AS SANDS THROUGH THE HOUR GLASS, so are the days of our lives...

This has been a week with some obvious indications of passing time!  On Wednesday I enjoyed another birthday!  Nothing spectacular happened.  I had been given a $25 gift certificate for Christmas by my afternoon employer.  So I still had that.  It was to Salvatores.  So Randy and I enjoyed a meal there.  I had something called Sophia's ziti.  Was pretty yummy.  Randy had an Italian beef sandwich with aux jus.

Then tonight I attended a retirement party for one of my friends from the City.  Kathy Chalupa's last day with the parks department was today.  She was a very versatile employee with multiple talents.  Not afraid to work hard.  When I walked into the party, I was immediately struck by how many people my life had been enriched with just by virtue of knowing Kathy.  The 'card club' girls -- such fun people, Geri, Cheryl, Chelsea and more. 

The stories were many, I'm sure.  I got in on a couple.  One co-worker gave a gift signed Edward ... her real name is Annie.  But she was a worker extraordinaire and Kathy dubbed her Edward Scissorhands - tied somehow to her shrub cutting abilities!  On the table of gifts was a little clear plastic tray.  You know the type.  You pick them up at the dollar store.  They look 'fancy', but aren't really.  At first glance it looked like some type of fixy little petit fours intricately displayed.  A closer look revealed Little Debbie Brownies, each cut into 8 pieces.  Placed in between the Little Debbie cubes were little cherry licorice pieces, about the same size.  Seventeen years ago one of the parks guys didn't bring a dessert to something he was supposed to.  He ran to the nearby convenience store and returned with a very similar looking 'dessert tray'.  A fun reminder!

I didn't take my gift yet.  It is a consumable gift.  I will make it and take it to her probably next week.  A casserole she enjoyed at our house ... Redi-Burger Casserole.  She really liked it.  It's sure to put some wind behind her sails as she heads into retirement!  She knows!  *wink*

Kathy -- I feel like you are a good friend.  I know everyone else in your world feels the same.  Best wishes to you as you march into new adventures!

PLAGIARIZING (a wee bit?) -

Rhiannon shared this FACEBOOK 'thought' from Joannie (hope you don't mind me sharing it, I thought it was very poignant):

I started crying in the car on the way home from work tonight. I was thinking about Scarlett going to Kindergarten and I was thinking back on when I went to Kindergarten.


My Mom would walk me half a block from home and accross 4th Street (the busy street) and then I was on my own to walk to Jefferson by myself.


I just can't imagine my little Scarlett walking all that way by herself. She just seems too little. Did Mom's heart clench up thinking about me walking all that way by myself or did she think 'Whew, one more out of the house. One more to go.'


Did Mom feel fear for me getting made fun of or picked on by the other kids like I fear for Scarlett?


Did she worry if I'd make friends or not?


I know I have to let Scarlett go and grow and mature and learn to handle things on her own and become a young lady. But I don't have to like it. Did Mom feel that way with us kids?


I really miss Mom at these milestone points of my life. The questions I have that will remain unanswered.

I can't speak for your mom with 100% authority, but my own mom heart tells me that her heart most certainly clenched up as she thought of each of her tiny people walking all that way alone ... every time she had to walk one of you that 1/2 block to cross 4th Street and watch you tromp off on your own from there toward the big brick school building! 

No doubt each time your precious little fingers let go of hers, you were sent with a prayer and a sigh.

Prayers that you didn't get picked on or made fun of.  Prayers that your classwork would be the perfect mix of easy and challenging so you'd remain interested and engaged; but not so much you got discouraged.  Prayers that you would find friends that would be good for you.  And a sigh as she thought how little you were in such a big world.

And like you will soon see - she also rejoiced with you over every 'pretty picture' and page filled with big awkwardly drawn letters as you learned to put them together into words.  She laughed with you and at you.  Her heart sang with joy, broke in sorrow and watched lovingly all along the way.

How much more we as adults/parents,  appreciate our parents.  Mom (Ludke) used to ask me all the time "what cute thing did ... Nick or Randee Rae ... do?"  At the time I thought it was funny she asked.  Now I can't wait to hear the next thing that my own grandbaby does.  It makes me chuckle to think about it.

The Bible tells me that God is my Father and He loves me; more than I love my own children.  That kind of love - honestly - is hard to fathom, if you think about it. 

Earlier this week I put out an 'all call' for some of you who have known me forever to help me remember things I've been involved in organizing and implementing.  I wanted pictures.  This on-going quest has led me to find a few old pictures.  So thought I'd share some of those with you as I said good-bye for this Ludke-ville.

These are (mostly) from Christmas 1999 at Jill and Mike's Farmington, MN home.  If you hover your mouse over the picture you will see the caption.

Please keep in touch with us -- Ludke-ville is supposed to serve as my communication with you, such as it is.  Please let us know what is going on in your world.

Thanks Deb for the heads-up on the ideas for my resume/portfolio.

MY LEFT BUN HURTS ...

Not as much now as it did a day or so ago.  I backed the car out the garage door on Sunday morning.  Then realized I'd left something in the house.  So I left the car running, got out, went in the house -- as I whipped around the front of the car, my feet decided to continue in the direction I HAD been traveling and my body was headed to the van door.

And, you know how it is when you  fall ... it's fast, but yet somehow it is still S-L-O-W enough that you have time for all sorts of thoughts:

• oh no ...
• I'm falling ...
• I can't believe I'm doing this again ...
• we should have sprinkled 'ice melt' ...
• I hope I don't break an arm ...
• I hope I don't break a leg ...
• shoot!  I'm old enough - I hope I don't break a hip ...
• what if I crack my head on the cement and have to lay here until someone misses me ...
• YIKES!  they're mostly asleep still ...
• I think I'm going to die.

Then BUMP and you lay there.  Then you're thinking:

• Hey!  I'm alive ...
• what's broken?
• am I bleeding?...
• wonder if I can call 9-1-1 myself ...
• nuts! my phone is IN the car ...
• do I hurt anywhere?...
• can I get up?
• ugh ... I'm getting up ... hope no one sees me.

And then off you go through the whole of your day saying "YIKES my left bun really hurts." 

By night time when all my family and fun and distractions left I could feel my knee was wrenched and my ankle a little tender.  In the a.m. I was hobbling and the knee had me a teensy bit worried.  Toward late evening and certainly by the time I got up the next day -- I was all reset and ready to head out and try manipulating around on NEW ICE!

We had such fun on the weekend.  Ryan, Rhiannon and Jaimee came for the weekend. They came on Friday evening (relatively early) and stayed until about 7-ish on Sunday. 

Saturday night Wynter and Andy came over.  Andy and Randy worked on "Frank-N-Puter" - a rebuilt computer they were working on for Wynter.  Randy enjoyed himself.  Wyn, Rhiannon and I stayed upstairs and played Boggle, Taboo, Backseat Drawing, Farkle, and probably more.  Of course we didn't have enough for teams - so we did the best we could. 

Mixed throughout the evening was soup and rolls and ... rocky road ice cream.  Can't go wrong there!

Now it is back to work - and another full week on tap.  I'm so fortunate to have these extra few hours - but please keep my resume in your prayers for the new job I have put in for.  That would be so helpful.  Got my eye on a couple of other opportunities, but I don't think I will be applying for them.

