Monday, November 30, 2009

a little birdie...

I want to make this centerpiece,

marthastewart.com
but with white, shades of green, and pink.
Oooohhh! I love it!

Friday, November 27, 2009

ushering in the holiday season...

For Thanksgiving dinner,
my daughter,
Crystal,

set a lovely table,

roasted her first holiday turkey,
(to perfection, YUM!)

and served it to her grateful family!
She included traditional family favorites
 and a few new recipes of her own.
Everything tasted incredible!

And, no one,  I'm sure, appreciated it more than me!
I've been making Thanksgiving Dinner
for more years than I can count!
I took over for my Mom, and I'm happy to
pass the torch to a new generation!
I really feel like I'm taking a mini vacation!
Thank you, Crystal and Kenny!

Kenny's facebook entry this morning said,
"fat and happy  big ups to the wifey!"
I guess that says it all!
Now,
let
the
countdown
to
Christmas
begin!
 PS  Special thanks to Julie for my very first blog award!

I'll be sharing the sparkle...
 stay
 tuned!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

counting my blessings...


When I count my blessings
I always include you,
my blogger friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 20, 2009

let it snow!

Look what I found at the local thrift shop just in time for
Vintage Black Friday!

Isn't this the best top hat?

Made right here in the USA!
AND
I can't wait to pop it right on the head of a
wonderful,
classic
snowman!

Things I'll Need:
SNOW!
A carrot (nose)
2 sticks (arms)
2 large rocks (eyes)
6 small rocks (mouth)
A top hat (check!),
and
a scarf.
OK, I'm not really in that much of a hurry for snow,
but,
when it comes...
I'll
be
ready!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

happy birthday to daughter #2!

Happy Birthday, Bethanie!

My "middle daughter"
(Sweet Olivia's mom)
turned
25
yesterday!
 
I pray,my sweet girl,
 that you will
 live
life
to
the
 fullest,
seeking the Lord
always
to
follow
 His
perfect
plan
for
you.

Glad your day was happy and full of delightful surprises!

I love you always,
Mom

Sunday, November 15, 2009

sweet girl is one!

Happy Birthday!

Yes, Sweet Girl is One!
She and her mom live with us,
so, together, we
hosted a
BIG
birthday
BASH!

The theme was
 "Olivia the Pig"
from the books
by Ian Falconer

"The OLIVIA stories describe
the antics of a very active piglet
who tests her mother's patience
by belting out songs,
drawing on walls,
dancing,
 and ...
well...
acting like a kid."


So I made piggy cupcakes,
 frou froued a bit with some boas and

 

 polka dots...
Olivia~style!



She got lots of presents!

I think this was her favorite.


She ate a little cake, of course!...


...and seemed to enjoy every minute of the party!


Happy Birthday, Sweet Olivia.
May you always know
how much
you
are
loved.
xxoo

Thursday, November 12, 2009

peaceful view...


... on my drive home tonight.
All's
right
with
the
world.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

duty. honor. country.



My Dad was in the Navy during the Korean War.
(This is him with my oldest daughter in the mid 80's.)
Thank you, Dad.
My brother joined the Marines the summer he graduated from high school.
Thank you, Brian.
My son-in-law served in the Coast Guard.
Thank you, Kenny.
Thank you to all who've served our country and
protected our freedom.
I
am
grateful.

Monday, November 9, 2009

how did she do it? 100 followers!


My sweet blogger friend, Jan @ bobbypinsboardwalk
 is hosting a giveaway to celebrate reaching 100 followers! 
All I can say is "WOW!"
Click on the link to see how easy it is to enter her drawing. 
And, as always, if I don't win, (I hope I do! I hope I do!) I hope you do!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

project learning tree

I spent the day today at Tower Hill Botanic Gardens
enrolled in a Project Learning Tree workshop. 

The weather could not have been more perfect. 
A brisk, delightfully sunny November day.

We learned different strategies for
teaching about tree identification,
and other aspects of environmental education
for kids grades K-8.
  I had never noticed a Witch Hazel Tree,

nor had I known about the blight of the American Chestnut.

I learned ways to identify trees in winter
by examining twigs and buds. 
And,
did you know?...

 A white pine has needles in clusters of five (W-H-I-T-E)
red pine needles in clusters of two,
(two ways to say "red," the color, and read (as in a book)) 
and pitch pine needles in clusters of three.
(The PITCH... then, 1-2-3 strikes you're out!)

We also participated in a Poet-TREE lesson.
 I learned a new type of poem...
A
~ windspark ~
has 5 lines with this pattern:
I dreamed
I was...(something or someone)
where
an action
and how 
...and I wrote one of my own.

 I dreamed
I was a flowering maple
In a tidy, manicured garden
Tossing crimson leaves into the air
Like a child.

Are you inspired
to take a
nature walk
or to
 write a poem
of
 your
 own?

Thursday, November 5, 2009

It's "Pandamonium!"

I thought I 'd post a few pics showing what we've been up to at school lately.
I teach first and second grade. 
We're studying different world "cultures" this year.
This first term we've been learning about China.

Of course, any study of China
would be incomplete without
featuring the panda.
"Pandamonium"
was a wonderful day of
fun and learning
about a unique creation of God. 
In math,
we weighed and measured to
determine how many kids it would take
 to equal the size of a Giant Panda,
and figured out how many hours a
panda had left to play and sleep
if they eat for 14 hours/day.
We made panda masks and
dioramas of pandas in their habitats,

  read books about pandas, sang panda songs,
decorated a panda snack,

 {Frosted sugar cookies w/ thin mint ears, junior mint eyes,
raisinette nose and tube frosting eye dots and mouth}
and had a panda scavenger hunt. 
(Panda babies know their moms by their scent.) 
Teams followed a specific scent as they looked for clues.
A prize was given when the mama panda was found!
The day wound down with a
panda movie and panda popcorn
(popcorn with gummie bears).
       Here's a pic of all the children
dressed in black and white
wearing the masks they made.
 
 Funny isn't it
how the faces all have different personalities
 even though
 all the parts
were
exactly
the
 same
  ?  

Sunday, November 1, 2009

trick or treat!


           My favorite little trick or treaters!
And a treat for you...
Here's the recipe I said I'd share for

Gramma's Peanut Butter Squares
      
Mix together:
2 c. graham cracker crumbs
2 c. confectioners sugar

Mix together and add:
1 c. creamy peanut butter
1 stick butter, melted

Press into ungreased 13" X 9" pan.
Press firmly and spread smoothly with a spoon.


Melt 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
 in microwave on high 1 to 3 minutes.  Stir.
Pour over mixture.
Refrigerate 'til set, 15 to 20 minutes.
Cut into squares as soon as set or they will crumble.
Embellish as the season dictates.
(I like to use... pansies and jellybeans in the spring,
little american flag picks for the 4th of July,
butter leaves and pumpkins in the fall,
kisses or snowflake candies in the winter,
peanut m&m's for birthday parties,
and candy kisses in seasonal colors for anytime!...
just to name a few!)
Easy and delicious!

ENJOY!