Debby from Michigan,USA

Taking the time to say thank you for your message of love and support through the tough times with my mum, and her death. My heart has been lifted by the warmth and love shown to me here.

Hi Debby! Congrats to the Red Wings!! I know they have made lots of people in Michigan happy tonight! That's good!

Hi, Debby, Thanks for the warm welcome from a fellow "Michigoose." Rhubarb Pie! My favorite! Join me in a slice and have a cup of yerba mate to go with. I notice your dogwood looked lovely this year, too. Who's artwork and where? I love photos. I think most people on this site do. What a great idea to give people a photo bonus when finishing a puzzle. Let me leave you with a platter of Plum-filled pierogi lightly crisped in butter and topped with a dollup of sour cream.

Oh, Debby, it's hot hot hot. I don't do well in heat and humidity--we don't have air conditioning, so I hope this doesn't stretch on for too long! Construction is and will be quiet for another couple of weeks. After a fiasco with our countertop guy (and his subsequent firing), we've now landed a gem of a new guy and will have the most glorious soapstone counter in about 2-3 weeks. Until then, everything is at a standstill, but still, we're willing to wait to get what we want. In the meantime, I've chosen fabrics for the window seats and cushions, and have approved drawings for all the neat little drawer inserts that will keep our peelers separate from our spatulas and all that--I'm an organization freak! Plus we had a new back door and window installed, so that gives us something nice to look at until the rest gets going again. I'm estimating we'll be cooking up a storm in about 5 weeks. Crazy amount of time to get this done, but with others out there being ravaged by earthquakes and storms, we're not going to grouse about inconvenience, that's for sure. So tonight, we'll refill our propane tanks which both were empty when we tried to cook the other night, and we'll barbecue our supper, uncork some wine and try to stay cool and smiling! Hope all is going beautifully where you are and you have a wonderful weekend!

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I was on a business trip. Yerba mate is an up-and-coming alternative to coffee and tea. It's from Argentina and other parts of the world. It can be drunken from a gourd cup through a silver filtered straw or it can simply be brewed in a coffee maker basket same as coffee. The caffeine-like substance in it is gentler and doesn't cause the withdrawal headaches, jittery-ness or sleeplessness that coffee does. Supposedly, also like green tea, it also has substantial health benefits.
It tastes like strong green tea with hints of tobacco (which wasn't hard to get used to even though I don't smoke). Drink it fresh-brewed; don't let it sit on the warmer. If you let it sit too long after brewing, it will turn a lovely green and develop an ever-so-slight "off" taste (but it won't hurt you to drink it if you want to). Have some milk and sugar at first to help you get used to it.
Drink it for breakfast and between meals and don't say "thank you" to whomever is serving you until you don't want any more refills, because saying "thank you" means you're done and don't want any more.
I loved your rhubarb pie so much, I may have my daughter make me one this week.

Hi Debby. Things North of Green Bay are still okay (I am northwest of GB) It's the lower half of the state that is in turmoil. Milwaukee has highways, yes highways, closed due to the intense flooding. We are still alright, but I can tell by the creek next door how I'll be affected. So far, it's damp, but not full... a VERY good sign. That creek gets water in it only when it's VERY wet out. More nasty storms predicted for tonight into Friday am. Say some extra prayers.

Hello Debby - a big from us all for your best wishes on the arrival of my newest grandson, Bailey.

Debby,
Windows were open and I was wrapped in a blanket all yesterday morning! This is the most beautiful spring in a long, long time. Everything is lush, lots of frog noises. May saw some first cutting of hay! Unbelievable but welcome as every scrap of hay - including much that was considered old and/or spoiled - was used up this past winter.
Hey, I'm glad your electric and all is back up. I was going to say "hi" when you got back, but thought I'd let you catch up first.
Thanks for stopping by.

Debby, you made it in time, I was still celebrating, Had a 3 day affair, and it was loverly, too.

Thank you for visiting my page with birthday greetings. So many messages from such far flung corners of the world have truely added to my 3 day celebration. So many messages has also added to my birthday week, rereading them and saying thanks extends the birthday further.

for taking the time to help me celebrate.

thanks Debbie :)

Hi Debby! Wish your Dad a very Happy Birthday from me! I hope he has a wonderful day.

Hi Debby. to your Dad. Can you celebrate with him, or does he live too far away? If he is too far away, he'll know you're thinking of him!

Debby that's a long way away! My father's in Dubbo which is about 400K (254M) west of Sydney still in NSW. It's his birthday in a couple of months & I might try & get there to see him it's 5 to 6 hr drive, but like you I'll definitely be phoning him! I'm glad he's not living in Cairns north Queensland where he was born, that's as far away as you two are! 2,409 Ks or 1497 Miles! Guess what my son (my youngest) was due about now 27yrs ago, he also jumped the gun, but he did a big leap & appeared on the 31st of May!

Hi Debby. I think I saw you say that you son was turning 21, but if I'm wrong about the age, sorry. Please give Scott my best wishes for a super birthday! Happy birthday Scott, and cheers!

