Best Wishes

In August, my friend Rebekah married her beau, Luis.
(I know..it's October and I am finally getting around to blogging again)

Martha or BUST

That's right...we are going to the Martha Stewart show tomorrow in NYC. My friend, Paula got the tickets and she invited her mom, Elizabeth and I to go along! I am trying to post from my iphone, but the pictures aren't working too well. Hopefully, we can get it working by tomorrow.

Sea Turtles

Today, my friend Paula and I went to Rehoboth Beach for the day. We had a great time! I'll post some photos later, but I got to thinking about Sea Turtles when I saw a sign on the road outside of Dewey. I haven't seen any at a Delaware Beach...but I know they have them at Emerald Isle, NC. They take it very seriously in Emerald Isle. There is a Sea Turtle Protection Program. They monitor the nests, mark them and make sure the eggs are safe. Tonight I found this neat video..it is a little long, but so amazing!

Summer Lovin'

Here's a picture of Landen and Aislyn with their cousin, Madison. They had a nice visit a few weeks ago...playing and swimming together. And YES...I will print and send photos to all of the parents and grandparents!

Here's to you, Sierra!

My friend, Sierra is getting married in September at the restaurant. Here is a photo of Kate, Sierra and Ruth at her shower last month. This weekend all of the girls are in NYC celebrating Sierra's last days as a single lady! Wish I was there...hope everyone had fun!

It's Summer!

I know I have been a BAD blogger. Summer is soo busy for me. It is the high season at the restaurant, which means lots of weddings and business! We had two back to back today! Since my last post we renovated our bar, celebrated with a grand opening, Canal Day, then my family visited from TN...and the list goes on...here are some photos of what I have been up to:
The bar during demolition:

Back in business

Lots of things going on between these two photos...Going to the beach, weddings, gardening...and lots more...One thing I wish I had a photo of..and some people may not think this is funny...or that you had to be there to appreciate it. A few weeks ago, my mom was at the restaurant late and my friend, Lisa took us back down the street to our house. As we were backing out of the alley, we saw lot of fire trucks driving through our town. We live in a small town and when you see that many fire trucks driving somewhere...we follow to check it out. We drove out of town a mile or so and found that there was a fire at a home. Lisa drove us back into town and when we made this sharp turn on our street, Lisa said, "WHAT IS THAT???" I looked and wrapped around the corner on the road was a hose from a fire truck. We weren't sure what to do...so Lisa and I jumped out of her truck (I am in a skirt and Lisa had a littler surgery and had stiches on her shoulder). We pulled 200ft of hose into her truck, laughing hysterically. After contemplating what to do with it, we decided to drive back out to the fire. I called the fire chief and left a message that we had this hose. As we drove out of town we passed a fire truck...they were helping an ambulance. Then one of the fireman started running after us..."Hey, you have our hose!"...well we finally gave them the hose back. They must have been flying through town when they made that turn. I guess you really did have to be there...but it was a good deed and it was fun too!
I have lots of great photos to share but I am so tired...I'll post again. Here's a photo of Landen and Aislyn after a day of swimming...
Worn out

Aislyn and Mackenzie

My niece, Aislyn is a girly girl, but she can also be rough and tough. Here she is posing with a barrette by Tobi at Ivey Handcrafted. We met Tobi at WhoFest in Chattanooga in May. Her work is beautiful! She wouldn't smile for Tobi at the festival, so this one is for you, Tobi. She is also carrying her baby, whose name is Mackenzie (along with 4 other babies named Mackenzie in the stroller by her). She loves dolls, purses, SHOES, dresses, but also likes to run around like a wild animal!

I just wanna play

I would give anything to go run through a fountain, float in a pool or lay in a hammock, BUT I have a lot going on right now. We are expanding the bar at the restaurant, planning for a grand opening, gearing up for Canal Day, and planning a party this weekend for 100 guests. Lots to do!
I'll just have to pace myself and remember to breathe, but I would rather be playing in a fountain like Landen.

Tree Peony

Two weekends ago our town had a Garden Tour and Antique Car Show. It was a busy weekend with a wedding at the restaurant and prepping to go to Chattanooga, I didn't have time to enjoy much of it. Our yard was featured on the tour so I tried to get everything in the ground and looking good. One new member to the garden was a Tree Peony that I purchased at Groff's this year. I hoped it would still be blooming during the tour, but some bad winds blew off the big, beautiful petals. They are just so gorgeous!

