Corners of My Life

perfect sugar cookies {repost}

2012-02-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

Perfect Sugar Cookies
2 dozen large hearts or
4 dozen small hearts

Ingredients:
-3/4 c. butter, softened
-1 pkg (3 oz.) cream cheese softened
-1 c. sugar
-1/2 c. powdered sugar
-1 egg
-1 tsp. almond extract
-2 3/4 c. flour
-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.
6. Roll out and cut with cookie cutter. Thin dough will make crunchy cookies.
For soft dough, it needs to be about 3/8 in.
7. Bake 8-10 minutes on parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Frosting:
-2 Tbsp butter (softened)
-2 1/4 c powdered sugar
-1/4 c milk
-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

KenKen

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

In the newpaper {delivered to our Italian Villa}
is a puzzle called KenKen.
KenKen is the hottest puzzle craze since Sudoku
This will be my new evening entertainment!

It is printed in two versions
4x4 (pretty easy) and 6x6 (challenging!)

Check it out: KenKen.com

wide right

2012-02-05T12:41:00.009-05:00

Those of you who are Buffalo Bills fans,
sadly, need no explanation for the title of this blog.

Jim and I are looking for a church to attend while in Florida.
Today we went to a Presbyterian Church and
the serman was "Faith and Football: Wide Right".
I know it must be an omen but would you say . . .
stay here or try another church?!

The message: forgive yourself.

Non Bills fans can read about "wide right" here.

italian villa

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

For the next two months we will be snowbirds in this
mobile home . . . one block from my sister in Florida.

Only fifty steps to the pool where I plan on reading the days away.

Only 10 minutes to the beach where I plan on watching multiple sunsets.

We refer to this rental as the Italian Villa.
I will post more photos later and you will understand.

pre-owned

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Do you know why this Honda CR-V is smiling {or perhaps laughing}?

Because I brought it home just in time for our trip to visit my sister.

We never buy brand new cars.
Our car of choice is 2 years old with 20,000 miles.
This one fit that requirement perfectly.

What's your preference - new or used?

cocoon

2012-01-25T06:00:00.003-05:00

A few things in my life lately make me want to
"cocoon myself away from the world outside".
{thank you lemon lane cottage for this phrase}

When people you love are going through a crisis
and you don't know how to help . . .
remember you can always pray.

It is so hard to know that as badly
as you feel, they feel much worse.

Praying for strength and wisdom to ~~cocoon~~ listen, reassure, advise, help . . .

pasta and marinated feta

2012-01-24T06:00:00.002-05:00

Ribbon Pasta and Marinated Feta
with caramelized onions and roasted cherry tomatoes
{so easy and so, so delicious}
serves 4

Ingredients:
2 pints cherry tomatoes
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
sea salt
black pepper
2 red onions, thinly sliced
8 oz package of ribbon pasta
8 oz marinated feta

Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 375°F
Place cherry tomatoes in a baking dish, drizzle with half the olive oil, a pinch of salt and pepper. Place in the oven and roast for 30 minutes or until tomatoes are collapsed and beginning to brown.

Warm a heavy skillet over high heat; add remaining olive oil and onions. Sauté for 5 minutes over high heat until beginning to brown, lower heat to low and cook for 20 minutes, add a pinch of salt and cook 5 minutes longer or until caramelized.

Cook pasta according to directions on package.
Add baked cherry tomatoes to the caramelized onions.
Drain pasta and add to onion mixture.

Crumble the feta over pasta and gently toss to combine.
Divide onto 4 plates and top each serving with a piece of feta.

Adapted from this recipe in Martha Stewart Magazine

happy birthday

2012-01-20T06:00:00.002-05:00

baby cedar one month ago
{his mother's thoughts}

I come to the sea . . .

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

A surprise gift arrived just before Christmas
from a fellow blogger whom I now consider a friend.

How fun that I get to have my morning
coffee everyday in this thoughtful gift.

Thank you Christine for your kindness
and for keeping us "connected".
vista woman

quilt ornament winner

2012-01-14T07:55:00.007-05:00

Thanks for your fun comments on my quilt ornament give-away.
I will happily be sending one to . . .

Just a little something from Judy said...
You continually impress me with your sewing skills and generosity.
What a special gift to give!

Here is her lovely blog: Just a little something for you...

The pattern is called a liberated checkerboard block.
If you want to make your own you can find the tutorial here.

nyc meatball shop recipe

2012-01-10T07:36:00.000-05:00

Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow {co-owners}

Classic Beef Meatballs

Ricotta cheese makes these meatballs moist and delicious
Makes about 2 dozen golf ball size meatballs

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds 80 percent lean ground beef
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried)
2 teaspoons coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
4 cups Classic Tomato Sauce

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Evenly coat a 9-by 13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, use your hands to mix together beef, ricotta, eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, oregano, salt, red-pepper flakes, and fennel until fully incorporated. Roll mixture into firmly packed 1 1/2-inch balls.

3. Place meatballs in the prepared baking dish, taking care to line them up snugly so that they are touching one another in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. Bake until meatballs are firm and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball reads 165 degrees {about 25 minutes}.

4. Meanwhile, heat tomato sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.

5. Remove meatballs from oven and carefully drain excess grease from pan. Pour heated sauce over meatballs and return to oven; cook for 15 minutes more. Serve.

