Happy Birthday to Allison....21

Today we went to lunch with Allison and Robbie in honor of her turning 21. She is the last of our chickadees to enter adulthood. This is truly scary stuff. Our kids are getting older. Turn around, turn around now your a young lady going into the world. It is hard to realize that now she has to make some adult decisions. Twenty-one, I remember turning 21 for me it wasn't all that. I had been married for almost 3 years and thought I was so wise. I was home at my parents and I strolled into the kitchen; my dad and a friend were at the table having coffee, I went over to my mom and pulled out one of her cigarettes and lit it. Instantly I knew I had just made a bad mistake my dad gave me one of those looks....later he simple said, "don't ever light up in front of me again." So okay a couple days later we all go out and I wrestled with should I have a drink in front of him or not...or not won. So at lunch today Allison was trying to figure out what should she order to drink at her party. Allison, make it a good one and when your with us, a sparkling wine will be fine...LOL

We love you and wish you all the best and a life full of happiness.


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Father's Day

My Dad

How do you thank your dad for all he's done for you? My dad is my hero. He fought in WWII before I was born so that I could live in a free country. He was there when I heard noise in my ear, he poured water in to float an ant out. He carried me into the hospital and stayed with me when I cut my foot and needed stitches. He praised my attempt at being an artist (a simple picture drawn on a piece of plywood covering a window) and years later when I put the same picture on a coffee cup he kept it and still has it. He stood behind me 101% when I made life changing decisions. He stood up for me. He is a man of few words, but believe me when I need correction there are words. He doesn't need to say much, just the thought that I have displeased him is enough. His smile of approval is in his eyes. He has great love for his family, grandchildren and now great grandchildren. My dad is a jack of all trades he can make dreams come true from small box puzzles, bird houses, lamps, magazine racks, furniture to trinkets he makes them all and puts love into each piece. My dad is my advisor, listener to my problems, safe place to go to, but above all my hero. So with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat I say, "I love you dad."

Fathers are wonderful people too little understood, we do not sing their praises as often as we should... For, somehow, Father seems to be the man who pays the bills, while Mother binds up little hurts and nurses all our ills... Father struggles daily To live up to "HIS IMAGE"as protector and provider and "hero or the scrimmage"... perhaps that is the reason we sometimes get the notion, that Fathers are not subject to the thing we call emotion, but if you look inside Dad's heart, where no one else can see you'll find he's sentimental and as "soft" as he can be... But he's so busy every day in the grueling race of life, He leaves the sentimental stuff to his partner and his wife... Fathers are just WONDERFUL in a million different ways, and they merit loving compliments and accolade of praise, for the only reason Dad aspires to fortune and success is to make the family proud of him and to bring them happiness... and like OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, he's a guardian and a guide, Someone that we can count on to be ALWAYS ON OUR SIDE.

Helen Steiner Rice

Love you dad...

When is Enough, Enough?

This morning I started to read the news on the internet and there it was: More slander on Sarah Palin's daughter. When is enough, enough?

I find myself wondering why this young lady has to go through this. How many of us fooled around in the back seat of our parents cars, in our boyfriend’s car? Come on let's all be honest for a minute. How many of us parents have daughters who when they dated, it scared us to death and we hoped they would be wise and not ..........! Tell me why is the outcome so different for Bristol Palin? Yes, I know her mom ran for the office of Vice President....so what. I for one am mad as hell. Why do we let people like David Letterman and the other news channels that spread gossip get away with this. Do these people have children? How would they feel if their child was drug through the mud? David Letterman has a 6 year old little boy, how do you think he would feel if his son later in life did something and the press won't let it go. David Letterman should stop and think about it as should all of us. I know it's how he makes a living-at the expense of others, but enough is enough, let Bristol recover from the damage that is already done.

Let's look at Bristol: Bristol Palin wasn't in the news prior to the election, she didn't rob a bank, kill someone, run away, do drugs.....get the point. She simply fell in love, made love and got pregnant. She then took responsibility for what happened and had the baby, went back to school, works two jobs to support her baby and loves him.

What about the father? Where is he in the news? He walks out on her and laughs on National TV and we all just let it go. Levi Johnston you need to grow up. I can't believe that we as humans (who are said to be the smart species) can't separate mother from daughter, this isn't about Sarah Palin this is about Bristol. Will the press and Mr. Letterman continue to bash the other 4 children in this family? I for one am going to stand behind all the Bristols in the world that desire better than this from a country that says "Under God". We still live in a free country, LET OUR VOICE BE HEARD FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.

Gazpacho - Kevin's Receipe

This is so easy and sooooo good. Kevin makes the best......

