Christmas Hangover?

Just maybe I am a little hungover from all the excitement, food and assorted beverages these past few days. It is wonderful to spend time with family and friends, some who you don't get to see very often.  

Zeyda

The craziness started last Saturday with a wonderful Christmas recital at the Mitchell High School auditorium. Zeyda, my five year old granddaughter had her first dance recital. The recital was well produced and very entertaining with young and older dancers alike giving us all a quick start to the Christmas week. After the recital, I was invited to one of the Gonzales Christmas dinners. Thanks go out to Rachel and Art for having me and letting me bring Baboo to the party. Yolanda and her family weren't going to be at the Christmas Eve dinner so they were all exchanging their gifts ahead of time. My gift was a white chocolate cherry pecan cheesecake I made.

Christmas Eve I traveled to Chadron where I was graciously invited to Jay's folks home for Christmas Eve and Christmas. I was thankful that I made it for there was another snow squall that made the roads very icy and once again tested my resolve. What is it with that road to Chadron? We attended church and then celebrated with Jessamyn's best friend from high school, Joni and her husband Steve. They have a new 6,000 square ft. home in which I could get lost in, lol! Oyster stew was served to my relief. A tradition that I have carried on in my family.

Baboo, Mary, Jessamyn, Jay, Andrea, Galen, Will,  Joy, Macaroni,  Joy and Rigsby.
Sorry, no picture of Tyler for he was taking the picture.

Then Christmas was spent at the Voss home with nine adults and 5 dogs! Needless to say, it was a crazy scene of noise, hustle and bustle. Watching the entertaining DVR, Ref, with it outrageous plot and more outrageous language. Dogs running, playing and scrambling over couches, us and getting into the breakfast casserole. I LOVED IT! This is what Christmas is all about!

Linda's gift of a quilted mixer cover.

This is the quilted mixer cover that now houses the mixer that so diligently worked to make the Christmas gifts that were given family and friends. The mixer is currently at peace, at least until next weeks New Years Party...

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Ho, Ho, Ho! Christmas is almost here and time is running out to get those gifts made and sent to all. I like everyone else stood in line Tuesday at the post office with several boxes in tow. I waited to send my packages on Tuesday instead of the so called busiest day of the year, Monday. Matter not much according to the wait time and sore arms from holding packages aloft.

Snow is still on the ground even though we have had a couple of 40-50 degree days. The white stuff persists and more is in the forecast for tomorrow. I wish for balmy weather, my chance will come in March. Jessamyn and Jay's family got a reprieve earlier and are in  Marco Island, Florida to celebrate their anniversary and retrieve Joy. Joy is Jay's sister and she just got done with her semester at sea. I am watching Sunny for the durations.

An early morning potty break.

This next week will be filled with more baking of goodies and attending Christmas programs and recitals! 

Feeling a little holiday stress yet?

Its creeping closer andy nary a gift sent to family afar. The stress is starting to intensify. So trying to keep my stress level down  I made a decision not to put my little Christmas tree up. Not because it is too much trouble, but because of my new pup. I certainly had visions of running around the Christmas tree chasing Baboo for an ornament or two. It would be the updated version of Little Black Sambo whose story had tigers that chased each other around a tree until they turned to butter. No thanks, I will pass this year. 

Tigers chasing themselves to butter

Last night I made a trek to Chadron to watch Taylen's freshman basketball game. I was the official family member in presence because Jessamyn had her work's Christmas party. Taylen is a guard and takes the ball down the court quite frequently. It is sure fun to watch your grandkids grow and start playing sports. It sure has kept me busy of late! Even though it was a loss, the game builds strength of character. They are always winners and losers, it is how you handle the up and downs that makes you a winner in all respects. 

I was very thankful I made the trip home safe and sound. It was snowing and hard to see where the road side ended. Now I really appreciate those rough rumble edges for what they are. It kept me from driving off the road. God looked after me for sure last night so I could be a winner!

Snow, snow and more snow!

Tis the season, so they say. It has been snowing here since yesterday. There is 8 inches or more of the white fluff to contend with along with blistering cold winds and temperatures. I was up at 5 AM shoveling for the second time just to keep the doors open.  The wind is blowing and the snow is drifting, thus I made a decision to cancel the Lion's club meeting this noon. Schools are closed and  many cancelations were heard on the radio. I don't even know if I could get out my lane anyway. I am going to hang out in my cozy home and catch up on some very needed cleaning, baking and Christmas decorating.

My assistant elf hasn't been too helpful…Baboo took a piece of my clean laundry out of the clothes basket and headed underneath the bed like the road runner he is. You can see him peeking out from there looking so innocent. Pray tell what else is under there, lol!

