Norine and Vince Mungo

Mama Mungo's Soup Kitchen

2010-11-09T02:03:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it. I started my new blog and it is all about recipes and the kitchen! I am excited to finally get it going. It is mostly so my girls will have easy access to their cherished favorites, but I have many friends too that love my recipes at parties and such, so, I dedicate it to all those friends and family who love good food! The blog is under mamamungossoupkitchen.blogspot.com I think! LOL. You Know What To Do Next!

I am going to start two new blogs! 1 for recipe's and 1 about my dad!

2010-07-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

I love to cook and I am working without a kitchen! Yeah, I know, many of you have gone through kitchen remodels and such, and for those who are going to go through one, I thought I'd share my experiences since coming to Florida! I will figure out the title and then let everyone know about the blog!

Next, I've been wanting to write a book about my dad, and how he gave us driving lessons since we were old enough to understand words! He'd point out something about driving while going down the road, and then, after he'd finish that thought, he'd add a thought about life that related to the driving lesson. This blog will be called, Driving Lessons From Dad. He's long since gone, but I know he will be tickled pink when I review all his comments! LOL.

Well, that's it for today, Love to All, Norine

Unconditional Love on the 4th of July!

2010-07-17T15:40:00.000-07:00

Though we miss all our friends and family on the West Coast, Vinny and I had a great time with some of our good friends that have also moved out here to Florida. Through our friends, Bill and Dee Stockton, we have gained a whole new extended family here in the Tampa Bay Area. Dee has a most wonderful family, who really know and practice the gift of spending time together. We are always invited to their get togethers and are always made to feel so welcome.

If not for them, we would miss our family so much and would have to move back!!! I think that their extended hand of friendship and family should be noted because it is a lost art with most people today! You don't often find people that just embrace new people with such enthusiasm and unconditional love. I say kudo's to our friends Bill and Dee who moved out here to Florida from Washington over a year ago, and also to Dee's family, Vickie and her husband Mike, Chuck and Virginia, and all those kids, and grandkids, and friends, for making it so pleasent to be in this part of the state! I Heart YOU!! Norine

Finally here in Florida and Settled

2010-06-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

So it's been awhile since I was on the net. We are finally settled in a home in Bradenton, Fl. Now we are getting all the utilities hooked up, and we are back on the net!!! I will post some pics soon, and more fun things about the area! Love to all, Norine

So I have a few job leads today

2009-11-12T21:43:00.000-08:00

Have a few job leads today. The head hunters that are hooking me up with an awesome office in Florida tells me today that they also place opticians nationwide and also place them in Washington! Hmmmmm! But I did the research on the offices in Florida, and what a company! Eye Surgery, Plastic Surgery (for the eye area), Ear Surgery (cochlear implants), Eye wear selection, in house lens lab, all under one roof! And they have three locations! That is amazing!

Then today, a DM contacts me via Email for Sprint and the position is here in this area of Washington! I have been searching for 3 months, and today, two possible offers are right here in Washington. Well, I will weight my options. I will keep yall informed as I go through the next week, but as it stands, I have been preparing to leave on the 22nd! So, miracles must happen quick if I am going to stay!

Should I stay or should I go!!!!

Tatoosh

2009-11-08T23:48:00.000-08:00

So here is the start of some of our friends

here in Washington. This is Tatoosh! The picture above is Bobby Hoffman on drums, with Dave Nichols and Gary Montgomery.
Bobby is a premier singer
and performer in the
Puget Sound.
As a drummer he is bar none.
But as a front man, he out performs anyone we've
ever seen!
I am glad to call him friend!

Our friend and Brother in music,

Dave Nichols!

He is the first person we met up

here and of course he is

the first musician that played

with us. It all started with a song

called "In My Dreams"

Dave came over to our home to learn it

for us and we've played it ever since!

Dave, Vinny and I love you

very much!!!!

