A New Week ♥

Good Morning Friends!  ♥

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.  I'm having a bit of breakfast this morning, taking advantage of some leftovers we have from our brunch yesterday. You can always tell the day after a holiday because the fridge is stacked : ) 

We had a very nice Easter.  We went to a beautiful Easter vigil mass at our church on Saturday night. On Sunday my family came for brunch around 11. John and my Dad hid eggs for the little ones which was really fun.  Yes, it was strange without my mom.  I was trying to keep busy cooking and serving food, but it was always in the back of my mind that she wasn't there.  However, I know she would be so happy (she IS so happy) that we were all together carrying on traditions, especially for my Dad ♥

  Anyway, I was so busy I forgot to take pictures!!  We had eggs (which Rob cooked for me - he was the egg guy!:), fried potatoes, maple bacon (which I almost burned but I didn't), ham and cheese sliders (which were a hit), and baked French toast.  I loved the French toast.  I got the recipe from my friend Jan who brought it to a brunch our friend Lisa's house a few months ago. I splurged on the Brioche bread but seriously, it made all the difference! I'll link the recipe here.  We had fruit and tons of desserts too.  After everyone left and we cleaned up the house, we went for a long walk around the neighborhood, which was so nice.  It was actually a beautiful, sunny day (which is rare lately) and it felt good to get some fresh air and process the day. 

And now I can't believe it's April 1st!  I have a very busy work week with meetings and two training sessions that will done over zoom.  On Friday night my nephew is making his confirmation, so we'll be going to that and dinner afterwards.  Rob is his sponsor : )  This weekend I unfortunately have to start seriously looking for a car.  I say unfortunately because I hate car shopping, especially when it's something you have to do, not WANT to do.  My car has been acting up for the past couple of months and I had a feeling something was not quite right.  Apparently my engine has something called "blow-by" which I don't really understand, I just know it's bad.  It has to do with compression in the engine ????  Basically I'm on borrowed time! If it were up to me I would just have Rob go by something and bring it home.  I'm not picky. But he insists I go with him to endure the torture.  Too many choices.  I like it simple (and affordable: ). So we'll see what happens.  Saturday is the day.  I told him I require a large coffee to take with me while we "shop around." UGH. 

I'm planning burgers and salads for dinner tonight and want to stop working by 4 this afternoon so I  can have a little tea time with me and my book.  I've been reading The Wife Upstairs and I'm really into it.  I've also been thinking about maybe reviving my YouTube channel.  I would like to maybe do some recipe demos, so I'm going to jot down some notes.  It's been a few years since I filmed anything but looking back it was something I enjoyed.  I'm trying to be better at taking time for myself, so we'll see. It's a new month and my head is full of new ideas and wonder. I'm strangely motivated and I feel like I should go with it before it disappears! lol  

Have a great Monday, friends! Thanks for stopping by today.  

I hope wherever you are, you have sunshine! ♥

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 

Hello Monday! Spring is almost here ♥

 

Hello Lovely Friends! 💚

I hope you all had a wonderful week last week and weekend.  I had made my friend Eileen's Irish Bread last Monday and spent the week nibbling on it because it's that good. There's a cup of sour cream in it so it's not as dry as traditional Irish bread (which is probably why I like it : ).  

Eileen and I worked together years ago and she used to bring this Irish Bread into the office every St. Patrick's Day.  I fell in love with it.  She graciously shared the recipe with me which she got from her Irish mother in law.  Eileen retired so we don't work together anymore.  I think of her every time I make it. 

  It's a perfect little tea bread for an afternoon treat : ) 

I'm still gently easing into daylight savings time.  It's been a slow process. I am enjoying eating dinner when it's still light out though.  John and I go for a walk every night after supper and lately we've been able to see the sun setting.  A few of my neighbors leave white twinkle lights up all year which I LOVE and makes twilight time even more special.  If only it were just a bit warmer....but I know that will come.  This week is the official start of spring which means I survived the dark days of winter.  

There IS light in my days ahead ✨

Yesterday Rob, John, and I went for a spur of the moment breakfast out. If there's one thing about me, it's the fact that I love a Sunday breakfast out.  Heaven!  I went for the red, white, and blue waffle this time.  It was called that because it was covered with strawberries, blueberries, and whip cream.  I ate the whole thing and have no regrets what-so-eva!! 

After breakfast we took a little ride to the beach.  Another thing about me is I love the ocean.  I don't like to swim in it, but I love to look at it, walk beside it, admire it, smell it, and make a thousand wishing on it.  And that's what we did.  This beach is about 10 minutes from our house.  It's so nice to drive over in the winter because there is on one there.  Look how lovely.  We walk and feel like we have the whole beach to ourselves. In the summer people are packed in like sardines! : ) 

The walk felt good to digest breakfast, but then it was on to the next meal because it was St Patrick's Day! I am trying to carry on my mother's traditions and every St. Patrick's day she made a boiled dinner, so that's what I did.  My Dad helped me cut up the vegetables and we tried to recreate what she would do.   I think we did pretty well : )   

And now it's on to then next holiday.  Only two week until Easter!  

The spring décor and bunnies are so bright and cheery after the long winter.  

This week will include work days, paperwork, endless laundry, finalizing Easter plans, and trying out a few new recipes I pinned online.  At night we'll watch old tv shows, read, drink tea, work on an ongoing puzzle, and go to bed early. Nothing exciting, just the ordinary....exactly the way I like it.  

Have a wonderful day friends! And happy Spring! It's almost here  ♥

(don't tell my allergies : )

Love you! 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

3 Months Today...♥

♥

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