JUST A COOKING

It is always fun to spend time with a very special friend.  We don't get to see each other often with things like distance, jobs and our devotion to our families. But this past weekend was another story.  She had called and asked it I could help with cooking for her nephew's wedding rehearsal dinner.  So of course I said, YES!  What better way to get together but food.

We did a taco bar with salads and then a fabulous dessert bar.  Of course we didn't have anything to do with the dessert bar, her sister is the champion in that department.

We spent the majority of the day chopping, gabbing, frying, gabbing, mixing, gabbing and more gabbing.  I think you get the idea we talked a lot. Amazing we got anything ready on time.

Here we go again with my lack of photo skills but I think you will get the idea. Too bad I didn't take the pictures with all the wrapping off!

I have to brag here for the food turned out fantastic!  We got a request to do a wedding reception in November.  Were thinking, haven't committed!

Can you believe these wonderful looking tarts and brownies?  They were out of this world with yummyness!!!  I know, not a word but they were that good!


My sweet friend made all of us cooks and family, her Mom and sisters aprons!  We just loved them!

So we had to do the lineup things to capture our aprons!  

Great memories were made last Saturday and so much laughter that my stomach hurt!!

Enjoy June

LAUNDRY

Do you love doing laundry?  I don't mind it when the sun is out.  You see I love to hang my laundry out on the clothes line to dry.  I love the fresh scent, especially my sheets.  In the summer time I love plain white cotton sheets on my bed.   I also like to hang my towels outside.  I know some of you want the softness that comes drying in a hot dryer.  But me, I love the scratchiness of a towel that has been hanging outside.  It just seems to satisfy that all over itch I get from showering.  

So when ever I get the chance I hang my towels outside, like this morning.  They were pretty much dry before I headed to work.  I only have one clothesline that goes from the house to the garden shed so no big loads can go on it.  I'm thinking of putting in another line with a pulley as my sister suggested.

I love my little laundry cart.  I picked it up a year ago at the Farm Chick Sale and have been using it ever since.  It also works great when you take a load out of the dryer and can wheel it to your table to start folding. Oh to have the luxury of a folding table in a laundry room.

It even has a little pouch for clothes pins.  That way I can keep them all rounded up.  My clothes pins have a tendency of running off.  It couldn't be my fault?

I hope everyone is enjoy their summer and sunshine!  I sure am!!

Enjoy June

BUSY, BUSY

Is this summer flying by or what? I've been a busy beaver trying to get some much needed projects done.  They sure aren't glory project though.  It is called cleaning the garage and garden shed.  How does one let it get so out of hand.   It has taken me two weekends of pulling everything out and sorting into three piles.  The piles were called, Goodwill, Dump and Keep.  The object was to have the Keep the smallest pile.  I'm not sure I accomplish that but at least you can walk in the garage now.  I was too embarrassed to show you any pictures of the work in progress. I can only hope I am not alone in this. Here is the scary part I live by myself so it is all me who created this disaster.

This is the garden shed I cleaned.  After looking at this pictures I've decided a few things.  The shrub needs a haircut  and I need to paint the door to give it some character. Got any suggestions, red, orange, yellow????

I'm not really sure why I am showing you  a picture of the dump trailer loaded except to prove to you and myself I really did throw!  You see I have this problem of throwing.  My thought pattern is always I may need this later.  That old swing set frame is off to the scrap metal place.  It had seen better days and "I don't need it".

I have been working on a sitting area on the back patio.  It's starting to come together but something is missing.  One thing that needs to be changed out is the little rug.  I just wanted something for my feet and it was all I had in my stash, since I cleaned.  I will be keeping my eye out for the right size and color.

I took these pictures early in the morning before the sun was up and the skies were a little cloudy.  Wow, does everything look drab.  Yes, I'm a color person.

I picked up this old tractor seat a year ago and at the time I didn't know what I was going to do with it.  It was one of those, I like that, I think I need that!  So now it makes a wonderful plant hanger.

I acquired this brown wicker chair recently and I am still in the debate.  Should I leave it brown or paint it white.  For now it is staying brown.  For those of you that have followed my blog for awhile, you will notice the arbor in the back ground is still not finished.  Oh to be energetic and get projects completed.

It's another week and more projects, cleaning, canning and garden tending need to be done.  So I best get with it or at least get ready for work!  Keep enjoying your summer for it is going fast!

Enjoy June

GRANDDAUGHTERS

Grand kids are so much fun!  After spending  some time with girlfriends it was back to normal.  But I had some granddaughter that were missing me.  So I thought it was time to do a few simple things with them.  First it was up to my daughters to visit.  My oldest granddaughter lives a few hours away so she was missing for the activities.  So first it was the three at my daughters to make cookies.

