A Day in Westmoreland

Saturday we headed to the Westmoreland State Park, the weather was absolutely gorgeous, and was just what I needed.

I didn't have on the proper shoes so we didn't walk any of the trails, but toured the park and was able to walked the beach, then cooled off with some tasty ice cream.

Here are some kids enjoying the water

What a treat to discover this osprey nest on the top of the gazebo at the end of one of the piers. Only wish we could have gotten a tad bit closer - but I'm not crazy, and was thankful that I had a camera with a zoom.

After we left the State Park, we drove over to the Westmoreland Berry Farm to pick strawberries. Yum!

We also bought some honey, sweet potato butter and blackberry preserves. One day I will try my hand at making my own jelly or preserves but it will not be this day! Looking forward to trying the sweet potato butter, I'm a huge fan of apple butter but have never tried sweet potato butter - I will let you know how well I like it. Can hardly wait go back to the berry farm!

Best Soft Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

This has to be THE best cookie I've ever tasted! Our friend Chris baked these delicious cookies and was kind enough to send over a batch. Did I mention Chris is my new BFF! Here is the recipe, do try them and let me know what you think. Thanks Chris!

Absolutely Amazing Soft Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

This wonderful, soft chocolate chip cookie recipe is a variant of the urban legend about a person who supposedly asked Mrs. Fields or Neiman Marcus for their secret chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Difficulty: Medium

Ingredients and Instructions:

1. Cream:
2 cups butter or margarine (1 pound)

2 cups white sugar

2 cups brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla

2. Then mix in one by one
4 eggs

3. Next mix in
4 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

4. And then add
5 cups "blended" oatmeal (process 5 cups of oatmeal, regular or quick cooking, in your food processor or blender until the consistency of course flour)

5. Next, add
1 12 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 12 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chunks (or use another bag of chips)

1 12 ounce bag milk chocolate chips

3 cups chopped pecans or walnuts

6. Roll the chocolate chip cookie dough into golf-ball-sized balls (or use ice cream scoop) and bake for around 10 minutes at 375°. They will be browned but still soft inside.

Note: You can also substitute brickle chips or peanut butter chips for the nuts or some of the other chips.

The recipe comes from Extreme Chocolate

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother – A Blessing


A wonderful blessing which everyone has,

A gem much too precious to lose,

A flower so perfect we hardly can name it,

Even compared with a perfect white rose.

So here’s to this one who inspires our good,

This treasure, unlike any other:

God bless her and keep her, whatever betide,

This Angel on Earth called –

MOTHER

– Author unknown

WORDS

The greatest word is God.

The deepest word is Soul.

The longest word is Eternity.

The swiftest word is Time.

The nearest word is Now.

The darkest word is Sin.

The meanest word is Hypocrisy.

The broadest word is Truth.

The strongest word is Right.

The tenderest word is Love.

The sweetest word is Home.

The dearest word is MOTHER.

– Author unknown

Strolling Down Memory Lane

When we were home in March, I begged Ma to let me take one small photo album and about five loose pictures with me, so that I can copy my favorite ones and have them at home. It was a L-O-N-G pause before she said yes (YIPPEE!).

Because my scanner is acting all hinkty, I had to take the pictures to Wal-Mart to scan and put on a CD. It has been a thrill to stroll down memory lane with these photos, some were taken way before I was even born, but I remember the stories behind them and just love the people in them. Now, I will see if I can get Ma to ship me another photo album, humm....

Here is a picture of my brother Bill, he was such a tiny baby, the doll was my sister DoRetha's - one of those walk and talk doll babies and Bill didn't seem to care for the doll.

My brother Bill and sister Shirley...

More little half dressed Shirley and Bill. Notice in this picture Shirley has on dress shoes with her diaper, Bill still doesn't have on any shoes!

Shirley, me, and Bill. Ma made the dresses that Shirley and I are wearing, everyone thought we were twins. Are you kidding me!

The girl sitting on the floor is my sister DoRetha, my brother Joe is on the couch and you can only see half of Grandma Mary.

My brother Joe and Grandma Mary are being silly next to Grandaddy Bill and little Bill.

