Teddy Bear Tea Party: Part 2-Invitations & the pink flamingos

Hey, that title could be the name of a rock band!

Thanks for dropping by to help me celebrate my

One Year Blogoversary!

Your presence blesses me on a daily basis!  Your comment love means a lot to me!

It's been so much fun planning for this party.  As I made up the guest list, I thought of all the wonderful women and girls who bless me and my daughter with their friendship and I wanted to invite twice as many as I did!  In fact, if I invited all of my blogger friends I'd have to rent a huge hall to accommodate us all! Thanks for your prayer and comment support this past year.  How appropriate that I get to celebrate this milepost in my life pondering my real and virtual relationships.  

Want to bless kids with cancer?  Click here to here to earn donations for Friends of Kids with Cancer & for another MiracleMakeovertm for someone in-need.  Before you leave here today, please scroll to the bottom of this post and read the message from Beverly at How Sweet the Sound about the Miracle Makeover or just click here [to go to the MM site].

The day before we left on vacation, I made the invitations for the party.  First, I went to Micheal's and bought several packages of cards that were blank-inside,  $1.50 for 6.

Next, I typed the words of invitation on a Word document and then copied and pasted it 2 more times on the same document.  I cut the 3 invitations apart, trimmed the edges, and nipped the corners with my handy-dandy corner rounder punch thingy.  Last, I glued them to the inside of the cards.

This is how I worded it:

You are invited to

A Teddy Bear Tea Party

To honor

Sonja * *, My First Grandchild

And

[Daughter #2]

Saturday, August 20, 2011

1 p.m.

At My Home

[my address]

Please bring a favorite childhood toy (teddy bear, doll, book, etc.)

or be prepared to tell us a story about your childhood.

R.S.V.P. [my phone number] or [my email address]

I asked my friends to bring a toy or story so they could share about it with the group as an ice-breaker.  What do you think about that?  Do you have any other suggestions to just get 

a group of women (ages 4-85) talking?

Also, I invited 4 of my little girlfriends, ages 4 to 8, along with their Mommies and/or Grandmas.  It seems like a fun, informal way for them to learn ladylike manners in a group social situation.  

I wanted to get the invitations out before I left on vacation so my friends would have nearly a month to plan and respond.  So far, about 12 women I invited have R.S.V.P.'ed, which I really appreciate. Makes it so much easier to plan how much food and party supplies to buy.

Speaking of goodies.  Let me just say this:  if you leave the party without having satisfied your sweet tooth it will be your own fault!  I hope to share my menu and recipe links soon.

While I was creating and addressing the invitations, my Dear Husband was glamming up the border of this flower bed.  The bricks defined it so nicely.

Then he made a new bed under the rhododendron on the back side of our home.  Remember the French drain he installed here last summer?  This is an improvement of monumental proportions.

Oh, there are the 2 new members of the family, the pink flamingos.  I bought them as a kind of memorial to our local garden column writer, Dulcy Mahar, who passed away in July.  She wrote a weekly column with contagious passion, enthusiasm, and wit for nearly 20 years.  A few years ago, she added a flock of 4 flamingos to her woodsy back area.  Before that, she had a thing for garden gnomes.    By her suggestion, I created my outdoor room.  I will miss her.

.

Did you know that flamingos like the seeds on fern fronds?  I didn't either.

This area under the fir and cottonwood trees gets very little sun.  We've struggled valiantly to grow grass here, but to no avail.  My DH covered it with some garden mulch just to cover the bare clay.  Voila!  He'd just added another flower bed to his Honey-Do list.  He didn't mind.  I transplanted 4 ferns from elsewhere in the yard.  Then I took a hit for the team and visited a favorite nursery to purchase several new ferns, some ground cover, and 3 pink impatiens for a little of the party's theme color.  We're thrilled to reclaim and beautify the area just in time for the party.  I plan to spread quilts, chairs, and small tables on the grass in front of this area so we can talk amongst ourselves.

