little houses

In this little city there are little houses
long ago farmers brought their families into town for the weekend

they are called Sunday houses
some have been remodeled
some are still homes
some are  now businesses

take a peak.

Time to say goodbye

who bakes on a Sunday afternoon ....

well, this might be a first,  but, I was determined to make my old standby recipe to take to Texas.

Here is what happened.

Saturday afternoon I put together all the ingredients for Scottish Shortbread, covered it with a towel and left for a few hours.  I was surprised that the dough was pretty dry, but worked it up a bit and rolled it out and cut out hearts and baked them.   I was more than surprised when I pulled them out of the oven an hour later and found them to be.....let's just say not worth sharing.
The good part is,  I learned a lesson.


Sunday afternoon and I was ready again. Thought there might be someone out there who does not know what goes in to real Scottish Shortbread, so here goes.

All the ingredients are piled on the bread board
That is a pound of butter 

Ingredients:  6 teacups flour
                     2 teacups corn starch
                     2 teacups sugar
                     1 pound butter, room temperature
                     2 tablespoons Crisco
                     from by friend Zena, dated April 1983
                   

You work it all together with your hands
wishing your grandchildren were around to help

This can take 20 minutes to 1/2 hour 

before it sticks together, it get crumbly

Then you roll the dough out, about 1/3 inch thick  

You bake these babies for at least an hour at 275 

Ta -Da ! 
Time to come on over, the coffee is ready 

p.s.  this is like my dilly bread. When the family saw them in the making they said "Oh we must be having company" 
They do appreciate them more now than when they were kids.  

rising star

You know there is a rising star in the family
when

at the end of the game, your grandson made 3 of the 4 winning goals
 as well as one for the opposing team

Way to go 

He is 5 years old.  

Happy Day

It was a miracle, 
 three siblings available to come for dinner
AND, it was Damon's 36th birthday !

Here is what happened.
He is my oldest son and I love it when he can come by for a visit. It helps to offer food. He loves corned beef.

So, I had a few things for him and asked when he could come by and would Tuesday work?
Yes, ok. come for dinner.

That was when I discovered it was the 17th and his birthday.

Also on my calendar was a date to pick up little man after Kindergarten.
Then,his  mom could come pick him up at our house and stay for dinner?
YES !

That left one more sibling
( not to say we would always, always love to have the 4th sibling but Minneapolis is asking too much  )
So, third sibling says she can come, just happens to be soccer night for son & dad, so she is free.

He is my favorite son, so I was happy to make this a party for him. Without a wife ( no matchmaking for me ) he does not get as much attention as he might. However, some of his coworkers made sure he did not get by without a little birthday cake this year.

So, the excitement was mounting

He is my only son, and I was pretty happy to find corned beef in the freezer.

I was really glad I did not leave the bread in the microwave ( daughter helped in the kitchen)

I did not leave salad in the frig  ( Day does not like salad, so I did not make one )

I also had the best german chocolate cake, also in the freezer ( do not tell family, they had no idea ) It was from Bakery Nouveau and worth every calorie   
I did forget to facetime with missing sibling ( need to make lists )
Also forget to tell about all the friends who said to say Happy Birthday...like Sally, Zena, Anna, Auntie Bobbie, Bonnie..

With help from little huffer and puffer
Birthday boy was able to get the fire out !

Happy 36th Birthday
Oldest, one and only, favorite son !

On Saturday morning

It started last month

 Ralph ( Mr. Heiner ) came around  the neighborhood to tell of the passing of his wife  and to extend an invitation to a memorial to her, on Saturday, October 7.

So, Saturday I  was walking up the path to the Heiner home.  There was a young man at the end of the walkway   as I approached. 

 “ Hello, I am Adam Heiner”.
“ I am Kathy Tanner”. 

“Of course you  are” he said and instantly hugged me.   “ As you were coming up the walkway, I thought,  I should know her”     He   knew that he was in the same year as Mimi. And we talked about ice cream etc.  

   As I entered their home I introduced myself and soon Anne Heiner was hugging me and saying how much she appreciated me coming to the memorial for her mother.

