Spring Like Day...

Today was Rusty's Spa Day...smile... He was definitely in need of a bath! And he, of course just loves it...playing with the other puppies and getting Pampered by the staff. Isn't he just a big HAM?? He's use to me taking pictures of him.. 

It was a nice day...and got up to 53 degrees..yeah! I could hear the birds singing and just knew 'spring' really is just around the corner. smile... However, that being said...we are to get rain tomorrow then turning to snow on SONday. But we captured the beautiful day by grilling steak and potatoes out on the Big Green Egg! (I should say Tom did this!!) Tom's sister came over for lunch and we had a nice visit....

But I did do something..ha...I made this pie. I used what I had on hand and it turned out pretty good! So thought I'd share the recipe with you if you'd like to try it.

 Berry Pie

1 graham cracker crust

¼ c boiling water

1 (3 oz.) pkg. Black Cherry Jello

1 Cherry Orchard yogurt

1 Black Berry Harvest yogurt

1 (8 oz.) ctn. Cool-Whip

Instructions:

Dissolve Jello in boiling water. Use a wire whisk and combine yogurt and Jello. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread into crust and chill about 2 hours. Easy!

I hope you had an amazing day!!! 

more as it happens here in the city..........

Doctor...Doctor...what did you say??

This is what Tom grilled Sunday for dinner! Farm...grass fed beef, fresh tomatoes, cheese, lettuce and sauteed onions. Yumm... Ever notice how onions taste so much sweeter when they are sauteed? I have an issue (me and my stomach!) with fresh onions...this way I get the wonderful flavor of onion, with out any after taste!

Then last night our friends brought over the finished 'pickled beets'! Aren't they beautiful?? Tom said they are 'amazing' and some of the best he has ever had. These people are so nice, and she is just a wonderful cook. We wanted to pay her something for all her work, but she said "no...just make a donation to the church!" Now isn't that sweet? A true Christian...

When we headed to the heart Doctor's office early this morning, I saw this 'heart' quilt hanging on the wall. It was so pretty and beautifully quilted. It looked like children's drawings that were scanned onto material. I've heard of this...and love the idea! Have you seen this done before or have you done it? I'd love to hear from you on this! We were glad to hear the good news from the doctor that Tom is fine, and doesn't have to go back for another year! Yeah!

We made it home by noon and missed the worst heat of the day, the heat index was 100! Tomorrow will be 'hot' also. We plan to stay in and hopefully...stay cool...smile...

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

April 22, 1940: We washed. It rained before the clothes were dry. It rained all day. Jack didn't get home. They started grating the road.

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more as it happens here in the city...................

"Fun Day and Recipes"

I finally put out a few Fall decorations this week... (about time huh?) smile...

This was our dessert today... "Better-Than-Almost-Anything Cake" I thought it was an old recipe, as I'd never made it and found it in amongst some 'old' recipes... However, I looked it up on line tonight and found it was one the most requested recipe in 2011! Dahh...someone must have given it to me this year! smile... Senior moment...

We also made Marmalade Chicken Kabobs, which I forgot to take a picture of...(sorry) but will share the recipe another day.. it's kind of long and I'm tired tonight after a busy day...smile... But I will share this salad recipe with you. smile...

Cookie Salad

2 pkg. vanilla instant pudding

2 cups buttermilk

1 ctn. (8 oz.) Cool Whip

2 (sm.) cans mandarin oranges

Fudge-striped cookies

Mix the pudding and buttermilk (can make this by adding 1 tsp. white vinegar to 1 cup milk and let it set for 5 minutes.) together. Fold in Cool Whip and drained oranges. Just before serving, add crumbled fudge-striped cookies.

This salad was so yummy...and cool to the taste!    

How was your day? Ours of course was busy....cooking and eating...laughing and enjoying our company!! I also Skyped with Brenda, Ashley and Amanda..(remember I told you Brenda and Amanda were going over to visit Ashley!!!) So it has been a wonderful fun day!!!



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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

November 24, 1936:

Doyle came after me to go to Crabb's to sit. I was in bed. it was eleven o'clock. I went to Vera's and had my hair fixed with a roll over the top.