Bill and Grandaddy walking. I believe the story is that Bill started walking after my grandparents left! I've always loved this picture.

Granddaddy Bill, Grandma Mary and Bill

Bill, Shirley and me, Slocomb, Alabama. This is in front of my Grandparents house.

Me and Daddy in front of Aunt Annie's house, Detroit Michigan

Me, Daddy, niece LaTressa, sister Shirley and the little boy is cousin Reggie.

Ma and Granddaddy Bill.

Father and son - Granddaddy Bill and Daddy, with little Reggie.

Ma and Daddy all dressed up. I just love the dress my mother is wearing and look at the skinny tie Daddy is wearing!

All Ears

Wanted to share some of my latest earrings, the first pair I made for myself they are long and dangley and as cute as can be. Made with Swarovski Siam helix crystals, and sterling silver. This is the first time that I've used the helix shape beads, they are very eye catching, and I'm looking forward to using them again, especially with a larger bead.

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You know that green is my favorite color - but I can't figure out why I had not made myself a pair of green earrings. Huh. Well that problem has been taken care of, I made these stunning earrings with the oh so pretty Olivine Swarovski graphic and round crystals and sterling silver components.

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This gorgeous pair I made as a gift for a friend, faceted amethyst quartz and sterling silver components. So very pretty! I love the the Bali flower bead, they pair quite nicely with the faceted amethyst gemstone.

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The Wild Women of Lake Anna

The Wild Women of Lake Anna by Linda Salisbury was the featured book for our Mother, Daughter and Dessert Book Club. We meet last night and had the honor of having the author join us for our meeting!

Here is Mrs. Salisbury....

We started the meeting off with a little ice-breaker, Shelly the facilitator of the Book Club had this little bingo type game for use to play, which was a lot of fun and got everyone up and mingling. After our ice-breaker we had a chance to share what we enjoyed about the book afterwards had time for a question and answer session with Mrs. Salisbury.

The Wild Women of Lake Anna is the first book in a series of 6 right now, the author is working on book 7 now. What was so cool for me was that the story takes place not too far from where we live - Lake Anna. There is mention of other familiar places like Fredericksburg, Mineral, Route 522 and a few other places in our neck of the woods! I also learned that Virginia was ranked third for gold mining, the author said people are still panning for gold around Lake Anna!

This was a delightful book about Bailey Fish, who is eleven and has to leave her home in Florida to live with her grandmother Sugar, while her mother goes to Costa Rica. Bailey has to put up with a bully, and the bully's father is out to get Sugar. Baily learns she comes from a long line of "wild" women who are courageous and adventurous. Both Nicole and I enjoyed reading the book and are looking forward to diving into the other books in the series.

Family Bracelets

For Mother's Day I made my mother-in-law and mother a family bracelet. I've been playing around with the design and finally decided on the final one this weekend. Take a look and let me know what you think.

This very dainty bracelet was made for my mother-in-law, I used Swarovski bicone crystals to represent the birthstone of Eric, his sister Julie, as well as his parents. The bracelet also contains Freshwater pearls, and sterling silver beads and a cute little "Family" bead as a dangle.

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Here is the one that I made for my mother. Swarovski bicone crystals represent the birthstone of my six siblings and parents. I also used sterling silver beads, the dangle bead on this one has a heart on one side and "Love" on the other.

click picture to enlarge

Around the Bird Feeder...

Here are some pictures I took this week around the bird feeder, enjoy!

I will start with the pest, look how comfortable these pesky squirrels are. They are sprawled out eating the bird feed. Why!

We had a new arrival to the bird feeder, this is a male Hairy Woodpecker

And another newcomer was a male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, this little one has come by several times this week.

One of our favorites, Red-Bellied Woodpecker

We were so excited to see that the Hummingbirds have returned, not quite sure what kind this is, but he is a beauty.

Here is I think my first picture of a Blue Jay, he must have eyes in the back of their heads, because when I even move to get the camera, he will fly away. We usually only have one Blue Jay at at time at the feeder, but earlier this week I saw a couple, very exciting - but also camera shy!