These are some of the beauties I like.....what about you?
I'm sooooo excited! Thanks Ann-Marie for the tip. You're a real gem!
Sign up HERE for yours.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Free Christmas Cards
I just wanted to spread the good news that Shutterfly is giving away FREE Christmas cards if you blog about it! I can't wait to get mine!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Baked Pasta with Roasted Summer Veggies
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1– red bell peppers, diced
- 1–2 zucchini(s),
- chopped yellow onion
- chopped summer squash, diced (can also substitute/add summer squash, carrots, eggplant, mushrooms, etc.)
- 2 T. olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 lb. penne pasta
- 1 c. ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- ½ c. parmesan cheese
- pinch of nutmeg
- 1 T. fresh oregano, chopped
- ½ lb. mozarella, cubed or shredded (or less—½ lb. is VERY cheesy)
- ½ c. bread crumbs (optional)
Preheat oven to 425. In a large bowl, toss olive oil, garlic, red pepper, and zucchini, with salt & pepper to taste. Place vegetables on a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes. While vegetables are roasting, boil and drain pasta. In a large bowl, mix the ricotta, mozzarella, oregano, parmesan, and nutmeg. Season to taste with salt & pepper. Coat pasta with 2ish T. EVOO and then mix with chesse mixture. Gently toss in vegetables.
Transfer mixture to a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle the top with additional parmesan and bread crumbs. Bake, uncovered, until lightly browned and bubbling (about 20 minutes). Serve immediately.
Transfer mixture to a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle the top with additional parmesan and bread crumbs. Bake, uncovered, until lightly browned and bubbling (about 20 minutes). Serve immediately.
Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Chicken Salad
4 cups romaine and leaf lettuce
1/4 cup cilantro
1/2 can black beans, rinsed
1/2-1 cup grated Jack cheese
1/4 cup teriyaki marinade
2 chicken breasts
1 cups toasted corn tortilla strips
1/2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
1/2 cups diced, seeded tomatoes
Marinate chicken one hour in teriyaki marinade. Broil and baste chicken aprox. 15 minutes, cool, cut into bite size pieces or shred. In the bowl add lettuce, cilantro, cheese, beans, tomatoes and corn. Mix salad with lime dressing (see below). Add chicken & tortilla strips. Drizzle with peanut butter dressing (see below).
Lime Dressing
1/2 t lime zest
2 T lime juice
1/4 cup snipped cilantro
1/4 t salt
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 c olive oil
Process until well blended
Peanut dressing
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 T brown sugar
2 T soy sauce
2 t Hot chili oil
1 1/2 T red wine vinegar
3T chunky peanut butter
3T sesame oil
Process until well blended
Sunday, May 16, 2010
New foodie blogs
I have a couple new blogs that I am loving
homesicktexan.blogspot.com
ourbestbites.blogspot.com.
Happy eating.
homesicktexan.blogspot.com
ourbestbites.blogspot.com.
Happy eating.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Old Spaghetti Factory Mizithra Pasta
• 1 c. butter
• 1 c. Mizithra cheese (a greek hard cheese)
• pasta of choice
Cut 2 sticks of butter into 8 pieces and place in a sauce pan. Place the pan of butter over medium high heat. Bring the butter to a slow boil. Once the butter begins to boil, stir constantly to prevent residue from sticking to the bottom of the pan. As the butter cooks, it will start to foam and rise. continue stirring, otherwise the butter foam could overflow (about 5 minutes).
Once the butter stops foaming and rising, cook until amber in color (another 1-2 minutes). It will start to smell like caramel. (yum). Turn off the heat and remove the pan from the burner. Let the sediment settle to the bottom then pour the browned butter Through a strainer into a small bowl. Do not distrub the residue at the bottom of the pan.
Boil your pasta of choice (we use spaghetti noodles). Drain pasta and divide into four servings, then spread 1/4 c. of Mizithra over each pasta serving. Top with 1/4 c. hot browned butter.
****In the restaurant you can order this dish with another sauce along side. That's how I like it. So I made some fresh meatballs and served those with marinara, and then this along side. Delish! However, because I did this, I probably didn't even use 1/4 of the butter it calls for. Next time I'll cut it in 1/4. Oh, and I also bought fresh pasta----WOW--I'm not sure I'll be able to go back!
