Quilt Squares! Thank You Iowa & Texas

We have received squares 8 & 9 for Alyzabeth's 100 Good Wishes Quilt! Thank you to the Reed's from Iowa & the Schreiber family from Texas. The squares are beautiful and the Wishes make wonderful additions to our Good Wishes memory book. As others have posted, this makes going to the mailbox a special joy! Thank you all again...

I Didn't Know You Would Become "Family"

Just recently a favorite "blogger" of mine and quite possibly for you as well made the decision to “step outside for a while.” Translated; he made a decision to end his blog. It is not hyperbole when I say that many of us, his faithful readers, were both shocked and saddened. These personal blogs of ours are strange creatures. When Alyson and I began our blog it was for the most common and noble of reasons, we wanted to capture our adoption journey to Alyzabeth and the blogsite offered an efficient and effective way to capture that quest and share it with family and friends. Not unlike how it was and still is for many of you. However, as each of our adoption processes wound (for some still winding) their way through the grueling paperchase and on through Gotcha Day, did you not begin to notice subtle shifts on the blogs you were reading on a regular basis? In truth, was not a large part of that shift a direct result of you and I, faithful readers through and through, and our ever-expanding expectations for the next day’s post? Not demanding per se but very much in demand. We started to like each other’s company. We enjoyed being together, visiting each other as it were from miles and miles away. We formed overnight FedEx attachments. We developed notarized, certified, authenticated kinships. We were becoming something of an extended family. I have often yearned for a shared blog family reunion to bring us all together where we would sort through our blog family lineages. We would detail how we found each other’s blogsite and compare the site links we had in common. We’d hand out new blogs to check out like they were old and revered family recipes. I know what our imaginary reunion would look like. At our reunion we’ll swap paperchase horror stories and detail the excruciating time spent waiting for the referral. We will proudly show our referral pictures and ooh and ahh over each other’s little ones. Others will be boastfully pointing to their daughters already happily playing together. We’ll talk about long flights, strange foods, jet lag, red couches and seeing our families for the first time on arriving home. Ours would be a grand reunion full of food, laughter, love and daughters. We would proudly stand together adoption battle scared and field-tested sharing a tie strengthened by the commonality of what we had endured… And accomplished. The blogs we read on a regular basis form the families we envision at our reunion. We really do dream these dreams and think these thoughts. All because we take the risk to expose our thoughts, our fears, our hopes. All because we take the risk to care, to share, to offer support. J would be at our reunion and at some point he would lead us in the singing of one of his favorite songs (chosen from a list he once blogged) while dressed in distinctive Purple Pimp Suits furnished by none other than J himself. We will embarrass our daughters to no end. I think that would be Ok. A good laugh is often needed and too often neglected. Maybe your blog began as a way to keep family and friends updated on the adoption process and all of a sudden it too now includes “family & friends” you never knew existed just months before. And did you notice how our blogs slowly began to reflect that change, often with little conscious awareness of its happening on our part? We shared birthdays and anniversaries. We came to know the names of each other’s children, siblings, parents and grandparents. We reminisced on those who had passed on. We “attended” parties with you that we never went to and enjoyed dinners we never tasted. I knew when your spouse was working too hard or how you were counting the days when they would be “home” from business or war. We were sharing baptisms and wedding, vacations and births. We shared like family without ever having met not unlike cousins and aunts & uncles we have today. So when our friend J decided to “go outside for a while” it was more than an acquaintance bidding adieu. It was losing family. He was the favorite uncle who would be missing at the next reunion. I was always envious of J’s blog because he was able to speak so openly, so unreserved, in a way that many of us felt incapable or some how restrained from doing. Because J never shared his blog with his “first” family we were treated to some of the most insightful, funny and sobering looks of his family. I kick myself for not saving some of his classic posts. We had clues J might leave us. On a couple of occasions he had intimated that such a day had crossed his mind. I remember thinking maybe sooner than later. He may return to us yet. I hold out hope for just such a thing. I sent J my best along with the wish to stay in touch, especially asking that he inform us of major happenings with regard to the adoption. The sudden realization for many of us was the awareness that we are all in this together. More closely aligned and tightly bound than we ever envisioned, imagined or remotely thought possible when we each made our private decision to begin the process that would bring our daughters home from half a world away. I have no idea which of you will be the next to “go outside for awhile” but this I know, it will happen. I often thought Alyson’s goodbye and mine would come once we arrived home with Alyzabeth and gradually made the transition to being totally overwhelmed parents. While we can barely wait to have Alyzabeth with us, I don’t much like the thought of losing you. I’ll yearn once more for a morning visit with you over a cup of coffee. I’ll think back to the imaginary reunions that never happened except online. I’ll think of our friend J and all the others who came to be family and then silently slipped away to do the more important task of caring for a daughter. I’ll miss you all when that day comes. I’ll think of you often and like the parents we are to be to our daughters – our thoughts of you, with our prayers, will last forever. So selfish of me. I’m just not yet ready to let you go…

Recipe - Chocolate!!!

