The best way to tell a story is by photographs. These wonderful photos were taken by Leah Steiger, Photographer at Memento Vita and Owner at Life of the Party! Love this lady and love her work! Only her talent could make these old lovers look so good!
Our party planner, Hannah, was really able to capture the
Old Irish ambiance.
Hannah made the tables look very special and festive.
The bar before the invasion of “Irish” drinkers. You can
witness the Irish rain in the background.
This photo is a tad symbolic!
Leah is quite artiest.
As you can see, Oma and Opa dressed the part!
This is one of Oma’s favorite photos.
This cake is from the Albertson’s in Temecula – it was
perfect!
The guests were entertained by the Lacemakers! They were
wonderful!
Opa acting very Irish & very silly!
Opa with his old friend Clete.Clete was Opa’s High School Woodshop Teacher!
This is our Casino group – we go Valley View every month.
We brought out the toasting glasses we used forty years ago!
Reef Indy and his Dad getting ready for the festivities.
Three generations of Smiths sporting their kilts (from SportKilts).
The Irish Smith Family.
Mr. & Ms. Smith – 40 Years of Love and Understanding.
Oma with her youngest!
Reef and Opa Play!
Ready for the Champagne Toast.
The presence of our friends and family made the event splendid.
Opa and Oma cut their cake.
Picture Perfect Tender Moment.
Opa is such a gentleman!
The Lacemakers played Opa’s special request song, Roberta
Flack’s “Killing Me Softly.”
Oma and Opa enjoy their special song!
Yup, it turned into that kind of a party; the Bartender
lines-up the Irish Car Bombs.
Oma thought the Irish Car Bombs
were hard to drink but oh so tasty.
Dad takes his turn tossing Reef Indy into the air.
The look of love – Nancy & Jan!
Reef Indy had a great time!
Reef's Daddy did an awesome toast to his parents:
I'd Like to thank everyone for being here to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of my mom and dad's wedding.
As we all know my dad is Irish and my mom is Dutch-Indonesian; so lets thank them for picking and Irish Theme party because if it was a Dutch Themed party, you'd all be paying your way out!
As long as I can remember these two people were the ones who held me back from complete failure.
Though it was hard at times on them and me; they always did the right thing.
Until their 40tth anniversary, when the made me wear a kilt!
They are the reason I am the man I am today - Good or Bad.
They have become a very good set of Omas and Opas also.
My Mom and Dad are a true example of love! I can see it in their eyes every time I see them look at each other. they are a great example of what I look forward to in my Marriage.
Let's lift our glasses:
To you Oma and Opa
Mom and Dad
I love both of you very much.
Here is to 40 more!!!
Reef Indy went to his first baseball game today. Being of a mixed union (Mom is a Cardinals’ fan while Dad is a true blue Padre), Reef’ wardrobe was an amusing mixture of blue and red!
Shelby Miller and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Oscar Taveras hit a two-run homer for the St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 to avoid a three-game sweep. Reef’s Grandma was very pleased with the outcome.
***********
As a side note, after scrutinizing the rules posted on the Padre website, we decided to buy tickets for the grassy hill. The rules clearly stated that umbrellas were permissible during warm weather. Attempting to pass through the gates, we were interrogated by a rather rude lad in a security outfit. He stated that he did not care what the rules specified; we could not bring in the umbrella. He suggested Oma take it up with customer services.
Dad brought the umbrella back to the car. . . . not a short walk. In the interim, Oma explained the situation to customer services and he agreed that the umbrella was allowable. So poor Dad and Opa went back to the car to get the umbrella.
However, things did not go smoothly still! They were hassled going out of the park and harried again going into the park. By the time they were allowed to enter with the umbrella, poor Dad and Opa missed most of the game.
Even worst; due to the lack of shade, unfortunate Reef Indy went home with a farmer’s tan. Luckily an application of fresh aloe prevented a burn.
Moral of the story is . . . . . do not sit in the grass on sunny days???? . . . . the Padres do not care about the health of their young fans??? . . . . do not believe what you read on the Padre website??
Not really sure what the moral is, but it will be a while before I return to Petco Park. We did not even get an apology!
Reef Indy enjoying his after-game
spaghetti at Filippi's Pizza Grotto.
Quick trip to the mall to get ready for Oma & Opa's 40th.
AKVIS OilPaint is photo to painting software that creates oil paintings from photographs. The characteristic feature of the program is a unique algorithm of the artistic application of brush strokes that authentically reproduces the technique of the real brush.
The transformation happens before your eyes: the program authentically reproduces the technique of the real brush creating a work of art that looks like a handmade oil painting.
