Memorial Day

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend.  Please take the time to remember those who have lost their lives fighting for our freedom.  I know we are lucky enough that no one in our family lost their life fighting for us.  We do remember our family members who were  enlisted--my dad, Uncle Dean, Uncle Teddy, & cousin Brian--navy, Bud's dad, Uncle Hank, & Uncle Chris--army, Uncle Harvey & Uncle George--navy.

One of our local cemeteries is always decked out with flags.  Our high school FFA group is in charge of the Avenue of Flags.  It always looks great!

Our weekend has been full of graduation activities--at school and receptions.  While Bud was at graduation ceremonies yesterday I met Trilby and Trina to see a movie.

Yes, we saw Sex in the City 2.  I have to admit that when I first heard about the show Sex in the City and I knew Trina LOVED it,  I lectured (I know it's hard to imagine me lecturing someone!) her about thinking their lives were so wonderful since they seemed like quite loose women to me.  Anyway, one summer I got hooked on the reruns and I'm sure I've seen every one.  I liked the first movie, but this one left a lot to be desired.   The outfits are REALLY outrageous, and there really isn't much of a plot.  I'd recommend waiting until it's out on DVD.  The girls enjoyed this:

And I was surprised to see the theatre had a new look.

Despite the movie it was nice to spend a little time with the girls.

I have spent some time sewing, and I hope to have some photos soon!

Broccoli Shrimp Pasta Toss

If you are looking for a quick, easy, and calorie friendly meal then this one is for you!

Broccoli Shrimp Pasta Toss

2 cups uncooked bow tie pasta

1/4 cup chopped onion

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 T butter or stick margarine

1 T olive oil

2 cups fresh broccoli florets

1/4 tsp salt

8 oz. uncooked medium shrimp, peeled & deveined 

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to directions.  In a large nonstick skillet, saute onion and garlic in butter and oil until tender.  Add broccoli and salt, cook and stir over medium high heat for 8 minutes.  Add shrimp, cook and stir 2-3 minutes longer or until shrimp turns pink and broccoli is tender.  Drain pasta, transfer to a serving bowl.  Add broccoli mixture, toss gently.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

196 calories 9 g. fat 2 fiber per 1 1/4 cup serving

Check out Colleen's blog for more yummy recipes.

1975-2010

Remember back in 1975 when Jimmy Hoffa disappeared and Patty Hearst was among the most wanted?  The patent was given for the first portable phone?  

Bic launched its first disposable razor? 

SNL debuted?  

Mohammad Ali beat Joe Frazier?  

Bruce Springsteen released "Born to Run"?  

We were watching Dallas, CHIPS, Starsky and Hutch, Charlie's Angels, and the Waltons?  

Well, we got married!

Now: 4 kids

3 son-in-laws

1 daughter-in-law

5(6?) grandsons

4 high school diplomas

5 college degrees

7 houses

1 large addition

3 towns

6 campers

4 dogs

3 cats

3 mini vans

numerous trucks, cars, & beaters

LATER

We are celebrating 35 years of wedded BLISS!!  Yes, we've had our ups and downs. We've had our challenging times and our happy times.  We've had great family vacations--Disney World, Sea World, MLB games, World's of Fun, Mt. Rushmore, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Texas Road Trips, Tennessee Road Trips, North Carolina Road Trips, camping, swimming, and boating.  We had a wonderful 25th Anniversary party planned by our four wonderful kids and one son-in-law.  We love spending time with the kids, grandsons, and our extended family.  We are hoping for another 35 years.  Thanks you to all of you who have been a part of our lives.

Make Life by Moda

We have grandchild #6 on the way in June.  We've decided on a pattern, and we've received the fabric that we ordered.  It's Make Life by Moda.

We ordered a layer cake and three other cuts of fabric. The white with grey stars will be the background fabric, the green polka dots will be the backing, and the multi colored will be the binding.  The layer cake is a packet of 40 10" x 10" squares of a variety of fabric from the Make Life line.  They will be used for a border and lettering.

Stay tuned for a completed baby quilt--hopefully in June!

Spring Flowers

I love daisies of any kind.  These are in my yard.

Purple is my all-time favorite color, and you will see it in my flower beds frequently.

After a couple of years of weeding, weeding, and more weeding along with planting and replanting the flower bed along the south fence line is starting to look like something.

I always have to add a few annuals to add some color when the tulips and daffodils are done blooming.

I love impatiens.  These are purple, but I just couldn't get the color to show up well.

Laying among the flowers reading a good book.  How good is that!

What's growing in your yard?

Sweet Baked Pork Chops

Thanks to our daughter, Tasha,

this easy pork chop recipe has become a favorite at our house!

Sweet Baked Pork Chops

Line a baking dish with foil.  Put a layer of pork chops (however many you'd like) on the foil.  

Pour 1/4 cup of Maple Syrup over each pork chop. (We often use lite syrup and it's just as good.)

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, then pull them out of the oven and turn them over.  Pour 1/8 to 1/4 cup of syrup on the other side.  Bake another 30 minutes.  Baking time will vary with the thickness of the chops.  They are fantastic!

Check out Colleen's blog for more great recipes.

Saturday Shower

Saturday we had a houseful as the girls had a shower here for Tasha and Kyle.  We had a great time, and I think I'll have some good pictures to show of the relay race we all competed in as soon as my SIL sends them to me.  Here are the happy parents to be:

Right now the theme for the baby is frogs.  The girls decorated some cute frog cupcakes, there were frog invitations, and even a onesie with a frog on it.  

