I just got pictures together for a collage of Easter Egg hunting by the grandkids. Looks like they all had a wonderful time, don't you think? If you click on any one of the pictures you will be taken to Flickr, where you can see larger pictures.
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Egg hunting, 2007
I just got pictures together for a collage of Easter Egg hunting by the grandkids. Looks like they all had a wonderful time, don't you think? If you click on any one of the pictures you will be taken to Flickr, where you can see larger pictures.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
A Family Recipe for Friends - Coconut Macaroons
We are having guests today, Jennifer from Baltimore is coming and bringing her friend Chris. Since this is Christmas, I decided to write to Jen's mother Linda and see if there was something I could make that would surprise Jen, something that was a family favorite. Linda responded immediately with the following recipe. Linda said this is one she made every year, and in fact was from her own teenage years in 4H. I admit, I had never seen a recipe for Macaroons with corn flakes in it, but in spite of how it might sound, they are delicious and easy to make too! Coconut Flake Macaroons
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup shredded coconut
2 cups corn flakes
Add the salt to the egg whites and beat until foamy. Add sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, and continue beating after each addition. Beat until the egg whites form peaks that tend to bend over a little when you draw out the egg beater. Fold in flour and vanilla. Add the coconut and fold in gently. Add corn flakes and mix in lightly. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls, about 2 inches apart, onto greased cookie sheets. Bake in at 325 degrees about 20 minutes. They should be a delicate brown. Makes about 30 macaroons.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Cookie Exchange
Monday, December 11, 2006
Toffee Almond Sandies
Today was my baking day for the cookie exchange I am hosting on Wednesday evening. We are each bring Six dozen cookies to exchange. I chose to make Toffee Almond Sandies, a recipe I received from Julia the day we tied the quilt at Meadow Farm. This recipe came from Taste of Home, 1999 (page 127) and as promised by Julia is delicious. I must admit, my sampling proved her right. Here's the recipe in case you would like to make a few .... which the way I made then turned out to be about 10 dozen.
Toffee Almond Sandies
1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. almond extract
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. salt
2 cup chopped almonds
1 pkg. (6oz) English toffee bits
Additional sugar
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add oil, eggs and extract; mix well. Combine flours, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in almonds and toffee bits. Shape into 1-in. balls; roll in sugar. Place on ungreased baking sheets; flatten with a fork. Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned.
Yield: about 12 dozen
My variations: Roll some in ground almonds rather than sugar, also into center of some, press an M & M.
Toffee Almond Sandies
1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. almond extract
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. salt
2 cup chopped almonds
1 pkg. (6oz) English toffee bits
Additional sugar
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add oil, eggs and extract; mix well. Combine flours, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in almonds and toffee bits. Shape into 1-in. balls; roll in sugar. Place on ungreased baking sheets; flatten with a fork. Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned.
Yield: about 12 dozen
My variations: Roll some in ground almonds rather than sugar, also into center of some, press an M & M.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Decorating for Christmas
Monday night I hosted the monthly Bunko group that I joined. With lots of help from DH Eric, we docorated the house for this event and to start the holiday season off. This weekend we plan to add the tree and then we will be finished unless I decided to change some of the houses into table top displays. We are really enjoying our new house, and the chance to celebrate the seasons.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Happy Father's Day
This is one of my favorite pictures, even if blogger thinks it needs to be sideways! It is a very appropriate picture of what today is all about for I think!Happy Fathers Day to my dad, son, brother, nephew and son-in law ! Hopefully next week at this time Dad will be here and we can celebrate with a real cake, and maybe some crab cakes! Sounds good to me! I also hope to be able to connect with Russell later today. I hope Skyler is taking him out for a fabulous sushi dinner somewhere! I love all of you, and as far as I am concerned, you are all the best there are! You all are great examples of being a father and in my dad's case, also grand-father and great-grandfather. Enjoy your special day!
Nothing too exciting going on here, though yesterday I did go to a plant sale at the the garden . (Held, gratefully after the ball game in the last post). This was an impromptu sale, not one of the usual huge vendor sales they have twice a year. They were given 1,000 bulbs to sell by a vendor in VA., and they also cleared and cleaned out starts from their own greenhouses. There were so many people there, most just snatching up what they could carry. Almost everything was $1.00, so I could not resist getting some at that price. I planted about half yesterday, and will get out in the back today and plant the rest as soon as I decide where!
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Happy Easter to Everyone!
Here are shots of the Easter activities, the first is after the egg hunt. The kids are busy examining their goodies. The second shot was taken after dinner when we all adjourned to the patio to rest after dessert. The kids got chalk from the bunny so they went outside to try it out on the concrete. Eric was tracing their hands and feet here.
