- 23 Nov 2012 · Why shop local? Walmart employees only average $8.81 an hour. http://robertreich.org/post/36219730368 …
- 16 Nov 2012 · Excellent news! The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians buying 354 acres in Temecula will END the proposed rock quarry! http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-quarry-20121116,0,7887118.story …
- 16 Nov 2012 · It’s Friday! How about a fun video to get the weekend rolling? The flip side of things between men and women in a bar.. http://screen.yahoo.com/flip-side-bar-000000587.html …
- 14 Nov 2012 · I think @CassadeePope is my favorite at this point. Guess @blakeshelton is right – I just like her! #TheVoice
- 14 Nov 2012 · Catching up now on #TheVoice from Monday, and really enjoying all the songs with the @TheVoiceBand onstage! Always better with a band…
- 14 Nov 2012 · Driving home I saw two police cars chasing a car on the freeway – then later a bunch of fire trucks and a building on fire. Bizarre night!
- 7 Nov 2012 · If you’re at all into data crunching, this article about Obama’s team is really interesting! http://us.cnn.com/2012/11/07/tech/web/obama-campaign-tech-team/index.html?sr=sharebar_twitter …
- 7 Nov 2012 · Thank you California for passing Prop 30! Excellent news for our schools, colleges, and universities!
- 7 Nov 2012 · “Donald Trump, who has driven well past the last exit to relevance and veered into something closer to irresponsible” http://news.yahoo.com/nbc-sick-tired-employing-donald-trump-063027779.html …
- 6 Nov 2012 · Love my friend @ElisaSherman so much! She’s texting me election news as I sit in class. It’s too exciting and too important to not know!
- 6 Nov 2012 · Saw several yards decorated with homemade displays for Obama on my drive into UCLA today. Inspiring and heartwarming!
- 6 Nov 2012 · I have class tonight so I’ll miss what could be the most exciting night on TV since 2000. Enjoy it for me!
- 6 Nov 2012 · Election season in American can get ugly, but ELECTION DAY is always beautiful! Best day of this year by far!
- 5 Nov 2012 · Chicago Sun Times: Marty Casey of Lovehammers has a tale to tell http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/splash/16092184-418/daily-splash-marty-casey-of-lovehammers-has-a-tale-to-tell.html#.UJhzbOe3SuI.twitter … Article includes one of my images – always fun to see!
- 5 Nov 2012 · In the Chicago Sun Times this weekend… “Daily Splash: Marty Casey of Lovehammers has a tale to tell”… http://fb.me/1YAQWI5yK
- 3 Nov 2012 · Watching The Candidate with Robert Redford on TV. Weird how little has changed in 40 years… Same issues, concerns, same politics.
- 2 Nov 2012 · After a really tough week I am so looking forward to Gold Rush on Discovery @ 9PM. Seriously, I want to be gold miner in my next life!
In the Chicago Sun Times this weekend…
In the Chicago Sun Times this weekend… “Daily Splash: Marty Casey of Lovehammers has a tale to tell”
The article includes one of my images – always fun to see!
Here’s a link to the online version of the article…
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/splash/16092184-418/daily-splash-marty-casey-of-lovehammers-has-a-tale-to-tell.html
On Twitter | October 2012
- 29 Oct 2012 · So far, two web sites that I’ve needed tonight have been down. I’m thinking they’re hosted on the East Coast?
#SandyStrikes - 28 Oct 2012 · Just had a 3.9 earthquake in Hemet. It was located 9km SE of Valle Vista, California, and woke up every dog and cat in the neighborhood!
- 27 Oct 2012 · According to Twitter, my account may have been compromised… So what did the spammer post? That I had lost 20 pounds! Wish that was true!
- 26 Oct 2012 · Just got one of those sponsored posts on FB asking me to like Mitt Romney. Reminded me to go hit Like for Barack Obama! http://facebook.com/barackobama
- 26 Oct 2012 · This is pretty funny – it’s the last debate, edited down to 100 seconds. Oh, and the title is pretty clever as well! http://news.yahoo.com/romneys-final-debate-message-ill-better-obama-164010328–politics.html …
- 26 Oct 2012 · If you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or tired, make time to read this one little article! http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/magazine/the-island-where-people-forget-to-die.html … Just do it! So inspiring!
- 26 Oct 2012 · One of my secret favorite shows starts tonight! Gold Rush on Discovery Channel at 9PM. http://www.facebook.com/GoldRush It’s strangely addicting…
- 22 Oct 2012 · I love this summation of the three debates, as seen on NBC… 1. Big Bird, 2. Binders, and 3. Bayonettes!
- 15 Oct 2012 · But isn’t this a show where the producers don’t pick the “winner?” Isn’t it supposed to be about love, not winning? So why target it?
- 15 Oct 2012 · “Judge dismisses Bachelor discrimination case” http://omg.yahoo.com/news/judge-dismisses-bachelor-discrimination-case-012647318.html … Evidently only white and hispanic men have ever “won” The Bachelorette.
- 15 Oct 2012 · My Grandma was quoted in the Wall Street Journal this week! http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443995604578004723603576296.html … It’s an interesting article, worth reading!
- 2 Oct 2012 · Today it’s 106 degrees and she tells me it’s “not that hot.” she re-acclimated to Hemet heat fast!
- 2 Oct 2012 · When my mother first got back from Seattle she complained when it hit 80 degrees. It was too hot.
On Twitter | September 2012
- 29 Sep 2012 · Song of the Day… ‘Classic Girl’ by Deidre & the Dark http://rockbandlounge.com/?p=2253 #rockbandlounge.com
- 8 Sep 2012 · So if you’re trying to find homes for kittens – like I am – be careful! Charge a small fee, and carefully vet possible homes…
- 8 Sep 2012 · Today at the shelter a woman told me they’ve had reports of people finding kittens on Craigslist, and then using them for target practice.
- 8 Sep 2012 · My Mom and the baby kittens – they’re now three-weeks-old and have tripled in size… http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151131529119454 …
- 3 Sep 2012 · Ugh… just looked at the bottom of a relative’s parmesan & it expired in 1997! How could it sit in the fridge that long and not be noticed?
Two-week old kittens
Somebody wants out of the box!
And big sister, who is a little over three months old, is always a willing accomplice…
Oh no! Getting out of the box means another bath! They hate baths… Scratchy tongue is no fun.
The little girl is making a run for it Good thing she learned to walk yesterday!
Cuddling up with big sister after the bath isn’t so bad though!
A stray cat in the neighborhood has given birth to two litters this summer, and she was still nursing the older kittens, when these were born, so three of the five in the new litter died the very first day. Luckily a very kind neighbor was willing to scale a barrier and go into a black widow infested shed to save the last two – and I’ve been feeding them ever since. They’re 16-days-old old now, and have tripled in size – thanks to a steady diet of Kitten Milk Replacement every three hours. On the two days a week I go to Los Angeles, my Mom takes over the feeding.
Their big sister is from the Momma Cat’s first litter this summer, and she is the sweetest thing – and she’s ready to find a forever home. I coaxed her indoors the day after we saved the baby kittens, and she’s completely adjusted to being an indoor cat. She sleeps on my chest, purrs constantly, and is as loving as can be. She also bathes the baby kittens and helps them to pee and poop – which I’m forever grateful for! But I can do chore myself, and it’s time for her to find an owner that will love her and care for her forever – and who is willing to keep her indoors and safe. If you know anyone, please contact me!
On Twitter | July 2012
- 25 Jul 2012 · I meant to give @fredtracey +K on @klout for Comedy, but slipped and hit Cooking of all things? Hey Fred, do you cook?
- 24 Jul 2012 · Oh wow! @DarciMonet you’re right! But my point is still valid about it being a great song that isn’t played often enough!
- 24 Jul 2012 · “Who do you need? Who do you love? When you come undone…” George Michael on the radio – haven’t heard THAT in a long time. Love…
- 24 Jul 2012 · Off to Los Angeles! I make the two-and-a-half hour drive into the city twice a week, so it’s a good thing I like driving!
