The Sweetest Gift

I don't know why but the moon is in my thoughts lately so I'm linking to Words To Live By with a post I did earlier this week. Such a beautiful song - it's worth turning your sound up.

"The moon is brighter since the barn burned" Matsuo Basho
Looking on the bright side!

This is for my son Brandon - carrying the light of the moon. Love Mom and Dad

Quietly while you were asleep
The moon and I were talking
I asked that she'd always keep you protected

She promised you her light
That you so gracefully carry
You bring your light and shine like morning

And then the wind pulls the clouds across the moon
Your light fills the darkest room
And I can see the miracle
That keeps us from falling

She promised all the sweetest gifts
That only the heaven's could bestow
You bring your light and shine like morning

And as you so gracefully give
Her light as long as you live
I'll always remember this moment

The Pink Miracle Party

Be a part of the inspiring story of how Kelee Katillac's desire to help a chemo patient and Guideposts Magazine along with Pink Saturday Bloggers made a  difference in one woman's struggle through cancer. 

Joining: Beverly at How Sweet The Sound and Kellee at Katillac Shack and Sherry at Country Wings in Phoenix for The Miracle Party.  For each comment left here and at Beverly's, Sherry's  and Kelee's $1 is donated for a similar cause.  Please leave a short comment – you can make a difference. 

Celebrating Birthdays

Once more it's time for Pink Saturday – and once more I'm having to dig a bit more to find "pink".  This little candle set is so adorable and just begging to be featured on Pink Saturday.

Each of the twelve members of this circus troupe holds a birthday candle.  The "cake" is an adorable jewelry box from Target.

   

The "cake" is an adorable jewelry box from Target.

I was lucky enough to find two of these sets and put both in my Etsy Store. 

My favorite of the bunch?  The adorable little girl.  I think these would be so cute for any birthday party but especially for a boy.  It's so hard to find cute things for a "boy cake" and a circus theme is so in right now.

For Pink Saturday Beverly at How Sweet The Sound has asked us to link to another blog.  Today I'm linking to my friend LaVerne who celebrated her birthday this week.  Stop by and wish her a Happy Birthday.  LaVerne and I – along with our friend Barbara went for makeovers this week – don't we look fabulous???

Lucky for me I had my camera!

xoxo Nancy

Today I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday,  Claudia at Dipity Rd for Friday Finding Beauty and Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday.

Saints, Angels and Intercession

"Anyone can pray for others and step in with God on their behalf. But some people are gifted at intercession. They have an ear and a passion for the needs of others, and take them before God even when those other people reject God. An intercessor's heart is touched for those in need, not so much on their side as by their side and on their behalf. They have a burden for that person. They persevere. They let the Spirit give them comfort about it, instead of worrying. And when word of results comes, they celebrate and are happy about it."
For Georgia - I wish I knew how to find her...and thank her again.  She was the "intercessor" and angel during the final months of my sister's life.  Four years later the memory of her is as comforting now as she was then.  Sending a silent blessing across the miles to her.   I hope you have a "Georgia" in your life when you most need her.
Joining Tracey at Notes From A Cottage Industry for Sunday Words To Live By.

Crea Loves Pink

Last April I meant to post this for Pink Saturday.  We took our granddaughter to see Disney on Ice… and then I lost the pics on my computer!  Now they're found and isn't this perfect for a gal who loves pink?

She had to have a pink snowcone.  (Hello??? What happened to a .99 snowcone or maybe a 3.00 snowcone?  Nope – they jumped right to twelve bucks!  Of course you get this little mug to take home and along with

this little buttercup hat!  A ripoff? Probably but a cute Pink ripoff!  I guess sometimes Pink is just worth it.

You know what amazed me?  Families with 4 and  5 kids – who got popcorn $5, snowcones $12, and cotton candy $7! For each kid.  Tickets on cheap night $15, Parking $10. , add in some toys and a few bottles of water or a drink and it's like close to $400 for the evening.  How do young families do that?  Oh well – they say money spent on experiences brings more happiness than on material things.  Do you guys with young families spend that much?  Just curious and maybe a bit tight!  xoxo Nancy

Join Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday where you'll find blogs with more pinkness and less whining!