• 1 c. Mizithra cheese (a greek hard cheese)
• pasta of choice
Cut 2 sticks of butter into 8 pieces and place in a sauce pan. Place the pan of butter over medium high heat. Bring the butter to a slow boil. Once the butter begins to boil, stir constantly to prevent residue from sticking to the bottom of the pan. As the butter cooks, it will start to foam and rise. continue stirring, otherwise the butter foam could overflow (about 5 minutes).
Once the butter stops foaming and rising, cook until amber in color (another 1-2 minutes). It will start to smell like caramel. (yum). Turn off the heat and remove the pan from the burner. Let the sediment settle to the bottom then pour the browned butter Through a strainer into a small bowl. Do not distrub the residue at the bottom of the pan.
Boil your pasta of choice (we use spaghetti noodles). Drain pasta and divide into four servings, then spread 1/4 c. of Mizithra over each pasta serving. Top with 1/4 c. hot browned butter.
****In the restaurant you can order this dish with another sauce along side. That's how I like it. So I made some fresh meatballs and served those with marinara, and then this along side. Delish! However, because I did this, I probably didn't even use 1/4 of the butter it calls for. Next time I'll cut it in 1/4. Oh, and I also bought fresh pasta----WOW--I'm not sure I'll be able to go back!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thai Sticky Rice w/ Mangoes
1 1/2 cups glutinous (sweet) rice
1 1/3 cups well-stirred canned unsweetened coconut milk
1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large ripe mangoes (chilled whole in refrigerator)*
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted lightly
Edible flowers or mint leaves for garnish
*Try to get yellow-skinned "Manila" mangoes. Fresh ripe peaches may be substituted for the mangoes.
To prepare the sticky rice: Working in the sink, put the rice into a large bowl with plenty of water; stir well by hand. When the rice has settled to the bottom, pour off most of the cloudy water, refill and repeat until the water runs fairly clear. Soak the rice in plenty of water (so the water is approximately 2 to 3 inches above the rice) for 6 to 8 hours, preferably overnight (the grains will absorb water and grow in size). When ready to cook, drain rice well in a sieve. Set sieve over a large deep pot of simmering water (sieve should not touch water) and steam rice, covered with a kitchen towel and a lid, approximately 30 to 40 minutes, or until tender (check water level in pan occasionally, adding more hot water if necessary). When rice is translucent and somewhat tender, it's done. NOTE: Can also use a shallow heat-proof dish on the steamer rack. You can also purchase the special sticky rice steam baskets (steaming baskets and pots are available from Asian markets).
While rice is steaming, in a small saucepan bring coconut milk to a slow simmer, stirring constantly (hard boiled coconut milk will curdle). Add sugar and salt; stirring until sugar is dissolved; remove from heat. Keep mixture warm. Reserve approximately 1/3 to 1/2 cup coconut-milk sauce; refrigerate until cool and thicken slightly.
Transfer hot cooked rice to a bowl and stir in coconut-milk mixture. Stir well with a spoon to make sure all the grains are well coated. Let rice stand, covered, approximately 20 to 30 minutes, or until coconut-milk mixture is absorbed (the rice should be a little mushy). NOTE: Rice may be prepared up to this point 2 hours ahead and kept covered at room temperature.
Just before serving, peel mangoes and then thinly slice by cutting lengthwise through flesh to the stone; discard the stone. NOTE: Peel the mangoes carefully so as not to bruise the fruit. Slice in half as close to the seed as possible, then slice each half into 1/2-in (1-cm) slices.
Serve at room temperature. To serve, mold 1/4 cup servings of sticky rice in the center of individual dessert plates (an ice cream scoop works wonderfully). Drizzle reserved coconut-milk sauce over the rice mounds and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Arrange mango slices around the rice. Garnish with edible flowers or mint if desired.
NOTE: The finished dish can be kept, covered at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours. Do not refrigerate or the rice will harden!
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
1 1/3 cups well-stirred canned unsweetened coconut milk
1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large ripe mangoes (chilled whole in refrigerator)*
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted lightly
Edible flowers or mint leaves for garnish
*Try to get yellow-skinned "Manila" mangoes. Fresh ripe peaches may be substituted for the mangoes.
