Folly Beach, just south of Charleston, was our home away from home recently. A lovely getaway from the cold and a special time with family we don’t see often. We were all first time visitors to this South Carolina port city founded in 1670. The weather was mostly perfect for our Charleston and Folly Beach getaway family vacation.Continue Reading
Spooky Halloween Food
read with a slow, deep, menacing accent…
Do come in my friend…
I have prepared for you fiendish and Spooky Halloween food that will send shivers down your spine…Continue Reading
Shaela’s Caprese Bow Tie Pasta Salad
How many kids do you know that pack food ingredients when they come for a summertime visit to their grandparents home? Along with her clothes, personal belongings and a summer reading book, Shaela brought bow tie pasta, fresh Mozzarella and a list of other ingredients she would need from my garden and the market. Caprese Pasta Salad was a hit when she made it for her family back home and she was so excited to make a special dinner for her PopPop and I.Continue Reading
Dragon Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
What is beautiful fuchsia pink on the outside and white with lots of black seeds on the inside? If it wasn’t for my grandkids I wouldn’t know either. They introduced me to Dragon Fruit. A unique fruit that adds visual interest and flavor to Dragon Fruit Salad with a Honey Lime Dressing.Continue Reading
Cupcakes with Cherry Buttercream Frosting
What is better than a vanilla cupcake with a big swirl of fluffy cherry frosting, sprinkled with jimmies and topped with a cherry? Making them with a granddaughter, that’s what. Shaela came to spend part of her summer break with her PopPop and I and also spend time with her New Jersey cousins. Making vanilla cupcakes with cherry buttercream frosting cupcakes together topped her list of fun things to do while she was here. It was a sweet idea!
Little Champ
 Sometimes even a little tumble can cause a big hurt.
This is Chloe. She was playing in her Little Tikes Cozy Coupe and somehow getting out, she tumbled. Her siblings and neighborhood kids were all playing and went to help her when she ran to her mom shouting, “I broke my bone!”. One look and her mom knew this was bad.
Jamie cut away her shirt and put her arm into a sling. Off to Urgent Care. They took X-rays and sent her to CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia).
 This is what a supracondylar break looks like.
The night before surgery, the doctor had to manipulate the bone back through the fascia because he was concerned it could have poked through the skin as she slept. (middle left photo above)
Now, with two pins, a bright pink cast and a little time, Chloe will be good as new.
While Jamie was caring for Chloe, Joelle and Jethro came to our house for a couple of days.
 Baby Joelle clung to Aunt Erin and shared all of her cold germs.
 And like all that went before her, Joelle loved splashing bubbles in the kitchen sink.
At the store Aunt Erin told us how excited Joelle got when they turned onto an isle and she saw a display of little dolls. Joelle told everyone that listened about her babies.
Jethro was my little shadow. We planted seeds together. He showed me that he is as tall as a yardstick. We watched movies and snuggled at bedtime.
(Did you know that if you thread a yardstick down through the cabinet drawer pulls you can prevent a curious mobile baby girl from opening each drawer and removing dangerous content. Yes, after 13 grandbabies, I learned this. It is not perfect but it will buy you some time.)Â
(you can see the yardstick better in this photo)
Shaela is our granddaughter who lives in upstate New York. This week was Shaela’s turn to be Super Kid in her class. Family can attend this 30 minute time to celebrate each Super Kid and share interesting or amusing stories or thoughts about why this Super Kid is special to them. Jet and I got to be part via FaceTime as did PopPop John from his work office and Shaela’s other grandparents who are currently in Hawaii. Â Pretty amazing, I say.
and from the recent past…
When you are a mom to eight children it might take you almost a year to make good on your Father’s Day gift. Jamie and John finally got to enjoy their father/daughter evening together. Dinner and then home to watch a special episode of one of their favorite shows, Gold Rush. Remembering John Schnabel is a moving tribute of John by his grandson, Parker.
Back in February we had a visit from our New York family. Aunt Erin giving our grandson, Braden a haircut.
After this long week, John and I went to a restaurant we had been wanting to try. We were pleasantly surprised to learn it was Restaurant Week and the menu was a lovely 4-course meal, including, an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert sampler. We thoroughly enjoyed or time together.
Knitted Headbands and Ear Warmers
There are lots of noggins in my family so I love that these cute knitted headbands work up quickly. The kids love them and the pattern is easy to adjust for lots of different looks. Keep those noggins warm with easy knitted headbands and ear warmers. They make great gifts!
Favorite Coffee Cake
Favorite Coffee Cake, that is what it is called in my old Betty Crocker Cookbook. And it was a favorite made for us for breakfast by our granddaughter.Continue Reading
Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
Do your kids like to bake and putter in the kitchen? Our granddaughter does. Shaela’s list of things to do while visiting this summer from a few states away included baking. She chose to make this raspberry cream cheese coffee cake.
summertime
Aquarium
Aren’t these Pacific Sea Nettles Jellyfish fascinating?
This was my favorite part of our visit to the Adventure Aquarium by the Camden NJ Waterfront.
A week with Shaela
We spent a long weekend visiting our daughter in upstate NY while her husband, Brad was in Massachusetts doing a two-week intense study as he works toward his school administration certificate. The five hour drive can become boring but not with a spectacular sunset.
Hawaiian Pasta Salad
Hawaiian Pasta Salad, brightly colored with an abundance of crisp veggies makes a perfect summer salad. It is a hearty one too, with the tortellini and diced ham. I served it at a graduation party as a side dish but it would be a great entrée served with crusty bread (and maybe a glass of wine) for a lovely summer supper.Continue ReadingPotato 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.
Family Moments
Jill came down from upstate New York to participate in The Love Run Philadelphia Half Marathon with her twin sister and a good friend, Megan.
in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum
Jamie and Jill before the run on a brisk morning
Finished!
The boys stayed at Jamie’s house and the girls stayed at my house. After making the bunny cake, they dyed Easter Eggs…
experimented with the colors…
and techniques…
admired their creations…
then promptly decided to eat their masterpieces!
someone liked them…
someone didn’t
I went to my computer for a time while the girls played all about the house. I heard them scampering in and out of the garage, upstairs and down. They yelled to me they were playing dress-up. This is what I found! Quite an able crew, don’t you think!
Then popcorn and a movie before bed
after all that baking and cleaning it’s hard for wee ones to stay awake
Earlier this month, our oldest grandson was inducted into the Latin Honor Society. After the ceremony, we had a fun dinner at a nearby restaurant.
{ah, how I love this young man}
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