It was a cool, sunny evening on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.  The snowball bush was in full bloom.  My grandma would tell me, when the moon is full, and the snowball bushes are  blooming, the weather will be cool.  She was right.

Some of my family were together for the evening.  After being served a delicious dinner, the highlight of the evening entertainment took place.  When I watched our son-in-law bring out his John Deere tractor and wagon, I thought to myself, the people working in the factory that builds the John Deere riding mowers,  had no idea whatsoever the huge amount of joy the finished product would bring to a group of children.  Really, you can't believe how excited they were.

With the big white blanket placed down first, they each took their place in the wagon.  Now, before you mothers and grandmothers out there panic when you see this picture, please know that caring parents were walking right behind the wagon,  with a ready hand to help, if needed.  The smiles on each little face, is a true indication of the moment.

I enjoyed watching the older ones, so lovingly and willingly, wanting to help the younger cousins, especially when the slide looked so high.

The evening came to a close with bowls of the favored, rainbow sherbet.

A picnic table full of cousins enjoying another one of the rare visits together.

 

And, for the moment, sharing and love were in the air:)

 

I so appreciate the comments you shared yesterday and today.

It is good to be back, and to have the privilege of sharing the simple, yet special moments of this maw maw's life.

 

It all happened many days ago.  The computer froze one morning.  We pushed a button we thought would help.  It did not help...it hurt.  It actually would have caused us to loose everything, except for our recently purchased external hard drive.  Our son-in-law took time that he did not have to work on our computer.  Time in between his demanding full time job, his role as husband and father of six children, his role as gentleman farmer and all the other roles he finds himself in.  I have never found anything in the computer realm that he was unable to fix, although this time, we just were not sure he could help us undo our innocent mistake.

So, my desk where I usually work and post from, looked empty.  I realized quickly that I would be missing the blog world more than I had imagined.  I missed visiting your blogs while the evening baseball games were on.  I did ask myself though, is blogging really too much a part of my weeks?  Why do I blog?  Would I miss it if I never went back?  Would I find new places to gain inspiration and diy projects?  What about the dear friends that I made, would I miss them?

Today, he delivered my fixed computer.  He said, "it won't be the same, but he did what needed to be done."
I was so happy to sit down to do this post tonight.  I probably won't be able to catch up on my visits, but I am thankful to be back.

I did spend more time in the late evening, on my porch.  I did read more, and I did have more time on my hands.

And I am thrilled to have the first strawberries of the season.  There isn't anything better in my book...so sweet and so delicious!

My peonies are in full bloom and I am enjoying having bouquets in my kitchen.

So, for now, I am back to blogging, and when I have time, I sure do look forward to visiting your blogs again.  You all are the most gifted people, and I did miss you.

Thanks for stopping by again.

 

My grandson's backyard party last week, with his school friends.
Black mustaches...part of the small gift bags they were given, containing items from the local
Dollar Tree store.
Maybe you are like me and need a smile today, especially in light of the devastating news out of Moore, OK.

I will be back to blogging sometime soon.  My laptop has major issues right now and is being repaired.
I find myself a bit surprised at how much it is a part of my daily life.
I miss it.  I miss blogging, and I miss visiting you all.
Thanks for stopping by today.

 

I wanted to drop off some soup to someone who had recently gone through another major surgery.

I thought chicken noodle soup seemed like the best thing.  The name of the soup alone makes me think of "healing".

 

I was visiting a blog recently and on it I was given the idea of adding carrot hearts to the soup.

The blog I visited was... http://www.sophistimom.com/

 

 

I peeled and sliced the carrots.  I used my mini heart cookie cutter.  Quickly and easily I cut the tiny hearts(if you don't have a mini cookie cutter, the blogger in the "sophistimom" blog, has another way to cut the hearts). I put them in a pan with some water and cooked them for a few minutes to soften them.

The rest of the carrot pieces I will use to make my carrot cake recipe.  I smile as I anticipate that.

Just one of so many ways to share a heartfelt message of love and healing, with someone who might need it.  I continually learn new ways to do that from all of you. 

Thanks for stopping by tonight.

Recently I offered to bring a dessert to an occasion.  The hostess requested that it be a gluten free dessert.  This is the dessert I made.  I thought you might enjoy making it too.  It is from www.allrecipes.com. It is green grape salad. 

Ingredients:

4 pounds of green grapes(I used half red and half green grapes)
1 (8oz) package of cream cheese(I used light)
1 (8oz) container of sour cream (I used 4 oz. of sour cream and 4 oz. of Cool Whip
1/2 cup of white sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
4 oz. chopped pecans

Directions;
Wash and dry grapes.  In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla.  I folded in the Cool Whip at this point.  Add grapes and mix until evenly incorporated.  Sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans.  Mix again and refrigerate until serving.
On the website, readers also mentioned that they added chopped apples to this salad.  I want to try that the next time I make it.

We think this is a delicious salad or dessert.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Do you need a smile on this Monday morning?

Maybe this will help.

So happy to be one of the guys.
It doesn't get any better than this!


"Humor is a spontaneous,

wonderful bit of an outburst

that just comes.  It's unbridled,

it's unplanned,

it's full of surprises."

~Erma Bromback

Thanks for stopping by.

My granddaughter and I were pulling weeds this afternoon, and decided to pick some flowers too.  We were limited (in our choices) since many of my flowers are not yet blooming.  But, we did find some and together created this colorful, simple arrangement, for the kitchen island.  As we picked the flowers I reminded her of Mother's Day on Sunday.

