Happy Birthday, My Baby

To my son...my baby,

You are a gift sent straight from heaven, we are so lucky to have you.  The past five years with you has been such a blessing to our family.

You are so very smart.  You amaze me all the time with your BIG words and how you use them.  You ask so many questions that I sometimes think you are maybe writing a book, lol! 

What a curious little boy you are and I love answering you...no matter how many times you ask.  That is how we learn.

You have such an awesome imagination.  I love how you can get lost in play, that is one of the most beautiful things about being a child.  You are in full gear now, pretending to be anything, anytime and anywhere! 

You are so helpful and kind to others and you use good manners....even when I'm not there, as your teacher told me at back to school night!  I am so proud of you! 

You are the silliest five year old I know!  We can always crack up together, and can have fun almost anywhere!  You have the best sense of humor!  I love to giggle with you, yes, hands down a favorite thing to do with you.

  You are the best hugger-snuggler...EVER~!  You are such a SWEET boy.....stay that way.

You were given the name "Bass Master" because of the great fishing that you do with your daddy....boy, you can catch fish with the best of them! 

There are so many wonderful things about you that make me so lucky to be your mommy but I will finish up by saying Happy Birthday Baby......and many, many, more.

I love you forever and always, to the moon and back child.....

~Mommy~

XOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXO

Alive and Kicking...catching up.

I am still here.

Alive and kicking.

It has been a very long time since my last post....

All that talk about posting more now that summer is here?

Bologna, I know.

This past summer went by in a blaze of glory.

Gone as fast as it came.

As I sit here on the eve before the new school year starts, I am trying to recount the days.

While I can't quite sum it all up into a really exciting and entertaining post, I have been able to gather a list.

A list that may explain my lack of posting....even justify it.

Here it is....
a list...with a few random thoughts thrown in.

--I completed a very satisfying year of work for the first time in a long time.  I'm so grateful for my job and the wonderful people I work with.

--I am recovering from illness and thankfully on the mend....

I am now however finding out that I am arthritic before even hitting 40....

seriously, really.

--We had a wonderful camping trip in the begining of summer vacation.

--A few visits to the beach...not as often as I would have liked but we were there

none-the-less.

--Even after I was on the mend, I continued to neglect my blog and made a point to stay off the computer entirely and focus on the most important things in my life, taking care of my health, devoting time to my family and making precious memories with them.

--My father has continued to recover by the Grace of God.  He is sprouting hair like weeds.

--My daughters best friend was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Lukemia on the day my father was cleared of his cancer.  Yes the lord does work in mysterious ways.

This has been eye opening for my family...we love our childrens friends like family.   My daughter has had a lot of emotion to work through this summer. 

--A fundraiser was held for her and her family, it was amazing to see people come together in our community.

--We redecorated my daughters rooms, because they are growing up too fast, and it was quite hard for me to pack away some of their childhood memorabilia.

--A few college visits for my oldest.

--Celebrated July Fourth and my fathers recovery with a LARGE family party.

--We have torn apart our bathroom and are in the slow moving process of renovating it....

not fun, not fun at all.

--Experienced tremours from our first earthquake.

--We gathered family inside our home and waited out hurricane Irene, that decided to show up along with a few tornadoes....and thank god we were mostly untouched by it.

--Add in a few days in between of floating in our pool, swimming in the creek, chasing fireflies, planting a few garden beds...and that pretty much sums it all up. 

It went by too fast.  I wish we had more time.

Now it all has come to an abrupt end and we're moving into a new season. 

It just so happens to be my most favorite season of all.

A new school year begins tomorrow and I will be back at work.

I am a little melancholy this year.

This school year

My oldest will be starting the first day of her last year of school....a senior.

and

My son will be starting his first day of his first year of school......kindergarten.

Our middle child will be moving into 8th grade.

 

It is all a little bittersweet.

But we are all alive and kicking afterall!

If you've stuck with me then thank you!

I should have a post to share soon.....
I won't say when, but soon.

I hope you all are well!

Take care,
Dee

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!

 Let me waste no more time in announcing the winner of the two

GOOSEBERRY PATCH

Cookbook Giveaways

Quick and Easy Christmas

won by

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes

The second giveaway from the
Farmhouse Country Style Facebook Page

101 Easy Everyday Recipes

won by

Lori Peterson

Let me know where to send your books....you can send me a message on Facebook and I'll get them out to you.

