden.

 Growing up, my Mom always called cucumbers; cucks.

This raspberries plant has a funny story. Our neighbors to the left bought their house about three years ago. On the fence separating our two houses they had a large raspberry crop planted by the previous owner. When they moved in, they ripped out the raspberries plants.(Gasp!) Right between the fence some raspberries plants started growing, on our side. Hoorrah! The last three years the raspberries have slowly grown and now they are large enough that we are planning this fall to transplant and grow our own raspberries. I am not sure of the variety but they taste delicious.

How are your summer veggies looking?

Spring Clean

A few weeks ago we did our annual spring clean-up. We usually start as soon as the snow thaws, and the fear of a huge snowstorm has past. Mind you, in March it will typically still snow, but if the sun comes out it will usually melt by the afternoon.

We start by trimming all our bushes and raking out all the dead leaves and debris from our beds.

We also give our flowering plants "little" haircuts to cut off any dead foliage from winter.

Flowering plants ready for spring: daffoldil, peonies, daylillies, oriental lilies, cone flowers, irises, lambs ear, bee balm, astillbe, delphinium, bachelor button. I can't wait for all my plants to get big and beautiful with bursts of color.

Now all we need is a layer of fertilizer and black top soil to complete our spring clean-up.

Summer Flowers

Summer finally feels like it is in full swing here. Spending the afternoons at the local pool, BBQ meat on the grill for dinner and my garden looks amazing. After all the hard work I put in last spring I am really reaping the benefits this summer. Especially since this summer I am pregnant, I am happy to sit back and just enjoy it. Here is a little glimpse:

Bee Balm ~ just about to bloom.

White Coneflower ~ shouldn't be more than a few more days to see the full petals

Oriental Lillies ~ raging in colors from white, cream, light pink and dark pink

Summer Bloomers

My new favorite flower: Bee Balm. My sweet neighbor told me all about them. I had a little spot that needed a tall spark and she suggested Bee Balm. I had never heard of it. It is from the mint family and it smells just like it. I love the little spikes on top and the fuchsia color is wonderful in my summer garden.

This one will bloom in just a few days!

Of course my oriental lilies ~ they are beautiful!~ This deep pink is just begging to be picked and put in a bouquet inside my house.

City of Roses

I am originally from Portland, Oregon and when I tell people that they say: "Oh, Oregon is so green and beautiful! But what most people don't know is; Portland is famous for its Roses. The first two weeks in June the city celebrates the Portland Rose Festival. The Rose Festival is celebrating 102 years and still going strong with fun activities like: dragon races, waterfront carnival, queen coronation, Grand Flora Parade, and of course Rose Competitions.

So, being the Rose Girl that I am...on our walk yesterday I noticed the rental house at the end of the street (which is unoccupied) has all their gorgeous roses in bloom. On our way home I picked a few and now have a little something to remind of Rose Festival week.

Update: Garden

I am really excited about how great my garden/yard is looking. I have been enjoying my gardening design class thoroughly and am learning lots!! I also have a wonderful gardening pro neighbor who has been giving me tons of advice. But, really the best thing about my yard is my husband, who helps me so much and is so willing to do all the hard manly labor. Thank you sweetie!

My poppies are just starting to bloom. I planted three plants in one small little spot and they have just gone gang busters. I probably have 40 blooms to enjoy! The orange tissue paper with purple center is so breathtaking!

Although one of my columbine died over the winter, this one made it and looks lovely!

My delphinium's are thinking about it. They need another week before they show-off their wonderful light blue blossoms.

I got these peony's from my old neighbor when I was moving into this house. I planted five separate plants three years ago (last fall) and just said a little prayer. They are all doing really well, some are budding more than others, but I will take whatever I can get. Peony's are my absolute favorite ~ I love this deep red!

Gardening on the Mind

I have really had gardening on the brain, this past week. I think after such a long winter you can't help but want to hit the nurseries full steam ahead. After being in California Adventure for spring break and seeing all the foxgloves there, I got inspired. I planted two foxgloves under my aspen trees in the back yard. It looks so good I am thinking about going back and buying a few more!

Side note: For Mother's Day my husband bought me a gardening class. I am so excited: 3 classes, 2 hours long ~ learning from a master gardener all about bed design and flowers! I am a lucky girl.

First class is this Tuesday!

Flower Garden

Here is a sampling of some of my favorite flowers in my garden right now. After my three year old (soon to be four!) helped me put all the flowers in the vase he proclaimed: "Mamma, now we have a flower garden in the house." Have a wonderful day everyone!!!

Flowering Pear Tree

After my sunny trip to California, I came home to this beautiful sight!

We have 5 flowering pear trees in our yard, they look just like popcorn popping.

The neighborhood is full of them, it was one of the things that drew us to this area!

Little Sprouts

I went out to inspect my garden beds and guess what I found:

My daffodils!- they will be white with an orange center

My peonies! - they will be a deep red

My tulips! - they will be a pretty soft pink

I can't wait!