A picture of Love and Devotion

These are my parents. They were married September 3, 1960.   

Today would have been their 62nd wedding anniversary.  

September 3rd will forever hold a double meaning for our family now.  

Exactly one year ago, we laid my mom to rest. 

Mom and Dad modeled deep devotion in faith, to each other, and their family. The stories from their wedding day, young married life, good times, sickness, health and death, all indelibly etched in our hearts. 

They have set the bar high for all of us.

These beautiful hands exemplify so much. Young pure love. Untouched by a hard life and work.  My Mom never took her ring off. Neither has my Dad.  (My Mom always with the almond shaped, white nails. She was ever the lady). I love this picture and I sure do miss her.  

“You only die once, you live every day.” - Jon Feal

"Daisy May" - May 6, 2005-November 6, 2021

Rest In Peace, Sweet Baby Dog

Our dog "Daisy" received her angel wings yesterday, 11/6/2021.  She was exactly 16-1/2 years old, to the day!  {So nice of her to die on such a special-ish day, for us to remember her on}.

I do not think death is ever easy. In our family, this includes loss of our fur babies.  Daisy owned us from the minute she chose us.  She did not have a mean bone in her little 8 pound body and she was my constant shadow for much of her life. 

Each of us had a special connecton with"Miss Daisy".  She was there to count each of her kids getting off the school bus, or to console us on a hard day.  She was the best of the best!
We have learned so many lessons from Daisy.  Here are a few notable ones: 

1. Wag more, bark less. 

1. Be others centered instead of self centered. 

1. Don’t be too busy, chasing things that are not real, to stop and love your family.

Me holding Daisy - 10 weeks old

Daisy had DonK wrapped around her little paw. 

Grant, age 5

Courtney, age 7

Danielle, age 13

Brooke, age 12

I am the luckiest!

These precious people fill my life and are so easy to love. I have been a mom for 26 years and there were days when I wondered what I had gotten myself in to. As my children have grown into adulthood, so have I.  Not only as a better parent but also a person.  We have happily welcomed one new Son-in-Law and are excited for our latest addition to our party come this Fall.  It keeps getting better and better. The days truly are long as the years are short. 

{May 2018}

Me on 50 - "Beauty, Brains and Varicose Veins"

HeLLLLooooo 50!  I've been waiting for you for a while now.  I've decided to flip the seemingly negative sterio-typical "Over-the-Hill" or "Half way" point on its head and fully embrace the beauty of being in my 50's. 

Turning 50 has had me thinking a lot lately. Mostly about the advice I have received regarding this monumental birthday. It is best summed up this way "It's all about you!"  Which really got me thinking. A lot. Is it REALLY all about me?  I'm just not feeling it.  Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE a good party and I didn't miss the chance to celebrate on my actual birthday. More like total opposite.  I celebrated. BIG!

If my birthday is not all about me, who or what is it really about?  For a long time, I have understood that our birthdays are really for the people around us. A day to celebrate us being in their lives.  For me, that would specifically be my Mom and this year more than ever.  To me my birthday is really about not just being loved on but loving, understanding and appreciating my Mom. Her sacrifice, our relationship and her faithful commitment to her family. I'm her only daughter and her baby.  {Dear Brothers, I promise I have not used that advantage.}She gave me her beauty, her brains and her varicose veins.

My Mom is a strong, Southern-belle.  She could rival wood chopping and skeet shooting with the best of them.  Her sacrificial giving to our family has been exemplary.  For years, she would coordinate wedding receptions among other things at her church, which is where most of her free time went.  {You see, I come by the 'Party gene' honestly!} There were also the years she took on a job to not only pay my way through private school but spoil her grandchildren exponentially. Transplanted from California, work brought my parents North in the early days of their marriage.  The PNW has been home ever since.  Other than my Dad's help, my Mom raised her three children without local family support.  As you can imagine, family is everything to her.

A couple short years ago, my Mom was diagnosed with a rare brain disease, "PSP."  My mom is young and the disease has aged her body. PSP is not our friend. However, what most impresses me about my Mom is her grit.  She determines to give her best despite her disability. Some may think she is quiet but rest assured her whit is fully intact! 

As for turning 50... Except for the occasional tennis elbow, Sciatic nerve pain and blurred vision, it is not bad at all. I've decided that birthdays can not be possibly be enjoyed in just one day. Especially, monumental ones like turning 50 and any frankly, any day we get to breath.  The two biggest lessons I have learned so far: Enjoy life by preparing for Death and to live in the moment.  Thank you, Dear Mom.  You have have graciously taught me both.

