Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Just hangin' out . . .

Sooooo, yesterday was my birthday!  my husband took the day off work and we just hung out together for the entire day, it was great!  We went shopping, not one of my favorite things, but I really needed a new end-table and lamp in my living room . . . we found one!!  Then, we decided to go to the museum - we have a great museum here!

When I was a little girl, the part on the right hand side of the picture was the city library.   The city built a new library, then added on to the old library,  and now, we have a beautiful museum!  They bring in some really interesting exhibits, and for the last few months, they have been exhibiting a wonderful WWII exhibit.

Something that very few people know about me, is that I am really interested in WWII.  I love the movies, the stories, the tanks and trucks, the guns, the music of the era, but especially . . . the heroes!  I think the fact that my father and my husbands father both served in the Navy has something to do with my love and admiration for all who served and still serve our country.

 Of course,  we had a party!  Part of my kids, (some were sick) came to celebrate my birthday with me - we had a great time!!  You can't go wrong with German chocolate cake and cheese cake!!  I always  have fun when I am surrounded by my family!

I just have to share this great recipe with you!  I'm not a coffee drinker, but I like to have something hot to drink in the morning, so I drink Pero, yummy!  I'm also not a fan of liquid coffee creamers, so I make  my own.  It's so good, without all the added, unknown ingredients in it:

Homemade Coffee Creamer

1 - 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups half and half (I used fat free)
1 Tbls. vanilla

Mix together and store in the refrigerator -  keeps for two weeks.  Use as you would liquid coffee creamer!  This is also good to make a cup of hot chocolate really rich and tasty!

I've gotta run, but before I go, I just have to share some cute pictures of Clara with you - she is growing up so fast and getting to be such a big girl!   She really has that binki stuff all figured out!!


Oh, I just love that cute little face!!

One last thought on birthdays:

"Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year:  The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again." 
~Menachem Mendel Schneerson~

Hugs,

18 comments:

Roean said...

Hmmmmm....coffee creamer. Wonder what else I could use that for. My mother always bought Half and Half. This sounds better. I'm not a coffee drinker though my mother loved the stuff. But I always thought if you're going to drink the stuff, why pollute it with a half a gallon of Half and Half. By the time she got through with it, it wasn't coffee anymore. It was coffee flavored Half and Half. :)

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Happy Belated Birthday!
Sounds like it was a wonderful day spent with your favorite person. The museum is beautiful.
I lived in IF as a young girl and went to the library there many times.

I'll have to check out the WWII exhibit.

Sweet cheeks on that little babe.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Just so you know....I left your blog up and let the music play. I felt so peaceful and rested. I also wandered around the blogs you read. So inspired.
Thank you.

Julie Harward said...

Well, Happy Birthday anyway! So glad to hear that you had a nice day and were loved so much! Love Clara's face..she is so cute! ;D

Arlene said...

Happy Day After Your Birthday Barb! What a nice way to spend your birthday. I love museums! And to see an exhibit so close to your heart is really special, what a blessing!

Clara is positively precious! Mmm, German chocolate AND cheesecake - I gained a pound just thinking of it! Have a blessed day!

LeAnn said...

I am so happy you had a good birthday; you deserve the best ever for all you do for everyone and especially your family. I too love the old World War II movies and etc.
My grandfather was killed in the first world war so I love that era too.
Clara is so adorable and the pictures are so sweet.
I wish I could have a piece of that German Chocolate Cake right now.
By the way; I am excited we are both November babies. I find this so interesting because I have two other friends that are born in November. We must have decided to come down together during the same month. Love to you!

Kimmie said...

Happy Birthday to one of the loveliest ladies on the planet! We are both Scorpio star signs!
Sounds like you had a lovely day! Clara is adorable!

xxx

Susan B said...

Hi Barb,
Happy, Happy Birthday!! I'm glad you had an enjoyable day! I like the quote you shared about birthdays. Clara is an adorable little one, with such a sweet face. My dad was in the Army during WWII. He drove a half-track, and has many good stories to share.

Have a lovely week! :)

Gina said...

Sweet Barb,

A Joyful Happy Birthday to you. I am a day late but I hope your family celebrates ALL week!

Little Clara is adorable and she looks like she wants to share her binki!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

A very Happy Birthday to you, Barb! I'm glad you and your beloved got to spend the day together. Sounds like a perfect day topped off with a party with family! Little Clara is a doll, so cute! I hope the rest of your week is wonderful, too! Hugs, Cheryl

Marge said...

Happy Birthday Barb. Sounds like you had a totally wonderful day with your family. Hope you share a picture of new table and lamp with us.
A very special lady had a very special day. That's nice. Hugz!!

Ladybug said...

Happy Birthday November Gal...(Me Too) Mine was
Sunday..."-) Sounds like it was a awesome day
for a very special Lady... Hope you share your
table and lamp...
Warm Winter Blessings
Ladybug :-)

Kam said...

Happy Birthday, Barb! I hope it was wonderful... sounds like it was a good one. Have you read "Unbroken?" I'm reading it right now -- a biography about a WWII hero. (Just started it, actually, but it seems like it's going to be a good one.) Your creamer recipe looks really good. I'll have to try it for hot chocolate -- might as well pour on the sugar. mmm!!

Shug said...

Happy Birthday Barb! Glad you enjoyed a wonderful day with the hubby and then ended it with your family...
I love knowing new things about my friends..Thanks for sharing this info.
Bless your sweet heart...A German Chocolate Cake! one of my very favorite cakes!! You are Blessed..
Love the pictures of Clara...My how she is growing..
Hugs..
shug

Linda said...

Happy Birthday. How nice that your husband took the day off. I love all things WWII also. Clara is a cutie.

Just Ramblin' said...

Happy Belated Birthday! November is a great month for birthdays. We celebrate three--my mother, grandson and SIL. It was always so fun when Mom was with us because hers was the 16th and Rob's the 17th and they loved celebrating together. So glad you could spend time with your sweetheart and part of your family. Being with loved ones certainly makes birthday special! Love cheesecake and German chocolate cake ain't bad either. Will have to try your coffee creamer. Sweet pictures of your little Clara. Thanks for sharing. Nola

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Happy Birthday!!!

And you certainly enjoyed it. :-)

Oh that baby Clara!!!!!!!!!!!! -happy- -happy-

Interesting new fact about you... Your large interest in WWII.

"A house that does not have one worn, comfy chair in it is soulless." ~May Sarton

Packrat said...

Happy Belated Birthday! Hope the family that was sick is now well. Random, but the thought of fat-free half & half cracks me up. Thanks for sharing the creamer recipe. Would you like a recipe for homemade sweetened condensed milk?

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