Summertime!

It's Summer! I just LOVE summertime!
Summer officially begins on June 21st, but at my house....it officially begins when the kids get out of school. So at my household, we are celebrating! Let's CELEBRATE Summer!
Come party with me and share the LOVE for summer, summertime recipes, favorite summer vacations, favorite summer decor, activities, etc.!! If you have a summer post, be sure to leave the link in the comment section (since this party wasn't posted in advance and everyone prepared)
I already have my "summer music" on my sidebar. Turn it up and sing along as I take you on a "tour of summer".
I am celebrating with Photos.
Photos of what summer means to me....I am sure you will agree that these photos are all about "summer".
These photos are of when my children were "really" little ...so fun to look back on.

Be sure to check out my favorite summer dishes:

Greek Marinated Shrimp
Drunken Chicken
The Best Fish
LA Caviar
Picnic Fare
Tropical Salad
Cucumber & Tomato Salad
Starwberry Shortcake

And many more can be found at my recipe blog, Plates and Places.

Thanks for dropping by my Summer Kick off!
Leave me a "roadmap" and I will be certain to drop by your blog!

Thanks for dropping by Bloggeritaville. I appreciate it!

In the meantime-Enjoy your Summer! Thanks again for stopping by, my friend!

Spring is Springing!

Spring is......springing!
My grandmother's double flowering daffodils are beginning to make their appearance....


















As are the blooms on the pear trees.I noticed the buds on Friday, by Sunday the tree was enveloped in huge white blooms.

My neighbors daffodils are singing of springs arrival too:

With all of the excitement of nature's alarm, well....it got Big Daddy and I into the spirit. The excitement was contagious. We had freshly made pinacolada's on our deck (we lovingly refer to as the Bratina Cantina)























Cheer's to Springs arrival!























The children and Big Daddy and I all enjoyed eating supper together outside that evening on the deck. Big Daddy prepared a delicious meal on the grill: Burgers, Dogs and grilled pineapple for dessert.


 I LOVE outdoor dining!

















Hope Spring is or will be making it's way to your house soon.
Happy Spring, y'all!

Hermit Crab

Anybody home?

















It's a hermit crab!

















"Their habit of living in a second hand shell is what gave rise to the popular name "hermit crab", which is a reference to the idea of a hermit living alone in a small cave." From Wikipedia.


I just love hermit crabs. They're like little gypsies....and I am feeling the same way of late!
But it's all good! Life IS good.

Meet me back here on Monday and next week....where we'll tour the ship, tour the ruins, put our feet in the Mexican sand, do a little shopping and take in all the sights! I hope you will join me for a little Mexican get-away on Monday and next week!


Be sure to visit Foodie Friday at Plates and Places!

Summer- MM

(Org post date 6-08)
Summer to me is:

Let me just say that I loved this meme....

Linking to The Tablescaper Summer meme.

With all this talk of summer, I cannot help but break out into song...this one from 1972....sing along if ya know it....

See the curtains hangin' in the window, in the evenin' on a Friday night.

A little light a-shinin' through the window, lets me know everything is alright.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.

See the paper layin' in the sidewalk, a little music from the house next door.

So I walked on up to the doorstep, through the screen and across the floor.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.

Sweet days of summer, the jasmine's in bloom. July is dressed up and playing her tune.

And I come home from a hard day's work, and you're waiting there, not a care in the world.

See the smile a-waitin' in the kitchen, food cookin' and the plates for two.

See the arms that reach out to hold me, in the evening when the day is through.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.

Leigh

Wild Hogs in the Woods

Remember when it used to be cool to say you ran with a gang?
(J Smooth's gang calls themselves "Wild Hogs")

You didn't carry blades and guns, but sticks that served as knight swords or paddles on pirate ships.

Your gang sign was a peace sign.

Though it were a gang of nine year old boysWild Hogs, you were sure that together you could handle any crisis that came up. Be it world affairs, or how best to tell mom that you fell into a mud puddle while wearing your "good shoes".

 

You could "get on your bikes and  ride" without getting dirty looks from your neighbors.

The world was yours.........

...and the world's doorstep began at the woods at the end of the street....

It was where important meetings were held in a fort made of fallen trees. In chairs of old tires and an old grill for a podium. It was where not one leader was in command (that wouldn't be fair), but a unanimous vote to make four friends leaders of the free world.

A "free world" in the woods. There was nothing more exciting, yet peaceful on a Sunday afternoon.
Isn't childhood grand?

Hope your weekend was a "grand"!

(Photos by my friend, "High Mae". Click her blog to read more on tales from "Wild Hogs", to read her take on Mentone, and especially to show her the love. She's new to blogging! And she's quite fabulous.)