Check out Jeffrey's post about the tour here.

Spoiled Rotten in Chattanooga

Last week I went to Chattanooga to surprise my mom. We had a very nice time visiting all of our favorite spots and gardening. The visit would not be complete without spoiling my nephew, Landen and niece, Aislyn.

Shopping Cart Race from Bug on Vimeo.
I'm sure my mom and Annette will be cursing me the next time they have to go to the grocery store with the children.

Floating on Cotton

This was my view for part of today. I'll post more when I have time...I'm sleepy!

Happy Birthday to my Shining Star

Happy Birthday...thanks for all that you do, you are a smart, sexy and strong man!

xoxo

Mother's Day

For those of you who don't know the restaurant business...you may not realize that Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants. We had sat 540 guests yesterday. It was a lot of preparation, but our staff did a tremendous job. I was very proud of them. The day started out a little hectic when I called Home Depot to order a patio heater. They told me no problem and I told them one of my staff would be by to pick it up...here's my credit card info, etc....THEN the store manager told me that they would not accept payment over the phone. How was I supposed to slip away for a few minutes to buy a heater? So Lowes came through. My staff picked it up and put it together. It was a little chilly and I wanted to make the guests that had to sit on the patio warmer and this would do the trick. The assembly started around 10:30am and we didn't get it properly working until 5pm! Ohh well...we have it now and I am sure it will come in handy on cool nights in the spring and winter.

To my MOM: Happy Mother's Day!


I spent most of this cold and rainy Monday in bed...resting!

Happy Belated Birthday Birdie

My nephew, Landen turned 5 on May 1st.
I remember 5 years ago when I got the call that you were born right before midnight on May 1st. Happy Birthday little Birdie!

Sweet Scents

A few weeks ago I found this new fragrance that I just LOVE... Kai.
I purchased the roll-on perfume oil. It smells so fresh with hints of gardenia. Next, I want to buy the body butter!

Progress

Finally, the roof is being repaired from the fire. They worked all day yesterday and today and now we are ready for the metal! I can't wait to see the final product. We have so much going on. Brick work, new front porch, carpentry, cleaning, painting, it's great to see so many things getting knocked off the "TO DO" list! Next week our canopy will be on our patio and then it will be time to plant the flowers and set out all the things for our busy summer months!
Goodbye old, burnt cedar shingles

There's some good crab soup behind that blue tarp.


The plywood is going down


Thanks H.K. Griffith for the speedy work!

BIG SMILES

The Bayard House Softball Team WON!!!! Tonight, those big smiles were showing after their game (8-6). Way to go girls!!!!

Soap Opera Star Sighting

On Saturday night, we were fairly busy. The weather was beautiful at night and people were all over our little town. I was chatting with the guests as they were walking inside when one of the servers, Alicia ran up and screamed...GUS was here! I had no idea who Gus was and why she was so excited. Gus Aituro from Guiding Light had dinner at The Bayard House. He didn't sit in her station, but as she was coming down the stairs and he was walking around...she spotted him right away and said..GUS!!! They chatted a few and she got a photo of them. He is Ricky Paull Goldin in "real life" and as of May we can see him on All My Children as Jake Martin. He was very sweet and I spoke to him before he was seated. Seems like he enjoyed Chesapeake City and The Bayard House...so I hope he'll be back.

I don't know how she spotted him like that. Tom Cruise could walk right by me and I don't think I would notice. She also spotted an actress from another soap last year in the restaurant. Occasionally, we will have someone famous dine with us like a sports player or a news person.

GOOD JOB TEAM!!!

The rain held off for all the games to be played. I went back out to the little league field with the cupcakes for the girls. They didn't win, but they did really well. They played PNC Team. PNC had a lot of girls who have played before and are older. Our girls did great and Coach Hutton was really pleased! Everyone had a great time and learned a lot.
Here are some photos from the game...

Play Ball!!!!

Today is opening day for the Chesapeake City Little League. The restaurant is sponsoring a team...we call them The Bayard House Canal Diggers. My friend, Lisa coaches the team along with her sister, Glenda and cousin, Marlene. They all work or have worked at the restaurant. The players are 8,9, & 10 year olds.
This morning there was a parade to kick off the day's festivities. It was warm and beautiful out.


