Rain,Rain

Don't go away! I can use a day or two like this. It's a beautiful day to get work done at home. Not the kitchen floor...I've finally caught on after years with lots of paws with animals in the house.

Even if I wash the kitchen floor on a sunny day....dogs find puddles!

Lazy Days. Cozy Days.

All Together Now

Here we are. One big happy family. In the smallest room in the house, The bathroom. I kid you not.

Biff has just gone off to work and the kids are at school. Quiet. Peace. You think. My family thinks. "What do you do all day?" they ask me.

Me? Alone? I'm in the bathroom. Daisy, Fitz and Boo have joined me. No one believes me when I tell them that I have no privacy....even when I'm home alone. Yes, this my life.

Even Boo!

Some Irish Jokes that tickled me.

 Kathy O', Joe O' and Agnes O'...
Hope you'll share them with friends or family on St. Patrick's Day!
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Finnegan: My wife has a terrible habit of staying up 'til two o'clock in the morning. I can't break her of it. Keenan: What on earth is she doin' at that time? Finnegan: Waitin' for me to come home

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 Slaney phoned the maternity ward at the hospital. "Quick!" He said. "Send an ambulance, my wife is goin' to have a baby!" "Tell me, is this her first baby?" the intern asked. "No, this is her husband, Kevin, speakin'."


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Three little boys were concerned because they couldn't get anyone to play with them....they decided it was because they had not been baptized and didn't go to Sunday School.
So they went to the nearest church. Only the custodian was there. One said, "We need to be baptized because no one will come out and play with us. Will you baptize us?"
So he took them into the bathroom and dunked their heads in the toilet bowl one at a time. He said, "Now go out and play."
When they got outside, dripping wet, the oldest one asked, "What religion do you think we are? We're not Katlick, because they pour the water." " We're not Babdist because they dunk all of you." "We're not Methdiss because they just sprinkle you." The littlest one said, "Can't you tell by the smell of that baptismal water what we are?.......Why, we're Pisscopalians."

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"Tell me, Patrick, how did you manage to get so very drunk last night?" asked the parish priest.
"Well you see, Father, it was like this. I got into very bad company after winning a bottle of whiskey at a raffle."
"But you were with Mick Mulligan, Sean O'Toole, and Peter Ryan and they don't drink."
"Dat's what I mean, Father..."

After The Grocery Store,...this made me laugh

Grace's Final Project for International Foods Class

I may not be the teacher, but I'll give Grace an A+++! 

Awesome! Delicious! Pretty! Rich!

Chocolate Box w/ Berries & Cream

6 1 2 4 1-1/2 1/3 2 1 2 2

1 oz. squares semisweet chocolate tbsp. shortening 3 oz. packages cream cheese, softened tbsp. butter (1/2 stick), softened (do not use margarine) c. powdered sugar c. unsweetened cocoa tbsp. milk tsp. vanilla c. heavy or whipping cream pints strawberries (or any other fresh berries) Mint Leaves for garnish (optional)

Line 8-inch square pan with foil; press out wrinkles so chocolate box will come off foil smoothly. In heavy 1-quart saucepan over low heat, heat semisweet chocolate and shortening, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Pour melted chocolate mixture into foil-lined pan and swirl around sides and bottom, keeping edges as even as possible. Refrigerate 1 minute, then swirl chocolate mixture around inside of pan a second time, to reinforce sides of chocolate box. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare filling. In large bowl with mixer at medium speed, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla; beat until light and fluffy.
In a small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat 1-1/2 cups of heavy or whipping cream until stiff peaks form. With rubber spatula, fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.
Carefully remove foil-lined chocolate box from pan, then gently peel foil from sides and bottom. Place chocolate box on platter. Spread cream cheese filling evenly in chocolate box. Refrigerate until filling is well chilled and firm, about 2 hours.
In small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat remaining 1/2 cup heavy or whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Spoon into decorating bag with large rosette tip. Pipe cream in a 1-inch wide border on filling around edge of chocolate box. Cut larger strawberries in half and arrange over entire top of cream cheese filling. (Garnish with mint leaves optional).
Yield: 8 servings

Today, I had the pleasure of stopping by my favorite farm, Ashlawn Farm in Old Lyme, Ct. As I drove away with a fresh Farm Blend Coffee and.....a danish.....I really do my best to steer clear of those goodies but, today the danish seemed to call my name! Woohoo!  There was achorus calling to me because today Susan offered me a choice of scones, biscotti, danish or even cookies.

As I balanced my coffee cup on the railing of the deck, I stood a moment and found myself daydreamingof Ireland. I remembered being in Clare the morning after we arrived. My family and I.....the summer I turned 14. The colors and softness of the greens, the blues in the sky, even the light clouds with the sun working hard to push through.

It's St. Patrick's Day this week. I get those warm fuzzy family feelings at St. Patrick's Day. We have lots of St. Patrick's Day memories together. I had a few minutes with my hot coffee outside in the haze...and random sweet thoughts.

Growing up Irish.
Family Traditions.
Family Lore.
Family Stories.
Family Connections.
Family Memories.
Silly Irish Sayings
Singing Around The Piano
Silly Irish Superstitions

Random thoughts filled my head just because of this charming place. It's a special place. I stop in for coffee. I have no expectations except a fresh, hot cup of coffee and a friendly hello. I'm surprised time and again as I leave with my coffee..... consistently at the farm I find warm welcomes, kind words, interesting folks with fresh conversation or current events.. I never know who'll be there when I open the door after passing by the horses and goats. It's a like walking into another world where everyone just stops....for awhile. What a delightful way to stop and look at the world with a different perspective.

