2 Family reunions in one day!!!

What a very, very busy weekend! With the wedding on Saturday, on Sunday after church, we had 2 family reunions! One on my side and one on Ron's...we were very blessed to be able to spend time with special family members who were visiting from out of town. First...we headed over to my cousin's house for the afternoon. Here are my sister Lori, my mom, my sister Pammy and me....lounging poolside! LOL
My mom and her sisters...Aunt Marilyn, Aunt Pat, Aunt Joan and my mom...the baby of the family! My Aunt Joan flew up from Alabama for a visit...and the sisters are having such fun together!

My cousin, Kim and I....she is doing pretty well with her illness, and as usual...we laugh!

All the cousins had a blast swimming and hanging out...here is Maria, my Sara and Tina
Yes...I got my "Ty fix" for the day! When he isn't here, I miss him so much! He had such a good time in and out of the pool!
I had such a hard time getting Ronnie, Sara and Anna out of the pool when it was time to leave...they had so much fun! Here are Ronnie, Anna, Uncle Todd and Ty
Meghan and I in the shade on the deck...it sure got warm out today! After my cousin's house...we packed up the trusty suburban, got another crockpot of homemade baked beans and headed down to Ron's mom's house to visit family there!

Ron's brother, Sean was there from Chicago, Aunts and Uncles, including Uncle Mike from Florida, and cousins Brian & Leia from Harrisburg were there as well. We had so much fun!

Ronnie and Michael Patrick...they get a long so well, and really enjoy playing together!
Anna, cousin Mia and Sara playing on the hammock!
Amanda and I....I love her so much as if she were my own daughter...I really didn't want her to go back...and yet...she is so happy there! The happiest I've ever known her to be....I'll miss her very much!

Mike and Jill

One of the last pictures of the evening...Ronnie & Michael found boxing gloves in the garage...boy, did they have fun! I think we're going to borrow them and let them have at it...they laughed and boxed for over 1/2 an hour!

I got the ultimate compliment from Ron's Uncle Mike tonight....(food wise)...I made homemade baked beans, and they have always been my mother-in-laws specialty, and she FINALLY shared the recipe with me a couple years ago. So tonight, Uncle Mike thanked Ro for making the beans and she told him I made them...he said they were so delicious, he thought they were hers! So...I finally "nailed" the beans!!! LOL We do love these beans...lots of molasses...they are so good. So now, after our two reunions....everyone is going home, but with wonderful memories of our time together, and plans to get together again as soon as we can! Probably not till the holidays for some, and maybe a year or more for others....but the memories we made today will last a lifetime! ~Sue~

A special wedding celebration!

Ron's youngest brother, Tommy, got married yesterday!!! What a special, beautiful wedding it was for Tom and Kelli! Welcome,Kelli, to the family! The smile on Tom's face as he watched Kelli walk down the aisle towards him...priceless!
The three brothers before the wedding...Sean on the left, Tom in the middle and my hubby (the oldest) Ron, on the right....

Ron and I on the alter before the wedding...20 years ago, we got married in this same spot...we had to get a picture! It was very special to us, to be watching Tommy & Kelli exchange vows 20 years after we did in the very same spot.

If you look closely, you can see a "lasso" of rhinestones around Kelli & Tommy....in Kelli's family, a mexican tradition is for the parents of the bride to place a 'lasso' around the couple sympolizing the joining of their lives together...then the groom hands the bride a bag of coins for safekeeping, symbolizing his trust in her. Yes...tears were flowing from me all day! Tom & Kelli used the same ones used by her parents on their wedding day in 1971!
Introducing....the "New"....Mr & Mrs Gorecki!
Another tradition in Kelli's family...a real mariachi band at the church...they did all the reponsorial songs....and hymns...it was so beautiful!