Moonflowers

You've all probably seen Moonflowers before – I had only seen the small vine type before my neighbor gave me these along with some seeds.

You aren't supposed to be able to cut them but I did and they were so pretty for a whole day.

Here's mine a year later.  See the pods -

at dusk they just slowly start to open and then POP!

They put on quite the show…

only until the next morning and then…

gone!  Until that evening and the whole cycle begins again!

I'm joining Claudia at Dipity Rd for Friday Finding Beauty and

Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

Horchata

I hate, hate, hate the heat – good gosh – it's even an anagram! How fitting.  Recently I came out of my cave and discovered Horchata.  Oh my gosh – it's the drink of the gods.  It's the most soothing, cooling drink I've ever had.  I grew up on the border and somehow never noticed that it was everywhere.  In a little Mexican restaurant recently I saw this…

and the owner gave me a sample and he might as well have given me heroin!  So I'm sharing this recipe with you – there are dozens on line.

 

Ingredients:
1 cup long grain rice, rinsed
2 quarts water
1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
1/2 cup white sugar
Directions:
1.     In a large saucepan, combine rice, water and cinnamon stick. Set aside for 3 hours.
2.     After 3 hours, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Allow to cool.
3.     Puree rice mixture in a blender until smooth. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine sieve. Flavor with vanilla and sugar to taste. Chill, and serve over ice.

Okay…did you do that and it tasted like crap? Me too!    So do what I did and go to Walmart and get this on the Mexican Foods Aisle.

 

To add a few extra calories and deliciousness here's my recipe:

6 cups water

1 can evaporated milk

 

3/4 cup mix. 

Stir, chill, pour over ice and try to drink just one!

Even my grandchildren loved it so you know it's good.  xoxo Nancy

Words To Live By

Joining Tracey at Notes From A Cottage Industry for Words To Live By.

Don't you just love this quote?!!  xoxo Nancy

Pink Saturday

Okay – I'm cheating a little today but this is my favorite rooster – along with his hen and baby chicks.  They are sooo old and the old guy must have been in a cock fight because he's missing an eye!  I bought these at an auction after wanting some like these for years. (Ack – someone will google cock fight and my blog will show up!)

Anyway, I'd see these in the yards of old farm houses and to me they were so appealing with all their chippy paint and weathered imperfections.  So when one day I was at an auction at an old house I waited all day for these to come up.  I just held up my paddle and finally everyone else stopped bidding.

They live by my back gate now and hopefully when it cools off I'll have a pretty flower bed to set them in.   Until then..

Here's my nod to Pink Saturday with just a couple of pink flowers!  Hop on down to my last post to join the Rooster Party.  I'm joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound – be sure and visit her and all the other blogs…who probably have a lot more pink than me!

xoxo Nancy

Rooster Party!!!

Barb!  Thank you so much for all your work putting our Rooster Party together.  Over at her Bella Vista Blog you'll find a list of a whole bunch of…Rooster Collectors.  Soooo…welcome to -

I thought we might as well have lunch in my kitchen – just a few of my roosters are invited – but all of you blogging chics are expected!  (Gosh it looks like my curtain is falling down but it's a lampshade optical illusion!)

We'll use some large napkins and I've got table favors!  A zipper pin and in the little cone?  The scrabble letters of your name!   One for you…..

and one for me!

Some old, old chippy salt and pepper shakers and one of my favorite vases for a centerpiece.

 

Are these just the most perfect chairs for our Rooster lunch?  I want to paint them but can't decide what color?  White? black? red?  Any suggestions.

How about this for a seat cover – my favorite dish towel!

 

So glad that you stopped by and enjoy the rest of the Rooster Party.  I'm  going to have a cup of coffee and

work on my post for Pink Saturday tomorrow!  I'll have my mostest favoritest Roosters of all so stop back by!

I'm also joining Claudia at Dipity Rd for Friday Finding Beauty.

Cindy of My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.