Walking (and chuckling)

 Like many of you, I really enjoy a walking around my neighborhood.

But lately I've seeing some very interesting things.

 Yes, this is a brass frog sitting on the fence.

(This little frog has been here all winter.)

I chuckle when ever I walk by it.

 A few doors down, there is this bunny sitting in the front yard.

I chuckle when I walk by it.

Turn the corner...this is what I see.

I chuckle when I walk by it!

Look closely...

I chuckle when I walk by it.



My biggest chuckle I saved for last...

I usually break out in a really loud snicker.

By now, I'm trying to hold in my laughter.

So turn the corner and head  for home.

I enjoy walking around my neighborhood.

Enjoying lots of chuckles, that's for sure.

~~~~~~*~~~~~~

~Tidbit~

"1 pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 Calories. So to lose 1lb in weight you need to expend 3500 Calories more than you've consumed.

The calories expended (and therefore the weight lost) when walking depends on a number of factors - crucially your level of fitness, your weight and the distance walked.

A good rule of thumb is that a reasonably active person weighing 168 lbs (12 stones) walking at approximately 2 mph will consume just under 100 Calories per mile walked."

from: go4awalk.com

Getting Closer... Much Closer!

This is our son Todd, in front of their home, last year.

This is Todd & Stephanie's New Home!

They both obtained new jobs in the Seattle.

 So they bought a home up in Seattle area!

Their new home is only 17 miles and 25 minutes from our home.

(Yes, I timed it and measured!)

Today was moving day!

There were five cars and trucks packed and

ready to caravan up north.

Todd is ready to lead all of us on this long one hour trip, in the rain.

Almost there! I see the truck.

Yes, that's Todd with a smile on his face!

Reward!

Thanks family and friends!

Sealed with a Kiss!

A Peek Into My World

Pretzel Bowl

 (the handle is a pretzel)

I have been collecting Polish Pottery for years.

After I bought my first piece, a "Salsa Dish", I was hooked.

After that, I bought pieces at grocery stores,

TX Maxx and even thrift stores.

 I was also given quite of few pieces as gifts.

 I display most of  them on open shelves in my kitchen.

Each pitcher or bowl, holds small items, like tea, matches,
Tom's sugar packets and other small items.

 I even have a small door pull for my cabinet door,
still waiting to be installed.

 

On the left is a cute butter dish.

 This shelf holds the pottery that Kimmy bought me for my birthday.

Each morning I drink my morning coffee, from one of these beauties.

Polish Pottery is special because each piece is handmade,

very durable, artistic and most have the color navy blue,

 (which happens to be my favorite color!) 

"When your dishes dance, your food sings!"

~~~~~~*~~~~~~

~Tidbit~

Polish Pottery started as Folk Art around the 16th century in Bolslawiec, Poland.  In the winter, farmers were unable to get out and tend to their farms so they began making pottery with the clay from the banks of the Bohr River.  The traditional patterns were carefully placed on the various pieces with potato stamps.  Many of the patterns and colors were inspired by the peacock feather.  The cultural designs and familiar colors - cobalt blue, sage green, and ferrous red - used hundreds of years ago are still the inspiration for many modern day patterns

Big Thank You!

Dayle at A Collection Of This and That had a really special giveaway.

Dayle Shockley is a wonderful writer and great story teller.

Her writing is so loving and very entertaining.

No wonder she was picked to have her story

 is this newest edition of  Chicken Soup for the Soul book.

I was one of the fortunate ones to be picked to receive this book.

Dayle wrote me a sweet note.

 She even told me where to find her story.

But look....  she even signed it!

A gift within a gift!

