Good morning, friends...Hope you all are doing well and enjoying your lives.
We haven't been up to much lately...getting groceries, planting some roses and tomato plants. Last
Summer's drought killed almost everything in our yard! With constant 108F temps and smidgens of rain, and really high water bills...we just gave up! It's the first time, in all the time we've lived here (49yrs), that we just watered the foundation (prevents it from cracking), not the grass. The yard was gorgeous and heavy with St Augustine. I'm just sick...I am seeing sprouts of the St Augustine though...and we've been getting a lot of rain so here's hoping it'll grow back. I fully intend to water it!! (Hubby is a tiny bit tight...not a lot butttt...and I can't really blame him...water prices here are terrible!)
This photo of my sister, Ruth, was taken probably in the around 2015. She's now completed round 5 of the chemo for her colon cancer, and the doctors are saying everything looks very good! After her round 6 treatment she'll have another PET (lights up tumors like a Christmas tree) scan done to see if it's shrinking. Please keep remembering her in your prayers.
Our little Sloane whispering to God...in the beautiful Bluebonnets. (Yes, mom & dad checked for snakes! lol)
Sloane doing a bit of shopping with mommy...
I placed a Bougainvillea on a tree stump (tree kill by drought!). It'll at least provide something pretty in the yard to look at. I've been buying plants and re-planting.
Two tomato plants are really taking off!
New roses planted...look at that parched ground! Horrible!
Mostly weeds now...
We're traveling down this morning to visit with our daughter, Crystal who is visiting her daughter, Samantha and granddaughter, Sloane. I got up early and baked some Walnut Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies. Really good! The sugar cookie is pressed into the center of the chocolate chip cookie... I'll post the recipe on my cooking blog.
(I want to pause here for a moment...I know that some of you already know who my family members are, by face and name but, my new friends don't. That's why I do a re-telling of who different people are. There's nothing much I hate more than trying to figure out how the people in photos belong to different bloggers. I do this so they don't have to go back in my archives and do a search, if really interested...and for people trying to just read a post, most don't have the time or patience to do that).
Our Libby is waiting for a cookie in her PJ's...but she can't have chocolate and besides that, it's too early for cookies! lolol...tell that to Larry! (hubby)
Libby is not happy with me...lol
Larry smoked a Tri-Tip...omgoodness! A seriously tender cut of meat! And a bit pricey but worth it!
And he made butter beans...yum...
Do any of you hike up the centers of your bacon so the edges don't drip grease onto the glass plate in your microwave? It works!
Well, I guess that's it for me...Hope you all are safe and happy wherever you are, so until next time...
31 comments:
Thank you for the update about Ruth. I just said a prayer for her and your family. Little Sloane with the Bluebonnets! Oh, I love that photo. And mama is taking her grocery shopping. I remember that well. The pot of flowers you placed on the stump are so pretty. What a striking color. That's a good idea, and I was thinking of doing that this Spring - they just removed a tree in my yard, and just a stump is left. I know what you mean about planting the roses. I don't know if mine made it through the snow and cold, we'll see. That is the cutest photo of Libby, and not sure I mentioned to you, but I LOVE RED PLAID! And Larry's Tri-Tip looks amazing with the butter beans. You are always making the best looking cookies.
Have a good week ahead, Donna.
~Sheri
WOW! So happy that your sister is doing so well. Of course she is in my prayers! And you too...so that you can continue to support her.
Omg...that baby is just so beautiful!
Bummer about the lawn and garden. I fully understand the loss. It's so depressing, isn't it? I really hope you can replant and maybe try some new drought resistant plants. I guess if it continues, you may have to resort to cacti??? There are some lovely varieties out there.... (I'm just trying to be positive with you)
Glad to hear your sister is doing well. Sloane is looking very cute. Maybe the weather will be more friendly to you this year. We don't pay for water here so we are very lucky plus it doens't get as hot as your place. Have a great week and take car.
I am so sorry to read about the drought and its effect on your yard. It sounds like your St Augustine is a fighter though, and I’m sure your TLC will go a long way to bringing it back. Keeping fingers crossed for you. That’s a lovely photo of Ruth and she will be in my prayers. Adorable photos of sweet Sloane. A perfect spot for the Bougainvillea to brighten the old tree stump. Your tomato plant looks healthy and your roses too. Thank you for the recipe link. Those Walnut Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies look delicious! And oh my goodness, that tri-tip and the butter beans, yum, a feast of a meal. Thanks for the tip on the bacon. I’ll have to try that. Loved the punchline about the prices. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and have a great week.
Keeping your family in prayer...and here in central Florida we are under a drought, the counties surrounding us get rain, but us, not so much, sigh. Wishing you a beautiful week ahead.
I hope your Roses do well! The tomato plants sure are doing great.
The picture of Sloane, falling asleep?? is so cute. Any picture she's in she looks cute.
Can you believe it's almost May? Have a wonderful week.
You are making me hungry today!
That Sloane always looks so cute. I love her big bow.
Glad to have an update on Ruth.
I'm glad your sister is doing well so far! Love the picture of cute little Sloane in her bonnet among the bluebonnets! XO
Pleased to read that your sister is doing well.
Always enjoy seeing photographs of Sloane, she is so cute.
