PAINTING OF GRANDMA BETTY

My sister, Stephanie, gave me a belated birthday present. She painted a picture of our Grandma Betty.

This photo was her inspiration.  Grandma Betty is on the right.

And here is the painting.  I love it!

PEONIES

My grandmother's peonies have decided to start blooming and they are beautiful, as they are every year.

I feel so lucky to have some of her bushes in my flower garden.  I find myself smiling, as they welcome me, as I pull into the driveway.  They make me a happy, happy girl.

HAVE A FUN WEEKEND

SALT WATER TAFFY

is a yummy treat we like to get while we are at the beach. Our favorite place to stop at is Candyland in Lincoln City.
This green depression glass bowl belonged to my Grandma Betty and it's filled with our sweet salt water taffy.
Seeing this bowl filled with our sweet morsels makes me smile twice, once for my Grandma Betty memories and a second for our beach memories.
Our favorite taffy flavors? Vanilla, Mint, Peanut Butter and Molasses.
The man clan also likes to bring home micro mini jawbreakers.
What is your favorite sweet treat to bring home from the beach?

RAISIN FILLED COOKIES

I remember eating raisin filled cookies when we would visit Grandma Betty. I forgot that my mother had written grandma's recipe down for me and I came across it today. They taste just as good as I remember.

Filling:
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
juice of half a lemon
1 TBSP flour

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer until thick. Set aside to cool.

Dough:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or shortening
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
3 1/4 cup flour

Cream butter, sugar and egg. Add milk and all other ingredients. Roll out dough on floured surface and cut into 3" circles. Place a heaping TBSP of raisin filling on each circle and top with another circle of dough. Crimp edges and pierce top with a fork.

Bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes.

A SEWING MACHINE

that belonged to my Grandma Betty, is now with me.

One of my favorite things about the machine is that her thread is still in her bobbin.

I miss her.

I WAS LOOKING THROUGH SOME

family photographs last night and these are some of my favorite winter photos...

Aunt Lucia, Uncle George and my father

My mom and Uncle Dennis pulling my Grandpa Mark

Grandpa Mark and Grandma Betty

Grandpa Mark pulling my mom and Uncle Dennis

These photos just make me smile....

MY FAVORITE FLOWER IS A WHITE

peony and that was my Grandma Betty's favorite too.
My parents have some of her bushes and they are in full bloom and absolutely gorgeous.
I think of her whenever I look at those huge, ruffly, sweet smelling blooms..

In the fall my parents are going to split the bulbs and I am so excited to get some to plant for my own...

TODAY IS MY

Grandma Betty's birthday. I have a lot of favorite pictures of her, these three top the list.... She's 10 year's old in this photo and I think my niece Alivia looks a lot like her....

She always had the best laugh...

This photo just cracks me up...

Happy Birthday Grandma,

we miss you!!

Peony

This gorgeous white peony is from my Grandma Betty. When she passed, we were lucky enough to get starts from her peony bush. White peonies were her favorite flower and now white peonies are my favorite.

What's your favorite flower?