It is now June and May was a very busy month but not as busy as this month will be, going to finally meet my niece Joy who we never knew existed. Her daughter and family, this is really such a mind blower, one of us knew she existed, just from posting on ancestry, did we find out that My sister Fay had a child she gave away, just blows your mind, secrets can be so mind blowing. Anyway, we are going to go meet these wonderful additions to our family tree this month, I am excited.

May brought me some luck at Rivers when I won 10,980.000, mind blowing, not what I came home with, they took 3,700 out for taxes but still in all was a very good day. On the other hand, I won at Racino and was in a hurry to get out to my waiting husband and never took the 120 out of the machine, by the time I went back it was gone, sigh! This memory thing as we get older really sucks at times. I blame myself but all in all I still came out a head so happy about that. My new /old BFF Debbie and I love to play and have a lot of fun there, our husbands have gotten to know each other and so we get to do dinners and go places as couples which is nice. My BFF Colleen is up from Florida for the summer, and we get together for lunch this weekend at Queensbury, one of my favorite spots to eat in Glens Falls. I am truly so lucky with my family, so very blessed. Shannon our oldest is off to NC to see her sister Dawn for a week and I am so happy they are together, Hey were so close growing up ,and Lindsay our youngest is off to Oz ,yes she is a Wizard of Oz obsessive person, she loves Chittenango, NY, in case for anyone reading this ,it is where Frank Baum(author of wizard of Oz) wrote it and the yellow brick road that was written into the book town is still there. As for me ,I am doing lunches with friends this month some I have not seen in years, and some I see a lot but still love being with them.

Here is a great dish to prepare anytime, yes its soup but its good winter, spring summer or fall, so enjoy, Get out and do the things you love to do, see the people you love to do things with ,enjoy life we all know how short it is and retirement is really the last leg of life and to be fully enjoyed. Her is wishing all of you who read my blog the best summer ever! Karen

Yes, it's Greens & Beans tonight.

Recipe: Easy version of an Italian Favorite.

You will need: a Stick of Pepperoni, Garlic, a can of Cannellini Beans, a carton of Chicken Broth, a bunch of Escarole.

Boil Pepperoni for about 10 minutes. Drain, but save 1 cup Pepperoni Water. Let cool and then cut into slices, then in quarters. Chop garlic....as much or as little as you like...then sauté in olive oil till tender.

Add Pepperoni, Garlic, Chicken Broth and Beans to soup pot............you can drain the beans if you like. I don't because I like their taste in the soup. Simmer for 10 minutes to infuse flavors. Taste and add seasoning if you wish.

Rough chop Washed Escarole and add to pot,. Simmer until wilted..only a few minutes. And it's done.

I always have some freshly grated Parmesan Cheese to top it off when serving. Enjoy!