Memorial Day

is a federal holiday in the United States set aside to remember the people who died while serving in our country’s armed forces.

Most Americans, including myself, use this holiday as an opportunity to gather with family or friends and celebrate the unofficial start of summer.  I took a poll of members of my family last week to see who might be interested in a pool party and cookout.

Crickets.

Nevertheless, I prepared.

On the menu was pulled pork, Cole slaw, rolls, potato salad, deviled eggs, and

Desserts

This is my pre-baked version of an American Pie also known as a Berry Cobbler.I neglected to take a post-baked photo.

You can find the recipe HERE

… however I made my own pie crust.

This is called Strawberry Shortcake Lasagna.  It is extremely tasty, although oddly named.  We will have to come up with another name for it.

And

(for a splash of healthy)

green beans.just in case Lydia was able to join us.

All of the recipes I used are pinned on my “Bring to the BBQ” Board on Pinterest.

I didn’t realize that the Jacksonville forecast called for thunderstorms and rain for the entire weekend, which would not have been good for a pool party.

But later in the day Mama came over and she, LB and I enjoyed a Memorial Day cookout… inside.

There we are…

Party Animals

enjoying BOTH desserts

engaged in deep conversation

and having a lovely time!

We talked about the Vietnam War, President Lyndon Johnson’s draft, and the marriage of Richard Reid and Mary Duckworth.  Then we discussed Grandpa Joe, the land he owned, a trip to Pennsylvania, Grandma Perrins, her recipes and the book she pasted them into.  It was a walk back in time and a precious moment in time that I was able to enjoy with my Mama.

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

It’s the first Monday of a new month which means TBB “The Blended Blog“  linkup time.

~ TBB ASKS ~

MAY Entertainment Edition

Comedy or Drama?

Drama

Definitely Drama.

 

Fiction or Non-Fiction?

Fiction

 

 

Movies in Theater or At Home?

At Home

Who could resist that?

 

 

Musical or Play?

Musical.

I especially love the Alhambra Dinner Theater!

 

 

Which Meal of the day is your favorite to eat out?

Dinner.

Which happens at least once a week.

 

 

 

Favorite Book ever read?

Let me think… I’ll come back to this one.

 

 

 

Game Night: Yes or No?

Yes.  LB and I spent many Thursday evenings with friends at Gators Dockside sharing appetizers and playing trivia.  Those were fun times!

 

 

Favorite Outside Game to play?

Softball?  I can’t think of any outside games so I must not have a favorite.

 

 

Favorite TV Series ever?

Hmmm…

I don’t know that I’ve truly loved a TV series since Little House on the Prairie.

 

THAT was a great episode!

 

 

Sitcoms growing up or Sitcoms of today?

Growing up I watched The Brady Bunch, I Dream of Jeannie, and Bewitched.  They just don’t make ’em like they used to!

 

 

Miniature Golf or Bowling?

Um… neither.

 

 

Favorite Movie Theater Candy?

IF I happen to find myself in a movie theater, I probably will not visit the concessions stand.  Too many calories to consume while remaining in a fixed position.  HOWEVER… my favorite candy is M&Ms.

 

 

How do you like your popcorn?

Hot and Buttery! But, alas, I don’t remember the last time I had popcorn with butter.

 

 

3D movies with glasses: Yes or No?

I’ve only experienced one that I can recall: A Christmas Carol at the IMAX Theater in World Golf Village near St. Augustine years ago.  I thought it was very good.

 

 

Favorite Genre of Books to Read?

Self-help

 Because I need all the help I can get!

 

 

Favorite Book ever read?

I’m thinking it is probably Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.

I have my own special edition copy!

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

…that Run for the Roses.

I do not like to ride horses, nor do I like to be near horses, but I LOVE to watch them run.  Horses are majestic and beautiful.  I admire them from afar.  And I dearly love the event that features these beauties every first Saturday of May.

The Kentucky Derby

has been deemed the most exciting (fastest) two minutes in sports.

The race features three-year-old Thoroughbreds that run a distance of one and a quarter miles at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

 The Kentucky Derby has been run every year since 1875.  It is the first leg of the American Triple Crown and is followed by the Preakness Stakes, then the Belmont Stakes.

My first pick was Mendelssohn.  Mendelssohn’s odds were 5-1, but before I knew that, I chose him, just because I like his name.  When the race began, Mendelssohn was bumped out of the gate and never recovered.

Mendelssohn came in LAST.

My other pick was Justify.

Justify finished much better.

My tendency is to stand in front of the television to observe sports events that have my interest, and like many others have watched the Kentucky Derby from my living room for the past several years.