Recipe For Hot Fudge Pudding Cake From My Mom's Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook. This is a rich tasting chocolate dessert, very inexpensive and makes a fudge sauce on the bottom as it bakes. It is like an upside down cake, the chocolate cake is on top with the sauce on the bottom. This was a favorite growing up. Did I tell you that my Mom baked a dessert many times each week as my Dad didn’t feel the meal was complete without dessert? Even Martha Stewart had this recipe in her magazine – It’s a good thing! 1 Cup all purpose flour 2 tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. salt ¾ Cup sugar 2 Tbsp. cocoa plus ¼ Cup cocoa ½ Cup milk 2 Tbsp. melted shortening 1 Cup chopped nuts 1 Cup brown sugar 1 ¾ Cup hot water Sift together into a bowl the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and 2 Tbsp. cocoa. Stir in the milk and melted shortening. Blend in the nuts. Spread in 9-inch square pan. Sprinkle with mixture of brown sugar and ¼ cup of cocoa. Pour over entire batter the hot water. During baking the cake mixture rises to the top and the chocolate sauce settles to the bottom. Invert squares on dessert plate, spoon sauce over each square. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Bake at 350 degrees, 45 minutes. Make about 8 servings. Serve with lots of love!

Name That Movie Revealed

The Godfather Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto): I believe in America. America has made my fortune. And I raised my daughter in the American fashion. I gave her freedom, but -- I taught her never to dishonor her family. She found a boyfriend; not an Italian. She went to the movies with him; she stayed out late. I didn't protest. Two months ago, he took her for a drive, with another boyfriend. They made her drink whiskey. And then they tried to take advantage of her. She resisted. She kept her honor. So they beat her, like an animal. When I went to the hospital, her nose was a'broken. Her jaw was a'shattered, held together by wire. She couldn't even weep because of the pain. But I wept. Why did I weep? She was the light of my life -- beautiful girl. Now she will never be beautiful again. (Bonasera breaks down) Sorry...I -- I went to the police, like a good American. These two boys were brought to trial. The judge sentenced them to three years in prison-- suspended sentence. Suspended sentence! They went free that very day! I stood in the courtroom like a fool. And those two bastard, they smiled at me. Then I said to my wife, "for justice, we must go to Don Corleone." Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando): We've known each other many years, but this is the first time you came to me for counsel, for help. I can't remember the last time that you invited me to your house for a cup of coffee, even though my wife is godmother to your only child. But let's be frank here: you never wanted my friendship. And uh, you were afraid to be in my debt. Bonasera: I didn't want to get into trouble. Vito Corleone: I understand. You found paradise in America, had a good trade, made a good living. The police protected you; and there were courts of law. And you didn't need a friend of me. But uh, now you come to me and you say -- "Don Corleone give me justice." -- But you don't ask with respect. You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me Godfather. Instead, you come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married, and you uh...ask me to do murder, for money. Bonasera: I ask you for justice. Vito Corleone: That is not justice; your daughter is still alive. Bonasera: Then they can suffer then, as she suffers. How much shall I pay you? Vito Corleone: (stands, turning his back toward Bonasera) Bonasera... Bonasera... What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? Had you come to me in friendship, then this scum that ruined your daughter would be suffering this very day. And that by chance if an honest man such as yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you. Bonasera: Be my friend --(then, after bowing and the Don shrugs)-- Godfather? Vito Corleone: (after Bonasera kisses his hand) Good. Some day, and that day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But uh, until that day -- accept this justice as a gift on my daughter's wedding day.

Name That Movie

Memorable Movie Lines "Some day, and that day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day -- accept this justice as a gift on my daughter's wedding day." Name that movie...

YAHOO!! NCAA Ice Hockey UMO-UMO-UMO!!!!!

