Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday

to the most precious Lady I have ever known...

my dear, sweet Mother. 

 

 

You are missed so much. 

Thank you for being there for me and

giving me such a wonderful example to follow.

 

 

Lots of hugs and kisses are being

sent up to Heaven for you today. 

Count Your Blessings

I was reminded of this just this evening...

Count your blessings.

 

Let me start at the beginning. 

First off, the holiday yesterday was hard for two reasons. 

One, my father passed away several years ago and

two, it is a reminder of the fact that we lost our children

leaving my husband labeled "not a dad."

 

On top of this, you know how life can just pile up

sometimes and then all of the sudden,

"wham" it all just comes pouring down on you? 

 

Well, today was one of those days, let me tell you!! 

There were several times I just wanted to break down and cry.

 

Life is like that sometimes. 

We might not be able to change circumstances.

However we can change what kind of day we have.

 

How you ask?

By the way we look at it.

 

If you look at everything that is wrong, broken, or the things you don't have, it will bring you down.

 

If you look at the good, what is working, and what you do have, the darkness fades away.

 

"Count your blessings, name them one by one.

Count your blessings see what God has done."

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day

I want to wish everyone a

Happy Father's Day.

 

I had the best Dad,

whom I miss so very much.

 

I have a wonderful husband

who would have been a fantastic dad

to our little ones who are now in Heaven.

 

 

Remembrance

Happy Memorial Day to all. 

Trust you have a wonderful and safe holiday. 

 

Hubby and I are enjoying a nice, quiet day

at home just relaxing out on the deck.

 

As you go about your festivities today,

don't forget to pause for a moment in remembrance of

those who fought to give us the freedom we enjoy.

 

All gave some, but some gave all.

 

Saying "thank you" seems so small.

 

 

Happy Mother's Day

Just wishing all a Happy Mother's Day. 

Hope you have a lovely day.

 

If you are blessed with children, treasure them.

If you still have your Mother, cherish her and tell her you love her.  Not just today but all the time, for one day she will be gone.

 

Trust me, no one can take the place of a Mother.

I love mine dearly and miss her so, so much!

 

Happy Mother's Day!

 

 

Thankful Journal

It seems that all you

hear about now a days is bad news. 

 

Everything is focused on the negative.

 

While life does have it's disappointments and rough times, it isn't all bad. 

 

We all go through hard times however

focusing on the negative does not help.

 

So the other day I decided that I would start a journal of things that I am thankful for.

 

 

So at the end of everyday my goal is to

write down things that I am thankful for. 

 

 

Ending the day on a good note.

Stir-fry and Rice

We love Chinese food, Japanese food, etc.  

However, we are not going out to eat every time we want it.

So stir-fries have became a regular weekly item on the menu.

Stir-fries are pretty cheap and easy to make.

Simply pick your meat and veggies and sauté them.

Then comes the sauce. 

 

I have a basic brown sauce that I use no matter what meat and veggie combo I am cooking.  Check under recipes.

 

Rice is another regular staple in our house.

Most times I simply make white rice...not the instant stuff either.

Occasionally I fix fried rice.  Here's my version.

For something sweet, Turkey Hill has a couple more seasonal flavors out...Strawberry Cheesecake and Coconut Cream Pie. 
They are great combined too. 
Taking Hubby to the grocery store is dangerous! 

 

Thought for the Day

 

 

 

 



Storms

We had an interesting yet kind of scary evening. 

There were storms up and down the East coast. 

Watches and warnings were going out like crazy.

Thankfully we didn't get it as bad as they were saying.

Here are some local pictures that people have shared.

I have never been through a tornado and

I am thankful that statement did not get changed last night. 

 

We are safe and sound this morning and the sun is shining. 

 

Tip of the Day

I for one love a bargain and after Christmas you can find some good ones.  I know that Christmas has long pasted however I came across some of these the other day. 

 

 

Since these were Christmas fragrances,

they were in the clearance section. 

 

We use them in the vehicles of course.

However the other day I found a new use for them.

 

Hang them on a door knob or cabinet. 

I put one on the door in one of our guest bedrooms and another one on a cabinet door in Hubby's bathroom.

Every time you open or close the door the fragrance fills the room.

 

Happy Monday!

Monday

Monday is here once again. 

 

Hubby and I had an enjoyable weekend. 

