thankful

From my vintage post card collection, a fun Tuck's card.
I am thankful to have my whole family sitting in the great room watching "Up." I will join them soon.

memory support

After too many near misses of events and appointments, finally broke down and bought this datebook for upcoming year. Without the help of my friends, I would have missed several fun things this past year or so. I always think I can keep it all straight in my head but obviously can't. Really like this. Has a wonderful quote for each month and I especially like this one on the cover. Made me think of friends and acquaintances or just people in some capacity in my life who have taught me or helped me on the journey that is life.

re do

Seriously planning to do some things in the great room. We've lived here for 15 years and things are really looking dated. I am scouting around a little bit for a television stand of some sort and rugs. Really like this piece from Crate and Barrel.

Love this table with big deep storage compartments but alas, don't think tables are in the works.

Totally fell for this rug but afraid would not look good with tile. Love many of the rugs made by this company, Momeni. Going to do a lot more looking before decision making.

Favorite things

Another of my favorite lunch places is Zinc Bistro located at Kierland Commons. I met my friend Michaele there today for lunch. We had a good time and a nice long chat. I am saddened that Michaele and her husband Rob are planning to move back to Portland as soon as they can sell their house. She is a wonderful friend to me and I am going to miss her fiercely. I will just have to enjoy her company as long as I can.

Here is our lunch. In my case delicious and in Michaele's her comment was," Never order the hamburger in here." It looked good but she said it was dry and too thick to eat as a sandwich. I had the crab, pickle, lime and chopped egg salad which is a repeat for me and quite tasty.

The decor is meant to look like a French bistro and since I've never been to one, I wouldn't know but it does do a nice job of looking old and established and warm and welcoming.

This big lighted Eiffel tower sits in the middle room. I have a secret yen to have it for a yard ornament. That would really bring out the HOA.

oh, joy!

Today I had my whole house cleaned and the windows washed and it was wonderful!

Cloudy-NO chance of meatballs

First off, just thought this was cute. Sat by this little fashionista at church this morning. Her mommy says that grandmother buys the girls lot of clothes. Not sure how much I care for a 3 yr. old dressed in black but have to say her ensemble was smashing.

Was talking to one of my friends this week about growing up and got on the subject of what we ate. When my sister and I were girls, we had a mom who was one of the best cooks and bakers ever. Her cookies were works of art. However, Mona and I always got really excited over prepared, frozen and canned things. Swanson TV dinners were an infrequent treat. On occasion, we got to split a can of spaghetti and meatballs. I was always a fan of saving the best for last and savoring my food. Not so my sister. One lunch time we had carefully divided the mushy spaghetti and given each person their alloted meatballs. She scarfed up her meatballs and I carefully ate around mine savoring how wonderful they would be. I left to go to the bathroom and when I came back she had eaten all 7 of my meatballs. I was enraged. However it didn't change a thing about the way I still make myself practice delayed gratification. That incident sure made an impression on me as it happened about 55 years ago and is still fresh in my mind. I love you, Mona.

I like 14

I like the number 14. It is my birthdate as well as my mom's my daughter's and my aunt's. I had a very pleasant day. First, I took some things to the Happy Valley Goodwill and then went in the store to shop. I could not stop putting things in my cart. I found 2 brand new black tops along with quite a few other delightful tops and blouses. A lovely piece of Nambe with the sticker still on it and a Hometown puzzle of the Oshkosh air show.

A gift for my friend Linda because we like baking pans and I feel every home needs a square angel food pan. Plus a brand new copy of The Daring Book for Girls. Finally just had to force myself to quit. Walked out with 2 more bags than I took in. Nothing makes me happier than a really good thrift shopping day.

Next I stopped by Trader Joe's and bought cut flowers to make the church arrangements for tomorrow. Then by Keira's house where her mommy and daddy had said I could get some palm fronds. This little curly top is only 2 months away from her 3rd birthday. She is a lively and fun little girl.

The altar flowers for tomorrow. Three heads of ornamental kale is the focal point of each.
Also we had a delicious dinner tonight of pasta with pesto sauce and shrimp. Used the whole bunch of basil for the sauce and it was mighty fine. I am now ready for bed feeling content.

bygone days

Yesterday at the Goodwill I found this old Watkins recipe book. It was only $1.99. I remember Boyd Ott used to sell Watkins products in Middletown. You can now buy a few Watkins items at Walmart.

The cook book is marked and falls open right at this page. It belonged to Mrs. George Fijalka and was published in 1936. I wonder which of these pies the Fijalkas enjoyed the most often. I wonder where they lived.

This childishly handwritten recipe was in between the pages.I love finding things like this, makes my day.

day 12

Not much happening here. I am just a goofy old woman having a good evening.

Veteran's Day

I am still proud of my favorite USAF veteran. This was taken 40 years ago when he was in Lai Khe, S. Viet Nam.

He was a forward air controller based with the army flying an OV-10. I am thankful for all men and women who have served and are presently serving our country.

a Tuesday outing

Today I attended a fund raiser for the P.E.O. chapter of which my EfM mentor Karen is the president. It was called Simply Elegant Cooking. There were 4 presenters showing appetizers and some sweets. It was held in a gorgeous home in Paradise Valley. Here chili chicken tarts are being shown.

This is Karen making "white trash", a concoction of white chocolate coated pretzels, Chex cereal and nuts.

After the demonstations, we tasted the items. Clockwise from top- stuffed apricots, chili chicken tart, eggplant bruschetta appetizer, pizza bites and proscuitto wrapped shrimp on pesto. Everything was very tasty.

A section of the lovely yard. A very enjoyable time.

Yummmm!

Crumb top apple pie hot from the oven. Company for dinner tomorrow night. Don't bake much anymore so always a little nervous but this one looks and smells great.

Happy Birthday Mona!

Mona and I taken at Taylor Pitts in Greenview. She is about 2 and I am 6 years older. Her dress was red with white smocking and my was dark pink with nubby things.

A very pretty picture of Mona. She was wearing a brown jumper with pink striped blouse. I loved this outfit on her.

This is 1960 so she is 7 and I am 13. This was just before some kind of school program.

This is one of my very own images taken this past June when we were back home together. Love you very much Mona and wish for you a great year, your big goofy sister.

Creating

Red prayer beads made for a friend who is moving to Kansas. Pearl set for a bride.

Dish towels part of shower gift for this same bride. And below is my first attempt at making a card inspired by watching my daughter Becky. Surprisingly I was very happy with the way this turned out.

fun Friday

My friend Linda and I had a fun outing today. I met her at Fashion Square and she drove us over to Phoenix for some shopping and lunch. We read the Jaimee Rose blog from the PHX newspaper and she writes a lot about area shops and restaurants. We started out at Flo's on 7th which is the nicest Thrift Shop in town. I got a great pair of taupe Eileen Fisher pants which turned out to be 50% off. Lucky. We had lunch at this restaurant located in an old florist shop and appropriately named "My Florist." It could easily become my new favorite rstaurant.

We shared this turkey Brie sandwich and each had a cup of soup. Mine was pumpkin spice bisque and probably one of the tastiest soups I have ever eaten. Linda had mushroom Brie. I had a taste and it was also yummy.

This shop is Paris Envy. Pretty shop but not much I would ever buy. Linda did covet some pink cloth print thumb tacks but didn't care for their price. Besides we always think we can make most things ourselves.

Another shop we really liked was the Purple Lizard. Reminded me a lot Of Picante in Tucson. Linda got a great pair of shoes and oh, wow, we both got lots of ideas. A really nice outing.