So Many Memories: July 2010

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Letter To My Younger Self

Letter to Annette in 1975

Dear Annette,
I know how disappointed, angry, sad and scared you are at this moment. You feel like the world has ended and you might as well die. You are hating the army, your dad and life in general right now. It's understandable. You're seventeen and your world has been turned upside down.

I'm writing this to let you know you're going to be okay. Your senior year of high school won't be what you planned, but it won't be as awful as you imagine it will be. You will be surprised at how quickly you make friends and are welcomed into the group. These new friends are going to help you get through the next year and are even going to throw you a surprise eighteenth birthday party! You and your mom are going to become closer because she is home and not working. You're going to learn about compassion, telling the truth and taking responsibility for your actions. Trust me when I say you will look back on this time and see how you began growing into the woman you are today.

The next fifteen months are going to be emotional, fun, traumatic, heart wrenching, eye opening and essential to who you are becoming! It's okay to be sad because of what you are leaving behind, but I encourage you to look forward with an open mind to all the possibilities and adventures that are in front of you!

Love,
Annette from 2010

I've mentioned many times that I was an army brat. In August 1975 my dad received orders to go to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. We lived outside St. Louis and I had attended my high school for two years and my schedule was set for my senior year. To say I was devestated is an understatement. Many offers from friends' parents were made to allow me to stay with them but my parents wouldn't hear of it. In true seventeen year old fashion, I cried, stomped my feet, yelled and slammed doors. I just wanted to die!!

My senior year was a disappointment but my friends made it bearable. If it wasn't for them, I think I would have died on the inside and would be a very different person today. At that age, your friends and school are your life. I guess my mom still has the pictures from that time because I couldn't find any and I know there were a lot of them! The picture above was taken just before we moved. I was going to a formal banquet at church for all the seniors. (I made the dress!)

If you could write a letter to your younger self, at what point in your life would that be?

Click on the button and join today's blog hop!!

Annette

Monday, July 26, 2010

Meet Me On Monday

I was at a loss as to what to write about today and I remembered this meme form Never Growing Old. So in case you wanted to know more about me, here you go!!

What one food could you eat every single day?

I enjoy so many different foods I can't imagine eating the same thing every day! I might could eat soup every day if it was a different kind every couple of days.

Do you wear glasses or contacts?

I've worn glasses since I was in fifth grade. I've tried contacts over the years but I had so many problems with them I gave up on them.

What kind of cell phone do you have?

I have a Droid Eris. It's a love/hate relationship!

What did you have for dinner last night?
Marinated boneless chicken breast cooked on the grill, baked sweet potato and roasted broccoli. I would still want variety but I could eat anything cooked on the grill (charcoal) every day!

What is your favorite candy?

Godiva chocolates! Especially the one that is a ball of hazelnut chocolate between two clam shells! This is something that is a once in a while treat. My go to chocolate is Hershey Kisses! Now there's something I could eat every day!! I just don't like dark chocolate!!

Have a marvelous Monday!!!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Wordless Weekend

Have a terrific weekend!!!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Follow Friday...The Homecoming

Today I'm participating in Follow Friday 40 and Over! Hop over to Never Growing Old and join the fun! In August, 1990, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait and before we knew it our troops and troops from around the world descended on Saudi Arabia in Operation Desert Shield. It was a scary time, especially for those of us who lived in our little community in Germany.

Being in a foreign country and saying good-bye to my husband who was going off to war was one of the hardest things I've ever done. My children were five and six and even at that age had an idea of the seriousness of the situation. When the war started, they cried and asked if Daddy was going to die. It was hard to answer that question when I was wondering the same thing, only I had no one to ask.

The day Michael left was one of the saddest days, but the day he came home ranks as one of the happiest days of my life! It's right up there with the day we got married and the day the kids were born! This picture is one of my all time favorites because everytime I look at it, I'm reminded of what we went through while he was gone and how happy, excited and relieved we were when he came home! Our family was complete!

What is one of the happiest days of your life?

Annette

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Shylee's First Dress From Grandma

Today I'm joining the 'I Made It' blog party at Everthing Etsy. I thought this would be a fun way to see what others are creating!

Even though I've bought Shylee many dresses over the past two years, I realized I haven't made her one. It was time to remedy that with this pretty white cotton that is embroidered all over in all my favorite pastels. It's the perfect fabric for a little summer dress for a girly two year old!

I searched for a pattern, because I'm not someone who can make a clothes pattern from scratch, and off I went. I think the last time I actually made a piece of clothing was when Shylee's mama was going to a homecoming dance or prom or some such event. Anyway it's been over five years and it just seemd strange to be making a dress again. Strange in a good way because it was for my granddaughter after all!

It's a simple little dress and I'm very happy with how it turned out. I'll be seeing my little Sweet Pea next week and I can't wait to see how it looks on her!

Have a great Thursday!!!

Annette

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Pride and Prejudice, A Win and an Award!

One of my top 10 favorite movies is Pride and Prejudice and I have finally read the book. I have to say, I'm more in love with this story than ever! After reading the book, I'm not sure how I even understood the movie in the first place! Next on the Jane Austen reading list is Sense and Sensibility.

I want to thank Lisa at Grandma's Briefs for the books I won in her giveaway. The Granny Diaries by Adair Lara and Good Granny Bad Granny by Mary McHugh are great reads for Grandmas at any stage!

I also want to thank Lara at Life is What you Make it for the Sunshine Award.

