enjoy!

enjoy!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

 I'm going to be lazy today when it comes to Blogging.
 I  want to move on away from my Happy Easter post since its now long gone.
 Mothers Day will be upon us next weekend, as a matter of fact. For those who never met my Mother she was a sweet lady and I do miss her especially at Mothers Day. I always tried to be the best daughter possible and always tried to protect her and wanted her to have a great life and I think I succeeded. I know I succeeded..
 I thought this was pretty a crisp sunny early morning one day this week.

 This past week was really a busy week, almost to the point of crazy, at least in my mind. I planted flowers and tomato plants, I'm not through yet but almost!!.I only planted three tomato plants so far not our usual 24 plants this year.  I am always re designing my gardens, an obsession with me, its fun to see how it all turns out at the peak of the season. I split and planted a few perennials and bought a few annuals for pots. I have them here and their around the front and back areas. I also planted geraniums in the ground in the back garden for a peak of color along with my many rose plants that are peaking out of the ground.
So far all of them survived the long cold hard winter.


Our Maple tree finally blooming

Thursday evening we had our once a month book club at my house, we take turns.
 This time I did it all by my self Bill isn't home yet next weekend he will be back home, Im looking forward to that. I hope everyone enjoyed book club  I know I did. Of course its a little work when its at your house but worth it! just getting together with some pretty amazing people. I love our visits.
Yesterday I had planned a visit with one of my sisters and two nieces but had to cancel, the nursing home called me and Bill had to go for an infusion yesterday.  their usual driver Roger wasn't able to take him.  I had to drive the 30 miles out there pick him up and bring him to the hospital another 25 back than go home 5 miles from the hospital, he was there 7 hours. I went back after 5 hours and waited with him, he was in a room by his self. When he was through I took him back to the nursing home.   I was exhausted after all that, plus all that  I had been doing all week long planting getting ready for book club, cooking, shopping, laundry,cleaning, taking care of the dogs and going out to visit Bill almost daily.. thank god its over for this past week..
  I also found out I was scheduled to serve at Church this Sunday but switched with another friend, Thank you Lea for switching.
We have a baby shower to go to  up north and its special, I didnt want to miss out on that. The girls and I are going to be heading north Sunday for the shower.  
Here are a few photos of some of my plants below.







 

 

We'll watch them grow it will be fun.

 

I even gave one of my bird houses a fresh coat of paint.


 
Until Next Time have a great week Be Safe and Be Happy.


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!


I hope you had a beautiful Easter, we celebrated our Family Easter Saturday. It was so much fun we did miss some of our family because they had to work. but all in all we had a great time.


 Julie hunted for Easter eggs and we really enjoy the day.
 I went to pick up Bill and brought him back home so that was extra special that he was well enough to do that.
 Today he wants to come home again to spend the day so I will go out there and pick him up again so happy about that..



I made,Baked ham, Baked Potato Salad and Baked Beans but they wanted Pizza for our Easter Saturday. It wasn't as good as usual, dont have a clue why but that's the way it goes. Of course no comparison to what I made! but I  went along with what the family and there choice of food for the day. They did bring home some ham and potato salad so I'm sure they will enjoy it, the ones who eat it. Bill and I had the Ham, Potato salad and Baked beans for our dinner today so all in all it wasent a waist and we have never not had Ham for Easter..


The church lot is filling up I will miss Easter service today because its more important for me to get ready to go and pick up Bill and bring him home for the day. by the time I get back services will be over.
 It was a quiet day and that's OK. First I stopped and bought a few plants on the way home to plant tomorrow.

Below is a picture of a tulip I planted last fall also a beautiful yellow bunch of tulips, they are finally opening up its so exciting .





Guess what else was out there when I was taking a picture of my tulips
Baby Bunny

 
That's all from me for today!

Happy Easter



Wednesday, April 20, 2011

GOOOOD Morning! N Ground Beef Stir Fry

What can I say except the weather isn't my favorite rainy, cold, windy.


Last night it was miserable the dogs refused to leave the house, they were terrified of the weather out there and I couldn't blame them, so we waited until about midnight when the worse was over. Of course I didnt sit up until then and wait I just happened to wake up and said want to go out, they were ready..

I took the cutest picture yesterday and sent it into our WGN weather man and he posted it on the weather report. I was kind of excited about that I felt like a celebrity for a split second..


Three Baby Doves and a Sparrow waiting for the rain to stop.
The picture isn't to sharp because it was taken from inside looking out.

I went to visit Bill yesterday, I try to go almost every day unless I need to take a day off now and then.
I stopped to get gas and fill up my gas tank. I was down to 1/4 of a tank and $50 dollars later it was filled up. amazing isn't it.
Tomorrow i am meeting Bill at the Doctors office and the driver cant stay so I will take him back.  We are going to go to Culver's drive through. Bill wants a burger then we are going to stop by the house so Bill can come in. He wants to see his girls he always asks how are the girls.
 They will be so excited they haven't seen him since December.


