St. Patrick's Day: phfr

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

pretty, happy, funny, real: March 2016

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

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

A beautiful gift from a beautiful friend.

{happy}

We are still happily enjoying our vegetable & fruit home delivery...

{funny}

The hens have started laying EGGS again.

{real}

California earthquake?  Perhaps.

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pretty, happy, funny, real: Happy Feet, Take Two

I did it.  I splurged on some shoes that will (hopefully) bring my feet many hours of comfort.  I wish my health insurance would cover the cost of good, quality shoes.  :o)

I {heart} Valentine's Day

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

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

&

Wise Woman Linkup

{pretty}

Every year we take a moment to celebrate our saints during the month of February...including (but in no way limited to):  St. Blaise, St. Scholastica, and St. Valentine.  St. Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year...four days after Ash Wednesday or after the Lenten season begins.  So I am decorating with Purple Hearts for February and the liturgical season.  I just happened to have these decortions in my decor box.  Simple and perfect.

Coastal Happy Times

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

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

It was a beautiful day at Half Moon Bay!
The fog cleared up nicely and let the beautiful blue sky surround us.

World's Greatest Dad, pictured in center

AHG, Life

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

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

I thought the sky above the dorms looked pretty amazing.  Conductor is traveling through New York, D.C. and then onto Virginia to check out colleges.  He will spend the week experiencing the summer program at Christendom College.  The Summer Program allows participants to take classes, meet the faculty and staff and experience a lot of fun activities while meeting new friends.  Pretty good.

Manis, Movies, & Munchies: {phfr} style

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

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

This week was draining, both physically and emotionally.
Sometimes a girl just needs to take a moment to re-charge and rejuvenate, and add a little joy and laughter to life.

Jubilant Silver Jubilee - {p,h,f,r} style

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter 

for some pretty, happy, funny and real times...

                         ~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

I was able to take a few photos before our guests arrived.  The decor was simple...just the way I like it!  My children planned and organized this celebration and did a grand job!  I am so proud of them!

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!}

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Sweet Sixteen

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

{pretty}

My sweet girl turned SIXTEEN!!!  I love you my dear, what a beautiful young lady you have become...I am so very proud of who you are and all that you do, for the glory of God.  You are sweet, and fun, and (so very, very) smart, and talented.  You are an angel in my eyes and one of my greatest and most precious treasures.  Happy Birthday...with all my LOVE.  XOXOXOXO

{happy}

Fifteen was just a blink away... ;o) 

Fourteen was two blinks... ;o)  ;o)
Thirteen was three...;o) ;o)  ;o)

{funny}

My Sweet Sixteen decided to make a day of fun, with her sister and me, at the salon for a mani & pedi...it was fun, fun, funny!  We sat three in a row and were pampered with fun girly stuff - not to mention, very relaxing.  We walked out of there with fabulous feet & fingers!

{real}

My teens had their friends over for a soccer game...I remember having lots of energy and a voracious appetite as a youth...I am happy to report:  things have not changed much in that area.  It makes this mama's heart happy to take care of our guests; I certainly inherited the love of hospitality from my mother.

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Sutter's Fort & Pioneers

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real family fun!

We have just completed two badges for American Heritage Girls:

The Cooking Badge (for another post) and an Our Heritage Badge through Sutter's Fort.

Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is located in Sacramento.  The girls (and parents) had fun learning about life as a pioneer in the 1800s.  It was a very fun and educational day, as we love to learn about our California history.

Everyone dressed the part...well, almost everyone.  I bailed out on my pioneer-wear at the very last minute.  Not that I did not want to participate, I just looked, well,...all wrong.  :o)  I felt like a party pooper, but it was much less uncomfortable for me.  :oP

There was about 70 girls from AHG joining us.  Our troop was one of four AHG troops.  It was fun to spend the morning with troop friends and to meet new friends!

