Strawberries and Peaches Dessert

If you're looking for a light and delicious summertime dessert, this is it!!!

We call this "Maria's Stuff" at my house, because this recipe came from a dear teaching friend of mine whose name is Maria.

You will need:

2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding

3 cups milk

1 angel food cake

12 ounces cool whip

1 can peaches

fresh strawberries

Prepare the pudding mix following the directions on the package using 3 cups of milk.

Break half of the angel food cake into pieces and place in a decorative bowl.

Cover the cake with half of the prepared pudding.

Top this layer with one third of the cool whip.

Drain the juice from the peaches and lay the peaches in a layer on top of the cool whip.

(Sorry I lost this picture.)

Top the peaches with another layer of cake, pudding, and cool whip.

Slice the strawberries and form a layer on top of the cool whip.

Add the last layer of cool whip and garnish with a couple of whole strawberries.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

This recipe can be prepared with low calorie and fat free ingredients!!!

Sometimes I make this in a decorative pedestal bowl that is tall and narrow.  I try to place the strawberries and peaches close to the edges so that the layers show.

This is a pretty dessert for showers and special occasions.

Rooting Flowers

Rooting, rooting, rooting...

School is out for the summer!!!

That means time for things like

lying in the hammock,

reading a good book,

crafting,

taking long walks,

watching Paula Deen,

and rooting flowers.

It's nice to have a few flowers around rooting...I'll plant these around the yard in just a few weeks, and they will be pretty in the fall.

Tennessee Tractor Pull

 How did you spend your Memorial Day Weekend?

We left the Big Woods Saturday afternoon, for a place in Wayne County, Tennessee, that my husband

 refers to as South Gate.

My husband was asked to announce the Antique Tractor Club's May Tractor Pull.

This is a place where the landscape is beautiful and the living is simple.  The pictures on this blog post would never be made in New York City.

I love these small town tractor pulls.

It is a place where the whole family can come and have fun.

Everybody knows everybody...or at least knows where they are from.  Generations visit and play together!!!

Because this is an Antique Tractor Pull, the actual "tractor pull" is much slower and quieter than much bigger sanctioned pulls. 

There are friendly competitions between

pullers in the classes.

Winners receive tropheys and bragging rights.

A wonderful way to spend a laid back Saturday afternoon.

Candy Jars

Both of my children had After-Graduation parties

this year...

My donation for each party was these

three jars of candy.

The loose candy was a really big hit; the wrapped candy did not go over as well.

There is just something fun about dipping the candy out with a scoop and putting it in a cupcake holder.

(There are metal scoops in each jar.)

I watched the paper for coupons and candy sales, so the cost of the candy was not bad at all...

The sour patch kids were the most popular at both parties!!!

Magic Fairy

Do you have a Magic Fairy where you live?

We have a Magic Fairy that appears ever so often in the Big Woods. 

She stays for a while and works her magic and then disappears.

Today, while I was working...she appeared.

I wish you could have seen this potting table before she magically got ahold of it.

When I left home today,

it was dirty...

it was neglected...

it was in bad need of some magic.

When I returned home today, there were flowers and ivy and clean shelves.

Things that had once been been discarded reappeared.

It was magic.

Thank you Magic Fairy!!!

Your random act of kindness did not go unnoticed.

And I will think of how you take care of me every time I walk past this space!!!

Busy Week

Wow...what a week! 

I know some of you have been wondering what has happened to my blogging.

I have an Eighth Grader and a Senior in High School.

(That says it all.)

It has been a very busy year with little time left for blogging.

Just this week has been amazing.

I left with my daughter Tuesday for a trip to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

We spent the night there Tuesday and experienced a small part of Space Camp.

On Thursday, my husband and I were honored to accompany our son to a banquet

where my son was recognized for his accomplishments at his high school. 

John Paul White was also there to receive an award.  You may recognize him from the group,

the Civil Wars. 

On Friday, my daughter and I left for another trip...this time with her school's chorus. 

The chorus performed in a competition at Dollywood.  My daughter sang a solo that was part of the Barry Manilow song, One Voice.

The lady in this picture is getting ready to pass out trophies to the winners.

Once the competition was complete, there was great fun to be had at Dollywood.

My daughter's favorite part was riding the new ride,

the Wild Eagle.

We spent the night Friday night and arrived home at 1:30 Sunday morning.

Sunday was my favorite...

My children both participated in Youth Sunday.

My daughter sang and my son read an essay he wrote for college as part of the Sermon.

The church honored all the Seniors with a banquet after the service. 

It was a great day

(and a very busy week.)

Accenting Plants

My Lynchburg Sister has a gift for accenting her plants.  Here... she has placed a beautiful pot of succulents in a basket that she painted herself.

By painting accents yourself, everything is color coordinated and looks lovely.