You Are Worthy

"You are worthy.
You are capable.
You are beautiful.
Book the ticket.
Write the book.
Create the dream.
Celebrate yourself.
Rule your queendom." -Elyse Santilli

Happy Birthday to The Guys In Our Family

Every Fall we celebrate the birthdays of the guys in our family. Vicente's birthday is in July, Randy's birthday is in August and David and Mike's birthdays are in September. Last night was our annual birthday celebation for all of them.

Thanks to my sister in law Barb and my brother for hosting

We also welcomed "Rosangela",  Vicente's cousin visiting from Italy

 

It had been awhile since we had seen all the family. So nice to be together after a long, hot summer.

David and Mary

Pauline and Tim,  just back from Hawaii where they celebrated their first wedding anniversary 

 Rosangela Vicente and Jocelyn

 Mike and me




As always lots of food to feast on 

It was surf and turf night with steaks and shrimp on the bar-B!

 Salad

 Grilled veges

Baked potatoes

 then there were the gifts

 And the cake of course

"Happy Birthday"
 to these special men in our family! We love you guys so-oooo much!

An Afterlife

 "When I dream of afterlife in heaven, the action always takes place in the Paris Ritz." Hemingway

Fall 2019 Italian Language Class Begins

Today was our first Italian language class for the new semester. We had a nice reunion (missed you Mitra) and recapped our summer travel adventures. We celebrated our Professoressa Luisa's    birthday "Buon Compleanno" and began with a new book for the year.


 


 


 

 


 

 

 


 

Just Read This

"Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by  Gail Honeyman. I really enjoyed this book.

Lucy's Recipe for Ricotta Cake

Ingredients:  
1 package Duncan Hines Golden Cake mix
3 cups (1 1/2 pounds) ricotta cheese Galbani preferred brand
3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 eggs

Mix cake as directed on the package and pour into a greased 9x12 pan. Then mix remaining ingredients and gently spoon the ricotta cheese mixture over the top of the cake mix evenly.  When baking the cheese mixture will settle to the bottom of the pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. When cool dust with powdered sugar.


Note:  you can use lemon cake with lemon extract instead of golden yello cake mix and vanilla flavoring. I tried it with lemon but will next try it with golden cake mix and vanilla.

I served this with a bowl of peaches (I used frozen unsweetened peaches which I thawed) mix defrosted peaches with this glaze.
To make peach glaze: boil 3/4 c. of water with 1 cup of sugar til sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and add 3 Tablespoons cornstarch (dissolved in some cold water ) 1 Tblsp. lemon juice and 1 Tablespoon butter and pinch of salt. Stir over med. heat til mixture thickens. I let the glaze cool on stove top then add to fresh or defrosted frozen peaches and chill all in fridge til serving time.

Not Just About A Book Club Reads "Sunset Beach"

Today our book club met for lunch to discuss our most recent book " Sunset Beach" by author Mary Kay Andrews.

 Our hostess with the mostest today was Sharon.

 Book club members in attendance today were

Kathy and Jo

Judy

Barb and Karen

Our  hostess Sharon and Maria

This summer read  fit perfectly with

the cheery poolside surroundings and the heat of the day

We dined on a great taco salad and fruit

and sipped cool beverages.

Lunch poolside was relaxing, and the company most enjoyable

 
After lunch we adjourned to the family room to discuss the book.

We had fun reliving the storyline which contained a mysterious disappearance, family dynamics and new beginnings for many of the characters. We all enjoyed the plot twists and the ease of a light summer read. 

To cap off this great meeting Sharon served a delicious s'mores dessert.

Thank you Sharon for a great end of summer book club meeting and for the lovely little gift you gave all of us. 

 Happy Fall reading up next!