Sarah was home!!!

Yes, the daughter made it home for Thanksgiving weekend. Poor girl was a little late and a few dollars short after she experienced car trouble in Joplin, Missouri. Luckily she found a great shop. She and the car limped to the Goodyear Mechanic. She had her iphone with her while waiting for the repair. Luckily she googled the business and found a $10 off coupon.

She told the guy when he rang up the bill that she had a coupon but it was on her phone. He was nice enough to let her use it.

Saturday, we got to do the mother/daughter shopping trip. After all it is her birthday week!


First we stopped at BK Bakery for some of their awesome pastries. Sarah had carrot cake and a latte, I had tiramisu with Colombian coffee.

Then, on to shopping Maurice's, Bath and Body works, TJ Maxx, Target, even a couple specialty shops.






Later in the day we went to see Mom. Here Mom is sporting a wheelchair. This is what happens after you break your little toe really bad ( 45 degree angle) and can't walk. Here's a great picture of Sarah and her Grandma C.





I just had to throw this picture in of the boys looking for Christmas toys!

What a great 4 day weekend we had with all the kids!

The day after thanksgiving

This is what I did first thing yesterday morning. It's the first thing I do almost every morning, Caffe Mocha.





Next it was on to the day's preparations. Toast the bread for the dressing. See the sweet potatoes waiting to be peeled? I then made Tipper's Thanksgiving rolls. They were delicious. It's the first time I have used oatmeal or brown sugar in dinner rolls. Visit her here for the recipe!




The pilgrims were watching over the pumpkin pie for safe keeping. I figured no one would mess with vintage pilgrims.













The dinner table was all set. Even Bentley was waiting for a feast.











Elizabeth wasn't allowed our food, but was given a baby wafer to chew on.

We all ate way too much. There are plenty of leftovers too for the weekend.











Friday morning the grand kids came at 6:35 AM. Their mother was off to the black Friday sales.

Next time I am going to ask for a food allowance for them. Each boy ate 3 fried eggs. For Alex you add a toasted bagel with strawberry jelly, a piece of pumpkin pie with whipped cream, a half of an orange and a glass of juice.



Did I tell you that Tipper's rolls were really good? So good that Brady wanted one with his eggs.


And now it's time to rest.

What's in your refrigerator?

See what's waiting for me?

Look what Janet has in her refrigerator!

Give Thanks

Turnip kraut

42 jars equals 1 well deserved cup of hot tea.

Red Rose tea as a matter of fact.

If you'd like the Turnip kraut recipe, I posted it last here last year.

Now I'm off to enjoy the music of popping lids. Music to my ears.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Scenes from the closing of deer camp 2009. Here are pictures of the boys and their campfire. Notice one includes one big boy too.

Our last meal there was some delicious chicken from Dan the BBQ man that I talked about last week. I made what is known around our family as river potatoes (thanks to Janie) and 7 layer salad. Our meal was topped off with banana bread still warm from my oven.



Brady was the only one that was successful with bagging a deer. Pretty awesome for an eight year old, to out shoot all the guys!








Saturday, we left before the crack of dawn to attend a blacksmith class in Sunset Hills, Missouri, a surburb of St Louis.

To read more about the class visit Osage Bluff Blacksmith.

My friend Bonnie was there. She and I did a Thelma and Louise road trip in August of 2007.

At lunch time Bonnie showed us a great little cafe just about 2 miles away, Viviano's . I had the muffuletta, BT had the meat ball sandwich. Now that's what I call real Italian food! I only wish I had room for the tiramisu.



Here is our teacher for the weekend. Frank Turley of Santa Fe New Mexico. He is one cool dude!

How was your weekend?

What season is it?

What season is it? I thought Thanksgiving Day was just two weeks away. However when I went to the Goodwill store today I saw this Preston & York suede coat. Price tag $20.00 and it's new! Did I say it's brand new? You never find a nice winter coat at the right time. Well until today, right time, right price, right place.

When I got home I went walking through the yard, this was the scene in the back. As you can tell it appears to be winter, no leaves.

Then I see this little geranium blooming among the dead Live Forevers or some of you call them frog bellies.


On to my knockout roses and I see this beautiful pink one just starting to bloom.

Two more steps I see the red bud swelling. Even the nasturtiums are still green.

Is it really Thanksgiving next week? If so I need to buy a turkey!

The Baby doll quilt is finished.

It's finished!

The deadline was Christmas, so I am way ahead of schedule.

The front contains 431 pieces of fabric!

It measures 21 by 13 inches.

A Wash out

Day two, deer camp.

3 inches of rain plus.

Creek is flooded, can't get to hunting stands.

Country Chili at my house.

These pictures are scenes from behind our house that the 8 year old deer hunter took with Grandpa.

Dinner at Deer camp

Let me introduce you to the two queens. Queen Lisha and Queen Larraine. You ask why were they wearing tiaras? Because they could. I don't know. It was something about a bus trip last week, to local bars, you had a theme and had to dress the theme. I don't know, too much information for me. Anyway here they are.




Appetizers . . . pickled eggs, made by Jeremy.










Vegetable . . . turnip kraut cooked with potatoes.









