Madison

Madison

Madison is a little spitfire.  She is fearless and lets you know when you are stopping her from doing something

that she has set her mind to do.

 

Planning

She never stops moving, because there might be something out there that she could miss.
Touching

Inspection

Sharing

Focus

Mischievous

Determination

Distraction

Sure footed

Adventuresome

Eager

Patience

Delighted

Curious

Reflection

Contemplation

Frost Free

Smudge Pots

(A little California History in my own backyard)

A smudge pot (also known as a choofa or orchard heater)

is an oil-burning device used to prevent frost on fruit trees. Usually a smudge pot has a large round base with a chimney coming out of the middle of the base.

The smudge pot is placed between trees in an orchard,

allowing the heat and smoke from the burning oil

to prevent the accumulation of frost on the fruit of the grove. Smudge pots were developed after a disastrous freeze in Southern California in January 1913 wiped out a whole crop.

When we moved into our house, oh so many years ago,

we found some

old abandoned smudge pots in the backyard.

Our yard was an old avocado grove and the smudge pots

were used to keep out the winter frost.  Our town

was actually well known for it's citrus. 

My smudge pots still hold some of their original oil.

They're slowly rusting away, but I love

seeing them under the avocado trees.

A little bit of history or .......

 just a place to put some old wire.

Happy Outdoor Wednesday

hosted by the lovely Susan

at A Southern Daydreamer.

Thanks for dropping by.

Saint vs Angels

I just met Kristi at the store this morning.

I had to pick something up on my way to work.

She had her lovely children with her, however

they were not lovely little angels.

As soon as Kristi put Madison in the cart, Madison let out

a blood curdling scream and Riley let her

protest be known that she didn't want to go in the cart either.

I think her exact words were .... "I don't like it!"

What did Kristi do?

Kristi took it in stride, stayed fast to her convictions

(in spite of the grandma)

and did her duty.

As she drove off, I could hear the girls crying in the car.  There

was nothing wrong with them, they just decided it was a good day

to test Mommy. 

I think Mommy won

(frazzled but victorious)

Kristi this is for you,

The Saint Award

for being such a good and patient mom.
(inspite of the children)

Easter Sunday

I am blessed.

Blessed to have a day to celebrate that Jesus has risen

Blessed to have a wonderful family surrounding me and

Blessed to be alive.

Easter Sunday started off with church, we met
Tim, Kristi and the girls at church. 
Riley went to Sunday school, Kristi took one

step into the loud sanctuary, Madison got a bit hysterical,
Kristi left the sanctuary

and headed to the family room with Tim. 
So started our day as a family.

The service was wonderful, and with happy hearts
we headed home.  I made

coffee and Tim and Kristi arrived with doughnuts.....delicious, fresh, delicious doughnuts.

Riley immediately found her gardening boots and gloves from Pop Pop and decided to cruise the yard.

The weather was so, so (a bit on the chilly side) but the

sun was warm.

The Rush Family posed for a picture

(I do believe Madison was still eating her doughnut)

Riley was played hard to get....I think she had

enough pictures from the photo

shoot from Saturday.  I'm not so sure

where all the pictures of Madison are.

She wanted desperately to sit on the step, but

I think it was a bit too cold.

Still no pics of Madison, actually not very many pictures

of the entire day.  I guess the photographer was taking the day off.

Sean took these first ones.

Here's the sad token picture of Madison...after Easter dress
and chowing down.  She is very good at this.

A peek at Kristi prior to the earthquake

A personalized Easter egg cake at each placesetting 

The token bunny

Kevin's gave his wonderful Easter blessing.

A small earthquake shook us and then it was time for
Sean's famous grilled rosemary rubbed lamb

No one at the table because they are all in getting their food.

Menu:

Grilled rosemary lamb

Steak

Blue cheese and walnut salad

Grilled aspargus

Assorted fruit and dip

Corn casserole

Focacia bread

Guess who was first in line....yes Kevin

(1st in line, and 1st to the table)

The food is arriving slowly but surely

We had such a wonderful day. 

The kids blew bubbles, played on the slide,

watched a Tinker Bell movie

and the big kids just enjoyed each other

and the splendid day. 

We enjoyed it so much, we actually forgot to do the

Easter Egg hunt.   Oh well, there is always next year.

Thank you guests

Mom

Jim and Delores

Frank and Laurie

Kristi, Tim, Riley and Madison

Sean

Happy Easter

Today is the day...

He has Risen

He has Risen Indeed.

 Easter Blessings to all.

Friends Hawaiian Birthday Dinner

Aloha

Happy Birthday

Kevin, Kris, Jae and Marc

On Saturday night we celebrated "4"
count'em, "4" birthdays. 

The hubster and I celebrated with 3 dear couples,
and one person in each of our couples

celebrate their birthday within

2 weeks of each other.

We all enjoy the ambience of Hawaii

so I made my theme Hawaiian. 

I had planned on eating outside, with the help of a
couple of heaters however,
Mother Nature had different plans.... and when Mother
Nature speaks .......
I woke up on Saturday to gale force winds (not
really but windy enough to destroy my yard and my plans)

So Plan II
Bring the Tiki man inside

 I set my diningroom for the
Hawaiian birthday festivities ...

I don't really have any Hawaiian decor, so I improvised

with some shells, fabric that reminded me of the ocean, and some

cool silver coral and shell items that I picked up that morning at Ross.

I set the table

These look like silver but are actually ceramic

(which I discovered on the way home

when I broke my coral candlestick)

I threw in a few Tiki guys

Seagulls eye view

Wooden chargers for that luau look?

The blue glasses have designs of shells and sea life.

I need to work on my Hawaiian collection

I do love the coral candleholder though,

and flower choices were slim pickin's

This was a tropical as I could find

(helpful hint from the florist....if you

want this style of flower to last remove the stamen, the

pollen causes the petals to die)

It was more or less an explosion of color...maybe a bit too much

It looks a little better with less light...

and even better with guests

see how happy everyone is, that's because I had already fed them....

we were getting ready for gifts and cake.

Our menu:

Salmon Salad

Marinated Flank Steak

Grilled Asparagus

Baked shells with chicken and alfredo sauce

Assorted Berries

Hawaiian rolls

Birthday Boy - Marc

Birthday Boy - Kevin

Birthday Girl - Jae

Birthday Girl - Kris

The Cake

Kristi did the cake in a Hawaiian theme. 

Tim did the surboard in fondant.

The words on the side of the surfboard are

"Happy Birthday" in Hawaiian.

The cake was iced in buttercream with

buttercream flowers which was just gorgeous.

The inside was just as gorgeous...

It was chocolate espresso cake with chocolate gaunache filling.

Buttercream Detail

And a candle each to blow out for the birthday kiddos...

Get ready....get set .......

Blow out those candles.

The rest of the guests:

Tom - eternally young

Greg - bigger than life

Cheryl - reflecting

Happy Birthday Friends ....

Boys

and Girls

Mahalo for joining us

and

"Hau oli La Hanau"

(Happy Birthday)

I linked late to Tablescape Thursday hosted by

Between Naps on the Porch

Beware the Jokesters

Happy April 1st ....

be on the look out for those

pesky jokesters. 

I am waiting for my son to call. 

He gets me every year, but I will be strong this year instead of gulible.

Wish me luck.