Time for a break...

I'm taking a little blog break.  I have some projects that I haven't had time to work on, so I'm going to devote a little time to that.  See you soon!

:)

Cooking Thursday

The recipe I have for you today is another oldie but a goodie.  It's one my mom used to make before I was married, so it has really passed the test of time.  It's so easy to make, and is a nice light meal for a hot day.

Deviled Ham Buns
2 cans deviled ham
2 tablespoons catsup
2 tablespoons mustard
4 tablespoons pickle relish
4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
8 hamburger buns, halved
Mix deviled ham, catsup, mustard, pickle relish and eggs together.  Spread onto bun halves and broil until browned to your liking.

Wordless Wednesday

Cutting Watermelon

I love fresh watermelon in the summer, and often have a bowl of it cut and ready to eat in the refrigerator.  What I don't like is the mess that's made cutting it up.  I'd seen a few ads for this new gadget that is a watermelon slicer and tongs both, and I decided to order one and try it out.



Here's a short video that shows how it works.

Here's what it looks like.

 First you slice the watermelon, right in the rind, using the cutting edge on the front.

Then you can take out each slice, using it like you would a pair of tongs.   The juice stays in the rind.  However, in my case, I still end up cutting it into cubes.   It is a pretty neat tool and is worth it on large melons, but for small ones, I just do it the old fashioned way.
I've seen these for a variety of prices; from $7.99 to $29.99.  I got mine for about $10 and it seems to work just fine.  So - I wouldn't pay the larger price for one, but if you see it on the cheaper end, you just might like it!

Weekend Report

 I hope you had a nice weekend.  Due to a shortage of nurses at my workplace, this was my first weekend off, after working the last 3, so I really enjoyed it!
I have to start with a few photos from Friday though.  I was driving to work when a deer ran across the road in front of me.  I slowed way down, because if there is one, there are usually more coming.  It was true in the case too.

It was a mama dear and this fawn wasn't far behind her.  I stopped on the road because the fawn was apparently scared by my car and kept running onto and then back from the road.  Thankfully it was a country road and no other cars were around.

After a few minutes it crossed over and ran off with it's mother.

I took this picture when I got to work, to show you the progress on the addition to our building.  It's been fun watching it go up and also quite amazing to see how fast some of it happens.


Bob and I went out for supper Friday evening, then picked up Alaina and Ruby for an overnight visit.  Before coming back to our house, we got groceries, which was a fun time with 2 kids on a busy Friday evening.  :)

When we got home, Bob went to put something away in our bedroom and I started to put groceries away.  When I started hearing squeals and laughter I had to see what was happening, and this is what I found.  Alaina said they were "playing on Grandpa".  He's just a big toy for them!

Saturday was a beautiful day for playing outside!

This picture pretty much sums up the two of them.  Alaina is trying to keep Ruby sitting still next to her, and Ruby is plotting her next move.  We just love those two!

We brought them home shortly before supper, and came home to a house that seemed very quiet.
Sunday was a calm day. We had a wonderful church service, and then a relaxing day.
Monday it's back to work for me.  Hope each of you had a nice weekend too!

Friday Funny

Cooking Thursday

I have a wonderful dessert to share with you today.  It's perfect for the summer when fresh fruit is available.  It's easy to make, light and refreshing and on top of that - it's fairly low in calories!

Triple Berry Trifle

1 - 11 ounce angel food cake loaf, cut into small cubes
2 small boxes instant vanilla sugar free pudding mix
3 cups milk
8 ounces Cool Whip thawed
strawberries, raspberries, blueberries
Place cubed angel food cake in trifle bowl, 9x13 pan or individual trifle bowls.
Mix pudding mix and milk together, stir in Cool Whip.
Pour pudding mix over angel food cake.
Place assorted berries over pudding mix.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours before serving.
* This can also be made with fresh peaches instead of berries.
* 10 servings - if made using sugar free pudding and skim milk, each serving has 205 calories.

Wordless Wednesday

Here's what's blooming!

We've got a lot going on in our garden right now. I took a walk out there to share the blooms with you!

We have a few varieties of lavender blooming.  They smell so good!

 Lots of yellow blooms!  This is yellow yarrow.

These are some of our favorites.  They are Stella de'Oro lilies.  They are shorter than most lilies and seem to bloom longer.

I don't remember where we got these, but we were told they were buttercups. They are small, but cheery!

Another one we aren't sure of but think it's yellow pachysandra.

 Our little bird feeder in our wooded side yard, with more yellow flowers that someone gave us.  :)

This is a ground cover that is currently blooming - it's dragons blood sedum.

A few varieties of lilies.

