Five Years

Remembering Daddy

~~♥~~

WIP by DIY'ers

We have been on our knees a lot lately.

Not all for praying although there have been a few prayers for aches, pains and sore muscles.

 Because of the below average rain last summer, we lost some large patches of grass throughout the yard.

We decided to replace a couple of areas with a berm flower bed and one with a raised bed that I will relocate my herbs to along with a few blackberry and raspberry bushes.

While our son-n-law, Brad was visiting in mid-April, he helped pour concrete to extend the walkway and also  the grueling work of digging out the dirt and grass forming the new berm.

 As in Murphy's Law the project has had some delays and setbacks.

A sprinkler head had to be relocated.

The pipes we bought were the wrong size.

And the head broke and had to be replaced.  

Another trench had to be dug to relocate the sprinkler head in the area the new raised bed is going.

Digging through heavy, hard Marl made it a big job. 

My daughter, Erin just had their front yard sodded and asked if we wanted the scrap pieces left over.

Of course we did, so I drove to her house and completely filled our large trunk with sod.

I made the 30 minute drive home with my rear nearly dragging the road.

We dug out more bare spots to prepare the soil for the sod pieces.

It is a crazy patchwork of many small pieces but we have watered lots and hope it will eventually all grow together forming a nice new, bald-free, lawn.

~*~

We still have to put in the plastic edging along the berm edge then order and fill with top soil,

I plan on dividing plants I already have to fill up the berm.

I thought we would be further along in the process and would be able to divide my plants before they flowered and got too big.  Sometimes things take longer than expected!

I got to enjoy our NY grandkids via pictures Jill posted on fb.

Brenna's t-Ball game ~ LOVE the pink helmet and bat!

 The kids had their AWANA closing ceremony and award night.

AWANA is an organization that children attend weekly.

They memorize Bible verses and complete a handbook to earn patches and jewels to fill their crown worn on their red vests. When a child completes a handbook, they will have memorized 35-64 Bible verses!
~*~
 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15

A Geocaching adventure!

Something they do often, even while visiting NJ.

So Shaela : )

Impossible Coconut Custard Pie

Unable to find my recipe for Amazing Coconut Pie (the kind that uses Bisquick to make its own crust), I went searching through my cookbooks and found a similar one.
Well, I need not search any further because this new version is so much better!
Incredibly creamy, delicious and not 'egg-y'.
It has a wonderful texture.

Impossible Coconut Custard Pie

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1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1 1/2 cups water
1/3 cup biscuit baking mix
3 eggs
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In blender container, combine all ingredients except coconut. Blend on low speed 3 minutes. Pour into greased 10-inch pie plate; let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle with coconut. Carefully place in oven; bake 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted near edge comes out clean. Cool slightly; serve warm or cooled. Refrigerate leftovers.

Mother's Day

I love the cute wire bird nest charms I have seen on many blogs including my friend, Marie's.

I thought they would make sweet little gifts for Mother's Day and made some for those

precious Mom's in my family.

 a tiny pearl representing the number of children of each mom

3 pearls for my mom

1 pearl for Erin

3 pearls for Jill

5 pearls for Jamie

6 pearls for Jane

4 pearls for me

 I attached each little nest to a copy of a mother-with-children piece of art using ribbon.

After using a paper punch border to fancy-up the paper edge, I glued it to a blank card.

 The tiny nests can be displayed on the card or detached and worn on a chain as a necklace.

We brought my mom over for lunch and spent a few hours with her just chatting.

Our son-in-laws parents were so kind to invite us to join them for dinner at a nearby restaurant.

We were a party of 14 including Jamie's five children.

It is a special blessing to love and enjoy the company of your kids in-laws.

 We share much more than our grandchildren!

~*~

I watched a few YouTube videos for making the little nests and looked at several photos.

Each technique varies a little as does the color and size of the wire and beads.

Here is a link to one of the videos I watched.