what the heck?

After the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, I thought I would check blog land.  Yes, I have a million other things I could be and should be doing, but.......I open my blog and I hear firework sounds in the background!  Nothing else is open on my computer, no itunes, no pandora, nope, nada, nil, nothing...just fireworks??????

a picture is worth a thousand words~

some kids like him....

some kids don't...

this little pixie clearly was having nothing to do

with Jolly ole' St. Nick

Merry Christmas

~*~



surprise!

it was a day of celebration

a surprise of the best kind

a group of women that have been

a part of each others lives

from a few years to fifty two years

and

we all came together

to celebrate my daughters

30th birthday

we shared a lunch of

chicken salad

egg salad

veggie & dip

cheese & crackers

fresh fruit with creme fraiche

yummy homemade cookies

&

of course

a sparkly pink cake

we dined on antique pink dishes

linen tableclothes & napkins

(which my son ironed for me!)

with a touch of silver & crystal

we sipped tea from pretty teacups

& enjoyed ice tea from crystal goblets

~the birthday girl~

~the birthday gang~

a very special thank you to the girls

for making the day so special

~*~

good night~

Happy 13th Birthday Miss Tori~

ahhhh, 13

there is something magical about being

*~13~*

it's one of those birthdays that you look forward to

a rite of passage

one of many milestones

the beginning of fun teenage years to come

~*~

wishing you a magical fun filled day

Happy Birthday Adam!

wishing you a very

happy birthday adam!

 deppen family picture 09

just a few of my favorites~

our day began, not with traditional pictures

but a ultrasound dvd and ultrasound pictures of our grandaughter

who is due to arrive in april

it was a 3D ultrasound

and the view was amazing!

we watched her rub her little eyes

suck her tiny little thumb

move about & flip & flop

so very, very sweet

we can't wait to meet her!

then of course

our thoughts turned to food

we enjoyed veggie soup, homemade bread & salad

then off to the woods to take pictures

we took pictures...lots & lots of pictures

we finished the day with more food

warm molasses cookies

(well of course we did, it's a family thing, it's what we do)

yummmmmmmy

~*~



blue eyes~

A birthday brunch & some family pics~

we popped the strata in the oven

and headed to the woods

for some family photos

we took several pictures

then came in for

strata, homemade cinnamon rolls & fried apples

the kids had fun posing

the parents.....not so much

~*~

just a girl & her grampy~

happy day after your birthday Shannon!

*the oldest*

the child i have known the longest

the child i was to practice my first mothering skills upon

the first person to call me mom

the first to lose teeth

the first child i had to leave at kindergarten

the first one to play an instrument

(and played it very well i might add)

the first one to drive a car

(shouldn't those permit packs come with a perscription for valium and a bottle of wine for the parents?

the first to...

                                                                               

 go on a date

 go out with girlfriends

go to the movies

&

the mall

the first to get grounded

the first to have big hair & jeans with  holes (on purpose!)

the first to proudly do the highschool graduation walk

the first 

to get a job

 go to college

 get married

the first child to leave home

while there have been many other "first" with this, the oldest child

these are the first that stand out the most on this day

~*~

happy 34th birthday shannon



cookie tuesday & barbara is back~

mexican hot chocolate cookies

from

martha's cookie jar

featured in

everyday food

if you haven't tried this recipe

i highly recommend it

it's a good cocoa cookie

rolled in a mixture

of

cinnamon

sugar

and chili powder, yes, chili powder!

i almost omitted the chili powder as

it was optional

i'm glad i didn't

if you would like the recipe

you can find it here

mexican hot chocolate cookies

we enjoyed these cookies

with a few pots of tea

at our tuesday knitting group

we're happy to welcome back

barbara

she summers in canada then

joins us in the fall & winter

we enjoy hearing

all about her adventures

and

to see what is in her knitting basket

~*~

a date in the woods~

the hubs & i have been

busy

busy

busy

so....

we decided to slow things down a bit

we have a little spot in our woods

where on occasion

we go to hide

we hide from

the

dogs

our cellphones

chopping wood

paying bills

computers

laundry

cooking & cleaning

etc,etc,etc

we enjoyed a meal made on the fire pit

of

bbq ribs

fingerling potatoes

brussel sprouts

(wondering if brussel has one L or two)

&

a bottle of rodeo red

it was

yummy

peaceful

quiet

dark

relaxing

and

just what we needed after a busy week

~*~

Peek a boo~

the little pixie came for play time a few days ago

she loves this little barn with all it's animals

she especially loves when I catapult the farmer off his

bed and into the barnyard

makes her giggle everytime

*giggles*

one of the many joys

of being a

"nana"

~*~



great recipes & a giveaway ~

                                                                 

        

sherri over at little house in paradise

is having a giveaway

for

barefoot contessa's

newest cookbook

"how easy is that"

stop by her blog & enjoy 

the recipes her readers have submitted

&

get the details

on how to

be part of the fun

~*~

Thanks a bunch!

Cathy over at Knitting with Beer

gave my little blog this sweet award

~*my first award*~

thanks Cathy!

I'm to pay it forward to other bloggers

this is a list of a few blogs i enjoy

~*~

my every day graces

a life sustained

elsewhere living

little house in paradise

lola nova

The Barkers

simple thoughts

A feathered nest

the blankie chronicles

a friend to knit with

crazy aunt purl

ecomilf

eckenrode family sewing

twodogsandaquilt

snickerdoodles & scarecrows~

every tuesday i go to a knitting group

at our local library

cookie baking is part of my tuesday ritual

as knitting and cookie eating go hand in hand

more often than not

we eat as much as we knit

this week the cookie of choice

is snickerdoodles

this particular recipe is from my

daughter in law

ashlie

she has a sweet little blog and

i'm sure she would love a visit from you

the barkers

~*~

 

welcome october~

                                         this picture is from earlier this year, unlike today

                                                                           which is

gray

rainy

blustery

put on a pot of soup

light a candle

watch movies

& knit

sort of day

happy cozy sunday

~*~

Yeah!!!! I won!!!!

sherri over at

little house in paradise

was having a give away a few weeks ago

and

I WON!!!!



the cover alone made me drool

and

the pages inside did not disappoint

i've already chosen a few projects

and

 plan to share the book

with our library knitting group

a very special

"thank you"

to

sherri

for her thoughtfulness

~*~

The end of a busy week~

It's been a bit hectic this past week

my friends Ann & Shane

have a son

~Josh~

their only son

Josh & Sarah were married this past Saturday

Ann & Shane planned for the most beautiful rehearsal dinner

to be held at their home 

I was lucky to spend a few days with Ann

helping her with party prep for Josh & Sarah's rehearsal dinner

Anyone who knows Ann

 (and I'm lucky to be one of those people)

knows if she is planning a party

it will be spectacular

in every way!

She truely missed her calling as a event planner

not only did she & her hubs shane prepare

most all of the food

they

decorated

&

did all the floral arrangements

for the rehearsal dinner & the wedding

everyone that was a part of

this event

was in for a treat

as a thank you for helping ann with the party prep

she gifted to me the most beautiful flower arrangement

in a beautiful silver pitcher

what do you think Kathy?

be silly sweet to me

i'll consider letting

you borrow it

~*~