We paraded out to the ball fields. The girls chanted most of the way "Let's go Bayard House, let's go" *CLAP, CLAP*. It was fun.

They announced the teams on the field, and made a few presentations. All over by 9:45.


The game is at 2pm. The weather now...as I type this.....dark grey clouds. I hope it doesn't rain. The girls are really excited.
Before the game I made cupcakes for the team to eat after the game. Hope it doesn't rain.

GO BAYARD HOUSE!!!!!!!

It's HERE!

Today, Jennifer Weiner's new book,

Certain Girls

hits book stores! I should have preordered from Amazon...instead of driving to Borders...but I might find some other book or item that I can't resist. I have read all of Jennifer Weiner's books and I love them all.

The King Lives in TN

Here's my King, Landen.
Better late than never...here is the photo from my nephew's homecoming from January. He was the pre-K King. The school he attends is small and they have a king and queen for every class. Basketball season is when they have their homecoming. He looks so handsome in his tux.

Peanut Butter Pie

My friend, Barbara gave me a recipe for Peanut Butter Pie. She and her daughter were raving about it...so here it goes. It was very easy and delicious. I haven't had peanut butter pie in forever and I think every time I have eaten it, I ordered it from a restaurant.

PB PIE
Crust:
1 c. graham cracker crums
1/4 c. suga
14 c. unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temp.

Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese - room temp.
1 c. creamy peanut butter
1 c. plus 2 tbls powdered sugar
2 Tbls. unsalted butter - room temp.
1/2 c. whipping cream
1 tbls. vanilla extract

Topping:
1/2 c. whipping cream
6 oz. semisweet chocolate, choppped

For crust - generously butter 9 inch pie plate, mix all ingredients in bowl, press mixture evenly in prepared pan. Refridgerate 1 hour. ( I CHEATED AND USED A PREMADE CRUST)

Filling: Beat cream cheese and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1 c. powdered sugar and butter. Beat until fluffy. Beat cream in medium bowl until soft peaks form, gradually add remaining tbls of sugar and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks. ( I BEAT IT WITH A WISK MYSELF...PHEW..MY ARM. WHERE WERE THE GUYS FROM THE KITCHEN AT WORK??? THEY CAN WISK IT SO FAST.) Fold 1/3 of cream into peanut butter mixture to lighten. Gently fold in remaining cream. Spoon into crust. Refridgerate until firm - about 3 hours.

Topping: Bring cream to simmer in small heavy sauce pan over low heat. Add chocolate and stir until smooth. Cool to lukewarm. Spread topping over pie, refriderate unitl firm (about 3 hours).

HAPPY APRIL

It's April's Fools. My mom loves to play April Fools jokes on me. I'll be waiting for one later on today. I won't fool you...just leave you with some beautiful flowers from our yard.

The hyacinths smell heavenly!

Thirtysomething

I think I can finally call myself a thirtysomething...I turned 36 yesterday. When I went to the Post Office on Saturday this was in a box from my family in Chattanooga....along with a pair of Crocs. I used it tonight when I made chicken. Worked like a charm! They always do!

Thank you! I'll blog about the beautiful garden ornaments Jeffrey got me when I put them out. Ohh and tell you about a new product I found on my day out with Paula on Friday.

GH Memories

I just got off the phone with my friend, Miriam. I have known Miriam since the 1st grade at Tome. She lives in San Diego. Since I am a night owl...it is great to talk to her when I get home late at night with that East / West coast time difference. We were just catching up and then she said..."You're my General Hospital friend, right?" YES. I am the friend. We watched it when we were in high school and then when we went to Washington College together. I started following GH when I was in 1st or 2nd grade. I rode the bus home and it arrived at my stop in the afternoon between 3:30-3:45. My neighbor would pick me up with her son. We would ride home in her avacado green station wagon listening to GH on the radio because she didn't want to miss how it would end for the day. I knew all about Luke and Laura, the Quartermaine's, Bobbie, Scottie Baldwin and how can I forget heart throb, Dr. Noah Drake, played by Rick Springfield. My mom started watching it when she was in the hospital with her gal bladder, I actually had to catch her up with the story line. Her roommate watched it, so she got hooked around that time too. I rarely got to actually watch it, but I knew all the voices and I understood some of it. I kept watching it and when we finally got a VCR I could tape it. On and off through the years I would watch it. It's one of those things...you can watch one or two episodes and know what is happening.
I actually have two friends, husband and wife. I won't mention their names...but if they read this, they will know who they are. They have been watching GH for years together. They tape it everyday and watch it at night together in bed. Isn't that sweet.

