Blooming Now

My orchids are blooming!

Other Weekend Activities

Papa & Ellie smashing the peanut butter c-o-o-k-i-e-s.

Brad and Little Audrey napping.

"Loving" the little sister.

Little Audrey is not too sure about the "loving."

Bath time with  a mohawk  hair do.

Vivian's Baptism

Vivian before mass with Megan and Daniel

Father Orpilla baptizing Vivian. 

Daniel, Megan, Vivian, Father Orpilla, Erica and Carlos.

Daniel, Megan & Vivian with Godparents, Erica & Carlos.

Vivian in the second baptismal gown, an heirloom,  from the Wood family.

Almost all of us, just missing Audrey Mae.

Yesterday, Miss Vivian was baptized at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. She wore the baptismal dress that her mommy wore. The dress was made out of the left over satin, lace and organza from my wedding dress. Vivian looked adorable and she was a very good baby. Whenever the priest said her name, she turned to look at him. Afterward a luncheon was held at the Wood's home. We are blessed!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Moving On

My friend Karen brought me these flowers last night. She came over for pizza last night and to pick up my boxes left over from the kitchen remodel. She is moving to Sacramento today. Life is starting over for her.
I am excited for her and all of the possibilities in her future. And I am a little sad that there won't be many impromptu pizza nights or spontaneous outings. She said these flowers made her smile, but really I am the one smiling. So thank you my dear friend.

Teacup Collection, Part 3

Who can resist Royal Albert, Old Country Roses? This is one of the few I bought for myself.

Tiny Visitor

 Over the weekend, we had a tiny visitor come into the house. Now I am not fond of critters in the house. We have quite a few lizards that I don't mind seeing outside. But this brave little one decided to venture into my house and under the china cabinet. Megan was here and captured the little guy with a envelope and a plastic container. As she was placing him outside, he ran up her forearm. (That gives me the shivers!) She kept calm, but once he was outside and the door was closed, she gave a blood curdling scream and shivered head to toe. That set off a chain reaction of dog barking, baby crying, loud laughter and more squealing.

My tiny visitor entangled in dog hair!

L to R.:

dog, Mr. Wind, baby, bear, woman with big earring, face with raccoon tail, phantom of the opera, caricature of a momma animal holding her baby. Did you find any more? I can see at least4 more I will share with you later.

Wacky Wednesday, Final

This is the bathroom tile that started the Wacky Wednesday posts. I can't even count up all of the hidden pictures. But I will give you some hints to look for; a dog , phantom of the opera mask, a bear, a caricature of  Mr. Wind with a hand over his mouth, a cartoon animal mother holding her baby, a baby, a woman with big hair and a hoop earring, a creature with a raccoon tail nose. That will get you started, but there are a whole lot more. Keep looking!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Lacy Leaves

My giant sunflowers are about to bloom. 

But the leaves are being shredded. I looked for bugs. There are none. But I now have lacy leaves for whatever reason.

Today I discovered why I have lacy leaves. Little finches are eating them.

What are you looking at?

Oh yum. These leaves are so good.

I just can't get enough.

Back off this is my leaf.

Can you imagine what they will do when the plant has flowers?

Teacup Collection, Part 2

This is another one of my favorite teacups, given to me by my friend, Mary. It is Lady Carlyle by Royal Albert. Several years ago she had flown out from Colorado to spend a few days with me. We went to Placerville, CA to go to Apple Hill and shop the downtown area. We stopped at this quaint tea shop to have lunch and she bought this teacup for me. It brings up fond memories of that day and my friend. 

Rewards Are Sweet

On Tuesday, I went to Lil's house to help out with the babies while she is in the throes of potty training Ellie. While they may get tangible rewards, Nana gets rewards of the heart. The sweetest kind!

Miss Vivian and her expressions!

Smiles and cooing from Little Audrey.

Treats for big girls!