Randy brought home some Dominos pizza tonight.  Cheese.  You know they have been advertising that they have 'new and improved' the taste.  It's pretty good!  I would eat it again.

So now it's getting to be close to bed time -- and I better get myself up those stairs!

Here are some pictures of our little Lego-Lovely!  Her Crazy Uncle Nick has said from the beginning that Jaimee would only be fun AFTER she was able to play Legos with him.  I think we're there!  She had fun.  Nick is very gentle and nice with his little niece.  He always says "such a cute baby".

We have a little 'wager' on when she will walk.  We're not betting, but just guessing.  I don't have my phone here by me and I'm too lazy to get up and get it.  (Otherwise I'd fill you in on those projections.)  With the progress she made yesterday at their house -- I think Randy (who guessed the earliest time) will be the winner.

HOVER OVER THE PICTURES FOR THE WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

IMPUT???????

This is a little thing in the great realm of "things", but I keep hearing people say "imput" ... I keep thinking THEY ARE WRONG.

But just like seeing people wearing jammie pants around town, I started wondering if maybe I'm wrong.  It still bugs me (the jammie pants AND the word IMPUT).  But I am becoming desensitized to it.

But today -- I was dealing with the local newspaper to get an advertisement placed for work.  When I got an email from the Journal's employee saying something about figures being "imputted" in the computer ... I got super perturbed.

I IMPUTTED http://www.google.com/ - and then IMPUTTED the word IMPUT into the search box.  I wanted to see.  Was I the one who was wrong all this time when I simply INPUT things into the computer?

Well, guess what ... I am RIGHT - RIGHT - RIGHT!!!!  Here is what I found,

                    imput — input

                    Idiot's version of "input."

I'd tell you the website so you could look them up, but I told you the website you'd be able to call me out on my mistakes.  *LOL* 

ONE - TWO - REESE IS THREE!!

January is commonly known as BIRTHDAY MONTH around here!

We have lots of birthdays:  Gail, Randy, Reese, Aunt Nita, ME!!, and Nick ... probably others that I am forgetting.  I even think Paul B's is during January too, right?

Today was Reese's birthday party at Pizza Ranch.  I really like their pizza, it is YUMMY.  In fact, its been long enough now - I could eat another piece!  Oh well!  Thanks Josh and JoDe for including us on your invitation list!  Love your little family!!

There was a good representation from all of the families -- Josh's parents, an aunt and uncle and a niece were there.  JoDe's uncle "Doc" and his wife and their little son Daniel ("Doc" is brother to JoDe's dad, Larry).  O course Joy was there with Maggie and Colton, my mom, and Nick, Randy and I.  Maggie had a friend there too.

It was fun to watch Reese open her gifts, SO MUCH more interest than last year! - and boy did she get a bunch of them.  The first one she opened was so big she ended up having to take a piece of wrapper in her hand  and walk around and around the box to get it unwrapped! 

The most amusing thing was Reese's fascination with her cards.  She studied them, she carried them around the room to show this person or that, she pronounced them ADORABLE.  It was cute.  Not that she didn't like all the great gifts, SHE DID, but she really enjoyed cards.  Who knew!?

Hover your cursor over the pics for words!

I've been playing with digital scrapbooking.  I'm using it as an excuse to learn Photoshop CS4.  I'm really excited to learn it - and there is SO much that you could learn if you had the time!  But little by little I'm starting to figure out this and/or that.  FUN!!!

Here are a couple of my first attempts -- pretty much all I have are a couple of attempts.  I'm pretty slow and NEW at it!

Christmas REINDEER GAMES:

And our little 'characters' in October:

Now I suppose it is time to get my laundry out of the dryer and then start getting ready to wind the weekend down.  Bah-humbug!  The big boss (of the a.m.) is off work tomorrow, so ... *smile*

Hope your weekend was wonderful and long enough ... oh come on!  Who am I kidding?  Weekends are NEVER long enough!

Wyn and Andy -- there's a creature in our basement who has fondly been named "Franken-puter" -- you coming on Saturday night to play with us and start bonding with Frank?  Ryan and Rhiannon are coming home on Friday - through Sunday evening ... AND Baby J is coming with them!  My arms need to do a little holding and hugging!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HUNNY ...

Happy B'day Randy! 

Still love you after all these years!

I wish you could have all been here for Randy's birthday celebration.  As it turned out we had a few folks in - and it was wonderful how at first the laughter would hardly stop, and the birthday cake (his favorite ... chocolate with white frosting) was served up with BIG tasty slices.  Ice cream for those who wanted.  After awhile it quieted down to a bit of chatter and then the DANCING GIRLS knocked on the door.  The music was blaring and in they pranced -- one, two, three belly dancers -- to perform a suggestive (but not dirty) little routine while singing HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  You should have seen his face!  And me, with a new camera and not one picture to document the event. It was probably one of the BEST birthdays ever ...

And then he woke up.

Truth is, short of a couple of Happy Birthday's throughout the day -- and two or three times when he called I asked him if he had slid in the ditch on his birthday (I didn't want him in the ditch - because I didn't want to go out in the blowing cold snow to rescue him!)  It was actually a pretty lame birthday on the scale of birthday scales!  We decided we would go to the place of his choice on the weekend for a meal.  He did get a fun card from Stephanie, Rhiannon sent two e-cards (one because TUCKER, their oldest dog, liked it **??**), an email of Jill singing Happy Birthday to him (you did a GREAT job), and today a clever e-card from Joannie arrived.  Joy delivered on favorite things again this year -- I think he's gotten Rice Krispy treats the last few years, but this year he got a BIG bag of peanut M&M's -- ON his birthday yet! 

God is good.  Yup, yup, yup!  My afternoon job, as you will recall me whining and moaning about then, was cut last month.  Earlier this week my a.m. boss asked if I'd be able to work 10 extra hours a week for at least the next four weeks.  You betcha, kind sir!  Yeah!  I'm still saying THANK YOU JESUS, but a.m. boss has since given me the 'to-do' list of what is to be accomplished in those extra hours.  YIKES!  It's going to be ACTION packed hours, believe me.

Downside is that it causes me to be later in the evening when I get off my afternoon job, but fortunately this isn't a horribly busy time of the year for me - and I think it will work out just fine.  Doesn't it just make you giddy when you realize how directly and personally the Lord is taking care of you?

Since I haven't written since the day after Christmas ... I suppose a lot has gone on.  The big thing was that we had a New Year's Eve party here on ... NEW YEAR'S EVE (I love how that works out each year!)  We invited our local church.  There were a lot of people here.  I think about 30.  I thought that seemed like a good crowd.  We started by playing 'Apples to Apples', which normally I like okay - but there were just way too many playing.  And it was loud and confusing and I finally slipped away and did some piddly stuff in the kitchen, etc.

Then we got a smaller group game going and that was better.  I had three tables set up - hoping three different groups could sit around and play whatever they wanted.  It was okay the way it was - but a bit more than I could wrap my old 2009 brain around.  Maybe my new improved 2010 brain would handle it better.  Guess time will tell!

