Dressing Girls

JCrew kids

All the above outfits are from JCrew kids.

I wish they made the shoes in women's sizes.

 How cute is that ruffled top and dress?

and every girl needs a 

Wonderful World of Fashion 

drawing book in their Easter basket.

Don't you agree?

Petie

Dressing Boys

JCrew 

Let's be honest.

Dressing little boys is not nearly as much fun,

as dressing little girls.

But if money is no object,

shopping at JCrew in the kids section makes it fun.

How cute is that denim shirt with the pocket missing?

and the tennis shoes,

are

Jack Purcell's.

I love Jack Purcell tennis shoes.

I own three pair.

My favorite tennis shoe, of all time.

Except for the Adidas I wore when I was dating my hubby.

He owned a pair, and I think I instantly fell in love with him

because of his tennis shoes (not really, but close).

That and he made me laugh all the time.

I bought myself a pair and loved those shoes.

What memories...

Where do you shop for kids?

Petie

My Little Farmer

His daddy wanted a few pics

of his son out in the lettuce fields.

I think they are adorable with his big brown eyes,

just like his mommy's
and 
would you look at those beautiful rows of lettuce?
Nice job Mike.

Petie

a Sunday post

This sums up my Lenten season.

Petie

Friday, Friday, Friday

Don't you just love this belt?

and all the bracelets?

You can never have to many turquoise bracelets.

The belt is definitely going on my wish list.

You can find the belt in the Whispering Pines catalog.

Petie

Instagram on Fat Tuesday

Day 22

a spray painted red cross that hangs

in the office

Day 23

an Indian rug given to me by my Mom and Dad

over an old wool blanket

that was made from my Dad's wool

Day 24

my cement rooster and chicken

from my postal carrying days

It's only taken me almost 2 months to complete

the 28 day challenge...

not bad

for someone who has always left the picture taking

to her hubby...

he really is the master of everything.

Petie

L O V E

I LOVE being a Mother

I LOVE cooking

I LOVE that I have been with the same guy

for 36 years

I LOVE wearing aprons

I LOVE having my kids home even if they

are fighting all the time

I LOVE hot cocoa, chocolate and peanut butter

I LOVE God, Mary and all the Saints

I LOVE my husband who makes me laugh all the time

I LOVE having a dwarf to hang out with

I LOVE Hank's big eyes

I LOVE the Antique Roadshow and watching it with my hubby

Who need's flowers when you have

this much love in your life?

 Petie

Instagram on Monday

Day 17

chocolate chip cookies I made for my hubby

Day 18

me and Hank

I just can't get enough

Day 19

succulents planted in used tomato paste cans

Day 20

eating his first carrot

more like sucking on his first carrot

no baby food for this kid

Day 21

i have no idea what happened to this photo

but its a bowl of sliced apples

to go in a pie

Happy Monday,

Petie

Against Overwhelming Odds

via I can't remember

You,

my loving savior,

foresaw in me the propensity I had to go astray.

In Your faithfulness and wisdom and goodness,

in Your undying grace and love,

You led me through this sea of turmoil in my soul,

against overwhelming winds and overwhelming tides,

against overwhelming odds,

that You could once again prove to me,

that You are my only Savior,

there is none but You.
-unknown

Believe me, when I say,

I am always going astray.

Its a good thing for me,

I have a Savior,

 always watching out for me in His

undying grace and love.

Petie

Lately

via tumbler

Lately.

Arizona weather in February is beautiful.

Sandals and t-shirts.

Still drinking coffee.

A trip to Bakersfield.

Tanning.

Shopping.

Eating the best pizza in town.

Planting succulents and cacti.

Two Seesters Cafe next week.

Fun Fun Fun.

Winter fading into Spring.

Spring, ugh.

The possibility of a coastal job.

Crossing my fingers.

Saying Hail Mary's.

St. Jude novena.

I love the beach.

Baking a chocolate cake.

Baking brownies.

Making taco popcorn.

Recovering.

So tired.

Our Country.

Praying.

It is grave indeed.

Where is our Mr. Darcy to the rescue?

A new baby in the family.

More later.

The pics have nothing to do with the post.

I love the outfit in the first pic.

But would try to find a sleeve that covers my upper arms.

 The kitchen reminded me of the kitchen

at my Grandfather's ranch house near

Wickenburg, Arizona.

And the bras, well, I thought they were pretty.

Petie

a pie recipe and a chef story

My daughter, kindly told me,

 that I do not post enough recipes on the blog.

She might of thrown in something about being a fabulous cook.

I told her that she has me mixed up with somebody else.

Everything I have learned about cooking,

is from the women in my life.

My mother,

 my SIL,

my MIL,

Grandma Rosie,

 a few women who worked at a  place called the Sheep Camp Restaurant,

one lady especially,

Joyce,

taught me everything I needed to know about baking.

And then there were the two sisters,

Carmella and Anna,

who not only peaked my interest in cooking and baking,

but peaked my interest in entertaining guests with food.

I wanted to be just like them when I grew up.

I need to include Martha Stewart

on this list.

I don't think I ever missed one of her shows, magazines, or books.

A few years ago,

I worked at a tiny little restaurant in Phoenix,

Ruby Beets.

It was owned by a lady named Karen,

she was an ER nurse,

who decided to attend culinary school in Phoenix.

This woman knew what food should taste like.

She had a knack for making everything taste divine.

Thank you to all the great CHEFS in my life.

Since this is the LOVE month,

you must make this pie for your VALENTINE.

It is a simple pie to make,

but so good...

Cherry Cream Cheese Pie

1 8 ounce package of cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup of powdered sugar

lemon juice from 1 whole lemon

1 carton of whipping cream (1/2 pint)

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 baked pie crust

1 can cherry pie filling

In a stand mixer,

beat the whip cream and 1/4 cup powdered sugar until

you have soft to medium peaks. 

Set aside in a large bowl.

In the same bowl that you beat the whip cream in,

(you do not have to wash the bowl)

add the cream cheese, 1 cup of powdered sugar, and

the lemon juice.

Beat this mixture until fluffy.

Fold this mixture into the whipping cream mixture

until blended.

Do not beat this mixture.

Put in your baked pie crust and top with

the can of cherry pie filling.

Refrigerate before serving.

Happy Valentine's Day,

Petie

Instagram photos

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16


I have no idea where I am at with the 30 day

picture taking thing a ma jig...

So here are three more pictures that I took in

January 2012.

Petie

A Sunday Post

"Everybody wants to be on the mountaintop,

 but if you’ll remember,

 mountaintops are rocky and cold.

 There is no growth on the top of a mountain.

 Sure, the view is great, but what’s a view for?

A view just gives us a glimpse of our next destination,

 our next target.

 But to hit that target, we must come off the mountain,

 go through the valley,

 and begin to climb the next slope.

 It is in the valley that we slog through the lush grass and rich soil,

 learning

 and becoming what enables us to summit life’s next peak."

- Andy Andrews

via flower patch farmgirl 

Petie

The Best Chocolate Cake Ever

The Best Chocolate Cake Ever

1 box deluxe devil's food cake mix

1 cup water

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350

Grease pan

Mix all ingredients on low for 1 minute, scrape bowl, mix on medium

for another 2 minutes

Pour batter into a 9 X 15  pan

Bake for 30-35 min

Frosting

12 ounce chocolate

1 cup sour cream

Melt the chocolate over simmering water until smooth.

Let cool to room temperature.

Whisk 1 cup sour cream into cooled melted chocolate.

Frost cake.

This cake is nothing but pure deliciousness.

It is so moist,

it will fall apart when you cut it.

Enjoy...

Petie