Thankful Thursdays

I have noticed that my posts have fallen off just a wee bit lately, and while I do subscribe to the whole "blogging without obligation" premise... I also recognize that if i don't post every so often, it kind of defeats the purpose of having a blog. Its supposed to be a place I explore myself...which let's face it... is kinda hard to do if i don't post at all. *grins*

Soo.... Welcome to my first Thankful Thursday post. Lets get the biggies out of the way first.

I am thankful for my husband, who is my best friend. <3 We have known each other for 24 years... married for almost 23 of them. We met when we were both in my best friends wedding, where I was the maid of honor and he was the best man. The date was August 12th and I remember thinking he was very quiet, and that he was way too tall. One year and 2 weeks later we were married and have been going strong ever since.

I am also very thankful for my wonderful girls, who let me see the world through their eyes. I am so, so very thankful that we were blessed with them. Sometimes I wonder how these intelligent strong young women came from the two of us.

I am thankful for us... we have had some real ups and downs as a family and somehow have weathered them all. Sure we have gotten a bit dinged up... but we are still strong and we have each other.



Paul and Eileen.



Paul and Maddy



Its not the best picture of the husband and i but a wonderful one of the girls... (We were at my father-in-laws retirement dinner). From left to right its the husband, me, Eileen and Maddy.

I am very very thankful for my family.

~Reg

Mosaic Meme.

Its a Mosaic Meme... I originally found the instructions for this at Wisdom of the Moon




1. Regina Bike Path, 2. Pepperoni Mushroom (home made), 3. Brunswick, 4. Teal-Purple Cuff Links, 5. Cowboys & Aliens Daniel Craig Harrison Ford, 6. Whiskey Sour, 7. Ireland for Sale..., 8. Mud Pie, 9. Writer's Weapon, 10. Family., 11. The Seeker, 12. Untitled

The instructions to create the mosaic are:

Type your answers to each of the questions below into Flickr Search .
Pick an image.
Copy and paste each of the URLs into the mosaic maker.

Questions:
What is your first name?
What is your favorite food?
What high school did you go to?
What is your favorite color?
Who is your celebrity crush?
Favorite drink?
Dream vacation?
Favorite dessert?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What do you love most in life?
One word to describe you.
Your Flickr name.

Baked Ziti to die for...

1 pound ziti
1 pound ground beef
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
Garlic powder to taste
½ cup chopped green pepper
½ cup chopped onion
Large jar pasta sauce
¾ package cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup ricotta cheese
Mixture of shredded ched. + moz.
1-2 tbsps butter
Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta as directed on package. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium pan sauté the onion and green pepper till translucent. Remove from pan. Add ground beef with seasonings to pan and cook till done. Drain, add onions and green peppers back into pan, add pasta sauce. Simmer for 20 minutes.

In small bowl combine sour cream, cream cheese and ricotta, set aside.

Mix drained noodles with butter and Parmesan cheese. Coat a 9x13” inch pan with pam. Place prepared noodles in pan, spread cheese mixture on top of noodles and cover with meat mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar/mozz cheese.

Cover and bake for 25 minutes until bubbly. Uncover and bake for 5 more minutes till cheese is bubbly.

Also very yummy with no meat or veggies… just noodles sauce and cheese mixture.

Irma Bombeck

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

by Irma Bombeck

...I would have talked less and listened more.

...I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

...I would have eaten the popcorn in the "good" living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

...I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather rambling about his youth.

...I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

...I would have burned the pink candle sculped like a rose before it melted in storage.

...I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

...I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life.

...I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

...I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

...Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment, realising that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

...When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.

...There would have been more "I love you's" and more "I'm sorry's". . . but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute . . . look at it and really see it . . . and never give it back.

Iced Tea

I have been on quite the ice tea kick lately. Over the years I have made ice tea in lots of different ways. I remember as a kid using a huge glass jar with a lid, putting cold water in it and tea bags and setting it out in the sun. Sun tea... Yum!!! I have also been known to make a cup of tea and then throw lots of ice in it to get it cold. Sure it got cold but it also got watery... blech! So I have had at times... very strong ice tea... weak ice tea and fake ice tea. LOL

Finally though, I found a way to make my ice tea consistent and this is what I do...




Put 8 cups of filtered water into a pan on the stove-top. Bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and toss in 6 tea bags. I then let this steep for 4 minutes, not 3... and not 5 but exactly 4 minutes. =P Remove the teabags from the pan and put a lid on it. I let this cool until its able to be poured into my ice tea pitcher.

I usually like to sweeten my own tea glass by glass ... but the husband prefers it pre-sweetened. I have found that a scant 1/3 cup of sugar mixed in at this stage is just right for him. Gives it a bit of sweetness but not too sweet. If I make tea during the week and know he wont be partaking, then I don't bother to sweeten it and add my sweetener when I pour a glass. Another thing I have done before is make up a simple syrup and store it in the fridge. He could use this to sweeten his ice tea (if he doesn't use it for something else that is lol)

The possibilities are endless... how about a raspberry/lemon iced tea... Blueberry iced tea... or even a lovely mint iced tea. Sounds delicious to me!!!

What about you... do you have a favorite way to make iced tea?

*hugs*
~Reg

My loves...

Miss M. and Leen. My girls!

WIPs and 1 finish

I completed the mother's day gift for Hubbys mom... good thing as Mother's day was yesterday. *smiles*. I did not however get a picture of it... I kept meaning to and then next thing I knew we were heading out the door. We gave her a lovely potholder and some lavender soap I made, a copy of my favorite picture of the husband and our girls in a nice frame... and a lavender candle from pier 1 imports... all in a nice little basket. We also gave her a funny tshirt that said Help my husband has retired and has no hobbies... she got a big chuckle out of that.

I have also gotten Maddy's quilt top finally sandwiched so although I wont count that as a finish (cause technically its not finished lol) Im excited to have gotten it to that point. Next step is the tying and border quilting. Then the lovely binding.

I have also been working on the Improv squares... Im really not liking them at this point. The eldest does however like them so perhaps they have a home before they are even done.