Jody Blue

Royalty

2011-05-02T23:18:00.010-05:00

While the rest of you were setting your DVR's so you didn't have to get up so crazy early and watch the royal wedding, I was making lists, double checking flower colors and if a wrist corsage was what Willy's date wanted. I have made my fair share of corsages and boutonnieres for our kids, I started when I paid to much for a bad corsage. I figured I could rip ugly petals off just as well as the florist who seemed a bit annoyed with me that I would not want my boy to hand a browning wilted flower over to his date. I start with a trip to Hobby Lobby for supplies and a grocery store or Walmart for some affordable flowers. Then the assembling, which is very fun for me to be a bit creative.

These are the two corsages I did last fall for Avery and Willy's Homecoming dates.

Lexi's corsage.

Willy and Lexi

Taylor's corsage.

Taylor and our handsome Avery.

Avery was on Homecoming court last fall, so yes I do live with royalty!

Spring time brings Prom and the fun starts all over again. I found mini roses, oh so cute. The mistake I made was hot gluing them on, I usually sew or floral tape, but last fall I glued roses on and it worked, I just think that the mini roses are a bit more delicate. They started to brown a bit before the dance(by then pictures and supper out were over and sweet Lexi didn't mind..I know 'cuz I asked and had enough time and mini roses to replace), they were however really pretty when Willy slid them on her wrist.

I also made Willy's boutonniere so that it would match Lexi's corsage.

Stunning!!
More royalty! Willy was on Prom Court (Willy is the 4th one in). By now you do realize that with 2 boys on court it makes me...ok so maybe not the Queen Mother, but something royal!

Buckingham Palace has nothing on us, to see Lexi and Willy in the grand march...
royally stunning!

Life is a symphony...

2011-04-19T12:07:00.006-05:00

...and you just never know what your missing until you have a fun experience!
Last Saturday we actually factually(flash back to Charolett's Web movie...I'm feeling all kinds of musical) went to the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra. We went to see...
...Margit who is J.J.'s girl friend, she is a concert violinist.

We met Margit's parents for the first time, it was probably to J.J.'s advantage that we were all dressed up and in a formal setting;) We also met her violin teacher, he is in the orchestra also. Who would have thought that a concert violinist who teaches violin to 17 students also has a violin teacher?!? It was so fun that you could hear just one little pluck of a violin string, and that so many different sounds came out of each instrument. It has to be appreciated in real life, TV does not do an orchestra justice.

Avery, Ian(Grace's boyfriend), and Grace went with.

Willy went too and informed us that he may become a symphony orchestra junkie, he loved it! Willy plays trombone, in the high school band so he understands details that I have no clue about.

This was a new experience for both Jon and I. I enjoyed the music and people watching. We may not purchase season tickets but defiantly would love to go again, especially if Margit is playing!

rhuBarb

2011-04-13T22:13:00.002-05:00

Spring is in full gear around here,

and my raspberries are leafing out real nice.

But its the rhuBarb that I am keeping a good eye on. I can't wait for that 1st pan of rhuBarb desert. I think the one with the custard topped with meringue will be my favorite this year, and yes my favorite does change every year.

This is the other reason I'm keeping track of it. I'm leaf looking to make some more of these. Willy and I made a few late last spring. It was a trial and error kind of thing. I had seen one at a friends house, she said she paid $25 for her's, I wanted one but do love the challenge of seeing if I can do a project for little or nothing. Willy made rounded mounds of sawdust(we have so much from the ski making business), we laid rhuBarb leaves bottom side up on the sawdust. The bottom side has more detail and that gives a better impression on the cement. Willy mixed the bags of cement and scooped it onto the leaves. We smoothed them off and on a couple built up a little flat area. The cement did go threw the one leaf that had a couple of holes in it, it kinda looks like it has warts. I broke one before it was dry because I jumped the gun a bit, moved it, and it cracked. Another one cracked on its own.

One I took to my friend Barb, she has it on her deck with bird seed in, and the birds kept her company all winter long. The warty one we put on the ground where the rain water runs off the house. I no longer look at rhuBarb leaves the same, they are for more than being fanned with:)

Moved...

2011-03-15T08:47:00.005-05:00

The March 11, 2011 earth quake has moved Japan 13 feet closer to the United States. The earths axis has been moved by 6.5 inches moving our day 1.8 microseconds shorter. The tsunami that followed moved a 23 foot high wall of water. The tsunami moved across the ocean at 500 miles per hour reaching Hawaii in less than 12 hours, then it moved and reached the main land of North America.

This is Ryan a friend of ours and of our extended family, I borrowed the picture from his facebook:) He has been in Japan for the past 6 weeks in Itayangi, 200 miles northwest of Sendai(see news story here at WKTB video on right). Ryan is safe.
When our world is rocked, literally and figuratively,
we are moved in one way or another...
many have been moved to tears,
others will be moved to fears...
...I am moved to pray this day, for some way I can reach out.
How will this move you?

Nothin' says lovin'...

2011-02-14T08:43:00.007-06:00

In the words of that great philosopher The Pillsbury Doughboy "nothin' says lovin' like somethin' from the oven!" In honor of Valentines Day I give you our FAVORITE sugar cookie recipe. Quite a few years ago I was on a mission to find a sugar cookie that we loved. I tried every sugar cookie recipe in every cook book I had, asked family and friends, and scoured magazines while waiting in line at the grocery store(remember how it was before we could go online?). Then our family went to a graduation party, balloons and streamers parted, and garage lights shown down upon Sugar Cookie perfection!!! I hunted down the maker of said perfection, of course it would be the Grma of the graduate. She said "another girl also wants the recipe" that other girl turned out to be one of ours, so I knew we had found "the one". Grma Shirley sent me the recipe and it has remained our favorite ever since.

Grma Shirley's Sugar Cookies

1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla (I use 2-3)
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350* Mix ingredients in order. Chill dough. Roll into walnut sized balls(I just use a small ice cream scoop). Dip bottom of glass into sugar then gently press cookie. Bake @ 350* for 10-12 min on lightly greased cookie sheet. Makes 3-4 dozen. For my family if the edges start to brown they are to done. For festive occasions I mix decorating sugar with granulated sugar).

We also went on a perfect cookie press search, and found a vase that works great. I spray the bottom of the vase with cooking spray before the first sugar dip. I now want to go on the perfect cookie sheet search, mine are really old. I though I should just use one of the many jelly roll/bar pans I have, I wasn't impressed. The cookies turned out a little flat and not as many fit on the pan. For now I'll go back to my old ones, they have a seasoned quality.
Happy Valentines Day and let the lovin' begin!!!

Fresh Start

2011-01-18T18:46:00.005-06:00

Its that time of year when we all seem to want a fresh coat of paint, or make a change of some kind, inside and out. I like to freshen things up but not lose the character in the process. Rust and wrinkles...its all good!

Last summer I found this Decoware bread box in the bargain bin at an antique mall in Wadena MN. I paid just $4 for it. Add two cans of spray paint, antique ivory for the inside and sage green for the outside, and for around 10 bucks I have what I call a "treasure" and my kids call "dead people junk". Jon patiently took me to 4 different stores looking for the perfect paint color...we didn't find it (it exists only in my mind). The doors are so fun, inside and out so we kept them original and painted the rest. Jon was the one who put on the final coats, it kept running for me, with all the furniture and ski's he has sprayed he is pretty much the master when it comes to laying down a smooth finish.

Pretty fun huh?!? When I shut and open the doors it makes the sweetest little "ting" sound. My Grma Brown had a bread box and it reminds me of the one that sat on her counter. Mine will live in my sewing room.
This is my other New Year fresh start. For the 1st time I am trying a sourdough starter. I had bubbles after the 3rd day and after a week I baked my fist loaf of sourdough bread. It didn't have the sour flavor I was expecting, but it was good non the less, so I'm letting it do its thing for another week and see if that improves the tang. Rust and wrinkles, ting and tang, its all a good "fresh start" to my year!

WAndering

2010-12-14T22:28:00.007-06:00

Finally, finally I am getting around to my last post about my trip with Barb to WAshington state for a visit with my Sister Tami. Maybe it was my subconscious not WAnting the trip to ever end, so I just kept putting it off...anyWAy here we go!!!

This WAs the first view we had of Mt. Rainier poking above the clouds. In the days that followed it seemed to peek its head around every unexpected corner.

On the WAy up we stopped at an over look, I actually think Tami stopped to just give Barb and I a taste, we were wild with excitement! We had much more than a taste here, we had many deep deep inhales. The smell was something you just could not get enough of, we decide that this is where fragrance makers for anything marketed under the banner of "mountain fresh" come with jars in hand trying to capture the scent...and if you were not already aWAre, there isn't a laundry soap, fabric softener,or sachet that can even hold a scented candle to that fresh mountain air!

You can hardly see the mountain stream that WAs running threw this valley, it looks small compared to the rest of the riverbed that Tami pointed out becomes a ragging torrent when the spring snows melt.

The Happy WAnderers!
The General, Tami, Bubby, The Princess, and Barb...and our new best friend...Mt Rainier

I love to go a-WAndering along the mountain track...
and use the sticks along the way to mount my sneak attack!

The hills are alive...with the sounds, the sights, and even the love! Do you see it on the far hill?

I love to WAnder by the stream that dances in the sun...

So joyously it calls to me...
Jody, come again this place to see!!!

I WAve my hat to all I meet...

...and they WAve back to me...
or we find a bench...

It was so nice just to WAlk abit, sit abit, and just let your all senses WAke up.

Goodness, I felt like I had WAlked into the middle of a painting!

I actually took this picture! Can you believe it!?! I know, it looks like a post card! The beauty just surrounded us, it WAs seriously hard to take a bad picture.

Oh, may I go a-WAndering until the day I die!
Oh, may I always laugh and sing, beneath God's clear blue sky!!!

My heart still WAnders back there every now and then.

WAter WAy

2010-11-09T23:06:00.013-06:00

My WA trip continued.
We went to Seattle across Puget Sound by WAy of WAter.

Crossing a pretty impressive bridge along the WAy.
This was our greeter while WAiting to drive onto the ferry. It is a Rhodesian Ridgeback, they are used by Homeland Security, he WAs very excited to do his job.

All aboard!!

WAter WAtching.

A passing ferry.

There's Seattle! Its good to see the Space Needle from afar because once your up close its hard first of all to crane your neck to see it(said the lady with a titanium plate in her's) and second to really appreciate it compared to its surroundings.

And here we are at Pike Place Market! We had front row parking(I don't know about you but to me thats a little blessing) we just got out of Tami's Taxi and walked right in. Tami does a very impressive job at getting around, she was also determined not to wear us out so she did alot of the drop and go method...she would drop us off and go find a go find a parking spot.

We could hear music as soon as we got out of the vehicle. This guy was warming up as we left. The musicians take turns playing throughout the day. Our arrival serenader was James Coates, Barb and I both bought his cd.

I took this picture for my boys that love to bike, I thought they'd like the "bike stand".

So much to see.

The fish throwers!! How cool is that I got a picture of them throwing fish...yup, I WAs impressed.

Besides the fish throwers this guy is a main attraction, you have to WAit your turn to take pictures with him.

Then we crossed the street to the original Starbucks, where I bought my husband one of his favorite things...coffee and a mug to put it in...yup, he WAs happy.

Our last stop WAs at the Space Needle. These carvers impressed me as much as the Needle. My next and last post on my trip is, besides getting to spend time with Tami & family and Barb, one of my favorite things about the trip...it will be well worth the WAit!!

WAlk with me...

2010-10-31T19:55:00.009-05:00

...around Olympia WA(my trip to see my sister continued) there is alot of fun stuff to see and do. The Farmers Market is really fun, it's big enough to have a good variety of things but not so big that it wears you out. Most of it is covered so even when it rains the buying and selling continues.

The food court has alot of fun choices from German to Oriental to Mexican and local. Tami had Curry in a Hurry, the name just made me laugh...and she did get her curry lickety-split!

So many seeds.

Flowers...
...and more flowers. This just amazed me that the beginning of October and flowers were blooming, not just the ones for sale at the farmers market but in back yards, front yards, along boulevards and in turn abouts.

Barb & I shared a crab cake with a side of coleslaw, it was so good and fresh. Then it was time for dessert.
Horn of Marzipan as big as my hand!

Bubby went for the brownie on a stick!
Tami the phoodie introduced us to "phoo" (like fa as in fa la la la). I'm going to make it for my family, I think I can come pretty close to duplicating it.

The proprietress of this retro little shop, isn't she fun!?!

The inside of the little place was just as fun for the Princess and I.
A stop off at this little place for a cup of joe-lt.

I love details like this. I'd stop for a cappuccino just to get to use that door pull.

Details:) Don't let the love on the top of my latte fool you this stuff was high on the jolt-o-meter! I'm a serious caffeine wienie, so about 1/4 the way threw it my hair was standing on end and I was starting to talk alot...the Princess finished it off for me...we dropped her off at dance so she had a place to utilize the caffeine:)

Playing at Puget Sound during low tide.

Such a creative WAy to WAlk on the beach.
My sweet sister Tami and I.
Shadow WAlking
Wood WAlking, Barb and I loved-loved the tree's they are just plain huge and tall...very very tall. It felt like the Hundred Acre Wood.

And after the little WAlks here and there...my heart WAs WArmed:)

WAahoo!!!

2010-10-24T22:44:00.008-05:00

WAaaahoooo!!!
I was blessed with a trip to WAshington state to visit my sister and her little's!!

My friend Barb and I went, she was kind and let me have the window seat. I was like a 5 year old with my nose to the window on the flight out, I was also probably as annoying as a 5 year old can be with my play by play of what we were flying over. All the lakes of MN was so neat to see. Across ND and MT it was pretty much alot of uninhabited land, it had a stark beauty to it. The closer we were to the Rocky mountains the land looked like a velvet quilt made in hues of dark greens and browns, so pretty. Then mountains with silver streams and then clouds.

The first day there Tami took Barb and I to Steilacoom for a Thai shrimp salad(Tami is a serious foodie) and oddly enough as I type this out I am really hungry for that salad. We then did a bit of sight seeing, and then for desert to this quaint little place that was once a general store, pharmacy, and post office all in one...so that's where Target and Walmart got the idea:)

The middle white building is the Steilacoom city hall, it was so picturesque. And just look at the view of Puget sound.

Another day we visited the state capital in Olympia WA.

Statue of Mother Joseph, she was a huge part of the settling of the Northwest. She not only designed 11 hospitals, 7 academies, 5 Indian schools, and 2 orphanages, she also raised money to build them, oversaw, took part, and inspected the buildings, clearly she could bring home the bacon, build the kitchen to fry it in and then fry it up in the pan.

All of the lights in the capital were purchased from Tiffany's long before Tiffany was famous so they were purchased at a bargain price.

Two of these really pretty chandeliers hang in the State Reception room. The me that dabbles in a bit of jewelry making would love to just touch those crystals, or at least be around when they clean the thing, can you imagine!?!

In the Rotunda hangs the largest chandelier ever created by Tiffany, its chain alone weighs 1&1/2 tons, the chandelier weighs 5 tons. During one of the 3 earthquakes to really shake the place it swung for 3 days(it might have been more, I can't recall and so for the sake of not exaggerating I'll stick with 3 days until Tami sets me straight or I get curious enough to just call the number on my capital brochure and ask...I may suggest that they put this kind of information in the brochure so that inquiring minds like mine can know these things. I did try to google it but apparently its a state secret that only the tour guide knows and the rest of us can't remember long enough to get it on the web!)

The capital over looks this little man made lake that over looks Pudget sound. The rest of the trip is soon to follow. I have to do it in a few posts, there is just so much to share.

Birds of a Feather...

2010-09-06T22:40:00.006-05:00

For about a week during the summer I had been watching this baby bird in our back yard who obviously jumped the nest well before it was ready to fly. It might have been Papa Robin but for the sake of my having a mini revelation we're going with Mama Robin. That Mama Robin fed and watched over her off spring like a hawk, and when it strayed too far or I was too close she called it back again. But there were times when all she could do was sit on a branch and watch.

One day when J came home for a visit he yelled for me to come quick and bring the camera, he had rescued a bird from the jaws of the "beast". I told him how we had been observing it, we put said beast in doors and he let the little guy go and it wasn't long and Mama bird was checking her baby out and no doubt a bit thankful for the rescuer.

Our J didn't jump the nest too soon but where he landed at times saddeneds us. We feed him when he comes around, hang out and love on him and the pretty girl who sometimes tags along. I probably chirp a bit too much for his liking a times. I do hope that when things get too much and the world out there would like to chew him up that there is someone who would rescue him from the jaws of life...and I will be thankful.
Meanwhile in the front yard a whole nother saga was taking place.We live on a busy main street on the edge of town, traffic moves fast, you have to pass our home to get to the high school, the pool, the Piggley Wiggley, etc. And look where a Robin couple built a nest, and they kept it in use for weeks, I think they had 3 different clutches of eggs. I tried to not be too much of a busy body neighbor.
I heard a story about a contest that was held to paint a perfect picture of peace, the final two pictures where unveiled. The first was of a glass smooth lake with sheep grazing along the shore. The second was of a storm darkened sky over a rushing torrent of a waterfall, a tree growing on the precipice and on a branch sitting on a nest was a mother bird, covering her young.
Peace in my own front yard.
We had some wild storms this year and this Mama held tight. I would watch her, once I thought the nest was blown away so I went out on the veranda and could hardly see the few feet threw the rain and yet there she sat, all hunkered down in her nest waiting for the storm to pass. I'm learning.

And look that Mama Robin even built her nest with love!
Can you see it woven in?

5 and big!!

2010-08-25T22:55:00.008-05:00

When our Randi was little she couldn't wait to turn "5 and big"! Oh the things she was going to do, the closer she was to turning 5 the more fun she was sure she would be having. When Randi married and started having babies, I was so excited to be part of my own grown up version of "5 and big".

5 generations!!!
1st-my Grma Brown, 2nd-my Dad, 3rd-ME!!! 4th-my Randi and 5th-my Grandsons Elijah and Connor. I love this picture! My Dad looks proud as a peacock...but that was before Grma "got after" him, not once but 3 times for not telling her we were coming, it was priceless! Let me tell you at 94 Grma is sharp as a tack and a still a force to be reckoned with! This was so special for me! Randi was right...it is oh so fun to be "5 and big".

If ya can't take the heat...

2010-08-11T23:12:00.010-05:00

Grilling out is one way we keep our house cooler in the heat of summer. I would really like one of those green EGG ceramic grills...but here's the honest truth...rarely do I do the grilling. Jon does our grilling and he is pretty much a master at it on our Weber kettle grill. I'm the kitchen prep part of this dynamic duo. Although I'm pretty sure if we had an EGG he would love it...and I would love him loving it. I did decide if I was going to say that we would really love an EGG I should at least make and attempt at grilling a meal or two. So far this summer I've done one meal all by my lonesome.I made pork and grilled corn. I found a recipe for grilled corn with a mayo mixture smeared on, it was really good. Most of the time when we grill there are 2 things that are a grill staple for us, grilled toast, and potatoes on the grill.
When we make Grilled Toast we try to use bread that we can cut thick, I like using sourdough. Butter both sides and sprinkle with Lawry's season salt and grill both sides, so good that even the ones that get a bit to dark get eaten. This year we are using natural lump charcoal, so far we are pretty impressed.

Potatoes on the grill.
Grated potatoes
Thinly sliced onions
Butter, salt, pepper, Lawry's, lemon pepper.
Spray heavy duty tin foil. Put potatoes, onions, butter and seasons on tin foil then wrap up and then wrap with another piece of tin foil. Grill until done. We usually put on before we put the meat on unless we are grilling something that is really thick.

Tastes even better than they look!! The sweet corn is from our garden, we plant Gotta have it from Gurneys and it is by far the best corm we have ever had or grown.

Summer supper out doors...keepin' it cool inside.

Here I am helping clean up(fulfilling my part of the dynamic duo;) in my new apron from Cowgirl Goods, I love it! Oh yea Cowgirl has an EGG, and she hardly uses her oven...yup she's cool.

Going Home

2010-08-04T00:51:00.009-05:00

My Mom & Dad dee. I. vee. oh. are. see. e'd when I was 20, by then I had already been gone since I was 17, my Brother who is just a year younger had came and went a couple of times , my Sister Tami left shortly after the big D. at age 13. Our youngest Brother stayed the longest but was bounced between our parents and Ants & Uncles. I have often felt saddened when someone would say "we always come home on the weekends" or "I'm going home to see my folks". Fragmented family's often times don't lend themselves to having a roots kind of home. I remember when my Mom or Brother would say "are you coming up home for Christmas?" I'd reply "I am home but we are up coming for a visit"...petty I know. Trips north to visit family have always been so special to me, it has also been bittersweet. Recently one of my favorite Uncles passed away after nearly 3 year cancer battle (just for the record...most of them are my favorite, 9 on my Mom's side and 4 on Dad's). Packing and heading up north this time was that very rare feeling of "I am going home". A trip back to see Aunts, Uncles, cousins and neighbors that I hadn't seen in years, catching up, and being surrounded by people that I really love alot, at a very hard time...bittersweet.

Exhale. I am here, not my home but a home that I and my siblings spent ALOT of time at when we were kids, there are other homes, but for this trip this is where I want to be. The farm of my Uncle and my Ant. home. This is where I spent many summer days on the back of a horse or a pony herding the milk cows in the field out behind the barn. I also spent alot of time riding pigs and those milk cows, Uncle was fine with us riding pigs...not so fine with us riding the milk cows, especially when their milk production dropped. He never passed up a hard luck case or a good laugh. Over the years my Uncle and Ant took in many strays...human and critter...young and old. No one was ever turned away from their table. When he "went home" tickets were purchased post-haste, nieces, nephews, friends of his children that came to stay for the weekend and left over a year later...or never left until they were adults...we all came "home".

This is Sandy.
My Uncle and his son went to buy tractor parts, and came home with her, they bought her off a slaughter truck for $20, hooves over grown and nothing but skin and bones, she was in really rough shape. Another Aunt of mine, who lives down the road from Uncle had to have knee surgery...she was in rough shape too, so the donkey was named after Ant Sandy.

One day Kyle ran to the house saying "Grandpa Sandy is down, we need the 4 wheeler!" Uncle said "We'll take the truck, hop in" then he drove to get his son to help "get ol' Sandy up" all the while thinking it was Ant Sandy who was down. He pulled up to where Dan was, and said at the same time he saw Sandy the donkey on the ground "Dan, Sandy is down we need to go..." The story was still being told and laughed at as we all sat around and visited as families do when a loved one "goes home".

Ant Sandy's knee healed, and Sandy the donkey managed to get pregnant and have little Ellie Mae a couple of weeks ago, even though she still looks a bit rough she looks a whole lot better than she did when she stepped off the slaughter truck, another stray taken in. My Uncle will be missed, he was a good example of giving and reaching out to so many of us. It was a bittersweet trip...so if home really is where the heart is...then I can truly say...

...it was good to be "home".

Winds of Change

2010-07-19T00:02:00.008-05:00

On June 17, 2010 a tornado ripped threw the Wadena MN area, Jon's hometown. With in hours facebook was full of pictures from the area. Can I just say I love facebook!?! With in a short time after the storm I knew that my Aunt Ruth was fine, although 3 blocks from the twister her home was fine. I also knew that my Aunt and Uncle in Deer Creek were ok and their farm had been spared, I knew that my cousins Grma H. who is over 90 years old was ok and had just lost power. Then the pictures started to pop up on fb, for days we had a virtual tour of the devastation. The 6 hours away from family and friends, didn't seem as far. Yup, love that facebook. Over the 4th of July weekend we traveled there. So sad to see places that we hung around just gone. All but one of the pictures I took, keep in mind that I took them two weeks later, and ALOT of clean up had taken place. If you want to see more pictures YouTube or google.

The north end of the Wadena County Fair grounds, this was one of our date spots.

I don't think any of these school buses will be ready for next fall. Some of them were thrown across the highway.

This is the high school Jon graduated from. The roof was peeled off and balled up like aluminum foil. They will bulldoze and build a new school, in the fall the kids will go to the local community college and the college students will attend other colleges in the area.

This is the ag service that my Uncle used all his years of farming

The cemetery lost so many huge trees, and stones were flung around, a couple are still missing. The cross with Jesus on in the middle, stood threw the storm. As we were driving around looking at all the debris and damage, Grace said it looks alot like Mexico.

One of Jon's friend's grew up here, Jon spent may hours hanging out there.

Now that puts things into perspective.

That tree is plastered with insulation.

No need for commentary on this picture, it was the 4th after all.

This is the one picture I didn't take. It was taken by my Aunt the day after the storm. When this picture made it to facebook via her grand daughter for me this was the one that broke my heart the most. That is my Uncle, and he is usually smiling. Even though I couldn't see his whole face I knew he was in a state of awe...and not a good state of awe either. To know that his landscape the way he knew it, now had been forever changed, it made me so sad. We can see havoc and devestation on the news and web, and be saddened by it, it is when it touches those you love that it becomes a reality, when it really rocks your world. Reminds me of of this song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq-_zwyTeGc

Sock it to me:)

2010-06-29T23:35:00.008-05:00

While my sister Tami is in Hawaii funning and sunning for the past week...I'm here in WI missing phone chats with her and enjoying these socks she knitted and sent me. It is supposed to get down to 47* tonight...and one would think I would sleep with these really comfy, really cool socks on...
...you see I have really cold feet, when I was younger I always slept with my socks on. Then along came Jon who said "what in the world are you doing with your socks on?" I explained that my feet are cold...really cold.
Have no fear your knight in shining armor is here!
You sleep without socks and you can warm your feet up on my legs...deal? Deal! So for years I pop into bed no matter the hour and if I so wish I plant my ice cubes on his heat radiating legs...deal...deal...not so fast. Last winter after over 25 years of defrosting my tootsies, I pop into bed...you can see where this is going right!?! So, I plant my frigid feet upon Mr. Lava Legs and he says "take those ice cubes off me." I reply in a somewhat state of you have got to be kidding me "say what? serious?" He assured me he was indeed serious. I remind him of the commitment he had made, cuz a deal after say 25 years is pretty much a committed for life kind of deal...right!?! He said "put your socks back on" "Well the honeymoon must be over and a deal is a deal...do we need to go to counseling (anytime he bugs me I tell him I'm signing us up for counseling...it's become a bit of a joke between us)?"
So with windows wide open and the fan blowing the nice cool...cold night air in on my hot honey...
...I will be sleeping...
...without socks on...
...ahhhh all is right with the world:)

End-End

2010-06-15T22:12:00.010-05:00

Schools (finally) out for summer!!! The end of school has been a little bitter sweet for me. Here are just a couple of memories from the year.