A popular recipe from

as seen on The Martha Stewart Show, November 2011

Another of their recipes we love:
Mini Spicy Buffalo Chicken Balls

Don't forget to leave a comment here
quilt bag ornament
to enter the give-away drawing on Feb 13th

bowties

2012-01-07T06:00:00.009-05:00

A lovely surprise arrived while our grandbaby was visiting . . .
three cute homemade bowties and a blue shirt
all the way from a blog friend in Kirkland Washington

We had such fun putting them on Cedar.
{sorry we missed photographing the green one}

Aren't they just too adorable?
Thanks Kimmy!
oh my soul rejoice

Don't forget to leave a comment here
quilt bag ornament
to enter the give-away drawing on Feb 13th

quilt ornament give-away

2012-01-03T06:00:00.004-05:00

This year my homemade ornament/gift/favor was a quilt bag.
The pattern is called a liberated checkerboard block.

Just leave a comment if you would like a chance to win one of these.
One winner will be selected at random from all eligible comments.
Drawing will be on unlucky Friday the 13th.

the pattern
{vertical and horizontal lines are meant to be random}

front

back {and lining}

strap/hanger

sew one back piece and one lining piece
right sides together
with strap/hanger in the middle
{call this: piece a}

sew one front piece to one lining piece
{call this: piece b}

place piece a on top of piece b right sides facing
sew around leaving a 2" opening at bottom

turn right side out and stitch opening closed

tuck lining into bag

ta-da

I found a book called Visions of Sugarplums at an antique store
I tore out pages and rolled them up to put in each bag

I also added some greenery, a candle, a candy cane and berries

finished bag

the basket of favors ready to go

I found Liberated Checkerboard Block directions here.
I modified mine to be 3x3.

I do believe I will post this again next November
in case you want to make some for Christmas.
{or . . . you can just get a head start now}

taco soup

2011-12-31T10:53:00.008-05:00

I have read that it is lucky to eat beans on New Year's Day so . . . .

{photo shows kidney beans but we prefer black beans}

Taco Soup
A family favorite
serves 6-8

2 lbs ground beef
1 red onion chopped
2 - 15 oz cans tomato sauce
2 - 15 oz cans of corn (undrained)
1 - 15 oz can of diced tomatoes
2- 15 oz cans black beans (drained)
1 pkg taco seasoning
black olives

Brown beef and onion in skillet. Put all other ingredients into crock pot and add beef. Cook on low for 6 hours. Serve in bowls - garnish with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream and black olives.

engaged

2011-12-26T19:01:00.006-05:00

We hoped that this young lady
would someday be part of our family.
Now it is official, he has proposed.
We are overjoyed.

merry christmas

2011-12-25T07:38:00.004-05:00

the moment in the middle

2011-12-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hold your breath.
Here it is.
Christmas Eve.
My favorite time of the Christmas Season.
The perfect moment between all the preparations and all of the celebrations.

All is done yet all is yet to come . . .

"It was a moment of perfection he would probably not find again this year, and he sat without moving, almost without breathing. There was the upside of a garden, when one was digging and planting, heaving and hauling, and then the downside, when it was all weeding and grooming and watering and sweating. One had to be fleet to catch the moment in the middle, the mountaintop, when perfection was as brief as the visit of a butterfly to an outstretched palm.

From the book Out to Cannan (the fourth book in the Mitford series)
by: Jan Karon

homecoming

2011-12-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

On Friday
these kiddos will arrive
for Christmas
driving from Fort Collins, Rochester, Philadelphia . . .
{I pray for them ~ safe traveling!}

A true blessing that we will all
be together on Christmas.

a baby for Christmas

2011-12-18T06:00:00.003-05:00

Today
this little family will arrive
for a two week visit
{after a 27 hour journey from Cambodia}

A Christmas blessing that brings tears to my eyes
every time I think about holding this sweet little fellow.

the perfect gift

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

For the last several years Mr. Corners and I
have not exchanged Christmas gifts.
We have a wonderful time shopping for our family
and now don't worry about the perfect gift for each other.

He is such a blessing to me ~ the only gift I need.

happy birthday

2011-12-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Amanda

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I pray for her to have a joyful life.
I hope she knows how much she is loved.

celebration

2011-12-06T06:00:00.007-05:00

I have a friend from my childhood that is
having a big birthday this year as am I.

To celebrate we are visiting the
"happiest place on earth" with our younger spouses.

As you read this we are enjoying
a fun-filled week at Disney World.

right lid ~ right now

2011-12-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

My only "black friday" purchase this year were these
{$6.88 @ Walmart}

In fact I bought two!

I am pretty excited to get rid of all my old containers
{containers that I can never match the tops to}

a simple pleasure indeed . . .

sewing

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

I have been doing two Chistmas sewing projects . . .

a little something for the boys

a little something for the girls

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I guess I can't yet tell you what they will be as
those "boys and girls" read this blog.

downsizing

2011-11-27T06:00:00.001-05:00

We live in a five bedroom Victorian house {built in 1865} where we raised four children. Those children are all grown and gone now so it is a dream of mine to downsize.

There is a two bedroom ranch in our neighborhood for sale.
They had an estate sale last week so we went, not to buy anything but to look at the house. We decided that it really is too small for us but we did buy . . .

two swivel glider rockers for our bedroom

and on the way out we bought two hearth and plow rockers for our kitchen.

Somehow this doesn't seem like downsizing!?

as luck would have it

2011-11-23T06:00:00.034-05:00

Can you imagine what it would cost to reserve a whole restaurant just for the two of you or even better, a whole rustic lodge all to yourselves? That is what happened to us purely by accident.

I bought a Groupon for a Glamping {glamorous camping} overnight in a town about 2 hours away from home.

