Happy Birthday, Larry!

This week has been a busy one for the Fye's! This week always is... in one week we celebrate our anniversary (this year our 25th!!!), Larry has a birthday and we celebrate what a great Dad he is. To add to the mix this year we had 2 business trips!! I love this picture of Larry. Twenty-five years ago I never dreamed I would still be so in love with this man. My family history wasn't exactly a legacy of long and lasting love... I didn't know we could still be friends and want to spend time with each other. Even though his family dyanmics were different, he didn't know it could be like this either. I can't exactly say when, but somewhere along the line we knew we wanted our marriage to be above the norm. Has it always been easy? Nah, we have had a few rough patches, but staying committed to each other and "enduring" has made us stronger. I am thankful for my husband. I have confidence in him and I know he does all he can to make us happy. I love how he leads a careful life and how he makes me laugh everyday.... this is what I live with....

When I looked at this picture I told him to be serious for the next one and not so cheesy...

Happy Birthday, Larry! You are the Greatest!

Tablescape Thursday

Last Sunday we went to our friend's Family Day at their church and so I didn't do a tablescape that day, but I do have a few photos to share from a Tupperware party I had last month.

The shabby chic garden theme was one I used for my sister-in-law's bridal shower. It was a little more embellished... I used planters (like the one on the mantle, in the background) and put glass dishes in them to serve the salads. Since I am decorating with them and my menu for the TW party wasn't as extensive I didn't use them. I love this counter that overlooks the family room. It is great for setting out the food for get togethers that aren't formal! You can't see it here, but it "L's" a little bit on the right.


I love this two tiered basket! I lined it with plastic wrap so I could use it to serve the chips. Soon the basket will be used in my office/craft room to hold who know what!

This candle was actually pink! I love pink, green and a creamy white together! I got busy and didn't take pictures of the food, but we had chicken salad croissants, vegetables and dip, chips, brownies and Spanish Coffee Cake cupcakes.

Although this is a favorite color palate, this was the last time of this year to use this cheerful springy collection. Pink and green will show up again, but not the garden theme. Be sure to check out other great tablescapes over on Susan's Porch!

Tablescape Thursday

My friend Becky had a birthday in May. (I won't tell how many candles were on her cake!!) We have a wonderful gift that we keep giving each other for our birthdays.... a meal that we cannot lift a finger for! Some years I take the meal to her house and have it there when she gets home from work, and other years, like this one, she and her son Kirk come over for Sunday dinner. The menu this year was hamloaf, sweet potatoes with pineapple, corn casserole, broccoli with cheese, eggs, rolls and strawbery cake for dessert.


May of you will recognize the dishes. I saw these at the Dollar Tree and I agonized over them for weeks. I just love that store for their dishes!! Becky looks good in blue, so I thought it was a good choice for the main color for the table.


The silverware is my good set... I only have two. Actually, I forgot I do have 4 sets! I bought 275 place settings when we did our son's wedding reception here in Indiana. I got a great deal at Old Time Pottery on Pfaltzgraff.... I will have to get those out and use them soon. This set is Onieda.. not sure of the pattern name. Whenever we eat at this table I always use the individual salt and pepper shakers. Almost without fail my crazy husband will ask for the salt to be passed. He loves to see everyone reach for it and then it dawns on them. Never a dull moment with him around!

As I said, I agonized over the black and white dishes for weeks, saw them on TT, wanted them realllly bad, and then when my sweet daughter Rachel got me this black vase for Mother's Day that just sealed the deal! I went back to DT and planned to get enough for a seating of 8, but they only had 6 good bowls so I bought what I could and planned to go to another DT.... did that last week and lo, and behold! they had another set of dishes to drool over!! So, I am seeing aqua plates in my future!

These black plates are from Meijer. I tried to get a pictue of the leaf design on them , but it didn't work out. The stoneware plates were the same price as the plastic ones so I went with the stoneware. Since the black and white dishes were from DT, I am sure you won't be surprised to hear that the 8 black salad plates cost more than the 8 plates, 6 bowls and the 6 candles that are table. But I am happy with the way the table turned out!

