June Is for Birthdays

I have both June birthdays behind me. They swept in quickly and were both over before I could blink. For much of my teaching career they were immediately after I left the classroom and in the first decade during post planning. It felt like summer commenced when we celebrated my son's birthday. I thought it would be different when I retired, but it is so ingrained in me that it still feels like summer begins with the morning after his birthday, so I have got red, white, and blue on the brain this morning.

First a few photos from the birthdays. We celebrated Jeff's at a local wing place and then came back to the house for the annual yellow cake with fudge icing. Recipe here.

Uncle Danny had just said something hilarious that cracked Lindsay and Jeff up, so that explains the facial expressions.

Paul Allen's birthday was at home. 

We cooked fish that Tyler and Lindsay caught in the Gulf this weekend.

This is the Snapper we ate.

But, I had to show you Lindsay and her friend on the left. These went back in.

We ate in the dining room and then opened presents in the living room.

I took the opportunity to get a couple of pics of the kids.

Tyler, Lindsay, and Hallie

Paul Allen and Katie

I made a dessert for Paul Allen's birthday. It is a combination of two recipes. 

The picture was an afterthought. They had already torn into it.

It is his request. Aunt Donna makes a Jello thing at Thanksgiving and he loves the pretzel crust.

Mother always made a dessert called "Blueberry Fluff" which came from a recipe in our hometown of Brewton, Alabama which does the Blueberry Festival each Father's Day weekend.

Somehow the request turned into ... Aunt Donna's crust, Grandma's fluff, but with blackberries.


Here is the recipe...

Pretzel Crust

(This is my made up recipe for it.)

About 10 ounces of pretzels...they have changed all the sizes of bags these days.

1/4 cup butter

2 T. sugar

Melt the butter.

Crush the pretzels. I do this by hand, because Paul Allen doesn't like them really crushed.

Add sugar and mix it up all well and coat the pretzels. 

I spray the pan lightly before putting it in the pan and then bake at 350 for 7 minutes.

COOL.

I used a little more in the picture. He likes the pretzels.

The Fluff Part

You take 1 eight ounce cream cheese and mix well with 1 cup of sugar.

Fold in 1 container of Cool Whip. 

Then spread on the cooled crust.

The Blueberry or Any Berry Topping

I have used strawberries too.

2 cups of berries

1 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of water

Cook 15 minutes. Thicken with 1/4 cup of cornstarch.

Cool!

Spread on the cream cheese mixture and refrigerate.

Now for Mama' Original Blueberry Fluff Crust

1 cup of flour 

1/2 cup butter

1 cup chopped pecans

Work the three ingredients tougher and pat into a 9X13 dish and bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until light brown. 

Cool.

Well, that is birthdays at our household. I would love to say I had a big hip hopping party, but that was it..Just plain ole family time.

AND if I am just straight up honest... Still praying my son will choose to grow up a little soon. This was 25 and I worry way to much about him. He is not a bad kid, but still so directionless. No manager of time or money.

Funny how I chose the fruit of the Spirit, Joy to work on this year, because if I am straight up HONEST....

I let my worry rob my JOY for about two weeks. Not good! 

Thank goodness I serve a God who gives me some grace.

On a lighter note....

I will be back tomorrow with red, white, and blue hopefully, but at least with a few stitching, sewing, and crafty ideas.

Praying,

Sandy