Puzzle Pals

It's never a puzzle to figure out what to do with Mom-Ruthie when she is around during the holidays. My parents' stay at our house this week was very short, but it was long enough to make hauling out a puzzle worthwhile. We also made time to get caught up on each others' news (gabbing goes quite nicely with working on a puzzle) and listen to live piano music and eat cashews. And then when The Sons & Co. were still here, Dad got the idea for all of us to sing some hymns together. He'd sooner work on choral pieces than puzzle pieces. All put together, "a good time was had by all." 

More Kitchen Art

Yesterday I blogged about my love of creating things in the kitchen, and since then, it has been confirmed that I'm not the only one who enjoys it. Proof: Kerra made an indoor picnic lunch with a young friend of hers who, by all appearances, knows the secret of food tasting better if you have fun with it first. (I dare you to look at this pic without grinning!)

Sandwiches To A Tea

I love doing kitchen art! I knew this before yesterday but it was confirmed as I planned and mixed and shaped "dear little sandwiches" for Mom M's birthday tea.

Great Relatives

Birthday celebrations are wonderful even if belated. Some weeks back, my mom-in-law (the young lady in the green dress) reached at least a half-way milestone age and some of us relatives gathered today to honor her. We had a fine time with a great mom and great aunts. These four surely do have a sisterly resemblance, don't they?

Signs of Celebration

The marks are quickly fading in all this January the Third rain and mildness, but the memories remain. They were here, those snow-angel-makers and year-markers were. With much merriment they went out and branded the deep new snow just minutes into the new year. And etched some good memories in my mom-heart while they were at it.

Fruitful Addition

It's hard to go wrong with adding fruit to the menu at a family gathering, or for any meal, really. It's a blessed change from all the cookies and candy that accumulate during the holidays, and it's fairly easy to prepare and serve...a food that is good and good for you!

Happy 2017!

Getting acquainted: smelling their new books after our gift exchange at The Kenites Gathering. Maybe that's how we're approaching the New Year, as well. It's a brand new story we've been given...haven't read it yet...have a bit of an idea what may be in it, but largely unknown...for now, we'll gratefully receive it and hold it in our hands and inhale the scent of its newness in anticipation of what delights it will bring...