Dear God, bring to rest our fallen warriors & watch over those we have in harms' way...

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon the Nation's gratitude—the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan. ~General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868

Please take the time to remember our dogs of war.
They gave so much for so little in return.

In all previous wars we brought home our highly trained military dogs to retire with their handler or to continue to serve EXCEPT for Vietnam. When our military was ordered out of Nam our dogs were tied to camp poles and left to watch the soldiers they loved and protected walk away and not look back. Those dogs were considered to be excess baggage.

What happened to those dogs? Most were starved to death, used for target practice or skinned alive and eaten by the Viet Cong who considered them to be a delicacy. Rumor has it that those who weren't tied, or confined, ran behind planes, waited patiently beneath helicopters for their orders, and then, when they were completely exhausted, went back to their last camp and held vigil, patiently, for their handler to come back for them. (If you would like to learn more, click on the War Dog graphic. It will take you to a very sobering site.) Out of 3,000 war dogs in Vietnam, about 200 came home.

More war dogs and additional information can be found at my dog's blog, Loving for a Living.

God Bless America
God Bless our troops

Lots of sugar - no spice but everything nice! Let's celebrate PINK SATURDAY!

Sure doesn't take long and I'm facing PINK SATURDAY again over at Beverly's How Sweet the Sound. Holy moley, my summer is just beginning. This time that is passing had better slow down because in my neck of the woods fall begins at the end of August!

I'm beginning this blog entry by sharing with you one of my most purr-ecious possessions, my kitty, Camille Suzanne and her adorable, little pink toes. She works very hard keeping them all clean and sparkley, and especially hard this week when I told her that I was going to shoot them out into cyberspace! I posted this photo on my cat blog and a comment was made that they looked like little, pink jelly beans, aawwww, how cute...sigh.

Next are my vintage sugar and creamers, each given to me as a gift by friends...friends who know my passion for pink☺

The rose is part of a night light. I don't know where the electrical part is anymore but I won't give up the rose! I've tried to find another light but most of what you find now is cheaply made and this piece is quite heavy for its size. So, there it sits...on the counter in front of a few of my cookbooks.

A few weeks back I showed the pink bunny rabbit that I found in my storage room. I had mentioned that I wanted to put some ivy in it and some of you told me that you wanted to see it planted. Well, here you are! Isn't it sweet? I have no idea why I put this in a downstairs cupboard for the past 4-5 years. Beats me and shame on me!

Pulling up the rear I is the lace and pink roses border that I added to the shelf edge in my built-in China cabinet just off the kitchen. When I sit at the kitchen table I can look over and see the pink buds...that makes me happy, yes, it does. Heck, anything pink makes me happy☺

BTW, I feel a little like rock 'n roll this weekend. How about you? Enjoy!

Grab an old end table & make a cutie patootie bed for your fav♥rite kitty-catty!

I just l♥ve to reuse, recycle, re-purr-pose! One of my favorite blogs is JUNK CAMP. Imagine how thrilled I was when I saw this adorable cat/dog bed make from an old end table! Now, who doesn't have one of these hanging around in the basement or garage or hasn't seen one for just a couple of dollars at a yard sale?
Look what you can do with it! I know what I'll be doing next weekend. I'll be on the hunt for one of these "beauties" to transform into a bed fit for a little prince or princess. How about you? All directions to make this adorable, sweet bed can be found at the blog link listed above.

Times are rough and tough financially all over our great country. Get busy now and make a whole bunch of these cutie patooties to give as gifts this Christmas to your feline and canine l♥ving friends and relatives...and heck, strangers...these are too sweet not to share with everyone!

This little bed is featured on my cat blog, too, but I just had to share it here, as well. The idea is just too sweet not to share with everyone. If you have a pet, make one. If you don't have a pet, make one for someone who does☺

I ♥ Chocolate Chip Nut Pie in a Jar ~ Easy peasy make it now, gift it later!

