Just a little something for you...

2012-02-02T18:10:00.000-05:00

It is an old diner. It was moved from Texas to our state, and it was a fun, nostalgic place to visit.

Recently, we helped to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday.

We all met here, my other sister-in-law and my mother-in-law.

Walking in the front door immediately transfers one back in time.

Back to the fifties, or so I am told:).

Colorful, clean, and so well decorated...making us all happy that we chose this place to celebrate.

It has been a few years since we have shared a time like this, and the hours flew by so quickly.
There were no lulls in our conversation, and it was fun to sit and talk without interruptions.

The birthday girl and her mother.

Celebrating her and the kind, caring person she is, was our privilege.

My dear sister-in-law and me.

Isn't it interesting how the older we get, the more we treasure times together with family?

I feel blessed to have these ladies in my life.

Thanks for stopping by.

2012-01-31T18:50:00.002-05:00

S'more Puffs.

Found the recipe in one of my recipe books, "Quick Fixes (with mixes)".

Preparation time...5 minutes

My taste tester gave the recipe a good rating.

The recipe called for Hershey Kisses. I did not have any, but I did have some Hershey Chocolate bars.

Broke the bar up into the small individual squares for each cracker.

I do recommend the chocolate kisses though, because it adds a bit more chocolate.

Recipe

12 round buttery crackers (I used Ritz Crackers)

12 chocolate kisses

6 stacker marshmallows that I cut in half(recipe calls for large marshmallows, cut in half)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Place crackers on a baking sheet. Top each with 1 milk chocolate kiss and 1 marshmallow half, cut side down.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes or just until marshmallows begin to melt. Let cool on wire rack for 5 minutes.

Heart plate for 1.99 at Target. A fun, simple gift for Valentine's Day.

For fun, I tried these marshmallow hearts with the same recipe. Added a touch of strawberry to the taste.

I think these little pink hearts are so cute.

Bought the bag of them at Target.

Adding little candy hearts, adds a fun touch of color to this plate of s'mores.

I am including a few more listed ideas of how to use these pink marshmallow hearts, just in case you find yourself with a bag of these in the next few weeks.

"The best portion of a good life is little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love." ~William Wordsworth

2012-01-30T19:51:00.001-05:00

All of our overnight guests have left. The house is unusally quiet.

The weather the last few days, is certainly not typical of what our usual winter weather is.

In fact lately, it seems like the spring time of the year.

I took this picture from our porch. There were four robins on the tree when I took the picture. With the warmer, sunny weather and the robins on the tree, I had to remind myself that it truly is the end of January.

We said good bye to our smallest visitor yesterday. We miss her already. It sure was a pleasure to have her and her mother here for an extended visit.
I feel like I have been out of the blogging loop for so long, and look forward to catching up on my visits.
But for now, we are enjoying a quiet evening.
Thank you for stopping by. Are you experiencing winter weather now?

2012-01-27T17:02:00.000-05:00

My talented neice is learning to master cookie decorating. Her sugar cookies taste exceptionally good! Sometimes pretty cookies don't taste real good, but not these. She invited my daughter to her home, and together they created these heart cookies.

Each one has a beautiful design.

She is learning the technique of creating petals on the cookies. I thought it appeared to me, that she has done the technique many times before.

The pink plate of four cookies that my daughter brought along home with her, is now empty, and the recipients are happy.

Thank you dear neice for sharing your artistic skills with us. Anyone who receives one of your cookies this Valentine's Day, is most fortunate.

Since we are on the subject of hearts, I thought I would share a few of the simple vignettes I have in my home. I have a thing for old postcards, and this is one of my favorites.

I also really like tiny red hearts.

As I walked out of my oldest daughter's home this evening, I was smitten with her pretty white snowdrops. In the middle of the winter, what fun it was to see these little white flowers blooming in her front garden.

Hearts, flowers, and cookies...joy in my journey.

Wishing you some joy today!

2012-01-26T10:42:00.001-05:00

I discovered these small white tiles in our attic. I bought a sheet of rub-ons at A.C. Moore.

I rubbed them on each of the four tiles.

Just what I needed. A set of tile coasters.

I took one of the extra smaller rub-ons and made a tiny tag to tie on the gift.

Raffia and a piece of evergreen and I had the finished gift.

Cost...$1.79(since I already had the white tiles)

Truly, just a little something for you today.

2012-01-25T11:01:00.001-05:00

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law were a few of our weekend houseguests. It was so good spending time with them again. They live in the CO and rarely get to visit all of us. I bet you could have guessed that they live in CO:)

Picture taken at a fun, family, western dinner

that we had for my husband's 60th birtday.