Head over to Susan's at Between Naps on the Porch for more tablescape creations!

Spanish Coffee Cake and more

I didn't make the posting of the cake for Tuesday's meme. But I thought I would go ahead and post it today.

I got this recipe years ago from a dear friend, Sharron Maloyed. In my teen years I spent a lot of time with her and her family (those of you who know me are chuckling right now!). Sharron is a pastor's wife and a wonderful cook! This recipe has been one of our family favorites. I have some pictures to share featuring this cake....

This is the first time Makenzi helped Mamaw in the kitchen.

I had dreamed of this day... baking and creating with my grand-babies!

I have cookbooks with lots of great kid friendly recipes and presentation ideas. I am looking forward to breaking those out in a year or so when she will really enjoy them.

Here is the finished product. It tastes like a wonderful cinnamony cake donut! I like Cool Whip on mine, but some like it just plain... either way it is yummy!

Here's the recipe so you can enjoy its yumminess, too!

Spanish Coffee Cake

Combine and then reserve 3/4 cup:

2.5 cups flour

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup oil

Add and mix well:

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 egg

Pour into greased 9x13 baking pan. Crumble reserved mixture over top and sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake in a preheated 35o* oven for 30 minutes.

While still hot top with glaze made with:

1.5 c powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

enough water to make glaze

Enjoy!!

Menu Plan Monday

Last week's and this week's menus were hard to plan for some reason. I like to rotate meats for the meals ( beef, chicken, pork, beef, chicken, pork) and last week we had a lot of beef and this week we are having more chicken! Here's the plan for the week:

Monday- roast chicken with carrots and potatoes, corn on the cob, french bread, watermelon
(I roasted 2 chickens so I would have extra for tomorrow and to put on salads.

Tuesday- chicken pot pie, salad

Wednesday- Pork steak and rice casserole, green beans, fruit salad

Thursday- chicken picatta, fettucine, broccoli

Friday- homemade pizza

Saturday- going to a friend's wedding

Sunday- Family Day at our old church... haven't decided what I am taking yet

lunches- chicken patties, lunchmeat, salads, quesadillas, tuna, leftovers

breakfasts- waffles, muffins, eggs, homemade sausage egg and cheese biscuits, cereal


Be sure to check over with Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie for more great menu ideas!

Tomorrow I hope to participate in Tempt My Tummy Tuesday with a family favorite... Spanish Coffee Cake! Thanks for stopping by!

May Madness

The last three weeks have been busy and we don't have all the end of school activities that a lot of you do! I don't know where we would have put them! We've had lots of company and family in. On the 17th we had a birthday dinner for our friend Becky. I will hopefully be posting the tablescape for it on Thursday. That night we hosted the Christian Couples Connection here with a Mexican Food theme. We had a great time and had, I think, 19 here. On Thursday the 21st I had a Tupperware party. It had been years since most of us at the party had been to one. That Saturday we got to keep Trenton and Chloe and that evening Rob called. He said they were trying to see what they were going to have for dinner the next day. Thinking they were calling for a recipe or something I asked if had a kitchenette there in Atlanta. He then told me they planned to eat with us!! Of course, I was thrilled!! On Memorial Day we got together with Rob's "other family," the Budensiek's. Then the week had other family members coming over to visit and we ended the week with a trip to the zoo and BouncerTown! Rob and Kristi left this morning. Tonight Larry and I are keeping two little guys for our friends the Stewart's. Then tomorrow.... are you ready for this.... Rob and Kristi will be here in time for dinner again! The storms this evening gave some hail that may give Danny and Rob some work here! Since they weren't in OK yet they decided to come back this way. Doesn't hurt my feelings any! Well, I will get on with the pictures! I told my sister-in-law last week that I would post some of the kids. I hope to post more next week!

This is Little Miss Chloe! She is a cutie! She is the only Fye grand-daughter that has dark hair... She wanted to stand out in all those blondes!

