Category: THOUGHTS

Birthday candles, AARP and a Colonoscopy!

On By Barbara StroudIn HEALTH, THOUGHTS8 Comments

You guessed it… Today I am 50! Hard to believe, because I don’t think I act like I’m 50. Actually to say “fifty” out loud sounds so foreign to me, it actually makes me laugh, which is better than crying, ha ha… Hey, I look forward to the future, 50 is the new 30 (and all you young people reading this that just rolled your eyes… Just wait, you go from 30 to 50 in the blink of an eye, time accelerates as you get older, I’m sure you’ve heard your parents, grandparents or any random older person say that at one time or another. I’m here to say. IT’S TRUE! So be happy for every day you have on earth…)!

Yep,  FIFTY birthday candles… enough to start a fire! Need a fire extinguisher nearby! Trying to think on the bright side… AARP. I can be a member now! Woohoo! Hey, I am excited about senior discounts now! If ya can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right? Did you know at age 55 you can get a free coffee from Dunkin Donuts? Get outta here! At 50 you can get a discount at Banana Republic (maybe because they know very few 50 year old women can fit in their clothes?)!

And oh yeah… the biggest birthday gift that you can give yourself… a colonoscopy! Help me out, I’m trying to think positive here… A good way to lose weight? I have a “consultation” soon.. Yippeeeee… I’ve read enough about it, am a tad worried I may starve to death, and NO MILK OR CREAM the day before, oh heavy sigh…. I can handle no food, but no cream means no coffee. That my friends, isn’t going to be pretty! I guess if that’s all I have to worry about, I’m doing great!

I know it’s going to be a fabulous birthday, Fred always makes sure of that. I love my birthday present, a Nikon Coolpix p510 with a 42x zoom, can’t wait to get it to Maine! WOOHOO!

Have a happy day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!!

 

I bought my shoes at the grocery store…

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS4 Comments

You read that right… I bought my shoes at the grocery store… well, not any grocery store, an upscale, healthy grocery store called WHOLE FOODS, ha ha, who happens to carry a limited supply of Tom’s shoes. I’ve never bought a pair of Tom’s. To me they look seriously uncomfortable, too flat. But one day we were in WF and I walked by this Kilim pattern and WHOA, had to try them on. Hoped they would look hideous on me, they did not. They looked fabulous! I was transformed (ha ha)… seriously, they have an ARCH SUPPORT! Who knew? Between the great look, the comfortability and that fact that when you buy a pair of Tom’s they give a new pair of shoes to a child… I LOVE that philosophy! You can buy Tom’s all over the place, from Whole Foods to Nordstrom. I thought these would be great for Monhegan, nice and light to pack, looks good with khakis or jeans… SOLD!

From the Tom’s website… Way to go!

Do you need a new pair of shoes? These just might be the ones! They come in all patterns, men/women (and of course children!)… check them out!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

(Image via Toms.com)

Every Celebration Deserves a Great Cake! Italian Cream Cake from Cooking Light magazine!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Don’t you agree? Every celebration deserves a great cake! Well let me tell you from experience, this one is a doozy! I originally made this many many years ago when we had a surprise birthday party for our next door neighbor. She was surprised and delighted with the cake. And owie, that cream cheese frosting is too good! This recipe received rave reviews. We have also had this cake on a cruise that we took out of Charleston on the Norwegian Cruise Line… it’s nice that they offered Cooking Light options that were heavenly! I have subscribed to Cooking Light magazine shortly after they first came on the market… Great recipes! If you need a new magazine to check out, I love this one! (Cooking Light recipes may be found on the MyRecipes.com website). Now… for the recipe… then a special Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary message at the end…!

From the MyRecipes.com website:

Italian Cream Cake

This layered Italian Cream Cake is the perfect dessert for a birthday or dinner party because it is moist and full of flavor from the chopped pecans and cream cheese frosting. The stunning 5-star dessert continues to get rave reviews every time!

