Pinterest Baking 101

Okay, it really wasn't baking...

These last few months while I've been busy with my Grandpeeps,

I haven't had a lot of time to do many of the things I usually
do with my down time, but sometimes, after the kiddos went to bed,
I'd spend a few minutes or so, on Pinterest...

I've honestly all but stopped buying magazines, with this 

neverending parade of inspiration, right at my fingertips...

Lulu and I've made a couple of craft projects, that I found

for her on Pinterest, I'll share those later.

* 

This will probably shock most of you!!! 

The one thing that I had a huge somewhat of a problem with...

What in the world was I going to fix for dinner???

The funny thing is, the baby, (after he was on solid foods) ate just about

everything. Lulu being the ripe age of 5 (going on 15)...
is sooo picky, and that can really take the joy
out of cooking real fast! I'll post a couple recipe's (later) that I found
on Pinterest, that she really liked...
But today, I'm going to share what I made for our family's
4th. of July gathering!

photo credit: from Gina's skinny recipes

I used what I had on hand, so I strayed from the original recipe, next time,

I'm going to stay with her original recipe! It's way healthier!!!

Ingredients:

• 10 oz angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes* (I used Sara Lee Pound Cake)
• 2 pints strawberries, sliced
• 2 pints blueberries

For the cream filling:

• 6 tbsp fat-free sweetened condensed milk (I used the whole can)
• 1 1/2 cups cold water (I used milk instead)
• 1 package sugar-free white chocolate instant pudding mix(I used
• vanilla pudding mix) 
• 12 oz fat-free (or not) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions:

Whisk the condensed milk and water(milk) in a bowl.
Whisk in the pudding mix for 2 minutes.

Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set; fold in the whipped topping.

I cut the Sara Lee cake lengthwise, and used two different
sized star cookie cutters to cut some of the cake into stars.
I arranged those on the outside of the cake chunks layer,
(where you'd see them on the outside of the bowl.

Arrange half of the cake in the bottom of a 14-cup trifle dish.
Sprinkle evenly with a layer of blueberries. Spread half of the
cream mixture over the blueberries and gently spread
(I piped it using a plastic bag and cut the corner off).
Top with a layer of strawberries. Layer the remaining cake
cubes on top of the strawberries, then add more blueberries,
and top with the remaining cream mixture.
Finish with the remaining strawberries and blueberries,
arranging them in a pretty pattern.
Cover and refrigerate at least one 1 hour.

Also, I didn't pipe the cream mixture on...

I spread it on evenly, and for the top, I used three cake stars,
 and arranged the berries around them covering the top.
And can you believe it, not one picture...

It was beautiful, and got lots of compliments!

*Gina only used 10 oz of a 16 oz cake.

This trifle if used per Gina's

recipe, is Weight Watcher friendly. (Gina if you read this,

please forgive me for changing it, I promise I'll do it your way

the next time)!

Please check out Gina's awesome blog, it's full

of wonderful healthy recipes

Thanks again for visiting, please leave a message,

I'd looove hearing from YOU!!!

Always, Debbie~

My Heartstrings Have Been Pulled

WELCOME BACK, WELCOME BACK, WELCOME BACK

(remember 'Welcome Back Kotter',

that tune is playing in my head right now as I write this)!

This was the longest coffee break I've ever taken! 

I'm so excited to see so many of you are still following me,
that makes me so happy!
 Honestly, I'm beaming from ear to ear!

I'm not sure where to begin, but maybe by telling my story,
I may help one person out there to cope with what
may be going on in there own life...

You all know I adore Cottage Living,

from the hunt, re purposing, to decorating my humble
little cottage!

My blog shows different parts of my

everyday life, and sometimes I show little snippets

of

my family,

 and really blogger friends, isn't that truly what we're all about,
our families???

Yes, I agree.

I enjoy being inspired by all of you, (and Pinterest of course). 

I live a simple life really, and puttering about my humble cottage
makes me smile, and in turn, I've made my home a warm,
hopefully inviting place for all of my family,

(and friends) to enjoy...

Especially our wee itty bitty little Granpeeps, that have come into

our lives these last few years.

Anyway...

Just before I went on my looong coffee break, things in general didn't seem

quite right...Nope, not at all.

I'd starting getting calls from my son, to watch our Grandpeeps,

more than the regular, we'd like to go out, would ya like

to enjoy your Grand babies for the evening...

Much more, than that...

It started out a couple of days,

into a few days, and the reason they gave us,

just wasn't really making sense...My internal red flag was

flying high by this time, and I had a sick feeling

in the pit of my stomach, and lots and lots of sleepless nights,

Until they finally asked us if we could take the kiddos

because they needed help...

It was drugs,

this Monster had them both,

before they knew it...

So of course I asked God for help,

My Prayer, went something like this...

Dear God, please please let them live...

Please give them the strength to fight

this monster...

*

Please Dear God, these children need

their parents...

*

Please hold them in your hand, and

watch over them, and help them

fight this, and find their way back...

