Rosette Spoonbill

 

 

Row Of Oaks

 

South end of "Row Of Oaks"

St. Simons Island, GA.

Welcome To The World Baby Girl

Today, 4/11/13, I became a GREAT Aunt Gigi again with the birth of

 Ella Grace Vann

She was born at 2:38 pm

6 lbs 13 oz and 19 1/2 inches long.

Isn't she darling?

Her mother is my niece Jami.

(Carla's daughter and first Grandchild)

I'm doing her first photo shoot tomorrow.

I'm excited!

 

Once her 15 yr old Aunt Anna got to the hospital this afternoon

I get the above message.

It really made me laugh.

We all are cursed with these Padgett toes.

See how long!

What cha think?

She takes after her GREAT Aunt Gigi doesn't she??

 

Can't Quit Thinking...

And wondering...

Just how the wedding plans are going for Lady Mary and Matthew.

I can't wait to be a guest at that wedding.

I bet the cake will be just awesome!

And, Mr. Bates, how is he doing behind bars?

And poor sweet Anna...

And what in the world will we do

when Grandma-ma, Dowager Countess,

 Dame Maggie Smith leaves after season 3???

Can't somebody stop her or yet offer her more money?

Please stop her.

What an awesome cast!

I was excited to learn that most of them have

signed contracts through season 5!

Love, love, love Downton Abbey.

You already know I'm crazy so this

will not come as a shock to you.

Every now and then I have to pull up any

 episode of this show and listen for a few minutes

 just to get a quick fix of that British accent.

Ah, just what I need to get through the

 day and the real problems in life.

Mid~Week~Blues

A little invitation is all we need to find ourselves picking blueberries in 100* temperatures!

Twenty minutes is about all it took to get our fill.

Not fill our buckets but to be done with the fun of picking blueberries in the summertime!

Reagan can eat them as fast as she can pick them.

She used cousin Emma Mae's, blueberry picking container.

It is perfect around her neck leaving her hands free for picking and popping blueberries in her mouth.
Very few berries ended up in her container.

Shel is so talented she can hold her slushy and pick blueberries at the same time.

Thanks for letting us pick on your farm, GREAT-Aunt Juanita and Amanda.

No blueberries were wasted in the picking this day they have all been eaten and now we need some more.

Click on the box above to join in with the Mid Week Blues too.

33 Years Together

December 3, 1977

Mr. and Mrs. Claude Harry Griffis

For my anniversary present, he shaved and when back to a goatee!

It looks so much better.

I'll try and get a new picture this evening sometime.

Also, all I wanted was to have all 3 dogs wash by some one other than myself.

I'm easy like that.

We had them washed yesterday and they smell and look so good.

I love them again.

I love my Sweetheart even more after 33 years.

He's a keeper!

Date night tonight!

Have a great weekend yall.

Yesterday

This was the view from my porch yesterday.

An absolutely beautiful fall day.

Thanksgiving day the forecast is 81* and sunny!

And did you see that awesome full moon tonight?? Perfect!

Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Falsies

Fortunately, I've never had to wear falsies.

But having a $2.00 off coupon I bought this new mascara!

L.O.V.E. it!!!!

Really makes my eyelashes look thicker!

Oh and by the way,

L.O.V.E. this too!

It really is working :)

Friday Shoot Out

Friday Shoot Out

This weeks theme: Feet and Shoes

A run on the beach.

Can you tell what is wrong with this picture?

Wearing flip flops takes great effort sometimes.

These people were sitting next to us at the fire work on the 4th of July.

Socks and flip flops just don't get it.

She was a little over dressed for the occasion.

I love their little bare feet.


Nothing like sandy baby feet.

And sandy little girls feet.

Learning to crawl.

Willies.

Engagement.

The Sweetheart's leg and shoes.

Photo Shoot.

Puppy feet.

Newborn feet.

My tennis shoes.

Reagan's little Croc's.

Maxwell Sterling

To play along or to view other Friday Shoot Out Photo's check this site.

Keeping a Secret

This is my friend Ella Keeney.

She has a great recipe and everyone wanted it.

For 20 years I've had that recipe and never

made it because it is her special "thing."

People have been begging her to share that recipe and she wouldn't.

She would tell them, "when I die, you can get it from Gigi."

So I've been the keeper of the prized secret recipe!!

I feel special and I have kept her secret.

This is what we affectionately call "C.R.A.C.K"

It got it's nickname because it's hard to get out of

the pan and it just cracks out in all different shapes and sizes.

It is very addictive just like a drug :)

Now that there is a drug that goes by the name of "crack"

we have to be more careful what we call this recipe.

We are now trying to call it "Cracker Candy."

Well, Mrs. Ella decided that she wanted to finally share the recipe

for her famous Crack!

And now I don't have to keep the secret any more!!

She invited her friends to a party and

didn't tell them why they were coming.

I knew of course because I was her assistant for the evening.

She called it, Her Unveiling!!

Every one screamed with excitement!


They were finally going to get her secret recipe!


So now it is only fair that I share this
wonderful chocolate CRACK recipe with all of you,
My Best Blogging Friends!!


Preheat the oven to 425*
Butter a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with sides.


Line the pan with crackers.
She uses Nabisco unsalted tops.
Because she uses salted butter.
If you use unsalted butter then use salted top crackers.


In a heavy sauce pan put two sticks of good quality butter (1 cup)
and 1 cup of light brown sugar.
On med to high heat stir until butter is melted and comes to a low boil.


Stir with wooden spoon and cook for about
5 minutes or until it comes to a soft ball stage.
(forms soft balls in ice water)

Pour over crackers.

Spread it out carefully over the crackers.

Put in the oven and bake for 3 to 5 minutes

watching carefully until it bubbles all over.

Take out of oven and immediately pour a package of

milk chocolate chips over hot crackers.
( If you are a dark chocolate lover then use dark chocolate, or you can also use semi-sweet)

Spread the melted chocolate all the way to the edges.

Cool.

Then put in refrigerator until hard.

Then hit the pan on the edge of the counter and crack out the pieces.

Enjoy!!

Okay!!

This was the first time I made it and I skipped the "butter the Pan step" and just sprayed it with Pam.

It came right out of the pan in the crackers shaped squares.

I thought that was a good thing but Mrs Ella said that was cheating and that takes half the fun out of making the Crack(er) Candy!

Either way you do this it's the bomb!!

Ella's Cracker Candy
40 saltine crackers
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup light brown sugar
8 ounces milk chocolate chips (about 1¹⁄3 cups)

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large jellyroll the saltine crackers.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour over the crackers, covering them evenly. Put the jellyroll pan into the oven and watch closely. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes, or until just bubbly. Remove from the oven and pour the chocolate chips over the crackers. When the chips melt a bit, spread them over the crackers with a knife. Transfer the pan to the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until completely cold. They will form one big sheet. Break up into pieces. Store in an airtight container and I keep it in the frig, just because.