Have we really come to another Friday? Hard to believe this is the last week of July.  Where has the month gone?  Next week is the beginning of August and as I mentioned a few days ago, I’m resisting the urge to pull out my pumpkin spice candles and pumpkin decorations.  By August I start getting antsy for Fall, but my family doesn’t want to hear about it. There’s still a whole lotta summer left, so let’s enjoy it! ♥

While some of you are still living your summer dreams I thought I would show you a few pictures of life around here this past week and also share a YUMMY recipe for Peach Cobbler!

This is one of our favorite desserts.  Also perfectly accepted for breakfast! I speak from experience. 

On Sunday I quietly celebrated my birthday.  Hello 42! Let’s make it a good year, pleeeease! 

My parent’s made me my favorite meal – Turkey dinner with all the fixing! It’s like 

Thanksgiving in the middle of July! 

I took John in for his annual physical.  He’s grown to 4’8 ½ inches!  He’s also styling his own hair these days.  He uses more gel than I do! This make me wonder what the teenage years are going to be like.

We enjoyed some delicious summer meals with arugula and grape salad…

And corn! One of the only veggies that John likes so I make it like crazy in the summer! 

I got one of my Dad’s special homemade lunches! This was the day after my birthday so you can bet there was a turkey gobbler sandwich in there ♥ 

Yesterday the three of us took a little day trip to Cape Cod.  I sat in on a talk celebrating Beatrix Potter’s 150^th birthday! Guest speaker was my favorite….Susan Branch! 

Snapped this at a rest stop : ) 

My favorite time of day….twilight time.

Peaches, peaches, peaches!!!! 

Here’s a quick recipe for peach cobbler that you will love! 

All you need is: 

6-8 ripe peaches

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cup milk

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 cup sugar

cinnamon

For the filling, cut the peaches in half and remove the stones.  Slice the peach halves thinly and put into a bowl.  I leave the skins on.

Add 1/3 cup of sugar and 1 tsp vanilla to the peaches.  Mix and set aside while you make the batter.

In a separate bowl combine the milk, flour, baking powder, and sugar.  Melt the butter and add to the mixture.

Mix with an electric mixer or wire whisk.  Make sure there are no lumps.  The batter will be a thin consistency.

Grease or spray an oven proof baking dish.  I always use this 8x8 Pyrex.  Pour a little bit of the batter in the bottom of the baking dish - just to coat.  Then add the peaches.  

Sprinkle with a little cinnamon (or a lot of cinnamon  : )

Cover the peaches with the rest of the batter.  Some of the peaches will poke through the top. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

And that’s all there is to it! 

Enjoy! ♥ 

Have a happy weekend my friends! 

 Xoxo 

Just Peachy

How are you all today?  I am just peachy.  As I write this blog post the sun is shining through my window and I can smell the honeydew melon candle burning in the kitchen.  I just made myself a tall, ice coffee - loaded with sweet cream and sugar.  When I opened the freezer to get a few ice cubes I had an amazing thought.  I just put a big scoop of coffee ice cream in my ice coffee! Wow!  Has this ever been done before and I did not know it?  It's so good.  I feel like I just discovered liquid gold!  I am in a coffee lovers coma right now. 

At this moment my hubbie took our little one out to breakfast with some friends and then they are off to his grandparents house for a dip in the pool.  I stayed behind to catch up on a few things around the house and enjoy some serenity now.  I know my little boy is having fun, so it's a win-win situation.  I can never truly relax when I'm not with him, unless I know that he's happy.  Well, a pancake breakfast and then a dip in the pool is a home run for my little guy.  I'll see him soon and hear all about it. 

The summer produce right now is at it's peak.  Especially the peaches.  Saturday morning I made this peach cobbler.  I wanted to share the recipe with you in case you've had a craving.... 

Here's what you need to make it:

6-8 ripe peaches

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cup milk

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 cup sugar

cinnamon

For the filling, cut the peaches in half and remove the stones.  Slice the peach halves thinly and put into a bowl.  I leave the skins on. 

Add 1/3 cup of sugar and 1 tsp vanilla to the peaches.  Mix and set aside while you make the batter.

In a separate bowl combine the milk, flour, baking powder, and sugar.  Melt the butter and add to the mixture.

Mix with an electric mixer or wire whisk.  Make sure there are no lumps.  The batter will be a thin consistency. 

Grease or spray an oven proof baking dish.  I always use this 8x8 Pyrex.  Pour a little bit of the batter in the bottom of the baking dish - just to coat.  Then add the peaches.  Sprinkle with a little cinnamon (or a lot of cinnamon  : )

Cover the peaches with the rest of the batter.  Some of the peaches will poke through the top.

Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown. 

Perfect peach cobbler makin' music...."Je Cherche Un Homme" by Eartha Kitt.  One of my favorite songs.  I have to stop myself from dancing around the kitchen. 

Let your cobbler cool on the stove top for a bit but it's best served warm with a dollop of ice cream or whip cream....

Or cool whip : )

I made this cobbler early Saturday morning.  After I took it out of the oven we packed our beach bags and headed out for a few hours to enjoy some sun and sand.  When we returned the house smelled sweet and inviting.  I could almost taste the peaches and cinnamon just by breathing in the aroma.  That night I grilled  Italian sausages with peppers and onions, made sweet potato fries, and corn on the cob.  For desert we had this cobbler.  I feel good when I know that my family is eating well with fresh, healthy ingredients.  And a little cool whip doesn't hurt either...wink, wink. 

In other news, my tea cup obsession continues....

Friday night I couldn't sleep so I decided to do something that I know I am good at.  Cleaning.  I go through phases sometimes where I need to take everything down of the walls and clean it until it sparkles.  Friday was one of those nights.  Anything that could potentially have a shine to it, I took down and washed it in the sink. 

I like to do this because everything I own has a memory to it. Like this demitasse cup.  This is the cup my best friend gave me in high school that started it all.  I had never even taken a sip of espresso at the time, but knew I loved the cup. She gave it to me with a gold spoon, which I also still have. I've kept it all these years.  I love it.  Washing my things, touching them, and remembering good times always makes me happy. Sometimes you need that boost.  Isn't that why we keep things, anyway?

I hand washed everything and then let them air dry on a towel.  These looked so pretty lined up. I think the saucers are just as pretty as the cups.  Sometimes I use them as desert dishes. These here are years of birthday gifts that I cherish. 

After I lined everything back up on the walls I felt the house had a different aura to it.  The rooms felt cleaner and brighter.  A little sparkle will do that, thus made me a happy homemaker. 

Well, I'm off to my deck to water the plants.  The sun is blazing today and I'm sure they are thirsty.  This afternoon I'm meeting up with my girlfriend (yes, the one who gave me my favorite cup).  We are taking the kids to the playground and out for an ice cream.  She lives out of state now and I only get to see her a few times a year if I'm lucky.  She's home visiting this week, so we are looking forward to catching up - in person! We thank the heavens for email and cell phones, though.  We've been friends for thirty years and we always joke we will someday live in the same retirement village.  I'm very grateful to have her in my life.  Our kids call each other "cousins".  We are that close. 

Tonight I promised my hubbie pasta for supper with lots of chopped garlic, basil, and extra sauce.  And no doubt we will finish off the cobbler for desert. Yum!

I just love days like this. 

I hope things in your world are just peachy too!