Birthday Cupcakes

Here is a recipe for some good carrot cupcakes that have a moist nutty texture, not too mushy and not too sweet.

• 2 1/2 C flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1.5 C room temperature butter
• 1 C packed brown sugar
• 1/2 C granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 C water
• 8 to 10 medium carrots shredded (about 2 3/4 cups)
• 2 C pecans finely chopped (we like it nutty, 1 cup would be fine if you don't)

Preheat oven to 350
-grease and flour your muffin tins
-whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ginger & nutmeg
-beat butter and sugars together, add eggs 1 at a time, beat well
-add vanilla, water & carrots, beat until well combined
-slowly add flour mixture and blend well
-add pecans, blend well
Fill muffin tins
Cook for 25-35 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 12oz whipped cream cheese
• 1/4 pound of powdered sugar
• 1/2 C of room temperature butter
• 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract

beat together until smooth and smear on top of cupcakes

Don't dwell on the "negative" things in your life, see the positive side of everything. Everything is a process, if there is something in your life you are unhappy about, understand that it is a step in the direction of the life that you are creating and don't allow yourself to feel badly about it. You have the power to be happy, take some time every day to focus on FEELING happy, Especially if you are feeling bad. Stop what you are doing and ask yourself: "Why do I feel so bad?" "Will feeling this way change the situation that I think is making me feel this way?" "What can I do to feel better?". Look for a positive side to the situation that you think is negative, even if the positive side is "I need to be here right now because this is a step in the direction of the life that I am passionate about." If you are taking your negative feelings out on the people around you, remind yourself that spreading negativity hurts the people you love, you don't want them to feel bad too.

Easter Hike

On Easter we set out to hike Bald Pate. When we got out of the car we started on the trail adjacent to the door, Moose trail. We had never been on this trail before and didn't know what to expect. It started out easy, muddy and beautiful. We saw three different kinds of fungus, some cool stump fairy houses, hoof prints & little birds. Our dog Ozzy was so excited to be out in the woods, my mother and I took turns be yanked up and down the trail by him, he was very careful not to walk in any mud or water so he showed us all the dry places to walk. After about a half mile we walked onto South Face Loop trail towards the summit. This trail was everything I had been longing for since leaving New England and hiking in California, it was steep and covered in boulders of all sizes, my favorite kind of New England trail! The kids seemed to like the challenge, especially sliding down trail in the piles of dry leaves covering the path. We finally reached the summit, or so we thought ... two "summits" later we were there! it was windy and breathtaking, there is just nothing quite like being on top of a mountain and looking at the world around you. The hike back to the car was easy and fast. Everyone in the family enjoyed this hike, since it is just down the road we will be visiting Bald Pate at every seasonal change and especially in July for blueberry season!!