We've been living in the DEEP FREEZE.  It seems relentless.  On the days that it isn't sub-zero, it is snowing and blowing.  We're about to run out of corn - in fact we're burning gas right now because we ARE out of the corn we have in our trailer (I told Randy we should use the bigger wagon, but NO!!).  Earlier, he was trying to burn some old stuff we have stored in a plastic container.  It's ugly corn and not a good idea to use. 

I'm not sure how we're going to get our wagon out of the back yard, since there is snow on the ground and our van isn't powerful enough to drag it out on it's own.  (Did I mention I told Randy we should use the bigger wagon?)  This wagon is pretty light weight and easy to manuever (in good weather without snow on the ground), but the tongue is pointed away from the street (another 'I told you so' from previous years), so we're sure to get the van stuck now.  Maybe we could load up a bunch of plastic containers and put them in the back of the van ... for now though, the gas heat feels pretty dandy.  We'll figure it all out after Sabbath.

As many of you know **boo-hoo-hoo-hoo** my married kids and our baby have moved to Lincoln, NE.  It's just the saddest thing ever.  I have to pretend it's just the little peanut I miss, because people scoff at you when you cry buckets of tears over your older kids moving away.  I'm sorry.  But I've had 'homesick' feelings for any time when I'm away from my family (or if they are away from me - I have the same feelings) ever since I was little.  So I just go along with it and let them all think I'm only missing Jaimee. 

The good thing was that they made a trip back home for NYE.  That was fun to have them here.  It felt right.  We learned something on Sabbath at lunch.  I'm just telling you this so that you can be wary if ever you eat a meal with us when the marrieds are around.  BE CAREFUL, right Nick?  Nick was filling his plate at lunch.  He sat the plate down for some reason (to get something ... )  Ryan said "is this plate anyone's?" (meaning the partially filled plate ... ).  Without looking Randy assumed he meant one of the empty plates sitting there for people to take, so he said "no". 

Fifty-nine seconds later Nick re-emerges and said "hey? where's my plate?".  Of course then he discovered that for whatever reason, Ryan thought the partially filled plate was there ON THE COUNTER to be had by the next person along.  But there you go Nick -- I just put this together as I typed.  You know how you don't eat here at our house????  But you say if something is ON THE COUNTER it is fair game?  I guess you are right!  It IS fair game!  (That is a whole nuther story ... how one person who 'doesn't eat here' can consume so much 'fair game food'! *LOL*) ... hmmm?

I'm including the pictures I took with my new camera at mom and dad's house (a couple from our house too I guess) - before the battery died.  It has a lot of bells and whistles on it that takes a lot of umph.  I'll have to learn to know when the battery is getting low.

I'm going to say SO LONG!!  But not before I try to guilt someone in the Bauleke household into sending us a note.  I don't think we've heard one keyboard tap from you since sometime in September -- I'm not good at emptying out my email box - and that was the most recent one.  Hope all is going well for you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Gail too -- her birthday was on January 3.

HOVER YOUR LITTLE CURSOR OVER THE PICTURE TO GET THE INFO ATTACHED!

A FAMILY CHRISTMAS

A baby gives a family a new way of looking at things. 

Not necessarily 'new', but an opportunity to look at old things through fresh eyes.  Not to mention all the little chirping, happy noises and big baby smiles for any and all reasons.  What fun.

Our married kids came down the afternoon of the 24th for REINDEER GAMES.  They planned to spend the night with us and go home Christmas afternoon/evening.  They ended up staying until Sabbath afternoon.

In the last years - since we lost mom and dad Ludke - we've stayed home most years.  Once we went out east with Deb's family, but mostly we're forging ahead with developing family traditions of our own.  Not the same, but ... they are ours!  I feel that family traditions are vital to weaving our story together and keeping us connected.

Friday morning we awoke to little baby noises and puppy dogs.  Such life filled the house!  No big plans for breakfast - just a bowl of granola for whoever wanted.  Nick stayed sleeping and sleeping.  Finally it was Jaimee's nap time (and he was still sleeping!).  Eventually the two youngest ones were awake at the same time - and we began opening gifts.

Naturally everyone had anticipated Jaimee's excitement at her first holiday!  Oops!  She was almost more interested in the tree, the ornaments, the lights, etc.  ANYTHING we didn't really want her to investigate, she needed to investigate!  *lol* 

Usually we start our time by reading the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible.  Rhiannon had a children's version of the story (I think she got it when we were at women's retreat), so we all listened while 'mommy' read to us.  Jaimee was mildly interested (for her typical 2 or 3 second attention span!).  Yet, it is an important part of what we do and I was proud of my daughter for including this in her planning for us all.  Randy prayed and we started opening gifts.

I was given a nice camera (and case) which I am already enjoying.  Not sure everyone else is enjoying ME enjoying it!  (I took lots of pictures at church today!)  I also got a very super cool scrapbook carrying case - so when I go to our monthly stamping events I can have everything in ONE container.  Whoo hoo!  Well, maybe TWO containers because there was a littler one that matches. 

We had too small boots, sweaters, slacks, games, pictures, etc.  And little girlie girl ... we had to do her opening in shifts.  Ryan was excited about the cool bath toy that the Smudas had sent for Jaimee - he likes to give Jaimee her bath.  They'll have fun!

I love my family so much, sorely miss the ones I married all those years ago, but it helped having lots of family around Thursday night and Friday (and unexpectedly on Sabbath too!).  It was wonderful. 

The weekend has a bittersweet ending, as we will go up to Iowa City in the morning and help our married kids load a truck to take to Nebraska with them.  They are headed out there and except for a few trips back to get this and that and finish cleaning out the house -- they are done living up there in Coralville (for now anyway).  I'll miss the idea of being close enough that I could run over there if I wanted.  I know 5 months isn't that long, but yet there is a tiny girl changing so rapidly -- HOWEVER, I do know that it is important for their little family to be together.  Daddy Ryan loves his little girl, and she loves him.  Mommy Rhiannon and Daddy Ryan need to make a life together for her.  I'm sad, but I am okay with it.  (Of course I pray they'll eventually locate in our area, but ... for now I'm just looking forward 5 months.)

The next thing on my horizon, besides climbing out of bed on time on Monday (it's HARD after being able to sleep in a few days in a row!), is getting ready for our New Year's Eve party here on ... NYE!  Hey!  If you don't have anything planned - COME ON OVER.  I'm not providing snacks (everyone needs to bring something to share - and soft drinks if they want them).  I will have two or three tables set up for games, or people can visit, or ... ??  WHATEVER!  The church family is invited to come - but anyone can join us.  I WANT TO PLAY GAMES!!!  We'll start at 7 p.m. (or so) and go til midnight (or so!).

As always - we love to hear from you too!
V

REINDEER GAMES

I love silly.  It makes me happy.  It makes me smile.  I love when people are silly with me.  And so it was for REINDEER GAMES on Christmas Eve. 

We got together at our house for some hot cheesy potato soup, some scrumptious vegetable soup, some cornbread muffins, and a variety of sweet treats.  We ate, we played a couple of reindeer games, ate some more, did a 'reindeer duty' or two, and ended up playing FARKLE and TABOO. 