By the way, would you please pray with me that we have pleasant weather for the party, especially because I plan to have it in the back yard.  Thanks!  I knew I could count on you.
Love,

Linking up with
Charlotte & Ginger for Spiritual Sundays.
Beverly for Pink Saturday.  

Here's a message from Beverly about this week's Pink Saturday.  Please click on the Pink Saturday link above to find out how your blessing post and comments can contribute to the Miracle Makeover sponsored by Design Gives Back@ Design Gives Back/Kelee. 

I'm so excited because

today is the day

we all share a blessing

in our life,

and

help to raise money for

another Miracle Makeover.

Teddy Bear Tea Party: Part 1-Preparations

Sonja already has a collection of Teddy Bears

 Before we ever knew we would be grandparents, preparations were underway to spiff up the place for my 

Teddy Bear Tea Party

August 20, 2011

When we knew my Daughter would give birth in May, I wanted to give her a party here where she finished her growing up years with our friends from school, our church, and the community.  But her spring was full of school, a baby shower, and attending SIL's choir performances, so that didn't happen.  We decided to do it in summer so everyone here could meet our first grandbaby.

Okay, backing up to last summer.  My Dear Husband helped me reclaim what had been an eyesore next to our driveway.  He dug up a patch of clay and rocks. 

I planted alyssum and zinnias...

and a new, to me, cosmos...

and sunflowers all from seed.

I just love this one.  Not the most imaginative shot, but what a beautiful color!

Then my Sweetie cleaned the moss off the entire roof!  At least he had good weather to do it and me to bring him a cold glass of water and take pictures of him working hard.

Of course, there's the Saga of Installing 2 French Drains.  Our gutters and drains off the back of the house were being strangled by tree roots and debris.  DH hired a couple of guys to help him dig two 3'x4'x3' holes and two 12' pipe trenches.

Here's how both holes looked after filling them with 6 yards of gravel and a foot of dirt:

Next time I'll show you how we gussied this up.

Then when my Little Brother came to visit last August, we put him to work, too, fixing the window panes in the garage door.

But here's some prep work which probably isn't common to most parties: 

My county repaved the whole street just so it would look clean for my party. 

Uh, not so much.  But it was nice to see my tax dollars at work.  If you get my drift.

You're probably getting carpel tunnel just scrolling down through all this, so I'll sign off.

But you have fair warning, folks!  Yours truly is on a mission to complete preparations for the

Teddy Bear Tea Party. 

So take a deep breath and hold on tight 'cuz I'm going to share more tomorrow.

Love, 

Christmas In July

My daughter received these peonies to celebrate the birth of her first-born.
No, you're not cross-eyed.  They are out of focus.

I played Bible roulette again this morning with my Women's Devotional Bible.  I pick it up from the side table and read whatever page it opens to.  Do you ever do that?

Today I happened upon this poem by Anne Ortland, a Christian musician and author.

Incarnation

"The Lord is in His holy house"-

Oh, grace beyond describing,

That Christ in me should please to dwell-

Immanuel residing!

"My soul doth magnify the Lord,"

I sing with lowly Mary,

That God should choose to enter in

This

      humble sanctuary!

I read it through a couple of times, marveling at her word pictures and the truths of which she spoke.  Her inspiration came from Luke 1, the story of the angel's announcement to Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

Luke 1:35 & 37 jumped out at me:  

The angel answered...

"... no thing (word change and emphasis mine) is impossible with God."

Luke 1:37

A favorite daydream came to mind immediately.  For several years my Dear Husband and I have been mulling around the idea of moving closer to our children.  We want to experience life with them on a WAY more regular basis.  We want our visits to be unhurried, not sandwiched between two 3-hour drives.  

This dream is my impossible thing for these reasons:

We'd need to sell our home.  

In this market?

I would have to quit the job I love.  

Not work with my students?  

How could we afford to replace the health insurance benefits it provides?

