Italian Dinner with Lifelong Friends

Yesterday I had my girlfriend and her husband over for dinner.  The three of us have known each other since grade school.  They are in Michigan on vacation and I'm glad they could come over for dinner before heading back to Florida.

I decided to go with an Italian themed dinner.  I ordered an Italian table runner [red, white and green stripped] but it didn't arrive in time for the dinner.  It came this morning!  Even though the dinner was over, I reset the table to see how it looked.  It's amazing how something so simple makes the table look so much nicer.  It's all about layering.

~ Without the runner ~

~ With the runner ~

  

I wanted a simple centerpiece that could be easily removed for food, so I made one with a vase and pasta that I had on hand. I inserted a sunflower to match the napkin rings reminiscent of sunflowers in Tuscany. They're called Girasoli in Italian which literally translates 'Turn to the Sun.'  The red, white and green ribbon and red and white checked napkins came from Amazon.

The main entree was lasagna roll-ups instead of layered lasagna noodles.  [The roll-ups are much easier to serve.]   With all the cases of Cyclosporiasis from lettuce and other produce, I decided to skip the salad and make a Pastina soup instead served with bread sticks and buttered baguette slices.  The vegetable was corn pudding, even though it's not a popular Tuscan vegetable.  If I would have been adventuresome, I would have tried making baked polenta, but the corn pudding kinda looks like baked polenta.

I'm working on a Shutterfly cookbook for my granddaughter for Christmas [hopefully], and corn pudding will definitely be in the book because my family loves it for all family get-togethers. [The picture is for the cookbook but I decided to include it in this post.]

Dessert was Peanut Butter Pie with an Oreo cookie crust.  After I purchased all the ingredients, I thought I should have made Tiramisu instead, but the pie was a hit in spite of not being Italian.  I sprinkled chopped mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups on top.

I took this picture of Dan, Elaine and my hubby just before our dessert.  Iced tea was our beverage.

 

After dinner we visited in the family room for a couple of hours before they left.  It was such an enjoyable evening and I feel so blessed that we've stayed connected all these years.  

Elaine took the picture of my hubby and me and sent it to me.

We had prayer before they left asking for God's protection as they travel back to Florida on Friday and throughout the days and months ahead.  Dan said they'll be back next year and we'll plan dinner together again.

Lunch With Girlfriends

Yesterday I drove to the City of Wyandotte where I grew up [about 34 miles south of where I currently live], to have lunch with three high school girl friends.  Two girls couldn't make it, but one was visiting from Florida and joined us. 

It was a beautiful day for the drive.  We met at a new restaurant on the Detroit River called Latitudes.

Boardwalk by the entrance to the restaurant.  There was no fence or guard rails which seemed risky if someone wasn't paying attention, or a child was too daring.  The water depth there is supposedly 6 ft. 

The gal front left [next to me] is the one who is visiting from Florida.  She was a bridesmaid in my wedding and it was so nice to see her again.  She and her husband are coming to my house for dinner next Tuesday.  We made it easy on our server yesterday and all ordered batter fried cod and parmesan fries.  Yummy!  We had the option to eat outside or inside and opted for inside to avoid pesty insects.

Whenever friends come to The Whitney for tea, I try to take their picture.  Last month [June 25th] a family from church came - a mother and her daughters and daughter-in-law.  It was part of her Mother's Day gift.  I'm adding their pictures to this post since I didn't do it earlier.  

~ Linda with her youngest daugher, Erin ~

~ Linda with her oldest daughter, Shannon ~

~ Linda's daughter, Kelli [left] and family friend, Mary ~

~ Mary and Linda's daughter-in-law, Rebecca [right] ~

When they finished their tea, I took them on a tour of the mansion.  It's always fun to show off The Whitney!

Sunday in Lansing, MI

The summer college break is going by fast for granddaughter, Isabella, and she will soon be going back to finish her last semester before graduating with a degree in Marketing.  She got a job this summer in the Marketing Department of the Lansing Lugnuts - a Minor League Baseball team, Midwest League.  She said it's been a very fun job.  Yesterday she was honored as Employee of the Month [along with other honorees] before the baseball game began.  As proud grandparents, we were there to cheer her on.  

I had never heard of the Lansing Lugnuts and had to read up on them.  They are a High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.  The franchise is 71 years old, founded in 1955.  They relocated to Lansing in 1996 and adopted the Lugnuts moniker.  Their home games are played at Jackson Field [formerly called Oldsmobile Park].

[Me, Samantha, Landon, Izzy & Ellie]

The pregame awards got underway just after 12:00 noon.