If any of you would like to purchase either of these wonderful cookbooks you can do so here.

Okay...I won't go into the details of the overdue...Quick and Easy giveaway....cause I really like all of you and it's boring and repetitive.  I will politely say that we had some more technical difficulties this week....and now I'm fed up!

Now, a new computer purchase is being plotted....yes, this 'puter will be getting the boot sometime soon...it's days are officially numbered!!  Muwahahahahah! 

I'll be back soon folks!

Take Care,  Dee

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

To all the Great Dads out there!

 

We are celebrating Father's Day this year with a full heart.  After months of chemotherapy and prolonged hospital stays we have my Dad home once again.  This last bout was a hard and long road for my father, taxing, scary and hard.  But he fought it.  We fought it.  With many, many, prayers.  All answered.  Because now, as of last week, we received word that his first scan since his last treatment showed that he is now clear of cancer, thank God.

I am so very, very, grateful.....To have him here.....

To have him healthy.



To be able to celebrate how blessed I have been having him as my father another year means the world to me.  Thank you for all the prayers, concern, and support you have shown us.

Now, I want to wish my wonderful husband a Happy Father's Day!  You are a GREAT father.

We've said it before and will say it again.....you are supportive, loving, guiding, funny, a great cook, a patient teacher, kind, an excellent fisherman, wrestler, and you know lots of things (according to your son),  a great study partner, and overall a great example.

Thank you for being a wonderful Father to our children.

We love you very much and we are your biggest  

's!!!!

(corny I know...but we are, lol.)

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

On another note, I'm sorry I've been so far behind in my blogging...along with everything else!  I am wrapping up things at work for the summer and will have more time now that school has let out.  Thank you for being so patient with me and understanding.  It has been a long year full of adjustments. 

I haven't forgotten the giveaway and I will be announcing the winner in a few days! 

Thank you all for entering!

Take care!

 Dee 

A Quick and Easy GBP Giveaway!

Ok folks...I know it's been a while...again.  I'm awfully sorry I've been gone so very long!! 

This spring has flown by and I have been a very busy bee. Preparing for the end of the school year, wrapping up spring sports, Easter, Mothers Day, a few road trips to get some fresh spring air after a long winter and then....just when I was getting into the swing of things.... a computer virus!  Yes, again.  Believe it sister.  For weeks we have been without a computer.  I didn't realize how much I loved and could become distracted with my puter'.  Don't know what you've got til it's gone, lol!   Even my lil' notebook had the sniffles!

Well, unfortunately the post that I originally made for this giveaway was lost with all of the pictures that went with it....:( !! So very frustrating!  I was so itching to get this post up all month, it was such torture!  When I finally got my computer back all of my hardwork was gone...gone...gone!  I was upset to say the least.  But, the good news is that was the only thing that I lost, so I am very grateful!  Oh.... well,  "back to the drawing board"....and off I went to start again!

Well, what does this mean for all of you, you ask?  It means...another giveaway. 
Two at once to be exact. 

yes

Yippee!

Quick and Easy Christmas

Giveaway No. 1: 
Now you may think that it was hard to review a GBP christmas cookbook during the month of May right?  I first thought it might be also.  When I received this cookbook I grabbed a nice cold glass of homemade sweet tea and headed out to my front porch rocker for a spring time review of Gooseberry Patch's brand new Quick and Easy Christmas cookbook!   It was kind of strange really; me there basking in the sunlight, sitting amongst my freshly sprouting flower beds thumbing through a Christmas cookbook.

There were so many wonderful recipes in there though that could easily be adapted to the warmer months it occurred to me that I have sooo many GBP holiday cookbooks that I pack away until that time of year and only briefly go through picking my fav seasonal recipes for a particular season or holiday that I'm now ready to drag a few out on the next rainy summer afternoon and see which recipes I can use now.  Sometimes just changing a few ingredients can put a whole new twist on a recipe.

Well....
I found the most delish recipe in Quick and Easy Christmas that was easy to make, healthy, only a few ingredients (all on hand) and made in the crockpot!!!

Who wants to heat up their kitchen with the oven going in the warmer months to make delicious meals for their family?  Not me.  I try to cook mostly on the stovetop and grill all summer long. But this meal is perfect when you want to take a break from the usual summer meals and want something a little more filling.  It's also a great way to use up the summer surplus of Eggplant from your garden on a rainy summer's eve.  