DH would need to continue being self-employed.

In this economy?

We would need to forge new lives for ourselves, individually and as a couple.

This means a new support system of church and community friends-can't expect the kids to fill all of our time

This dream and the accompanying thoughts are never far from my conscious mind.   They often surface causing my heart and tummy to ache.  But this morning, as I read Anne's poem and the Truth from God's Word, I laid those cares at His throne of grace.  Because Jesus, the One that Mary bore, in Whom I "live and move and have" my being,* lives in me and with Him no thing is impossible.

What is your impossible thing?

May God give you grace to trust that He is living and moving in your life

with the knowledge that His plans for you are wonderful.

Love, 

Karen

*Paul is quoting the Cretan poet Epimenides in Acts 17:28.  I didn't know that.  Did you?

P.S.  I WILL BE ON VACATION FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AND DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE INTERNET ACCESS.  I HAVE SCHEDULED ANOTHER POST FOR WEDNESDAY, SO Y'ALL COME BACK AND VISIT, 'KAY?  WHEN YOU VISIT AND, PRETTY PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT, KNOW THAT I WILL VISIT YOU TOO WHEN I GET IT TOGETHER RETURN.  

Playing along with 

Beverly for Pink Saturday

Charlotte & Ginger for Spiritual Sundays

Being one flesh

Many years into my married life, I began to wonder what it meant to be "one flesh" in marriage. 
It sure didn't feel like we were one flesh.  I began to ask the Lord about it.  


But I often rebelled at His consistent answer to my query:
You must die to self.  
Life is a series of opportunities to die to your own needs, desires, opinions.  
Your marriage is the first place I want you to practice that.  
You must consider your husband's needs before your own.

That's not fair, Lord!  What about me?  

His answer, "I want you to rely on Me first.  

When your husband does meet your needs, it's by My grace. 

And when he is unable/unwilling to fulfill your needs, I will.  

All blessings in life are from My hand.  

When your needs go unmet, that, too, is my portion for you. 

But I am always with you.

Constantly I provide for you, often in ways you had no idea you needed.  

Ask Me for the grace to meet his needs.  

I will give it

-and the peace and joy that results-

if you are willing to die to yourself.

Today I read here about being one flesh.  

It was another gentle reminder to rely on my heavenly Father first and to die to my self.

By spending time in His Word, praising Him, laying my burdens on Him, listening for His voice,

He prepares my heart to willingly, joyfully meet my husband's needs.

Jesus Christ's lifestyle was one of reliance on His Father first and dying to self 

from conception to His last breath on the cross 

for my salvation.  And yours.

And so I pray:

Jesus, by Your grace, open my heart to opportunities to die to myself today, 

for my husband's sake.  

I ask this, Lord, so that we may consciously experience 

being one flesh:

unity with You first and then with each other.

With Your love and strength, 

may the cord of 3 strands that our marriage represents 

be a testimony to our descendants for Your glory.

Love,

Link to this post:  When You Don't Feel Like "One Flesh."

Continuing Saga of...

...Karen vs. the Grandbaby's Quilt.

Do you ever feel like once you make up your mind to do a project,
like I did yesterday,

a MILLION other things start screaming to be done?

My head was bursting yesterday with MUST DO'S:

Buy this cookbook and study it so I can help Mom's caregiver plan her menus.
Call her dietitian to discuss.

When I got to Barnes & Noble, I located it right away.

But that wasn't good enough.  No!  I felt I needed to compare it to a couple others in the same genre.  Confusion ensued.  Then I needed to visit the restroom.  On my way back from there, I got sucked, completely against my will into the children's books.  Once there, I was forced to select 3 classic books for Grandbaby to give Daughter #2 at her shower this Saturday:

Goodnight Moon,

 The Runaway Bunny,

 

and Guess How Much I Love You

Now I ask you, "How can anyone with Grandma aspirations deny her Grandbaby these delights?"

