A Bridal Shower for Jody

This was the intended setting for the shower.



All day Saturday we prepared the area.
Raking, cleaning the cabana, arranging tables.
The weather forecast didn't look good
but on this beautiful day we didn't quite believe.






On sunday morning this is what it was like outside.
The forecast was for scattered thunderstorms
throughout the day.




Quickly, we improvised plan B.
Everything was moved inside.

Mary took charge
and mobilized the troops!

We hung the wedding flag.



Bows were put on the front porch columns
and the blue potted orange marigolds
(the wedding color theme)
were brought from the pool area
to the front porch steps.





Inside, furniture was pushed up against the walls,
chairs were positioned in the living room,
white table cloths were put on tables,
and decorations added.

The vestibule was converted into

a repository for the bridal gifts

The kitchen staff sprung into action.

The first guests arrive

members of Ben's family from Pennsylvania.

Appetizers were served.

Mimosas!

Ben's Mother and Grandmother

sample the appetizers.

An anxious Mother of the bride-to-be.

Soon, other guests arrive,

and, of course, ignoring all the seating in the living room,

gather in the kitchen.

Outside, the weather is deteriorating

Jody's arrival

brightens up the room.

All of the guests are ushered

into the living room

for the unwrapping of gifts.

Amanda conducts a trivia game

with questions about Jody and Ben,

with multiple choice answers.

A buffet lunch is served.

and desserts

Jody

with a practice bridal bouquet.

Jody, with her bridal attendants

Amanda and Jody

Jody and Mary

Ben, Jody, and Josh.

A wonderful party

for a beautiful bride-to-be

and her family.

A damp and drizzly morning in the garden

Poppy Pictures for Louise

This post is for my friend Louise

These are this year's blooms on the plant I purchased when I was visiting you in Pennsylvania in 1998.

I have been posting these photographs on my facebook page

and wanted to share them with you.

You may recall they are called

Princess Victoria Louise

In good company

Five Ricker brothers

Clifton - US Army

Erold - US Navy

Rick - US Army

Edgar - US Army

Vernon - US Air Force

Uncle Vernon's Pool Party for Nieces & Nephews

My nephew, Kevin Ricker

and his son, Josh

will arrive for a visit on July 6th

and on the 7th

the three of us are going to a

Red Sox Game!

Kevin and Josh would like to meet their cousins

so I am going to host a pool party

to celebrate my nephews Benjamin and Dan's

graduation from high school.

Benjamin

Dan

The pool party

is at 1pm

Saturday

Winthrop

July 9, 2011

I am hoping that cousins from near and far

will join us.

Maine Baked Beans

Yesterday, the yard people came and raked and cleaned my garden for spring, and I prepared the herb garden for planting.

The forecast called for snow over night. I didn't want to believe that but thought that some comfort food might be in order.

I went into my pantry and retrieved a bag of those big yellow eye beans I had stocked up on during my last trip to Maine.

This morning, April Fools Day, I woke to a heavy wet slushy covering of snow, not a lot, but enough to know its too early for any gardening.

After having soaked the beans overnight, I now parboiled them.

I quartered an onion and placed it in the bottom of my bean pot. The beans were added to the pot. I took a slab of salt pork

slit it down though the rind and put it on top of the beans.

A half cup of molasses, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons of dried mustard, salt and pepper were stirred into a pint of boiling water,

and poured over the beans.

The cover was put on the electric bean pot, the temperature turned t0 300.

Now I don't want you ladies up in Maine telling me I should be using a bean pot in my oven because this lady, my Mom, supervises everything that goes on in my kitchen and I could sense her approval.

Soon the wonderful aroma of baking beans was wafting through the house.

They cooked all day with more boiling water being added as needed.

I don't know about you but these big beautiful yellow eye beans are so superior to those wimpy pea beans.

Tomorrow, I just might make some home-made steamed brown bread cooked in a coffee can.

A slice of ham

Here is an interesting and easy way

to take a slice of ham from the supermarket

and turn it into a very flavorful and tender piece of meat.

Smear about a tablespoon of dijon mustard on the ham slice.

Place it in a small roasting pan

and surround it with about a cup of milk.

Add some sage and 2 or 3 teaspoons of dark brown sugar.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for an hour.

The milk will curdle a bit.

Spoon the milk occasionally over the ham.

The aroma in the kitchen will be great.

I took some corn from the freezer

and had a very nice supper.


I still have half of the original slice
to have with an omelet for tomorrow.

Bon Appetit!
and thanks again to Judith Jones.