Calico Bean Casserole

With Memorial Day gatherings upon us I thought you might like an easy recipe that is a favorite in our family.  When pot luck is the choice I always get asked to bring this Calico Bean Casserole or hot dish as we call it in our neck of the woods.  I like a recipe that is easy (as in opening cans and dumping into a baking pan) and can be made ahead and refrigerated the night before.  It's festive looking for any holiday gathering too! ( btw SmileBox has some neat recipe cards to make and share) Enjoy! Cathy G

A recipe card by Smilebox

Our Garden Rocks!

The one thing we have more of in these parts is rocks!  Both Dave and I are avid rock hounds. I started collecting rocks as a child growing up on a farm where part of our summer chores was picking rocks from the fields after Dad plowed.  Thinking back on that it's ironic that I would love rocks so much because picking them and throwing them into the honey wagon (aka the manure spreader) on a hot and dusty day was as dreaded as a trip to the dentist!
So here we are years later,  hauling rocks home to decorate the yard and gardens. 








Recently we found this rock buried beneath the lilac tree right here in our yard. Only the top peaked out from the dirt and old roots at the bottom of the tree.  We figured the former owners of our house probably placed it there when they planted the lilac and over the years the tree grew and the rock sank deeper into the ground.  We've walked past the thing for years now hardly paying attention to it.
After building our new deck last year Dave did a bit of landscaping around it with ( yes, rocks)  but I thought a statement rock would be nice and sculptural decorating the front.  I mentioned the rock beneath the lilac bush and Dave could hardly dig it up fast enough!  His excitement mounted as he unearthed the beauty and found it to be just the right size for the spot in front.  He does give me credit for having the idea to dig it up. 











This is a nice sitting rock.  At times one needs to plop down in the garden and meditate on a rock.  I don't do it often enough because weeds would certainly over grow me in a moment.  However as of late I meditate on rocks, the violence of nature, the sweetness of life, the promise of after life.  All heavy subjects you could say.  
Cathy G

Mom's Rhubarb Pie

I will bet my bottom dollar that my Mom makes the best rhubarb pie in the world.  Her home made pie crusts melt in your mouth!  So when she picked the rhubarb yesterday and announced she would be making rhubarb pie and if Dave and I would like to come over later....... it's all I could think about!

Between thunder storms today I snuck over and took a few photos of the back and front yards at her new house.  Having her so close to me has had it's blessings but I've had a little more garden and yard work as I've been helping her plant and clean up her yard besides doing my own!

 

She has a nice back yard and a little electric lawn mower.  She even mowed the yard with a little help on the hillside but I think it tuckered her out! 

She has a little rat terrier dog named Hans.  He is quite the wild animal and super smart!  He tuckers her out as well!

The front entrance to her house.

The back patio and deck.

The former owners had it all nicely landscaped with lots of nice hostas  and other perennial plants.

The deck off the upstairs.

The bottom patio.  

We were fortunate to find this house right in our neighborhood so close to me.   I really like this house!

I think she is getting used to town living and seems happier each day.  

By the time Dave and I could make the quick walk over this afternoon for the pie feast, Mom had already eaten half the pie!  She didn't make her pie crust from scratch this time but used those frozen ones that you fold out.  It was still delicious and now she says the next thing she's going to make is Great Grandma's secret recipe for Sour Gravy Rhubarb Cake.  It is an old German recipe that Great Grandma wouldn't share with anyone.  Evidently when my Grandmother died the recipe was in her old metal recipe box.  My Mom has it.  Maybe if we talk nice to her.......... 

Cathy G

The Wedding

It was a cold and rainy Saturday in May. Not what you'd wish for your wedding day! My cousin Steve's son Levi got married today despite the threat of snowflakes falling. With camera in hand we sat towards the back of the church. I was hoping for some candid shots the professional photographer missed.
I was not disappointed.  The very first and smallest gentleman to come down the aisle was the ring bearer carrying  his sippy cup. One look at the packed pews and he had to be coaxed to continue. He cried all the way down the isle, growing louder as he got closer to the front of the church.










In contrast, the little Flower Girl had to be held back from running and skipping down the isle!


I had to be quick with the camera!  The sweet little princess was tearing down the isle so fast! 








Woops!  I think you lost something........




The shoe.  I snapped the photo quickly before the attendant dashed to pick it up!  The Bride and her father were coming down the isle!



Now I know that Dad was having a hard time letting go of his eldest daughter Ashley.  The first to be married.
I know he loves his future son-in-law and all but still,  she's always going to be Daddy's little girl!



My cousin Steve carrying a grandchild and his wife Kim.   Steve doesn't seem to be having the same emotions as the bride's father!




The walk down the isle as Mr. and Mrs. Levi Johnston!  They are great kids!  I wish them all the best as they begin their new life together!


                                              Cathy G

A Couple of Bright Spots

I've been playing catch-up since this past Mother's Day Sunday.  My own Mother is doing fine in her new home and decided to have a garage sale last Saturday.  Needless to say she needed Dave and I to carry out the sale and clean her garage etc.  Looking back I guess I didn't realize how much work and standing around with the cold wind  whipping at my ears and head would affect me. By Sunday I was down in bed with a sinus headache that felt like the pressure was going to put me in the hospital. The heating pad and half a bottle of Pseudoephed. tablets finally brought me back to life on Monday.  
There were a couple of bright spots to cheer me through my ordeal however. I was very lucky to have won the second Heaven's to Betsy wool give-away on Cheri's Back to Larkrise blog last week. The package came and I was able to open it Sunday evening and behold the gorgeous wool!  Thank-you Cheri and Betsy!  This is some gorgeous wool and I can't wait to use it very soon I hope!
Not having children unless you count the two Fur Boys Smokey and Max...... Mother's Day is usually spent celebrating my Mother and Mother-in-Law.  This year the festivities were carried on without my presence.  When Dave returned from his mother's on Sunday evening there was little package for me from my great-niece Kaitlyn who is 7 years old.  A precious little hand made card and a hand-made pot holder.  A bright spot indeed and so wonderful to be remembered!
Yesterday was finally what you could call a warm Spring day here in Wisconsin.  Looking around my yard and herb gardens I see the weeds haven't forgotten me.  They are healthier than ever and are waiting their turn for some attention.  Probably not the kind of attention they would desire but knowing what greedy little things they become if left to their own devises the  garden spade shall be introduced to them in short order!
Cathy G

Special Delivery

I couldn't keep it any longer!  I finally sewed the label on Mary's Garden rug last evening as she called and asked if I would be delivering it this week!  She may have been a bit worried that I would change my mind and decide to keep it!  This afternoon after giving it a final once over with the lint roller and taking a few more photos, I took the short walk down the street to Mary's house.
You may recall she wanted the rug to fit the top of a little antique table in her living room.  So I held my breath hoping my careful measurements and hooking were in sync! 


Well........ what do you think Mary?  Is it what you had imagined?   



I think this rug has found it's forever home and will reside happily ever after!