Side note:  A facebook friend told me to suck up the "spendy" part of grandparenthood and enjoy the season.  DONE!

Then it was late afternoon snack time.  The cinnamon spice coffeecake at Starbuck's, conveniently located  inside the bookstore, began calling my name.  Oh, my, it was good!  Even the scale didn't shame me this morning.  Grace moment.  Bought the BHG cookbook and baby books.

Back to my list.

Must visit Craft Warehouse and buy fat quarters with which to conquer, uh, I mean, make the quilt.

Well, they only had a few fq's from which to choose and which, predictably, did not have the "cute" factor  I felt necessary for this project.  But while there, I had a great conversation with a lovely salesperson about  her grandbabies and mine.  She was such a dear.  She helped this math-challenged mama figure out how much fabric I'd need.  No small thing, that!

Must go to Jo-anne's.  

No darling monkey fabric, no cute-enough fabric there either!  But I did score a new pair of scissors with a 40% off coupon.  Was a 20-something the last time I got scissors!

Return items to Tarzhay and New Season's Market.

DONE!  

'Cept I had to pick up some lovely red-tinged Romaine lettuce starts, too.

Start dinner-Kung Pao Chicken and sauteed fresh spinach.

I was cheerfully engaged in this activity, when DH walked through the door.

Love that man.

Soon as I saw him, I realized I hadn't done something he'd asked me to do last week!

And what have I done about it?  Well...I just wrote about it here.  Pretty lame.

Okay, off to do it RIGHT NOW!

And in my spare time, I'll continue to compile the rest of my list:

*Register for Diabetic Menu Planning workshop at local hospital.

*Return 2 friends' calls from last weekend.

*Get appointment with acupuncturist.

Update:  DONE!  Just hope I've accomplished the task for DH by the time I should leave for the appointment.  I've spent an hour on the phone just trying to get my PIN# to do what he asked!

*Plan time to go to the fabric store half an hour away.

*List medical expenses for income tax purposes..........ZZZZZZZ!

*Call for reservations at Chef Ethan Stowell's Seattle restaurant for me and Daughter #1 to celebrate our May birthdays. 
Click here to go to their website and see all of the beautiful photos below.

People Are Talking About

Staple & Fancy

You won't know what's coming — not even your waiter does. To create this ad hoc experience, the kitchen draws from a wide-ranging repertoire…It's better than good. It's great!

Providence Cicero
The Seattle Times

http://www.ethanstowellrestaurants.com/image/photobar-staple.jpg

***YADA YADA YADA...***
Okay, really, I'm going to do what DH asked NOW

just as soon as I post this.

Am reminded that delayed obedience is disobedience in God's eyes.

Lord, help me organize my day in a way that pleases You and shows my Dear Husband that I respect him.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

...and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:33

God bless your day!

Love, 

Karen

Linking with

Magical Mouse Schoolhouse for Tiggerific Tuesday!  Blog hop...or Bounce
Grandma's Guide to Life for Good Friends Just Click
Busy Moms Tips and The Work at Home Helper for Totally Tuesday Blog hop

Weighty Words

Isn't my bike pretty?

As I write this, I'm enjoying a snack of Greek olive and garlic hummus 

with 4 soda crackers.  I'd have at least 2 more, but there aren't any more.

And I just got home from grocery shopping.  

It's 5 o'clock and I should be making dinner for my Dear Husband

who will be plowing through the door, starving, at 6 o'clock.

No, I don't know what to make yet.

But that's part of the fun for me-

I wait till the last minute and then see what I can create out of what's 

in the fridge and pantry.

Trying to expand my culinary horizons like that.

NOT!

Truth is, I'm a procrastinator.

Can I get an AMEN?

Or at least a "ME, TOO"?

In my lucid moments

-read self-disciplined-

I plan a menu for 2 weeks and mark needed items on my grocery list.

This week, not so much.

Hey, life goes on, right?

