HAILEE'S 8th

Her party theme was Princess Ariel. Lots of family and friends helped her celebrate.
And here is our Birthday girl Princess Hailee wearing the lovely gown her grandma (my youngest daughter Cyndi) made for her. White satin with blue flower trim, strands of crystal beads on the sleeves and ribbons & rosettes. Her shoes were white satin and glass ( clear plastic) with 'heels' her earrings were pearl and diamond and her sweet diamond tiara adorned her lovely golden locks. She is always a princess and this day she certainly acted the part.
Happy Birthday my little princess!

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I want to let those of you who have been praying for Steven know that he is doing great. He is working on the farm with his dad and uncles and His hair is growing back. He will be going in for check ups of course.

Once again Thank you for your faithful prayers and please continue to pray for his total healing from brain cancer.

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Also my friend in Maryland who is fighting a second bout of prostate cancer is doing good. He is still having chemo and thank God is not having any side effects. He recently retired from the Police Force and is looking for something to keep him busy and supplement his income. Once again I thank you all for your prayers. Please keep them going.

Here's a smile for you. Notice mommy has adopted a piglet to raise with her puppies!
And the Lord's prayer says;
"thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven..."




I bought this chowder to try and failed to check out the ingredient panel first. (Unusual for me)
First let me say I was not able to eat it. It was so salty it burned my tongue and the flavor was pretty bad.
I used to make my own clam chowder. We live close to the bay and we would dig our own clams but it is harder for me to do with the back issues and also nearly impossible to find a beach that is not polluted where clam digging is allowed.
The ingredients in my homemade chowder are clams, onion, potato, parsley, water, milk, flour, salt and pepper to taste. Sometimes we add a little cooked bacon. YUM!!! This is how my mother made it too.

Here is the list of ingredients from the Store bought chowder.
Go get a cup of tea and a dictionary.
Are you ready?
Milk, potatoes, clams (sea clams and ocean clams) clam juice, salt, sodium Bisulfite, Sodium tripolyphosphate, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Natural and artificial flavors,Red 30, Clam Stock, Water,Clam Base, cooked clams and clam juice, salt, butter, (Cream) sugar, dried potato, yeast extract, Clam Extract, natural Butter Flavor, Maltodextrin, natural flavoring, Clam Concentrate ( Clam Broth, Salt, modified potato starch, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate) Chicken Stock (Water, Chicken Base, Chicken Meat, Natural Chicken Juices, Salt, Sugar, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavor, Onion Powder, Spice Extract, Tumeric (for color) Butter (Cream, Salt), Onions, Enriched Wheat Flour, (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid) Modified Corn Starch, Cream, Celery, Bacon, (Cured with Water, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Honey, Sodium Sodium Erythorbate, Flavoring, Sodium Nitrite), Canola Oil, Cultured Dextrose On Maltodextrin, Salt, Garlic, Clam Flavor Whey, (Cultured Whey, Clam Extract, Maltodextrin, Soybean Oil, Citric Acid, Parsley, Worcestershire Sauce, (Distilled Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Sugar, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Ammonium Bisulfite, Sulphur Dioxide, Hot Sauce, (Aged Cayenne Peppers, Vinegar, Salt, Garlic Spices.

I'll pass, thank you.

I don't even know what some of these ingredients are or what they are made from.
Way too much is passed by the FDA that is not good for us. We need to be getting
'BACK TO BASIC'S'
It may take a little more work but we will be healthier for it!

Blessing all

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A RANT AND A WARNING

A small Food Pavilion close to my home sends out sales flyers. I noticed a few items I wanted and went shopping. One item advertised was Drey*er's Ice Cream. (I get the 1/2 the fat kind)

The ad said buy one get one free. I know the regular price is $4.99 and decided this would be a good buy. I shopped but was not paying attention to the cashier as she entered prices. When I got home I checked out the reciept and was shocked to see I had been charged $6.99 for the Ice Cream instead of the usual $4.99. I assumed there was a mistake so I called the store and was told they jacked the price up because it was a sale item, "two for the price of one." This 'new price' was NOT in the sale flyer nor on the product shelf.

In my opinion this just plain dishonesty.

I decided to let the world know about this underhanded practice, so now you know! Watch those sales.

THINGS AIN'T ALWAYS HOW THEY SEEM!

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WHAT'S AN HEIRLOOM?

Is it an old oval frame with a portrait of Great-Great Grandma, or maybe the rocking horse you found in the attic when grandma passed away. Of course great-great aunt Phoebe’s china is ancient and it was even used by her mother.

What makes an heirloom anyway? Is it because it’s old or valuable, Or because it was passed down through many generations?

Wikipedia says an Heirloom is something, perhaps an antique that has been passed down for generations through family members.

Well, the heirloom I have in mind was not passed down for many generations. In fact it belonged to my mother.

Way back in the early 50’s a nicely dressed stranger came to our house carrying a tightly zipped black notebook which made this little girl’s curiosity pop. We lived in a remote area and didn’t get door-to- door sales men except the Wat*kins and Rale*igh man and we all knew them.

This man was invited into our house where he told of a wonderful new cookware called Steel*co. He offered to come and prepare a dinner for us using his miracle product. A date was set and the house cleaned, especially the kitchen and range.

