Princess Doctor Ayva

Click here for easy, easy, easy instructions.

Literally this took 20 minutes. I bought tulle at the St. Pete's rummage sale for $1!

After Ayva put the tutu on she proceeded to check out her Grandpa with her penlight aimed into his eyes. She told him the blood was shaky in his eyes!

It was a fun little tutu.

Javier put on a goul costume but had it off so fast I didn't get a picture!

Pentecost

 

Pentecost meets inspiration from Chihuly! The first time I saw the purple glass tubes we were in Rhode Island - when I turned the corner and saw all the purple I started crying. It was Lent.

When we went to Arizona and I saw the red ones I thought - Pentecost.

And then 18 years later when I saw the plastic florescent light covers at a hardware store going out of business sale I just knew it could work.

Then we went to the restore in Ann Arbor and found the glass globes to use as stands.

A trip to the dollar store and two rolls of red cellophane later we had the beginnings of the Pentecost display.

I love this one - it is simple and thought provoking. It screams Pentecost to me. Thank you God for guiding inspiration in my life.

 

Galaxy

My Galaxy is not working! It won't take my password - and yes I DO KNOW MY PASSWORD - the keyboard looks strange so I think maybe a virus. Anyway - won't be on Words with Friends, won't be on Bakery Story - going to Verizon today. May have to get a new tablet!!!! We'll see.

Necessity is the mother of invention

Sad little leftover pork chops sitting in the frig. So I decided to make bbq pork sandwiches. Alas no bbq sauce! I am all into those herb and tomato paste squeeze tubes right now.

So I made my own - pretty yummy too!

1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 TBS honey
2 squeezes each garlic, italian herbs, tomato paste
1 tsp smoked paprika
Couple shakes of cayenne pepper and Mrs. Dash.

Put the sliced pork in the pot and cooked on simmer for 1/2 hour. Put on 1 point pitas and shredded 1/2 ounce colby.

Estate Sale

We went to an estate sale yesterday and there was so much crammed into every nook and cranny we decided to go back today when some of it was gone. Great stuff - lots of treasures. I can't wait to see what is still there at half price. And it was a Forester estate sale so that means the prices were good even on the first day - but half off - what a deal. I keep telling myself I don't need a sculpture of Mary and baby Jesus but it just isn't registering - if it is still there for $20 today I will just have to buy it! I'll post after the we come back and let you know what I got!

You should be proud of me - NOTHING!

We saw a beautiful pheasant by the side of the road - he ran really fast to his mate and made her run into the high grass. We didn't mean to bother them - but he was really gorgeous in the light of the setting sun.

Rat's Nest?

Lol - no - it is the most beautiful Michigan day ever! We're driving with the windows down, the wind blowing my old grey hair every which way.

What a glorious day!

Frittata

Preheat broiler
3 eggs
3/4 cup chopped green beans
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp butter
1 oz longhorn cheese grated fine
Dill, Mrs.  Dash, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.
Melt butter with olive oil. Add onions and green beans, salt and pepper. Cook untill browned.
Mix eggs with other herbs and add to veggies. Sprinkle cheese over pan. Put under broiler until browned on top.
Makes 2 servings - 4 pts each
Can use any veggies.  Leftover veggies are great too.

Gordon Lightfoot:

50 Years on the Carefree Highway Tour

 

Last night we went to see Gordon Lightfoot - it was a great concert.  Pat was so happy to be there!

 

He sang all of Pat's favorites - of course he knew the first set was entirely from his "Endless Wire" album. And to be truthful, every single one of Gordon Lightfoot songs is a favorite of Pat's!



Robbie and Alicia Prom

 

Such a beautiful sunshiny day for prom!  They went to Genji's to eat dinner - in their blue jeans!  They didn't want to get anything on their prom clothes!  When they got back Alicia was the first to get ready - Robbie seemed to be taking a long time so Papa went to see if he could help Robbie, then Caroline.  I told Alicia to come outside and I would get some pictures of her first.  Then Caroline came outside - I said "You left Papa? That is like the blind leading the blind!" Then Pat came out and said, "That was like the blind leading the blind!"

Then Robin went in and finally - Robbie came out looking like a million bucks! 

This is Important?

Half the roads are impossible to ride on without finding holes big enough for a two year old to disappear in. But City workers are sent out to change the Arthur Hill street signs back to regular green street signs.
Are these the old signs or was money spent to make new ones?

OH MY!

So I turned green with envy when I saw the Bake with Zingerman's week long bread baking class. I thought about how I would love to take it with Sarah.

Then I saw it was $1,000 for each of us! $2,000? Get over yourselves! I am sure we can do anything even without that class. I've tasted Sarah's cinnamon rolls-none better anywhere! And my Aunt Kathy rolls are yummy.

Goodness gracious that is cah-ray-zee!

Land of the Living

OKAY - spent the first day out at the hospital with Caroline - she had a cyst removed - it looks good - thankful for a good daughter, a good doctor and a good prognosis. 

I actually spent a the afternoon back on the couch but at least I moved - I also am not taking any medications since last night - YAHOO!

Today is cleaning day - so while our sweet Stephanie is here we are going on a road trip - hope the sun is shining.

