Random Things

Outside my window: Spring has sprung! I'm so happy that I didn't miss my ornamental cherry tree this year!

 I am thinking: That I'm so happy that Mindy has a chance to work from home this week---for the first time in nearly a year of traveling every week. When she has a chance to stay in town, she becomes somewhat domestic! Here's what she made herself for dinner last night.

 Those brussel sprouts look delicious. I've asked her for her recipe! That's a switch!! Actually, this is just about the first meal she's made since coming back to Nashville in 2010 (remember, she didn't even know she owned a can opener for the first year---until Butch found it in her car)!

I am thankful for: My scrapbook room---even if it is a mess right now. I'm fortunate to have such a nice room to house all the "tools of the trade."

From the kitchen: I'm not planning to cook for the rest of the week. We're having some leftovers to clean out the refrigerator before our trip.

I am wearing: Pink denim jacket, white tee, brown pants---bracelet made out of old watches. 

I am hoping: to catch a little nap and some reading this afternoon.

I am reading: The Sunshine When She's Gone. I've just started it, so it's a bit too soon to tell if it's any good or not. I just finished Pearl. It was pretty good, but I think the ending was a little too predictable.

I am busy creating: Our day group has started a new project. We are decorating 2x4 blocks to spell out the word "create." We'll each take one to design for the group. Here's our first one designed by Linda and Lola. 

The bow on top looks like paper, but it's actually fabric. Notice the little paint brush. We wrapped it with washi tape. We stamped, inked roughed up edges and misted. A little bit of everything. I'll be sure to share the letters as we create them.

I'm bummed: About Matthew. That's all I'm going to say.

I am hearing: The show "Smash" that I have taped. I'm watching/listening to it as I write this post. I'm shocked at Liza Minelli's appearance. She's had a lot of cosmetic surgery. I'd say it is bad cosmetic surgery, but she might actually look better---just nothing at all like herself. You can see her performance  

here. Sorry you have to watch the annoying commercial.

Around the house and garden: I haven't been home long enough for much of anything around the house and garden. I do want to get outside and see what's happening in the garden. At least before I leave again.

In other news:  I need to go shopping today. I'm out of make-up base. Plus I'd like to pick up a few new things for our trip. But I hate to shop. 

One of my favorite things right now: is playing these silly games with friends on my phone. It's not like I really have the time for it. But I can do the games while I'm watching tv. That's good. I always like to multi-task. Plus, it's a simple thing to do while waiting in line---anywhere.

I appreciate - a really good hand/body lotion. Currently l'm using Seacret---minerals from the dead sea. It's simply the best. No greasy feel. It makes my skin so soft. And smells good.

I remember - all the good food my grandmother Zimmermann use to cook. My Aunt Marlene called me yesterday to tell me how much she appreciated the "gooey butter cake" recipe that I gave her in the 1970's. It's a classic. I'm happy to share:

Gooey Butter Cake

1 yellow cake mix

1 egg

1 stick of margarine, softened

Press in a 9x13 pan.

Combine:

8 oz. cream cheese

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 box powdered sugar (2 cups)

Pour on top of crust.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

I forget - where I put my little trash "thingie" that hangs on the side of my chair. We had a big meeting here last week. We moved the furniture to put up chairs. I do not remember where I put it. I hope it turns up. It's the sort of thing that you don't realize you use all the time until it's not there. I can't tell you how many times I've reached over to toss a little piece of thread from my stitching to realize that it's not there. 

I regret -that once again, I won't get everything done this week that I planned to. I know that I set unrealistic goals for myself. When I'm going on vacation, I like to do something pretty major---in the way of cleaning---before leaving. That way, the trip seems like a reward. This week, I had planned to get my scrapbook room in order. I tore in to it on Monday and now have a huge mess. I don't think I'll get it all done before I leave. I hate to leave a mess. I still have tomorrow. We'll see.

How the weekend is shaping up: We leave on Friday and arrive in Venice on Saturday. I'm so excited to be able to go back there. But, according to the weather, it looks like it might rain. I hope not. We only have a day and a half before boarding our cruise. Bruce and Karolyn have never been to Venice---I just want them to love it as much as we do. 

Next post---from the road!!

Mrs. Joy Praise

Okay, so I'm busier than heck right now. With our new business and then trying to get out-of-town for our Mediterranean cruise at the end of the week---I'm meeting myself coming and going. I really don't know how I'll fit it all in. But I will. I always do.

Anyway, since I don't have time for a proper post, I just had to post this. I received an email today from Mrs. Joy Praise.



