One of my favourite things about maintaining this blog is that it reminds me to create something special from the ordinary. Like putting your best face forward. Basically, if I am going to go to the trouble to snap a photo, record my thoughts, time-stamp a moment in our lives, then I should put effort into making those ordinary moments stand out. Because there is enough ordinary in life and sometimes all that is needed is some extra attention to details. And details matter. You can never pay enough attention to the details when they have the power to make life more enjoyable.
Right?
Right!
On the weekend, we put a real dent in our Summer List, which (for the record) has turned out to be a true blessing this summer. It has given us direction and allowed us to do some of the things we have always meant to do, wanted to do, wished to do. On our list are many easy, quick, inexpensive ideas and two of them involved food (we have to eat dinner, right?) so we did double-duty by choosing those ones.
Sundaes.
Who doesn't love them? A sundae bar was on our to-do list so a pretty set-up made things extra special:
Ice cream: we chose plain vanilla and marshmallow fudge crackle with toppings of fresh strawberries, hot fudge, Maltesers, gummy bears, Dove chocolate mint cups, real whipped cream, and Smarties:
But before all of that sweetness, we devoured salted, vinegared golden crispy on the outside-soft and fluffy on the inside homemade french fries, just like my mum used to make. In fact, I hope my mum isn't reading this because the kids declared them even better than hers!
Which, of course, secretly pleased me...
Honestly, they do look pretty perfect, don't they?
(Note: no electric deep fryer was used in the making of theses french fries. They are a once/summer treat so I go the old-fashioned route of employing a "chip pan" - which should only be used by the most safety-conscious cook. Not recommended for scatter-brained cooks. Safety first!)
It is fair to say that it was an extra-ordinary day!
With half of the summer remaining, I look forward to many more days just like it!
With half of the summer remaining, I look forward to many more days just like it!
I love that quote! It's right on the money!!!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is awesome.
Yes, you took the ordinary ( ice cream and potatoes) and made them extraordinary and special. Enjoy the second half of your summer.
ReplyDeleteWise words! And I love making each moment special. We did a sundae bar over the 4th and my kids really enjoyed it. Those french fries look delicious...I'm craving some now, lol. ;)
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ReplyDeleteWhat an Un-ordinary day when you make it so special for your family. I can TASTE those chips..they look delicious and oh-so-good. Diana
ReplyDeleteNice. But I wish you'd share some with the rest of the class.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun thing to do! My kids love to make Sundaes.....Your french fries looked so yummy!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on happiness! It's in the everyday....
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ReplyDeleteThat all looks so good, Linda! We did a sundae Sunday last weekend and I used plain Vanilla ice cream as our base, too. I washed and cut up some strawberries and put a little sugar over them, slapped a lid on the container, gave a shake and stuck them in the fridge. If you've got time, they produce their own juice and they are so good over ice cream. {And you may be able to get away with saying it's "healthy ice cream", although that may be an oxymoron}.
ReplyDeleteYou totally got my mouth watering with the sundae and the french fries photos. It definitely looks like some good times.
ReplyDeleteYou are wise to spend the energy and time to make some good memories now as it seems like just a flash and you are empty nesters in the summer, like we are. Mind you I'm enjoying the quiet house, but it certainly makes a different kind of summer.
Sundae bar sounds fantastic and the french fries look so good! But what does a chip pan look like?
ReplyDeleteBoth food items look great. The power of suggestion is so strong with me that I will actually probably have to make French fries soon. This is sad really how highly suggestable I am. Don't ever tell me that you've robbed a bank. Now if you visit my blog and read about the mocha frappuccino that I found somewhere in Blogland, you'll be in 7th Heaven. No, no, you won't. If you make it, you will be.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a sundae bar. I'll have to copy that for one of my kids.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea.
Kate
Aw Linda. Thank you for your sweet comment. That made me tear up! I also cried my eyes out watching National Velvet last week... so the tears are free flowing these days. :)
ReplyDeleteI have to say, after all these years of reading your blog, I hope I'm at least half the mom you are! :) Thank you for the congratulations. We're still very early in the pregnancy... almost six weeks. But, the news keeps leaking so I decided to just make an announcement. My grandmother says, "The more prayers, the better."
Hi, I sent you my address. I hope it works! Thank you!!
ReplyDeletewe had our ice cream party too!
ReplyDeleteand we never did make homemade french fries. bummer.
i just chickened out.
we checked off 31 things and 11 were left.
school started today.
my kids are so funny about the summer list because they feel like we really failed if the list is not complete. :) i do not.
it's fun to get stuff done though...with intention.
and we can still finish up with a little cooler weather!
how fun + fabulous! i'm your newest follower (-: malia
ReplyDeletewww.yesterdayontuesday.com
Your Sundae buffet makes me want to dig the icecream out of the freezer.
ReplyDeleteFor fun, I looked up chip pans and found this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_pan
The pictures at the bottom, just above references, should give your warning a little more oomph!