Happy Memorial Day

Hubby and I went to visit our local cemeteries today. We visited the graves of my grandparents and his great grandparents. We spent the afternoon walking around remembering family and friends.

The Greenwood Cemetery is close my heart. I lived just down the hill until second grade. My grandparent's farm was across the road and my great uncle and aunt lived next door. The house in the picture was Grandpa and Grandma's farmhouse.

For many years the Greenwood Cemetery wasn't maintained. It was totally overgrown and the markers were knocked over by vandals. It was a movie like, scary, graveyard. Now it is beautifully maintained and fenced. Hubby wondered why my grandparents were not buried there. It simply wasn't done at that time as it was too overgrown to drive into the cemetery. Now there is Dykstra row, as we call it.

After Sunday dinner we would sometimes take a walk to the cemetery. My Aunt Clarice would take me. Now she is buried at Greenwood. We loved to find this gravestone of Vernie, the little daughter of the Brooks. Vandals had damaged the lamb on her marker. I liked to think of the baby who was born and died in 1902, and of her family. Especially after I became a reader and read stories of families in the late 1800's and early 1900's, then I could imagine.


Thank you to the men and women who paved the way for me to live in the United States of America where I enjoy so much freedom. Happy Memorial Day!

Camping @ Home

Happy Memorial Day weekend! For many years we spent this holiday weekend on Camano Island. This year Hubby is working and Tess has a ball tournament. We all have good memories of going to the cabin, but as the kids grew up it has been harder to get there for Memorial Day weekend.

So, we improvise at home. Tonight Craig and Jolene are coming over for dinner. We have a few favorite foods we still need to enjoy, even if it's at home. Teens can dine and dash.

And I felt like cooking and baking today. A lot. I made a potato casserole, baked beans, dinner rolls, cookies, s'more bars. The baked beans are the good kind, with browned hamburger and onions, crushed pineapple and brown sugar. Hubby is grilling flank steak and turkey breasts. And Jolene is bringing the Snicker's salad. No Memorial Day feast is complete without the Snicker's Salad. You'll just have to trust me on this.

Due to inclement weather baking the S'more Bars is a good alternative to huddling around a campfire. My cookie recipe is coming later this weekend.

So, even if you're stuck in the house you have something to look forward to this weekend. A new cookie recipe!

Thanks!

I got a text from Sam, "I got the dang card."

amen!

The text came at 3:36 a.m. I woke up for the day at 3:30 and started praying. At five I thought I'd check my phone and yeeehaw, there it was. Good News!

He graduates and gets on the bus by eleven today... by 8 a.m. our time.

Phew and thank you Jesus.

I'm not necessarily laying awake worrying, just taking allergy meds that keep me awake at night but functioning during the day- nice huh?

Please Pray

Pioneer Woman is hosting another photo contest. Coming Home is a series of pics of soldiers coming home to their kids and wives. If it doesn't bring a tear to your eye, I don't know what will. So many stories in those photos.

This reunion photo was taken in Oklahoma in December of Sam and I. Hubby snapped it at Fort Sill, OK.

Since then Sam has finished his medic training at Fort Sam Houston, got on a bus and moved to Fort Benning, Georgia. He has been qualifying for Airborne at Fort Benning. This is his last week, he is making lots of jumps and hopes to graduate on Thursday. From there he goes to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Right before Sam left Texas the ATM machine ate his debit card. We were ready to get on the ship, and there was nothing we could do. Sam was leaving, we were leaving, it was a bad deal. He cancelled his card and got on the bus. He had no address. His mates helped him out with some cash.

After we got home, the bank sent his new card (takes 7-10 days), I overnighted it to his new temporary address in Georgia. I sent it on May 18. He doesn't have it. The post office isn't open when he isn't jumping. They won't let a friend pick it up, even though I specifically said NO signature needed. We have tried everything, I won't bore you with all the details.

It seems like a little thing, but it has gotten BiG. Sam leaves tomorrow, if he has to get on the bus without a his card we have to start all over. Cancel the card, order a new one, and then send it to North Carolina. Our frustration levels are high. He needs money.

Please pray for Sam to have a window to get to the post office and the card still be there. Please pray for Sam as he makes his last jumps to qualify. He needs to focus.

I am convinced God can make this happen for Sam. Just a small window of opportunity.

Let Them Eat Cake

My weekend started Thursday night with scrapping at Holly's house. I finished a Whistler mini book. Jodi and Kathi worked on some goodies for the fundraiser for Cash, pretty soon we all helped.

I brought Holly a hostess gift, maybe the strangest hostess gift ever. I found a wooden ironing board at a garage sale and had picked it up for Holly. We tried it out and it works just fine. We did not intentionally dress alike for this impromptu photo shoot.

Friday night was the fundraiser for Cash, and it was amazing. I could feel the LoVe of HIS people for Jack and Wendy and their family.
I have done a bit of thrifting this week and found a marble vase for my peonies. Hubby and I found a set of eight glasses and 3 small tumblers on Saturday morning. Travel theme! I loved them and planned to use them on the patio this summer until I researched them a bit. They may be too valuable for casual dining, actually they may be too valuable for me. I do love them tho.