I cooked a meal yesterday
I made one of my favorite stir Fry's
Something Bill made up and we love.

Of course I added my touch!


Ground Beef Stir Fry


1lb ground beef or ground round stead
 I used ground round steak
1 cup cooked minute rice
3 eggs scrambled separately
1 medium white onion sauted
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 Tablespoon's sesame oil
Two bunches of fresh broccoli heads
cut into bite size pieces.
 Bake Broccoli in the oven with 1/2 stick of softened butter
2 Tablespoons  of olive oil
 2 cloves of chopped garlic
 mix thoroughly
 bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes

Saute meat until done drain, add cooked rice, scrambled eggs, Baked broccoli
 do not drain butter and oil and garlic.
 add sesame oil, soy sauce stir all until well blended.
Serve and enjoy.

AND
As Always
I'm not perfect so dont expect me to be.






Monday, April 18, 2011





Congratulations Rob you were my 13.000 visitor!

 Who would have thought I would be blogging that long, enough to even get that many views.
 Thanks for being a loyal viewer it means so much to me. I have enjoyed Blogging but find it harder to do on a day to day basis. So I will at least try to get one to two days in a week hopefully more when the nicer weather is gone not that I'm complaining. I waited all winter for weather that I could actually go out and enjoy.

I can see this morning is going to be a challenge trying to get my morning work done the dogs keep wanting to go out right and chase birds. Right when Im in the middle of crawling around on the floor trying to wash it.. I can see its going to be one of those days.

 Floors washed everything caught up now its me time.
 I made a cake today and it turned out delicious.
 I am having our book club next week and was doing a test. yep its a keeper.
 I cant believe how GOOD it turned out..

Bills doing pretty good lately,
they are walking with him with the walker all over the building. what an awesome achievement.
Im so happy he finally got to that point in his recovery.
We sure do enjoy skype and talk on it every day, all day off and on. its amazing what a great invention. the nursing staff are so amazed over it.


How about that improvement..


My Neighbors Magnolia Tree.
Pretty isnt it..

Pastor Tom from our Church went to visit Bill today.
 Thanks Pastor for taking the time to stop and say hello to Bill
 of course we said a few words to him as well on Skype..

Our Son in Law is building a low ramp so we can wheel Bill into the house on Thursday
 for a visit after his Doctor appointment.
 It will be the first time he has been back here since December 28Th.
After a short visit than back to the Nursing home, he has another month to go befor being released.



Apricot Glazed Yellow Cake



1 Box Duncan Heinz Yellow Cake Mix
3 eggs
1 stick softened butter
2/3 cup orange juice
1 can solo apricot filling
1 cup brown sugar

Mix well pour into prepared pan

 I used a large iron skillet that I sprayed with Pam
I spread the apricot filling over the bottom of the pan
Than sprinkled the brown sugar over last adding the cake batter.
shaking pan to even out the batter.
Bake in preheated 375 degrees over 30 to 35 minutes
 turn out onto serving dish after slightly cooled.
ENJOY!

That's all for this time.



Wednesday, April 13, 2011

What happened to the Sun today! I dont see you.. Looks to me like its still hiding.
 OK here it comes.. HURRAH!!


 Some encouriging news Bill is starting to walk with the help of the walker. I know you think no kidding, but its really exciting to finally see that he has come that far it took a long time to finally get there and I know it makes him feel good about it as well. He did have a little set back he got the shingles so he was confined to his room for a week they are finally letting him go out into the dinning room and exercises room with the other people. He has been their five weeks now and eight weeks in the hospital so its been a long haul something we are not used to. We do talk on the cell phone when it will let us the signal out there is really bad dont have a clue why. and we also skype when we can get through. another dont know why there is so much trouble getting through I have no trouble doing either with any one else. OH well that's the way it goes move on to other happier moments.
I know it all has to do with getting blood and platelet's on Friday that always helps to give him stamina.

I want to thank my two wonderful church friends this week,my friend  Dorothy picked me up and we drove out to see Bill that was short lived because one of the therapist came and got him to go to the exercise room. I went with and Dorothy went around visiting friends she knew at the place so it wasn't a complete loss for her. On the way home we stopped for ice cream  thanks for the giftie very much appreciated. When ever I use it I will always remember what great friends I have who are so caring at my Church.

I also want to thank another Church friend Ann for bring me a container of soup it really came in handy and so delicious. I had a really busy day yesterday after visiting Bill and grocery shopping I was exhausted so I heated it up, what a delight to have it there all ready for me and not having to wonder what can I make for dinner, thanks so much for your awesome soup throughly enjoyable..


