Dinner Party, Halloween, Baby Shower...We've Been Busy

All week long I've been prepping for company.  The Hubby has a group of guys he hangs with a couple times during the year for a weekend or few days.  They shoot, drink, tell jokes, guy things.  They were brought together several years ago by a mutual friend, one The Hubby went to high school with and the others worked with.  He has since passed a couple of years ago.  We wives have become good friends now too.  

Back to the gathering...I spent the week in preparation, menu planning, grocery lists, timeline of prep...

The table I thought of a lot of decor ideas and drifting off to sleep one night I thought of the tiny antique salt cellars I have from my great grandmother and great-great granny.  They are just gathering dust in my china cabinet so the idea was simple, snip off flower and place.  GOODNESS, they were so cute and will be part of the Thanksgiving table in a few weeks.  

The apple pie...oh the apple pie...I have not made an apple pie in probably over 20 years and I used to be pretty good at them.  Unfortunately I only had enough flour for 2 crusts and I totally MESSED up and ended up with only one pie.  I think I know my mistake, the crust was way too short and I needed more liquid, but, the biggest mistake was the oven too hot.  So I burned the top of it.  I was so mad, and here's another but, it was so flakey that it was delicious, despite the burned top.  Honestly it was really good.  Also, since I had extra apples I had already sugar and cinnamoned I decided, just in case the pie was not edible, to cook them.  I tossed them in a saucepan, added a glob of butter and real maple syrup and cooked till bubbly.  I served over vanilla bean ice cream.  YUMMY!  

I also served tossed salad, the pesto roasted potatoes and green beans, like my momma used to make with bacon and onion!

The main course was a jalapeno-cream cheese stuffed pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon.  Oh Yes I did!  I get them at our local grocer, Reasors in the frozen meat section.  The one in the photo is cajun, stuffed with shrimp and andoule sausage, haven't tried it yet.

The entire evening was a huge success.  

The next day was a baby shower for our baby Maximilian, coming in January.  Trying to keep everything as normal as possible because we DO have a grandson arriving.  It was so wonderful to see old friends and family, new friends and family for the occasion.  I was THRILLED beyond thrilled to finally get to meet my new great niece.  She is I think 14 months old and a cutie pie.  

Good grief I almost forgot Halloween...

Fall Happenings

Halloween has come and gone and now on to Thanksgiving and CHRISTMAS!  Where in the heck has time gone this year.  It's like the year is on a speeding locomotive.  Please slow down and let me enjoy time please.  

I still feel a bit discombobulated since getting back home from traveling coast to coast in September/October.  And in that time this little pumpkin turned a month old.  Oh my where has the time gone.   

The other little ball-o-fire totally enjoyed Halloween as a martin, yes martin as in weasel.  Goodness, that daughter of mine is a miracle worker with a sewing machine and the imagination of Snicklefritz in wanting to BE A MARTIN!  All I can say is WOW!

October was also filled with a couple of new people in our lives.  Snicklefritz got to experience what it was like to host an exchange student.  

There was a gob of students from Columbia, and Maria was their guest for the month.  There was another girl, Valeria, that stayed with another family but was around a good part of the time.  What a joy it was for everyone involved to get to know these young ladies and experience them in their lives and for sharing their time with us.  They were a delight and fit right into our lives very quickly.  I must say that Columbian spanish is fast, really fast as they conversed to each other but their English was excellent too.  It was awesome for Snicklefritz to be able to use some of her Spanish that Bri has taught her and opened up a door for foreign language to all involved.  We took them to the cabin for an over-nighter.   They got to experience fall in northeast Oklahoma, a fire in the fire pit, rides on golf carts and then just before leaving Tulsa to head home, Halloween and trick-or-treating.  And top off their visit the weather changed and they got to see a few snowflakes.  Their area of Columbia only gets around 48 degrees at its coldest so they were ecstatic to see "SNOW!"  

I've not been dawdling around because last weekend was the HUGE Plein Air Tulsa event and WHEW, am I glad it's over.  No idea if anyone will take it over next year from Linda because it is a lot of work and she does the brunt of it all.  Oh it's a lot of work for the worker-bees but usually that's only one weekend.  I am her assistant but my part is minimal, except the Sunday of the show and sale, of which I'm in charge of setting up the panels to show the art and getting it all hung.  Needless I was POOPED, but it was an awesome show.  On to next year, maybe.

I've also churned out a bit of art with the finish of the sunflowers, which is already sold and then with the shoulder giving me fits still I decided to try some left-handed painting.  

It was a challenge but I found that I slowed down and was more deliberate with my strokes, plus it was quite fun.  May have to try some more of these.

Until next time my friends...

Ommmmm, Ommmmm, Ommmmmm

Sorry I have been missing but my life is just the same old thing and not much has been happening.  Work, watch Snicklefritz, eat, sleep, paint, read....the same old stuff. 

Halloween is upon us and thankfully I will be tucked safe in my bed watching TV with my porch light off.  Actually, we usually don't get any treater's which is just fine with me.  I do NOT want candy in my house.  I think The Hubby has a dance to go to and I might possibly go with him and sit in the corner and read, not dance, but I will NOT dress up.  Hated it when I was a child and still do.  

