Raspberry Pretzel Dessert

Another recipe card design by Smilebox I was searching the internet for some recipe card templates, and when I clicked one to check it out, my Smilebox uploaded.   I have used Smilebox quite a few times for greeting cards, but evidently they have recipe cards and scrapbooking too.  Any how, it was too cute to pass up the fun.  So the recipe I was going to share with you  anyway, is now jazzed up for your entertainment. This probably isn't  a template I would use for the blog all the time, but it sure is a fun way to pass a recipe along to someone special via e-mail.   Hope you enjoy... you may want to try out smilebox yourself, its free.  P.S Scroll down to the bottom of the page and pause my music playlist  to limit the clash of music.

Enjoying My Boys

Picture linked from Nathan's Facebook  Click here for an update about this Photo

Been having a lovely batch of boys through the house for the past several weeks.  As I mentioned before, Nathan and his film crew were here.  Most of them stayed up at our little mobile home, we call it "The Cottage".  We had  worked to get everything in order for them before they got here.  Steve had to re-do almost all of the plumbing, which was a long and drawn out frustration, but needed to be done, and this gave incentive to put it into overdrive.  It was up and running by the time they got here.  We had a great time, and I had a feeling of the "old days" when all the other kids were home and all their friends were in and out of the house.  I loved having them around. Eddie thinks its the "cat's meow" when the big guys are all home... particularly with all their friends in tow, and all of them taking him target practicing and off on one of their exploratory trips, really makes life bearable for him.  He was in rare form. We all watched a movie together on Thursday night (a film makers assignment).  It was a movie about Ghengis Khan... so you can imagine there was a little blood.  Eddie informed me that it probably wasn't a movie I should watch.  I got a great chuckle out of that.

They all left last Friday morning, after which I drove up to Denver to pick up Russell at the airport.  We are now enjoying his company until Friday.  I am getting chubby again because of all the cooking Luke and I are doing. 

I have come to realize, when my children left home, I went  through quite a mourning.  I know this is a common occurrence it even has an official title: "Empty Nest Syndrome".  It probably wouldn't have been so hard on me if they had all moved down the street or across town, but across the USA, is difficult.  Thank goodness for telephones, and internet.  People used to talk about "the empty nest", and I didn't really pay attention to it.  I didn't think twice about it... until my nest was empty.  I never knew how hard it would hit me.  But it did.

You can tell the difference between my pictures and the ones I got from Nathan in this post; His are great quality, from good cameras that he and the guys took; mine are from my phone, because I didn't have my camera. Half of them are blurry, but at least I was able to take them and down load them. by the way, the photo above is one of the photos taken on the scouting and filming trip; Steve and I just chuckle and chuckle when we look at it.  I am not going to tell you the story about it quite yet, I''ll save it for another post, but it is entitled "Photo Shoot Gone Wrong", and its gotta make you laugh.

Russell, Eddie and Luke... along with half of Toby Mack (Luke just got up off the floor... his hair is going every which direction... smile).

 I got these from Nathan, and they are some of his crew, at some of the various places they camped and worked.

Here's Nathan at the Great Sand Dunes.... Looks like the Sahara doesn't it?

That's Colorado for you... deserts and mountains all with in a short distance of each other.

Blessings to all, Pam

The Buzz of Summer

As I write this post, I am trying to think about what to say for myself over the last 3 almost 4 weeks since I have posted.  Where have I been?  What have I been doing?  Well.... it has been busy without a doubt, but it isn't like I can give you a nice mountainous list of my great accomplishments I just can't.  Let me try to make a quick post to recap what I've been up to..... its not coming quickly... it all runs together into a fast and furious blur.  A month has come and gone like the buzzing of a bee and where did it go I ask you?  We have been working in the garden (which hasn't been an easy or abundantly fruitful occupation in this drought.... we are finally getting a little rain, and the veggies have finally gotten a grip on themselves, ceased fainting, and are finally growing, blooming and fruiting... they have whispered and gasped to me that they do not like this heat at all even with abundant water Luke and I have been giving to them.  I have been strategizing what to do next year if this drought continues... perhaps we could build some sort of shade cover... I am still thinking it out.  We are planning a cover crop for this fall and winter on the new beds we put in this year. I ordered buckwheat, black-eyed peas and oats for the cover crops The soil is so hard and dead, that we have  been working on a plan to bring it to life.  We have roto-tilled compost into it that we bought by the dump truck load, and it is a nice start, but it will need to do more to make healthier beds.. cover crops are a good way to go to improve the ground.

Believe it or not we are actually talking about goats again.   We have some ground that has been taken over by a weed tree.    These stringy little trees suck up all the water, proliferate and do not think twice about sprouting back up quickly when they have been hacked down.  So we thought... "goats".  We are considering trying meat goats this time around.  I will let you know when/if we begin that project officially.

