Mom's 80th Birthday and Pie Pals

Last week was busy and fun!  My* pie pal gals had a crafting session in Becky's groovy basement.  I actually got a lot done.  I made the menu/name cards for my Mom's 80th birthday party, I turned my Christmas cards into a book and I made a stack of note cards.  More importantly, I had a fun time with the pals. Except for using the cropadial, which is from the devil, himself.

Last week was my Mom's 80th birthday.  We wanted to celebrate Mom but not overwhelm her.   Our family went out for pizza and cake on the night of her special day.

 My sisters and I hosted a birthday luncheon for Mom and her friends. I used her china and since I was short on dinner plates I borrowed Karen's Mom's china.  They tied together nicely.

 Special thanks for Lisa for baking her famous sugar cookies.  Frosted sugar cookies are my Mom's favorite cookie. Since they were so pretty I used them as the center piece.

 My Mom loves birds so I used vintage linens with embroidered birds and a pink crocheted edge.

 It was fun to treat Mom's friends, they are so good to each other.

This week I am cleaning up around the house before going on an overnight field trip to Seattle.

Oh, and I am working on our tax return... almost finished!

*The pie pal gals began when Holly called us to come for pie and coffee.  It was last minute, and everyone showed up.   We all had such a wonderful time that we decided it should happen again.  And so it has!  Next up, Jodi's house, then a field trip and dance lessons.  And it all started with pie!

Good, Beautiful, Bad and Best

THE GOOD:

In a very official drawing on the dining room table I chose a cook book winner.

Adie S. is the winner!  I'll get it to you, Adie.  Congratulations!

I wish I could give everyone a copy but that's not possible.

THE BEAUTIFUL:

 On Saturday I got to go wedding dress shopping with Kassie.  She intended to just look and get an idea of what was available.  So many choices.

 In between shops we had brunch and a mimosa.

 Kassie's Mom, Grandma and sisters came with her too.  Her Grandma Catalina was so cute.  She kept whispering to me, I can get her a sweater.  The Spanish word for a crinoline is very pretty, I wish I could pronounce it like Catalina.  She told me that she always tells Max that he is so tall and handsome.

I told her, well stop it.  We don't need that guy getting all full of himself.

Kassie found a gorgeous dress and it seemed that everyone in the shop was holding their breath until she said YES.  There was cheering and applause throughout the shop.  I don't think Kassie realized how beautiful she looked and that all eyes were on her.  The mamas cried.

THE BAD:

 I cannot stand this Northeast stinkin' wind any more!  I love cold and I love snow but the wind! Ugh!

I hate those 50 mph gusts!

THE BEST:

So I am counting the days until my sunny trips start.  First Palm Springs and then Maui this Spring.

I know I am spoiled.  Poolside. Poolside. Poolside is my favorite word.

Going to the beach, going to the beach, going to the beach is my favorite sentence.

Aloha, stay warm, my friends!

If your power goes out I do have wood heat so come on over.

luv, mum

I am still taking down the Christmas decorations here at the Stone House. It's grueling when you are a Christmas junkie.  I have one tree up yet and I keep hoping little January fairies will come and take it down for me.  I have tried to clean each room as I go so things are shaping up around here.

We had a lovely Christmas and New Year.  I have recovered from my cold and I am still working through the cracked ribs from my fall.  All in all, it's all good.

For Christmas this year I wrote my guys and their gals a cookbook.  I think everyone remembers this post, This Isn't Epicurious.   It pushed me to create an organized recipe book for my family.

When I have a serious or loving text for my guys I sign it, luv, mum.  The cookbook is a serious and loving message, hence the title.

I used Create My Cookbook online to help me get this book written.

I chose it because it was easy to move pages, it offered dividers and it let me use my own photos.

There were many page formats too.  Such as fitting two recipes or a recipe and a photo on a page.

The guys have texted Hubby many times for his Kettle Corn recipe.

It also let me add notes, such as the one on the Cranberry Fluff recipe where I hope and note that someday they all grow up and love fluff at Thanksgiving dinner too.

 I had to include Blake because he ate at our house a lot and no one eats Molten Lava Potatoes without thinking of Blake.

 The Hot Chocolate Cookies are a favorite at Mt. Baker.

And of course, a little subtle humor.  On the dinner tab I used a photo of Hubby and I dancing and singing our song, because I don't always feel like making dinner.  I should have labeled it mom, Mom, MOM, What's For Dinner?

I included two and a half pages of dinner ideas in addition to all of the dinner recipes.  Somethings don't need a recipe, such as tacos or grilled cheese or calling out for pizza.

Each book came with a code so they can get the cookbook as an app.  This is great if someone is in the grocery store and forgot the list of ingredients. I'm already loving the app.

Create My Cookbook did not pay me to share my experience or to make my book.  Once again NO ONE pays me to write this drivel.

Since there was an error with the printing I do have an extra sub par copy of the book.

