They just dont make em like they used to...

An afternoon at the Hartwell, Georgia Antique Boat Show made me appreciate the craftsmanship of the past and put me in the mood to watch one of my favorite movies of all time, On Golden Pond. It also made me remember pretty boat rides on Turkey Foot Lake on High Hopes, our family's own little piece of Chris Craft nostalgia. Ahh...Memories...

The following 3 photos show my favorite, Brown Eyed Girl, a Chris Craft Sportsman.

 Love the retro cushions!

My second favorite was this little 105 year old beauty!  Wow!

Craftsmen were at the show passing down their treasured trade.

Finally, a picture of me in High Hopes, packing a few more pounds.  This boat, a 1961 Chris Craft Capri Barrelback was 1 of only 61 made.  It was one of the last of the all wood Chris Crafts made.  In the following few years, all the boats went to fiberglass.

Fields of Gold

Yesterday, on our way to Hartwell, Georgia for the Antique Boat Show, we were pleasantly surprised with pops of color blanketing the wide open fields along the way. Little surprises like this make you feel good to the core and make you appreciate the gift of eyesight!  I may have even heard Sting crooning in the background!

It's that time!!

This past weekend, I broke out Pat's World Famous B'Nanner Puddin' recipe and whipped up a batch of this creamy, dreamy, bananay little bit of heaven. 

Now...in my family we don't exactly know who "Pat" is, if it's a he or a she, or even if Pat's human for that matter but Pat's recipe has made it's way to our picnic table countless times and will certainly stay a summertime dessert favorite for us, our family, and friends!  Yum!

Pat's World Famous B'Nanner Puddin'

Ingredients:

1. 1 package cream cheese, 2 for extra richness
2. 1 can sweetend condensed milk (14 oz), 2 for extra richness
3. 4 1/4 cups milk (skim ha ha), 2 1/2 cups for extra richness
4. 2 packages instant vanilla pudding (3 cup size)
5. 1 large tub Cool Whip
6. about 6 large bananas, ripe not green*
7. 1 box Vanilla Wafers

* Don't even bother if bananas are not ripe

Directions:

1. Soften cream cheese
2. In very large mixing bowl, mix cream cheese and condensed milk
3. Add the milk and mix until fairly smooth.  Bits of cream cheese will still be visible.
4. Fold in 80% of Cool Whip until evenly blended.  Save the rest for garnish. (Lick beaters and spoons... or if your husband makes you, let him do the honors)
5. Layer sliced bananas and Vanilla Wafers in large 9x13 pan or in a trifle dish.
6. Layer pudding mixture over bananas/wafers.  Continue layering process until all gone. (Lick mixing bowl thoroughly...or...nevermind!)
7. Garnish top with remaining Cool Whip and some wafers.  Chill 2 hours, call me, and serve.

Note:  For extra richness, use a second can of sweetened condensed milk, 14 oz less whole milk and a second package of cream cheese.

Note:  This recipe will make more than the 9x13 pan or trifle, so use another dish for the excess and be sure to save some bananas and wafers.

Enjoy!

A Zoo Day

Thanks to an offer on Groupon, I spent the morning with Gene Taylor, a local photographer, and his assistant Megan Verone, at the Greenville Zoo.  They gave us some instruction and awed us with their arsenal of equipment and knowledge.  I even enjoyed hanging out with the other photography novices like me who were out for a morning of learning and bonding with each other.  I will definitely be taking another class with these folks! 

I fell in love with this little guy!  He looked like he was a handful for his parents!

What is it about babies that make us act like idiots when we see them? 

The amphibians were such hams today!  All of them posed like they new what they were doing!

 

The Greenville Zoo just introduced one-year-old female triplet Amur Leopards, Jade, Emerald, and Clover last week.  They were born on St. Patrick's Day last year in South Bend, Indiana, hence the names.  Nearing extinction, there are less than 40 left in the wild and only about 200 in zoos. 



This is me... nagging David!



                                    



     

David's response!



"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt"

Humanity, optimism, dignity, and acceptance... these are just some of the words that define what
Special Olympics is all about.  It is an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those with intellectual disabilities while at the same time enriching our communities.  It gives the athletes an opportunity to feel pride in their accomplishments and the volunteers an amazing experience.  The doors to diversity and tolerance are opened wide and the avenues to acheivment are layed out for all who wish to walk through those doors and down those roads.

Today at Furman University, I got to watch the spring games take place on one of the most beautiful, campuses in the country.  Over 1000 athletes and over 1500 volunteers took part in what was truly an awe-inspiring day!  The competitors in the 18 different events pushed themselves to run faster, jump longer and throw farther than they ever have before.  They were dedicated to their competitions and were outwordly thrilled to be a part of them!  Their exuberance and smiles were contagious!

I applaud all the volunteers for the time, love and support they dedicate to this organization!  Without them there would be no games!  And, I applaud Eunice Kennedy Shriver for starting a summer day camp way back in June of 1962 at her home in Maryland.  This camp was the foundation for what would become the Special Olympics.

Every person, regardless of whatever different abilities they may have, can contribute, can be a source of joy, can beam with pride and love.

--Eunice Kennedy Shriver