Our Last Book Club Before Summer

 

 

 

 

 

We don't always have our book club meet in June, but this year we decided to get together one last time. It was a small group, since it is a busy time of year, but sometimes a smaller group can be nice and helps the discussion feel a little more intimate.

We started with a lovely and light dinner of lemon pepper pasta with shrimp. While discussing the book, we enjoyed a pretty and delicious dessert - a peach and goat cheese filled puff pastry with raspberry sorbet. And, to make things even more fun, our hostess served us a unique and decadant after dinner drink made with cream of coconut, pineapple juice and Mackinac Island Fudge liqueur.

 

 

We like to read a wide variety of books and enjoyed very much the American classic, My Antonia by Willa Cather. It's a beautifully written book ( also free on Kindle) and the use of imagery to describe the prairies of the Midwest is simply breathtaking. I really enjoy the opportunity to read a book I would not normally pick up at this stage in my life and love my book club for that reason. There are so many wonderful classic novels that deserve to be revisited outside of college literature classes.

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

{Linking with these friends}

Savvy Southern Style

Between Naps on the Porch

21 Rosemary Lane

Stonegable

Crock Pot Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches

 

 

 

One of the best things about summer is how easy it is to throw something on the grill on the weekends and make the simpilest of dinners more fun. Of course, the weather needs to cooperate and when rain is falling, barbeque plans must change.

This easy and delicious recipe for Crock Pot Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches saved my dinner menu on a rainy Saturday and gave me a great way to acheive that barbeque taste without even lighting the grill. All the ingredients were things right from my pantry and the tangy, sweet flavor was nothing short of amazing. A few extras added to your favorite brand of barbeque sauce, along with the magic of a slow cooker become a great dinner option. Along with whole wheat buns and simple homemade coleslaw, a light, summertime main dish can be on your table, whatever the weather brings.

 

Crock Pot Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches

6 pieces skinless and boneless chicken breasts

1 bottle barbeque sauce

1/2 cup zesty Italian dressing

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 T Worcestershire sauce

Place chicken in crock pot. Mix other ingredients in a medium bowl. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Remove sauce from crock pot. Put shredded chicken and as much sauce as desired back into crock pot to keep warm. Serve on buns.

 

{Linking with these friends}

French Country Cottage

A Stroll Thru Life

Savvy Southern Style

The Charm of Home

Art and Sand

Between Naps on the Porch

Cozy Little House

Eclectic Red Barn

Skip To My Lou

Rooted in Thyme

Craftberry Bush

21 Rosemary Lane

New House New Home

Stonegable

Rattlebridge Farm

Summertime Bunco

 

 

 

 

We usually hold Bunco on Friday nights, but everyone's schedule seems to be busy lately and two of my neighbors had the idea for us to get together on a Wednesday night, start a little earlier and bring in food, so no one had prepare anything. It turned out to be a fabulous and fun idea with margaritas, yummy Mexican food and very good company. We got caught up on all the neighborhood news; news of possible moves, retirements and grandchildren. For the most part, we all have college age and young adult children, who live all over the country, so learning how they all are doing takes prominence.

Since this group has been together for so long and been through a lot together, like neighbors do, we know each other and each other's families very well. There is a shorthand to that over the years and we genuinely care about each other's lives. We may miss a few months of Bunco here and there, but we always pick back up, right where we left off, as if no time has passed and we see each other every day like we used to when our children were small. It's a nice group to be a part of and I never take these ladies for granted. There is something to be said for the history of long friendships.

Happy Thursday!