Cake Ingredients

  • Vegetable cooking spray
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup light butter
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 teaspoon butter extract
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 egg whites (at room temperature)
  • Sugared kumquats (optional)
  • Orange rind strips (optional)
  • Kumquat leaves (optional)

Preparation

  1. Prepare Cream Cheese Icing; cover and chill.
  2. Coat bottoms of 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray (do not coat sides of pans); line bottoms of pans with wax paper. Coat wax paper with cooking spray, and dust with flour; set aside.
  3. Combine sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine 2 cups flour and baking soda; stir well. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in pecans and extracts.
  4. Beat egg whites at high speed of a mixer until stiff peaks form (do not overbeat). Fold egg whites into batter; pour batter into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 23 minutes. Let cool in pans 5 minutes on a wire rack. Loosen cake layers from sides of pans using a narrow metal spatula, and turn out onto wire racks. Peel off wax paper, and let cool completely.
  5. Place 1 cake layer on a plate, and spread with 2/3 cup Cream Cheese Icing; top with another cake layer. Repeat with 2/3 cup icing and remaining layer, ending with cake. Spread remaining icing over cake. Garnish with kumquats, orange rind, and kumquat leaves, if desired.
  6. Note: To make sugared kumquats, dip kumquats into lightly beaten egg whites, and drain; roll in sugar.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon light butter
  • 1 (8-ounce) package Neufchâtel cheese
  • 1 (1-pound) package powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

  1. Cream butter and cheese at high speed of a mixer until fluffy. Add sugar; beat at low speed until well-blended. Add vanilla; beat well.

Cooking Light
NOVEMBER 1995

Recipe and photo from MyRecipes.com website; Photo by: HOWARD L. PUCKETT

*********************************************************************************************

There are several celebrations happening today … My parents 54th wedding anniversary, my sister Bridget and brother-in-law, Bill both had birthdays (a day apart) over the past few days… ! The place has GOT to be festive!

Mom and dad, you are the best and I wish you another 54 happy years together!

Bridget and Bill… H A P P Y   B I R T H D  A Y ! Hope it’s the best ever!  I have no doubt that you will all celebrate well! Love you! xoxo me

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Photo: Ahhh, the way life should be! Relax and enjoy!

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS, TRAVEL2 Comments

Now don’t you think this is the way life should be? Like a nice summer vacation. Where there is time for sitting and reading, or sitting by the river and watching all there is to see (it can be more entertaining than television, that’s for sure!). My parents live on the St. Clair River in Algonac, MI… the views are amazing… the sunsets are out of this world! My dad made these adirondack chairs, they have nice fluffy cushions, and it makes a great place to sit.

Wouldn’t you like to be sitting in that chair right now? Me too! These chairs remind me of the Island Inn on Monhegan (Maine). Nothing like sitting and reading or watching the water!

Monhegan Island, Maine – Island Inn Adirondack chairs… Fred reading while he waits for me… 

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A beasty birthday!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS5 Comments

The birthday boy, Charlie!

H A P P Y  3 R D  B I R T H D A Y  C H A R L I E !

It’s Charlie’s 3rd birthday today, boy how time flies! If you would like to be entertained by a funny blog accounting for the first year of LIFE WITH CHARLIE, click the link). Initially I created this blog because the only time Charlie would sleep is when I was sitting in my desk chair at the computer. He would curl up behind me and fall into a deep peaceful (for me) sleep… so I created a blog to vent entertain myself, then Charlie started getting people who wanted to know what was going on each day, it was a hoot… after a year he calmed down and I stopped the blog, but it was a great year!

Preparation for Charlie’s birthday hat photo shoot!