The software is available as a standalone program and as plugin for photo editors, in versions for Windows and Macintosh. The functionality of the program depends on the license type.
Oma found the software easy to learn and use. It only took about fifteen minutes for Oma to do the sample below. AKVIS OilPaint provides a stable performance, was speedy, and supports a large number of formats. The Text tool was a tad strict but overall Oma was pleased with the variety of options offered.
Photo Before
Painting After
Even if you are not a professional painter you can create your own masterpiece! Just use AKVIS OilPaint to turn a regular photo into an oil painting. The mysterious production of a painting happens right before your eyes. The program creates a work of art that looks like a handmade oil painting.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
When Oma was a youngster, weaving pot holders for your mom was the kid crafting rage My younger friends tell me that “in” thing now days is making colorful charm bracelets to share with your best buddies.
Oma must admit that after opening her Rainbow Bandz Loom Kit, she was a tad confused. Luckily there are a plethora of videos out there which provide comprehensive instructions!
What Oma loves about this “toy” is that enables children to use their imagination in their play. It is refreshing to see an activity that occupy a child’s attention that is not electronic! Additionally, the loom is well-constructed and easy for little hands to grip.
Oma will definitely keep the Rainbow Bandz Loom Kit in mind for the next birthday party of a niece or nephew. This loom will supply countless hours of entertainment for the young innovative mind.
History
Rainbow Loom was created by Cheong Choon Ng, a Malaysian immigrant of Chinese descent who came to the United States in 1991 to attend Wichita State University, where he earned a graduate degree in mechanical engineering. He was employed as a crash-test engineer for Nissan Motor Company in 2010 when he conceived the idea of a toy loom for rubber-band crafting while watching his young daughters make rubber-band jewelry.
His prototype, which he called Twistz Bandz, used a wooden board, pushpins, and dental hooks. Encouraged by his family to market the product commercially, Ng invested $10,000 and found a factory in China to manufacture the parts, which he and his wife assembled in their home in June 2011. Ng renamed his product after discovering an elastic hair band on the market named Twist Band. His brother and niece came up with the name Rainbow Loom.
Product Description
Rainbow Bandz Loom Kit consists of a hook with a base opener, a loom, 24 C-clips, 600 latex colorful rubber bands which can make up to 28 colorful & charming bracelets, and an instruction manual. It is used to create bracelets, charms, and other interesting stuff.
The instruction manual has some pointers, tips and instructions to follow in order to come up with different desired creations – from beginner to expert level.
Rainbow Bandz kit includes:
1 Super durable loom
1 Hook with base opener
600 silicone latex free rubber bands
24 S-clips
**Non toxic, Lead and Latex Free**
Make single and wide pattern bracelets for different effects and combine multiple loom sets to make longer and wider combinations. Use short combinations to make funky rings and longer ones for crazy necklaces!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Martha Earnhardt was born today in 1930 in Concord, North Carolina. She married Ralph Earnhardt when she was just seventeen-years-old. Martha was present when Ralph started his racing career two years later.
Martha understood that racing was a lucrative way to support the Earnhardt family, but she later wished her children and grandchildren would pursue safer career than racing. While her husband supported the family in the car garage, Martha filled their bellies with her delicious southern cooking.
In modern times, Martha Earnhardt joined the mother of Jeff Gordon to publish the cookbook, Pit Stop to Southern Kitchen. Many of Martha's southern recipes were passed down to her by Dale Earnhardts grandmother, Effie.
Martha Earnhardt can't recall any particular dish that "The Intimidator" preferred.
"My children were raised to eat whatever was put on the table," she said.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. likes her homemade vegetable soup.
"I had some one day, and he was visiting me. He ate some, and he said, 'Mamaw, I need to take some of this home with me,'"
Happy Birthday Mamaw!
Ms. Earnhardt said "Secret Cake" was one of Dale Sr.'s favorite desserts.
Secret Cake
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 sticks margarine
2/3 cup shortening
1 cup water
3 1/2 teaspoons cocoa
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Mix flour and sugar. Heat margarine, shortening, water and cocoa, and let come to a boil. Let cool, and pour over sugar and flour. Mix well. Add buttermilk, salt, eggs, vanilla and baking soda. Mix together and pour into 11-by-16-by-1-inch jelly-roll pan.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Icing
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 stick margarine
3 1/2 tablespoons cocoa
1 16-ounce box confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
Boil buttermilk, margarine and cocoa until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add sugar, vanilla and nuts. Pour over cake while hot.
Oma will have to try this recipe before Reef's First birthday in September.