Main course . . . well one of two, is 17 lbs of pulled pork. The Smokin' was done by Queen Lisha's husband Dan. He's the man. He loves to smoke meats. We love to eat Dan's smoked meats. He's not a deer hunter, just the best smoker. So good in fact that he is invited back next week to smoke chickens.




Here are just part of the smoked ribs and rib tips he made. They are to die for, fall off the bone tender, and even different rubs.


Wish you all had been there, needless to say we had enough for all of you all.

First Deer Taken this season

At 9:30 AM this morning I got a call from Brady, who was still in the woods. "Grandma I got an 8 pointer."


Off I went with my camera.

Here he shows the one bullet that took it down. He is so proud!

There is a tradition that a snickers miniature brings you good luck. It worked!

Dad and Grandpa go to tackle the dirty work!

Congratulations Grandson on your second deer.

It's deer season

It's that time of year again. It's almost a legal holiday in our family. BT, Jeremy, the two grandsons, BIL, nephews, great nephews, all men in the neighborhood belong to this group.

After stepping into the cabin last night, the men folk had the changing of the hats. They go from camo to hunter orange.

A one point even 7 month old Elizabeth was sporting a hunter orange hat.


After a few warm up drinks, such as Jeremy's bloody Mary shown here, it was time for dinner. I made a double batch of Cabbage soup. Here's my recipe. Things have change since deer camp was first organized, it use to be, the men did all the cooking. Now the women prepare some ahead, as was the situation last night.





After dinner it was a little card playing. Even the kids get into it. Grandpa had to show little Elizabeth the ropes since this was her first Deer Camp.








The grandsons, pretty much can play go fish on their own. I did hear the comment last night it was time to show them how to play poker. To which Alex replied, "I don't have any money. Grandma do you?"


As I was leaving camp, the night time fire was be maintained by the boys. It's a shame there weren't two pokers, as it was a battle as to who got the first turn.



A scary situation on my way home, on a two mile drive from the cabin. There was a deer in the middle of the road as I rounded a curve, I screamed, the deer looks petrified, I honked, and the deer bolted away. As I came to a halt I was on the wrong side of the road. Thank you God for there not being an on coming car!

Stayed tuned more in the next few days . . .

Farewell to a Co-worker

14 months ago, my co-worker Frank was diagnosed with acute myelgenous leukemia. Saturday he lost his long hard fought battle. We are a close group of workers, all 16 of us. I have worked there 19 years and these guys are like my family. Losing Frank was not only hard for me but for rest of the guys who worked with him. They worked in the good and bad of all weather being linemen.

The family was very kind in making sure we were included in all aspects of the funeral. As a group we the co-workers brought Frank into church. After the mass we lead to the cemetery.

This group shot includes all but 3 of us. The others were helping with arrangements.

At the cemetery as the casket was taken off the truck the song Wichita Lineman was played.

I am a lineman for the county.
And I drive the mainroad.
Lookin' in the sun for another overload.

I hear you singing in the wire.

I can hear you thru the whine.
And the Wichita Lineman,
is still on the line.

I know I need a small vacation.
But it don't look like rain.
And if it snows that stretch down south,
won't ever stand the strain.

And I need you more than want you.

And I want you for all time.
And the Wichita Lineman,
is still on the line.

Truck #34 was Frank's truck. If you look close his shirt is draped over the seat. A coke and a whatchamacallit candy bar was on the seat, two of his favorites.

Rest in peace Frank, May 20, 1964 to November 7, 2009

Cars

I was going through one of my picture boxes last week when I came across some pictures of cars BT has owned. I'd like to share them with you.

This 1962 Buick Special is the car BT owned when we started dating.

Shortly before we were married he purchased this awesome 1966 black Chevrolet Impala convertible. I can't remember if it was the car or those sexy tight white jeans that caught my eye. I still remember the navy blue shirt he wore, oh back to the car. The day of our wedding a friend with white shoe polish almost lost his life when BT caught him writing on the car.

During our first year of marriage, he found this 1953 Ford. After a little engine work, a new paint job and new upholstery it was cool. Never mind his two little sisters trying to steal the show.



In 1972 we purchased this little silver Vega. It was like riding in a peanut. We kept it for 2 years. The stick shift wasn't any fun in St Louis bumper to bumper traffic. The day after we traded it in, it broke loose in the car dealer's lot and rolled into another car.




It was then that we purchased this beautiful 1974 Oldsmobile Cutlass supreme. It was a Cadillac in my eyes. White leather interior, white landau top and navy blue paint. . . oh I remember that navy blue shirt.

About 1975 we became the owner of BT's grandfathers 1947 Chevrolet. The shifter was on the column. The dash board even sported a choke button. In this picture we had it decorated for a parade.


And since then we've owned four pickups, an Audi station wagon (that BT hated), a neat Chevrolet van he finished on the inside, and BT's beloved Ford Bronco II. Some day when I look through more boxes, I might find those pictures too.

Today he drives this. Most of the time it's not topless. We are a two Jeep family. He has a Wrangler, I have a Cherokee.

Hope you enjoyed the ride.