REINDEER RAP had people barking Jingle Bells, acting out Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, hanging Christmas bulbs using a straw and their teeth.  REINDEER RELAY brought out the most laughter and noise as the reindeer relay teams blew up balloons to help create their team captain a suitable set of antlers.  In REINDEER SCRAMBLE everyone got to roll dice to get a prize.  Poor Rhiannon never got a pair of anything in all of her turns rolling. 

Her luck changed when we went to play FARKLE.  Wynter's luck was the one that ran out - she FARKLED and FARKLED and FARKLED before she finally got on the board.  TABOO, a favorite of Rhiannon and me, challenged our brains as we tried to describe words without using the obvious words to do it!  (I needed to sit on my hands more -- I used them way too much!)

The last reindeer went home about 12:30 a.m. or so.  It was fun. At least I had fun. I think others had a 'little bit' fun too!

(Ryan's birthday is on Christmas Eve day -- so Randy got some 'fun' silly string to celebrate with! That stuff is pretty messy! Thank goodness for vacuum cleaners!)

Hope you have some happy holiday memories too!
V

FLOUR AND SUGAR AND BUTTER - oh my! - FLOUR AND SUGAR AND BUTTER - oh my!

Who knew that these three little ingredients rolled, cut and baked (for 20 long minutes) could be so yummy? And I haven't even frosted them yet.

According to my Cousin Kathy (from California) - this is Gr'ma Hinkhouse's Danish Cut Out Cookie recipe. I did have one problem with it I'm sure Kathy has never encountered. That being that my kitchen counter was cool enough that I had to occasionally work the dough (like play dough) to warm it up enough to make it roll out! (its winter in the mid-west you know!)

GRANDMA'S DANISH CUT OUT COOKIES

Mix 2 cups salted butter

with
1 1/4 cups sugar (granulated)

with
5 cups flour

(HINT: Be sure to put in FIVE cups of flour, not 6. Otherwise you have to get your husband or someone smarter than you, to figure out how much more salted butter and sugar to put in to make it work!)

Cream all ingredients together, roll out to 1/4" and cut into shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 20-25 minutes (I missed this part and started my Danish Cut Out Cookies WAY TOO LATE in the afternoon!), in 300 degree oven, til lightly golden brown.

(NOTE: After rolling and baking and all that jazz ... I found that rolling them out and cutting into a festive "SQUARE" shape works great. Later to make baking time less, I found that by making TRIANGLES out of the squares you could fit even more cookies ALL OVER the cookie sheet. This reduces baking time, and they actually taste just as good as the Christmas shapes!)

FROSTING:

1 box of powdered sugar (I still need to figure out how a box of powdered sugar figures when you buy it in a bag ... maybe tomorrow!)

Dash of salt (that's the 'reindeer' part ... on DASHer ... )

Little pour of vegetable oil for shine

Thin with milk to stiff consistency

Few drops of Almond Flavor

DECORATING (this is KATHY's description, not mine - because mine are all going to be probably white!)

Frost and sprinkle ... I don't know if you have Michael's there (the craft store) but I usually get a 5 container grouping of sprinkles ... red/white raw sugar, red, green and white little balls, red, white stars and wreaths ... for more sweetness ... or use colored sugars mixed by hand ... yellow for stars, blue for bells, green for trees, etc.

And for final kicks (I loved this you guys, thank you for sending the card and your current picture! - I hope you don't mind me sharing it with everyone!) -- this is Randy's youngest sister Stephanie and Steve!

BIG BAKING DAY -

There is a reason some of us live in town. And that, for me, is because I can't remember everything at the store when I go there and have to make multiple trips.

Today for instance - I went to the store THREE times. So I could do baking.

And bake I did.

Tuesday is our work's 'treat day' -- they are encouraging us to bring stuff for breakfast, or at least before lunch type foods. SO I decided to drag out Jill and Mary's granola recipes -- combined them, added a few twists of my own and now have lots of granola to take to work.

Then I made chocolate chip cookies. My special recipe with the cornstarch -- they are (to me) the BEST chocolate chip cookies EVER.

Then I made PRIDE OF IOWA cookies because Rhiannon loves them. I haven't made them in a really long time. So there is going to be LOTS of those for her (and others!).

Last, I made Gr'ma Hinkhouse's cut out cookies. My cousin Kathy said to me last week "remember ..." and I didn't remember. So she sent me the recipe. I was pretty tired out - but it looked easy. And it wasn't so hard EXCEPT instead of 10 or 12 minutes of baking those puppies require TWENTY minutes of baking. OUCH! That put a crimp in my plan to finish things up pretty quickly.

On one of my trips in and out of the house to the store -- I ended up taking a spill on the ice right outside our garage door. I knew it was icy, but a small skiff of snow had come down and covered it. Out of site out of mind they say -- and I crashed down on my backside and my left hand. That is what is smarting the most now. Plus I'm sort of stiff, but that might be just standing on my feet ALL DAY.

We were saddened to learn that Ryan's Uncle Roger died this afternoon about 1:30 p.m. I feel so sad for our boy. I know Uncle Roger was special in his life and that he will feel a great sense of loss for a long time.

I'm going to bed -- it's about time for the whole weekly process to start over. UGH! *tee hee*

BATTERED, BRUISED AND BETTER FOR WEAR!

Such a coward I am, and a not very smart coward either.

I have a 'thing' about dentists. I don't like them. The dentist we go to is a super dentist, as far as dentists go. His assistant is pretty, charming and friendly. They're fast, reasonably pain-free and let you make payments on the bill if you need to. They don't click their tongue and look down their noses at you as if you were a naughty child.

But, they still drill in my mouth. They still use those pokey things and stick them in my teeth. They still scrape, and grind and ... I have goosebumps just typing the words.

What happens then, is that I only go when something starts to hurt a little. To be honest, I usually tough it out until it starts to hurt a little more than a little. I choke down aspirin, tylenol, etc. until I finally tell Randy, "My tooth hurts. Can you make an appointment for me?" He does. I go. And I generally survive.

This week found me white-knuckled in the chair again. I didn't wait AS long this time before I asked him to call, because I am learning. I was in and out of their office in a jiffy, and only numb on the lower 1/4 quadrant of my face for about 5 (long) hours. They make sure I feel no pain - as a result, I turn into a real 'numb-skull'! (Oh come on, you KNOW you were thinking it! I just said it!)

So my tooth is better for wear.

Swine flu shots became available locally this week. Several days of free clinics at the mall and hospital. Randy got his the first day. Said he hardly could feel anything when they injected him. Wasn't sore afterwards. (I'm not cowardly about shots, getting blood work or stuff like that, but painless ALWAYS gets higher marks than painFUL.)

So, I missed the first day (even after emailing several folks to let THEM know). The 2nd day I wrote it in BALLPOINT PEN on my hand. I forgot that day too!

On the third day I finally made it to the clinic! Aha! Basically walked in, filled out a 60-second form and they took me back to shoot me. It didn't hurt, but my ears perked up when the nurse said 'uh-oh'. UH-OH?

She said I was bleeding. 'Musta hit a vein', is what she told me! I asked if I was going to die? (One can never be too sure about these things! If I was going to die- I was going to have to speed up because I had a LOT to do that day!)

