Well I don't know about you, but the grass seems greener on MY side of the fence!!! Yes!! My side! Only because I have to mow it! Wow that stuff is growing like I used Miracle grow or something! It needs it more than twice a week, (although that is all it gets... providing there is no rain...) and to that I add.... I think this is our rainy season!! Every day for the last 2 weeks we have had heavy rain in the early afternoon to evening hours. I love those downpours, but it sure does make that green stuff tall! Today we are going to try to beat the rain and swim early! We have missed that window of opportunity all week. I do love the sound of rain on the tin roof. We have a screened in porch out front and I go out there during those downpours just to listen. Of course then the frogs all start singing too, I think they love it more than I do! It's in those moments of enjoying God's creation that I can refocus and thank Him for all the blessings in my life. Wow, God is so AWESOME!! Guess I better get these little ones in their swim suits, before its too late! Have a Blessed Day!

I just thought of something you all might like to know about! This will fall right in there with all the coupon clipping, money saving ideas! For those of you that like to plant flowers in the yard, did you know that Lowe's marks down their plants when they lose their blooms or don't get watered....sometimes they look pretty sad, but you would be amazed what a little water will do! Most of my yard this year has come from the mark down shelf...it is actually rather addicting! I bought petunias, rose moss, rose bushes, dahlias, gerber daisies and my latest greatest find....Azealeas!! They had them marked down to $1.00 per bush!! These were the 8.98 bushes!!! They have set on the shelf there and grown without any "TLC"....so some look kinda scraggly (is that a word), but after a little trim and some good soil to stretch their roots out in, they will be beautiful!! I have made a friend in that department, I gave her my cell number in case they had anything she thought I might want. She saw me looking at the azaleas the other day and they were just marked to half price...as I left, I told her that I would wait til they marked them again....she called to tell me they were down to 1.00!! I headed over there to find that she had picked out a buggy of the best ones for me! How sweet!! So I got seven nice size bushes for 7.00!! woo hoo!! One of my other great deals was those cool topiaries, the one I found was normally 59.00. I would never, never do that....but when it was marked to 9.00 I broke down! I already had a huge pot and he now sits on my front deck happy as can be! I could go on and on about this...as you can probably tell...but I won't, I think you get the idea!! Check out Lowe's and remember too, they carry a 1 year plant guarantee! You need your receipt so make a file, if the plant dies, they will replace it! This is only for perennials. Not sure about the "special deals" you probably just get your money back on those. Walmart also carries a 1 year guarantee!

Have fun!! but I warn you...it is addictive if you love gardening!!

Wow, my second day of VBS...and I am still here...not awake...but here! We had a blast! Today we had Pony Rides, Snow Cones, the Bubble blowing train ride, learned a new song in Music, "I've Got Good News", made flower vases, talked about missions, and learned that Jesus is the son of God! It's such a blessing to see all these little 5 year old's singing and learning Bible Truths. All our little Wave Riders probably needed a nap today when they got home...I know I did!!

Pray that God will touch their little hearts this week and that they will come to know Him as their Savior! Also for traveling mercies as we all go back and forth to church this week.
I will post pictures later this week.

For those of you that may need to take something wonderful to Sunday School this Sunday, here's one they will be begging for the recipe! You might want to print some up and take along. You can make it the day/night before, its really better once it is cold all the way through.

ECLAIR DESSERT

Ingredients:

1 Cup water
1/2 Cup butter or margarine
1 C flour
4 Eggs
1 Large box vanilla instant pudding
3 Cup milk
8 oz. cream cheese (at room temperature)
8 oz. Cool Whip
1 Squeeze bottle of chocolate syrup

Directions:

• Bring water and butter to a boil. Remove from heat.
• Slowly add flour and stir until smooth. Cool a few minutes.
• Add one egg at a time, stirring well between each.
• Spread on a greased 11 x 16 cookie sheet with sides.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Mix pudding, milk, cream cheese and beat until smooth.
• Spread on cooled crust. (you may need to push down the air bubbles when you first take it out of the oven)
• Top with Cool Whip. Drizzle with chocolate syrup. Use your imagination for design, criss-cross looks really pretty!

You will use all the ingredients except the chocolate syrup. Refrigerate for at least one hour prior to serving. Cut into 2 inch squares and enjoy!

I have made this "diet friendly" by using the sugar free/fat free pudding, light or sugar free Cool Whip, light or fat free cream cheese, sugar free syrup, light margarine....if you are used to the "diet" products your taste buds will not be offended and you will like it, if not, well...maybe not so much! If you don't tell...most will not even notice its so yummy!!!

Do You Love the Olive Garden?

Well, I still have not figured out how to do the things I want to do on this blog...it takes us grammas a little longer to figure I guess... so I will post this and see what happens. I have a recipe for you! Olive Garden House Dressing! Yep!! It's perfect!! Here's all you need...you are gonna LOVE this!!

Ingredients:

8 ounces Paul Newmans, Olive Oil & Vinegar Dressing

1 clove garlic, peeled and minced (you can use the garlic already minced in jars to)

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

3 packages Splenda or 1 TBS sugar

Directions:

Put ingredients into the bottle of dressing and shake well. Refrigerate 24 hours prior to using.

It is sooo good! Enjoy!!

For those of you that know me well, you know that I love flowers! For so many years I was not able to have a garden because we lived in the jungle and the bugs were far too many for me to play outside for long, and....the bugs not only liked to bite people, but they also ate anything you planted!! Since we have moved to Florida, I have the best of both worlds! The tropics and a yard with no man eating bugs!! I have played in the yard since February. (FL winters are almost non existant! I love it!) We purchased a home in October and the landscaping was already in place. I did not know what some of the plants and trees were, so this year has been an exciting one. Waiting with great anticipation to see what was going to bloom and what the colors were, how long they lasted, did they smell good, etc etc. The Lord has been so good to me! Most of my favorite flowers are here!! The latest new treat bloomed while J & J were here! I do get too excited, but I can't help myself! I have no idea what it is called, if any of you know please tell me. I was waiting for amarillas to bloom, I thought that was what they were, but no....not like any I have seen anyways....check out the pic and tell me what you think. They smelled so good! Another one of my GREAT surprises was a HUGE Gardenia it was covered in blooms and I was intoxicated by the aroma! The picture really does not do it justice. I wish it were next to my bedroom window!! Hope you enjoy the pics!

Happy Fourth of July!

Wow! We just spent the BEST 4th of July EVER! We had everyone together here in sunny Florida! Jeremiah & Jenn, and Addie & Don, and all their kids, Ella & Ezra & Aliya & Christian, That's 4 grandchildren under the age of 5! What fun was had by all!! We spent one day at the beach, one at the zoo, and the last day we hung out at the house and played in the pool. We ate WAY too much food! We set off our own fireworks in the front yard. They left a little to be desired...ok... alot to be desired from the adults, but the kids thought it was the Greatest, especially the sparklers! The mosquitoes gave us a little sting of excitement too so we didn't last long! Saturday evening came way too soon and they headed home. I can't wait for our next get together, it has to be SOON!!! I am already having the gramma DT's!! Here are some pics of all our fun!