- 22 Jul 2012 · I love it when something like this pops up in my inbox! This image generated a lot of great feedback back when it… http://fb.me/1QbNYN9aH
- 11 Jul 2012 · Ryan was amazing! He sounds better than ever and I really liked his new songs! Just wish it was longer!
- 11 Jul 2012 · “I will do anything for love…” @ryanstar
- 11 Jul 2012 · Ryan Star sounds insane! But the audience is way toooo polite! Get up dudes! Get out of your seats!
- 11 Jul 2012 · How lucky am I?
- 11 Jul 2012 · Ryan Star is insanely hot! And he’s live and in the flesh right in front of me singing Brand New Day!
- 11 Jul 2012 · Miss Advised on Bravo is my new favorite show! All three women are so charming and seem real – like people I know. Best thing on TV this …
- 10 Jul 2012 · I must be in a bad mod today. Traffic in LA is getting to me and I keep referring to other drivers as trolls. Good thing they can’t hear me!
- 3 Jul 2012 · I swear I aged a decade in when I was sick – but now it’s like I’m aging backwards. Seriously! I feel like Brad Pitt in that movie!
- 1 Jul 2012 · Live like you mean it! And suck every bit of joy you can out of every single day! No regrets!
- 1 Jul 2012 · Just flashed a big smile at a guy in a wheelchair washing a very shiny car. Way to go dude! Make not your limitations a prison, or whate …
Pastel Rainbow Jello Cake
I kept seeing rainbow cakes pinned on Pinterest – and while they were cute, I kept thinking it would be so much prettier to do a pastel version. Sure, if you’re making a kid’s birthday cake, vibrant colors are fun. But if it’s just a no-reason cake, for a summer evening, wouldn’t a pastel version be more appealing to most adults? Certainly more appetizing!
But there was a problem! All of the recipes I found started with plain white cake – which is sweet, but boring. No way am I going to spend time making a cake that doesn’t taste good…
My favorite cake of all is Lemon Jello Cake. It’s a cake my Grandma Spelts used to make for Easter, and whenever anyone offers to make me a birthday cake, it’s what I request. The recipe requires a yellow cake mix, a small package of Lemon Jello, and slightly more oil than you usually put in a cake. Mix it all together, bake, and when the cake is still hot, poke it all over with a fork, and then pour on a glaze of fresh lemon juice and powdered sugar. It’s moist and tart and sweet and just the best cake ever!
So why couldn’t I use other flavors of Jello to make a rainbow cake? So I tired it. My first attempt wasn’t quite right. I used too much Jello, and the colors were too vibrant, and that much Jello changed the consistency of the cake. I also decided that the super moist quality the extra oil gave it while perfect for a Lemon Jello Cake, wasn’t quite as appropriate for a rainbow cake! Next I tried making cupcakes – and while I got the balance of Jello and cake batter fixed, I decided that cupcakes are too small to really get the full effect of the rainbow. I wanted a full cake to cut into, to show off all the colors.
Today I made my third attempt, and this time I got the balance of ingredients right – I divided the cake batter into six sections, and put a half-a-teaspoon of each color of Jello crystals into each one. And if the color wasn’t quite deep enough? I used a drop of food coloring to get it just right. And I skipped the Blue Jello entirely, because I’m not a big fan of that flavor. And blue food coloring worked just fine!
It looks totally incognito before you cut into it. Just like any other loaf cake with cream cheese frosting.
But once you cut into it, you get all these pretty colors, swirling around.
I chose to be a little freeform with how I glopped the batter into the pan, because I wanted interesting swirls – but if you want a neater demarkation, just plop each new color in rounded spoonfuls, directly on top of the last color, and it will spread out on it’s own, into neat little stripes.