Well...Miriam still watches it. She TiVo's it and watches it with her 3 year old son. He knows the theme music and knows when he sees that ABC logo that it is General Hospital...regardless if it is GH or not. ABC means General Hospital to him.

What fond memories of Port Charles, NY.

How many of you watch or watched GH?

Goodness from Chattanooga

Every year my mom makes Paska for Easter. I remember when I was little she would make it and let it rise in a bedroom with the heat turned up. She sent me a loaf in the mail and it was delicious! When we went to the bazaar I bought a small paska and it was okay, but not as good as the one my mom sent. She also sent me the cross made of palms on the bread. There were some extra palms in the box from Palm Sunday and I made a few of my own.

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter! Despite the not so spring like weather it's Easter! It's SPRING! Blooming flowers are starting to show their color, hyacinth's are smelling great in our yard, daffodils are blooming, and tulips are growing. I hope you enjoy a day with your family and celebrate with egg hunts, eating chocolate bunnies and enjoy time together...oh and lots of PEEPS!

Ukrainian Easter Bazaar

I have mentioned before that I am Ukrainian. My grandparents came to the U.S. from the Ukraine long ago. I grew up going to the local Ukrainian church in Chesapeake City, also known as "The Little Ukraine" because of the large Ukrainian population. A few weeks ago while looking for a Ukrainian Easter Basket cover for my mom online I found there was an Easter Bazaar in Washington DC that weekend. The bazaar was at the UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC NATIONAL SHRINE of the HOLY FAMILY. The church is across from Catholic University of America. So...Paula and I were off to the bazaar. Paula recently took a pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Eggs) decorating class. When I was younger my mom and I would make them too. It is very time intense and delicate, but what a beautiful product. We were on a mission to find pysanky kits, Pierogi, and the Easter Basket Cover. These are traditional Ukrainian embroidered Easter (Pascha) Basket covers that are used to cover your Easter Basket. There is a tradition in the Ukrainian Churches that a basket filled with the traditional Easter Bread, salt, butter, cheese, horseradish, kobasa and Pysanky. It is then covered by the cloth and taken to church on Easter morning to be blessed by the priest. After church, you take the basket home and have an Easter breakfast with those items with your family.

We took the metro from Silver Spring to the church. We weren't sure where we were going, but we found it, how can you miss a church with gold onion domes and a huge tower of bells?



We made it inside. The church hall was downstairs. They had a large display of kielbasa and other meats for sale, vendors, lunch and a pysanky class. We had a delicious lunch with stuffed cabbage, pierogies, saurkraut and kielbasa.


After eating, we bought pierogies to take home. We used the "Vera" Vera Bradley bag to carry our goodies.

We went into the church upstairs. It was new and very modern. The alter was typical Ukrainian and looked like the one in my church. The Ukrainian Church and the Roman Catholic Church are very similar, but different especially in the customs and traditions of each. However, they both follow the Pope. One difference in the Roman Catholic Rite and the Byzantine Catholic Rite (Ukrainian) is the art in the church. The Byzantine rite has lots of icons all over the church with gold. The Roman Catholic churches have more contemporary art work.


The church is raising money to have the ceiling and wall look like this:

In the hall they had eggs on display all over. We bought pysanky decorating kits (hopefully we'll get around to making a few after Easter). I also found basket covers, paska (ukrainian bread), and some wooden pysanky.
The art of making these eggs goes back many years, approximately the year 988 A.D. That is when the Ukrainians accepted Christianity, and that's when the egg's symbols took on different meanings. According to Ukrainian legend, people decorated eggs believing that great powers were embodied in the egg. To them, eggs symbolized the release of the earth from the shackles of winter and the coming of spring with its promises of new hope, new life and prosperity, and that as long as pysanky were decorated, goodness would prevail over evil throughout the world.



On our way back to the metro station we walked through Catholic University. This is the Roman Catholic Church on the campus.

To read more about the difference in the Ukrainian Catholic Church (Eastern Rite) and the Roman Catholic Church check here.

Христос воскресе (Xristos voskrese) Christ is Risen
воистину воскресе (voistinu voskrese) Indeed he is Risen