Come on, Grandma, You Know You Can Do It

My grand daughter, Caitlyn

I have been playing around all morning when I should have been doing something else!  I made this scrapbook page of my grand daughter.  This is Mike's daughter.  She is and has always been his little angel.  That girl is every bit as pretty inside as she is out!  She is too, too sweet!  She was quite the little monster when she was little, I will tell you!  Into everything except what she was supposed to be!  I could not keep up with her no matter how hard I tried.  I had only to be distracted for a second to find she was out of sight and I had not one inkling which direction she had taken!  I have spent lots of time yelling her name, though of course she never answered, just kept playing or whatever had taken all her attention. I hunted till I finally tracked her down and only then, when she saw me, did she bother to answer, "Here I am!". 
She was my little buddy and when I was so sick, she MADE me walk even when I would rather not.  She would say, "Come on, Grandma, you know you can do it."  and with her prodding me along, I did.  At times I was amazed at the strength I summoned when I had thought I had none.  Doubtful I could not have done it without my sweet little baby girl telling me to hurry and don't be a slow poke!   No one could stay sick long with her around!  She was having none of that self pity, none of that "I can't" or "I"m too tired".  It was always, "Come on, Grandma, you know you can do it!"  She was right ... I could!!!!
So, all of you, be sweet, and always remember whatever you want to accomplish in life, you know you can do it!!!!

Almost Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

So good it will make you want to slap your mama!!!

With warm days looming closer and closer and the heat of summer not far behind, I decided it is as good a time as any for a really great recipe for an ice cream that will fairly melt in your mouth, about as close as one could get to the real thing, but with that homemade goodness that you can't capture in a store bought product, no matter what the brand or cost!
Besides I, for one, think ice cream is quite the treat no matter what the season!  I hope you will give this copy cat a try and I promise you it will be a keeper!

Better Than Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

1/4 cup plain chocolate, shaved
1/4 cup Bing cherries, halved and pitted (you may use canned, just drain off the syrup)
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups whipping cream
1 cup milk

Put cherries and shaved chocolate in separate bowls, cover and refrigerate.  Whisk the eggs till they are light and fluffy, about 1 or 2 minutes.  Whisk in the sugar, a little at a time and continue blending until completely mixed, about a minute more.  Pour in the cream and milk and whisk to blend well.   
Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions.  When the ice cream becomes stiff (about 2 minutes before it's done), add the chocolate and cherries and continue freezing until the ice cream is ready.

That is all there is to it!!  What a delicious treat to serve to little grandchildren or anyone at any time.  I think all will be amazed that it is so easy to whip up such a delectable delight!!!  Ben and Jerry themselves could not make it simpler or better.

I hope you enjoy the recipe and that it will be one you prepare often as summer draws near.
Be sweet!!

After The Move

Recently moved closer to one of my daughters and I love it!!  My daughter lives on the first block off the main street through town, my son lives just around the corner on the second block and I live in the last house at the end of the third block!!! 
My grand daughter's family has moved a few blocks from the rest of ys and it is SO nice!  I have even more squirrels and little birds here that I did at the other house, it is a larger and nicer house with an absolutely huge fenced back yard, perfect for gardening.  I have two storage sheds in the left corner of the back yard, perfect for storing all the little things I refuse to part with, but they have no place in the house.
Yesterday when I went to the local grocery store I was happy to see that onion sets were already being sold, three kinds, including the purple ones.
I only have to find a way to have the soil tilled or even buy a tiller.  My son says he will do all the work and I can boss!!  That's just the kind of gardening I love to do!
I am as excited as a little kid right before a big birthday party!  It has been a long time since I have had a real garden.  I can almost taste those fresh tomatoes and squash! I hope to make lots of salsa as all of my family loves it.
Last year I made black bean and corn salsa that was delicious.  It seemed no matter how much I made, it never seemed to be enough!  Maybe I should mix it in a wash tub this year!! 
My great grandchildren are growing like little weeds.  Anna starts kindergarten this year, so hard to believe.  Abigail has grown so tall and so pretty it hurts your eyes just to look at her and the tiniest, Morgan will be a year old next month, already walking and has quite an attitude.
I consider myself to be one lucky lady, a grateful granny, for sure!!  Oh, by the way, we have had a couple of HUGE snowstorms, 20 inches in one day.  All in all, life is good.
Be sweet.