Memory Lane Monday: Memorials

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.

~From a headstone in Ireland

Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen,
Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.
~Richard Watson Gilder

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.
~Author Unknown

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

What's around the next corner on Memory Lane?
See you next Monday!

Grab my button and take your own walk down memory lane every Monday!
(copy and paste this code)

<center><a href="http://hugsfromus.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="From This Front Porch" src="http://hugsfromus.smugmug.com/Family/April2010/scan0001/844740824_XVxeh-S.jpg" border="0" /></a></center>

Don't forget to leave me a comment so I can walk along with you...

Seizing My Cookbook!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you again to Jenn over at Seizing my Day for this wonderful signed Pioneer Woman Cookbook!


I have purchased two of these cookbooks so far for gifts but had not bought one for myself. A couple times when I was in Borders I had it in my hands and then I would go put it back on the shelf. My practical side would argue that I could always look the recipes up on the PW Cooking site. But it is always nicer to have the cookbook right in your hands! And it's even more special when it's been signed by the person who created it!

So, what a surprise when I posted a comment on Jenn's blog and won! A few days later it showed up in my mailbox! I was so excited to get it and try it out. Here are some things I tried so far...

Olive Cheese Bread was on the menu one night with Shrimp in Butter/Garlic and Spinach Salad with Avocados. I've made this bread before and we really enjoyed it and thought how good it would be with crab, so this time I substituted imitation crab meat for the cheese. YUM, YUM, YUMMY!
Then one day I made the Braised Beef Brisket! It is out of this world. You must try it if you haven't!!!
Along with the brisket I made this dish. It's not in the cookbook but it was SO good so I took a picture and I'll share the recipe soon with you at Country Kitchen Recipes. It's OH SO easy...

The kids had an early out at school last Friday so we made cookies together. These are the Oatmeal Crispies (MM's favorite cookies). I didn't have pecans on hand so I substituted walnuts instead. The kids all had fun mixing and stiring...



And we all had fun eating them. I also used half the sugar that it called for and they were very good and wholesome tasting!


Other great recipes I've tried or eaten...

Pico De Gallo (Yum)
Cinnamon Rolls (Yum, Yum)
Iny's Prune Cake with Buttermilk Icing (Yum, Yum, Yummy)
MM's Favorite Sandwich (Yum, Yum, Yummy, Yum)
Macaroni and Cheese (Yum)
PW's Mashed Potatoes (Yum, Yum)
Chocolate Sheet Cake (Yum, Yum, Yummy, Yum, Yum)

Other recipes I want to try...

Huevos Hyacinth
Edna Mae's Sour Cream Pancakes
Potato-Leek Pizza
Simple, Perfect Enchiladas (TONIGHT)
Mocha Brownies
And all the rest!

You can find ALL these great recipes and SO much more right here!

Thanks again to Jenn for the cookbook and for the 4 leaf clover!

Feeling Very Lucky,

Firemen & Policemen & Photographers, Oh My!

Colter class went on a field trip last Friday to a Fire Station, a Police Station, and a Photography Studio. Maya and I got to go along. Colter really watched out for his little sister. We learned a lot of cool stuff! Here is a slideshow of the morning...

Here are 3 things we learned...

At the Fire Station: If you wear a helmet when riding your bike, it protects your head so if you get in an accident, your head can help the rest of your body heal.

At the Police Station: Policeman don't fire a warning shot or shoot someone in the the leg or arm to stop them. When they shoot they take care of the problem. (I think we know what that means...) And they only shoot when their life or the life of someone else is in danger.

At the Photography Studio: There is great entertainment value in watching people get their picture taken(see pictures in slideshow above)

We appreciate those who serve our community and our local businesses!

School in 1896

Kyla's class went of a field trip last Wednesday to an old school in town that was built in 1895 and opened in 1896. It has been turned into a museum now and one of the rooms is an original classroom where the local school kids can go for field trips and experience stepping back in time for school. Kyla took her camera with her for the day...

She said every 3rd kid had to take off their shoes because that was how many kids didn't even have shoes to wear to school 100 years ago.

She said the boys and girls had to sit on opposite sides of the room and take different recesses.

She said the children in the younger grades were not allowed to go outside for recess because there was a stable and horses nearby were they could be hurt.

What makes this school even more special is that Kyla's great-great-aunt Blanche once attended it... but, that's a Memory Lane Monday Post for another time...

Memory Lane Monday: May 2001

after this drawer got emptied countless times, I finally made it into a toy drawer

How I miss those simple days with just her and me. She turned my world upside down along with our house... and they were some of the best days of my life.

With each new baby came more challenges and joy was multiplied. But there is nothing like the feeling of being a brand new mommy.

Every day I realized, like her, I was learning so much and as I sit here exactly 9 years later, I realize I am still learning so much.

My hope today is that I will continue to be teachable.



What's around the next corner on Memory Lane?
See you next Monday!

Grab my button and take your own walk down memory lane every Monday!
(copy and paste this code)

<center><a href="http://hugsfromus.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="From This Front Porch" src="http://hugsfromus.smugmug.com/Family/April2010/scan0001/844740824_XVxeh-S.jpg" border="0" /></a></center>

Don't forget to leave me a comment so I can walk along with you...

Beginnings

It's that time of year again to start seeds. On May 8th, the gardener planted various tomato, cucumber, yellow squash and cantalope seeds to start...

He covered them and set them on the kitchen table for them to sprout...

After they sprouted, he moved them out to the garage under lights. Last night he moved them to white cups. There coming along nicely...


We woke to completely white frosted ground this morning. Still to early to plant most stuff yet.

The kids had an early out today so we're making PW's Oatmeal Crispies right now as I type (my poor kitchen...) and then we're headed out to plant some pansies.

Dirty Hands make us most happy,

Kyla's Trip

Kyla got back on Tuesday night from her road trip with Grandma and Grandpa. She had lots of stories to tell and pictures to share. Above is a picture taken in Kearney, Nebraska near the Archway Monument. Below is inside a covered wagon at Ft. Laramie, Wyoming...

Chimney Rock stands 300 feet high on the Nebraska skyline. During the middle 19th century it served as a landmark along the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, and the Mormon Trail, which ran along the north side of the rock. It is visible for many miles from the east along U.S. Route 26.*

On Sunday she got to meet Maxine from Making Country Memories and some of her family including her 2 youngest daughters Kaela and Kara! Maxine wrote about it here.
Here is a slide show of more of her pictures (unedited). It's fun to see the trip through the eyes of a 9 year old... (move mouse pointer onto pictures to see captions)

And between her and Grandma, they brought home plenty of nice things for brother and sister...


Thanks for sharing your trip with us Kyla! You've been to a place I have never been.

Lovingly your Mom,


*this information comes from Wikopedia

Something to Squeal About!

Please stop over at The Rancher's Wife's Photography for a great giveaway! It's going on through the weekend. Don't forget to browse around and enjoy her photography.

See you there,