Wordless Wednesday

It's All Worth It

It's the end of another school year for me. I don't know who is happier...my students or me! Actually it was a pretty good year and I will miss some, if not most of my class.

A few weeks ago my favorite blogs were all over Teacher Appreciation Day/Week sharing really cute gift ideas.  I was feeling a little sorry for myself. I didn't get a single thing. Not even a verbal thank you. Now you all know that we teachers are not in this profession for the gifts but it still is nice to be appreciated.

Then came the last day of school and this note.

What can I say...it's the little things like this that make it all worth it! (and better than any gift!) If you haven't thanked your child's teacher there is still time. A little note would surely brighten his/her day!

P.S. In her yearbook I had written: Roses are Red

                                                          Violets are Blue

                                                          Happy Summer

                                                                       To a sweet girl like you!

Memorial Day

Here in the U.S., we will be observing Memorial Day on Monday. Though an American holiday, we want to thank members of the armed forces and their families worldwide for their service and sacrifices.

As President Barack Obama stated in his Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery last year, "Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay. But we can honor their sacrifice, and we must. We must honor it in our own lives by holding their memories close to our hearts, and heeding the example they set."

It's hard to remember that Memorial Day is a day of reverence and remembrance what with all the adds for sales this weekend. (Most children think it's the day the pools open.) So sometimes we need reminders. Tomorrow at 3 p.m. local time A National Moment of Remembrance will be observed.  Americans are asked to pause for a moment to remember service personnel who died. By participating in the moment you are helping to reclaim Memorial Day as a day to honor those who died in service.

I'll be remembering family members that served in WWII and the Vietnam War who have passed on. How about you?

Wordless Wednesday

May be a weed...but up close quite pretty!

Rain, Rain Don't Go Away!

We are finally getting much needed rain. My flowers all have their heads up trying to catch every last drop. It has been very hot and humid here this past week--92 on Friday! So here is an idea to keep cool. How about a White Sangria recipe?


Lemon Herb White Sangria
Iowa State Fair winning recipe by Jo Ellen Whitney

2 bottles (1.5 liters) Reisling or Gewurtztraminer
1/2 cup macerated lemon balm leaves
1/4 cup macerated lemon verbena leaves
2 tbsp. macerated orange mint leaves
2 oranges, coarsely chopped
1 lemon, coarsely chopped
1 lime, coarsely chopped

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and allow to steep overnight in the refrigerator. Strain and serve with frozen lemon, lime, orange, and herb garnish. Super-yummy, cooling, and SO delicious! enjoy!

Now if you are not an "herb" person and don't have access to the lemon balm, verbena or mint I bet the rest of the ingredients would still be delicious. I also think adding other fruit like strawberries, melon balls or grapes would be fun too. (I like my lemons and limes sliced, not chopped.) This would be great to sip on while you are giving yourself a clay mask facial or treating your feet to some extra attention. Gathered From The Garden has some great products to help you pamper yourself!

Try the Sangria and let us know how it turned out.

Wordless Wednesday

Enjoying a beer and peanuts on the patio. Summer at last?

Rhubarb Signals Summer

Here in MN when the rhubarb is ready to pick we know summer is here. Today it is a lovely 80 degrees so I knew it is time to bake hubby's favorite rhubarb dessert! (I'm not such a big fan of rhubarb.)It's very easy and doesn't use too many ingredients.

                          


                         Start with enough chopped rhubarb to fill the bottom of the pan.

                   Then you mix one egg,  sugar and  flour.  Put that mixture on top of the rhubarb.

The next layer is just a white cake mix straight from the box.

On top of that place little pats of butter. (Everything's better with butter!) Last cover the whole thing with some water and bake.  So easy! Actually the hardest part was pulling and chopping the rhubarb (and that really wasn't hard!).

                                                              Bake it for 50 minutes.

                                                          Wait for it to cool off a little.

Finally ready to eat!  Now if you really want to make it perfect, hubby says to top it off with Cool Whip or vanilla ice cream. Delish! (I'll have to take his word for it.)


By the way, I only made a small pan because I'm not helping to eat it. The recipe below is for a 9X13 pan. Enough to share with others. Something that doesn't happen around here.

Quick Rhubarb Dessert

6 cups chopped rhubarb                          1 white or yellow cake mix  ( I used our local brand since it was just going on top.)
2 cups sugar                                             3/4 cup butter or margarine (1 1/2 sticks)
1 egg                                                        1/2 cup water
4 T. flour                                                 

Put diced rhubarb in lightly greased 9 X 13 inch pan.  Mix sugar, egg and flour and spread over rhubarb. Sprinkle cake mix on top of
sugar mixture. Slice butter over cake mix. Pour water over all.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.