Memorial Day weekend

In of honor the men and women that gave their lives so that we may have the freedoms we know today...

My maternal grandfather;
Anthony Lawrence Armetta age, 20

WW1 1914-1918

Oh for the love of Aprons!

Well I'm on to another post about aprons. My MIL asked me if I was going to post anything else about the Apron auction we did a couple of Saturday's ago and I told her I didn't think so because my pictures turned out sort of icky. But then I received an email from her sister (Marie) wanting to do the same type of auction and fund raiser so...I thought I'd dig out a couple pictures to post. 

While I was perusing, I came across a link called 
Apron Memories its the most adorable Apron website.

Also here are two darling little books I have, one is called 

"Apronisms" Pocket Wisdom for Every Day

Its just the cutest little thing about 2 inches by 3 inches big.

and the other is this sweet book (one of my all time favorites)

The Apron-Book

 Ok now, here's the apron pictures 

I thought didn't turn out too well...

Now, just for fun stop in on my friend Elizabeth's

 blogspot Toile to see the cutest little apron

she made for an apron swap. Its adorable!

Dorothy was right...

There is no place like home and it was just the most joyous place to be this weekened...

What does RESPECT mean to you? Appropriate for today...

OK so today's blog has no pretty pictures but it is in keeping with my heavy heart today. I ask you the question, what does RESPECT mean to you? Please take the time to reflect on this question...
Here is what it means to me and you must know, its taken me 53 years to understand and believe this  about the most important person I know...me!

Respect means you give it and expect it back. This is how you choose good friends and hold your own to strengthen your character.

Respect is:
•Never lying to family or good friends. Learn to be responsible for your own actions.
•Keeping knowledge in confidence when someone tells you their true feelings or hidden secrets.
•Not purposely hurting someones feelings out of meanness and if you should hurt someones feelings without realizing it have the guts to look them in the face and apologize.
•No matter what your job is always have respect for yourself and do your job well. This also means respecting coworkers no matter how small their job may be.
•Being honest in business.
•Integrity.
•Loyalty to yourself and those around you.
•Kindness and compassion.
•Giving back to or helping those in need when you are fortunate enough to keep your own head above water financially.
•Helping those in need by volunteering services.
•Have respect for the world around you and nature in general.
•When you know someone that has done something wrong then don't be afraid to face them and tell them.
•Stand up for the underdogs of this world because sometimes they don't have the power or energy to do so themselves.
• Always do the right thing and never compromise on these values.


A good friend said to me today; "Remember who you are in the world and never let them knock you down" She's right...

Cute guy in the neighborhood wears yellow underpants...

OK so today I happen to be home from work and I was (surprise) talking on the phone to my friend Lori when all of a sudden I lost complete concentration, (just ask Lori she'll say its true) when I spotted this cutie-pie guy in a nearby Lilac tree...
He...the guy I'm now head over heels in love with (even though he wears yellow underpants) is a "Western Tanager".
Isn't he just dreamy? 
Unfortunately I couldn't capture him on my own camera because he's a shy guy so I grabbed this image from "Google images". But I just had to show you who was in my backyard today...

{I'd give credit to the photographer but there wasn't a name on the image}

(Wikipedia's description of this hansom little fellow)
 
"Adults have pale stout pointed bills, yellow underparts and light wing bars. Adult males have a bright red face and a yellow nape, shoulder, and rump, with black upper back, wings, and tail; in non-breeding plumage the head has no more than a reddish cast and the body has an olive tinge. Females have a yellow head and are olive on the back, with dark wings and tail.
These birds are often out of sight, foraging high in trees, sometimes flying out to catch insects in flight. They mainly eat insects, fruits and berries. At times they offer spectacular views, and in much of their range, when a non-birder tells a birder, "I saw the most amazing bird!" the birder can guess it was a male of this species"

"I love it..."yellow underpants" I never thought that could sound cute!

Ladies Tea and Apron Auction

Saturday I was invited by my MIL (aka Betty B.) to a fund raiser at Clarkes grange in which proceeds went to the Colton food bank. 
The extension group that my MIL belongs to, orchestrated the entire event; a ladies tea and luncheon and silent auction to help raise funds.
The room was all dressed up in the finest tea-ware around, pretty tea cups, chintz plates, servers and silver and the ladies were all wearing darling vintage aprons. 
On the menu: Lemon-ginger scones, darling little tea sandwiches, pastries and sweet treats along with wonderful tea lovingly served in the sweetest collection of assorted tea pots.
The fun was yet to come though...in order to raise funds you have to have something to bid on, in this case, aprons, lots and lots of aprons! 
Most of them vintage, some new, some serious but every one of them cute and putting on their best show for bidding.

Here's a few pictures of a lovely day...come on in, the door is open...

 

 

The front of the apron I won the bid on...

more on that later.

just a few of those cute aprons!

