Kay Ellen

A Day to Remember

American Flags are Waving~~~

The home of free and the land of the brave! 

Memorial Day has arrived...

Honoring our soldiers that have died while serving our Country in the Armed Forces.

Taking time to visit our two Grandpa's grave sites at the Riverside National Cemetery.

Thank you for your sacrifice and bravery. 

We are truly blessed to live in the USA!!

Let Freedom continue to Ring!!! 

Cheering on~~~thousands of motorcycle's headed to the Riverside National Cemetery in honor of Memorial Day.

Thankful for our soldiers and very proud to be an American!

God Bless America!

:Kay Ellen & Family

Special Blooms

Happy Birthday Pink Saturday!  

Thank you Good News Now for featuring my Gladiola photo on your website! I am honored:)

 

Special blooms to share and enjoy~~~

A sun-filled weekend in Southern California.

A favorite bloom stands out among the rest...Just like our dear Beverly and her desire for us all to embrace Pink! 

Sprinkles of creativity from everyone that shares in the blogging community. 

Thank you Beverly for all your efforts,emails and heart felt greetings this past year! You are a sweetheart!

Have a blessed Pink Saturday friends! 

In honor of this special day...

Leave a comment on my blog & join my Google Friends Connect for a chance to win a $25.00 Starbucks gift card! 

Happy 2nd Birthday~~~ Pink Saturday!!

Click Here to see more blog participants. 

:Kay Ellen

Don't forget to honor our soldiers on Memorial Day!

 

     

Celebrate

We did a little celebrating this weekend...Our son is home from college!

 I decided to plan a Hawaiian themed dinner to celebrate Kyle's arrival home and also for the finale of LOST. 

For those of you who are not familiar with the tv show LOST it is a story about survivors from a plane crash trapped on a island. The island holds mysteries, danger and untold secrets. You really have to watch each epiosde to know what is happening from week to week~~~or you will get lost!  

With the series filmed in Oahu. Hawaii...my theme for dinner had to be a tropical cuisine!  

I set up the table up in the back garden. My centerpiece included a large banana leaf, fresh pineapple,coconuts,papayas,bananas and a hawaiian floral lei. 

I asked my husband to drill an opening in a few coconuts... 

A fun suprized for my teens:) Even if you don't care for coconut milk you could drain the liquid out and add any tropical fruit juice!  

We barbecued chicken and fish skewers inspired by Jin and Hurley two actors from the TV show. Jin is a great a fisherman and Hurley owns a franchise fast food chain called Mr. Clucks Chicken Shack.

The barbecue is almost ready!

I added an orchid bloom, fresh pineapple and papaya to each plate. 

Cheers to the LOST finale! 

Also inspired from the LOST show I loved the episode when the castaways find Desmond and the Dharma pantry filled with goodies! I grabbed a few things out of my pantry and came up with Dhrama Cakes! Chocolate cupcakes with a dollop of coolwhip, shredded coconut and carob chips. I displayed the treats in a bamboo tray I bought in Hawaii. 

I am surrounded by comedians so it took me awhile to captured this photo! 

We had a wonderful time this weekend and stayed up pretty late Sunday night watching the LOST finale. Hard to beleive all Six Seasons are complete. 

Thank you to the Lost writers, cast and crew. You had us guessing what was coming next each week!? We never knew the twists or turns in the adventure you created. Just amazing writing!! I can't wait to buy Season Six in August! 

Until then, I will start back at the beginning and watch each episode with fresh eyes now knowing the end. 

Look what my daughter wants to buy? Inspired by the LOST episode when Hurley decides to take charge! 

You captured my entire family for six years?! That in it's self is pretty amazing...

Aloha to LOST we will miss you all!!!

 & welcome home Kyle!

:Kay Ellen & Family

Every Wednesday outdoor blogging party HERE  

 

Table-scape decor ideas every Thursday HERE

 

Renovation

Hello Friends, 

This master-bath is almost complete. I thought you would enjoy a peek...

A neutral palette with winter whites, soft beiges, and chocolate accents. 

I extended the travertine tile into the hallway area to create a foyer feel leading into the bathroom. 