Fall Spendor

I so enjoyed visiting you on Thrifty Thursday! Thanks to those who joined in, as well as though who made the rounds. I always enjoy visiting and seeing just what everyone has found or projects they have mastered. You always amaze me! Speaking of amaze, I came across this photo in Country Living Magazine,
Feast your eyes on this fall splendor......

Isn't it dreamy?
Speaking of feast, I have something perfect to devour as the fall season of holiday's approaches. It's something that is certain to make most every southern supper table. Visit Plates and Places to get the recipe.
I hope to see you at Plates and Places!
Have a wonderful weekend!
LIVE*Love*Laugh.
Leigh

With the Shape of an "L" on his Forehead

I have often said that Big Daddy can sleep through a tornado.
And an alarm clock.
And apparently a child pasting post it notes onto his head.

Sister Sledge loves to poke fun at her daddy. And believe me when I say that he gives it right back to her....all of our children, he loves to rib so they all enjoy taking full advantage when he least expects it. You know what they say, "What goes around, comes around".


I am participating in Foodie Friday today!
That post can be found at my recipe blog, Plates and Places.

Have a wonderful weekend!

City Easter Egg Hunt

Each year the city in which I live sponsors an Easter Egg Hunt for ages 2-10. My friends and I are most often (for the past 6 years or better) the ones to put this event on. Many area churches are good to donate goodie bags and snacks for the children. It all comes together to make a great day. I believe in being involved in community. I think it is something that is worth teaching my children, involvement, pride.
It turned out to be a great day. Here are some scenes from the Easter Egg Hunt:
From the Egg Popping Party (my friends and I got together and popped together literally hundreds of eggs over lunch and fellowship at my friend, Diva's home)
to the event itself, with the precious little children dressed in their Sunday Best.
I love an Egg Hunt! What a great tradition!

Where Would I be Today?

I guess we all have those moments when we question our worth, especially for those of us who are stay at home mothers. A role that see's no paycheck, no vacation or sick days, not many "good reviews" but certainly you hear the bad ones at times.
I guess we all sit back and think from time to time, where would I be today? What if?.....
What if I did become a rapper after hearing Vanilla Ice and thinking, if HE can do that, I could too!

Well, I suppose I would have ended up just like him. Forgotten.
Rapping is certainly NOT my forte (in fact, I hate it...so no that wouldn't have worked out).
Perhaps I could've been the subject of a rap song?

Uh, bad idea.
I would hate to be given a bad rap.
What if my worth was put into actual circulation?

Would I be referred to as dirty money?
What if I had been the one to stand on a air vent and my dress had blown up to the sky?

Would I then be famous for my best "ass"-sets?
I cannot imagine that I would have ever been good at a life in crime.

Stripes are so unflattering on me.
So are robes. So bulky.

Nahh, I could've never made it as a jetti.
Perhaps I would've been a fashoin designer with my name considered a famous label?

Would people say, Giselle never looked so good?
Would I have made the fashion magazines?

And been the talk of fashion?

Would celeb's have been clamoring to be like me?

Would I be the tatoo on the abs of some guy named Beckham?

Perhaps I could've traveled far and wide and seen the world?

But not with luggage like that. I am far to delicate.
I guess at one time we all think, "I could've been president!"

Then I certainly would've had the big head.
What if I had walked on the moon?

I probably would've been lost in space...
What if I had been a tv star?

With my name in lights and face on billboards?

Would my billboards be only seen by cows?

Perhaps I could've be the next Mona LEIGH sa?

Would I have been admired and revered?
By both great cultural arts museums and copied by street artist.




Would I be then, be fully appreciated?
I guess the argument would be that art is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

I could've been the first female fighter pilot.

But I was born to late in life for that. Besides, I might be accused of having my nose up in the air or my head in the clouds. That's just not me.
What if my dance classes had paid off....And I was a showgirl in Vegas making the big bucks?

Would I be happy and fulfilled?
Probably not. I enjoy food to much, I guess one might say I just like to be filled. Thus, the outfits would not be forgiving. And I would probably have 12 kids anyway, if I walked around like that. Big Daddy can't afford 12 kids. And I haven't the patience. Wow. So glad that career didn't work itself out.
I have said it so many times, "the seas in me veins". I would've made a great pirate.

That, I am pretty sure about that.
But...my life was planned long before I came around. And none of the things were to be.
What I know for certain,
I was born to be Leigh!!
I am not famous, a part of history, or any of those things.
But I am appreciated by the man I love.
I am blessed to be married to Big Daddy, great provider, the CEO and director of my great career as a stay at home mom.

Mom of three great kids.

I can't imagine that life could be any better. I love how things work out like that.

But every once in a while, it's fun to dream.

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I am so excited that some people have asked questions! I am going to give it a couple days to see if anyone can come up with more. If you missed it, I am doing a Q&A post. You ask the question, I answer. So, fire away! I am just happy anyone is actually interested. (sniff, sniff) Thanks!