We did a few things outside the city limits on our visit. The first day of our trip saw us wearing shorts and leaving jackets behind. This day, however, we zipped those jackets back up over our jeans and headed out to explore a cave and see some wildlife!

Forget what you think you know about caves. Yes, it was rocky and very wet but the temperature was quite balmy inside. Thank goodness for installed lights because it was quite dark. It was also completely stunning. The beauty of the stalagmites and stalactites was really beyond words. I wonder the thoughts of the original explorers who discovered them. Mind boggling that all that beauty was tucked away beneath a pretty forgettable pile of rocks.

We did the basic exploration tour and found it just right. The more adventurous can take a more challenging and lengthy course. I was content…I think my climbing and crawling days are over. Maybe someday The Princess might want to give it a try.

Right next door, we drove through the nature reserve. The animals seemed plentiful and we enjoyed seeing a variety of creatures, including the elegant giraffes. We did have an up close and personal visit from an ostrich. He was quite bold and stuck his head right into our car window.

We topped off our day with dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. The Princess loved it.

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday .You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster. Homemade Monday

For the most part it was sunny and warm enough to go without a coat. Sunny or overcast, it was a very fun city to celebrate Spring Break. This was our family’s first joint adventure to the southwest and we found it suited us perfectly. We enjoyed the friendly people, lovely weather, good food and variety of activities. We did a lot of things in the city but ventured outside the limits a bit as well. A great hotel on the Riverwalk and a rental car helped us connect with the area and helped make it a time to remember.

Our hotel, Hotel Contessa, was beautiful and located a block or two from all the fun of the Riverwalk. You could easily spend your whole trip there! The big attraction was the Alamo of course. I’m pretty surprised at the small size, but it was still fascinating to tour and explore. We enjoyed a very informative and fun River Cruise. Be prepared for long lines, and eat some wonderful Tex Mex…and some delicious Margaritas.

If you ask the Princess, she would say Lego Land and the Sea Life exhibit was her favorite…at least in the top 3. I would not know, I enjoyed a bit of pampering at the Spa while she and my hero got their build on… It was wonderful.

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster. Homemade Monday

Enjoy this look back at St. Patrick’s many years ago.

A restful weekend here in Annapolis, in no small part thanks to a crazy burned out electrical transformer that led to a blown out Verizon box that led to a service call to happen between 9am and 9pm that led to a mandatory day at home. It is a wonder how we ever did anything without the internet…or Fios TV. Anyway, it did give me time to put together a St. Patrick Day mantel. I have never attempted to capture the luck of the Irish in my decor, but like my Valentine’s mantel, I am quite pleased that the simplest additions really do have major impact. Do you like the sparkly shamrock? I give the Princess full credit!

Some green depression, vintage postcards and a bunting of shamrock pennants gives homage to Old Saint Patrick.
A close-up of the gorgeous green of the glass.

Vintage St. Patrick postcards are known for their amusing nature and exuberant love of the perfect Irish lass! I love these examples of both.

My Hero also kept busy this weekend.  He was able to hang my darling new antique sampler…a post for another time. Thank goodness he had a reliable helper.  Someone has to chose the perfect nail!

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster. Beautifully made

Sundays on Silverado@The House on Silverado

Senior Salon@Esme Salon

Morning Cup of Joe@The Cottage Market

Senior Salon@Esme Salon

Inventive recipes from Food Network can be fun, but sometimes you just need to revisit the classics. If it was good enough for Grandma, it’s good enough for me. This is, by the way, the only time a boxed cake mix will make an appearance in my kitchen. It is described as essential and who am I to argue with the tried and true. Bring some good old fashioned deliciousness to your next gathering and I guarantee you will be bringing home an empty plate.

The usual Cast of Characters

Cake

• 1 pkg yellow cake mix

• 2 eggs, room temperature

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup, 113g), melted

Filling

• 1 eight ounce (8 ounce) package cream cheese or Neufchâtel cheese, room temperature

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup), melted

• 4 c powdered sugar

The Steps to Glory

1 Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2 In a bowl, combine cake mix, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla and melted butter. Mash together with a fork until all ingredients are fully incorporated.

3 Spray 9-inch by 3-inch round cake pan or a 9×13 pan with baking spray or use a piece of parchment in the bottom of the pan.

4 Press cake mixture into bottom of prepared pan and get as flat as possible.

5 Place cream cheese, remaining eggs, vanilla and melted butter in stand mixer and beat on medium speed until creamy.

6 Add in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time (and on low speed) until all sugar has been added.

7 Pour cream cheese mixture over cake mixture.

8 Bake for 35-45 minutes. I moved mine from the oven when the edges were brown, but the center was still a bit jiggly. You do not want to over cook.

9 Allow to cool before serving.

The perfect way to celebrate the exclusive show by an up and coming artist…who needs a haircut.

* This picture makes me laugh. The Princess is growing her hair out and it looks pretty much like this right now*

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster. Whimsy Wednesday full plate. Handmade Monday. What’s for dinner

Senior Salon@Esme Salon

Morning Cup Of Joe@The Cottage Market

Senior Salon@Esme Salon

It seems like an eternity, but there has been great progress in our renovation. With walls up now it exciting to just stand inside and dream…of a life without laundromats and hot plate meals!

Our little 1920 Foursquare in Annapolis is very charming in so many respects. What was not charming was the lack of pantry, laundry room and a modern kitchen layout. We jumped into this adventure right after Halloween and hopefully we will jump out mid spring. Enjoy the progress shots…and dream with me

Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday .You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster whimsy Wednesday handmade Monday