Wednesday, February 29, 2012

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

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Dressing Boys














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

Monday, February 27, 2012

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





Sunday, February 26, 2012

a Sunday post

This sums up my Lenten season.


Petie

Thursday, February 23, 2012

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



Tuesday, February 21, 2012

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



Tuesday, February 14, 2012

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

Sunday, February 12, 2012

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

Friday, February 10, 2012

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




Thursday, February 9, 2012

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

Monday, February 6, 2012

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

Sunday, February 5, 2012

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


Thursday, February 2, 2012

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

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Let them eat Cake...












I love cake...
anytime, anywhere
Any party that serves a homemade cake,
elevates that party to Rock Star status
in my opinion.

And what about that first cake?
Fluffy white cake
Don't you just love the name?

Petie