Stinker!

Before the weather got bad yesterday, I met Jessamyn in Alliance and we drove together to Jarret's last wrestling tournament in Bayard. Paqui was able to attend after she got her work caught up.  We all witness Jarret's first place finish. Champion and medal winner again. As soon as he wrestled, Jessamyn and I hightailed it back to Alliance and her to Gordon. The roads progressively got worse the further north we went. It took Jessamyn over three hours to get home. Was very thankful we all made it home safely!

Champion pinning his opponent!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I for one have a lot to be thankful for. Having a wonderful family and group of friends and being able to live with relatively few worries. There is food on the table and the bills are getting paid. Everyday is a new beginning with challenges and rewards. Life is good!

Last Saturday Jarret won his weight division (110 lb..) at the Alliance Middle school Wrestling tournament. There were nine other schools attending. Every meet he gets better. His last tournament is this next Tuesday in Bayard. Of course, Grandma is planning to attend. 

Jarret and Taylen

Sunday was the last day of deer hunting season and it was Jarret's turn to hunt a deer. He was successful and was again a champion. What a crazy weekend for Jarret!

Now on a closing note, those wild turkeys were on the prowl again in my yard. They must have complete faith that there is going to be pork on the table this year.

New Interest In Old Past Times!

Well I must say, I might be nesting if I didn't know better. Buying a new high powered Kitchenaid mixer and offering to bring homemade items  made from scratch to the Thanksgiving dinner. Rolls, cheesecake, and a German chocolate cake are some to name a few. 

While rummaging around the recesses of the basement storage area I found my dehydrator. It hasn't been used in years. I pulled it off the shelf and cleaned it up. I found some old jerky spices so thawed some hamburger out and presto I had beef jerky! It was so much fun that I decided to buy a bag of apples and some bananas to make fruit chips. Not only did I find the dehydrator I also found my apple parer, corer and slicer to make the job much easier. Items out of my past that offer comfort in this time of thanksgiving.












I also am thankful that my hand surgery went well and without too much discomfort. I removed the pressure bandage Monday morning and now I am wearing a bandaid with glove covering while doing kitchen and outdoor work. It was nice to finally take a full shower or spa...with plastic and duct tape, lol!

Kitchen decor of hand.

Poor Baboo just looks at me, like what?

Contorting, breathless and sore!

It has been a long time since I been to a wrestling match. Jarret has decided to go out for seventh grade wrestling.  I took a leave of absence from my retreat at Chadron State Park to go to his first wrestling meet. I left Linda sewing her quilt blocks in bliss and without my many interruptions. The meet was in Rushville and I spent the afternoon contorting in agony along with my grandson as he wrestled for the first time in a school meet. Wow, my heart raced and I could hardly hold still and watch. By the the end of the meet he did exceptionally well and ended up second in his weight division amongst seven other schools. Me...I was beat and sore, just like Jarret who did all the physically hard work, can you believe that?

Jarret is in the black and orange.

After the wrestling meet I went back to relax with my friend Linda at our cabin away from it all. No cell or internet service and even the TV was acting up. With a martini in hand we toasted the last night of our three night adventure. Linda sewing, I catching up on the backlog of two months of magazines and putting my Europe scrapbook together.


Hopefully I will be able to blog next week. Tomorrow I am finally getting my trigger finger surgery done to release my poor digit from its semi frozen existence, not to mention pain when it snaps down, lol!

Halloween Vampires, Ducks, and Turkeys!

Isn't that quite a title? Let me tell you why, my granddaughter was a vampire for Halloween and my grandson was a duck. The turkeys came later when I returned home today after getting my hair cut and saw 20 wild turkeys in my yard.  Baboo was the greatly surprised and a little scared. Bark, Bark, Bark…

Snow in the forecast, retreat with my friend to start tomorrow at Chadron State Park, Baboo to get his male genitalia removed, new mixer waiting to be used, March Honolulu itinerary made. There is lots to do and the holidays are approaching…

To girls just hanging out!

There is Change in the Air

There is a change in the air for sure. It has been raining ice balls since last evening. The temperature dropped 40 degrees from Sunday to Monday. It is hard to adjust to such drastic changes in temperature. My titanium knees stiffen and my trigger finger wants to remain in one position only, an uncomfortable one at that. 

High school football is at an end also. Taylen's last game was last Friday and I again made the trek Gordon to watch him. It was parents night and fortunately a warmer evening than the previous Friday. Gordon / Rushiville beat Mitchell 35-8. Taylen is a freshman but he got to play in the last five or more minutes and made several yards running the ball. He almost made it to the end zone before the seconds ticked down. I am very proud of his effort in such a dangerous sport. He got hit pretty hard and I cringed as I watched. With all the news and research on football injuries, you just got to pray for them to make it through the season without a major calamity! 