On Saturday I baked a Rhubarb Custard Cake. And an Earthquake Cake, a naughty good chocolate concoction. Since it was Hubby's and Max's birthday week, I was bringing dessert to my folks on Sunday and I thought I'd give a choice. A selection, if you will, of desserts.

On Sunday, Max's 17th birthday, Kassie baked him a birthday cake too. CRX birthday cakes! The little yellow one looks just like his CRX except Kassie put on personalized license plates. So clever! He won't let us eat them.


A nice weekend, make that a WEEK celebrating the birthdays. We went to Anthony's on Hubby's day for both of their birthdays and then just kept on celebrating.

Today was back to boot camp and eat less, move more. But oh my, it was fun! While it lasted.

Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean

A day late and a dollar short, late to the party, that's me! You have all probably been using the Magic Erasers forever, but I just found them.

So rewarding. I can see where I have been. I love that. It's the little things when cleaning a house.

Don't tell Hubby but there is another man in my life, Mr. Clean. He is my new main squeeze. This guy is helping me clean up the Stone House. Walls that I thought I'd be painting this Summer don't need it. I'll be reclining on my chaise lounge on the patio instead, thank you very much.

If you knew about these wonderful erasers why weren't you a true friend and telling me about them? If you haven't used them, try them. Someone here knows how to be a good friend.
Oh, and I get nothin' for any endorsements on this blog. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

Happy Birthday to my Honey

Happy Birthday to Hubby! We are having a bit of a celebration tonight. It is a work day, after all.

Of all the cakes I bake from scratch and desserts I can whip up for him, Hubby chooses cherry chip from a mix and cream cheese frosting from a can. It's in the oven, all for him. Love you honey!

New Authors

Sometimes I go through hard times. Times where I can't find a good book. Lately I have had a bonanza of good books. Good times.

New authors are a gamble, but here are a few that are worth taking. Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. I mentioned this book a bit ago. A sad, sweet story of a young girl. I loved it and Jerrie did too. I passed it on to her and then told her- Don't tell me if you don't like it cuz that would break my heart I loved it so much.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett was on my request list at the library. A friend told me her book club had read it and enjoyed it and then I got notice that it was in at the library, I jumped right in. I felt like I was there, in the story, so scared for these women and so proud of their courage. It was one of those books that I wanted it to just go on and on. If you didn't like it don't tell me cuz that would break my heart I loved it so much!

The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross, another new author, is light reading. Chick Lit with recipes. Sometimes I need a light, fun read and this was a sweet story with even sweeter recipes. I think Max and Hubby are having cupcakes for their birthday treats this week. Have you ever used potato starch for baking? Just curious. I may have to buy it for the cupcake recipes.

I also read Every Last One by Anna Quindlen. She is a veteran author and makes it easy for the reader see her story. This story is one that no one ever wants to see. She is a good story teller though and it was hard to put down this book.

While cruising I read Reunion by Elizabeth Berg. Just an easy going read about a class reunion and expectations. It reminded me of why I don't like class reunions. I feel bad for people that have such high hopes. It did have some good characters and some were developed nicely by Berg.

A vacation and a cold led to some reading time for me. Also, it's how I relax and fall asleep every night. Happy Reading!

Having blogger probs this morning... so here goes...again.

Oh! for the love of pete, once more... lines in wrong places. I am sorry.

Oh! My Goodness Good Junk

Saturday morning I started up Snowflake and we went for a drive. Did some junkin'. I found a frame, decorator fabric(wait until you see what I'm going to do with IT) and a wood ironing board. Not much for all the stops I made but a sunny morning and some treasures.

On Sunday my sis Kathi and BIL Jeff mention that they are having a garage sale next weekend to benefit Relay for Life. They have some things from Jeff's Mom's estate. Would I like to pre-shop? Uh, hello, yesssiree!

I take a look, not really seeing anything until I spot a Corning Ware box. I ask if I may take a look and there my friends was the treasure.

THE Corning Ware Electromatic Immersible Platter! An Aid to Gracious Dining, Keeps dishes and beverages at serving temperatures, Completely Immersible.

An Aid to Gracious Dining! I am all about that.

I was pretty excited. Shelly's Mom Nelia has a similar tray. I have coveted it. This tray is perfect for stuffed mushrooms, bacon wrapped water chestnuts, and other hot treats.

God bless Peg for hanging on to this treasure and for having it in the all white instead of the Cornflower Emblem. Cuz it was also available in the Cornflower Emblem.


Aren't I just the luckiest hostess evah?

It's Pretty Ugly Over Here

We have colds. Hubby, Max and myself were all in bed by nine last night. It's ugly. I really hate a cold when the sunshine is out. ICK!

