Author Archives: Ellen

Fun Monday ~ Happy Childhood Memory

Molly is hosting Fun Monday this week. She says…

I have the great honor of hosting Fun Monday this coming Monday, June 9th. For your assignment tell us about a happy memory from your childhood. If you have pictures, please show us your pictures.

 

When I was little the cousins would all pile into one car and head up to Big Bear, California or another mountain destination and camp. I’m the one sitting on the table. These were happy childhood memories.

On the bench in front: Valia my cousin, my sister Vera, my cousin Walter, my cousin Alex, me on the table, across the table on the bench- my Uncle Paul, my Father, my brother Fred, my sister Kathy standing on the bench. Behind the bench – Mrs. Dorofeiv, Mike Dorofeiv and their child.

 

Here I am with my father who loved to put jigsaw puzzles together. My sister Kathy is standing behind my dad and me. These days my favorite kind of camping is at the Hilton but I know that the best memories for our kids are the real camping experiences out in the great outdoors. I wish I would have taken my kids on more camping excursions…

 

This is my cousin Valia and me. We spent lots of time with each other while I was growing up. My maternal grandmother lived with them so we were over there a lot. This photo was taken at Easter.

Here’s that same cousin with her daughter and granddaughter. I got to see her this last Saturday at a baby shower for her DIL. One of our projects while at the shower was to create something on a onesie for the baby that’s due in July. Yikes I’m not really artistic or crafty but here is what I came up with. Good thing babies wear onesies under their regular outer wear!

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

For more Fun Monday Happy Memories visit Molly.

Project Blue ~ Take Seven

 

My friend Willow from Willow’s Cottage has a friend with a Blueberry Farm and when she gets to pick blueberries on the farm she’s sweet enough to share some with me. So I found my blue rimmed platter to put my blueberries in and then I enjoyed my high fiber cereal with my daily banana and the lovely blueberry treat. Then it dawned on me that we are in the midst of project blue so I put this collage together filled with my yummy blue…

For more Project Blue click over to Anna Carson Photography.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

Eye Hath Not Seen ~ Fanny Crosby

Eye Hath Not Seen

They tell me of a land so fair,
Unseen by mortal eyes,
Where spring in fadeless beauty blooms,
Beneath unclouded skies.

Refrain

“Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard,
Neither hath it entered into the heart of man,
The things which God hath prepared for them,
Prepared for them that love Him.”

They tell me of a land so fair,
Where all is light and song,
Where angel choirs their anthems join
With yonder blood-washed throng.

Refrain

No radiant beams from sun or moon
Adorn that land so fair,
For He who sits upon the throne
Shines forth resplendent there.

Refrain

O land of light and love and joy,
Where comes no night of care,
What will our song of triumph be
When we shall enter there!

Refrain

Words by Fanny Crosby, 1890. Music by George C. Stebbins

Project Blue ~ Take 6

 

We saw this Crab at Emma Wood State Beach in Ventura, California. We walk this stretch of beach early on Saturday mornings.

For more Project Blue head over to Anna Carson Photography.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

More Thrift Store Goodies…

This is a busy weekend for my extended family. Graduations, birthdays, baby shower, and wedding shower, all packed into two days. The women on my side of the family are hosting a shower on Sunday for our future niece/cousin/granddaughter. Lot’s of organizing, cooking, and putting together. Hopefully I’ll have photos to share. I’ll be on the road through L.A. and onto Orange County for the festivities. So before I head into craziville I took a moment at the local thrift store and look what I found.

 

Three pieces of Pink Depression glass for $6.50.

This Old Foley, James Kent LTD, Made in England, “Harmony Rose” bowl for $1.25.

This Wedgewood cup and saucer for $.75.

Have a wonderful weekend. Think of me while I try to create my very first cake with fondant icing. If it works I’ll be sure to post a photo.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

Feelings Meme ~

I saw this at Susanne’s and since I have to work at being sensitive to my feelings I decided to give it a whirl.

Feelings meme:

Reluctant ~ to get too involved in church activities these days.

Excited ~ to be spending 6 weeks in Seattle this summer.

Worried ~ About whether my first attempt at a cake with fondant frosting is going to turn out for a bridal shower this weekend. :0)

Relieved ~ that I found a couple bills that were missing and paid them.

Wondering: ~ I’m the Happy Wonderer, I wonder about everything!

Certain ~that Jesus lives and I will stand before Him someday. 

Cautious ~about over committing.

Happy ~that I have so many loving people in my life.

Love ~every new adventure that comes my way

Adore ~God’s creation

Grateful ~for kind words of encouragement.

Go ahead and find your inner touchy feely and do this meme. After you do let me know so I can come by and get all emotional with you…

Oh and the photo at the top of this post is ellen b in the restroom at the Queen Mary Tea Room. Yep I take pictures everywhere…

Smashed Potatos are Good!

 

We had some very interesting guests for dinner last night and we wanted to feed them something special so I decided to try Pioneer Woman Cooks’ Smashed Potato recipe she shared this week. To go with the potatos we had a marinated flank steak and a Fiesta Salad. Here’s my attempt with the smashed potatoes.

 

First boil red potatos in salted water till you can pierce them with a fork. Then put them on a olive oiled sheet pan and smash them with a potato masher. Mine look different from Pioneer woman’s because she had the older fashioned potato masher.

 

After smashing them brush them with olive oil and salt them with Kosher salt liberally. Sprinkle pepper on them and a finely minced herb of your choice. Pioneer Woman and I used rosemary. Then stick them in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

They were delicious and even the little rabbit really enjoyed them. He mostly went for the rosemary.

 

Then because these were very special guests we served a fresh strawberry pie for dessert. Yum…

It was fun to change identities during the evening. Even the beloved stuffed dog got a new face.

My guests were my niece Michelle (the Lion), her husband Ryan (the Bear) and my great nephew Jack (the Rabbit).

Do try these potatos, you won’t be disappointed. You can boil the potatos ahead of time then get them ready to pop in the oven 20 or so minutes out from serving time. Oh and because we are big fans of garlic I’ll add garlic next time.

Have a wonderful day!

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

Japanese Gardens ~ Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle

During my weekend in Seattle my sister, daughters, and I decided to stop at the Lake Washington Arboretum and to stroll through the Japanese Garden. We wanted to see the Tea House where Katie attends class every Thursday to learn the Japanese Tea Ceremony. She has her final this Thursday (today).

 

 

The Gardens are beautifully landscaped.

 

These photos are of the Tea House that is nestled in the beautiful surroundings of the garden.

 

It’s Spring so the Rhododendrons and Wisteria were in their glory.

 

I was so pleased to see the Wisteria in bloom.

 

The 4 of us were really in awe of God’s glorious creation and how He has given man the eye to plant and plan the beautiful landscape in this garden.

 

 

 

I hope you can sense much of the beauty through these photos.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.