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more as it happens......

Look What Was in my In-Box Today!

Beautiful Lorelai was on my cell phone this morning! What a welcoming surprise! She is so beautiful and can you believe, a whole month old today...Wow where does the time go?? God is so good...just when I needed a boost there she was! smile.... Do you ever have that happen to you?? It's amazing....it's a God thing for sure..........

Tom was outside working this morning.. he opened his box to check for some grilling tools! Look what he found...I believe it is an old wasp nest...Yikes! Maybe that is why we had such a "hot" summer and he didn't get in there when this nest was full of wasps!!! (Thank you  Jesus!)

I am 'always' looking out our window in search of something magical, such as a unique bird or butterfly! Often the butterflies flitter and flutter around so fast...and never stay landed long enough for me to get a good shot!.. But today...this lovely little butterfly landed on our deck chairs and stayed and stayed...until I got these great shots out the window!! smile.... Isn't God good???? And aren't theses butterflies beautiful???

Of course I had to take a few pictures of flowers...smile... Here are a couple shots of our chrysanthemums almost in full bloom...smile... They remind me of fall with their rust colors. Can't wait to show you what they look like when they are in full bloom!! smile...

We did get to go for a short walk this afternoon...I wasn't doing as well today..so it was a short one. But we saw our neighbor, along with her little baby  and her sister. She has a dog, a large poodle by the name of "Gretel"...and Rusty absolutely doesn't like her! So a frenzy of barking ensued...smile....

What did you all do today? Are you seeing any signs of fall in your area??? If so what are they?

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

November 22, 1936:

Went to church. Bernidine came down this afternoon. Bob was here too.

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more as it happens....

Blessed SONday dear friends....

This morning we woke early...as you can see by this sunrise... but later took a nap...smile...

Yesterday Tom got this card from our granddaughter..Amanda...she made it for him for Father's Day, isn't it just so neat??? He was so pleased and called her today to 'thank her'...smile....

Yesterday at the Farmers Market we bought some Kohlrobi, have you ever had it?? It is yummy, we just sliced it and had it with a little salt. However, I saw a recipe using it with apple as a slaw. sure looked tasty..smile...

We went for a ride yesterday and took Rusty....now he wasn't a very good boy, since we never take him (except to the vet or the groomers), so I thought maybe we could do this more often in short trips...and maybe...just maybe he will be a little less crazy!!!

We took some pillows and a comforter up to this laundry to be washed!!! Don't you just love this sign?? "Drop your pants here and you will get our prompt attention!" smile...

Be sure to check out the great "Give-Away's" on my sidebar...smile...

I sure hope you are having a blessed SONday and looking forward to celebrating the Fourth tomorrow. We will be having burgers on the grill, sweetcorn and watermelon for dessert...smile.. What will you be having for lunch tomorrow???

Finally used out new Kitchenaide Mixer!!

I was a little afraid to use our new mixer...Tom had been playing with it a little so he just kept saying lock this...turn on here etc... So, after I started adding the ingredients, I thought "wow, I like this"...smile... We made a batch of "Oatmeal Chocolate Chip" cookies..they are amazing!!! It's just a normal recipe..but if you'd like I'll share it with you!!

We woke up this morning to an overcast cloudy day...I thought it was suppose to be warmer..but it ended up being windy and cold..frown.. I really wanted to go out for a walk but thought better of it, plus I woke up with a sinus headache...

Yesterday and again last night Rusty spilled his water (we just used a margarine plastic bowl)...Tom was so upset with him...but then calmed down and went to Petco today and bought him a new water dish! As you can see... it's big...blue and is a rubber skid proof bowl. Rusty was so afraid of it...he just growled and growled at it...smile.. but we finally got him to drink from it!!!

Tom grilled some baby back ribs today. We have been really hungry for them and now have lots of them to eat..smile... Don't you love this?? Rusty watching him out the window...

Don't they look yummy??? Well, they are!!

Be sure and check out the new 'give away' party that they are having over at the "Prairie Flower Farm"... Her blog and give aways are always amazing....she is a beautiful, God loving woman!!

What kind of a weekend are you having??? Good and productive I hope!! Don't forget to "spring forward" tonight....

