Who's Afraid of a Little Thunder??

Thunder!

The month of June has been filled with lightning, thunder and rain!

Guess who is afraid of thunder???

Miss Muffy!

Muffy had a recent visit to the spa -- she loves her new Scottish look!

It started last year around the 4th of July -

actually -- before the 4th -- too many loud booms!

Ever since, she has had her own little 

doggie Valium prescription to deal with fireworks

and thunder!

Looking a little shaggy before her grooming appt!

The past week I was up at least 3 times in the middle 

of the night (1 AM, 2:30 AM and 4:40 AM)

due to more thunderstorms!

It's like having a baby in the house!

She and I move to the basement and turn on

the TV for a little background noise

while I try to catch a few more zzzzz's!

I don't know how many episodes

of House Hunters she's watched on HGTV . . . 

but a LOT!

Hoping for fewer storms and a quiet

4th of July -- but in our neighborhood --

quiet on the 4th just doesn't happen!

Better get the doggie Valium prescription refilled!

Hello Summer - Hello Monday!

Well . . . Hello Summer!

Actually, we have had such hot temps since early May,

so it has felt like summer for quite some time!

But, after that long, cold winter, who cares!

Bring on the warm temps!

(Hate to wish it away, but my frizzy hair and I could do without

the extreme humidity!)  

I scared a few people the other 

morning after my early morning run! 

Ha!

 Not kidding!

Anywho, here's to summer and some of our favorite things!

So happy to see my lovely hydrangea decide to bloom this year!

The bee balm is also blooming!

I always think of it as a precursor to the 4th of July

as it reminds me of a firework!

With that name, I figured it was a flower to either keep

away or lure bees!

Not so!

You can actually make tea from the leaves 

which is a balm for sore throats and headaches!

Bonus -- the oil in the leaves can be used to treat

insect bites and congestion!

AND 

it has a lovely big red bloom!

Who knew all these interesting facts??

Dr. Google, that's who!

And now, you do too!

Summer is time for the pool

and chips for Miss M -- that chip-loving girl!

Big bro, Connor (Cboo) also was able to join us one afternoon

at the pool.

Welcome Summer -- we are so happy to 

have you back!

Fun With the Littles!

Maddy and I had the chance to spend

an evening with the little kiddos a couple

weeks ago while Philip and Catherine 

went to a new parishioner/welcome church dinner!

We had lovely weather and spent most

of the evening 

on their wonderful deck!

Honestly, if I could, I would make a copy of that deck 

and put it on our house!

It's so relaxing!

The kids had so much fun on the old 

Little Tykes playset. 

Maddy used that Little Tykes playset

when she was just a little girl.

It's a perfect size for Janie & Walt!

We also passed along a Little Tykes

convertible the boys had when they were little guys!

Yes, my name is jboo and I am a hoarder!

GAH!

At least once in a while, that hoarding 

tendency comes in handy!

We are so so happy to have them close by now.

Adorable Mr. Harry was a happy little observer 

from his post in the pack n play.

Lots of fun times ahead, I'm sure!

Toes and Surgery!

Oh yes, she danced and danced and danced some more, 

and then . . . 

her toes gave out!

Well actually, they had been bothering Miss M for quite some time.

But we decided to wait until after dance recital

to have her ingrown toenails (yes, plural) attended to by the foot doc!

Twice before, her left big toe had a nasty ingrown nail that was

doctored on at the pediatrician's office.

Even after going through that twice (last December and this past March)
 and working very hard to
keep the nail from becoming ingrown again,
there was no stopping it.
 She just has really small and curved nail beds. 

And then, more bad news,
 the right big toe decided to go sour too!

She was exhausted after that ordeal!

So, both toes had a surgical procedure with a really big and 

complicated name -- that I have already put out of my mind!!

What it basically means is that they removed the toenails
 along both sides

and put in these torturous-looking long q-tips with deadly 

medicine to kill the nail bed along both sides.

They left a part of the toenail down the middle so

there will be a nail to polish!

We all know all important polished toes are, right!?!

Oh dear -- what a procedure!

BIG shot to deaden the toes and those were the worst according to Maddy.

Soaking continues daily and we think the healing has begun.

Cross your fingers.

No one deserves to have such a nasty procedure

on their toes, especially not my sweet Maddy!

Brave girl!

She Could Have Danced All Night!

Last weekend was dance recital weekend!

Oh my word -- what a production!!

Dance recital weekend is big as in B I G! 

There were extra practices, professional (??) photos,

bun workshops (should have attended!)

dress rehearsal, costumes and then two, yes two, performances!

Maddy was in Acrodance -- a combination of acrobatics/gymnastics

with a little dance thrown in for good measure.

This was the first year Acrodance was in the recital and

as it didn't seem like they really had a performance figured out for the young

Acrodancers.

Even so, Maddy and the other dancers did a fabulous job especially with the

 rather large number of dancers on the stage -- 

luckily, no one got hit during a cartwheel or back walkover! 