Charlie is going to have (another) good day! He’s been so much fun these past several years, here’s to many many more Charlie! May your birthday candles never blow out : )
Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Purity… you just may not have found the right one yet…

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS1 Comment

Philosophy PURITY MADE SIMPLE

Image: Nordstrom

If you don’t absolutely LOVE your facial cleanser have I got news for you! A while back I bought the small sample size cleanser by Philosophy called PURITY. I had read a lot of great things about it, it consistently got 4.5-5 stars on every site I checked. How could that many people be wrong? They weren’t, and that’s why I’m a big fan of researching things before I buy. I read the reviews and if they seem pretty consistent I’ll give it a shot, and am I glad I ever did!

Here’s a blip about the cleanser from the Philosophy website:

our award-winning daily facial skin cleanser is formulated to gently cleanse, tone and melt away all face and eye makeup in one simple step, while lightly hydrating the skin.

features & benefits

  • deep cleans pores and eliminates makeup build-up
  • natural oil extracts help condition skin
  • fragrance-free formula

I have to agree, it removes makeup effortlessly and when you’re done your face doesn’t feel tight or dry. It’s perfect! It says fragrance free formula, but there are natural oil extracts that have a clean fresh smell that I absolutely love. Also… you only need a small amount, so it will last a while! Share this with anyone you know of who may not be too happy with their current product. This stuff is awesome. If you don’t have a store close by, you can order from Nordstrom.com and it’s FREE shipping… you just can’t beat that!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Charlie… in his happy place!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS8 Comments

Charlie has his own sofa. We moved it near the window when he was a puppy so he could see down the street. Fred and I like to move furniture. Actually move entire rooms (i.e. the dining room is the study and the living room is the dining room, yep, see what I mean, just try to keep up with us)… well, we DID move entire rooms. Now we’re stuck in a situation. WE CAN’T MOVE THE SOFA! Ahhhh, there are worse things that could happen… Charlie is so content staring out the window during the day (half the time with his eyes closed) that we just can’t change it.

Ahhh, what we do for our pets, huh? Have a great weekend and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Its going to be a long day… do you know why?

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS2 Comments

Charlie at Folly Beach…

Last night at 7:09PM the sun reached the farthest point north of the equator… “Really” you say… ok, in English… IT’S OFFICIALLY SUMMER! 

I grew up in Michigan… so after a long winter and a wet spring IT’S OFFICIALLY SUMMER would have gotten a WOOT WOOT out of me… however, after moving to Charleston, SC in 1989 (just in time for hurricane Hugo, yay (omg, a future post for sure!) and trying to “get used” to the most hot humid air imaginable I no longer say WOOT WOOT… Many of us here dread summer as northern folks dread a long winter. We know we’ll be closed up in our houses for months at a time, unless we can escape to a beach, pool or anywhere with A/C! I’m not complaining, you can’t have it nice all the time or you wouldn’t be able to afford to live there… so we take the good with the bad… as I write this (6/19) look what I see…

Do you realize what that is? It’s an OPEN window in Charleston, SC MID JUNE! To that I say WOOT WOOT!

Today is the longest day of the year… To read some interesting facts about Summer, check out the Almanac’s website… then head out to the pool or the beach…! Enjoy your summer! Hey, speaking of summer and beaches, what good beach books are you reading this summer? Let me know!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

How to brighten up the front of your house for only $29.98!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS4 Comments

American Flag Kit from LOWE’S.… ($29.98)

I’m always talking about how I love an American flag in a painting… makes it pop. Makes it, uh… as American as apple pie… So as I peruse art websites via my computer I am always delighted to find a painting that I love that includes a flag… then I thought… WHY DON’T WE HAVE A FLAG? That same flag that makes the houses “pop” in paintings could do the same for ours… so we headed to Lowe’s (why Lowe’s? Because LOWE’S KNOWS VALUE… hee, couldn’t resist that)! We headed to the flag display, and picked out one that is sewn and not just printed. Nothing wrong with printed, I just like the look of the sewn ones better and they seem to be a little thicker, therefore they should hold up a little longer.

