This summer has been busy, even though we are in a modified quarantine!!
I have done lots of planting, one of my favorite pots is this one with 2 different colors of impatiens!! This is in our courtyard near Boston, I so love sitting in my chase lounge in the shade of the afernoon, working on my computer!!
Another favorite is on our front porch for all to enjoy as they stroll by!! I experimented with this one…2 different color begonias, an angel falls soft pink begonia, an ivy plant and a peppermint herb plant to add a nice scent!!
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And another jigsaw puzzle, this one a little easier than the others I’ve done, but my favorite!! Gina gave this to me for Mother’s Day, it was our Christmas card!! She had it done at Shutterfly!!
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What would the summer be without some fun recipes?!! This one I made around 4th of July for Victor and me for dessert and it’s healthy too!! A berry and banana smoothie, layered in red, white and blue, garnished with a strawberry and blueberries on a toothpick…
Red, White, & Blue Berry Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cup strawberries, frozen, sweetened, whole
- 1 cup raspberry juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 medium banana
- 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
- 2 cup blueberries
- 1 1/4 cup almond milk, unsweetened
- 2 tablespoon flaxseed, ground
Instructions
- If you do not want the separate layers, just blend everything together at once in a high-powered blender.
- If you DO want layers, start by blending the red layer ingredients together. Pour into individual glasses, about 1/3 full. Set glasses in freezer for 10 minutes.
- Rinse out the blender jar to remove any remaining red layer mixture. Then, add in your white layer ingredients. Blend until smooth. Pour the white layer over the frozen red layer, filling about 2/3 full. Set glasses back in freezer for 15 minutes.
- Rinse out the blender jar to remove any remaining white layer mixture. Then, add in your blue layer ingredients. Blend until smooth. Pour the blue layer over the frozen white layer, filling to the top.
- Serve layered with a garnish on top…we ate it with a spoon, but you could drink with a straw!!
Victor enjoyed it!!
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Another easy and sure to please recipe is this S’more Bark recipe, I made to bring to a friend for a socially distant visit. I thought she could serve it to her grandchildren…unfortunitely our plans got cancelled, due to a storm, because we were going to meet outside…so Victor brought it to work, in which it got eaten fast!!
3 Simple ingredients,
4 cups milk chocolate chips, 6 graham cracker rectangles coarsely crushed, 2cups miniature marshmallows…
- Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. In medium microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips uncovered on High 2 minutes, stirring once, until chips are softened and can be stirred smooth. Stir in half of the crushed graham crackers and 1 cup of the marshmallows.
- 2On cookie sheet, spread mixture to 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle remaining crushed graham crackers and 1 cup marshmallows over top; press in lightly. Refrigerate 1 hour. Break into 2-inch pieces. Store tightly covered in refrigerator.
Place in paper cups for individually germ free serving…
Taking them to a friend…just layer in plastic container with wax paper between each layer…So easy and yummy for outdoor cookout!!
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We spent The 4th of July in Virginia at The Train House!! Here are some before and after pictures…
This is the kitchen before we knocked the wall down…
After the wall came down, between kitchen and family room… 
Now finished corner with banquet, this back staircase leads to the master bedroom…
Another veiw into the kitchen from the family room!! Before old kitchen cabinets and refrigerator were removed, and after…Victor took 3 layers of linoleum off the floor to reveal the old wood floor and we had the railing duplicated to add the same to the other side of the staircase. I painted an old mahogany dining room table white and we used our old dining room chairs that had been in storage!! I painted an inexpensive candelabra chandelier antique gold, to match the kitchen hardware!!
And now what’s behind the aqua door? Victor made this special door out of a plain white door, by adding moldings and a wood madalion, I painted it aqua to match the accents throughout the house!!
There was an old yucky half bath…
Now a new walk-in pantry!!
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Two hundred years before coronavirus, the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe had some poignant metaphorical advice to do your part in this pandemic, when he wrote, “Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.”
Good advice…I’m doing my part!!
And going a little further…
A fun activity to do with kids…rock painting with inspirational sayings on them, for your front yard, so people can be cheered up as they walk by!!
We used acrylics to paint rocks, then used special paint markers for the writing and designs!!