YAHOO!! NCAA ICE HOCKEY!! UMO – UMO – UMO!! (FORGET THAT BASKETBALL STUFF) TODAY! MAINE TOPS MICHIGAN STATE, 5-4, ADVANCES TO FROZEN FOUR ALBANY, N.Y. - John Hopson scored a pair of goals to help Maine advance to the 2006 Frozen Four with a 5-4 win over Michigan State on Sunday afternoon in the finals of the NCAA East Regional at the Pepsi Arena. Ben Bishop made 33 saves and was named to the All-Regional Team. YESTERDAY!!! MAINE DEFEATS HARVARD, 6-1 Six different Black Bears scored goals and Ben Bishop had 25 saves in the win. Michel Léveillé led the team with a goal and two assists. Maine is now 27-11-2 on the season, while Harvard is 21-12-2 to end the season. Maine has advanced to face top seed Michigan State on Sunday at 2:00 pm in Albany. Maine and Michigan State have met twelve times, with the Spartans holding an 8-3-1 lead in the series. Greg Moore is a Hobey Baker Finalist: University of Maine men's ice hockey forward Greg Moore has been named a Hobey Baker Award Finalist by the Hobey Baker Foundation. Moore, a native of Lisbon, Maine, leads the team with 26 goals and 42 points on the season. Moore becomes the ninth Black Bear to be named a Hobey Baker Finalist. Next on the Schedule: Thurs 04/06/06 BC vs. ND. NCAA Frozen Four Semifinal (Milwaukee, WI) Thurs 04/06/06 UMO vs. Midwest winner. NCAA Frozen Four Semifinal (Milwaukee, WI) Saturday 04/08/06 NCAA Frozen Four Championship (Milwaukee, WI) http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/ http://goblackbears.collegesports.com/ Why did I post this great news? Proud graduate of UMO - 1980!!!! Here's some of the great UMO Ice Hockey history: 2005: Lost in Semifinals 2004: Won Championship #1!!!! 2003: Lost in Quarterfinals 2002: Lost Championship game to UNH ; Overall #2! 2001: Lost in Semifinals 2000: Won the Championship #1!!!! 1999: Lost in Semifinals 1998: Lost Championship game to BC; Overall #2! 1997: Did not make it to Tournament.... 1996: Lost championship game to Providence; Overall #2! 1995: #3rd Place! 1994: Lost in quarterfinals 1993: Won the Championship #1!!!! 1992: Won the Championship #1!!!! 1991: Lost championship game to BU; Overall #2! 1990: Lost championship to BC; Overall #2! 1989: Won the Championship #1!!!! 1988: Lost the championship game to Northeastern, Overall #2!

Just Arriving From Beautiful Colorado

Thank you Laurie for Quilt Square #7. This means we now only need 93 MORE! We love skiing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It is so kid friendly. Love the local hot springs, especially at midnight! The slopes offer excitement for every level of skiing ability and the downtown area is great for strolling and shopping. We never rent a car because the local transportation is so good. Most of all we like Steamboat Springs because we feel safe with the kids, whatever their age. Gee, we're starting to sound like an ad for the local better business bureau & tourism agency but as you can tell, we love Steamboat & Colorado!

Earrings - The New Addiction

I have never been known to be like most ladies. Yes, I love to cook, I love my DH, love children and most of all, my Mom's apple pie. So why am I so different? I do not buy shoes unless absolutely necessary (I hate wearing them!!), I do not rearrange furniture unless it is to temporarily move it to clean and I don't call up girlfriends to chat about whatever friends are supposed to chat about. I always knew I was not the "norm". So to have to admit that in the past year I have really liked buying earrings AND wearing them is big news - to myself. My best effort at wearing earrings was to make sure my DH bought me the very smallest kind - you know the ones you can wear to bed and never have to worry about the post jabbing your skull? And to admit that I never swapped them out unless I lost one or I felt really guilty after wearing them several months and knew I better clean them or I may lose an ear to gangrene! So here's the new addiction. Last year for my birthday, I spotted some "dangly" earrings while we were antiquing with my M&D around Mt. Dora. I talked my DH into buying me three pairs for my birthday. All silver with gems, all reasonably priced - I didn't really care if they were true antiques, I just liked them. I am a new person! I actually change out my earrings daily and look in every store we go to for inexpensive, cute, earrings. Lately I have been on a kick to buy items from individuals rather than large stores, plus homemade by craftspeople - even better. I even stumbled onto a fellow "soon to be Mom by way of adoption" Shannon and found her store on Esty. She makes them at home, trying to raise money to go towards the adoption. I hope you will check her out. Just like I enjoy buying from my SIL's (Discovery Toys) various ventures and BIL(mainegoodies.com), plus supporting our SIL (son-in-law) at Aerial Tribe. My reasoning is quite simple, I rather put my money in their hands, knowing I am helping them with their goals. A very long story just to see the pictures of the new earrings..... I bought three pairs of glass beaded earrings plus received one free pair (blue) came in the deal too!! Go to Bellatini. Also, check out her blog at: Bless Your Heart. How cute & how inexpensive! Wait until you see the homemade purse I bought from another crafty adopting mom......

