On My Mind Today

Sunday afternoon and time to relax and reflect on the events of the weekend. In a few short days I will hit the milestone of sixty, and what comes to mind is how fortunate I am. The past two days I have had the pleasure of spending time with my two daughters. They came to visit (without children) to take me out to do "whatever I wanted to do". It has been many years since we have had this kind of time together and I could not have asked for a better birthday present. We went to places that I had not allowed myself the time to explore before now, plus a bit of window shopping which we all enjoy doing from time to time. When we were tired of this they took me to lunch where I ate the things I usually don't. One of the best things was the appetizer they called Train Wreck Fries - fresh homemade French fries topped with bacon, cheese and gravy - unbelievable and I'm sure not at all heart healthy. After returning home we went out on the boat and my youngest daughter t...

Summer is winding down and before we know it the seasons will be changing. Time for one more light and fruity summer dessert. A great addition to your Labor Day weekend cookout. Hope you and your family enjoy this dessert and the last big summer weekend! Ambrosia Fruit Salad   1 - 8 ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed 2-1/2 cups shredded coconut 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 - 8 ounce can fruit cocktail, drained 1 - 8 ounce can pineapple chunks, drained 1 - 11 ounce can mandarin oranges, drained 3 cusp miniature marshmallows 1 - 10 ounce can maraschino cherries, drained (optional) 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon     1. In a large bowl, combine the whipped topping, coconut, chopped nuts, fruit cocktail, pineapple, mandarin oranges, marshmallows, cherries, nutmeg and cinnamon. Mix together well and refrigerate for 45 minutes to an hour before serving.   

And then there were two..... It is with sadness and a very heavy heart that I repost this blog about The Four Musketeers. We recently lost our dear friend, Mary V., after a long hard fight with cancer. She was an amazing woman with more strength and determination than anyone I know. We will miss her, but find some peace knowing she is no longer in pain. This one is for you Mary - one of the great Four Musketeers. (Originally Posted in 2013) This blog has been a work in progress for a few months. Mostly because it has been a difficult one to write. I wanted to be sure not to miss anything that I needed to say. Mary L., Pam, Mary V. and Faye (photos below). We met in Jr. High and by High School became close friends sharing our lives from that point forward. We made it through all of the typical high school drama from boys, to tough classes, family issues, and on and on. We had lots of fun and many adventures along the way with the usual heartaches ...

After yesterday I can honestly say that I will never be the adventurous one who sails around the world. This woman does best with her feet planted on solid ground. We were invited by our very good friends to spend the day with them on their sailboat. We would be going out for about 4 hours or so along the coast of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I had only been sailing on the ocean one other time in my life. It was a sunset cruise on the Cape during my honeymoon. That was very many years ago and it was quite a cool evening so we were all covered up with blankets. An incredible sunset made for an amazing evening. I never did feel sea sick on that outing so did not think I would have any trouble this time. It was an absolutely beautiful day to be out on the water. Sunny and a nice breeze blowing making for just the right temperature. We headed out of the channel and out into the open waters of the ocean. Then the sail was opened up and filled w...

This time of year is wonderful with all the fresh veggies available. So many ways to create amazing dishes for your family to enjoy. This recipe was created after a trip to a favorite restaurant many years ago. They served a similar dish that was so delicious that I had to come up with my own version at home. Maybe this will become a favorite summer dish for you and your family. Bon appetite! Summer Squash and Zucchini Casserole   6 cups Summer Squash and Zucchini, sliced 1/4 cup onion, diced 1 cup grated carrots 1 cup sour cream 1 can Cream of Chicken soup 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted 8 oz. Pepperidge Farm Stuffing mix   1. Mix together sour cream, grated carrots, and cream of chicken soup. Add squash and onions.   2. Melt 1/2 cup butter (or margarine) and then stir into the stuffing mix.   3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Put 1/2 of squash mixture in...

It seems like we started planting our garden only a few weeks ago. How could we be so far along in the season already?  Even if it does not seem possible, I know that it's true as the days are getting shorter and the nights a bit cooler. And even though we are not ready for these changes there is nothing we can do. A few things we plant from seed, but many others we buy already started and ready to put in the ground. It helps sometimes to have things well on their way. Even with a head start on some things it has been an interesting gardening year for sure. We have an abundance of tomatoes, and many cucumbers that will be ready to eat soon. The green beans came fast and were plentiful until recently. Unfortunately they will be done within a week, but they have been delicious and we were able to freeze some to enjoy when colder weather arrives. Other things did not fare so well. The peas were pitiful; out of six plants we may end up with 3...

Even an overcast day is a great day when I am spending time with my daughters and grandchildren. Precious time making memories that they will carry with them throughout their life. Memories of a time that we will all long to recapture when we think of them. My girls are busy working and raising their children so it is not often that all of us are together. This past Sunday was one of those rare occasions when they were able to come with my granddaughters (unfortunately my grandson was not able to join us and he was deeply missed). We took a trip over to Hampton Beach and it was one of those quiet days that you don't often find in the summer. Plenty of room for them to run, play and explore and for me to watch their excitement. It is a joy to see them as they run into the water, in spite of the cold temperature, and then run back laughing and screaming as the waves follow them. Scanning the sand for any sea shell that might have been left behind as the water retreats b...

Making a living and loving what you do to make a living are not the same thing. We all need money to survive, but how we make that money is not always what makes us happy. Or at least it is not what fulfills our dreams and desires. I tell my children and grandchildren that if they can find the one thing they have a passion for, and can make money doing it, then it will never seem like work. Most of us spend our lives working to support our family and pay the bills. We may not dislike what we do, but it also is not our passion. When we are young and raising our children we get so caught up in the day to day that we don't take the time to figure out what our passion is. This is unfortunate since in the end not only are we short changing ourselves, but also our children. Perhaps if we encourage them to do what we may not have done, it could make a difference in their life and maybe touch many others in the pr...

When we think of brunch many always turn to the traditional breakfast/lunch type of dish. During the summer I love to use the fresh fruits that are so juicy and delicious. This fruit dip recipe was given to me years ago and it is always a hit at any gathering. So gather up the fresh fruit you love and enjoy with family and friends!! Fresh Fruit with Fruit Dip   Fresh fruit such as strawberries, pineapple chunks, raspberries, blueberries, apple slices, orange segments, kiwi slices, melon, grapes, etc.   Dip:   2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened 13 ounces marshmallow fluff 2 Tablespoons orange juice 2 tablespoons orange rind.   1. Mix all ingredients until well blended and smooth. Refrigerate.   2. Serve with fresh fruit of your choice.