Cheryl

A good name is better than fine perfume,

and the day of death better than the day of birth.

It is better to go to a house of mourning

than to go to a house of feasting,

for death is the destiny of everyone;

the living should take this to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-2

But it's hard. So hard for those left behind. My thoughts and my prayers for Jim, Peter, Christina and Jonny today seem inadequate for their grief. For Peter traveling home from Central America today I'm praying he finds compassion and strength, I can't stop thinking of him and his journey toward grief.

Trust in the Lord, Peter.

Cheryl and I kept running into each other in life. We met as freshman in college as we both lived in East Hall first floor. Later at Third church in the nursery with our little guys Peter and Sam. And so it goes.

The soccer field, school, church we'd run into each other.

A woman of God, of quiet grace and love, Cheryl will be missed.

Until we run into each other again at the feet of Jesus...

A List, An Agenda, A Plan

The list is looooong today.

I need to go to town.

I have to brave Costco parking lot.

There will be many stops.

Some returns.

Our icky mall is involved.

I need to remind myself...

*patience

*thankful {heart} that i can do errands

*that the person that cuts in front of me is maybe having a BaD day

*we are all people with our own agenda

*if doesn't get done IT doesn't matter

ready, set, go...

File under Misc.

*Yesterday I met with a rep for the store and I scored a great carry-on piece. Made from recycled materials these bags come in carry-on size all the way down to coin purses. Super affordable, durable and they come in trendy prints. Coming soon to a store near you, ;)

Grad gifts! Summer weekend trips!

*I've been making some cards and tags. I used an old geography book and my heart punch.

More Misc.

*Yesterday I started sneezing and wheezing. I accused my boss of giving me his cold. I blew and I blew. My face really hurts! Which I try not to mention because as soon as I say my face hurts my guys respond, "well, it's killing me."

Hubby comes home and mentions that it could be allergies. DUH!

I fly into the bathroom, grab the first allergy drugs I see, take them and then Hubby mentions that those are night time allergy meds.

So, I made dinner and went to bed. I had no choice.

* In one week I will be in Hawaii. That makes me very happy!

We are leaving Blake in charge. He understands our dog and knows our fridge and likes it.

*I'm not sure if it's a cold or allergies. I just know I don't feel so good.

*The windows in the Stone House need to be washed and since we only have one teenager living here... yep, Max, you're on!

*Spring cleaning... maybe I'll just put it off until summer or fall?

*I got a skirt for spring from Banana Republic. It's the grey and yellow that you see everywhere this spring. I love it! Although it's kinda short...

*Happy Thursday!

The Promised Groovy...

I promised you that something groovy was coming to the Lynden Pioneer Museum Gift Shop... and the groovy has arrived!

Charms + chains= groovy necklaces

Each charm is two sided. This heart charms says, 'keep love in your heart' on the other side.

{love}

There are many Spring and Summer designs, Easter designs and Garden designs in the shop now, with a spattering of Autumn, Christmas and Winter to give you an idea of what will be added as the year goes by.

Jerrie asks me everyday if, Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake has arrived. Not yet, but it's coming.

You can wear them on your chain or pick one up at the shop for $2.

The charms... only $4 each.

The perfect gift for so many occasions or for no reason at all.

Cake Balls

I sent Danny a care package for his birthday. I baked a lot of treats including cake balls. It was my first attempt. Cake balls are a great way to mail a birthday cake.

I sent Sam a box of treats too. The last picture I saw of Sam he was skin and bones. He had been out in the field for a few weeks and hitting it hard. He needed some high calorie snacks.

The recipe for cake balls in on Bakerella.

Happy Birthday Danny

Happy 24th Birthday Danny!

Even though he lives half way across the U.S.

today Danny is very close in my heart and thoughts.

Love you kiddo!

I hope you got your package in the mail...

luv,

mum

Bikes on the Brain

Last Friday Hubby and I went to Fairhaven, we had lunch at Boulevard Park, got haircuts and walked around the corner flower shop. I spotted this bike with its basket of glass balls. Wouldn't it be fun to find all of these glass floats while walking on the beach and then pedal home with a

basket full of floats?

Last night we honored our museum volunteers with dinner. Jerrie and I made it Spring with bright yellow, daisies, and bikes. We had a delicious dinner, a dessert bar and a great band too.