When we came into the house, she quietly walked into the pantry and came back out with a box of Debbie Field's chocolate cupcake mix.  She pleaded with me to bake them for her mom for Mother's Day.  I said we would do it, if she stuck with me and helped through the entire process.  She promised and she began. 

She added the eggs I gave her, the oil and the water.  She seriously took on the stirring.  I loved watching her concentration throughout.

I gave her a small measuring cup and she proceeded to pour the batter.  I smiled as I watched her, seeing batter everywhere as she went about the job, and this time, resisting the urge to clean as she worked:)

Twelve openings filled with the batter, ready to go in the oven.  She was as proud as could be.

The icing of choice for this most important project, was the new Cool Whip frosting.  The flavor we chose was chocolate.  I filled a plastic bag, snipped off the small corner, and the icing was ready to go on the cupcakes.

I carefully gave the needed instructions.  She tackled the job with enthusiasm and strength as her brothers looked on.  I was reminded again as to how difficult it was to be an onlooker and instructor, instead of doing it myself.
  The plastic bag was truly put to the test with this process, wouldn't you agree?

 He can't wait to begin.  Each one of the three took their turns, and I did not correct their jobs. 

 Each cupcake had it's own artistic designs.  They kept saying how happy their mommy would be.

A dozen cupcakes, with icing, but wait...

...they had to learn how to decorate, to add a touch of beauty, to step it up a notch, afterall it was for a gift for someone really special.

I had thoroughly washed and dried each pansey.  I showed them how to take off the stem, and how to arrange them on the top of each little cake.  They each wanted a turn, leaving each one with four cupcakes to complete.

Finally, the job was completed, and they were thrilled.  Obviously, they were taste testing in between each chore:)

I pulled out a Hefty disposable pan, added a lace doily, and had them set each cake in the pan.  Quite honestly, the flowers cover the amateur icing designs, making a lovely presentation, for one loved lady.
Total cost of gift... $ 2.50.  Total value...priceless!

I added the clear plastic cover, another lace doily, a small card, and a faux flower.  One could feel the anticipation in the air.

As for me and my thoughts on this important holiday;

I think it is a difficult day for so many and for endless reasons.
But, I do wish each of you moments of joy this weekend!  And, just in case you do not receive flowers this weekend, consider the bouquet we picked, a small gift to you, from me.

I thank God for my own mother, mother-in-law, and all the mothers I am blessed to know.  Your job is so valuable, and will continue to give for years in the future.

Happy Mother's Day to each of you!

"Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done; not our parents, siblings, spouces, friends, and hardly ever our grown children."   ~Ruth Goode   

"A grandma is old on the outside and young on the inside."     ~John Wright  (age 7 1/2 years).

"The measure of a life, afterall, is not it's duration but it's donation."
~  Corrie Ten Boom

...a little something from me to you today.  Happy Thursday!

Good evening blogging friends.

This evening I want to share a few touches of pink with you. 
Somehow pink is a happy color to me, perhaps it is because it always reminds me of my mother.
I wanted to share this picture of my daughter's front porch.  She lives in small town America, where neighbors know each other's names and quickly become friends.  Makes me want to grab a cup of coffee and sit on her rocking chair for some fun conversation.  

Speaking of her neighborhood, tomorrow her two daughters(my granddaughters), are having a party for all the girls in the eldest's class and the younger's neighborhood friends, after school.  I told my daughter that I would make some cupcakes for the fun occasion.  I found these cute plastic cups at The Dollar Tree at five for a dollar.  Personally, I think they would be perfect for an adult dinner party too.  Wouldn't it look good to have a tray of these for any dessert occasion?

I made white icing and added some dry lemonade powder to make it pink and give it a taste of lemonade.  I also found two boxes of Mrs. Field's confetti cupcake mix at same dollar store.  Twenty four cupcakes for $ 2.00, plus the eggs and oil(and the teaspoon of vanilla that I always add to cake mixes).  I baked the cupcakes as instructed, let them cool, and removed them from the pan.  I placed one in each of the above pretty plastic containers.

I put the icing in a clear ziplock bag, cut the one tip off and swirled the lemonade icing on each cupcake.  I added a plastic spoon, a candy cherry and some sprinkles.  It looks like little dishes of ice cream, but it is a cupcake and does not need to be in the freezer.

A fun and unique way to serve cupcakes at a party for young girls.  I do hope my granddaughters like serving these to their friends.  I have a feeling there will be lots of pink at their party.

 Speaking of pink, my uncle sent me this beautiful picture that he captured lately.  I think the delicate design of each flower is amazing.  I wish it was my tree.

I close with this adorable "pink sweetheart".  I cannot believe she is old enough now to have her friends home from school, for a party.

 I clearly remember the day I took this picture.

How did it happen so quickly?

I am sure you ask yourself the same question many times.

Thank you so much for stopping by this evening.

The giveaway winner is...jem60.  Congratulations to you! Would you

please send me your snail mail address and I will mail your gift

 to you.

Thanks to my husband for drawing the winning name this evening.

I do not personally know this visiting blogger, but I sure did appreciate her

kind comment.  I also know now that she has my same initials.

Thanks to all who shared your interesting comments regarding gifts

you received.

"May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive, which is

wrapped in thoughtfulness, and tied with love."   ~L.A. Baird

Companionship...

Friendship...

Two gifts that make life so much better.

This is what is on my heart today.

Speaking of gifts...tonight we will pick a name from the interesting and inspiring comments you all have made.  Please feel free to comment today, for your opportunity to win.

Happy Thursday!