This is a familiar scene. St. John’s Marsh near Algonac, MI. We pass it going back and forth to visit my family. When we arrived it was warm, but nothing like the day we moved out of our house in Charleston, SC where the “feel like” temp was 108℉ and every one of us was soaking wet. The movers (bless them) moving, Fred and I helping + cleaning + getting everything ready for the new owner. We were beyond exhausted (as the previous image showed). We got on the road late in the afternoon and made our way to Michigan. S l o w l y . . .
Another great book by Kristin Hannah! I’m trying not to read all of her books at once, although it’s quite hard not to. I’ve got it down to every other book, but will have to move that to every third book. I just don’t want to be without one of her books! What an escape reading is!
Today is my dad’s birthday… a super cool dad. I am so blessed. He is fun, creative, wise and all and all a good time! I wish my parents lived closer. But it makes you enjoy your time with them that much more. This photo was taken at a cottage we rented in Port Clyde, ME. What a wonderful week it was!
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y D A D !
Hope you have the best birthday ever!
xoxo, me
And… just had to share a few of his sketch pad paintings… I have this book full of wonderful paintings mostly of Maine… it is more valuable to me than gold! You can see a few more on the past posts I’ve shared (below)… Hey dad, I think you should keep at this… you need a website… or a blog! I might know someone who could help you with that ;)
Port Clyde Fish House by Joe Fidler
One year we rented a different cottage, and with it came a fish house that was quite amazing. We sat in the fish house each night and watched the sun set… What memories!
Port Clyde General Store by Joe Fidler
I could look at this forever! One of my favorite places, Port Clyde General Store. I think this would make a great postcard! It’s quirky, fun and what it really looks like!
Thanks Dad!! I will be calling to sing you happy birthday soon… this is your warning ;)
Fruitcake gets poo poo’d, I’m not sure why… I’m pretty sure this one will change your mind! This is a recipe that my Grandma Fidler used to make, and I still remember the wonderful smell of it! Then the recipe magically appeared in a Christmas card from my aunt. What a cool idea to share my grandma’s famous fruitcake recipe with us all! I made it and it was so delicious I cannot tell you! She brushed on brandy (several times) after baking, and wrapped in brown paper. That part isn’t on the recipe, so wing it if you like, or don’t do it at all… it’s good either way! First the recipe… and then the images to show you how easy it really is! Click HERE to print the recipe minus the photos…
Grandma’s Fruit Cake
Ingredients – (Yield: Makes 2- 9” loaves)
1 ½ cups Raisins
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 ½ cups Chopped Dates
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
2 Cups Sugar
1 teaspoon Ground Cloves
2 cups Boiling Water
1 teaspoon Salt
5 Tablespoons Shortening
1 cup Chopped Nuts
3 cups All Purpose Flour
1 cup Candied Fruit
2 Eggs
Directions
In a large saucepan add the boiling water and stir in the raisins, chopped dates, sugar and shortening. Bring contents to boil and then let simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place cooked mixture in cool place until thoroughly cooled.
After the boil…
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl add Flour, Baking Soda, Cinnamon, Ground Cloves and Salt.
Mix together dry ingredients…
Blend together then add eggs.
Add eggs…
Stir in the cooled mixture adding the chopped nuts and candied fruit last.
Divide into 2 well-greased and floured large loaf pans (9”x3”x3” deep) and bake for approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Use toothpick near end of baking time to check center of loaf. Cooking times vary. (My grandma also had a note on her recipe to put water in a pie dish and place in the oven, this keeps the fruitcake moist by keeping the air moist!)
Ready for the oven!
Do you smell that yummy goodness filling your house? Ahhhh, this is wonderful!
Ta da!
Note: Cooking time varies with size of loaf pan, a medium (8×3”) bakes approximately 1 hour and mini loaf pans (5 ½ x 3”) bake approximately 45 minutes.
I would like to dedicate this post to my mom… have I mentioned I have an uber cool mom? Actually, I’m very fortunate that both of my parents are really happening… they’re actually FUN to be around.
Well, today is my mom’s birthday!
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y M O M ! ! !
Now that the weather is getting cooler in your neck of the woods, you need to come back to visit for some of this…
and this…
and this!
Wishing you the best birthday EVER!! Love you so much! xxoo, me!
When you see this image don’t you just want to plop yourself into these woods and walk around… I do! I’m not sure if this was taken in Cathedral Woods or another area on the island, but it is heaven to meander through the woods without a care in the world. The silence is something you won’t forget. Good, sweet silence. You just don’t hear silence too often… Over the river and through the woods… but no river. When you reach the end of the trail you do hear and see the crashing surf and that is such a treat! It makes you happy… here’s proof… this is my mom, she was thrilled, just look at that smile!
Go out and be happy! Catch you back here tomorrow!
It is with a heavy heart that we say farewell to a friend… “he has begun his journey“. Pain and anguish are no more which is a relief. His smiling face will be missed. His brilliant conversation will always be remembered. The last time we saw Scott was on Monhegan Island, ME. We met for dinner several nights over the course of the week. We shared conversation that covered most topics we could think of. We talked until they turned out the lights and then continued to talk. Family, interests, hiking, climbing (Scott), cooking, books, movies, other friends… you name it, we covered it. I am sad to know those conversations will never continue, at least not here on earth… but I guess that gives us something to look forward to once we begin our own journey.