Hope everyone had an enjoyable day. We had a nice ham dinner, and carrot cake and coffee after. Everyone was well satisfied. Becky brought fruit salad and deviled eggs, and we all had plenty to eat! Zack declared the mashed potatoes a hit, even had seconds!
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Happy New Year to All
For the first time in years I didn't see in the New Year. Eric and I were up until 11:28pm, and then I just couldn't keep my eyes open any more. I was pretty certain there would be fireworks or something to alert me, but either there were none, or I slept through them. I didn't sleep through the 10PM display in my backyard though. Yes, right in the back yard. The neighbor's directly behind us put on an excellent display of sparklers, rockets and real fireworks early in the evening. Their kids were out enjoying the spirit of the night and the colors and sounds were excellent, close and loud! The back windows of the Florida room were a perfect place to watch it from. I was thankful it had rained sometime in the last few days and all the woods were wet, of course that comes from years of Smokey the Bear campaigns.
Speaking of wild animals, Silly the normally fearless cat gave the entire display a -10. She hates fireworks, and her eyes were still big as saucers as she peered out from under her fort at 11:30pm. She kept scanning the ceiling like Chicken Little, sure the sky was falling.
This was the closest display she or any of us have ever witnessed. I wonder if the neighbors do the same display for the 4th of July?
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Friday, December 16, 2005
Nine days till Christmas
Well I best post or be chastized for being a bah-humbug blogger! And I wouldn't want that. So, I'll give a try to come up with something new to talk about, since I have emailed or talked on the phone to all the people that count and they know all my news!
This morning was Zack's Christmas Party at preschool. Becky was in charge of the party, and she had a clever craft for the kids, they made raindeer food. Recipe for Raindeer food. My favorite part was the poem that goes with each jar of food.
Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.
Maddie came to stay with Eric and I during the party - we played play dough and Santa and train. She would drive the train around the table, stop at Santa's house and pick up food and gifts. Each time he loaded her train she would say, "Thank you"! We had a good time.
This afternoon after her nap I went over to their house and we all drove to the park. It was the first day in a week that the weather was warm enough to be ourside, so we took advantage of the nice afternoon to give them some fresh air. We went to the park/farm that is about 2 miles from here and visited the animals: cats, turkeys, chickens, pigs and cows. Sorry to say, the horses were not out, Maddie was disappointed. By 4 pm it was getting cooler, so we all headed back home. End of afternoon. Soon I may have pictures from this high adventure, but not sure what has turned out yet.
Eric and I will go back to Baltimore tomorrow to finish up clearing the apartment of the things we are taking. The other will finish at their own speed but we want to get done and get back home.
This morning was Zack's Christmas Party at preschool. Becky was in charge of the party, and she had a clever craft for the kids, they made raindeer food. Recipe for Raindeer food. My favorite part was the poem that goes with each jar of food.The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.
Maddie came to stay with Eric and I during the party - we played play dough and Santa and train. She would drive the train around the table, stop at Santa's house and pick up food and gifts. Each time he loaded her train she would say, "Thank you"! We had a good time.
This afternoon after her nap I went over to their house and we all drove to the park. It was the first day in a week that the weather was warm enough to be ourside, so we took advantage of the nice afternoon to give them some fresh air. We went to the park/farm that is about 2 miles from here and visited the animals: cats, turkeys, chickens, pigs and cows. Sorry to say, the horses were not out, Maddie was disappointed. By 4 pm it was getting cooler, so we all headed back home. End of afternoon. Soon I may have pictures from this high adventure, but not sure what has turned out yet.
Eric and I will go back to Baltimore tomorrow to finish up clearing the apartment of the things we are taking. The other will finish at their own speed but we want to get done and get back home.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving to All
I hope each of you is mindful of the many blessings we have received. I love each of you so very much and am thankful for all the moments we have shared, as family and friends. Please know I will think of each of you tomorrow, and pray for God's blessings for each of you. Though your place at my table may not be filled, your presence will still be felt in my heart. God Bless each of you.
Happy Thanksgiving
Can you smell the love? I don't think anything says Thanksgiving to me more than pumpkin pie. I can hardly wait until tomorrow to have my first piece! The one in front is a mincemeat, which as a child I never liked. Funny how your taste changes as you get older. I love mincemeat now too! Add to this trio a chocolate pie that the neighbors brought over (the ones who were locked out on Saturday) and we have desert covered for tomorrow! We have ice cream and real whipped cream too!I hope all my family in Texas has a wonderful day tomorrow. I wish we could all be together here in Virginia. I love you all and miss you so much! Hopefully we will be making that trip to Texas soon.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
2005 - a New Year begins!
