Saying Goodbye

Today with the passing of Andy Griffith we say farewell to a old friend who has brought us many years of entertainment and laughs as Andy the sheriff of Mayberry and Ben Matlock the southern lawyer

                          

                   
   Reruns will still give us many years of Andy Griffith. God Bless
               

Monday Greeting

I am joining Smiling Sally with a few blues I found.
http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

 The first is the blue solar light.  Several of them I received as a birthday gift from my daughter.


The second is the little cushion of blue sea shells on my favorite outside chair.

And the last is a baby quilt that the grandchildren use to keep war, when here or take a nap on.

 Below is a quote a friend sent and it's in blue and so it fall in to the blue theme for today

         

 Enjoy your new week.. I hope all are finding way to keep cool..  ,especially those aon the eat coast who are without power.

Pink greeting on this Father's Day weekend

 I tried this recipe from a local paper at a cookout and all thought it was yummy. Give it a try for Father's day

WHITE CHOCOLATE COFFEE CASHEW BLONDIES
Start to finish: 1 hour (20 minutes active). Servings: 9.

• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white chocolate bits
• 1 cup unsalted roasted cashews

Heat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the water, instant coffee and vanilla. Stir until the coffee granules dissolve.
Add the butter, brown sugar and salt. Use an electric mixer or whisk to beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating between additions and scraping down the sides of the bowl. Stir in the flour, then the white chocolate bits and cashews.
Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean. Cool, then cut into 9 squares.
Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 530 calories; 220 calories from fat (42 percent of total calories); 24 g fat (12 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 70 mg cholesterol; 71 g carbohydrate; 8 g protein; 1 g fiber; 260 mg sodium.


      Did you know this?

  Enjoy the weekend.. Hope all is giving thanks to a favorite father.

A beautiful bird

I saw this picture on poluvore and it caught my eye.. I knew I wanted to share it with all of you.. There are days I look in the mirror and see my mother and other days Idon't reconize the woman I have become. Anyone out there feel the same ?      Take the time to visit our hostess this Monday

  http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

                                                                          Beautiful Inside by wright16wrong    

  


                      Below is a birthday gift from my daughter and family.. A nice blue bird bath for my back garden.

                                
                      
   Have a great day  .. make the most of it and do something to make yourself happy.

A surprise for me

  A surprise was waiting on my front porch today when I came home from running an errand. It was this lovely plant called Cayman Wind.  Below is the story of who sent it.

      


   How blessed I am to have two boys who call me Mom.. My son Jim has a friend Bob who has the same birthday but Bob is a year older. They always tell me they are twins and can't figure why Jim took so long in showing up. Ha funny guys!! Bob and his wife always remember me on birthday and Christmas.  

Celebrating a birthday with these beautiful pink flowers

I wanted to share a couple of pictures of my rhododendron that bloomed this year. It has grown so much that I need to trim it down so I can see out my front window. This year they were so large and pretty.. My young neighbor guy was so impressed he took several pictures.. He got one with a bumblebee inside the flower and told me he used it as his screen saver..

 In fact seven years ago when my husband was ill with cancer he had our daughter trim it so he could see out the window when he sit in the living room... and so it must be done again

It's been a busy last few days with birthday celebration..I turned seventy but do not feel like it..  My friend Nancy had me over last night for supper on the patio . She had everything set so nice with table cloth and flowers and candles.. She made a favorite treat of strawberry shortcake. She did this in memory of my husband  who birthday was June 15 and we always celebrated together..

The guys have promised me a motorcycle ride this weekend and Gwen has planned a family and friend potluck at her home on Sunday.  Yeah!!

Please stop by our hostess and say hello

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com

Also visit Stephanie at Angelic Accents

 that is featured this week

Blue Monday

Time for blue monday.. I walked through my house and realized I don't have many blue objects.. Here are a few I have.

This is on my familyroom wall along with the heart below with a blue  lacy hankie tucked in it

Below is the little blanket I keep on the foot of my bed for my cat to nap on.

He knows this is his and it's the only place he lays.

 

Below is a book I am going to read this summer

I also have some bracelets I made to wear.

  Wishing you all blue skies this week and remember to share

a smile with a stranger..