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

August 22, 1936:

Cleaned up the house. Rode the bicycle up to Abe's. Talked to Wilfred and Allen. Mama went to Hallies. Hallie has been thinking about getting me to work for her. Baked cakes and pies.

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more as it happens.........

Baking and Grilling.......

Today I woke up full of energy and an empty cookie jar...smile.. This week when we were at Sam's Club I saw these Craisins and remembered just how good they are to snack on!! Then when I got home and read the recipes on the back of the package, the cookies..caught my eye!! smile... of course you all know 'I love cookies'...I've even labeled myself as a "Cookie Monster"...smile... I was busy baking cookies..with Tom's help of course. I noticed when I was mixing the dough that my mixer wasn't working right... we discovered the mixer blades were bent. Later I will tell you what happened to them... Anyway...sounds like I will have to get a new one!!  Anyone have any suggestions?

Here is the recipe:

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups old-fashioned oats
1 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ¼ cups Craisins Dried Cranberries
2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions mixing well after each addition. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks or chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Makes approximately 2 ½ dozen cookies.

As I said Tom decided to grill out today!! And it smelled and tasted amazing!!!! It has been quite awhile since he has been able to wade through the snow to get to his grill on the deck!!! smile.... But with such a warm day today..42 degrees (yeah!) it was perfect for grilling..

And since I had the oven running baking those cookies, then Tom making those yummy sweet potato fries, we have even had the door and window open and oh my does that fresh air smell soooo good. You know what nasty cold weather we've had these last few weeks it's hard to believe having a day like today...smile...

And then Tom left and came home with these beautiful flowers...for me for Valentine's day!! Aren't they just gorgeous??? Oh yes, did I tell you how amazing he is??? Smile.......



I had ordered one of these Valentine's apples (from the Animal Shelter) for Tom...we picked it up yesterday... so  now we are sharing our gifts...the flowers and the apple!!

How about you, what are you doing for Valentine's day??  Tell me please...I want to hear!!

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

August 4, 1936:

We ironed today. Has been trying to rain. Bob and Tony were here tonight but I was in bed.

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"I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done." Lucille Ball

more s it happens....

Not to Cold to Grill....

I woke up this morning to 1 below zero temperatures.... and when Tom said he was going to grill rib eyes for dinner, I thought "WHAT"???  ~smile~ But he said he'd be okay...he'd just dress warm and everything would be okay!! I said  well, why not just grill inside...but 'oh no' he had it in his head to use his Big Green Egg, so he dressed warm and went out, shoveled off the deck and patio and started grilling!! Course..when they were done, we savored each and every bite!!! They were delicious, even though I couldn't eat a whole steak, what I did eat was soooo filling and the left overs gave Tom something to munch on this evening!

Today I worked on cleaning up some pictures on my computer. I take so many pictures...but there are several that are really 'throw aways' and I should get rid of them right away, but....that is easier said then done..I just upload and look at them..then get busy doing something else and they are on my computer for ever....or until I clean them off (like I did today...smile...). Well, at least I did 3 months worth today!!!

How are you coming with your new years resolutions???

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

July 3, 1936:

Paul N. and I went by when Elaine and I were in bed. He yelled "Hello Grace Hi Elaine, why don't you get out of bed?" Made Lemon pies for dinner. Layed in the yard this afternoon. Saw Harold, Tiny, used chicken water to fill car. Asked us to help them crank. Saw Paul H. and Tiny asked us about 4th. Said they'd see us at Onawa. Cecil and Melvin came at same time. Went up to Crabb's field. Was on tractor.  Cecil, Elaine, Melvin and I drove through Luton. Saw Doyle. Went home with Elaine. Folks went to Bronson.

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"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made."Psalm 145:8,9

more as it happens.............

Cold out but went for a walk...

