Happy Easter! ♥

 

Happy Easter! 🐰

Hello Friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  Our Sunday was lovely.  We started with church, breakfast, and then a lovely day at my brother-in-law's.  I wore a green sparkly top, my mother's gold watch, stud earrings, and I didn't take one picture!  Not even of the delicious grilled lamb chops my brother-in-law made or the yummy fruit pavlova with fresh whip cream my sister-in-law brought.  The food was divine and it was great day celebrating one of the most important days....we are blessed ♱ 

And even though I didn't take any photos, I must admit it was nice to have my phone tucked away for the day.  I'm trying to be better at that ♥

Easter (as with all holidays) are much different these days.  John is grown so there are no more egg hunts or Easter Bunny surprises anymore. That makes me sad, but there are still games, and laughs, and coffee chats galore.  And I love that.  My mom is not here obviously, and that changes everything about everything.  I'm still trying to get used to living with it.  My mom was the anchor of my family and now that she's gone, I cannot even begin to tell you how things have changed.  People and dynamics change and I've spent way too long trying to understand it.  It's sad, but I must carry on. And I will. 

I ate way too many jellybeans and Cadbury mini eggs and I have not one single regret. When we got home I managed the strength to do a lap around the neighborhood in hopes of digesting before bed.  It kinda-sorta worked, if not physically, then mentally at least :)  

I hopped into my stretchy pants, watched two episodes of Downton Abbey (I'm rewatching again!!!) and off to bed I went ♥ 

I love Easter.  I love springtime.  I'm so happy the flowers are starting to bud.  May good days lay ahead for all of us!

Happy new week, Friends! I'll be back tomorrow! Xx 

Happy St. Patrick's Day! ♥

Hello Dear Friends! ♥

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope you all had a wonderful day! 🍀

We celebrated last night with a boiled ham dinner and my friend Eileen's mom's Irish bread that I look forward to making every year.  

I had a warm slice with my coffee this morning.

It was yummy! ♥

My mom loved this Irish bread and I was thinking of her while I was making it. 

She looked forward to it every year too ♥

I've scattered a few more bunnies around the house because it's time to start thinking about Easter.  

Only 2 weeks away! 

 These two little guys on the windowsill are making me smile today ♥

These early days of spring are so nice because I can finally see the river again.  

Nature is waking up ♥

It's refreshing after the long winter!

I put up my "egg tree" this morning. So simple. I probably could have found a better stick, but this was the first one I saw :) 

I love the pastel colors of the eggs ♥

Especially in the sunlight. 

The sun shadows in my front window are a sign of better days to come.  Warmer days with the smell of Lillies of the Valley in the air. 

They usually bloom around Mother's Day ♥

 I hope you're having a great week friends! We are having leftovers tonight, so I don't have to cook (yippee!).  It's currently 4:00 pm as I type this.  I'm going to make myself a cup of English Breakfast tea and take 5 before Rob gets home.  John is having a friend over tonight to "jam" so the house will be rocking with music later...haha.  Can you believe he's in his last semester of his first year of college?! Last year at this time I was starting to plan his graduation party! It blows my mind how fast time flies: )

Happy Wednesday everyone! xx 

♥

Catching up! ♥

Hello Friends!  ♥

I hope you all had a lovely Easter.  For me it seems like a lifetime ago. The photo above is the only one I took that day and when I look at it, it reminds me of a brief moment of peace I had over a coffee and my sister in laws pavlova (which was delicious by the way).  Let me catch you up...

On Monday April 14th my Dad went into the hospital for a knee replacement surgery.  He had a very bad reaction to the anesthesia and pain medications, which left him very sedated for days and when he finally did wake up he wasn't himself.  It took quite a while for all that to work through his system.  The doctors kept telling me that even though it's scary, it does happen with people and it really is quite common - especially with the elderly - so you just have to "wait."  Easier said than done.  My Dad is 85 and not in the best health as it is so naturally, I was worried (I'm always worried). I must have walked this hallway a thousand times over the course of the week.  

