Blueberry coffee cake with Almond topping

Today I am craving something fun for breakfast, I find a copied recipe "Cooks" Magazine. It sounded good. I remembered that I had some frozen blueberries in the basement freezer that need to be used up. I run down to the basement to see and sure enough - just slightly freezer burned blueberries. (Our food saver is old and sometimes doesn't finish vacuuming before it seals.)
I quickly glance at the other ingredients and deem it doable.

I take out my "prep" bowls and set the oven to 350 as the recipe states. 9" pan sprayed with vegetable spray...have to use baking spray. Butter is pretty hard, I measure and zap it slightly. Brown sugar...ok so I get the little stool from the bathroom to reach the brown sugar, granulated sugar and flour.

Nearly fall off the stool so I spill about a cup in the sink . I Remembered that I had just scrubbed the sink last night after dishes..so no biggy. I measure out the sugars (taking 1/3 cup out of the sink) and flour and put the 3-step stool back in the bathroom so there is room so I have some room to work.

I first mix up the topping, 1/3 cup of chopped almonds....oops can't find them ...pecan will do. 1/3 cup of flour, damn I put it back up on the shelf. So, I go to the bathroom-get the 3-stepper-bring down the flour and measure it out in the small bowl. Put the ladder back. 1/4 cup of brown sugar (check), 1 tbsp butter (check) 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Measure this in the palm of my hand...close enough. Try mixing this with a tablespoon, gum it all up, switch to fork. ok, fine. directions say "set aside".

"In a large bowl" mix .....Mixer, oh yes on the shelf in the basement, get that.
"Beat together the sugar (1 cup- forgotten but all measured out beside my bowl). butter (1/3 cup), eggs(2), and almond extract. (which I have) , mixing well" Combine flour (1 2/3 cup),baking soda (1 1/2 tsp.), baking powder (1 1/2 tsp)........damn return to bathroom for stool, can't reach it), stir until just blended" " Stir in Yogurt ( 3/4 cup 2 %) YOGURT...oh man, that;s what I meant to get yesterday! How didn't i see this in the recipe first...cause I wrote in quickly and scribbled. How about mayonnaise- no that has vinegar...milk 2%...I used that free poured until it looked like batter "
stir in blueberries. ( it actually said- "stir in blueberries and flour" I missed that part.

Reread recipe while writing this and; It did say in the list of ingredients 2 Tbsp. flour on the bottom. Oh well ). Pour into prepared pan and as I finish doing this ---- I notice the cup of sugar in my cute little prep bowl. With a spatula ,scape batter back out of bowl and mix in sugar---of course now that I've added the blueberries my batter turns blue making the remaining ones that didn't get smashed to sink to the bottom. So much for prepping the pan

. " Bake for 35-40 minutes until cake is done} ( I baked mine for 55 minutes, cause it didn't seem to be done. George and I had a piece just now...pretty good. I'd do it again with yogurt and floured blueberries and spraying the pan would sure help. I need to bake more!

Updated Photo of George and I

We're overweight and showing our age, but So happy........Thank You God. Photo taken at The Octoberfest in Wilton,Me.

My Grandson, Harrison Downey is Graduating this year.....WOW...What a handsome man he has become.

My Niece, Maggie, has given birth to her little boy. He's somewhat of a miracle, as her doctors had told her that her chances of conceiving and carrying to term were slim. But now we got to meet Declin Harrison Adams............On May 25th....9lb 6oz. of cuteness.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Eric Adams

Retirement looms - not Loons

We have a mortgage on our home. By budgeting, we're able to keep up on the finances. George is now working 52+ hours and I am working 26 1/2 hours a week and collecting my Social Security. We truly love this home but sadly I need to be able to retire and have my poor "achy knees and hips" husband and retire also.

In the Spring we'll be putting this property for sale and paying off mortgage. The hope to put an affordable small home on our other property on Haley pond up the road. This is both scary and exciting. Much to be done and with our physical issues, I'm a little nervous about the big move and all it involves. Our goal is to have the new home finished or at least the mortgage paid before 4/17/2018 when George turns 65.

Step one: Get land cleared. It is wet, we've had the perk test done and the survey of 6 1/2 acres is complete. By clearing the property it will allow the sun to get in to dry out the new lot.

Shaklee distributor

i have joined as a member so I may order what I need at the better cost , not necessarily to sell, although I could and may at some later date. I really believe in their products and will be "frugal" and use all my left-over product before changing over to SHAKLEE FOR NEARLY MY ENTIRE HOUSE. I'll still be making my own laundry detergent, but still use the commercial dishwasher detergent.

Sunrises in Rangeley and here in my yard

We call the trees on the left "Two trees" , I think they look like a mother and child, so maybe the fat one on the right would be the Daddy tree?