Dear Beloved in Christ,

I am Mrs Joy Praise an aging widow suffering from long time illness.
I have some funds I inherited from my late husband, the sum of 10 Million
dollars and I needed a very honest and God fearing Christian or Muslim that will use
the fund for God's work, I found your email address from the Internet and
decided to contact you. Please if you would be able to use the funds for the
Lord's work, kindly reply me at my email : (mailto:missjoypraise2013@yahoo.com">missjoypraise2013@yahoo.com
).
Yours in the Lord,
Mrs Joy Praise.

Seriously? Who falls for this?

 I hope you have a great week. If I don't get a chance to post, hopefully I'll be able to keep you up-to-date from the "road" (or I should say "ship").

Layout Share

 So, you know I'm doing Project Life one month at a time. I'm already a month behind! I don't know where the time goes. Yes I do. I'm traveling---a---lot. All fun, but---a---lot. Here is my February layout. I have everything together for March, but it will be late April before I get it put together. And then there's the History Project...I think I'm behind about 4 weeks now. I'll get to it. Just not now. Did I mention that I'm traveling---a---lot? I'll get home from the trip I'm on now---Sunday. I planned this before I left and set it to post on Saturday. Then, we leave next Friday for our Mediterranean Cruise. It's all good!

Anyhoo, here goes:

 This month, I added a half page insert in the middle to get everything in.

 This is the other side of the insert and the right hand page.

Here's a close-up of the right side page. I don't know why I took it. I must have had a reason at the time. They say the memory is the first to go...

Best Friends

I've been thinking about best friends lately. I've been teasing Karolyn that she's my "new best friend." We've been spending a lot of time together lately because we've started a new business. Of course, I've added the caveat that she's only my "new best friend" until Connie retires. She says she's okay with that and is just going to relish being my BFF for now.

That got me to thinking. What makes a best friend? To me, a best friend is that one person you can't wait to call with good news---or (heaven help us) bad news. She's that one person that is alway happy for you (or sad if need be). You can share everything with her---daily annoyances, family "issues," or just anything you have on your mind. Every girl needs one.

Can you have more than one best friend? The answer to that is "YES!" I've had many throughout my life. Can you have more than one best friend at the same time? Well, if you're in 3rd grade, probably not. But as an adult, I have best friends for different reasons. Actually I'm pretty lucky that I have such a great circle of best friends. This became clear to me about 15 years ago when one of my friends lost her husband. I stepped in to help her with arrangements and sorting out medical bills. She kept introducing me to her family as "my very best friend." When I got home from the funeral parlor, I cried to Butch because I didn't "feel" like I was a best friend to her---just "a" friend. We didn't really have that sharing sort of relationship. I'll never forget what Butch said to me---"well, you know, Barb, maybe you don't get to decide who HER best friend is." That really got through. Isn't that just about the nicest thing---that someone thinks you are a best friend---even if you don't think you are? And just like that, I had another best friend.

Does having more than one best friend make you disloyal to them all? I don't think so. I think it just makes you lucky!! I don't have a problem keeping the confidence of many friends. Don't get me wrong, I can gossip as much as the next person. But I'm loyal to my friends. I won't share something told to me in confidence. Ever. Okay, sometimes to Butch. But then, he's really, really my BEST friend. But guys don't get the "petty stuff" Only girls do. I can't live without 'em.

And what about those family members that are best friends? They're the best because they're forever.

Who's your best friend? Take a minute today and email her to let her know. I guess I'll be sending a group email!!

This post wouldn't be complete without some pictures of my best friends:

My cousin, Chrissy. We've been best friends since  we were wee little!

Here we are today.

Here's Chrissy with her best friend, Judy. She's mine too!

I have always loved my godmother, Aunt Marie.

 Karolyn, my new best friend (but only until Connie retires)!

 Here we are back in the "olden days. That's Karolyn on the right. I'm next to her. Then there's Peggy and Susan.

 My sisters---from the back, Jeanne, Janet, me, Joyce (front left), Janice and Jennifer.

 Jeanne, me and Janet.

 Linda---she's my newest friend---we've known each other for only 12 years.

 Here are my Catholic friends---Susan, Mary Jo and Sally.

More Catholic friends---Madelyn, Kim and Kitty. I've know my Catholic friends since all of our kids went to school together and we worked on a kazillion projects through the years.

 Back in the day---Connie, me, Nancy and Pam.

Connie, my "bestie!"

And, of course, my friend list would not be complete without my best friend in the U.K.---Sian!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Golf Weekend and a Recipe

We leave this morning to go back to the farm for our semi-annual golf weekend. Remember, our golf weekend that we were no longer going to invite the guys to? Well, they're coming. It really wouldn't be a golf weekend without them. Luckily, this weekend, the weather is going to be much nicer than it was last week. I left all of my scrapbook stuff out there. All I have to do is take out a few page kits---I'm taking 10. I don't really expect to get them all done, but I'd rather have too many than not enough.