  Check with Sally for more blue postings

  http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

 Graphic done by reluna

Words to ponder

        
  I received this in my e-mail from a friend and wanted to share it with you.  I'm sure many of you have read it and if you haven't enjoy

As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it, if I choose to read, or play, on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50, 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves, with abandon, if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.
They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And, I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But, broken hearts are what give us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

                     

What I do when I can't sleep

                         Happy pink Saturday

   Sharing a few pictures of my beading that I do when I have trouble sleeping.  Often I ask myself why I do it since my fingers do not work as well as they did many years ago and my eye sight certainly isn't what it once was. ( I will be seventy in another week)   I mutter and grumble when my cord slips and have to redo some of it. An hour of this and believe me my eyes are ready to close.  I still feel like I have accomplished something when I do finish a bracelet.   I think I should have a few more arms so I could show them and it would certainly help with housework.

                        

             
     

                                              

They are definitely not fancy . There is some many talented jewelry makers out there that do awesome work. My daughter Gwen is fantastic at it.   This is something I do for fun.

 I have even tried making some clay beads for the little ones to

string when they visit.

This cute set by cherry-layne

                                 

        
      Here's to a new month. may it bring only the best your way.

Memorial Day

Wishing everyone a safe and fun filled holiday. Please remember to honor those who gave their lives for our freedom and remember to thank a veteran if you know one

  

 Robert - husband

Terry-son-in-law

retired after 23 years in US Coast Guard

  Tony..family friend

2 tours in Iraq and one in  Afganistan 

                                                             Michael -- grandson
                                                           Tour in Iraq

                                                  

Cody--grandson

Leaving for Afghanistan

                                                         
                                                            Dan--brother
                                                            Vietaman vet
                                                       
  

A birthday celebration

Joining the 4th birthday celebration of Pink Saturday

Blogging has brought much into my life.. On any day you can find words of wisdom and words of encouragement. A new recipe or a few wonderful craft ideas.. Perhaps you are looking for some books to read or looking for pictures of beautiful flowers and gardens...pink Saturday has so many to share. You will connect with people from all walks of life and different countries. They share their stories of life ..the joy and the pain.. They lift up prayers when you need them . If you are fortunate enough you will make some new friends as I have. So please stop by Ms Beverly's and join the 4th birthday celebration.  http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Let's not forget this is memorial Day weekend. Please remember to thank those we has served this nation so we can enjoy the freedom's we have today.

                  

Sky watch Friday

  Awesome lighting over Lake Michigan  off lighthouse pier in Grand Haven

Blue Monday Hello

  Picture by jilber on polyvore

Be sure to visit the other blues that Sally has listed at

  http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Enjoy the new week.. safe journy

A wish for all Mother's

         TO ALL OF YOU MOTHERS--GRANDMAS --SISTERS AND AUNTS OUT THERE I DEDICATE THIS POEM FOR MOTHERS DAY

TO ALL OF YOU WHO GIVE YOUR LOVE TO A CHILD.......GOD BLESS

                                        Let Me Come Back  by  Cecil L. Gatten

                              Let me come back in lilac time ..no matter where I roam;
                              Wherever I am at lilac time.. I long for home.
                              Though other fields may greener...and sunnier be the clime,
                              Old memories will return to me...when comes sweet lilac time.

     I love this time of year when the fragrance of the lilacs stream through the air
with scents that bring back memories of grandmas and mothers who often picked a big bouquet and set them in the dinning area or beside their beds so they could enjoy the beauty of such fragrant and beautiful flowers.

 I wish you all    ....A VERY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Pink Greeting for Mothers Day

A special greeting to all on this Mothers' Day.   My mother has been gone almost twenty five years now.. I made this card to honor her.  Notice the two little gitls in the upper corner of it?  That would be my twin and I .  I'm the blonde and Eilleen has aubrun colored hair.

http://elaine136.polyvore.com/

  This Mother and Grandmother has been having some health issues for the last week of so.  Nothing serious but have not felt like sitting and blogging.

  I want to show you some bird houses the man around the corner makes..

These would be great gifts.

I love this pink one..looks like cake and frosting to me.

 

I like this one that looks like and old mission church out west..

also awesome adobe home

 

pics on Sodahead

    Please stop by our hostess and wish her the best on this special day
          http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/