Here is Gary Montgomery on

the left and Donny Anderson on the right! We know Gary through the bands he's played in and he is a great bass player and exceptional singer.

Donny Anderson is another Brother in music. We will always remember playing with you and Dave at The Silver Dollar! What good times we had! And what great music we made!!! Donny, Vinny and I love you very much too!!!!

And here is Tatoosh, with Vinny right there in the

middle of Gary and Donny. Vinny

played Donny's accoustic for some songs!
I got up and sang two songs,
but unfortunately, I couldn't take my
own picture whilst singing! LOL.

It was sad to say goodbye, but we're

so thankful that we had the opportunity to

see you all last night.

Hopefully we will see you one more time

before we leave.

Thanks for the memories,

thanks for the music,

thanks for the great friendship

that will never die!!!

Love, Norine and Vince

The Reason you should take pictures along the way of life

2009-11-07T16:01:00.000-08:00

I was never one for taking lots of pictures. I never saw the need before to record the daily events going on in our life. But now that I will be moving accross the world from my adult children, all of a sudden, those photos become a precious commodity.

I see the error of my ways, and now that I have a camera in my cell phone, I am never without a way to record the moment. I am seeing some good friends tonight, and will definately take some pics with them as well as tomorrow with all the musicians that are playing. Oh, and if I can get away with it, I am going to take some pictures of my fellow church members!!! I am going to miss everyone, but with some pictures, and all these blogs and facebook etc, I know that they will always be with me!!!

Watch for my blogs tomorrow night, and you will see so many of our friends! Love to all, Norine

Mama Mungo's Soup Kitchen is open for business

2009-11-07T01:48:00.000-08:00

So I joined the site I recomended below. I just put my recipe up for my Bruschetta. If you like that, you can go to that site and look it up. Just go to
http://cookeatshare.com/chefs/norine-mungo-28324

Norine has discovered Steam Bag cooking

2009-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

I am really starting to like those steam bags for vegies and cooked meat. I bought one of those huge bags of frozen vegies of carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, and it is lasting so long since I went to those bags. I don't feel like I am making too much anymore, and they are so much healthier!!!

I like mixing cut up small red potatos in with the vegies and they come out so creamy!!! You have to try it!!! I also cooked a ton of chicken yesterday and tonight just put some of the pieces in one of those bags and in minutes I had a nice hot meal with no prep!!! Yeah for bags!!!

Here is a link to a great recipe site that also has a section on Ziplock Steam Bags!

http://cookeatshare.com/popular/ziplock-steam-bags-recipes

Because I Have Been Given Much

2009-11-06T11:16:00.000-08:00

I just added a video of my favorite church song, Because I Have Been Given Much. This song was sung at our baptism and it is really special to me. It is on the sidebar, so enjoy it being sung by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir/Quartet. Soooooo Beautiful. It brings me peace!!!!

I Love Michael Buble

2009-11-06T10:40:00.000-08:00

I added a song on the side bar that I love. It is everything about Vince and when I hear the song I fall in love all over again. So, enjoy. BTW, I made it smaller by editing the html to be 100 width and depth. If you want to know how to do it, just ask in the comment!

Selling off our memories!

2009-11-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

So, I put all my furniture on craigslist and one by one they are going out the door. It is scary to let things go, specially when you treasure them so much, but, as I keep saying, God has a plan for me and I am following the path that he is putting before me!

Here are a few pictures from my beautiful house, just so I have a memory when it is all gone. Once I start the new decorating, I will put that up too and we can compare as to what was best! Light or dark wood etc! LOL.

We decorated our home in a casual French Country. Sages, seafoam greens, browns and touches of lavender. This time I'd bought quality furniture from Seldons, which carries Thomasville etc. Above is our Bassett dining room set, which expands to seat up to 10 people! To the right is our couch that is a dark olive in microfiber. Really love the fabric. It is so rich and lustrous.