Slow Cooker Baked Eggplant

by Megan Brooks

1 eggplant, peeled &  cut into 1" cubes

2 onions, thinly sliced

2 stalks celery, cut into 1" pieces

1 T. olive oil

16 -oz. can diced tomatoes

3T tomato sauce

1 T sugar

2 T. balsamic vinegar

1 t. dried oregano

optional:  1 T. capers, drained

salt and pepper to taste

Garnish: Parmesan cheese

Combine eggplant, onions, celery, oil, undrained tomatoes, and tomato sauce in slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low setting 3-4 hrs., until eggplant is tender. Stir in sugar, vinegar, oregano, and capers if using.  Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low setting 45 mins.- 1 hr., until heated through.  Garnish with parmesan cheese.  Makes 4-6 servings. 

I added sliced mushrooms instead of capers and served this with pasta on the side and a little parmesan sprinkled over it.  Easy and delicious!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now for dessert....

This next one was a big hit with my family and

a favorite of mine made easy without heating up the kitchen in the warm weather....

Fastest Cheesecake

by Erin Brock

8 oz pkg. cream cheese, softened

3 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk, divided

1/4 c lemon juice

9" chcolate cookie crust

Garnish Whipped Cream, raspberry preserves

In a med. bowl, beat cheeses with electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.  Gradually add half of the cond. milk, beating constantly.  When half of milk has been added, beat in lemon juice until smooth.  Beat in remaining cond. milk until smooth.  Pour over crust, cover and chill at least one hour.  Garnish with whipped cream and raspberry preserves to serve.  Makes 8-10 servings.

Ummmm....so good it hurts!  You're gonna want to eat the whole pie, but it's filling, just like cheesecake.  I thought this would be a great dessert to make while camping.  We have a small refridgerator in the camper and you don't have to bake it so this will be on the menu for the next camping trip. 

Giveaway No. 2

This one will be pulled out often in my house because I'm a quick and easy kinda momma in the kitchen now-a-days!

101 Easy Everyday Recipes

101 Easy Everyday Recipes

This book is filled with beautiful photographs that easily display the recipes (I like photos of the recipes, so I can visualize what I am making beforehand). And it is true to it's title....Quick and Easy...with a table of contents that reads Easy-Brezzy Breakfasts, Toss-Together Suppers, Dinner's in the oven, Sides in a Snap, and No-Fuss Desserts they should have thrown Great in the title too...

Now girls...I know what you're thinking....Watermelon and onions???  seriously?  But when I had a whole watermelon to eat up and I knew we would tire of it before finishing I found this recipe and decided to give it a try....and was pleasantly surprised!  It was really, really, good....and different...but so good!

Tangy Watermelon Salad

14c watermelon, cubed
1 red onion, halfed & thinly sliced
1 c. green onions, chopped
3/4 c. orange juice
5T red wine vinegar
2 T plus 1-1/2 t. honey
1 T green pepper, finely chopped
1/2 t salt
1/4 t EACH of pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dry mustard
3/4 c. oil

In large bowl, combine watermelon and onion; set aside. In a small bowl, combine orange juice, vinegar, honey, green pepper & seasonings; slowly whisk in oil. Pour over watermelon mixture; toss gently. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hrs. Serve w/ slotted spoon. Makes about 10 servings.

You are all not going to belive how this combination could be deliciously entertaining.  The sweet, with the savory combonation is really unique.  I loved it all the way home.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Next, I tried a B a n a n a s foster recipe for desert.
and I was so pleased with how quick this went together with only a few ingredients thrown into the crock pot (no watching) and tasted sooooo good!   This would be a nice addition to an ice cream social buffet.  On the other hand it is also fancy enough to serve as a quick and easy dessert to accompany a nice meal for company.

Bananas Foster

1/2 c. butter, meted

1/4 c. brown sugar, packed

6 bananas, cut into 1 " slices

1/4 c. rum or 1/4 t. rum extract

Garnish: Vanilla ice cream

Stir together butter, brown sugar, bananas and rum/extract in a slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low setting for one hour.  Use a slotted spoon to place bananas into serving dishes.  Top with a scoop of ice cream and drizzle with sauce from the slow cooker.  Makes 4 servings.

The Giveaway:

Because these are Quick and Easy recipe books, this will be a super speed, quick and easy giveaway as well.  I am also doing a double giveaway.