This is the house before the flag…

Recently I mentioned that we installed a gas lantern, well to put the lantern where we wanted it we had to move the enamel house numbers to a different spot… Now that we want to hang a flag, guess where I really wanted it…? Where the numbers were… SO… the numbers got moved yet again so that the flag had it’s own spot. Whew! That was fun!

And this is the TA-DA… house after the flag…

So if you want to brighten up the front of your house and have a few bucks to spare, head to your neighborhood hardware store and pick up an American flag!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Happy thoughts to all!

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Barbara and her dad, Joe Fidler – sailing on Fiddle Faddle…

Fred and his dad, Carlisle Stroud at Rock’s Pond Campground, Eutawville, SC

Charlie and his dad… Fred!

H A P P Y  F A T H E R S  D A Y to my dad, Fred’s dad, Fred for being Charlie’s dad and to all the other dads in the world.

Good memories of the dads that are no longer with us as well as happy thoughts for those of you about to be dads.

And major gratitude to those of you who act as dads, helping other people’s kids out. You’re a blessing too!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Wonderful art… great cause… this is the perfect time to buy!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Update 4.18.2014:  (from the YouCaring.com website) Please keep Leigh and their daughter Ellen (and all of Seph’s family and friends) in your thoughts and prayers:

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seph Limehouse Memorial Fund*, an education fund for Seph’s daughter Ellen. The Limehouse family is deeply grateful for your love and support during Seph’s long battle with cancer. *All donations made through this site will go directly to the Seph Limehouse Memorial Fund.

ORIGINAL POST…

I wanted to share with you an email that I received from the owners of Smith Killian Gallery in Charleston, SC. This is a fundraiser for a good cause. If you love art as much as I do maybe you’ll consider bidding on one of these pieces? I will let the email speak for itself… think about it…

In support of our gallery director Leigh Limehouse and her husband, Seph, we have put together a fundraiser featuring artwork by each of our Smith Killian artists.

Leigh and Seph, who is 36, recently found out that his cancer has returned and metastasized to his abdominal lymph nodes.  Seph was first diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer in the fall of 2009, while Leigh was pregnant with their daughter, Ellen.  After extensive surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments at MUSC Seph was declared cancer free in 2011.The return of this cancer is devastating news for all of us, and we want to try and help with medical, travel, childcare and other expenses.

 

At the recommendation of his doctors at MUSC and MD Anderson in Houston, they will begin chemotherapy at Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston and will then return to Texas for surgery to remove the affected nodes.

Each gallery artist has generously donated a piece of their artwork for a Sealed Bid Auction.  Bids may be placed by email or by filling out a form and placing it in the sealed box in the gallery. Minimum bid is $300 and each bid will be kept secret until July 31st when the bids will be read. The highest bidder will receive the artwork.

100% of the proceeds will help Leigh and Seph.
We thank you for your continued support and your kind thoughts and prayers.

To keep updated on Seph’s progress you can click on the link below.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/SephLimehouse/guestbook

Many thanks,

Betty and Hume

To place a bid via email (note: email the gallery at info@smithkillian.com ) please include

Title, artist, name, phone and bid.

Donated pieces:

Betty Anglin Smith
Island Lagoon
30 x 30
$5700
Kim English
Taos
15 x 17 framed
$2500
Shannon Smith
Pink Boat on Folly
29 x 35 framed
$4600
Darrell David
Three Deep
Bronze
13″ tall
$1100
Jennifer Smith Rogers
Out on Folly
31 x 37 framed
$5100
Carl Plansky
Donated by Larry Elder of Elder Gallery
Ira Sitting
30 x 22
$4300
Felice Killian
Fire Bead Tulip Necklace
$196
Minimum bid ($50)
Hope a piece of this art “speaks” to you! Remember, it’s for a great cause! Catch you back here tomorrow!
All images via Smith Killian Gallery

Charleston Photo… Charlie’s momma…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

When Charlie, our Jack Russell Terrier, starts acting crazy I tell him he looks like his momma… not me, i’m dog momma, thankyouverymuch… he looks like his real momma… Miss Oakley (pictured above). Sure she looks quiet and sweet in that photo… but she’s wild and crazy, all in a very good way. I believe this is who Charlie gets his wild moments from. They are hilarious.