Table 25

So as you all know on May 11th Mark and I were married 19 years which have flown by in a heartbeat. Now if only we still looked like those pictures and if only I still fit in that tight little dress! Well moving right along...so that dress is a "smidgen on the snug side" OK let's just say if I did try to wear it again, I'd suffocate!

Now the blissful anniversary celebration...seated at "table 25" at Andina in the heart of the Pearl, Portland, our favorite romantic, Peruvian restaurant. One of the owners ("Mama Doris") is always there to stop by and share a story or bit of wisdom with guests' in fact we anticipate her coming by, she is lovely. This evening she did not disappoint, she came by our table and said we were seated at "table 25, a magical table". She said so many couples have shared wonderful celebrations at this table so that means we'll have many more years of wedded bliss...how sweet is that? 
If I could eat here every night, I'd be a happy girl but if I did, there is no way on God's green earth I could even begin to stuff myself in that dress even in my dreams!
So here's our lovely evening (not that you care, after all its only a silly blog post) but it was so wonderful I had to share. So roll with it and pretend you are there...even if you think you don't like Peruvian food...

ambiance from outside, in...

A lovely Chilean red to start with...

swirl, breathe, taste...perfect...

the groom's first course:

ESPARRAGOS PERUANOS

fresh asparagus brushed with olive oil and grilled

his amazing entree;

ATÚN CON TACU TACU Y AGUAYMANTO

seared yellowfin tuna sprinkled with black pepper and orange zest, served with lentil “tacu-tacu”, orange-endive salsa criolla, and a cape gooseberry-ají Amarillo sauce

my starter...

ENSALADA VERDE PERUANA

fresh greens topped with hearts of palm and seasonal vegetables

my entree...

CONCHAS DEL SEÑOR DE SIPÁN

quinoa-crusted diver scallops perched on top of wilted spinach and potato-parsnip purée, with golden beet and crabmeat "cannelloni”, and a duet of red beet and passionfruit reductions

a shared dessert..

MOUSSE DE VALLE Y SELVA

a tiered semi-freddo of velvety lucuma and espresso mousses, chocolate ganache,

and crushed cocoa nib meringue, served with espresso shortbread

Three hours later, our evening at magical table 25 came to an end,

but with lovely sweet memories of a perfect anniversary celebration

...next stop Machu Picchu, Peru

 

Chasing Shadows

OK so here it is, the next photography challenge from Michelle Elisabeth's lovely blog Thymely Thoughts. Her challenge this time is "shadows and silhouettes" which was somewhat difficult to get this past couple of weeks considering we haven't had a lot of days with sunshine in Portland, although today is absolutely beautiful out, sunshine every where! I am still using my itsy bitsy little digital camera nothing professional, but nonetheless, here they are...

Here's the excerpt from Michelle's blog HERE explaining the challenge:

"For this photography challenge, I'd like you to seek out shadows and silhouettes in your environment. Feel free to create them. Objects positioned objects in front of different light sources can create stunning effects, or try colored transparent items. Or, even go au naturale and find shadows that nature has created for you. Either way, I cannot wait to see what you capture!"

Shadows in the bath

Imprint or shadow,you decide, can you tell me?

Shadowed salvage

Tuesday afternoon

OK so not award winning but fun nonetheless.

MOTHER'S DAY...

Joan Vivian

 She is the whisper of the leaves in the trees. 

she's the warmth of the sun on my face

she is the gentle touch of the rain upon my skin. 

I hear my Mother in my laughter and

she is the woman in the mirror looking back at me.

She's the place I came from, my first home,
my first love and my first heartbreak...

She's the inspiration I follow with every step that I take.

Nothing on earth can separate me from her.

Not time, nor place not even death

can ever separate me from my mother...

I carry her sweet memory in my heart and she is always with me

Happy Mother's day Mommy

I will always love you

{author unknown}

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY BETTY...

"Men are what their mothers made them"
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Elizabeth Ann is her name but everyone calls her Betty.

She is my Mother in Law,
or "MIL" as she signs in her post comments.

I have said many times, in my blog description, in my posts' and to friends that will listen, that my husband,
Mark is the most wonderful man I have ever known.

She always knew from the start,
she was raising a man, not just a boy.
Thank you for the gift you gave and the son you have raised.

 

Happy Mother's Day Betty,

we love you,

Mark and Terry

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY SUE...

If you're lucky to have a "Bonus Mom" then you are lucky enough.

They share life's moments with you

whether its up or down, good or bad,

she will always there for you. 

Happy Mother's Day Bonus Mom!

With love to you on your day,

Terry

On Being a Lady, May 2010

So many lovely events in this wonderful

month of May.

But the one thing I know for sure right now is 

a girl knows when her number is up

and its time to sit down, shut her pie-hole 

and put her feet up.

Its been a long, long (did I say long?) week and 

if I don't, I might have to stop being nice

and say something naughty!

As they say...

"If you don't have anything nice to say,

pull up a chair!"