It's a good feeling to know someone likes and appreciates your blogging efforts. I'm supposed to pass this award to 12 of my favorite bloggers, but I'm passing this to all my favorite blogs that I read regularly! You can see the list on the right and if you are among them, please accept this award and pass it on!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!!

Annette

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Wordless Weekend

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Wordless Weekend

Summer Windmill by J. Callison Photography

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Annette

Friday, July 9, 2010

I Love Summer

I've read some blog posts recently talking about how crazy the days of summer are. Some people can't wait for fall just to get back in a settled routine. NOT ME!

Although spring is my favorite season, I love summer and here's why:

I get more done in a day. I guess because of longer daylight hours

People seem happier in summer (it's a fact that more sunshine = less depression)

I can cool off easier than I can get warm

The freshest fruits and veggies at roadside stands

Everything is alive and color is everywhere

Ice cream tastes better

Cookouts and picnics

Watching the sailboats on the river

I would much rather put up with the inconveniences of summer than put up with

the inconviences of this:

Do you love summer?

Annette

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Tortilla Soup

Even though where I live the temperature has been in the triple digits three days in a row, we still eat soup! Yes we do, because soup is really a light meal on a hot day. Maybe not all soups are light but this one is! This recipe is easy and ready in 30 minutes! Here is what you will need. (The photo doesn't contain all the ingredients)

1 Tbs. canola oil

1 medium onion chopped

4 garlic cloves minced

2-3 carrots or 10-15 baby carrots sliced

8 cups chicken broth

1 14oz. can fire roasted diced or stewed tomatoes

1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes with green chilis

1 Tbs. ground cumin

2 tsp. ground coriander

Pepper to taste

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 1lb. bag frozen corn

6 cups or 2-4 cooked boneless chicken breasts, chopped or shredded

Juice of 1 lime

handful of chopped cilantro

Garnish - crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, diced avacado

In a large dutch oven over medium high heat, add the oil. When the oil is hot add the onion, garlic and carrots. Cook til the veggies are soft, about 5 minutes.

Add the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, Ro-Tel tomatoes, cumin, ground coriander and pepper. Bring to a boil, turn down heat and let simmer about 10 minutes.

Add the beans and corn, bring back up to a boil and then simmer about 5 minutes.

Add the chicken and continue to simmer another 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add the juice of 1 lime and the cilantro.

Serve garnished as desired.

There is no right or wrong way to make this soup! We like a LOT of stuff in our soup, but you don't have to put in as much if you don't want to. Also, the Ro-Tel comes in different varieties and some are spicier than others, so you can make it as spicy or mild as you want it.

In other news, I found out my Tutti Frutti Summer Placemats were featured on the blog Kynera's Jewels-A New Adventure in Style. She did a remarkable job featuring six great shops! And she makes some of the prettiest jewelry that you can see in her Etsy shop, Kynera's Jewels.

Have a great Thursday!!!

Annette

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Lovely Little Family Portrait by Whimsy Studios

As I was going through some of my old cookbooks, I kept coming across recipes for friendship, happy homes, happy marriages, etc. It struck me just how true these 'recipes' are so I thought I would share one today from The Pioneer Kettle, Arkansas Telephone Pioneers Cookbook

Recipe For A Happy Home

Half a cup of firendship and a cup of thoughtfulness

with a pinch of powdered tenderness. Very lightly beaten

in a bowl of loyalty with a cup of faith

and one of hope and one of charity.

Be sure to add a spoonful each of gaiety that sings,

and also the ability to laugh at little things. Moisten with

the sudden tears of heart-felt sympathy. Bake in a good natured pan and serve repeatedly.

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!!!

Annette

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

A Little Girly Girl Purse

Not too long ago, I realized I haven't made anything for Shylee since she was a baby. I have a ton of cute fabric that would make the most adorable little outfits, so I bought a couple of patterns and will start on those this week. In the meantime, I had picked up this little pink purse.

I just imagined it all glammed up for Shylee. She's such a girly girl! So with a little lace, a little pom pom trim, some appliques, decorative stitching and a ribbon, I ended up with this.

I think Shylee is going to love it!

Have a terrific Tuesday!!!

Annette

Monday, July 5, 2010

Mish Mash Monday

I hope you are having a fun, long holiday weekend! We spent Saturday antiqueing and I found some fabulous lace, yards and yards of it, and I can't wait to use it! This photo shows only half of what I found!

On Sunday, we went for a drive. In the very early years of our marriage we did this almost every weekend. We would set out with no particular destination in mind except to turn on to a road we had never been on before! That's what we did and found this beautiful chapel that was built in 1883. It sits on the grounds of the Veteran's Home, and if we didn't have the dog with us, we would have done some exploring There were other old buildings and a beautiful display of American flags!

A Sunday drive would't be complete without ice cream! Yum....

I had never been in an Etsy treasury until yesterday, and I was in THREE!!! Please show these Etsians some love by leaving a comment on their treasury and visiting their awesome shops!

Citrus Summer! by The Vintage Gang

Pretty n' Pink by Whysper Fairy

You Made It by Eves Little Earthlings

Thank you all so much for including my sachet and placemats in your treasuries!!

I hope you enjoy this last day of the holiday weekend. I'll be sewing today and hopefully have something to show you by the end of the week!!

Annette

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Wordless Weekend....Happy Independence Day!!!

Well, almost wordless! All of the photos were found on Etsy. Click on the link for each one and see other fabulous works by these talented photographers!