Childhood

photo by Angela

                       Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons.  ~Author Unknown

Sneak Peek of a Little Culinary Creativeness

                                                             (All photos by Angela)


Hello!  How is your week going?  I thank God tomorrow is Friday!! YES!  April is flying by, don't you think? Last weekend I had a wonderful opportunity to take a photo journal of my friend JoEll's Culinary Cavern Spring event.
I felt honored to be the one chosen to take their behind the scenes photos during all the preparation, seasoning, and decorating.  Not to mention getting to inhale the symphony of smells coming from that kitchen!  Imagine being invited into the secret lair (I'll call it a cavern of culinary creations)-witnessing all the play by play action of what it takes to pull off this dinner party.  I loved witnessing the harmony of the two cooks (JoEll and Rachel) working together on one stove.   A few mishaps happened but both handled them with ease and grace of experienced restaurant chefs.
The meal was Indian inspired with many delicious spices wafting through their friend's home.  First the almond orange biscotti then the curried lamb and vegetables cooking in coconut milk.  Yum!

Just feast your eyes on this delicious lamb roast!   I even got to take a short break to devour partake in the meal in the back with the girls.  The roar of the dinner guests in the other room was a great indication that the  mix of the tasty food, fabulously friendly people and charming atmosphere were the right combination for a successful event. Everyone was all smiles and so fun to be around.

It blessed me so much to see a dear friend (and her team) put her dreams in to action to pull off just one out of many of her great dinner parties.  She is humble.  She is talented.  She is beautiful.  She is loving.

I pray that God will open many doors and opportunities for her and she will be a success in whatever she puts her hands to.

Here she is getting a little "vaclempt" speaking to the guests.  Rachel, her sous chef was there to give a supportive squeeze!  I must say that her sweetness and humble heart is something so refreshing.  

I leave you with this:

"Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto."  Deuteronomy 15:10 (KJV)

Butterfly Kisses

“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”  Nathaniel Hawthorne 

                                                         photos by Angela

Yesterday I was greeted by several butterflies and bumblees frolicking in and around our bushes ...  Had to snap a few pics of these beauties to share with you all.  Have a great week!

Settling In

I'm still doing massive amounts of organizing, unpacking and making my new digs feel like "home".  I must say that I don't miss apartment life but I definitely miss quiet alone time.   I love people and have missed living with another person at times.   This is all a growing experience and I am pondering exactly why I'm not missing the ol' apartment...
My top reasons:  I'm a nurturer & taking care of things somehow makes me feel worthwhile in this world... wow! Big, eh?  Sometimes though I have to remember to take care of me, too.  So I'm aware that I need to reign it in and not let it take over.  I need to be taken care of too, sometimes :)   It has been quite nice spending time with my brother and his sweet pooch who has been my shadow lately.
I like to cook for others but not just for me... silly I know!  This weekend I'm hoping to get some of our favorite WW recipes dusted off (where is that WW cookbook anyways?  Oh the boxes!) and get this home smelling yummy!  Speaking of, I have TWO cousins that are Scentsy reps and I'm enjoying the white tea/cactus scent at the moment.  Have one in the living room and one in the bathroom.  Works great!
So here I'll leave you with a sweet pic from the other night while relaxing at home ...

Nesting

I have a funny picture to share...

Well, I tried to put my touch on the front door but there's a little bit of a conflict, don't you think?  Adding feminine touches to a mans home takes time, I guess!   Don't get the wrong idea, the man is my brother!
This last fall my brother approached me about moving in to save some dough so we both can be debt free!
I wanted to stop in and say hello and take a break from unpacking and organizing.   Have a great Easter!