My sister captured this picture.

~~~

I am behind in my posting.

I am behind in many areas of life right now.

Life has been so busy.

I continue to have some house guests.

Yesterday, these two little guys paid a vist. Bright colored hats left over from the dinner, were just what they wanted to play with. They were so pleased when they had them on.

This tiny one continues to be a houseguest. Her and Elmo have become a daily part of my life lately.

I will be back, but for right now, my computer has taken a back seat.

2012-01-23T07:26:00.000-05:00

In the middle of an ordinary Friday afternoon, this little package arrived in my mailbox. You see, I won a giveaway from a talented friend in blogland. She drew my name and sent me one of the pretty gift bags, that she had sewn, and gave out for Christmas, along with some great smelling shower gel from Bath and Body Works. It was a special blessing in my day. Thank you Mary! She sews many gifts for her family and friends and shares them on her blog..."cornersofmylife.blogspot.com/"

Our daughter and granddaughter have been spending time with us the last few days. You can imagine how much we are enjoying our times together. Family and friends filled our house this weekend, as we celebrated birthdays together.

Happy Birthday to our dear daughter today! She adds joy to our lives in so many ways.

Thanks for stopping by.

2012-01-21T07:43:00.000-05:00

Happy 60th Birthday to a very special guy! Today my husband has reached a milestone.
Pictured above, his nephew and him sharing their first catch of the day.

Brothers and nephew spending treasured time together.

What a privilege it is to share life with this man.

It is different, thinking that I am married to a sixty year old guy,

but in a few years he will be thinking that of me too.

Happy Saturday!

2012-01-18T20:42:00.001-05:00

No big, profound happenings in my part of the world. Just one happy, little girl...

...thinking it is pretty cool to bird watch, with her older male cousins.
Thank you for stopping by.

2012-01-16T10:10:00.001-05:00

Moments from my weekend.

One of my very favorite places to be...by a rippling brook. I truly wanted to stay here.

"IF ONLY I KNEW...

        that wonders surround all we do...

                everywhere...

                        all the time,

        I would have searched

        my little corner of the world

                 and been continuously amazed."

                                 ~ from the book " If Only I Knew" by Lance Wubbels

                                      I know that I mentioned this book before on a post, but each time I pick it up, I realize what a powerful little book it is.

Wishing you "wonders" in your corner of the world today!

2012-01-14T21:10:00.000-05:00

Today was one of those rare Saturdays that I did not have a set schedule. As the afternoon progressed, I headed for the attic to continue on in my organizational mode. I was bound and determined to clear out, organize, and clean. Let me tell you, I was so unprepared for what I found.

As I mother, I do ask for your help. What is a mother to do, when she has three married daughters who still have their "boxes" in our attic? It has been mentioned to them from time to time. I hear answers like, "wait until we have a bigger place", or "wait until we are out of school", or "we will get it all at the right time, really we will."

First thing I found was the middle daughter's "Precious Teddy" collection from years ago. They are sitting on the white wicker shelves in the corner of what used to be her room. She wants them for her little girl, but not yet. So, there they set, in all their cuteness...waiting to go to their next home.

As I examined them, the memories start flooding over me. I remember clearly when she first decided that she wanted to collect them, and then I remember how happy she was with each one she received. Quite honestly, like this little sign says, "my heart was starting to melt". The resolve I had in my heart as I marched up the stairs to begin my mission, was already starting to fade.

Then I opened the first box, and what did I find but the cutest little guys ever...the longed for, coveted "Beanie Babies" that ruled our youngest daughter's heart for a few years. Oh, how she treasured each and every one. She learned early on that the individual tags must stay on, to keep their value. As I looked over her collection, I smiled as I saw all the tiny white tags still attached. How could I possibly get rid of these adorable, soft, cuddly creatures? I felt the resolve melting even further.

Everything old that was Coca Cola...that is what our oldest daughter collected. Old Coke bottles, old wooden Coke crates, tins, signs...she treasured them all. Most of them she now displays in her home, but I did discover some remaining memorbilia in some of the boxes that I opened.

Now understand, in between these discoveries, I did come upon items that I found quite easy to discard, but others, as I've shared, seemed to have unexpected strings attached to them, and that I found a bit disconcerting.

I opened this box and there I found an array of beautiful sea shells, and suddenly without warning, my mind went back, and I saw little girls walking on the beach of Florida, and so happy to discover each and every sea shell. Excitedly they would run to me and share their every find. I felt tears, totally unexpected, as I remembered...

As I opened another filled box, this white banner fell to the attic floor. I looked down and saw the words "sophmore princess". Instantly, I pictured our oldest daughter, in her little black dress, walking down the field at the soccer game halftime, in the homecoming court. Things were going down hill for me, with each box or bag that was opened.

How did it happen that our girls saved so much of their lives, in our attic?

Then, the answer came, I discovered boxes from their great-grandmother, and realized she had the same malady. A coloring book of Mrs. Beasley was on top of the next box of magazines. It was a box that my mother, and their great-grandma had packed, along with...

...many old magazines. There was the lovely Joanne Woodward and her daughters, dated July 1971. Now, certainly I could throw this piece of history, into the trash, couldn't I? No, I could not. It is, at this moment, still in the same box, at the same spot of my attic. What is wrong with me? Why couldn't I just dispose of it? Why would I keep it? Who would want it? But, no I could not throw it away.

Same is true of my mother's treasured record albums. Really, Lawrence Welk's Most Requested T.V. Favorites? My mind immediately took me to the Saturday nights, when with our own daughter's were in their young years, we all sat, watched Mr. Welk's show, and ate popcorn. Yes, I also remembered their rolling eyes, and heavy sighs as to our choice of entertainment, but, nevertheless, the memories were so strong.

The box of photos was the last one I tackled, and at this point, I was emotionally spent. I saw this photo of the three precious daugthers that God had blessed us with. So much time had passed since this picture was taken, and so much change had transpired. I found myself progressing three steps and then back two steps. I do feel like I accomplished some of what I set out to do, but I discovered that the sentimentality that I didn't think I had, had risen to the surface, on this wintery Saturday afternoon. I like clean, I like organization, I like to get rid of, but...

the other side of me, just had to keep some of the treasures that I had come upon.

How about you? How do you find yourselves when in my situation?

2012-01-12T21:07:00.000-05:00

When three little ones are in your care for the day, and it just happens to be a cool, rainy day, one has to pull out all of the stops, when it comes to finding ways to help them entertain themselves. And, since I like to appeal to their creative side, I am always looking for ways for them to practice creativity. My sister sent me some ideas from Pinterest that I liked. The one was a big container partly filled with small rocks. The child had some small toy excavating equipment in the rocks to drive over the rocks, or lift the rocks, or build whatever he desired with the rocks. I thought it was a great idea, but I did not have the small rocks.

My husband had a partially filled bag of white sand from last winter. I brought in a big, plastic storage container and filled it 1/4 full. I shared a few ideas of what my grandson could do with the sand, including some faux Christmas greens to use as trees, and some kitchen utencils to use as shovels, and then left him to play on our family room floor. I did ask him to please be careful to not spill any of the sand on the floor. I had no idea how much of a huge hit this would be. An indoor sandbox all to himself. For the next two hours he sat by the storage bin and was in his own little world.

I think this is the only picture that he realized that I took, and that is because I called out his name. When his sister came, she immediately joined him in the fun.

Together the two of them worked the sand in the bin, letting their imaginations run freely. I loved sitting at my desk working, and watching their artistic skills coming to fruition. I must admit, I never expected that this idea would be such a hit. Soon my granddaughter came to me and asked if she could have her own storage bin, so up to the attic we went, to see if we could find two more empty containers.

Fortunately I did. I added the same amount of sand to each one. As you can see here, hers had a slightly different slant to it, as she got her pots and pans for hers.

When the littlest one woke from her nap, she was equally as enthused. Now the three of them sat on the floor and each entered into their own little worlds of sand design and creation. I share this with you in case you ever have need of an entertaining project for little ones in your life. For this grandma...it worked, and I was given the gift of extra time to get my work done. When they left, I did vacuum the floor, but I tell you it sure was worth it. When they come the next time, I will set the bins on a big blanket and then shake out the sand when they are finished playing. It might make it a bit easier than vacuuming again. Thanks to my sister for giving me this simple, yet brilliant idea.

2012-01-11T07:45:00.001-05:00

Happy Anniversary to our daughter and her husband!

January 8th...was their first year anniversary. We can hardly believe that it has been a year since they walked down the isle together.

Wishing them many more wonderful years together!

2012-01-09T17:58:00.001-05:00

Almost embarrassingly, I share my way of making chicken noodle soup, only because I had some requests for how I make it. I make it so often and share it with others. There is something so calming and comforting about a pot of hot chicken noodle soup, especially during the cold, winter months.

I prefer these two brands of the chicken noodle soups. I add as many cans as I need. I add 1 can of cream of chicken soup, a teaspoon of chicken "Better than Bouillon", a pack of my frozen corn, and a can of Libbey's sweet kernel corn, 2 TBS. of sugar and a few dashes of salt and pepper. That's it.

I simmer for 1/2 hour to 1 hour.

I top it with some chopped fresh parsley.

The sliced carrots and pieces of chicken already in the soup, give it a homemade taste.

It is a quick, easy gift for a busy, new mother, or for anyone who needs a gift of comfort.

I took a pot of this to my niece when she had her third baby and she just asked me for the recipe. I think she will like when she finds out how simple this concoction is.

I use these two products for many of my dishes. My mother introduced them to me. It certainly adds good flavor to recipes.

Wish I could serve a bowl of this to you this evening.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following craft was created by my sister. When she shared it with me, I thought it was a clever idea, and decided to share it with you.

She attended a bridal shower on Saturday. She bought a black tablecloth and black napkins from the bride-to-be's registry. She thought it would be nice to add napkin rings with the gift, but when she priced them, found them to be too expensive.

