Today on Memorial Day, we honor those that have died while serving in the military. I'm snacking on some cream cheese stuffed patriotic strawberries, and remembering those who died for our freedom, and thinking of my grandson, Connor, who is serving in the Marines.
I am using my beautiful poppy teacup that a dear friend gave to me. Poppies are symbols of Memorial Day
My bunny planter is overflowing with my shamrock plant from St. Patrick's Day.
Avery, my granddaughter on the right recently had her 14th birthday, and I took her to dinner, along with her sister, Ella, on my left, and her cousin, Cissy, on my right. We had a fun time at an Italian restaurant. The tied up letter in the front is a gift that I give to each grandchild on their birthdays of memories from the past year that I have of or with them.
Avery loves cannoli and the staff came and sang to her. Avery recently had 9 inches of her hair cut in order to donate. Wasn't that the sweetest thing? She is blessed with the most gorgeous, glorious head of hair! You can imagine how long her hair was!
This little chickadee is enjoying my bird feeder!
This pair of cardinals is so cute. The male goes and get the seeds and then delivers and feeds them to the female, who waits on the branch.
Yield: 1 quart
Patriotic Strawberries
I don't even need a recipe for these yummy strawberries. They make a pretty treat for any occasion, and you can vary the garnish to whatever you wish. You could use sprinkles, nuts, cocoa powder, cinnamon, etc.
Ingredients
- 1 quart container of strawberries, rinsed and let dry on a paper towel, leaving the leafy part of the strawberry intact
- 1-8 ounce pkg. of cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla or almond extract (I used vanilla bean paste)
- blueberries for garnish, or anything of your choosing
Instructions
- Cream together the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar, and add the extract.
- Cut an X on the pointed end of the strawberry, not cutting all the way down to the leafy part.
- Using the star tip in a disposable piping bag, or using a food safe bag, with one of the ends cut off, fill the bag and close. Squeeze the filling into the top of the strawberry. I personally like a good amount! Top with a blueberry or any other garnish of your choosing.
- These are best eaten the same day!
Notes:
If I don't fill so many strawberries, I'll leave the filling in the bag, and cover it, and refrigerate it for another day. Just allow to soften before filling the strawberries.
Thank you for your visit! xo
I am sharing this with:
Love Your Creativity Link Party
Meal Plan Monday
Red and white...strawberries...so very summery! My goodness, the cousins look like sisters. Avery does have the loveliest hair. It truly is her crowning glory. Happy, Happy Birthday to Avery.🎂 I love that you write a letter to each grandchild and give it to them on their birthdays. Years from now they will be able to re-read their letters and think upon all the beautiful memories they hold in their hearts of you, Kitty, and the special times they shared with their grandmother. Lovely teacup. Poppies, perfect for Memorial Day.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of the letter to the grands on their birthday Kitty, very sweet:@) I'd love a few strawberries, maybe sitting outside today, we should finally see some sunshine this weekend in Philly! Wishing you a nice Memorial Day.
ReplyDeleteLove the teacup, Kitty, and that recipe for the fruit. The cousins favor each other in looks - our family's traits are prevalent like that too. Happy Birthday to Avery! I love the thoughtful gesture of the annual letter. When my grandchild is born, this would will be a wonderful tradition to start - thank you for the idea!
ReplyDeleteThe letter to your grandchildren on their birthdays is such a unique and I would say a very valuable gift. How cherished these will be as they grow older.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Avery! Such a sweet gift to donate her lovely hair.
ReplyDeleteYour Memorial Day table is so festive and those strawberries look delicious.
I love the idea of your letters to each grandchild. I need to do that.
Happy Birthday to Avery! It’s so sweet that you write birthday letters to your grands. The strawberries are too pretty to eat! I’ll definitely try this recipe.
ReplyDeleteOh Kitty - what a simple and fabulous idea to add to the festivity of the patriotic holidays! Why didn't I think of doing this??? I adore all your photos...the teacup, the pics of your sweet grands, who do favor each other...the annual letter. How special! You are leaving such an awesome legacy behind for your precious ones. Thanks for sharing. And happy birthday to Avery! Very special for her to donate her hair. <3
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful family you have. How sweet of Avery to gift her hair to someone in need - what a giving heart she must have to do that. So glad she had such a happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteThose strawberries look extra yummy - and what a perfect treat for Memorial day weekend.
Prayers for your grandson, Connor, who is serving in the Marines. What an honorable service he is doing for our country. I hope he knows how very much he is appreciated.
God bless you & your family! Net
Happy Birthday to Cissy! Your grandkids are growing up so fast.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you had a lovely Memorial Day tea time. We also use poppies to remember the fallen soldiers. But in Canada Day, our Remembrance Day is held on Nov 11.