I'm glad I caught this picture for posterity sake.

Avery made these polar fleece pajamas...

...and this guy in a Sew Much More home ec. class.

Willy giving it his all.

Working at the high school has had it perks, getting asked to wear a football jersey Homecoming game day would be one of them:)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is where the end of the end comes in...
...the "how do you like them apples?"

For the past 10 years I have worked at the local high school as a teachers aide (excuse me if I don't use the PC terminology--paraprofessional). I was injured on the job a little over 2 years ago, recovery has been slow and not total. I would love to spill the whole pot of beans on this but until all is said and done with workman's comp mums the word.
Bear with me, as I go a little off track, it will all come together...in the end. Through out this injury my sister Tami has been a huge support and just a bit outspoken ( I know, hard to believe) on the whole ordeal. As I dealt/deal with w/c, the school, meds, drs. dr. bills, surgery, PT, OT, etc. etc. in the back ground has been my sister "you tell them that they broke you, now they need to fix this mess!" She has talked me through the in and outs, ups and downs, and has been a shoulder to cry on. Back on track we go...
I have had work restrictions and it has been a challenge for the school to work within my limitations. A month before school was out the superintendent came to see me one day and explained that due to my medical restrictions they will not have a position for me next year. A couple weeks later I learned that I would be getting my 10 years of service "Apple Award". When I told Tami about my "apple award" she said something to the effect "Well, will it have a big ol' bite taken out!?! It really should, and if they hand you the whole apple you just hand it back to them and say(I'll insert a breath here for her, although she doesn't often come up for need of air)..."clearly you seem to have forgotten to take a bite out of the proverbial apple" at this point what do you have to lose I mean REALLY!!" So the last week of school on Monday I was given my walking papers, and on Wednesday I was given my "apple award" I opened the box, took out my apple and had a little chuckle...

...as requested Tami, the proverbial bite had been taken :)

Too Far

2010-06-10T01:03:00.008-05:00

We went to Missouri for a long Memorial Day weekend. It is a long, long drive. Along the way I found my self saying "this is just too far" thats the adult version of "are we there yet?" But really 485 miles to get there is defiantly not too far to meet...

Connor our new grandson.

Nor is it too far to be able to snuggle him in my arms.On the ride home Jon couldn't leave Missouri with out making a last stop on the Missouri-Iowa boarder at a huge fireworks warehouse....he may have gone too far this time, I'm quite certain he will get his butt tossed in jail when he lights them all off. A friend lent us her touring van, and let me tell you it was a really, really, sweet ride, complete with a sheep skin rug for me to sit on. We have not had a full sized van for years, just minivans, with alot less leg room, cargo space, and space between the seats, this was a treat to say the least.
Over 1200 miles round trip was not too far......but the space between us was!

Whooo's your mama!?!

2010-05-12T22:35:00.010-05:00

A couple weeks ago I was at a church tag sale(if you think you see an ~~addiction…obsession~~ pattern here you maybe right) and I found...this...

At first sight of this I began to laugh and reach for my cell phone "Grace I'm at the sale at the Presbyterian Church here in town and I just found an owl lamp....I said OWL-who-who lamp its a foot and 1/2 tall, hangs from the ceiling, lights up, its harvest gold and-" "ITS SO MINE, buy it for me" she said as she laughs like crazy. Jon paid the $3 for it all the while I as thinking "there has to be a blog post somewhere in this purchase...maybe "whoo loves you" or something like that." Then the other day I was e-mailing one of my bloggy friends and had asked if she had kids...besides Bob the dog. She replied no and that it was all good for her. She has nieces and nephew that she dotes on. My mind raced back(and a blog post was born) to every summer as a kid when we went to Iowa to visit my Dad's cousin Francis and her husband Ed. They had no kids and for those few days every year she loved on us like there was no tomorrow...sweet tea, raspberries, tucking us in...lovin' us...and making a difference in the lives of 4 wild little kids.

I also thought of Jon's Aunt Mae who didn't have kids, when we go north we visit her as if she were a Grma, making sure we get pictures of her with our kids because she has prayed and cared about our kids as much as she did Jon and his brothers and sisters.

In the spirit of just having celebrated Mother's Day, there ought to be a 'Nother Mothers Day, not an "Other Mothers Day" cuz that would mean a mother in law. 'Nother, like in "you want 'nother cookie?" meaning added to the goodness that one already has... an added unexpected sweetness to ones life...like a second cookie. These "nother Mothers at times, have the time, energy, and resources that everyday Mama's have been tapped out of just providing the basics. They often give where regular Mama's forget to, they bring gifts tangible and non-tangible into our worlds, taking us on day trips and journeys. Sometimes when it feels like life has left us hanging 'Nother Mother's are there to light the way and let us know we are loved.So...whoo's your 'nother Mother?

Let her know she shines through you:)

Sugar Shack

2010-05-02T21:11:00.012-05:00

Our ride out to the sugar shack, Bob & Beauty. We could have driven in for it was dry enough...but who would want to pass up a wagon ride!?!

We were reminded that life in the woods would indeed be moving at a much slower pace.

This guy was our musical entertainment while we were enjoying our pancakes and REAL maple syrup. There is a funny little story behind this picture, so I'll set the stage, pun intended. In Feb. we celebrated Jon being sober for 24 years (YEAH~HOORAY~YAHOO!!!), back in what I refer to as the crazy daze, the guy would dance all night long with me...now when we do go to a wedding dance its a couple of slow dances and his dance card has been fulfilled and he's good for the evening. When I have reminded him how much he used to dance, he says "why do you think they call it liquid courage?" So we're eating pancakes, listening to Woodland Willie and he starts to sing "Love me tender" and I think hey it is a slow one...a girl has to try...right? I look across the picnic table at Jon and say "so...are you going to ask me to dance??" and with out skipping a beat he said "I need a few more pancakes in me." It was good humor and a good laugh:)
Our other entertainment for the day was my Heaven on earth!! When we first laid eyes(and my hands followed with in seconds) on the sheep and goats, Jon knew it would be a very long visit in the woods. This little guy was 11 days old, he just had his tail banded, goodness he was so so sweet.
Sweet curiosity.This is the actual sugar shack where the maple sap is boiled down to make maple syrup. My Grmpa & Grma made maple syrup when my Dad was growing up and when I was growing up, seeing all this was a sweet walk down memory lane. We would go to their home in the woods and help empty the sap buckets off the trees. Grmpa would let us put more wood on the fire, Grma would can the syrup and my Dad would take some of it to sell down in the "cities" that's what Minnesotans call Mpls/St. Paul.Inside the sugar shack, look at all that sweet steam, the ratio is 40 to 1, it takes 40 quarts of sap to make 1 quart of syrup. "Jody Bloom"
When I showed Grace the pictures from my amazing day she said this one should be titled "Jody Bloom" The floor of the woods was covered with these little Violets.

Even the view out the outhouse window was wonderful, the Violets look like a carpet.

Nieces:)
A girl after my own heart!I'm tellin' ya, my Heaven on earth...I am one happy camper!!!
The ride home did not disappoint either, it was a day that was tailor made for me.

Pancake Ingenuity

2010-04-18T21:46:00.007-05:00

Sunday Jon and I went to a sugar shack for pancakes in the woods at some dear friends of ours Mark and Mari~Belle, they make maple syrup on their farm. Let me tell you I have a couple weeks of blog fodder to use!! It was heaven on earth for me, but I'll expound on that in the next post(s). The making of the pancakes deserves a post all its own and when you see this I'm sure you will be as impressed as we were. It is a homemade pancake making machine!!!

They mix the batter up in 5 gallon buckets and then pour about 1/2 of it into the hopper. Then it's rolled down to the other end. The hopper is on little train wheels and the griddle has little tracks on each side. The griddle is scrubbed with a rag between fry's that has about 2 cups of salt tied into it and then it soaks in oil between scrubs. The workers told me it keeps the griddle from smoking, it must work, there was none of that smokey griddle smell, just the aroma of the pancakes frying away.

As the hopper is pushed down the track a lever is pushed...or pulled(?) to release batter onto the griddle, 4 pancakes at a time...

...and another 4 pancakes...
...and on and on...
...until the whole griddle is full of 40 pancakes. How impressive is that. Mari~Belle told me that when they first started doing the pancakes in the woods they just did it on household griddles, what an undertaking that had to be!There you have it sweet pancake ingenuity! Josh enjoying his pancakes...
...Blessing enjoying hers...
...there is nothing sweeter than sharing the experience with family!

In the Parlor with the Candlestick

2010-04-12T21:49:00.005-05:00

Everyone has their own signal that spring is here and summer is on its way. For me it is Zion Lutheran in town having their annual thrift sale that supports their youth group. It was held last Saturday. Grace and I go every year, when Randi lived around here she went. Some years Jon goes with. We usually find a treasure or two. Jon found a 1966 Schwinn bike, the handle bars have been changed so he will be on the look out for some that are original.

This was one of my finds, and to be honest when I saw it I thought "uffda just how much ugly can I put up with?...$3 for the lamp and 50 cents for the shade...alot of ugly...I guess." I had a flash back of Jon on occasion sitting the recliner that is not "his" chair reaching up and turning on a pretend lamp so he could see his laptop. Then he says something like "I forgot we don't have lamp here". I know the guy is just plain fun...never a dull moment. Anywho the ugly was even more bearable when they threw in the shade for free. I was home less than 10 minuets and Avery took the tin snips after the leaves before I could get the before picture, just trust me we all agreed they had to go along with the 4 inch plastic tube . Once we had it all stripped down Ave said it looked like a life size game piece from "Clue".

Jon bought a new finial and spray painted both pieces ivory. It was a bit to bright so I antiqued it with some deft oil that had a finish in it. I started off rubbing it on with a rag but went to just pouring some in my gloved hand, smeared, and when it was almost tacky then I rubbed some off with the rag.

The kids say it still looks like a pineapple, I say not bad for 3 bucks and some parts.
Now Jon can see things in a whole new light;)

Touch O' The Green!?!

2010-03-18T22:18:00.006-05:00

Are you so impressed with my Burgundy Shamrock?!? I am for three reasons. First off this was a starter from a plant that my sister in law had, I would much rather have a plant that I nurtured as a starter or a cutting. Second it was all a bloom for St. Patrick's Day. Third it is a live...I may have taken some liberties when when I said I nurtured it. I do enjoy plants, I just forget them at times. My brother Rock says I do well with plants that thrive on abuse, and such is the case with this Shamrock. I also have a green Shamrock(a gift from Barb) that thrives on the same amount of neglect...it is what it is...

Irish tradition says that St. Patrick used the Shamrock to explain The Holy Trinity of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to druid priests. The light bulb went on and the rest is history...Irish history. One St. Patrick's day tradition for us is making pistachio bread , not because its Irish, but because its green...lime green...pale lime green. A little disclaimer, any recipe that has a cake mix as its base is just that...a cake. Maybe by putting it in loaf pans it then becomes a bread, who knows!?!

Pistachio Bread

1 box yellow cake mix
1 pkg. instant pistachio pudding
4 eggs
1/8 cup water
1/4 cup oil
1 cup sour cream

Preheat oven 350* (325* for glass) Gently mix all ingredients together.
Grease 2 loaf pans and coat with mixture of:
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
Divide batter equally between pans. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture on top of batter. Bake 350* for 45 min (maybe?) use butter knife around edges and tip out of pans. Cool...or not and enjoy!

1 ringy dingy...2 ringy dingy...

2010-03-08T23:46:00.014-06:00

Since the local Piggly Wiggly no longer has an UPS pick up this place is now the local drop off, it saves driving 25 miles just to rid one's self of the 2nd xbox 360 that needed to be returned due being afflicted with the red ring of death. When I took the first one in to be sent off I thought "oh next time I have to send off a package I'm bringing my camera"...little did I know it would be sooner than later....and with my camera this time.

Phoneco is located in Galesville WI
They have so many phones and a museum of sorts, the phone guy told me every thing is for sale. I was hoping to see a Lily Tomlin switch board but there was so much fun stuff to look at I forgot to take notice...the red ring of death may strike again, if so I'll be on the look out.

He told me that these can be made into working phones with a dial out installed inside the box.

Pretty creative way to dress up the stair well.

I wonder if that red phone is a direct line to a local super hero!

My Aunt Ruth and Uncle Fred had a phone similar to this one in thier big farm house, as a kid I thought it was so cool...the phone and the farm house:)

Some of the first colored plastic phones.Now these bring back memories of being a kid, and that of our kids, our grandson has a toy cell phone.

I really like the look of the black desk phones.

Had I seen these as a teenager I would have wanted one I'm sure.

I can just see George Baily(Its a Wonderful Life) talking on one of these.My Mom had the a phone exactly like this one in her bedroom.

Not only do they have alot of phones, but also old phone signs, advertisements, and every phone innard you could think of and some you would never even think to think of.

...all these phones remind me...
I need to call my sister;)

Grace Under Foot

2010-02-23T20:45:00.009-06:00

At the end of last summer I rescued cotton skirts from Grace's give-away pile, 4 skirts to be exact. I started at the bottom and cut up and around making one continuous strand to crochet. I threw this one on the floor so it could start practicing. It would go from a life of Sunday morning Church...out to lunch and hanging out(or on) with young women, college bound, with hopes and dreams and enough energy to chase them, to a life of utility. To be tread upon, feet wiped on, laid on by critters, egg shells dropped upon...