Instead, she decided to make her own to include with the gift. She bought a package of shower curtain rings at KMart. Her husband drilled a hole in the top of each one. She bought a stem of white gardenias at Joann's Store, along with a bag of pearls. She hot glued the stem of the flower in each hole.

She removed the yellow centers from the flowers and hot glued a pearl in the center of each one.

Total cost...!$1.15 each.

What a pretty, creative gift. I can imagine how beautiful her table will look, when she has friends over.

I congratulated my sister on her inexpensive, creativity.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

2012-01-06T09:31:00.003-05:00

Yes, I am sharing yet another sunrise from my window, this morning, thanks to my dear aunt who called and told me about it. She knows how much I enjoy seeing sunrises and sunsets, and how disappointed I am when I miss them.

The only sad part to me is that my Sony cannot possibly capture the REAL, breathtaking beauty of it all.

I do wonder what my neighbors think as they see me standing by the upstair's window taking a multitude of pictures in the early morning hour? And of course, I wonder what you all think that I am sharing yet another sunrise picture?

This framed piece describes my early morning event perfectly..."This is the day". My oldest daughter purchased it on Etsy, as a gift for me this Christmas. It was beautifully created by..."www.jeannewinters.etsy.com

It is taken from Psalms 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."

I've placed it on my kitchen wall unit and it serves as a needed reminder to me, that each day that I am given, is truly a gift from God...

...whether there may be glorious sunrises in it, or not.

You may want to visit her Etsy shop and see her creations.

Wishing you a reason to celebrate today despite what you are facing.

2012-01-04T15:47:00.000-05:00

Cleaning, organizing, getting rid of...it is all part of my mission since New Years.

This is the glass cupboard in my kitchen. Most of the dishes are old and have come from special people.
I enjoyed cleaning each piece and remembering it's history. I am surprised how dust can settle in cupboards even when they have glass doors.

The dish detergent, vinegar, and hot water, sure did make the pieces shine.

This set of old dishes was given to my from my oldest daugther. She found them at a local flea market. They add a touch of color to the white bead board.

I got this piece from a flea market. Can you tell me why this cup has two handles on it?

The tiniest cup and saucer from my one grandma. I wish I knew the history of it. All I remember is that it was from her grandma.

These crystal goblets were my mother's. She only used them on very special occasions.

During the Christmas holiday, I took this picture of my friend's china cupboard. Her blue and white dishes look so pretty against the green and white decor.

Dishes and crystal...they have always been a part of my life, and I never tire of seeing everyone's pieces.

Thanks for stopping by this evening.

Do you have an interest in china and crystal?

2012-01-02T20:19:00.000-05:00

My "smile makers" today...

The last one of my Christmas decorations is packed up and put away. It is a big job and not near as much fun as putting them out before Christmas.

My husband had off work today and had time to spend with his little buddies.

Their laughter always makes me smile.

Now to many of you, this is not a big deal, but it is my first time ever to see a fox up close, or to photograph a fox. I was capturing another brilliant sunset this evening at the neighbor's farm, and there right in front of me was this red fox running close by. Lucky for each of you, you too get to see a fox up close:) Now aren't you happy that you stopped by? I am.

2012-01-01T20:03:00.000-05:00

On New Year's Eve we helped celebrate our neice's 30th birthday, with a surprise 30's style birthday party given by her husband and her family.

When this family decides to do something, they sure do it right.

They visited flea markets and consignment shops. It resulted with the thirties coming alive in an old log building, in a nearby town.

The three close-knit sisters looked beautiful, dressed in their 30's garb.

The birthday girl is the one in the middle.

Even their husbands got in the act with the 30's style dress.

Favors were bags filled with the birthday girl's favorite candies and tied with vintage type tags. Our daughter created these festive favors.

The birthday girl's husband gave a heartfelt, meaningful, and memory filled tribute to his dear wife.

Here is my neice and her husband from my side of the family. She happens to be good friends with the birthday girl(which happens to be a neice on my husband's side).

My sister-in-law and her daughters. They dressed perfectly for the occasion.

The mother and father of the birthday girl, which happens to be my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. Don't they look good? I think my sister-in-law would have fit in the 1930's era perfectly.

Even the youngest one (cousins) enjoyed dressing in the era.

Happy 30th Birthday to our dear neice!

We wish you years of joy and blessings as you enter your 30's!

What a special way to welcome the year 2012!

2011-12-30T17:16:00.000-05:00

Due to a bit of overeating this past few weeks, this is now our official snack of choice for a few weeks.

Thanks to the dear lady at "cottagecozy.blogspot.com/", I discovered this easy, inexpensive, and low in calorie snack.

One bag of Jolly Time Pop Corn from the local grocery store.

One lunch size brown bag.

Layer pop corn kernels in the bottom of the bag, just to cover the bottom of the bag.

Fold down the top one time.

Sit it in the microwave.

Set the microwave oven for 2 minutes.

The popped corn will fill the bag.

Pour into big bowl, drizzle with extra light virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Stir thoroughly. If you want, you can sprinkle it with parmesan cheese too, and toss.

If it lasts until the next day, it tastes good too.

For now, this is our snack of choice.

But, just in case you prefer...I made these cookies over the holiday and they were delicious!
I found the recipe on "Food.com - 232088". They are "potato chip chocolate chip cookies". Oh my are they good, salty and sweet! Hence the "pop corn" choice for us this week:) Right now, I have a platter of them in my freezer. If you happen to be in my area of the country, stop in for some cookies and milk.

Another year is almost over. I read that Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) made five resolutions in his youth.

1. Live with all my might while I do live(he died at 55).

2.Never lose one moment of time, but improve it in the most profitable way possible.

3.Never do anything I should despise or think meanly in another.

4. Never do anything out of revenge.

5. Never do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

I am thinking that is some good advice to live by, in this coming year.

I wish you a Happy New Year ahead!

2011-12-29T08:02:00.000-05:00

By itself it is a sight to behold, fresh, ripe, cut-up fruit, especially in the cold, winter months.

But, when it is served in this style, it is worth sharing with the blogging world.

My neice bought a watermellon, carved it out, cut up the fruit, and produced a gorgeous creation.

For her first attempt at this project, I think she deserves recognition, especially since she is a busy mom to three young children, including a new baby.

Cake pops instead of a decorated cake or cupcakes...what a fun idea! Cake pops baked and decorated by another mother of young children.

The sister of the watermellon creation, did these beautiful chocolate covered strawberries. What a perfect way to display them on the food table. What talented neices I have been given!

The mother-to-be's good friend did the cute pink favors. The tiny pink pacifiers completed the look and made a lovely presentation as it sat on the table by the door for everyone to take.

The pretty mother-to-be was a warm, gracious recipient of the evening's festivities.

I saw this saying recently and I thought of myself as a new, young mother, and how often I needed to call my mother during those first few years. She may find herself doing that too. Thank God for mothers!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed seeing a glimpse of another family baby shower.

Thanks also to my dear neice for sharing her photography skills with us.

2011-12-27T21:28:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone! I am back from my break, and I would love to tell you that I am well rested and ready to go. But, that would not be the case. It has been a busy Christmas season, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything. I thought I would share a few of my favorite things from the last two weeks with you.
Speaking of..."These are a few of my favorite things" photo holder that my creative friend made for me this Christmas. It sits on my desk and holds pictures of a few of my very favorite people. What a perfect diy gift.

The laughter and excitement in the little one's eyes, certainly helped add fun to my Christmas memories.

The warm, caring hugs from two special little girls.

Our daughter and son-in-law came home from the midwest to celebrate with us.

Another adorable little one and her parents paid us a surprise visit on Christmas day evening. Her sweet smile brightens every occasion.

I always like setting my table, and especially for Christmas. Simple, yet festive was the tablescape I chose.

With tiny lit globe snowman as favors for each one.

Centerpiece...holly from my large holly bushes, and fresh cranberries in water.

I hope and pray that each one of you hold some treasured Christmas memories in your heart, from the last week. The older I get, the more the people around me, mean to me, and the less all the material aspects of Christmas mean to me.

Thanks so much for stopping by after my long break.

2011-12-21T10:32:00.002-05:00

The candles add a festive glow to our kitchen table.

Most things are completed. What isn't done will be.

I am taking a blogging break for the next few days.

Some of my family will be here to celebrate with us. We will miss the ones who are not.

When your good friend's dad is a part of the local Fire Company, you just might get to see Santa in person before Christmas. Fun moments to remember for this little guy.

"Glad tidings herald

the Christ child's birth-

"Joy to the world"

and "peace on earth,
"Glory to God,"

let all men rejoice

And hearken once more

to the angel's voice.

It matters not who

or what you are,

All can behold

the Christmas star,

For the star that shone

is shining still

In the hearts of those

of peace and goodwill.

It offers the answer

to everyone's need,

Regardless of color

or race or creed,

So joining together

in brotherly love,

Let us worship again

our Father above,

And forgetting our own

little selfish desires

May we seek what the star

or Christmas inspires."

~Helen Steiner Rice

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you in the blogging world! Many of you I have never met in person and yet I feel like I know you from your blogs, your visits to mine, and your kind comments on mine.

I wish Joy, Peace, and Love to you as you celebrate(however that may be), this truly meaningful Christmas Season!

2011-12-19T18:07:00.000-05:00

I thought you might just want to see what the dessert I made on the last post, looks like when sliced. It seemed like everyone enjoyed this old recipe. It was fun hearing from many of you, who also remember making this in earlier years. It will probably be a long time until I make it again because my husband finds it too tempting.

This afternoon they stayed with me. We painstakingly, and with so much anticipation, wrapped their mother's Christmas gift, the snow globes we made earlier in the month. They wrapped the snow globe in tissue, put it in a box, wrote their names on the box(at least two of them did), and all helped tie the bow.

We talked at length about Christmas secrets, but when their mother came to pick them up, they just could not help themselves.

No...they could not. Before I knew what happened, they handed her the gift and said a hearty "Merry Christmas". Why not? How precious that they just could not wait until Christmas morning. What fun to see her excitement and reaction. They were thrilled!