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Dalai Lama
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Visions of My 70s 
Great recipes!!!! I have all the ingredients for the smoothie except for the raspberry juice. I am going to substitute cranberry juice. Beautiful house, you guys did a great job. I can’t wait to see it in person.
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That’s what’s so easy about that recipe, you can substitute anything and it will come out great!! I know you’ll love the s’mores, that’s easy too!! Can’t wait for you to see the house and show you around our area of VA, you’ll love seeing all the horses🐎 Thank you for reading my blog and your thoughtful reply💞 See you soon!!!
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the smores look yummy
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They are yummy!! Maybe we can make them together next time we’re down💞
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great idea for the rocks, Nina!
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Thank you Aaden👍❤️ You and Parker did a great job, people are stopping to admire them!! Thank you for replying on my blog😍
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I so look forward to your posts. They are so inviting and charming. I love your recipes and look forward to trying them both. And what a great idea to make a photo into a puzzle. Very creative and puzzles are so calming. I wish we lived closer so we could enjoy your smoothie on your lovely porch and catch up on all the years we’ve known each other. God bless you and your lovely family.
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And I so look forward to your comments💖 I hope you enjoy the recipes, so easy and yummy!! I gave Gina a puzzle with 5 family pictures on it, for her birthday, they are having fun with it!! I know, wouldn’t it be a hoot to chat about days spent in Norwood, it would take hours🤗 Hope you and your family are well and stay well🌸
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The VA house is amazing! Victor and you do a wonderful job turning the not so good into something wonderful. You have done that with every one of your houses. We just do not have the same vision or talent to put together a really awesome outcome like you two.
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However, you and Anthony have artistic talents, that we don’t have💖 Thank you for your kind comments, I’m so happy you like the house, hope you can visit us there sometime!!
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Hi Carol,
Thank you for your blogs; I miss our chats, and its a good way of catching up. The “Train House” looks great, and very inviting. You and Victor have done a great job. I love the accent color. The picture puzzle is e great idea
and very special. Aaden’ s comments are special too, and made me smile, I bet you did too. Have you been able to get to the Cape much? I think of Patty and Don, every time Austin is on the news. I hope they are well and safe.
My sister says hello to you and Victor and wishes you a safe and happy
summer.
You and Victor take good care, be well, and stay safe.
Much love,
Lucille
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I miss our chats too, Lucille❤️ Thank you for your kind comments about our VA home, we are having so much fun with it!!! We had the boys for an overnight for the first time, they loved it, that’s why we bought the house!!! It’s so awesome to see Aaden with his own email, he’s been sending us emails about what’s important to him, like Star Wars, Lego projects and Mindcraft!!! I can’t believe he’s going into 5th grade!!! And, yes, I’m thrilled he’s commenting on my blog!!!
Patty and Don are doing well in Austin, back to square one in TX, but they are cautious and staying safe. We get to the Cape as much as possible, but not much going on down there, we are trying not to go into public places unless we really need to, so no restaurants or shopping and staying socially distance if we visist friends. If we go to the beach, it’s in the morning or late afternoon, there is an official from the town that makes sure everyone is socially distancing!!!
I truly feel we have chatted over the fence on this comment and reply, only we would have been 6 feet away, with masks on🤣
I love that Dee says hello, hope she’s doing well in FL!! And hope you are enjoying your summer as much as possible, stay well!!!💖
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You are sooo to be admired!!! In my head, I’d be doing things like this. Of course it helps to have grandchildren to make yummy things like that s’more bark! Having it here for just Bobby and I? Dangerous 😂🤪 But the smoothie looks quite delish as well, and will definitely be giving that a go.
I love container gardening, and yours are lovely!!! And your rocks funtime was a wonderful spiritual time to teach children. A calm and meaningful activity that they will always remember I bet.
Your house is so amazing, but what else would I expect? I want to be you when I grow up!!!
P.S. Have you had a chance to start the paint-by-number?
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Yes, if I make something like that bark, I give it away before it gets too dangerous for us😂 I loved doing the rock painting with the boys, we ran out of rocks too soon, need to go to Nauset Beach and get more!! And, please, I want to be you when I grow up, I would LOVE to play the piano and sing!!! I did start the paint by number painting, lost interest fast because it didn’t look good. I think once the weather gets cold and we’re forced inside again, I’ll get interested again!!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on my blog, hope to see you soon and we can talk painting😉😘🎨
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