Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... May, 2008

May1, 2008 | JustAmy; St.Louie1; MamaBear; Billie

[GodBlessUSA]

I love the idea of a kid’s thread too. I know what you mean though. I only post threads infrequently and life has us busy sometimes that can be difficult.

Maybe the kids can post it. Something to think about. They have a monthly one or something. We’ll have to talk about this again soon.

[gardengirl]

Wahh! I wanna be there!

LOL Still can’t get your beautiful presentations to work! Downloaded free powerpoint viewer per daughter’s instructions but I still get the office regristration form and cancelling that closes everything! :( I’ll keep working on it when I get more time! Greenhouse should slow down in the next couple of weeks.

[WVNan]

You have that right. I am overstretched right now. Besides, I am too computer challenged to tend to such a project. I don’t even know how to make a link.

[GodBlessUSA]

[WVNan]

Good morning to all. Em is here, so my day is full. Have a nice day. And, Amy, “advertise” around FR for someone to do the kids thread. Advertise for an elementary teacher who will know what to do for kids.

[Mama_Bear]

I need to get some more fonts like the ones you have. I only learned yesterday how to make animated gifs from the tools I already had. Now, with my new found skilzs, I will really be a danger to the civilized world.

LOL! Well, I am always happy to share my sources. This is where I get my fonts....all free and easily viewed and dowloaded into your windows font folder:

WebPagePublicity.com

I hope you don't mind that I have saved some of the beautiful photographs from the presentations you post to make welcome graphics for Amy. Those Power Point shows are full of some of the most gorgeous photography. I just can't resist saving some of them. You might have noticed that last Sunday's graphic here was made from a photo of a wooded scene that I found in on of your presentations.

Thanks so much for your compliments on my graphics. I truly love making them. Having a day when I can play in PhotoShop is a real treat for me. I can spend hours playing with all the special effects and I haven't even scratched the surface of the magical things PhotoShop can do. It's like creative therapy for me. It keeps me out of trouble too. ;-)

[JustAmy]

May 9, 2008



Graphic by MamaBear

Out Among the Big Things

Out among the big things
— The mountains and the plains
— An hour ain’t important,
Nor are the hour’s gains;
The feller in the city
Is hurried night and day,
But out among the big things
He learns the calmer way.

Out among the big things
— The skies that never end
— To lose a day ain’t nothin’,
The days are here to spend;
So why not give ‘em freely,
Enjoyin’ as we go?
I somehow can’t help thinkin’
The good Lord means life so.

Out among the big things —
The heights that gleam afar —
A feller gets to wonder
What means each distant star;
He may not get an answer,
But somehow, every night
He feels, among the big things,
That everything’s all right.

~ Arthur Chapman ~

[JustAmy]

Yesterday was "National Coconut Cream Pie Day".

Coconut Cream Pie with Pineapple

Ingredients

-Crust:
1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
3 tablespoons ice water
2 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
Cooking spray

-Filling:
1 (8 1/4-ounce) can crushed pineapple in heavy syrup
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons cream of coconut (such as Coco Lopez)
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut, toasted

Preheat oven to 425°.

To prepare crust, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine 1/4 cup flour and water; stir with a whisk until well-blended.

Combine 3/4 cup flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a bowl; cut in shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add slurry; mix with a fork until flour mixture is moist.

Press mixture gently into a 4-inch circle on heavy-duty plastic wrap, and cover with additional plastic wrap. Roll dough, still covered, into a 12-inch circle. Freeze for 10 minutes.

Remove 1 sheet of plastic wrap, and fit the dough into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Remove the top sheet of plastic wrap. Fold edges under, and flute. Line the dough with a piece of foil, and arrange pie weights or dried beans on foil. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes or until the edge is lightly browned. Remove pie weights and foil; cool crust on a wire rack.

To prepare filling, drain pineapple in a colander, and spoon into the prepared crust. Combine 3/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a saucepan, and stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute, stirring with a whisk. Gradually add about 1/3 cup hot custard to beaten eggs; stir constantly with a whisk. Return egg mixture to pan. Cook for 2 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Remove mixture from heat; stir in cream of coconut and extracts. Spoon mixture into the prepared crust. Cover surface of filling with plastic wrap; chill until set (about 2 hours).

Remove plastic wrap, and spread whipped topping evenly over filling. Sprinkle with coconut.


Belated Happy "Coconut Cream Pie Day"!

[JustAmy]

Good afternoon, Rus.
Thank you for bringing the nourishment for our Souls.

Were you on the roof again yesterday?
BE careful up there!

Have a Fantastic Friday and a Blessed Weekend.

[JustAmy]

Happy Friday, Cardhu.

Thank you for the Bahamas Presentation.
Boy ... am I getting itchy feet.
I am sooo ready for a vacation.

Thank you for bringing us these beautiful pictures with the wonderful music.

[JustAmy]

If I cave on the cell phone, I will probably add her to our account. We have more minutes than we ever use.

At this time, I can’t imagine a time that she would need it. She is pretty well supervised at all times.

When she is in the front yard, she knows to come to the house if a car stops. Also we have some migrant workers that walk to the corner grocery (one mile away), she knows to come inside if she sees anyone on the road.

Marissa has never been to Neopets, as far as I know. ;^ ) When she is online at one of the cartoon sites, IE: Nick, JR or Cartoon Network, I never pay a lot of attention because she is usually playing a game.

Hope you are having a Fantastic Friday.

[Lady Jag]

Lost Sock Memorial Day

When : Always May 9th

Lost Sock Memorial Day recognizes your drawer full of unmatched socks. Each unmatched sock represents a missing sock. We never throw away our unmatched socks. After all, it may show up someday.

On Lost Sock Memorial Day, we suggest you spend a little time (as little as possible) searching for those missing socks.  After a (very) brief search, and in good "Memorial" spirit, spend a minute reflecting upon how warm and comforting the missing socks were on your stinky toes. Then, by all means, get on with your life. Today is also a good opportunity to toss out all of your unmatched socks.

[Kitty Mittens]

Good Afternoon to Amy's Place.
Everyone have a Wonderful Weekend!

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Amy
The only time my daughter will need the phone is when she goes to horse camp. She probably won’t need it but I’ll give it to her just in case.

Thanks. I hope you are enjoying the day too! It’s a rainy day here. I think I’ll go take a nap. :)

[JustAmy]

Good afternoon, Lady J.

Lost Sock Memorial Day?
Where do they all go?

Happy Lost Sock Day!


Have a beautiful Friday!

[GodBlessUSA]

LOL! :)

I gave up a long time ago. I try to buy all the same socks so I don’t have to match them. ;)

[JustAmy]

I took a 2 hr nap yesterday. I just felt like I needed some extra rest.

If Marissa were going to be away for any length of time, I would get her a phone.

I try to keep pretty close watch on her. Her “alleged” grandfather called me when she was 4 and wanted to see her. I didn’t let him because I wondered where he had been for 4 years. I haven’t heard from him for about 3 years. I still worry about someone coming and snatching her.

[WVNan]

Since I don’t know how to make a link, I sent it to you via e-mail, Amy. It is great to go with the lost sock theme.

[JustAmy]

Good afternoon, Kitty Mittens.

Thank you for the pretty pink rose.

Have a great Friday and a Blessed Weekend.

[JustAmy]

Hi Nan ... I received e-mail about virus.
I cannot get email on my computer. Everytime I try to retrieve e-mail, my computer freezes.
Guess it is time to call HP again.

It is miserable having to go to Marissa's computer to check e-mail.

Happy Lost Socks Day!!