If you'd like to win this copy I will have a drawing next Monday.  All you need to do is leave me a comment on the blog, face book does not count.

Bon Appetit!

Highs and Lows but Always Hope and Peace

HO HO HO hahahahah owowowie ohnooo

We celebrated Christmas with my Mom and family on the 22nd.  It's always a fun party with gifts and a game of left center right, traditional food and family time.  It was a good party.  Thank you to my sister Kathi who spent the day with Mom getting everything ready.  Mom is very confused with moments of total clarity.  There will probably be a move for her this year, which she will resist.  Her dementia has sped up in the last several months.  So this year's celebration was bitter sweet as we suspect things will be different next year.

 Sam and Angela were smug about being Grandma's favorite as they had the largest gift.

 Grandma loves everyone the same! She get nervous about favoritism talk.

 Angela was happily unwrapping the big box.

 And then she realized her dream had come true for inside the box was what it said it was on the outside of the box. A HOOVER! Her joy was over the top to receive a vacuum cleaner.

I don't think there will be any amount of convincing that will change Angela's mind that she is Grandma's favorite.

On the 23rd we celebrated with our kids.  Prime rib dinner, gifts, and many, many laughs.

Everyone spent the night.  Mama loves it when the bedrooms are full.  Danny wasn't able to come this year from MI. Next Christmas he'll be here for Max and Kassie's December wedding.

Hubby and I made their gifts this year.  Hubby made corn hole games and I wrote a cookbook of their favorite recipes, dinner time memories and notes.  Of course, Santa filled the stockings!  It was pretty crazy with three dogs.

The crackers had hats, jokes that weren't funny and lotto tickets this year.

 On Christmas Eve Day Max and I took Bo for a long walk.  We were  almost home when I hit a patch of ice.  It all happened so fast*. It was a forward fall which Max describes as seeming to take fifteen minutes but in reality it was a nanosecond. He heard a squeak turned around and saw his mama parallel with the ground about  a foot from hitting it.  I jerked my head back to avoid face damage which resulted in whiplash. My ribs and chest took the brunt of the fall. Bloody hands with minimal damage.  It was a hard and fast fall on solid ice.

I'm okay, I'm okay, not really.

My lip is fat, and my nose and lip area are red. My rib cage is sore.  As is my back, one foot and my neck.  It's ugly but I am feeling better every day. My pride will not recover any time soon.

*My friend Sheryl falls as often as me and we always tell each other our I bit it again stories. We always start our stories with It all happened so fast. I texted her my story and she  texted back that she also slipped on the ice on Christmas Eve, bruises and scrapes and she ruined her winter white pants.  A simultaneous fall is a first for us. But nothing makes us madder than when falls ruin our clothes, so she wins this round.

Recovery is in progress.  We have Kassie's Grandpa's funeral and Mike and Tess's wedding on Friday so I am hopeful to attend both.  My only job this week is recovery.

Back to Christmas... which I am counting as a white Christmas as there was snow before and after.

Hubby worked this Christmas Eve and Day.  I laid on ice after falling on the ice.  Bo (Max's dog) kept me company and I swear he was sympathetic.  He wasn't feeling so good himself after over indulging on his gifts.

On Christmas Eve we got some sad news, Fred's Uncle Dick had a massive heart attack and died.  It was heartbreaking to think of Aunt Lynda and their kids and grand kids this Christmas.

They take comfort that Uncle Dick spent Christmas with Jesus.  But it's hard to lose someone you love so suddenly and at Christmastime.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

On Christmas morning Max left early to surprise Kassie's family with a visit from Santa.

I had my Dad's Santa suit in the attic and it was time for it to come out and spread some cheer.

It brought back wonderful memories for me and made new ones for them.  Little Ella didn't recognize Santa Max and everyone laughed a lot.

Christmas night we had dinner here and enjoyed a cocktail.  Kassie and Max were trying signature drinks for their wedding.  It was relaxing and fun and that was good because I was moving slow.

My Christmas had some highs and some lows but I always rejoice in the birth of Jesus,

giving me hope and peace.

Wishing you a Blessed New Year in 2017!

It's Christmas Week

I decorate the inside of our home for Christmas and Hubby takes care of the outside of our home for Christmas.  This year he filled canning jars with lights and hung them in the fig tree.  It's very festive.

 God put the icing on the cake with a beautiful snowfall.  I love snow and especially in December.  It makes everything so Christmasy and pretty.

 The snow is melting, but I did enjoy it while it was here.

I've got my wrapping cart stocked and out for duty.  I plan to do some wrapping today.

I also got some recipes out so I can start baking.  I'm not really feeling like doing any of it as my traditional *tired sore throat has morphed into a full on cold, sinus infection. It's not Christmas until someone is sick.  Right?

*When someone gets a little run down and their throat starts to hurt, at which point that someone should get rest, drink EmergenC and try to ward it off. It doesn't always work, sometimes the germs and viruses are bigger and meaner than the will.