Friday's Favorites Fare

 

This is what competitive Junior National swimmers do when they aren't swimming at swim practice:  they swim.  Daniel, Harrison, Trish, Colleen, Matt, and Rhiannon in our pool this afternoon.

READING:   More Willa Cather, More College Materials, and bits and pieces of family history following links where those might lead which is always enjoyable.  One more week until I can send the guys off to JNats and have a whole week to start some serious reading on WWII, at least that's the plan now.

LISTENING TO:  For Caitlin:  James Taylor, For Margaret O.:  Billy Joel, and for myself, of course:  Tom Petty (with and without the Heartbreakers)

COOKING BYTES:  Yesterday I made a Texas Sheet Cake in memory of my Uncle Tony who passed away this week.  It was just something I hadn't done in forever and it was his favorite dessert.  My Granny would make it for all the family gatherings, and those of you on that side of the family will smile at these memories because it was easy, inexpensive, and served a lot of people at a time.  My Uncle Tony, who was always a big hit with the nieces and nephews because of his jokes and winning personality, would pronounce the "Sheet" part of this cake with a little southern drawl for fun to make it sound like a word that all little boys and girls were not allowed to say, not quite saying the word, but sort of implying it, which delighted all the youngsters to no end and set my Granny to chastising Tony for his "bad manners in front of the little kids."  The "little kids" were quick to run outside (where of course no grown ups would be able to hear them shouting) and run around yelling, "We are having Texas Shit Cake for dessert!!!"  No end to the fun with Uncle Tony around.  He will be missed by all.

FAV NEW FIND:  Not exactly new, but my impatiens are growing and blooming this summer and I am enjoying the color every single day.  Heretofore we have never been able to get impatiens to grow at this house.     

FAV THING THIS WEEK:  We had a good time up at Purdue for Sectionals last week, no new best times, but that was not expected since the JNat swimmers are not tapered and all, but it was just really nice to be away at a meet and see all the swimmers, go out to eat with them, and have them popping in and out of the hotel room between swims.  I will say, with the boys at least, the whole week was about swimming and eating and then swimming and eating and then swimming and eating.  My word those teen boy swimmers can eat!
GOING TO:  Our church has Seton Fest going on this weekend, so fireworks the next two nights in what is essentially our backyard, we can sit on the deck and watch a splendid show; Matt, Harrison, and Nik all have birthdays this week, so Harrison is hosting a birthday party for friends Saturday night at his house; Matt's actual birthday is Saturday, so on Saturday I will have an 18 year old...where did that time go?  Family birthday celebration for Matt and odds and ends of things that always seem to need to be done around here in the works as well.  Hope you all have a great weekend.    

PRAYING FOR:  In your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of my father's youngest brother, Guy Anthony Baker, who lost his battle with cancer this week.