 

Hospitals are not my favorite place, and I am reminded so much of my mom here because we spent so much time in and out of this place.  In this very hall. 

Fast forward to the Monday after Easter.  My Dad was back!  It was early in the morning, and he called me on the phone asking when he was going home!  He sounded like himself and I literally couldn't believe it.  I flew to the hospital.  It took a few more days for the effects of what happened to bring his vitals back to normal, but he got there.  And then...the knee pain set in.  The reason he went to the hospital in the first place.  With all the chaos, I almost forgot.  A few days later he moved to a rehab to start physical therapy for the knee surgery and thankfully he's doing very well!  It's painful but I see progress every day and he'll probably be home next week.  

Thank you God  ♥

I feel like I know this hospital way too well and I hope I don't have to go back there for a long time.  Although I will say the cafeteria has very good coffee.  But that's the only thing good about it.  

Meanwhile, outside the hospital life continued to happen.  

John got his license!  Very exciting!  ♥

And spring is officially in full bloom!  ♥

We are all suffering with allergies (especially the new driver!) but at least it's pretty.  

It's 70 degrees and sunny.  

Our trees are blooming and when the wind blows it looks like confetti in the air! 

I will enjoy this until the summer heat arrives...and then I will hibernate until Fall.

Yes, I'm already thinking about that but please don't hold it against me : ) 

The lilies of the valley are getting ready. 

They are my favorite.  I knew they were thriving under all that winter snow and ice.  It's time for them to finally have their moment in the sun ♥

And the forsythias are such a pretty spring color.  I want to cut some of these and bring them inside.  Today was the first day in over 10 days when I've felt like myself again.  I'm starting to catch up on things at home and opening my eyes to appreciate what's happening around me.  You know that feeling of just being happy to breathe?  That's me right now ♥

We're going to have a little rain tomorrow but that's ok.  I can't wait to wake up in the morning and have my coffee.  I'm getting a long overdue haircut and then I'll get my Dad a chocolate donut and head up to visit him in the rehab.  And I'm grateful I'm able to do it. 

 ♥

I hope all is well in your corner of the world and you are enjoying beautiful spring days.  Have a great weekend friends! I'll be visiting your blogs and catching up this weekend.  I've missed you! xx 

Happy Easter! ♥

 

Wishing you all a happy and blessed Easter ♥

I will be busy the next few days preparing for my family coming over.  It's been very weird this week without my mom, but I'm carrying on.  Tomorrow I'll be baking all her Easter dessert recipes and on Sunday we will gather in her honor.  I know she will be smiling down on all of us, happy we are together celebrating this most sacred holiday.  She always made it special for us.  

Here I am one Easter (1978 I believe). Don't you love our harvest GOLD couch??  I bet you had one just like it!  You can't tell from this photograph but the wallpaper matched the couch!  Oh, it was a scene! LOL 

Have a wonderful weekend friends and...

Happy Easter! xoxo

It's Easter week! ♥

Hello Lovely Friends ♥

  Easter week is upon us.  It sure did sneak up on us, didn't it?! We have dipped into a cold spell here.  The wind is howling and I'm quite content staying inside today (happily working remotely:).  The other night it was so chilly I made a big pot of chicken soup to warm our bones.  I had some for lunch today and it hit the spot. Especially on a Monday : ) 

But while it remains gloomy outside, inside we are ready for the joy of Easter.  I was looking at all my little quirky decorations this morning and I can't help but smile : ) 

Easter has always been a big celebration in my family.  This year of course it will be different, but it will still be nice to see family.  Some of us haven't seen each other since Christmas.  I know my mom will love that we are all getting together.  

♥

Easter greeting from friends are a blessing! : ) 

So are cute bunnies with cotton tails ♥

This little guy lost his ear! I'll make sure it's back in place by Easter! 

