Raising Hands

I don't have a favorite Summer recipe to share but we cleaned up our grill last weekend and I've used it every night this week.   Tonight I grilled up some beautiful little boneless pork tenderloins (two at one lb each). I marinated them in some Lawry's Teriyaki marinade for about four hours and then grilled them for just over 20 minutes. Turning them every five minutes. During the last couple turns I basted the pork with additional marinade (reserved before I marinated the pork) I let the pork rest 10 minutes before slicing. We had a nice green salad and some potato salad. After dinner we made S'mores which were devoured before I could take pictures. A  pretty perfect Summer meal if you ask me. 

My Spring cleaning efforts have branched out from just disinfecting every surface. One thing leads to another and now there's talk about a garage sale. Taking up precious space on my pantry floor is a collection of vases I have picked up over the years. Two in particular have been packed up and relocated with us three times! They are not expensive or pretty but were decorations from our wedding. I don't even like them. So I have decided they need to go. I snapped a picture, cut the ribbons off, washed them up and put them in the yard sale box. I need to do more of this letting go. It feels good. I'm never going to be a minimalist. I kind of love knick knacks. But there's a feeling of weight being lifted when we get to a place where we can just let go.

Today's forecast calls for full sun and 75 degrees and not a moment too soon. The windows in this house will be opened and I intend to banish ALL THE GERMS! We have all recovered. I've gone through almost every room, cleaned it, then wiped everything down with a bleach solution (Yeah, I said bleach. Deal with it.) Nothing like a little Norovirus to get the Spring cleaning going:-) Have a great week!

I have entered week three of taking care of someone with stomach flu:-( I am sure that Jacob is our outbreak monkey and this virus is nasty. I thought it was over last week but Stephen succumbed after church on Sunday and William went down today, and Bella seems to be going through round two this afternoon (poor baby) I am the only one who remains healthy. I have recipes to share and other fun things I'd like to blog but I am buried under piles of laundry and my need to disinfect the house (again). Pray for us. That is all:-/ Edit: Friday, April 5. I spoke too soon. Mom down.........

We woke to the sound of our oldest crying very early Sunday morning. Jacob had the stomach flu. What followed you can guess and I won't elaborate. Needless to say 36 hours later I glad to move on. I had a beautiful meal planned in celebration of the Blessed St. Patrick. A Guinness Beef Stew served over mashed potatoes and a not so Irish wink and a nod to the Catholic Church, Italian Cream Cake (recipe courtesy of Lauren). With a fridge full of perishable ingredients I'm turning lemons into lemonade. What was a St. Paddy's Day feast will become an early birthday dinner. From me, to me:-) I made the stew this morning and put it in the fridge for reheating tomorrow. I think I may need to padlock it to keep Stephen out of it until tomorrow. My house smells heavenly right now. The link to the recipe is below. It couldn't be more simple. My favorite kind of recipe:-) *A Note: I've made this a few times now and can absolutely attest that made a day in advance and slo...

It was suggested that I do one of these. I do enjoy seeing how my friends spend their days. Here is what we did on Tuesday. Our day usually begins around 7am The kids jump right into the play and Mom jumps right in too An hour later the kids are dressed and fed and I finally get a bite. There's a lunch to be made for my big preschool going boy and primping to be done by an oh so girly girl.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays Jacob attends Montessori Preschool in the afternoon. He absolutely loves to go to school The little kids and I head to MomMom's for a little lunch and spoiling My spoiling takes place here. Times to pick up Jacob and show off my updated locks Back to MomMom and PopPop's for some more playtime  before we head home Then it's home we go. Just enough time to toss a little Shepherd's Pie into the oven for our supper The next time I do this I'll have to remember to make sure William gets in more phot...

Two weeks ago we travelled to Allentown to attend the funeral mass for Stephen's Uncle Fred (His father's brother). Uncle Fred died in December. Don't ask me why it took until January to perform a funeral mass. He was cremated (again, don't ask) so I suppose there was no hurry. At the luncheon following the service I was seated with Aunt Cathy's (Stephen's Aunt) sister Anna (It's a lot I know). Anna is a charming old lady from Northern New York (NOT UpState or so I was corrected). We made polite conversation. My children were being well behaved and Bella was the star of the whole restaurant. Once Anna ascertained that I was a pastors wife (well, I am sort of a pastor's wife. That will be changing soon. Stay tuned;-) she told me I just HAD to have this book. For all the entertaining I must do! I smiled politely and the afternoon came to an end and I thought I would never hear from her again. I was surprised to receive a package in today's mail con...