Master Trenton Dale. He is such a good little guy!

Chloe is a good baby, too! We had them several hours and she refused to take a bottle, but she hardly fussed at all.

Makenzi with her Uncle Ryan. She was a little shy when they first got here, but she warmed up to us pretty quick!
This was on Memorial Day. We had bbq chicken, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, veggies and dip, corn on the cob, green beans, strawberry cake and no bake cookies.

Part of the crew... left to right.. Vern, Rachel, Wesley, Larry, Michael (hidden) and Jon.

The cooks! Kathy and Me!

Michael, Rob and Ryan YouTubing!

An exciting game with the Shap-O toy!

This was on the 28th. Liz and the kids, my cousin Paula and her kids and my cousin Brenda came over for a while and we had a nice visit... Kenzi loved having all the kids around.

Trenton loved all the kids, too!

Kenzi loves babies!

Well, I think that is all the pictures I will do right now! This week looks busy, too, but maybe I can get my postings done this week! Things have been busy, but I love having company and I certainly love having my family here! So, it has been a good month! Sorry if this sounded rushed, but it was! Thanks for stopping by!

First Tablescape Thursday

I look forward to every Thursday! Usually Thursdays aren't very productive days for me because I love looking at all the wonderful tablescapes for Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Thanks, Susan, for creating this wonderful resource for creating beautiful tables for our loved ones!

This is my first entry and I am a bit nervous! I find that they look different in person than in a photo... maybe my phototgraphy will improve! Also, most of my tablescapes will look somewhat bare because I plan to enter the tablescapes I will use for our Sunday dinners. Since we serve "family style" I have to leave room for the food!! All right, here we go!

I have had this tablecloth for a couple for years. It was on clearance at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I always look at their (or any other store's) clearance area first. This is a beautiful gold scroll on a creamy background. Our table is usually set out this large because of my chairs. I usually have 6 around the table and we have 4 others that match that we use in the kitchen. We can get 12 around the table comfortably.

I used gold chargers that I found at the Dollar Tree a few weeks back. And the little glass pedestal cups are also from Dollar Tree. The china I recieved from my Mother-in-law probably 20 years ago. It is white on white with silver bands. The goblets are just a boxed set from BBB. they are very delicate and the kids don't like washing them! But they are so pretty.

Thjis little angel is one of two that sit on my hutch. She is usually looking, ever so longingly, at a dish of "muffins." Here she sits wishing me a Happy Mother's Day. The "blanket" she is on is a valance that I just tucked the edges of under and made a pillowy cloud for her.

The centerpiece vase of flowers was sent from Rob, Kristi and Makenzi as my Mother's Day gift. It is so beautiful. I love rich rose colors of deep red, peach, lavendar and cream. Thank you, Rob and Kristi, the roses were the star of the table... missed you so much!


Larry bought the napkin rings for me for Mother's day. They were at BBB (surprise!) and on clearance (surprise, again!) There were 4 to a package and they were regularly $19.99, on clearance for $4.99 and I had coupons so I only paid $1 apiece for 20 0f them. They also serve as name cards... I like that. And he also bought the gold napkins on clearance there.

This picture is a bit dark... noonish on Sunday! We didn't take pictures of the kids with me... don't know why! But Larry, Rachel and Ryan enjoyed sitting down to a beautiful table!

Rachel made the Mother's Day meal with a little help from her Daddy. He peeled and cooked the carrots. We had steak, baked potatoes, green beans, carrots, rolls, eggs and cheese. For dessert we had a cake from a bakery that we love to get donuts from and wanted to try a cake from there.... we'll stick to the donuts! Thanks, Rachel, for an absolutely delicious meal!

Rachel also bought me new "toys" for Mother's Day!! There are 7 of the yogurt cups. They are white with a silver band. And one red and one black planter/vase. The black one is already in the plans for next Sunday's table!

Well, I hope you enjoyed this tablescape as much as I had doing it! Be sure to go over to Susan's to check out what kind of fun other ladies had with their tables!