...and yet there is beauty and grace in the staying put and providing comfort.
This is my first successful oval rug, I recently finished it to gift my friend Barb for her birthday. Barb has graced my life in so many ways I thought it a fitting gift, a little grace under foot...literally and figuratively:)

THIS n THAT

2010-02-15T18:36:00.008-06:00

THIS continues to thrill me. It was about -8* THAT is kinda cold. I love the beaded effect of the frost on the window. THIS sweet heart is one of my nieces who came over for a crocheting lesson. I'm sure I've mentioned how much I love to do handwork with kids, THAT is something that brings great joy to my heart. I can't get enough of THIS...by now you've guessed THAT!

THIS is the decorations from a Valentines Dinner that Jon and I went to at our Church. THAT AmAzING cake was made by my sister in law Kaye!! While there I met up with my very dear friend Barb who I've mentioned before, we exchanged birthday gifts, THIS-click here-its a must see, was one of the things that she gifted me...I love THAT lady.

THIS is frost on Willy's window at -15* ...THAT's cold!!

Jack was here...

2010-02-03T22:15:00.011-06:00

...and here......here...

...here again...
...here also!

Old windows make the prettiest frost.
The best windows for frost in our old home are the upstairs outside storm windows. The combination windows don't make nice frost, its the storms that Jon puts on every fall and takes off every spring that really put on a show when the thermometer takes a dive. A & W's bedrooms are the best frost viewing rooms. When I rattle their cages for school on frosty morns I check out the frost on the windows. My favorite kind is when it looks like feathers with beads down the shaft and fills up the entire window. I will be sure to keep you posted if Jack Frost's anything of exceptional beauty! I do love winter!!

Frosting

2010-01-21T20:12:00.008-06:00

I have been experiencing technical difficulty...figuratively and literally. Figuratively~back injury issues and I don't like living with restrictions. Literally~the shop vac gave up(not that I am up to utilizing it), and my camera is starting to hiccup as well as my computer. No need to call...

I'm not wallowing in the woe is me. Its just life, (comedian Mark Lorwy) life more abundant!

In the mean time...I love, lOvE, LoVe,LOVE winter. So a day like we have had this week is the frosting of life, no cake needed here, besides cake was invented to hold up the frosting. Click on each picture to get a close up.

Frosting

Holiday Favorites

2010-01-02T11:45:00.009-06:00

A few in the pew.

That the boys don't care what they look like on Christmas morning...
...but they dress the dog in a Christmas sweater.
Making spritz with someone special......and making snowflakes in a Snuggie.

Big brother bear hugs...

...and a crowd of cousins.The writing on the wall......and writing on her heart.
(a gift from her Mama, Grma, & Aunts, Abby had always wanted an Addy)
Reindeer games...

...and rowdy reindeer games.

Sweet sister in laws...

...and Sugar Plum Princesses Matching cousins......and matching cousin gifts...

...and matching...socks?!?

The wonder of young and old......of heads bowed......and folded hands.

Praying you have a Very Blessed & Happy New Year!

Nativity~circa~1972

2009-12-13T14:37:00.010-06:00

Last week I was conversatin' with my sister on the phone:
Tami~so what are you up to today?
Jody Blue~not much, well I am doing something that is going to make you down right jealous.
T~rEALly? Well it had better be pretty good because right now I'm eating a double.. chocolate.. cup cake...and its filled..with chocolate. Can you do better than that?
JB~by a mile, I am setting up THE Nativity set;)
T~(busting out in laughter) You HAVE to blog that!

The story of the B family Nativity
My Mom made it in 1972 in ceramics and when she brought it home, we were in awe, and I don't mean awe like in awful I mean real awe, it was so pretty and she had worked hard on it. She had talked about it for weeks. Once the Christmas tree was up my brother Rock and I would set the Nativity up under the Christmas tree. Some years we would find a cardboard box for a stable. We would poke a hole in the back and fish a Christmas tree light to shine upon the baby Jesus. Some years they went with out a cardboard stable. Mom had always wanted to have someone build a wooden stable, but that never came to pass. We always put the Babe in last(I'm sure there was more than one fight on who's turn it was to actually place the Babe in the manger). We always referred to it as "the Nativity set". One year when I had just a couple of kids and I knew she hadn't used it for awhile I asked if I could use it. Now to be fair I have offered it on more than one occasion to each one of my siblings to have it so their children could experience the joy...they have all declined. So my kids have taken turns setting it up year after year. They always remembered who did it the last year, but that's usually after a bit of a dust up had taken place. They always save the baby Jesus to be put in the manger last. They have also been known to move it around to their own personal interpretation of how the Blessed event actually took place, and that has caused REALLY big dust ups! This year with just two boys left at home I decided to take a turn, for old time sake.

I had a chuckle the when I first brought it to our home over 20 years ago and realized that it was not historically accurate. The shepherds dressed in lime green and orange just make me smile and Joseph would have never been able to afford a red robe, on and on. Us B kids had no clue and were so impressed that all of the wise men royal robes matched their own personal camel blankets. I was always a bit star struck over the golden angel, and it can still be a challenge to find the right place to hang her, as it was when we were kids. Notice no stable, and I have no plans to provide one, some year I may find them a nice cardboard box.

The cow has a crescent moon on it and the B family initial on its behind...or maybe Mom was just labeling its B-hind:)

That poor sheep has lost both ears and some of the camels are missing tails. The little donkey was not a part of the set Mom made. It was one of the very few things that had been recovered when our house burned in Jan 1970. Mom had repainted him and added him in. My kids have since named him Madrikh after a Little Golden Book story The Christmas Donkey. When he comes out of the box I remind them that he has been threw the fire twice(I know there's a spiritual lesson in there some where!) so they have to be oh so careful with him.

The kneeling boy has a blue goats hair tunic and coordinating baby blue under garment and head band. I have always loved the color and texture of that sheep, he's probably as close to accurate as he can be for ceramics made in America in 1972.

The baby Jesus is missing part of one hand. There is usually a discusion on which way He should be placed. Grace says facing His Mama, the boys say Mary shared him with the world so he should be facing so we all can see him. Him and the manger are moved often threw out the Christmas season.

Although the Bible does not actually name the wise men, in a myth dating back to the medieval days says their names were , Melchoir, Gaspar and...no not Balthasar...

...BUG EYES!?!
No matter how my Mom tried and had others try they just couldn't get his eyes right. We have always very affectionately referred to him as Bug Eyes. We would say that of course his eyes are bugging he just saw the baby Jesus for the first time. Let me tell you its not just his eyes that has had issues. The poor guys head was broken off with in the first couple of years. And try as we might Rock and I could not get that thing to stay on. Elmers school glue just wouldn't hold, nor would super glue, so we stuffed a pencil down his broken throat and put his head back on. But his head wobbled so we wrapped a kleenex around the pencil and that held as well as could be expected, yet with a noticeable wobble. Things are looking up for 'ol Bug Eyes, when I started working at the local high school I took ol' Bug Eye's in to the art teacher and he glued his head back on and it has stuck for about 9 years now. He does still bear the scar and I don't know if the pencil and kleenex are still in his neck, I could look up the hole on the bottom but I'd hate to embarrass him, he has already been threw so much. He is loved though, and every year when I remind my two brothers and sister that I set up "THE Nativity set" they always ask how ol' Bug Eye's is doing;)

One man Canned

2009-11-25T12:26:00.007-06:00

The Sauerkraut process was a bit off this year. The cool fall weather caused it to stall in the fermentation process, so Jon had to drag the crock into the wood shop,
and turn on the furnace to warm it up so it would get done.

It finally was ready to can the second week in November (I know I'm behind but I have been having some computer problems, back problems, Grace moving out :( and just plain trying to keep my head above the current!!). We for got to do our annual drinking of the kraut juice, most of the kids were not at all bothered by this miss of tradition.

Jon single-handedly canned it all~all by him self. He did 14 quarts a night for 4 nights and then on the 5th night did some pints. That will last us, and some to share, if you happen to darken our back door he will pull down and jar and send it home with you.

He is impressive!!

The fruits of his labor!

Bugged

2009-11-15T18:45:00.005-06:00

My raspberry patch was HUGE this year! I think it was the cool weather we had, the summer heat just wasn't around to stunt their growth. Some of the canes were over 6 foot tall. It made for really nice picking with no stooping, which I took as a personal gift from the Lord!

I'm sure I've mentioned how much I love picking berries, here I am in my berry pickin' attire in the middle of the patch. By the end of summer the 5 foot path between the rows was not passable in spots because of the bent canes.
The harvest was just as HUGE with berries that were also HUGE! We also had tons of Siamese berries, I wonder what causes that. But there were a couple of things that bugged me...

Now these bugged me a bit, they are the pesky Asian beetle, they do do some damage but nothing that causes me much concern. Now we have never used pesticides on our raspberries. Bugs don't really bug me much. Some bugs are good. I love creation and figure its good to share the bounty with Gods creatures great and small....EXCEPT for this HUGE problem.................

Popillia japonica a.k.a. Japanese beetle.
Although they are a pretty bug, I'm sure they have relatives in Hades. A lady I work with told me they are common on roses and we NEED to deal with them. We already planned on it, but research tells us we need to up the "ante" with these bugs. They stripped the leaves and ate the berries, but did they just finish a berry and move on... NO! They sampled from many berries all over the berry patch. They were so many and to say they were prolific is an understatement! They were stacked 3 high and lined up 5 deep, it was scandalous to say the least! Next year we will cut them off at the pass, chem bomb them, what ever it takes, this is war, let the battle begin!

This was our first line of defence for this fall. Last week Jon cut ALL the canes, Willy stacked them and we burned them. No spring berries for us :( but there will be chemical warfare in our back yard!

Chocolate Cherry Cake

2009-11-06T19:21:00.008-06:00

Chocolate Cherry Cake was my birthday cake! It is on my list of top 10 cakes, I don't have a #1 favorite, I don't like to limit myself to just one. I was just a kid the first time I had this cake. My Grma Brown had a neighbor, Vel Sullivan, who was infamous for her cooking and baking skills. She would bring this cake to get togethers, and I nearly stood guard to be assured a piece. When Vel, her husband and son first moved down the road from my grandparents they built a garage and lived in that until they could build a house. Vel cooked, baked, and canned on a wood cook stove, and that was in 1973 or 74. We were awed by her talent. When they finally built a new house, Jerry bought her a nice new stove, she did not like it and they moved her wood cook stove into the new house.

Pictured here are Jerry, my brother Rock, Vel(standing), and my Mom. Vel and Jerry came to my Dads birthday party in August. It was so fun to see them again. One of the first things Vel said to me was "WHERE'S Flapper?!?" who is my sister Tami, Flapper was Vel's pet name for Tami, who when she was little couldn't make it 5 minuets without talking...not even for a dollar!!! Willy baked my cake, FYI the picture does not do it justice. Without further delay I give you MY CAKE!!!

Chocolate Cherry Cake

1 chocolate cake mix (devils food-dark is best)
4 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1 can cherry pie filling

mix first three ingredients until well moistened
gently fold in cherry pie filling
grease only bottom of 9 x 13 cake pan
pour into pan
bake 350* (325* if using glass) 35-45 minutes
it is done when toothpick comes out clean, but not too clean, it easy to over bake
I cover with a cookie sheet right out of the oven to hold in moister(learned that bakers trick Jon's sister Kaye)
Frost (we cheat here and use a boughten tub of frosting, it is a habit I am intending to break...soon)

Its all about...me

2009-10-22T19:30:00.009-05:00

I was more than willing to let this birthday pass without much pomp and circumstance, I did know that Jon would treat me like the queen that I am(hey he said it, so I'm running with it!). I was pleasantly surprised when my sister gave me a sweet birthday blog post, thanks Tami. After spending the day just being with my family it was time for my birthday meal.

Jon cooked, Grace and Willy helped.Avery put himself in charge of taste testing. He can't help him self when there is shrimp scampi on the menu!

Willy set the table, with a bit of direction from Grace, she told him to flip the knives over. We go back and forth with the knife thing, the blade edges are to face the plate, but the writing on the blade faces up and we don't want to be trying to read sideways. What would you do?

Willy gave a lesson in proper silverware usage "work your way in."

The sparkling cider was chilled and the salad tossed.
Willy dished up the shrimp scampi (Ave is already at the table by now).Grace dished up the tenderloin tips and mushrooms.

My feast is ready, and I will tell you, I felt like Astro when George Jetson was shrunk and Astro kept saying "rook at the rimp-rook at the rimp" over and over again. But just LOOK AT THE SHRIMP!!! I love shrimp, and Jon made 2 kinds. And the mashed skin on baby red potatoes, mmm~mm. Amazing!!!

How sweet it is! Now you will understand where the queen status comes from.

Thats right, I'll be cooking with Wolfgang(he even signed the box they came in)! Then it was onto dessert, I will share that later. It was a very special day.

Friends Fur-ever!

2009-10-11T18:48:00.006-05:00

This is how it started...... it happens...

...every......day......day... ...after......day......sometimes......twice a day!

Cowboy Cookies

2009-10-04T22:03:00.006-05:00

I have a confession to make...I have a thing for cowboys. I think it comes from growing up around... well some cowboys. My Grmpa Ed was a serious cowboy/horse trader/mule team driver and most of my Moms 6 brothers are cowboys in some form or another.

