The Three Cousins

Finally, a picture of the three cousins!

L to R: Eleanor, Little Audrey, and Vivian

Someday these three will be a handful! Oh wait, they already are! 

Barettes

Playing at the Beach

Today I played at the beach. It is a very small beach in a wooden bowl with a small portion of my collection of seashells and sea glass. Shells are one of my favorite things to collect.  They come in all sorts of shapes and colors and they store memories for me of the beaches we have visited and some we haven't.  So if you are headed to a beach this summer and you find more than a few shells,  pick some up for me!

And if you are a reader, check out "Gift From The Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

Unusual Weather We're Having

Monday Morning Thunderstorm, Rain and Sunshine. I sat in my rocking chair on the front porch and enjoyed every minute of it!

Weekend Post Script

Ellie is so tired that she laid her head on the table.

Little Audrey sitting up like a big girl.

We had a couple of visitors here this past weekend. They went home tired and screaming. That is not a great way to end your weekend, especially for the mommy and daddy. 

Variety, Is it Overrated?

Usually I eat a variety of dishes. But lately I have become obsessed with this salad. This salad contains spinach, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries with "Newman's Own Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette". Sometimes I will add chicken, or blue cheese, or pecans or walnuts. I never understood how Audrey or Emma could eat the same thing day after day. But I do now. I could eat this daily, until I find a  new obsession!

Uncle Walt's Cookies

Uncle Walt, on my husband's side of the family, was a character. (but hey, aren't we all?) Uncle Walt wore red suspenders and would begin drinking about 6:00 pm every day. Uncle Walt would not sit down when he was drinking. He always stood, with a beer in hand and spent his night drinking. On occasion, while he was standing and drinking, he would make cookies; really good cookies. I have tried to copy his cookies, but something always seems to be lacking. Today was another failed attempt. I like the dough, but not the baked version. (As a side note, we duplicated this concoction in ice cream, when we had the ice cream store and it was spectacular!)

Here is my failed recipe, still good, but not as good as my memory! Perhaps I need to drink to make these as good as my memory serves!!

Uncle Walt's Cookies
1c. Butter softened
1c. shortening
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2c. white sugar
4 large eggs
2 t. vanilla
2 t. baking soda
2t. cinnamon
1t. salt
2 1/2 c. flour
6c. oatmeal
2c. walnuts, roughly chopped
1 bag of chocolate chips
 Cream together the butter, shortening, and sugars. Add eggs and beat until fluffy. Add vanilla, baking soda. cinnamon, salt. Stir in flour and oatmeal until mixed well. Add walnuts and chocolate chips and stir until thoroughly mixed. Bake 10-12 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.

When they came out I thought they were a bit dry. So here is how I will change the recipe for the next time.
I will toast the walnuts to bring out more flavor. I will use regular sized chocolate chips (not the mini ones, but that is what I had on hand!), maybe cut back on some of the oatmeal and I totally forgot  raisins. So to "save" the rest of the dough, I have raisins soaking in spiced rum. I will soak overnight and add them tomorrow. So stay tuned for part two.
 If any of Martin's cousin's have their dad's recipe; send it my way! And may Uncle Walt rest in peace.

No More Excuses

The upstairs in my house is still reeling from the effects of a kitchen remodel. There are boxes to unpack, stuff to dust and things to put away. It had been too hot to go up there to work, but that is not the excuse today. It is very pleasant. Now my excuses are "I don't want to." and "It is overwhelming!" But I am off to do it anyway.

Consider it Pure Joy

It is pure joy to watch the little ones play in a kiddie pool on a hot summer day.

Eleanor

Vivian

 Or to gnaw on Auntie Erica's hand, because I am too little to swim!

Little Audrey

July 15,2012

Oh take me to the beach, I want to feel the sand on my feet and the salt air in my hair!

When It Rains....

It Pours. 

The meaning: When it begins to rain, it comes all at once. Or, when troubles come, they come together.  It can stop pouring at our house now. No, I am not talking about rain. Give me a deluge of good news and good things.
 Morton Salt made this advertising slogan into a good thing by using an additive in their salt that would prevent clumping and sticking in damp weather. Therefore, "when it rains, it pours!"

L to R: Pig in profile, The big bad wolf, the elephant, the couple kissing and a little bear with a big tear.

Wacky Wednesday, Part 3

What do you see?

I see a pig in profile, the big bad wolf from Little Red Riding Hood, an elephant sitting down, a couple kissing and a small bear with a big tear.

Just a Reminder

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Swimming

After swimming at the pool yesterday, Little Miss Navy Blue Eyes could not keep her eyes open.

But she does look adorable sleeping in her fancy swimming suit!

July 8, 2012

Root beer Floats, Dreamsicles & Purple Cows

A new discovery: Whipped Cream Vodka!

Put a shot in Root Beer for a Root Beer Float.

Put a shot in Orange Soda for a Dreamsicle.

Put a shot in Grape Soda for a Purple Cow.

I imagine it would be good in hot chocolate, White Russians, just about anything. Who can resist Whipped Cream?

Firecrackers

Here are my little firecrackers from the Fourth of July!

L to R: Vivian, Audrey, & Eleanor

The Answer

If you guessed parts of a flower, you are correct. It was the beard on an iris flower.

Three Little Ladies

Three Little Ladies were here yesterday. It was fun! It was busy! It was a lot of diaper changes!

Little Audrey, 3 weeks old

Little Vivian, 6 months old

Little Eleanor, 19 months old

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Photo by Emma

The older I get, the more I see the impact that my mother and grandmother had on my spiritual life. My mother would play piano for church on Sundays in my old home town. We listened or sang along as she practiced throughout the week. Grandma would hum hymns as she worked or she would play records of Gospel music. Old hymns have been going through my head lately, but more so today.

I am feeling very blessed.

This hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" written by William M. Runyan, written in 1870 has been the one I have been humming lately. The chorus:

"Great is Thy Faithfulness! Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided-- 

"Great is Thy Faithfulness,"

Lord, unto me!