I followed the theme throughout the house, bedrooms, bathrooms, all in the same colors, and all accented with silver lamps and picture frames, with some type of peacock green, or seafoam in the shades and curtains etc.

Here is our main bathroom with towels and magazine rack etc. It all started with a Rodeo Home shower curtain that I found at T J Max about 4 years ago. I'd already bought the couch and the dining table, but when I found that light seafoam green mixed with brown, I knew I was home!!! LOL. So, I did the bathroom first and four years later, the whole place was transformed. I think the new place will be a varience on this theme. I love this color!

The infamous green shower curtain that caused massive shopping for 3 years! It is hard to see the color in the picture but it is like walking into a quiet spa. The texture on the curtain reminds me of Jessica MacKlintok, or however you spell her name, but you know what I mean, kinda crinkly??? Very silky too! The best part of this color scheme was that it was MAN friendly as well as womanly! You know, like, he didn't feel like he was in an all girly house. He could live with it too! I think that is important. Finding that balance for the two people is the priority.

Will I miss these things if I leave them all behind? Most certainly! Do they define who I am and will I be lost without these things? No. Things don't define us. How we are percieved rests soley on us. How we treat those around us, how we accept others, and how willing we are to take on change is what defines us. But......just look at that frame!! LOL! Eiiyiiyiii!!!

So, you may see just a few of the trinkets out in Florida, but maybe the furniture will change to white wicker, (hmmm, how DO you spell that?) or I'll go to thrift stores and garage sales, find nice wood and refinish it in whites and silvers. That would be fun. Why this response???? I just sold my two night stands and was saying goodbye to them after 10 years of loving service! Hahahaha. That's all for this moment! Have a Blessed day!!! Love, Norine

2009-11-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

Will Summer Ever End

Written 09/06/06 by Norine

I guess I am not so much of a sun worshiper.

I guess I love the still of winter,

it's frozen white plains, narrowing the view of the landscape

to a single solitary color.

I guess I like the quiet of falling snow.

Drifting down, sometimes like slow motion animation,

sometimes speeding down like a frozen fluffy rain,

but always a soft hush ensues.

I guess I like to hear the tiny crush of snow

as my feet pass over the path ,

walking through the trees with their laden boughs,

dressed up in their winter gowns,

sparkling greater than any diamond could.

I guess I love to view Mount Rainier, topped like a sundae

with whipped cream all the way to the bottom,

turning pink in the sunset on a clear day.

I am not a hotty. I am a coldy.

I guess I like sitting in my front room with the blinds up

and the curtains thrown back, with the TV off,

the music of bluegrass in the background,

a fire glowing behind the screen, crackling and spitting,

it's warmth warming me far greater than any sun could,

as I just sit and watch the greatest show on earth.

You may keep your hottest summer days.

There is nothing so remarkable to remember

about a hot day in and of itself.

Oh, the family and friends at the BBQ

or the biggest wave you ever rode, yes,

but those are things aside from the weather.

A snowy day IS about the weather.

October will come, oh yes it will my friends,

and the first day that I leave for work,

where the hint of winter hits the tip of my nose

with its stinging icy breath,

and the smell of the first wood smoke

from fires too long abandoned ignite my senses,

that will be my happiest day

since winter took it's sabbatical an eternity ago.

Will summer ever end. In my part of the world, gladly, it will.

I guess I am winters child,

longing for home,

longing for the comfort of my white blanket,

and shorter days, and longer nights.

2009-11-03T16:25:00.000-08:00

So, I have finished my story called,

"Mommy, I really want to know about,

The Easter Bunny!"

And the test groups are reading it now to

see how it flows etc.

In the meantime,

I came accross this wonderful picture

that depicts a fairy with a white bunny!

Of all things!!! What a sign!!! Can't

wait for you all to read the story!

Love, Norine

2009-11-03T15:28:00.000-08:00

So, this is exactly what Florida sunsets are like. I was so touched by the color of the sky and the water that I even wrote a song about in in February when I was there!