We made our reservation for a weekday night, after the leaves had fallen from the trees, and before the winter snows begin to fly {off season}.

As luck would have it we were the only guests at the lodge that night and the restaurant isn't open to the public during the week.

A "better than camping" room with a view {of the forest}

A glass of wine, a bit of reading, a few games of dominoes, peaceful chatting, and a steak dinner all in front of this roaring fire.

Ham and cheese omelet for breakfast made by Rich the friendly owner, proprietor, and chef. In fact Rich was the only other person we saw during our stay.

A morning walk in the woods and then headed for home refreshed, relaxed and pampered.

I would definitely return and maybe bring a friend or two.

{the rest of our photos}

scarves

2011-11-19T06:00:00.007-05:00

google image

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes!

My favorites . . .
infinity ~ magic trick ~ twist and pull

benson park sculpture garden

2011-11-15T06:00:00.020-05:00

If you find yourself anywhere near Loveland, Colorado
a visit to the Benson Park Sculpture Garden is a must.

welcoming crows

lindsay

cooper {afraid of every sculpture}

blaine

wishbone

mary

laughing

Located at 2908 Aspen Drive in Loveland, Colorado, Benson Sculpture Garden has provided a beautiful and unique outdoor setting for showcasing sculpture since 1985. It is here that the Loveland High Plains Arts Council hosts its renowned Sculpture in the Park event each summer. Currently, there are 132 pieces of sculpture on permanent display.

more of our photos

posting queue

2011-11-11T06:00:00.018-05:00

I have been pretty faithful posting on my blog every third day. When I think of something to blog about I put it in the queue so it automatically posts on a given date.

I now think I will now change to posting every fourth day.
I don't want to bore anyone!
How often do you post on your blog?

Some blogs I read post every day, some once a week and some on no particular schedule. Some bloggers take extended breaks and I am always glad when they return. Its like welcoming back an old friend.

I find I love reading many kinds of blog posts - crafts, make-overs, sewing projects, faith journeys, family news, traveling adventures, great photos, recipes, seasonal suggestions, book reviews, yard sale finds, crochet ideas, renovations, product reviews, quilting, decorating ideas, and more.

Sometimes I have something profound(?) to share and sometimes just a photo that would really only interest close friends or family. My readers are very kind to keep coming back and I so value the comments they leave.

When considering a new post do you wonder what would interest your faithful readers or do you just blog from your heart and life?

grounded & blessed

2011-11-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

Our daughter and her husband have been living in Cambodia for three years.
They both have commitment to service in their hearts and we are so proud of them.

Amanda did a wonderful post on her blog about their time there . . .

. . . our time here has passed in the blink of an eye, life here has been much easier than we expected - filled with such joy, friendships & travel. but also harder too as we've had to un-learn a lot of the things, beliefs, assumptions, cultural certitudes we thought we knew, & we thought were solid docking points & that sort of education can be quite unsettling.

If you have a few minutes, I invite you to read her reflections about this journey in their lives.
we live in all we seek blog

sign of the times

2011-11-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

While visiting this museum

we saw this funny sign in the elevator

then off to lunch here . . .

I hope you a Larkburger near you.

garden's end

2011-10-31T06:00:00.011-04:00

There is just something appealing about the waning side of a garden that

makes me happy I live where the seasons change with such artistic elegance.

Wonder if I’ll feel this nostalgic in December??

whoo

2011-10-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

When Cedar was teeny tiny he used to make the cutest "whoo face".
Now at nine months old he is doing it again . . .

one month old {seems forever ago}

pepper steak {made easy}

2011-10-25T06:00:00.009-04:00

Pepper Steak

12 oz top round beef
4 tsp plus 3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice wine
3 tsp cornstarch
5 tsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, sliced into thin strips
1 bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
1/2 tsp black pepper

Slice meat into thin strips across the grain about 1" long.

Place beef strips in a bowl and add 4 tsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of rice wine, 1 tsp cornstarch and black pepper.

In a separate small bowl, mix 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp water and 2 tsp cornstarch. Set aside.

Heat a saute pan (or wok) on high heat. Swirl in 1 tbsp oil and add the beef spreading evenly. Cook undisturbed for 20 seconds letting the beef brown. Using a spatula, stir meat, cooking another 2 minutes. Transfer beef strips to a plate.

Add remaining 2 tsp of oil to the pan, add peppers and onions and cook about 2 minutes. Return beef to the pan, add the rest of the sauce and stir fry about 30 seconds until slightly thickened.

Serve over rice with a hearty dry red wine.

adapted from:
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Calories: 235.3 • Fat: 8.9 g • Protein: 35.4 g • Carb: 11.8 g • Fiber: 1.2 g

candles

2011-10-22T06:00:00.002-04:00

In autumn when darkness comes early, out come the candles

some were gifts

some are scented

some are not

warm and welcoming

calming

inside and out

wild wild west

2011-10-19T06:00:00.011-04:00

Enjoying a week in Fort Collins, Colorado with son #2 and his lovely wife.

To make it even more fun these friends from home came along
with us to visit their son #2 and his lovely wife in Denver.

family and really good friends can see more photos here

view flipcard

2011-10-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Have you checked out the new ways to display your blog?

Change is hard for me so I won't be changing anytime soon but
it is fun to view your favorite blogs in "flipcard" mode.

To view any blogspot blog in this mode just add
/view/flipcard to the end of the blog address.

here is a sample
{click on link below photo}

cornersofmylife.blogspot.com/view/flipcard

squash soup

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

An autumn/winter favorite that we make again and again every year.