He came and cooked a pot roast, which we all happily ate. Mom and Dad purchased the cookware. There were several sizes of kettles, roasters and a steamer. I’m sure there were other pieces I don’t remember, but there is one I do remember very well because I’m using it. Mom passed away in 2001 and my sisters and I were able to have a few of the things her husband didn't want.

The reason I think the big kettle I have is an heirloom is because it has been around for nearly 60 years, it has cooked more meals than I could possibly count. Bean soup, pea soup, dad’s famous stew, many pot roasts from beef, venison, pork, elk, moose and probably bear. It has made countless batches of jams and jelly’s and so much more.

Mom cooked for her mom in it, and for she and dad, for her daughters and grandchildren. Now I am cooking for myself, my kids and grand kids and now my great grand kids. All in all it has served six generations so far and it’s still in good condition.

When I fill it with veggies for soup, I remember how mom looked as she did the same, sometimes humming a popular song, and sometimes yelling, “Get outside and play!”
I wonder what she was thinking of as she washed and dried this piece of family history?
I suppose like me she was thinking of what chore needed done next, or maybe she dreamed of going fishing with dad. Whatever she was thinking, I must say it gives me pleasure to run the dishcloth and towel over it, knowing mom’s sweet hands did the same.

I think an heirloom is something that caresses the heart.

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THIS & THAT

I hope Spring has come to your yard as it has in mine. I love the brilliant colors of all the flowers that decorate my yard. It makes my heart sing!
Have you had your chocolate today? I just love this picture!

Here is a wonderful old flower we don't hear much about these days. There used to be clumps of Narcissus growing in the field across the street. My mom loved them for their beauty and wonderful fragrance. If you know where I can get bulbs of the heirloom variety, please let me know.

This is my grandson at about three. Johnny saw his great grandma (My mom) hobbling around with a cane and asked his mom what that stick was for.

She explained that she had a bad back and hips and it hurt her to walk and the cane helped her.

Johnny took it to heart.

A little later he fell and skinned his knee. After being bandaged he walked over to his great grandma, took her cane and proceeded to hobble around with a pained expression on his face just like she had when walking.

I LOVE KIDS!

Ever been here?

Thanks to Mike & Shawn, I have.

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No famous opera to sing,

No Fancy words to say,

Just wishing you,

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

XOXOXO

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MAY DAY RETURNS!

When I was a girl my sisters, cousins and I spent some happy hours shaping May Day baskets from Construction paper, or sometimes news paper, or brown paper bags, using flour and water for paste. Getting the handle to stick was the hardest part and important because that's what held the basket on the door knob.

We made the baskets a day or two before May Day so the paste had time to dry, then early morning on the special day we would comb the neighborhood for flowers, any flowers, tree blossoms and dandelion's included. I remember the smiles of the white haired ladies who watched out their windows as we raided their flower gardens, no doubt remembering when they were the little child doing the same.

By the time the baskets were filled our excitement had peaked so that we were unable to contain ourselves.

We thought we were being quiet and sneaky as we ran from door to door, the baskets flopping precariously, and flowers strewing our path, each trying to get to the next door first.

I know we must have sounded like a herd of cattle as our sturdy, leather soled oxfords announced our arrival. But the sweet white haired ladies played our game, just as the ladies before them had. We were never caught.

I remember hiding behind Mrs. Gahan's shrubbery, cousin's clinging to me, trying desperately not to giggle too loudly as she opened her door, looking for whomever had knocked, then looking so surprised as she spied the dilapidated, torn basket of wilted dandelions, blossoms and other pretty weeds.

Ah yes! They played the game so well.

Two of my girls came last night and brought me this lovely basket of petunias. "Happy May Day mom."

My heart smiled as a bundle of memories flooded my mind.

They visited until late and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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This afternoon, May 2nd, as I was doing computer work, my pups announced a visitor.

I looked out the window to the front deck and saw a little girl in a lavender dress, tippy toeing like a graceful fairy, carefully place a May Basket on my deck, then turn and run like the wind was chasing her.

I heard the other children giggling and shushing each other just as I had all those many years ago, but I pretended not to notice. I picked up the basket, admiring it so they could see their work was appreciated.

I set it on the Bistro table to get better picture.

Then I turned to find them hiding behind the neighbor's motor home as they waited for her to find her lovely surprise. Ho how well I remember the anticipation! I held up the basket and thanked them as they smiled back at me.

They made such a fun game out of it. Brothers lying flat on their bellies in the gravel hoping they wouldn't be seen while the Lavender Fairy quietly waits. Another generation is learning the delights of the simple things in life. The joy of giving of themselves to please another.

The delight of making something that gives happiness to their neighbors.

And the exercise that keeps them healthy and happy.

There are no modern day electronic gadgets that will ever compare to the thrill of May Day Baskets.

One more to give, and they hurry up the walk, red basket in hand, sweet anticipation flooding their precious souls.

Another generation of kind hearted children learn about May Day.

Another generation of white haired ladies learn what it's like to be on the receiving end of May Baskets.

Happy May everyone. I pray our Precious Lord will bless you and yours.

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