She assured me I wasn't going to die, but 'that's going to bruise real good'. And, she was pretty much right, judging from the quarter to 1/2 dollar sized black and blue mark on my arm.

I'm bruised, but hopefully better for having done it!

I chemically altered my hair color this week. I have an allergy to the p-phsomething chemical in hair color. I've learned that if I buy a potion with a name like LIGHT BROWN or DARK BLONDE (esp. dark blonde) it isn't AS bad as the others. Somehow I pulled the wrong color off the shelf. (I described that whole experience last time.) I knew it was going to be bad because before I walked out of the bathroom my head was burning and stinging angrily.

But by-cracky I paid $14 for that box of stuff and I was going to use it. And since that time, I've pretty much been in some form of misery or another! The first day my head simply continued to burn and sting. My scalp, neck, anywhere the dye had washed had some discomfort. The second day a rash (purple, Randy says) developed on my scalp, back of ears and neck.

I got my hair cut that day. I explained to the lady that it wasn't some dread communicable disease so she would cut my hair. She got it up off my neck in the back which helped a bunch.

The third day the little bumps turned to little blisters (like a sunburn gets those tiny blisters). Now on the 4th day, I'm back to basic itching.

But, I look better for all that! -- not really sure about that either (trying to encourage myself here!) as the color is just a little 'weird' if you ask me (not Shiba colored, Aunt Nita)! I'm not so worried though. It will soon enough grow out another stripe down the middle and I'll try it again with the RIGHT color! (Next time you see me I'll be the one wrapped head to toe in gauze! - just so you know to say 'hi' when you see me!)

Morning work has picked up the pace this week. MANY things to get done in not so much time. I was given permission to put in a 'few' extra hours, 5 this week. The up-side is that my boss has either come to the conclusion that I can/will get it done and hasn't been as 'intense' as he's been known to be. Either that or he is taking happy pills. Either way works for me! (I should be careful what I say in a public blog, huh? If you're reading DY ... hi!!) Seriously I am SO thankful for the extra hours and I do try to do my best.

Marvie's birthday is next week. I'm sure he isn't reading this -- don't think he gets online. But wouldn't it be FUN to send him birthday cards? Marv is my baby brother. Send him a card (if you want) to Marv Hinkhouse, 10375 County Road G-44X, Muscatine, IA 52761. *tee hee* I think he'd get a kick out of it. (I was blessed with the BEST brothers! -- and sisters -- and sisters-&-brothers-in-law ...whew! Got everyone covered right?)

Couple of prayer requests -- please continue to keep Ryan's Uncle Roger in your prayers. He is so seriously ill with the swine flu. They aren't anticipating the best for him. I saw God give my son-in-love, Ryan, his health back in a miracle this year -- I know its possible.

And a second 'silent' request for a miracle. *wink* He knows. Let's pray for each other always. Jesus is coming SOON. I pray that He makes us all aware of what it is in our individual lives that might be keeping us from Him.

Characteristically super long ... See you next time!

THE WEEK IN REVIEW ...

Not sure I like this look of the blog, but for the rest of tonight at least - that's how it is going to look.

The blizzard was the main 'big news' of this past week. I don't think it got as bad as they predicted it might. I heard one news/weather report suggest that drifts 8 to 15 feet might be possible. That's some kind of drift! But we didn't get that here. Somehow that many snowflakes isn't quite as much fun as that one tiny lost snowflake that found my van window last week!

It was wicked cold and limited visibility with blowing snow. The streets/roads were definately treacherous. There is an area near our house that has scared me since we moved here. It goes D-O-W-N and then U-P. There are drop off sides with a creek that runs under the road. There is something about being near a 'drop off side' of anything that makes me feel dizzy and disoriented. Do not like drop offs. Point here - a car DID go off there this week. Driver died later that day of her injuries.

Several days this week I had a sore throat, tired, congested, etc. I took some time off from work, which I think was the right choice. I rarely miss work. On the 3rd day - I could tell the moment I got out of bed that I was feeling much better.

I had stamping night at my house Thursday. Sharon Wooten came over Monday night to help me cut pieces for the projects. That was a nice time. We didn't have many for stamping night - 4 total. I think the holidays and weather were factors. Those of us there had a nice time.

While getting ready for stamping night - I ran the vacuum on the piece of carpet we have in the basement. It was like running a child's vacuum over the area. The sound was there, but the sucking action was not. I opened it up and realized it was pretty ugly looking inside. Nice thing about Dysons is that you can actually give them a bath. I took it apart, filled the tub with water and let it soak. (I have a back-up vacuum that I pulled into action instead!) Later when I took my own shower, I finished up cleaning it. It looked almost new. And it works great again. I think the little holes that suck the air into them had gotten plugged with dust.

The puppies had their birthday this week. They are ONE! We heard from Jenny and Todd who have Tazz and also the people in Minnesota that have Mika. Both said how much they loved their dogs and that they were so glad they found just that puppy! We were happy to know that they had gone to good homes. (Tazz lives in town, so we have seen him - but Mika we haven't seen since we dropped her off in Waterloo last year.)

We had a couple of great days with our little Jaimee this week. She came to town and surprised me at work on Friday. Had just gotten her H1N1 shot (Rhiannon did too! - they are making them available to the public now here). And they came down on Sabbath too. Both days she was sweet.

Hard to tell if there was a sweeter day of the two - but I do know Sabbath was such fun. She sat and played with her church toys (I keep a bag at church with quiet things), waved at people, SMILED at everyone, used her arms like a conductor's wand during the songs and basically had a wonderful time.

Later we went to sing (carols) at the Lutheran Homes. She was getting tired, not quite as many smiles, but still was pleasant and happy.
Some of the oldsters loved seeing a baby. Kind of uncomfortable letting them touch her, but I know what pleasure touching her brings me. Each time, after having someone touch her it seemed we were able to find some of that sanitizer stuff to put on her hands. So she was safe. They have an aviary there, and she enjoyed having her mommy show her the birdies. When we left, she didn't even make it 4 blocks and she was out like a light.

Randy has been opting OUT of as many tennis games lately as he has played. I think he is going through some 'burn-out'. Seems to enjoy outdoor tennis better than indoor.

Nick's job has kept him going. They work a lot of hours and he is fortunate he has a job he enjoys and gives him nice hours! He's been there 90-days now, so some of the employee 'perks' start kicking in. Not sure about what all those are, but discounts is one of them. He brought home a sound system for his computer/TV set up. Sounds good. Can really rattle the rafters though! Fortunately he has been very good about not doing that too much.

He had an encounter with the police last night that made him mad. He has said 'cops' seem to target the guys he knows that have these little fast performance type cars. Last night he and a friend were outside another friend's house waiting for him to get home. A cop drove up,pretty soon there were FIVE squad cars. Claimed he and "Money" (his friend works at a bank - he has a real name, but everyone calls him "Money" had been street racing and insisted on calling Nick "boy". Nick finally told the guy to STOP calling him "boy" - that he graduated HS a year before him (the officer), had a college degree, job and was a productive citizen - he was not a "boy".

Nick said before that police have followed him home from work once a week or so just to be ... following. Says its annoying, which in a way it is. HOWEVER, if he IS street racing - which he says he isn't - then he/they shouldn't be doing that.