I need all the help I can get, folks, with this weight-loss-get healthy-discipline thing.

Came across Patrice's blog, Everyday Rurality, a few weeks ago.

She is kind enough to host this blog hop for people like me.

You can join us by clicking on her blog name above.

Oh, I wish I could figure out how to copy and paste these buttons so that you can click on them instead of having to make a link with the blog title.  Can anyone help me with that?  Pertty please?

Each week she posts some questions about different facets of losing weight.
Here are this weeks questions and my answers.
1. Do you ever buy clothes in the size you hope to wear after weight loss? 
Never.  Just don't have the $$ to spend unless I KNOW I can wear it right now.

2. Is there a color of clothing that makes you feel good when you wear it? What is it?
I love, love, love fuchsia.  It has been my signature color for over 20 years.  My DH bought me a fuchsia wool dress coat at that time.  The kicker is that he also bought me cashmere-lined fuchsia leather gloves, too!  Oh, I felt like a queen when I put that coat and gloves on!  Still do.  My kids hated it.  But have you noticed that fuchsia is back in style?  Momma needs another fuchsia outfit!

3. Do you keep up your fluid intake?
Yup, I'm good at that.  I drink at least a quart of water a day.  I find that when I don't I get powerful thirsty by the end of the day.  Did you know that when your body tells you you're thirsty, it means that it's WAY past time to hydrate.  Learned this little gem at Weight Watchers, the FIRST time I did the program, about 5 years ago:  Sometimes when you think you're hungry, what you really are is thirsty.  So I try to drink at least 8 oz. of water before I eat something, especially a snack.  I did drink water before the crackers and hummus, but was still hungry.

4. Have you tried Stevia? Would you like to? (If you answered yes to wanting to try it, I will give you 1 entry into my NuNaturals giveaway that ends Friday. To get more entries click here.) <-----That's Patrice's giveaway.  
I first tried Stevia [a natural sweetener] about 13 years ago.  That was during ANOTHER weight loss odyssey at my naturopath's office.  I would like to try it again, though.

5. Can you do something this week that will make you make you smile, relax, or feel pampered?
Wow, what a concept-pampering!  Now smiling and relaxing, that I can relate to.  I'm thinking riding my bike would help me do both.  With the added benefit of getting my bod off the couch and away from the computer.

Well, kids, that's it for this week.
Oh, 'cept for this:
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit,
who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
Therefore honor God with you body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

My DH just walked in.  He's 3 minutes early.  My quest to create dinner begins!

May God's grace rain down on you this week.
Love,
Karen

Baked Eggs

On Sundays after church and Sunday school, my DH and I have brunch at home.

We have a default menu:

eggs, scrambled or fried 

Reduced fat Jimmy Dean sausage or ham, or bacon

or omelettes made with ham or bacon

white [DH] or wheat [me] toast 

If the earth shifts on its axis or 

I get sick of making the same ol' thing,

we have been known to mix it up a bit

and have waffles or pancakes instead of toast.

The inspiration for today's brunch began yesterday afternoon

when our neighbor brought us some of her hens'

fresh eggs.  

Then last night, a friend on Facebook referenced a baked eggs recipe

   on Stephanie's lovely blog, Dollop of Cream,

and I knew I'd found the perfect way to showcase the taste and color of the eggs.

But what really clinched the deal was that Stephanie had used ramekins.

A chance to play with my heart-shaped ramekins!

Who knew one could use them for something besides creme brulee?

Not me.  

Here's the cast of characters:

Buttered ramekins, fresh eggs [aren't they pretty?], rosemary from the garden, 

Tillamook cheddar cheese [an Oregon favorite],

and, instead of the not-so-fresh 1/2 & 1/2, I used skim milk.

And though the avocado felt ripe, it wasn't.  Major disappointment.
I got over it and preheated the oven to 375 degrees.

First put a little cheese in the bottom.

Next add a 1/2 slice of pre-cooked bacon and one egg.