Parents Night at Gordon/ Rushiville Game
Jessamyn, Taylen and Jay

Upcoming events include: a 50th birthday party for Jim, a retreat at Chadron State Park for three days, Baboo getting neutered and surgery for a my trigger finger release. There is never a dull moment. I am also going to return some house sitting karma to my neighbors the Gerks by watching their home and kitty. They are taking a trip to visit their daughter in Memphis. 

Football and the Attack Dog

It has been another busy week. Paqui, Zeyda, Breqkon and I headed to Jessamyn's in Gordon last Friday to watch Taylen and Jarret play football. It was cold Friday night and gratefully Jessamyn had parked her vehicle at the Gordon high school field earlier in the day at a strategic spot so we could see and still be in the car. It was the high school playing and Taylen is a freshman, so he finally got to play in the last 5 plays of the game. He made two tackles and ran the ball for 10 yards. Jarret's 7th grade game was Saturday morning in Chadron and it was his last for the season. He played defensive and offensive end. His team won every game and did not let any teams score on them. It was Gordon-Rushville 44 and Chadron 0. My plan is to travel to Gordon again to see Taylen's last game on Friday with Mitchell.  Speaking of football, it was hard to see the Broncos lose to the Colts. It was their wake up call to continue to do the work.

Jarret looking tough!

Breqkon a future football dude.

Not only are the boys tough players on the field so is my Baboo. I feel some remorse for the poor cats that have to endure the wrath of puppy hood! Alma takes the brunt of his rough play but Smokey gives Baboo a run for his money.

Smokey and Baboo

The Wind Cries Mary!

It is fall and the cold wind just keeps on blowing. Hard for me to remember the warm sunshine on my face and the sweat dripping off my brow when I was outside in the garden. Now things are gray, cold and wet with gail force winds. Blowing the chill in me while I am out trying to make Baboo potty. Lordy, my titanium knees are stiff and my right ring finger is getting stuck way too often. Quit crying Mary!

Baboo looks at me like, not again!

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Julie in Maine. Melinda is there helping her celebrate. I was invited and wished I could have gone, maybe next time...

On a more somber note, my brother-in-law Richard lost his Father this last week. He was eighty-six and in poor health. My prayers go out to him and his family for they have lost both their Mother and Father in this past year.  Also, Jessamyn and Jay's attempt to have a baby failed. Jessamyn took a pregnancy test Saturday at the Chadron Hospital and it was negative. It was very disappointing to say the least for all of us!

It certainly has been a busy week! Wednesday I had a Lion's Club meeting. Thursday Linda and I went to Scottsbluff to shop. Friday I had lunch with Paqui, Jeanie and Warren. Saturday I worked at the Lion's table at the fall celebration, Autumn on the Bricks in Alliance. Sunday I went to church and ate lunch with the Wilma and Harry. Got to tell them all about my trip to Europe. Monday I drove to Chadron to get my Enclave serviced and when I got home made applesauce from the apples Jessamyn gave me. Today I took Baboo to the vet to get his second series of shots and made four quarts of vegetable juice out of my left over tomatoes and other veggies. Boy, it amazes me that I get all that done, but on the other hand it makes me tired just thinking about it all... 

A Blizzard Then Seventy Degrees, What's Up?

This past week I had the pleasure hanging with my grandsons Taylen and Jarret. Thursday night put me right back to the 1990's when my girls were attending games in inclement weather. Like any right of passage you think once your kids are grown up it all over; the freezing cold, wet and the shivering. I had forgotten about having grandchildren ...  Needless to say, I watched Jarret's football game in 40 degree driving rain. They beat Alliance 30-0, thanks goodness. It makes the cold and wet much more tolerable. Taylen's game Friday and Jarret's game Saturday where all cancelled along with school due to the blizzard that rolled through the Gordon area dumping 12 inches of snow.

Yesterday the sun shown and temperatures reached 73 degrees! The frozen limp leaves of my flowers were gathered and disposed of. I am still working on the garden by picking all the left over pumpkins and gourds. Also sorted the left over tomatoes into groups of red, pink and green. Today is the day to get the fall decorations out and pack up the summer delights. The flys are making an aggressive effort to enter my house. Have swatted at least 50 over the past few days!

 The killer Rottweiler is on the loose according to my neighbor's text. Watching out for Baboo and the Sheriff's office has been notified. Thanks Aj for keeping our neighborhood safe.  I just couldn't go through that type of loss again...

