The Royal Wedding

Okay, I admit it, I have been enraptured by the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. I love the romance of it all and all the fanfare surrounding it. It's not something that happens very often, and it was a treat. These past couple of months have been so full of bad news it was wonderful to focus on something like a happy wedding like this.

The pictures are out, and you can go see them here http://bit.ly/ltCFFa but I've posted a few of my favorites. It really and truly was a fairy tale. The beautiful girl won the prince's heart and lived happily ever after. At least I hope they do!

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

In honor of today’s Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton -- a long, happy and loving marriage!


Remember to build each other up, to strengthen and sustain, to keep companionship lovely and alive. Remember dignity and respect; understanding; not expecting perfection; a sense of humor and a sense of what is sacred and serious; common purposes, common convictions, and the character to stay with a bargain, to keep a covenant - in these are the making of a good and solid marriage.
Richard L. Evans

Something To Look Forward To

Stan made our hotel reservations for vacation last night and it has all of us just so jazzed! We're going up to spend some time in South Dakota in August and we can hardly wait! Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, the Black Hills, Devil's Tower, Custer State Park, a wild horse park, water parks, museums, and on and on. Even though we won't be going very far away, it's far enough that it already feels like a grand adventure. I haven't been to see Mt. Rushmore since I was a kid and it should be a wonderful experience to be there with my husband and sons.

There's also something about having something like this to look forward to. The anticipation of an experience is almost as wonderful as the experience itself.  We've already spent time online looking at all the things there are to do there.  Places to see, places to eat, planning to get some new summer togs; it all adds up to the summertime extravaganza!

With AJ going to summer school our trip will be later than we usually would be going, but maybe it won't be as crowded as it might be.  Kevin was saying I should get some classic vacation pictures, with my camera around my neck and sunscreen on my nose.  Sounds too funny and irresistable to not get a picture or two like that.  If I do I'll be sure to post it here.  And I hope you all plan something fun for this summer too!

Warm Weather Meal

Now that the warmer weather is (hopefully) on it's way, it's time to trot out the recipes that fit the season.  This is a family favorite, and of our friends as well. In fact, when my best friend got married, her husband to me be asked me to make it for their reception! It's a nice meal on a warm summer day.

TACO SALAD

 

Meat Sauce:

1 pound ground beef

1 small onion, diced

1 small can tomato sauce

1 envelope taco seasoning

¾ cup water

 

Salad:

1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 cups shredded cheese

1 can black olives

2 small tomatoes, chopped

2 cups tortilla chips, crushed

Brown ground beef and onion until onion is translucent and beef is browned. Add tomato sauce, taco seasoning and water. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.

Place salad ingredients into a large bowl. Add meat sauce and toss. Serve along with remaining chips, or a nice loaf of French bread. It’s a meal all by itself!

A Thought for the Easter Weekend

In our hour of deepest sorrow, we can receive profound peace from the words of the angel that first Easter morning, “He is not here: for he is risen.”

As one of His special witnesses on earth today, this glorious Easter Sunday, I declare that this is true, in His sacred name -- even the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior -- amen.

Thomas S. Monson, President
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

What Are Ya Gonna Do?

There's been a lot of chatter in the media lately about gas prices hitting and going over $4 a gallon. In nine states it's already over that. Here in Colorado it's creeping slowly towards it and I'm not sure what the next step is going to be as far as the family budget goes.

Not only are gas prices rising, but food prices are getting crazy. I used to be able to buy a bag a chicken breasts at Sam's Club or Costco for about $10 a bag, and it's now $23. Same thing for things like peanut butter, pasta, bread, soup, cereal ... it's all skyrocketing at a time when there's no where else to cut. Monthly bills are one area it's difficult to manage. The only place it seems cutting back is an option is at the grocery store and with discretionary spending.

Personally, I've already cut our grocery budget to $75 a week, and sometimes I can't do it for that! The boys share one car to go to school, but college campuses aren't exactly in the neighborhood and getting to school four days a week takes a lot of gas. We're now up to $90 a week with two cars and I'm afraid that isn't going to be satisfactory for much longer.

Of course, the money coming in to take care of these inflating costs is not rising. I know many people are taking pay cuts just to be able to keep their jobs. My boys go out on interviews for jobs at pet stores, fast food joints, etc. and are competing with men in their 30s and 40s who are married with children.

I don't know. The financial experts keeps saying the recession is over. I'm not sure where they're looking, but it definitely isn't in my house!

The Signs Are There!

The signs are there all right, I'm getting older. Apparently not better either, just more frazzled. Sometimes the whole Benjamin Buttons idea doesn't seem so bad. I feel as if I'm falling apart lately.

Last night I ate something that absolutely didn't agree with me and I was suffering all night long. About 2:00 am Stan went and got me some medicine so that I could finally sleep, I was so miserable. It worked, but it also resulted in my sleeping in too late to make it to our 8:30 am church time.

"No problem!" I thought, I'll just go for the last two hours. All was good, or so I thought. I'd been doing laundry the day before and hadn't yet gotten to my whites, but knew I had some undergarments in my room. Wrong! What I had was instead of a pair of undergarments, I had two tops. Now, in a pinch I might be brave enough to go out minus my top, but I'm definitely not going out without a bottom on!

I forgot to get a chicken out of the freezer last night and tried to quick thaw one today. The result was I got frostbite cutting up that chicken which is now in the oven.  I hope I get my act together soon. Gosh, if I'm like this now, what'll it be like when I'm in my 70s!

Hah! There's always something to look forward too, isn't there?

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.

Rita Rudner

BBQ Season is Coming!

That's right! Time to start firing up the barbecues and getting into the warmer weather! I love this time of year, when it stay light later and the days are warming up. Of course, here in Colorado it can also mean storms when you least expect them, but you can always fire up the grill to have a fun time.

I'm sharing a great recipe our family loves for BBQs. This is a tasty side dish that accompanies pork and chicken really well.  It replaces potatoes, rice and bread, and is a little different than most side dishes. I think if you try it you'll like it too!

CORN PUDDING

1 can whole kernel corn, undrained
1 can cream style corn
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
2 sticks butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. sour cream

Melt butter. Combine with beaten eggs, corns and cornbread mix; add sour cream and blend until mixed. Pour into ungreased 13 x 9 inch dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour or until golden on top.

Can be made ahead; covered and refrigerated. Remove from refrigerator and bake as above.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

Thomas Edison
1847-1931

Monday, Monday

When I was a kid I hated Mondays. Mondays meant back to school. I liked school, but I liked not going to school better, so when Sunday evening rolled around I started to get in a funk. I'm old enough that Sunday night meant The Ed Sullivan Show. Plate spinners, the Beatles, Toto Gigo, the lot. I loved that show and looked forward to it every week. But after watching good ol' Ed I had to go to bed, so then I started to hate him too.

Enough time has passed that I like Monday's now. I like the routine of Monday thru Friday. Getting up, getting things done. I'm doing a major rewrite on my next novel which is not one of my favorite things, but now that I'm sleeping properly again I'm getting back into getting some work done and it feels pretty darned good!

In spite of that, for some darned reason I still hate Sunday evenings. Maybe it's because my husband is working and it'd be nice to have Sundays as family time. But I really think it's Ed Sullivan's fault.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
Charles R. Swindoll
1934 -