Mmmm...

S t a s h e s

Aren't they G-R-E-A-T!

Did You Know...

I'm a poet and have been published?

When I was a sophomore in high school I had Mrs. Cockran for English. She was older then dirt and was one of those, "I don't do guff, and you will behave in my class," kind of teachers. And we did. Her class was hard and I struggled every day. One day she announced that each year she published a book of "the best" writings and poetry written by her students. My reaction was "uh huh." I had no hope for me. She taught us about haiku. So I wrote what I thought was a haiku poem and asked her if I was right. Much to my amazement she got excited about my poem and said, "Yes, this is good!" She smiled and I smiled. I walked proudly back to my desk, took my pencil in hand and wrote more poetry... a writer had been born. I had two poems that were published. When I received my copy of "Reflections" I was so proud to turned to page 54 and see my name, Kay West, with my two poems.

The rest of the story...

One day Shane was trying to be sneaky and explain something to me, stating it was was haiku. I was able to sigh really big and say, "haiku is poetry." He laughed and smiled that knowing grin he has when he is caught trying to bluff me. Thank you Mrs. Cockran!

Recipe Time Again

This is such a delightful taste sensation. I promise it won't dissapoint!

Blueberry Soup

4 1/2 cups fresh blueberries or 2(12oz.) packages frozen blueberries may be substituted
1 (12 oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup cold water
1 tsp. dried lavender (I used 1/2 tsp.)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups vanilla yogurt
Sweet Treat Croutons

1. Stir together fresh blueberries, lemonade concentrate, and 1/2 cup cold water in a 3 qt. saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, stir in dried lavender, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until blueberries burst. Remove from heat, and cool 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla extract.

2. Press mixture through a fine wiremesh strainer into a large bowl, using back of a spoon to squeeze out juice. Discard pulp. Stir in yogurt. Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours. Serve with Sweet treat Croutons.

Makes 5 cups


Sweet Treat Croutons

1/2 (10.75 oz.) package frozen butter pound cake, thawed
3 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint (I used 1/2 tsp dried mint flakes)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut butter pound cake into 1/2 inch cubes, and place in a large bowl. Add butter and chopped fresh mint, and toss gently to coat. Place cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool completely (about 30 minutes).

Sorry there isn't a picture, but we ate it all.

This is a What?

Mystery solved!

I was relieved to find out that nothing creepy was eventually going to come out of this. It is a True Sea Bean or Red Hamburger Bun. It is a seed from a tree native to Africa, Central or South America. When the seed pods open the seeds fall to the ground getting into the water system and eventually are carried to the ocean. Sea Beans are great oceanic travelers, they have small air pockets inside making them buoyant. They can endure the salt water for up to two years. They are stranded at the highest tide drift lines along with sea weed. If you find one, it is considered to bring you good luck.

Very interesting...I think we have discovered a new kind of treasure!

Beach Epilogue

It was a perfect beach day with the gorgeous blue sky, the ocean breeze and the soft sand under our feet. Shane was waist deep in the ocean playing in the waves and I was barely "two feet" deep looking for shells at the edge of the water. After a while Shane joined me and we meandered aimlessly along the beach looking for shells, without having much luck finding any, so we decided to go back to the house. As we were walking through the stranded sea weed...

Shane: What is that?

Kay: I don't know? Is it a shell? Is it alive? You touch it.

Shane: Reaching down taps on it with his fingernail and after no response picks it up. It feels like a shell. The black middle is kind of soft. He sniffed it. Shook it.

Kay: Does it open?

Shane: I don't know. It might. Do you want it?

Kay: YOU carry it.

For two days I left it outside waiting for it to open and for something to ooze or crawl out of it, or to stink really bad, but so far nothing.

Its home with us now and even gets to be in the house.

After several ventures to the beach we accumulated a small collection of shells,

And I love them everyone.

Shane was so diligent in finding them for me because he loves me.

I'm such a lucky girl.

We're back!

We loved our vacation at the beach,

but as you know,

there's no place like home!

We love you! Mom and Dad

E-E-E

Ta Da!

I have been working on my tan all week.

What da ya think?

A little blinding, maybe.

Sun screen will do it every time!