Kathy Heiner had been a piano teacher to our children, and to many, many others. She also spent many hours making their garden a masterpiece in our  neighborhood.   Kathy was seen walking,and walking  rain or shine, and pausing for a smile and hello.  

Guests were encouraged to tour the home.  Family members shared how Kathy had spent time in antique stores buying old pieces and then restoring them and making a home of beauty and lots of memories  

Their room

His room
Ralph is an artist and it is his sketch of Kathy that appears on the Memory page

But the places that most reflect Kathy,  reflect Music

This is the studio, baby grand 

 the studio where many students were taught classical piano

This is her Grand piano 

A beautiful buffet was served  

Then the  program began..

Duet  recital video

next the family shared

Ralph, on the left, his brother on the right

Anne, Kurt and Wyatt Vold  

Adam, Elissa, Drew  and Matt Heiner

Ralph and Kathy met at Sammamish High school.  Seemed like love at first glance, for Ralph.  At age 20 they married and lived down the street from us, in  Cherry Crest,  for about 40 years.  She loved working in the garden and their front yard was always  a work of art.   Through the years she added touches to the interior.  The garage became her piano studio
Anne was the first born and she is now an attorney in Seattle. She and her husband have one son . They own City Market in Seattle.
Adam the second born,  lives in West Seattle with his wife and two sons. He is a speech therapist. Did someone say IronMan?
Both children praised their mother for her devotion to family.  They were a fairly private family, but both children remembered the freedom to play in our neighborhood.

A few stories were shared and there was one that showed the spunk and determination of Kathy.
A family member was getting married and Kathy had outfits head to toe for the children.  Adam was about two years old and had his first tie.  He practiced wearing it and was very proud and excited for this event.  The location was not far, but the traffic was bad and they arrived late.  Grandpa was at the church waiting at the top of the stairs.  The family jumped out of the car and out of nowhere came a huge friendly dog.  He jumped on little Adam and snagged that tie (clip on ) right off his shirt and bolted.  Well, Kathy bolted too. Back and forth in the front of the church. Grandpa was finding it pretty hilarious, and Kathy did not give up.  She retrieved the tie, put it on Adam and into the wedding they marched.       

 ( Kathy’s sister was the bride and she shared the story with great delight  )

Anne and Adam agreed to a family photo to share with my family - they grew up together, went to Cherry Crest together and yes, ate ice cream together.

The celebration to Kathy was very special.   A beautiful tribute to an amazing lady.

random favorites

WDW

2017

Time to close the book 

Yes, this was my favorite outfit. Not a princess, but very Disney. Not the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, but fun bow. Maybe its because I love polka dots, but hey, everyone is allowed a favorite 

Not a great shot, but a favorite.  Not because of the polka dots, but because of the Daddy.
 Love to see Dad's holding their little girl's hand.  

ok here is another, though it looks like daughter is clinging to Daddy 

and check out those cute pants 

This is the lobby of the Grand Floridian Hotel
Tonight the band is playing on the second level
Fresh flowers, soft chairs, bright lights, sweeping staircase
Everything about this place is welcoming
Except maybe the cost to spend the night. 
But, the lobby visit is free.

Before leaving home, our Bible Study group had just heard a message that ended with
Too Blessed to be Stressed.
Made me chuckle
(don't ask why )

You need to look close at this "vintage" vehicle
and the "vintage " ladies 

one of only 3 dogs seen  in 4 days 

Still not sure how these girls got tickets but they are cute
 "rescue " dogs 

Fun people who really get into the WDW mood
head to ...waist anyway. 

 And more reasons why I enjoy this trip..

A Safari trip without a passport or shots !

Garden ideas - to think about


mini trip to Norway ( I am part Norwegian )

Gardens 

This is our favorite place to stay
Port Orleans Riverside 

And this is my favorite guy to ride with
in the only shirt anyone ever comments on
Euro Disney
and smiling, relaxed, because you just can't cut down trees in WDW
\

He does not know it, but I am planning to go back in the Spring for the garden show. There is something priceless about being away from the call of wood work.