Joy's Birthday Party!!

Sunday we celebrated my sis, Joy's 80th birthday at The Indian Creek Winery.  All her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were able to attend.  There was lots of fun and visiting and, of course a delicious meal of hoagies, cheese and cracker trays and fruit trays.  Below are a few pics I got of this special celebration.  Her birthday was actually Jan. 11th. 





Picture of Joy's grandson Eric & great grandson's Noah and Eli on Joy's cake.

Joy's beautiful birthday cake.

Joy and her daughter, Kara, daughter-in-law, Sherry, and granddaughter in-law, Danae getting ready to cut her cake!



         

Grandson Eric giving them some advice.

  
 

Good turnout of family and friends!

Daughter, Kara, and her husband, Dennis

Joy getting some help opening her presents from twin great grandsons, Noah and Eli.

Checking out a memory collage.

Joy & daughter-in-law, Sherry

Banner Noah, Eli, and Kara made.

Joy's brother-in-laws, Martin and Bob having fun.

My Sister Joy

A week ago today a very special person in my life had her 80th birthday.  My sister, Joy, has been all things to me over the years.  We lost our mother when I was 20, so Joy has been sister, mother, and friend to me and my family over the years.  She is one of the most giving people that I know and loves to crochet and do embroidery, and over the years has had huge gardens that her daughter-in-law says are big enough to feed all of China.  Much of the things she makes and grows she gives to her friends and family.  I think her big love is her flowerbeds and miniature rose bushes which are always beautiful.  She has had to slow down the last couple of years due to arthritis but still does all she can to keep busy like keeping the cookie jar filled for her grandsons!
I wish you many, many more years, Joy, to enjoy your family, friends and all the things that you love to do!!
Following are some pics of Joy's growing up years.

  

Mama and Joy



Joy and cousin, Lynn

Joy and Lynn With Puppies

 

 

Joy's Grade School Pic

 

 

Joy With Cousins, Violet, Marjorie, and Sis, JoAnn

 

 

Joy with cousins Lynn, Violet, Julian, Patsy, Brother Kenny, and Sister, JoAnn

 

 

Joy's High School Pic

 

Joy This Summer With Friends, Monette and Shirley 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easy Crockpot Corn Bean Soup

Over the years since Bob has dealt with heart issues I have tried to cook heart healthy meals, but since he just had 5 bypasses due to blocked arteries, it has become even more important, so I am always on the lookout for heart healthy and gluten free  recipes, since I deal with gluten issue.
A few days ago when I was looking for something to fix and didn't want to run to the grocery store I came up with a recipe for crockpot corn bean soup that is super easy, heart healthy and also gluten free.  I actually had the ingredients on hand.  It is a little bit like taco soup, but not quite as spicy, but you can make it as spicy as you like.

Easy Crockpot Corn Bean Soup

 

1 lb. of extra lean ground beef

1 med. chopped onion

1 stalk chopped celery

1 14 or 15 oz. can butter beans

1          "                northern beans

1          "                green beans

1/2 bag frozen corn

1 large carton gf beef broth

1 can mild or spicy rotel

1/2 or whole pkg of taco seasoning.  I used a half of package because of the high sodium in it.

 

You brown the meat, onion, and celery, drain if needed,  put this mixture in the crockpot, adding all the rest of the ingredients, stirring well, then cook on high if you want it fairly quickly or low setting if you want it to simmer for awhile.  I actually did cook mine in a pot on top of the stove, and heated the leftovers in my crockpot. 

We had it with lowfat shredded cheese on top and tortilla chips on the side.

Double the recipe if you want several days of leftovers.

I did not put any salt in it as I salt my food now on my plate since Bob is on a low sodium diet, so you can season with salt and pepper to your taste.