There is no time to waste now, this giveaway must go on. You are all going to be so excited.... these cookbooks are just GREAT!

To enter to win Quick and Easy Christmas:

 Please leave a comment here telling me your favorite summer recipe...this counts as one entry.  A post on your FB wall with a link to this post counts as a second entry. LEAVE A SECOND COMMENT HERE LETTING ME KNOW YOUR FACEBOOK LINK so I know you have  a total of two entries.  Of course you always have to be a FHCS follower to qualify.

To enter to win 101 Easy Everyday Recipes:

 Leave a comment on FHCS Facebook page under the Quick and Easy Giveaway Facebook post.  Giveaway entries close Saturday at Midnight, EST.  Winners will be chosen on Sunday, June 12th. 
So be Quick...Gooseberry Patch has made it easy!  You are going to LOVE these cookbooks gals!  Please visit Gooseberry Patch for more great recipes and cookbooks.  For those of you who simply want to purchase these great cookbooks then click HERE to go to Gooseberry Patch's site to purchase. 

Thanks for stoppin' on by gals!

Take care,
Dee

A May Day Winner

Hello Dear Ladies,

Happy May Day!  Spring has arrived and the trees are unfolding, the flowers a bloomin' and green color is sprouting up everywhere!  I just love the fresh start of spring, when everything is new and reborn.  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!  I have some photos to share now that I have my computer back, I'll post them in a few days, (better late then never right?). 

I was searching online for a few simple ideas to celebrate May Day and came across these pretty and easy door knob bouquets from Martha Stewart.com and thought I would share....  Click this link if you're interested in making them. 

Thank you to all of you who took the time to comment and enter this giveaway, and especially those of you who posted about it on your blogs!  My computer has been sick for the past two weeks so I've been working from my lil' notebook.  They are small and compact and get the job done...but I nearly go blind trying to read from those tiny lil' puters, lol. 

Last night, I mosied on over to Random.org to find out who would be the winner of the Quick and Easy Autumn Cookbook giveaway and so I am told the winner was comment number 90. 

Geesh, it sure would be so much easier if we could automatically number our comments wouldn't it?  If there already is a way to do this, please fill me in folks.  It is a little time consuming to count out 90 comments and then recount to make sure you are absolutely correct!  After doing this twice it finally occurred to me (in all my chaos) that it would be quicker to count backwards from 105 to 90, ummm, hello~lightbulb~! 

Well I want to congratulate Joy on winning, I am sure she will be so pleased with this cookbook!    Thank you for commenting and posting about the giveaway on your blog Joy.  Stop on by Joy's blog, Books and Life , and say hello. 

For those of you who entered here and love GPB.....don't get discouraged!  I just received two more cookbooks for review from Gooseberry Patch the other day.  So I will be posting two more giveaways for brand spankin' new cookbooks not yet released!  So stop back in a few days, you are really going to love them.   

I'm so happy so many of  you liked the FHCS Facebook page.  I plan on having some fun with that in the near future (surprise)!  It will be so much easier to keep in touch between blog posts and see what a lot of you are up to in the meantime! 

I'll be back in a few days, we have some catchin' up to do! But before I go...tell me....what spring plans do you have?  A vegetable garden, a new flower bed, maybe building a potting shed, or finishing up a your spring cleaning?  Anything interesting?  Leave a comment and please share!  Happy Spring!

Take care gals,

Dee

GBP Cookbook Review and Giveaway

.

You can just imagine how excited I am to be a part of Gooseberry Patch's Early Bird Reviews.  The opportunity to review recipes from one of my Favorite companies before the book hits the market and give away a free copy to one of my followers....I'm thrilled!  I have always loved their cookbooks and have been collecting them for years.  My family has eaten many meals cooked from the recipes on their pages and they are always a hit.


Well here is my first review...
Quick and Easy Autumn by Gooseberry Patch.  Autumn...my FAVORITE season of all.  I know it is almost spring, but once you see these recipes in this book it really doesn't matter all that much, yes they are that good girls!  Asking their customers to review their books is brave and brilliant, how many companies do you know that chooses to go right to the source for an honest opion?  It could only be the ones that stand confidently behind their products, right? I so love that about them. I also love the whole concept behind Gooseberry Patch-they are so wholesome, sharing great family recipes with each other like women in communities have done for generations.  