** Did you know I love postcards.  Especially vintage ones **

(thank you Marcia!) 

My little Easter village I've had for so many years.  I used to find John's action figures hiding among the bunnies back in the day.   I miss those days ♥

This week I have eggs to fill because we are having an egg hunt on Sunday. I have to make the hiding spots extra hard because the adults think they are soooo smart.  We'll see....lol 

Yesterday, after polishing off another bowl of these jelly beans & Cadbury mini eggs (make it stop!), I finalized my brunch menu for Sunday.  I'm most looking forward to Saturday because I'm going spend the day making my mom's dessert recipes. I'll put on my prettiest apron, some nice music, and pull out her recipe box. The same recipe box I remember from my childhood.  It's hand painted by her and is where all our kitchen memories live.  

Here are the desserts I picked out: 

Mom's Italian Trifle

Lemon squares

Halfway cookie bars

Coconut macaroons 

I wish I could share with all of you!  ♥

And now it's time to have a cup of tea before dinner.  Last week I dusted off this pretty tea pot for one.  I forgot how much I love it and it proves that tea really does taste better in a pretty cup.  It makes it moment.  And don't we all need a moment.  I know I do! (and more than just one ♥ )

I'm going to have a hot cuppa and a slice of cranberry bread I made this weekend. There is one slice left and it's got my name on it.  

Tonight's dinner is pork roast (which I have to get in the over!) stuffing, and apple sauce.  While it cooks I'm going to drink my tea and play around with this puzzle I've been working on.  3 weeks and counting! Ok, so I'm not going to win any speed records, but I am enjoying it.  And I will finish....someday! Certainly not by Easter! Christmas maybe! 

Happy Monday friends! I hope you are all having lovely day.  

Thanks for checking in with me today! ♥

Byeeee!!!  xo 

Wednesday Ramblings: Living with hope ♥

Hello Friends.  The sun is shining today and that's a reason to celebrate.  So far March has been very gloomy, rainy, and cold. It feels a bit warmer today. We are getting there, inch by inch! As you can see I made the mistake of bringing Easter candy into the house. Jelly beans and Cadbury mini eggs. 

I must be insane : ) 

I don't know about you, but I'm still trying to adjust to daylight savings.  Sunday I just couldn't get it together, and I'm sure it was from lack of sleep and stress for a hundred things that went wrong last week.  I had car trouble, we had a dryer malfunction, my Dad wasn't feeling well (thankfully he's better), and all that combined with a bad haircut I'm trying to work through....anyone would be cranky, right?! 

But then Monday came I tried to turn it all around.  I dug deep in the basement and brought up all my mother's spring and Easter decorations.  I ran around the house for an hour while my Dad was at a doctors appointment and set out all her pretty things.  It made me sad...yes, but happy too.  My mom loved decorating for the season and spring was one of her favorites. I felt she would be so happy to have all her things out and on display.  I did this at Christmas time and was so sad.  This was a different kind of sad.  I felt her close to me and that made my heart full ♥

I'm hosting Easter this year (in two weeks!! ) and instead of dreading it (like Christmas), I'm looking forward to it. The only thing my parents wished for is to have all their family together, and it's happening.  I'm working through the pain by planning a nice brunch menu, putting on my mom's apron, and getting to work.  I took a lot of shortcuts this past Thanksgiving and Christmas (I have NO REGRETS) but for Easter I'm going to try to cook everything myself because that's what I love.  And it keeps me busy!  There will be about 20 of us so I thought a brunch buffet might be a little easier than a sit down dinner. So let's see....eggs, maple bacon, home fries, baked French toast with fruit, blueberry muffins. How does that sound?  For the "brunch" part of it I thought I'd try the ham and cheese sliders on Hawaiian rolls that are all over the internet.  You brush the tops with butter and put them in the oven so the cheese gets all melty. Have you tried them? I'll bring out my mom's pretty dishes and we'll have coffee and tea and I know she'll be there with us.  I really believe that ♥