I guess it is better that could not wait to give, instead of not being able to wait when it comes to opening their gifts. It is better, right?

Meanwhile, these two were happy sitting at the kitchen table eating their yogurt. The holiday season has not phased them at their age, but they will learn soon enough.

Me...I am feeling behind in all that I have to do. I will get it all done, but until then, I am hoping to enjoy the moments of each day.

2011-12-17T22:06:00.001-05:00

I needed a dessert for a Christmas dinner tomorrow evening. It had to be something I could make ahead and it had to be a quick, easy, and delicious recipe. I remembered a dessert my mother used to make for some of her dinners years ago, and it was always a hit with her guests.
The two ingredients were Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers and whipping cream. The recipe is on the bottom of the box.

I stored this mixing bowl in the freezer for a few hours before whipping the cream. I whipped 2 cups of whipping cream in the bowl with the mixer on high speed. When it started to thicken, I added 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla. I continued whipping until peaks formed.

I spread 1 1/2 teaspoons of whipping cream onto each chocolate wafer. I then stacked them on edge on a platter forming rows.

This is an easy process. It has a yule log look when it is finished. I covered the whole thing with more whipped cream until all chocolate is covered.

To add a festive touch, I cut red and green gumdrops into pieces with my kitchen scissors. I cut up little chocolate bars and alternated the candy down the center of the log.

At this point I lightly covered it with plastic wrap and will refrigerate it until needed tomorrow evening.

The key to having this dessert taste amazing, is to make it at least one(or two) days ahead of time. The longer it sits in the refrig, the better it tastes. When ready to serve, I will slice it horizontally.

It is a delicious recipe for the holidays. Now, instead of making a dessert tomorrow afternoon, I can take my nap instead. Happy me:)

This is my beloved manger. It was in our home when I was a little girl, and every year my mother would set it out in our living room. Everything about it, including the straw, is the same as back then. I treasure this quaint little manger. Seeing the lit star at the top of it, reminds me of one of my very favorite Christmas carols..."Beautiful Star of Bethlehem"

by Christmas Song

I want to share the special words to the song;

"O beautiful stare of Bethlehem

Shining far through shadows dim

Giving the light for those who long have gone

Guiding the wise men on their way

Unto the place where Jesus lay

O beautiful star of Bethlehem

Shine on

O beautiful star the hope of life

Guiding the pilgrims through the night

Over the mountains 'til the break of dawn

Into the land of perfect day

It will give out a lovely ray

O beautiful star of Bethlehem

Shine on

O beautiful star of Bethlehem

Shine on us until the glory dawns

Give us a lamp to light the way

Unto the land of perfect day

O beautiful star of Bethlehem

Shine on

O beautiful star the hope of grace

For the redeemed, the good and the blessed

Yonder in glory when the crown is won

Jesus is now the star divine

Brighter and brighter He will shine

O beautiful star of Bethlehem

Shine on

O beautiful star of Bethlehem

Shine upon us until the glory dawns

Give us a lamp to light the way

Unto the land of perfect day

O beautiful star of Bethlehem

Shine on

O beautiful star of Bethlehem

Shine on"

And...my little star continues to shine from the wooden manger, on my living room end table.

This evening I am so thankful for that star, and that it continues to shine in our world today.

Thank you for stopping by tonight!

2011-12-15T14:36:00.000-05:00

It was almost 6:00pm. I had my three little grandchildren over for dinner. Dinner with extra young ones is a busy time. My day started at 5:00am and I had been going strong all day. I was tired, the noise level was higher than our quiet empty nest usually provides, and the demands of the season were on my mind. The doorbell rang. As I hurried to the front door, I expected a delivery from the friendly UPS man. Instead, there stood a neighbor holding a gorgeously wrapped box out to me. Here he said, "my wife and I want to give you this, for being our wonderful neighbors". He talked briefly, he smiled, said good-bye, and he was gone. I stood there looking at this beautifully wrapped gift box, and let me tell you, I would'nt

have cared if the box was empty, because my spirits had already been lifted, no matter what was inside the box. I can't tell you what a boost that was in my day.

I took the wrapped box into the kitchen, and three little ones swarmed around us, as my husband and I opened the small, square box. There arranged perfectly were tiny, festively decorated truffles from a pastry shop. What an extraordinary surprise in the middle of an ordinary day in December. I share this with each of you, so just incase you feel prompted to share a gift with your neighbors, you will be made aware the joy it could bring to them. Size and price do not matter. What does matter is that one takes the time to care, whether you know your neighbors well or not.

As the sun set after dinner last evening, I felt a deep gratitude in my heart for the many gifts I have been given, and for the great privilege we have to give to others this Christmas season, however small that gift may be.

"We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving."

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Both quotes by Roy B. Zuck

2011-12-14T15:33:00.002-05:00

In order to spread some Christmas cheer this holiday, we paid a visit to the local retirement village. We wanted to say "Merry Christmas" to the little one's Great Grandma and her friends. We are so happy we went, because the village was so beautifully decorated for Christmas. In the chapel this gorgeous pointsettia tree was at the side wall in the chapel. It's vibrant colors must have caught everyone's attention, as it did ours.

Great Grandma was thrilled to have these little ones visit her.

The Santa collection was donated by one of the residents, and they fascinated these children.

How nice it was of her to share her collection, to be displayed in the various visiting rooms of the lobby.

The ornately done Nativity sets were also viewed with quiet admiration, by each of the children. I saw at least four different sets on display. I wondered what was going through this little one's mind as she stared at the precious manger scene?

"Frosty the Snowman" smiled from his seat on the old wooden sleigh, and was happy with the kisses he received from the children.

The winter wonderland display, with skaters and sledders also captivated them. The temptation to touch was almost more than they could handle:)

The old train circled the stone wall. Round and round it went. Each car was filled with different products, including loads of small Christmas trees.

I can't imagine the joy it brought the residents as they heard these little ones wish them a "Merry Christmas"(at my instruction, of course). They told this lady that Santa might come to see her:)

Young ones and older ones in the same setting, at two totally different points of life, sharing together for a few hours on this day, less than two weeks before Christmas.

Hope you enjoyed their festive visit.

2011-12-13T09:17:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I stopped at my friend's home. Her front door offered me a warm, country welcome. I tell her often, that she is a gifted decorater. She can take some of the simplest things, put them together, and have it look beautiful. When I have a few extra minutes late in the evening, I enjoy seeing the amazing ways that bloggers decorate for the Christmas holiday. Each and everyone of you have an unique style.

I have seen the silver tray by her kitchen sink, decorated so many different ways. Here cranberries and greens create a festive vignette.

Bright red poinsettias grace the family room window, creating a perfect way to frame the American flag waving in the background.

A simple, yet so elegant centerpiece on her wooden kitchen table, placed on a white wool scarf.

The three faux Christmas trees with tiny white lights have an elegant look, placed by their side window. She chose not to place ornaments on them this year, and I liked the simplicity of it all.

Years ago, her husband gave her this Lenox plate as a gift. Displaying it with this bowl of old ornaments and leaves, makes another lovely vignette.

Each year she changes the decor of her mantel. This year she chose to display one of the paintings in her home, along with her crystal candleholders and some touches of nature and glitter.

I think it would be so cozy in this room, with the candles lit, along with the wood burning in the fireplace. I appreciate her letting me share this with you. I also appreciate all of you who share your style of decorating via your blogs. It is like a free Christmas house tour for all of us, and we don't have to stand in long lines. When one goes to the work of pulling the boxes from the attic and decorating, it should be shared with others.

2011-12-12T09:42:00.002-05:00

I thought you would enjoy seeing a few pictures from the fun baby shower I attended on Saturday afternoon.

It was for my neice and her much anticipated little girl, to be born in February.

Lots of pink and loads of creativity produced a memorable event.

The shower was given for my dear neice(on the left). What a warm, gracious "mother-to-be" hostess she was! Here she is pictured with one of her pretty sister-in-laws who kindly recorded each special gift. I know I say it often on this blog, but really, it does seem like yesterday that I was holding her in my arms as a newborn. The pictures are still fresh in my mind. I am so happy for her and her husband! After years of raising three daughters of my own, I know a bit of the happiness that is in store for them, as they anticipate their daughter's birth.

The colorful table.

The artistically decorated food table.

These tiny shells were filled with vanilla pudding and whipped cream.

The elegantly decorated cupcakes, with touches of glitter provided the perfect centerpiece for the food table.

This was one of my favorite gifts that she opened. Why? Because I am a grandma...that's why!

I really appreciate that you stopped by today.

2011-12-10T16:33:00.001-05:00

A touch of nostalgia on this Saturday afternoon. Discovered this calender in one of our cupboards. It was my grandfather's calender that he received from a local business way back in 1932.

It's unique colors and design has weathered many a year.

I bought this pack of Old World Christmas ornaments replicated from those made many years ago. Actually the company has been around since 1916. I clearly remember my mother having some like these many years ago. I found myself getting sentimental when I bought this box.

A reproduced Christmas card from the Merck Family's Historic Holiday Collection.

I hung this vintage looking tag on a emptied bottle of virgin olive oil. I will be putting some of my own raspberry salad dressing in it, and giving it as a gift.

Today I am feeling a touch of nostalgia as I remember back to Christmas's of my childhood. I think watching our grandchildren anticipate Christmas, somehow takes me back.

Life seems to be moving by so quickly. Makes me wonder what my grandpa's Christmas was like way back in 1932. Did he think life was moving by quickly back then?

Wish I could give him a hug today and thank him for all he taught me. Maybe I should thank some of those important people around me today.

Thanks for stopping by this evening.

2011-12-07T16:38:00.003-05:00

Seaching for ways to learn at home, when it is cool and raining.

Decided on a cooking class for two young ones that always want to learn, and since their younger sister was taking an afternoon nap:), it seemed like the best time.