Squash Soup
yields about 8-10 servings

1 large onion
6 medium carrots
3 Tbls butter
2 medium butternut squash (peeled and cubed)
7 cups chicken broth
2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp pepper
chives

Slow cooker directions
In large frying pan, saute the onions and carrots in margarine for 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally.

Add to large slow cooker along with squash, broth, salt, thyme and pepper.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours (until vegetables are tender). With immersion blender puree soup until smooth being extra careful not to burn yourself from "splashes". Garnish with chives if desired when serving.

Stove top directions
In soup kettle, saute the onions and carrots in margarine for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Add squash, broth, salt, thyme and pepper; bring to a boil.

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes (until vegetables are tender). With immersion blender puree soup until smooth being extra careful not to burn yourself from "splashes". Garnish with chives if desired when serving.

some things never change

2011-10-10T06:00:00.002-04:00

When my kids were little I loved when they would get a creative idea in their minds and spend the day trying to make it. Now that my son is grown I see he still does the same thing.

He and his football loving friends ordered real buffalo fur

and buffalo horns from an Indian reservation.

They spent hours working on this project.
I suppose the beer helped the creative process {?}.

Here they are ready to leave for the game.
{by the way these three are government engineers - scary?}

It was our pleasure to host these lovely young adults for they weekend as they were in town to attend the Buffalo Bills vs Philadelphia Eagles football game.

weekend photos

two punks

2011-10-07T06:00:00.001-04:00

when Amanda shared this punk photo of baby Cedar

it reminded me that I had a similar photo of myself

yep -two punks
one happy, one not so much

we live in all we seek

road trip

2011-10-04T06:00:00.002-04:00

We recently took a weekend road trip.

Does the book on tape give you a clue where we were headed?

Maybe the horse and carriage tour passing by?

How about the Headhouse farmers' market?

Yep - Philadelphia to visit these fun city dwellers
{son #1 pictured with his girlfriend on their roof-top deck}

family and really good friends can see more photos here

candy corn tree {repost}

2011-10-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

1. Pick a few scraggy branches from your yard

2. Arrange them in a small, tall vase

3. Hot-glue kernels of candy corn in clumps of twos and
threes on the ends and the v's of the branches

4. Set the vase in a small bowl and fill
with the remaining candy corn

Warning: This makes it way too easy to over indulge in candy corn!

tomatoes, squash, and potatoes

2011-09-28T06:00:00.005-04:00

Baked Tomatoes, Squash, and Potatoes

Ingredients
Serves 4-6
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 3 small tomatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 1 medium yellow summer squash, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 1 medium zucchini squash, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 1 medium Yukon Gold potato, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan

Directions
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Heat oil over medium and cook onion until tender and lightly golden, 6 to 8 minutes.
3. Arrange the onion on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Overlap tomato, squash, zucchini, and potato in rows on top of the onion.
4. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with thyme and Parmesan.
5. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes until golden.

From Whole Living, September 2011

slow loading blog

2011-09-27T06:00:00.003-04:00

Lately I have had trouble loading a couple of blogs that I follow. I think it may be due to the blogHer ads on the top and side. More and more of those ads are java script videos and interactive links. They take a long time to load as they have to load video players and then use up quite a bit of memory.

One blog always gets this error, freezes and then I can't close it unless I open the task manager.

I tried opening it on another computer and it did the same thing.
I enjoy this blog and miss not being able to read it.

I was wondering if anyone else was having this problem with any blogs??

lemon lane cottage

2011-09-25T06:00:00.002-04:00

when patty at

wrote this post: faith walk friday

I felt like she was speaking from my heart

so I wanted to share it with you . . .

mixing wine

2011-09-22T06:00:00.001-04:00

We recently mixed
Chocolate Lab wine with Blackberry Merlot wine
for a surprisingly delicious treat.

We are generally dry red wine drinkers but
this mixture was full of flavor and full bodied.
I wouldn't drink it with a meal but it was perfect
with hors d'oeuvres
on an autumn evening
with our friends
in their new garden house.

thumbnails

2011-09-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

I love blog thumbnails!
Most days at 6am. I pour a cup of coffee, sit down and sign in to blogger.
I look at all the thumbnails on my sidebar and can't wait to open each one.
Will it be a craft project, a new recipe, a makeover, a colorful new quilt, a wedding picture, a shopping hint, someones grandbaby, an adventure, a prayer request, a funny story . . .
The possibilities are endless.

wait to worry

2011-09-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

I used to worry more.
About all of this . . .

“Wait to worry”
has now become one of my new personal goals.
I might have a reason to worry but what I am worrying
about may not happen today or even tomorrow or maybe ever.

So . . . I am not going to let worry steal my joy.

There are friends in my life {fellow worriers}
whose thoughts also run to the “worst case scenarios.”

Since I can't take their worry away I will encourage
them {and myself} to “wait to worry”.

The worst kind of worrying I do is about things I have no control over.
Such a waste of time and energy.

I read recently than only 8% of what we worry about ever comes true.
Pretty good odds that things will be okay.

We have so many things going on in our lives that are stressful.
Worrying about all of the things that “could” happen takes so much energy.
I want to avoid that extra stress - so now I will “wait to worry”.

Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Corrie Ten Boom
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.

9/11 babies turn 10 years old

2011-09-12T06:00:00.003-04:00

Ten years ago, a sad sisterhood of pregnant women gave birth to children who would never know their fathers because the men had perished in the holocaust of 9/11 terror attacks.

