My Latest Addiction

As most of you know, I am not a television lover. I just don't think there are many things on TV these days worth watching. I like lifetime movies, old movies and older shows like Frasier, I Love Lucy, The Wonder Years, and of course Gilmore Girls.

In February the kids finally talked us into getting Netflix. The first thing I watched was Gilmore Girls. When I was done all the seasons I was looking for another show that was totally different. Jessica said that I should watch Grey's Anatomy. I wasn't sure it was going to be my speed but...WOW it was.

I have never watched a show that was better written than Grey's Anatomy! First of all, who can help but watch for the simple reason of Dr. McDreamy!!!  Second, I love the way the first season ties into the second, third, and so on. I realize the story lines are far from hospital reality, but it sure makes for a good show.

The special friendship Meredith and Christina have I think every girl/woman wishes they had with someone, although not many men would put up with it!

I love most of the characters on the show. Don't we all know a Christina, a Alex, or a Bailey???  The love story between Meredith and Derek is storybook and the music is great too! Too bad they have killed or moved so many of my favorites off...

The quotes or sayings from the show are awesome! Here are some of my favorites!

I haven't watched season 12 yet even though it just became available on Netflix. I am watching all the seasons for the second time then I will watch season 12!  I can't wait and I can't believe that this show has been on all these years and I didn't know how great it was! Now I am hooked!!! I don't know what series I will watch after this because anything will pale next to Grey's Anatomy!

One of my favorite scenes...

Adopt a pet or buy from a breeder???

I am going to touch on a very sensitive subject of which  I am honestly SICK of hearing about! Adopting a pet from a local shelter or buying one from a good responsible breeder???

I have gotten my pets from both and both were a good experience. Our kittens were from someone who found them and we took one or two over the years. Our 14 year old dog was from a rescue and honestly has had a lot of anxiety and gets stressed very easy but is and has been a GREAT DOG!

We have always had dachshunds that we get from small breeders that we know. That way we were able to meet the mom and dad and see they were all kept clean and safe and were most of all healthy.  I did try adopting a dachshund years ago, but it didn't work out. She was aggressive and had potty issues

I don't understand why people insist on throwing there opinion on others on this matter. There should be such an argument pertaining to all the kids in orphanages oversees or in foster care here in the USA. How many of these avid thinkers care as much about all the kids in the world that don't have clean water or food???

Don't get me wrong, I love the good rescues do for pets and we support them financially several times a year, but please don't give me a lecture because I decide buy my pets elsewhere.

Taylor's Graduation

I know I have said it before and I'm going to say it again. Taylor graduated Tuesday night after many obstacles these past several years. She has proven to be a fighter and a major preserver through some really scary and bad situations. Shes a "tough bird" who doesn't give up easily. It was a beautiful, cool June evening.

Watching all the 401 graduates I couldn't help think about Taylor's preschool graduation. At that time, this day seemed so far off. I remember my mom saying that the next time I will be watching her graduate it will be for high school and it will be in a blink of an eye...and it was!

Its funny because every child there was and is someones baby that they watched grow into the young adult they have become. They all started out the same but all turned out a little bit different depending on their circumstances. Some heading to Harvard in the fall and some starting the military in a couple of weeks.

Taylor will be staying local this year and getting some classes out of the way and trying to figure out what she wants to do in the future.

It has been a LONG couple years making sure she gets the education she needs along with her medical and emotional needs as well. We/she made it! We are so thankful and proud!!!

Oh and I should also mention she also finally got her license yesterday so watch out drivers!

Memories of Summers Past

Tomorrow is the last day of school here. I can't believe how fast it has gone. So tomorrow summer officially begins  here at our house. Lots of days at the Pool, the beach, Hershey Park and just hanging out and relaxing.

It brings me back to summers as a kid in the 70's. If kids lived the way were did then, social services would be knocking at the doors for sure!

I remember spending hours playing in and drinking from the hose. Playing limbo with the water and various other made up games. When we got cold we would lay directly on the burning sidewalk and get warm then go running for the hose again.

