A Ninetieth Birthday Celebration ~Here’s My Report

My Mother-in-Law had a milestone birthday on Friday.

When one turns 90,

they deserve to celebrate all weekend long.

We all enjoyed a dinner out with family.

She has always appreciated a bouquet of flowers for her table, 

so this was our gift to her.

They graced our table at the restaurant and

again the next day at her coffee party.

She insisted that she did not want to have a big party 

for her big birthday, so we planned a 

small intimate gathering with cupcakes and coffee

for her closest friends and neighbors.

It was perfect for a weekend afternoon.

The Birthday Girl and her guests enjoyed

the sweet treats and good conversation.

Thank you to everyone that has

also sent Greeting Cards with personal notes.

This next photo showed up in my Facebook Memories...

taken the day of her 80th Birthday Reception.

My Oh My, we all look young here!

Cherish the time you spend with your family.

Such sweet memories.

Take care,

~Natalie

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas ~Where the Week Went ~~Daily Highlights

I just love this tin...

We purchased it at Lost and Found Occasionals Boutique 

on Small Business Saturday. It was going to be a gift, 

but I can’t part with it. 

It is perfect for our Christmas cards.

Perhaps I will go back and buy another!

The Pilgrims, Turkeys and Pumpkins are packed in storage tubs 

as we turn our attention to Christmas.

I cannot show you what is in those boxes, 

as it would ruin the surprise. 

Our daughters live too far away 

to come home for the holiday, 

so I am preparing a Christmas Box for each of them. 

Baby Jack will get his own Christmas Box!

FYI: If you are sending packages to an APO address, 

the deadline to get it to the USPS is December 8th, 

if you want it there by the Holiday.

Here’s our week in review.

On Sunday, we celebrated “Friendsgiving”at the LaFaves.

It was all about good friends, good food, 

and good football.

Remember that Thanksgiving Cheeseball?

The recipe was enough to make two pumpkins.

So easy, and it looks impressive.

Equally impressive,

Paula brought Sugar Glazed Cranberries.

The perfect balance of tart and sweet.

I enjoyed the excuse to make Pumpkin Cheese\cake 

one more time in November.

Monday, it was Holiday Date Night.

Hubby bought tickets for the Nutcracker Ballet.

It was a sold-out crowd at the Johnson Fine Arts Center.

We had great seats... in the second row.

The artistry and athleticism of the 

Moscow Ballet Company was outstanding.

Thank you, Kristen, for capturing this photo.

The set was so beautiful.

That Friendsgiving Dinner on Sunday...

Alan and Kari prepared a Ham with all the sides.

They sent the hambone home with me, 

thinking I would know what to do with it.

Well, of course, I did. My mother grew up during the depression. 

We did not waste a thing. More on this later.

On Wednesday, we said goodbye to the sectional 

in our family room. It served us well for 20+ years. 

It was ideal when our daughters were in middle school and high school. 

Their friends could hang out here...

no worries about spills.

Jasmine had a pedicure.

Our new family room furniture is leather...

need I say more?

“Throw Back Thursday”

This photo was in my Facebook Memories on TBT.

We often spent Christmas with relatives in Minneapolis.

Our cousins are our first friends.

Friday Night Jazz with good friends 

downtown at the Historic Ward Hotel.

Of course, one of  the biggest highlights of the week

Is when we receive photos of our grandson.

This captures the true innocence and delight of 

his first Christmas Tree lights.

We are blessed.

Take care,

~Natalie

My Last Pie Party ~Here's a Report

Apple Pie Day...

it's the conclusion of our baking & quick breads unit.

Some of the students really are "pie artists".

Of course we bake them one day, and serve the next.

Pie does taste better with ice cream and coffee.

We set our tables,

talk about host and hostess duties,

and then anxiously wait for our guests.

We invite teachers and administrators.

We invite directors and coaches.

We invite mentors and counselors.

It's pretty special when when parents can get away 

from their work to be a guest.

Here's mother and daughter...

And father and son.

It's one of the highlights in my foods class.

Thanks for the sweet memories!

Take care,

~Natalie

It was Fruit & Vegetable Week in my Foods Class ~with our Fruit Pizza Recipe Link

We devote an entire week to the study of fruits and vegetables.

Students create Power Point Presentations 

on a fruit or vegetable of their choice.

Their presentations include nutritional information,

selection and storage tips, and two interesting facts.

Their creative use of technology always impresses me!

And then we make Fruit Pizzas...notice our crust.

We make our own with the whole grain goodness of rolled oats.

(The recipe calls for nuts, but due to allergies, we do not use them at school.)

The cream cheese layer uses the pineapple juice 

from the can of tidbits.

Click here to see my recipe.

Speaking of creativity...

I challenge them to think of the color placement of their fruits 

to create a pleasant presentation.

We discuss the different forms of fruit...

fresh, canned, frozen and dried.

We talk about reading the can's label to see what the fruit is packed in 

and to be sure get the style that meets your needs.

Pay attention to peak season and the prices.

Nice work, everyone!

Nutritious, Delicious, and a Little bit of Fun!

Here's my printer friendly recipe link again.

Let me know if you try it.

Take care,

~Natalie

Monday Mania ~Yes...We Made Pie Today

Everyone used the same recipe,

but used their creativity to make their pie their own.

We have invited guests and will serve pie 

with ice cream and coffee tomorrow.

It's going to be a great day!

Take care,

~Natalie