Functionality AND Charm

Remember when I asked the window question? We received one bid. It was about what we expected. The second bid was a flat out refusal. Refusal to bid or to replace our windows. Kevin felt the look of our house would be ruined, the inside trim would be damaged, we would lose light, it would be expensive and disappointing. Oh my! Our house reminded him of story time with his mama and there was NO way he was going to ruin that. He has been selling windows for 22 years but apparently not to us!

So, now what? Well, he recommended a Fein Master tool and hard labor. Mine. Hubby came home and I told him no new windows, I am going to restore and repair.

Then I go to work and Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation has sent the museum information on Historic Preservation Month 2010, Unlocking the Benefits of Historic Windows. Old is the new green. They have tips in the form of a Preservation Guide.


New windows would be easier but overall this will be a better choice. Remind me when I get whiney about the work involved...

The Pinnacle Grill

While cruising on the ms Ryndam we enjoyed the their five star restaurant, the Pinnacle Grill. The main dining room was great too but for a treat on our last evening we had dinner at the Pinnacle. Best meal of my life. Everything was so delicious and the presentation was beautiful. My crab cake brought a tear to my eye.



We made many good memories on our trip. Now it is back to work, my cooking and parenting Max. It's all good.

Cooking on the Cruise

Holland America's ms Ryndam has a Culinary Arts Center sponsored by Food and Wine Magazine. It's a state of the art kitchen set up for cooking demonstrations. Hubby and I were all over that. We learned some new recipes, tricks and techniques.

The ship's executive chef, Karl whipped up Prawn appetizers and also prepared a rock fish dish in one seminar. Delicious samples were enjoyed and we were given copies of all of the recipes.

Our ship's captain, Capt. Vincent Smit and our cruise director, Micheal had a Black Forest Cake Bake Off one afternoon.

By the end of the cruise we were pretty much running the kitchen. The Culinary Center was a fun part of our cruise. Our Garden Party group is in for a treat this year, as we learned some new tricks!

Holland America's bread pudding is very good. My Dad told me about it before we left. I learned how to make the bread pudding however; not for awhile. Must return to the Eat Less, Move More...

A Random Cruise Post

Hubby and I had a great cruise. We started in San Diego and ended in Vancouver B.C. this morning. While we spent a little time in San Diego the sun felt so good. It's been a cold spring so any sun is great. We met friends, Dan and Barb for dinner and had a good time catching up. It was so good to see them.


We boarded the Ryndam and were so impressed. It had just come out of dry dock where it was refurbished. Everything was freshly painted, the staterooms were redone and several areas had been given an overhaul.

I'm just going to share a few random ship shots tonight. The first full day out, the sea was angry, my friend. I wore the patch. For some reason if people were going to get sick it was right outside the elevators. Holland America provides these handy motion sickness bags. We stuck with the stairs to just avoid the whole ugliness of the seasickies.

Days run into each other when you are on a cruise. Holland American changes the elevator carpets everyday to help with that "what day is it?" problem. Nice.

Jogging is prohibited on the ship. I was so thankful for rule.

One of my favorite times on a cruise is after a late dinner and a show when we would get back to our stateroom. Our room steward would have left us a turned down bed, a breakfast room service menu, chocolates, a towel animal and the schedule for the next day.

There is something really fun about getting ready for bed and then planning the next day. I had forgotten about that part of a cruise.

More cruise coming...

Southern Chicken Salad

After I finished reading Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman I became a tad obsessed with the South. I do that after I read a book by May Kay Andrews too. These books just make me want to drink icy cold coca cola and eat chicken salad. So, the next time I went to the library and saw Southern Living Comfort Food cookbook I snatched it up.

Southern women make and serve a lot of chicken salad. Who better to get a recipe for chicken salad than from a Southern Living cookbook.

Of course, being the know it all that I am, I changed a few things. For one the curry, I'm not a fan and Hubby isn't a fan either. All the other ingredients were in the house except the fresh ginger. I used dried ginger and I always use low fat cream cheese. If you like mayo you could add a bit. Hubby did.

I didn't totally eliminate the curry. I just used several sprinkles and called it good. And was it ever!

Sheryl came Friday afternoon for a happy hour and we enjoyed it on crackers. We decided it would be good on butter leaf lettuce too. Since then Hubby and I have enjoyed it on sandwiches.


Southern Living Curried(Curry is optional) Chicken Salad

Ingredients
4 cups finely chopped cooked chicken (Good Southern women only use white meat.)
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted
6 green onions, minced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 (2 1/4-ounce) package slivered almonds, toasted
1 tablespoon curry powder*only if you like curry
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
48 whole-grain bread slices for the tea sammies or serve on crackers, breads or lettuce.
Stir together first 11 ingredients. Spread mixture evenly on 1 side each of 24 bread slices; top with remaining 24 bread slices. Trim crusts from sandwiches; cut each sandwich into 4 rectangles with a serrated knife.

And yes, Little House on the Prairie books make me want to preserve food, Rosamund Pilcher books make me want to drink tea and a book by Mauve Binchey sends me straight to the pub for bangers and mash. True story.