This is an oak leaf hydrangea.  These flowers don't change color like a regular hydrangea, but they are pretty anyway.  They hang on for most of the summer.

Here's what the whole bush looks like.

Last but not least is the pretty seed from our Japanese Maple.
Thanks for walking around my yard and checking out the latest blooms!

Weekend Randoms

Hope you all had a nice weekend.  We had beautiful weather here.  After a week of it being very hot and humid, we had a break in the weather and the humidity left.  Sunshine and temps in the low 80's are good with me!
I have just a few photos taken this weekend to share with you.

Friday evening we had Bob's mom and stepdad along with his brother and sister-in-law,  at our house for supper.  It was Mom and Rog's 28th anniversary.  Bob's dad died 37 years ago, he was only 52 years old.  His mom was by herself for quite a few years before she met Rog.  Rog had lost his wife a few years before that.  We've been blessed to have him as part of the family for these years and I know that his family feels the same.

It was my weekend to work and because we've been short of nurses lately, I ended up working 12 hours on Saturday.  It was a long day and I was happy to go home that evening.  When I got home, I found out a package had arrived for me!  It was a giveaway from Arlene over at Nanaland.  What a nice thing to get after a long day.  Now I have to find a good place to display this cross plaque.  Thanks Arlene!

I had to work on Sunday too, but only 8 hours this time!  I was in the backyard in the early evening and saw this scene with jet contrails over the new moon, and had to get a shot of it.
And that's the weekend!  Hope you all have a good week ahead of you.

Friday Funny

Winner!

We have a winner for the book I reviewed last Wednesday.  There were 15 comments, but only 10 were entries.  I numbered the entries and put them in a random number generator.  Number 4 was the winner and it's Jenny, from I'm Having A Thought Here!  Jenny - I think you and Dagny will enjoy this book.  Thanks to all that entered.

Wordless Wednesday

(Ruby found out that sand doesn't taste good!)

A Day in my Life

Can you believe it's July already?  The months seem to fly by!
As usual, I'm sharing my first day of the month with you.  Friday was my day off and the girls had stayed overnight  on Thursday night.  Here's how my day went!

 Alaina woke me up a little after 7 and told me the sun was up and it was time to get up.  I told her it was pretty early and she should snuggle with me, but she said Ruby was awake and it was time to get up!  I think Ruby had help in waking up because this is how she looked when I went in their room.

We had breakfast, got cleaned up and dressed and went outside for a little walk.

We found these treasures outside - a little bead and a pretty leaf.

We went to the store for some groceries and admired the pretty sky God made for us!

Our grocery store has free popcorn!  Alaina remembers this and asks as soon as we walk through the doors.


After we got groceries, we went home for just enough time to put things away before heading off to another adventure.

We picked up lunch at McDonalds and had lunch with Grandpa at his work.  There was even time to sit by him and play a little!


After lunch we headed to a Strawberry farm where I had worked while still in school.  I wanted to pick up a few quarts before the season ended.

Along the way we stopped on the side of the road to look at these pretty horses.

I got a few quarts but that will be it, because this weekend was the end of the season.

The girls were thrilled to see this bunny there, that they could go out and pet.  Alaina said it was softer than the bear she sleeps with.  :)


When we got home, it was time for Ruby to take a nap. 

She laid down nicely, but about 15 minutes later I heard her calling out and went to see what the trouble was.  I found her holding this finial from the crib in her hand, acting like she didn't know how it got there!  I had to laugh; that crib went through 3 kids and one grand kid and none of the others had ever thought to unscrew it!  I put it back on and she went to sleep.


While she was sleeping, Alaina and I worked on a project she was very excited about.

We got a new dishwasher last week, and saved the box.  Alaina and I covered it with posterboard and cut out windows and a door.  Then we decorated it with stickers and drew pictures with markers.  She was very careful and had so much fun!

When Ruby got up, they crawled inside with a few toys.

Shortly after 5pm, Grandpa came home and was met at the door by 2 happy kids.  (I was happy to see him too)  :)

There was time for a little playing.

Then we had to go downstairs and find Oliver (Heather's cat who had stayed with us this week).  Oliver isn't used to kids anymore and goes into hiding when they're around.  Grandpa had to find him, so they could pet him at least once.

We went out for supper, and kept busy coloring until the food came.

 After supper we stopped at Meijer to get some new clothes for Bob.

Ruby thought she would try on his hat, while he looked around.

 Then it was time to go home!  Laura and Aaron were happy to have their kiddos back home!


We went home too.  I did some dishes and picked up the house...

then I lit a candle and relaxed till bedtime.  It was a wonderful day!