Happy Mother's Day Mom

In remembrance of Mother's Day I would like to share a few thoughts about my own mother. As the oldest of seven children and living on a farm, she had to work thinning beets in the summers to pay her way through college. Then she began teaching in a one-room school house in a little remote town in southern Utah. Her love of learning and children never wavered as she taught almost every suject from K-12th grade until she retired at 62 and then tutored children for many years after that. She taught her three daughters all the basics of education. I learned the correct way to print the alphabet by watching her make charts at night for her classroom. She devoured books and instilled that in us too. She always had time to play with us. She was the one playing Kick the Can with us, tightening our roller skates with a key, greeting our friends for sleepovers on the lawn in the backyard, or taking us "downtown" shopping after school. I don't know how she had the energy to work all day, be ready to shop, and make a hot dinner every night. A fond memory is "having pie" at the Walgreen's counter after we were done shopping. ( She loved Boysenberry).

Each summer she had a project in which all of us would participate. (Whether or not we wanted to!) We learned how to paint a room, wallpaper, upholster furniture, and can fruit and vegetables. We all vowed we would "never do any of that when we grow up", but as fate would have it, we all love to be creative and thank her for teaching us that first time. I think of her often and appreciate how devoted she was and a great example of motherhood. I often relied on her sage advice when my own daughters were growing. I give accolades to my own daughters who are wonderful mothers in their own right, following in her tradition of enjoying this precious time with their children. It goes full circle.

Happy Mother's Day!

Simple Woman's Daybook 20 Favorite Things

Today the Simple Woman's Daybook had a new blog idea I decided to follow.

I am to list:

20 Of My Favorite Things

1. Color-Red, not orangey red, but cherry red
2. Dessert-I always ask for Oatmeal Cake for my birthday, but I do love anything lemon and I am a sucker for Brownies!
3. Smell-freshly baked bread
4. Flower-I love the springtime perrenials especially Bleeding Hearts, Foxgloves, Delphineums,
5. Animal-Not being a real animal lover I had to think hard about this but I do like cats better than dogs.
6. Month-March when it is springtime-- in California.
7. Beverage-I have always loved Root Beer. When I was a child I always wished we had a soda fountain in the corner of the kitchen which only dispensed Root Beer. (My chair was right by the corner)
8. Pair of shoes-currently my Uggs slides.
9. Snack-I have a hard time eating just one cinnamon bear. Once I start on a bag, there's no stopping me.
10. Song-any by Josh Groban
11. Book-currently...The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
12. Fruit-I love raspberries and blueberries. But then again fresh pineapple just can't be beat.
13. Hairstyle-I am never happy with my hair but think long straight hair is nice on others.
14. Piece of clothing- I have really enjoyed a long wool black skirt that I bought last fall. Now I am ready for t-shirts and capris!
15. Store to clothes shop-Anthropology after that it would be Flaunt in Danville, CA
16. Season-Spring
17. Hobby-I like to quilt, sew, bake and make things with paper.
18. Thing to collect-I have quite a few collections--silver baby cups, bottle stoppers, glass hearts.
19. Movie-I just saw 17 Again which I thought was really funny.
20. Restaurant-Any good Mexican.

To read other favorite things click here.

Beach/Liquid Diet Vacation II

Tues. plans--Work out, Designer showcase, Shopping. Using GPS to get to the 6 penthouses (3 million pricetag!) we went 20 miles out of our way. Penthouses were decorated beautifully if you like high tech, very little storage and huge expanses of glass (unfortuntely overlooking the sandpit and the terrifying freeway). Then on to shopping (past Avocado Street which whispered "Sprinkles, Sprinkles)--(cupcakes to those who don't know that name). We resisted though!

Wed.--Workout, Craft, Pedicures, shopping, French food.

As we were walking home from the fitness center, we were nearly sprayed there as the water hydrant was opened and came gushing down the road behind us!

