Our Work is Cut Out!

My husband worked at a factory in town for over 40 years.  The company closed last year and subsequently they tore the building down.  The factory had been there since the early 1900's.  The only thing that remains is cement slabs a few blocks square and piles upon piles of brick. 

Yesterday Richie came home with a few bricks and asked me if I wanted to chip mortar off the bricks and make a walkway and patio that I had suggested over the years.  We chipped away at a few and it wasn't that difficult.  Thus, we hopped in his truck and loaded up about 150 of those babies. 

What I like about them is they are old, old bricks.  Nice patina....so many different shades of color...yellows, gray, white and some with a hint of red.  They aren't perfect...rather "chippy".  Very vintage in appearance.

We unloaded the first batch, chipped some mortar and wheeled them to the back yard.

Aren't they great looking?
I have dreams of getting a lot of them.  I want a lot of area covered!

A large area I would say, but won't it look great!  Probably only ten more trips for bricks!  Hey, the price is right.....FREE~ !  Well, my husband's labor is worth the weight of the bricks~

This might give you an idea how we will be spending our 4th of July.  Site preparation, chipping mortar and hauling brick.

Enjoy whatever today brings!
Babs

Welcome to our World!

Joslyn Candice Bywater

Born June 23, 2011

9lbs. 6 oz.

21 inches long

Proud parents - Jackie and Joffrey Bywater

Aunt Barb can't wait to hold you!

Busy Times

This time it was Leah's open house for graduation.  I helped Maggie prepare:  she ordered a lot of the food but we did a few things for added attractions:

Veggie cups!  The dip is in the bottom of the cup.  How cute/clever is that!  Thank you Pinterest!

Dipped a ton of strawberries.  They were a huge hit!

We didn't do this but cute cake with her picture on it!  Cake was delicious by the way. Marble with custard filling.

The graduate.....Leah Barbara Carlson, Class of 2011!

I love this picture....Leah with Grandma!

Cousins - Drew and Jessie...they are best buds~!

Well, Adam and Jess are best buds also!
Oh what the heck.....they all are!

It was a great time of celebration!  The proof is in the puddin"!

Mother and Lowana having a nip!

 

 

Have a good week --Babs

Happy Birthday...Literally!

What a great day we had yesterday.  It was my sister Maggie's birthday and.....it was my great niece's birth day!

Joslyn Candace Margaret Bywater.

We had a great time celebrating with family the birthdays!

The Birthday Girl and Don

Leah and her brother Tucker, home from Colorado

Richie and Drew from Florida

Leah and her cousin Adam from Florida

Pretty Pink Birthday Cake!

We had a great evening, singing happy birthday to Maggie and Joslyn!
Babs

Happy Father's Day

To the Fathers of our family:

I love you and miss you Dad!

Mike, what a great dad you are!  You have great boys!

You are a great Dad, Phil...doing what you are doing!

I love you all dearly!  Happy Father's Day!

Babs

Sugar Cookie Truffles

I was just perusing my favorite sites, Pinterest, and came across these.  These are a  must try for me.  If anyone beats me to it, let me know what you think.

Sugar Cookie Truffles

1 16 oz. package of sugar cookie dough

(I used plain, homemade sugar cookies I had on hand)

1.5 oz room temp cream cheese

4 oz white melting chocolate OR 1 cup white chips

1 T. shortening

sprinkles for garnish

Bake cookies according to package directions...BUT baking until cookies are crisp, but NOT burned.

Cool cookies completely on wire rack before moving on to the next step.

Line baking sheet with wax paper or silicon baking mat. 

Crumble the cookies into the food processor.  Process until the cookies are a fine crumb.

Add the cream cheese and process until the mixture starts to hold together.

Don't worry it won't be too sticky.

Roll mixture into 1" balls placing on prepared baking sheet and chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.

* or freeze for 10-15 minutes.

Melt white chocolate and shortening on medium power in 30 second intervals until just melted, stirring well after each interval. 