Quilt Squares-Thank You-Wisconsin & Florida

We have numbers 5 & 6 Quilt Squares! Thank you Krasa Family from Wisconsin and Churches Family from Fernandina Beach.

Let's Hear It For New Jersey

Alyzabeth now has 4 Quilt Squares! Thank you Kogut Family... We are so close. We ONLY NEED 96 more squares! Can you believe it? Neither can we :) So, if you happen to feel the urge to send a little cloth & wish down Florida way, we would lovingly accept it... Please drop us an email at acfm85@comcast.net and we will reply with the mailing address.

CCAI Referral Latest Update

CCAI Welcome To The Traditional Child Referral Program 3/22/2006 We have learned that the CCAA is working on the next set of matches. We believe this group will include the rest of May LID families. CCAI does not have any additional dates for the month of May. At this time we cannot confirm if it will include any June LID. That is all the information we have at this time. We will update this site when more information becomes available.

I am Desperate!! I am Begging!!

I "designed" the wishes card that is to be sent along with the 8 inch fabric square for other's "100 Wishes Quilts". After finalizing the design, I went back to Joann's (fabric store) for additional ribbon. Guess what?? They are completely out of stock! The spools that were there were now all gone and no more to be found at the other local stores. I am desperate! The wishes card is designed around the ribbon and words imprinted on the ribbon. So what does a desperate woman do? I called my Mom - yes, she always comes to the rescue. So after her special trip to her local Joann's (over 1200 miles from me) she comes up empty too. They gave her the same story, none in stock, probably will not be restocked. If anyone sees the ribbon, would you purchase as many spools as you can and mail them to me? The details: It is stocked with the scrapbooking supplies, SKU #7709314, C6 Imagine, pink, 100% polyester, 5/8 inch by 4 feet; 99cents ($ 0.99). I will pay whatever ransom you feel is appropriate. Otherwise I will need to spend some more creative time redeveloping the wishes card. If I do find some more ribbon, I may even post a picture of my card (I am very proud of it - you would be too if you knew how little artsey/crafty talent I have). In the meantime, here's a picture of the ribbon and a great big - Help!!

Name That Movie Revealed

Monty Python's Life of Brian Stan (Eric Idle): "I want to be one." Wise Man #1 (John Cleese): What? Stan: I want to be a woman. From now on, I want you all to call me "Loretta." Wise Man #1: Whaaaaat? Stan: It's my right as a man. Judith (Sue Jones-Davies): Well, why do you want to be "Loretta," Stan? Stan: I want to have babies. Wise Man #1: You want to have BABIES? Stan: It's every man's right to have babies if he wants them. Wise Man #1: But... you can't HAVE babies! Stan: Don't you oppress me! Wise Man #1: I'm not oppressing you, Stan. You haven't got a womb. Where is the fetus going to gestate? You going to keep it in a box? Judith: Here, I've got an idea. Supposed you agree that you can't actually have babies, not having a womb, which is nobody's fault, not even the Romans, but you can have the RIGHT to have babies! Wise Man #3 (Michael Palin): Good idea, Judith. We shall fight the oppressors for your RIGHT to have babies. Brother, Sister. Wise Man #1: What's the point? What's the point of fighting for his right to have babies, when HE CAN'T HAVE BABIES??? Wise Man #3: It's symbolic of our struggle against oppression! Wise Man #1: It's symbolic of his struggle against reality.

Name That Movie

Memorable Movie Lines! “I want to be a woman. From now on, I want you all to call me Loretta." Name that movie...

Recipe of the Week - Strawberry Shortcakes (yummy!!)