Finale!

"The Bachelor".....Finally Monday nights can go back to normal. Brad chose Emily. Tears and sobs for Chantal...she fell in love with Brad, he didn't feel the love. I was shocked at his choice. I was sure it was Chantal. There. always seems to be a twist...kind of like real life.

This show has been crazy to watch. Ups, downs, whackos, sincere sweethearts and real people on a "reality TV show." Still, I've watched!.Some friends have watched along with me. We laugh

Jason & Molly
Ryan & Trista
Roberto & Allie
Brad & Emily????

Still in question... Brad & Emily. Isn't it funny that so many doubts and adjustments since the show ended months before airing tonight.

Isn't this the reality? Dealing with life in the real "real" world working things out, working toward compromise, dealing with personalities, logistics, work, bad hair days and all.

How can it be considered "reality" when their love blossoms on exotic islands, jungle habitat, fine foods and housekeepers, evening gowns and sparkling jewels?

I knew I loved Biff on one of our first dates.  He changed a tire for a couple when we realized they were totally inept. Love bursts in on the scene or taps us gently on the shoulder in the wildest ways....seeing and feeling the little things about someone. Not necessarily while all is flowing smoothly. That's the easy part.

Its the big and little challenges, the knowledge and security that my Biff will tell me when I have tomato sauce on my chin or lipstick on my teeth. That's reality and true love for me!

Yes!

Spring. Little hints appear. Sunshine or not, 44 degrees at 4 in the afternoon? I'll take it! Longer daylight hours? I'll take it! Kids outside playing spring season sports? I'll take it!

Yes! I'll take it all! Once again, I ham reminded that change is good. To everything turn, turn, turn...there is a time and a purpose untouched heaven! Amen! Woohoo! Hallelujah! Hooray! Yay! Yes!

Magic

One of my greatest pleasures has been working outside in the yard...moving rocks, raking, planting, creating. Over the years we've created some beautiful, rambling stone paths with big stones and river pebbles. Peaceful and unstructured.

Though the giant rocks are in random spots, each one has been very special to us... and the other kids on our road. Our kids may be in high school now but they still wait for the rumbling school bus on the "school bus rock!" Another rock has hidden little playmates over the grammar school years, "The Spy Rock." Major undercover work and missions have been accomplished. The largest rock of all, "The Globe Rock," was originally an overwhelming climb but with a bucket of chalk and hours of chalking had the rock evolve into The Globe Rock!

Along the "natural" path created with flat, sturdy stepping stones there are lightly colored river pebbles. Years ago I sprinkled sparkling glass stones and clear glass marbles. Just for fun. Also for fun, I told all of the kids that they were magic! It's years later with many new neighbors and smaller children. They still wander along the path gathering and collecting and spilling and counting and sharing their newly acquired sparkly magic stones! Today the first little hunter and gatherer has appeared ....it must be spring!

Really!

Today. Here in Connecticut!

It's Not Lipstick

Fitz. Parking lot of grocery store. Quick dog walk. Fitzy found someone's "leftover" McDonald's litter. Feeding frenzy ensued. Daisy managed a few bites too. Lots of onlookers...who probably assumed I was the litterbug. Oops. At least she didn't get my lipstick.

Alien Kitties

Open bottle of water. Bent over to pick up box. Water glugged out of bottle, splashed onto other assorted items that had fallen to the floor.

Oops #1

While talking on cell phone with old college friend...grocery cart bumped into giant stacks of paper towels.

Oops #2

Oops #2

http://www.zumba.com/us/about/ REALLY. Really. http://bicycling.about.com/od/trainingandfitness/gr/spinning.htm REALLY. Really. What was I thinking?

Really?

REALLY. I took my first spin class today. I walked the dogs for a really good walk. I went to my Zumba class. Really. Really. What was I thinking?

http://m.designsponge.com/category/diy-projects This is a fabulous website for decorating ideas... lots of fun and easy do-it-yourself projects. Fun. Creative. Clever. Not Martha Stewart clever....where we need a groundcrew to orchestrate the whole complex project! Just fun with easy to read/understand instructions. I don't think it will surprise you to know that I'm not that great with following directions!

Do you twitter?

Everything I wrote vanished into cyberspace. I was on a roll. I even read it aloud to Biff before he trotted out the door. He called from the car to mention on random thing....***POOF***.....it is gone. GONE. And what caused the urgent call? Biff needed to ask me to pick up the mail from our overstuffed mailbox. Why was it overstuffed? you may ask. Because a snowplow knocked it over a few months ago. Well...not over. It was stuck in feet of snow. Stuck in a snowbank. UNTIL the snow melted. Then it fell to the ground. The mail was not delivered until the mailbox was standing again. Hence overstuffed. Thus, the phone call. insomuch as my blog writing was in progress, the blogpost was eliminated....somehow...somewhere. The end.

Don't Say Flood

Flood. That word. Hate it. Just do not use it near me. I have flashbacks. And flooding was only in our basement. Hate to be so dramatic when others have had bigger, more horrifying floods to deal with. However, in our life...this was big. Recovering from the flood. Not so much. Yes, we had the crews to clean. Yes, we got a new washer and dryer. Yes, our basement was cleared of all of the extras and accumulation....but, we basically lost our basement. Not lost. It's there....but....as Biff says,"We're going up next time!" The basement will not be occupied by teens the way we dreamed it to be. But it's o.k., it's all o.k. Just don't say flood. Please.

Daisy Dreams

Smile!