Demolition day seems so long ago now that I look back at this photo...The old ceiling light box, wallpaper, and slump stones walls. 

If you decide to start a renovation remember it is a very messy process!

But also many rewards! 

A wonderful improvement for my clients home~~

The backsplash I chose really adds a beautiful contrast to the marble countertop.

 

Hope you enjoyed the mini tour!

I am back to work a few hours this week. Feeling better each day:)

Thank you for stopping by,

:Kay Ellen 

Before and Afters at sweet Susan's Blog  

A Garden Setting

Do you enjoy dining in the garden? I have to say it is my favorite place to dine. Now that the weather is nice I am ready to head outside. 

 Adding fresh greenery to my setting.

A small daisey bloom, geranium leaf and faux berries finish off the linen napkin. 

I pulled out my burlap fabric. It makes a nice backdrop for a colorful table.

Almost ready~~~

My kitty Napoloen has watched me the entire time I set the table!

and Gracie is looking for a treat!  

Have a lovely weekend friends~~~

Enjoy, see you in a few days after surgery...

 :Kay Ellen  

 

Stop by Susan's blog for more dining ideas...      

A Fresh Start

Hello Monday!

A new week has arrived, and I have decided to look at Mondays with a fresh start!  

My fresh start includes watching everything I am eating. I have replaced my love of bread with an egg every day or two eggs if they are really fresh. Thank you Jenny for spoiling me with these fresh eggs from your ranch! Almost to pretty to eat!
 

Guess what? I am down 13 lbs!!  Yippee! It is a great feeling to see the scale numbers go down instead of up! 

This old scale has seen alot of ups and downs over the years~~~just like me, searching for better health and weight-loss. Temptations are everywhere! 

A big part of my new journey is writing everything down that I eat~~boy that has been a big eye opener!  I am planning my menu ahead of time so I can make better choices. I know it takes time but it has really helped me.   

Right now walking is my exercise of choice:)   

Each week will have it's challenges to overcome. For example, this week is already becoming a little complicated. I may have a root-canal :(  and I already have a planned "female" surgery on Friday. So guess what? My stress level just went up a bit! 

When stress has hit me in the past I would reach for a piece of bread. My comfort food!! Anyone else feel this way? Instead, now I reach for a piece of string cheese or I take my schnauzer for a walk, or read a scripture from my Bible. All three have helped me. 

I am thankful each time I learn how to overcome a craving in a new way. 

Please feel free to pass along any healthy habits that have helped you~~~ I would love to hear from you. It is great to cheer each other on!

It is never to late for a fresh start!

:Kay Ellen

A Donation of Creativity

A crafty day for a worthy cause...

I made this whimsy bird house for a special garden tour this weekend. 

The Tiki Hut will be auctioned off along with other bird houses to raise money for the Riverside County Regional Hospital. 

If you live in the Inland Empire the Garden tour is this Saturday.

It will be an enjoyable afternoon~~strolling around four enchanting gardens and at the same time supporting our Riverside County Regional Medical Center Foundation.

Proceeds will benefit the Child Abuse & Neglect Unit

I hope to see many of my gardening friends on the tour:)

Have a beautiful weekend filled with Blooms!

Have a blessed Mother's Day!

:Kay Ellen 

A Special Date

A coursage made from my garden blooms...

and a boutonniere

My smiling daughter~~~  

Ready for a special Father/Daughter evening at our church:)

Love you both!

:Kay Ellen  

 

Happy May Day!

Happy May Day to all my blogging friends! 

I picked a special bouquet~~~ fresh from the garden for you all!

Gathering flowers on May Day began when I was a young girl. My Grandma Ruth would encourage my sister and I to suprize our neighbors with a bouquet. My mom would save all the plastic green baskets from our strawberry purchases. My sis Kim and I would pick flowers from my Grandma's garden and our house...We would make the baskets early on May 1st...after we finished the bouquets we would head out to bless the neighbors! 

The best part of this event was ringing the doorbell at each home~~~annnd running and hiding!! I am sure after a few years the neighbors knew it was us!! but they always acted suprized and played along with us:)

Missing you today Grandma!!

:Kay Ellen

Pink party at Beverly's! 

Have a blessed weekend everyone!!