My sweet niece, Amanda and her boyfriend,Dan flew in from Vegas for the weekend. I hadn't seen her since she left in December...we talk on the phone all the time, but it was so nice to spend time with her and see how very happy she is!
Tom is a City of Pittsburgh police officer...and in this picture, all of the officers present came forward with Tom in the middle while the dj played the theme from "Hill Street Blues" tv show! It was the safest wedding I've every been to!
Being with family is always special, and having my mother-in-law, Ro being able to celebrate with all her siblings was very special! Uncle Jack, Ro, Aunt Peppy and Uncle Mike. Uncle Mike came in from Florida...so it is always special to see him!
Tons of dancing at this wedding! Kelli loves to dance, so the night was filled with dancing, laughter and fun!
Ron had to work at 2am, so I took this picture right before we left, at 10:30pm....they were having so much fun! Look how very,very happy they are!!! God bless you, Tom & Kelli!

Love, Sue

Slices of life...

Yesterday was a full day...a little bit of everyday, a surprise, and a special occasion all rolled into one! Today is my brother-in-law Tommy's wedding to Kelli....we are so excited! Relatives in visiting from out of town, will get to spend time with my special niece, Amanda. But yesterday...Anna got a surprise in the mail! She LOVES dogs...and especially fell in love with Gunner when we were in Ohio recently. She got a card in the mail from "Gunner" with his picture in it...she was so excited! Here she is holding his picture....

This picture of Gunner now graces our fridge, so she can "visit" him everyday!

Made 8 dozen of these...chocolate buttercream filled tarts for the wedding...soooooo good!

Ronnie and Anna...adventuring outside..he calls his hat his "Indiana Jones" hat...even though he's never seen the movies, he knows he is an explorer.
Helping Dad rake up clippings....before coming inside for lunch...
Cheese quesadillas with fresh, homemade salsa....Yum!

~After a yummy lunch, and freshening up, Ron and I were off to the rehearsal at the church, then dinner afterwards....wedding today! Will post about the wedding sometime soon...late night tonight, then after church tomorrow....2 picnics! Hope everyone has a blessed weekend! ~Sue~

Who's That Hiding Behind that Camera?

It's me with my new camera!This is a FujiFilm S1500 and it is awesome!I wuv my camera......don't you?

Here are some pics I took with it!Anna on the swing
Our little neighbor laughing :)

My baby sister

Our other neighbor :)

And You all know him: TY!

Comment and tell me about the kind of pics you like to take and what you think of my camera!

What is crochet?

I so love to crochet...so when I saw this article in Talking Crochet magazine, it so perfectly portrayed how I feel about it, I had to post it. Enjoy the article! ~Sue~

What Is Crochet?

For those of us who love crochet, there are likely a variety of reasons why, but I'm sure the one common thread (pun intended) that ties them all together is the pure enjoyment and deep satisfaction it gives us. Crochet not only allows us to express our individual creativity, but we can share it with others through our handmade heartfelt gifts.

I was reminded of this recently when I came across a wonderful piece written by Jean Leinhauser, a leader in the needlecrafts publishing industry for many years and former editor and publisher of Crochet! magazine. Jean wrote the following editorial in the March 2004 issue of Crochet!, and I thought it would be a lovely way to end this issue. I think you'll agree that it strikes a true chord with anyone who appreciates the beautiful art of crochet.

The man seated next to me on the airport bus asked why I had come to Chicago. I told him I was going to a crochet conference. He looked rather perplexed, and then asked, "What is crochet, anyway?"

I said, "It's a method of forming knots with a hook and thread to create a fabric." He stared at me, so I added, "It's making doilies." He smiled and nodded, "Oh yes, my grandmother used to do that." I realized later that I had given him a pretty poor definition. Here's what I should have said:

Crochet is that skimpy little high-fashion dress prancing down the runway at a designer show. It's a warm hat and scarf in bright colors worn on a gray winter day or a soft, cuddly teddy bear clutched in a crying child's arms.

Crochet is a glittery shawl thrown over a shoulder to accent a little black cocktail dress or a sleek little evening purse encrusted with beads. Crochet is a fluffy blanket that welcomes a new baby to the world or a pair of socks with a zingy heel treatment for a teenager to wear with clogs. It's a Christmas stocking, a gift from one generation to another.

Crochet is magically creating something from nothing. It's the love one pair of hands gives to another.

It's probably a good thing I didn't say all this; he would not have understood. But if you are a crocheter, you understand.

Until next time,

Carol Alexander
editor, Crochet! magazine
Member, CGOA Board of Directors

I made 'Puto'!!! Filipino sweet rice cakes...

