“They say charity begins at home, and when a home is built for an amazing veteran through a community charity event, that’s the meaning of home.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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It was a delightful Sunday morning, finally. No rain, partly cloudy, and a nice refreshing breeze. It was a pleasure to get up early and leave for Mass by 8:15.
Continue reading“Weekends don’t count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless. “
~Bill Watterson
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Well, Mr. Waterson, I’ve taken your advice today. I had a lazy morning, followed by a long lunch with my good friend Karen, that I haven’t seen in ages. I don’t know what I did with the rest of my day. Then, when I looked at the time, it was almost 8pm. I still wanted to get out for a walk before it got too dark.
The only productive thing I had done all day was to take out MY SHARONA, from the closet and put her next to the kitchen garbage can to empty the dust canister. Sharona is my Shark vacuum cleaner. You may recall that Henrietta, my Hoover, was getting old, looked kinda beat up, and not working well like when she was young, so she was replaced. I can relate. Ha!
I did empty the canister, but she’s still sitting there in the kitchen. But, as God is my witness, I’m going to vacuum before I go to bed tonight… or tomorrow…or at least by Monday.
But, I did get out for an evening walk. The warm humid day had cooled and the weather was perfect. I look forward to my sunset walks.
It was a quiet unproductive delightful Saturday. You know what? I think I will take My Sharona for a spin when I get done here. Then, I nice glass of wine will be in order. Happy Saturday, my friends.
“If you can’t be silly with your old friends, where can you be silly? We are all old…it doesn’t matter.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Helene and I went and visited with our artist friends over at Towne Creek Apartments today. We worked on several watercolor book mark and note card projects. I brought them each a red rose that they could use for artistic inspiration. We painted, laughed and had a late lunch. Of course, I got up and did a little singing and dancing for half-time entertainment. Miss Dorothy was being sneaky and recorded a video of me being silly. She said she was going to post it on Facebook and embarrass me. I said, “Bring it, Girl,” and kept on dancing.
Here’s me being silly and singing “Proud Mary” and dancing and just being me.
Now, it’s getting late and it’s time for…. Black Russian Friday.
“All the wisdom that I have gleaned over the years I have learned from my Facebook page. Thank goodness for all the accurate and insightful posts.🤦♀️”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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I always find it amazing and amusing to see what goes on in the world through posts from my Facebook friends. I love keeping up with family, friends, and neighbors. I enjoy seeing the grandkids, funny stories and words of wisdom. All the other negative and political “crap,” excuse my French, I just delete.
A few words of wisdom and thoughts that I read just today. Thanks for sharing…
Happy Thursday, my friends.🤗
“Here’s another one of my detailed recipes… Grab stuff out of the fridge and pantry and bake it . You’re Welcome!”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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I made this dessert quite a few days ago, but I didn’t get a chance to share it till now. Or did I? I don’t remember. Old age and sugar overload.
This looks pretty good, but I had mine with a scoop of caramel praline ice cream while it was still warm. 🤦♀️
I gave most of the rest away, except for a small portion that I shoved in the freezer. Maybe I jammed it in the freezer? There’s no room in the freezer. 🤦♀️
Give this easy no-recipe recipe a try. It feeds approximately a whole bunch of people. (don’t forget the ice cream.)
“I never realized why people are called crabby sometimes. Did you ever see a crab? Not very handsome.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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My dear friend Joni asked me if I could paint some lobsters on some wine glasses for her, and I said I’d give it a try. She gave me a tea towel with the picture on it and she said, “Oh, I guess it’s a crab and not a lobster.” I wouldn’t know the difference. I don’t eat anything that swims in the water.
I always have to research, practice on paper and do a test sample on glass before I get to the real thing. It may look easy, but it takes several days to do a simple project. But, a challenge is a challenge.
https://youtube.com/shorts/pmudbOFpzdU?feature=share
After a practice sample, I discovered it I base coated the crab first with a light blue combo blue/white, that the white paint would make the blue more opaque. Then, after it dried, the cobalt blue would stand out better on the glass. The tricky part is painting exactly on top of the previous layer. It takes a steady hand and nerves of steal. I laughed because I literally found myself holding my breath on the fine detailed parts. 🤦♀️
I think they turned out pretty darn good. Now, they need to dry over night and bake in the oven tomorrow.