Ingredients:

• 4 lrg. Ripe tomatoes
• 2 1/2 cucumbers
• 1 lrg. green pepper
• 10-12 green onions
• 1-2 cloves garlic
• salt
• 1/4 c. red wine vinegar
• 1/3 c. olive oil
• 3 c. tomato juice
• 1-1 1/2 cups beef broth
• hot pepper sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• freshly ground pepper

1. peel, seed and chop tomatoes. To peel boil some water drop tomatoes in water for a min. or so and the skin will just rub off.
2. Chop cucumbers, peppers, and onions.
3. Mash garlic and season with salt. Beat in vinegar and oil
4. Combine this with chopped veg. and stir in tomato juice and broth.
5. Season with hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce and pepper to taste.
6. Chill and serve. Note: best if you chill overnight

MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Google, MSN Live....

Can you multi-task, can you multi-page? Are you as confused as I am? How can we get everything together as one page? I don't have time to go to all the sites I have.......HELP

I started with a simple MSN Live page years ago and it fell to the wayside. THEN came myspace (http://myspace.com/alethea2) . It was fun, it was inventive, I was hooked and connected. Then I heard about facebook (aletheakeegan) and I was off and running (my feet didn't touch the ground for days). I invited everyone and low and behold my contacts grew. My goal to have my whole family on one page. I am only a couple short from that goal and thought I was done and complete. Facebook was great, I loved being in touch with everyone and posting pictures in album form was amazing. Did you notice I said, "was, loved" past tense. Yup, the shine faded when they changed the format and it became a search to find the updates and all those games....great for the young adults and yes some of them are very cool but......I want simple, I want complete, I want it ALL.

Next: came Twitter (http://twitter.com/kkak4ever) , friends had it and I wanted it. So after a couple attempts I succeed in developing my Twitter. I bought a book so I could do it right and after just a couple days felt like I was connected. Oh yes there's more: I'm in fog I want to blog. You guessed it a Blog page (http://aletheakeegan.blogspot.com/) I LOVE MY BLOG.

Then came Goggle: yesterday I developed my goggle page and it was cool, but is there a page that has it all.

Back to MSN live: this morning I woke up and thought okay one more to check out LOL. http://alethea2.space.live.com/ there it is another page......who would have guessed. I really like this page. It is user-friendly, has a great picture album place, music, games, and best of all a web connect section that is so easy to use. So, you guessed it...I added all my pages and there they were. I can have them opened on the page or I can click to connect. WOW one page. Yes google had this and I am sure others do likewise, but this was so easy. I didn't have to hit and miss, pull my hair out, look up or research how to.

Check it out.....so till I find another can't do without page. See ya

Dinner with Amanda & Jon 6-6-09

Went to Redondo Beach last night and had dinner with Amanda & Jon. Always nice to spend time with them. Fixed Pork Wellington for them it was good. Then we walked along the beach. Jon got his transfer (CHP officer) to Santa Barbara, we are so happy for them. Now the work of finding a home begins. Good luck to them. Fun, Fun, Fun......

Sunsets are so beautiful, but the wind was a killer.

Lessons Life Taught me.....

A friend sent me this it was written by: Regina Brett, 90 years old. Hope I am as wise at that age.

1. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
2. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating someone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's okay to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with you first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks
16. Take a deep breath, it calms the mind
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple
24. The most important sex organ is the brain
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words In five years, will this matter?
27. Always choose life
28. Forgive everyone everything
29. What other people think of you is none of your business
30. Time heals almost everything, give time time
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does
33. Believe in miracles
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now
36. Growing old beats the alternative--dying young
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time, you already have all you need
42. The best is yet to come
43. Yield
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift
45. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

And finally: Friends are the Family we choose for ourselves.............

Amanda's Favorite

Chicken Saute' Provencale

The kids all have their favorite things we cook. This is one that Kevin always does for Amanda. This aromatic saute' is quick, easy & simple to prepare and it is rich with the flavor of garlic, wine and tomatoes.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 4 skinless, boneless Chicken breast
• 1/3 c. chopped yellow onions
• 2 large cloves of garlic
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 cup dry white wine Hint: use a wine that you like (doesn't need to cost a lot) as once the wine cooks off the flavor of the wine will stay.
• 1 cup peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes
• 1 Tbs. fresh chopped Marjoram or oregano or 1 tsp. dried
• 1 Tbs. fresh chopped Parsley
• 4 fresh marjoram or parsley sprigs

In large non-stick pan heat the oil. When hot add chicken, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook turning once 2-3 min. each side until lightly brown. Add wine and bring to a boil. Add tomatoes and chopped marjoram or oregano and return to a boil then lower the heat and let it simmer for 5-7 min. until the sauce thickens and chicken is opaque. Plate chicken and spoon sauce over it, sprinkle the fresh marjoram or parsley over it. We put it on a bed of pasta.

