Feast Of The Assumption

The Feast of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated this year on Thursday, August 15. This is my very favorite of all feast days. I have a special relationship with Our Lady, and always feel very close to her on this day. I remember sitting in Mass one time many years ago, and our priest suggested if we had any special intentions for Mary, we should bring them to her on her feast day. Every year I do just that. I make a short list of intentions and bring them to Our Lady. I try to take them from my heart and place them at her feet. I also offer prayers of thanks to her for the many blessings I have in my life.

Here is my special prayer spot. It is in a corner of my bedroom.

Here is my prayer table...see that prayer book? My parents received it as a wedding gift over 56 years ago. When I was in college, my mom had it rebound for me, because I had worn it right out!

This is a little prayer I cut out of our church bulletin some years ago.

Happy Feast Of The Assumption, friends!

Happy (Belated) First Birthday...Blog!

Ok well...here is one for you! Awhile back, I checked my blog posts to see when this little old blog would be turning one. So I went to my post list. And I looked at the date of my very first post. August 31. Ok, great...Fast forward until today. I decided to take some time and write a draft so when that date rolled around, I would be all set. I went back again to double check the date...and it looks like this...8/3/12. Do you see it? Does that say August 3rd!!!! Yep...that would be me...unable to see/read a date correctly and thus missing the first birthday of my own blog! Sigh...this getting old stuff is for the birds I tell you...

Anyway...I will now continue with the sweet birthday post I have stored inside my head. First, I can't believe it has been a year. And secondly, I am so glad I jumped in and started this journey into the wonderful world of Blogger. It was not really planned. I loved to read blogs, but never thought about starting one. My kids suggested I try...and before I knew it, I was hitting "Publish" and Afternoon Coffee & Evening Tea was born. I am so very grateful to all of you for welcoming me with open arms...for helping me with every little question...for even bothering to visit my little space in the first place. I cannot thank you enough for your friendship.  I have learned so much about so many things here. I felt welcome from the very beginning. And I just want you all to know how very grateful I am. I am just a mom, living her simple life with a family she loves...but am oh so blessed to have such wonderful friends to share it with.

And so...because this is a birthday...ok, a belated one...We need to celebrate. We need to celebrate YOU...my Blogger friends. I have a special gift for one of you. Wanna see? Ok...

Happy Birthday!

I love this sweet little gift set...Here is what is inside...

Yummy smelling body wash and yummy tasting lip gloss from Philosophy

If you would like to receive this little birthday gift in your mailbox, just leave a comment and my assistants, aka my kids, will hold a very scientific and professional drawing. Ok...actually they will print your name on a piece of paper and put them all in a bowl and pick one out. We will choose a random winner on Wednesday, August 14, and I will post the winner's name on my weekend post the next day. So there you have it...my humble attempt at a birthday post for my blog. Again...thanks so much for visiting. I am so glad you did! 

Weekend Plans

August is in full swing here. And if you know me, you know that I am beginning to get that autumn itch. I am starting to be ok with the earlier evenings and the slight touch of cooler air. And of course, I am pulling out my pumpkin and apple recipes, checking the pantry for supplies, and counting the days until I smell the familiar scent of fall in my kitchen. Until then, I remind myself of the still present beauty that is summer...and try to live in the moment by rocking on my front porch, admiring the beautiful green all around. Soon, before my very eyes, that green will gradually fade as the vibrant hues of autumn return once more.

This weekend is a quiet one. As in ...we have no plans. And that makes me happy. Friday night Rhett is working at the theatre. The rest of us will most likely spend a quiet evening at home. I have been cooking up all my "feels like summer" meals lately. I think I will have Steve do some barbecue chicken on the grill and get some good local sweet corn to go with it. I think Peyton, Flynn and I may add a touch of autumn by trying a new pumpkin cookie recipe too. Rest assured, I will share it with you if we like it!

Saturday is a quiet day. As much as my kids would like to get some swimming in, the weather forecast seems to have a different idea. I think we may tackle some closets and drawers instead. Believe it or not, my kids actually look forward to that end-of-summer task. We sort through summer jammies, socks, tees and such. We toss what can't be saved and fold and donate what we can. Then we fold everything, put it back and take note of what we need to purchase for the fall. Ahhhh happiness! We have Mass in the late afternoon, followed by dinner at home. I am planning a simple dinner of hot dogs on the grill, French fries, and fresh fruit.

Sunday is sleep in day for my kids. I think a late breakfast of pancakes with fresh blueberries may pull them out of bed! Sunday is open. Depending on Madison's work schedule, we may take a drive over to see my dad. Sunday night we will probably make a quick pizza and sit on the porch in preparation for a brand new week. And that is all we have planned this summer weekend. I hope yours is warm and bright and cozy, whatever your plans may be. As always, I am so happy you stopped by!

My little lady playing for a few minutes last weekend before we left to do some grocery shopping.

Even though she has lots of room to roam...

She never wanders too far away from...

her Peyton!

Loving all the zucchini! Dinner this week...Zucchini Lasagna. Happy Me!

Just some summer evening ball with my number one batter...

and an ace pitcher as well!

Just a reminder...Saturday is National S'mores Day! For real.

Another Cupcake Day this week...

The beautiful summer evening sky...

looks like someone else thought so too! : )

A Favorite Summertime Meal

This is one of our very favorite meals every summer. It is not fancy. At all. But boy is it good. It is a simple steak, creamed lettuce over fried potatoes, and sweet corn. Every fall we buy half a cow and surprisingly, the last things we use are the steaks. I guess we are more of a hamburger on the grill kind of family. But anyway...the creamed lettuce is a delicious recipe Steve's mom always made this during the summer. I remember standing in her kitchen back while I was dating Steve watching her mix it up. I can't duplicate it yet, but Steve sure can!

If you want to try it...it is real easy. We use garden lettuce. Then mix up mayo or Miracle Whip. I even use Miracle Whip Light. No real measurements, just dump some in a bowl. Add some regular vinegar...less than the mayo...enough to thin it out to make it pourable, but not watery! Chop up some green onions and toss well. Then put this in the refrigerator while you boil some small red potatoes. Boil them till almost done, then cut them in half and fry until crispy. Put the potatoes on your plate and top with the creamed lettuce. That's it! It is soooo good!

Add some locally grown sweet corn and you have an awesome summertime meal. Oh and it wouldn't be complete without an awesome slice of blueberry pie, right? Thanks to my Bloggy friend Patty, I now have this Creamy Blueberry Pie. You must try it! So there you have it...one of our favorite summertime meals. I would love to hear about yours!