We were expecting five new babies this year--three grandchildren for us and two great-nieces or nephews.  We're more than halfway there with CJ born in August, Grayson being born in February, and a great-niece, Kadelynn, born in March.  We have a great--? due June 14th, and then another grandchild due July 14th.  Here are three of the mothers together on Saturday.  Trina--delivered February 13th (Grayson was asleep for the picture)  Tasha--due July 14th and Brittany--due June 14th.

Won't those cousins have a great time playing with each other!  Good times are ahead at our house!!

We all had a great time.  For me the best thing was to have my family all under one roof enjoying each other's company for a few hours.  It doesn't get any better than that!

Sick!

I went to my allergist for my six month check up only to find out I have sinus infection.  That would explain why I haven't felt good for a week!  I'm blaming it on this weather--wet, rainy, sporadic sun with high pollen counts, cold, did I mention WET??  So, it's the couch for me again today waiting for the meds to kick in and the head to quit aching.

Giveaway Winner---Me!!

Heidi at handmadebyheidi.com was is packing for a move from AZ to MN. (Welcome back to the midwest!)  Anyway, she wanted to giveaway some flannel rather than move it, so she had a giveaway.   And I won!!  I have entered quite a few giveaways, but I have never won.  I am careful to enter only on the sites that I visit regularly, even though there are so many out there.

I'm seeing a lot of burp cloths, taggie blankets, taggie blocks, and baby quilts in my future!

Do you see that pink in there?  I'm hoping I'll have some use for that in the future at least! Don't get me wrong, we love those grandsons, but there's nothing like sewing some girly girl stuff once in a while!

Thanks, Heidi!  Look for some projects on here this summer.

Bags

I've been working on some bags and I sent this one  to Mom for Mother's Day.

  It has a magnetic snap closure and pockets all around the outside.

There are also pockets on the inside for her cell phone and such.

This one is for my niece who wants to use it as a diaper bag.  I made it a little bigger than the purse size.

It also has pockets around the outside which will be handy for bottles, toys, and such.

The inside has two bigger pockets just right for all of that baby paraphernalia that you need when you have kids!

I've made quite a few of these and I'm sure I'll make more.  They are just the right size, sturdy, and cute! I used a pattern from Moda Bake Shop.  You can find the pattern here.

Happy Mother's Day!

A Little Fabric Shopping

I belong to a Piecemaker's Club.  It is held at my favorite local quilt shop--Willowcreek Quilting and Gifts in Kalona.  It meets the first Wednesday and Saturday of the month.  Each month new fabric and patterns are shared along with members sharing things they have made.  I don't really know anyone who goes on Wednesday nights, but I enjoy going.  Anyone want to go with me???

Different projects are also offered.  I still don't have my first project completed, but that will be on my list after school is over for the summer.  This month we started a "Buck a Block" project.  It will be 12 blocks, so it will be a year before it is completed. I chose two fabrics to start with.  This one will be shades of my favorite color--purple.  I'll share pictures once the first block is done.  I have a hard time getting to the meetings, but the last two that I've been to I have won $10 each time sharing my things.  So, this week I spent the gift certificates, used a coupon and added a little of my own $$ to purchase a few things.

I have been admiring the Nature's Notebook by April Comell for Moda since it came out.  I'm not sure yet what I will do with it, but I had to have some!  The jelly roll is Strawberry Lemonade by Me and My Sister Designs for Moda.  The colors would make a great little girl quilt, or a springy wall hanging, table topper, table runner, etc.  I have also been wanting this purse pattern.  You will see me carrying one soon! (only in different colors for summer)  And then there is the table runners pattern.  I like making table runners.  Since I have been learning and trying more and more different patterns I like to do small projects.  That way I see a finish and know if I'm good enough for a certain design before I try something larger.

I also purchased my new sewing machine at this store.  When I bought it they mentioned a workbook that would be nice to have.  Of course it cost extra.  So, I bought it too.

I have studied poured over it and I know that I will be using this often!

I am headed to my sewing room right now to spend a few hours.  Yah!

Oriental Coleslaw

A while ago my friend, Beth, made this salad.  Not being a salad lover OR a rabbit, I didn't like it!  Others continued to rave about it.  One night at book club I decided to eat outside of my box, so I ate some of this salad.  Well, Beth wasn't there and I said, "I like this better than Beth's recipe."  I was promptly told that it was indeed Beth's recipe.  I guess my tastes have changed or something because I have even made it.   It's my "new" favorite salad!  Thanks, Beth!!

Oriental Coleslaw
1 pkg. shredded cabbage/carrots
1/4-1/2 diced green pepper
1/4-1/2 c. sunflower seeds
2 green onions diced
1 oriental chicken pkg. Romen noodles

Dressing:
1/2 c. vegetable oil
3 Tbsp. vinegar
1 Tbsp. sugar (I added a little more for Bud!)
Seasoning packet from Ramen chicken noodles.

Mix dressing together and toss with slaw, pepper, sunflower seeds, and onions 30 minutes before serving.  Add Ramen noodles just before serving.

YUM!

Check out the recipes at And Baby Makes Five.

Yard Creatures

We worked in the yard today, replanting, planting, and moving plants.  We got a lot done, but I had to come in when the allergies started bothering me.  I was sewing when Bud called and asked me where the snake was that I had seen earlier.  He wanted me to come out and look at what he had found.

We're pretty sure it's a bull snake, but it sure looked creepy! (And no, he didn't kill it.) The one I saw earlier was MUCH smaller.  It was a garter snack I'm sure.

Do you ever run into creepy creatures in the yard???