Sunday afternoon a friend invited us to try a new Thai restaurant.  It's called "Lanna." 
The food was very good! 
We will definitely go back!

 

Hubby and I both had the Bangkok Beef.

 

Our friend had the Crispy Duck which looked good too. 

(sorry no picture of his dish)

 

Later that afternoon Hubby and I enjoyed some ice cream

that we had bought on Saturday.

Turkey Hill Ice Cream is made a couple hours from where we live and it is really good.  They normally come out with seasonal flavors and the Key Lime Pie did not disappoint. 

 

Over the weekend we talked about some new projects to do around the house and I am really excited about them. 

 

This morning I awoke feeling refreshed, energized and

ready to start working on things.

For dinner tonight we had shrimp fajitas....
Korean style.

Sorry, no picture...we gobbled them up too fast.
We used Kimchee instead of salsa and I put rice in them too.
Ray said that I needed to make them again soon.

 

Happy Monday!

Sunshine

I wasn't sure what to title this post since I don't have anything specific to talk about...just some random thoughts. 

However the sun was finally shining today and

it was such a nice change that I thought I would go with it. 

 

 

The week of Easter was so busy.  I did a birthday cake for my Father-in-law, a gender reveal cake for my neighbor's sister, a few cupcakes, had dinner guests and a bunch of other things going on. 

 

 

 This week has been, well, blah.  The weather was rainy, cloudy and dreary.  The week in general was pretty much like that. 

 

 

They say, "April showers bring May flowers" and

"when it rains it pours." 

Both of those have rang true this week

both literally and figuratively. 

 

Some friends gave me flowers for Easter. 

They are so cheery. 

 

 

 I bought the matching flower pots at the dollar store.

 

 

As mentioned in past posts, we love kimchee and have been eating a lot of it lately.  Whether its in a bowl of shrimp and noodles....

 

 

or Korean beef.

 

 

We've been trying it in everything...even tacos the other night.

 

 

On another note, I've been having lessons in patience lately and

it isn't fun let me tell you!!

 

I told you this was just a bunch of random thoughts.

 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Happy Easter

 

 

Things have been a little crazy around here lately,

so we will catch up later.

 

For now, Happy Easter. 

Hope you have a great day.

Spring Has Sprung?

According to the calendar,

today is the first day of Spring.

 

 

The outdoors doesn't agree.

 

We awoke to snow this morning.

 

It is still coming down.

 

Warm weather will come eventually...hopefully.

 

 

 

 

The Mantel

I wanted something different this time for the mantel. 

So many times I just put picture frames up there

when I don't have it decorated for the holidays. 

Nothing wrong with that especially when it is family. 

 

However instead of just doing what I always do

I put some thought into it and did some searching for ideas.  This meant that the mantel sat empty for days...

something that I don't like and doesn't happen. 

 

The flower arrangement was the first thing that came together.

 

 

 

I finally knew the layout that I wanted

but didn't have all of the pieces. 

I didn't want to spend a lot of money, if any,

when knowing myself I would be changing it again in time. 

 

 ( I like to redecorate often)

 

I am so, so happy with the way it turned out.

 

 

 

I had everything on hand; cost $0.

Using Microsoft Word I printed the word play on Spring.

 

 

Using a glue stick and some flowers from my scrap-booking supplies I made the floral picture. 

 

 

I'm so happy with it.

Now if we can just get Spring on the outside.

Happy Wednesday!

 

 

 

 

 

St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone. 

Did you remember to wear green?

 

 

Today is also the birthday of my oldest niece. 

Not just any birthday either, but a big milestone. 

She is a teenager now! 

I am so proud of the young lady she has become. 

Happy Birthday Katie! 

Hope it is a great one.  Love you.

 

 

Touches of Spring

We have a few more days before it is officially Spring. 

However I have been too anxious to wait. 

So I have been making the inside of the house look like Spring.  Here's what I have so far...
 

 

Once again I have used Mom's and Grandma's dishes and doilies in my decorating.

 

 

 

 

 

The cabbage shaped soup tureen was given to me

by an elderly acquaintance. 

The little chick was crocheted by my sister. 

She also made the ceramic figurines below for me

when I was a little girl.

 

 

I still need to finish the mantel which I am really excited about. 

I have it pictured in my head but don't have

all the components to pull it all together. 

So check back soon for the update.