Anyway -- that's the week in review. I'm sure there is a lot more but right now I need to go have Randy put the highlights in my freshly colored hair. No more white stripe for me -- at least for awhile!

Okay - I'm waiting for the highlights to develop. Do NOT think that this is the 'cheap' way out of getting highlights. I tell you one thing - there is a higher price to pay when you have your husband do it for you. The whining is unbearable. The instructions say "it's as easy as putting on mascara". I guess from now on you'll be seeing Randy with mascara - because maybe if he practices that, next time he'll whine less.

AND THEY NAMED HER LINGERIE -

When my mom married my dad, like all marrieds, she inherited his family.

Included in this family was an aunt and uncle. The aunt and uncle, through the years, taught her how to do many 'farm things' like gardening, canning, taking care of livestock, etc. - even how to 'clean a chicken - start to finish and all that comes between' (ewww!). Across a couple of fields and a railroad track, we could see their house from ours.

A couple of years later the aunt and uncle gave mom a ride to Manhattan KS when I was 6 weeks old to meet my dad for the first time. (I was meeting dad, mom had met him before.) On the way they had to stop and get new bottles because the ones that had been sterilized were still at home. Then they went to a restaurant where they talked the folks into sterilizing my bottles.

When they stopped at a motel the aunt and my mom (and me) shared a room. The uncle got a separate room. Both rooms had one double bed. Some guy was at the check in counter wanting a room, the motel was full. The uncle told him "if you want to share the bill, you can sleep with me". And there he was in a double bed with a strange man he'd never met before. (Things were so different 'then'.) He says they both got a good night's sleep for 1/2 price. I know if I was in bed with a stranger - I'd not be sleeping no matter what the price (especially in a double bed!). Ha!

The uncle always calls me Lingerie. When I was born they told him my name was Vonda Rae - he thought they said Lingerie. 'LINGERIE?' he replied - 'what kind of name is that for a baby?' As it turned out HE was the only one that named me that. For - EVER!!! *smile*

Years have come and gone. Hair has turned white (even mine in spots - often smack down the middle!). Those inherited relatives have, a lot of them, been laid to rest. Now the old uncle lives his life in a nursing home. This has been a hard week for him.

During the blizzard this week, he called mom. He wanted her to come, as he often does. With wind blowing and snow swirling, it was a treacherous day to venture out. Mom called me because I am close. I was able to go check on him. He had failed since I saw him 2 weeks prior. I read to him, prayed with him and left him alone as I braved the elements to go back home (not a great distance, except in a blizzard!). Later a second check found him enormously uncomfortable. Barely able to make coherent words, he said "I'm in misery".

I asked what he meant. Where did it hurt? What did he think would make him feel better? All day he had wanted someone near to him, yet he slept often. When he woke he became anxious and distraught if he was alone. He replied he was so miserable EVERYWHERE. Like he had mentioned earlier, he said, "I wish Shirley would come." I explained about the blizzard and he said, "I know, I'm in misery though. I wish she would come."

So when my mom married my dad, now 57 years ago - she inherited some family. Including an uncle who, at this late stage of life when he is in misery, wishes for her, HIS family, to be there with him to comfort him.

At 92 or 93 he has had a good long life. But, is life ever long enough? Probably not. However, when you are miserable and know that here on this earth there is only one option ...

Thankfully we know that one day all of the misery and death and destruction of this world will end. 1 Corinthians 15:56 SINGS with the words "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" Praise God for the promise of a resurrection and eternity!

Pray for Uncle Hib that he feels better, that whatever was/is making him miserable will subside. Mostly pray that he has accepted Jesus into his heart and is ready for Jesus' to return and bring him from the grave on that most amazing day.

NOTE: Some stories told in this Ludke-ville are from my recollection of being told the stories. They may need correction or alteration from persons who have a better recall of the events than a 6-week old ME has!

WAXING NOSTALGIC - or indigestion, one of the two!

Okay - either I need to put up the ornaments for the holidays or drag them back to the basement.

So today, I didn't feel well and stayed home from work. I'm not SERIOUS sick, no need for flowers or cards. I'm tired. I'm sniffling. I am coughing slightly. I have a touch of a sore throat. I just could NOT get my "umph" up to get out of bed this a.m. So I called in. I RARELY miss work, I hope they knew I truly didn't feel so grand.

Anyway, while I don't feel great - I can't sit tight and not do anything. (CLOSE to nothing, but not NOTHING!) I have had in the back of my mind to make granola for awhile. I usually use Jill's recipe (see www.vondasvine.com/toolbox/recipe.htm for her recipe, click on BREAKFAST and scroll down. I think I've named it Jill's Delightful Granola) My eye caught Sister Mary's (not as in SISTER Mary, 'cuz we don't have that sorta thing around here - but sister as in sister/brother/cousin/aunt/uncle ...) recipe. It looked like it would net a little more granola, so I made that one instead.

Sorta. I ended up using a 7 grain rolled cereal (oats, wheat, barley, etc.), sliced almonds, coconut, flax seed, sunflower seed, millet, another grain tinier than millet (quinoa? - I don't remember what it was, I just remembered it was cute and tiny), wheat germ - LOTS of awesome good stuff. Baked it a super long time and if Nick remembers to pick up milk on his way home from work - he can have granola for breakfast. I sampled a little handful and it tastes pretty good!

Last time I made granola -- bad experience, huh Nick? He was at Cedar Falls going to school. He came home and I sent back a care package INCLUDING homemade granola. Two things to bear in mind here. First,I'm only one person and to eat a whole batch of granola takes time. Second thing is, we'd been battling those stupid little mealy moths or whatever they were called. They get into your pantry and want to breed and live in your flour, cereal, crackers and as Nick unfortunately found out the hard way --- granola!

Full bowl of much anticipated granola with milk and only into it a couple bites when he discovered a worm doing the backstroke. Oops! Sorry kiddo -- I'm always worried about your nutritional intake you know -- PROTEIN!!

So if he remembers milk -- FRESH granola!! I'm happy to say that the mealy moths do not live here any more.

I started to put lights on the tree. I KNOW I didn't twist them up and tie them in knots when I put them away last year. But I spent a super long time untangling cord after cord of lights. ONLY TO FIND OUT that not only were they twisting the nights away in the boxes, they were also expiring. Right now I have more NON-working lights than working lights. Hence only the bottom of the tree is lit right now. Grrr!

As I pulled things out of boxes I had to move things around to make room. That precipitated the thought that ... I HAVE WAY TOO MANY ISABEL BLOOMS. So if anyone needs an Isabel Bloom -- I'm ready for them to move on. Let's play LET'S MAKE A DEAL!!

One of the things we've done through the years (not so much recently, but yet sort of -- ) is have an ornament each year connected to a memory. I have a little canoe from Wyoming that harks back to the trip to Yellowstone we took with Wynter. Stupid mouse thought he owned our cabin, didn't he?

There is an UGLY clear ball with pinkish sand in it, complete with teensy tiny seashells. That is my reminder of the year we did Christmas on the beach in Ft. Myers. We laughed and laughed so hard. Such fun.