Thank You Dayle!

~~~~~~*~~~~~~

~Tidbit~



http://dayleshockley.com/  This is where you can find out more about Dayle and all of her accomplishments.

Simple Pleasure - Fireside Coffee

I recieved this email from my daughter the other day:

Hi Mother!
I was just wondering if you could make me some more fireside coffee sometime? No rush. I still have a few cups left. I love to have it for company and for me too!
Love Kimmy

  My replay:



You bet I will...
I will do it  for you & anyone else.
Just let me gather the ingredients and it's yours.
Love Ya, MOM

I love it when my grown children ask me to make or do something for them.

The mother in me just comes alive.

It's just a Simple Pleasure to fulfill any request.

Dayle, over at A Collection of This and That,

is hosting Simple Pleasures.

Please join us every Thursday.

Recipe:

1 C. instant coffee

2 C. coco Mix

2 C. creamer

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. nutmeg

1 1/2 C sugar

Directions: Add 3-4 t. of mix to a cup of hot water, stir. 

Makes a great gift when you put it in a glass container.

(this recipe has many names but we call it Fireside Coffee)

Chicken Little- Tacoma Style

Sunday morning, I visited Todd and Stephanie.

I drove down to Tacoma (about an hour away) to see their newest additions.

They bought 8 baby chicks. They arrived in the mail!

Two have names.

Oprah is one because she's the power house.

Dora got her name because she runs around exploring everything. 

I think her name should be Gumbo or Soup.

(Chicken Gumbo or Chicken Soup!)

These last two pictures I wasn't able to turn them.

This is a video of these cute little things,

scratching at the Chicken books.

Love their little chirps.

~~~~~~*~~~~~~

~Tidbit~

Why Raise Chickens?

Here are a few of the most frequently expressed reasons people raise chickens:
  * Easy and inexpensive to maintain (when compared to most other pets)
  * Eggs that are fresh, great-tasting & nutritious
  * Chemical-free bug and weed control
  * Manufacture the worlds best fertilizer
  * Fun & friendly pets with personality (yes, you read that right)

A pullet (young female) starts laying at about 20-24 weeks old. Her first eggs will be small. A hen will lay about 20 dozen (240) eggs in the first year and probably no more than 1000 in her lifetime

Tsunami - it hits close to home

(Google Image)

Cannon Beach is a family vacation destination.

Our family has been visiting this small, beach front community for years.

We started vacationing here when our children were 4 & 6 years old (now 28 & 30).

We love this place so much that we took vacations twice a year.

Once in the winter, to watch storms roll in and once in the summer, for the warm sunshine.

Kimmy and her little family planned for several weeks, to head down to

Cannon Beach, for an extra long, weekend vacation.

Yes, they were down there for this powerful event.

Kimmy has reported back several times to say, they are fine.

But I can't help think about all  those in Japan!
I was watching the devastation happening to Japan, when I woke up.
 Then hearing that the West Coast could possibly be affected, my mind was racing.

I went through several hours of intense concern and prayer for Mark & Kimmy.

I can't even imagine what Japan is going through.

Please pray for all those touched by this Tsunami.

Thirty Two Years Later...

March 10, 1979

Counting our blessings...

1. Two children; Todd and Kimmy

2. Two In laws; Mark (married to Kimmy)

    and Stephanie (married to Todd)

3. Two  & 1/2 grandchildren; Lulu & Levi plus Ila, 

    who we will welcome sometime mid May

4. Two homes; one for two years, one for 30 years

5. Two dogs; Arthur and Lucy

6. Friends and Family

Yea, thirty two years!

Yes, it is worth the time and effort!

Yes, I would do it all over again!

What's Cooking?

Family, Food and Fun!

That's what's cook'en.

Spinach Quiche in my hand painted pie plate.

(recipe at the end of this post)

Aunt Linda, Levi and Lulu all snuggled up, reading the

book Linda bought them.

Tom's oldest sister, Linda came over from Montana

to stay with us this past week.

It's always fun when she is around.

One of the funniest people I know.

Hurry back Linda so we can go and "play" again.

Spanish-Cheese Pie   (I call it Quiche)

1 9 inch pie shell, unbaked                                                                  

2 T. butter

1/4 C. chopped scallions

1 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained

2 eggs, beaten slightly

1 8 oz. C. ricotta cheese

1 8oz. C. cottage cheese

1/2 C parmesan cheese

3/4 t. salt

Dash of nutmeg

Dash of pepper

1. Preheat oven to 373 degrees. Saute scallions in hot butter. Add drained spinach to pan and stir minute or two. Remove from heat to cool.

2. Mix eggs with rest of ingredients. Stir in spinach mixture. Soon into pie shell and bake for 45 minutes.

Serve hot, cold or at room temperature.