Thursday, March 27, 2014

Spring or Not!

 
 
 
 
 
It was one of those March days
when the sun shines hot
And the wind blows cold;
when it is summer in the light,
And Winter in the shade.
~ Charles Dickens
 
Yes, that's how it seems these days, we don't know if it is winter or spring,
 
We've had Snow!
 
 
Awake, thou wintry earth~
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
 ~ Thomas Blackburn
 
We've had Ice!
 
 
 
 
Is it Spring yet!
 
Yesterday as I  walked my Madi, I found this one and lonely tulip in my flower bed. I don't remember when I planted it, maybe last spring or sometime before and it just now thinks it's spring and
came up to see.
 



I love Spring anywhere, but if I could choose,
 I would always greet it in a garden.
~Ruth Stout
 
 
 
Have a Blessed Spring or winter!
 
Sylvia





Tuesday, March 25, 2014

I LOVE DESERTS!








Over the weekend, my daughter had a family fish fry at her home.
I was asked to bring the desert. Since my SIL had been asking me 
to make his favorite "Trifle", for some time , I decided to surprise
him and make it. I enjoy making anything that you don't have to 
cook or bake....(yes, I've gotten a little lazy as I grew up.) It's really
been years since I've made it and it's so easy!

Here's the recipe:

1 pt. fresh strawberries

2 pkg sugar free strawberry jello 

2 pkg sugar free jello instant vanilla pudding

2 angel food cakes
(I used 1 )

1 large carton lite cool whip

banana's (optional)

Make jello and mix with sliced fresh strawberries and bananas.
Pour over angel food cake that has been broken into pieces.
Let set in refrigerator while you make pudding.
Then pour over cake and jello.
 Top with cool whip.
 Place 2 fan strawberries on center top. (optional)




I also made a "Dirt Cake".  My granddaughter,Morgan, loves it.
She changed the name to  "Happiness in a Bowl". 
They were both delighted. I got 2 hugs from Morgan  and a hug from my son in law.



 I think I've given the recipe before, some months ago for this. I'll give it again, just in case someone missed that post.

Crush a whole bag of  Oreo Cookies and set aside.

In a small bowl mix:
1 - 8oz cream cheese,softened
1 cup powdered sugar
3/4 stick margarine, softened
Set aside- make pudding

In a large bowel mix 2-2/3 cup milk
2 small pkgs. vanilla instant pudding.
Then mix in 1-12 oz cool whip
add first mixture to second and mix well.

Layer the cream mixture and cookies,
 starting and ending with crushed cookies.

ENJOY!

Well tomorrow is my granddaughter, Anna's 12th birthday.
I'll need to think of something to make for her since Papa and 
I are going to pick her and her brother up from school and
take them out to dinner. 



 Where does the time go! It wasn't that long ago that
we were blessed with this sweet, beautiful granddaughter..12 years,,,my how time flies.

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
(I will be)

Sylvia

Thursday, March 20, 2014

HAPPY SPRING



Spring, the sweet spring, 



is the years pleasant King;





Then blooms each thing,





then maids dance in a ring,





Cold doth not sting,



the pretty birds sing,
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pee-we,
to - witta-woo!
by- Thomas Nashe


HAVE A HAPPY and BLESSED SPRING!

Sylvia

Monday, March 17, 2014

A Needed Break






It's been a couple weeks since I've posted.  I needed some time to get away and rest, my mind and spirit.



My hubby and I rented a log cabin, built in 1935, at Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park. I was blessed to have my teenage grandson come and house sit and care for our pets.  It helped to have a few days to just rest and relax. 


City of Pine Mountain,Georgia above
and 
City of Warm Springs,Georgia, below.

The trees are blooming and there's hope for Spring to be here soon. I believe Thursday is the first day of Spring.


I did see a robin jumping around on the ground outside our cabin, while I sat in the rocking chair on the screened in porch. Doesn't this mean spring is coming!


I took time for Tea !  That's always a treat.


Hope you're having a Blessed Day!
Sylvia

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Make a Beautiful Day!





Sometimes it takes
a really beautiful day
to wake us up to the wonders
of  the world around us.
A Blossoming flower
a sunny sky~
sometimes
these are the only things
our eyes look for
and value as worthwhile...



But there is so much more 
to life,
so much more to enjoy,
if we can learn to see
with our hearts as well
as our eyes.



To be aware of each day,
each experience,
as a separate wonder
of its own,
to meet each challenge eagerly
and grasp each moment
with a sense of newness
and discovery~~
this is what living is really all about.


As I meditate on those words from a little book my friend gave me years ago, I realize the truth of in each word.  The beauty in all that's around us.  The snow and ice has melted away and the daffodils are blooming and soon the trees will be all dressed in green.  The smell of flowers in the air, with children laughing and playing, brings joy to my heart.

I picked a bouquet of daffodils to brighten up the table.  Made myself a cup of tea and a plate with banana cake and strawberries.  I whipped up some fresh heavy cream. I didn't bake the cake, it's a Sara Lee Snack Cake,  A nice quiet time to ponder my thoughts is always a treat.  With all the problems in this world and in our own daily lives, it's good to take a time to be alone to clear our thoughts.






Have A Blessed Day!

Sylvia

Monday, March 3, 2014

Pioneer Woman's Meat Loaf ~ Recipe & Review





I had ALL my children and grandchildren for Sunday Dinner yesterday, yes ALL 14!  My daughter loves Meat Loaf  but her husband doesn't..she ask me to make meat loaf...so I did, but made her hubby two burger patties and brown gravy.  It isn't easy making a meal for that many people, especially since half of them doesn't like the same things.  I really feel like "Grandma's Restaurant" sometimes when they all want different things. My daughter,Gina, came to the rescue and bought KFC chicken strips..That made the children happy.

This is the meatloaf that I made.


If you haven't watched The Pioneer Woman  on Food Network
then you are missing some Good recipes'.  This was the first time I have made meat loaf by this recipe, and it was so good.  It was juicy and tender. It is wrapped in bacon, yes, I didn't get it wrong, Bacon!  I think that's what made it so juicy along with all the other ingredients that I would never thought to put in a meatloaf.   You can find the recipe here.  I hope you'll give it a try. You'll be happy you did!

Have a Blessed Day!
Sylvia