To prepare the sticky rice: Working in the sink, put the rice into a large bowl with plenty of water; stir well by hand. When the rice has settled to the bottom, pour off most of the cloudy water, refill and repeat until the water runs fairly clear. Soak the rice in plenty of water (so the water is approximately 2 to 3 inches above the rice) for 6 to 8 hours, preferably overnight (the grains will absorb water and grow in size). When ready to cook, drain rice well in a sieve. Set sieve over a large deep pot of simmering water (sieve should not touch water) and steam rice, covered with a kitchen towel and a lid, approximately 30 to 40 minutes, or until tender (check water level in pan occasionally, adding more hot water if necessary). When rice is translucent and somewhat tender, it's done. NOTE: Can also use a shallow heat-proof dish on the steamer rack. You can also purchase the special sticky rice steam baskets (steaming baskets and pots are available from Asian markets).
While rice is steaming, in a small saucepan bring coconut milk to a slow simmer, stirring constantly (hard boiled coconut milk will curdle). Add sugar and salt; stirring until sugar is dissolved; remove from heat. Keep mixture warm. Reserve approximately 1/3 to 1/2 cup coconut-milk sauce; refrigerate until cool and thicken slightly.
Transfer hot cooked rice to a bowl and stir in coconut-milk mixture. Stir well with a spoon to make sure all the grains are well coated. Let rice stand, covered, approximately 20 to 30 minutes, or until coconut-milk mixture is absorbed (the rice should be a little mushy). NOTE: Rice may be prepared up to this point 2 hours ahead and kept covered at room temperature.
Just before serving, peel mangoes and then thinly slice by cutting lengthwise through flesh to the stone; discard the stone. NOTE: Peel the mangoes carefully so as not to bruise the fruit. Slice in half as close to the seed as possible, then slice each half into 1/2-in (1-cm) slices.
Serve at room temperature. To serve, mold 1/4 cup servings of sticky rice in the center of individual dessert plates (an ice cream scoop works wonderfully). Drizzle reserved coconut-milk sauce over the rice mounds and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Arrange mango slices around the rice. Garnish with edible flowers or mint if desired.
NOTE: The finished dish can be kept, covered at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours. Do not refrigerate or the rice will harden!
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Chicken and Dumplings
This was great, easy and comforting.
Here is what I did.
In my slow cooker I layered
1. medium sized whole red potatoes
2. 1 quartered onion
3 Frozen chicken breast
4 carrots, ( celery and leeks would be good too.)
Then I mixed
1 can cream of chicken
about 1/2 can of broth
some poultry seasoning 1 tsp maybe
2 teaspoons about of Susie Q seasoning
and dumped it over the chicken.
Dumplings
These were so good and light!
1 C Flout
3/4 C cake flour (softaskilk)
2 t baking powder
1/2 t soda
3/4 t salt
3 T shortening
I mixed these in my kitchenaid with the cake paddle untill it was crumby (just go slow!)
Add 1 large egg
3/4 C butter milk.
about 40 minutes before serving, turn it up to high, and twenty minutes before serving use a big spoon to shape a dumpling and place it ON TOP of a piece of chicken or potato. If you just put it on the sauce it will just disintigrate.
They don't brown so just give a little toothpick test.
So Yummy
Here is what I did.
In my slow cooker I layered
1. medium sized whole red potatoes
2. 1 quartered onion
3 Frozen chicken breast
4 carrots, ( celery and leeks would be good too.)
Then I mixed
1 can cream of chicken
about 1/2 can of broth
some poultry seasoning 1 tsp maybe
2 teaspoons about of Susie Q seasoning
and dumped it over the chicken.
Dumplings
These were so good and light!
1 C Flout
3/4 C cake flour (softaskilk)
2 t baking powder
1/2 t soda
3/4 t salt
3 T shortening
I mixed these in my kitchenaid with the cake paddle untill it was crumby (just go slow!)
Add 1 large egg
3/4 C butter milk.
about 40 minutes before serving, turn it up to high, and twenty minutes before serving use a big spoon to shape a dumpling and place it ON TOP of a piece of chicken or potato. If you just put it on the sauce it will just disintigrate.
They don't brown so just give a little toothpick test.
So Yummy
Thursday, January 14, 2010
overnight cinnamon apple oatmeal
I found this recipie in a new slow cooker book. Here is my version.
1 cup old-fashioned oats (not instant or 2 minute)
1 cup steel cut oats (use more of the other if you don't have them)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 t salt
5 cups water ( subsitute some apple juice if you like, but more than 2 cups of juice makes it really sweet).