My Dad is a retired rail road man, but as long as I can remember he has worn a cowboy hat, boots, and usually a western shirt. This is my Dad and I at his surprise 70th birthday party in August.

This is my nephew Derrick...yea a really serious cowboy, he is chasing his dreams...he just started a job in Iowa training horses. Grace took this picture of Derrick when he took her for an early morning ride before my Dads party, where we served...

COWBOY COOKIES!!!

2 sticks butter (or 1/2 cup butter flavored Crisco & 1 stick butter)
2 2/3 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 tbls. vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
2 2/3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter, sugars, and vanilla, then add eggs. Mix oatmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt then add to creamed ingredients. When mixed fairly well then add pecans and chocolate chips. (I have a big mixer so it does all the work for me/us. If you don't have a heavy duty mixer you may need to finish with your hands). Shape into balls the size of a walnut (I/we cheat/work smarter here also and use a small ice cream scoop) Place on sprayed cookie sheet about 2" apart. Bake in 350* preheated oven for 11-13 min. Cool on baking sheet for 5 min then finish cooling on cooling racks. makes about 4-5 dozen. This is a double recipe, cuz cowboys don't mess around and they freeze really well. They are a dry cookie...great for dipping in strong coffee after one of those long trail rides, or long car ride north.

Now Jon...not so much the cowboy, more like a farm boy. We haven't yet found a cowboy hat that I like on him. He does wear cowboy boots...

...but this is the kind of Mustang he likes to ride!
He is waiting for the paper work(old cars+lost titles=hassle) he will then haul it home and start chasing his dreams, and one day I can say "hey cowboy, take me for a ride!".

Making Sauerkraut...and Memories

2009-09-27T23:15:00.011-05:00

Making sauerkraut is a tradition that we started when Jon inherited his family kraut cutter. It is really old, but works great, Jon keeps it well maintained. We make it most every year. Once in a while we skip a year, like when Jon thinks its a good idea to fill the 20 gallon crock to the top, and we have more than enough to last. The first year we made it we cut the cabbage in the dining room, I'm here to tell you that was not~nor will it ever be repeated, what a mess! We make it Labor Day weekend.

We bought cabbage from a local family owned garden. Ours did not do well in our garden. We used 110 lbs of cabbage.

Jon and Willy tear off the outer leaves, wash, quarter and core the cabbage. Then the cutting starts, everyone takes a turn~except for me. Jon and the kids that are home or come home for the event took turns doing the different stages at different times. For the sake of orderliness I put the pictures in the order of operation not how they actually happened so you can get a good idea of how the system works.

Avery did the lions share of the cutting this year.Grace at the cutter.J.J. vocalizing as he cuts. I was a bit creeped out having him be shirtless, then Jon reminded me that back in the old days they stomped it with their feet and the fermentation would kill anything anyway so take a chill pill:)My next concern was how low Willy put his arm when he was at the cutter, this one Jonny sided with me. Jon was really the last to cut, he's good at using up the last of the cabbage and not shaving off pieces of the oak presser. When one of the kids do shave off some oak presser board into the cabbage they just use the "it adds flavor" line.This honestly was about all I did. I just wanted to have my hands in it a little, so Willy let me give him a weighing lesson. We weigh out 5 lbs of cabbage.And then I direct the sprinkling in of 3 tablespoons of canning salt. That really was all I did, well almost, I went and laid on the couch for awhile and some kid with the camera came in and took a picture of me, and reminded me "this is a memory too"!Grace was the mixer in charge, she does a good job of getting the salt and cabbage all incorporated well. She also does a good job of keeping the boys in check when they take over for her while she was off dabbling in other jobs. J.J. stomping...with his shirt on:) We let it get about 4 inches of cabbage on the bottom before the stomping starts, you could break or crack the crock if your not careful. We don't stomp to hard, just enough to bruise the cabbage and create a nice amount of juice.Once it is all stomped, with a nice amount of juice coming up, we tuck in 2 Curity cotton diapers, not the pre-folded kind. We learned the best way to keep it covered is to fill and industrial garbage bag with about 3 gallons of water and then tie strap it shut. Its done when its done, it all depends on the weather. We keep the crock in the garage where it is cool and it cures a bit slower, we think that helps keep it crisp. I'll let you know when its done. Then comes the job of canning all of it...and making more memories.

End of Summer...

2009-09-13T13:54:00.007-05:00

This was Grace's last year on Bethany Ski Team. Below are a few pictures from ski camp she went to and then the ski show on the Black River. It is really hard to get good pictures when your planted on the beach chatting and all the action is out on the water. Some of the photos are from the ski team disc that they hand out at the end of year root beer float award night.

Water front meeting and prayer.Grace in back of boat full of skiers and ski's, these would be some of the ski's Jon and his brother make.
Jon and I on the beach, I would be the one under the umbrella,
"have I ever told you how much I love my umbrella" is a statement he had to listen to over and over this summer.
Our niece and her little friend watching the ballet skiing, our other niece Brooke is in the ballet line.Grace on wake board.An unscheduled event...wave jumping!

End of a long day full of little Blessings...

...end of a short summer.

Beneath the Sweet Gum Tree...

2009-09-05T09:35:00.016-05:00

Years ago I went to an estate auction, amongst a pile of treasure I acquired was an old Redwing boot box full of poky balls. I had no clue what plant they came from and have asked several people over the years. I figured they would be great for some kind of craft or decor. The only thing I've managed to do with some of the poky balls is put an ornament hook in, spray paint them ivory, then with gold dust and hang them on "my little tree" at Christmas time. We have since found the source of "the poky balls" they are from the Sweet Gum Tree. Jon did a bunch of Sweet Gum research. They are a southern tree and have some of the most brilliant fall colors, golds, reds, and purples. We have a new found love for the Sweet Gum Tree...

Beneath the Sweet Gum Tree...
We stepped out of the auto on a cool crisp day
with sunken hearts, walked to where they lay
not noticing the crunch beneath our feet
not wanting that this would be how we meet
born silently on a September day
hopes and dreams have slipped away
our girl child, her heart is broken
wound so fresh, no healing words can be spoken
they both kneel and touch the earth
recounting the moments of their birth

he holds her close, and they weep
they know only the Lord can heal a hurt so deep
as we leave we look around

we pick the poky balls from off the ground
we know these, there is comfort in the familiar
a bit of soothing to know the tree is there
a year of learning to live with out
clinging to the Father...releasing doubt
they visit today on bended knee

and water the ground beneath the Sweet Gum Tree.
~Jody Blue

In memory of...
Alex & Ben
poky balls from their Sweet Gum Tree
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.tttsfoundation.org/
twin to twin transfusion syndrome website
http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep is an organization of photographers that offers their service free of charge. They take photos of babies born silently so that Mama's and Daddy's can have something to remember. The music(a very heart touch song can be heard when you click the "about NILMDTS" tab) and stories and photos(our work tab then stories tab) on this website capture very bitter sweet moments in the most respectful and precious manor. I leave you with this little saying found on the web sight...

There is no foot too small
that it cannot leave an imprint
on this WORLD

Going Nuclear~a Walk in the Park

2009-08-29T08:51:00.012-05:00

YIKES!! I just realized that summer will officially be over in 9 days and I have a couple summer activities I wanted to share. Since Grace is crazy busy with school and work she hasn't had time to post yet about Bolivia, I'll fill the space for now. In July when Randi's family came for a visit we drove 2 hours north to visit Jon's Mom(still working on tolerating travel since back surgery last fall). Jon also had to deliver ski's so I went with~I would not pass up any opportunity to spend time alone with Jon. We drove threw UMore Park along the way, Jon knowing(cuz where I go-so does the camera!) I would want to take pictures, pulled over(3-4 times) for me.

UMore Park is located by Rosemont MN in Dakota county. It was once farm land but during WWII it was turned in to a munitions area of about 11,000 acres designated to make smokeless powder. The web site above(is legnthy) has the most historical info that I found, so far. After the war it was then sold to The U of MN for $1. It is now used for ag research and development and other stuff.

Smoke stacks in the distance(I want a camera with a zoom lens). The barracks are visable from the road, but my pictures didn't turn out. Peole do explore the area, and I found a blog or two about that, the down side is if you get caught you could get a hefty fine.Jon told me these were to used for lauching nukes if needed, I found no evidence to prove or disprove that. He could have been pulling my leg, which he is very good at, but they do look like they were a back launch for something big. Then he took me here to Vermillion Falls in Hastings MN, we used to live in Hastings and would come here just for fun. The water is low this year, I have pictures with Jon and his brothers walking across that cement thing and the water was almost up to thier knees. The old mill is huge, it is now used in another capacity. I love the huge old gears, here again a zoom lens could give you some really neat artsy photo's. No more shameless plugs for a different camera. I did send my camera to The Boundary Waters with Avery a few weeks ago, he brought it back still in the zip lock bag~shucks!The view above the fallsThe view from a new platform. We once hiked down there and and took pictures of us right next to where the water hits the rocks. The view of my favorite part of the day.

Positive Negative

2009-08-10T21:47:00.007-05:00

When you have kids you want them to take from you the good, when they are held up to the light you hope the area's where you have failed don't shine through.

You want them to be a bit like you but with their own personalities. You want them to do the things and to go places that you dream of while your raising them!

I love it when my kids love the things I love, when they have a heart for what breaks mine. I love missions, I enjoy missions Sundays when missionaries come and talk about life in distant places. One year I found a lady who brought her llamas to our Missions Sunday. My friend Cindy(she has since moved back to southern TX) and I were in charge of representing South America, we were going for the authentic look! Learning about the sacrifice's that missionaries make, how they have touched the lives of the people they are led to serve. And how their lives have been also touched by the people they went to serve, so much more than they ever dreamed of, this blesses my soul. I want one of those signs to hang above my back door that says "You are now entering the missions field!" It is a "grow where you are planted" frame of mind. Our Church library has a reality missions DVD series called Travel the Road that can take you around the world in your arm chair! If you have access to this resource I highly recommend it.

For me it is a blessing to see my love of missions rub off on my children. This was Grace all packed and ready to leave on a missions trip to Bolivia South America this summer. I'd tell you all about it, but I've asked her to do that herself! Stay tuned for some really neat stories and great pictures. She'll be here soon, right now she's off fishing!

Two Much Fun

2009-08-04T16:16:00.009-05:00

Our grandson came for a visit,
he brought his Mama & Daddy with.

He is 2 and honestly "two much fun"!
You can see him here when he was one.
We can take a picture of him on the numbers until he turns 8, the highest number on the track.

A little bit of grocery shopping.
(This has to happen when they show up 2 days early!)

Baseball with his buddy.

Blue eyed boy in big blue boots!
(he loves shoes~here)
Pudgy pinkies plunking piano.

Farm fun.

Making memories.
Berries for BenjaminCrooked Cracker Jack smile!
in THE END...

...he is bucket's of fun!!!

Fair Chickens

2009-07-30T23:35:00.008-05:00

The long awaited CHICKEN POST is here, and it is photo heavy! Probably as heavy as I felt after 2 suppers, the 1919 Root Beer at the fair, and then home for a bit of tradition that our family started 20+ years ago, before we moved here, with the fair as our back yard.

This has to be the Phillis Dillar of the chicken world...

...which makes this guy Don King!
Just seeing if your still with me!
Besides I now want chickens AND ducks!
I love it when they put the hen and rooster together, if your lookin' to expand say a dream book on chickens, you can see them both in one spot and not have to lay awake at night wondering what the the other might look like.

This Henny Penny was so personable~~well as personable as a chicken can be. She didn't mind having her picture taken like some of the others.

Then came this handsome couple, him kind of a strutter.

And her a bit shy, but oh so pretty. I love the green black! I have no clue what kind any of them are except for 1 because I totally lost my mind when I saw.......HIM!!!!
Man oh man is he something or what ! ? ! ? Well worth the wait wouldn't you say?
When his owner saw me taking, oh some where close to 15 photo's of him he came and told us all about him. He weighs about 15 lbs and couldn't free range for a few weeks so that he could be all spiffed up for the fair! They hadn't judged them yet when we were there on day 2 , and I have no clue how he did. I intend to find out though! THEN he let us hold him, he did, he was so tame. I didn't even get a picture of him and I together (drats!) or him and anyone else. It was like I was star struck, like I lost my mind for a bit. And let me tell you, he is......The John Wayne of the chicken world, a real Rooster Cogburn!!

I was able to think a bit clearer when I finally made it to this little honey! I got her name even! She is a Wyandotte Silver Lace, and I want one of her~alot! My brother Rock said they are not the best laying hens because they have been bred for the color to look just so, and when you breed them for that alot of times you breed the egg production out of them. Still I'm putting this one in my book.

This is our family fair tradition!! Yes, it is! Its funnel cakes! We usually come home and make them, but this year we waited to day 3 of the fair, which I never made it to. When we had the kids all in one spot, before A& W were off to the demo derby's and Grace and Ian were of to shop for a HUGE trip, we made them. And trust me they as good if not better than they look, they are also very affordable when you make them at home!! ...until next year at the fair!

Fair

2009-07-26T14:16:00.011-05:00

2009 day 2 cont.
I never made it to day 3 or 4, bummer~I know. The good thing is, I have enough to share and finish from day 2 and those all way too much fun CHICKEN pictures.

