Friday's Favorite Five


I've not been doing a very good job keeping up with FFF lately.  Susanne has a great way to look back over the past week and to share 5 things from the past week.  Visit Living to Tell the Story to link up and share your Fave Five!

1.  Replanting the back space between the sidewalk and the house.  OS inadvertently scraped up a few of my plants from last year.  There are signs that they were there, but I'm not sure if they're going to make it or not, and, being the impatient person that I am, I want there to be more than there already is.
Maybe this is the summer I'll actually get some mulch in there!

2.  Plants that not only came back, but are thriving!  I'm amazed at how my butterfly bushes are growing:

And, they're starting to bloom:
My balloon plants came back, and some of them are doing exceptionally well:

3.  My favorite reading spot in the evenings:
The girls aren't so crazy about it, though!
4.  The opportunity to go to Daily Mass now that school is out.  I loved this time last summer.  My parents attend Daily Mass all through the year, so it's really special to be able to spend that time with them.  Plus, it's a great way to start the day and to get the day going!

5.   Three new recipes in 3 days that are keepers!  They were all exceptionally good!  I didn't take any pictures...I completely forgot about it before we dug in.
Baked Teriyaki Chicken
Garlic Cheddar Chicken (I used Panko crumbs and it worked very well.)
Manicotti Alla Romana
The only thing I would do differently in any of these recipes was the manicotti:  I don't think I'll use as much spinach next time.

** Bonus:  Look what I found in the freezer:
Suuu-weeeet!  I had completely forgotten that CH bought those thin mints for me, and I put them in the freezer a couple of months ago!  HA!

Link up with Susanne or Java today!




S

29 comments:

  1. Happy Memorial Day weekend! I love all your outdoor pics...I'm inspired to post some of mine later. First it's off to the dentist-again!! I am officially finished with invisalign today (I think) I'm getting my top retainer-so glad to be done!! I feel like a teenager : )

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds as though your weekend is off to a fabulous start...especially with the help of those thin mints (*wink*). I love your patio furniture. Enjoy the space and time this summer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. #4...Yay!!

    And how in the world do you forget about Thin Mints in the freezer? I could never!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Those are all pretty terrific! Thanks for the recipe links, I always love to see what other people are making.

    I've never heard of a balloon plant before. Gorgeous!

    I cannot believe those Thin Mints survived in a house full of boys. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad to have you back, Mary.

    I love plants and am an impatient gardener too. I planted some pots for my patio about 8 weeks ago and I filled those babies because I didn't want to wait the months it would take for them to get BIG. I love butterfly bushes. what a treat it is that they are thriving.

    How fun to find thin mints in the freezer. How sweet to have a hubby who would buy some for you.

    Thanks for sharing the recipes, I will check them out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love me some thin mints. Today is my last day at school.

    ReplyDelete
  7. We've been so busy with the garden that nothing else has been dealt with--but then, our yard always looks like nobody lives here. LOL

    Love your favorite reading spot!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, your butterfly bush and balloon flowers are blooming already. Mine are doing well, but they're still a ways from blooming!

    I'm always on the lookout for new recipes ... and the ones you listed sound wonderful! I'll have to go check them out.

    I'm glad that Ally is doing well ... sounds like the surgery was successful.

    Have a blessed weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have a hard time planting things for that very reason -- I always want there to be more than there is! =D HA! Enjoyed your post.

    Happy FFF!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This place looks a little different since I was here last -- pretty!

    I printed out that manicotti recipe. Looks great.

    Any day you find Thin Mints in your freezer is an AWESOME day, if you ask me!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nice favs! Wow, I had thin mints in the freezer and someone ate them! Or did you take them?
    Have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  12. great list of faves..yum...mints from the freezer...!! and I LOVE reading outdoors on a nice spring evening....it's what I plan on doing each evening this summer when I have more time :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. LOL. I can see how you were surprised when your plants "came back" AND they look beautidul, to boot...It's a good thing I don't know your address or I'd totally be raiding your freezer for those GS cookies!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Looks like you've been busy! Good job. How fun to find that sweet treat in the freezer :0)
    Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the “Fave Five Friday” idea. I have a reading spot that looks very similar to yours. Currently, it’s still covered for the winter, but I think I’ll remedy that this weekend. Perhaps, I’ll get with it and post something on next Friday's Fave.

    ReplyDelete
  16. very nice reading spot! looks very relaxing out there!! those recipes sound delicious too! wonderful surprise about the cookies too! I bet you got a big smile on your face when you found the Thin Mints :)

    enjoy the weekend!

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  17. I just love your patio set. I live in Arizona and I totally miss green. Well we have green but not a lot of it. :) Dropping by from Follow Friday 40 and Over. :) Hope you can stop by and say hello.

    http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, great blog. Your balloon plant is so pretty, I have never seen this type of plant and of course I love your reading spot. 3 new recipes, and all sound like one's I would love, so I am going to print them out right now. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Very cute Mary.
    The butterflies will be flocking soon.
    Love your reading spot...I can't believe the dogs are not UNDER your feet out there. :)
    Thin mints. I have ONE left. NOT ONE box...just ONE thin mint. Talk about the end of the world....

    ReplyDelete
  20. We are working in our backyard area as well...we have weeded and mulched...it is time for flowers! i just found your site through the blog hop and I look forward to following and reading more. Please hop over, say hello and hopefully follow along with me!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love you patio set. It looks comfy and cozy and I know I'd be out there with books and coffee!

    That balloon plant looks like a pretty little thing. I don't think I've heard of those.

    I'm going to try that teriyaki chicken recipe this week. Sounds easy and good.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Surprise Thin Mints? Wow! That's fantastic! (although, I don't think I've ever forgotten a thin mint in my life!) You plants look very nice. I have one of those butterfly bushes, and I love how it comes back so nicely every year. It's so low maintenance!

    I love daily mass, too. I don't go every day, but the boys and I do go a couple of times a week. It's a wonderful way to start the day!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I forgot to say how cute your little dogs are! They are adorable!
    ~Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your plants look so good, Mary! I've been working on my yard this week. I got the pics posted on Facebook but now I need to get them posted on the blog. I hope you loved the King's Speech. We did. I know you loved the Thin Mints. How did you forget about them? Please share your secret. I find them even better straight out of the freezer anyway. I would have been opening the freezer often to see if they were ready or not. haha I am off to check out your recipes. I need some inspiration for the chicken that I thawed out earlier. You may have posted just what I needed if I have the ingredients for any of them. They sound wonderful! Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Who knew you could forget about Thin Mints? ;)

    Lovin’ your blog!
    Hiya! Newest follower from The Follow Friday Over 40 Hop-- please stop by and say hello! Would love if ya followed back!
    ♥cyn♥
    The Purple Goddess

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a happy surprise!! I would love to find Thin Mints in my freezer, but unfortunately, I ate all ten boxes the first 2 weeks. Now that I've typed that out, I see how bad that sounds. :o) My daughter's a girl scout though...I was trying to "support the troop"! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Mints? Mmmmm! It looks like your garden is really going to bloom this year! Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Finding Thin Mints in the freezer...awesome!

    I have a spot like yours on the side of my house that I turned into a little herb garden...plus some tomato plants. So far, so good!

    I love your reading spot - it looks very inviting!

    ReplyDelete

Popular Posts