1-2 apples or pears chopped (I don't bother to peel them) The smaller the dice the more it blends into the oatmeal
combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours or hight for 2-3 hours. If you use a smaller crock pot its best.
We added a little butter when we served it. This fed 3 kids and two adults with a little to spare.
1 cup old-fashioned oats (not instant or 2 minute)
1 cup steel cut oats (use more of the other if you don't have them)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 t salt
5 cups water ( subsitute some apple juice if you like, but more than 2 cups of juice makes it really sweet).
1-2 apples or pears chopped (I don't bother to peel them) The smaller the dice the more it blends into the oatmeal
combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours or hight for 2-3 hours. If you use a smaller crock pot its best.
We added a little butter when we served it. This fed 3 kids and two adults with a little to spare.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Key Lime Pie -- from Southern Living
Key Lime Pie -- from Southern Living
Try THIS and be deliciously pleased!
1 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 T. sugar
4 T. butter, melted
3 large eggs, separated
1 - 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 c. fresh Key Lime juice
1 T. lemon juice
2 t. grated Key Lime rind
2 T. sugar
Top with whipped cream:
1 c. whipping cream
1 T. powdered sugar
1/2 t. vanilla extract
Garnish: quartered lime slices
Combine first 3 ingredients; press onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of a 9-inch pan. Chill at least 1 hour.
Whisk egg yolks; add condensed milk and next 3 ingredients, whisking until smooth.
Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy; gradually add 2 T sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Fold into yolk mixture; spoon into prepared crust.
Bake at 325 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until set and lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack; cover and chill 8 hours.
Beat whipping cream at high speed with electric mixer until slightly thickened; add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until soft peaks form.
Dollop whipped cream around top of pie. Garnish, if desired
Try THIS and be deliciously pleased!
1 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 T. sugar
4 T. butter, melted
3 large eggs, separated
1 - 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 c. fresh Key Lime juice
1 T. lemon juice
2 t. grated Key Lime rind
2 T. sugar
Top with whipped cream:
1 c. whipping cream
1 T. powdered sugar
1/2 t. vanilla extract
Garnish: quartered lime slices
Combine first 3 ingredients; press onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of a 9-inch pan. Chill at least 1 hour.
Whisk egg yolks; add condensed milk and next 3 ingredients, whisking until smooth.
Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy; gradually add 2 T sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Fold into yolk mixture; spoon into prepared crust.
Bake at 325 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until set and lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack; cover and chill 8 hours.
Beat whipping cream at high speed with electric mixer until slightly thickened; add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until soft peaks form.
Dollop whipped cream around top of pie. Garnish, if desired
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The things Dave tells me...
So, today Dave casually mentions that Grandpa MacKay had cancer in his kidneys! He just learned that yesterday when his dad told him that he remembers driving Grandpa home from Yellowstone to get him to an ER where they had to remove the kidney becuase is was full of tumors. Isn't that just great to know. Now I have another thing to let my anxiety take hold of. Sometimes I wish I could edit my memory. It's a good thing I love him so much, otherwise I might just edit this whole week out.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thank You
I just wanted to thank all of you for being so supportive during this hard time in our lives. It is through your support that we are able to keep one foot in front of the other and beat this hard trial. We love you and wish we were closer. Thank you so much. We love you all.
Hailey,
Thanks for the invite, I will send Meg one!!! I just wanted you to know how much we are praying for Sam, and how much you are in our thoughts. Mer and Meg have told me how great you are being and how strong you are. He is very lucky to have you and Nick for parents. What a cute blog, Meg you would love it if you could see it!!!
love you all
jen
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sampson's Blog address is:
www.mighty-sam.blogspot.com
If you haven't been invited (Hailey doensn't have your email) You can use Mikell's
username: mikelldemille@hotmail.com
password: christopher
I would give you mine but I haven't been invited.
Meg
www.mighty-sam.blogspot.com
If you haven't been invited (Hailey doensn't have your email) You can use Mikell's
username: mikelldemille@hotmail.com
password: christopher
I would give you mine but I haven't been invited.