How neat is it that they also understand the quick and easy part of todays wives and mothers?  So many of us are juggling families, homekeeping, jobs, businesses and extra curricular activites that we sometimes fall short on time.  Well I know that I don't want to compromise the food I prepare for my family in spite of all that and this book has so many recipes in it that make it possible to prepare great meals that are quick, easy and taste great!   

As far as my family goes, on the days that I work, it's a challenge to find the time to prepare and put a decent dinner on the table let alone add a homemade desert to it.  So for my first review from their brand new cookbook, I have chosen a cobbler prepared on one of those very busy nights.  Now, I don't want to sound like I have to pitch their book for them, because I don't, they do well all on their own, I'm only here for a review. All of the GPB fans out there already know what I'm talkin' about, but I want it on the record, that I am honored to have been asked to do these reviews! 

Let's get down to business now..... shall we?

Quick & Easy Autumn 

Cherry Cobbler

by Carol Van Rooy

This recipe was sooo easy and quick.  Exactly like the title says.  I am a busy momma these days and it was so nice to find a delicious recipe that took no time at all to make and one that my family really enjoyed. 

 

Lets make it together now.  First, you should go put on a cute lil' apron, it makes it more fun cookin' and makes ya good lookin'!  

Here's the list of ingredients......

~ 21 oz. can of Cherry pie filling, ~ 1T. lemon juice,  ~ 1T. cinnamon,  ~ 1/2 C. melted butter,  ~ 1 1/4 C. flour,  ~  1/2 C. sugar,  ~ 2T. baking powder,  ~ 1 C. milk ~ 

Mmhhm, Seriously that is all you need.

~You probably already have these ingredients in your pantry like I did!~

In a bowl combine the flour, sugar and baking soda.

Add the milk and melted butter to the flour mixture and combine.  It will be the consistency of pancake batter when mixed. 

Pour the mixture into a lightly greased 9x13 glass baking dish.  Spread out evenly.

In another bowl, mix the cherry pie filling with

the ground cinnamon.  {I LOVE McCormick's Grinders.  If you haven't tried them yet, do so.  The flavor of the freshly ground cinnamon is

sooo much better, all you do is twist the top}

Add the lemon juice to the cherry mixture and mix well.

Pour the cherry mixture as evenly as possible over top of the batter mixture.

Now, put the pan into a preheated 325 degree oven bake for 25 minutes.  Yes, stand there lookin' pretty, patiently waiting while your homemade cobbler bakes...     

{or not}

now, turn the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 10 mintues or until golden and batter has risen over the top of the pie filling.

Now, go enjoy it with your loved ones!

Serves 8-10

We served our Cherry Cobbler with a scoop of good vanilla bean ice cream while it was still warm. The ice cream starts to melt and Oh My Word is this sooooo yummy!  Now run over to your pantry and gather these ingredients because your missin' out darlin! 

There are so many great recipes in this cookbook, I can't wait to review more recipes like... 

Peachy~Keen Sweet Taters

Applie Spice Country Ribs

Sticky Bun Toast Toppers

Gingersnap Baked Beans

Janet's Farmer's Pie

Rosemary Pork Loin

Grandma's Apple Nut Dessert

Autumn Cranberry Chicken

and lots more

My family and I discussed some of the recipes over dinner oohhhhing and ahhhing over the titles.  So you will be hearing a few more reviews on this cookbook for sure. 

Now, if you liked this recipe and want to try to win a copy of your own Quick and Easy Autumn of your very own then here's the criteria to enter:

FHCS Gooseberry Patch

Quick and Easy Autumn Cookbook Giveaway:

**Anyone who enters must be a FHCS follower.**

You do not have to have a blog to enter but please leave an email contact in your comment.

*1 Entry:  If you leave a comment for this post

**2nd Entry: If you blog about this on your blog and link it up to mine (be sure to link it up to this post)

***3rd Entry:  If you link to this giveaway on your sidebar

****4th Entry:  If you LIKE the new FHCS Facebook Fan Page

Leave the same comment for each entry adding to each one which you qualify for.  The winner will be chosen by random number generator on April 30th.  Announced The first week of May.  This giveaway is open to US residents and Canada only.


If you absolutely cannot wait for the giveaway to end you can pre-purchase your very own copy HERE.  It won't be available until May but you can pre-order on Amazon now.

Good luck to you all, I will post another recipe from this book very soon.  Happy Spring Gals!

Take good care

xo,

Dee