Strawberry shortcake is a very simple dessert with three very important components: the biscuit, the strawberries and the whipped cream. My family always made a sweet homemade biscuit for strawberry shortcakes. I have heard that some people use a real cake-like base such as sponge cake or pound cake. I continue my family tradition by using a biscuit for the base “cake”. My shortcut for shortcakes is to use the original Bisquick mix recipe for the shortcake. I use as many fresh strawberries as possible along with fresh blueberries and raspberries. Since most store bought strawberries are not the juiciest, I supplement an inexpensive (store-brand) carton or container of frozen pre-sweetened strawberries. The third component that really makes this the absolutely best dessert is the homemade whipped cream. Cool-whip and the whipped cream in an aerosol type canister are alright in a pinch but try the homemade whipped cream if you have the extra 10 minutes. This is my version of a family summer treat! So far, my summer guests have always raved about my Strawberry Shortcake dessert. This isn’t exactly the same as my childhood memory but it tastes almost as good, so I will indulge myself just the same. Nothing can top picking wild strawberries around the camp "fields" or seeing Papa bring us a pint of strawberries after he and E-E came back from strawberry picking that day. And then the homemade whipped cream my Mom made..... I could eat it all day!!! (maybe my sisters or Mom will correct my imperfect memories with a few comments....). This recipe makes 6 generous servings. Shortcake: 2 1/3 Cups Original Bisquick ½ Cup Milk 3 Tbsp sugar 3 Tbsp butter melted Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Stir all ingredients until soft dough forms. Drop by 6 spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 – 12 minutes or until golden brown. To serve: Split each shortcake in half, fill with strawberries and top with whipped cream. You may make the dough 4 hours in advance. Bake later when needed for dessert. Strawberries: 1 quart washed, ripe, hulled strawberries. 1 package of frozen pre-sweetened strawberries, thawed. Mash fresh strawberries, then mix with thawed strawberries. Keep in refrigerator until serving time; may stay fresh in sealed container for two days in refrigerator. Whipped Cream: I always make this at the last moment; minutes before guest arrive. Always wear an apron or major towel to cover up your front side!! White, whipped cream flecks all over your outfit is a no-no!!! 2 Cups whipping cream, heavy cream 3 Tbsp. white, refined sugar 1 tsp. vanilla Pre-chill the deep bowl and mixing beaters in the freezer. Pour 2 cups whipping cream into chilled bowl. Mix on medium for one minute. Increase speed on mixer to high speed. Once cream begins to thicken, add 3 Tbsp of sugar (or confectioner’s sugar) gradually as you continue beating. Once cream is thick, add 1 tsp. of vanilla. Do not over beat!! Cream becomes butter. Take your time but should be completely whipped in less than 10 minutes. To assemble: Use medium dessert bowl or dessert plate. Place one biscuit base in bowl, place a “ladle” of strawberries onto biscuit. Add the top of the split biscuit. Spoon sweetened whipped cream over top and add fresh blueberries and raspberries if you have some. For a half size portion, I use just the bottom half of the biscuit and omit the top biscuit. Sometimes we skip the main meal and go right for the dessert – it is fruit – right? I add more strawberries on the top biscuit then a double serving of whipped cream (OK, none of us are losing weight around here on that diet!!). Enjoy!!

Happy Birthday

Our granddaughter Kilee celebrated her 2nd birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday Kilee!

Our 3rd Alyzabeth Quilt Square

We love checking the mail. Thank you Stebbins Family for sending us our 3rd quilt square for Alyzabeth!

Alyzabeth, Go Get Bob, We're Going For A Walk

Chances are huge that I'm going to be a SAHD shortly after we get Alyzabeth. That being the case, I've been looking at strollers. That's not funny... And anyway, I'm liking Bob's Revolution Stroller big time. So what do you think? I love that front wheel action. It comes in green, orange and navy. I'm leaning towards the navy but the Citrus Green is pulling on me hard... "Alyzabeth, go get Bob, let's hit the road girl!"