Found two boxes of Jello in my pantry. One was opened and partially used(because I sometimes use a teaspoon or two of the dry Jello to make my icings). Decided to go with it anyway. We made a pan of green Jello and a smaller one of the red Jello. I look at Jello as comfort food because it brings back many memories of my childhood. My mother made Jello so often, in many different ways. I never make Jello without thinking of her. Since she lives downstairs, we had her come and see what we made.

Today, I was also thinking and praying for one of my very dear friends. She is facing her second round of Chemotherapy and my heart hurts for her. Somehow, praying and making Jello seemed to help. I prayed that she wouldn't get as sick as the last time she went through it.

As you can see my two helpers were eager to get started. I love their enthusiasm.

Yes, they were allowed to sit on my large kitchen island for this class. We took my old glass ice cream parfaits and one filled with the green Jello, then I added the Cool Whip, then the other one added the red. Back and forth we went, they both took the chore seriously. I explained that green and red were Christmas colors and that we were creating a dessert that would be perfect for the holiday season.

I was surprised how far one and a half boxes of Jello went in making the dessert.

Time for the sprinkles. My mother always taught me that people eat with their eyes first and then they taste. She said, "make sure it looks appealing to others".

I would say these two received another lesson on this today. They were so pleased with their finished project. Aside from accidently dropping the small container of sprinkles, it was a fun afternoon. You can only imagine the cleanup involved in 5000 sprinkles all over one's kitchen floor:)

They can't wait to surprise their Pawpaw this evening, when they serve this to everyone for dessert.

What do you think about our simple project?

Do you think our dessert has eye appeal?

FYI...

"Frank Woodward, a school dropout and, who by the age of 20 had his own business, bought the rights to Jell-O for $ 450. Among the products Woodward marketed were several patent medicines, Raccoon Corn Plasters, and a roasted coffee substitute called Grain-O. Sales were slow, so Woodward offered to sell the rights to Jell-O to his plant superintendent for $ 35. However, before the final sale, intensive advertising paid off. By 1906, sales reached $ 1 million. Woodward's Genesee Pure Food Company was renamed Jell-O Company in 1923, and later merged with Postum Cereal to become the General Foods Corporation."

~The History of Jello ~ About.com.

How is that for some interesting trivia?

So you see Jello has been around for a long, long time.

Today, we had fun making it again.

Thanks for stopping by.

2011-12-06T08:52:00.001-05:00

I found a good "Instant Hot Cocoa Mix" at "Mama's Fixins" blog and decided to use the recipe to create some small needed gifts for Christmas. Since hot chocolate and Christmas go together in my mind, I thought it might make a fun gift.

Mama's Fixin's Recipe;

1~ 8 quart box of nonfat dried milk
1 cup of powdered sugar
7 oz. non dairy creamer (Cremora)
1 lb. Nestle's Quik mix or 2 3/4 cups
1 small box of instant pudding

Stir together dry ingredients in a large bowl. Store in sealed container.
To make 1 cup of cocoa,
mix 1/3 cup of mix per 1 cup of boiling water.

I collected empty "Starbuck's Frappuccino Coffee Drink" bottles from my mother. I removed the labels. I spray painted the lids a dull silver color.

I found the cutest vintage tags on "misscutiepiegoes80s.blogspot.com/". I appreciate her free gift of being able to download the tags. I downloaded sheets of these vintage style Christmas tickets, added a light coat of glue to them, and sprinkled them with extra fine glitter. When they dried, I cut them out, punched a hole in the tag and tied them on with ribbon. I think they will be a fun gift to hand out to others during the holidays. Instructions for making a cup of cocoa, are written on the back of the tags.

I might want to add a cellophane bag of mini marshmellows too.
Simple, inexpensive gift idea from my kitchen today.

"The greatest good of every giving is-
when the giver is in the gift."
~George Macdonald

2011-12-04T07:26:00.002-05:00

"This I learned from the shadow of a tree,

That to and fro did sway against a wall,

Our shadow selves, our influence, may fall

Where we ourselves can never be.

~Anna Hamilton

We never know how far reaching our shadows may extend.

Enjoy your Sunday!

2011-12-01T22:24:00.002-05:00

A week or so ago, I was looking at "Anthropologie's" website. It is a place I like to browse and on my last visit, I saw some adorable little snow globes. I thought to myself, "they look like something I could make." I had plenty of empty jars in the cupboard. I bought some miniature evergreen trees in different sizes at Michaels. To make it better, they were half price. I also had some bottles of white glitter.

Fast forward for a few days, and here you will see our finished collections. Some of our older grandchildren needed gifts for some special people in their lives. They were so excited for this project and eagerly participated in creating their gifts.

As you can see, perhaps we went a bit overboard on the glitter aspect, producing more of a blizzard effect than a gently falling snow:) Actually, mica flake glitter is what we used, so that the snow would be obvious to them, but I would recommend a finer glitter.

They chose the trees they wanted to use, and I used the glue gun to glue each tree onto the inside of the lid. They took turns adding the water and the glitter to each glass jar.

It was fun to see them lining my kitchen shelf, waiting to be put in boxes and given to some special people. As for the secretive part of this adventure...well, time will tell. Some of them are still in the learning process of" keeping a secret", but for that matter, some adults are still learning that skill:)

If you happen to be one that might be receiving one of these snowglobes for Christmas, PLEASE, whatever you do, do not tell them that you saw them on Mawmaw's blog, before the holidays.

The most fun of this project, was watching their expressions as they learned to create their own gifts.

I want them to learn the importance of giving in life, and this is a small start. Hopefully, Antropologie stores will be flattered by our quite simple imitation.

2011-11-30T16:54:00.001-05:00

Do you remember this candy like I do?

Do you remember looking into Grandma's fancy candy jar when you were small? This classic "Hammond's" candy has been around since 1920. Isn't that an interesting fact? Way back then, the Hammond's Company put all those colors and flavors together? I am sure our grandmas thought it quite a luxury to have a bag of candy like this. Maybe they only dreamt about having candy.

What is it about me, that makes me buy a small bag of this candy just for display? I bought this last Christmas and put it back in the candy jar this Christmas.

Same with the "Sevigny's" Thin Ribbon Candy. I have memories of eating this candy at my Grandma's house. The company has been making ribbon candy since 1926. Do you all remember this candy? What memories does it evoke when you see the bright ribbon pieces?
Yes, this has lasted a year in the box, and you might just see it next Christmas. It is too pretty to eat, and candy is not a temptation for me.

I was given this "Heidel" vintage box of chocolates last year. I don't have memories of this candy and I have no idea how many years the company has been in business. What I do like,is displaying the colorful tin, and...

...the vintage decorations of each of the four individual candy bars. Don't you think they look good sitting on my white wooden kitchen shelf?

Memories and vintage packaging make fun vignettes, and no calories.

That's it, from this rather "odd" blogger this evening:)

2011-11-29T07:36:00.001-05:00

We gathered at the farm on Saturday afternoon.

We are growing as an extended family and our times together are becoming rarer than they used to be.

We ate, we talked and laughed together, we rode four wheelers and dirt bikes.

A rousing game of football took place on the front lawn.

The meal was delicious!

There was lots of hot coffee which went well with the rocking chairs on the porch.

My brother and sister-in-law were provided the warm hospitality needed to make this event so special.

As the afternoon progressed, the sun began to set. My brother lit a fire in the stone pit. We took chairs, blankets, the hot dogs, marshmellows, chocolates, and sticks down to the pit. The setting was perfect!

I could not help myself, I had to try and capture the exquisite beauty of the evening.
Sky and water seemed to meet. It felt like time was standing still.

Sitting by the fire, roasting goodies, laughing, talking, and just relaxing, was definitely my kind of enjoyment.

Spending time together, with those we don't get to see often, was memorable.

I did not want the evening to end.

It was magical! God's majestic artwork was breathtaking!

It was time to head home. Our goodbyes were said, and our hearts were filled with memories of another Thanksgiving holiday.

Thank you for the privilege of sharing a few pictures of our past weekend.

I have enjoyed visiting your blogs and getting a glimpse into your celebrations, too.

2011-11-27T20:59:00.005-05:00

A few moments relived, of our 2011 Thanksgiving Day celebration. We sat down to a beautifully decorated table, with place cards included.

A creatively done centerpiece was made up of covered fabric and yarn balls in glass. Gold sprayed, carved out pumpkins held taper candles.

The turkey was purchased at the farm a few miles from their home. It was cooked using the top rated Turkey recipe from allrecipes.com (find it HERE), it literally fell off the bones, and tasted so good! Must admit, as her mother I was proud of the job she did. Not always easy to get a perfectly cooked turkey. I know from experience.

Two of the three sisters were together this holiday, and they treasured the rare moments it provided them.

We played some rousing games of "Bananagrams". Competition was fierce:)

What a memorable day! The ratio of adults to children was 7 to 7. You can imagine the fun, noise level, the full house, and the laughter.
Precious memories to hold on to.

Thank you for stopping by this evening. My prayer for you this coming week, is that you will experience some memorable moments in the midst of the busyness of daily life.

2011-11-25T16:35:00.000-05:00

Two best friends, contentedly watching the world go by.

An opportune time to discuss the issues at hand.

2011-11-22T09:52:00.002-05:00

"Gratitude unlocks the fulness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity...It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~Melodie Beattie

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." ~H.U. Westermayer

Taking a break for a few days, but first wanted each of you to know that I am thankful for you, your visits, your comments, and all that I continue to learn from you, in the blogging world.
God bless you!

2011-11-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

Everything about their old, stone farmhouse, creates the warm welcome that an early Thanksgiving dinner needs. The old wooden log was makes the perfect shelf for her kitchen vignette, including the small apron that she wore as a child. My sister-in-law was blessed with an artist gift of being able to take old and new treasures, and make a beautiful display.

Each year we look forward to seeing what special Fall tablescape she will share with us. This year was no exception. She cleverly covered the long line of tables with brown paper, and scattered red leaves, differing sizes of canning jars filled with white beans and votives, and pumpkins down through the center of the table.

The coffee table continued on with the table theme and the huge mugs were perfect for the many coffee drinkers amoung us.

When one has the smaller rooms that an old farmhouse provides, and one has 29 people coming for a Thanksgiving dinner, one just has to improvise. That is an area where my bil and sil are gifted. My bil covered the open side of the porch with heavy plastic, making it warm enough for all of us to eat out on the porch, despite the fact that it is the end of November. What a creative idea! We all ate in comfort, although I did miss the countryside view from their porch.