After a week of hazy skies and hazardous air quality from Canada's wildfires, we could actually see blue skies yesterday that didn't smell of smoke.   It was a nice day for a ballgame.  As you can see, I came prepared with a wide-brimmed hat so I wouldn't get sunburned.

It was the first baseball game I've been to in a long time, and a fun afternoon.  The Lugnuts defeated the Fort Wayne Tincaps 6-2.

After the game we went to Raising Cane's restaurant for their yummy chicken fingers.  To accompany my meal I made an Arnold Palmer with unsweetened tea and lemonade at their beverage bar.  

Jeremy is an Elvis fan and 'just happened' to get us a seat by a portrait of Elvis.

~ Izzy and Papa ~

Family Birthdays

As mentioned in yesterday's post, our youngest granddaughter, Ellie, turned 14 on July 4th.  Here's some pics from the birthday party.

Daughter-in-law, Samantha [who'll be celebrating a birthday on July 14th] and Ellie.

  

The birthday girl with her ice cream cake.

~ Blowing out the candles ~ 

~ Samantha, Ellie and Jeremy ~

Our oldest granddaughter, Tiffany, is back in Michigan for a brief visit and will celebrate her 35th birthday on Tuesday.  She, her husband, and their two little girls moved to Oceanside, CA three years ago and today is the first we've seen them since their move.  When they lived here, El Charro's Mexican restaurant was one of their favorites, so that's where we went today after church.

~ Tiffany, John, Juliette [Jules] and Evelyn [Evie] ~

Tiffany's complimentary birthday ice cream.

Salvation, Health, Family and Friends are my greatest blessings from God.  It's been a great weekend!

Happy Birthday America and Ellie!

Today's the day for celebrating our country's 250th Birthday.  The U.S.A. is my cup of tea!

I began my morning with a red, white and blue breakfast!  Blueberry green tea is in my cup.

Our youngest granddaughter, Ellie, turns 14 today also.  She just returned from a historic vacation with her dad and I'm anxious to hear all about it today.

Way back in 1963 [when I had just completed my sophomore year of high school] I went to Washington D.C. with my parents and have a photo of my Dad and me standing on the Capitol steps.  Jeremy replicated that photo with him and Ellie on his recent trip, saying the railing project in the background had been completed.  ;-)  Little did I realize that 63 years later I'd have a son and granddaughter standing on the same steps.  How quickly time passes and history repeats itself.

They covered a lot of historic territory [four states plus Washington D.C.] on their trip and sent a few pics along the way.  I'll hear more details and see more pics later today when we get together to celebrate Ellie's birthday.

~ Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. ~

~ Mt. Vernon in Virginia ~

 U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.  Ellie's standing by 'Navy Bill' the goat mascot.

 Where's a picture with a Naval Cadet?  ;-)

~ The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ~ 

~ Independence Hall ~

At one point in Jeremy's career he was a high school history teacher so I know he enjoyed every minute of this trip and I'm sure Ellie did too.

I'll share more pictures tomorrow of her birthday celebration.  We're hoping Mother Nature will be kind and hold off the predicted thunder storms because it's an outdoor party.  I'm all ready to go, wearing my patriotic 'Spilling the Tea' T-shirt.

How are you spending the holiday?

P.S.

Jeremy texted after I published this post asking if we wanted to see his recent trip pics on our TV screen before going to the gathering, and we said yes.  What great pics of a trip neither he nor Ellie will ever forget. Before leaving he wanted to take a picture of his dad and me standing behind the patriotic grouping on my dining room table. I had more fun changing and rearranging it before the 4th ever got here.  I put some things on a nearby cabinet too.

And Mother Nature didn't hold off the rain.  We had two downpours that sent everyone running for cover.  Many in our area are without power since Friday.  Fortunately, we still have power at our house.

 

A Wonderful Day at Church

I always enjoy going to church, but today was especially full of wonderful happenings.  New members were received into our fellowship, the sermon series in 1st Samuel continued, and just as Saul was anointed for his leadership role, the pastoral staff anointed all those who wanted God's guidance and blessings upon their individual ministries.  And not to be excluded, was the enjoyable short highlight by the children who had just completed four days of Vacation Bible School. 

It's heartwarming when children learn about Jesus at a young age and carry it with them into adulthood.  I remember going to VBS [Vacation Bible School] when I was a child.

My daughter-in-law, Sharon, is the Children's Director.

The setting was Ireland, and the children learned that Jesus is their Good Shepherd.

Two of the VBS volunteer teachers.

When church was over the kids and the 'young-at-heart' adults were greeted outside by a bagpiper...

a pen of live sheep...

and a Good Humor Ice Cream truck for everyone to select the ice cream treat they wanted.

I'm thankful I made the decision to allow Jesus to be my Good Shepherd.  I hope you have too.