I usually have one or two of these in my pantry, already made and set to go at the last minute. When I need a hostess gift, an additional Christmas present or have been asked to donate to my church or animal shelter bake sale all I need to do is add a pretty ribbon, print out the directions and voila', it's good to go! (If you live in a warm climate, store in your fridge so the chips won't melt ☺)

I find the decorative jars during the summer at tag sales, yard sales, you name it - if it's cute, has a tight top or lid and is large enough to hold the mix - it's mine!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar (or use half brown granulated)
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• pinch salt

Preparation:

Pour sugar into a lightweight zip-lock bag. Tie with twine or ribbon and cut off excess plastic bag end, if necessary. Fit bag into the bottom of a 1-quart wide-mouth canning jar. Pour in half of the nuts, the chocolate chips, and remaining nuts. Into another zip-lock bag, add flour and pinch of salt. Tie bag and cut off some of the excess end as before. Fit into the top of the jar then screw on top.

Directions for gift tag:

Chocolate Chip Nut Pie in a Jar

• Chocolate Chip Nut Pie Mix
  
• 1 9-inch pastry shell, unbaked
  
• 4 ounces (1 stick) melted butter
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove the bag of sugar from jar; set aside. Pour nuts and chocolate chips into pie shell, spreading evenly. In a small mixing bowl, whisk 2 eggs. Empty the sugar and flour bags into the bowl, stirring to blend well. Whisk in 1 teaspoon vanilla and the 4 ounces melted butter. Blend well. Pour batter evenly over nuts and chocolate chips. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until nicely browned. Chill thoroughly before cutting. Serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Over at my foodie blog, Standing at the Kitchen Door, I have another chocolate pie recipe that is divine! Rich, very rich, you will need a glass of milk or a cup of tea or coffee when you sit down for dessert or to have a little snack in the evening. Just as easy-peasy as you please, too☺

Get ready to SWOON! ♥Delicate Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Pastry Cookies♥

I think what I like the most about working with pastry sheets, fillo or puff pastry cups is that you are able to bring out of your kitchen a light, airy and delicious delight with very little work at all. What could be better than quick, easy and tasty, especially when you are in a pinch for time? These gems, I guarantee you, are absolutely melt-in-your-mouth heavenly with a cup of coffee or your favorite tea.

For a little variety you can add finely chopped walnuts or use mint chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or butterscotch. Experiment. I did and I had fun coming up with various combinations. All of them were very good!

Ingredients

• 2 sheets (17.25-ounce package) frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 3/4 cups (11.5-ounce package) MILK CHOCOLATE CHIPS, divided

Directions

UNFOLD 1 puff pastry sheet on lightly floured surface. Roll out to make 14 x 10-inch rectangle. Combine cream cheese and sugar in small bowl until smooth. Spread half cream cheese mixture over puff pastry, leaving 1-inch border on one long side. Sprinkle with half morsels. Roll up starting at long side covered with cream cheese. Seal end by moistening with water. Repeat steps with remaining ingredients. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Lightly grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper.

CUT rolls crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Place cut-side-down on prepared baking sheets.

BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

I've got a violin & I'M PLAYING IT! Now, give me some PITY!

I just bet when I leave comments on your blogs that you think I'm a big whiny baby about the weather up where I live. I bet you think that I'm exaggerating or making something bigger than it is or worse than it is or more terrible than it is. Really? Well, here ya go. I took these photos on Saturday afternoon. Not Saturday months ago, Saturday YESTERDAY!

I live at the end of the world! Global warming? Come on up here and tell me about that☺(Yes, I know it's true.) Tell me how pretty the snow is and how you wish you had some for a white Christmas. Want some? Give me your address. I'll send you some!

Yesterday my son, Jeff, and I planted my adorable, pink pussy willow. Today, I had to cover my precious baby bush up with a blankie to keep it warm and to keep the snowflakes off its leaves. I had to put teeny, tiny ear muffs on the little catkins so they wouldn't freeze. My gosh, those little guys were meowing so hard and pitiful wanting to come in the house and I had to just walk away knowing that they had to stay put for their own good.

The leaves are only half open on the trees. My lilacs are just now producing leaves. This year is horrible, just horrible. I'm sitting here with a little space heater at my feet...what a way to live☺

OK, I feel better now...sigh. I'm going to put a nice roast in the oven with baby potatoes and carrots. In a little while the aroma will be filling the first floor of my home and I'll be feeling all snug as a bug in a rug. Just like Christmas, ya know☺

So, as you sit there on your patio, sipping your lemonade, sniffing the posies from the bouquet you just picked from your blooming garden, remember...there are people "out there" who still have snow and if you aren't careful...you just might end up with a snowball tossed right into your little, bloggy yard!☺