Have to add a picture of our Charlie… can you see the resemblence?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

“Flag’ by Frank Gardner… an amazing painting!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, THOUGHTS4 Comments

“Flag” by Frank Gardner – Image: Randy Higbee Gallery 6×6 show


I just want to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude for all of you who have served, are serving now, or have lost a loved one serving our country. Thank you just isn’t enough. YOU are what makes this country great! Just know that…

On a side note… I wanted to select a painting appropriate for today, and a house with a flag seemed to be spot on. I’ve always loved this little 6×6 painting. This was done by artist Frank Gardner. Just love his work… check it out! I LOVE a flag in a painting, it draws me right in!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Laurie Meyer!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

“And On It Goes” by Laurie Meyer

We have the most beautiful old oak trees here in Charleston, SC… boy, if only trees could talk, the stories they could tell! I think Laurie captured this one nicely!

Here’s more about Laurie from the  Wells Gallery website:

Laurie Meyer has lived and painted in Charleston, SC for over twenty-five years. Following careers in education and corporate sales, Laurie devoted her life to her first love – painting – in 1997. Life in Charleston has provided Laurie with countless subjects and rich inspiration for her award winning paintings. Her frequent travels have also given Laurie varied and interesting ideas for many of her works. She paints with rich color and broad “brushy” strokes and palette knife to express the unique and recognizable softness in her work. Art has also played a role in community involvement for Laurie. She is the past president of the Mt. Pleasant Artists Guild, serving two terms. Laurie also served eight years on the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association and originated the Art of Alzheimer’s exhibit, now under the auspices of the Charleston Artist Guild. Laurie is past Program Director and past Director of Artistic Growth for the Charleston Artist Guild.  She is a member of the Oil Painters of America, Charleston Outdoor Painters Association, the SC Watercolor Association, and the Portrait Society of America. Laurie resides on Daniel Island, SC with her creative and supportive husband.  Her three daughters, on their own or in college, are also creative with art and writing. “I am thankful to be blessed with the opportunity to do something I love. Painting has been part of me since I was a child and I still live for the artistic journey. I love rich color and textural strokes painted with gesture and spontaneity. I seek interesting designs with playful shadow structures in my street scenes and rich natural colors in my landscapes. Capturing light is a challenge and a thrill. Painting “en plein air,” nature’s studio, is a luxury and a great teacher, but weather and time constraints mean I also paint in the indoor studio. Either way, my challenge is to interpret what I see and express it in my unique style.”

We would like to wish Fred’s mom a very H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y ! ! We hope it’s the best! xoxo US

Catch you back here tomorrow!

This will be Fred and I moving to Maine… 137 sq feet!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House Plans, THOUGHTS6 Comments

Tumbleweed Tiny Houses – Fencl Plan

This is how I picture Fred and I moving to Maine… we’ll pack up the house and find a nice little spot near water, a general store, a bakery, and a grocery store… ha ha. IS THIS NOT THE COOLEST PHOTO? Look at this house! This is one of the bigger in the Tumbleweed Tiny House plans... it’s the Fencl plan. Could you do it? I’m thinking we could maybe do it if we parked the U-Haul under a tree to store all of our stuff in, ha ha. Click on the link under the photo to see the interior shots (shown furnished). Is it ever SWEET! Take a look at the other houses they have, it’s just so interesting to me! I first heard about these tiny houses on Colin Pages Journal. Colin is a cool guy that mentions not only art, but all kinds of neat things, this being one of them! The smallest house starts at 65 square feet AND INCLUDES A KITCHEN AND BATHROOM! The larger cottages range from 261-874 square feet. These things are cool, check out the interior photos!

Catch you back here tomorrow!