Today dawned with brilliant sunlight and only a few clouds; if that is any indicator or omen for the future year I am happy. It is warm, well above 60 and a coat is not even needed. After the frigid days before Christmas this is a welcomed and appreciated gift! Even the water has been turned back on, but of course, only our dock is without, as some of our dock pipes had major leaks. However, if we do have to haul water, we won’t have to go all the way to shore, only to the next dock.
I have a long list of resolutions going in my mind, but no, don’t worry I am not going to share them! Suffice to say, I have meager success most years with keeping my resolutions, so I won’t set myself up to see them in black and white a few months from now and say ahhhh – I was going to do that wasn’t I?
The Best of 2004 pictures should be in Flickr before the end of the day, and if I don’t run out of time this afternoon (the marina office closes early) I hope to get them labeled and ready for everyone to see. Once they are up and ready, I will post again and let everyone know. Picking the ones I thought marked highlights of the year gave me a good chance to look at all the pictures again and marvel at how much the grandkids have changed! The three quilts I made were fun and much appreciated by the grandkids. I didn’t include pictures of any knitting projects, but I did accomplish quite a few finished projects on that front too. I looked at my book list and I read 49 books, down some from previous years. That is probably because I now knit some of the time I used to read. Too bad I can’t do both (like some people do) at the same time.
We spoke with house people again this week, and they indicate that MAYBE, just maybe they might be able to tell us something next Wednesday. I am not holding my breath, but if they don’t move along soon, we will move along somewhere else! I understand they had had vacation time too, and closing for homes that were finished and ready, but come on ..... It’s not like we are the only folks standing in line waiting. Maybe that’s the problem, they have more than enough folks waiting so they are in no hurry.
Next weekend is the train show in Virginia Beach. Eric and I are looking forward to going to see layouts. Hopefully we won’t have to buy anything .... But you know how that is. He is looking forward to setting up his trains in a new house and I can’t blame him.
Well enough chatter for today ...
Happy New Year
I have a long list of resolutions going in my mind, but no, don’t worry I am not going to share them! Suffice to say, I have meager success most years with keeping my resolutions, so I won’t set myself up to see them in black and white a few months from now and say ahhhh – I was going to do that wasn’t I?
The Best of 2004 pictures should be in Flickr before the end of the day, and if I don’t run out of time this afternoon (the marina office closes early) I hope to get them labeled and ready for everyone to see. Once they are up and ready, I will post again and let everyone know. Picking the ones I thought marked highlights of the year gave me a good chance to look at all the pictures again and marvel at how much the grandkids have changed! The three quilts I made were fun and much appreciated by the grandkids. I didn’t include pictures of any knitting projects, but I did accomplish quite a few finished projects on that front too. I looked at my book list and I read 49 books, down some from previous years. That is probably because I now knit some of the time I used to read. Too bad I can’t do both (like some people do) at the same time.
We spoke with house people again this week, and they indicate that MAYBE, just maybe they might be able to tell us something next Wednesday. I am not holding my breath, but if they don’t move along soon, we will move along somewhere else! I understand they had had vacation time too, and closing for homes that were finished and ready, but come on ..... It’s not like we are the only folks standing in line waiting. Maybe that’s the problem, they have more than enough folks waiting so they are in no hurry.
Next weekend is the train show in Virginia Beach. Eric and I are looking forward to going to see layouts. Hopefully we won’t have to buy anything .... But you know how that is. He is looking forward to setting up his trains in a new house and I can’t blame him.
Well enough chatter for today ...
Happy New Year
New Years Eve
The cat just tried to drag a piece of our New Years Eve dinner turkey onto the floor while Eric and I were distracted reading email. Sneaky little kitten that she is, she picked a piece that was cut and cooling, and she apparently thought we would not miss it, or hear her smacking her little cat lips! Foiled in the act! One of the benefits of living in a small space, everyone can see what everyone else is up to all the time. Apparently she forgot.
I spent part of the afternoon on the Internet trying to understand more about HTML at this website http://lisaexplains.com. I thought I might be able to learn a thing or two since it seems even kids can learn HTML and that is who this sight is designed for. Obviously kids are smarter at all this than I am. Anyhow, this is a trial to see if there is a link showing up in this message or not.
My plan for the next day or two is to show 2004 in pictures, so I’ll be going though my photos for the year and picking out the top 2 or 3 for each month! Look for them soon in my Flickr photo stream.
Hope your evening is good! Happy New Year!
