Madeline Turns 6, The Bear, & Dinner

 What an exciting and fast paced weekend. It seems like it was Monday just yesterday. I don't have to ask where did the week go I know because I was hanging on every minute of it.
   The bear was the biggest and most exciting topic of the week. Even though I didn't even get a glimpse of the beautiful being it was still exciting for me, and like everyone else I have my own story to tell about the time the bear past by our yard. 

  On Monday we heard that the bear spotted 6 or more miles away was now headed in our direction. The Dzia and I spoke on the phone and agreed while not really likely just in case I wouldn't go out back alone. Monday afternoon when Dzia gets home we with our friend Rich go out back and plant water and weed. We had a great time doing it and everything was done in a very timely manner. On Tuesday Dzia and I go out back once he gets home and we water, putz a little and call it a day. Later our friends Tom and Rich stop by and during their visit they tease me about not going out back alone saying what are the odds of the Bear picking my yard to travel through. Wednesday morning dawns all bright and pretty and I need pictures for my blog. I meant to do it the night before but I hate taking my camera to the field when I am going to water. So anyway after a conversation with Dzia I go ahead and drive out back and take my pictures. I drive back up and sit down I start writing my blog post and the phone rings. It is Dzia saying the bear is out back. At first I don't believe him, and then I do I hopped in my car drove to the back,there was nothing to see. I went back to the front and drove as slow as I could all around the neighboring woods still nothing. I at last give up and come home to finish writing my post. Just as I sit down the phone rings again telling me where the bear is now. At this point I am done chasing that big ole animal around and I leave my rear end firmly planted in my seat and content myself with updates and other peoples photos. I also content myself with a big ole I TOLD YOU SO! True the bear didn't go through my yard as we first thought, it went are you ready for this through Toms yard, Over his front fence, then over the back fence into Nancy's yard. Strolling just inches from where I stood minutes earlier taking pictures, continuing on up through Nancy's yard across their BB court and back into a group of trees that led right into Rich's back yard. The irony of it, the two that teased me got visited. I think this will be a favorite story for a while. I can call it " The one that got away."

 The pictures you see in this story were taken by Nancy the only one of us lucky enough to actually see our beautiful visitor.
   Right after the excitement of the bear we had the excitement of Madeline turning 6. It just isn't possible that the little baby I held in my arms just a second ago is now a little girl. She has grown so much and so fast. A beauty right from the start she is also smart, funny, and so full of energy. I couldn't love that little girl more if I tried and every minute I spend with her is like adding another coin to my treasure chest. Thursday was no different.

 Watching her opening her gifts at the speed of light, the seriousness in which she eats her cake and the concentration as she pedals her brand new big girl bike around the living room, all treasured memories to be kept forever and someday  shared again. 
  " What Was Dinner "  Well after dragging my feet for no other reason other then dragging my feet, I have finally gotten started on this months activities for the Allrecipe Allstars.

 This month I have Barilla as my activity and I have chosen 3 recipes I want to try. The first one and the one I am featuring here I picked because it has broccoli in it and I have broccoli from my garden to use. Perfect match as far as I am concerned.

 I have always liked Barilla pasta products and use them 90% of the time, I was unaware however that Barilla made sauces. Since I was reviewing the recipe as written I went ahead and bought the sauce this time. I normally make my own sauce and will continue to do so in the future. The Barilla sauce was good, but it is a jar sauce and I like to make my own. For those of you that really don't care for making your own Barilla has a nice line of sauces and judging by the classic sauce I used a tasty line of sauces as well. The recipe is called Spaghetti with Broccoli Florets and can be found on Allrecipes.com or just click the link below.

Spaghetti / broccoli florets
#Allstarbarilla


  Have a wonderful weekend! Thank you so much for stopping by.