Enjoy....and keep watching for more.

Recipes To Share

Summer is here and it is BBQ time. I love cooking and finding new recipes. So I will try to find a few to share. Kevin and I both love to watch the cook channel. Last week we saw Alton Brown prepare this recipe and I cooked it yesterday....It's a keeper.

Pork Wellington

Ingredients:

• 1 whole egg
• 1 Tbs. water
• 1-ounce dried apple rings
• 1 whole pork tenderloin, approximately 1 pound
• 1 1/2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto ham
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tsp. flour
• 1 sheet puff pastry thawed completely
• 1 Tbs. whole-grain mustard (I could only find whole-grain w/garlic-it was good)

Directions:

1. heat oven to 400 F. with rack in upper third of oven
2. Whisk the egg and water together in small bowl and set aside
3. Chop apple rings to the size of a medium dice, can use food processor
4. Trim the pork of any excess fat and silver skin. Slice the tenderloin down the middle lengthwise, creating 2 separate pieces. Lay the pieces next to each other head to tail, so when laid back together they are the same size at the ends.
5. Lay out a 12x16 piece of parchment paper and arrange the pieces of prosciutto in the center, overlapping them enough to create solid layer that is as long as the tenderloin. Use a rolling pin to get them to adhere to each other.
6. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme.
7. Set the tenderloin down the middle of the prosciutto, spread the dried apples in the middle of it and push the two pieces back together so the apples are held between them.
8. Using the paper to assist, wrap the prosciutto around the tenderloin to completely enclose the pork.
9. Sprinkle flour on the counter and roll out the pastry to 12x14. Spread the mustard thinly in the middle of the pastry, lay the tenderloin roll in the center of the pastry on the mustard.
10. Fold the puff pastry up and over the pork roll and roll to completely enclose, brushing the edges of the pastry with the egg wash in order to seal, close ends also. Turn the tenderloin over so the side with the double thickness of pastry is underneath.
11. Brush the entire pastry with the egg wash. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20 to 30 min. or until pork reaches an internal temperature of at least 140 degrees F.
12. Let stand for 10 min. prior to serving.

Note: we cooked ours for 25 min. Next time we will reduce the time to 20 to 22. Very Good....

Tateum Scott Crowley - North Carolina Trip

A long time coming, but here it is the first posting of my Blog.

Kevin and I just got back from a trip to North Carolina. We went to be with Sandy for the birth of our Grandson "Tateum Scott Crowley". What a miracle birth is. I find my reaction surprising as I was there for Bailey's birth and having two children of my own. This time it was my daughter and for me her pain was too real and then there he was; our sweet bundle of joy.

Tateum Scott Crowley

Born: May 12, 2009

At: 2:09 am

6 pounds 10 oz

20 1/2 inches long

Tateum missed Mother's Day by just a few days, but it was a very special day for me as both Scott and Sandy were there. It has been many years since I had both kids together in the same place. Scott, Heidi and Bailey flew out to be there for the birth but had to return to Illinois before the blessed event. It was good to see them. After the big day, Kevin and I slipped away for a day and went up to the Blue Ridge Mts. It is so beautiful there. Every thing was in bloom it just takes your breath away. We went to a small town, Blowing Rock; the people were so friendly. It is a small town packed with a lot of interesting places. Kevin found a store that sold dulcimer instruments unfortunately it was closed with a note on the door that said, the owners would meet us at the store if we called them, we didn't feel it was necessary to have him come so we just looked at the items through the window. Then on to an old fashion candy store, they sold candy by the pound and believe me they had every old candy you can think of, yes we bought our favorites. We Left Blowing Rock and went to our favorite Resturant "Chetola" it is hidden away just outside of Blowing Rock we found it two years ago when we were there for Thanksgiving, it is so beautiful. Had a very nice lunch. The view from the resturant is so pretty, don't you agree? After lunch we headed back and on our way came across a bridge sign, the bridge was a ways off the road we stated to go to it but ran into a man who advised us that due to the time of day it would not be wise as the snakes were out, Copperheads. So we will save that till next time....

Heading back to Sandy's we stopped at Hendrick Motor Sports Museum & Team Store. It was amazing to see all the cars there and of course my favorites: Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon. We were there at the right time as they were gearing up for the big race in Charlotte. It was so cool to see all the RV's parked everywhere. You just wouldn't believe it, people setup a month prior to the race, there were Police units everywhere..Unbelievable.

It was a very nice trip and so good to see all the family. So many babies, Lindsey and Lisa both just gave birth to baby boys so there will be cousins for Tateum to play with.

So until my next adventure,

Happy Travels To You.