Emily and Paige are already to start.  They put apron on that I had made several years ago. Yes, there hair is wet from being out in the pool.

Ashley has joined them now and it is just a teaspoon, each taking their turn. 

Is it time for the eggs yet?  My daughter has the patience for this cookie making adventure. Of course I didn't show the picture of the chocolate chips going in since we tend to overdose on them.  YUM!!

On Saturday it was sleep over time at my house.  First it was 5 grand kids playing until evening when parents took three of them home.  Ashley and Emily got to spend the night and stay up way too late, hee-hee!

Soon it was morning and breakfast time.  Yes, you are really seeing what the photo shows.

A bowl of canned whip cream.  Can you believe this Grammy served them this???  I have to blame this one on their Daddy for he squirts it directly in the mouths.  They think it is really a treat.

It's Emily with her bowl, jammies and watching cartoon.  Don't forget we have our special blanket that goes everywhere with her.

I think Ashley looks a little more wide awake with her bowl of whip cream.  Now that you think I'm a horrible Grandmother for feeding only whip cream for breakfast - we really did have chicken shaped pancakes and eggs.    But I went for one of my favorite this time of the year.

It is my favorite 5 grain cereal with picking fresh raspberries and blueberries to add in.  Another YUM!

It's been warm so before they went home I got out the tiny pool and set it up so they could think they were swimming at Grammie's house! 

I've had this little pool for many years and it is amazing how much fun they have.  Sometimes it is the simplest things we do to create memories with our grand children. 

I hope you are creating you own special memories!

Enjoy June

Oh What a Day or Weekend

Or should I say "How fun was 6 days"? I had a fabulous time with 10 girlfriends!!  We traveled to Lake Chelan, WA for a girls getaway!!!

The weather was absolutely beautiful, in the mid eighties the entire time. We did a lot of walking, laying in the sun, eating - what great cooks we are!! Our house we stayed at fit us perfectly.

Humm, Do you think Shirley has an itch as she nears our home away from home.

I did mention food!!  We split into teams and let me clue you the meals were out of this world.  When you asked for recipes you got the normal, a little of this and a pinch of this and don't forget a scoop of this.  Of course I had to try everything, scales we won't take about that!

We took in a Wine Hike!  It was a wonderful time walking the hills of Icicle Ridge Winery in Peshastin, WA.( go ahead figure out how to pronounce)   We learned a lot about this family own business.

It has a beautiful log cabin for it's tasking room.  The inside was fantastic!

Isn't this a pretty setting for a vineyard?  This is the backside of the tasting room.  So we were off for our hike.  Yes, up the hillside we went.

We were up in the pear orchard.  They also grow fruit beside their vineyard.  They are experimenting with growing a pear in a bottle so they can add wine later. With my photo skills that picture didn't turn out so we have to skip that!

Then it was on to the vineyard and more lovely views!!  Of course by this time we have sampled wine from wine trees, really!  But with all the walking we built up an appetite.

It was a wonderful lunch up on the ridge.  We met lots of new friends for we were encouraged to split our group up.  My new best friends Monty & Johnny were so fun!

The ridge overlooked the Wenatchee River and we got to watch rafters floating by.  We also yelled "Water Fall Ahead".  I wonder how many took us seriously! One thing I almost forgot about the vineyard.

I found my pick up!  I wonder if they would notice it missing!!  Oh I can dream and hope someday to drive off into the sunset in my old Chevy!

We ended our day a the winery with more scenic walking.  Didn't I tell you we got a lot of walking in!

It was a great day to be with friends.  But the day wasn't over with for we headed to Leavenworth, WA.  I'll save that for another days post.

One of the highlights of my weekend is I finally got to check off wave running or Ski Doo on the Lake from my bucket list.

I'm getting ready to head out.  Yes, I was a little cautious at first.  Keeping my speed down and getting the feel of the Ski Doo.  But then!

Look out a hold lot of Lake to explore and speed!!!!!!  OM Gosh was it fun!!  I will do this again when given a chance!!

The evenings on the Lake were very peaceful and quiet.  Some of the days we had clouds move in to made it a pretty sky.

Of course with my handy dandy crappy camera I couldn't quite capture the colors. But trust me it was beautiful.

Do you want to know the best part about this extended weekend????????????

It was GIRLFRIENDS!!!!!!!!!  Such an amazing group of gals!  Like the saying goes - If you don't think you need a girlfriend, you haven't found the best one yet.  I found a whole group of them!!

Enjoy your girlfriend time,
June

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