Salutation, picnics on porches and remembering

- Today they are new citizens of the world. The Georgia College & State University graduation is just over when my dad and I drive by.

- Porches are full of graduates and family as we drive through the campus area. "Picnics on porches," Dad remarks.

- He suddenly remembers things to tell us. He knows that I admire Flannery O'Connor's stories and her farm property, Andalusia, is around the corner from my childhood home. "She was a nice lady," he says. You knew her????? She used to come in the grocery store with her mother. In the last days, she was in a wheelchair. Nice lady.

Treat, more treats and somebody now

- This glorious key lime pie from Bahama Breeze restaurant. Jane brought it as a treat for our circle meeting at church. All I can say is, YUM! And totally worth the calories. It sparked a discussion regarding our mutual love of graham cracker crust.

- More yumminess. Friend Leisa dropped by my office with cookies left over from a seminar her company gave at a function for seniors. We scarfed them down like anteaters. :) Their company specializes in "aging-in-place" home renovations for seniors, allowing them to live in their homes instead of assisted living facilities. A good thing, for sure.

- Wishing a wonderful concert this Sunday in Austin, Texas to Jannie Funster, who routinely makes my day. This comment from G on her blog: "Yay! I’m friends with a musician who has an actual product of music out. I’m a semi-somebody now!" I feel the same way.

Sparkle, rescue and lost objects

- My new cellphone that has a number of free ringtones, but none I really liked. All kinds of dance music sounds - OK, but you hate it when it goes off in in a crowd. So I chose the Samsung ringtone which is kind of ethereal. I mention to friend Leisa that I miss my Sparkle sound from my old phone. She says, "I love the word Sparkle!" Me, too.

- Knocking on a nice neighbor's door asking for help with my computer, knowing that she will know what to do. She does help and later knocks on my door to see if all went as hoped.

- Noticing a trend in roadside objects. Chairs. This morning it was a nice looking office chair sitting to the side of the expressway. Yesterday - a Barcalounger. What's that about?

Courtesy, Twitter and pound cake recipe

- Edging onto the expressway at the height of rush hour, a man lets me in. I thank him with a wave and he waves back.

- Enjoying Twitter and following the food people. This "tweet" made me laugh out loud from @ezraklein "How is @ruthreichl not several thousand pounds?" Ms. Reichl is editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine and posts what she is eating all day long. I always imagine everyone posting about what they are eating and cooking must be doing it from the treadmill from a blackberry.

- The pound cake from a grandmother's recipe was a big hit at book group. The recipe is emailed (recipe follows) and someone questions the lack of baking powder in the recipe. The answer makes me smile, "You just have to trust me that no chemical reaction is needed to leaven the cake. The cake rises based on the expansion of tiny air bubbles that are created when the batter is properly made. Aeration is achieved by creaming the butter and sugar on medium high speed until it is very, very fluffy. This can take a number of minutes. (Husband) just checked on the best temp to cream butter and it is 65 degrees. The eggs also leaven the cake-think of a souffle. You should add the eggs one at a time until each is well incorporated, and I turn the speed down to low when adding the flour. Hope this helps."

Pound Cake

1 lb. softened salted butter - leave out overnight to bring to room temp.
8 eggs - must be at room temp
2 and 2/3 cup sugar
3 and ½ cups plain flour (White Lily recommended)
8 tbsp evaporated milk (small can)
2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 300 and grease/flour large tube pan. (Note: this recipe will not fit in a bundt pan.) Cream butter and sugar until very fluffy. Add eggs. Alternate adding flour and milk until each is well incorporated. Add vanilla. Bake 1 and ½ hours; let cool 10 minutes and invert onto plate.

Mascot, extra mile and happy morning

- This wooden cat that was left facing the front door of my gym a couple of years ago. (No one knows why.) Staff opening up in the morning found it there, brought it in and adopted it as their mascot. They have fun decorating it for holidays; this time in honor of the assistant manager who is graduating from college.

- Visiting an obstetrician's office in which a pitcher of lemonade is always set out on a tray for expectant moms and supportive dads.*

- The birds providing a happy morning symphony in the trees around my house, complete with different sounds.

* This was a work visit.

Diamonds, dedicated and rain

- The diamond pattern the landscaping man made in the grass he was mowing.

- Attending a festival in which Adopt a Greyhound Atlanta, Inc., an organization dedicated to providing homes for retired racing Greyhounds, had a booth. One of the dogs was wearing four tiny pink shoes, made just for her sensitive paws.

- Sitting on the back porch after dark listening to light rainfall on the trees.

15 stars, done and sing out loud

- Getting 15 stars for exercise completed in April.

- Finishing an article I agreed to write and emailing it off before I can change my mind about its contents.

- A co-worker is alone in the printing plant this morning and remarks about the quiet. And enjoying his laugh when I tell him he can sing out loud.