Monhegan Island is a beautiful place and holds wonderful memories for us. It seems like some of the friends that we’ve met from there are some of our very best. Despite distance, they’re the ones that we keep in touch with. They have touched our heart. Maybe its the week spent on an island with no outside communication to dull your mind… no TV, no radio, just friends, talking, catching up and learning about each others lives. In a “normal” place you probably wouldn’t sit around that long just talking. But on Monhegan THAT is the entertainment, and for that I am so grateful. Strong relationships are forged in a very short period of time. We truly care about each other, and when one hurts, so does the other. Now, that care extends to his family, who was right there by his side…
I found a North End Market receipt in my “Monhegan” book, Scott had written down the name of a movie he really enjoyed, called MAN ON WIRE. As well as a book, RAZOR’S EDGE by W.S. Maugham. I haven’t gotten around to either, but I think we will make a point to do so. A tribute to our friend…
Scott may be gone from this life, but will never be forgotten – the lives he has touched are forever changed… he has made an impression on so many people’s lives. When you are fortunate enough to run across someone special, take the time to get to know them, keep in touch and never take that time for granted. Life is truly short. Cherish your relationships no matter how deep they are. Go out and touch someones life today, in a positive way. Be thankful. Feel blessed.
Peace and prayers to Scott as well as his family. We look forward to seeing you again my friend!
Below, a photo… entitled “I Wish“… a Monhegan tradition, when you leave the island you toss your bouquet into the water… if it comes towards shore that means you’ll be back…
I think that the location of this photo could easily be in another country. This is a street in Charleston, SC. Those trees are stunners aren’t they?? If you get a chance, come to Charleston, SC for vacation… if you live here, take the time to go downtown and walk around and see all the cool sights there are to see! You will be amazed. Trust me!
It’s with a trembling lip that I say ‘see ya soon‘ (can’t say goodbye or that trembling lip will turn into a disastrous mess, ha ha) to my parents who have been in town visiting this week. I moved to SC from MI in 1989, right before Hurricane Hugo (brilliant, eh?) with every intention of being here just a short time… then I met Fred. Awwww… the love of my life. It’s hard to live in a different city that is either an expensive flight or a 17 hour drive away… wish we were all closer in distance!
I’ll be back to normal posting next week! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Well, I’ve been in Michigan visiting “my people”… trying to catch up after not seeing them for SEVEN MONTHS, ahhhh, it’s hard living far away from everyone! I’m writing this post ahead of time, and I am assuming that I’m way up high in the sky on my way home now… hope y’all missed me ;)
I’ve got lots of good stuff planned, so stay tuned…
That’s my mom on the left, the one that looks like a movie star… then that would be me and my dad (just call me FLASH I guess!) and my grandma… we had great times in her pool! (Watch me! Watch me!). Today is my mom’s birthday and she hasn’t aged a bit… of course this photo here was taken in the 60’s, I am a bit taller, and I tend to not run around topless…
I’m not sure how I lucked out and got such great parents, but I did. Believe me, I don’t take it for granted. I thank God everyday for giving me the life I’ve got. My mom and dad are cool and happening, they always have been. They were so awesome growing up. My mom was so nurturing, but tough when she needed to be (“Go read a book” she would tell me… I DON’T WANT TO I would say… then she sat me down and gave me her first Nancy Drew book… I haven’t stopped reading since! Now, maybe she just wanted some time alone, ha ha… smart lady!)
As I got older and moved away (going on 23 years ago, boo hoo), she remained a mom with advice when I needed it, as well as a friend to share recipes with, to talk about good books to read, places to go, where to go out to eat and all that wonderful conversation that I absolutely adore. Even though we aren’t big talkers on the telephone (neither of us has ever been), when we do talk, once a week or so, it’s quality time… not always important info, but stuff that keeps us close. Oh how I wish we lived closer. I know how fortunate I am to still have my mom. Some kids never have a mom, or have a horrible childhood. Others moms are taken too soon. So thank you God for keeping my mom around!
How did I get so lucky? I have the world’s best husband, the best parents (and inlaws too!) and the funniest sister ever! I am truly blessed beyond words!
Mom, we wish you the happiest birthday ever! I hope dad makes you a wonderful cake! E N J O Y Y O U R B I R T H D A Y ! LOVE YOU!
Look at this happy couple… this is Fred’s parents, Bobbie and Carlisle Stroud. Today my friends… is their 55th wedding anniversary. So you see, it IS possible to be married for a lot of years and still be happy! IT IS possible that life can be good when married to the same person for a number of years. We wish them the happiest anniversary day ever!
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
Today is Christmas, and I wish you the merriest! Good tidings to you…!
The only old Christmas photo that I could find was teeny tiny. That’s the Fidler family when we lived in St. Clair Shores, MI. Christmas was always a magical time!
To my family… I MISS YOU GUYS… MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
To all of you… I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and I thank you for checking in with me! Have a wonderful day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!
Happy Thanksgiving to you! Enjoy your day… I’m going to try to not eat too much, take a long walk to help burn off some of what I’ve eaten and since I’m cooking… I’m going to try to relax. I should be fine unless I lose my sticky notes of what to do when, ha.
What are you thankful for this year? I am thankful for many things, and try to think about all the things I’m grateful for each and every day (they say that makes you a happier person and I truly believe that to be true)! Some of the things I’m thankful for…
Fred (husband and soul mate). Charlie (dog). Family (parents, Fred’s parents, sister, brother in law and their families, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, acquaintances and the list goes on… as well as all of you who are like family to me).
Health.
My mom being ok after a cancer diagnosis, surgery, chemo and radiation.
YOU. (Thanks to everyone who prayed for my mom, I am overwhelmed).
For sun on a cold day. For clouds on a hot day.
For living in a city so rich in culture.
For living in an area where I can walk most everywhere.
For walking each and every day, and for my walking buddy.
For those of you who reached out to me (thank you for sharing your experiences and your information). I am thankful that you read this blog. No kidding. I started it on a whim, and have worked hard to create a post each and every single day. I’m hoping I make it all the way to the end of the year. BIG accomplishment.I have met many cool people!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 