Our day started off quite 'chilly'...at 14 degrees! It was busy around here this morning, showering, stretching working on my newsletter! Tom was busy doing things this morning, then he fired up the "Big Green Egg" and grilled steaks for dinner today!  They were so big, I only ate about half of it...ha After lunch we went for a walk up the street (with my trusty camera in hand), as we walked past our new neighbors house I saw a glimmer of a kitty looking out the window!! ~smile~ Our mail lady said she saw the kitty at the window the other day.. (actually that is why I was looking at the window!) Don't you think the kitty looks unhappy?? Maybe because he/she was home alone...ha I can't wait to personally meet this kitty!!!

"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

June 5, 1936: 
It rained today. I have been cutting out things for my scrapbook. Granddad went to Mapleton and bought hogs.

"Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit." Proverbs 12:17

more as it happens.................

Where do I start??

Yesterday I heard from my daughter Brenda as her and husband were in Nashville for the CMA awards. This picture is of her by Elvis...in downtown Nashville! They spent a fun evening at John Rich's home I will post more pictures of that event while they were there later on this week or weekend! Her photos are beautiful, fun and amazing!! I know you just can't wait can you??? Something special to look forward to.

Now back to us...~smile~ after we went to therapy yesterday we stopped at WalMart, as Tom was busy looking for just the right place to park, I saw this sign with all these pumpkins...just had to share it with you!! 

And as I was sitting in the van waiting for Tom to come out of WalMart I spotted this sparrow sitting on the fire hydrant!! 

Later in the evening we went to our South Bottom's potluck and got home late so I just didn't have the energy to post on my blog. I had thought about doing it early this morning then do another one tonight...but here I am..doing just one tonight!

This morning as I let Rusty out I saw the sun glistening across the grass and realized there really was "frost on the yard"... the weather is changing..........  

Then again we heard Rusty barking as he was looking out the window and this is what we saw! Yes...the turkeys are back... This one was looking at Tom's BIG GREEN EGG and I'm sure he was thinking "No you are not going to grill me in there...." ~smile~ 

Then he looked at the pedestal (where the bird bath use to be) and am sure he wondered where the water went!!!!

About this same time our birds headed to the feeder... isn't it neat how their little feet just grab hold of the perch???

And of course this little Chick a dee was sitting on the railing of our deck. Now this is unusual that he sat long enough for a picture, normally they flit and flutter back and forth from the feeder to a tree branch... but I think he was posing just for me and my blog... ~smile~ 

My son Randy, took this picture while he was working at the airport. He said this plane was just in amazing condition! How beautiful it looked! Someone did a great job keeping this up!!

I hate to say this...but they are predicting *snow* for tonight, not much but maybe a little dusting. And now it begins.........:(  And Rusty goes to the groomer tomorrow and will get his picture taken after he is all prettied up! Can't wait...just in time for Christmas cards...

"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

May 21, 1936:
Received a $1.00 from Susan, $7.00 from Edith and this, Diary from Lucy today. Walked to Luton.

May 22, 1936:
Mama was sick today. Melvin came over after me to go to Climbing Hill play. He got Cecil. When we got over to Elaine's they phoned that there wasn't going to be one. We came over home. Nema and Madeline were with Daryle and Wilfred.

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." Henry Ford

more as it happens.............

Grace, my mother (Feb. 5,1918--November 10, 1991)

Wasn't she beautiful?? This is my mother when she was 18 years old, back in 1936! I found her diary from that year, it was a graduation gift from her Aunt Lucy. I thought I would write each day what she had wrote. So if I don't get anything else written at least you will hear what her life was like! I feel I must start on January 1st, 1936 the day she first began to write in it!

January 1, 1936

Went with Melvin and Elaine. High School boys played the Alumni. High School won. Francis was there. Frank was dressed up. Told me I had pretty hair asked if I had to get permanent. "Your the sweetest thing". Melvin and Elaine came in and ate candy.

 Today we were busy around the house. Tom worked out in the yard, mowing up our leaves. Oh yes, he was busy all day!! Our yard looks so beautiful tonight!!!

 As I was cleaning the front room, I looked out the window and saw this robin taking a drink from the bird bath!  So I grabbed my camera and took this shot! ~smile~ But did clean around the house!

Then later I made this for our table. Isn't it pretty? These are dried leaves that we gathered a few weeks ago.

Well, we are both pretty tired tonight, but feel good that we got so much done today.  

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23

more as it happens............