What kid, or adult for that matter, would pass that up!?! This was inside the Agricultural Progress building.

I have no idea what this building is called~I call it "the free popcorn place" ~it also has some really fun stuff.

This is an old milk tester.Old photographs from around Trempealeau County.
A really neat old fair advertisement (Jon pointed out that even in 1915 advertisers used pretty women to attract a crowd).

The place is lined with old cream cans and a toy farm implement collection that would make any little tractor lover stand in awe with mouth dropped open as if tractor heaven had open and rained down. And how do I know this you may ask, when our boys were little we spent every trip to the fair (some times more than once a day) just standing, looking, drooling, and they didn't have to keep their hands in their pockets, because there is a fence all the way around and 3 feet from the display, some one had their thinking cap on!

This is just inside of the building that has the rabbits, chickens, ducks, and goats. Cute on many levels, it is planted with lettuces and pansies, weedin'/Eden thing (who wishes they had less weed and a bit more Eden!), although a bit off on his Biblical historical facts in 1886 Rev Van Slyke wrote a theory about Galesville being the literal Garden of Eden.
Can you guess which other bailing building we spent/still spend ALOT of time in? Not just because of the chickens, our Grace is a serious critter lover. No fence holding you back in here! If the animals owners are around they usually let you pet, and sometimes will take one out for you to hold. I'll say it again, I love small towns! Oh yea, that is a mini-rex and they are so soft! Our rabbit is a mini-rex. He's not show quality, we don't talk about it in front of him, we also don't talk about how when he tips over we are getting a show quality bunny, he is really soft but let me tell you the show quality ones are like bunny fur utopia!

This little girl was so friendly

I loved it how they all popped up to say hello, which Jon kindly did to each one as he walked by.
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I was a bit sad/frustrated that I did not make it the rest of they days. Here's what we all missed out on: Animal Auction( if you want a good laugh see my sisters blog), Dog Obedience Judging, hours of anything to do with the horses, The Merchants Building, The Little Red School House from the 189?'s, The DNR Log Cabin, 4-H drawing, painting, and photography entries, walking tacos at the 4-H food shack, 1919 Root Beer for 2 more days, and the midway(which I really don't give a rip about any way, so that's no heartbreak on my part). One more bit of fair sadness or un-FAIR-ness, there were no draft horses this year, I love the draft horses. Also there were less horse and dairy cow entries. My sister in law said the LaCrosse County Fair also had less. Small family farms are always hit so hard when the economic system is in a funk. They need our prayers.

County Fair

2009-07-18T09:19:00.013-05:00

2009 Day 2
I know I left off 1/2 way through the chickens, we did go back and we got some amazing pictures, but I'm not going to post that just yet. You know how much I love chickens so I'm saving those for a post all on its own, trust me it will be so worth it!

We pause with the demo car spectators for our national anthem. Many of the fair goers hushed, paused, hushed children, hats off, I love small town patriotism, I love the USA!
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Next we stop at the Youth 4-H building, I think age 5 & 6, this is where the little's enter their stuff. I love it they have such a great sense of humor. This building is also used for 4-H promotin displays done by each club in Trempealeau county.

Zack if you were around I would've asked you for a turtle joke. I would have told you about how we hatched leather backs in a 5 gallon bucket and how when I was a kid my cousin Danny Jo ate a tiny little turtle, swallowed it whole!

Jon, ever the wood worker and Viking fan loved the book ends. I liked the photos.

This display was done by the Glasgow Hardies Creek Busy Bees 4-H club. I liked it best of all the displays, maybe I'm just partial to the Busy Bees, our kids were in this club.

Now that is so creative, I love how 4-H promotes not only the club but individual creativity!

Grace had just came home from a week of water ski camp and was hungry for real food. We dined in the Lions shack. Let me tell you The Lions Club does alot of really good stuff in this little town. They put on the 4th of July fireworks, and it is very very impressive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stop for a 1919 Root Beer~do you see a pattern developing here!?!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now this next building is one of my favorites, it has quilt and antique entries. The quilt display has antique and modern quilts, you can guess which ones I like best.

Can you imagine the time that went into this??

This one is so fun, it was made in 1920. I have a soft spot for crazy quilts. This one is soft--you can tell just by looking at it, which is what the signs say, but it is oh so hard for me to keep my hands off! When my boys were little I would have them put their hands in their pockets when we were someplace that was a no touch zone. They would say I'm just looking" and I'd reply "look with your eye's not your hands" ~~I'm thinking I should make this a practice!

Antique Rosette irons!!! How cool is that!?! If I would have seen these in an antique store I would be fumbling to get my cash out! I posted about Grace and I making Rosettes at Christmas time.

I would love to see the pictures of the bride in this dress.

I loved the Rosette iron, and thought it would be my favorite antique this year~until I saw this!!! I can't believe it has no blue and big fancy gold ribbon on. I should be a judge! The picture is a German picture, it would look so so good in our dining room, where I have a few older pictures of children. I think I will go back and see if I can find out who the artist is.

This building is for open class entries, I keep thinking I am going to enter something...some year. This building was built in 1895 it is the oldest one in the fair grounds. The fair ground land was donated by a couple from this area. They placed one stipulation on their gift...

...that during the fair, no alcohol, they wanted the fair to be a family event. It also the same with The Apple Affair held in the fall. I appreciate the family focus...ALOT!

Fabric woven baskets~~I'm having a thought, but better finished some of the other thoughts I have in piles!

This was so well constructed.

Too bad these were in a glass display case, they looked so soft...I really wanted to touch them.

I love the soft pink color, I have a thing for African Violets. . Our Dr's office has African violets on about every check in desk. They do so well, they say its the florescent lighting.

There are so many good photos.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next its on to the 4-H building. Grace, A & W were in 4-H for about 5 years, until baseball and ski team became their main focus. We loved it, we all had fun and learned alot.

Pretty

Antique resteration. Did I ever tell you Jon went to school for this, studied under some really old french guy that was master. Jon even had his own business for a few years.

Wood working (see this woods post), we spend ALOT of time here!

Creative

Cute and well done, it deserves the gold fancy ribbon.

You really can learn alot at these displays. Grace read the whole back pack thing, she is in the process of packing for a HUGE trip.

Jon REALLY checks out any thing that is man handy work. When he is critiquing the wood working stuff I'm always hoping are no parents around listening to him go over something that their ($, time, & guidance) kid has entered.

This was an old bowling ball, some of the stuff theses kids (and their mama's ) come up with crack me up!

If we have any $$ (the 1919 Root Beer is only 50 cents) left I'll be heading for the fair again today!

Trempealeau County Fair

2009-07-17T00:45:00.014-05:00

2009 Day 1

You must bear with me, this is going to be a long long post that goes on for days ~ 4 to be exact, that is how long the fair lasts. If I can last then I figure you can deal with photo heavy posts for the duration of the fair. The fair is one of the things I love about summer, if truth be told I am a Fall/Winter lovin gal, so when I love something about summer I embrace it wholly. Last year I didn't get to come to the fair, so this year I am determined to enjoy it, even if it lands me flat on my back~for days! Our lot backs right up against the county fair grounds (I chat about it click-here), the sights, sound, and yes even smells thrill me, I get to have a farm in my back yard, 4 days every year.

Horse barns, I like the rustic decor on this stall.

Is Your Mama a Llama?
I remember my sister reading this book over and over to The General. I wonder if she can still recite it.

Baby Beef
I don't care who you are or what walk of life you come from, baby anything is just so cute.

Big Beef

The porker in the back is smiling for the picture. The pigs looked so bare, I said to Jon do you think they shave them?? I've been around pigs and this is a new one on me, so I found a pig boy and asked. And yes they do shave them, not everyone does, but it makes for a much cleaner look in the show ring. I'm going to say it and just get it over with~the chubby back end of a shaved pig, yes it does, it looks just like a ladies back side, I kid you not! I told Jon "I know why chubby and feeling like a pig go together".

Trempealeau County Fair has been going on for 151 years. It once had horse races, I've seen pictures that were taken in 1976 and they were still racing at that time, they now do demo derby's. The wagon Jon is standing in front is what was used to water the race all those 100+ years ago.

Manure spreader restored and remade in to a ride giver, now that's being creative!

Dairy barn decor.

Not only do I have dream chickens, but also dream cows.

Jon waiting for our order at the KC food stall.
And this would be the reason we patronize this place...
... its the 1919 Root Beer!!!

Love the sheep, Grmpa & Grma Brown memory!

But they never dressed their sheep like this!

Do you think she has an identity crisis?? Or does she say, in a Marilyn Monroe-esque voice "I'm wearing leopard print just for ewe!"

I could want this little fuzz ball.

I leave you with the stuff my dreams are made of!

Stay tuned, I only made it 1/2 way threw the chickens!!

This is one for my dream book!!!

Custom Water Ski Show Boards

2009-07-02T23:34:00.016-05:00

My husband is a very talented man. He can fix and cobble like no one I know. He has a few hobbies, some cost money, some save money, and some even make money. Wood working is one of the his hobbies that does all three. Over the years he has refinished, remade (We sleep in a piano-that is a post for another day), and built furniture and toys. This is the latest endeavor of entrepreneurship he and his brother Dave have collaborated on. Dave drives his boat for the Bethany Ski Team -click here, at church, where Grace and many cousins are on the ski team. The ski team needed skis, but they are expensive to buy when you need 15-20 sets. So they figured out how to build them, which was no small undertaking and it has, since then, turned into a little cottage industry.

They start with a big pile of wood, Mahogany and/or Ash.

Then they make a big pile of sawdust. The ripping, planing, cutting, sanding, and scuffing is endless and creates so much dust. They clean up with scoop shovels. I do have plans for this stuff in the near future, and it has to do with chickens (as I explained in this post-here).

If I showed you every step of the process it would take too many pictures, that and I don't want to give away to many trade secrets-ok I don't know all the steps! This photo shows a few steps although not in order. The fixtures (things that mold and press the wood) were designed and fabricated by Jon and Dave.

Dave grading lams before the steaming process.

Some have tips cut and some are waiting to have the tips cut and sanded. Much easier to see what the end product will be.

They make 12 at a time, here each side gets sprayed and scuffed a few times.

All finished, it just needs the bindings put on and its ready to take to the water. A show board is made for basing pyramids in water ski shows or used as a ballet ski. This is a plain Jane one.

This is where the custom comes in.

This part is done by some other guy, who probably has a wood shop in his garage. I'm sure his wife is also thankful that this is one little hobby that makes money.

Click on picture to enlarge. You can see the detail and the beauty of the wood.
Isn't it beautiful?!?! I will post the Bethany Ski Team in action soon.

Cookie Pudding

2009-06-23T20:23:00.006-05:00

I ~~begged~~ was given this recipe from the wife of a pastor we had a few years ago (18 is a few right?). This is one of our "potluck" favorites. The kids will snag some out before it is garnished or hope that some will be left over at parties end. They then hide their little stash in the frig, usually behind something they think the others won't eat (Grace-under the lettuce, Ave-behind the yogurt, Will-butter door).

Here's the goods!! If your a stickler for brand name foods, this is one of those times when it really doesn't matter--also this was last minute so Willy and I went to the local small town Piggly-Wiggly, where you can blow threw a whole weeks food budget on just a few items.

Cookie Pudding
2 small boxes vanilla instant pudding
2 cups butter milk (I have used 3 cups when I've felt the need to make it stretch)
16 oz. whipped topping
2 cans mandarin oranges-drained
1 pkg. fudge striped cookies-crumble except for one row as garnish

Mix 2 boxes of pudding with the buttermilk (it will not be a smooth).

Add whipped topping, crushed cookies (save a row for garnish) and drained mandarin oranges.

Garnish with remaining cookies. Its ready to serve and will keep in the frig for a few days if it lasts that long! I could have zoomed in on just the top, I thought you'd want to see my retro pyrex, that for all my wishin' still hasn't broken.

This is what my Dad would call a "potlicker"

Baseball Brothers

2009-06-14T23:29:00.011-05:00

A & W are so different, just like the first letter of their names on the alphabet spectrum they are on opposite ends. Not only in looks, body type, complexion, but also in temperament, how they approach a problem, and their study (or lack of) habits, just to name a few. The one thing they do share is their love of the game! Now its baseball, in the fall it will be football. It has also caused more than their share of arguments at times. But when the dust settles they grab their gloves and head out to the back yard to play catch and critique throwing technique. It brings them together in a sweet way. I'm sure they would object to me using the word sweet when referring to them--unless it's a sweet new glove or cleats!

Avery plays 2nd base and rumor has it he will be pitching soon on the JV1 team.

Willy pitches, plays 1st base, and sometimes right field on the JV2 team.

Will & Ave
It is not often that they both have a game in the same place, when they do its a huge bonus and a great time to snap a pictures of them together. It brings us all together in a sweet way, and they can't argue with that!!

One with Dirt

2009-06-09T12:42:00.004-05:00

Jon, A & W in their John Deere sweat shirts they received for Christmas.

Jon, A & W living up to the slogan on their sweat shirts.

And when they were done planting the garden--the tub was also one with dirt!

Amazing Party!!

