Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Time Flies

Hard to believe it is February already.  Looks like this year will be speeding by as quickly as last year.  Before we know it June will be here and with it Nick's graduation and the completion of Stef's sophomore year at Belmont.

Charlie is applying for and interviewing for jobs.  Stressful but unfortunately necessary.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Rainy Days

Lately we have been having quite a lot of rain.  I absolutely LOVE the rain.  It makes me so incredibly happy to see gray sky above.  My family thinks I am nuts.  Most of my friends think I am crazy.  I really don't care.  Give me rain! 

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Autumn is Around the Corner!

The cool mornings are back which can only mean one thing - autumn is right around the coroner. My favorite time of year! The leaves will change rapidly from here on out. Love that fall folige!

Jeremy, my nephew, stopped by on his way in from Las Vegas this morning. It was so good to see him. It is hard to believe that little boy I adored is now a 30-year-old man with two children of his own. Time certainly does fly.

I have been busy trying to get the house under control - a never ending process. I am enjoying baking cobblers with some delicious blueberries and blackberries my sister, Cindy, brought me. I share these with our sweet neighbors, Joyce and David.

Nick's senior year is well underway now, and he seems to be doing just fine. Stef is overloaded with work but loves learning so all will be well I am sure.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Speedy Summer

Why do the months of summer vacation go so much faster than all the other months of the year? Before I know it summer will be over and Stef will be back in Nashville while Nick will be starting his senior year of high school. Life just moves way too quickly for me sometimes!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Cold Weather, Good Company, and Good Food

Last night I made a lovely stew in an even lovlier Polish pottery roaster. Joining us for dinner were my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rob and Cec, and my good friend for practically forever, Neta. We enjoyed stew and biscuits and wine and lots of laughter. We talked of childhood memories of soups made by mothers eaten with crackers spread with butter and meatloaf and tuna casserole. Memories of so many wonderful meals made with love. It was a wonderful evening.

I love to feed people. It is one of the great joys of my life. I have thought often about ways to incorporate my love of cooking into a job. Prior to the economy going south, I thought about offering personal meal service for busy professionals and moms (or dads) who just need a break from the everyday demands of preparing dinner for themselves and/or their families. Unfortunately, before I could work out all the logistical issues associated with this, the economy took a nose dive, and I knew that my service would be one that people would not utilize in these tough times. I have long dreamed of owning and operating a bed and breakfast. This is still a possibility at some point in the future when the economy picks back up.

Guess it is a good thing I love dishes since I also love to feed people!

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. ~~ Voltaire

Friday, January 1, 2010

What makes me . . .

What makes me love dishes so very, very much? I have no earthly idea unless it is genetic as my mom too loves beautiful dishes. I truly love everything that goes into a home but most especially anything I can use in the kitchen and dining room. My friends and family tease me about my dish habit, but I just cannot seem to get enough! From Polish pottery shopped for and sent by my dear friend, Ginger, to simple items in basic white from Pottery Barn - I love them all. Every year I find something from a potter at Art in the Park; a bowl, a mug (or 2), a baking dish, etc. My latte bowls in a stunning aqua from anthropologie make my heart SING! I get such joy from setting the table with my many lovely dishes. In the summer I love to have friends over and use my seashell plates with clamshell salad plates and beautiful aqua hurricane glasses from Pottery Barn for dinner. I can almost feel the sand between my toes and taste the salty ocean air when we sit down for dinner. My friend, Neta, says it is like going on a tropical vacation when she joins us for these seaside themed meals.

I am addicted to cookbooks as well. I received 3 new cookbooks this Christmas! I love to look at them for hours (when I should be cleaning), and I love trying new recipes out of them. I have shelf upon shelf of cookbooks; each one a treasured friend.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Life Happens

My nephew and niece-in-law brought a new life into this world on December 8th. She is darling and looks much the same as her big sister did upon arrival. There simply is nothing as wonderful as a new little person. Being able to see and touch a miracle is miraculous!

I remember when my children were babies. They were so lovely. The best smell ever to me is the smell of a baby fresh from the bath, so clean and soft. I used to do all sorts of crazy things just so I could hear them giggle. Baby giggles are the best!

Our daughter arrives home from college on Wednesday, and we cannot wait. Her cat is counting the days with a bit of help from us. I wrote 3 More Days! on a Post-it note and then took a picture of S'More holding the note with the cell phone camera and sent it to Stefanie. She says she now expects a count down from S'More so we will be repeating this process a few more times. The poor kitty may need counseling before all is said and done!

Still have a few more gifts to get, but we have completed all the shopping for our charitable giving and turned in all the goodies. It is the best part of the Christmas season for me.