The Birthday Girl today is......Lilli!!!

My sweet first grandchild, Lillian Leigh, turned 6 today!!!

And I had the honor of having lunch with her at school today....

Last weekend was her birthday party where there were little purple ponies...

and brown ponies....

at the...

There were sleepin' babies....

and bouncin' houses....

and balloons!!

There were cousins and a sister....

and friends!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET SWEET LILLI!!

I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me!!!

My back yard was alight with moonbeams tonight....making me smile with wonder and the innocence of such a peaceful sight in a world full of anger.

“She used to tell me that a full moon was when mysterious things happen and wishes come true.”
― Shannon A. Thompson, November Snow

"I often wonder if you wish on a half moon, do you only get half a wish??"

My wish tonight was for a tranquil world for our future generations to grow up in............

Do you wish on moonbeams??

Gumbo.....Beans n' Rice.....Stew with Greens...kinda day!

 So, we still haven't had any winter temps....60's into 70's and the days have been crystal clear and sunny.  NOT GRIPING.  But you know how after Christmas, it's nice to have some of those cold, dreary days where you never get dressed all daylong?  Well, today is cloudy and it's only about 45 so we decided it was a winter day.....Cap'n asked what should we do and I quickly said....YOU SHOULD COOK!!!!!!  So he is!!!  He's making gumbo and beans and rice.  Pics to follow.!
Yesterday, I made soup to take to the lil (alot) pregnant mama who is soon to deliver my 6th grandchild.  It's yummy!

Black-eyed Pea and Sausage Stew with Collards

Recipe courtesy of Louisiana Kitchen & Culture

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients: 

½ pound smoked sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced ½ inch thick 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 cups chopped onion 1cup chopped bell pepper 1cup chopped celery 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning 8 cups chicken broth ½ pound dried black-eyed peas, picked over and rinsed 1pound collard greens ½ cup white rice hot sauce salt and pepper

Black-eyed Pea and Sausage Stew with Collards Click image to enlarge

Method: 

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sausage and brown on all sides, about five minutes. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery and sauté until softened and beginning to brown, 5 - 8 minutes. Stir in garlic and Cajun or Creole seasoning and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds; deglaze pan with a little of the chicken broth, scraping bottom to release any browned pieces. Add remaining broth and black-eyed peas, bring to a simmer.
Cover and simmer until peas are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how fresh the peas are.
Remove and discard tough stems from collard greens; chop into bite-sized pieces. Stir greens and rice into pea mixure and cook until rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning; serve at once

(I substituted Hurst's 15 bean package for the black eyed peas and used mustard greens instead of collards-they are more tender)

In the kitchen with Cap'n........

Red Beans and ham hocks!

Wish ya'll had smell-i-computer...my house smells AMAZE-BALLS right now!!

Red Beans n' Rice!

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo!!

YA'LL COME ON OVER!!!

IT'S SOUP DAY ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR HAY!!

We love you when you love YOUR boy....

and when you dance with your nieces....

and when you have fun with MY boy!!!

We just love ya ALL the time!!!

And because you are just about to have that 2nd baby boy......and you don't feel like cooking too much...

I made this soup for you to enjoy!!! 

Just like you like it....filled with veggies!!

HOPING YOU GOT LOTS OF HUGS AND LOVE ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY TODAY!!!

YO? JO? BOHO JOSEY!!!

Josey had her 1st birthday party on Saturday ... it was a little bohemian themed!  There were wind catchers and teepees for the bigger kids to make and take home. There was a teepee reading area. There were awesome decorations and food and drinks everywhere.  Her mom really outdid herself on creative ideas!!  But the star of the show???  Why, our little boho josey, of course!

How adorable is she?????  ok. ok. ok.....I know.  A little biased, here!

there were cousins who helped her blow out her candle....

a brother who literally tried to smash her face into cake...until he got BUSTED!!

that sweet look of satisfaction at her first taste of sugar!!

(her life will never be the same ~ haha!)

and the complete demolition of the cake!

I've heard of "drunk on love" but I think this one was definitely "drunk on cake"!!!

Our lil Bohemian Princess on her 1st Birthday!!!

who has got her daddy wrapped around her lil finger!!!

After the party, Lilli & Katiejane's mom took Austin back to their hotel room for the night where they had another party!! You know....for the BIG kids! (2,3 & 5) I had packed them up a goodie bag with party foods and they swam and then like PIGS IN A BLANKET, they finally slept!!!

Such a fun day!!!

Do We Really Need to Count the Years Anymore???!!!!!

1. Nah.
2. Too Many.
3. What's the Point??  The number just keeps going UP and UP!!!

But it sure is fun sharing my birthday with the kids!!!  Even tho today is my actual birthday, ms. katiejane and her mom took me to lunch on Thursday because I traveled to Plano today.  They took me to a fave spaghetti restaurant.....so sweet!

and brought me a birthday cupcake!

I drove to TX today so I could be at Josey's 1st birthday party tomorrow and was surprised with birthday treats for ME at mr austin's house!!

Austin helping me blow out the candle!

and they had a birthday chair for me!! (a tradition in our house when my boys were growing up!)

We had a lovely dinner tonight and I feel loved......*sigh!!!!!

Birthdays are fun!!!!....cept for those damned years that just keep adding UP and UP!!!

sidenote:  my daughter in law sent this to me today.  I wholeheartedly agree!!

Josephine!!!

Our baby Josey is 1 today!!!!

The days fly by and the months go even faster.....when first she was...

and now she is....

We love her everso..............she is our ANGEL BABY!!

HAPPY HAPPY 1ST

BIRTHDAY BEBEGIRL!!!