Snow!

It actually snowed in my yard. Not just a slushy mist, but big puffy snowflakes for quite a while. The snow began to stick for a little and then it stopped and promptly melted, but not before I could get a few shots. All the wacky things happened as I predicted.

My sister said her son called her and informed her it was nuts at his school. Everyone was running outside to feel and play in the snow, teachers included. I heard it was quite a while before order could be restored.

My children's school allowed them to go outside to enjoy the snow as well. At Tera's concert that night you could tell everyone was in a happy mood.

See the my neighbor's palm orchard in the back ground? Snow in the palms!

Here is my sago with a little snow build up.

Here is one of the chicken tractors. See the orange trees loaded with fruit in the back?

My front garden.

My poor variegated ginger. I know I'll be cutting it back to the ground next spring.

I also hurriedly picked all my large unripe tomatoes just in case the plants don't survive. I'll probably fry or can these. I love fried green tomatoes. Yummm

My lettuce and bok choy bed.

Here are the cupcakes with the really yummy icing all ready for the bake sale.

All festive with their little sprinkles....

and icing stars....I always use a decorating tip and cone to ice cupcakes. It's so much easier and you don't have to be an expert to make them look cute. Just make sure you get a tip that is very large. You can also use them to fill other things like little pastry cups, tomatoes or eggs.

Some Christmasy ones with little pillow peppermints.

Here is the simple and yummy icing recipe. I don't know why anyone buys canned icing. This is so easy, cheap and tastes much much better.

Chocolate Icing

16 oz of confectioner's sugar

1 stick of butter

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1/2 cup of cocoa (natural unsweetened)

A little milk (to get consistency)

Put everything but milk into mixer bowl. Add a little milk and mix gently at first to keep from scattering sugar. Keep mixing until consistency is correct, add milk a little bit at a time until the icing is soft and thick but not runny. The key is to continue to whip until icing is light and fluffy. If you like your icing more chocolaty add more cocoa.

Variations: Substitute lemon juice or bananas for cocoa

Double or triple or quadruple or....whatever...the recipe to get as much icing as you need.