Add a little more cheese and sprinkle it with rosemary.

Then dribble in some add 1 tablespoon of cream or milk.

There is a problem with this recipe.  My Knight in Shining Armor doesn't like cheese so much.

Solution:  Make him scrambled eggs.
With his loving tutelage and the help of my trusty
Kitchen Aid spatula, I can finally say that I make okay scrambled eggs.
Yeah me!

I baked them for 12 minutes and the yolks were nearly cooked through.
Hello, darlings.  Come to Mama.

Stephanie pointed out that you can be very creative with this recipe.
She used Gruyère cheese and rosemary, and placed a slice of tomato on the bottom
of the ramekins.
RAMEKIN!  RAMEKIN!  I just love that word!
I'm thinkin' next time I'll put some chopped mild chiles on  the bottom of the RAMEKINS,
add Monterey Jack cheese, a pinch of chili powder and cumin, salt, and pepper.  Top with pico de gallo or salsa.
Eh, voila!  Huevos Rellenos.

May need to make Stephanie's turnip puff next.
A turnip puff.  Who knew?  Not me.

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, 
do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31


May God bless your week!
Love,

Linking with Best Posts of the Week

and Meet Me Monday

and Mellow Yellow Monday

Yippee!

It's time for one of my favorite blog hops:

Our friend, Java, is hosting as usual. 

Thank you, Java!

 Here are this week's questions:

1.  Did you watch the Superbowl?
2.  What is the last book that you read?
3.  What is your favorite kind of cake?
4.  Do you snore?
5.  Do you play an instrument?

1.  Short answer:  Heavens yes!    

Longer answer:  Our plans for Sunday the yearly spectacle that is Super Bowl began at "O" Dark:Thirty [read very early] last Tuesday morning.   After I'd snagged my hazelnut cream-charged coffee, and even before I could plop down on the couch to read the Food Section, my precious hubby handed it to me and said he'd like to make a chili recipe found there.  In spite of the fact that I'd only had a couple of sips of coffee at that point, I managed to get this out:

WHAT??  YOU READ THE FOOD SECTION??

After reading the chili recipe, I gave it the KarenHousekeepingSealofApproval

 and we commenced planning to invite another couple to enjoy it with us.

The idea of cooking a new recipe and having friends over got my juices flowin'!

Two of my favorite things!

Here is a link to the cookbook that contains the original recipe:

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/bookstore/detail.asp?PID=471

 The recipe we used was adapted by our local newspaper.

I'll try to get it up later today.

"Do or Do not.  There is no try."  Yoda
2. I'm actually taking my sweet time getting through 2 books right now:

My Dad told me a long time ago, "You never stop being a parent."  I think what he meant was that you never stop caring about, praying for, and, yes, worrying about your children.
And this little gem:

Each little nugget contained in this book takes me all day to digest.
Both of these books are on my Shelfari thingy on the sidebar.
3.  Birthday cake!  What else?
Celebrating another year of life, someone else's or my own, makes any cake taste yummy.
When our kids were at home,
there were many years when ALL of our birthdays [by each celebrant's choice]
were celebrated with this cake:

Anyone else have that family history?
4.  Yikes, do I ever!
Hoping that when I'm done losing weight
-15# down, 15# to go-
that will improve.
I have a phobia about sharing a room with anyone other than
my Dear Husband (he taught me to snore),
like for instance, at our church's annual women's retreats
because of my snoring.
Note to self:  sign up for the retreat April 8-10th.
5.  I've taken piano and guitar lessons.
I think it was Pam, at Empty Nest, who answered this by
saying that if she couldn't do something right away, she'd quit.
As far as playing instruments goes,
that describes me, too.

For more Meet Me On Monday madness
hop on over to Java at Never Growing Old
and link up with the rest of us.

There now.
See?
Mondays can be good days, too.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Don't forget that you may email me your prayer requests.
Love,