Again, there were old crocks filled with an assortment of nuts, waiting to be cracked open and eaten.

It seems the children and adults alike, can be entertained with this activity for a long time. With a brown paper tablecovering, one can let the shells laying on the table.

Look at the concentration on their faces as they tackle the nut cracking task at hand.

Really, this is a good way to keep the younger ones occupied after the dinner.

For a few hours after dinner had been served, we relaxed in their cozy, warm, inviting living room. What fun to sit and share old and new stories and events together. It is a rare, and much treasured happening for this family.

This pretty grandma finally has time to sit and relax with her granddaughters, after once again serving in the role of a talented, giving hostess. Her and her family sure do possess the gift of hospitality, and have created many fond memories for their extended family.

Wishing you blessings on this Monday!

2011-11-19T17:24:00.000-05:00

It is 5:00pm on a Saturday evening.

What are your neighbors doing?

This young neighbor guy's work is not finished yet. It has been a long day for him and his dog.

Happy Saturday!

2011-11-18T15:03:00.001-05:00

"Thanksgiving" has always been one of my favorite holidays.

I cannot believe it will soon be here.

Part of my family will be coming home for Thanksgiving and part of them for Christmas.

I will treasure every moment of our times together.

"Gratitude. More aware of what you have than what you don't. Recognizining the treasure in the simple...
(he was so proud of his Lincoln Log creation, that he requested that I take a picture of it and him)

...a child's hugs(oh, how I treasure those hugs, even if I am the one giving them),

...fertile soil,

...a golden sunset(like this one I captured in my back yard last evening).

Relishing in the comfort of the common...

a warm bed(like the little one my grandson sleeps in at our home, the one he proudly made by himself again this morning:),

...a hot meal(how often I sit down to eat, not taking time to realize how special of a gift, a good meal is),

...a clean shirt(and the wonderful guy that will wear it)."

~Max Lucado

(and my personal additions to the gratitude list he shared).

So much to be thankful for, and yet so often in my busyness, I fail to see the blessings in the ordinariness of daily life.

Today, I am also thankful for you, my blogging friends. So glad you stopped by.

Hope your weekend provides reasons for gratitude and time to recognize them.

2011-11-16T19:27:00.001-05:00

This time of the year, one of the fruits that we find ourselves eating, is naval oranges.

Personally, I think orange slices, with a touch of sugar, make the perfect dessert or snack.
Instead of throwing the orange peels away, I put them in a small pan on the stovetop, with at least 1 cup or more, of water.

I add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon(or some cinnamon sticks) and 1 teaspoon of allspice.

If I have some overly ripe apples, I cut them up in chunks and add them too. I simmer this mixture, at low to medium heat, adding extra water as needed, for a hour or so.

The aroma that fills my kitchen, with this mixture, smells so good!

It's spicy, warm, sweet aroma fills the rooms.

I set a timer so that I don't forget to turn off the burner, because at times my memory isn't the best.

Especially over the Fall and Winter seasons, it offers a fragrant welcome to your home.

I found this picture lately, and thought it looked like a cozy cabin. I can imagine walking into it, sitting by it's roaring fire, and smelling the aroma of the above mixture filling the room.

Just me, dreaming on this cool, rainy evening. Hope you are staying warm and dry.

2011-11-15T20:52:00.002-05:00

An evening out, at our friend's lovely country home, for a group of friends to spend time together. Two friends hosted the evening.

One of the hostesses set a lovely Fall tablescape. Wouldn't you agree with me? She used some real and some faux pieces to complete the centerpiece.

This lovely lady, is a friend of one of the hostesses. She lived in the Phillipines and learned to cook Filipino food. Last evening she shared her cooking skills with us and prepared a delightful Filipino dinner. She gave us the privilege to help her in the kitchen.

For the first time in my fifty some years, I helped to peel Quail eggs, that had been hard boiled, cooled and were ready to peel.

Tediously, we peeled each tiny egg, to be added to the soup before serving.

Her egg rolls were the perfect size, made with olive oil, and tasted so good!

The small pieces of salmon, melted in our mouths.

The fresh fruit tart was the best way to end the meal. They were brimming full with sweet tasting fruit.

Two friends take time to pose for a picture. The friend on the right was one of the women who gracioulsy hosted this fun event, and the friend on the left has been my friend since we were sixteen years old.

The homeower's kitchen window vignette. It's color and arrangement was simple, yet elegant. In daylight you would be able to look out over their Alpaca farm.

We celebrated two special November birthdays.

From left to right, my sister, me, and our good friend.

Growing old isn't so bad, with good friends to celebrate with.

Each place setting was presented with creative thought.

The evening was a memorable one. We talked, laughed, learned a new way to prepare food, ate, and celebrated birthdays together.

Thanks for joining me this evening.

Thanks also to my sister, for sharing some of these pictures with me.

2011-11-14T08:42:00.000-05:00

We offered to keep them on Saturday evening, so their parents could enjoy dinner out together.

Paid a visit to the local dollar store for a few entertainment supplies.

It worked. The five of them took turns wearing the glasses and we laughed together every time.

We had our own spa treatments, with manicures included.

Oh the joys and laughter that a few simple dollar store purchases can create.

Humor, it adds so much to daily life. Reminds me of a card that sits on my desk. Makes me smile everytime I read it.

Hopefully, you will be given at least one hearty laugh this week!

In the midst of difficult, sometimes painful life circumstances, a bit of humor may help.

2011-11-12T17:05:00.010-05:00

I discovered this beautifully done copy of one of my favorite Psalms.

I found this was on a lovely blog, titled "Dear Lillie".

She graciously offered this copy of "Psalms 100" to anyone to freely download it for personal use.

What a generous offer on this blogger's part. I made a copy of the piece.

Tacked it onto the canvas board, and fastened it with tan paper corners.

Dressed it up a bit with a few evergreen pieces with tiny pine cones, from my yard, and glued a gold bow to the corner. This finished piece made the perfect Thanksgiving vignette on the wall unit in my living room and it did not cost much to complete it.

I am sure "Dear Lillie" would love to have you visit her blog and make your own copy of Psalms 100.

You can find her at ...http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/

A perfect reminder to me, especially during the Thanksgiving season, of the spirit of thankfulness I should have.

Hope you are having a few relaxing moments this weekend!

2011-11-10T14:21:00.001-05:00

A few of my "mood lifters" during a somewhat normal November week.

A new iced coffee drink that I was given by my daughter. It has become my new favorite in the "iced" coffee category. You can make this concentrate and store it for a while in the refrigerator. Simple to make, and delicious to drink. The concentrate makes at least five glasses of iced coffee.

My daughter uses The new "Domino organic agave nectar" instead of sugar in this recipe.

I also use skim milk to mix in with the concentrate.

An inexpensive and good tasting version of my new iced coffee drink of choice.

Looking out my kitchen window to see my mother's flower garden below.

These vibrant colored flowers add a smile to my day, whenever I look out my window.

Last evening the setting sun lit up the bushes by her porch, causing their burnt orange color to come alive.

These red bushes were at one of the stops I made yesterday. The brilliant red leaves on all the bushes, created a perfect fence row by the side of the road.

The sun shining on these bright yellow leaves was enough to cause me to stop and capture it all on camera, but as always, this picture does not do the scene justice. The memory of it though, adds a smile to my day.

Orange, red, yellow, and green fill my autumn days lately, and it makes me so happy!

Last, but not least, the pumpkin cookies that my sister-in-law gave me, were hands down the best pumpkin cookies that I have ever tasted!

Now, you and I both know that I don't really have much of a sweet tooth, and for one entire day the plate of cookies sat on my kitchen counter, untouched.

Then, in kindness to my sil, I thought I really should taste them. Well, let me tell you, they are outstandingly delicious!

I understand they are my neice-in-law's cookie recipe(thank you Ally), and have been in her family for a long time. Isn't that the case so often...older is better!!!

I immediately wrapped them up and put them in my freezer, so that I would not consume them myself. Now, if you stop in for coffee, I will pull these tightly wrapped cookies out of my freezer, and share one with you(if you can stop at one:)

Hope your mood has been lifted too, by stopping here today.

2011-11-08T11:05:00.001-05:00

A random and miscellaneous blog post today.

A new homemade salad dressing that I discovered recently.

It is simple to make and tastes so good!

I found it on a great food blog that you might enjoy visiting.

It is created by Calla Ferre, and the book is titled, "The Chicken and the Egg Family Cookbook", and can be found at http://aprilscookbook.weebly.com/

It shares a family's treasured recipes, some recent and some that have been in the family for years.

The dressing can be made and stored in the refrigerator.

It can also be made, bottled, and given as a gift.

Another idea that I got from "Pinterest" recently, is to use Epson Salt, which looks like snow, in glass jars, or canning jars. This is a simple and inexpensive idea to use over the Christmas holidays.

Add votive candles and have a frosty looking vignette.

Last but not least, my friend has a food stand at a big, thriving market. She makes "chocolate covered bacon" as one of the items that she sells at her stand. She experimented with this delicacy, and found it to be a hit with those visiting the market. It was such a hit, that there is a constant demand for it. Lately, she has been cooking up to 18 pounds of bacon and dipping it in chocolate to sell.

Can you imagine cooking 18 pounds of bacon?

Can you imagine eating chocolate covered bacon?

Might be something you want to try, especially if you like sweet and salty together:)

2011-11-06T21:15:00.000-05:00

You stopped by this evening and I am happy you did. You know how I feel about the season of Fall. You know how I feel about photography and capturing the beauty around me.
If you live in my part of the world, you know that the weather this weekend was perfect!
Hence, the pictures that you are about to see, were captured by me this weekend, all within miles of where I live. Oh, how I wish you could have seen the actual scenery, instead of viewing these pictures.

"Something deep within all of us yearns for God's beauty, and we can find it no matter where we are." ~Sue Monk Kidd

I agree with this quote, fully aware that in today's world, with negative headlines confronting us from every direction, my heart does yearn for moments when I see God's beauty here on earth.

2011-11-05T08:47:00.002-04:00

The tree by my porch this Saturday.

And the tree by my porch last Saturday. What a difference a week makes!

In some areas of life, I like change. In other areas, I do not. Today...I like this change.

Whether you are facing change or not today, I wish you a peaceful acceptance of that change.

2011-11-04T08:45:00.001-04:00

Do you need some sunshine and smiles today?

"A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give."

~Author Unknown

"All the statistics in the world can't measure the warmth of a smile." ~Author Unknown

