Our most recent snowbird road trip ended successfully in Fort Lauderdale. (Thank God!) We have our “getting settled” routine down to a science. We actually stopped to pick up our DVR’s at Comcast on our way into town. That way Peepaw could take care of the TVs and the “technical stuff” while I unpacked our […]
Fried Chicken For Christmas Dinner? Yes Please!!!
Who ever heard of serving fried chicken for Christmas dinner? Our son Nick likes to “think outside the box” when he plans their annual Christmas dinner for a crowd. One year he and wife Sarah had a lasagna cook-off. (They each made a big pan of their favorite lasagna. Then they collected votes from all […]
Carmel Christkindlmarkt – A New Holiday Family Tradition
Have you ever heard of a Christkindlmarkt? I guess my German ancestors knew a thing or two about winter celebrations, and the city of Carmel, Indiana held their first ever event last December. I had no idea what it was, or what to expect, so I did a little research before we hopped in the car […]
Eggs Benedict Casserole…With A Sausage “Twist”
Our Indy son Nick is a great cook, but when I arrive for a visit I like to give him a break in the kitchen. But as hard as I tried, one morning several days before Christmas he beat me to the kitchen and he served up a creation that will become a “go to” […]
December In Iowa…Filled With JOY But A Few Tears Too…
December is a month filled with transitions. It’s a time to celebrate my birthday…for another year. (Thank God.) And it’s time to pack for winter adventures. But it’s also time to say goodbye to our Iowa grandkids for our long absence. And that is a bitter pill to swallow. Don’t get me wrong. We LOVE […]
Why I Write This Blog…And What It Means To Me
(Written January 16, 2018) Every Day Is A Gift The older I get, the faster each year seems to pass. And the more grateful I am for each and every day. In fact, my blog has become even more important to me with every passing year. And after losing a dear friend in a tragic […]
Life Is Not A Dress Rehearsal…A Firsthand Reminder
Life has a way of reminding us how fragile and precious it is. Two days ago one of our best friends arrived from the frigid North and we were so glad to welcome her back to our Florida paradise once again. Linda has been a fixture here forever! You see, HER parents bought a condo […]
A Day Spent With My Foodie Friend…And Our Five Course Autumn Harvest Dinner
A Five Course Autumn Harvest Dinner? No sweat! I simply joined forces with a great “Foodie Friend” to make it happen. And boy…did it happen! Earlier this Autumn I had the privilege of spending a day cooking with Jim in his well equipped kitchen in Kalona, Iowa. (I was like a kid in a candy […]
Emma’s Recipe For A Perfect Thanksgiving – From A Grandchild’s Perspective
Yesterday I finally got around to sorting papers and cleaning out my office files, and I stumbled across this recipe for a perfect Thanksgiving. And the recipe brought tears to my eyes. Our oldest granddaughter Emma brought this recipe to me last year when their family drove “over the river and through the woods” to […]
Parmesan Cheese Lids Make Spill Proof Cups
When a little girl asks for a bedtime drink to take to her room…this is a GREAT way to oblige! Simply save the lids from empty Parmesan cheese containers, then wash, and screw one onto a Mason jar filled with ice water. Snap open the lid and insert a straw… Voila! A perfect drink cup that […]