GOT A MINUTE OR TWO

Several of my younger girlfriends have shared with me some of the symptoms and frustrations of menopause.  After listening carefully I realized I have "blogopause".    I feel frustration when I can't think of anything to blog.  I feel fat when all I can find to blog about is food.  I feel guilty that I will let my blog friends down if I don't post every day.  I find I'm moody and sometimes just want to hit the delete button and stop blogging altogether. Have you ever experienced "blogopause"?  Are you like me, going through it right now?  What's the cure?   I think I need to get out, take my camera and find something NEW to blog about.  Well, the opportunity has come, and I'm very excited. We will be taking a trip to Lake Tahoe.  Although we have been there many times, and I have a storehouse of pictures of Tahoe, this trip is different.   First of all, the reason for the trip at this time is our dear f...

Our great grandson, Issac, turned 9 this week.  Having a birthday in the summer means a "Swim Party" and that's just what he had. Happy Birthday Issac.  I can't believe you are nine.  It seems like yesterday I held a tiny little boy in my arms.   You are very special!

College sweethearts became husband and wife June 24th 1961   55 years later, still sweethearts, with four children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandsons.  We've been through the good, bad and the ugly as every life experiences, but when we said our vows in 1961 ~ we meant them, and one thing that never wavered, whatever life threw at us, was our deep love for each other and our deep love and faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Happy Anniversary to my dearest.  I choose us!!!

Berry Cobbler for Two!   I had my half for breakfast!   I call it "retirement" cooking.  I love making dessert for two.  Why?  Because I could eat a full size berry cobbler by myself.  HaHa.

    The theme for Creative Tuesday is "A Time for Tea (or coffee)" I love the way The English say "cuppa tea."  It has such a nice ring to it.  I have enjoyed a box of England's No. 1 Tea, PG tips for some time now.  My original box was from our host Michael several years ago when I won one of his "giveaways".  I found a store that sells it here, so always keep a box handy. This is my little Art Studio.  The kitchen counter, with my little French Chefs looking on!  The box of PG in the background was my model.   Will you join me for a "cuppa"? To see all the other Tea Times, just click on the CT badge on my sidebar.

  Vacation Bible School 2016 ~ History.  A great week and a wonderful closing program on Friday night.  Tons of cup cakes sporting clouds and rainbows were a reminder to everyone the promise of the Rainbow after the flood that the entire earth would never be flooded again.   A free dinner of hot dogs, chips and watermelon was served to all before the program began.   All the children wearing their tee shirts enjoyed the dinner and were eager to share what they had learned with their parents.  We had a full house and it was a joy and fun as the children shared all the songs and verses and truths they had learned about Noah. On the lighter side...HaHa...my dearest saw tee shirts for sale in the foyer before the program.  He saw this colorful tee shirt for $5 and pick an Extra Large....the problem, he didn't realize they were the children's tees and X-large was meant for 5th and 6th graders. He took it in the men's restroom and S...

  The decorations for VBS are so adorable.  This is the stage for all the group activities, stories and songs.  The "divers" come through the black door. The "Hammer Head" shark is ready to NAIL obedience.   This is the entrance into the sanctuary.   These are the large windows in the foyer of the church.     Our craft room, all set up and ready to make our little sailboats.   I so wish I could show you the darling faces of the children, but it's obvious I cannot do that on the blog since I have no way to get permission from the parents.  This is Jessica.  She is the leader of crafts and also my Women's Bible Study teachers on Tuesdays. (Aren't the tee shirts cute)   The kids were very creative in painting their boats.  No two were alike. This is the craft we did in the picture of the children above.  They had to use there imaginations to build a boat out of a sheet of foil....

  I volunteered to work in VBS this year at our church.  The theme is "Ocean Commotion" the story of Noah and the Ark.  All the helpers have navy blue tee shirts, and the kids shirts look like tie die oceans.   I'm working in the "Craft" department with several others.  We are making "ocean bottles" with oil, water and blue coloring.     We also made "Light houses".  Lots of cutting and gluing and sticky fingers. HaHa.   Tables are set up for tomorrow where we will be making little sailboats. They are really cute.  But that means helping the children paint, and put together their sail and learn the memory verse.   Each of the craft workers got a "Faithful Servant" apron and name badge.   Ready to go to work!! After the flood subsided and the sun came out....the promise that the entire world would not be flooded again was the "Rainbow".  This is hanging on the wall in the craft room. It was a...

  Dear Lord, "life passes, riches fly away, popularity is fickle, the senses decay, the world changes.  One alone is true to us; one alone can be all things to us; one alone can supply our need."  Thank you Jesus for being the ONE and only.  I love You.  Amen Quote from Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890) PS I just saw the news of the horrible shooting in Orlando FL.   Please join me in prayer for all the families involved.  So very sad ~ our world is upside down.

A good Saturday morning to you all!  Does a bouquet of fresh flowers make you happy?  They do me!  I bought this bunch yesterday at Trader Joe's when picking up a few items.  I got the vase at the Thrift Store the other day for $1.   Finished off the last of the appetizers and fruit we had at the cooking class.  Will have to make these again.   Small pork roast in the crock pot for pulled pork sandwiches tonight. When I was at Trader Joe's I saw these "mini buns" and thought that would be perfect for the pulled pork sandwiches since both Don and I are trying to do "smaller portions" these days.  I added some cold slaw to each sandwich, and it was a yummy meal. What is on your agenda for Saturday?

  The cooking class this morning was a very fun and tasty time.  The appetizers were a big success, and the carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting somehow disappeared!!   One of the ladies brought a large bowl of fresh fruit and it just completed our brunch.   The clubhouse is the perfect place to hold a cooking class as it has a full kitchen and a very comfortable room. I made the cupcakes yesterday so they could get the taste of the carrot cake I was baking.  Here I'm just getting ready to make the cake.  While the cake baked (45 minutes) I demonstrated the appetizers. My dearest took the pictures with my new camera and also enjoyed watching and tasting.... I love that I'm given this opportunity.   I enjoy doing it, and gives those who attend a little extra social time, some hands on teaching and then some tasty eating.  Win~Win.  

A few weeks ago I attended a workshop at church on Appetizers to Enjoy.  I mentioned when I did a cooking class at the Villa using the recipes I would share them with all of you.  Well my class is tomorrow so this morning I was doing all my "prep" work.  The picture above is the "Tortilla Roll Ups".   A closeup of the cream cheese and salsa spread.  sliced Roma tomatoes,  avocados, grated cheese and cilantro.  One side only. The art of the "roll up"  HaHa  Nice and tight Wrap tightly in stretch wrap and refrigerate over night.  Slice in one inch slices and place on a pretty plate.  (Recipe at the bottom) Ham Roll Ups Spread Ham luncheon meat with whipped cream cheese.  Add green onions sliced thin lengthwise Place rolls on a plate and cover with stretch wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.  Then cut in slices, secure with a toothpick and arrange on a pretty plate. How easy is that?? ...

The little News boy sitting on his stack of papers yelling out "Extra, Extra" was one of the treasures we love having that was Don's moms.  I did a pencil sketch which is not my most comfortable, but I'm trying to stretch my artist envelope. He sits on a shelf in our bedroom that my son made us when he was in wood shop in the 7th grade.  Since the theme for Creative Tuesday is "Children" I wantes to share a few of my watercolor children from past years.  I do love painting children. To see all the children that other artists have entered for this theme, just click on the CT badge on my sidebar. I'm thinking I should take some pictures of the "cookie children" in my complex and give them a try in pencil or watercolor. *click on pictures to enlarge