Dip each ball into white chocolate with a fork tapping off the excess.  Return to baking sheet to set.  Sprinkle with sprinkles while white chocolate is still wet.

Let set and enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of:

http://munchkinmunchies.blogspot.com/2010/12/sugar-cookie-truffles.html

The Sweet Spot

Lynne and I met for our weekly java fix, as well as our weekly iPad session.  We discover so many little tips and share what we've discovered during the week.  New blogs, new websites, pictures and just chat in general.

This week we went to the Farmer's Market first.  We both purchased probably the last of the fresh asparagus and the first picking of Michigan strawberries.

Then we ventured over to the Sweet Spot.  This is the coffee shop connected to the Culinary Institute - Baker College.  They have good coffee drinks and also scrumptious morsels of goodness.  Take a look.

Yum. Yum.
Have a great day!  Hope you are enjoying some sunshine and summer!  P.S. No baby yet!
Babs

A Walk in the Garden

Despite the rain and cooler temperatures we've had, I must say that our garden is looking pretty good.  Lots of things in bloom:  japanese iris, peonies, poppies, spiderwort, and things are just growing by leaps and bounds.  Here is a sampling of the front yard and side yard.

And my lovely cuttings indoors....aahh the fragrance!  So wonderful!

Hope you enjoyed the little peak of my garden.  Have a good week!  The weather is suppose to be gorgeous here.  Mid-70's all week!
Babs

Where Are You Joslyn?

We're patiently waiting!  I know Monday is your due date but doctor said you were ready two weeks ago!
You're  mama's waddlin' and Daddy can't wait to meet you.  Granny's have their bags packed ready to welcome you, too!  It's OK to meet the world now!  Promise!

Love your great Aunt Barb!

A Little Late

Graduation photos from last week!

Leah with her Mom and Dad

Leah with her cousin Jessica

Open House is June 25th.

Happy Birthday Dear Lynne

My good friend Lynne had a birthday yesterday.  We celebrated with a picnic down at the beach.  We went to Grand Haven State Park.  The weather was gorgeous.  It was in the high 80's, breezy, and lovely.

We had a lovely picnic....little appetizer, chicken tortellini caesar salad, and Oatmeal Carmelitas for dessert.
And there was wine.....lots of wine.  Don't tell the ranger!~

Kathy

You can see some flowers on our table but the wind was just wrecking havoc with them.

We had a great afternoon visiting with one another and just plain relaxing.  It's so good for our souls.  The three of us met at noon and when we decided to head out, I got into the car and was stunned....it was 5:30pm.

We definitely decided we will do this very thing frequently this summer.

Happy Birthday Lynne!

Gorgeous

From my garden this morning!

Living Off the Land

I'm sure I am not the only one who has noticed that groceries are astronomical these days.  I can't imagine feeding a large family.  Everything has gone sky high.  Bacon $4.59, tomatoes $4.06 for 4 and on and on.
I don't believe there is anything you can put in your cart for 59 cents any longer.  All items seem to be at least $2.00 and up.  Gosh, I hope I don't have to go back to work to pay for groceries.

In the meantime, we are living off the land.  I picked lettuce from the garden last night for our salad.  And this morning, my man got dinner for tonight.

Fresh caught blue gill.  He got his limit....25 in just a few hours.  They are delicious.  I like them better than Lake Perch.


Mike....these pictures are for you!

Babs

I Need This Coffee Cup

This is a wonderful mantra to begin each day!  Give it a try!

Photot taken from nadafarm.blogspot.com

 

 

Have a good day!

Class of 2011 Graduation Day

Leah Barbara Carlson

 

 

How I've watched over you since the day you were born.  I watched you struggle to take your first breaths, I watched you take your first steps, start kindergarten and before I knew it off to Mona Shores High School.  And today, you graduate and go off into the real world.

Be strong, happy, believe in yourself, live with integrity,dignity and respect.

I'll continue to watch over you as you spread  your wings.

I'm proud of you Leah Barbara!  Congratulations.

Love, Your Aunt Barb