Sunday, August 21, 2011

Our New Puppy Suzie Q




Suzie is a Borador

A Borador is party border collie and part labrador. Her Daddy was a chocolate lab (huge) and her mommy was a border collie.

We are so happy to have added this cutie to our home. She sure is a bundle of joy!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Strawberry Cheesecake Pie

Strawberry Cheesecake Pie

2 Cups sliced fresh strawberries
1/4 cup chopped almonds-toasted
1 TBSP sugar
9 inch Graham cracker crust-(made my own)
1 (8oz.) package cream cheese softened
2 cups cold milk, divided
1 (3.4oz.) package instant vanilla pudding (I used french vanilla)
In a bowl, combine strawberries, almonds and sugar. Pour into prepared crust. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth; gradually add 1/2 cup milk. Add pudding mix (dry powder) and remaining milk. Beat for one minute or until blended; pour over strawberries, cover and refrigerate 2 hours or until set.
I added strawberries on top for decoration.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Family Ties

On Monday I had the privilege to head up to Cadillac to visit with a couple of Aunts of mine in between yard work at two houses that we are trying to sell of my Mom's estate.

My Aunt Carol (Sis) is in town from Arizona for a couple months and I have not seen her in quite a while.  We met up at my Aunt Jan's house and we went out to lunch, for a drive and they showed me where they grew up and then went out for ice cream. After that, we headed back to Aunt Jan's house and sat outside in the yard and had a great time catching up. Good memories and lots of laughs.

Aunt Jan and I were sitting on her swing and I noticed Aunt Sis trying to take a picture of us. Aunt Jan was crazy in a story and I leaned into her shoulder for the picture and Aunt Jan looked at me like , what the heck-did she pass out? So, there was a bunch of laughs about that too.

Aunt Sis, Aunt Jan and Me

When I look at these lovely ladies, I see Grandma Myrt and Mom in them. I can see how very much there are similarities of everyone. Facial expressions, looks, voices and yet all are different in their own way.

It was nice to hear how they grew up and life happened. How we all got to where we are today and the paths that came our way and how we adapted to and grabbed hold of life.

No matter what road we choose, no matter who our family and friends are, it is all there because of God and we have a great life. Sometimes we wish things were different and maybe easier, but no one would be where they are today if they didn't choose the path that they took. I am thankful for my life and all who are in it.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Sadie Girl


My beautiful Sadie Girl!
May 2006-August 8, 2011

Sadie was such a big part of the family. I remember picking her up when she was just a few months old and I picked her because she was a girl and because she was so playful. She was such a cutie!

Here she is with Amanda and Shawn.

Sadie loved it when I would turn on the hose and she would come and drink out of it like biting at it. It was so cute! Then when we moved into the house we are now, she use to drink from the underground sprinkler system. She would even bite off the tops of the sprinkler and Tom would have to fix them.

Sadie could not have any plastic (like a Frisbee) because she would just tare it apart.

Sadie has always been fascinated with sticks. She would go get them and just tare to pieces. It was funny watching her do this because she would bite it or tare it off and then spit it out and then we had little shredded pieces of sticks or wood to clean up. One time Tom was piling up some firewood for our bonfire and Sadie would go sneak over to the stacked pile when Tom went for more and would take a piece of wood and go off to her spot. This was hilarious! When I would trim the bushes or trees, Sadie couldn't even wait for me to throw the branch out, she would pull it out for me. So darn cute she was!

Sadie loved all of us but she followed me all over the place. If I was sitting in my chair relaxing she would sit by me or put her head on my lap. Tom would call her to get her toy squirrel and then Sadie would bring it to me. Before Tom went to bed, Sadie would want to run around the house keeping her squirrel away from Tom.
I was at a horse show earlier and was cold, so I lay down to take a nap and this photo was taken by Tom. I fell asleep and Sadie put her toy next to me and lyed down next to me. Gotta love her!

Sadie loved it when I was mowing the yard. She would follow me or run along side of me while I mowed and then sometimes she would just sit and watch. She always had her eyes on me and watched every move I made.

Sadie did not like things in her yard. She would make sure that there weren't any critters, moths, carry toads out of the garage and set them in the grass. Anything out of place, she would put it in place.

She loved to go for rides, camping, swimming. While she swam she would go get the stick and drop it in front of us to throw again, but if we were in the yard with a stick, she played keep away.

She loved all the kids and would protect them if we were just horsing around with them. Sadie would step in between us and sometimes would just put her teeth on our arm just to let us know to be good. She never would bite down she just would put her mouth on us. Love her!


We all will miss you Sadie! You warmed our hearts with so much love and devotion. You will never be replaced. You were one of a kind!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Memories Made With A Friend

Isn't it exciting to spend time with a great friend?This is Sandy and I. We have been friends since freshman year in HS.  A lot of great memories! 
Sandy was able to come down and spend the day and next morning with me. It is always nice to see her and spend some great quality time together.

We started off at my house and then ventured off to a huge greenhouse in my town. Just down the road from me is a place called Countryside Greenhouse. They actually still have a lot of flowers and plants in there right now. We were lucky to scope out what they had, see the awesome deals we were going to get and chit chat! Nothing better than chit chatting!

Then we went to the mall in Grandville (Rivertown Crossings) and shopped for quite a while. I was not lucky in finding any sandals or flip flops. My last pair broke and I miss them.  Sandy, on the other hand, got several great deals. It is nice to get a deal or two or three or four!!!

Then we went out to lunch at Applebees and had fun with that and Yummy food! Once we finished there, we headed back to my house and waited til we went out to Grand Haven Michigan to enjoy some of the festivities at the Coast Guard Festival. We did a little more shopping there and then watched a water ski show. The skiers were great but the MC's-they could have used a little help in the humor department. Then we enjoyed walking the pier and meeting up with my family out there.

This little shop had some funny clothing ideas in it. One pair of boxer shorts that we thought was a hoot, had three ducks on the back and it said-'butt quack'. Pretty funny!

Time was well spent and went way too fast! A lot of laughs and great conversation!

The next morning we took my dog to the vet because she is not feeling well lately. They think she is anemic so have to get her checked and see how she adapting to the pills she is being put on.
After that we decided to go to a store in town and got a few more great deals and then back to the greenhouse to get all the perennials for Sandy, well, NOT ALL,  but she got more so she could plant in her pretty flower beds.

I am so happy that Sandy is in my life! There's just something about a special bond with a friend.

So, as you can see, we had a wonderful time making more memories. Thanks for the great time Sandy!

You know, life is interesting! Why does God bring certain people in our lives? Are the people there for a moment, hours, a day, week, month, year? Are some of your friends more like acquaintances or are there more that are like long lasting friendships?

We all need friends, companions, best buds. Treasure the friends that you have because you never know how long they will be in your life. A great friend is one that you have not seen in a while or years and you can pick up right where you left off.

Stop and think about when you just go to the store. At the checkout, are you friendly and say hello and talk to that person? Or do you wish they would hurry up and get done so you can be on your quick way? Take time out people-that person-you could have made their day just by taking the time to say hello.

To all my friends out there-I do treasure our friendships. Whether it be an acquaintance and we just stay in touch, chat on Facebook, or whatever the case may be. You are part of my life for a reason-so DEAL WITH IT!!!!
HA HA HA HA HA  HA

I just wish there was more time to get together more often.