Look what flew in….
Yep – this is what we do in Mars…
Mars, PA that is…
Remember how I posted the gorgeous 70 degree F day on Tuesday (two short days ago)??
Today, Mikey and I headed out for a short lunch time walk, and look what is happening!!
THE WHITE STUFF! And it is 36 degrees F. I actually had to put a coat on for the first time.
So – ok – it wasn’t like a blizzard or anything (in fact it had just started, and I had to try pretty hard to find objects with enough snow on to get a photograph :). Remember it was 70 degrees two days ago…
But the first snow – no matter how much – is always kind of exciting… like a right of passage to the holiday season…
In faaaccctttt……. I think I might start playing the Christmas tunes…
(That always causes all kinds of trouble around here with my grinches guys – tee hee hee!)
Ask me in February – or maybe even January – how I feel about the snow, and I imagine it will be a whole different story! But from now until New Year’s, I love it.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I made a “pact” yesterday with my FRIEND, John.
John Lee Bartholomew Taggart is a young man (younger than both of my boys) who was born in England, teaches English in other countries, has seen more of the world than I daresay I ever will, and is a genius writer/blogger.
John’s recent post (entitled Old Friends (Ireland)) on Storytime with John struck such a chord in me that I had to comment. John commented back right away :), and in five minutes we decided to make a pact. The Friend Pact I’m calling it.
A 51 year-old lady from Mars, PA and a 23 year-old young man from wherever in the world John is at the moment have decided that we are going to not just be friendly to people. We are going to be FRIENDS with as many as we can.
Just like the friends John recently met in Galway, Ireland.
Whenever you get to thinking how you can make a difference in the world….. or what your purpose is on this earth….. start by simply being a friend.
It might be much grander than you believe.
Smile at a stranger. Watch it light up their face.
Hug for hello and hug for good-bye…. And hang on. Be the last to let go.
Listen to people with an open heart, open mind, and with all of your presence. Your time and attention is a gift to the recipient.
Tell your story, own it, and know you are who you are because of it. Don’t be ashamed. Don’t be boastful. Just Be YOU.
I have always loved quickly and easily. I love to say “I love you” to my family and friends.
To me – everyone I meet is a friend (unless they somehow prove otherwise). No proving your friendship here. I accept you as my friend.
Are you in on the The Friend Pact my friends? Let’s not just be friendly, let’s be FRIENDS!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS Marty has always wanted to visit Ireland, so Galway has moved to the top of my bucket list! I hope to visit someday, and can’t wait to meet my friends. 🙂
You know you are getting old when…………
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So I dialed the number I know by heart. It’s our Friday evening ritual.
The pleasant voice on the other end of the line asks, “Is this Mrs. M?”
“Why Yes,” I say, with a bit of a startle and a big grin – wondering whether to be flattered or concerned….
“Delivery to Blankety Blank Blank Road?”
“Yes!” I’m either more excited or more concerned….
And I go about ordering our usual Friday night pizza/salad delivery from our favorite Mars Pizza.
Yep – that’s our Friday night ritual.
And yep – that means we are getting old.
When Friday night is your earliest go to bed night, earliest get in your jammies and sit in front of the television and eat dinner night – you are getting O L D!
But I LOVE IT!
And what is even better?
When the delivery boy tells you they are extremely embarrassed about the condition of your grilled chicken salad and a credit is going on your tab for next time. SCORE!
And I thought the salad was just fine.
So anyway – since dinner is so much effort on Friday night, the least I can do is make a sweet treat for the Hubster. (Is Marty lucky or what?!?) 🙂
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My guys love peaches, but not when they get very ripe. I had a few “more ripe than they like” peaches that I thought I could do something with, and then I had this tube of refrigerator sugar cookie dough from who knows when in the fridge, so put that together…..
and I come up with Peach Cookie Cobbler!
So, since this was just a wing it recipe (I should have measured thinking I would blog the recipe!) – we’ll give a shot at remembering the ingredients.
But I do want to tell you, friends – Don’t be afraid to wing it! Just like cooking, baking does not have to be an exact science. Experiment. Improvise. Use what you have and what tastes good or “right” to you!
So I gathered the peaches.
After peeling and slicing them (and munching on one!) – I squeezed some fresh lemon juice over them, added some sugar and cinnamon and a bit of flour to thicken. (My guesstimate is about 1/2 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp cinnamon, and 1/4 cup flour to the 6 peaches)
I put this mixture in an 8 inch round baking stone.
Then I just pulled pieces of the cookie dough off and crumbled all over the top of the peaches.
I sprinkled a little more cinnamon sugar on top and baked at 350 for 30 minutes.
And Voila! A quick and easy peach cookie cobbler.
This would work wonderfully with apples too!
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Oh what a glorious TWENTY FIVE hours I got to spend from 11 am Saturday to 12pm Sunday with some of the best of besties at our Annual Girlfriend Camp 2014!
What started like this…
Toasting the beginning of Camp with Prosecco, Limoncello and Fresh Raspberry Cocktails
What happens @ #GFC2014 stays at #GFC2014
…ended like this…
but I skipped a few things in between….
So first – Meet the campers: Camp Host – Yours truly… “Tipsy”
Our Amazing Activities Director “Chitfaced”
the Baby – or should I say “Babe” of the group – “Bombed”
Social Media Director “Buzzed”
The tart “Pickled”
The Lovely “Loaded”
And the Terrific “Toasted”
Every camp has to have craft time – right?
And goody bags and gifts from friends….
Silly glasses and blowing bubbles…
And Camp Activities…
Minute to Win It Buzzed Whippin’ it good
Minute to Win it Top Technique!
Minute to Win It Loaded with …. errr…. Vaseline on her nose
Minute it to Win It Cotton Ball Challenge
Minute to Win It TEAMS!
And #Selfies…
And Smart A$$es…
And “Take our Picture!” s…
to refreshments….
and group photos….
and when in Mars, PA – you must visit the infamous spaceship in town square ….. go there in camp jammies….. in the rain….. and find random (somewhat sober) people to take your picture…
And the best Chef Merv made us an amazing Morning After Breakfast – and this is the only photo we will share of the morning after…
Because some things that happen at Girlfriend Camp, need to just stay at Girlfriend Camp!
Thanks for a great time “girls!” Love ya!!! Couldn’t have had more fun – Until GFC2015….
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 