"A smile is something you can't give away; it always comes back to you." ~Author Unknown

"Smiling is infectious,

You can catch it like the flu.

Someone smiled at me today,

And I started smiling too."

~Author Unknown

"A smile can brighten the darkest day." ~Author Unknown

In my life, I have found this to be so true.

2011-11-03T07:58:00.001-04:00

When the muffin recipe is chocked full of raisin bran cereal and chopped apples, I am drawn to it.

When it is a cookbook filled with delicious, tried and true recipes, I am also eager to try them.

Such is the case with these Apple Streusel Muffins in the Mennonite Girls Can Cook Cookbook, page 35.

(or you can find the recipe on their website by clicking HERE).

Beware though, there are lots of good sounding recipes to get lost in at that location!

In fact, the first recipe you will find today, at this location, is "cherry berry on a cloud" recipe. Oh, my the memories that brought back for me from years ago. We were at a dinner at our friend's home, and she served this yummy dessert to us. I remember it well, and have not thought of it for years.

Speaking of delicious recipes...look what I found on the back of the old playing card, last evening. I did not know that my daughter had included the recipe for her granola on the back of each card.

This is a keeper in my book.

As I was baking the "apple streusel" muffins the other day, I noticed this little guy in the tree outside my kitchen window. I took this picture through the window and through the screen on the porch. It was like he posed just for me. Maybe he smelled the wonderful aroma of freshly baked apples with cinnamon baking in my kitchen:)

Happy Thursday! Can you believe it is Thursday already?

2011-11-02T12:49:00.003-04:00

It was a "vintage game night" for the girls in my extended family.

It was hosted by my oldest daughter, at her home.

"Hostess Hattie"(on the above game card) was there to greet us, in all of her splender. The old game cards she purchased at the local "Reuzit Shop", punched a hole in them, added a touch of glitter, and tied them onto each cellophane bag of her homemade granola. How clever!

Recently she has been making a new granola recipe. I have been privileged to have tasted it before, and was thrilled to receive another bag of it. It is the first time I tasted granola with Rice Krispies included in the recipe. Maybe if you request it, she will share the recipe with us:)

The brightly colored tray of favors fit in perfectly with the evening's theme.

What an act of kindness for this busy mother of six to offer!

I can't imagine how she possibly hosted this "game night", and all with a smile on her face, especially after the crazy day that she had just come through.

Not everyone was present when the games began, but the dear blond on the left is due any day with her third baby. We thought maybe the fun and laughter might bring it on. We were wrong. We tried! "Password" was the game of choice for the evening. You just cannot imagine what we can do with a game as simple as that. We laughed until we were crying.

The vintage game vignette on the food counter. Seeing the boxes of old games, certainly brought back memories for me.

I did the simple prizes for the evening. I found these sturdy red boxes for $ 1.00 each, at the dollar store in the mall. I placed six homemade muffins in each one.

I will give you the one apple recipe I used, in one of the next posts, because I thought it tasted so good.

I decorated each box with a vintage stove picture that I copied, from a past "Romantic Home" magazine. I added some touches of glitter and some extra tags, with kitchen stickers.

If you have a dollar store in your mall, you might want to buy some of these for baked goods, to give over the holidays. There are all kinds of fun ways to festively decorate them.

And, if you want to have some fun in the midst of daily life, why not host a "vintage game night"?

Recipes for the apple steusel muffins and rice krispy granola, coming tomorrow, in case you are interested.

2011-10-31T09:09:00.002-04:00

My heart was stirred this morning, as I watched the rising of the sun, out of my side window.

Another new day, and another new week has been given to me.

New beginnings, new blessings, and a new gift of hope.

Each dawn is the beginning of a new chapter in the story of our lives.

After the weekend clouds, snow, ice, cold, and wind, comes this morning's sunrise...
In the brief moments that I had to sit and watch the sun rise over the rooftops, my spirit and soul, were inspired by the beauty and splendor of another exquisite sunrise, created for me, by The Master Artist Himself. His mercies are new every single morning. What hope that creates in my heart, as I begin this day.

Wishing you a sunrise or sunset, that adds inspiration to your week.

2011-10-29T15:08:00.002-04:00

The petunias and hydrangaes are still blooming.

It is only October and this is what our Saturday looks like.

We are happy being inside for the day, although it definitely is not what we had planned.

Life is so often like that.

Interrupted plans...but we adjusted with

cups of hot chocolate,

watching football games...

and playing with our precious little granddaughter.

We did take a drive and discovered snow beauty everywhere.

We changed our plans when we realized how snow covered the roads actually were.

We just can't get it into our heads that we are having our first snowstorm.

When we thought about our daughter coming for the weekend, we never thought about her helping with the snow removal...maybe leaf raking but not snow removal.

It is now almost 4:00 pm and it is still snowing and showing no sign of stopping. The trees on our property are bent down lower than we have ever seen them, with the heavy snow.

It is soon time to clear the driveway for the second time:)

2011-10-27T20:57:00.002-04:00

Guess who came to visit this evening?
My middle daughter and my granddaughter came for a few days. It is always so good to see them.
Since this evening was the time of my giveaway drawing, and since we seem to do things in a somewhat unorthodox way around here, I thought I would let her and her grandpa do the drawing, while her mother and I supervised.

She reached into the old crock(with some coaching of course), and pulled out the first paper.

Since she can't read yet(even though she is really smart:), her grandfather opened the paper.

The winner is ...Sonja. Congratulations Sonja!

Her blog is "bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/"

Whenever I have time to visit this lovely lady's blog, I find real encouragement, inspiration, a lady with a heart of gold, who mixes real life with her genuine love for God, and humor to create a very special blog.

One of her latest blog posts was titled..."What your hair says about you??" I smiled as I read what she wrote.

With the giveaway drawing completed, they then proceeded on with some other important business of the evening...sharing a zucchini muffin with each other, until the World Series game began. They are both cheering for the Rangers.

Thanks to each one of you who visited me and for the kind comments you shared.

Truthfully, I wanted to send each of you a set of cards.

2011-10-26T14:40:00.002-04:00

Remember the two elderly sisters that I have talked about over the years? The ones that have huge flower gardens and a simple roadside stand where they sell their flower arrangements? Well, today I stopped to say "hi" and "goodbye" to them, since their season of growing is almost over. They were so excited to show me one of their newest creations. A teddy bear in a twig basket. I must admit, thinking this was an unique arrangement for them, since they usually have only fresh flower bouquets. At first glance, I did not realize what the teddy bear was made out of. Do you? It is made with a newspaper form(which one of them made without a pattern) and covered with the Burdock plant. I had not seen these brown prickly things since I was a little girl, on my grandpa's farm. I clearly remember how annoyed I was when these clung to my socks back then. Who would have thought that someday, years later, I would have a teddy bear covered with them, in my house. How interesting.

The bear is holding dried "Chinese lanterns" from their gardens.

They also had bunches of "Japenese Bamboo" and "Silver Dollars" from the "Money Plant."

Did you ever hear of the Silver Dollar plant? I know my grandma had some of these growing in her garden, long ago.

I liked the pink color of these dried "Japanese Bamboo" branches. It was their first year to grow this plant and they were so happy with it.

I think the two dried bunches looked nice, placed in a white ironstone pitcher on the shelf in my dining room.

Three plants that have been around for a long time, grown by two elderly, talented ladies, make up this post today.

It is not too late to comment for my giveaway on Thursday evening.

Happy Wednesday to you!

2011-10-24T20:47:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I decided I was going to do an unconventional giveaway on my blog.

Usually blog giveaways celebrate a special number of posts, or the length of time one has been posting, but not this giveaway.

This is how I came to this decision;

~I went through some past issues of my favorite magazines, and now have a stash of cut out pictures that I want to use for my homemade cards.

~In my rare spare time, or sometimes late in the evening, I really enjoy creating cards. Nothing professional, just cards that I make. What am I to do with all the cards? I send many of them, but I made too many. Now you can send them too.

~When I stop at my mailbox each day, I am most delighted when I find a personal card or letter in the stack of mail. Isn't that how you are too? If you see you received a card, letter, or postcard, isn't that what you open first? Or, maybe you save it for last and have it with a cup of coffee. I treasure cards and letters. They lift my spirits. They encourage my heart.

All of this said, I decided to do a simple, giveaway, with 12 of my homemade cards, for you.

The cards are for all occasions.

The stamps for the 12 are included.

An old bottle with a poppy pen and two wooden pencils.

A journal.

A snowman pad, a refrigerator pad with a magnet, a pad of flowered memo notes.

All in a wired desk basket.

My wish is, that you would use these cards to make someone's day, like mine is made when I get a card.

Slowly, cards and personal letters are becoming a thing of the past.

I don't like that. It is an important part of life as we know it.

So you see, you are helping me in this project.

Helping me get rid of old magazines, helping me by giving me the joy of making more cards, and helping me by adding joy to other's lives via the US mail service.

Anyone may comment to win, whether you visit frequently, infrequently, whether you comment often, or never comment.

A name will be drawn on Thurday evening.

My friends at the postal store will mail the basket and it's contents to you on Friday.

Your visits and comments mean so much to me. I feel like I have made new friends through blogging, even though I have never met most of you. Maybe someday:)

2011-10-22T22:30:00.002-04:00

This is what resonates from my heart tonight...

...kindness matters. It always matters.

In our thoughts, our speech, and our actions.

"Be ye kind and compassionate to one another" Ephesians 4:32a

Kindness, in any form, is powerful.

Speaking of kindness...this kind Aunt is loved so much!

We are sad that we can't be with her to wish her a "Happy Birthday" today!

Even though she is far away, we love her and we all miss her.

"Happy Birthday" dear daughter!

2011-10-20T19:51:00.002-04:00

This is the scene I observed as I headed out the back door this morning. Dark, ominous clouds filled the sky. It seemed unusual to me, as I stood there looking up.

All of a sudden the brilliant sun broke through those dark clouds. I stood there in silence just observing the radiant beauty. For some reason, it reminded me of the hope that is ours in this somewhat troubled and at times dark world. Often when we least expect it, the Son pierces through the darkness, giving us hope and joy.

"There is no priceless jewel
or precious gem
that can outshine hope."
