Penny's Passion

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - June 18, 2025

 

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!  We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature! 

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.
MEET THE HOSTS

  1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
  4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
  5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

No-Bake Strawberry Cream Pie

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way your entries 
will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party! 

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Click here to enter

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Five on Friday - June 13, 2025

Happy Friday! We’re heading into the weekend with lots of fun on the agenda, and I’m really looking forward to it. One of the highlights will be celebrating Eric for Father’s Day. He does so much for our family, and it’s always nice to take a moment to show him how appreciated he is.  Now, let's get on with my five for today ~

1.  National Movie Night
It’s National Movie Night – the perfect excuse to gather the family and pop some popcorn! Whether you head to the theater, find a drive-in, or cozy up on the couch, watching a movie together is a fun way to start a meaningful tradition with family and friends. When our son was younger, we’d set up a projector in the backyard and play movies on the side of the house—some of our very favorite memories!


2.  How to Train Your Dragon
Speaking of movies, the much anticipated How to Train Your Dragon movie opens today!  It's rated PG and is getting rave reviews.  Here's the summary ~
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village's quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding. As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.
Wally Lamb is back with a new book - The River is Waiting.   His new book is a powerful, emotionally gripping novel that explores guilt, grief, redemption—and the complexity of forgiveness.  Here's the summary ~
Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. And that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he bears witness to frightful acts of brutality but also experiences small acts of kindness and elemental kinship with a prison librarian who sees his light and some of his fellow offenders, including a tender-hearted cellmate and a troubled teen desperate for a role model. Buoyed by them and by his mother’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?

If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you know I’m a big fan of the game Qwixx—we take it just about everywhere! On my recent trip to Gatlinburg, my friend TW introduced me to these new score pads that give the game a fresh twist, and they are so much fun. If you already love Qwixx, you’ll definitely want to try it with these cards. And if you haven’t played before, now’s the perfect time to check it out! You can grab the game HERE.

5.  Here's a thought...


Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with fun, relaxation, and a little something that makes you smile. We'll see you back here next week—take care until then!

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Let’s Make Homemade Ice Cream

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  Today I'm sharing something on my mind and then inviting you to link up and do the same!  Last weekend I welcomed summer by making some homemade ice cream.  I realized it had been 10 years ago when I first shared the recipe on the blog, so I decided to reshare it today for all the people didn't see it the first time around!

Now that we've turned the calendar page and it says June, I'm thinking it's summer.  Summer makes me think of ice cream and my favorite flavor is my great grandmother's vanilla.  So you can enjoy it too, I'm sharing her recipe today.


Here's What You Need

6 eggs, beaten
3 cups sugar
2 cans evaporated milk
3 tablespoons vanilla
4 cups whole milk


Here's What You Do

1.  Crack the eggs in a large bowl and beat.  Add in the sugar and beat again.  I just use a whisk and a little wrist action.


2.  Add in the evaporated milk, vanilla and milk.  Whisk again.


3.  If using the Cuisinart Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker (pictured below), pour half the mixture into the frozen bowl.  Turn on and wait patiently for about 20 minutes until your liquid turns into the amazing frozen delight.



Click HERE to purchase
I actually purchased an extra bowl, so when my first batch is frozen I just repeat the pouring and waiting 20 minutes for my second batch to become ice cream.

This is a great ice cream base.  You can really add anything like fruit or chocolate chips to enhance this already wonderful recipe.

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - June 11, 2025

 

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!  We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature! 

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.
MEET THE HOSTS


  1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
  3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
  4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
  5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS FROM LAST WEEK
LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way your entries 
will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Five on Friday - June 6, 2025

Happy Friday!  I'm just back from a few days of vacation and am here to share my five for today.  Let's get to it ~
 
Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with a new novel!  This one marks a bold departure from her previous works, transporting readers from the glitz of Hollywood and the rhythms of rock 'n' roll to the high-stakes world of 1980s NASA.  This historical fiction delves into themes of ambition, identity, and forbidden love against the backdrop of the Space Shuttle program.  Here's the summary ~
Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.

Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, it all changes in an instant.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, creating complex protagonists, and telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love—this time among the stars.

We played a new game on vacation that was so fun!  Elimino was developed by two sisters who donate a portion of all proceeds to charity.  The game is quick to learn, easy to play, and fast-paced.  Everyone can play.  It would make a great game to throw in your travel bag or play on family game night.  I'm definitely adding this one to our game collection!

Summer is almost here, and that means more chances to enjoy meals outdoors! Keep pesky flies at bay by keeping a couple of these handy fly swatters on the table. They're perfect for camping trips, backyard BBQs, picnics—anywhere those annoying bugs like to show up!


Are the flowers on your hummingbird feeder looking a little worn or faded? Freshen it up with these high-quality replacement flowers! Just pop out the old ones and snap in the new — your feeder will look like new in no time!

5.  Ever feel like this...


Wishing you a great weekend! I’ll be spending some time unpacking and getting caught up so next week starts off smoothly. We’re seeing friends on Sunday, and I’m really looking forward to it. See you next week!

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

What I Read in May 2025

Hi there! I'm checking in from vacation in beautiful Gatlinburg and soaking up every moment of it. Thanks for joining me for Thinking Out Loud Thursday—a time to share what's on my mind and invite you to link up and do the same.