We are extremely busy in May - looks as if we will be going to weddings, taking pictures of Robbie going to prom, seeing Gordon Lightfoot (You know that makes Patrick happy than a pig in poop!), doctor and dentist appointments, and decorating and cleaning at church.  My Mom always wondered how she had time to work - I'm beginning to understand.

That is all for today!

Amers!

This one is for Amy - in a heartbeat we can break into this song which never fails to make us smile!

A Photographer!

I met with Hope Sweigart today. Joanna suggested I might want to use her photos for the covers of the Holiday Series. She was so right!

Hope is a young college student and a delight to be with! After looking at just a few of her photos I could tell she has a discerning eye for art in nature.

One step closer to a summer publishing date for the new series. Keep saying prayers for inspiration!

Still Sick

Goodness, this cold is kicking my butt! Pat went to the pharmacist this morning and came home with two medicines to try. If things aren't better by Monday I actually will call the doctor.

My project I was working on Thursday is finally finished. I needed Pat to help on the last part of it. I can't wait to see it put together. Did you guess Pentecost display at church? It is a Chihuly inspired display.

Bottom of the 5th

Well, I'm watching the game by myself - Pat and Jack went to the game. It is the bottom of the 5th and the rain just started up again.

They are still playing - the game is tied.

Can You Guess?

Any idea what ME is up to now? Deadline is May 18th.

Woohoo Say a Prayer

I am meeing with a young woman photographer on Saturday. Joanna says she is great. I need covers for the second series. I need to get the next set of books on Amazon!

Say a prayer we connect!

Crossroads

I just finished reading the new book Crossroads by the author of The Shack. It was good, however, I thought the story needed more experiences for the main character to change so dramatically.

I loved the concept and the characters. I would recommend it.

Another Cold!

I even know EXACTLY when I got this cold. That sweet baby Ella was too cute - I didn't even care if she had a cold! I still was kissing and snuggling with her.

One time I held her over my head and was playing with her and she coughed right into my mouth. I remember thinking, "That wasn't good!"

Sure enough the day she went home I started coughing. Yesterday I stayed on the couch all day. Today my ribs hurt from coughing so much.

It still was worth getting sick because I had all that loving from that sweet Ella!

NSU

When we married in 1972 I needed to buy a cheap car to get to work. I was working at KinderKare so when I say cheap I mean cheap! We bought a little 1963 NSU for $300.

The floor was rotting, the heat didn’t work and when it snowed I used a spatula on the inside to clear the frost from the windshield!

But I loved my little car.

Lil

We went to see Lillie as the goalie for her high school Water Polo Team - we had a great time - she has a wicked serve the other teams should watch out for when they play them!

Baby Ella

We are having so much fun with Ella this morning! She is playing with Aunt Cindy's Ipad and she loves Talking Ginger and Bubbles.

Birthdays for Jim and Kathy

Birthdays are always better in twos!

The Real Sarah! My Bertie's Bakery Sarah is based on my niece Sarah. I watched her bake a birthday cake for my sister and brother today. She is such an artist! The cake was fabulous - chocolate with chocolate ganache filling and chocolate frosting with caramel drizzled on top!

 

 

My Sweet Niece Liz helps too

 

 



Ice Skating with Ayva

Papa and Uncle Jim are ice skating with Ayva all around the living room! This is the most precious thing I have ever seen..
Wait... I was wrong... Now she is teaching them their letters!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARENCE

So this is a very loose interpretation of Clarence's beautiful painting "The Colors of Apple" - a birthday cake for his birthday!

We had a very nice celebration for his birthday - he liked his cake!

If you want to see Clarence Lum's beautiful paintings go to:

www.clarencelum.weebly.com

Garlic Knots

I'm cooking Italian tonight. I have never attempted garlic rolls so I thought I would try them for a dinner party tonight. Pat and I just tasted them - note the hole! They are delicious!

Garlic butter
I cut the top off a head of garlic, set the top back on and wrapped it in foil and baked 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Turned off the oven and waited until cool. Squeezed garlic out of skins.

Melt 1/4 cup butter
Add garlic as prepared above
3 Tbs parsley
1 tsp garlic powder

I used this recipe for rolls

My Sister Kathy's Rolls

When the dough was ready, I rolled out half of it and spread the butter mixture on top. Sprinkled with Parmesan Shredded Cheese.

Cut the dough into 1/2 inch strips. Fold each strip in half and tie into a knot.

Place them in a cake pan. Let rise. Bake 350 for 20 minutes.

I made regular white dinner rolls out of the rest of the dough.

Stuffed Shells

If you are making a mess - make enough for a couple meals.

This made 75 shells. Figure 4 or 5 per person.

1 32 oz Riccota
1 24 oz Cottage Cheese
1 jumbo egg
1 cup Mozzarella
1/2 cup parmesan
1 tsp salt
1 Tbs Mrs. Dash
2 Tbs Parsley
1 tsp Cinnamon

Mix well in ziploc bag

Cook and drain large shells according to the package directions.

Put a couple ladles of sauce in bottom of casserole dish. 

Fill shells by cutting small corner of ziploc bag. Set slit side up in casserole dish. Cover with sauce and Mozzarella.

If freezing, this is when I cover with plastic wrap and foil.

Bake uncovered at 350 for about 35 minutes. Need 45-60 if frozen.