So despite all my troubles figuring out the best way to do it, in the end it was dead simple. Just a plain white cake mix, and follow the directions on the box – then divide into sections, and mix a half-teaspoon of a different colored Jello flavor into each one – and plop into the greased pan, one color at a time. Then bake normally! The frosting is equally easy. It’s an adaption of a Martha Stewart recipe. Just take one stick of butter, and one 16 oz bucket of cream cheese, one box of powdered sugar, half-a-teaspoon of vanilla, and a splash of milk – and mix together. Takes about one minute to make the frosting and four minutes to frost the cake. Couldn’t be easier, or in my opinion, prettier!
On Twitter | May and June 2012
- 19 Jun 2012 · Just saw a Jaguar with a bumper sticker – which was weird enough! But it said “Cash, grass or ass? No one rides for free!”
- 18 Jun 2012 · Thanks to Raquel in the Hemet AT&T Store, I now have a functioning iPhone again! So happy!
- 2 Jun 2012 · They’re skittish and run away now, but they chose my window – and I believe they knew what they were doing! Cats are smart like that…
- 2 Jun 2012 · Guess I’ll be heading to the pet store tomorrow for kitten food!
- 2 Jun 2012 · First we gave them Solid White Albacore Tuna and some water. They ate every bite. Then I made scrambled eggs. Same thing, every bit gone!
- 2 Jun 2012 · Looked out the window by my desk this evening, and asleep in the shade, right up against the house was a mother cat, and three kittens.
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30 May 2012 · Just got 100% on my Criminal Law final! Second one in a row! I think I’m on a roll!
On Twitter | March and April 2012
- 27 Apr 2012 · Why does the ham I just bought have “gluten-free” on the packaging? Just marketing? Or do they really add something that has gluten to ham?
- 25 Apr 2012 · According to http://whitepages.com there are 280 people with my last name. Definitely uncommon! http://names.whitepages.com/last/Spelts #wpnames #Spelts
- 23 Apr 2012 · “Hit.Me Baby One More Time” with a male on vocals? LOVE! But Rock Star: INXS @martycasey‘s will always be the definite version! #TheVoice
- 4 Apr 2012 · For anyone looking for images of the Estudillo Mansion, that were mentioned in the Press Enterprise on Sunday,… http://fb.me/QzGIRyQ0
- 3 Apr 2012 · Ashley and Jordis definitely won tonight. Extra face time, and performance time on live TV? And the judges “saving” them? #TheVoice
- 3 Apr 2012 · So how perfect is it that Jordis is now killing it on @markburnetttv‘s other show? Totally meant to be! #TheVoice
- 3 Apr 2012 · On Rock Star: INXS Suzie was tecnically the most perfect, Marty was my overall favorite, JD turned me on, but Jordis had THE voice,..
- 3 Apr 2012 · Congratulations to @jordismusic! #1 on the iTunes Rock chart? And all the judges LOVE you! What a night! #TheVoice
- 31 Mar 2012 · Science and Health, and Art… – http://cherylspelts.com/?p=4109
- 29 Mar 2012 · Estudillo Mansion in San Jacinto | 2012 – http://cherylspelts.com/?p=4059
Spelt Banana Nut Bread
This is an adaption of a recipe my mother still makes – but I used Spelt flour, because I wanted to try it, and because it’s much better for you than modern white flour – and I use more nuts, and add dark chocolate chips – both of which are good for you in small doses! This is a nice dense bread – and a little piece will fill you up and satisfy your sweet tooth – and it’s fairly healthy! The Spelt flour has a nice nutty honey flavor – which works well with the bananas and nuts and chocolate. And if you use Sucanet instead of sugar, then the only “not-so-good-for-you” ingredient is the third of a cup of butter, and divided over a dozen portions, even that’s not too bad!
Spelt Banana Nut Bread
Mix together thoroughly…
2/3 cup sugar or Sucanat
1/3 cup butter
2 organic free-range brown eggs
a splash of whole milk
Mix in…
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Stir in…
3 ripe bananas
2 cups Spelt flour
Blend in…
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Let stand for 20 minutes before baking at 350°F in a greased baking pan. Sprinkle with more of the dark chocolate chips right before baking, if you want it to look ever prettier and taste ever better! Bake for about 30 minutes in a small cake pan, or 50-60 minutes in a loaf pan.