Chasing Fireflies

Spring Day

Saturday was a glorious spring day.  Michael mentioned what a perfect day it would be to go for a picnic and hike.  So I put to the side all I had envisioned to accomplish in order that I could spend the day with my family.  And around 11 we set out for a day out in nature. 

We hit the road with the windows rolled down and Michael tuned our radio to a station that played 80s music.  "We are the Champions" by Queen, "Jenny" or "867-5309" by Tommy Tutone, and "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield serenaded us to the state park.   

We found a perfect picnic spot and dined in the sunshine.

After lunch, we fished briefly, but found it to be too windy.  So we took off on a hike, down a hill, over the bridge, up a hill, and over more bridges.

The kids found an old tree to cross over

and then we turned back

to walk down a hill, across the bridge, and up another hill.

It was a perfect spring time family day.

And on the way home we introduced the kids to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.  :)

A Great Weekend!

Friday night Michael and I went on a double date with our dear friends, Jake and Jennifer to celebrate Jake's birthday.  We ended the night with a late night game of Mexican train dominoes. 

Saturday was a gorgeous spring day!  Michael came up with the idea to go on a picnic, fish, and hike.  We all agreed what a grand idea it was and piled into the van soon afterwards. 

Sunday included church, baseball practice for Isaac, play practice for Olivia, and me making homemade falafel for the first time.  They were quite tasty.

We are so excited it's spring and warming up!  What did you do this weekend?

Easter Sunday 2013

Easter Weekend 2013

Our AMAZING Easter weekend involved:

Hot cross buns and going to see a passion play on Good Friday,

Mom and Dad coming to town to celebrate with us,

dying eggs and egg hunts in rain sprinkling down upon us,

Easter baskets,

Sunday morning church,

our traditional Easter lunch,

banana pudding, and

a fish fry, Peeps s'mores, our 2nd annual glow-in-the-dark egg hunt with friends.

An Outdoor Spring Lunch

Today we took lunch outside to enjoy the beautiful spring day.

We ate hummus and carrot sticks, grapes, and peanut butter and honey sandwiches.

We listened and recorded the sounds around us.

Spring Pinks

Spring Sunset Picnic

The first day of spring brought us a sunset picnic by our blooming bulbs.  Afterwards, we enjoyed spying new leaf growth, dogwoods blooming, and a nest that we will begin to watch for eggs.

Spring Daffodils

My Grandmother's Thimble

My grandmother (as many women from her generation) spent many hours sewing.  NeNe (the name I gave my grandmother) was a very talented quilter.  I would estimate that she probably quilted 100 quilts, or more, within her lifetime.  I remember one week during a summer in particular when I was about Olivia's age,  I spent by my grandmother's side learning the art of quilting.  She began teaching me how to cut out the desired shape from a pattern depending upon the type of quilt we were making.  Next, she showed me how to sew the pieces together to form squares.  Never, ever was a sewing machine used.  My grandmother ALWAYS sewed all of her quilts strictly by hand.  After we had accumulated quite a few squares she drove me down the gravel country road to her sister's house where they shared a quilting loom.  I remember the day well.  I was in the company of a long line of my family heritage.  I sat and admired my grandmother and great aunt take the squares and form them into a quilt.  We shared an afternoon snack and I listened to many stories of their quilted masterpieces.  It was an experience I will never forget.  From that day on I always appreciated my grandmother's quilts in a new way and I am very blessed to have many of her pieces today. 

After my grandmother's passing my dad allowed my sister and I to divide up her sewing items.  We divided buttons, thread on wooden spools, fabric scraps, ribbon, and other items.  I have my grandmother's sewing machine and my sister has her wooden sewing box.  There were only a couple of thimbles that we found in her sewing materials and I am honored I came home with one.

When I sew by hand, I always reach for NeNe's thimble because it fits my finger the best, but mostly because of the special memories it has for me.  Even though it's a simple piece of shaped metal, it is symbolic because of those special days I got to see it put into action making a quilt. 

