beach read #2

a reminder that everyone has a story
and how little time we take to learn that story

It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana and an East Texas honky-tonk and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda, an upscale New York Gallery, a downtown dumpster, a Texas ranch. Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, it also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love. ~~~ from the book's website

madeira beach

beach, sun, sand, swimming, dolphin sightings, fun,
walks, cooking, books, beverages, chats, people watching,
sun sets, moon light, relaxing, refreshing, great restaurants,
balcony sits, password, crosswords, friends







who could ask for more

beach read #1

this book was a surprise gem

"Lawson communicates not only the lovely awe and beauty of the landscape but the way its inhabitants function within it. Crow Lake is the kind of book that keeps you reading well past midnight; you grieve when it's over. Then you start pressing it on friends."~~~The Washington Post

I couldn't agree more ~ I have already "pressed it on" to a friend.

seventy

My sister has a big birthday today.
To celebrate we invited a few of her girlfriends for a small gathering.
She is the "redhead" in the crowd.
The young ones in the photo are her daughter and granddaughter.



Happy Birthday Pat

easter bonnets

I have posted this recipe before but with
Easter just around the corner I made them again.

Perfect Sugar Cookies
22 bonnets

Ingredients:
3/4 c. butter, softened
1 pkg (3 oz.) cream cheese softened
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. powdered sugar (2 oz / 1113 g)
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
2 3/4 c. flour (11.7 oz / 330 g)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Cream butter, cream cheese and sugars in large bowl until fluffy.
3. Add egg and almond extract beat until smooth.
4. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
5. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Stir until soft dough forms. Chill
6. Roll out and cut with cookie cutter. Thin dough will make crunchy cookies.
For soft dough, it needs to be about 1/4 in.
7. Bake 8-10 minutes on parchment-lined cookie sheet.

 Frosting:
2 Tbsp butter (softened)
2 1/4 c powdered sugar (9 oz / 255 g)
1/4 c milk (a little at a time until right consistency)
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
sprinkles
food coloring (optional)

Add milk a little at a time, beating until smooth and thin enough to spread.

This recipe makes the best cutout cookies I've
ever made and is totally stolen borrowed from
Lil’Luna all things good

looks like a fire

When the sunset looks like this



The reflection in the middle school windows looks like this

small blog world

I learned today through blogging that this is indeed a small world.
I recently left a comment on this lovely blog . . .


Just a Little Something For You

Someone from Pennsylvania {who doesn't have a blog but enjoys reading them} clicked on my comment thumbnail taking her to my blog.

From there she clicked on my side bar link that takes you to news of our trip to Cambodia where we recently spent a month welcoming our new grandson.

Well . . . Ruthie then emailed me to tell me that she and her husband had been in Cambodia as well to greet their new grandchild in January. Such a similar story.

So . . . I forwarded the email to my daughter in Phnom Penh to tell her the fun coincidence.

Here is her reply:
Mom,
That's so funny, Ryan & Bethany are friends of ours. They actually just came over for pizza last week. Small blog world. :)
Love A

Cambodia

A few snapshots of our trip to Cambodia to meet
our new grandson [and visit his parents]


40 slides

Jim's blog [enjoy the little things] has the details of our visit.

cedar

It has been a month since we returned home from
Cambodia where we spent 4 weeks with our new grandson



don't you just want to kiss those chubby cheeks

wine-on-wednesday

I found this Playmobil Wine Bar while searching for Playmobil images.
I was excited about it until my son told me it is just an April Fool's hoax.



If they made it I would buy it