At a recent work event, we had the chance to hear author Colleen Murphy speak, along with her daughter Lauren. Inspired by their talk, our workplace book club chose to read Colleen’s book and hold a discussion about it. Here’s a quick summary ~
Colleen Murphys’ daughter, Lauren, suffered severe brain damage after a tragic accident. Lauren remained in the hospital unidentified for several hours, she was not expected to survive. This story is a raw, honest account of the pitfalls and challenges a family faces while navigating life through brain injury.

Murphys Don’t Quit shows how one family combined a never-give-up attitude with faith, hope, and love. Throughout the chapters, readers see not just the highs, but the heartbreaking lows. Due to the family’s Irish wit, humor often diffuses the devastating subject matter. Through the many grueling hours of therapy and by visiting specialists all over the country, Lauren was able to find her way back to a life filled with purpose and is now a highly sought after inspirational public speaker.

This is the fourth book in the Max Rupert and Joe Talbert series.  I've loved this mystery series and this book was no exception!  Here's the summary ~
A homicide detective hunts down his wife's killers while struggling between his thirst for revenge and a twinge of conscience forbidding him to take the law into his own hands. Homicide Detective Max Rupert never fully accepted his wife’s death, even when he believed that a reckless hit-and-run driver was to blame. Haunted by memories both beautiful and painful, he is plagued by feelings of unfinished business. When Max learns that, in fact, Jenni was murdered, he must come to terms with this new information—and determine what to do with it. Struggling to balance his impulses as a vengeful husband with his obligations as a law enforcement officer, Max devotes himself to relentlessly hunting down those responsible. For most of his life, he has thought of himself as a decent man. But now he’s so consumed with anguish and thoughts of retribution that he finds himself on the edge, questioning who he is and what he stands for. On a frozen lake at the US–Canadian border, he wrestles with decisions that could change his life forever, as his rage threatens to turn him into the kind of person he has spent his entire career bringing to justice.
This book had been on my TBR list for quite some time, so when one of my book clubs selected it, I was happy to bump it to the top. I’d heard a mix of opinions beforehand, but I ended up really enjoying it. There were several twists and turns that genuinely caught me by surprise.
William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him—so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family’s dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos.

But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?

An exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women, Hello Beautiful is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.

This was a bonus pick for Amazon First Read in April.  I'm so glad I picked it up!  It's still a free selection if you have Kindle Unlimited.  It's a fun little read that doesn't necessarily end the way you think it would.  It's 100 pages, so the perfect length to read in one sitting.
Reuben thought he’d spend the rest of his life with Beth, until she broke his heart six months ago. He’s not even remotely over her, so he’s devastated to hear she’s getting married—this weekend.

Now he’s faced with the ultimate question: what should he do on the day of the wedding? Grieve? Disrupt the ceremony? Or do everything in his power to pretend it’s not happening?

Enlisting the help of his friends, Reuben is all set to mark the occasion with distraction on a grand scale: Ferraris, champagne, and a VIP box at the races.

But on the morning of the Big Day, Reuben gets a phone call that not only derails his elaborate itinerary: it may well change his life completely…

If you’ve been a fan of Emily Henry’s signature blend of romance and wit, Great Big Beautiful Life offers something a little different—and truly special. In this thought-provoking novel, Henry steps into deeper emotional territory while still delivering the sharp dialogue and chemistry her readers love.

The story follows Alice, a charming celebrity journalist, and Hayden, a serious biographer, as they compete to write the life story of the mysterious Margaret Ives—a former socialite who has been hiding from the spotlight for decades. Both are invited to a remote island where Margaret begins to unravel her past—but gives each writer a different version of her story. What follows is a twisty, layered exploration of truth, memory, and the power of storytelling.

With dual timelines, unexpected revelations, and a slow-burn romance, Great Big Beautiful Life is more than a love story—it’s a reflection on how we choose to remember, and how those memories shape who we become. This book will stay with you long after the final page.

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.

When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.

One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.

Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.

Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.

But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad . . . depending on who’s telling it.

The Shadows We Hide
Book 5 of the Max Rupert and Joe Talbert series was as intriguing as the others!  In this mystery, Joe discovers that a man with his same name - who may be the father he never knew - has been murdered.  Like in the other four books, there a story within the story too.  I'm going to miss the characters in these books!  Here's the summary ~
Joe Talbert, Jr. has never once met his namesake. Now out of college, a cub reporter for the Associated Press in Minneapolis, he stumbles across a story describing the murder of a man named Joseph Talbert in a small town in southern Minnesota.

Full of curiosity about whether this man might be his father, Joe is shocked to find that none of the town's residents have much to say about the dead man-other than that his death was long overdue. Joe discovers that the dead man was a loathsome lowlife who cheated his neighbors, threatened his daughter, and squandered his wife's inheritance after she, too, passed away -- an inheritance that may now be Joe's.

Mired in uncertainty and plagued by his own devastated relationship with his mother, who is seeking to get back into her son's life, Joe must put together the missing pieces of his family history -- before his quest for discovery threatens to put him in a grave of his own.

Overall, May was a great reading month!  Just a reminder - don't forget to make your Amazon First Read selection.   

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking about today?  Link up and share!



You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter