Happy Birthday, Darling Girl!

Can it be?

Is it your birthday?

Again...already???

I remember as though it were yesterday...

Your Dad and I received the call from the adoption agency.

After five long years of waiting for you,

 finally, you were waiting for us.

I cannot describe the total giddiness that call caused.

We had been watching our progress on the "list" and

fully expected one more year of waiting.

Then, out of the blue (heaven???) there you were!

And now, after what seems a long/fast road,

you're all grown up.

Your imagination was always obvious.

Your smile could always melt my heart.

Your talent was/is abundant.

Humor me and let me share one of my favorite pictures of you!

(By the way, I couldn't find a picture of you at the piano.

Remember the year you took violin, flute AND piano lessons,

...every week?

I love holiday time with you!

And vacation times!

Oh, the places we've been!

But most of all,

I love you!

Happiest of days, darling Kate.

You are the sunshine of my life.

Happy Birthday Rick!

When I was 13 years old,

my Mom and Dad brought a new

baby brother home.

Since that day,

he's been "my" guy.

I watched Rick grow up,

and take on the responsibilities of a man.

I have seen him face many of life's most

difficult challenges with grace and strength.

Rick is a career Navy man and as a result,

has had to be separated from his family

for long stretches.

Even now, he and his sweet wife, Terry

are preparing for a three year tour of duty

in Germany.

(By the way, Terry has an incredible shop on

Etsy, Washington DC Chic.)

Some of my best memories are of times spent with Rick.

We share a love of movies, books, and cooking,

So, here's to you, Rick, the best man I know.

The other thing I know is that having you in

my life is one of the things that makes

my life sweeter.

Love ya!

Happy Birthday!



Happy Birthday!

Today is my upstairs neighbor's birthday!

Is there anything better than a good neighbor?

Perhaps, your "BFF" is a bit better.

It's her birthday today too!

Best friends are...

well...the best!

Except maybe...

Sisters are the VERY best.

And, it's HER birthday too!

Best of all is when all three are the same!

Happy Birthday, Nanniepannie!

(It'd be great if you'd hop over and

give here a birthday greeting!)

Now I'm off to make her traditional

birthday carrot cake.

You can find the recipe here.

Happy weekend everyone!

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!

For my birthday a few weeks ago,

I was presented with an

ice cream cake from Dairy Queen.

A couple of days later our daily paper's

recipe section had the directions

for making one.

Since my Mom's birthday was coming up

and she'd be here for a visit,

I decided to give it a try.

YOU SHOULD TOO!!!

I consider ice cream to be one

of the major food groups

and this recipe did not disappoint!

ICE CREAM CAKE

Two 1 and 1/2-qt. containers of ice cream

(two complementary flavors,

I used peanut butter and butter pecan

since these are my Mom's favorites.)

12 chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed

1c. jarred hot fudge sauce

Half of an 8-oz tub frozen

whipped topping, thawed

1/4c. purchased caramel sauce

1/2c.chopped toasted almonds, divided

Wrap the outside of a 9-inch spring form pan

with foil (to prevent leaks).

Allow 1 container of ice cream to sit

at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes,

or until slightly softened.

In a medium bowl, mix all but

1/4c. of the chocolate sandwich cookies

and the hot fudge sauce.



In another bowl, stir together the whipped topping,

caramel sauce, and 1/4c. of the almonds.

Spread the full container of the softened ice cream

 into the bottom of the prepared pan.

Spread the ice cream so that it is flat,

even and has no air bubbles.

Top with the hot fudge mixture,

then freeze for 15 minutes.

While the cake freezes, allow the second flavor

of ice cream to soften at room temperature.

Spread the second flavor of ice cream

over the hot fudge mixture.

Spoon and spread the caramel-nut topping

over the second flavor of ice cream.

Sprinkle the top with the reserved

cookies and almonds.

Freeze until firm, at least 2 hours.

To serve, remove the sides and bottom

of the spring form pan and transfer

to a serving plate.

Makes 16 servings. 

(They're all gone...)

This week I'm linking with

Tasty Tuesdays at 33 Shades of Green

All Things Inspired at All Things Heart & Home

Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum

Musings on the Occasion of my 61st Birthday...

There, I've said it.

I've let it go for everyone to see.

It SOUNDS so old...

I still think of myself in terms of being

about "forty" something.

(Didn't I just hear that 60 is the new 40???)

I thought long and hard about saying it

out loud to all of you.

What would you think?

"Is she THAT old???"

Yep, I'm afraid so.

I sometimes catch a glimpse of myself

in the mirror and think,

"Yikes! How did THAT happen?"

IT happened while I raised my daughter Kate,

who is now twenty three, a grown-up girl herself

and the brightest and best thing in my life.

Well done, Susan!



IT happened while I was creating, nurturing

 and building a business...which I'm still

creating, nurturing and building.