Thurs.-- Adventure! Country Living had an article about a small area in L.A. with shops that looked intriguing. We decided to go find this street. After mapquesting it we set off, Barbara at the wheel, whiteknuckled all the way on 12-lane freeways to the unknown. We both had sweaty armpits as we finally arrived and sat in front of a cute bakery. Next thing we hear are sirens as several fire trucks whizzed by. This was exciting! Then we realized we had not mapquested how to get back home! Panic! We had to rely on our not so reliable GPS but decided to go the back roads this time. As we began our journey we followed a bus with a sign Accidente Necessaries then watched a police helicopter circling around overhead and 5 police cars in the streets-- we locked our doors. We thought we were part of the filming of The Real L.A.Cops show! All went well and as we saw the ocean again we stopped hyperventilating. Barbara wants it to be known her choice for the day was Rodeo Drive not downtown L.A.! Now what kind of adventure would that have been! Diet summary: Me--Monday down .6 lb, Tues up .8 lb, Wed. down .2lb, Thur up 1 lb. Barbara--down 4.5 lbs. (It must have been those bakeries for me!)

Barbara contemplating the day's adventure. What will tomorrow bring?

Thanks for sharing our Beach Liquid diet vacation!

My Beach Vacation

I am taking a break and vacationing in sunny (off and on in reality) California with a friend. Barbara has been on a liquid diet since November and has lost 47 pounds! So, I decided to go on it with her---for this week.

So, Here's the latest on the liquid diet/ beach vacation.
On our first day, Barbara and I equipped with our GPS system in her BMW set off to find this adorable English country Cottage shop we saw in a magazine. Following the directions from the GPS we were directed to enter a toll road 73 (north). I thought, OK it will be about $1.00. No, it was ($4.50). There was no one on the road. We thought, wow, we have a freeway all to ourselves. How did they know! It was great. We drove about 5 minutes on it then were directed to exit. Well, it was an expensive ride, but it was worth it. As we followed the directions voiced to us, we were then directed to go onto 73 (south) which I thought, "OK, they'll just let us back on, free since we just came from the other direction". Wrong! The toll officer did not even think we were funny when we tried to sweet talk him out of the $4.50 toll. So, we had to pay and were on the darn freeway a total of 5 more minutes before we had to exit. Then we found the Cottage. It wasn't hard to find. It had a billboard size sign on top of it's warehouse square building. Where were all the roses and cute curved-top garden gate that was in the magazine? Painted on the front door! Instead of finding a cute, small, quaint cottage, we found a huge, southwestern urban converted warehouse. Inside it was divided into rows of consignment country/gift clutter which when I began to look, made me tired. Since we were so famished upon arrival and seeing it would take a good deal of time to find anything of interest to us, we scrapped the whole thing, went across the street and had some wonderful Puerto Rican food! (But, following through with our liquid diet, we did have water!)

Stay tuned for the next update!

Tablescape Thursday Chinese Style

I am participating in Tablescape Thursday thanks to Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch.

I would like to share with you what fun I have been having using some Chinese paper umbrellas I picked up on my recent trip to Chinatown in San Francisco. I decided to use them for a centerpiece but couldn't get them to stand up on the table.....

.....so as I was trying to figure out how to use them I looked up at my chandelier and had a lightbulb moment (literally), and so I attached them to my chandelier! I used them two weeks ago for my Easter table.

The colorful eggs picked up the colors of the umbrellas.

I tied little yellow bunny placecards to each goblet.

After Easter I didn't want to take them down yet and so I used them again this week for a Chinese-themed women's luncheon.

I used Chinese New Year Zokiak paper placemats with my Syracuse China plates in colors of the lanterns and the tablecloth. Four dozen delicate pink tulips were beautiful in the ginger jar vase for the centerpiece. I served Chinese Chicken Salad, Lemon Bow Knot Rolls and Red Velvet Cupcakes for dessert. The cupcakes were not particularly Chinese but tasted delicious and I served a fortune cookie on the dessert plate with the cupcake.

To see more wonderful tablescapes visit Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch.

Thanks for coming by to visit today.

Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today April 20, 2009.....

