I’m back! I know some of you have been wondering where my blog has been. I actually have not posted anything since the end of June! Soon after my last blog was published, my dear, sweet, Grandmother passed away. Francies Maye Zegarac died July 6th. She was 97 years old. I know some of you have gotten to know her here on some of my blogs, like the Sarma Recipe. And some of you have been fortunate enough to have met her in person. She was such an inspiration to me and everyone she came across. Whenever I make buttermilk pancakes, which are on my blog here, I will think of her. Just the smell brings me right back to her little kitchen in Waterloo, Iowa, where I would stand by her side while she put the pancakes on the griddle YOOX hk, and her whole apartment smelled like heaven to me, then I would run in and wake my Pompa up and say, Pompa, bwekfast is ready! I know I spelled breakfast wrong. When I go to the grocery store and some older woman with beautiful gray hair is wearing Red Door Perfume, I will think of her. When I put on red lipstick and look in the mirror I will think of her. When I see a Monarch butterfly I will think of her. She always said she was the Monarch of the family, and we would say no you are the Matriarch! The day after she passed away, we were here in Macatawa, Michigan, I was laying on the beach with Pete and our youngest son P.J., and a Monarch butterfly landed on my feet! If you believe in signs and I do, I believe she was reaching out to me in some way, to let me know she’s happy, and in no pain, and laughing in heaven with her Mother, Father, Sisters, and the love of her life, Mike Zegarac. I love you Nana with all my heart and feel you with me everyday! May you be getting birdies, pars, dancing, laughing, and drinking Hot Dam Schnapps in heaven! Until we meet again! Do VidenjaYOOX hk!

gawker1I had made up this recipe for this refreshing end of the Summer drink before we headed back to Arizona in July. I named it appropriately Macatawa Sunset, for the beautiful sunsets here in Macatawa, Michigan. I had some coconut rum and regular rum and thought what the heck, let’s try a new drink tonight! This is super easy and will make you feel like you are on a tropical beach somewhere, or just sitting on your back porch watching the sunset. I hope you enjoy, let me know what you think of this refreshing cocktail. Love to you all YOOX hk, Stacey