I do hope you may get more rain this year, but I do like the Bougainvillea on the tree stump, it's a lovely colour.
Take care.
All the best Jan
Those cookies look delicious. Sloane is such a cute baby. you must be so proud of your family. Hopefully your sister's x-ray will show good results. I have two close friends with incurable cancer, it is so sad to see them deteriorate. Your plants are looking good considering the drought. You need to do a rain dance.
That Bougainvillea is beautiful! I had one the first year I moved into this house. It had leaves with yellow edges that were beautiful even without the blossoms. It ended up baking in the heat and I lost it. I still miss that plant and it’s been 11 years. I’m glad to hear that your sister is doing so well. Wow, what an interesting recipe. I love the idea of shoving a sugar cookie into the center of chocolate chip cookie dough before baking it. I am going to try that.
Well your sister is doing well getting through her treatment. Saying prayers for her, I remember to.
A darling child there, and glad someone checked for snakes.
That is a warm temperature to have day after day, let's hope it cools before too long.
Take care.
Prayers still coming for your sister. She's done well getting through all that chemo.
Sloane is absolutely adorable sitting there in the bluebonnets.
Glad your sister’s health improves I will keep her in my prayers.
Sloane is always SO cute! The cookies look very tempting, I think I will have a try.
We have planted only a few plants because water is also very expensive here and we had troubles to keep all plants alive last summer that was so hot.
Oh, that photo of Sloane in the bluebonnets made me smile out-loud! All those years I lived in Texas and not once went to see bluebonnets (head slap). Can't say I've made cookies since Home Economics, but I'm clipping this recipe for our next Bible study brunch ... everyone tries to bring something out of the ordinary, and this would sure fit the bill.
PS - I remember a coworker who left me a note when Tom was going through his cancer journey, preparing for the next day's PET scan.
Today, I'll echo Brian's prayer for your sis: "Praying for darkness."
Aww...adorable baby! And love all the photos.
Thanks for sharing the photos of food! Love it all!
Wow, I like all the photos. And such a beautiful baby.
Donna, thanks for visiting my blog!! I enjoyed your post today and your little Sloane is SO precious and adorable! Enjoy your visit!!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your sister!
Aww, how sweet is that photo of Sloane among the bluebonnets.
Our weather's been quite the opposite - much too wet - but our garden is lapping it all up. Wish I could send you some well-needed rain! xxx
We could use some rain also, and looking outside it just might happen!
Prayers sent up for your sister, Donna. There are times that we need to give it all to God.
Sloane is adorable.
Your food always looks so good! :)
xoxo
Enjoy your visit with your wonderful family, and those cookies look so yummy. I can't eat the walnuts..they really do a number on my tongue...but I can dream of how good they really are.
The photo of Sloane "talking" to God is precious. I really do think little ones have a direct line to Him..
Prayers continuing for your Sis. Cancer is so awful. Praying for good results and peace for all of you.
Just a side note on us...
Card that got scams is being replaced with new number and will be in our hands shortly. Fortunately we lost no money. Everything cleared and now it's hopefully on to better things.
Sue
The drought really does a number, and so does the arctic freezes we’ve been having here in Texas. It was good cathching yo with you and your last posts, Donna. Prayers for your sister!
Still thoughts and prayers for Ruth. Wondering where Sloan got that wonderful quilt. When Frankie follows me from the kitchen I only have to say "chocolate" and she lays down dropping her pursuit.
Took a blog break to get a little refresher to my mind and body. Caregiving can take it's toll. But refreshed and back to my blog and visiting my friends. Your pictues are so lovely, and your family so special. The food you post makes me drool on my keyboard....stop it!!! haha. I want one of those cookies!
Blessing and hugs
Wanda
OMG, I could dive into those cookies and eat my way out:)
I hate when we don't get enough rain for the plants and grass. I trust this summer will be better.
Hugs
First: best wishes to your dear sister! I believe, she will be a winner!
Little sloane is sweetst" Adorable!
Sorry for the dryness in your garden and for the loss of many plants and the tree. I hope you will soon enjoy new plants and flowers.
The cookies look delicious! I get hungry to see them! :)
Your sweet dog's face is looking like a human :)
Many greetings and hugs from Dori from the Bavarian Forest!
Sending prayers to your sister and also its good to know she is doing well.
https://www.melodyjacob.com/
Hi Donna. I am glad that your sister is tolerating the chemo well. Prayers that her tumors shrink and disappear. Colon cancer seems to be becoming more and more common. We have some friends whose 40-year-old son is also undergoing chemo for colon cancer. I am very late seeing this post. It's been a busy week. All the food looks so delicious! Have a good weekend. See you again soon!
Hey there, Donna! I'm so glad to hear your sister, Ruth is putting up a good fight, not pulling any punches! I hope her good progress continues...best thought and wishes go out to her.
Little Sloane is blooming lovely, more beautiful than any blossoms! :)
Give Libby a pat from me....take good care. :)
Thank you for the update on Ruth! I have remembered to pray but got mixed up in my mind as to whose sister she is - I thought she belonged to someone else but they said no. Talk about a poor memory - seems Louis Dean are often in the same boat! The reason I remembered to pray was her name is in my prayer journal - and now I'm going to add 'Donna's sister' next to it!
Praise God and continued prayers for her journey to health.
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