Since Halloween is here that means next up is the Thanksgiving thing.  I have got to get the family email out for our bash.  I do the turkey and dressing and everyone else brings the sides.  Works great for me.  Thanksgiving is The Hubby's favorite holiday.  I don't know if it's family, turkey or because it is hunting season but he loves it.  Christmas is my time and I love it for the decorations and parties and hubbub that goes on with it.  It's even better with a little one to share the awe of Christmas.  There is nothing more magical than Santa and toys and the look in their eyes on Christmas morning.  LOVE IT!  

All this holiday stuff being said it also means I have to deal with my sister and I'm NOT a fan with her or her family right now, except for the nephew.  That boy is an absolute jewel.  He hugs my dad, tells him he loves him and when you call for him to help he is Johnny-on-the-spot.  The kid has a moral code, knows right from wrong.  I'm not sure where he got it considering his sister but I suspect he has seen her path and has decided to go the opposite way.  Yeah for him.  

Sister, well let me tell you the latest on her.  She had her hip replaced in July but is still on temporary disability from work but now has applied for social security disability.  She says she is now diabetic, sleep apnea, has emphysema and arthritis in her lower back and of course the heart thing which she had FIXED!  That has been her whole excuse her whole life is the heart but it was fixed!  Since she is home playing on her computer, sleeping and watching TV I asked her if she could possibly go by and help Daddy with his medicare thing (she works in the insurance industry).  Her reply was "I thought sister-in-law was going to do that.  I don't know much about it." Really, SIL has her own worries with her father and IT'S NOT HER RESPONSIBILITY!!!!!  Good grief, one little thing to help and no she can't.  

Okay, off my soapbox and breathe...

Ommmm, Ommmmm, OmmmmmmMMMMmmmmmMMMMMMM.....

Cuteness = Rio Rae

Nothing but cuteness this post.  This little darlin' has become a champion napper, most of the time.  She is sleeping nearly 3 hours every day and that makes work so much more possible.  After nap it snack time though and she loves her snack.  

Just look at those curls that are developing!

Time to play with Granddaddy! 

Just CUTE! 

Her second Halloween and this year she is:  Maggie Simpson! 

Word Spill

I'm not sure what you call this abandoning of my blog lately, writers block.  I just don't know but the words are just not there.  I don't seem to have an opinion about anything lately and I certainly don't want to get political.  I haven't even been writing in my handwritten journal.  It's very strange that I don't have words spilling out of my brain.  It could be the pain that seems to be never ending from the knee because it seems to be constantly on my mind.  Workouts have been at a real minimum and any kind of walking to stores or ANYTHING is at a minimum.  I am in the holding pattern, STILL of waiting for a call from the doctor's office.  Since the MRI was last Wednesday I am giving them till tomorrow afternoon then I'm calling them.  They should surely have the results by then wouldn't you think.  If I was not referred by my regular doctor I would stop this and start the process over but I am patient and a waiter by nature.

I can't believe that tomorrow is Halloween, my most un-favorite time of year, mostly because of the candy aspect and how I DON'T want it in my house.  As it turns out my lights will be out because The Hubby will be at dance class and I am NOT going to be getting up and down to answer the door with this knee.  If he was here I have a bag of toys to give out if he was.

On a good note is that we are babysitting sweet Rio on Thursday and will get to have an all-nighter on Saturday while they go to a huge Halloween party.  Thursday will be a trial run and hope all goes well.  The Hubby is rather excited as am I.  She is a precious little being that has been brought into our lives and I can't wait to spend some time with her.  I can't wait till she is bouncing around this house with a sing-song "Granny", "GrandPOP!(or Poppy, or PaPa or whatever he prefers...)

Booooooo

Boo

Have I told you how much I dislike Halloween.  I have never been a fan of Halloween, even as a kid.  Oh I must admit that it was fun when I was very young and the neighbors would make homemade things like popcorn balls and candied apples to give away, when it was innocent, the days of innocence.  As I got older and realized that you had to go out in public and actually wear a costume, well that was not fun for a person that wanted to blend in with the scenery.  I was not a fan of standing out in a crowd.  It has taken me a lifetime to overcome that fear.  As I got older the fear of embarassment was just too overwhelming and I avoided at all costs any kind of get-ups.  I even hated trying to come up with the ideas for costumes.  Just hated it.  The only thing I ever really did was dress up like a gypsy because Momma had a cool dress with glitter and rick-rack on it to make me look pretty.  I was always that gypsy.  When the girls were old enough to dress up I just refused to go out and buy a costume.  It was such a waste of money and besides it brought up the fear again.  Then the problem of having the damned candy in the house.  I LOVED the candy but it was a killer for whatever diet I was trying to attempt before the holidays and my downfall until the end of the year.  It was a vicious cycle that I have broken.  When the kiddos are little you just have to let them have some of the candy but I would secretly throw it away a little at a time (or eat it.)  Then it got to the point that whatever candy I would buy to give out would be the kind I didn't like.  Now, and for the past several years we go to the cabin on Halloween (if on the weekend) or I just don't turn my lights on.  I avoid the grocery store and the candy aisles if I can and just try to get past the day.  I don't have any kind of religious affliction against the holiday, it is just a horrible fear from childhood.