~ quote from "The Silver Book of Hope".

A red rose from my garden sits by my computer, even though it is the end of October.

"Hope blooms like a beautiful rose amidst the thorns of life."

~ quote from the "The Silver Book of Hope".

As you can see from this picture, we had quite a busy celebration last evening.

These two little guys are celebrating their second birthday, and what fun we had!

They sure do add joy to our lives.

Today, I am grateful for the aspects of hope and joy found in our daily lives.

2011-10-19T11:52:00.002-04:00

This post falls in the category of..."unexpected surprises".

We(the grandchildren and me) were playing outside one evening, in the last few weeks.

This little one came to me, urgently wanting me to come into the kitchen.

I couldn't imagine what she wanted.

She took my hand and quickly led me inside to my kitchen island.

There laying on the corner, was this single pink rose with a very short stem.

Thankfully, I had my camera close by.

She shyly took it in her hand, and said, "here Mawmaw, I picked this for you."

My heart skipped a beat, as I was so touched by this sweet, thoughtful gesture.

She took it with both hands, and presented it to me.

She instucted me to put it in a vase. I set it by my kitchen sink, and she was quite pleased.

Can't tell you how much this tiny, unexpected happening meant to me, especially coming from this little one.

You see, she is the one that adds so many "interesting" aspects to our daily lives.

For example, recently for a special treat, I bought them each a kid's meal at the local McDonalds. This is a rare occurence in our home, so they were quite excited.

As we were sitting at the table eating, I was involved in a conversation across the table with her brother and sister, not noticing what she was doing.

She had taken the top half of the roll off of her cheeseburger, stuck her french fries into the burger as candles, and presented it to me, singing "Happy Birthday", at the top of her little lungs:)

What creativity on her part!

I never thought of using french fries as birthday candles, did you?

Another episode happened at a local park. The running paths had workout stations. This particular one had wooden carved men placed three in a row, in a laying down position(possibly in push-up position). She quickly bent down to see this guy's face:)

Tiny, unexpected, blessings that add touches of joy to daily life. What are some of yours?

2011-10-18T10:02:00.003-04:00

I am not sure why I am sharing this very simple idea, but I will.

I had this $1.00 wreath from the dollar store craft section.

I had a strand of leaves from the half price off bin at Michael's Store.

I wanted a fall centerpiece and thought I would put the two together.

With my glue gun, I cut off the leaves and individually glued them onto the top and sides of the wreath.

I went out the back door and cut off some greens from my bush, and tied them on the side of the wreath with my raffia.

Pulled my glass pedestal plate out of the cupboard, placed the wreath on it. Added a glass jar with a candle in it.

The simple centerpiece is complete and will serve the needed purpose.

The side of the centerpiece with tied rafia.

My youngest daughter and her husband live in a small apartment. She wanted to add a few Fall decorations to it, and did not want to spend much money.

She bought six papers in a pack, at the craft store. She glued them in the back to create a cylinder form. She set tiny battery operated votives inside each one.

I thought it looked perfect for her somewhat contempory apartment.

What a clever idea!

She sent me these pictures and I asked to share them with you.

One can use any shade of paper for these lights.

They would even look great lined down the center of a table, for a centerpiece.

Once I used lace vellum papers for a centerpiece. I liked how it looked with my white dishes.

Ambience in any form, always adds a special touch to dinner.

I will close with a picture of my Fall wreath on my front door.

Interestingly enough, I picked it up a KMart clearance table, before Christmas, years ago.

It continues to hold it's color after the years, imagine that!

Oh, and I added the remaining strand of leaves to the topiary by my kitchen sink.

2011-10-17T11:12:00.002-04:00

It is Autumn! The last two weekends have been gorgeous! We have spent time in the woods, by the lakes, and at the farm. This has provided many photo oppurtunities for me.
Beware...there are quite a few pictures on this post, because I never tire of the beauty I find in occasions such as these. Thanks for stopping by today, and sharing these few moments with me.

We took the two little identical guys in our lives, to one of our lovely state parks, on Saturday.

We all had a great time! They love the privilege of being able to be in the outdoors. Every thing was an adventure to them.

Last weekend, we got to spend time at another park in the woods, and this time with our sweet little one year old. She was happy to be with people that love her and I am sure she thinks Autumn is her favorite time of the year, too:)

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness.

Nothing is so gentle as real strength." ~author unknown

I love how this guy(my husband) treats his grandchildren, and they love how he treats them too. I enjoy watching it all.

Words can't describe the beauty of it all. Would you agree?

Last evening we headed to the farm of our friends. It was an "Octoberfest" that the youth of our church planned. It was one of those truly memorable evenings!

This farmhouse has been in their family for several generations. It has a cozy, down home feel to it, and the couple who live here, offer warm hospitality. So, you can see why the people of our church were thrilled to join the fun, at this location.

The coffee bar that one can always find here in this home.

Our friends who live here, are multi-talented!

All the work done on this farm, whether building, decorating, farming, or tree growing, is all done by them.

Creativity and hard work abound here.

Speaking of creative...did you ever bowl with a pumpkin and apples on toothpicks?

Two teams chosen by counting the ones and twos.

Which team could knock over the most apples with each person taking one roll of the pumpkin.

What fun! If the pumpkins start to fall apart, one brings out the duct tape:)

How long has it been since you were on a hay ride? I looked forward to it all evening. What fun memories it brought back for us. The evening was perfect, weather wise!

We all climbed the ladder unto the old wooden wagon filled with hay.

The 1963 John Deere tractor provided the familiar "putt putt" sound of years past.

The quiet, country roads and the star-filled sky, were the best combination for the twenty minute hay ride. I didn't want it to end.

"Just as the warmth of sunshine brightens the world with flowers, the wonderful warmth of friendship fills life with happy hours." ~author unknown

We ended the evening, sitting around the fire pit, listening to the talented guitar players, singing hymns and country music, and roasting marshmallows. Best of all though, was the relaxing and unwinding that a rare evening like this, provided.

Thanks for allowing me the privilege of sharing some of my recent "outdoors" memories.

In the midst of busy, oftentimes difficult lives, it is refreshing to spend moments like these.

Oh, and by the way, if you want the opportunity to be a part of a very fun giveaway, you might want to pop on over to The Coffee Cottage! My daughter is celebrating her 400th post with a beautiful giveaway.

2011-10-14T21:57:00.001-04:00

Just a few pictures captured from some of my daily treks through the roads, in my part of the country.
This is often the road I use, when coming home from our daughter's home.

There are days that I just cannot help myself. I have to stop along the road and grab my camera, especially this time of the year.

I pass this creek often, I find it so interesting, how it changes it's look, with each new season.

I paid a visit to a beautiful, very informative, and educational blog from New York. The blog is "millefiorifavoriti.blogspot.com/". Pat does a great job in sharing all the fascinating places that she visits in her home state of New York. If you have a few extra minutes, you would enjoy visiting her blog. Landscapes on the blogs I visit, each have their own uniqueness, and that is one of the aspects of the blog world that I find quite fascinating.

The views on this road are spectacular!

More than ever, I appreciate the farmers and what they contribute to our country. Their hard work and dedication to the land, continue to teach me and my grandchildren, as we drive by their farms.

Seems like only minutes ago, I was wishing you a good weekend last Friday, and here we are at Friday again. Time certainly seems to be moving at record speed.

Wishing you some moments to relax and take in the beauty of this glorious time of the year.

2011-10-12T17:02:00.001-04:00

The weather is cool and overcast.

For some reason that puts me in a "clean out the closets" mood.

As I was doing this chore, I discovered this framed poster from years past.

When I stood holding it in the closet that day, so many memories flooded my heart.

The year was 1995. It was our oldest daughter's junior year of highschool.

She had landed the honor of lead role in the highschool's yearly drama performance.

Aside from a few lines in past plays, she was a novice when it came to acting.

Fast forward to the first night of this big performance. She borrowed her aunt's business suit and her dad's briefcase as props for her part.

We pulled into the parking lot on that Friday evening, and I must admit, as her mother, my stomach was in knots...literally. I learned that with the lead role, she had 90 some lines(maybe more) to memorize, and I had never seen or heard her practice the weeks prior. Never! I often asked her, "are you practicing your lines?"

She always informed me, in her ever confident and independent way, that she had it all under control.

That evening of the play, the parking lot was full, and I was walking into the auditorium, totally lacking confidence in her ability to carry out this huge chore.

I remember it well, I had the worst headache of my life!

I sat and prayed feverishly, throughout the entire performance.

You know what? She did an outstanding job! Her dad and I were totally amazed at her talent!

That was the last of our doubting whether she was capable of another performance.

It was definitely one of those moments in a mother's life, that I will never forget, and that is why it is easy for me to relay it all to you today.

Mothering certainly does present some interesting, memorable occasions in this journey of life...right?

Congratulations dear daughter, on an outstanding job as "Our Miss Brooks"!

I remember it well!

They had not tackled the job of putting together this big floor puzzle for quite a long time.

Today they said, "it was too hard, they couldn't do it."

I said, "they could"!

They did!

You see, in my older age of life, I have learned that when one puts their mind to something, accomplishing that task just might be possible. Whether it is memorizing lines and acting in front of a large audience, or putting a big, floor puzzle together...it is possible with hard work and determination. I've also learned, that failure at a task, is not the end of the world. As our wise mother stated to us hundreds of times throughout our childhood, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again." So, with success or failure, mothering is truly a learning process.
It has taken me a long time to learn some of these things, and I hope this might be a bit encouraging to you young mothers out there in blogland. Try cleaning out closets, it can lead one to all sorts of past memories.

2011-10-11T19:16:00.005-04:00

"If you get simple beauty and nought else, You get about the best thing God invents."

~Robert Browning

When I look at this picture, I can imagine myself sitting on some old adirondack chair beside this stream, soaking in it's beauty, while enjoying a good cup of hot coffee:) It's okay to dream, right?

Thanks to my uncle for capturing some of nature's finest, last week. And, thanks to each one of you who took the time to stop by and view them.