Potato Casserole

Potato Casserole

Preheat oven 350

1 lb hash browns
1 can light cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 stick unsalted melted butter
2 shallots diced fine
Salt & pepper & Mrs. Dash
Squeeze garlic and Italian tubes
2 sleeves small or 1 large Ritz crackers, crushed
1/2 stick unsalted butter melted

Instructions
Mix soup, sour cream and onion
Melt 1/2 stick butter salt, pepper, Mrs. Dash, garlic and Italian seasoning
Combine with hash browns in 7 x 10 casserole dish.

Melt 1/2 stick butter add cracker crumbs. Sprinkle on top.

Bake 1 hour

Pat out in the wilderness!!

Not really!  In our front yard. We found out last night at a Condo meeting that Dow Chemical is going to clean up the waterfront in June.  That should provide some activity to sit on the porch and watch.  It will stabilize the bank of the river as well as get rid of a few of the trees by the edge that are causing erosion.  It was nice to meet some of our neighbors.

Yeah!

Mr. Agresta gives his thumbs up to be the track coach in the "New Beginnings" book!

Can't even begin to explain how that makes me so happy.

Say a Prayer

Just asked someone if I could use him in the "New Beginnings" book that I am writing.  I think he probably will say no, but I just had to ask.  So say a prayer because I think he really belongs.

Lent

St. Dominic - Ss. Peter and Paul Site

Ash Wednesday - 2016

Grandma Shea

I found this picture behind another in a frame.  I am so glad I found it.  Grandma Florence Shea was so stylish.  She had many professional pictures taken over the years, but this is one of my favorites.

1st Cookout

Cindy is at Mike and Ksenja's home in New Jersey helping out with Lilliana. Jim took Cindy but the apartment is small so he stayed at Kim and Fred's and then flew home. He will fly back out next week to bring Cindy home.

So he came over for dinner last night. It was so beautiful out that Pat cooked steaks out on the grill. They were perfectly cooked medium.

I'm starting to feel like this is home. We have a new neighbor in the condo across the hall so we are officially not the new kids on the blick.

Small fold up scrapbook

I saw this on Sheala's Facebook page and remembered going to my friend Amanda's to learn how to make one.

I want to teach Ayva and Javie how to do this.

Still Unpacking

Three more boxes done.  This is never going to end.....  I have about ten more to go.  It is getting more and more difficult to find places for the things I want.  More things are going to Goodwill.

Extra cookbooks that Maria put together.... Can't get rid of them.... need to pass on to the grandkids....

Blankets....  These I love to have in the house.  Ayva and Javier made a huge fort yesterday.  If I get rid of the blankets they won't be able to do that.  So I have to find something to store these blankets in.  The obvious choice is the cedar chest.  Nope.....  It has all the kids toys in it.....

MMmmmmm...... I am seeing a pattern here......

New Neighbor

Haven't met her yet, but our condo building is now full. She moved in Friday and Saturday. Lots of people helping her so we stayed out of her way.

I'll go say hi today or tomorrow.

Pileated Woodpecker

Many times we have caught glimpse of these magnificent woodpeckers while walking in the woods. Yesterday we watched one out our living room window for twenty minutes. We feel like we won the lottery!

Winter

Winter is here

The Tittabawassee River froze yesterday. On Sunday it was sunny and the river was flowing very fast. Monday it stopped dead in its tracks. It will be interesting to see if it stays frozen.

Lunch

We had a really nice time with classmates yesterday. We went to the restaurant next door for lunch. I bought a coconut cream pie to bring home and everyone came over for pie.

It was a first lunch for Marilyn Polzin Gunther and Kathy Lazowski Bruce.

On to the chairs

This morning we worked on recovering the dining room chairs.  We finished two of the six.  Pat had to go to Midland so we will work on them tomorrow morning.

I really like the material from JoAnn's Fabric.  It goes well with the sofa and chair in the living room.  When I couldn't figure out what to get, Joanna said to match to the furniture in the living room because the dining room is right next to the couch.  Good Call!!

No Luck

We drove to Ann Arbor to the Reuse Center. We were hoping to find something cool to use for the counter. They have a reclaimed wood section. Beautiful slabs of hardwood. Some had the bark on them. Couldn't afford those!

Stopped at the PTO Thrift Store and Salvation Army. Nothing. Nada.

On our way back home.

Starting to look like home!

Caroline came over yesterday.  She and I worked on where pictures were going to go. Javie and Papa worked putting the barstools together.  Ayva broke up the styrofoam that came with the chairs.  She said, "Grandpa would never let me do this!"  When she was done she vacuumed the living room and I vacuumed her - her hair - her tush - her legs - her shirt - everywhere!  We had a fun day!

I love this. It made me think of my friend who lost her precious son this year. Anyone struggling with loss or doubt, this song is for you.

Merry Christmas

As we remember this night so long ago when a tiny Babe was born to save us, let us thank God for sending us salvation.

Merry Christmas 

from

Pat and Mary Ellen

Painting Done!

The sofa and chair were delivered this morning. The painting is finished. Everything looks so fresh. I can't wait until the carpet is cleaned tomorrow.  Stephanie is coming to clean out the cupboards,  wash the floors and the windows.

Bill and Karen and Pat worked very fast to get the painting done.

I went to the post office to get a key for our mailbox on the corner of the condo parking lot. Knew we had moved to a small town when they handed me the key, no questions asked.

And an added bonus... there was an eagle flying over our condo today! Oh yeah!

Finally!

Oh my goodness. More drama....

But we are here. Painting and can't wait to move in Saturday.