Outside my window....the sun has just come over the mountain and is brightly shining and making the grass glisten. The mountainside itself is still shaded. It is supposed to be a gloriously warm day. Horray!

The I am thinking.....of all the things that need to be done this week

I am thankful for.....good health and sunshine. Those two things make my heart sing and help me to have enthusiasm for doing what needs to be done.

From the kitchen.....are some of the Red Velvet Cupcakes I made yesterday. The kitchen itself is going to get a thorough cleaning today.
I am wearing......a bright yellow T-shirt, light weight cotton vest and jeans.

I am reading....the morning paper. I love the comics especially to combat the news. Pickles is my favorite.

I am hoping...to get a few plants in the ground that I purchased Saturday.

I am creating.....a few crafts to take with me to Newport Beach on Sunday to share with my friend. They are cards we can make together and I'll see what else I can come up with too.

I am praying...for my four friends who are going through cancer chemo.

Around the house....it will be doomsday for all dust and dirt as it will get cleaned thoroughly.

One of my favorite things.....is a clean house so I have a cleaning woman coming today. I used her once before and she made my wood floors so clean they squeaked when I walked on them and all my faucets shine. I love that!

A few plans for the rest of the week....I will meet with my cousin to plan a wall to be built in my backyard to give me privacy from the street. I am planning a small luncheon Wednesday with a few woman I would like to know better so that will include grocery shopping and preparing Tuesday. I am serving Chinese Chicken Salad, Lemon Knot rolls and Red Velvet Cupcakes. I was trying out the recipe for the cupcakes yesterday. I will try to post the pictures from the luncheon. I have a fun Chinese centerpiece you'll love! Thursday morning is church day and then an eye appointment in the afternoon. I know I need new prescription for contacts and glasses. And Friday I take my car in for routine service, and becausethe dealer is right by Nordstom's I will have to stop in there, don't you think? Saturday may find me at the Tulip Festival if I feel I am packed ready to leave and Sunday I leave for Newport Beach where a friend and I will spend a week exploring, soaking up the sun, shopping and lounging around! Can't wait for that.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... The picture is at the beginning of the post as I couldn't get blogger to drag it down to this spot. It is of my granddaughters dressed in two dresses they found in one of my closets yesterday. One is a dress my mom made for me to wear to my senior prom. It was then worn by my daughter to her junior prom and blonde Hannah whispered in my ear yesterday and asked if I would save it for her to wear when she goes to prom! Isn't that just the cutest?
To read more Simple Woman's Daybook journal entries click here.

Enjoy this week and I hope all you plan happens just as you wish!

My first Foodie Friday

Today I am participating in Foodie Friday thanks to Designs by Gollum. Recently I made Chicken Piccata for my daughter and her husband while I was visiting them. It is one of my favorite Chicken dishes because it is fairly easy to make and tastes delicious.

1.Start by pounding 4 chicken breasts between plastic wrap. Actually I put mine in a zip lock bag because it is stronger and will not tear as easily.

2. Pound to about 1/4" thickness.

3.Line 4 dinner plates on the counter. In first one, put about 1 cup of flour sprinkled with salt and pepper. On second one put in 3 beaten eggs. In the third one put about 2 cups of seasoned breadcrumbs.

4.Next step you place a pounded chicken breast into the flour and coat it well. Then put it into the beaten eggs. Turn the breast to coat it evenly. I use tongs at this point. Lastly put the breast into the breadcrumbs. When one breast is finished place it on the empty plate. Do this to all the breasts but don't put one breast ontop of another.

5.Heat large fry pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 Tablespoons butter. Add chicken breasts and cook on one side. When you turn each one add a thinly sliced lemon on top. Then cook just until golden brown and done. Remove them from pan and cover to keep warm.

6. Scrape up bits of crust from bottom of fry pan and add 1/2 c. white wine and 1/2 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice. Let it boil for a few minutes to thicken. Add 1/4 c. chopped parsley and 3 T. capers. Pour this sauce over to breasts to serve. Yum, it is delicious with it's slightly tart flavor.

I served this with roasted asparagus and wild rice pilaf.

Enjoy! Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!