Summer time family reunion

Rosanne and Steve hosted our family reunion on the weekend.We don't do this every year , every few, which makes the occasion even more special.
The weather co-operated , rain came in the morning but by noon the sun was shining.

Rosanne and Chris

Jason , Rosanne and the Matriarch of the family,Mom looking very good.
Sister Donna in her summer chapeau , her grandson Russell and granddaughter Victoria.

Carolyn, Amanda and Blake looking cool and summery.

Steve and Keith with a few beverages

Don Christopher, Nicole and Victoria
Steve at the barbie!Chef Extraordinaire!

What would a picnic be with out watermelon,
hamburgers and hot dogs,salads

and pies !

There were a few games of badminton and touch football by the younger set.. unfortunately did not get a photo.......of the winning side.
Was such a fun day , spending time reconnecting with everyone.... seeing all the nieces and nephews, how their children have grown , I can proudly say they are all nice well mannered kids; , second cousins catching up with each other ...... with all our busy lives it is great to take the time to spend one day together.

Gone fishing

Beautiful summer day on Thursday , temperatures 23C. sunny and warm. DH wanted to go fishing on Long Point Bay so I packed a lunch, drinks ,suntan lotion and a good book for me.......off we went.
Put the boat in at Old Cut Marina.

Heading out the channel, swells 2 feet very gentle.

Marker where all the fish are!

Counted 46 boats in this one area trying to catch bass. 70 feet deep at this point.

Spent 3 and a half hours on the bay, was such a nice day could have fallen asleep with the soft rocking.

Seagull on marker, they are everywhere.

Heading back in .
Welcoming trio back at the marina....

Fish ,how many did DH catch?
NOT ONE !

Cherry Sheet Cake

I'm back!and yet again ,
....... on a mission, to use up food in freezer before buying more.........
I have a bad habit of buying more before using up what is on hand.
Such a waste...So searched for recipes using cherries, raspberries and peaches.
Found this recipe for cherries, it is from Martha Stewart.
Reading the recipe description , had me wondering what the results would be like.
I can say;
"Delightful, quick, easy to make, tasty, moist and my finished product looked as pretty as the pictures at Martha's ."
I have made a few changes........... They thawed the cherries I used mine frozen, and I used salted butter not unsalted.
The recipe says it serves 8 tho I think 12.

Cherry Sheet cake;

1 cup butter, room temperature, plus more for baking sheet
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups frozen cherries
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting (optional)
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheet; line bottom with waxed paper. Butter paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
2.In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each, then beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture, and mix until just combined (batter will be as thick as cookie dough).
3.Spread batter evenly on prepared baking sheet; scatter frozen cherries over the top. Bake cake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in pan. Invert onto a wire rack; reinvert onto another rack to cool completely (top side up).
Cook time in my oven 30 minutes!
4.To serve, cut cake into triangles with a serrated knife. Dust with confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

Flowers , Cards and a week away

These are the pretties flowering in the garden at the moment.......
Morning glories


Ruby Stella in bud, so looking forward to seeing this new daylily flower,

Pretty in pink bleeding heart loving our cool wet weather,

Bright cheery yellow cordyalis

I see a theme here, pinks, yellows and blues with a touch of red........that is my plan............thinking I need to shake it up next year............colourwise.
Tomatoes are forming, they do need some heat.

My other new love ,
Card making using brayer and embossing,

Soft summer stamp card,

Embossed butterfly and flower, hand painted .

This blog will be vacationing for a week...........