These are the things I think about during the day to keep my mind occupied. I had to go into work for a little while this morning.  One of the BEST parts of going in the office (and I'm not even kidding) is the selection of coffees we have in our kitchen for the Keurig machine. Bear with me.... Today I saw they had pumpkin spice.  It's my favorite and I know it was sign to CHEER UP Danielle!  I made a big cup of it and brought it to my desk.  The taste reminds me of my friend BJ, who is the only other person I know who drinks PS year round like I do.  I remembered sitting on her deck last summer, overlooking the lake, sipping coffee, and talking about everything and nothing, and I was so happy. It's funny how ordinary things like that become core memories that bring you comfort.  You don't realize it when it's happening. But it happens.  And I'm thankful for that ♥

I am trying to live every day with HOPE.  Some days it's a battle, but I'm learning.  Learning not to be fearful. There is always something to be grateful for.  

Always ♥

Have a wonderful day friends!  And if you have any brunch ideas or tips please send them my way.

Love you! Byeeee! Xx

Hello Monday and Hello March! ♥

Good Monday morning! ♥

 I'm starting this Monday off with my usual Maxwell house coffee and a cinnamon donut.  My Dad always picks up Dunkin Donuts after church on Sunday mornings. I saw this beauty still in the box this morning so I scooped it up before someone else did. I don't mind day old donuts because they are perfect for dunking.  It's just what I needed to start the week. As you have probably heard me say, Monday's and I aren't besties.  Donuts help : ) 

Well, happy March friends!  It's hard for me to believe it's almost the start of a new season...without my mom.  Time is marching on.  This past weekend I put away the last of my winter decorations and brought out spring.  Where Easter is in March this year, St Patrick's Day and Easter and getting a bit mashed together, but that's OK.  I thought about my mom a lot as I decorated.  How the season will be different.  I'm hosting Easter this year and I think she would be so happy about that.  I wish she was here. I really do. 

It's been warmer these last few weeks and it's getting lighter! We are only a week away from Daylight savings but I can already see a difference.  It's not so dark in the morning and it's still light out while I'm cooking dinner. 

We're getting there ♥

I saw the first signs of life in the yard too! These are daffodils. They will be blooming by Easter.  How lovely to think about that.  This winter has been so dreary, I'm looking forward to seeing color for a change.   Flowers make everything just a little bit better, don't you think?  

♥

Speaking of flowers, look at this beautiful table my mother in law set for us last week?  We stopped over for lunch and a catch up.  She made us meatball sandwiches (that were delicious!) and we talked for a long time.  I love a long lunch.  They don't happen enough these days.  

I'm so very grateful for my in laws.  We are going out to dinner with them on Saturday night for a very belated anniversary dinner (for our 25th that was in October).  I'm just excited to get together.  We picked a nice restaurant and are going to dress up.  

I need to find an outfit 👗to wear. 

In other news....♥

John is in a Beatles phase right now.  He loves music. All music.  From Perry Como to Harry Styles. I’ve never seen such variety in music taste before.  I love it.  As of late he’s listening to the Beatles.  And when I say “listening to” what I mean is “studying”.  He studies.  The music.  How it’s written and played.  It’s what I hear coming down the halls. It echoes through the house.  It’s nice. It’s the soundtrack of my life this week.  Today I woke up to Yesterday and Let it Be. I drank coffee to Hey Jude (one of my favorites). On the way to school I heard Blackbird and I almost cried because it was so beautiful. I love it when as song does that to me. What a gift they gave us.

 On Saturday we stopped by the music store so John could get at replacement guitar string. We were there for over an hour.  I used to bring him here for drum lessons for years when he was in elementary school. 

Now he plays guitar and piano as well. He has had amazing music teachers who have taught him so much and I really feel it's affected everything in his life.  