Baskets of flowers tied to the bikes made for a fun entrance.

So, why all the bikes? The Lynden Pioneer Museum is putting together a bicycle exhibit this year. It will open in May and run until November.

I've been buying bike accessories, necklaces, towels, and bags to have available in the museum gift shop. It's coming together and I can hardly wait!

Almond Glazed Sugar Cookies

I baked Almond Glazed Sugar Cookies for the guys' care packages this week. Karen makes these or a similar cookie and the guys love them. I found this recipe and was not disappointed.

Hubby helped frost!

They are a sweet, pretty treat and would be delicious with a cup of tea in the afternoon.

Almond Glazed Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp. almond extract

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

*Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp. almond extract

6-7 tsp. water

Combine butter, sugar, and almond extract; beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low, add reamining ingredients and beat until well mixed. *Roll dough into 1 inch balls, place on cookie sheet and then flatten with the bottom of a buttered glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 7-9 minutes or until edges are browned. Cool 1 minute and then remove from the sheet. Cool completely before frosting.

For the glaze: stir all ingredients together and then frost the cooled cookies.

* My changes... I use my cookie scoop from Pampered Chef.

It seemed like a lot of glaze so I made 3/4's of the glaze recipe and it came out just right.

Slow Down

Remember when Max bought Little Bit? Oh, happy day! Then he got too tall, went to high school, bought a car.

Fast forward to Saturday... Max bought a dirt bike. Oh, happy day... not.

It is not a road bike, so it's allowed. Danny and Sam, please do not phone home to tell me that you never got a motorcycle. I. know. that.

It's all fun until somebody gets hurt.

Just like New, but Better

Remember my love seat and chair? The missing cushions? The worn fabric? The decision whether to toss or reupholster?

We brought them to a friend, he took them apart. He said they are about 80 years old, were stuffed with horse hair and solid. "Good solid furniture."

The blue fabric was not the original, there were layers.

Now it's black, it's comfy, the seat is 19 inches from the floor instead of 8 inches, it's perfect for our den. Hubby worked on the wood, Gerrit recovered the fabric and I jumped around all happy like. Oh, and I pick the new fabric. Group effort, for sure.

It belongs in the Stone House, not in a land fill. We are so happy we kept it!

Sunday Dinner

Of all the days that's in the week,

I dearly love but one day,

And that's the day that comes betwixt

A Saturday and Monday.

-Henry Carey

1663-1743

One of my blog buds sent me the book, Sunday Dinner.

Michele thought of me when she sent this book because she knows we go to Sunday dinner. It's a book filled with Sunday dinner menus, pretty illustrations and quotes.

Most Sundays we go to church and then have Sunday dinner at my folks. My Mom has finally agreed to let us help. I was asked to bring a casserole this week. I made one of Max's favorites.

On Saturday I made my casserole, took some pics and thought I'd write about Sunday dinner and share my recipe and the book Michelle had sent me.

Last night I saw Michelle had posted on her blog, her title, Sunday.

How do you spend your Sundays?

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

The recipe calls for two boxes of rice, however; since packaging has been recession depressioned, you'll need three to meet the 12.4 ounces.

Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole

1/4 c. butter

1 onion, chopped

4 stalks of celery, choppped

8-oz. can water chestnuts

small can of sliced mushrooms*

2-6.2 oz. pkgs. long grain & wild rice mix, prepared*

5 c. cooked chicken (thanks Cash & Carry)

16 oz. pkg. shredded cheese divided*

2 10-3/4 oz. can cream of mushroom soup*

16 oz. sour cream

1 c. milk

salt and pepper

1/2 c. bread crumbs*

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, water chestnuts and mushrooms; saute until tender. Prepare your rice according to the package. Mix rice, chicken, vegetables, cheese, soup, sour cream, milk and salt and pepper, I use my lotsa bowl. Spoon into a lightly greased 9X13 pan. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Serves 8+

*My changes include adding the mushrooms, I mix the cheese into the casserole and don't add any to the top. I use low fat soups. I use progresso herb and garlic bread crumbs. It takes 3 boxes of rice instead of two to equal 12+ ounces.

I made the casserole as far as the photo and then kept it in the fridge until Sunday morning. It takes longer to bake from the fridge, mine was in for an hour plus. It's pretty forgiving, which makes it great for Sunday dinner. I added the bread crumbs and baked.

