Fond Farewell

It's with great sadness that I say good bye to 2017. It's really been a great year. I know it started off a little bit rocky with the tornado rearranging the landscape around us in early March, but no one was killed and friends and family came from all over to help out-many, many thanks to them.
Paul started his first semester as Beth was finishing her last-and not to be outdone, the baby started nursing school too. They've all done extremely well and made this mama prouder than a peacock. I can't believe how smart they are. Spring ended with a great big party-Mike and Kate got married in Michigan. What a wedding! What a trip!
We got to visit with Mary and Dave and eat the most amazing ice cream in North America.
Then, my wonderful husband and I ventured to Niagra Falls and did every touristy thing we could find. He even sprung for a motel that overlooked the Falls-something I will never, ever forget.
We tried poutine and pasties.
I delighted in the fact that my husband is as big of a nerd as I am-so we went to the biggest cuckoo clock and through all the big things in Casey, Il.  We also took our time driving through Amish country and found great cheese and wonderful covered bridges.
Then, we came back to work the garden and start bee hives.
June brought a weekend with my sisters in a yurt. Lee discovered bull frog tadpoles and running elk. Her kids discovered fire and smores. Dad celebrated his 75th and introduced the family to the joys of riding in an argo.
Before I knew it, summer faded into fall and Dwight and I once again hit the road. This time to see the Aspens in Colorado. We saw them-lots of them and took some incredible pictures and revisited Garden of the Gods and Black Canyon of Gunnison. It was quite an adventure as we took the dogs with us and hit snow. Then, we made a stop in Oklahoma and added Harley to our little family.
Not a bad year, but I can't help but wonder what's in store for next year.

hey good lookin' whatcha got cookin?

Up here in the hills the menu for Saturday is fried venison, garlic chicken wings, mashed potatoes, gravy, squash, salad, seven up biscuits,  pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and triple berry pie.
Sunday's menu is ham, corn, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, blue berry pie, pumpkin pie, and seven up biscuits.
Drop in if you're near.

What's in your voice?

Not so long ago, I had dinner with my son Paul. He talked about school and the work he was doing. He's working so very hard and studying even harder-and all this talk? It wasn't to complain. He's passionate about learning and doing well. I often wonder if he heard that passion in his voice or if he knew about the excitement that seemed to radiate from him. I left that night feeling a little bit better about not seeing him as much as I would like to because he's doing something he loves. I've heard that some people are "called" to do something and if that's true, he's found his calling. Make's a Mama's heart do a happy dance.
Tonight, I talked with my baby Lauren. She's got the same kind of voice that her brother has. The first semester of Nursing School has been a little rough. The class started out with 29 and now they are down to 17. She's been through more than one study partner. I'm praying she keeps up the good grades-I know she can because she talks the same way that Paul does.

I hope you remember

With just seven days remaining until Christmas 2017, I hope my kids remember Christmas times of long ago.
Do you remember the trailer park off Arch Street?
Chocolate covered cherries?
Getting ready for the Holly Ball and the dancing that followed?
Snow ice cream?
Midnight mass?
The ugliest stockings on the planet?
Alvin and the chipmunks singing Christmas songs?
Christmas cookies and hot chocolate?

A Day Tradition

Long before I knew Dwight, his first cousins decided to get together every Christmas to celebrate. I'm sure those first celebrations were really hard because Grandpa died around Christmas time. Grandpa and Grandma both loved Christmas from what I hear so love of family and Christmas prevailed and the annual party started.
It wasn't too long before those first cousins had kids and grandchildren of their own. It's a huge celebration with people of all ages and walks of life. Nurses, truck drivers, teachers, farmers, loggers, doctors, and just nice people galore. There's a Christmas dinner with turkey, ham, tons of mashed potatoes and the best crock pot stuffing to every grace the planet. Another line of tables with Christmas sweets(it's where I was introduced to Potato Candy-a wonderful dish made by Uncle Sandford).
There's another table with paper sacks with everyone's name-where you can put Christmas cards for them. There's always a beautiful Christmas tree or two or three and the tables are always decorated. There's a huge rock fireplace that's lit with a couch near by. The fireplace has a wide large stone front where people can sit and that's where Nona tells the story. Every year.
Some of the little ones can't tell me how old they are, but they know Ms. Nona reads the story and that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Happy trails problem

I know I'm rude when guests leave my house. Miss Manners would probably advise that I stay on the porch and see every one off, but that's just not possible. At our last celebration as soon as one person would leave-I could spend more time with someone else. I think I hugged everyone before they left-I tried anyway. One by one-they all left and went back to their homes and busy lives except Lee and her boys-I got to enjoy them for one more day. Enjoy them I did. We went to a cave, picked out some pretty rocks, ate at a local restaurant, and went horse back riding-all before two pm. We also saw a bald eagle on the way to the cave.
Technically, I could have watch Lee drive away. Physically not possible. I have a problem saying good bye. I know I'll see them again as soon as possible, but nothing's written in stone and it makes me more than a little sad. It was easy to say goodbye to my kids because Christmas is less than 4 weeks away and they'll come to see me once again. But my youngest nephews? These two are a blessing. They remind me how quickly time flies. It's so much fun to grab them chocolate milk and strawberries with whipped cream, because before too long they'll be too independent to ask. It's a wonderful feeling when one of them reaches out and grabs you by the hand.  Watching them learn and grow-wow...I envy their parents.

November and giving Thanks

I'm amazed at all the people that can do a daily post on what they're thankful for each day in November. Some of us, can't keep track of a phone that long. While I love Thanksgiving and the food (I've gone over my menu more than once), there's shopping and so much to do before the end of the year. So let me just do one "Thankful" post and be done with that at least ok?
Thanksgiving is technically on the 23rd so let's just keep that number. These are in no particular order.
1. I'm thankful for my health-it's not perfect but I can get out of bed and climb a deer stand.
2. My job-it's not that I love it or have great hours, but I make a decent living and work with some really cool people.
3. I'm thankful for where I live-I realize it's not on the beaten path for anyone, but I can look outside on any given day and take a picture that would make a post card.
4. I'm thankful for my friends-not a super large number, but the ones I have are great.
5. I'm thankful for Oscar-he's currently teaching me a lot about patience. He also shows me how easily it is to love-all the time.
6. I'm thankful for Dixie. She's taught me it's really ok to be different and that you should take something that you love and run with it.
7. I'm thankful for Harley-another lesson in patience, but it's a lesson in how fast things can grow and change.
8. I'm thankful for my husband that knows exactly when to hold me close and when to let me go.
9. I'm extremely thankful for my family.
10. I'm thankful for the things I've learned.
11. I'm thankful for the memories I've made this year-Dad turned 75, Mike married Kate, Dwight and I traveled to Canada, the aspens in Colorado, the snow, ...
12. I'm thankful the tornado that came through our area earlier in the year didn't kill anyone. It made us realize how precious life is.
13. I'm thankful that we got the chance to help others rebuild-it's awesome to be a part of something so strong.
14. I'm thankful that the horses know and love me.
15. I'm thankful for holidays especially one that makes us take a look at all we have.
16. I'm thankful I have a grandson.
17. I'm thankful for sweet tea, strong coffee, and strawberries.
18. I'm thankful for flannel sheets and warm fuzzy blankets.
19. I'm thankful for the hot tub on our back porch.
20. I'm thankful for veterans and all those that have served in our military.
21. I'm thankful God gives us second and third chances.
22. I'm thankful I can think for myself (most of the time).
23. I'm thankful for yesterday, today, and tomorrow.