Grain Brain

Butterfly was making pizza dough....

Cornucopias

Me:  "After Mass today you can have your schultute."

Butterfly:  "What is a schultute?"  "Do you mean our cornucopias?"

Me:  "Hahaha.  Yes!"

Butterfly:  ":o)  yay!"

Winner, Winner - Chicken Dinner!

Do you like to Win?

Do you like to take (safe) chances?

Here is your chance to WIN, WIN, WIN:

MONDAY MADNESS

via One Thousand Words...

(credit)

Equal Opportunity:  Humiliation

(Credit)

Easter, Home & Garden

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny & real times...

{pretty}

This year, Easter seems to be pretty quiet.  It feels as though I am missing something...

Maybe I just need to learn to be at peace with some quiet...?   Anyhow...

We have been busy with other plans...future plans.  Easter, after all, is a time of new beginnings, of hope and of new life.

There are signs of new life all around us.  Even in this terrible drought we are experiencing, there is still growth and new life.

{happy}

It is time to make some Creamy Potato and Leek Soup...this makes everyone happy.

{funny}

Some bathroom beauty...if that is possible.  New curtains and fun way to display the unmentionables.

{real}

This is one sad chandelier.  It has been sitting and waiting to be hung in the girls bathroom for years.  Years!  One excuse after another..."I need to paint first...""I need to find the right hanging tool...""I'll have time this summer..."
Tomorrow...

Oh, yes!  One more real...scary-real...awaiting in my garden.  Time to trim back the overgrowth around the borders...

It was about 5 - 6 ft. long.  About the size when it changes from a reptile to a mammal!  This creature was enormous and vile.  Although, strangely beautiful with its color & pattern...blech!

And so, to not leave on an unpleasant note:

Popcorn:  {Look what that big dog did to my ball!}

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

Prehistoric

Me:  Are you reading The Island of the Blue Dolphin?!? (Says I, in my excited voice)

Little Lamb:  Yes.  

Me:  I remember reading that book when I was in the fifth grade.

Little Lamb:  Is the book that old!?!

Me:  LOL (Whaaat!)

Guilty

~ Table Manners ~

I was so tempted to purchase this sign...but the frugal part of me said that I could make this myself...but then the (alpha) procrastination part of me laughed. 

So, I think I will print it out on some pretty card-stock and frame it...or better yet, just pin it to our kitchen bulletin board.  

Because the occasional reminders are still needed: 

Wouldn't these make great place mat holders?!?

~ The Easter Eggstravaganza & Menu ~

Have you moved on from Easter...?  Even though we celebrate for 50 days, here are some pics from our Easter Morning.  I am SO BACK-BLOGGED!

Every year we like to celebrate with the same delicious fare...maybe we add a couple new dishes & decor, in order to keep things a little interesting.  But we always, ALWAYS, serve the dishes we love and crave.  Including:

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

Stuffed Mushrooms

Lemon & Dill Baked Salmon

Leg of Lamb with Rosemary

(not pictured) Macaroni Salad, Mandarin Orange Salad, & Quinoa

More Easter fare...

Grandma's Jello & Auntie's Peep Cookies

Mouth-watering, soft, warm, Buttery Pretzels...(from Good Friday)

Liquid Refreshments & Libations...

From the grandpa to the youngest, there was something for everyone!

The Decor...

The Easter Baskets...

{happy}

Simple & Sweet

The Easter Bonnet...

{pretty}

{funny}

FUNNY+

Finger-pointer:  Do your school work!

Confused Child:  School work?!  What's that??

Finger-pointer:  Guess!

Confused Child:  Is it something that you do on Google+???

cartoonists:  Conductor, Little Lamb & the mama - we just kept adding to the fun, til it was done.   :o)

{real}

I cannot express how delighted I was to receive this gift...absolutely wonderfully made, lovely hand-made napkins.  They were a gift from my sister-in-laws mother.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I am still excited.  Can you tell?  It was an incredibly thoughtful and generous gift...and I just LOVE THEM!!!

If you are visiting...Welcome!  I hope you found something pretty, happy, funny, or real here on my little blog.  For more {phfr} times, visit Like Mother, Like Daughter.

You can also visit other Family Journals over at Catholic Bloggers Network

~+~ Blessings ~+~

~ phfr: Seeing Stars ~

Linking up to Like Mother, Like Daughter to share some pretty, happy, funny and real times...

{pretty}

Birthday flowers for my Fifteen year old...my Butterfly!  She is a gentle and sweet girl.  Correction:  She is a young lady with a gentle heart and sweet soul.  I love you, sweetie!  xoxoxo, mom

{happy}

My Butterfly celebrated her FIFTEENTH Birthday this month...It was another birthday extravaganza.  On her actual birthday, we celebrated with just our familia.  But on Sunday, we had her teen friends over for lunch and then a movie...

Super moist Chocolate Cake with fresh raspberries and a Dark Chocolate Ganache

The recipe for the cake can be found here.  It can be used for a Fourth of July Celebration.  Or, leave the red, white and blue decorations off, for a simply impressive 'plain' Chocolate Cake. 

Then again, you can add some fresh berries to give it an interesting look and exciting texture.  Either way, this cake is amazing.

{funny}

Little Lamb:  (teasingly) Mom, I'm going to raise Catholic Chickens!

Me:  Huh!???!  (turning, abruptly, to face her)

Little Lamb:  (as she spreads out the 'Catholic' News Paper)  

Ya!  See; So they can read Catholic material.  :o)  Tee-hee

And they actually looked as if they were reading the paper!!!
It was hilarious!

{real}

'Sisters' inspired by White Christmas 

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

Linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network's Link-Up Blitz
~ Family Journal ~

{pretty, happy, funny, real} ~ The flavor of Autumn ~

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

 

{pretty}

The Kitchen Table Centerpiece

 

{happy}

 

An early birthday gift from my children.

 

I think they were pretty happy about it...

since it makes hot chocolate and Hot Apple Cider!

How convenient!  :o)

And that makes ME HAPPY!

 

{funny}

 

Little Lamb has been asking to learn the following languages:

Spanish, Italian, German, Latin and Polish

Little Lamb making her own layered candle

 

She wants to speak these languages "conversationally" and not just learn them "grammatically".

 

 

Little Lamb:  Mom, when can I learn Spanish?

Me:  Well, there's no time like the present!  (Getting up from my computer and immediately getting out the Rosetta Stone).

Little Lamb:  WOW, that's the first time I've heard you say that!

Me:  Really?  You act so surprised...do you like that saying?

Little Lamb:  Yes; that is the smartest thing you have ever said!

Me:  LOL.  (I'm guessing that I say, "just a minute" and "just one moment", way too often!)

 

{real}

 

New gift = Re-organizing my Tea Drawer

 

And what goes wonderfully with some Hot apple Cider...?

Baked Apple & Cinnamon Oatmeal - extremely easy, delicious and with the flavor of Autumn

Autumn Breakfast

 

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...