This year LB decided that we should get dressed up and go out to enjoy the race in the company of others.  He does a good job of getting me out of my comfort zone.

LB made arrangements for us to go to the

Cowford Chophouse

in downtown Jacksonville to watch the 144th Kentucky Derby.

We enjoyed a rooftop party filled with guests wearing fancy hats and bow ties.

Some day I may find myself enjoying the company of others on the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs.  With a man like LB in my life, it wouldn’t surprise me.

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

Another Friday is upon us and today is the first Friday in May!

I won’t beset my post by using the obvious May the Fourth memes

 

Because after all…

 

If you know who this is, then you likely know what that means.

 

And although “ITS JUST MAY”… I’ll always celebrate Friday.

 

As I do every Friday, I’m sharing my

Friday Favorites

 

Favorite # ONE

Tomorrow is

Cinco de Mayo

A Mexican day celebrated mostly by those of us in the U.S.A.  Most people just want a reason to have a party and Cinco de Mayo is good motivation.

  LB and I enjoy La Nopalera regularly.  Last year LB and I enjoyed dinner there with friends.  In that post I selected some appropriate outfits and accessories to wear for May 5th celebrating.    You can check them out here.  They are perfect for partying.  And speaking of partying, this party playlist is perfect for a Cinco de Mayo party.

This Cinco de Mayo party playlist posted by blogger The Queen in Between  on The Blended Blog Friday Loves post is great.

Found at the bottom of the playlist is a link to a site providing step by step instructions for making your own Cinco de Mayo sunglasses.  You won’t want to miss that!

 

This year, instead of the Cinco de Mayo party, LB and I will formally observe

 

Favorite # TWO

The Kentucky Derby

Also known as The Run for the Roses.

Here’s my hatand dress.

 I’m looking forward to getting all dressed up and enjoying the fastest 2 minutes in sports.

Also the horses’ names are amusing and clever.  Some of the recent winners include: California Chrome in 2014, American Pharaoh in 2015, Nyquist in 2016 and Always Dreaming in 2017.

 

Favorite # THREE

Springtime means gardening

and gardening means

MULCH

I must get the obsession from my Mama.

While she opted for a truckload, I’m filling my landscape with one bag at a time.

With any luck I’ll be finished in time for hurricane season to blow it all out into the grass.

 

 

Favorite # FOUR

I love this little girl.

While I was visiting with her last night, she noticed my Fitbit which I usually wear around my ankle.  She announced, “I need one of those!”

This morning while I was at work, Mama sent me this text message:

Just like Glammy.

 

 

Favorite # FIVE

My new gingham pants from LOFT.

Regularly 69.50, I purchased them for $28.03 using Honey.

The yellow blouse that is paired with these pants pictured on the website looks very cute on the LOFT model.  However I prefer this look:

In comparison, mine is slightly lacking.

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

means

Spring Foods

in Spanish.

Food is unquestionably one of the most frequently contemplated topics.

The subject of Spring Foods [put forth by The Blended Blog] brings to my mind, first and foremost:

Salad

Light, cool, fresh, and satisfying for the warm season that will be getting warmer every day until November.

I have a salad every day for lunch.  LB and I had salad for dinner last night.  Every time we go to a Mexican Restaurant we split an order of Fajitas Texanas.  LB will enjoy the tortillas and I will use most of the lettuce to make a SALAD.

 

 

Another springtime favorite

Grilled Vegetables

LB and I have always enjoyed finding a spot on the beach or near the river to grill.

We have a small grill that LB has named “R2” that we will pack up to take along.  When a suitable place has been found, we will set up R2, light him up and load him up with with turkey sausage dogs, sweet peppers, onions, and corn on the cob.  On a few occasions we have grilled kebobs.  Passersby will almost always comment on the appetizing aroma.

 

 

Carrots

are typically a favorite springtime food.

Speaking of carrots, today is

National Bugs Bunny Day

Back to Carrots.

Carrots are a vegetable that I like, but not typically a first choice.

Carrot Cake Trifle, however, is a preferred springtime food.  I’ve made it for Easter Sunday dinner two years in a row.  And as luck would have it, the Carrot Cake Trifle is one of the recipes that I have posted on my blog here.  And the cream cheese frosting is one of the recipes that I have posted in my blog here.   I remember “testing” this frosting and thinking it is rich enough to top any dessert that calls for cream cheese frosting.  For the Carrot Cake Trifle, 16 ounces of cool whip is folded into the cream cheese frosting to layer with the walnuts and the cake in the trifle bowl.  It is delectable!

Did I ever get back to carrots?

Talk about DIGRESSING!

 

 

 

 Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.