I spent part of the afternoon on the Internet trying to understand more about HTML at this website http://lisaexplains.com. I thought I might be able to learn a thing or two since it seems even kids can learn HTML and that is who this sight is designed for. Obviously kids are smarter at all this than I am. Anyhow, this is a trial to see if there is a link showing up in this message or not.
My plan for the next day or two is to show 2004 in pictures, so I’ll be going though my photos for the year and picking out the top 2 or 3 for each month! Look for them soon in my Flickr photo stream.
Hope your evening is good! Happy New Year!
Friday, December 24, 2004
Christmas Eve and the stockings are hung!
It looks like Santa will need some radar to get here, we are very cloudy and generally a gray looking day. We watched Tim Allen and the Santa movie last night on TV, always cute to see stories about grown-up coming to “believe” again in Santa.
It got me thinking about Santa and days past. I think one of my first memories of Christmas is being at my grandma Walters house, asleep upstairs and hearing Christmas Carols being sung outside, and bells. I don’t know if it was friends of my aunts and uncles who were still teenagers, or just who it was, but I know I was pretty excited about hearing the sleigh bells. Christmas was always a huge affair at my grandma’s as there were so many cousins – 19 in all – we were a house full! Here’s their names (I cheated) - and just think, I think these 19 cousins have better than 41 kids, and now there are grandkids for them!!!
Darren, Denise, Doreen, Deanna (Armstrong – Mae and Gordon); Stephen, Phillip, Andy, Bill, Tim (Goold – Lucille and Dick ); Becky, Mark, Paul, Mary and David (Rowley – Peggy and Jay), Karen and Kevin (Walters – Ray and Jo); Cindy, (Jeffers, Delores and Roy) and Mike and I (Walters – Earl and Annabelle).
Seeing this list makes me think it is high time for the Walters to attempt a family reunion again. Nothing like a good idea for the new year! I may have to write to the aunts and uncles and us put some thought to that.
Well everyone, tomorrow we head for Richmond. Eric and I are excited to see the wonder of Christmas through the eyes of Maddie and Zack. I wish all of us could be together – maybe next year we will invite everyone to Virginia!
Merry Christmas and God Bless
It got me thinking about Santa and days past. I think one of my first memories of Christmas is being at my grandma Walters house, asleep upstairs and hearing Christmas Carols being sung outside, and bells. I don’t know if it was friends of my aunts and uncles who were still teenagers, or just who it was, but I know I was pretty excited about hearing the sleigh bells. Christmas was always a huge affair at my grandma’s as there were so many cousins – 19 in all – we were a house full! Here’s their names (I cheated) - and just think, I think these 19 cousins have better than 41 kids, and now there are grandkids for them!!!
Darren, Denise, Doreen, Deanna (Armstrong – Mae and Gordon); Stephen, Phillip, Andy, Bill, Tim (Goold – Lucille and Dick ); Becky, Mark, Paul, Mary and David (Rowley – Peggy and Jay), Karen and Kevin (Walters – Ray and Jo); Cindy, (Jeffers, Delores and Roy) and Mike and I (Walters – Earl and Annabelle).
Seeing this list makes me think it is high time for the Walters to attempt a family reunion again. Nothing like a good idea for the new year! I may have to write to the aunts and uncles and us put some thought to that.
Well everyone, tomorrow we head for Richmond. Eric and I are excited to see the wonder of Christmas through the eyes of Maddie and Zack. I wish all of us could be together – maybe next year we will invite everyone to Virginia!
Merry Christmas and God Bless
Monday, December 20, 2004
Christmas - six days away
It’s been a good weekend, I’ve had phone time with all my family, Mom and Dad, brother Mike, and both children .... Russell and Rebecca.
I’ve discovered my brother has a Blog, so maybe I best get serious about my own. See I am working on it!!! Not wanting to be outdone, and maybe, just maybe I can get pictures posted too.
I finished a baby sweater and hat this weekend, it was reported to be a 5 hour sweater, it took me the better part of 4 days! Of that time I ripped back and started over twice, and also had to research the edging on the hat and figure out how to do something new. So it was a good experience and I think my Yoga teacher who will be a grandma next month will like it. Picture to follow in a few days. It was a lot easier than the sweater posted here I did for Maddie though. Next will be one for Skyler. And Eric needs another pair of wool socks .... I have converted him!