Now, for a glass of wine. It’s National Wine Day. I’m running out of time, 11:40 pm. 🍷 Cheers!
“You know what’s great about three weeks of continuous rain and dreary days? Me neither! Stop already!”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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A week in a dreary rainy gloomy bleak peek…
“Forgiveness has nothing to do with absolving a criminal of his crime. It has everything to do with relieving oneself of the burden of being a victim–letting go of the pain and transforming oneself from victim to survivor.”
― C.R. Strahan
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Another dreary drizzly morning, but I was delighted to pop out of bed at 7 and get ready for church. It’s so nice to be able to attend Mass in person again. We all received notice that the parishioners were no longer required to wear masks, but it was highly encouraged. They kept one large section of the church to remain distanced and masked for those who feel more comfortable that way. Most people still kept their masks on out of courtesy and respect for others. I like that. Hey, and if you’re a woman, you don’t have to put on all that messy makeup. (I wouldn’t know. Not my thing.)
Today’s Gospel was the story of Jesus returning to visit the disciples after his resurrection. They were locked away in fear for their lives. Jesus appeared to them, blessed them and breathed on them, filling their hearts with the Holy Spirit.
19 In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’20 and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord,21 and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’22 After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.
My take on it… Well, again, Jesus is showing the disciples His wounds, proving that He had indeed risen, but also filling them with the Holy Spirit so that they would not be afraid. He instructs them to spread His word, forgiving or retaining sins.
Now here’s the part that I’ve had many a discussion and debate with others. Jesus tells the disciples if they forgive someone they are forgiven, and if they retain their sins, they are retained. Is it just me, but I’ve heard SO many times that you MUST FORGIVE everyone, even if they don’t ask for forgiveness. What?
If God forgives everyone, no matter what, why were the disciples told that sins could be retained, why is there a heaven and hell, and why does it say “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead?” If one is genuinely penitent and pleads for forgiveness and changes their ways, then yes, forgiveness should be given. But, if someone is blatantly unapologetic and continues doing evil, no way José. My philosophy is… you don’t need to forgive, but you can release your heart from the pain, anger, and resentment and just step away, move forward, and move on. Sounds like a plan. Let God take care of the rest.
After Mass, Helene, Jerry, Bonita and I stopped for coffee at Tom Thumb’s Starbucks. We get in there and start laughing, telling stories and just cracking up. I always say, “They’re going to call security and say, old people causing a disturbance in aisle 4.” Always fun.
The rest of my day was AMAZING, as usual. Spending time at church, time with friends and loved ones, laughing, singing, and my favorite… FaceTime with the granddaughters.
Life is good! Feeling blessed. Happy Sunday, my friends.
“Sometimes it’s not about trying to eat healthy as much as it is trying to use up the leftovers in the fridge.🤦♀️”
Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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I’ll make a big confession. (It’s a Catholic thing) I’ve been eating quite a few vegan meals lately. No, I haven’t gone all vegan or vegetarian on ya. But, when my California vegan son was visiting me during Mother’s Day, we bought a ton of vegan foods and healthy stuff. I still have a lot left.
Yesterday, I had some vegan chorizo and egg burritos, and today I made some vegan quesadillas. I love cheese, and this vegan cheese is pretty darn good.
This was my lovely late lunch on a dreary drizzly Saturday. I was going to go for an evening walk, but it’s raining out there…again! Not again!
So, here’s where the Catholic confession part comes in. 🤦♀️ After that awesome healthy vegan lunch, I had some caramel praline ice cream. (Bless me Father for I have sinned. 🙏)
Is there such a thing as semi- vegan?
“Life is like a pond, and every decision and act we commit, good or bad, is a pebble flung into it. The ripples spread in widening circles.”
― Francine Rivers
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There was a reprieve from the torrential rains today. Gloomy skies exchanged glances with bursts of sunshine throughout the day. The ONLY positive aspect of all this rain is that Mother Nature is bursting with blooms and she’s spray painted the earth with lush vibrant greenery.
I walked this afternoon instead of at sunset, as I had places to go and people to see. Our 60+ group from church was meeting at 5, and I still needed to put together my “Bad Ass Brownie Bites” for the gathering. Yep, you heard that right. These little decadent desserts are to die for… almost literally.
By the time I drove home, the big dark clouds were rolling in…again. Well, at least it held off long enough for a lovely evening with friends.
Toni Andrukaitis 