*
AMEN 

Scared, sleepless nights, Love,

Deep feeling of loss, tears, patience,

anger,

Hopelessness, 

Hope

prayers, tears

Love

(these were some of the feelings I felt)

Now Fast Forward 10 months!

...and I'm happy to say, we're Nana & Grandpa again!!!

Not that we weren't, but you get what I mean.

I'm not going to go into all the heartbreaking,
scary, and sad details, but, I am

going to tell you, that they're home now, 

with both Mom & Dad.

My son & his wife have been to what I imagine hell to be like,

and now they're back, after hours, days, and months of rehab.

They're busy with their out-patient rehab, counseling & meetings,

and being Mommy & Daddy!

I'm so proud of them, my wish for them is to

live one day at a time, give lots of hugs,

laugh a lot, express & feel the love...

and cherish each little moment
with their sweet family!!!

They're addicts, and always will be, I hope to God,

they never walk down this road again, for all of our sakes...

especially the kids.

I'm still having a hard time sleeping, I have

a lot on my mind...I may never get over the worry,

and I still lay and listen for my little Grandson, that

will go away with time...

But for now, I plan on doing some Spring cleaning,

dinging out, recovering a chair I got months ago, and

enjoy some of this sun that we've been getting here lately!

Always, Debbie~

Coffee Break!

Sometimes nothing will do, but

a cuppa coffee...

I looove Starbucks, I seem

to always have a coffee card

around here that's good for a

mocha or two!

But sometimes,
I just need a quieter spot,
and
 I find myself
 
HERE!

~The Hotspot~

Isn't it about the cutest espresso

stand you've ever seen?

 

The Hotspot Espresso Stand!

So grab yourself a cuppa coffee,
find a shady spot to
kick back,
and
enjoy a
quite moment!

I hope your enjoying these last days
of summer!

Always, Debbie~

Something New...No, I Just Painted it WHITE!

Not too long ago, I wanted a new(to me)

vintage cupboard, for my dining room!

Something

pretty and WHITE, 

(of course)

 to hold all my (new thrift) China...

Funny how sometimes it's hard

to see past something

right in front of you!

~my little pyrex cupboard~

This cupboard is very small,

(perfect for my small dining room)

I know it's probably out of

some sweet English or French

kitchen.

I've had it for years, it was hiding

behind all my colorful Pyrex.

A few of my blog readers

ASKED

(inquiring minds) why I wanted

something different,

when I had this adorable

cupboard already???

Hmmmm!

They were right, it was the perfect

size...and honestly why not?! I

already had it, why pay for

something else...

Let the transformation begin!

Yes, I had even painted fruit on it!

~My McGiver sanding all the fruit, getting ready for paint~

~sanded~

~My new to me China~

In what feels like a new

China cupboard!

I was so ready for a change...

Letting go of color

and going

WHITE!

~my china cupboard today~

It's amazing what a coat of

WHITE paint can do!

Remember, if you don't like it,

PAINT IT!

I still have my beloved

Pyrex, it's stored away

and brought out for

summer parties

or for those times

when we just need some

COLOR!

Thanks so very much for

visiting my blog,

and I would looove it,

if you'd leave me a

comment!

I'm linking to Cindy's blog

My Romantic Home

for

Show and Tell Friday!

Please go visit as many of

these folks that you can,

they always have such

fun and interesting

things to share with us!

Always, Debbie~

Old Fashioned Foxgloves!

Don't you just love Foxgloves?

I've never planted them. They

always seem to know how much I love

them, and reappear each year!

They're so old fashioned,

a perfect addition to my

 cottage garden! 

Most are biennials,
they need two years to bloom and then die in the fall.
Mine reseed so prolifically it seems they're perennials.
I usually have two area's in my yard that have
several growing at one time in the early summer!


I get a few different colors, but

these lavender colored beauties,

seem to visit me more than

their dark purple, white or light yellow

sisters!

Just starting to show some color!

~my garden~

I think they're beautiful before they bloom out too!

~my garden~

Beeautiful!

image Better Homes & Gardens

 Do remember you can get

Foxglove poisoning!

Foxglove poisoning usually occurs from sucking the flowers

 or eating the seeds, stems, or leaves of the foxglove plant.

This is for information only

and not for use in the treatment or management

of an actual poison exposure.

If you have an exposure,

you should call your local emergency

number (such as 911)

or the

National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Poisonous Ingredient

• Deslanoside
• Digitoxin
• Digitalis glycoside

Where Found

•  Flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the foxglove plant  
• Heart medicine (digitalis glycoside)

Symptoms

 Possible symptoms include:

• Blurred vision 
• Confusion  
• Depression  
• Disorientation or hallucinations  
• Fainting  
• Halos around objects (yellow, green, white)  
• Headache  
• Irregular or slow heartbeat
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite  
• Low blood pressure  
• Rash or hives
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea
• Weakness or drowsiness
• Hallucinations, loss of appetite, and halos are usually only seen in people who have been poisoned over a long period of time.

    http://drugster.info/ail/pathography/2875/
 I got all this info from this link, it has more details and tells
you what to do if you believe you could have Foxglove poisoning!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

(Is anyone else having problems leaving comments?

