Showing posts with label Special Days. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Special Days. Show all posts

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Life, Death and the Pursuit of Happiness

One of my nephews passed away suddenly 2 weeks ago at the age of 37. It was a shock.

I hadn't been back to Chicago in 10 years. I needed to go.....in the middle of one of the worst winters in ages. The airfares were astronomical so we drove.....1800 miles round trip in 3 1/2 days. We spent 24 important hours with family and the rest on the road.......some on black ice in Indiana.

We are still exhausted from the drive but luckily the weather gods saw to it that conditions were not too hazardest and we made it home safely (although the weather did follow us home). But I am so glad we were able to go.

Our family is not a close one but it is the kind that even though you don't see each other a lot when you do get together you have a good time. No arguing or yelling, no drama. Maybe it is the fact that we don't see each often then when we do, we spend our time on pleasantry and not passed perceived wrongs.

I was glad to be there for my sister.



After the snow, ice wind and cold we returned to this.......it was great to be back home.






Our weather was beautiful, in the 60's, which lasted all of 2 days.

Monday was my birthday and The Husband made me breakfast, sausage gravy and scrambled eggs....yum.



Doesn't look pretty but oh so good. Since we just got back from our trip the night before I had to go to work but I got to open my presents before going.



I scored 3 Ken dolls and 2 Skippers. Happy Birthday to me!

By Tuesday morning weather was starting to turn, It appears to have followed me from Chicago. I left work at 2:30 to freezing rain and we had an official Florida 'Ice Day' yesterday.



That is ice covering everything. The patio was so slick Lou came running across the yard and slid across taking down the flower pots like bowling pins.

I spent my day like I did when I was a kid.....playing with my dolls. I freed all my new ones from their boxes and decided give some others a cleaning.



A few months ago I bought a couple lots of Barbies on eBay. Some I will keep and the others I will clean and dress for charity. This one is getting a Downy hair bath to get the frizzy out of her hair.

I cut out doll dresses and did some sewing, read and napped. It was a wonderful 'Ice Day'. I felt like a kid again.

Today it's back to work and reality. But there will be other play days......I think we all need them, to play and be a kid again. Life, as we all know, can be so short. So play, do what puts a smile on your face.
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Thursday, December 26, 2013

The Food of Christmas




We always start our morning with a variety of smoke fish and lox and bagels. And we can't forget the Bloody Mary to wash it all down.




Pre-dinner cocktail was a Pomagrante Martini.



Dinner was filet with lobster tails, baked potato and asparagus. And we can't forget a glass of wine to wash it down.

We had a Mixed Berry Tart (store bought.....oh the horror!) But I forgot to take a picture.

Ugh! Lucky I got the Wii Zumba workout for Christmas !!!!!!!!

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thankful every day for family and friends!


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Location:Sarasota FL

Monday, September 2, 2013

Labor Day .......summer's end

Where did the summer go? While I love fall and the coming cooler weather, I have to wonder where the summer went and so quickly! Seems like as a kid the summer was long and lazy, now it zips by like high-speed rail. Or is it just that I'm getting older and all time seems to be zipping by and not just summer?

We had neighbors over for dinner and games last night. Always fun!




I went with a summer into fall theme with my table, based around the beautiful golden roses and orange gerber daisies I got at the market. I made a pitcher of peach sangria that was delicious.




First course, a tuna poke salad in a little corn tortilla cup on a bed of guacamole with a hint of shiracha. I loved this and could have made a meal out of it.......in larger portions of course.




Salad course, spinach with a bacon vinegarette. The white stuff is grated egg white. The yolks were soft boiled separately. When you broke the yolk and mixed with the salad it gave it such a heavenly richness. It was sooooo yummy.




Main course was Chicago style baby back ribs and twiced baked potatoes. Chicago style ribs don't get as much press as other styles but that's okay, they are our little secret. Chicago style ribs offer more resistance, none of this fall off the bone stuff, these are ribs to sink your teeth into. And the sauce is a little sweeter so you get a good carmelization. All in all, yummy.

Dessert was apple pancake with ice cream (sorry, ate it so fast, no picture).

Several rip roaring rounds of UNO put the cap on a great end of summer evening.

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Saturday, July 6, 2013

Holiday Table

We had friends in this 4th for a more formal celebration.









The Husband made a delicious five course dinner. I forgot to take pictures of the food but did take one of the menu...............



Everything was yummy and the company was great! It was a good 4th of July despite no fireworks because it has been raining in buckets for 4 days.

Hope you enjoyed yours!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!


May everyone have a safe and happy holiday!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Louie's One Year Gotcha Day!






 First night home.

 Checking out my yard buddy, Gus.
 Meeting new friends.


 Meeting more new friends.
 Walking the Destin Harbor.


 Making myself at home.



 TENNIS BALLS!!! ALL MINE!!!!


 Paying attention in class.
 Hangin' with classmate, Cissy


 The Handsome Graduate.


 Snaggin' Tennies


Passing another obedience class.
I get a new toy, a frisbee !!!!!
I am happy in my .......HOME!

Louie has been a learning experience for us since he was our first rescue.  He still has a few issues we are working on but mostly has been a joy and we are so happy to have found him.
I always tell him Lily gave up her place in our home because she knew he needed us.
And we needed him!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

One Year Ago Today...............

we helped our sweet Lily over the Rainbow Bridge.



I miss her so much!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Today I Will Be..........

Today is my birthday......I will not say how old I will be!





Happy Birthday to me.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

She would have been 11

Today is Lily's birthday, she would have been 11. We really miss her.



  
  Happy birthday sweet girl.
 

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Welcome 2013


 We lost our beautiful Lily.......
but found our handsome Louie.

May 2013 be a better year than 2012 and may all your dreams come true. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Chris, The Husband and
Louis the VII Rottweiler

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Holiday Traditions

Christmas breakfast:


Bloody Mary starter......but not to strong!



Home-smoked fish and homemade lox.



Assorted olives, onions, some schmear and gorgeous heirloom tomatoes. YUM!

Then there was dinner:



Kir Royale to start.



Beef carpaccio appetizer.



Pan sautéed Amberjack over kale and fingerling potatoes covered in a scrumptious Bernaise sauce. We were stuffed so we just had brownies for dessert. The Husband did a great job, as usual!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas.