For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, ....... The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.

There are also weeds.

I have made a very, very, very small, little bitty dent in all of the weeds.

But I am grateful for this weather.

It's warm - it's beautiful - it's warm.

..... and the days are longer .....

I know we didn't have a winter - and there should be a winter - sandwiched in between Fall and Spring - 

but, well, we might as well enjoy it.

No pictures regarding this post on the springing of Spring - 

but - 

how about this little buttercup?

Yay! for babies learning to crawl.  Again, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  Abigail is working on 9 months and she is crawling.  She's eating solidish food.... and..... she's really easy.  Well, from the grandmother perspective.  I'm not the mom.....

New Orleans, An Easy Recipe and Colors I'd Choose for a Kitchen Redo

I went to New Orleans this past weekend.  I rode down with my friend and cousin-in-law, Martha - 

She was going down to be with her son and daughter-in-law and another friend.

She invited me, remembering that my Sarah is there and she guessed I might enjoy a weekend with Sarah.  I did, very much, enjoy my weekend with Sarah, and with Martha, John Law, Katie and Val.  The six of us had dinner on Saturday night, compliments of John Law.

 Sarah's Street

 Across the street from Sarah's address.

Her corner ....  and .... 

 returning from a flea market - Sarah's finds for new displays during art festivals

Sarah's Studio Space - where she creates.

On the way down

Martha and I stopped just above New Orleans

at a truck stop to get gasoline and a little something for lunch - a packaged snack is what we went in for - 

but to our surprise found a delightful restaurant.

I ordered Red Beans and Rice.  Delicious.

....and today, back in Scottsboro,  I was hungry for more.

The Easy Recipe.

I cooked whole grain rice which was already in my pantry.

Then went to the store and bought 4 cans of red beans, a package of cubed ham, lean, and a box of Zatarain Seasoning for my recipe.  

According to the directions on the box,  I prepared the dish.

I really wanted to have Red Beans and Rice by tonight and I didn't get started until mid morning. 

It all worked out.  I highly recommend this quick and easy solution to the classic. RB&R.

I actually have an authentic, plan ahead recipe for this same classic dish.

Will share that one later.

so that leads me to 

Colors I'd Choose for a Kitchen Redo.

Ready?

Here they are.

Pictures don't do it justice.

Each time I make pie crust and "think" and "love the colors",

I know I want my dream kitchen done in these neutrals.

I could write a post on pie crust and Mother and this rolling pin which belonged to Grandmother (my dad's mom) who had a cook named Willie - so, really, the rolling pin should have belonged to Willie since she was the one who "worked its magic", and it's Willie I think of and Mother who I think of, because they both baked their creations and did what I'm doing when I roll out pastry.... and I also happen to love the neutrals in the pie crust, the flour and the rolling pin.

and for some accent color...

The Flea Market which Sarah and I perused...

I found these:

The Red Handles suggest a great accent color - and the muted shine of the aluminum.

That's my post.

Getting to Know You

As Abigail does what she does best,

sitting and discovering toys with her mouth ..... 

John moves into her baby world of small toys and gumming things.

He seems very curious about this baby girl who is often around.

He calls her "baby".

Getting to know you,

Getting to know all about you,

Getting to like you,

Getting to hope you like me.

Getting to know you,

Putting it my way,

but nicely,

You are precisely,

My cup of tea.

Getting to know you,

Getting to feel free and easy

When I am with you,

Getting to know what to say.

Haven't you noticed,

suddenly I'm bright and breezy?

Because of all the beautiful and new

Things I'm learning about you 

Day  by  day.

John Moore and Abigail Barber,

my two youngest grandchildren.

She is the baby now, 8 months.  John is 2.

It's Been an Unusual Four Days Which Have Just Passed.

Monday morning and Andrew and Luke are at my house.  We've already been to Wal-Mart very early and not looking very refreshed.  We'd just come from taking Ellie back to her house, early, for school with Mom.

Let me go back.

Friday, all day, their dad, Steve, was very sick.  None of us knew what, but we knew he was sick.  It was stomach, but the pain and nausea changed locations all day.  Doctor appt. was scheduled for Saturday.

Uh, no.

He ended up in the hospital in Huntsville diagnosed with appendicitis.  Oops!

I had Ann's four, while Ann and Charlie made 2 back and forth trips to the hospital.  I enticed breastfed Abigail with a bottle of formula.  Once I added 2 tsp. of sugar and some vanilla flavoring, she got a little bit interested.

So - surgery was at 5:30 Saturday morning.  Got it done and Ann and Charlie back home.  Sleepy grownups and well rested children.  Ahhhh.  Bad combo.

But a few good pictures in between.  Like..... well.....bathing Andrew in the kitchen sink.  I'd rather clean out the sink twice (before and after) than lean over that tub.  Oh, the back!  Abigail can sit up really good now so I had the idea to bathe her in the sink - and then I thought, hmmmmm.  Wonder if Andrew can still fit in there.  He's 3 but small.  yep.  And he loved it.  Sobbed when he had to get out.

Okay - so that was Saturday while Ellie and Luke were at a birthday party.

Metta Parr was kind enough to take them and bring them home.

Ann was at home receiving Steve, who was being transported home by Scott Parr.

At the party Ellie and Luke received favors which have been a very big deal to them.

Glow in the Dark thingies plus Luke had this army guy whom  he's become very attached to.

Tiny little guy who amazingly hasn't gotten forever lost yet - but - 

just now - he broke and Luke truly grieved.  There was something about his legs popping off.

So pictures before we bury him.  We are, we're going to bury him in the back yard.

At first, when I suggested it, Luke was shocked at the idea.

Yet ....  he played it over in his mind and actually liked it.

We're gonna do it.

But first I took pictures.

Here is the dead broken army guy on the trailer bed being pulled by the truck - both of which I just got Luke at Wal-Mart.  El Cheapo.

  And Andrew pondering Luke's loss.

Really just watching as I take closeups of their newly purchased vehicles

Andrew has an inordinate affection for this Lightening McQueen car, the one on the left.

Yet, he does misplace it over and over while the adults in his life work very hard to keep their LM antennae up because he's inconsolable without this car.  

Therefore, while at Wal-Mart I purchased him another which you see on the right.

Thinking this would be a good alternative to a misplaced car.

NOT!  I mean he likes the new one and picked it out and wanted it... to play with.

But it's not the old one and once we returned home from Wally World,

Luke was able to locate the beloved LM and so you see them together,

side by side and Andrew knows the difference.

Make no mistake.  The one on the left is the one he loves.

Like an old worn pair of shoes or a tattered blankie.

But earlier than that, while I was checking email and blog posts,

I heard this:

"HEY NEAR!!"

I looked and saw this:

And it started to come closer.....

and closer....

closer still.....

right at me......

and then the thing bumped into my camera lens,

and out popped Andrew and Luke.

It's Monday and the sun is now out.

Great for small kids who love to play.

Good Morning

Yesterday was school with Ellie.  She's in the first grade.  

And then we worked on her mom's birthday cake for today, February 1.

The recipe calls for 4 eggs.  By mistake I only put in two eggs.

Ellie and I know that it's delicious anyway, because I cooked one cupcake for Ellie out of the batter.

Not as dense as it should be, but delicious all the same.

I iced/frosted it with buttercream frosting.

Cake and Frosting Recipes from Magnolia Bakery in NYC.

31 years ago right now, 8:44, I would wake up in about 15 minutes to Motherhood.

The Earth moved that day.