It's very frustrating, I've tried & tried to leave

you all comments. I want you all to know for some reason,

I'm just not able too...I know if you're like me,

the comments keep us going, right?!

 It gives us affirmation proof someone is reading our blog,

and we looove knowing you've been here!

I'll keep trying, once in awhile I get to leave one,

but very seldom)!

Always, Debbie~ 

San Juan Island!

We had a wonderful vacation

on San Juan Island.

My McGivers sister invited

everyone to come for a

'Family Campout'!

It was wonderful, 

Pat & David,

were wonderful hosts!

(pampered us beyond belief ).

We took Lulu with us and

she had an amazing time.

We stayed in our Nomad (just happy) trailer.

(I stole that line from my cousin Lisa).

It was my maiden voyage in it,

and I really enjoyed the comfort.

The rest of the family (adult children and

their children, (grandchildren) slept

in tents. His two other sisters also

live on the island, and opted to go

home to their own beds...

~photo taken by Lacey King~

Our little home home away from home!

This is the view out our door!

~we're camping in their large side yard~

~photo taken by Lacey King~

Early morning visitor!

~photo taken by Lacey King~

A 6am. heart to heart with Grandpa!

~taken by Lacey King~

The story telling tipi!

We had two wonderful evenings

of story telling and singing songs in the tent!

The first eveining we took turns adding onto

 a bear legend story, by looking at a

fabulous folk lore bear picture! 

The next evening we 

sang old time camp songs,

Auntie Pat and Auntie Pam

printed off for all of us!

What fun we all had!

~taken by Lacey King~

Looking up through the top of the

tipi!

~photo taken by Lacey King~

Trevor, looks like his imagination

is in full swing!

~Sportz, always our faithful companion~

Doing what he loves best!

Audrey & Lulu

Rushing down to the beach!

Pants rolled up, checking out the beach very carefully!

Audrey's the only one that see's a shark!!!

Phew...it's just a rock!

~a Different beach~

Everyone loooved beach combing, they found

lots of wonderful little eels, crabs and

sea stars to look at, 

and then released them

all back into nature!

~Simply beautiful~

A walk through the woods to the other

side of the island (South Beach).

Oh My!

Mona the camel, (yes camel) 

lives on San Juan Island,

she's famous...she's on the label of one of

San Juan Vinyards wines!

Mona Vino is only sold in the tasting rooms...

~Washington State Ferry~

Our mode of transportation to and from the island!

I looove riding on the ferries, there's

just something about them...

Not sure what it is, but I always

look forward to my next ferry ride!

~a free concert~

 Island Rec. (San Juan Island)

Music on the Lawn Concert series...

Deadwood Revival –

Progressive old-timey band with feel good music.

They were wonderful, and the setting

doesn't get much better!

~Uncle David groovin' to the music~

~Lulu loves to people watch~

She's listening to the music,

while keeping a watchful eye

on the crowd behind us!

~*~ 

We even had an art project!

~Lacey watching Audrey working on her art project~

~Lulu decided to make hers for her Mama~

Auntie Pat & Auntie Pam

had this wonderful art project

for everyone to make!

They had just about everything

imaginable to use

in or on them,

it was so much fun!

~*~

We had a wonderful time, the

weather was glorious and it

was so much fun visiting

with family!

Thanks so much for visiting

my blog, and I'd looove it

if you left me a message!

Always, Debbie~

A Collection of Hearts, That Rock!

Sometimes a collection just happens,

With a whole lot of Heart!

...and

this one's the best,

because it's
not only fun,
it's

Free!

One lead to another, and

before I knew it...

I had

 a

~beautiful ~

HEART

ROCK

collection!

~BIG ROCKS, small rocks, fossil rocks~

My little paper duck has seen a lot of years,

and the bird nest he's holding keeps

getting torn apart by some critter...

~found rocks, gifted rocks, even a pink rock~

~a lot of peace & Love rocks~

~the Love U rock, speaks for itself~

Do you see the broken heart, top left?

Some are so perfect, and others are

perfectly imperfect!

~I love how some have such flair~

~This jolly ole rock brings a smile~

But, it's those with heart, that ROCK!

~wide, flat, and smooth~

ROCKS!

~some large~

~some wished upon, and some barnacled~

~perfectly imperfect~

~so much heart~

~some blurry hearts~

~Awww a sweet heart~

I found them here, there and

 everywhere! 

(here in Washington) 

Some have been gifts from

friends,

found in far away places,

like Belize!

Such treasures!

Others,

simply

have appeared at my feet.

My Grand kiddos love to hunt

for them now!

They're given with so much 

LOVE!

I'm also finding out, other

friends collect them too...

How fun is that?

What do YOU collect?

I just got back from vacationing in the San Juan's,

so I'll be adding new heart rocks to my

heart garden!

I'll be linking up to Cindy's blog,

My Romantic Home

for

Show & Tell Friday

and

Beverly's blog,

How Sweet the Sound

for

Pink Saturday!

Please visit as many

of the participants that you can,

they're very CrEaTiVe!

Thanks for visiting my blog

and don't forget to leave a

message, they make my day!

Always, Debbie~