Summertime Fun

Summertime conjures up lazy days and happy times.  Our younger grands came to visit this week.  I always ask them prior to their visit what they would like to do.  Number one was playing games.

Iced cold watermelon tastes especially good while playing games in the back yard.

Number two request was to make Toll House cookies.  These grands are great in the kitchen now that they are a little older.  I love how wonderfully accurate they are at measuring the ingredients.

They also stay with the process from start to finish.  I can remember them telling me in the past "to just finish up for us Boo."

Number three request was to go to the park.  We have a great one nearby that is next to the river.  

The boys loved throwing rocks in the water.

It was a beautiful day with clear skies and low humidity.  This is a gift for us in the summer.

There are trails that are nice to take, but today the mosquitoes chased us away.

We noticed a new game that the guys wanted to play.  I'll call it soccer pool--A very clever slant on pool using soccer balls.

We squeezed a lot into our three days together.  So much fun, but now I need a nap. 

The mimosa trees have been so lovely this year.  As we were leaving the park, I had to take a picture of this one.  They smell amazing.  You either love mimosa or you hate it.  Some folks refer to it as a noxious weed.  I must admit to removing a few from our gardens.  Do you have mimosa in your area?  Do you like it or not?

Father's Day

We decided to go out to eat for Father's Day this year.  Trying to get a reservation was difficult.  I should have known to make a reservation much earlier.  Looking for a place that the children and the fathers would enjoy was important.  When I called The Melting Pot and was able to get a reservation, I knew this was the place.  If you are not familiar, it is a fondue restaurant  that offers melted pots of cheese, broths for cooking meats and melted chocolate for dipping fruits and other goodies.  The grands loved it!  The Dads enjoyed it as well. 

There are many blessings in life.  One of those blessings is the love of a father and his children.

 I always think of my own Daddy on Father's Day and remember a hard working, loving father. He taught me many things.  My Daddy has been in heaven for 12 years now, but his love continues to surround me every day.  My Daddy was a pipe smoker.  I often get a whiff of his pipe and know that he is near.

 Thank you God for all the loving fathers of the world. ♥








  

Little Projects

When Grayden made our new mantel for the living room we realized we needed to do something about the fireplace screen.

  It is probably as old as our home of 44 years.  It was the best we could afford at the time and has served us well.  The brass on the front had begun to wear off.  I know brass is not as popular as it was back then, but honestly I still have a lot of brass in our home.  The pendulum is swinging back to its favor and and I'm glad.  We have brass lamps and a lot of brass fixtures in our home.  We're not ones to keep up with current trends.

Grayden also cut the screen down so it fit the opening better.  As you can see in the first photo, the screen is too tall.  After he finished that I painted the screen black.

It took several coats of spray satin black paint to cover.
  We left the brass on the feet and the andirons.  I like the contrast. 

 Of course I had to wash the screen before I painted it---It's kind of shocking how dirty it was!  I don't know about you, but I've never taken it outside to wash!  Vacuuming it occasionally is all it got. 

"Housework can kill you if done correctly."

Erma Bombeck

Little projects accomplished make me happy.  How about you?  Do you have any little projects brewing?

Strawberries

Strawberry season is coming to a close in our area.  We love these juicy little gems and look forward to them every year.  Local strawberries are the best, but the strawberries from California have been delicious this year as well.  We used to go pick these beauties.  I made jams and jellies and of course, strawberry shortcake.  I even tried growing them, but to no avail in our shady garden.  Strawberries love the sun.

Grayden tells me when he was eight years old, his Mother allowed him to sell strawberries from their garden to local neighbors.  He used the profits to attend church camp.  My sweetie has always been an enterprising fellow.  It all began early when he sold strawberries.  He remembers selling them for 35 cents for a heaping quart.  Along with church funding, he needed to make 6 dollars to allow him to go to camp.

I had a quart of strawberries in the refrigerator that were calling for a different dessert.  I've seen Strawberry Fool referred to in many magazines and online sites.  A Fool is an English dessert that has pureed fruit folded into a custard or whipped cream.  Of course, you could use yogurt or sour cream in place of the whipping cream.  The way I made it today was so simple.  It's hardly a recipe.  It consists of strawberries and whipped cream.  What could be better than that?

Strawberry Fool

Macerate with 2 tablespoons of sugar 1 quart of strawberries for one hour. You can adjust the sugar to your taste.

Then mash the berries with a potato masher or large fork.

Whip 1 pint of whipping cream along with 2 tablespoons of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Gently fold strawberries into whipped cream.  Place mixture into glasses and top with a strawberry and a sprig of mint.  Chill in the refrigerator.

  

This was a super easy and delightful way to enjoy strawberries.

The full Strawberry Moon was rising so lovely in the eastern sky last evening.   I do hope you were able to get a look at it.  If not, check it out tonight. ♥