I Say We Party

Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good party ...a theme party...big parties, small parties, garden parties, dinner parties, drinks parties, tea parties...who the heck cares people - let's gather and celebrate!
My parents threw great parties when I was a kid, we weren't always a part of the action but I always paid close attention to all of the planning my mom was doing, the food she was making and such, filing that info away in my "someday" file. Since dad passed away mom has created her own style of party, a neighborhood Christmas coffee gathering,a cousin get-together, last summer she even hosted a block party!
Tuesday night she played hostess again, and it was lovely...if I do say so myself.
My nephew got married in a civil ceremony and my mom, my sister and I couldn't let such a memorable occasion pass without a celebration. Mom ordered a cake and made finger sandwiches, I made a couple of appie trays ...we all bought a couple (or several) bottles of champagne and presto-partio!
I forgot my camera so I don't have a single photo of the bride and groom, the cake...nothin'...silly me. I found this one of me, mom, my niece, sissy and her hubby. It was taken this past June at my niece's graduation from college...


from the left, moi, mom, darling niece, sissy, sissy's hubby
the party peeps - my sissy isn't so much into party planning but she's my go-to girl for recipe taste testing...her hubby too...they're so much fun to cook for because they're enthusiastic with their appreciation - what's not to love about that after a long stint in the kitchen?
Now that I don't have a single party on the calendar until May it's time for the Jan-Feb pantry, fridge, freezer clean-out. I do it every January, go through the cupboards etc and get creative making odd meals out of odds and ends. We've taken to calling these meals "freezer surprise", I must admit they're not always a hit, but the good Dutch girl in me believes in the whole "waste not want not" quote so on we go.
Now about those 8 bottles of champagne leftover from the wedding reception Tuesday evening...I think I should call my sissy and niece for a little taste testing.

Be Still My Heart

I'm in love.
The search is over...I've finally found it.
The barn of my dreams, OK....barn(s).

This is it, they don't have barns like this where I live, so I guess I have to move.
To Michigan.
Where it seems there is a plethora of beee-uuuu-tiful barns.
The Husband and I took a short trip to see my fabulous cousins - honestly...they're fabulous. R.W. and M.E...their initials stand for Really Wonderful and Marvelous Entertainer!
We had five days and four nights of perfect sights, wonderful company, lots of laughs...serious R & R all the way around.
I know I know...we were there in September so the weather was perfect for this sissy girl. I know the summers are hot and muggy and the winters are bitter cold...so cold my favorite gal at the post office who used to live there says your nose hairs freeze...ow!
But I love barns...serious barn love is a problem.
I think I could handle the weather...
if I lived in a really cool old barn.

How Grandma Stimulated the Economy

Here's where I'm going tomorrow night.

And here's where I'm going on Monday...be back on Saturday.

Mom gave us kids a money gift last Christmas. I asked my baby sister what she was going to do with hers and she said she wanted to go on a cheap four day cruise with mom. I told her that sounded like fun to me...count me in!
We took our Christmas money and bought tickets for a cruise.
Then we needed to find air fare to San Diego.
Of course we all needed to buy a few new things to wear, ya know a girl has to dress up for dinner on those cruises....don't forget accessories...and cute shoes!
Maybe a new bra for that cocktail dress that dips a bit too low in the front.
Sunblock...4,8,15 & 30.
Sunglasses, readers for hanging out by the pool and reading a book.
Spanks...duh...remember that cocktail dress? Mandatory.
Maybe some new flip-flops.
Tank tops are on sale right now!
Does my sundress look too shabby? Oh look...there's one on sale.
Assorted toiletries in those oh-so-handy travel sizes...keeps the weight down on the luggage - I'm all over lightening the load when I don't have hubby with me.
Of course we can't fly down there and get on and off the boat and then fly back! We have to add a day at the beginning of the trip and at the end...wouldn't want to rush too much ;)

So...multiply these purchases by six. Mom, me, baby sister, middle sister, sister-in-law and darling niece.

That's how grandma stimulated the economy!

Ouch.

I know the stories will all be worth that big Visa bill next month.

Happy Mothers Day!

My mom and my two little sisters.
I think this photo was taken in 1966. It was for a feature story that the local newspaper was doing for Mothers Day.
I can't believe I found it! I'm not one of those super-organized people when it comes to photos...or anything else for that matter. lolol

We've had a busy weekend...spoiling moms with flowers, dinners out...
just plain fun - for our moms and for us too ;)

Happy Mothers Day to all of the moms out there!

This Chicken Doesn't Care

This is where I should be checking in today at about noon.
But I'm not.

Oh my goodness.
Blogland is humming with what I'm calling "Pig Flu Posts".
Everyone has quite the opinion on what everyone else should be doing, goodness gracious!
Here's what I say.
Use some common sense people, settle down and settle in.
Play it smart...or play fast and loose and suffer the consequences.

Today was supposed to be departure day for a family adventure with my mom, sister and sister-in-law. We were flying to San Diego, staying at the Hotel Del Coronado tonight and then going on a little cruise to Mexico for four days.
We're not going.
Mom has a kidney condition that has left her with a seriously compromised immune system. She's finally off the chemo and steroids...yayyyy! But she needs to be careful and avoid putting herself into risky situations.
We've rescheduled for September.
Call us sissies, chickens...say we're overreacting to the media hype.
I'm tough, I can take it.
I'm protecting my mama...it's what all good daughters should do.

Little Miss Snooty Face

This is Bergie out in the barn with her "don't mess with me" face.

I'm nervous. My sister decided Bergie needs to go to the doggie park. Bergie gets to go a lot of places but she doesn't get out of the car a lot, sister says that's like taking your kid to the circus and making them stay in the car and watch from the parking lot.
So, today is the day...we're off to the dog park at Lake Padden.
Yikes.
This dog mom is nervous. Don't laugh at me but I googled "dog park manners"...hey, Bergie's a farmgirl, she gets to run around her as much as she wants but she doesn't get to play with a lot of other pup-kids.
I'm ready.
Plastic baggies - check
Doggie treats - check
Strong leash - check
Clothes that can get dirty - check
Towel for dirty dog - check

Cross your fingers and wish us luck ;)

Oh...and have a great weekend!