I first tried 'puto' at my friend, Judi's house....and these were delicious! Even better for me...they were gluten free. But, when I looked online how to make them, they called for a special steamer and cups...so I thought I would 'try' them in tassie pans and steam in my big all clad pan...and it worked! I was so excited! Recipe to follow!

Steaming in the pan with about 1 1/2 inches of water. (I put the lid on of course)

The finished 'puto'! My littles ones especially like these, as did my friend, Melanie, who's baby shower I took these to. They were so quick and easy, they will definitely be a staple around here!

~Sue's Puto Recipe~ (and how I improvised!)

2 cups sweet white rice flour 1 TBlSp baking powder

3/4 cup sugar pinch of salt

2 cups coconut milk 2-4 tblsp water

1 tblsp vanilla

~Mix dry ingredients, add wet ingredients, mix thoroughly. Spray tassie pans (or mini muffin pans), fill each 2/3 full, then put pan in boiling water in large pan, put lid on and steam for 8 minutes. Be careful getting it out...it was tricky. (and hot) LOL turn out to cooling rack. and that is it! Very simple, but so good...best served warm or at room temperature. Enjoy! ~Sue~

Preserving the Harvest..

I love preserving for the winter time! But...I don't want to even LOOK at another tomato for a while! LOL Our garden has done fairly well...what the deer haven't gotten to, anyway. We're already planning on expanding and PROTECTING our garden for next year...with the advise of my parents (my step-dad grew up on a farm) and the wonderful elderly man across the street. (who's garden is doing very, very well...and is protected from the cute deer!) Just a sample of pureed tomatoes...the rest are in the canner right now. Ended up with 7 quarts and 2 pints...not bad considering how much salsa I've made over the past couple days! We bought a big bushel of 'seconds' tomatoes from our favorite farmers market, and got over 60 cups of fresh salsa plus all the tomatoes.
Also (since it was so nice and cool today!) I made 20 quarts of turkey soup. We had lots of it for dinner and this is what is cooling so I can freeze it. Lentil soup and cheddar garlic biscuits tomorrow night! With a fresh salad....Yum!

Everything here came from our own garden. We haven't had an excess of zucchini, but we've had a lot so far. Our cucumbers didn't do too badly either...although I don't think I'll grow cauliflower again next year. We're cleaning out that bed, this week, and will be planting some lettuce for fall. Next year...we're moving the beds and expanding.

Have only managed to freeze 2 bags of corn. (We love eating it so much!), but tomorrow, we're getting 2 dozen ears, so I'll freeze a good bit of that. No more canning this week....

Ah....fresh salsa!!! One of our families very favorite things! This is just some of it. It tastes just as good when defrosted in the winter time. It does get a little watery, but I drain that off and use the liquid in black bean soup...adds a nice taste to it.

~So....that is some of what has been keeping us busy! My brother-in-law is getting married on Saturday, so lots of excitement here. We'll be busy baking cookies towards the end of the week for the wedding....then after the wedding, visiting with family who will be in from out of town...then we get back into schooling again on the 8th! Can't wait! This will be an interesting, fun year. Well...off to add more tomatoes to the canner..then baths for my little ones, then popcorn and a movie! Tomorrow....a visit with friends, farmers market, then freezing more corn....have a blessed evening! ~Sue~

Sabbath Rest....Surrender All....

I know that the Lord has been speaking to me lately about our lives....especially how we spend our time, and who's opinions matter to us the most...today at church, we sang the following song in worship, and it touched me so much I wanted to post the lyrics here....hope everyone has a very blessed Sabbath today!!! ~Sue~

Surrender All

Take all I am, Lord and all that I cling to

You are my Savior I owe everything to

Take all the treasures that lie in my storehouse

They cannot follow when I enter Your house

So I...surrender all to You

I...surrender all

Take all my cravings for vain recognition

fleshly indulgence and worldly ambition

I want so much Lord, to make you my focus

To serve You in secret, and never be noticed

So I...surrender all to You

I...surrender all

Take all my hunger, for all that's forbidden

Every desire, and sin I keep hidden

Search me and know me, I want to bring to You

a life that is holy, and sanctified thru You...

Rich Dalmas, Sovereign Grace Music