See those rockers? The one on the right has my name on it! That's where you'll find me in the morning with my tea and magazines or book---along with a little music on my phone. It's just so relaxing. Things are just starting to bloom. I'm hoping to get enjoy some of the blooming trees this weekend.

Beau Soleil Farm, Est. 2007. It's a beautiful place---blue birds and humming birds all around (well, the hummingbirds aren't quite back yet, but the blue birds are). So quiet. We've seen some unusual wildlife too. There's a wood chuck that we see regularly as it lives under one of the barns. We also saw something last year that we could not identify. Karolyn got a picture, but it's pretty unclear. We hope to see it again.

The main purpose of this post is to share a new recipe that I made last week. It's called Gorilla Bread. I found it on Pinterest---is there anywhere else these days? Anyway, it's very similar to Monkey Bread except it has cream cheese added.

Gorilla Bread
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
2-12 oz. cans biscuits (10 count each)
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. Mix the sugar and cinnamon Melt butter and brown sugar, stirring well. Cut cream cheese into 20 cubes. Press the biscuits out with your fingers and sprinkle each with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon/sugar. Place cube of cream cheese in the center of each biscuit, wrapping and sealing the dough around the cream cheese. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the nuts n the bottom of the bundt pan. Place half of the biscuits in the pan.sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar, pour half of the melted butter mixture over the biscuits and sprinkle on 1/2 cup nuts. Layer the remaining biscuits on top, sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar, pour the remaining butter mixture over the biscuits and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of nuts. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes. Place plate on top and invert.

Enjoy! 

I'll be back sometime on Sunday with a story. It's "storytelling sunday". I'll share the link to Sian's blog then too!

Everything Easter Part 2

Now on to the table and food.

Setting the table is my favorite thing of all. I love to layer linens. I don't worry at all about whether they fit or not. I just angle them for interest. Now you'll get a chance to see all the odds and ends I pick up at the antique shops.

I know I had an Easter egg table runner, but I couldn't find it. I might have gotten rid of it. I don't remember. Anyway, I used pink napkins on the bias instead. The placemats are a thick paper that reminds me of grass.

I'm using assorted vintage hankies as napkins. When I can pick them up for $1.00, I had to come up with some way to use them. When we sat down, Jordan wanted to know if we had napkins. She thought the hankies seemed too fancy. The china came from grandma Pierson.

I've had these Fitz and Floyd pieces for over 20 years. Mr. Bunny is a pitcher and Mrs. Bunny is a teapot.

The little Easter bonnet napkin rings are in 4 colors---pink, purple, blue and yellow.  I've had these napkin rings for about 20 years now.

 The leaf plates were my mother's. The little fruit bowls I picked up at an antique mall about 8 or 10 years ago. It's kind of hard to tell, but the sides are pink---really cute.

 The salt and pepper shakers are also old. They don't have anything in them because the cork bottoms are starting to crumble.

 The tulips are real. I bought them a week ago and they've bloomed just in time!

A confession. I pride myself in being so organized. Since I was going to be gone all week, I did all of my planning last weekend. I pulled the recipes, did the non-preishable grocery shopping, and then lost the recipes. I almost had to change my whole menu. Then, I realized that I put some of the recipes in our Eads family cookbook. All was not lost. I made, chicken ala king in a pastry shell, carrot casserole, grape salad, green beans with andouille (the Broussards recipe), creamed peas and yeast rolls. I made an almond pound cake to top with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for dessert. Turns out, everyone was too full for dessert, so I froze the pound cake and berries for our golf weekend (this coming up weekend).

If you've never had grape salad, you need to give it a try. It's always a big hit.

Grape Salad
1 lb. red grapes
1 lb. green grapes
8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans*
Wash and stem grapes. Mix sour cream, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Fold in grapes. Top with brown sugar and pecans. Refrigerate overnight.
*I used pecan halves so the kids could pick them out. They don't like the nuts.

Everything Easter Part 1.

Yesterday, I wanted the focus to be all about Stephanie and Nicky and their great news. Now today, I'm ready to get down to Easter business.

 Don't let Morgan's height fool you.

 She's wearing these huge shoes and Jordan is bare-footed.

 We made her take the shoes off so Steph wouldn't look like a midget!

One happy family---to be!

 Of course, they don't need any shoes to make me look like a midget!

 Mindy has on some pretty high heels too. But I don't get it---Steph had on flats. We used to be the same height. I guess I'm shrinking now.

 The happy couple---before Steph knew she would be so happy!

 

 And the original happy couple!