 I also made cup cakes yesterday I sure dont need them so I will bring them over to the neighbors. and fatten them up. I made them from  a box cake mix, caramel apple coffee cake, my neighbor always brings me home made fudge. I freeze it because I cant always eat it all at once and I dont want to throw it away.  I took out  a couple of squares 5 or 6 and slightly melted them in the microwave and frosted the cup cakes with it (so delicious)..



Here are a couple of photos I took today and wanted to share hope you like them.
That's my Box Wood
 I had them in the garage all winter.
 I put them out to get a little fresh air of course if it gets to cold I will move them back in to protect them. there not used to the harsh weather just yet,
 being pampered in the garage all winter.
 I have two of them the other one is on the other side of the garage door.
Miss Foxie hiding peanuts in the side yard.
Tulips I planted last fall in the front landscaping cant wait to see what they look like.
I planted three  groupings this is one of the groupings.
Abbie she loves her window she sits there until I pull up the shade..


Mr and Mrs Dove checking out the scene.


That's all for today I have to get busy I have a lot going on today.















Saturday, April 9, 2011

Rain! Thunder! Lightning..

Hope all is well on your end of the box..


I like this message its so up lifting..

WHEW raining, thunder, lightning here this morning coming down pretty hard.  Abbie is pressed up against me under my desk trembling, I for got to give her one of the pills Cindy gave me to help her calm down.
 I sure was busy yesterday will actually Im busy every day.


 Yep that's rain on the deck this morning.
 We needed it to push all the perennials along" yeah "for rain.
  but not to much just enough.


I like to call this my dessert look garden the colors remind me of the dessert.
One of my absolute favorite places to drive through.


My Tulips, Mums, Roses and  Irises coming up so excited about that..


 All my transplants are taking nicely
 in a couple of months this little garden will be grown and full.
I did it all by my self.


I know it looks like nothing!
  To me its beautiful after a long winter with snow on the ground for months.

 I think today Im going to put my Box wood plants out so they can get a little fresh air they have been in the garage all winter and we are expecting 70 and 80 today and tomorrow.
 that will definately be good for them, of course when it gets cold Ill put them back into the garage..
I dont want to shock them to much they are doing so well.


I made the communion bread yesterday morning my turn to make it for  the month of April, it turned out pretty good" bragging here." LOL Im getting it down pretty good hardly any mess Im just getting to to good at this baking the bread thing. I even brought it over to the church yesterday because we are going to the show in Joliet with Cindy, Megan, Julie looking forward to that.  I didnt want to worry weather some one would be there or not. I knew Erica was their so I had the opertunity to take  it over. I dont have a key and I dont want one that's why I dont have one. I dont want to be the only one in the Church I would rather have some one their when Im there to scary for me, silly isn't it.


Another photo of my front garden coming back to life after a long winter.


Here  is a shot of my baby Bunnie I named her April.
Sleeping by the side of our house.
Of course I wont think shes so cute when she is eating all my plants.
So I have to get out there and put some cayenne pepper here and their.


I like that one cute isnt it.

I met Bill at the hospital yesterday Roger the driver for the Nursing home brought him and I picked him up and brought him back. He needed a blood transfusion and plasma his counts were way down and that always makes him so tired. we sat there for a few hours befor it was over it took about seven hours befor he was ready to leave. They forgot to give him his pills at noon and when we were leaving at 4 they seen them with the paper work and gave them to him then. and of course she dropped some on the floor first. she was a nervous space cadet the afternoon head nurse I couldn't believe her she seemed so nice but wow what a wreck.
 I hope he is feeling much better this morning. He seemed really good yesterday so happy that he is inproving. his legs are still a bit rocky but he is coming along quite well.
Bill is out of isolation and not confined to his room any more he can now go down to the dining room and join the others for meals finally I felt so bad for him. Oh now the lady across the hall has a sign on the side of her door. and the cart with gowns and gloves.
So sorry for her looks like it will be flying around the home unfortunately...

I called my neighbor Florence to let them know he was going to be there for a few hours. she is a volunteer their and her daughter is some biggie there such a wonderful family they have been so good to us I cant begin to tell you. They immediately went right up there to visit him and brought him some home made cookie bars as a treat they are delicious.
Thank you Florence, Ray and Nancy. We have been so lucky that you moved next to us.


We had fog this week.
 I love fog not all the time but once in a while it always makes for spooky pictures.
 It was garbage pick up day as well, as you can see the neighbors container out there..

Time for me to close and get ready to make the dog food..
Their special you know that by now..

If you find mistakes always remember Im not perfect  Im just human;;


Have a safe happy weekend.