Gosh, I didn't realize Scott was an old man!

Scott

Debby, thanks for popping in to my page yesterday. It was lovely reading your messages on the photos. Stop in again sometime and I'll put the kettle on and make a batch of gem scones.

Hi Mom! I am stopping in for some tea!

Debby,
Thank you so much for your advice. I will take it to heart. We have been so busy getting her ready that I haven't had time to dwell on her actually moving. Now with all the boxes ready to be packed into the car tomorrow it is finally hitting me. Her and I will be driving up ourselves during the day (I am hoping to have some heart to heart time) and then her dad and younger sister are driving up in the evening. It is only a 2.5 hour drive!

So your son went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh? Great school, my niece graduated from there also. She has a great marketing job with Howard Hanna (local realtor). I live about 14-20 minutes from downtown where he went to school.

Thanks again, it was so nice of you to take the time to respond,
Aimee

Oh BTW, I love the pink chairs on your front porch, what a lovely unexpected punch of color!

Debby, I shall post the recipe today sometime. Gem scones are so quick and simple to make and cook in ten minutes. The trick is to have the gem iron hot. If you don't have a gem iron, a mini muffin tray or cupcake tray will do almost as well, if well greased.
They are yummy served straight out of the oven just with butter or with jam (jelly).

Hi Debby
There is a pic on my page of some Gem Scones I made the other weekend.
Gail has given you all the necessary info so I shall not repeat it lol
And yes they are very very yummy with butter and jam lol eheheh
Enjoy them

Hi Debby, thanks for the e-mail-- yes it does help to know-- my parents live in bloomfield hills-- probably relatively close to you!! I know you have had alot of rain in the last couple of months. Glad to know you are not floating away!! Also-- your house looks so inviting-- our house in wisconsin was a similar style-- and I just loved it!! Also love all the trees-- we live in a newer development in Naperville so our trees are growing but aren't that mature yet-- have a good weekend

That'd be right!
The one day I don't look in and I go and miss your Dad's birthday!
Well Debby, please wish him belated greetings from one way too laid back Aussie. I am so glad your Sudoku family helped make his day.
Oh, and here's a Choc Mud
That reminds me, still haven't put the Gem Scone recipe up, will do it today...yeah right!

Good Morning Mom! Thanks for the pie as always it was delicious. See you Later.

Done!

Hi Debby, and thanks for the warm welcome! I am touched by your compliments to my artwork. I paint what's near and dear to me, usually. I'm looking forward to seeing more of you -- I hang out at the jigsaw page most of the time.

Good Morning Mom!

Hi Debby, thanks for your birthday greetings, they were much appreciated. Actually I am just a mug photographer but every now and then something nice turns up and I put it on site to share with others. I'm sorry I was a little late thanking you but life has been pretty hectic around here lately.

Good Morning to you too! well now it is afternoon. Have a great day. We are going to Kathy's in a little bit. Love ya.

Hi Debby:
thanks for the birthday wishes from michigan.
I had a great day today with my boys. By the way your home is lovely!

Dear Debby, Thank you for the email about Mamacita's loss. I have not been on the site much and had not known. We are in Rochester and very much out of our normal lives. That is what vacations are for! Top down today! Hope all is well with you. Going south?

Ola Mom! Hope you've had a good last couple of days. Love Ya.

The Cockatoolady thingy? hehe

Hi, Debby
Thanks for info on Isle Royale. I'm reading a book by Neveda Barr about the wolf/moose studies and it is very interesting. A place I would very much like to visit.

Hello Debby I am a newbie and have just been reading some of the posts and I noticed you took a gift of a rhubarb pie to someone, well I would like to give you a warm from the oven Apricot Pie, I love fruit pies.
The picture of your house is jusst beautiful,what is it like in winter do you get snow ? Please visit my page I have managed to put some photos on, but I have not finished yet.

Hello Debbie, loved the cherry Pie, don't you love the smell of baking inthe kitchen, especially on a cold rainy day. My two grandkids are 5 and 3, just a wonderful age and I love themto bits. Now I am off to see the movie Mamma Mia, I saw the stage show and am now looking forward to seeing the movie. Will visit you again real soon.

Debby, thanks for your sweet birthday wishes. What a delight! And your page is most interesting. I will have to get back for a proper visit. Take care, and thanks again!

Debby - glad you enjoyed the salmon - Gus IS dressed for summer. I hope to get a picture loaded before I head to the hospital Wednesday for my knee surgery.
I worked in Michigan one summer drilling water wells (stayed just outside Adrian). I didn't know you had salmon in that part of the country. I "hated" salmon for years because all we had growing up was the nasty canned stuff. Once I dared try it for real - YUMMMMMY.

hi debby tnx for welcoming me in sodukoland... im still trying to find out some beautiful things here...i dont kno wer to get a nice avatar...hope u can help me..tc

Debby, thank you so much for the warm birhtday wishes...please join me in a piece of my b'day cake
Hope everythings great in your neck of the woods!