The Tidewater area is expecting big weather the next two days, We are forecast to get 35 knot winds, and maybe .... 3 inches of the white fluffy stuff. Rebecca reported tonight that it is already snowing in Richmond. Much to Zachary’s delight. I wonder how she got him to to sleep? He is hot to make a snowman and play in the snow. I’ll be happy with none thank you, as it is we are going to be in the twenties with wind chills in the teens. Coldest weather here since Feb. 2003. Nothing like making the last winter on the boat memorable. We may soon be on auxiliary heaters if the water temperatures continue to fall.
I’ve been working on a Christmas riddle of sorts .... It was given to me at a party this past week. The majority of these I was able to crack by myself. About a half dozen I had to resort to an internet site of Christmas lyrics to figure them out. There are two I could not get at all. So here they are to give you something to do it you need a brain tease. Let me know is you get stumped. Mike you should do good on this!
How many of the following songs can you identify by the first letters of the first line of their lyrics?
HYAMLC
TFNTADS
GRYMGLNYD
ICUAMC
SNHNAICAIB
OTFDOCMTLGTM
DTHWBOHFLLLLLLLL
JTTWTLHC
YKDADAPAVCACADAB
ISMKSCUTMLN
CSBSDIHS
HTHASGTTNK
GGROBAR
OHNTSABS
AIWFCIMTFT
DTTSIAOHOS
WTKOOA
IDOAWCJLLOIUTK
CROANOJFNAYN
IBTLALC
OLTOBHSWSTL
SBRAYLITHSIG
IBHFC
WWYAMCWWYAMC
IHTBOCD
FTSWAJHS
JOSNLYETW
GKWLDOTFOS
UOTHRPOJGOSC
JBJBJBR
IHABCWY
JHTSBJRTTT
CTTMRPPP
WUNWTAGC
YBWOYBNC
The cat us snuggling up to my legs, she thinks it is time for bed. Eric is nodding off. Time for me to get this emailed off to the blog site, and then check and get the URL to send to all of you so you can read about my exciting life!!
I hope everyone is ready for Christmas and have their stocking hung by the chimney with care!
I’ve discovered my brother has a Blog, so maybe I best get serious about my own. See I am working on it!!! Not wanting to be outdone, and maybe, just maybe I can get pictures posted too.
I finished a baby sweater and hat this weekend, it was reported to be a 5 hour sweater, it took me the better part of 4 days! Of that time I ripped back and started over twice, and also had to research the edging on the hat and figure out how to do something new. So it was a good experience and I think my Yoga teacher who will be a grandma next month will like it. Picture to follow in a few days. It was a lot easier than the sweater posted here I did for Maddie though. Next will be one for Skyler. And Eric needs another pair of wool socks .... I have converted him!
The Tidewater area is expecting big weather the next two days, We are forecast to get 35 knot winds, and maybe .... 3 inches of the white fluffy stuff. Rebecca reported tonight that it is already snowing in Richmond. Much to Zachary’s delight. I wonder how she got him to to sleep? He is hot to make a snowman and play in the snow. I’ll be happy with none thank you, as it is we are going to be in the twenties with wind chills in the teens. Coldest weather here since Feb. 2003. Nothing like making the last winter on the boat memorable. We may soon be on auxiliary heaters if the water temperatures continue to fall.
I’ve been working on a Christmas riddle of sorts .... It was given to me at a party this past week. The majority of these I was able to crack by myself. About a half dozen I had to resort to an internet site of Christmas lyrics to figure them out. There are two I could not get at all. So here they are to give you something to do it you need a brain tease. Let me know is you get stumped. Mike you should do good on this!
How many of the following songs can you identify by the first letters of the first line of their lyrics?
HYAMLC
TFNTADS
GRYMGLNYD
ICUAMC
SNHNAICAIB
OTFDOCMTLGTM
DTHWBOHFLLLLLLLL
JTTWTLHC
YKDADAPAVCACADAB
ISMKSCUTMLN
CSBSDIHS
HTHASGTTNK
GGROBAR
OHNTSABS
AIWFCIMTFT
DTTSIAOHOS
WTKOOA
IDOAWCJLLOIUTK
CROANOJFNAYN
IBTLALC
OLTOBHSWSTL
SBRAYLITHSIG
IBHFC
WWYAMCWWYAMC
IHTBOCD
FTSWAJHS
JOSNLYETW
GKWLDOTFOS
UOTHRPOJGOSC
JBJBJBR
IHABCWY
JHTSBJRTTT
CTTMRPPP
WUNWTAGC
YBWOYBNC
The cat us snuggling up to my legs, she thinks it is time for bed. Eric is nodding off. Time for me to get this emailed off to the blog site, and then check and get the URL to send to all of you so you can read about my exciting life!!
I hope everyone is ready for Christmas and have their stocking hung by the chimney with care!
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