Rain, summer 2022

 

Came outside at sunrise this morning to discover it had rained last night! There's water in the birdbath & the ground in the backyard is pretty wet! So far this has been a pretty nice summer. It's now 7:17 am and it's only 77 degrees & there's a cool breeze. Lots of pretty clouds in the sky too!

Borrego Springs....

Today I decided it was time to search for a new photo editing software that was free. This is the photo I decided to play with to try our the free Adobe Photoshop Express. This was taken Spring 2016 when I went for a hike with my brother-in-lay and nephew. It was a beautiful day.

Sometimes we have to say goodbye...

Tomorrow my co-worker Holly Nations will be leaving to join her husband at their new home in Washington.Having known Holly the past 13 months I've come to see something in myself that makes me wonder if I did get some good stuff from my mother. My mom always made friends easily with her younger co-workers, and Miss Holly is certainly a few years younger than I am! So maybe after so many years I can allow myself to feel it's ok if I am a little like my mom. I have to thank God for that. My day is ending with a smile and for that I am grateful.
Peace, love and joy to all,
Patty

12/24/18 - and life circles back! Look who joined Holly & her husband Josh! Baby Julia Ruth 💗💗💗

Brownies anf other stuff...

It's been some time since I've posted here. The theme of this blog is only the good stuff. Sometimes you have to spend some time finding the good stuff so you can set the other stuff aside. Tonight I'm doing a little of that and a little catching up because there really is a lot of good stuff and it piles up just like the other stuff, tonight I remember, I reflect and I smile and thank the Lord above for letting the good stuff shine.

• My Mondays at work are sometimes challenging, this one had a few more challenges than I expected. But that's how some days go! For awhile my Monday night escape has been the TV show, Cake Boss! This is a little bit funny if you know I really don't care much about cake! But this show is about family, about creativity, about life values, kind of one of those "only the good stuff matters" and you can always find the good stuff if you keep looking.
• Right now my favorite recorded go to movie is Hallmark's adaptation of Karen Kingsbury's book The Bridge. The other night Doug came in the living room and took a look at the TV then looked at me and asked how many movies the actress Katie Findlay had made, I gave him an odd look, then I laughed & had to confess I've watched this movie a bunch of times over the past several months! that movie is playing as I type.
• OH! back to the brownies! On Cake Boss tonight part of the episode featured Brownies in the bakery that weren't very good. Well goodness sakes! Brownies need to be moist. & fudgy, so sugar, oil and eggs can't be skimped on! Read a box of Betty Crocker and you'll learn that!
• I was just reading my business notes from last year and realized I did a good job meeting most of my goals except for updating my blogs so I am changing that right now! Writing on this blog makes me feel better about me and I enjoy this so let's see how I act on that after tonight.
• Actions... my 4th grade teacher Miss Gleason was the one how taught me the concept "actions speak louder than words". Miss Gleason was right and I am grateful to her.
• I'm typing tonight on my laptop. My husband has been insisting for a couple years I needed a laptop. So a few months ago I agreed to let him buy me this one. I find myself using it more all the time and liking the convenience and portability.

Bedtime is approaching. I have a plan for tomorrow and the realization that I need to remember I can't always be prepared for all the surprises that may unfold each day but with guidance from above things will turn out ok. Time to wake up my sweet Annie so we can go to bed, we are so blessed to have such a happy dog in our home.

Goodnight Everyone, Hugs to all & may God Bless you always,

Patty

Dec 3, 2015

I should visit this blog more often! After all, it's only the good stuff, the stuff that sums up the day when I can come to the conclusion that life is good. Just one week ago we were back in Rancho Santa Fe for the first Lester Thanksgiving at Villa Fiona. It was an amazing day! Nickie & Eric roasted 3 turkeys and a ham. Friends and family brought side dishes and desserts and more than 40 of us shared a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. And to see their kids, Alex 16 and Monica 14 growing up to be such great people is heartwarming. And the youngest of our nieces and nephews, Austin, Giana, Peyton and Parker had such a good time! They are all ages 2 -4 and are all so amazing!
We gathered in the living room and Nickie said a Thanksgiving prayer before dinner, we all have a lot to give thanks for. It was the kind of day that stays with you and reminds you how truly blessed life is.
And now today! Lunches are made, Doug has left for work, I've just finished my coffee, next is feeding Annie then it will be time for me to head off to work too. I just need to take a short drive to the post office to mail packages of stamps I sold on Ebay! This Ebay experience was a good one, sold 8 stamp sets, netted $54.30 and everyone paid the first day!

Nickie's new house

On Saturday we went to Nickie &Eric's new house - Villa Fiona in Rancho Santa Fe!
We were having an early birthday celebration for her mom. Eric grilled tri tip strips, a family favorite and everyone brought a dish to share.

The kids big & small had a great time!

And for the next potluck I need to remember this recipe that was a hit with all the little guys...
Noodles in Cheese Sauce
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 pint sour cream
1 can chicken broth
1.5 - 2 cups grated white cheese
16 oz box of pasta
While the pasta is cooking put the soups, sour cream and cheese in a pot or in the microwave and cook slowly on low heat to melt cheese and blend everything until warm and texture is smooth.
When the pasta is cooked & drained it put it back in the pot and  add 1/2 cube of butter and stir to melt.
Mix ingredients and put in crock pot. Plug the crock pot in when you get to the party to warm everything together on low setting.

The evening ended when everyone had gone home except us and we moved the party into the game room where Nickie beat everybody in a couple games of pool - turns out she mastered the game several years ago in the basement of their home in Julian with lessons from their dad!

Hugs!
Patty

You!

Love Dr Seuss!

Hugs!
Patty