A few days ago I put my grandmother's thimble to a new use as a vase for tiny spring flowers growing in our yard.

I know NeNe would be proud of me using her thimble.  And even finding a use for it with flowers, for she also gave me a true love of flowers.

Spring Nests

We've been "nesting."

Much like we found robins to have last year. 

Only our version was edible.  Over the weekend we made our recipe for haystacks, minus the peanuts.  Olivia and Isaac scooped the mixture out of the bowl and placed it on a cookie sheet.  After dropping our spoonfuls we made a shallow spot in the middle before placing them in the refrigerator to harden. 

After hardening, we placed mini Cadbury eggs and Peeps chicks to complete our spring nests. 

 

HAPPY NESTING!!!

Spring has Sprung in Mississippi

Colors of our Weekend

BLUE

 

Olivia was in a performance of Romeo and Juliet

 

my Mother's Day present from Michael

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RED

 

We {heart} strawberries!

Scenes from our 2nd annual strawberry pick

 

 

 

  

Blooms around my yard

 

May Day Flower Can Vases

To celebrate May Day on Saturday we will be presenting our friends with freshly-cut rose bouquets in a special vase. 

Instead of using a traditional May Day basket, here is a unique way to recycle and reuse tin (soup, coffee, vegetable) cans which we all have access to in our homes.  In fact, more than likely you have all the items on hand already in your home or yard which makes the price very likable and economical.  J

To make my May Day Flower Can Vase I took an empty tin can, drilled (with a dremel tool) two holes near the top on opposing sides, slipped pretty ribbon through the holes, and made knots to prevent the ribbon from slipping back out.  Next, I filled the can with water and placed flowers in it.  Voila!  A beautiful instant recycled flower vase.

The cans are now ready to be placed on our friend's front door knobs.  Wouldn't you enjoy being greeted with such a bright bouquet?

 

These would also make charming teacher gifts, lovely Mother's Day gifts, or even a sweet surprise around your own home greeting guests or your family.

 

I wish you could smell these roses.  They have the most dainty sweet fragrance.  I hope you have enjoyed April and if you haven't already ... make sure to stop and smell the roses.  J

Colors of our Weekend

WHITE

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PINK

 

 
(first roses of the year from our yard)    

Earth Day

  

Sunday Afternoon Spring Picnic

 

Today we took full advantage of the perfect spring temperature, blue sky, and flowering trees and ate our Sunday lunch on the lawn "picnic style."  I placed our picnic blanket in the shade right beneath our flowering dogwood tree. 

We had Cashew Chicken Salad on Prairie Bread, Asian Noodle Salad, hard boiled eggs, carrot sticks, and iced tea.  Several fresh new tastes were on our menu for today.  The Asian Noodle Salad recipe was found here and was absolutely, positively AMAZING.  I highly recommend it.  If you like Pad Thai, then you'll love this recipe because it tasted just like Pad Thai in a salad form.  In the event you try it, I did leave out the napa cabbage, jalapenos, and cucumbers in my recipe (because I didn't have them on hand).

 

Here's to hoping that you have had a delightful start to your week today, too.

 

Colors of Our Easter Weekend

 

PINK

YELLOW

 

PURPLE

BLUE

 

Easter Peeps S'mores

For Easter dessert this year I made our traditional Banana Pudding again, but I wanted something special for the kids.  While looking at their Easter baskets one evening I came up with an idea that would use some of their much treasured Easter candy.  

An Easter Peeps S’More

Here's how to make one:

You will need a Peep of any color, shape, or form, (but a bunny or rabbit would be best for an Easter s'more, don't ya think?), a piece of chocolate (again a bit of chocolate rabbit would be best for Easter), graham crackers, skewers, and a fire.

Place the cute little sugar coated bunny (or chick) marshmallows on skewers.

Roast them over a fire being careful not to burn them (or yourself). 

Very gently slide your roasted caramelized rabbit (or chick) marshmallow onto a graham cracker and piece of chocolate.

Top with another graham cracker making a "sandwich." 

Now Eat and Enjoy your Easter treat!