Looks like it's official to me............. Summer's here...... or at least very, very close! And so, I am searching for ways to keep cool, if anyone has any suggestions they would be greatly welcomed...... see, Summer has not always been my favorite time of year..........sorry to those of you who love the heat, but I usually don't handle the heat very well....... I admit it........ I would much rather be looking out the window at a lovely rain any day! Sometimes I think perhaps I should move to Oregon....... you never know, I just may do that one day.......... Plus I seem to get many more headaches and migraines in the Summer.................. ah well, we do the best we can with what we have to work with, don't we? Life's too short not to!

I am always on the search for Summer-Friendly recipes too, and thought I would share a couple of favs with you.......... this first one is a Paula Deen recipe, I adore Paula, she just seems so "genuine" to me, and she makes me giggle with her laugh.......... anyway, this is a terrific recipe for a hot, hot Summer night when it is just too darn hot to heat up the kitchen, and it is so quick and simple, not to mention YUMMY YUMMY............

Taco Salad

2 ripe tomatoes, diced

½ pound sharp cheddar cheese, diced

{I shredded mine & think it was just as good}

1 large onion, diced

1 head iceberg lettuce, washed, drained and shredded

1 pound lean ground beef, browned, crumbled and drained

1 cup Catalina salad dressing

1 7-ounce bag taco flavored chips crushed

{I couldn't find taco-flavored, so just used Fritos Corn Chips}

1 cup salsa

Combine the tomatoes, cheese, onion, lettuce and ground beef in a large bowl.

Add the entire bottle of salad dressing and mix well.

Just before serving, add the taco chips, tossing to combine with other ingredients.

Top each serving with salsa.

{the salsa should be optional I think}

Serve with tortilla chips.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ease of preparation: easy

And, this salad is simply wonderful with Paula's Lemonade!!

LEMONADE

2 cups sugar

2 cups fresh lemon juice

1 cup hot water

1 gallon cold water

1 lemon, sliced

In a one gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves.

Add lemon juice and water to render one gallon. Stir well until well mixed.

Pour lemonade over a glass of ice, squeeze slice of lemon on top, and garnish with

a sprig of mint.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ease of preparation: easy

Until next time, my friends.............. Stay Cool!

Please send prayers for my dear friend

AMY

We love you Amy!

A *Proud Mom* Post

A couple of years ago, through our dearest friends, my three youngest boys got involved with a local Children's Theatre. They have since been in 6 productions, both as actors, and as Tech Crew.......... and, they truly love it...

Their most recent production, "Letters To The Past", has been going since March

I was also involved with this play, as the "costumer". My, what a chore! I have been madly laundering, mending, and ironing costumes for the past few weeks...........

This show was a "touring" show and so we traveled to several schools in the area, as well as a children's playland here in town called "Pixie Woods", which we visited last weekend

and just a couple of days ago the kids finished out with a performance at our local historical museum, which was the 14th time these kids have performed the show!

And I must say, these kids were incredible, and such troopers, sometimes we had to be at the schools by 7AM, the kids would dress and perform, then had to go to their school for their regular school day........ and then return to the school in the evening for another performance!

Sometimes these kids would have to play more than one part if someone else couldn't make it for that performance....... but they all just took it in stride, I was in awe of these kids! They ranged from 3rd to 10th graders.

My 2 older boys helped with all the set-up and transporting of the sets, and Luke (18) was also sound operator, and Mark (19) was Asst Director..........

My youngest boy, John, ( who is 15) played two characters............

This one, Billy, from the year 2049

And Chester, from the year 1870

It was a wonderful production, and I am so proud of my boys!

And, believe it or not...............

they are already rehearsing a new play for the Summer!

{So, stay tuned for further "Proud Mom" posts}

Here's hoping you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! My kids spoiled me for the day.......... I am sure I must have gained about 10 pounds~ between the coffees, doughnuts, Sees candies, and dinner out~ of course I may have worked off a few calories playing Bocce Ball at the park ~ all in all, it was a truly delightful day.......

Finished........ I realized I hadn't shown you my finished WIP........ so, here is the finished stool:

An "OOPS" and a "WIP".....

So, here I was happily painting away~ thoroughly enjoying myself...... and oh so pleased that I have found something new to paint on.... and, tickled pink that it really came out very pretty, even if I do say so myself.........

And, so I am "showing it off" to the kids......... and, as usual, they are ooohing, and aahhing {their Dad taught them well!} over it...... and I take it to show my oldest son...... I say "Matt, look at my latest creation!"........ he looks over at it, and he says to me....... "Well, Mom that's very nice........ EXCEPT that you have just painted flowers on MY laptop case!"......... "OOPS!!".........

Well, how was I to know? ........ I mean it WAS just sitting around...... how was I to know he was going to use it for work?? :-)

On a happier note.......... here is my latest "work in progress"........ my kitchen stool......... will post when it is done......... {Ok, it's MY stool...... I checked...... no one else claimed it ~ so it's ok for me to paint it~ ROFL!!}