Memorial Day BBQ

We have finally come around to having warm, sunny days here in Omaha. We've had such a cool spring. Unusually cool for us. Now that our temperatures are in an upward trend, it's easier to plan get-togethers.

Last week I notified all my friends that I would host a BBQ on Memorial Day for those that didn't have "going-out-of-town" plans. All they needed to bring with them was their choice of meat to cook on the grill. I would take care of the rest. I was up early in the morning, a norm for me, and headed to the grocery store. Once home again, I began making a large, 24 cup/6 quart stainless steel bowl (from The Pampered Chef) full of home made Pasta Salad. I cut up a green pepper, red pepper, orange pepper, and 2 cucumbers. To that I added some diced black olives and grated an entire triangle-shaped block of Parmesan Cheese. Meanwhile the multi-colored coiled pasta was cooking on the stove. I combined my Italian dressing with white sugar (to sweeten it up) in my large bowl and added the rest of the ingredients. Once stirred together I put it into the refrigerator to chill until we ate around 3PM. Then I set to cleaning my house. I did the vacuuming and cleaned my bathroom. I knew people would be outside more than inside so I wasn't too particularly worried about getting it all done.

Back to the kitchen. I cut up broccoli and another cucumber and added them to a 3 section appetizer dish along with mini carrots. I made a Sun-Dried Tomato Veggie Dip from Tastefully Simple to serve with that. I also made Backyard BBQ Dip for chips. I had on hand, Corn and Black Bean Salsa and Sweet Pineapple Chipotle Salsa. I served Tostito's Chips with a hint of Lime (perfect with the Sweet Pineapple Chipotle Salsa!) and Tostito Scoop chips for the dipping. I also had Lays BBQ chips. I had to stay with a theme, can you tell?
I peeled and sliced up a 5 lb bag of potatoes and layered them in a bar pan with butter and Seasoning Salt. This would be baked in the oven a little bit later, closer to meal time.
I prepared Fruit Dip; this consists of Marshmallow Creme and Cream Cheese mixed together with a dash of Lemon juice. I had strawberries and apples cut up that I sprinkled with Fruit Fresh to keep them from spoiling. The week before I had made a Rhubarb Cake from my own rhubarb plants in my yard and froze it. I mixed up some home made whipped cream to top the cake. It was a hit!

Then I prepared some Raspberry Lemonade from Schwan's. I had to make two of them as anyone that drank it totally loved it....not just the kids either! Several adults enjoyed a few cups of it themselves! I had purchased some bottled water to place in a cooler for those that are pregnant! Side note: Congratulations Dee and Chris!
As people arrived around 2PM, all 16 of them, they all brought along with them, more than necessary. Other food besides their meat. Sheesh! Where was this all going to be set down? I was out of space! Some brought corn on the cob and shrimp kabobs and some brought leftover dips from the night-before-holiday gatherings. There was fruit salad and spinach dip. I think I forgot something......Wow....
Chris was put in charge of grilling so that I could tend to the potatoes and getting the rest of the food set out. It was a mid-afternoon BBQ. The weather was perfect. Mid 80's and very low humidity. My deck is mostly shaded by my house and there was a slight breeze to help keep it cool. All the families with kids brought along water guns. They had a great time running around the outside of my house....sometimes the men were seen chasing the kids! They would go in circles around and around. Too much fun! I also saw water balloons at one point! Eventually they had to stop and get dried off.
We were all so stuffed and miserably full but yet people kept munching. It was just too hard not to. Because some had to work the next day, me included, people began to filter out and head for home. It was already about 7 PM....but because of the later setting sun, it seemed early.
A perfect day for a perfect BBQ.

I began the cleanup of my kitchen after doling food out to people to take home. There was no way that I would be able to eat alot of the leftovers all by myself.
I love summer! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and Memorial Day. Thanks for the picture Kevin and Susan.

Flowers on Mom's grave.

Flower Power: The Early Stages

I've been waiting a long snowy winter to get out into my yard and plant flowers once again. I love spring and the new life that Mother Nature brings forth with the warming temperatures. All my plants in my front yard begin showing renewed signs of life as the buds of their flowers start to pop. My Korean Lilac has already bloomed as you saw in this post. After shopping one evening at Shopko, I brought home 77 plants. One was a hanging basket ready to display. The rest would be put into soil: either in the ground or into pots.If anyone knows me, you know that I love to put flowers everywhere! I still have a few pots left for more flowers but haven't gotten around to buying more flowers yet. It may not happen. Last year I planted almost 100 flowers. I'm under average right now! I like to get pictures after I plant them and then again later in the summer to show the growth. So here is my small gallery of photos....the perennials and the annuals that I've planted.

My huge Hosta....growing very well this year. Last year the rabbits got to it and slowed it down. I used some spray at the advice of my brother, which works great!

My Salvia's and Day Lillies. One of my Yews in the foreground.

My Moss Roses (16 plants)....pretty small right now. But stand by......I'll post pictures later in the summer when they've had a chance to grow.

Some Marigolds.

Rhubarb plants. I've picked once already this spring.