So proud of Miss M and the hard work she put in!

Bonus, I even figured out how to manage a pretty good "low bun!!"

It was so much fun to see the little girls doing their ballet and tap -

so adorable!  

Some little cuties totally forgot what to do

and stood and played with their tutus!  

So sweet!

Happy to report there were no "Dance Moms" in 

Maddy's group!  

And now a break from dance for the summer

except for some short fun camps!

We Heart Pool Time!

It's SUMMER!

One of my and Maddy's favorite things to do . . . 

go to the pool!

Generally, we try to do some household jobs in the mornings and 

then have the afternoons free!

This summer is so very different!

Have never gone to the pool

during the day on weekdays!

It's nice, verrrrry nice!

So, during the first full week of summer

vacation, we were at the pool

almost every afternoon!

Water temp -- freezing for a while

and then due to the extra hot temps,

it warmed right up!

We're starting this week off a bit

chilly, but pretty sure that more pool time

will be in order soon!

So, grab your towel and join us!

Don't forget the sunscreen!

A Change Will Do You (I mean Me) Good!

Hello Friends -- Happy June!

How can it be June already?

Flowers from my sister!

I have a big change to announce . . . 

I'm no longer working at a full-time job!

Yippee Skippee!

After working since I was 15 years old  --

no, not at the same job silly -- 

I decided it was time for me to take a break!

My coworkers may have thought I needed a break after
 I wore "Where's Waldo" glasses at work last Halloween!

I am not saying that I've retired as I'm sure you know

I am NOT old enough to retire!

So, let's call it focusing on other things!

Like my most adorable family!

Yummy chocolates from Jodee on my last day!

As you might guess, Maddy is beyond thrilled!

We plan to ride bicycles, go to the zoo, spend time with Philip and Catherine and the little kids,
learn something new,

clean the house, declutter, go to the pool,
and basically do whatever we feel like doing!

Mr. Tennis said that I could perhaps re-acquaint myself with the iron and ironing board! 

And figure out how the oven works!  

Too funny!  

Ha!  He cracks me up!!  

Me and Jodee -- we may have had a reputation of talking too much sometimes!

It was really a tough decision as I'd worked at the same law firm for almost 32 years!

I was nearly a blubbering fool on my last day,

but managed to contain myself by forcing my co-workers to get in 

"selfies + 1" photos with me!

Sorry I can't post them all, but may try to sneak one or two in as time goes by!

Office manager and me -- our offices were next door and we often chatted about our grandkids!

Loved the people I worked with and miss them already!

One of the lawyers I've worked with for 30+ years!

Another of the lawyers I worked with -- sorry for my psycho look - blaming it on the Iphone!

Maddy is a little concerned about how I will fill my time

when summer is over and it's back to school for her!

She thinks I'd make a good Lunch Lady! :)
Bring on the summer fun!

Quiche Anyone?

Do you like quiche?

I love it!

My Mom and I would always choose quiche if it

was on the menu!

Whenever I make it, I think of her and wish she

was here to enjoy it with me.

I modified this Paula Deen recipe and I believe that

even Paula (yes, we are on a first-name basis) would agree

that mine is now better than hers!  And mine is less fattening too.  

(Photo courtesy of world wide web, but  mine looks exactly like this)

So, I thought you might like it too.

I call it Southwestern Spinach & Ham Quiche.

Paula calls hers something else totally boring.

Here's my recipe!

3 large eggs + 3/4 cup of Egg Beaters-Southwestern Style;

3/4 cup of half and half + 3/4 cup of skim milk;

Salt and pepper (a dash of each);

1 to 1-1/2 cups of chopped baby spinach (I use fresh, but frozen probably
works too);

A generous amount of honey ham or cooked bacon (whatever you prefer) crumbled;

1 cup of shredded Swiss cheese;

1 deep-dish (my preference) pie crust;

(You can make your own pie crust, but the frozen ones are delish, so seriously,
why would you?)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Chop up the spinach and crumble the ham or bacon.  Set aside.

Use a hand-mixer to mix the eggs, Egg-Beaters, salt, pepper, milk and half and half in a bowl.

Mix well - make it fluffy!

Layer the spinach, ham and Swiss cheese in the bottom of the pie crust, then

pour the egg mixture on top.  If it doesn't seem full enough, beat another egg or add

a little more Egg-beaters.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until set.

Best to let it cool for 5 - 10 minutes before serving.

(The Southwestern Egg-Beaters give it a little kick!)

Even Maddy likes it!

If you have any leftovers (doubtful), refrigerate and

have later or the next day.
Mr. Tennis says it's yummy cold, but you can also zap it in the microwave.

Serve with a salad (not at breakfast please),
 toast or blueberry muffins!

It's really good with a little Mimosa

 (what isn't good with Mimosa?)

Photo courtesy of the world wide web

Enjoy the quiche --  hope you love it!

And, you're welcome!  :)