Perseid Meteor Showers

For the last two nights I have taken a blanket and spread it out on my front lawn. Then I lay down in the quiet and watch for meteors. I have seen some pretty spectacular ones that jettison across the sky a long way. I have marveled at the milky way and constellations. I have listened to the symphony of the frogs and crickets. I have prayed that no skunks, moles or bears would surprise me. I have felt the dew settle in on me. I have thought how in Kansas the stars are so much brighter and how big the sky is there. I have thought, I must do this more often. And I have thought, I must remember to do this with my grandchildren when they are a little older.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

A New Journal

I wish I was one of those persons who could do an illustrated journal with simple sketches of travels and vignettes of the everyday life. But alas, I cannot draw. My journals are filled with lists; a bucket list, a gift list, lists of books I want to read, movies I want to see, music I like, a household improvement list, a garden list, packing for a trip list, blog list, photos I want to take list, and recipes I'd like to try. Then I have actual recipes I have written down. Sometimes they are written on a scrap piece of paper and taped in the journal. I also have quotations from movies or books that I like. Craft project ideas are also thrown in the book.
My journals, have never been very organized until today. My new journal (the one on the left) has tabs! I added the tabs with blank pages in between for all the lists, recipes, etc. Maybe I will find what I am looking for faster, but the old journal style does have a certain charm. While sifting through the pages, it jogs my memory about parties, movies, cooking days with my friend, trips to Kansas and what to pack and what I thought I wanted to do or see or have.
Maybe in the new journal I will add a drawing class to my bucket list.

Corn Chicken Chowder

During the summer months, we eat corn on the cob one to two times per week. The other day we bought some and it sat here too long and was a little crunchy. I had four ears leftover.  For dinner last night I took the leftover corn and  made corn chicken chowder. It was very yummy. Here is my recipe.

Corn Chicken Chowder
In a large pot add:
4 ears of corn with the kernels cut off the cob
1 small onion, diced
1 stalk of celery, diced
Olive oil to thoroughly coat the corn, onion and celery. Saute until the celery is softened, the onions are translucent and the corn is beginning to brown. More oil may be needed.
Add 1/2 c. flour to the corn mixture to form a roux.
Add 3 c. water
Add 3 t. of chicken base
Let this simmer on low heat. While this is simmering, add the following ingredients:
1 t. minced garlic
1T. chili powder
1/2 t. ground cumin
1 T. parsley flakes
2 small potatoes cooked and diced
1 small can of diced green chili s

While corn mixture is simmering, grill one large chicken breast and one red pepper. Remove the skin from the pepper and dice. Dice the cooked chicken breast and add both to the pot.

Add 2-3 c. of milk. Continue to simmer, stirring often until mixture is thick.

Serve with shredded Colby-jack cheese and corn tortilla chips.

This recipe serves 6.

Fun Shoes

Several years ago (I am thinking 5 years ago?), I bought this pair of shoes. These shoes have walked a lot of miles on my feet. I have loved them. They were fun, colorful, and more importantly comfortable. I broke these shoes in by running through puddles in a rainy New York City in March of that year. They have tromped through the streets of my neighborhood. They have adorned my feet in a cute outfit that were of the same color scheme. They have stood in for slippers to go out to get the newspaper off the driveway. They have lost the cute zebra print lining and they now have holes in the fabric. It is time to retire  and designate them for shoes to wear only at home or in the garden.

But look what I found yesterday while doing some back to school shopping with Emma, some fun new shoes! They are not quite as comfy as the old ones. They need some break in time! (Wouldn't a trip to a big city do that?)

And I also found this pair of purple flats! What self respecting Kansas State University alumna could pass up buying a pair of these?

What fun shoes are in your closet?

Teacup Collection, part 1

I have a lot of pretty teacups. I thought I would share them with you. Martin brought me this teacup from Berlin, Germany.

I like the colors.

I like the flower painted on it, although I have no idea what it is.

I like the unusual shape of the base and the handle.

She's Popped Party

Yesterday we went to a She's Popped Party, which was a little meet and greet for baby Audrey. The food was caramel popcorn, cookies and cream popcorn and cherry lemonade popcorn, pop rocks, ring pops, blow pops, soda pop and "Grammy Ellen's"  famous vanilla bean cupcakes. It was a fun afternoon of kite flying, Frisbee throwing, and playing at the playground and of course the three cousins!

Baby Audrey sleeps through her party.

Ellie loves the flavored popcorn.

Hosts and parents of baby Audrey & Ellie.

Ellie playing with the balloons.

"Grammy Ellen" with Vivian.

Uncle Danny & Daddy with Ellie & Vivi.

A journey begins for

for little Audrey.