1. Well it will be no surprise that at the top of my favorites for this past week is spending extra time with all my children. (And it hasn’t been a soap opera). On Saturday we did our belated family Christmas with stockings and Dear’s Swedish pancakes for breakfast. Later on that same day we had a birthday dinner for our daughter Katie. Since we will be in California for both Josh and Dan’s January birthdays we are celebrating tonight with a dinner for them.
2. It’s always great to see all the guys working together. Here they are shoveling snow off the drive to our house and two of our neighbor’s houses. We are really pleased the snow has almost disappeared.
3. I’ve been talking about wanting some more substantial nativities and Dear bought me both these sets for Christmas. They are both very different and I like them very much.
4. We revived a favorite dessert from days gone by this week that has always been enjoyed. You cook up vanilla pudding and while it is still hot you pour it over a generous scoop of good chocolate ice cream. Yum you get some great hot and cold and added creamy goodness in every bite! Having Dear’s wonderful Tomato Rice Peasant Soup was so good, too!
5. On New Year’s Day we met our dear friends Dave, Jody, Bob and Jan at McCormick and Shmicks Restaurant in Downtown Seattle for Happy Hour. It was wonderful sitting and talking for a couple hours over great Happy Hour Menu food. We had Salmon burgers, Black Bean Chicken Quesadillas and Oysters for $1.95 each! We also tried the Cod sandwich which was $3.95 and delicious! Sheesh, can’t beat that with a stick! We love these friends who we’ve gone through thick and thin with…
To see more Fave Fives or to join on in visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007 to 2015 hostage and has replaced them all with ugly black and grey boxes asking for a ransom to have them re-published. Such a frustrating bother as I go through each post to delete the ugly boxes.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Ellen, Thanks for visiting my blog. I really like how you format multiple pictures in one photo. Is there an easy method you have for doing that?
Yes – I see your guy had some help shovelling – too bad our boys were all snowed in 30 miles away!! And one in London – no help at all 🙂
That dessert looks very yummy – and so simple. I’m going to try it for sure.
And your B-day girl looks so sweet in her pretty outfit!
What fun you have had recently! That dessert sounds yummy. Gotta try that. Wonderful photos as always. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Ellen!
And Happy Belated Birthday to Katie. I love her dress!
Nice that your hubby had help with the shovelling. We could have used you all last week! I can’t remember the last time there was this much snow at Christmas time.
What a wonderful week. I’ve never heard of the pudding/ice cream duo before–sounds crazy. I think I’m a little jealous of your snow—only because I don’t have to dig out of it. 🙂 McCormack’s is our favorite “let’s go celebrate” restaurant. Good reminder, now I know what to have for dinner. I bought salmon to make salmon burgers while the girls are home—yummy stuff.
Hello Ellen B,.
Looks like you’ve had a fun action packed week. Do you ever get tired :)? Hubby and I have been spending quiet days at home lounging around. Now that’s my kind of fun!
I hope you have a lovely Friday!
🙂 Cori G.
Sounds like you had a wonderful week! I always enjoy all your photos. Your daughter looked lovely in that dress.
I think I’ll have to try your pudding over ice cream idea. We sometimes pour warm vanilla pudding over cake but never thought of the chocolate ice cream idea. I think I’d like your idea better!
I noticed that the snow shoveling photo was taken from inside the house.
MMMmmmm, soup in a blue bowl!
Love the nativity sets!
Nice picure—Happy New Year to you!
The vanilla pudding over hot ice cream looks delicious! I love spending time with my kids as well.
I love your pictures!
Ellen,
It looks like you have had a great week! 🙂 I enjoyed reading what you’ve been up to!
Are you in that pix? Happy New Years Ellen!
Love the hot pudding on ice-cream, might have to try that.
Send me more fun, easy ideas! Hugs!
I never would have thought of putting warm pudding and ice cream together.
I’m glad we don’t have to shovel snow! 🙂
Sounds like a great food and fellowship week!
You have had quite a week Ellen. Your pudding on ice cream is making my mouth water. I waved at you as we passed your city last Friday, not realizing you were shoveling snow. It was a beautiful day there but we hit so much traffic on 101 at about that point. It took a lot longer to get to Santa Barbara than google maps stated.
OK, that dessert sounds DELICIOUS…. What a wonderful 5!
Thanks for Sharing!
Hi…just visiting from Gracious Hospitality. You have a lovely family! We have 4 girls from 27 down to 10. Fortunately the 2 that don’t live at home anymore are still local!! That pudding and ice-cream thing sounds good!!
Hope your New Year is filled with peace, joy and love,
Becky
Hi Ellen
I see that you have just as much snow as me!!!! Groan! Looks like Christmas was lovely and so was dinner out with your friends..
Hi Ellen,
I had a question…I was wanting to do one of those photo collages like you often do. Can you tell me how you do it? Is there a program or site? Do you do it on Flickr? I’d appreciate any help when you have a chance. Thanks!
Mmmmmmm!
Ice cream and hot vanilla pudding???? What a great idea Ellen! Your soup looks yummy too. Nice family pic as well. Oh, the photo of digging out the driveway brings back memories. Now in southern CA so I don’t have to do that anymore!