Summer Sundays - At Rancho Don Pedro, Mexico

Sundays at Rancho Don Pedro, Mexico

Right now, there is nothing I would like better than to be at our ranch in Mexico with our grandchildren.

These pictures were taken at our trip down there a few months ago.

Sundays at Rancho Don Pedro, named after my husband's father, "Pete", would mean a couple of

hours with the children and then our son

and his wife joining us later to barbecue.

There is usually some swimming and sometime

the trampoline is set up.

There is plenty of room to practice bicycling

and my ever-so-patient husband spends a lot

of time with the grandchildren teaching them

things children just love to do!

Here he is pictured with our granddaughter.

Our grandson loves these little toys that

need no motor to run. There is plenty of area

to just go and go.

Can't wait for our trip back down there in November!

I'm linking to

Summer Sundays

Which will be changing to Seasonal Sundays

after Labor Day!

The Tablescaper

http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

A Few of My Favorite Things - My lusterware!

My Lusterware!

I'm not quite sure what made me start collecting lusterware. I suppose I would see just a few pieces in

antique stores, but not a lot. Then Mary Engelbreight had a very nice collection featured in one of her books about her home.

The salt and pepper shakers were pieces I blogged about recently and as I learned today from a little research were probably not made in Japan as all of my other pieces were.

In case you are wondering about the framed pieces the top one is a Buzza print titled "Friendship" and created in 1925.

I think the one in the lower picture might be as well however it is not marked on the back.

I love looking at these pieces.

These are just a few of my favorite things.

Be sure to visit

A Few of My Favorite Things

at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie

                                    http://bargainhuntingwithlaurie.blogspot.com/

Foodie Friday - Ahi Tuna at The Patio on Guerra Street

Ahi Tuna

I barely remembered to take a quick picture of the tuna I ordered at this fabulous restaurant...

The Patio on Guerra Street

McAllen, Texas

If I had to make a request for my last dinner... this would be it.

Yes, it's very rare, but that is what allows it to melt in your mouth.

Coated with what I think are white and black mustard seeds there is a rich teriyaki sauce drizzled on top. This tuna is as they say, "To die for!"

I had creamed fresh spinach with this and a green salad with cilantro dressing.

Creme brulee was for dessert.

Yes.. it was a celebration. Our friends' were celebrating their anniversary and we

were celebrating ours.

This lovely lemon martini served chilled in a sugar rimmed glass started our evening.

Just tart enough!

The Patio on Guerra Street has recently been redone, a building which has been in the Guerra family for many, many years.

Original art done by a family member lines the rooms. Deep south Texas and Mexico are the themes of the paintings.

It was a wonderful evening!

A few pictures of the old

and respected Guerra family.

I'm linking to

Food Friday from Designs by Gollum

Be sure to make a visit

for a mouth-watering treat!

http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

Vintage Recipe Thursday - Meal planning in the 60's

Recipe file: 1972

Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook: 1963

Recipes & Notes: 1962 - 1976

I love writing about my recipes and the many memories I have of cooking with my mother and two grandmothers.

The Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, published in 1963 is one of the ones my mother and I would browse through just for a few ideas for the week's menu plan. We studied the grocery store sales sheets from the newspaper and then figured out the week's activities and then what the meals would be.

All thrifty and invaluable training that served me well throughout my married life feeding a husband and three sons.

The wooden recipe box was my project while my husband was in the Air Force, stationed at Kunsan AFB, Korea in 1972. I typed (on a real typewriter, no less!) my favorite recipes from my mother, grandmothers and friends.

One recipe is New Orlean Casserole, just a simple recipe of my grandmother Jean.

The note is from my grandmother Mother "B" that says, "January 21, 1976 - Karen sweet relish is delicious. We loved it with our bacon and eggs for breakfast - Love, Mama "B"

Yes... relish for breakfast -- I think sort of a West Texas tradition.

Here is a recipe from my mother that she got from her friend Betty from England. This was during my parents' early married days.

Betty's Pancakes

3 1/2 c. flour

5 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

2 1/2 c. milk

6 tbsp. melted butter

6 tbsp. sugar

Just mix all of this in the order it is listed.

I just made this recipe this week.

They're wonderful!

Visit Tales from Bloggeritaville

for Thrifty Thursday!!

http://lbratina.blogspot.com/

A little addition: Don't think that these are all of the recipes I have.

I have several recipes files, three-ring binders full of recipes, plus approximately 200 cookbooks.

I can't part with a one of them!

White Wednesday - Carmen's Christening Dress

Carmen's Christening

2004

Our granddaughter looked like a little doll in her christening dress and bonnet. Her maternal grandmother had made this beautiful outfit for her.

She was the best little baby during the ceremony as

if she knew it was a very special time.

I have this picture framed on my mantel.

Carmen is our oldest son's daughter.

He and his sweet family live in Mexico.

Thanks to

Faded Charm

for White Wednesday where

we get to share such

special pictures from our lives.

http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/

Toot Your Horn Tuesday -- My latest antics!

This is me - today!

Isn't this just lovely?? If you look very closely at the top of the arm... near the "ball" you can see a slight line running vertically. That is the break. I can see now why the doctor said a couple of times how fortunate I was that the break did not separate, thus requiring surgery. So, I will be laying low for a bit. Have had to cancel my trip to Austin... which is a huge disappointment to me. Why do they make slings so ugly and uncomfortable??

What happened was we went bowling with our church friends. I had not bowled in years. I didn't realize that the trend was to oil the lanes. Way too slippery for this very unathletic person. I slipped big time on the lane and landed on my shoulder. It's my right shoulder and thank goodness I am left-handed!

My husband is in Mexico on business until Saturday so I think I'm just going to vegetate for the week.

Is this what they call a "stay-cation" meaning to just lay low at home and do nothing?? No fun!

I'm linking over to
Toot Your Horn Tuesday

at A Silly Little Sparrow