A combination of Petunias, Red Salvias, Marigolds and Snapdragons. The tall lone plant is a Gladiolus bulb from last year. It's the only one of 8 that actually grew.

Snapdragons in the large pots and Marigolds in the center.

Geranium and Marigolds.

Pansies.

More Pansies.

Can we just keep summer all year long? I love having my flowers for decoration. It adds so much to my landscape and deck. We've had so much rain this spring so I haven't had to water as much as I usually do. Typically I water the flowers every day. But not so far this year.

I would love to have you visit to see my plants in person. I always have room for you to stay! Happy spring!

Lovely Lilac!

I had to get a picture or two of my Korean Lilac. These bushes are so pretty and have such a wonderful scent. I wish the blooms lasted more than just a few days.
After work one day, as I drove towards my house and looked over, I saw how full the flowers were and they really showed up with my house as the backdrop.
So after I got inside I grabbed my camera. These moments don't last long and I wanted to compare this year with last year. This is only the second full year for this bush and the other landscape plants and they have really changed. Last year as I was watering flowers before leaving for ND over Memorial Day weekend, I could smell them and that is what made me notice how gorgeous they were back then. This year, the blooms are only a week earlier than last.
The Hosta plant on the left of the lilac is extremely large this year as well.





I wish I could include with this post, the fresh odor these blooms emit. I always have to inhale deeply when I get near the bush. Even while cutting the grass in the back yard I smell the lilacs' aroma. But alas, the blooms only last a few days. Then the bush will be back to just green leaves. Enjoy and try to imagine how wonderful it smells!

Leaving Las Vegas....Bummer

Today we rose at 4ish AM and got ourselves ready to leave for the airport. We would need to take a cab at this hour of the morning. After checking out of the hotel, we made our way back to McCarran Airport. Our flight was leaving at 7:35AM and we needed to check a bag. Once down at our gate we found Starbucks coffee and got a cinnamon roll at another little shop. Then we could go sit down and relax until departure time.

We didn't get to sit together this time even though we were across the aisle from each other. On top of that, we couldn't nap as we each had a coveted middle seat! Curses! No where to rest our heads for a little shut eye! So I worked on some puzzles and read a magazine.

Once back in Omaha, (at noon our time) we found my vehicle in my work parking lot and we left to take Tina back to her house. We had both been invited to our friend Tammy's house for Mother's Day lunch.

After getting home and unpacking and checking on my cats, (my friends Dee and Trisa took turns stopping at my house to feed my cats while we were gone) I headed over to Steve and Tammy's. We ate soup and sandwiches on the chilly day we were having. Tina and I had stories to tell but we both left fairly early to go home and nap! It had been a long day already and I was ready to chill out!

We both had the next day off but knew we would need it too. I'm so glad I didn't have to rise early! What a wonderful vacation I had....and I'm glad I could take Tina with me and use my buddy pass to save her some money as well. We had a blast....you must go if you ever have a chance. It's something everyone must experience at least once in their lifetime!

Las Vegas....Day 3

Today we were going on an adventure that neither of us had ever done before. A helicopter tour! We would travel over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon west rim. After a short shuttle ride to Boulder City, NV airport provided by Papillon, we got checked in and were given a safety briefing right in the terminal. The pilots escorted the corresponding groups to their respective rides and went over further safety points. There were several groups and several helicopters. Because of my airline employee status, I got a substantial discount on the price of tickets for this tour! Papillon (pa-pee-on) Grand Canyon tours. We got to sit in the front of the brand new chopper due to computer figures on our actual weight and balance. I was in the middle front and had an awesome view! 3 others were in the back....6 total with the pilot.

We all wore headsets with microphones in order to hear and talk to anyone on board. The pilot, Justin, gave us information on everything we were seeing. It was incredible!

Tina, Justin, Me

Hoover Dam and an unfinished bypass in the forefront.

One part of Lake Mead

We had the best view possible!

The Colorado River down below.

Lake Mead

Back on the ground, the pilot took more pictures for us.

It sorta looks like a fly!

After landing and getting back into the terminal, we bought pictures and I found a t-shirt to remember the occasion. Then we got back into the shuttle bus for our short ride back to Las Vegas. I can't wait to do this again!

It was fairly early in the afternoon when we returned to the hotel. So we decided to relax and go down to the pool and soak up some Nevada sun. We spent the better part of two hours out by the pool. Even with the large amount of children and their parents around, we were able to snooze a bit in our chairs. Loved it!

We still hadn't been down town to Fremont Street. I wanted Tina to see it before we left for home the next day. So we began our trek down the strip until we found a cab to take us the majority of the way down town. Over the top of the street spanning the width and length of the buildings and covering the street entirely, is a canopy. There is a light and music show shown on the huge screen overhead beginning at dusk. Each hour a different show is put on honoring a musical icon. We were able to shop a little bit before the next show. It is so impressive! And on a few intersections, free stages are set up. We happened upon a musician that we both recognized. Alice Cooper minus his makeup. But we knew it was him even though neither one of us is a fan.

After we walked a while we decided we had better get back to our own hotel to pack and get some sleep. We both had to be up at 4AM to get to the airport. We walked to the bus depot a few blocks away and went back south up the strip. Once back in our room, we proceeded to pack and finally get some sleep. It had been a great few days!