There is a set of teensy glass bells. Washington School used to do a 'store' where for just a little bit of money, kids could shop. Randee Rae as she was known then, brought home this beautiful ornament - I think I was in my 'bell' phase at that time! (Me and my phases -- that is why I have so much STUFF!)

Handcarved Santa and little snowmen made by Grandpa Sherman are super special ... there are many, each with a memory attached.

It really reminded me that truly the things that are most precious in life are not really the THINGS, but the people and the love we have for them. God reveals His own love to us through the example of our love for each other here. Only HE LOVES US MORE than we can imagine. Thank you Jesus!!

So even though my mom said it was OKAY to use the "J" word in my blog - dear little Jaimee and her parental units are out in Lincoln right now. So here are a few of my favorite things, none of which are Baby J.

Oh ... I didn't have YOUR picture - so couldn't include you! So many of you have a piece of my heart. And YOU ARE also one of my favorite 'things'.

If you hold your cursor over the picture you'll see words telling why it is there in the slide show!

CAN YOU BELIEVE ANOTHER WEEK HAS SLIPPED BY?

The week has simply FLOWN by.  I don't know how that many days could go by that fast.  Fact is, they did.

Last Sunday Randy worked on our furnace.  We had 'wisely' left about 12 bushel of corn in the hopper from last year.  The temps had gotten warm enough that to burn it would have been wasteful, not to mention it would have cooked us.  The thought was we'd have it there to start the season this year.  Sometimes it gets cold before we've gotten our load of corn. 

Note to selves - DO NOT DO THAT NEXT YEAR.  Corn tends to get smooshy if left where humidity can get to it.  Add limited circulation to the mix and you have a start to an old fashioned 'moon-shine business'.  Poor Randy spent a lot of time nursing the corn through the auger.  Poking it and breaking it up.  Adding enough dry corn to make it work.  Not ALL of the corn was yucky, not most of it.  Just enough to make it - ucky.

Finally today, we are burning totally on good fresh corn and it is working well.  No smoke in the air, no smell of alcohol in the air, just good warm heat.  Which is good because I don't know how cold it is right now, but this morning the bank thermostat said THIRTEEN DEGREES.

It was just plain CUTE yesterday as I was leaving work.  Looking left and right and left and right trying to get a clear shot at getting out onto Houser Street from Harmony Lane.  All of a sudden something hit my window.  It was the perfect distance away from my eyes that it was in perfect focus.  One tiny little snowflake on my window.  I could see all its tiny branches and the little frosty tendrils away from those.  It was such a shock to have it come so plainly into view.  Just one little lost snowflake.  I couldn't see any others anywhere when I was looking.

We have running water in the basement.  It's the most 'shout-it-from-the-mountain-tops-worthy' thing that has happened here!  All these years we've had a drizzle from the basement bathroom faucet.  Not a stream, a drizzle.  Randy worked on it this week , got a new faucet on it and now it gushes out at record breaking speed (you would consider it NORMAL).  I can wipe things down!  I can clean that bathroom.  I can --- oh the possibilities are endless!  (Thank you Randy!)

Nick came hobbling home from work Tuesday night.  He had been helping to move a fridge at work and came down on a stair funny.  OUCH!  By Wednesday evening he was walking pretty good though.  It was good he had Wednesday off work, so he could stay off of it all day.  He actually brought up a ton of our Christmas decorations from the basement for me.  I was (am) so grateful for the help. 

Tuesday I turned the Welch Hotel Apartments over to the new management team.  I met with them (and my district manager) for about 1 1/2 hours.  Went through the things I had put together for them, and gave them a tour of the building.  They said it was nice to have things so well organized.  My district manager said they asked about keeping me, but she told the I'd been told it would be a conflict of interest for me to work for my current company and a new company both.  Now I am waiting for God to provide a different source of income to replace that one.  I know it will happen!

You'll notice I have not say the "J" word, not even ONE TIME.  I know you think all I talk about is "J".  I do NOT!  Why, I don't even know if I like her!  She's messy sometimes and poops her pants.  Who could like that?  Okay - I lied.  I love her to bits and am so tickled to be her Gram(me).  In fact I put together a couple of scrapbook pages of our trip to Chuck E. Cheese this week.

But just so you have a break - I won't talk anymore (this time) about her.  I won't even show you her pictures.  Instead ... I think I will show you pictures of ME!   Ahh yes!  Isn't that going to be fun?  I had to take them myself.  I went in the bathroom so I could use the reflection off the mirror to see if I had myself in the viewfinder.  When Randy saw them, he said "where did you take that?- I recognize that border from somewhere in our house, but where?"  (It is the bathroom here by the family room -- a place he frequents quite often!)  *tee hee*  Get ready!  Here I come!  (If you hold the cursor over the pictures, you'll see the description of what each picture is.)

Have a great week -- looking forward to hearing from you!

CHUCK E CHEESE ADVENTURE

It was so much fun watching Jaimee last night. We took her to Chuck E. Cheese. She was very excited at the mechanical creatures in the show. Unfortunately her Gram(me) is techno challenged and apparently the only video I actually got was a little footage of Randy’s bottom. Her eyes were wide open and she was pointing with both of her pointer fingers and her arms were moving and legs and … every muscle was animated. She was SO good all night even though we had her until almost 10 p.m. She was really, really tired at the end and wouldn’t have lasted much longer for us.

DOUBLE TURKEY TIME!!

I forgot to mention the people in my pics from the Hinkhouse Turkey-day that you may not know ... our good friends (or are they family, I sorta forget!  *smile*) Dana and Kelly and THEIR Rhiannon joined us again this year.  We've counted them as part of our Thanksgiving gala for so long that they are now in charge of turkey!  At least the last couple of years!

We were also happy to have our friends Dean and Sharon Wooten.  Dean's wife went to visit her sister.  While she was gone the stove and oven at their house fritzed out.  So we invited Dean and Sharon (sister/brother) to join us.  We were glad they did.  I think they said the stove/oven would be repaired on Monday.

After I sent the other Ludke-ville I got a quick note from my cousin DeWayne Dusenberry (Aunt Lois' oldest son) with a few pictures from a family vacation this summer and a few from THEIR yesterday Turkey-fest!  I'll include them here for those of you who are interested!  (Aunt Lois - for those of you who do not know - is my mom's sister.)

THANKSGIVING FESTIVITY

What a great day!  It all worked out so well - or at least I thought! In large part thanks to the invention of ... the crockpot.  In years past there has been a mad scramble at the last minute to make sure the potatoes were mashed and warm. To make sure the noodles were cooked and warm. To have room in the oven to keep everything up to temperature while everything... you get the picture. GETTING EVERYTHING READY TO EAT and warm.  With a kitchen full of hungry folks!


I decided to try mashing the potatoes before the crowd got there and keeping them warm in the crockpot (SUCCESS!!!) I have a smaller crockpot that I had the corn in (SUCCESS!!) The turkey came already cut and warm in a crockpot (SUCCESS!!) The green bean casserole came in a crockpot (SUCCESS!!)

And while still filled and layered and brimming to capacity -- the oven was able to keep other things warm. The microwave got called into action to beef up the heat on the gravy at the last minute and off we went with a nice warm meal.

