Memorial Weekend Trip to Spillville Iowa

Steve and I decided to take a little side trip to Spillville, Iowa to tour the Bily Clock Museum. IPTV did a show about 20-25 years ago. Steve's been wanting to go every since. Spillville is about 6 hours from our house, so it wasn't something we could do quickly in a day. When trying to decide what to do with our Memorial Weekend, he came up with this. I love staying in unique places, so found this little gem online, Taylor Made Bed and Breakfast.

Corabelle and Howard are the neatest people. She's a mere 74 years young. Her homemade kolaches are to die for. Each morning you are fed an incredible homemade breakfast. Something akin to what they used to feed the farm hands I am sure. You weren't lacking in hot fresh items. First morning we had raisin french toast, german sausage links, cut up fresh fruit, an egg/ham/cheese scramble,homemade applesauce, hot syrup,rhubarb custard, kolaches and light rye bread. Plenty of good hot coffee, orange juice and ice water the first morning. The second morning was just as good. We'll go back here in the fall for the "Colors" tour of all the leaves turning. We'd like to try the Summer Kitchen next time so we can have a larger bed. I'd go here again and again, Spilleville is an awesome little town. So peaceful, all the homes are well manicured and the people are friendly.

Spillville, Iowa Trip

Steve and I decided to take a little side trip to Spillville, Iowa to tour the Bily Clock Museum. IPTV did a show about 20-25 years ago. Steve's been wanting to go every since. Spillville is about 6 hours from our house, so it wasn't something we could do quickly in a day. When trying to decide what to do with our Memorial Weekend, he came up with this. I love staying in unique places, so found this little gem online, Taylor Made Bed and Breakfast.

Corabelle and Howard are the neatest people. She's a mere 74 years young. Her homemade kolaches are to die for. Each morning you are fed an incredible homemade breakfast. Something akin to what they used to feed the farm hands I am sure. You weren't lacking in hot fresh items. First morning we had raisin french toast, german sausage links, cut up fresh fruit, an egg/ham/cheese scramble,homemade applesauce, hot syrup,rhubarb custard, kolaches and light rye bread. Plenty of good hot coffee, orange juice and ice water the first morning. The second morning was just as good. We'll go back here in the fall for the "Colors" tour of all the leaves turning. We'd like to try the Summer Kitchen next time so we can have a larger bed. I'd go here again and again, Spilleville is an awesome little town. So peaceful, all the homes are well manicured and the people are friendly.

WICKED: tonight!!

Getting pretty excited to go. can't wait, getting off work early. Dinner first, then off we go!

The twins birthday is the one being celebrated tonight, they both are HUGE Wizard of Oz fans. Their reaction should be priceless, can't wait to see how they enjoy it. We'll be in Orchestra seats thanks to my little sister's discount. (She's a school teacher, they get some priveleges)

We'll stay the night in the city, then depart tomorrow. Should be fun!!

Grandson's Favorite: Snakes

He will be so thrilled to get home from school and see the baby snakes his daddy and the dog found for him!!! ACK! So glad I am not there.

Recipe Friday May 13, 2011: Apple Cake

I stole this from Bakerella. It's a great recipe, try it, you'll like it:

Easy Apple Cake

3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups oil
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups diced apples
1 cup chopped dates rolled in flour
1 cup chopped walnuts

Topping
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and cinnamon with a wire whisk and set aside.
Combine sugar and oil using a mixer until blended.
Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until combined.
Add flour mixture and mix well.
Stir in nuts, dates and apples. The batter will be very thick.
Pour into a greased and floured 9 X 13 pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until done.
Cool cake and using a skewer, poke holes in cake.
Cook topping ingredients on stove until mixture bubbles.
Pour topping over cake.

Swagbucks

I've been looking at doing more couponing. I like the idea of getting some of my normal purchases free. However, I'm not going to dedicate real estate at my home to stockpile 45 bottles of mustard or peanut butter........not gonna happen. My daughter has been bugging me to use Swagbucks. I didn't want to do it because I didn't understand it. After I signed up for it, I get it now.............

I have a link to the right for you to sign up to use Swagbucks. You surf the internet anyway, may as well earn points to do it. It is not required that you download the tool bar, you can type swagbucks into your address bar, bring up the site, then search from there. I earn at least $15 swagbucks or more a month by doing something I would normally do anyway.

All of the Swagbucks you earn accumulate in your account. Once your account reaches a total of 450 Swagbucks, You can turn them in for things like a $5 Amazon Gift Card. The Amazon GC is the best reward in my opinion because you can buy whatever you want with it. I have friends that have redeemed over $20-$25/month in Amazon Gift Cards from SwagBucks, not bad if you ask me.

Try it out and let me know what you think!!!

Nestrest..........Looks Luxurious.........restful and fun

But alas, I think it would be so hot in the 90+ heat we get here, hot and humid. But it sure looks like fun!!

Reminds me of a bird nest for humans, I can't find a price for them or a store that carries them. I'd love to know what they sell for, the company is Dedon, they are called Nestrest.