It can be hard to find a really nice crochet project for the guys in your life. Especially one that will actually get used. This easy pattern for a crochet necktie is a great Father’s Day gift idea or for a young man graduating or attending a prom. Continue Reading
Tomato Bisque from Medieval Times
Worthy of the Queens approval and fit for her knights as they ready for a fencing duel is this delicious bowl of Medieval Times Tomato Bisque. I duplicated the easy soup recipe from a recent dinner theater show we attended with our family.Continue Reading
Training in Righteousness
Training in righteousness is primarily the responsibility of the parents. And, by extension, grandparents can have an impact on spiritual teaching as well. Here is a list of 20 bible verses relating to passing the torch to the next generation.Continue Reading
End of Year Wrap-up
As the year draws to a close I’m trying to catch up by posting activities and memory-making moments with and for family. It’s been a busy and full couple of months. My heart overflows. Hard to imagine that less than five months ago I had a total hip replacement.Continue Reading
LBI Lighthouse & Tomato Jam Recipe
Before summer is gone and fresh garden tomatoes are unavailable, I wanted to make a batch of this unique Tomato Jam using a vintage recipe from my husbands great-grandmother. I shared the recipe for Tomato Jam a couple years ago but thought I’d post again because it is a good way to use summer ripe tomatoes and it is delightful to enjoy the bright taste during winters sometimes dreary days.
Classic Crab Cakes
Making these yummy, classic crab cakes was the first real cooking I’ve done since my hip replacement four weeks ago. Continue Reading
summertime
Shake and Bake Coating Recipe and Family/Friend Times
Busy days and hungry kids call for easy meals. Do you remember the old Shake and Bake commercials with the little girl in her southern accent, enthusiastically exclaiming, “And, I helped!” I have always liked the product. Nice flavor, little mess and no frying. Now I make my own shake and bake coating. It’s easy and economical. I use it for both pork and chicken and you can change up the spices to suit your taste. (Scroll to bottom of post for recipe)
Potato and Ham Soup
When plans to be out for the day suddenly changed and I found I had nothing pressing to do, I knew immediately what I wanted. I called my sister and was thrilled she was able to come for a visit. We chatted, caught up on family, laughed and ate a light lunch of potato and Ham Soup while Jared, Abbey, Erin and John popped in and out.
Birthday time
It is birthday time. My sweetheart just had a birthday and I made him a cake to celebrate. A dark, chocolaty cake with peanut butter frosting, ganache drizzled on top and down the sides then sprinkled with chopped snickers bars.Continue Reading
Back in the swing of things
We realized the time and energy it would take to plan and prepare for our trip abroad but what I didn’t expect was how hard it would be to get back into the swing once we returned home.
Unpacking, laundry, connecting with family, email, snail mail, photos from camera, iPhone photos, sorting photos, editing photos, food shopping, house cleaning, yard work, even making meals is a chore (and you know how I love to cook!)
A cold when I got home (so happy we were well while away) slowed me down too.
I am slowly catching up and getting back in the swing of things as we cherish these these family moments.
Easy Shrimp Ramen – A Quick, Flavorful Meal for Beginners
Easy Shrimp Ramen (Way Better Than Instant!)
If you’re looking for a quick, flavorful meal that’s inexpensive and easy to make at home, this shrimp ramen recipe is a must-try. It’s the perfect upgrade from basic instant noodles, still budget-friendly and fast, but way more satisfying.
Whether you’re a college student learning to cook, a young adult cooking for one, or just someone who wants a good meal without a lot of effort, this shrimp ramen delivers every time.
ladders and painting
I like this quote. I think there is some wisdom in these words. What I do not like is heights.
But when I got an estimate for a painting job that was higher (ha, that could be a pun) than I was willing to pay, I looked for alternatives.
catching up with family
Spring days ~ busy days!
April was filled with lots a family activities and get together’s!
The son of our cousin, Caroline, was married in a lovely wedding.
Caroline, with her family including the newlyweds, Dan & Abbey
(photo taken from facebook. Tyler Boye Photography)
As is so popular now, they had a photo booth situated in an obscure corner. All I can say is that my sister, John and I got some of the funniest pics ever! So silly, that Carol made me promise never to share on any social media! Just imagine, John in the center with a crazy hat and over-sized glasses with basically the same expression in every photo and my sister and I making every goofy face we could possibly think of. Oh, my! Each time I look at the photos, I crack up all over again!
(photo taken from Stephanie’s facebook page)
Then there was a christening for our cousin Karen’s grandson, baby Mark.
Together again with Carol, her daughter, Christine, John and I. Later noticed the framed photo on Karen’s mantle. It is of our daughter, Erin when she was just three year old performing flower girl responsibilities in Karen’s wedding. Such sweet memories!
There were random, every day moments too. I caught this scene of, Erin, Jared and Abbey studying in the family room. Erin is completing her master’s degree, Jared is a high school Junior and Abbey is studying digital animation.
Noah and I went to breakfast one morning and later we did some cooking together.
I even got a pic from Erin as she drove through center city the other day and saw the old Divine Lorraine Hotel.
We had a trip to The Pop Shoppe with the kids, celebrated our dear friend’s 91st birthday during Bible study and peeked in as the kids helped Aunt Abbey create a 5-little monkeys video for a class assignment.
Noah went to work with PopPop and learned about nuclear engineering.
Jared was inducted into his schools Technology Society.
pics with his proud mom and PopPop
Each day that passes, each achievement obtained, each celebration shared, each difficulty acknowledged, each experience learned, each encouraging smile, each laughter and giggle, each conversation, each hug and embrace are all gifts.
“We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary,
small (and yet really not small) gifts.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Gratitude paints little smiley faces on everything it touches.”
Richelle E. Goodrich
Smile Anyway: Quotes, Verse, & Grumblings for Every Day of the Year
Easter Peep Graham Cracker House
Inspiration abounds on Pinterest! You have probably seen these adorable little Easter Peep Graham Cracker Houses. I visited Yesterfood to see how Joy made them. A sweet Easter table decoration and a fun after-dinner treat for the kids. So fun, that one little guy determined he was NOT willing to share.
Easter Bunny Cake
This adorable bunny cake is pretty and a really fun project to do with kids. My little granddaughters did all of the decorating themselves in less than 30 minutes. After baking, I cut the layers in half and stood them up on the cut side after they added some frosting. Then I cut the notches and let them go to town decorating.Continue Reading