Now those babies are almost 10 years old.
Diane Sawyer - ABC News

9/11 Babies on Dads: "I Never Met Him but I Know I Love Him"
A very inspiring video story filled with both sadness and joy {tissue ready?}

italian chicken casserole

2011-09-10T06:00:00.001-04:00

Italian Chicken Casserole
Makes 8 servings.

1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella
16-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained, patted dry and diced (about 2 cups)
1 egg
½ tablespoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch chunks
¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat an 8-by-11-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella, egg, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a large skillet over medium-high, heat the oil. Add the chicken, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking pan. Cover with red peppers.

Spread the cheese mixture over the chicken.

In a small bowl, mix together the panko and butter. Sprinkle the panko over the chicken, then bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are browned and the chicken is cooked through.

Can be served alone or over a bed of noodles or rice.

first day of school

2011-09-07T06:00:00.007-04:00

Things I miss about the first day of school.

shopping for and organizing all those school supplies
buying new lunch pails that match each personality
picking out the perfect outfit to wear
the excited {and nervous} faces of my children
getting back into a routine after a relaxing summer vacation
meeting teachers that will share my children for 10 months
a chance to get all 4 kids in one photo
knowing that soon new friends will become part of their lives
hearing about that first day over dinner
early bedtimes {for everyone}
structure that the school year brings

No more first days of school in our house

Good luck to those of you returning to school for another year.
I was never ready to give up summer until that first day of school
and then the magic happened . . .

teachers

2011-09-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

Tuesday is the first day of school in our neck of the woods.
In honor of teachers I am posting this video to
remind us how important they are.

Poem by Taylor Mali

mamie jane's

2011-08-31T11:15:00.000-04:00

One of the most creative blogs that I read is Mamie Jane's
She is featured this week in Flea Market Style Magazine Fall 2011

Today when I was in Walmart I picked up a copy ($9.95 yikes!}
Feel free to borrow my copy or just check out her amazing blog for free.

garden tea cups

2011-08-31T07:53:00.001-04:00

I have seen this craft on several blogs and with the
help of Mr. Corners we made a few for the garden.

Buy cups from your local thrift store

Glue a small plastic flange {from Lowes} to the bottom
of both cups and glue the cups to the saucers

Weigh down with a heavy book and let the glue dry.

Spray paint dowels {the right size to fit in the flange}
and glue them in the flange on the bottom of the cup saucer

Aren't they cute?

I was going to put birdseed in them but someone warned
me that the spilled seed would grow weeds in the garden
so they are empty - merely ornamental

twenty-eight

2011-08-26T06:00:00.002-04:00

happy birthday to my first-born son

fish pedicure {with a free beer} in Siem Reap, Cambodia
what a way to celebrate for only $1!

seven months

2011-08-24T06:14:00.008-04:00

When I saw this photo on Amanda's facebook
I just couldn't resist sharing it with you . . .

Cedar {7 months old}
from far away Cambodia

happy 1st anniversary

2011-08-21T06:00:00.004-04:00

Blaine and Lindsay
August 21, 2010

These are two of my favorite photos from their wedding.
They were both taken at the exact same moment {notice how he is looking at her} one photo by our friend Emily and the other by the photographer.

thirty

2011-08-20T07:20:00.005-04:00

Happy birthday to my favorite son-in-law.
On his last visit to our home this is what he had for breakfast.
No kidding five.

How does he stay so skinny?!

fonts

2011-08-19T06:00:00.005-04:00

Everyone seems to have a favorite font.
I usually play with different ones but am not sure which is my favorite.

google image

Do you have a favorite?

georgia
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Palatino Linotype
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

tahoma
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

ariel
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

times new roman
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

comic sans
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

lucida handwriting
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

helvetica
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

garamond
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

bradley hand
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

kristen
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

french script
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Tempus Sans ITC
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

roll cover

2011-08-16T09:27:00.005-04:00

Looks pretty cute to me

Get your very own Cottonelle® Brand Roll Cover today.
www.cottonelle.com

tunes from the attic

2011-08-14T21:14:00.000-04:00

woodstream campground

On Saturday night we ventured down to Woodstream Campground to visit my friend’s cousin Richard. Richard has a DJ gig he calls “Tunes From the Attic”. On this night he set up in the campground gazebo to entertain the camping folks both young and old. If you like music from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s you would have enjoyed his show. A very fun outing indeed.

veggie macaroni 'n' cheese

2011-08-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

Veggie Macaroni 'n' Cheese
Serves: 6

Ingredients
12 ounces rotini pasta
1/2 pound small broccoli florets
3/4 pound small cauliflower florets
1 cup frozen peas
12 ounce reduced-fat extra-sharp Cheddar, shredded (about 3 cups)
8 ounce reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel)
2 tablespoon margarine or butter
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne (ground red pepper)
coarse salt
3 cups no-fat milk

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Grease six 16-ounce casserole dishes.
3. Heat large covered saucepot of water to boiling on high. Add pasta; cook 3 minutes, uncovered. Add broccoli, cauliflower, and peas; cook 1 minute. Drain well.
4. Divide pasta and vegetables evenly among the 6 casserole dishes.
5. Meanwhile, in food processor with knife-blade attached, pulse 8 ounces Cheddar (about 2 cups), cream cheese, margarine, mustard, nutmeg, cayenne, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until well blended. With processor running, add milk. Puree until smooth.
5. Pour cheese mixture evenly over pasta and vegetables in the 6 casserole dishes. Top with remaining Cheddar.
6. Place dishes on jelly-roll pan and bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until just bubbling.

adapted from From Good Housekeeping Magazine

Just saying . . .

landline-less

2011-08-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

It was a huge ~~step~~ leap for us but we finally did it - gave up our landline.

