Changes

Do you ever get tired of how you have decorated? I have had the same things on the wall in the hall for a long time. I liked them, after all I put them together didn't I?! I had a large framed collage of photos of my mom and a cool diorama of my grandma I had made from a drawer as well as a few other things. But one day I was looking at it and just wanted a change. So I relocated all of it to my bedroom walls and lived with the blankness for awhile.
Then I started relocating all the random framed images of the family I had onto the dresser that lives in the hall. We had the thing covered with separate frames. That looked okay but I was afraid that I would knock some over when I was not paying attention. And then I saw this wrapping paper at Paper Source in Portland. It was covered with camera images in various colors. We stopped at a little second hand store by our house and found a frame that fit it perfectly. Covered it with spray paint - of course - and hung that on the wall. A few weeks later I found a little box shelf which I painted and set over the thermostat. And then added some of the frames from the dresser to the wall.

Ta-da...the finished hall gallery. Love looking at all these images of the ones I love!
I think the dresser which we found for free might need a coat of paint too...we'll see...
the end~

a Wedding-

This is Amy with her friend Kristi. Kristi got married yesterday to a wonderful guy named Michael. Kristi lived in this area when she was young and when her family relocated to Silverton, Oregon we didn't let our friendship disappear. We continued to get together around birthdays and such. We were excited to attend her wedding that was held at an amazing venue in Salem. The clouds parted and the sun came out as she walked down the aisle in a room surrounded by floor to ceiling windows. The reception was held in a grand room filled with all their friends and family. We got to touch base with some mutual friends and eat some wonderful food and CAKE-yum!
This is Amy and I with Kristi and her mom Lori. Lori and I have known each other since 2nd grade. Her mom was one of my girl-scout leaders for a time.

Kristi and her poppa Jack-
Kristi's maternal grandparents-Betty and Frank Bohannon
Mutual friends-John and JoAnne Halbert
We were having a great time watching those who really did know how to dance take the floor over.
the venue-
the flowers- I have to admit-when they told us bird of paradise and roses were what they had planned for the flowers I was a bit skeptical. However, I think they looked great.
Poppa and Momma-
the towering cake-we had chocolate peanut butter with jam filling!
The drive home went quickly and then we were back to reality...

What's for dinner?

On Friday's these two come over...sometimes we go on adventures, sometimes we watch movies or play games.
But we always have dinner! It is great because I get to try new recipes out on more than just the two of us...

Now the next part of this story is about Gary. He used to cook but lost the ability about 30 years
ago- when he walked down the aisle at our wedding. But he still likes to watch cooking shows. And his favorite if you ask is Just cook this with Sam. He says that he imagines he could actually attempt to cook some of this guys recipes. Besides, we both find the unscripted show pretty funny.

On Friday last (sounds better than last Friday!) I made Sam's Spicy-ish Sausage Pasta.
Here is the recipe if you want it...it was yummy and very easy!

Spicy-ish Sausage Pasta
serves 6 (more!!)

Ingredients:

• 1 T. olive oil
• 1 lb. penne pasta
• 1 lb. spicy Italian sausage (casings removed) I used bulk italian sausage-not really spicy
• 4 cloves garlic-I used garlic powder
• 3 T. butter or not so much, your preference
• 1 C. whipping cream-couldn't do it, used half and half
• 1/2 C. shredded Parmesan cheese
• 2 T. fresh chopped parsley

Steps:

1. Heat oil in medium hot pan, add sausage and break apart to crumble
2. Cook until no longer pink and stir in garlic-cook another 1-2 min.
3. Add cream-simmer on low about 10 min.
4. While it cooks, add pasta to boiling water-when pasta is ready so is sausage
5. Drain pasta and add to sausage
6. Add butter & Parmesan & parsley-mix well
7. Sprinkle with a little more cheese of course and serve

'till next time...ttfn