2009-06-03T09:58:00.005-05:00

Grace and Ashton have been the best of friends since Ashton, who at 4 months old had the forsight to get started on the relationship right away, visited Grace in the hospital the day Grace was born. They have shared most big and little events in their lives, it was so fun that they shared their graduation party. So many pictures of them growing up together it was hard to pick and choose for use when doing the decorations. Hats off to: Ashtons' Mom, Dawn who picked up alot of my slack; their Aunt Kaye and Cousin Kaydra baked and decorated the cake; Grma came and baked bars for 2 days; Aunts, Uncles, and Grma's worked kitchen duty; and Ashtons' Grmpa as the offical bar taste tester. Not only does this family love to have a fun party they are more than willing to work to make it happen!The Dads doing pre-party prep, the chocolate fountain was a big attraction. It usually makes an appearance at big family events. My handsome husband is pouring the chocolate--it doesn't get any sweeter, my obsessions combined!
Our 5 kids. I may be biased, but--they are fine looking (this is where having a handsome husband pays off)!! Warms my heart having them all in one spot at one time.
Randi and Melissa started off the after party-party with some trick scooter riding. They are considering hitting the local parade circuit.
Avery providing more after party entertainment. When he showed up on bike wearing a biking suit I said look its Lance Armstrong. Ave then proved how "arm-strong" he is!

I leave you with a bit more sweetness. Our Randi and her boy at the end of a very fun day!