Two things that helped us make up our mind
1) we are saving over $40 a month
2) we could keep our home phone# and port it to Jim's cell phone

Approximately 25% of all adults live in households with only wireless telephones
{Source: National Health Institute Survey }

To begin the porting process you need to contact your cell phone provider. They will take care of everything to take the number over from the landline carrier. Do not cancel service to your landline until the porting process is complete, or that number will become unavailable. Porting can take several days but we got our confirmation phone call an hour after we got home from the cell phone office.

You could add a new line to your cell service for your home#
but we have all 5 lines we are allowed already in use by these kids.

{photo taken in 1990 - long before cell phones - just saying}

So now if you call our home phone Jim will cheerfully answer on his cell phone.

twenty-six

2011-08-02T06:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday to son #2
{the young man with the camera}

Angkor Wat ~ a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia
{his wife, Lindsay is holding their nephew, Cedar
his sister's husband is chatting with the guide}

asian adventure

2011-07-31T06:00:00.002-04:00

from: their homes in Phnom Penh, Philadelphia and Fort Collins . . .

off to: Mumbai, Delhi, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap,
Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Bangkok, Phuket, Kep, and Seoul.

My oldest three children {with their spouses and girlfriend} and my grandson are having an Asian Adventure in some or all of the above cities. My prayers are with them for a safe trip and my well wishes are with them for an amazing time together.

hair styler

2011-07-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

This hair designer/dryer let's me straighten and dry at the same time!

infiniti hair designer by conair {model bc173}

My hair is fine & thick with some natural ~~curl~~ wave and quite a bit of frizz, especially in moisture. This is a 3 in 1 one tool that really does cut styling time in half. It has now replaced my hair dryer, round brush, & flat iron. It's so nice not to have to blow dry with a brush & then straighten with a flat iron. It makes your hair shiny and straight in one step. The built in brush is easier to use than holding a brush separately in your other hand. I used the styler on the hot setting, when my hair was damp. Not only does it leave my hair straight, it gives it a decent amount of body and bounce.

Place the dryer at the root of one 2-3 inch section, leave it there for 2 seconds, then slide slowly to the ends. At the ends turn the dryer a bit to get nice looking ends. I do this process at several times on each section, depending how dry my hair is to start with.

On really humid days I use a humidity resistant smoothing creme before drying. Wonder if this would work on my return trip to Cambodia {where my hair was wild every day}?

Some reviews said it overheated but I have used it for two weeks now and not had that problem. Just saying . . .

I bought one of these to see what it was like...and actually just bought a 2nd one that's still in the box! I don't want to be without one so now I have a spare.

I have seen this product online for $30+ but it was $19.99 at our local Wegman's.

Asian Salad

2011-07-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

Last night we had an Asian Salad from McDonald's {it was too hot for us to cook anything}.

Here's the scoop: it you get with grilled chicken - 270 calories, with crispy chicken - 420 calories! {I made the wrong choice - whoops}

I think this salad from Sunny Simple Life would be an even better choice.

cheek wrinkles

2011-07-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

Many of my friends are beginning to turn 60 and in 5 months I will join them. I do have mixed feelings about it but my life is pretty happy right now so I am not fearful.

Just recently I looked in the mirror and noticed new wrinkles on my face - cheek wrinkles! I have many other wrinkles but somehow these just cry out old.

And to make it worse . . .
We have been trying to eat healthier lately and I have lost 5 pounds. I ran into a friend yesterday who said, "You must be losing weight girl, I can see it in your face." I just know she was talking about my cheek wrinkles. Argh!

detour

2011-07-19T06:00:00.004-04:00

Our little village has had our Main Street torn up for most of the summer.
It is quite a challenge to navigate around town getting here and there.

One convenient short cut that helps out is right thought this poor church's parking lot. Something I'm sure they are not thrilled about.

They put up this great sign up the other day.
I'd call this making lemonade out of lemons wouldn't you?

Christ Community Church

tea sandwiches

2011-07-16T06:00:00.008-04:00

Turkey Tea Sandwiches
8 to 10 servings

Ingredients:

Scallion cream cheese:
3/4 pound (12 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
4 minced scallions (white and green parts)
(For a little variety next time, I may substitute chopped seeded cucumbers for the onions )
Pinch kosher salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper

Sandwiches:
1 loaf dense fruit-nut bread, unsliced (I used apple nut)
8 thin slices fresh or smoked turkey breast
Fresh basil leaves

Directions:
For the scallion cream cheese, combine the cream cheese, scallions and the salt and pepper in an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Do not whip.

For the sandwiches, have the store slice the bread 1/4-inch-thick slices. (If that isn't possible, you can slice it crosswise with a very sharp knife.)

* Lay out the slices of bread and spread them all with a thin layer of scallion cream cheese.
* Place a single layer of turkey on half the slices, cutting the edges to fit the bread.
* Place the basil leaves randomly on top of the turkey.
* Top with the other slices of bread, cream cheese side down.
* Return the sandwiches to the bread wrapper.
* Refrigerate until the cream cheese is cold and firm.

* Place the sandwiches on a cutting board and, with a very sharp knife, cut each large sandwich in half crosswise, and then cut each half diagonally, twice, to make small triangles.

