Blessed

I can breathe and relax and soak up every little bit of life. I’m not complete but I’m content and even though all my cards are not dealt- even though nothing is definite or written in stone- I believe. I believe that my future will be joyful- much more joyful than my past. I have hope- hope for brighter days and better things. I am blessed, I am lucky, I am happy- but mostly blessed. 

Lately I’ve been thinking, wondering, interested- Are we all born with a blueprint? Will what’s meant to be always find a way? I’m starting to think so- I’m starting to realize and accept rather than analyze and worry. I like it better that way---oh yes I do. 

I have never been a fan of the “what if(s)” or the “too soon to know for sure(s)”- the unknown scares me, it always has. It scares me because either way life is going to happen and things are going to change. The bigger the change the harder it hits. The impact depends on the person you are. Will you be able to handle it and move on? Who will you turn to? What lesson will you learn from it?

Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has something that has molded them into the person they are. I do, I have a story I could tell- I have a few stories I could tell. But at the end of the day it is the people. The people you are with, the ones that encourage you, the ones that love you- those are the ones that get you through, those are the ones that bring you back down to earth. I have many, I call them my family- that is why I am blessed. 

Luginbuhl Family

Wyoming 2005

Brooks Lake Lodge

 George Strait 2007

Skinner Family

&&& the famous weekend snapshots...

Happy Friday

 Shooting the new TBY Commercial w/ Scot Haney & my best boys...

Little ripe strawberry- you made my day.

Blowing Bubbles

Good tunes, good company, star gazing & a bonfire... 
Perfect Saturday Night

1st bloom- favorite flower- oh happy day

"At first glance it may look too hard. Look again. Always look again."

Friday Favorite: Christie

We have traveled, we have made memories, we have grown and here we are- May 18th a little less than 4 months away from her wedding day. She is a keeper, like none other- Ben realized that right away, that's why he popped the question so soon. She’s sweet with the perfect mixture of funny and she always knows just what to say. She encourages and checks in and always understands. I love this girl- always have always will. 

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen."

Progress & Party: They both begin with "P".

We're making progress, my room got painted today- it looks lovely...

Before

 After

Next stop- new trim, windows & a bedroom door (stay tuned).

Also:

I've been racking my brain and thinking and pondering some more about a little idea that keeps popping into my head (ohmygoodness). Last year I had a tea party. I hosted it at my Grandma Lug's house. It was ladies only and oh so fabulous- really. We dressed up, drank tea, ate quiche and laughed. This year, I've been inspired once again. I'm going to have another party, but this time it will not be a tea party, oh no. This time it will be an "Apron Party".

Tea Party 2011

Look who decided to show up unannounced- in a limo...

This girl!

 I think grandma had the most fun though...

&&& the little purchase that inspired my idea!

Get shopping girls- you've got an "Apron Party" to attend!!

xo,

The Swiss Miss

Adatch: [Ay-ya-dat-ch]

This little number is an all time favorite in the Skinner household- always has been, always will be. It’s Swiss and delicious and oh so easy.  

Ingredients:

1 Cup Flour

1 tsp Salt

2 Eggs

1 Cup Milk

*Serves About 4 People

Step One: In a large bowl add flour, salt, eggs and milk.

(I doubled the recipe)

Step 2: Stir like a mad woman (or man), try to get all the “lumps” out- the batter should be thin and runny, if it's not add a little more milk.

Step 3: Turn your stove on medium heat, grease up a frying pan & place that thang on there to heat it up. 

Step 4: Pour 1/4 Cup of Adatch batter into the pan- wait about 1 minute, then flip that baby. Let it cook for 1 more minute on the other side and plop it on your plate.

Step 5: Using a fork start at one end and roll that sucker up like a burrito- add a pat of butter and drizzle maple syrup on the top---

Mother's Day Breakfast

A little someone requested Adatch for Mother's Day- So I made em'.

Another someone requested Grandma Lug's French Toast- 

So I made that too... 

My Little Creation

Chris & Aly had breakfast with us.

(Now you know where all the "requests" came from...)

It was a beauty-ful weekend in Connecticut- I throughly enjoyed myself.

I worked in the garden and worked on my tan...

& went on a jeep adventure with Ev & Kristin...

Wade also took me to my new favorite place- Pinkberry.

It was delightful!

"Be so happy that when others look at you they become happy too."

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day Momma Bear- you're a beauty & I am

 very lucky.

"A mother is the truest friend you will ever have."

Brimfield: The Antique Show

My eyes were opened today- I am still slightly anxious. Do the vendors take all the stuff they don’t sell home with them when the show is over? Where do they put everything? And why?- Why on earth would someone want to buy a 1/2 broken lamp or an old rusted statue? I guess thats why they say “ one mans junk is another mans treasure”. 

Today I experienced The Brimfield Antique Show for the first time, mom took me- it wasn’t her first rodeo. The forecast called for rain and muggy weather but that didn’t seem to stop the crowds- parking lots were filled, people were everywhere bargaining, trading and purchasing antiques. It was overwhelming- really. What a sight. Mom would point and say “oh, that man must collect bottles”, I’d look over and sure enough the whole booth would be covered with bottles of every shape and size. That happened a lot today. We’d joke, we'd laugh and we'd walk on by.  It was fun- I’d go back.

 Wee wee wee, all the way home.

"Go Green"

Where the wizard at?

Where did the rest of my body go???

 Oh, there you are.

Aren't you cold little baby?

We didn’t go with the intention to buy anything and mom actually left empty handed. I on the other hand spotted a few “must haves”- go figure. 

More cards for my collection...

Little Gnome Friend- I think you're sweet as can be

 On the way home we took a little detour... 

Hampden Country Club- Looking better every day

 Mrs. Barn Yard

& rain, rain please go away...

sincerely,

the.swiss.miss

"Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. 
Keep in the sunlight."