Playing with Food

You know how you were raised to never play with food.  Well, my little sister invited me over to play with food yesterday.  Well, it was more like, "create" with food.  Her friend was having a camping themed party and my sister thought it would be fun to put together some candies that remind you of camping.

So, we had hot dogs,

Circus peanuts, caramel candies,
yellow icing and green gummies.

and hamburgers,

Vanilla wafers, Keebler grasshopper
cookies (like Girl Scout Thin Mints)
yellow, red and green icing.

and bacon and eggs.  

Pretzel sticks, white chocolate, yellow M&M

All for the sweet tooth!!  Oh, and of course, mini tootsie rolls for the campfire logs. Didn't take long, and it made a cute tray.

And I got to spend a little time with my little sis.

Sunshine and Gratitude

Met one of my bestest friends for breakfast this morning.  It's been two months since we've seen each other.  Way too long.  We typically take a couple hours to catch up before we head our separate ways.  And I think we both feel more fulfilled when we part.  It's like that with good friends. 

I was almost moved to tears of gratitude this morning on my way to meet her. I looked up and saw a plane landing (I live near O'Hare International Airport) and its path crossed in front of the sun. It was a beautiful sight; one that I wasn't able to capture in a photo, but the image made me realize how blessed my life is.  Not sure what that has to do with a plane.  I just know that I was near tears.  I love this life. 



I captured this just shortly after seeing
the plane cross in front of it.

We had a family barbeque last weekend.  Most of my sibs and their families were there.  My sister-in-law's aunt also came and I just love this picture of Ava and my daughter talking to Auntie Josie. 

And then my absolute favorite human subjects when it comes to taking pictures are my three grandkids.  Such a happy bunch!

No fear in this little one! 
(I need to learn a lesson from her!)



Always one clown in the bunch! 
At 4 1/2 years old, he's chosen to take on that role!
(Maybe I should learn a lesson from this one, too!!)

 I've been reading a book authored by one of my blogging buddies.  Tracy Spaine over at My Thoughtful Spot wrote a book called Life through the Eyes of a Hurricane Doggie-Dog.  My favorite part is that each chapter ends with "I love this life."  Haven't finished the book yet, but I'm liking what I read so far. 

So that's a little bit of what was going on in my life this week.  Oh, and the new food thing...I tried two different dips.  Couldn't bring myself to try the avocado dip my son made (yeah, that's a visual thing about putting that color green in my mouth).  But of the dips I tried, I liked one, not the other.  Hey cut me some slack, people.  I'm trying!!  And I tried some German Potato Salad that my sister made and loved it.  Not too vinegary. 

Okay, that's all for now.  Hope your weekend has some sunshine in it!! And a little bit of cool weather.  And that you can wrap up this weekend by thinking, "I love this life."

Happy 4th of July!

We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  Thomas Jefferson

"Life without liberty is like a body without spirit."  Kahlil Gibran

"Liberty, taking the word in its concrete sense, consists in the ability to choose."  Simone Weil

"We believe, as our founders did, that the 'pursuit of happiness' depends upon individual liberty; and individual liberty requires limited government." Paul Ryan

Have a wonderfully safe Independence Day!!