Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Food, Friends, Family, and Farewells


Farewell lunch with friends at Matty's

Farewell dinner with family at Erv's Mug

Saturday, June 12, 2010

St. John Vianney Festival






It was a wee bit chilly for June (mid 60's and not much sun)---but we had a fun cheerful day. My friend T made a great suggestion that we meet him out at this very popular church festival in Brookfield. Now, I grew up in a town that is notorius for its church fests, but I've NEVER seen one like this---it was a HUGE carnival. Normally I'm not a big fan of allowing my girls to go onto mobile carnival rides--they are transported around, not permanent--therefore they feel less safe to me. However, I decided to live on the edge a bit today, and the family had a great time! I was also glad to spend one last day with my good friend T and his youngest daughter, and some of their friends--and the girls had a blast!!!

Friday, June 11, 2010

More Band Moments and Memories


I'm going to miss these two guys---a LOT--we're not even gone yet and I'm all nostalgic and weepy-eyed:( I even have more plans with both tomorrow and next week, but I already really miss them:( They've really become very close friends, not just with me, but our families have gotten to know each other. We won't be losing touch though--and there will be visits with one-another!

Sniff Sniff



Ok, so last night was my last "official" rehearsal with the Brookfield Civic Band--I made a few VERY close life-long friend ships in this group; and I can honestly say, this is probably my only regret with us leaving. Pictured above is my wonderful friend and band director and myself--and a couple of more friends. Coincidentally, my band director (K) and I actually went to college together--though I was a senior when he was a freshman; but we have a lot of the same friends through the music fraternity; and we played in Wind Ensemble together. However, we didn't know each other directly back then. As more coincidence, K played tuba in a brass quintet at my wedding--though we still didn't know each other. And as a further coincidence, he teaches in the home-town in which I grew up--the whole school district and band program where I was trained in my early days of music; and he's the current director for the Band of the Black Watch---of which I'm an alumni (we were a field show band who competed across the country during the summer---if you aren't familiar--this is a you-tube from when I was in Black Watch in its very early years in the mid 80's--cool stuff (obviously this is VHS converted to digital:D) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CxuEpT7q2Y&feature=related

So, yes, we're moving--if you don't know the details and would like to know (and you know me, send me your email address and I'll fill you in!)


Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Monday, June 7, 2010

What Can I Say?


This is a re-enactment. The first time I saw this, I was standing at the kitchen sink, when I literally saw J drive by on Angel's pink Barbie ATV; he sported a goofy grin and waved to me. I literally was about to swallow some water, but instead I couldn't control the fact that I spit it out of my mouth, it was so funny! (especially if you knew my relatively straight-laced husband!)

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Peanut Butter Cookie Cup Temptations

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
48-60 Reece's Peanut Butter Cup (minis), wrappers removed

Cream together butter, both sugars and peanut butter, beat in egg and extract.

Add remaining ingredients, EXCEPT peanut butter cups; mix well.

Spray mini muffin tins with cooking spray; drop dough with small cookie dropper into mini muffin tins.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, til just lightly browned.

Remove tins from oven and push a peanut butter cup into the center of each ball; bake 1 more minute.

Cool completely before storing in a covered container.