Ice Cream Sunday - or Sundae?

Mr. Wonderful had a loooooong weekend this past Fri-Sun. and I think he really enjoyed it!  We had a chance to visit some good friends in his old hometown of Fremont - people we had not had a chance to visit with since last year sometime.  Everyone's lives are so busy, and the time flies by too quickly.  You just have to clear a space in your calendar and do something about "making time to make time", if you know what I mean.

Heritage Hen House Flyer

The garage got cleaned out from building our Heritage Hen Houses, finally.  There's been no time for that up till this weekend either!  I can't even BEGIN to know where that mans tools need to be stored, and so I steer clear of his MAN CAVE.  If I were to put anything away for him, he'd ever find it again!  So, I sweep the floors when he is finished arranging the saws and wrenches and air hammers.  I know my place in that world!

Sunday we took an afternoon drive up north.  I enjoy those drives, as it reminds me of when my dad used to take our family on Sunday drives...we'd all pile in the car to enjoy the scenery.  I remember looking out the window, and back then I'd pretend I was galloping on a horse, jumping over fences and ditches, and racing across the roadsides....We didn't need any videos to watch in the car, or headphones to listen to tunes to pass the time.  We played road games, used our imagination, and just enjoyed the drive.

Jones' Ice Cream, Baldwin, MI

No road trip is complete without a stop at Jones' Homemade Ice Cream shop!  This parlor in Baldwin Michigan (a little hole in the wall town) has changed very little since dad took us kids there so many decades ago!  The very same square tables, the same counter, the same round counter stools - and an old wood and glass display case with candies and tee shirts for sale... On all the walls are photos of Baldwin, previous owners, and a pictorial history of Jones', so very faded, but interesting to see and read. 

Same Building since 1942

 I heard the owner telling one of her helpers that she had owned the shop for the past 20 years, and there had only been 3 owners!  I guess that shop helped all the previous owners retire, because that place is ALWAYS packed whenever we've stopped in for an icy treat!

Mural on the building was added just a few years ago.

Some things have probably changed, at least as far as the menu goes - I see they have Blizzard type treats, waffle cones, chocolate DiPpEd waffle cones, chili dogs, and nachos.  These things were unheard of when I was a kid - you got a choice of regular cones, or SUGAR cones - that was as far as cones went...no sprinkles, no Blizzards - and I thought the cones themselves would never be improved upon.  I suppose there's always room for improvement - except when it comes to Jones' handmade ice cream, ITSELF!  It's the WORLD'S BEST!

Have a COOL DAY -

The Latest DIRT!

For anyone who has children or grand children nearby, here's a fun recipe to mix up for them, or WITH them - great for Halloween, especially if you add some gummy eyeballs and other creepy candy! Wish my grand children lived closer - I'd have so much fun with this yummy treat! Of course, I could whip some up for my hens - they would appreciate at least ONE of the ingredients!!

Flower Pot Dirt Cake (with WORMS!)

Ingredients

• 1 package cream-filled chocolate cookies
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 packages (3.4 ounces each) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3-1/2 cups cold milk
• 1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 new plastic flowerpot or plastic pail (8 x 10 inches)
• Silk flowers
• Candy gummy worms

Directions

• In a food processor or blender, crush cookies until fine. Set aside.
  
• In a bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and sugar until smooth.
  
• In another bowl, mix pudding and milk until well blended. Fold into cream cheese mixture. Fold in whipped topping.
  
• In the flowerpot, alternate layers of cookie crumbs and pudding mixture, ending with crumbs. Chill several hours or overnight. Decorate with silk flowers and gummy worms. Yield: 12 servings.

What do you SEE when you look at ME?

I visited Chatty Crone today, and her 'Question of the Day' was this:
What does your name mean? She posted a link to find out, so - - -Click HERE and check out your OWN name!

Here is what I found out about MY name:

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.
You master any and all skills easily.

You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life.
You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you.
At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.
You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.
A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

Some true, some not so true - my sons say I'm a Type A. Hmmmm....

Let SHMILY Brighten Your Day

When I got my first computer, there was a cute little story that was floating around in the email. Some of you may have seen it, and I don't recall all the details about the story. Most important to me was the name of the game - "SHMILY". It involved a family that would place a toothpick with the letters S H M I L Y attached to it in various hiding places that the intended recipient would be sure to find sooner or later. What did the letters stand for? "See how much I love you!"

It's kind of a silly little game, but very endearing, actually. It touched me because my father used to do something similar to me, but he didn't know about that particular game - he had his very own unique game! I worked at a medical facility not far from my parent's home. His version first began like this: Dad went for his usual morning walk. When I got out of work for the day, I headed out to the parking lot, opened my car door, and there, on the seat, was the biggest longest snake I had ever seen!!! I SCREAMED bloody MURDER, and everyone in the parking lot looked at me, ready to spring into action, if need be! How embarrassed I was to discover that the snake, very life-like, was only rubber in composition! I drove to my parents' home to tell them about my funny experience, and there at the door stood Dad with a big 'tell-tale' grin on his face.....and so began his funny little game!

Through the remaining years of his life, I would discover plastic bugs taped to my windshield or rubber spiders in my purse. Don't think his loving mis-deeds went unpunished! One early morning, as it was reported to me later, Dad woke my mother from a deep sleep. He put his finger to his lips to 'sh-h-h-h!' her as he quietly tiptoed down the hall, indicating that she follow him. With a kitchen towel in hand, he stood poised at his bedroom door. There, almost hidden by his giant penny bank on the floor, she saw what he had seen - - - a mouse, with its back facing them. Quick as a flash, Dad threw the towel over the critter in order to catch it before it escaped! Mom stood there laughing, tears running down her cheeks - She knew what HE would soon know - the mouse was a rubber one - planted there by ME!

To this very day, my Mr. Wonderful and I play our version of the game. I don't recall who started it, him or me. It doesn't involve just a toothpick. Anything is fair game! Currently, Homer Simpson has been used, as is shown in today's photo! Homer has been seen holding a spoon, dangling from a coffee mug, or perched on a coffee pot handle! This plastic character was rescued from the woods, partially hidden under some leaves on our property. He sat around in the windowsill for about a year, before he was called into action this week. Homer is poseable, which adds to the mystery of where he will be found next and what he will be doing!

When "SHMILY" found its way to us, it made life a little more fun! Don't take everything so seriously - - - add some SHMILY to your life today!