Beautiful pictures and memories! Love that idea about the letter! I may just borrow that . . . my little grandson just turned one on Mother's Day. I made your coconut cream pie today for our BBQ with friends. It was a TOTAL hit! SO so so good! Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet way to honor those who lost their lives for our country, such a lovely table. Sweet birthday party for your granddaughter and sweet thoughtful letters. I know you love spending time with these sweet girls. Thinking of how much you and your daughter miss Connor. I hope he will be home for a visit soon. Thanks for the strawberry recipe, I love this recipe. I wanted to make them for today but I ran out of time!
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty, patriotic tea, Kitty! The strawberries look so yummy and love your poppy tea cup. Your granddaughters are so sweet and pretty, just like their grandmother. What a nice way to commemorate their birthday with the little note. So sweet to donate her beautiful hair:) Tell your Grandson how much I appreciate his service. Forever grateful to those who sacrificed for our freedoms. Sending hugs xo K
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Avery! Such a wonderful gift to donate her hair. Hope you had a nice Memorial Day weekend, and those strawberries look delicious. I made them too. I love the idea of your letters to each grandchild.
ReplyDeleteHappy June Kitty! Your strawberries look delicious and I love seeing your sweet grand girls! What a wonderful gesture for Avery to donate her hair. Your feeder filled with safflower seed should keep the squirrels away and birds happy too. Saying a prayer that Connor stays safe. ♥
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post, recipe amd "bird collection"! I find it amazing how the male Cardinal feeds the female too! I also notice a(at our house) how the Mother Robin feeds the baby who is often bigger than she is - I wonder why it is so helpless when it is that big. Loved you family photos! Sweet girls!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to go out with your granddaughters for the birthday celebration. The strawberries look and sound so good. I hope you have a wonderful week Kitty.
ReplyDeleteOh you can't g wrong with strawberries! YUM! And that beautiful tea cup.......You ladies are looking mighty pretty. Happy birthday to your Avery. Seems we celebrate lots of birthdays with my tribe. But aren't grands just the best? Have a good week dear Kitty. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteI’ve got to make your Patriotic Strawberries Kitty, what a wonderful summer treat! I did not know that poppies symbolized Memorial Day, your tea cup is beautiful. Avery and Cissy look so much alike I thought they were sisters, not cousins! What a fun and special birthday meal, and your tradition of giving them a list of the past years memories and special moments is so wonderful! Happy June!
ReplyDeleteHe conocido tu blog y me ha encantado todo lo que nos cuentas, qué idea más bonita la de preparar una carta anual a tu nietos, por cierto las niñas son preciosas y que buen corazón Avery donando su pelo, tus fresas sencillas pero una delicia, me ha gustado visitarte. Un gran beso
ReplyDeleteYou made such a lovely teatime tribute for Memorial Day, Kitty.
ReplyDeleteLove your beautiful grands. What a NEAT idea about the memory cards you give them every year- talk about precious! They will be heirlooms! ♥
Your sweet grand had a great birthday. And bless her for donating to Locks of Love - my niece did it twice. I have cut a foot of my hair off several times in my life but because I used to perm my hair and back in the day bleach it (gasp!) they couldn't take it. Always thought I spent so much on keeping my hair nice it was a shame it ended up just swept up. A few times I just had them cut braids off. My hair grows so fast it isn't even funny. I think I told you I cut my OWN braids off last summer during Covid, haha. That was kinda dumb but I wanted less heavy hair so I could pin it up. Had to cut a lot to be able to do that. LOL.
Beautiful blog
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute for Memorial Day. Love your cute patriotic strawberries. Beautiful teacup. News to me Poppies and symbolized for Memorial day. How sweet of your grand, Avery to donate her hair. special and sweet little grands, growing up too fast. xo
ReplyDeleteA very nice memorial day post, your tea-time treat looks and sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Avery.
My good wishes for the new month of June.
All the best Jan
That is the sweetest thing about the cardinals. I had never heard that before and asked Kevin, and he hadn't heard of it, either. I told him if we were cardinals, he would do that for me. :) So precious! May the Lord bless you, sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteA lovely patriotic tea, Kitty. We will remember them. In Canada we do this on November 11. Poppies are also a symbol here - perhaps because of the poem In Flanders Fields, written by a Canadian doctor in WWI.
ReplyDeleteYour strawberries look delicious!
Happy Birthday to Avery!Stunning teacup.Beautiful and happy post!
ReplyDeleteAdorable bunny planter too!Hugs and blessings!
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