My Latest Gift/Blessing!

This past weekend some old childhood friends were in town visiting another old friend of theirs.  I'm realizing having friends from my childhood is such a blessing in life!  No one knows you more than those you grew up with except family of course.  Even if you don't keep in contact often, you always know the people you grew up with.  Anyway, they (Helen Chadwick-the mom, Brenda Watkins--childhood friend, and Janet Thacker--childhood friend (all use to be Chadwicks...two sisters married w/different last names) brought me a LIFESIZED STUFFED PANTHER and a stuffed panther cub.  I love it, and though we're all grown now, live in different states, and don't keep in touch often, they still know me well.  I was touched!  I need to do something for them.  I got it after Church services yesterday evening.  The pic doesn't do this gift justice....it looks more real in person....last night I got up in the middle of the night for a glass of water and I jumped out of my own skin when I turned on the light and saw "the panther" on my floor, and I had put it there myself.  ha, ha!  Loving my new fashion statement in my house!

TWO YEARS AGO Mrs. Prichard gave me the below lifesized stuffed tiger.  Funny that gray seems to be the color that I'm always wearing when to pose with "the animals."  ha, ha....totally different years and outfits too!  This tiger has been used for service, ha, ha....last year it was used on Armstrong Auditorium stage with the Imperial Kids end of the year show.  A performing tiger.  :-)  I should never complain about life.  I've got great people  in it.  :-)

The Visconti's Visit HQ

The Visconti's from New Jersey just popped into HQ.  Thrilled to see them as they are old friends, and were here all AC Grad weekend and I didn't see them even once among the crowd!  The sun was not my friend in this photo, but the sun making their little boy Zachary so brilliant seems to fit his bright personality that I loved!

Formal Dining Room Reset!

 The past TWO MONTHS have been crazy over the top busy in my little corner of the world and I've had many things going on in my home.  I had totally cleared out my formal dining room including the table and chairs way back in March to get ready for all the entertaining to make more space for people.  Yesterday late at night after my final for now big dinner party, I FINALLY moved the table and chairs back in and re set the formal table.  My formal dining room is back, and now it's time to take a break.  We'll see if that actually happens!  At least if I have people over, I'll make sure to have a small crowd this month.

AC Graduation Candid Shots

A few pics from AC Grad of my younger friends that I'm so proud of!  ALL OF THE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT ARE LOCATED ON MY PASSWORD PROTECTED SITE OF  www.royaltruecolours.com  Tabitha Burks poses w/her dad after graduating.  So proud of her and I'm feeling old at age 33..known her since she was a little girl and now she's in her 20's!

 Jamie Hawkins poses with her dad and sis, and brother in law.  Beautiful!

 Making East Texas (where I grew up) proud!  Fellow use to be East Texan.....Bailey Crawford smiles right after graduating.

 Allison Price gets smothered with love from her friends after graduating.

 My long time great friend Wendy Bacon struck a pose with me.  Thanks to her step dad for taking the picture!

 My buddy Tiffany Watson looks just stunning after graduating.

Love this pic.  Ian Icasiano flew all the way from his home in the Philippines to be at his sis Sarah's graduation.  Family love, AWESOME!

Saturday Evening Dinner To Honor A Few Graduates

 This past Saturday Evening, the day before AC graduation, some of us enjoyed a Sabbath Dinner in honor of some of the AC Graduates hosted in my house.  About 70 people came, no 70 weren't invited, but the more the merrier is my house motto, so it it all went well even with the extra people, and we had more than plenty of food.  I took tons of photos.  ALL PHOTOS FROM THIS ARE ON MY PRIVATE SITE OF www.royaltruecolours.com for those with password access.  Enjoy!  (Above photo is of the 3 Buckler Siblings, Ashely, Ariel, and Drew in their birth order.)

 Ariel Buckler struck a pose...2 year graduate!

 My mom and my brother look like they are enjoying themselves!

 Old Friends!  Vanessa Skinner, Jeanna Zollner, Chelsey Weeks, Danielle Nance, and Caity Parr

 The gals fellowship with the Flurry's

 Jeanna Zollner & Danielle Lamberth look gorgeous in their blue!

 We had free live music entertainment!  :-)!  Jude plays my electric keyboard

 ....while Caitlin Heerma shakes the Maraca  :-) 

 David and Chelsey Weeks are such a great married couple!  Love this pic!

 This would be me. 

The Buckler's Chatting

 David Vejil and his baby girl strike a pose

 Jennifer Vejil watches as her son Heath feeds his little sis!  Cute!

 The Yard transformed into a parking lot. Yes, I'm a BIG NERD...I took a photo of the cars!

 The desserts!  Lemon, Butter, German Chocolate, Strawberry, and Chocolate Chip Muffins and Cookies.  I baked all 4 cakes at the same time in my oven, and I will say, it was quite an unusual mix of baking smell going on in my house.  Couldn't quite peg it, but the cakes came out yummy!

 FRUIT!!!  Appetizers by the Buckler's!

 Lasagna, garlic bread, mixed veggies, and green salad for main course.  My parents did all the lasagna!  Thank YOU!

 My Dad looks like he's telling me, "if you put your camera down I'll give you my drink."  Love this pic!  Zeke and Hannah Estebat look on.

Kristen Rambo usually makes everyone's get togethers but she won't be happy until I throw a disco party in her honor.  :-)

Dad's Tasty Turkey Load Recipe!

My dad, the real chef, is working hard on his chapter to add to The Cookbook that is in progress.  He came up with a practical absolutely yummy Turkey Loaf recipe that I'm excited about that's shown above.  Growing up we never ate much processed lunch meat and now that I'm into all natural foods I'm happy about that.  The above turkey loaf is a natural recipe to make sandwiches with, and I couldn't believe how tasty it was!  Recipe will be in cookbook when published.

How Mothers Day Went!

 Yesterday was Mothers Day; great day!  I bought my mom FIVE new modern kitchen gadgets to have.  Hopefully she liked them...she said she did.  I also cooked dinner for her and my dad so she didn't have to...I think she liked that more than the gifts!  I didn't take a photo of her gifts before I gave them to her unfortunately!  The photo above though was an ironic gift to me from my dad though.  I wasn't expecting it.  He came over and gave me this lily flower plant and said I'm not a mom, but am worthy of being one and didn't want me to feel left out on mothers day since most of my friends are all married with kids, so he bought me a gift on mothers day.  TOO SWEET!!!...I was touched and this was totally unexpected!  Great but busy day yesterday....I managed to get five loads of laundry done amidst everything else...don't make fun...I may be single, but I have a ton of clothes...ummm maybe too many to have to do 5 loads just for myself!

 I made my mom homemade ginger ale as well in which she loved...sweetened with stevia of course ...no sugar added! and used sparkling water to get the fizz!

and I ended the day by making myself homemade root beer sweetened with stevia instead of sugar and used sparkling water to get the fizz.  Homemade taste so much better than store bought anyway.