WHITAKER FAMILY Est. 1972

Our lives are rich

2011-10-16T20:43:00.001-07:00

Our lives are

rich when

we are happy with

what we have.

Skirt made from dress pants

2010-11-08T10:57:00.001-08:00

I decided I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could make a cute skirt out of a pair of dress pants. I went to DI and found a pair that I thought would work. My inspiration was this skirt from Anthropologie.

So here it is! I wore it to church yesterday and got some fun comments!

Debbie Kent's latest

2010-06-13T18:44:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest from Debbie Kent. Be sure to check out
her great website which has videos of her classes. We've set
a goal to go through each of her classes. I find that I
pick up more the second time through because I'm
now aware of the subject and have had some experience
with it, am better prepared and ready to absorb and retain
even more information. Let me know what you find.

Action item:
Before you go to sleep tonight, remove anything
above your bed that could cause injury during an
earthquake.
(Because, obviously, anything above your bed
will definitely cause injury during an earthquake).
With the exception of maybe, wallpaper.

"You have been warned"... :)

Bryce won $212. on his first out

2010-06-05T15:27:00.001-07:00

Well, this is a red letter day for sure!! Bryce tied for fourth in his very first "big" golf tournament, the Gladstan Open! Here's the kicker...he won $212.00! And is he on fire! He is so excited! You have never seen a happier 15 year old young man! OK we are all excited too. His big brothers, Casey and Scott are right in the middle of their matches so it will be very interesting to see who takes top honors tonight around the Whitaker "post game" table.... And to top it off Lance made his debut last night as a gangster in the production "Bells are Ringing" at the S;pringville Playhouse. Such a fun play and so well done. Lance also does the lights and sound for them. Proud of my boys!

Another sad day

2010-05-25T20:58:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't know why Barry has the totally worst luck with horses in the entire world! Honestly, his mare that he bought in Oklahoma that was expecting a firecracker foal in two days just died this morning! Holy Cow, I cried my eyes out! He is a trooper....lost another one just two years ago and here we are again. He is the best man, I don't get it.

Julie and Julia

2009-08-14T20:48:00.001-07:00

Tonight Barry and I went to a delightful movie, Julie and Julia. It was about a cute young woman who cooked her way through Julia Child's book in one year. Barry said he really enjoyed it and I believe him. It was very well done. I loved looking at the gorgeous copper pans, the bowls and everything in their kitchens. I even have the same yellow bowl that Julia had. In fact I have THREE them! I love them so much! They remind me of my mother's.

I found them at an estate sale earlier this summer. There were two large yellow bowls, two green and two red glass bowls. I didn't need all of them but I bought every single one! A dear little old lady was heading to a rest home and there she was, sitting off to the side of the garage among her beloved belongings that took a life time to accumulate, watching as people bargained for them with her grown up children.

She had the sweetest crocheted hand bag that someone had made in the thirties with flowers made out of yarn attached to it. She had hand written a note about who had made it for her and inserted it in the bag. I don't know if it was to remind her or not, but I was glad to know it was old and loved. When I got home I washed it gently and found a couple of moth holes which I carefully stitched up.

Before I left the sale, I went over to the frail little lady and told her I appreciated her sharing her things with me and that I would take good care of them. She was very kind, very bright and aware of exactly what was happening. I'm sure her thin body was just worn out.

So now looking back it makes me think about how I need to simplify, pare down and only keep things I need. I guess I should find a good home for a few lovely bowls? Any takers??

Strawberry Pie

2009-06-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

Fresh Strawberry Pie!

Sunday was Father's Day. I had some delicious fresh strawberries and wondered what I could do with them. Sometimes, I have to admit, I just freeze them because they seem to go bad with lighting speed. If you're not planning on eating them immediately, probably don't even think about bringing them home.

So the planets aligned! I actually had two packages of cream cheese, some whipping cream and a box of that red pudding glaze stuff I can't remember the name. Oh yeah, Junkett! Plus some graham crackers. Bryce helped me and we had such a fun time in the kitchen. He loves to cook.

Here are some pictures of the pie and Bryce enjoying the first bite. He thought for sure he qualified because of the red gym shorts and white t-shirt which repeated the design of the pie.

Fresh Strawberry Pie

1 package of Graham Crackers
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup sugar
Process in food processor and pat into a pie tin.

Bake in a 400 degree oven 6 mins. Let cool.

Meanwhile...soften an 8 oz. package of cream cheese
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 - 3/4 cup whipping cream
Mix together until creamy smooth

Prepare one package of Junket Strawberry Pie glaze
according to directions and let cool.

Hull a bunch of strawberries and cut into pieces.

I'm always in a hurry so I bake my pie crust and put it in the freezer to cool.
Spread the cream cheese mixture on the bottom of the crust and up
the sides. Place the strawberries on top of that and cover with the
pie glaze. Let it set for at least 45 seconds before you cut your
"test piece". (You don't want to be serving sub standard desserts
to your family and friends, now do you?)

Most important! Beat at least one cup of whipping cream
with 1/4 + cup of sugar and 1 tsp real actual vanilla to
use as a topping. None of that cool whip fake stuff. If
you're going to be putting yourself on the rails of
"the weight gain express", let's not be skimping.

OK that's it! Have fun!!

Deck June 2009

2009-06-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

WHAT A FUN WEEK!

I am amazed at how much fun it is to
have grandchildren!

Little girls are just different that's
for sure. Sydney is so darling.
Every time she receives anything she
just gasps with delight. Her sweet little
voice reminds me of a little bird in a
Disney movie.

She loves dresses! How sweet!

We found some bottles, filled them with flowers and hung them
from the peach tree.

Love her...

Here's a picture of my pink petunias that have been loving
the "Flower Magic" additive they get almost every day.

I'm going to be working on my food storage inventory today.
Lance is developing the neatest system. (Aren't you Lance...)

I made yogurt with a lemon start Wednesday, kind of runny
so I think I just need to let it process longer. I used
1% milk, powdered milk, STEVIA! and lemon essential oils
along with the lemon yogurt start. It tastes great and best
of all not so much sugar!

Off to the best Chiropractor in the valley, Dr. Joe Kepo'o.
Ohana Family Clinic. Your whole family is just $50.00!
Honestly have never received such good care, total health
is his main concern, so well versed on the latest on
every possible subject. He did an adrenal test for me
last time and believes that is why I keep waking up in the
middle of the night. A test scheduled next week will
shed more light.

Because its June, June, June, June, just because its June, June, June!!

2009-06-02T21:54:00.001-07:00

Rogers and Hammerstein got it right in the musical "Carousel"! June is bustin' out all over....all over the meadow and the hill.......

I love June! Because it's my birthday month probably, I've always loved my birthday. I was born on Flag Day and my mother told me the flags were all for me! I still secretly believe that. They are all so happy and signal the summer season of celebrating.

I love the roses and the beautiful flowers. I love my deck! I love my little round table with the vintage table cloth. I have a few I like to trade out from time to time. This year I have the most beautiful pink petunias in a hanging planter. I have a great fertilizer I got from QVC specifically for flowers. I had my neighbor pick up a couple more so I won't run out.

Well, no one knows I have this blog yet so this is kind of fun.

Night!