 There were days I would leave the house before my parents were up to ride my big wheel around the neighborhood while pretending the driveways were different stores. I would literally stay out all day and go in only to change or maybe grab a bite to eat. We would make multiple forts in bushes and pretend it was our own neighborhood. We would walk 1/2 mile at age 9 to get a snowball or go to the candy store in our town.

We would stay out way past dark to catch fireflies that we thought were truly magical! We would sleep in a tent in the backyard at the age of 8 and our parents didn't and wouldn't have to worry! We would stay out at night to play kick the can, capture the flag or flashlight tag and every kid in the neighborhood would play and we didn't have a care in world. We looked forward to tomorrow when we could do it all over again!

Life seemed much simpler back then, not because we were kids but because we could just have fun without being bothered by texts or calls or play dates on the Xbox. We enjoyed what we had and never really wished for much more because in our eyes life couldn't have been much better!

The country life

Happy Saturday...

Its a sticky hot Saturday today here in Pa. A great day for the pool or staying inside and getting some things done. I will be doing both...

One of the things I love the most about the area we live in is the local produce. Within a one mile radius of our house I can find at least a handful of fruit and Vegetable stands. My favorite is a one stop farm that has been around for almost 200 years. They are still owned by the same family who all work there with the family dog and they have a little bit of everything. Fresh Jams, preserves, eggs, milk, baked goods,  fruit and vegetables that are in season, hanging baskets and even some antiques! You can pick your own blackberries and strawberries, apples and pumpkins. Its awesome in the fall with MUMS and fall decorating needs galore. They supplied all the tiny pumpkins that were used for name cards at Jessica's wedding this past fall.

I stopped by the other day and picked up the ingredients to make this fabulous Ricotta vegetable pie which turned out delicious! You can add or substitute different vegetables if you want to. Enjoy this easy to make pie!

Ricotta and Vegetable Pie

• 2 Garlic cloves
• 1 tsp Oregano, dried
• 1/2 Red bell pepper
• 2 green onions
• 6 Sun dried tomatoes
• 1 Zucchini
• 1 bunch asparagus
• 4 Eggs, large
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp Olive oil, extra virgin
• 9 Deep dish pie crust

Cook vegetables in Olive oil, set aside Mix all other ingredients together then add vegetables, put all in pie plate. Cook on 350 for 50 min.

Have a great weekend and stay cool!

The Carousel of Life

 I can't believe its been over 2 months since I last wrote...Life as usual keeps coming at us and we need to continue to ride the Carousel and pray that it slows down long enough to enjoy it!

Life Lately has consisted of  planning vacations, going to proms, watching soccer games, having graduation parties, memorial day picnics and preparing for Taylor to graduate next week.

Since we didn't take a vacation last year, this year we are trying to make up for that! We are headed to Wildwood, NJ in late June, then Myrtle Beach in mid July, then to Boston sometime in July, then Lake George in August. We will do some day or two trips as well. Our trip to Boston will be coupled with Taylor's appointment at Boston's Children's Hospital but we plan to have some time for sightseeing and such.

Mitchell is finishing intermediate school this year and will start middle next! YIKES! He is 12 and is turning into a preteen right before our very eyes! He continues to play soccer and is really looking forward to spending his summer days at the pool.

Taylor, of course is excited to graduate next Tuesday! She is headed on a trip to the beach with some friends from her school. She has been doing very well lately and we pray this healthy streak continues! She recently had her senior prom. Her and her boyfriend looked amazing and even made it in the local paper. How fun it is to enjoy all of these things again through your kids!

Jessica hosted Taylor's graduation party this year as they were itching to have a large get together at there house. It turned out to be a great day but unfortunately I didn't manage to get to many pictures as I was trying to talk to everyone who was nice enough to come.

Graduation from high school is always a monumental milestone for life but  for Taylor is a HUGE accomplishment as she has had so many health obstacles.

Memorial day we spent at our local pool and had a small cookout for the family and close friends. It was a great Holiday weekend!