I was in the bathroom working on my eternal youth treatment (aka Prep H application to my face!) and of course my Bare Mineral application and my foofing of hair ... you know -- the personal stuff when the Pharrs came.  Then Downey's arrived next ... and gradually the meal unfolded!

There was SO MUCH FOOD. I should have taken a picture of it all. I had two 2' x 4' tables end to end with desserts. Cookies, cakes, pumpkin bars, pies (apple, cherry, and pumpkin). We had another 2' x 4' table with salads, relish tray, etc. (pea salad, cucumber salad, 3 cheeseballs and crackers, olives and pickles and ... ??) Then we had the hot foods on the counter - probably a total of 15-18 foot of food there ... turkey, mashed potatoes, a potato casserole, brocolli casserole, 3 kinds of sweet potatos, vegetarian entree, two kinds of dressing, corn, corn/mac casserole, meatballs, ... I'm forgetting some I'm sure. Oh -- and the rolls and butter were already on the table!!

It was a land of plenty. We had - 32 or 34 people - I can't remember what I counted up Hmm? just now when I counted in my head I got 31. Oh well ... we had a houseful. We ate around 2-ish. That worked out nicely (I thought) and people hung around and talked, played games, and some watched the movie UP. Only downside there is that Mom got called into action by Uncle Hib to find him a hamburger on a day when no place was open to GET a hamburger, so we started without her and had a pretty good start on our meal eating before she got back.

After round one of the glutton-fest was completed, we settled back for some talking, laughing, game playing, etc.  Joy and Keith started it by bringing out a game called SETS.  Other games were Scrabble SMASH - no wait - it was called SLAM.  Scrabble Slam.  And Phase 10 and Skipbo.  Later in the evening some watched the movie UP. 

Some sweet folk did dishes and started the dishwasher, wiped counters - everyone was great about taking home their left overs (sometimes I get too much left here and then ??? what do I do with it all?)

It was a great day. The big surprise was that Joy and Keith, well Keith anyway, announced they had gotten married November 10th.  There was sort of a non-reaction at first.  I think people were taken off guard initially while the news sunk in.   I think we wouldn't have been surprised if they'd announced they were GETTING married. But GOTTEN married surprised us all. They hadn't even told Joy's kids. So welcome Keith (Barrett) to the family!  We watched the DVD of their marriage on the beach 5 minutes from his house.  They had the camera on the back of the car.  They were married by and Adventist pastor with just the two of them present (if you don't count the metal detector couple in the background at the water's edge).

Usually we have gone around the room and done "what are you thankful for" -- this year I didn't do that.  Keith was going to use the marriage as his "what are you thankful for".  So everyone -- NEXT YEAR ... it's back in.  We let him down!  (And ourselves - because we should ALWAYS state what we're thankful for.  It gives testimony to the blessings of God!)  Sorry Keith!

Anyway -- we DID have a super day. Hope yours was as well.

 PS  Wynter and Andy we missed you!  Tearney Chance ... was also not here and Holly and Joe.
 
To Randy's side of our family, we always miss you guys.  I'm sure Deb and Jill at least are out shopping til they drop today!  I believe the plan was the Smuda's were spending the night at the Bauleke's so they could get a good start on the shopping today.
 
Here is the photo-record of the day.  (Aunt Nita - I used YOU as the scapegoat when taking pictures.  You mentioned I didn't have many pictures of the family ... so I told them I HAD to take pics or Aunt Nita would get me!)

IF THIS DOESN'T MAKE YOU WANT THIS BASKET ...

If you aren't able to get pictures, sorry!  I just had to post these pictures.  If this doesn't make you want to buy this Longaberger Basket - then there is NO selling you on it.  *smile*

We snapped a zillion pictures yesterday.  I didn't spend any time fixing these up.  I 'tried' to eliminate the red eye in some of them - but didn't do a very good job.  She looks like she has an eye disorder in some of them.  Sit back and watch -- 21 pictures (and the only reason there aren't MORE is 'cuz I got tired of messing with them right now!) 

We had a nice Sabbath.  I didn't know the Pharr-Phamily was coming down, so it was a great surprise when they walked into church. But then ... PANIC!!  I hadn't planned anything for lunch and Mother Hubbard's Cupboard is fairly bare. 

But guess what!  I took the last of my oatmeal, the last of a tube of crackers (crunched), the last of some Special "K" cereal, a package of onion soup mix and the last of the eggs I had.  Mix, mix, mix -- fry, fry, fry and YUMMY!  They weren't so bad.  We had some mushroom soup gravy or red sauce (s'getti sauce) to put on them.  Add some corn and ... ? well, we didn't starve!

Later we had some folks in for game night.  Joy, Colton, Maggie, JoDe, Reese, Ryan, Rhiannon, Jaimee, Mark, Bellie, and Sharon Wooten -- we ended our evening with FARKLE.  Ha!  It wasn't 1/2 bad - once we figured it out!  We have to do it again soon.  Game night that is.  I think with all the game choices we have -- maybe we should throw 'em all in a basket (the names, not the games) and draw one to play each evening.  I love games.

Wynter how did your Thanksgiving go?  She was hosting her mother's side of the family at her house today.  Wyn is a great cook.  She makes things from scratch and she tries new things.  Like they were having a dessert that had phillo dough (the flaky layery pastry) and mango and ??? what else?   It sounded way interesting.  And she had an artichoke/turkey something she was making.  Hope it went extra great for you kiddo!

JILL is found!  JOANNIE is found!  ARLENE is found!  The first two are part of that missing Ludke-side family!  Arlene is my dad's cousin.  We had been so worried about everyone (still are quite concerned over some of the missing folks we know) - fretting day and night (and night and day) -- hoping everyone is okay.  THANK YOU guys for the news!  I love hearing from you.

Jill had an exciting adventure with a school break-in (she is principal and teacher at their school) - a deer with antlers and everything broke in and ravaged the school while they waited for emergency help - it finally broke out through a window - slicing it's belly open badly.  What an ordeal!  You must have an abundance of deer there like we do here!  WOW.

I need to go get ready for bed.  It is another week ... and that means I have to get up bright and early to do Vonda's Vine and get to work by 7:30 am.

I need to figure out what my grocery list is -- and get that going.  I got all the tables set up today (the sit and eat tables).  I am going to set up a couple of smaller tables for food.  So preparation is coming along pretty good.  Does anyone (near me) have either a card table (regular square) and/or one of those small 2' x 4' tables that is height adjustable.  (I already have yours Rhiannon.)  If so let me know so I can run by and pick it up.  I could use one or both of those sizes.  Whatever is available.

Love to all of you -- off to get ready for bed!  (Its only 8:30 -- but I'm slow! and there are a couple of other things I need to do before I can actually retire!)

OH -- and the T-day plans continue ...

To the tune of that ageless favorite from "Sound of Music" ... FAVORITE THINGS ...  (I think it was Sound of Music).

Green beans and taters and
Turkey with gravy
Noodles and fruit salad and
Rolls smeared with butter.

Golden brown dressing
all baked up and warm.

These are a few of our Turkey day foods ...

Punkin pie and punkin bars
and macaroni and corn ...
Special K loaf and much, much more
I'm running out of creative juice

But these are a few of our favorite FOODS ...

See you Thanksgiving day at 2-ish!