♥Pinkie♥ my baby pussy willow & a lil' trash to treasure for PINK SATURDAY

It all began with a dirty, messy, dark, dank hole...but then a little blessing was tucked into its new home. A place for its feet to stretch out little toes and a place for the miracle of new life to take place. My youngest son, Jeff, stopped by after work today to dig a hole for his mom. My back has been killing me ever since I did all the early spring yard cleaning, raking, hauling, shoving and disposing. It was nice to have someone with good strength to dig for me.

I didn't know if I wanted to start or end this Pink Saturday entry with my adorable, precious FRENCH PINK PUSSY WILLOW. A question: What do you give to your mother on Mother's Day who is in love with pink and who has adored pussy willows since she was a little girl? Why, a French Pink Pussy Willow, of course!

A gift from my oldest son, Dave, and his precious family, this little gal arrived from the nursery all set to get snuggled into her new home. I have a confession, for the longest time I couldn't stop stroking the little catkins. They remind me of a tiny kitten's paw...all soft and sweet. One day this new life will be a prominent bush in my yard but right now it is a baby and believe me it will be treated just like a baby, too.

The little puffs are called catkins. Now, how purr-fect is that for someone who has four kitties living in her house? I think next I may have to plant a dogwood just to make my pooches happy and so they won't feel left out or neglected. (Sidenote: Someone asked me what a pink pussy willow looks like. The photos are of my pussy willow and not from the web. Isn't she just the cutest? There aren't many catkins because I have a little baby plant. Just wait until next year, woo-hoo!)
Next in line for show and tell this week are some adorable gift tags that I happened to find, of all places, at my local Dollar Store. Aren't they just sweet and perfect for gifts for those of the feminine persuasion? I bought oodles...they're just too sweet not to have dozens and at a dollar...hey, that's a bargain, for sure.
Gosh, I can't believe that I am beginning to collect vintage baby planters. Maybe it's the color...all pink and soft or all blue and sweet that attracts me. I've been finding them at my Goodwill Store for a dollar a piece, not much to pay for a little memory of the past. I've got a few more but will share them next week. They need ribbons and I need to shop☺

Here she is, my Rosemary JOY! And, no, I didn't make a mistake and capitalize her middle name. It belongs in capital letters because she is so full of happiness and fills my days, and nights, will sheer joy. This little one hasn't missed one day in her eight years to cuddle up with me, purring gently, telling her mom that she's loved by a kitty so purr-ecious.
Pulling up the rear is a close-up of one of my Christmas ornaments. I took this photo months ago and was going to share it at the time but forgot about it. Shame on me! Thought of my pink lady bug this evening and decided that she needed to come to see you since I might forget about her again and never bring her out to share.
If you ♥ pink like I do and you would like to visit some of the prettiest and most adorable blogs in cyberspace, travel on over to Beverly's HOW SWEET THE SOUND. There are over 100 bloggers who have brought our their pink finery just for you!

So fun, so easy, show 'em that you ♥ 'em with candy sprinkles, lemonade & a day in the grass naming clouds

There are times when I have the grandchildren over for just an afternoon. If our time is short but I'll be preparing a snack for them, why not make it a little fun and interactive all at the same time? Rummage through your cookie and cake decorations, find some fun goodies, grab a loaf of poofy, soft bread and the peanut butter and jelly. I just know that you and the kids will be able to come up with oodles of fun and giggles making lunch for the kiddo bunch☺

1. SPRINKLES make any peanut butter sandwich stupendous

2. FOOD MARKERS add an artistic touch or a little “hello” to any bread.

3. Use STICKERS holding the wax paper around the sandwich together!

4. Cute SKEWERS or picks of veggies or fruit - check out all the cute bento ones online!

5. Napkin with a little note and “I love you” - our mom always did this and I loved it!

6. Add a little whimsy with the wax paper tied with licorice string

7. Use COOKIE CUTTERS on the sandwich, fruit, cheese and veggies

8. Silicone cupcake molds in different shapes (hearts, flowers, triangles) to hold crackers, fruits and munchies.

Summer vacation is just around the corner. Make your sandwiches, grab some lemonade and dine at the picnic table in your backyard. No picnic table? Grab a blanket or two, so after you've polished off your luxurious lunch you can lay back, look at the clouds and make up stories about the shapes that you see. Or play a guessing game of "I spy" outside. Those are the times spent with you that they will remember and cherish long after they too old to have you care for them on a Saturday afternoon.

Things don't have to be expensive when you're with those darling little ones. Having fun in the sunshine makes memories just as endearing as the ones where you spend until your wallet is empty.

Chocolate dipped crazy pretzel sticks...you're gonna ♥ these like crazy!

Chocolate dipped crazy pretzel sticks...you're gonna ♥ these like crazy!

Dip, dunk, drizzle and sprinkle as you please. Fantastically easy and fun to make, these delicious sweetly salty snacks will have your family comin' back for more. Great to make any day of the year. Easy-peasy for the grandkids. A great, little goodie to make with little hands to take home to mommy and daddy.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Milk Chocolate or Premier White Morsels
• 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
• 16 pretzel rods
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels and/or sprinkles, (optional)
• Additional NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Morsels for drizzling, (optional)

Directions:

LINE baking sheet with wax paper.

MICROWAVE 1 cup morsels and vegetable shortening in small, dry, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 1 minute; STIR. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.

DIP pretzel rods about 3 inches into melted morsels, tilting bowl to easily dip. Use side of bowl to remove excess. Sprinkle with morsels or sprinkles. Place on prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until set. Store in airtight container at room temperature. Best when eaten within a few days.

FOR A FANCY DRIZZLE:

MICROWAVE 2 tablespoons of each desired morsel flavor in small, heavy-duty plastic bags on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 30 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from each bag; squeeze to drizzle over already dipped pretzels on baking sheet. Refrigerate and store as directed above.

TIPS:

• Pretzels may be dipped and drizzled in any variety of melted morsels for different looks. For example, dip them in semi-sweet chocolate and drizzle them with melted white morsels. Or dip them in milk chocolate and drizzle them with melted semi-sweet chocolate.
• Above recipe can easily be doubled, but it's not good to be microwaving more than 2 cups (12 ounces) of chips at one time.

My Mother's Day gift to you...

My Mother is Always With Me

My mother is always with me.
She's the whisper of the leaves
as I walk down the street.
She's the smell of bleach
in my freshly laundered socks.
She's the cool hand on my brow
when I'm not feeling well.

My mother lives inside my laughter.
She's crystallized in every tear drop.
She's the place I came from
She's my first home.
She's the map that I follow
with every step that I take.

She's my first l♥ve
and my first heart♥break.
Nothing on earth can separate us.
Not time, not space,
Not even death
will ever separate me
from my mother.
I carry her inside of me.
~Author Unknown

For all of us who have mothers who live in Heaven and for all of us who believe that Heaven is in our mother's arms, I wish each and every mother, and mother-to-be, the happiest of days today surrounded by l♥ve. Whether through your womb, or through your h♥art by virtue of adoption, you were blessed by God when you took part in the creation of a human being.