It was a simple, busy celebration last evening, but it was "big" to a little guy who turned "5".
To add color to the table and recognize him, I covered a cardboard box with blue tissue paper, printed  some recent pictures of him, added two balloons, some race cars and car paper plates.

For the cake, I put two brownies baked in square pans, with chocolate icing, side by side and covered them with whipped cream.  For the road lines I used black licorice.  I added his favorite cars, candles, and some M&Ms for fun.   It took me only a few minutes to put this together since the brownies were done before hand.  He was happy with it!

The candles were blown out immediately.  Next thing he did...went for the candy.

It did not take long to have this simple creation, look like this. 

Yes, it definitely was a fun, but oh, so busy celebration.


"Mischief with dirt on his face,
 Boo-boos from running a race,
 Bubblegum stuck in his hair,
 The hope of the future to share."
                     ~Linda Latourelle


 Thank heaven for Little Boys!

Four months ago this week I took these pictures...

.... might help to keep you cool today.

Did it help?

At times I find it so difficult to believe that I am blogging.  The fact that "me", a rather private person, who tends to keep many of my thoughts and activities to the confines of my own family and friends, would open up my world to those of you who so kindly stop by to visit, is a bit baffling to me.  But, I am learning so much from all of you and the times that I have to pay visits to you at your blogs, has proven to be so valuable to me in my daily life.  I find inspirations, ideas, admiration, and education from all of you, that it keeps me involved in this wonderful blogging world that I entered a few years ago.  I learn that we are all growing, facing challenges, times of laughter and times of tears, and profiting from each others lives.  It continues to bless my life in many ways.  With all of that said, I will share the following three pictures with you.  My dear sister-in-law has photography expertise that many of us wish we had, and has completed many courses in the photography world.  Two weeks ago, she was presented with a complicated challenge of trying to capture a picture of our family in 10 minutes time.  Our oldest grandson had to be a work at a certain time, thus giving us only 10 minutes to photograph our group.  Please keep that in mind as you glance through these pictures:)  I do wish I could include the various sound effects of these minutes.

The family pet wants to play, and tries his hardest to convince the little guy of his desire, which certainly is not helping with our "almost impossible" project at hand.

Finally, he gives up and leaves the scene.  Meanwhile, our photographer is working feverishly to get everyone's attention.  Bless her heart!  She did a full day's work in 10 minutes time.  What a lady!

Finally, one that is "the best" that will happen for this group.  I used to dream of family pictures where everyone is color coordinated, sitting on a green hillside with smiles on all the faces, and each of their little hands folded...but, you know what?  I would not trade this group for anything, and  this truly does represent our lives at this time of life, with all it's busyness.

I hope you didn't mind my sharing a bit of our personal lives in all of it's simplicity.   Hopefully, it will bring you a smile today.

After the photography session:), we headed to the porch for our spaghetti dinner together.  The vinyl tablecovering and the white paper plates is also how we do things at this time of our lives.  Spills and spaghetti sauce clean up easily with this tablescape.

"Just a little something" for you today.

Celebrating the good ol' summertime down at our brother-in-law's farm.

Two families, who lived next door to each other but rarely get to spend time together, met for the evening to catch up and reminisce.

Swimming in the pond seemed like the perfect way to cool off in the hot weather.

Young ones...

... those who just graduated from high school enjoyed the time spent together.

A huge bowl of cold, cut up cantalope was a hit on the food table.

As darkness set in, and goodbyes were said, the porch lights presented a magical place to sit and relax.  I could have sat on this swing for hours and listened to the summer sounds of crickets and cicadas, at the close of the evening. 

Nostalgic stories, singing with the guitar, and old photographs brought back fond memories and created a  long overdue get together.

I hope you enjoy your July 4th today!

Backyard celebrations on July 4th have always been something I have enjoyed.  Last evening our daughter and son-in-law hosted their own backyard celebration.  I was not there, but I did babysit beforehand, so that she would have more time to prepare.  She sent me these pictures from their time together, and I thought they were too interesting to not share with you.  Her and her husband prepared the hot dogs and hamburgers and their friends each brought food.  I like the creativity and thought she put into preparing for the evening and knew you would like seeing it too.

Centerpieces...old canning jars filled with white hydrangeous from a friend's garden, a ribbon and flag complete the beautiful look.  Napkins...from the "Country Living" collection at KMart.

Borrowed tables, chairs, and a picnic table provided comfortable seating under the big tree in the back yard.

Two of her dear, beautiful friends "catching up" at the food table by the barn.

One of their treasured babysitters helped to feed and entertain all of the children present.

Her clever and oh, so practical way of feeding all of the children...packed luncheons in brown paper bags.  Each bag was decorated, packed ahead of time with children's favorite food, and refrigerated until time to eat. 

Plastic ware served in flea market tumblers displayed in an old Coke crate.  How clever!

Each women left with a homemade loaf of blueberry bread with a vintage inspired tag.

She might not have shared these pictures, but I knew you would enjoy seeing the simple and yet well thought out creativity she shared with some of their dear friends.

Thank you for stopping by again on this hot, summer afternoon of July.

 A freshly made smoothie and a bran muffin made by our daughter, was our way to start the holiday weekend this morning.

Some fresh strawberries and a banana went into this smoothie concoction.

Here is the recipe I use.  It is from a Pillsbury cookbook.  My version...I add 5 fresh strawberries, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, only 1 TB of sugar, and skim milk for the milk portion to the above recipe.
 It whips up quickly and tastes so refreshing.

"Happy July 4th" to you and your families this holiday weekend!  May each of us be reminded of the freedoms we still posess in our United States of America and those who helped provide them.

I read a little book recently, titled "Laughter and Latte".  In the chapter titled "Squiggles of Enjoyment" there was a quote by Hermann Hesse stating that "There are a thousand tiny things from which one can weave a bright necklace of little pleasures for one's life." 

The author, Marilyn Meberg, of the short chapter asks, "What are the tiny joys from which you can "weave a bright necklace of pleasure?" 

For me, I am sharing a few of those tiny joys from my past week, during my family's visit;

Cousins getting happily reacquainted...

A four year old learning to know his newly acquired uncle...

Watching a little girl relishing in her fun birthday celebration, as she drives her brother's car through the driveway sprinkler...

Me, getting to spend a few quiet moments with another granddaughter...

And the way my front door pots, are now overflowing with blooms...

Tiny, simple joys that truly do add smiles in my busy week.  I feel certain that you could add your own little pleasures that bring you an occasional sqiggle of enjoyment.  I do recommend the inspiring little book "Laughter & Latte".