.

Lately he's been talking about a career in music.  

Who knows what the future holds, but I'm excited for him ♥

Here's a rare selfie of me at work last week.  I was in a good mood because it was warm out and I was wearing polka dots! LOL

♥

 

After work I treated myself to a Shamrock Shake at McDonalds!  I don't go there much anymore but there are certain things I must have.  And in March it's a Shamrock Shake and a fish sandwich.  I'll go back at least one more time before Easter! 

 

And here's how we spent our Sunday.  Did you know you could "check out" puzzles at the library? You can! Which is the perfect solution to the question "what do I do with it once it's done?"  Return it!  This one is 1000 pieces and Rob thinks I'm crazy, but really, we are all enjoying working on it together. 

We started this one yesterday while watching the We are the World documentary on Netflix.  Have you watched it yet? It's excellent!!! And will take you right back to the 80's! :)

♥

Well, I'm off now to get some work done now.  I'm all cozy and settled in my home office today.  I've got a pot roast in the crock pot bubbling away for dinner tonight (what a feeling that's done!) and I'm just about to pour myself another cup of coffee.  Happy Monday friends! Thank you for visiting.  I'll be posting on here much more often now and I'll be visiting your blogs too.  I've been busy the last few weeks with things around the house and (UGH) taxes.  Thankfully all that is done now ✔ 

I'm thankful to have this space to share with you ♥

Be back soon! Byeeeeee! xo

Happy Easter! ♥

Hello Lovely Friends!  ♥

I feel like only a minute ago it was Monday.  The week flew by and I can't even tell you what I did yesterday.  I think some laundry....I went to the grocery store one day...worked a lot....it's all a blur to me.  Can you relate?! 

Last Sunday we had our family holiday dinner here, which was wonderful!  For the rest of the week I've been eating fruit and salads to try to balance all the desserts and mini eggs that are still lingering around the house! That struggle is REAL : ) 

Today I made a big salad with hard boiled eggs for lunch and it was delicious.  

But then it was right back to the mini eggs!  #helpcantstop

Speaking of Sunday, I wanted to share two desserts that I prepared.  

If you are a coconut lover like I am, then you would love these macaroons.  They are so easy! 

I felt like they needed a little PIZAZZ so I drizzled them with some melted chocolate chips.  

It was a wise decision!

♥

Recipe linked here if you want to treat yourself.  

They are as big as golf balls and so yummy! 

 

I also made a banana cream pie which was luscious.  It's the Susan Branch recipe that I love so much.  You basically make a cooked vanilla custard filling and pour it over the bananas and let it chill.  It feels very old fashioned and tastes like it too.   

This time I made a graham cracker crust because I find that sometimes with cream pies a pastry crust can get soggy.  This did not.  

I will confess that I did use Cool Whip instead of real whip cream! I have no regrets : ) 

Everyone loved it!  Recipe linked here.  

If you don't know by now I want to be Susan Branch when I grow up!  Love her soooo much! 

♥

Anyway, Easter dinner #1 was a success!  This Sunday we are invited to my brother in laws for dinner with Rob's family.  I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone.  And I heard there might be an egg hunt.  I hope that rumor is true!  I'm pretty good at egg hunts.  It's one of my hidden talents : ) 

I'm planning on our traditional cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then we'll go to an early mass as a family.   

We'll have plenty of time to relax before we're off to dinner.  

 

I'm wishing you all a happy and healthy Easter!  

I hope you spend your day with your loved ones, eating chocolate eggs & jelly beans!  

Remember to wear your stretchy pants! 

♥

Because you'll need them!  

♥

Is the Wizard of Oz or Mary Poppins on Sunday night?  When I was a kid I remember they were ALWAYS on Easter night and it was a BIG deal!  Remember that excitement?  

Ahh...take me back! 

Happy Easter friends! Have a wonderful weekend! 

xoxoxo