Things in Our House Thursday ~The Great Kitchen De-Stash ~Things that Need a New Home

This Retired Empty Nester has been working on cleaning

out closets, cabinets, drawers, baskets, and boxes.

This week, I’ve been weeding out and organizing in our Kitchen.

We simply do it need to have some of these extra items.

I’d love to find folks that can use them…

Starting with these two sets of dishes.

I use these Pyrex Casserole Dishes, maybe only once a year.

Thanksgiving…picture the Sweet Potato Dish in one,

Scalloped Corn in the other.

They were Wedding Gifts (so they are vintage)

Can anyone else use them?

These two Casserole Dishes were also Wedding Gifts.

I’ve always appreciated the wicker baskets to protect your table

and make them easier to pass if you are serving Family Style.

Like many others, I’ve collected Coffee Mugs all my adult life.

These are souvenirs of special trips or gifts from special friends & family.

I’m ready to share them with some else.

Please leave a comment or send a message if you are

interested in any of these items.

Oh, and I’m just getting started.

Stop by again, to see what else needs a new home!

Take care,

~Natalie

Return to Home ~Here’s Where the Week Went ~Good Friends ~Blast from the Past

My first day at home…a main priority was to nap

since I had been up well before dawn.

(I also unpacked my bags a did a little laundry)

I wanted to meet up with friends

to catch up on what everyone had been up to?

Luckily, I was home in time for the first 

Downtown Outdoor Concert of the Summer Season.

Xpedition’s performance was trip back to our college days 

with music by Journey, Foreigner, Kansas, and Styx.

It was a beautiful evening to be at an outdoor concert

and to spend time with good friends.

A couple days later, we attended Arts in the Park.

It was a hot and humid weekend, here in the Dakotas.

Of course we stopped at Brum’s booth to see his latest creations.

You’ll remember, he’s the friend that got my Hubby

hooked on wood turning.
 

We usually have our Sunday lunch in the park during the Arts Festival.

However, it was Fathers Day and Hubby was calling the shots.

We went somewhere with Air Conditioning…

…and cold beverages.

Hubby’s favorite Sandwich is the Monte Cristo.

Here, at the Three22, there is a Breakfast Monte Cristo

on the Brunch Menu.

This was also the weekend of our Home Swim meet.

My Facebook Newsfeed was flooded with photos of our local swimmers,

which prompted me to look for this Blast from the Past.

Plenty of family togetherness, every weekend, all summer long.

Good wholesome fun along with great memories.

Here’s another peek at my Anniversary Bouquet

in that cute Farmhouse Pitcher that I purchased

on our Spring Break trip to visit family.

I hope you are having

a Wonderful Wednesday.

Take care,

~Natalie

Saying Goodbye ~Home Again, Home Again ~Here’s a Report of my Travels

 

I said goodbye to our family two weeks ago.

I came home with a full heart and plenty of sweet memories.

My last day was spent running errands and stopping for 

an iced coffee and a little Daughter/Mother time.

Of course, this Gigi had plenty

of hugs for those Grandsons.

My flight was early…

our Son-in-Law dropped me at the airport by 4:30

to get in line to check my bag.

Again, the long lines at Starbucks

discouraged me from getting my coffee fix.

Many of you are familiar with the Minneapolis Airport.

I arrived in Concourse A, and was departing from Concourse G.

I was so glad to have a long layover,

especially since the Tram was out of order.

Passengers were sprinting to try to make their Connection.

Some travelers missed their flights.

However, I had enough time to get of photo of my ride…

…and to snap a Bathroom Selfie.

I enjoyed some salty snacks, saving my appetite

for a nice lunch out with Hubby when I got home.

I was welcomed home with hot Summer Weather…

I guess I missed Spring here in the Dakotas.

We had a Frost Warning the night before I left.

I received this warm welcome, too.

A beautiful Anniversary Bouquet from Hubby.

Stop by again to see how I spent my first week at home.

Take care,

~Natalie

How Do You Like To Go Up In A Swing? ~by Robert Louis Stevenson

One of my favorite Poems

is The Swing by Robert Louis Stevenson.

My Mother taught in a One Room School House in the 1940s.

Memory work was a required part of the State’s Curriculum.

So she had many wonderful poems that she would recite to me

when she was doing her Farmhouse Chores.

“How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it is the pleasantest thing,

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

Rivers and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside.

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down in the roof so brown.

Up and the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!”

Henry and I went out to The Swing every morning…

…And every afternoon.

(Weather permitting, of course)

I worked to memorize those three beautiful verses,

And recite them with Henry when swinging.

This is the day, I told him that Gigi has to go home the next day.

It almost looks like he is processing that bit of information.

But no worries,

Henry will keep on Swinging

all summer long!

Take care,

~Natalie

Spending Time with Family ~Gigi Came to Play ~Errands and Everyday Chores are Fun, too

 

This Gigi planned a visit to spend priceless time with our family.

First priority was that all important playtime.

Of course, with a young family,

 there are those everyday house chores,

like unloading the dishwasher, folding laundry,

shopping for essentials, and meal preparation.

I was more that happy to help out where I could.

A trip to the Supermarket is always a favorite outing for me.

This time it was Henry’s turn to drive the cart.

On this day, an employee was making fresh peanut butter in the Deli.

It looked like a Play Dough Fun Factory.

Big Brother spent his mornings in school,

so Henry had his Mama and Gigi all to himself.

There’s always fun finds at this place.

Equally important weekly task…

Watching for the Trash Truck!

Jack came home after lunch every day. 

We all appreciated a little quiet time before preparing dinner.

I had plenty of help in the kitchen.

I had the opportunity to prepare some new recipes…

Toddler Friendly Fare.

This tasty dish was a Chicken, Rice, Beans, & Corn Bowl.

I like to cook better that baking, 

so this wasn’t work for me.

Plus it gave the parents a chance to play with the boys

after they came home from work.

The boys love Mini Meatloaves.

This recipe has Italian Seasoning,

and Mozzarealla Cheese in the mixture.

Jack is a willing Sous Chef.

This night, Spaghetti and Marinara Sauce was on the menu.

And an absolute favorite…

Homemade Pizza 🍕 

Pepperoni with plenty of Cheese.

We usually had enough food for lunch the next day…

those are called “Planned Overs”

We are Blessed.

Take care,

~Natalie

Spending Time with Family ~Home from our Weekend Road Trip ~Back to School, Work, and Play

 

We returned from our Weekend Road Trip to NYC 

all refreshed and ready for a busy week.

Jack had two weeks of preschool left,

while Mama and Daddy were back to work.

My alarm went off early so I could be up and ready for the day.

I love how the sun shines in this fanlight window above

my comfy bed in the 3rd floor Guest Suite.

After all the others left the house,

Henry had a leisure breakfast,

while I enjoyed a second cup of coffee!

Of course, we chatted about what we were going to do for our day…

Play, Play, Play

Play improves the cognitive, physical, social,

and emotional well-being of children and young people. 

Through play, children learn about the world and themselves.

They also learn skills they need for study, work, and relationships.

Play has so many benefits.

*Builds imagination and creativity.

*Fosters cognitive growth

*Supports emotional well-being

*Improves literacy

*Encourages independence

*Maintains Physical Fitness

So, when this Gigi was invited to visit 

and help with child care,

I didn’t hesitate to plan the trip.

I could leave my own house chores behind,

and just play all day!

Take a break from your busy schedule

to enjoy some child’s play!

Take care,

~Natalie