Recipe #2 - Pie Crust

I always loved eating pies: blueberry, apple, pumpkin and rhubarb. My Mom made all these plus lemon meringue from scratch! So I followed in her footsteps and her successes with baking using her very same cookbook. Since I have been making pies for a while, I never thought it was exceptionally difficult. Time consuming, yes, and worth it. During one of our home study visits during the "paper chase" of the adoption, I offered homemade apple pie and our SW commented several times about the homemade flaky crust - my reward! The original recipe is from the Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book my Mom received as a wedding gift in 1955. And as the helpful Betty Crocker tips remind you, please always wash your hands before beginning and remember to take off all rings (placing them in a safe place away from sink drains, garbage disposals and waste basket areas!). Standard Pastry for Two-Crust Pie 2 Cups sifted flour 1 tsp. salt 2/3 Cup shortening (Crisco) ¼ Cup cold water Measure flour into mixing bowl and mix salt through it. With pastry cutter, cut in the shortening until shortening particles are the size of peas (you can use a fork and knife). Sprinkle with water, a Tablespoon (TBSP) at a time; mixing lightly with a fork until all the flour is moistened. Gather dough together with your fingers into a ball, so it cleans the bowl. Roll out onto floured wax paper or wrap tightly and keep in the refrigerator until needed. Divide dough into half. Use slightly larger half and flatten with hand, flipping to other side on floured paper. Roll out with a rolling pin to about 1/8" thick. Pinch broken, ragged edge together as you roll out. Roll until pastry is about 1" diameter larger than the 9" pie plate (place pie plate over circle of dough to make sure dough is large enough). Fold pastry in half and transfer to the pie plate, carefully. Unfold and ease the dough loosely in the pie plate, careful not to stretch. Prepare desired filling and place into pie plate. Roll out other half and transfer on top of the filling. Fold the top pastry edge under the lower pastry. Seal thoroughly by pressing together with fingers on edge of pie plate. Build a high stand-up fluted edge around pie pinching to make flute. Cover edge of piecrust with aluminum foil to prevent over browning. Remove foil for last 15 minutes of baking. Bake per pie recipe. Enjoy!!

Name That Movie Revealed

Jerry Maguire Jerry (Tom Cruise): "Hello. Hello. I'm looking for my wife". Dorothy (Ren'ee Zellweger) looks up, robbed of words. Stunned, she does not move and looks quite apprehensive. Jerry: “Wait. Okay, okay. Okay. If this is where it has to happen, then this is where it has to happen. I'm not letting you get rid of me. How about that? This used to be my specialty. You know, I was good in the living room. They'd send me in there; I'd do it alone. And now I just... I don't know. But tonight, our little project, our company, had a very big night. A very, very big night. But it wasn't complete, wasn't nearly close to being in the same vicinity as complete, because I couldn't share it with you. I couldn't hear your voice, or laugh about it with you. I missed my wife. We live in a cynical world, a cynical, cynical world, and we work in a business of tough competitors. I love you. You complete me. And if I just had”... Dorothy(interrupting): "Shut up. Just shut up.....You had me at hello. You had me at hello".

Our 2nd Fabric Square

Thank You! We recieved our second 100 Wishes fabric square and wanted to share it with you all...

Name That Movie

Memorable Movie Lines! “Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at hello… You had me at hello.” Name that movie… (no fair googling) :)

I Love The Smell Of Orange Blossoms

Spring has sprung. The redbud trees have been out for some time now and the dogwoods all look snowy white. The azaleas are in full bloom along with the orange, lemon and lime trees. Bee's are busy buzzing everywhere doing what it is that only they do best. It's true, Spring has sprung...

100 Good Wishes Quilt

"To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to invite 100 people to contribute a single square patch of cloth. The 100 patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation". Making a quilt from 100 squares of fabric given from others is a tradition I have found out about. Other families adopting all swap 8 inch squares of fabric and include a note or card with wishes for the new child. So I have decided to join the fun. Lizzy will have a new homemade (hopefully) quilt to start her life as a Morgan and may pass it onto her children. Ford and I did the research and viewed many beautiful fabric and wishes on several blogs. The first local couple we met through this adoption process has already started swapping. They even sent me a square & wish knowing I was still far from getting that organized. So here is a picture of Tom & Wendy's donated fabric and wish for our new quilt for Lizzy. They are the first so all I need is 99 more! Hopefully sometime this weekend I will have a prototype of the "wishes" card we will be sending out in return. With Lizzy's room decorated in browns and pinks, you already know what colors I will be using. I am not creative so am hoping I at least design something that can be easily assembled. Wish me luck!!