Serve chilled.

{adapted from a recipe by The Barefoot Contessa}

restless sleep

2011-07-13T06:00:00.004-04:00

My friend Debbie P. and I are worriers.
Try as we might it is a hard thing to break free of.

Gracious God,
You have filled our night with safety, but we lie down with anxiety and wake unrefreshed. Open us to your spirit and blow through us like a fresh ocean breeze.

{a prayer from the church bulletin last Sunday}

fountain

2011-07-10T06:00:00.002-04:00

In our house I am the say-er and Jim is the do-er so when I saw
this fountain on a bog {that I follow} I talked Jim into making it for us.

Now our nightly sunset "deck-sit" is accompanied
by the sound of a babbling brook.
How fun is that!

And . . . since it wasn't very difficult to make my
sister-in-law and I made one for Grandpa Jim.

For detailed instructions visit frillydetails

fishing

2011-07-07T06:00:00.001-04:00

father's day wishes

How is it our friend always catches the biggest fish?

independence day

2011-07-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

how fun does this look ? !

some thumbnail photos are from google images

menu

hors d'oeuvres
Lauren and Seth: spinach dip hors d'oeuvre
Dave and Debbie: Texas Caviar
Julie and Kenny: Buffalo chicken wing dip
Tracy: vegetable platter
Mike and Marty: cherry tomato hors d'oeuvre

beverages
Ben and Lindsay: beer
Jim and Mary: wine
Matthew: soda

dinner
Jim and Mary: variety of hot dogs and a condiment bar
Linda and Dale: potato salad
Doug and Leslie: fruit salad
Dave and Barb: baked beans {including a meatless version}
Amy and Andy: Orange Creamsicle Delight {side dish for dinner}
Dave and Debbie: Mortonian coleslaw with Ramen Noodles

dessert
Mary: fireworks cookies
Dorothy and Clark: brownies
Mike and Marty: red, white and blue trifle
Amy and Andy: Jello Cake
Doug and Leslie: red velvet cake with strawberries and blueberries

schedule
2:00 hors d'oeuvres, chat, swim and games
4:00 dinner
5:00 softball / kickball game
6:00 desserts
7:00 chat, swim and games
9:45 community fireworks

movie passes

2011-07-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

fun gift from a fun son

What movie would you recommend?

cambodian tea and candle

2011-06-29T12:35:00.004-04:00

sweet gifts from a sweet daughter

open-eyed sneeze

2011-06-26T11:26:00.023-04:00

My daughter's friend, Jessica Martin, has published her first novel.

The setting is our little village, Brockport, and provides a humorous account of life after college.

I’m a farm girl at heart and the idea for this book was planted here. ~ Jess Martin

We had the pleasure of attending a book signing for Jessica last evening and it was fun to reconnect with the whole Martin family. The only thing that would have made it better is if we could have attended her book signings in Boston or NYC!

Her book is dedicated to her family . . .
"There when I laughed, there when I cried. Usually responsible for both."

Open-Eyed Sneeze is available for sale at the Harvard Book Store.

"A perfect gift for graduates attempting to make meaning of it all, this refreshing first work will keep you laughing through the most frustrating of post-collegiate questions - Now what?" - Harvard Book Store

Here is the link to buy the book if you are interested.

Congratulations Jess!

twenty-four

2011-06-21T21:01:00.002-04:00

Happy birthday to my youngest son.

island stools

2011-06-18T06:00:00.001-04:00

When your son's 200 pound college football player friend sits on one of these counter stools it is apt to tilt and then bend. That will leave you with three stools and the need to replace one. {Actually, to be honest, it was a little wobbly to begin with.}

The problem is that the dining center where we purchased them doesn't carry this model anymore. After much searching we ended up at Bed, Bath and Beyond. We could buy one stool that was pretty comfortable for $189 or we could buy a set of three for $99 {with a 20% off coupon}.

I do recommend trying them out first as some models were not very comfortable. And then . . . the assembly begins with two "not so handy" construction crew.

Now we have two pair that blend pretty well together and oh yes, two spare ones waiting in the wings.

coffee

2011-06-15T06:00:00.002-04:00

My friend Christine {from far away Seattle} sent us a certificate to our favorite local coffee shop in honor of our new grandson.

Here we are enjoying that coffee with the new baby, his mom and good friends.

poetry

2011-06-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

A blog I often read, Words on Wheels, recently had a post about the joys of poetry. After reading this I am reminded of a favorite poem that my cousin Renee once sent to me.

I have given this poem to friends as they turned fifty.
In a few years my friends will be turning sixty
Wonder what inspirational poem would speak to that?

Here is the piece of it that I love . . .

What then? Shall we sit idly down and say.
The night hath come; it is no longer day?
The night hath not yet come; we are not quite
Cut off from labor by the failing light;
Something remains for us to do or dare;
Even the oldest tree some fruit may bear;
. . . . . .
But other something, would we but begin;
For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
from: Morituii Salutamus

going gray

2011-06-09T06:00:00.001-04:00

I am becoming a bit tired of dying my hair and
would like to find it's "natural gray state" but . . .
I don't know how to get there.

This is a photo of my daughter's friend with lovely gray hair.

An extensive search on the world wide web
has not proved to be very helpful.

If anyone has any helpful tips or ideas, I'd be very grateful.

taggy blanket two

2011-06-06T06:00:00.003-04:00

We have two new babies {grandchildren} in our circle of friends so I made them each a taggy blanket. I posted a tutorial on how to make one here but I made these new ones a bit smaller {aprox 8 x 15 inches} than the original.

