Closing Down, and Moving

Thu, 8 May 2008 16:43:52 -0700

The time has come to close this blog down. Ever since I upgraded my iWeb software last Fall, I’ve had family members having a hard time accessing my blog, and that’s no fun.

So the time has come to close this one down.

This blog will still be available for reminiscing and walking down Memory Lane, but new posts can now be found at my new Place.

The new URL is http://aplacefordarcy.blogspot.com. If you visit Rachel or Hannah’s blogs, you can access the new blog in the Family Links section as well.

So please bookmark me and come and visit!

Missed a Stalking Opportunity!!

Wed, 7 May 2008 22:48:59 -0700

Bummer! I just read on Randy Travis’ web site that he was at the K Frog radio station in Colton about two weeks ago. So close to home too!

I definitely missed a stalking opportunity....

A Mother/Daughter Tea Party

Sun, 4 May 2008 13:17:58 -0700

Yesterday, the Women’s Ministry of our church hosted a Mother/Daughter Tea Party. It was simply beautiful. A bit crowded in our fellowship office, but was beautiful.

There were ten tables of eight women, and one table of five. There were so many women interested in attending that we actually had a waiting list. Space was an issue, which is just another reason why everyone is so excited for our own church building! We currently meet in the auditorium of an elementary school and have to pack everything up every Sunday. We are due to break ground perhaps this month or next and then someday, soon, we’ll have a building of our own where space won’t be an issue.

The above picture is of my table. I was responsible for setting it and providing the dishes, etc. All the tables were decorated differently and pretty. It was all different shades of pinks. And unlike other hostesses, I didn’t have to buy a single thing! I already had (or my Mom had) everything on the table! I got so many compliments on my table. And then this morning at church, Steven had a man come up to him and tell him how his wife, who was seated at my table, went on and on about my table for an hour!

It was a lot of fun, and just like the tea party I had last month for Hannah’s birthday, it sparked a desire to do a tea party/luncheon for my own friends.

Opportunities to Serve

Sat, 3 May 2008 15:20:53 -0700

This morning, our church hosted a Mother/Daughter Tea in honor of Mother’s Day next weekend. Weeks ago, I had been asked to serve as a table hostess where I would be responsible for providing the dishes and setting a table for tea for eight women, including myself. I was honored to have been asked. I’ve done this a few other times at our old church. I love providing beautiful tables for special occasions.

Following the setting up our tables last night, I went home with Anna to help her with the food preparation. And together we shelled 85 hard boiled eggs, chopped said eggs, made egg salad for sandwiches, and washed and cut the fruit to then make 100 fruit kabobs. Working well ino the late hours of the night, sitting, working away, talking and chatting, I loved every minute of it.

This morning, hours prior to the tea, we again gathered, and with the help of other hostesses, we put together chicken salad sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, and cucumber sandwiches. I believe the total number of sandwiches made today was just over hundred, and when cut into quarters, it made for a whole lot of yummy little tea sandwiches.

I love opportunities like this to serve the Lord. Along side other Christian women and friends, all with the same purpose in mind, to serve and to bless.

As our girls continue to get older, and demands of Steven’s ministries on Sunday mornings get fewer, I look forward to perhaps being a more regular part of the women who help once a month in putting on lunches and brunches in between church services.

Have You Noticed??

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:21:05 -0700

My Dad, who works for a major grocery chain, said it was coming. He said food packages and sizes would start to get smaller and the price would stay the same, or even rise. And while I’ve been very conscientious to pay attention to packaging, they’ve all been pretty subtle, until today....

The ice cream carton on the left is today’s purchase. The measurement is 1.50qts. The carton the right is one I purchased two weeks ago measuring out at 1.75qts. You wouldn’t think that the difference of .25qts would be so noticeable, but it was.

Another thing I noticed on my previous trip to the store, was the amount of packages in the fruit snack boxes. Some boxes use to always give ten packages, now, there are a few brands that only give six.

If you haven’t been paying attention, better start paying attention and see how you can get the most for your buck, or bucks!

Being Watched via the Web Cam

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:47:35 -0700

The Pismo Pier has a webcam that we periodically check out, and see what the weather is like there, etc. We’ve been joking that Mom and Dad were going to go to the pier one day this week and call and then wave to us.

So, I’m sitting here, just surfing my blogs, etc. and click on the Pismo Pier web cam, and who do I see standing there?!?...My Parents!

It was pretty funny when I called them on their cell phone and told them to step off the Pier, that they were being watched. LOL. They were just getting ready to call us, but I had discovered them first!

I sent my brother the link and together we watched them until they left the pier, or at least out of the view of the webcam. LOL.

Ahhh, the marvels of technology!

Reminiscing

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:36:35 -0700

My parents left this morning for vacation for a few days. Their destination: our family’s treasured vacation spot.

While I am so glad that they are on their way and are going to have a much needed few days of rest and relaxation. I must say I am envious.

This place holds so many special and dear memories for our family and I guess I’ve found myself these past few days reminiscing.

We spent many a vacations as a family of four here when I was growing up. We mostly went in the summer months, giving us a chance to escape the hot and smog of home. There was a time or two we even went over Spring Break. Having been a place of special memories, new memories were added to my memory when Steven and I spent half of our honeymoon here. And in more recent years, we’ve gone with our own children and have had the whole family (Mom, Dad, my brother and sister-in-law, and nieces) gather together for vacation.

It’s just a place with a lot of good memories....

Have You Heard the News??

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:00:15 -0700

By now, most Americans have heard about the stimulus check that President Bush is signing and depending on the size of your household, you can get a check as high as $1800. I just read an article, that those checks are going to start being sent next week.

What will you be doing with your stimulus check?? Saving?? Spending?? Saving some, spending some??

As for us, we have a roof that needs fixing and we have no idea how much that’ll cost. We just picked up Steven’s car yesterday from the mechanic and let’s just say that expense put a huge dent in our income tax refund. And now we need to get my van in to be worked on. There’s always something....

Mini Morsel Shortbread Squares

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:52:32 -0700

I’ve had my new kitchen toy just over two weeks now, and Steven has been itching to make something in it. Finally, yesterday we had a free evening and he found a recipe for mini chocolate chip shortbread. So he gathered the ingredients and into the Kitchen Aid everything went.

And about 45 minutes later, we were enjoying the warm shortbread and agreeing this recipe was a keeper!

Ingredients:
1 cup butter or margarine - softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups flour
2 cups Nestle Toll House Semi Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels - divided

Preheat oven to 350.

Beat butter and sugar in larger mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually beat in flower. Stir in 1 cup of the mini morsels. Press onto the bottom of an ungreased 13x9 inch baking pan.

Bake for 30 to 33 minutes or just until the top is light brown. Immediately sprinkle the top with the remaining morsels. Let stand for 5 minutes or until the morsels are shiny, then spread evenly. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.

Or you can do like we did....enjoy it warm!!! :)

My Batteries are Wearing Down

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:06:37 -0700

For the past two weeks I’ve felt like the Energizer Bunny, going, going, going.

I put a lot of work and energy into preparing for Hannah’s tea party last weekend. And while there was no big party this past week, there was her actual birthday, and class performances, and a birthday party to attend, and a million other little things.

The busy two weeks are finally coming to an end. But first, we must go to Hannah’s karate tournament this afternoon which for some reason, despite not competing, all the waiting and nervousness of how she’ll do, really wears on a Mother. LOL.

This next week doesn’t hold nearly as much as the last couple have. And I know that I must really make the time to take it easy and rest.