#YESto50
#50weeksofbirthday
Originally written 4/16/2018

'Brunch Thing'

I was looking to try a new recipe (pillsbury.com/recipes/bacon-egg-and-cheese-brunch-ring) and I just so happened to have a  package of Pillsbury crescent rolls on hand.  I decided to give this one a try and see if it would be simple and delicious enough to switch up our holiday usual.  The original is a great recipe.  Below is the the way I ended up making it.  A bit different from the Pillsbury recipe but definitely simple AND delicious!  Serves 8, hypothetically ;)

INGREDIENTS -

1 pkg. PILLSBURY crescent roll dough
7 - eggs
2 - Laughing cow cheese triangles*
3/4 cup diced ham or another meat of your choice (i.e. chopped Bacon, crumbled Sausage)
1/2cup grated TILLAMOOK Jack cheese
1/2 cup grated TILLAMOOK Cheddar cheese
2 - green onions chopped fine*
* Laughing cow and green onions are optional but highly recommended!

Serve warm garnished with seasonal fruit, avocado slices and fresh salsa

Fresh from the oven!

DIRECTIONS-

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Lightly oil baking sheet or line with a sheet of parchment paper.
• Open and separate triangle pieces of crescent roll dough. On the bake sheet, place the dough in a circle with widest ends touching. Lightly press the corners together.
• Grate and mix jack and cheddar cheese together.
• Over medium high heat, in a medium sized non-stick skillet coated with one t. oil, crack eggs.  Add laughing cow cheese and scramble together with a spatula.  Periodically remove from heat so that the eggs are not burned. Add cooked meat, about half of the mixed cheese and  Chopped green onion. Pepper to taste. Stir to combine. Don't over cook the eggs as they will bake more in the oven.
• Evenly divide egg mixture eight ways and place on to the widest part of each of the uncooked crescent rolls.  Gently but firmly bring the pointed top of the rolls over the egg mixture, toward the center of the ring and tuck under the wide part of the roll.  There will be egg mixture showing.  Top with the remaining grated cheese.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes until the crescent rolls are a nice golden brown. Keep an eye on them starting about 18 minutes in to the baking. Each oven temp varies. My oven took only 20 minutes. 
• Let them rest for a minute or so before removing from the bake sheet. 
• Use a wide flipper/spatula to separate and serve. 
• THESE ARE A NEW FAVORITE and will be a great addition to our next holiday buffet brunch...(Mother's day!)

WeLcOmE SpRiNg

HaPpY {first day of} SpRiNg!

One of my favorite days for many reasons but mostly because today is our engagement anniversary.  After 26 years, I have never regretted saying "YES!"  Every day just gets sweeter.  To prove it, Don came home from work this morning with a beautiful new MAILBOX. Yes, yes he did.

Before I forget, on March 17th we enjoyed a traditional St. Patrick's day dinner with most of our clan. Even though we have an Irish surname, we are not necessarily Irish. Maybe just a pinch. We do however, enjoy food. Don especially enjoys cooking and whenever he does, I will always volunteer to clean up the aftermath! Maybe aftermath isn't exactly the right word but you get my drift. 

     Left - Me. {Photo cred. Courtney}                    
     Top Right - The grub: Corned beef & cabbage, etc.
     Bottom Right - Irish Soda Bread. (Recipe follows)

     *Not pictured...Brownies with little  green sprinkles
      lovingly baked by my Mother-in-law to keep her Irishman happy! :)


    SODA BREAD

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus, set aside 1 extra Tablespoon for dusting.
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 t. baking powder
• 1 t. baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups seedless raisins (I leave these out)
• 1 T. caraway seeds
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1-1/4 cups buttermilk (Or sour milk)
• 1 cup sour cream

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9-inch cast iron skillet or baking pan, but skillet preferred.
2. Combine 4 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, raisin (if using) and caraway seeds in large bowl.  Blend eggs, buttermilk and sour cream in small bowl.  Stir into flour mixture just until flour is moistened.
3. Knead dough in bowl, about 10 strokes; dough will be very sticky. Shape into ball; place in skillet. Cut a 4-inch "X", 3/4 inch deep, across top of dough.  Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon flour.
4. Bake in 350 degree oven 65 to 75 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center tests clean.  Cool in skillet 10 minutes.  Turn bread out onto wire rack to cool completely.

*Delicious with butter and homemade jam.

National Good Neighbor Day

The weather in the Pacific Northwest is gorgeous this time of year. The leaves turning, the air chilling and the blue skies get me every time!  I've been craving something "Fall-ish" and this recipe always seems to be the first thing I make at the beginning of this season.  I love the rich dense flavor and this cake won't last long around here. Tasty for breakfast, with coffee/afternoon tea or a simple anytime dessert.  And because it is National Good Neighbor day {Who knew?}, I think I'll make an extra batch for sharing.

PUMPKIN BARS

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups Canned Pumpkin
• 3/4 cup melted butter
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Cream eggs and sugar.  Add the rest of the ingredients in the order given.  Beat until well mixed.  Pour into a 11" x 17" jelly roll pan that has been coated with no-stick spray.  Bake 25 minutes.  Cool and frost.

Frosting:  Mix together the following ingredients and frost the cooled cake.

• 1-8oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 Tbsp. milk or half & half
• 4 cups powdered sugar 

YOU'RE WELCOME!!!