Christmas 07

We stayed the at mom's Christmas Eve night so we could all have Christmas morning together. Because of the cruise, it was a very small Christmas, but everyone liked what they got and we all had a wonderful time

December 9, 2007

We drove down to Deerfield Beach so we wouldn't have a long drive to the Port of Miami. Kyle was able to swim in the morning as the rest of us were getting ready.

Cindy's Memorial

We stopped in Ocala for Aunt Cindy's Memorial services and to see family. We stayed at this family owned hotel in Silver Springs.

Rick and Renee meet us Saturday morning for breakfast.

Gramma, Jenn and her boys, Chris' girlfriend

We spent the day reminiscing, and talking of old times with Aunt Cindy. Also we were able to get in some updated visiting, since we'd not seen anyone in almost a year.

Kevin, Shorty, Rick, Renee, Dad

Kyle, Chad, Sherry, Mom

Birthday/Anniversary Dinner

After a hard days work on the land we took mom and dad out to dinner for there anniversary and dad's birthday. My aunt Sheila and Uncle Reg were able to join us. Kyle had a friend stay over and he went with us as well. We invited Carrie and Olivia to go, but there was a big accident right in front of there driveway and it blocked them in, so unfortunately they were not able to join us.

In Memory of a Dear Aunt

1958-2007

We lost a beloved family member today. My mom's sister, Cindy. She was mom's closest sister as kids and young adults. She was a fun, happy go lucky person. She was much loved and will be deeply missed

Thanksgiving

Richard took Larry for a ride in the Cobra, while they were out, it started acting up, but he drove it back and was able to take care of the problem.
It was a little chilly riding home, we put on sweatshirts, jackets, toboggans and gloves. It's always a lovely ride, you just see so much more of the countryside.


This is Shelly and Larry hanging out at mom's house.

We had Thanksgiving at mom and dad's house. Our guests were, all five of us, Carrie, Dave & kids, Larry & Shelly, plus friends Lars & Zaida.

Thanksgiving Eve

While waiting for everyone to get home, I took these pictures of my parents home.

This is mom's new truck, she just got it this year, she enjoys it, says it rides nice. This row of trees mom and dad planted a few years ago, they are really getting tall, you can barely see the neighbor behind them now.

The boys and I went to my parents this afternoon to make dinner. My dad and Richard worked on the land today and cut a bunch of trees on the left of the driveway for a vehicle storage shed.

I know they worked hard and forgot to bring food and water, so I wanted them to have a good dinner waiting when they got back. We made spaghetti.

We had expected Larry and Shelly to come down, but I thought it would have been very late when they arrived, how fortunate to find out they left early and we were able to be at my parents when they arrived. So we got and early start on visiting.

Thanksgiving prep

Mom is having Thanksgiving at her house again this year. Next year I hope to have our house done so we will have plenty of room to have everyone over.

Because mom and dad are going on a cruise with us in December mom had to give up her day before Thanksgiving, that she takes off every year.

So I am doing a lot of the baking. Here is my pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, banana bread, cranberry bread and pumpkin bread. Everything is homemade with the best ingredients I could find. I picked up the apples this morning from our local orchard.

Paula Dean's Baked French Toast

I found this recipe on foodnetwork.com and decided to try it out. I did have to adjust it some, but as you see it turned out beautiful. It had a taste of sweet bread pudding, so sweet it never needed syrup. Here's the link to the recipe if you'd like to try it yourself. It's a great make ahead breakfast for company. http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_26774,00.html

Working on our land

After waiting all summer for the logger to come cut the trees on our land, we have given up and went out to cut the trees ourselves.
First we sent the boys out for three days to cut down the smaller trees, they camped out from Tuesday till Friday when we met them down there.
We had lots of help from our family as well.
Check out the events on my Land Blog at http://www.xanga.com/twistedthyme

Dinner

Tonight I am making salt potatoes and creamed mushroom beef tips.

Salt potatoes are bite-size "new" white or red potatoes scrubbed and boiled in their jackets. Salt is added to the water to the point of saturation, giving them their name, and unique flavor and texture. After cooking, salt potatoes are served with melted butter.
Salt potatoes are a regional dish of Upstate New York, typically served in the summer as the young potatoes are first harvested. They are a staple food of fairs and babecues.
The Syracuse, New York area has a long history of salt production. Salt springs located around Onondaga lake were used to create consumable salt that was distributed through out the north-east via the Erie Canal. The salinated water was laid out to dry on large trays, the salt residue was then scraped up, ground, and packaged. Salt potatoes were created in the nineteenth century by Irish immigrants who worked the springs. The first packaged salt potatoes were sold in the 1960s
It is a regional favorite throughout Central New York. Syracuse is also known as "Salt City" because of salt in the marshes around the area. The salt miners and settlers boiled their potatoes in salt water for flavor.

When we visit NY every summer, we get to have salt potatoes at least once while up there, one of my many aunts who are wonderful cooks will make them while we visit. I was feeling nostalgic while at the farmers market and had to pick a bag of these new potatoes and make a batch of salt potatoes for my family.

Loss of a Good Friend

1949-2007

Today we mourn the loss of a beloved friend. Jim was much loved and will be missed. Richard and he worked many days and nights together at Transmed. Richard thought of him as a very close friend, he taught him much.

HILLarity Festival

We went to the HILLarity Festival in the small town my parents live in. There was a car show, arts and crafts, music and lots of food.

This is Chester County's new Ambulance, this one is the one Richard will be driving.

Kyle really like this, it's a go cart with a truck "frame" made out of sheets of metal and riveted on. It has inspired him to make a custom go cart.

This was Chad's favorite car, of course it is the same model as most of ours and this one had nice paint and the inside was very clean.

Go-Carting in Pigeon Forge

you can see the staring line up, and the finsh lineup. Kyle passed both boys and came in first. Way to go Kyle.

Cumberland Waterfalls, KY

Today we drove into Kentucky to visit Cumberland waterfalls. It was a beautiful place. I was even able to get a shot of the rainbow.

The boys were trying to catch fish in the shallow water, Kyle was able to walk more than half way across because the water was so low.

Tennessee Canjo

Kyle playing the canjo

Appalacian Fall Homecoming

We went to the Appalachian Museum today for there fall Homecoming.
This man is turning wood on his lathe powered by his tractor.

These tractors belong to my dad's long time friend, Herb.

This lady is dying yarn

with Richard next to this tractor you can see how tall they have it jacked up

This next tractor is one like ours, see what it could look like.

On stage now is Grampa Jones' wife.

This is Herb playing with one of the young very talented musicians there today.

We bought Kyle a Canjo and he has learnt to play three songs already, he's really enjoying it.