The last three weeks of October while in Florida were so beautiful and warm that it made up my mind to just go for it and move there.

With good friends already living there, it won't be lonesome at all, even though we are leaving the kids behind. Albeit they are adults now! LOL.

So, we started putting the intruements and van etc on craigs list and we are getting good responses. Should have things sold by Monday and that will pay for the truck to haul our things out there! We will leave behind many good friends but now that we have a blog site, well, we can keep up with all of them here!

We'll keep you all updated on how the move is going! Love, Norine

2009-11-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to talk with my friend tonght!

It has been so long, and though we lost touch,

we never lose our love for each other!

Diane, you were a miricle that came into

my life so long ago. Gee, a little over 20 years now!

I am blessed so richly by your friendship!

When we talked, just like all great friends,

it was like we were never parted!

It is good to know that you are still there,

and now that we're in touch again,

through blogs and the net, and

those silly cell phones,

we may never be seperated by those

miles in the future!

Love you much, Norine

2009-11-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

I love my friends Norman and Diane Dollahite and their family. I found this picture on Tawna's blog and borrowed it; (thanks Tawna in advance, LOL).

Diane stuck with me during my investigation stage, and was my greatest mentor as well as my dear friend. For that I will be forever greatful! She will also be tickled pink to find that I am very active again, regardless that I am doing it by myself! I am very determined and focused!

My fondest memory will always be 'Girls Camp' that summer! Though I still shudder at the 'fluffy bunny' marshmallow contest, the handing out of the beads makes up for that!

Well, love you all, and hope to connect real soon, Norine Mungo

Groucho the Wonder Cat

2009-11-02T10:46:00.000-08:00

This is our cat, ooops, I mean our child! Yep, we ARE those people over 55 who adopt a new child to fill the nest. Groucho the Wonder Cat is 7 years old. That means in reality of cat years, she is now about the age of our adult children!

So we do pamper her, and give her the best food, and she has her own toy box, and she rules the house. But just look at her! She is so worth it! she's my little foofy!!!!

2009-11-01T18:01:00.000-08:00

This is Hyblos Wetland Park where Vinny and I walk! It is beautiful and it is right here in Federal Way! Here are some more of the pictures!

This is a tree in the park that has huge mushrooms growing all the way up to the top! It made me laugh because I thought it looked like stair steps for elves or fairies! Hahahaha.

Vinny had a heart attack in 2005.

Since then, we have tried to get walking in but in this frigid weather,

though it is difficult sometimes. But, no matter the weather,

Hyblos always has something new to see,

and we do love walking in this little piece of heaven!

This tree is so huge that it is hard to see the perspective,

but trust me, if Vinny was standing by the tree, He couldn't even reach

the bottom branches. Of course you can see all it's leaves below it!

It is an ancient Maple, and just plain beautiful!

Everywhere you look off the sides of the path, there is water!

Thus, Hyblos Wetlands!

There are some meadows, but beware, if you step off the path,

even on what seems to be solid ground,

you may find yourself sinking!

So follow the warnings,

enjoy the beauty,

and stay on the path!!!

Hope to put lots of pics up on this blog of our family

2009-11-01T16:27:00.000-08:00

I am excited to find some of my old friends from the church on this blog site. I am hoping that this will become my number one place to go and leave my messages for the day as well as a journal of my journey back into the church.

I love all my dear friends who have stuck with me while I did my sabbatical. It was sad while I was away, due to the fact that my family wasn't ready for the deep commitment, nor was my husband going to become a member.

But, here I am, eight years later, totally enjoying the experience again, and this time, stronger convictions guide me regardless that I am on my own adventure. My husband has agreed to let me follow my heart, and that is a good thing. My adult children are watching, and I hope by example, they will someday follow me and come back as well.

Love to All, and To All, a Goodnight! Norine Mungo