Treats for my sweet

Yes, my blog has changed again...the other was just a bit too busy and I still can't think of a clever title.  So, this will have to do for now.

This is my husband.  Sweet, kind, and wonderful.

It is no secret that I love him madly.  I wanted to do something special for him and this is what I came up with...

A while back I made this yummy key lime mousse cake to take to a small get together.  I can't remember if he even got a whole slice, but he liked it very much.  I would have made it sooner, however, it requires fresh key lime juice from a whole bunch of these...

Yes, those are tiny little key limes.  I highly recommend trying to get a measurable amount of juice from these at least once by hand if you never have.  It is quite a challenge.  I bravely set out to make the cake again only this time, I used one of these...

A handy little juicer.  Worked like a charm.  No more squeezing tiny little key limes by hand for me.  I had six tablespoons of juice in no time flat.  The cake was delicious and he was very delighted.  Mission accomplished. 

After the pie, I decided to make pizza...with homemade dough. 

This is "fast and easy" and not at all hard.

That was the only way his mother used to make it.  She is not with us any longer and I sometimes feel sad that he doesn't have a mom, even if he is a grown man.  Now, I am sure that my pizza dough was not like hers, but at least I tried to give him a little piece of "long ago". 

I can't yet say that I am anywhere near being a "domestic goddess".  I leave dishes in the sink and sometimes forget to do the laundry, but I love my home and we love each other and I think that is a good start.

" Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do...but how much love we put into that action."

-Mother Teresa

Sam, Lowell, and Yogurt

This is the story of Sam (our cat) and his undeniable love for all things yogurt.  I did not start Sam on this journey of yogurt addiction...my sweet husband did.


All it took was one little taste and he was hooked.
Lowell says that he is 12 and is entitled to a little indulgence.  He knows the sound of the refrigerator door and the silverware drawer.  By the time Lowell is snuggled in bed with his yogurt, Sam is there too waiting ever so patiently for his chance.  Sam does not get to lick the lid and he does not get it fed to him by spoon....yet- although I am waiting for that day to come.  He gets the whole container when Lowell is finished.  This is one spoiled cat.

This is Sam--doesn't quite fit in this bed.  Come to think about it, he doesn't really fit in anything.

Waiting patiently

Strawberry is the favorite around here...

YUM

Sweet Summertime!

It is here.  The long awaited lazy days of summer. 68 blissful days.


Today I talked to my best friend.  She has been my friend since kindergarten and I love her.  Allyson is strong, beautiful, smart, faithful, and courageous--and those are just a few words to describe her.  She is fighting a battle, one that I wish I could fight for her.  I can't take that stupid cancer from her and I wish I could.  I am amazed by her strength.  I know at times she wants to give up but she doesn't.  She keeps going.  She is still the same Allyson I have always known.  What a woman!

Please pray for this beautiful beach and the people that call Destin home. 

Sun, Scramble, and Sweet Tea

I love Destin!  It was blissful, peaceful, and calm. It was just the two of us...just the way I like it.

We decided long before the engagement that Destin would be our honeymoon destination. So, the first week of our engagement, we made our reservations at Henderson Park Inn. We left early Sunday morning after the wedding and arrived in Destin just after 6 p.m.. The trip was great and I actually did enjoy spending 10 hours in the car with my new husband.

Picture courtesy of a Florida State Trooper!

The Henderson Park Inn is, to say the least, full service. Lowell would joke that the only thing they didn't do was carry us to the room. When we arrived, we were given a "tour". It included where to find the movies should we care to watch one, the board games (we chose scramble--my sweet husband is not a speller), the full service coffee bar-all you even have to do there is stick the cup under the tap and push a button, the beach towels, and the refrigerator stocked 24 hours a day with soda, water, and candy bars. Oh dear, the candy bars. I thought Lowell would come home addicted to Twix bars. Then it was on to the room where we found a tray on the bed with a rose, a bottle of wine with two glasses and chocolate. At this point, I am pretty sure that we have indeed found heaven on earth.

Main House

For the rest of that wonderful week, our schedule went something like this...

**Note there are no times because we didn't care what time it was**

Wake up

Breakfast at the main house

Bike ride along the coast

Lowell gets a Twix Bar

Beach

Pick up our lunch in the main house

Take it back to the beach

Lowell gets a Twix bar

Bubble Bath

Get ready for dinner

Leave and go wherever we want

Evening stroll on the beach

Lowell gets a Twix Bar

The view from our balcony

Beach Bums

                           

On Friday, we took a little road trip along beautiful scenic route 30 to Seaside. For Jim Carey fans out there, that is where "The Truman Show" was filmed. It is a quaint little seaside community about 30 miles from Destin. It consists of these precious, brightly colored beach houses, art shops, boutiques, and a town square lined with little aluminum trailers selling anything from  hot dogs to cupcakes.           

Just a little piece of Seaside Realty

Before we knew it our honeymoon week had come to an end.  We were sad to leave that beautiful place, but we took with us precious memories.  We will be back...soon!

   The Hard Rock Cafe at Destin Commons

My Sand Art

                                      

   My treasures

 If you look closely, you will see my almost perfect sand dollar. I took a wave to the face, but it is a rare and beautiful find!

                                     

     

              Thank you, my love, for a fabulous and unforgettable honeymoon!

A Day to Remember

I am married. I am a wife to a wonderful man. I had the wedding of my dreams and a honeymoon I will never forget. This is what the last month brought to my life. It all seemed to pass by in double time. In a blink of an eye it was over. After all the planning, busy days, decision making, and counting down, this is what I know for sure...I would do it over and over again. I loved every minute and would not change a single thing. I am thankful for so many things when I look back on that day. I will never forget that feeling when I saw Lowell standing there waiting for me or the way I felt when I walked down the aisle. I was in awe of the countless friends and family who were there and will always feel blessed that they shared that special day with us. I am forever grateful for my parents who brought me to that day. All the things I know about love and loving someone else, I learned from watching the two of them.
During our honeymoon, Lowell would catch me drifting off into deep thought and would ask "Where are you and what are you thinking about?" I would simply say, "Our Wedding Day." I love going back in my mind and sometimes it feels as though I am there. I can still see it. The sun was shining even though it was supposed to be a rainy day. The flowers were lovely, the cake was scrumptious and all my favorite people were in one place having a wonderful time. It was beautiful! Gayle, I will forever be thankful for you and for making our reception the most beautiful ever!
There are an endless number of memories from that day. I won't forget a single one.

To My Friends: You are priceless!
To My Parents: I love you and can't thank you enough for giving me the most perfect day!
To Lowell:
Thank you for loving me! You are the answer to my prayers. I love you forever and always!

Precious Pollen?

Today was glorious! I was out walking and listening to my wedding music, which I am not nor ever will be tired of hearing. I happened to look up and notice the pollen on the pine trees. Have you ever stopped to look at pollen? I have. There is a little secret in those prickly pine needles that my dad told me about sometime ago. Look closely and you will see a tiny cross formed by those little pollen "things". You see, when pollen first makes its appearance, the very top one makes a little cross. But, you have to look up--That's the trick. Isn't it a little funny and quite amazing that God can take something like pollen and make it a precious reminder of his love for us. So, next time you see that beautiful yellow dust all over this wonderful creation, think of it as a little sprinkle of God's love...it might even make you sneeze.