Our son Nathan and his film crew got here last week. Nathan is working on a movie.  He has had it in the works this last year (a little more than).  It is a survival movie that involves a plane wreck, a battle for life, and the battle and outcome of a soul.  But that is all I will say for now.  They are beginning their work up in the mountains close to here, and Lord willing, will come back next summer to finish the film.  I have had the privilege to cook for them.  They are a smaller crew than was first planned... the bigger crew  have been put off until  next summer now.  I cooked up a big barbecue brisket, potato casserole, strawberry pie, rolls,  big batch of fried chicken, chili, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese, and prepared hamburgers and hotdogs for them to cook.  They all get back from the mountains tomorrow night, and Luke will be making them pizza and spaghetti.  I will make them Mexican food for Thursday night.  It is nice to feed a hungry crew of young men.  They are always very appreciative, and I can do a lot of cooking on a little enthusiastic appreciation and enjoyment.

That seems to be my great claim to anything impressive this summer.  I liked what Anne of Eight Acres of Eden linked to a day or two ago.  It had to do with being "just a Mom".  It is written by a young girl who has the great aspirations of being a "Mom".  I love what she wrote, and it was a precious reminder that the calling of being a Mom is good enough.  The world pressures us to be more or other than that, but don't forget what a great calling it is.   We need not apologize for it.

There is a little pair of swallows that build their nest under the roof of our porch every summer; and every summer Steve tries to discourage them (because they always leave a mess) by removing their little mud nest each time they begin it... but they persevere and build it anyway quicker than he can take it down.  By the time they are done Steve admires their perseverance and leaves them to it... he even hammers up a little patio for them, so that they won't leave a mess on our coffee table beneath.  It is interesting to watch their perseverance.  They spend their entire summer building nest, laying and hatching eggs, and feeding babies.  It has a familiar ring to our lives doesn't it?   I thought of the scripture in Matthew 6: 25, where Jesus reminds us "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store way in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"  And I thought to myself those birds take care of their babies... that's all they seem to do... and our heavenly Father feeds them... of course he will do the same for us.  The World with all its pressures and fears is not our provider.  It is not our wisdom or who we should listen to, it is not  there for us when times are hard.  Our Heavenly Father placed within us our callings.  He promised to take care of us.  He is the Voice we listen to,  the Hope, the Provision, and the Wonderful Reward in our Lives.  Praise His Name.  Have a great week everyone.   I am hoping  to post something truly remarkable in the near future, but if I don't I will be praising the Lord for the buzz of Summer, the carrying on in life, the ordinary everyday things, and I hope you will be too.

Blessings, 

Pam

Red, White and Ol' Blue

We have all heard of our dear flag being referred to as Ol' Glory; today Ol' Blue is doing his part to help represent the color blue on behalf of "Ol' Glory"

We had a lovely Fourth of July Weekend.  We went on a picnic Sunday afternoon, with Ol' Blue as our Chauffeur.  Just a couple of miles down the road.  I took a few pics to share.  It was so pretty out.   You almost wouldn't know that we are having a terrible drought.  

This little creek is usually a river.... 

The water fall is no longer falling, but a little bit of water still remains at the bottom.

Look at that lovely sky.

RED

Love this wonderful old gate.  It was a part of an old homestead... the only remaining relic of it in fact.
I think its a wonderful red. 

WHITE
This is closest to  white I could find... got a pic of  him today at the parade.... he was enjoying a great cool off, and I could not resist him.

And Blue
Good ol' truck

The Pueblo West  Wet and Dry Parade..... We all agreed in our family that this is the funnest kind of parade of all.

 The streets are lined with cars and the people are prepared with Super soakers, water balloons water bazookas, and hoses of all calibers. 

 Close friends and all of our families relax in bathing suites or shorts and catch up with each other as we wait for the parade to begin.

 My Friend Roxy with our Luke with Steve and Barry in the background.

Roxy and her Hubby Danny and their son, daughter in law, and grandsons made everything great fun... especially since Barry (Roxy's son knows how to bring enough water to win the war.

 This is Roxy's Grandson... atop the water tank... ready for the big water fight.

The horses are so calm and easy going.

 Three cheers for our soldiers.... every one clapped and cheered as they went by.

 Amy, and little guys all loaded with their super soakers and hoses, just waiting for those fire trucks to come and start spraying everybody.

The wet part of the parade is about to begin.... everybody is ready.

 Here come the fire trucks... sirens are blarring.

I took these pictures at great risk of getting blasted... and put my camera up when the  really big trucks came through.
Some of the trucks had blow up pools with people sitting in them, spraying everyone as they went by.   There were trucks and trailers, Fire trucks, Police and Sheriff vehicles, people walking, huge bus's that had people in every window with super soakers and water coming from people in the parade and people on the sidelines.
What boy doesn't love a "Huge Water Fight".... although notice that you do not see Eddie in these   pictures... he would not get wet, nor let me get a good picture of him... So Barry and Luke had to hold him and drench him Ha.... I  didn't get my camera back out in time, but take my word for it, it was funny.  I had the privilege of getting Steve wet myself, he wasn't as eager as I was to get wet either... can't have that.  We all went home nicely cooled off.

And then along came this guy... He was hot.  His Mama didn't remember about the parade when she started on their walk this morning.  She got detoured and so did he.  He wanted somebody to spray him down and give him a drink.  No problem; he was certainly in the right place.