Random pictures:

The statues inside Caesars Palace. They move and talk for a brief show.

Caesars Palace...the many levels of shopping.

The big cats at the MGM Grand. This hotel was across the street from our hotel.

Tina and I had a great time in Las Vegas. She did say though, that she is ready to find a new destination. One that she hasn't visited before. Once is enough here! Not me. I can go back again and again.....

Las Vegas...Day 2

Friday morning we slept in a little bit and proceeded to get ready for our day ahead. We went up to the food court and found Starbucks coffee. We each had a coffee and pastry and then headed downstairs to catch a bus. We were going to an outlet mall to shop! We went to the Las Vegas Outlet Center which is located just south of McCarran Airport. I talked to my friend Halli whom moved to Vegas just over a year ago. Remember this? She had agreed to meet us so that we could visit. She met us at the outlet mall and then drove us to another outlet mall that she said was nicer. The Premium Outlets Mall. They are at opposite ends of the strip....basically. After we had seen all we could, she took us to her home. There, JB, her girls Liberti and Glori, and her niece and nephew, Tristan and Tanzi, greeted us. Her girls remembered me and were as excited as I was to see them! I received big hugs from them! Such little sweethearts! JB is in the Air Force and their home is on the base. We chatted and took pictures before Halli had to take us back to our hotel. It was wonderful to see them and catch up.

Liberti, JB, Tristan (standing), Halli, Glori (on Halli's lap) and Tanzi, on the floor.



Tanzi, Glori, Tristan, Liberti

That night, we had planned on going to the strip show. We got ourselves all gussied up and went to the second floor. Here there was a small auditorium where the show was going to be held. It started at 9PM so we went early to find our seats and buy a couple of cocktails. One round and $17 later, we decided that would be the ONLY round of drinks we would have! Ridiculous!
We thoroughly enjoyed what we saw (sorry for the pun!) and an hour and half later, we went back to our room. It had been a busy day and we were exhausted! Tomorrow was going to be an even bigger day than today!

Belagio Fountains

Ok...I was trying to tie this in with my "Day 1 in Las Vegas" post. I've been having major issues on getting it to work. But here it is. I really wanted you to see it!

This is outside the Belagio hotel and casino. I thought you may like it.....

Las Vegas, Day 1

I've traveled quite a bit in my life time. Many destinations have been visited along with many friends and family. Las Vegas is one place I've been to several times before. But every time I was there in the past it's been just to gamble and walk up and down the strip. I didn't do many activities that varied much from that.
Well, I just got back from yet another trip to Las Vegas. It never gets old for me. Each time I'm there, I see new buildings that have been built or empty spaces on blocks where others have been razed. Some of the casinos have different slot machines, different restaurants and of course, construction happening either inside the casino itself or just outside their door!
This time when I went, one of my friends, Tina, went along with me. She had never been there before. She was officially a Vegas Virgin!
We had been planning for weeks. First I did research on hotel rates. Once that was booked, we looked into reserving tickets for a strip show that Tina (no, really....it was her idea!) had heard about and wanted to see. She didn't exactly have to twist my arm!

Coincidentally, the show was at the hotel we were staying at. We shopped before hand for some new clothes and shoes. It was important for the thousands that would be visiting Las Vegas at the same time that we were, to see us dressed to kill.
We decided that we would fly out on Thursday May 6Th. Our flight left at 7:15 AM and we arrived in LAS (airline code) at roughly 8:30 their time. We found a shuttle that would take us to the hotel and made our way there. But check in for the rooms wasn't until noon. So we checked our bags for holding with a concierge and decided we find some breakfast. We went up to the second floor where there was a food court, including a restaurant that had a buffet. That suited us just fine. After stuffing ourselves into misery, we needed to kill more time before we could check in. What better activity than to walk? We went to the strip and just started walking. We were very near the M&M store, Coca Cola store and Hard Rock Cafe. We shopped inside them for the better part of 2 hours. Afterwards, we began our short trek back towards our hotel, The Excalibur.

Our hotel.

The Excalibur

Once we got checked into our room, we had our bags brought up by the concierge. I love this service! But because we had been up since 3AM and had little sleep the night before....we decided to have a nap! After sleeping for a couple hours, we freshened up and headed out for the night. We walked down the strip and took many pictures of the casinos with all the lights on. It was so pretty! We happened to arrive at the Belagio in time to view the pretty water fountains dance to music. There are lights to enhance the show as well that coincide with the music.
We also saw the Siren's of Treasure Island. It's a free show outside the hotel (Treasure Island) with male and female pirates on their respective ships and lasts about 20 minutes.

At night....pretty don't you think?

Eiffel Tower at Paris Hotel.

Just a portion of the long strip.

These two buildings really do lean! One leans left and the other leans right.

After walking for several hours and having a great meal of Chinese food in New York New York hotel and casino....we were exhausted. So we went back to our hotel. Tina went up to the room and I stayed in the casino for a while to try out the slot machines. I played for a long time and decided to head up to the room as well. We had a big day ahead the next day.