I have no pictures of it ready to eat... trust me, it's bubbly with a tasty crunchy crust.

Max will vouch for me.

All human history attests

That happiness for man-the hungry sinner-

Since Eve ate apples, much depends on dinner.

-Lord Byron

1788-1824

Wednesday, Wednesday...

*I'm getting closer to getting our sitting room/den/parlor/our old bedroom decorated. I need to do some sewing next.Baby steps...

*Max is in the trenches. He has worn braces for four years and is now wearing 8 bands. Very sore, constant headache and eating soft foods. Dinner ideas?

*It's Ash Wednesday today. We had an amazing message by a guest pastor in our church several weeks ago. Lent isn't about giving up wine, coffee or chocolate. It's about giving up a sin. Looking at our lives, finding a serious issue and working to make a change. I loved thinking about this message. Just think if everyone around you tried to be honest or to not be deceitful instead of giving up wine or coffee how amazing this Lent could be! Less cranky people too. So, drink the wine and give up greed, or laziness or lying this Lent. ;)

*I have a tummy ache.

*Is anyone else watching the Biggest Loser this season. Marcy! Yikes! For a 49 year old woman to be shedding 5-13 pounds a week. Inspiring.

*The price of groceries. It's discouraging. Seven bucks for sugar, really?

*If Max and Hubby do not start trying on the swim suit/board shorts that I've been bringing home for them... they are going shopping. Like into a store and using a dressing room kind of shopping. I mean it. I really mean it.

*I have the new *Maeve Binchy book, Minding Frankie, and I could just check out and read by the fire but I have to go to work and keep my household running. There is something so soothing about her books.

*There are neat stacks along our bedroom wall. Including swimsuits, sunscreen, shorts and flip flops. PTL it's coming.

* Danny has a birthday this month. I am way toooo young to have a 24 year old. Right?

*Sam is in the trenches this week too. Literally. He is being tested. Please pray for safety and success for our soldier.

*Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday and it's not the good way, losing an hour takes me a month of Sundays to get over it.

*Hubby and I have the same schedule this week. Fun. Maybe we'll have a lunch date on Friday after my dentist appointment.

*Have a good day... get out there and shake the world!

*edited to change* thank you Leslie ;) I need a spelling nazi...

Iwanthat

Hubby and I went to the local home and garden show on Saturday. We don't need a new hot tub, or a wood or gas stove and we just put on a new roof so that wasn't much there for us.

Except one thing, a concrete table with a water feature. We met the young man that made it. He thought it was no big deal. I was gushing. Uhm, yes sir, that is a big deal. It was really groovy and would be perfect for garden party.

As the housewife in Napolean Dynamite says when Uncle Ricko is selling her and her husband pans, "Iwanthat."

My Sister's Journey

My sis, Kathi has been a travel agent since 1982. She loves to travel and she loves to plan. Kathi was always looking for the best value for her clients. Yesterday was her last day as a travel agent. Times have changed and so her life is changing too. I'm so proud of her great attitude.

Kathi and I didn't get married until we were closer to 30 than 20 so we had some time being single. I was teaching and she was working as a travel agent. When I graduated from college she took me on her first FAM trip to the Bahamas. Okay, so we had no money, but she had hotel and airfare. I'm not sure how this worked but we always flew first class. We went to the Bahamas, brought gifts home for our family and had a great time. I lost six pounds on that trip as we didn't really have money for food.

Fall of 1983 we flew first class to New York City for the weekend with $75 between the two of us. Our souvenir of choice, Bloomingdale's Department Store sold bikini undies with bloomies across the bum. We were thrilled to have something from Bloomingdales.

We made annual trips to Hawaii. Those were the days! We packed poptarts and mac and cheese and stayed as long as possible. Everyday started on the beach with an egg McMuffin and by late afternoons we were by the pool sipping a chichi. Good times!

Our last trip was not that long ago, we went on a Safari cruise in Fall 2008. A wonderful adventure where we almost missed the boat, had dinner with the captain, had the best massages ever and learned how to kayak, ate good food, and lived in luxury.

Kathi's career is changing but I don't think the good times or the travels will change.

New York City is on our itinerary for Fall 2011.

Thanks for the fun and all the wonderful memories, Kathi...