I work at it almost every day in some manner,

from sitting at my computer and tweaking my Etsy shop,

sitting at my sewing machine stitching up

bags and needle cases, or

sitting, somewhere, and knitting.

(All that sitting...THAT'S what happened

to my girlish figure!)

I work at it by packing up orders,

sending out notes and overdue invoices,

shopping for fabric (a favorite past time),

and making endless trips to the UPS and post office.

I'm constantly working at it when I face too many

unfinished projects that were started with

boundless enthusiasm, but lost

their steam somewhere.

In spite of it all, I'm an entrepreneur at heart

and I am blessed to be able to say,

"I love my job!"

IT happened during a thirty-plus year marriage,

that despite my best effort,

was not able to survive.

Many good years, some dark days

and then lots of reinventions pretty

much sums that up.

A friend told me at the time not to

view the divorce as a failure, but

rather as an opportunity for growth.

This is wisdom as good as gold,

which I abundantly pass out to

anyone who happens to need it.

IT happened when I bought Buttermilk Cottage,

the house.

This was probably one of the most

empowering events of my life.

The bones of the house were excellent,

but it needed an addition of an office and bathroom

and a complete kitchen do over.

Luckily, I was able to throw myself into it

right after my divorce and I'm pretty

sure it saved my sanity and proved

to me I have "can do" abilities.

You go girl/Susan!

IT happened while spending time with family...

...and friends, all of whom are more dear to me

than they can ever imagine.

IT happened during countless hours in

the kitchen cooking

ordinary meals, holiday meals,

and meals for neighbors and friends.

IT happened during hours of reading/listening

to books,

which enrich my life everyday.

IT happened while sitting and sharing

a cup of coffee, (or a glass of wine) with

my sister and best friend, Nancy.

IT happened while walking Daisy,

and running errands,

 watching too much junk TV,

and working too many crossword puzzles.

IT happened while creating a blog and

getting inspiration from everyone else's blog.

IT...just...happened...

So, now for the important stuff...

What do I want for my birthday???

It has taken me 61 years,

but I know without a doubt

that I don't need any more "things"  in my life.

What I do want is

LOTS MORE TIME!!!

Hope everyone has an outstanding weekend!
Mine will probably fly by much too quickly!

Happy Birthday Greetings!

Today is my dear girl's 23rd birthday!!!

(How did THAT happen???)

This year Kate is in NYC,

creating her future.

Since we can't be together for the day,

I'm sending her some memories from past birthdays!

Last year we celebrated the day during the

Easter weekend.

One of the facts of life is that when your kids

go away to college, you're often not with them

on their birthday.

Since a 21st birthday is a big one, my sister,

Nanniepannie and I had 21 seperate gifts,

(big and small) for Kate.

Each was wrapped and had a number

1 through 21 on it.

They were hidden throughout the house

and she had to find each one.

Since they had to be opened in their correct sequence,

it took most of the evening for the gift giving.

Kate's 20th birthday was celebrated during

Spring Break.

We rented a condo in the mountains and had

a week away with my mother, Nanniepannie,

Kate and me.

A real "girl's" vacation!

Kate, I can't promise you a cake like this, but I will make your favorite, White Chocolate with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting when you come home for Easter.

So, until then, have a wonderful day and remember how much you are loved!

(Google Images: 1 and 5)

Happy Birthday Nancy!

Today is my sister's birthday and if you've got a minute, scoot on over to Nanniepannies and wish her a happy day!

I've baked her traditional choice for birthday cake~

Decadent Carrot Cake

(Serves 20)

2 c. flour

2 t. soda

2 t. cinnamon

1t. salt

2 c. sugar

4 eggs

1 1/4 c. cooking oil

2 c. finely grated carrots

Sift dry ingredients together. Mix eggs, cooking oil and carrots together and add to dry ingredients. Beat hard. Bake in 2 layer pans at 350 degrees F. for 45 minutes.

Cream Cheese Icing

1 stick butter

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese

1 box powdered sugar

1 c. chopped nuts (pecans)

Cream cheese and butter. Add sugar gradually. Blend in nuts.

This is a very old recipe. Do not even attempt to make it unless you've got 19 other people to share it with--it's rich beyond belief, but SO good! I make this cake for her every year. This year we have both vowed, when the cake gets cut this evening, half goes into the freezer for dessert during Thanksgiving.

Our neighborhood association recently made Nancy a very happy woman by giving Buttermilk Cottage the "Yard of the Month." This is the SECOND time she's been awarded this recognition and she deserves it. We do have a lovely yard and it's all due to her efforts.

"For there is no friend like a sister

In calm or stormy weather;

To cheer one on the tedious way,

To fetch one if one goes astray,

To lift one if one totters down,

To strengthen whilst one stands."

Christina Rossetti

Have a great day, my dear sister and best friend, Nancy!