My country tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died! Land of the Pilgrim's pride! From every mountain side, Let freedom ring! My native country, thee, Land of the noble free, Thy name I love. I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills; My heart with rapture fills Like that above. Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom's song. Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong. Our father's God to, Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing. Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King!

Happy Fourth of July Everyone

Have a blessed week

Thank You Trisha

I have had the hardest time getting back to blogging.  We had company arrive less than a week after we got home from our trip, and with so much to do to get ready for them,  it has been non stop.  My Mom and my niece Rachel came for a fast and furious visit.  It was great to have my Mom here again (in what I consider her home).  We had a great time, and hated to see them go.  Rachel and Luke cooked up a storm together; they both share a love for cooking, and inspired each other all week long.   They left at the beginning of the week and I miss them already.  All week I have said to myself... "just a few more things, and I will be caught up and can get back to blogging."   Well at last I am here...,  not necessarily caught up (I'm not sure that ever happens, yet one does try), but satisfied with having laundry done, an almost clean house and the garden a little more in order.  

I wanted to say a big Thank you"  to Trisha from amultitudeofmercies.blogspot.com, because; I am now the delighted recipient of a new cupcake cookbook that she sent to me.   I signed up to try to win her give away last month, and was amazed to find that I won it.  I have never won one before, so this is a "wonderful first" for me.  You all will enjoy her blog when you pop over and check it out. Now I am inspired to get creative.  Thanks again Trisha, I'm lovin it.

Don't you love the cover?

This sweet little note came with the book.

I am going to make this one  first.  Doesn't that tantalize you?  Do you want the recipe?

I miss having my Mom live next door... nice to have her for a visit though.

Cooking Cousins

What is everyone doing for the  Fourth of July?

Hope it is a great weekend for everyone.

Many Blessings,

Pam

Father's Day and an Update of our Trip

Its always nice to come home after being away.  I love to go and I love to come home again to my own bed.  We had a great visit with all of our family, and saw some lovely sights along the way.  Steve flew back home from Phoenix and Eddie and I drove on to California together.  We stayed at the Navy Base with Russell, and had a great a visit with him.  The ocean was lovely.... I could look at, smell,  and listen to the ocean forever (I envy you ladies who live near the ocean). From there we drove up to Nevada and visited my Mom, brother and nieces.  We came home by way of Utah... a very pretty route. I am posting the pictures that Eddie and I took along the way.  Unfortunately they are unedited, so I think even the bug slpats on the windshield show up in some of them... sorry.

Today is Father's Day.  Happy Father's Day to my precious Dad and my precious hubby and also to my son Nathan, and my sons in law Jon and Benjamin;  to me the best Dads in the world.  Love you so much.

Dad and I  when Steve and I got married.

From desert to mountains to ocean to desert to canyons  to mountains and home.  My camera did me wrong again.... only half of my pictures downloaded.  I had some great ones of Eddie, Russ, the ocean, some seals and more... oh well. perhaps I will get a new camera one of these days.

Have a lovely week everyone.
Blessings to all,

Pam

Little Hobbit and the Mad Hatter Tea Party

We forged through  mountains and deserts, to get here. At last we  arrived at our destination: Sunny Arizona; Phoenix to be exact.  We arrived just in time to celebrate the birthday of Little Hobbit who is now 2 years old.  It was to be a tea party... a "Mad Hatter Tea Party".  Little Hobbit was dressed adorably; The Mad Hatter himself could have no negative word  to say, and if Alice were here, she would be confused as to who the real Mad Hatter really was.  Mommy/ Himilce was dressed like the  Queen of Hearts (a little variation of the red queen), she looked almost as cute as "Little Hobbit".  Princes and Princesses arrived from other privinces.  It was great fun all around.

Little Hobbit is ready for tea.

He smiles sweetly even though his tea cup is empty.  The day is still young.  Tea will be something to look forward to.

 The Queen of Hearts has been slaving for days to prepare for the party.  None of the servants showed up, so she had to do all the work herself.

Little Hobbit grows slightly weary of waiting for his tea.  So much activity, so little tea.  What is one to think.

 Princess and Princesses from other provinces are still in good humor as they too wait for their tea.


 The situation is improving as more sandwiches are brought out, and tea pots are filled.

The Topsy Turvey Cake  is a delight to all  in the Kingdom.

Little Hobbit examines cake.

All Five senses are applied to determine the quality of the cake.

 Topsy turvey cake is approved above all cakes in the Kingdom.

 A little more careful examination, just to be sure.
Yes.... it is indeed the best.

 "Mommy" I think "Little Hobbit" has had too much cake and too many presents, and way too many festivities, perhaps I should go ahead and open this one for him; I am afraid he might become overwhelmed".

Everything is just a blurr, as they say all good things must come to an end.  Good bye to all good friends.

On Saturday, all Hobbits were exhausted.  So it was decided that we should go fishing.... a cure for everything even overindulgence.

  The big hobbit in the middle was threatened  by fear of bodily harm or (exposure on facebook) if he didn't smile... and so he did.

Little Hobbit is still a little peaky from the previous days activities, but willing to give fishing a try.

 Such a delightful pond to fish in.

 Fishing is such a soothing occupation for all.