You Are Amazing Grace

2009-05-31T01:04:00.015-05:00

Artistic
Memorable
Angelic
Zealous
Incredible
Noble
Giving

Gracious
Radiant
Ambitious
Caring
Eyes of brown

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do Amazing things among you."
Joshua 3:5

~~~~~~~~~~~
“For the law was given through Moses, but Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”
John 1:17

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tales from the Duck Side

2009-05-26T08:33:00.005-05:00

Every year a pair of wood ducks nest in the maple tree right outside our back door. We have never seen the babies--until this year!! Jeremiah our son-in-law stepped outside and yelled back in to us "Hey there's baby ducks falling out of the sky!!" Some landed on the ground, and some on the deck. they literally launched out of the maple tree, and found the mama who was waiting along the side of the house. The kids put the babies that landed on the deck where they could find mama duck. One got hurt in the fall but waddled to mama just fine. She then led them under the veranda and waited for us to go away before leading them to water (pictures taken by Graci).

We had a busy weekend with Grace's grad party, a surprise visit from our daughter and her family, having all 5 of our kids home for a couple of days, and Jon's mom staying here and baking for the party. Childhood pictures and graduation pictures in piles and on display boards, my mind goes back and I think about the launched, the launching in process and future launchers.

I think about that Papa & Mama duck and I take a lesson. The nest is higher than a second story window, they chose safety for the first stage, knowing that the next stage would be a long drop. My brother told me they have to drop in order to live, an Internet search proved and disproved this. Either way us parents have to release them for the launch. I wonder if the launch and fall is an adrenaline rush for the little ducklings. The mama duck quacks a few times and just waits, she's not all frazzled and racing around making sure the landing is soft. When the ducklings have all found her she gathers them around, waits for them to all settle down and away they go out into an even bigger world.
Two of ours have left the nest. The first one launched successfully, although loss has touched her life she is swimming in the big pond, building her nest, touching lives and tending little souls. The second one launched, fell hard, and has chosen to not follow the leader. In the picture above he would be the one climbing the wall, another one is looking up to him. This is where I really need to take mama ducks lesson and not panic, just call and wait until they all settle down and lead by example. Now the third on stands on the edge, ready to leap. She will launch "Grace"-fully. Two left in the nest, and here I am learning lessons as I am trying to teach them!

Dream Chickens

2009-05-17T22:40:00.007-05:00

I have dream chickens like some people have a dream house or a dream car. When I find pictures of a new chicken that I haven't thought about dreaming of owning one day, I clip them out and put them in my "dream" 3-ring binder. I also have dream eggs, these are the eggs I want to gather someday. I love it when the chicken of my dreams matches the eggs of my dream. I found this photo of dreamables on line and skyped it. Skype basically means to borrow without asking-we said it when I was a kid so it's probably not even a word. I google searched for it but found it not--this maybe the beginnings of a post about the made-up words of my childhood. ANYWHOO back to dreaming! These Cuckoo Marons are a total dream package, dark brown eggs laid by some of the prettiest black and white chickens.

By now you may be thinking just get some chickens and get it over with!! I can't. I had a test run a few years ago that didn't look to promising. Jon's brother had gotten baby chicks from farm & barn or as Barbs husband calls it "Mans Mall". When they were done playing farm (cuz they can) in their back yard, the chickens came here so I could butcher them. They were waiting out their last days in the pen (dog kennel) when the police man that lived across the street came and told me someone had complained about my 5 chickens in the dog kennel. It is against city ordinance to have chickens in town. Here's where I really go off!! The back of our lot butts right up to the county fair grounds, behind that is a dike, lake, then cows!! So for 5 days every summer I wake up to cows mooing, roosters crowing, one year a horse in the garden, and demo drivers pounding on their cars. Its hill billy heaven back there! But this decedent of real moon shining hill billy's can't have chickens! I am very close to petitioning the city for permission to have just 4 chickens like they do in Madison WI. It may be on my list of fun things to do this summer!

For now I will pacify my self with this hen and little chicks, thrifted on our annual Mothers Day garage sale shopping trip. And I will console my self with the thought that at least these won't run out onto the highway.

My Little Corner of the World

2009-05-06T22:58:00.007-05:00

This is where I read my Bible, nourish my soul, sew on buttons, crochet, chat on the phone, chat with the love of my life, enjoy a cup of tea, think, plan, cry. Everyone knows it is my corner, but everyone knows I love to share it. I love sharing my world, every little corner.

Grace has made her way my to little spot in life, she's reading Robyns Table Chat, a newsy little local paper filled with old photos, old facts, and people around our small town.
Avery has made him self comfortable, reading The Hobbit, and snuggled in his Vikings blanket.

There are many perks to sharing my corner, such as, holding baby dolls, and a real life doll, drinking tea, and ...

...many times when I find my way to my little corner, there is a little Blessing to enjoy!

Sauer Braten = Happy Germans

2009-04-28T23:30:00.001-05:00

Sauer Braten is a German pot roast, it has a sour taste to it and when cooking it you can really smell the red wine vinegar. We really enjoy it, if it's been a while since I've made it my family requests it like this: We better have Dad (or Grmpa) over for supper and you can make Sauer Braten. They all help-alot, and are more than willing to peel alot of spuds.

Sauer Braten

3-4 lbs bottom round roast
4 tbls. oil
salt & pepper to taste
4 cloves garlic-finely chopped (I use a garlic press)
2 large onions thinly sliced
2 bay leaves
1/2 can tomato paste
1/4 cup ketchup
1 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups red cooking wine
2 cups water
1-2 tsp. Lawrys
1/2 cup sour cream

What you see below is a doubled recipe--feeding teenage boys. When I double this I don't always double the cooking wine, I just use 1 bottle of red wine vinegar and 1 bottle of cooking wine. No one has ever noticed the difference or complained.

Braze the roast, 2 tbls. oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Slice onions very thin.

Saute 2 tbls oil, garlic, and onions in stock pot until almost golden, but not to tender.To the stock pot of sauteed garlic and onions add: brazed roast, bay leaves, tomato paste, ketchup, red wine vinegar, red cooking wine, water, and Lawrys. Simmer 1 hour, turn roast, and simmer 1-2 hours.

Remove roast and slice a bit less than 1/2 inch, return to stock pot, bring to boil then reduce to simmer for 1/2 hour. Most of the onions will cook into the mixture.

Add 1/2 cup sour cream, stir in well. You can pull the bay leaves out if you wish, I don't bother.

Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles, my family prefers mashed potatoes . I have never served instant potatoes with Sauer Braten, I think they would be to mushy. I mash the potatoes on the dry side because the sauce is not thick and the potatoes will get soupy. This meal is worth the work. Sometimes I will prepare it part way, refrigerate over night and then finish the process the next day, especially if we have it for dinner (dinner as in the noon meal).

Covered in Love

2009-04-24T18:25:00.000-05:00

This is not the first time I have been covered in love, I talk about it here, and you can see me covered here. My very dear friend Barb has covered me once again--as she has so many times over the years. Barb and I met at a home school group 19 years ago. Our daughters are friends. We have hauled home a bunny, kitten, buckets of soup, pans of rolls and bars, from their log home in the hills near Winona, but mostly we hauled home the love. The love of the pure and simple, the love of their Savior that is fleshed out in word and deed. An example that has challenged me and caused me to say on many occasions "I want to be like Barb when I grow up." She has shared her heart, wisdom, home, books, beads, patterns, and more. Together we have watched our children grow, went on home school field trips, women's retreats, and ridden in an ambulance. We have laughed until we cried and cried until we laughed! I love my Barb, and am blessed in more ways than I could count in our friendship.
Here I am all covered in my new apron that Barb made for me. The fabric is me through and through. When I tie this on I feel pretty. I feel in touch with the many women in history who tied on an apron every morning like a uniform and began the work of caring for, and sharing the fruits of their labor.

And look, Barb also covered Grace in some love!

Thank you Barb.

Five Nomad's Visit cont.

2009-04-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

The General sounding the drums...

and preparing the troops.

The Princess, tickling the ivories...
...and her aunties heart!
(I have worn out my kids with crafts,
when I get to craft with someone else's child it makes my day)

Chocolate dog by his side and chocolate milk with J.J.

--his two favorite things at our home.

Tami calls him Bubby.
I call him Bubby-licious!

Five Nomads Visit

2009-04-09T11:40:00.000-05:00

My sister of Five Nomads-here has been visiting for the past couple of days. They are back on the trail westward. I will post pictures in a day or so...

...I need a nap!

The Nomads have left the building. The drums in the garden shed are quiet. The piano in the dining room is quiet. The pencil sharpener is quiet, no snip-snip of craft scissors. The Star Wars dudes, American Dolls, and Cars are packed and gone. No discussions on weapons and baseball, no ballet pirouettes to entertain me while I'm in the kitchen. No little curly haired 3 year old bossing the 80 lb. dog or telling me that there is shiny grass in heaven. The Nomads are gone and for a few short hours our home is empty.

My heart is full.

I Dare You

2009-03-27T23:23:00.001-05:00

Jon and I are doing the Love Dare book from the movie Fireproof. One of the days you are to buy your spouse a thoughtful gift. I made my gift to Jon--do you think I will get extra credit or a pass when its a hard challenge???

Jon has to wear safety glasses upon entering the building at his work. His safety glasses live on the dash of the van. Every Sunday on the way to Church as he turns a corner, I'm catching his safety glasses. I actually couldn't find a case that would be open enough, I knew he wouldn't want to mess with an open/close case. So inspiration was born!

I cut a pocket from old carpenter jeans with the seat fabric still attached.

To firm it up I used an ice cream bucket lid cut to size. (we all know I have extras of those)

I stuffed the cut plastic in to the pocket and then stitched the pocket closed.

(I did use an industrial sewing machine that I borrowed from Jon's brother Dave.)

I cut a piece of denim from the same pair of jeans for the back of the case.

I cut that piece the same size at the pocket bottom,

but smaller by about 3/4 of an inch on each side at the top.

This is so it stays open.

I cut it longer than the pocket, the excess is towards the opening.

I then sewed that piece onto the back of the pocket.

Last I folded the excess fabric over and hot glued a hem in it.

Total sew time was about 3 minuets, it took longer to heat the hot glue gun than it did to sew it.
I thought Jon would Velcro it to the dash but he tucked it in the corner by the windshield and it stays put.

A small labor of love, Jon loves it,

he thinks I should mass produce them!

I have been gifted some chocolate and an African Violet (to replace the one that died when our furnace went out when we were gone over Christmas). He sure knows how to flatter and woo me! FYI I won't be taking a pass. I'm lovin' this challenge and would not want to miss out on one single blessing! I would highly recommend the movie and the book, actually I dare you!

Haredini

2009-03-22T21:54:00.001-05:00

Benjamin Bunny became Haredini, if only for a day! He chewed away at his cage and finally hopped out of the hole he made. He's getting crafty in his old age. Ben is over 5 years old, to be honest I thought he wouldn't live threw the winter. Its been cold and he has lost alot of weight, even though he's a well fed bunny.

The Great Bunny Rescuer...

...and resident hutch fixer!

Jon was outside when he felt something tugging at his pant leg. Ben was letting him know some maintenance was in order. His little stunt landed him in the bath tub while we found something tall enough to put him in, he got to spend the night in the house. For a tiny-and I do mean tiny-bit I thought how fun it is to have a house bunny. Then I snapped myself out of it with the memory of Ben's predecessor Pete (Peter Rabbit-we are so original) who was a house bunny, and was a ton of fun-but pooped a ton!
Grace was a hoppy--I mean happy girl when she learned Ben had been rescued!

St. Patricks Day at our Home

2009-03-19T10:45:00.001-05:00

Avery, Mel (Jon's sister), Jon, Willy, Grace, Mama Lou, & Jerry

We never pass up on a holiday that involves good food.
Besides, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick day, even a bunch of Germans.

Mama Lou & Mel drove down for Willy's band concert, they were happy when the realized they would be a part our celebration. We were blessed to have them. Jerry (Jon's Dad) usually spends St. Patricks day with us.

Cabbage, Colcannon, Corned beef.

Oh yea and a table cloth, its officially now a party!

Grma & Grace
Passin' around the green!

Mama Lou loved the Irish Soda bread so its a keeper for next year. Jon and I both enjoyed it better the second day toasted.

Grace did ALOT of work-- start to finish!

Leapin' Lepre--doodle!

2009-03-16T19:39:00.001-05:00

Ok so he's a labradoodle... but boy can he leap!!! And we aren't even Irish but we will be having corned beef, cabbage, and little red potatoes. This year I'm going to make Irish soda bread, if it goes over with my family we will add it to our St. Patricks day menu. And for just a touch O' the green we will make pistachio bread.

Avery and Otto were out trouncing in the snow a few short weeks ago. Now it's mud, mud, mud!

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!!!

Bonus Day with Agnes?

2009-03-12T22:17:00.002-05:00

These are Grace's "driving gloves" she bought them last fall at a thrift store for 50 cents. She got in the car put them on, then took them off and put them out of sight, they were to "distracting"--she couldn't stop chuckling! Grace is chauffeuring me to a dr. appointment. When we arrived she said "BONUS" Look for our listening pleasure!

The harp is so pretty, with so much detail.

This nice lady let me take pictures. I should have asked her name . I imagine her as an Agnes, my Grma Brown had a friend named Agnes Stoltz. So Agnes the Harpest it is!

A bonus day indeed!

Learning to Live Without...

2009-03-07T10:32:00.000-06:00

This post is copied from my sister Tami's blog (here). Although I have never met Keeghans family, I have prayed for them when Tami has talked of their struggle.

Remember Keegans family as they are remembering their boy on his birthday.

Happy Birthday Keeghan. . .we miss you.
To remember Keeghan on what would be his 13th Birthday, I asked his mom to write something for my blog.

Keeghan Barry was a 12-year-old boy who wanted nothing more than to grow up and find a cure for cancer. Keeghan was taken from this life on August 31, 2008 by brain cancer. In an effort to continue his dream, his parents are trying to raise money for cancer research, as well as to help other families still on this journey with pediatric cancer, through Keeghan’s Cell by Cell Fund.Donations to the Fund can be made in two ways. First, by mailing donations directly to Keeghan’s Cell by Cell Fund, c/o Bank of America, 185 Chappie James Blvd., Bldg 4570, Bolling AFB, DC 20032. Second, through the purchase of jewelry made by Keeghan’s mom, Shannon, at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5036403. In memory of Keeghan on what would have been his 13th birthday, 100% of all jewelry sales in the month of March will go to the Fund.Please feel free to copy and post Keeghan's story on your own blog, or link back to this site. If you would like to know more about Keeghan and his family you can visit them at http://www.skeleigh.com/ .

Beading

2009-02-28T12:19:00.001-06:00

It has been for-EVER since I have made any jewelry. My fingers have been itching to have beads tumbling threw them. To get back into it w/o much time or committement (or brain power) I worked on this easy little bracelet. It is a birthday gift our niece Danni. Are my reading/beading glasses fun or what?

Tea for...Me

2009-02-22T22:12:00.001-06:00

I love tea. Wally world, was out of Great Value decaf (I am a serious light weight when it comes to caffeine) black tea. So I looked for the next cheapest thing, and Tetly was it. I love the little round pillow. It doesn't hit my tea button, its a close 2nd (or 3rd- still searching for a good decaf black). Drinking tea for me is mostly about capturing a flavor memory. I have two that are my favorite. Black tea because my Grma Lois drank black tea, and raspberry tea because it reminds me of Grma Brown (here).

On to the mug. I love simple and pretty. I like old and worn (what my kids call dead people junk). The contemporary mug (Jon's Christmas gift from J.J.'s girlfriend) is not me. But I like it. I like the feel of it in my hands, on my lips, and the way it holds the heat. For now I will console myself with its color, black and raspberry.

Rag Rug

2009-02-17T22:38:00.002-06:00

This rag rug, like the other one (here) had a direction all it's own. I may have it figured out, I'll keep you posted! The middle is an old green floral sheet that was my favorite. The creamy yellow was another sheet. And the cranberry was a thrifted-wonderfully-worn-soft-cotton table clothe that I paid $1 for.

It sets in front of my chair that is not far from the pellet stove (here). It feels so nice under my feet, I think it's the worn cotton that gives it that comfort feel. It's not perfect, but it has character. I love it!

Gift for His Mom

2009-02-12T13:25:00.001-06:00

He puts a song in my heart this man-boy of mine. He called today. He lets me ramble about dr. apts. past and yet to come. Then he requests (its always like this), its not a hair cut he's coming home for, or to have a button sewed on or his pants patched. My mission is to locate Origami pattern for flowers for his girl friend. He's coming home to craft with his Mama (I can say that 'cuz he walks in the door and says "Hi Mama!")!!!!! I am going to officially choose to believe that this is my valentines gift from him! I love to do hands on with my kids no matter the age.

J.J. is our prodigal, much like his father before him. Our 2nd child, 1st son. He makes me crazy at times with his liberal views. He has made some choices that has brought tears to my eyes and prayers to my lips (and one of those prayers is that he will come full circle like his father before him). Even though I get frustrated and down right heart broken at times, I am so thankful that he calls, requests, comes home...

... and always brings me a rose.

Real Men Don't Wear Super Bowl Rings...But They Do Sew!

2009-02-01T23:56:00.001-06:00

Avery had sewing class last term. He did really well, he's a wee bit of a perfectionist about his seams, and I must say I am very impressed. He sewed the manly Viking (there's always next year) pj pants and the hat that he has on. This is his official after school uniform! He also sewed a duffel bag and a pair of hot chili boxers for Grace, who, besides her shoe addiction she has a funky boxer thing goin' on!. Ave now has an opinion about sewing machines, and unfortunately he's not at all impressed with mine. I tell him it just showing its age -- 60, I kid you not!

Prayer Shawl

2009-01-27T23:42:00.002-06:00

Sometimes when life is a struggle, it helps if you focus on someone else's struggle. My brother rents from a lady named Loni, (her and her husband were friends of our parents when we were younger) Loni has cancer and is in the last days of her life. I made her a Prayer Shawl, first to spend more time praying for someone other than myself, second to let her know that she is being prayed for.

Yarn balls all lined up to make sure I have enough.

I am finished with the shawl, but not with the prayers.

The inspiration came from here, Barb made me a comfort quilt to lay under while I recover from surgery. Since sewing is painful for me I crocheted the shawl. I have spent so many hours under my comfort quilt. When Randi and Jeremiah's baby boys were born silently, her and I both sat under the comfort quilt, sometimes alone, sometimes together. That kind of comfort is meant to be passed along.

Taste of Brasil

2009-01-22T22:03:00.001-06:00

This dish is called Feijao, it was introduced to us by our foreign exchange student Denise. We actually think of her as our Brasilian daughter more than our exchange student. Any-whooo, Feijao is a black bean soup, served with rice and what Brasilians call vingrete. Denise told us that the way to eat it is to put a bit of each on your fork. It's a good combination of flavors and temperatures. Denise also taught me how to make rice -- the right way!! I miss that girl! We are expecting a visit, maybe in July from Denise, her mom, sister, and god parents. We are so excited to see her and meet her family. If you think I spelled Brasil wrong, I spelled it the way the people of Brasil spell it.

Grace eats hers in two piles. One with vinagrete on rice, the other feijao on rice.
Grace in keeping with the spirit of the meal eats hers like Denise did, with a fork and knife. The rest of us use a fork, but that knife thing is a little tricky. The rice helps absorb the juice from the bean soup.

This recipe for Feijoada-here is from cookbrazil.com. It is a little different than the recipe we use and also a different spelling. We tweaked our recipe according to what Denise explained as far as taste and meat cuts.

Feijao -- The Denise way

10-12 cups water

2 bags black beans (need 2 to make it thick enough)

1 ham bone with a good amount of ham still on

1 lb beef tenderloin (I have used left over roast beef)

2 lg onions cut up

salt

pepper

bay leaf

Beef bullion (optional - if ham bone isn't flavorful enough, it bugs me when that happens!)

Wash beans and soak overnight. Rinse beans. Put water, beans, bay leaf, and ham bone in large kettle, bring to boil, reduce to simmer until beans are tender. Here I take out the ham bone and pull off any ham still attatched (I also remove anything that will yuck me out). Add beef, onions, salt, pepper, and here I go with the Lawry's again! Simmer until onions are soft and flavors all incorporated. If you have a small ham bone just half everything.

Vinagrete

1 lg green pepper diced (seeds removed)

3-4 med. tomatoes diced

1 bunch spring onions sliced thin

3/4 cup olive oil

Cilantro - is optional, we don't use it

3/4 cup vinegar (can use less if not a fan of vinegar)

salt

pepper

-we also use Lawry's

The dicing needs to be done pretty small.

Mix all ingredients together.

Rice

4 cups water

2 cups rice

2 tbs butter

1 rounded tbs salt

1 small onion diced (I prefer) or 1 clove minced garlic

Heat water until boiling. Add rice, butter, salt, & onion. Stir.

Cover and reduced to simmer. Let simmer without lifting lid.

Check after 20 or so minuets. Rice is done when tender.

Dressed for Success

2009-01-22T21:36:00.001-06:00

As a new term begins, A & W start dragging home text books to be covered. I think I do a half way decent job at it. We did try those stretchy book cover things but my kids were not impressed. Whoever shops next will have request paper to replenish my stash of brown paper bags, they come in so handy!! I started using duck tape a few years ago, it was more for the look, we also found that I had to recover less often. Once again duck tape has played an important role in the educational process.

My My

2009-01-17T13:06:00.000-06:00

This is "My Randi" our oldest, the child I have loved the longest. She loves to laugh and has a contagious love of life about her. She has had to pack a life time of hurt into the last few months of her young life. She is growing and learning from that hurt in a way that is graceful. Her days are filled with keeping up with the child she will love the longest, the little chap upon her lap. Her and her husband live in central Missouri, they have taken us to some really fun places when we visit them.

This is "My Tami" I say My Tami because there are other Tammy's out there, and when talking about her I say "My Tami" so whoever I'm having a conversation with knows which one I speak of. Tami is my only sister. She is a military wife and mom of three amazing children that she is homeschooling. They have lived all over this nation, top, bottom, both coasts, and a number of places in between. They travel quite alot and do some really fun stuff. Tami is very energetic, she always has a few irons in the fire. She is so photogenic, I'm jealous. I love my sister, we chat a few times a week, ok we have been know to chat a few times a day.

Both "My's" have now joined the wide world of blogging!!
I am so excited to get to peak into their lives on a regular basis. I have linked them so just click on their web address.

Randi's family blog will be about "the boy" that keeps them busy! http://helveyhappenings.blogspot.com/

Tami's blog will take us on adventures and chat our ears off!!
http://fivenomads-tami.blogspot.com/

I Know My Rights

2009-01-14T22:57:00.001-06:00

#6 on The Midwestern Bill of Rights states that we reserve the right to...Consume a meal that is entirely composed of pale food, including but not limited to mashed potatoes, apple sauce, boiled fish, rice, pork chops, gravy, scrambled eggs, white bread, and lemon Jell-O or vanilla ice cream for desert.

Our supper falls well into the color scheme, Swedish meatballs, egg noodles, corn, milk, and for desert, left over Christmas baking, Russian Tea Cakes, and Lace roll-ups. We did break away a bit with the sweet gherkin pickles. This was to pay honor to our pioneer ancestors, the only green on their tables from October to May was in the pickles they put up. I read that in my Little House Cookbook. Willy made most of the supper. No one guessed that the secret ingredient in the Swedish Meatballs was nutmeg.

Rag Time

2009-01-12T21:32:00.002-06:00

I started this rag rug by following a tutorial, it soon took on a life of its own and I ended up ripping it out and just freelancing (my way of saying I winged it). The problem was that the fabric was too thick and I had cut the strips too wide. The fabric used here was thrifted curtains that cost me $1. The giant hook was my birthday present and it cost $2.49. That's alot of fun for under $5 !!!

Crocheting the rug, working on those PT chin tucks--multi tasking, and hanging by the pellet stove with Otto. I like to think he's guarding my rag ball from the cat, who can reap havoc on anything that can be unwound.

The finished product is 20 x 30 inches.

Thank you !!!

The rug was a gift for Bonice who... (deep breath cuz the list is long) brought Grace home from Wed. night Church ###'s of time's, made a puppy run many hours away, lobbied for said puppy (there are days that one doesn't count), hauled me to many Dr. appointments, asked questions that I forgot to ask of the Dr, re-answered those questions when I would call because a brain on pain can't remember which end is up, went on info seeking missions for me (a shout out here for Gus, Bonices's husband who works in the medical field), brought me food, brought me pillows (if ever you have a back surgery latex pillows are the way to go), brought me pajama's, brought me dvd's to watch, brought me books to read (still challenged in that area-- the brain on pain thing), brought that puppy treats and toys, gave tons of puppy advice, watched very large energetic puppy for 6 days so we could visit Randi's family for Christmas ... you get the idea.

Magic Tree

2008-12-29T14:29:00.002-06:00

This is the Magic Tree in Columbia MO. It's a few blocks from Randi's home. It is very pretty

This is the Magic tree inspired hat I crocheted for Elijah while we were Christmas-ing in Missouri. I grabbed a skein of yarn from my project bucket as we walked out the door. It just happens to be as colorful as the tree. I made it there for Elijah so we could do a little bonding, we both enjoyed it. He was so compliant about trying on a half done hat, once he took off on a run but I had enough yarn unwound so I didn't loose any stitches. I told Randi that he doesn't have to wear it. The joy was in the journey!