{pretty}

{happy}

Games of pioneer-times

{funny}

The Kitchen station, I thought, was the most interesting.  Although, all five stations were excellent!

The pretty ornate block is actually tea that would last for years and years and years!

Mother/Daughter lunch & shops at Old Town Sacramento, O'Sacramento St. Patrick's Parade & Old Schoolhouse

The above picture was not taken at Sutter's Fort, but at Old Town Sacramento (another national historic landmark).  I had forgotten about the O'Sacramento St. Patrick's Parade, while thinking I could treat my Little Lamb to a fun and historic lunch.  It was the perfect afternoon.
We visited the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum - very nice!  The ladies were excited to see her dressed in her pioneer costume (thinking she was a participant in the parade).
And I (almost) never leave without visiting my favorite chocolate store for a treat of a caramel apple.  The absolute best!

{real}

I love the School Curriculum and  The Five Virtures

The Doll in glass case is the original doll belonging to Patty Reed

While browsing through Sutter's Fort Trade Store, I purchased the book Patty Reed's Doll - The Story of the Donner Party.  A group of pioneers were stranded by very heavy snow in the winter of 1846 while traveling from Illinois to California...many perished, an eight year old girl, Patty, survived.  The story is told/seen through the eyes of Patty's doll and the hardship and struggles they endured.  Little Lamb and I will read the book together and discuss the other historic and mortal dangers that occurred.  Real.

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Let it snow, Snow, SNOW!

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real family fun!

{pretty}

Our AHG Explorers group had planned a SNOW TRIP many months ago.  We have been experiencing a drought, with very little snow in the mountains this Winter...

So we prayed.  

When we drove up to Tahoe on Friday...it was beautiful.  But, there was NO SNOW.  We had packed our snow bibs, gloves, snow boots and HOPES of tobogganing.

Living in California, is living in the desert.  But living through a very long dry spell, is serious business.  
After several years of drought, we are parched.  PARCHED. 
So, any sign of precipitation is reason to jump for joy and thanksgiving!!!

The soft flakes from heaven were oh so pretty!

The girls were squealing and dancing and laughing in the falling flakes...

{happy}

Just as we unpacked our last bag...it began to snow.  And snow....and snow.
Records say it was 10 inches.  It certainly was at least 7 inches.  And most definitely it was enough snow to play and toboggan and build a snow castle. 

We had no snow, but we had hope...

{funny}

A lot of snow, snow, snow...a lot of fun, fun, fun!

{real}

Organizing my pantry:  What began as a small project...turned into a complete overhaul.  I worked on simplifying my storage system, rearranging the existing storage space to have more functionality, eliminating waste, and most importantly...cleanliness!

This "shoe rack" makes PERFECT shelves, for my pantry.  The shelves are set at the perfect height for canned goods, paper products, boxed goods.  It fit in my pantry's dead space PERFECTLY!  I had purchased a similar shoe rack for my family room.  Once the rack was assembled, I knew the shelves would fit nicely in my pantry...and sure enough, they worked.

I found that my empty glass milk bottles are perfect for storing and pouring flour, sugar, popcorn, etc...

I love using baskets, containers, and various jars to store my spices or any opened containers or packages (pasta, legumes, rice, nuts, chocolate chips...).

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Something Pretty, Something Happy...

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real family fun!

{pretty}

I found this new plaid and floral print scarf.  It looks prettier in person.  I love the soft hues with the look of two scarves intertwined (minus the bulk).  

{happy}

We enjoyed an exciting basketball game at Santa Clara University.  The Seminarians of St. Patrick's faced off against the Priests of the Diocese of San Jose.  We took a few of the teens from our Youth Group.  Happy Times!

{funny}

I snapped a quick photo of this wild looking vegetable...I have never seen anything like it before.  Very funny looking!  What is it!?

{real}

These drinks have been part of my New Year's resolution...HEALTH via REAL food.  They are refreshing!  I will post the recipes of my favorites...

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