Our little Cedar loves his.
It is perfect for his little hands that can't quite grasp a toy yet.

greek salsa

2011-06-03T06:00:00.002-04:00

I found this hors d'oeuvre on the Frilly Details Blog recently and with a few changes it has become a favorite for our Wine-on-Wednesday gatherings.

pour a small amount of olive oil on the serving platter
cover with a few chopped tomatoes and 4 diced green onions

next a generous amount of feta cheese
sprinkle Cavender's Greek Seasoning over all

serve with a French baguette

photoshoot

2011-05-31T06:00:00.002-04:00

backporch creative photographer ~ jamie hamilton {on left}

worrying

2011-05-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

For my children who know {?} that I worry too much . . .

pickles free online by Brian Crane

college tennis

2011-05-25T06:00:00.002-04:00

It was such a pleasure for us to be able to
attend our son's final college tennis match.

It was even more exciting as he won his final game with an ace!

Watching a match is no easy task
while looking through the wind blocks.

A proud parent moment when he won these three awards . . .
Best Singles Record 2011
Great Laker Award 2011 {best team spirit}
Most Valuable Player 2011 Season

Congratulations Seth!

dressing a salad

2011-05-22T06:00:00.006-04:00

My cousin Ann makes the best salad ever
and I thought I would share her recipe with you.

Assemble any salad ingredients you like in a large wooden bowl.

Ours usually includes:
romaine lettuce, thin sliced yellow peppers, grape tomato halves,
shredded purple cabbage, shredded carrots, dried cranberries,
thin seedless cucumber slices, feta cheese, small croutons

Toss the salad with a little extra virgin olive oil
Sprinkle on Cavender's Greek Seasoning [or dried basil] ~ toss again
Sprinkle on Bragg's Liquid Aminos [or balsamic vinegar] ~ toss again
Sprinkle on fresh lemon juice [or Real Lemon in a bottle] ~ toss again

I often "overdress" a salad so I keep some of the greens aside and add them at the end after the salad is dressed. You should be able to find Bragg's Liquid Aminos and Cavender's Greek Seasoning {also comes in a salt free version} at your local supermarket.

Isn't it funny how tossed salad always tastes better when someone else makes it?!

graduation

2011-05-19T06:00:00.003-04:00

We are so proud of this young lady as she received
her master's degree from Eastern University.

We had a wonderful trip to Philadelphia for the
ceremony and were joined by our son and his girlfriend.

A bit of rain that lasted about 10 minutes didn't dampen our spirits.

We are so very grateful to Daniel {Amanda's husband},
for his amazing support during this two year journey.
We only wish he could have been here to share the celebration.

Congratulations Amanda!

raccoon

2011-05-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

While we were away my sister-in-law had a very unwelcome visitor in our basement. For several days he reeked havoc and several people were called for assistance {sister, neighbor, police, college nephew, brother-in-law with a small trap, W-o-W friend with a bigger trap}.

In the end he left on his own but not before destroying our little pantry at the top of the basement steps. I wish I had a photo of that as you wouldn't believe the mess he made tearing everything off of every shelf.

It gave Jim the motivation to clean and paint and now it looks great!

We have lived in this house for 30 years and never painted those shelves. It was time . . .

Chicken with Artichokes and Lemon

2011-05-13T06:00:00.009-04:00

Chicken with Artichokes and Lemon
Serves 6

photo from All You magazine

Ingredients
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts halves, patted dry
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup flour
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup white wine
1 12-oz can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme

Preparation
1. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in flour. Warm oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 6 minutes total.

2. Add wine and artichokes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until chicken is almost cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Scatter lemon slices over chicken, cover and cook until chicken is done, 2 to 3 minutes longer [165 °]. Transfer chicken and lemon slices to a platter.

3. Stir thyme into sauce and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Simmer 1-2 minute. Pour over chicken and serve.

I served his with brown rice and asparagus roasted with onions and beets.

beach read #4 {last}

2011-05-10T06:00:00.002-04:00

First book of the Elm Creek Quilts Series
It is a good peek at quilt making but ...
I am not inspired to read the rest of the series.

Glows with the love of quilts, the importance of family,
and the value of friends to share our joys and sorrow with.
- Kathryn Smith, Anderson Independent-Mail

mother's day blessings

2011-05-07T06:00:00.001-04:00

Amanda decided to come home from Cambodia with baby Cedar
for her graduation from Eastern University near Philadelphia.
We will have them with us for 10 days and feel so very blessed.

More reasons I am blessed on Mother's Day. . .
Three wonderful sons.

beach read #3

2011-05-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

each time I picked it up I read slowly as
I didn't wanted the story to end

"The Birth House is an astonishing debut, a book that will break your heart and take your breath away…To read The Birth House is to enter a world, a richly imagined and keenly observed ….To say this is a powerful debut is to damn Ami McKay's novel with too faint praise; it is an altogether remarkable work from an impressive new talent." ~~~ Ottawa Citizen

sisters

2011-05-01T06:00:00.004-04:00

We were visiting my sister for a few weeks and just like
the old days we did "girl stuff" like highlighting our hair.

It is a little hard to see the results but it was fun!

beach read #2

2011-04-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

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

2011-04-25T06:00:00.003-04:00

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

2011-04-22T06:00:00.004-04:00

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

2011-04-19T06:00:00.001-04:00

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

2011-04-16T06:00:00.002-04:00

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

Perfect Sugar Cookies
22 bonnets

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