Colosseum Rome

Temple of Saturn

Pantheon 

Weekend Harvest with Family

What a weekend! It was one with a theme of Italian cuisine from my bountiful harvest and wine. I was so busy cooking Sunday my camera lay at rest. Not only did I cook manicotti, beef roast, caprese salad, I then topped off my meal with a chocolate truffle dessert. While I cooked my great kids and grandkids helped dig my beets and carrots. They picked what zucchini, winter squash, cucumbers and peppers that were left. They also picked their pumpkins and gourds. It truly was more fun and less strenuous for me to have them help clean up my garden. The tomatoes are still turning so left them and the flowers on the edge of my garden along with the giant sunflowers for bird feed. 

This week I head to Gordon to stay with my grandsons while Jessamyn and Jay go to Denver for her implantation. Yes, Jessamyn and Jay are trying to have a baby. She is doing the IntroVitro Fertilization procedure and I pray it works. Hormone therapy has been brutal with many side effect. 

Puppy Baboo is quite the little guy, he is sometimes a terror around the house. Chewing my airplane plant,  and any thing he can clamp his jaws around, that includes the cats. I put the chest collar on Baboo today and he definitely did not like that! It was a battle of wills, but in the end I won until he squirmed out of it on his own.  Oh please give me patience, I forgot how challenging training a puppy was!

Since no pictures of this weekend I will continue to post more from my trip, enjoy!

Windmill in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ancient bridge Kapellbrucke in Luzern, Switzerland

Mt. Vesuvius at Pompeii, Italy

Back Home

Vatican City and Saint Peter's Square 

I am safely back home and I am thankful for that! After traveling thousands of miles, seeing such amazing architecture and learning about the customs of several different cultures it is nice to be home. The trip was a whirlwind of activities with wake up calls, bags out, breakfast buffets and us travelers loaded on the bus by seven thirty and if we were lucky by eight.  I will post some pictures highlighting off and on over the next several posts. Unfortunately, I didn't have very good internet or any time that I could blog like I thought. 

Leaning tower of Piza

Before I left on the trip a lot of you saw on Facebook that my little Rico dog was killed by some neighbor dogs. A tragic and very painful episode that had stressed me at the very moment I was about to leave. Maybe it was God's way of making me tolerate the loss by distracting me enough with the trip of my dreams. Just as I returned from Paris I happened to see a listing for a Shiffon (Shitzu and Brussels Griffon cross) puppies somewhere in Nebraska with a 308 area code. I called while still in Denver and behold the breeder lived on a ranch about 45 miles away from Alliance. Today she met me and I have a new buddy, Baboo. He is 10 weeks old and a ball of fur with a very playful spirit. Yes, I know a puppy takes many hours of work and patience to boot. I think I am up for the challenge, though. I am not planning any big trips in the near future.  

Baboo

Trial Run and Birthday Wishes

This entry is a trial run as far as trying to blog on my iPad. I have had difficulty in the past with the google site but hopefully I can get it done quickly and without too much frustration. You know the old adage, practice makes perfect! The reason for all this practice is that Wednesday is the start of my trip of a life time, Europe in 18 days. I would like to blog some pictures and chronicle some events.

Cool Dude watching big Sis!

  

Blowing hard on those five candles!

Friday I traveled down to Scottsbluff with my car's back end full of produce for the Gonzales clan. It was Zeyda's fifth birthday party at the Pizza Hut. Fifteen kids later with parents in tow, the party was a success. Five is certainly a milestone, but next year it will be kindergarten!

The Almighty Push

It is the almighty push to get the harvesting done, along with the canning and freezing. I feel  pressured all around. What's the dilemma, you might say.  Its getting close to the time I leave for my once in a life time trip to Europe. Of course when planning this trip, I didn't take in consideration that my garden would be copiously producing large amounts of veggies! It is probably one of the best gardens I have ever had. My goodness, the tomatoes are late but large and just starting to turn red.

Weighing over two pounds!

Yesterday, I tackled the pepper crop. I made some jalapeño jelly. Yum, I love the sweet and hot of it all. 

I also roasted green chilies and froze them along with bell, cayenne, and banana peppers. Whew, some were flaming hot. When cooking the jelly my respiratory track was irritated to say the least!

I still have beans coming on and had to picked some more. I will probably will freeze them. Hopefully, Jessamyn will make the trek here Tuesday to help me with the great grape harvest. The plan is to make grape jelly and juice.

Grapes hidden but ready to pick.

It will be a race to see who gets to the grapes first, us or the birds...