Family Music Night

Tonight we offer up the sweet sound of Aerial Tribe with the smooth vibe of Sweet Life. Once more, sit back and enjoy our SIL Jesse and his bandmates, Aerial Tribe. Enjoy... Powered by Castpost

Name That Movie Revealed

The Silence Of The Lambs Lecter (Anthony Hopkins): Oh, Officer Starling... do you think you can dissect me with this blunt little tool”? Clarice (Jodie Foster): “No. I only hoped that your knowledge” – Lecter interrupts. Lecter: “You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube. A well-scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste... Good nutrition has given you some length of bone, but you're not more than one generation from poor white trash, are you - Officer Starling...? That accent you're trying so desperately to shed - pure West Virginia. What was your father, dear? Was he a coal miner? Did he stink of the lamp...? And oh, how quickly the boys found you! All those tedious, sticky fumblings in the back seats of cars, while you could only dream of getting out. Getting anywhere. Getting all the way - to the F...B...I”. Clarice: “You see a lot, Doctor”.

1st Recipe - Blueberry Buckle

Blueberry Buckle (the most prized of coffee cakes!!!) For my Lizzy, Being from Maine where blueberries grow wild, we grew up on this recipe my Mom (your Nana) made every summer when we picked blueberries around the Little Sebago Lake camp house. Now, my Dad picks them and they freeze many cups so that we may have blueberry buckle year round – yummy! Original recipe is from the Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book, my Mom received as a wedding gift in 1955. This makes one 9” square pan. We double it for a 13”x9” pan and bake about 45 – 50 minutes, 375 degree oven. ¾ cup sugar ¼ cup soft shortening 1 egg ½ cup milk 2 cups flour 2 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt 2 cups blueberries Crumb Topping Mixture ½ cup sugar 1/3 cup sifted flour ½ tsp. cinnamon ¼ cup soft butter Mix thoroughly the sugar, shortening and egg. Stir in milk. Sift together and then stir in remaining ingredients except blueberries. Carefully blend in well-drained blueberries. Spread batter in greased and floured pan. Sprinkle crumb mixture on top. Bake until a toothpick stuck in center of cake comes out clean. Serve warm from oven for breakfast, brunch or dessert. Made with love every time!

Name That Movie

Memorable Movie Lines! “You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube.” Name that movie…

Kilee's Homemade Birthday Invitation

Check out the invitation we received from Justin and Kelly for our granddaughter Kilee's 2nd birthday party. Kelly made the invitations. Too Cute!

We added the arrow to block out the phone number :)

Baking with Lizzy

There is no way I can top what Ford wrote in his letter to our new-soon-to-be-daughter; it was so sweet and just what I wished I could have written! I will write about something in my comfort zone - food! This is going to be a series of my favorite family recipes to give to Lizzy. At least my posts won't make you cry!! I always loved baking desserts, biscuits, coffee cakes, pies, muffins etc... I love fruit desserts best especially pies and strawberry shortcake, and in the last few years I have made all different types of cheesecakes: New York style, Key Lime, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip..... Love them all. My Mom was very good at teaching us the regular household "chores" and skills that girls of my era were all taught. I really enjoyed baking. Something just made it enjoyable (I don't know if my Mom remembers it the same way - we usually put up as much of a fight as we could when it came to doing any chores). Now we don't eat all those desserts... well maybe a small slice. We usually have them when we have dinner guests or at the holidays. I used to bake every weekend that Ford worked but about five years ago Ford was very fortunate to be reassigned to a "day" job - no more shift work and no more weekends alone for me!! My baking also dropped off dramatically as we discovered we gained weight when over indulging and not working as hard physically (well, it may have something to do with our ages too)!!! I even have some recipes very near and dear to my heart from Ford's family too! My SIL Joan has shared some favorites and my MIL, Joy, is a prolific cooker and baker and has a wealth of recipes she loves to share. I don't think I will ever perfect the fried crappie & hushpuppies; that will be left to DH along with cooking the steaks on the grill! So one of my contributions will be to teach Lizzy to bake. I hope she enjoys it and I think I can sneak in some math lessons too (baking is great for learning fractions). So in the near future, I will post some of the recipes I plan on baking with her and are my family favorites. Many thanks for the recipes from my Mom, Aunt Elsie, Grammie, E-E, the "Aunties", Joy, Joan, Terri, Melissa, Hilary and Charlotte. They are all my baking inspiration!

Family Music Night

Tonight we present an instrumental track written, arranged and performed by our SIL Jesse. His contemporary jazz sound is sure to please. Enjoy... Powered by Castpost

#6 Of 10 Reasons Why It's Great To Have Older Parents

By pooling our purchases of Pampers and Depends we qualify for the bulk discount rate!