Meg
Monday, June 22, 2009
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bars
These are amazing. I'm including the changes I made, but I'm happy to give the original recipie if you want it. ( I double this and put it in a regular jelly roll pan, the 9 x 13)
2 1/4 C Flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 C butter (room temp)
1/2 C granular sugar
1 1/2 c packed brown sugar
2 large eggs beaten and room temp
1 T vanilla
1/2 C unsweetened cocoa (Giradelli is way better than Hersheys)
2 C Chocolate Chips ( or anything else you like MM etc)
1 C Nuts
Preheat to 350
Sift dry ingredients
Cream butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and cocoa. Stir in dry mix untill combined. Add candy and chocolate chips.
Pat into a 9 in square pan bake at 350 for 20 t0 25 minutes.
(When it comes out, lift it a couple inches off the counter and drop it flat. This makes the air push out and it will be more dense and moist!)
You are gonna love it.
2 1/4 C Flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 C butter (room temp)
1/2 C granular sugar
1 1/2 c packed brown sugar
2 large eggs beaten and room temp
1 T vanilla
1/2 C unsweetened cocoa (Giradelli is way better than Hersheys)
2 C Chocolate Chips ( or anything else you like MM etc)
1 C Nuts
Preheat to 350
Sift dry ingredients
Cream butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and cocoa. Stir in dry mix untill combined. Add candy and chocolate chips.
Pat into a 9 in square pan bake at 350 for 20 t0 25 minutes.
(When it comes out, lift it a couple inches off the counter and drop it flat. This makes the air push out and it will be more dense and moist!)
You are gonna love it.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Great story for FHA
Two ChoicesWhat would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one.. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.Where is the natural order of things in my son?'The audience was stilled by the query.The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'Then he told the following story:Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.In the bottom of the ninth in ning, Shay's team scored again.Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.However, as Shay stepped up to theplate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!Run to first!'Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home..
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!Shay, run to third!'As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.Shay didn't make it to another summer.. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process ?A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.May your day, be a Shay Day.
The game would now be over.The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!Run to first!'Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home..
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!Shay, run to third!'As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.Shay didn't make it to another summer.. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process ?A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.May your day, be a Shay Day.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Our First Fieldtrip
We will be meeting at the Front Runner Station in Farmington (take the Park Lane exit. You will see it directly west of the freeway. There is an entrance off of the overpass). We'll meet at 12:20. It leaves at 12:42. The cost is $10 for 4 people roundtrip (I thought this was a great deal). We will ride to Gateway. At Gateway the kids can run through the fountains. I'm going to pack a lunch ( you don't have to do this). I thought we could get icecream there as well. Hope to see you there!
MiKell (my cell: 678-0290)
We will be meeting at the Front Runner Station in Farmington (take the Park Lane exit. You will see it directly west of the freeway. There is an entrance off of the overpass). We'll meet at 12:20. It leaves at 12:42. The cost is $10 for 4 people roundtrip (I thought this was a great deal). We will ride to Gateway. At Gateway the kids can run through the fountains. I'm going to pack a lunch ( you don't have to do this). I thought we could get icecream there as well. Hope to see you there!
MiKell (my cell: 678-0290)
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Here is the summer schedule for all those who are interested. I hope that it doesn't appear that I am trying to be the President of the summer time activities. I have found in my own life that if I don't plan something and tell someone else that I planned it, it doesn't ever happen. The first boating trip is this Tuesday the 9th. We will meet at Smith's at 11:00. We will shoot for every Thursday thereafter, except for family vacation weeks or holiday weeks we might switch it to Wed. If you will email and let me know if you are going that week, I will divide up the food for lunch and send out assignments.
The field trip activity will be on Tuesdays at 12:00. Each person will have a week to be in charge of planning the activity and posting the details on the blog. The activity can be as simple as a hike or exploring a new park or as big as Raging Waters. You choose.
Here is the schedule for the Field trips:
June 16th Meg
June 23rd Jenny
June 30th Mar
July 14th Mikell
July 21st Heidi
July 28th Natalie
August 4 th
August 11th
If your week doesn't work, see if you can switch with someone.
Thanks!!
Meg
The field trip activity will be on Tuesdays at 12:00. Each person will have a week to be in charge of planning the activity and posting the details on the blog. The activity can be as simple as a hike or exploring a new park or as big as Raging Waters. You choose.
Here is the schedule for the Field trips:
June 16th Meg
June 23rd Jenny
June 30th Mar
July 14th Mikell
July 21st Heidi
July 28th Natalie
August 4 th
August 11th
If your week doesn't work, see if you can switch with someone.
Thanks!!
Meg
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