Wistful Wednesday: 48 years ago

It was cold…about –20F or –6C eh! 

We were married in the afternoon and had a reception afterwards.  We had cake, Christmas cookies, coffee, punch and some fancy sandwitches…they used to take a loaf of bread and swirl food coloring in it.  Then it would be sliced lengthwise and the layers would be filled with cheese…ham salad etc…fancy….the reception took place in the church social hall.

This is a photo of the inside of the church taken from the balcony.

We had fun looking at the backs of the heads in this photo.  Many who are now gone. My Maternal Grandmother and Far Guys Maternal Grandmother both wore hats as did our Mothers.

This is the entire wedding party. The gal( my Aunt that was younger than me) on the far left died last spring but the rest of the group are still alive and well.

 

48 years…it sounds like a long time…but it doesn’t seem that long ago.  We know each other well and can finish each other sentences and often are thinking the same thing at the same time. We are still best friends and on good days we both have a wicked sense of humor.

We had planned to spend the day away to see a Grand…but we are supposed to get a bunch of snow and it may be a winter storm so we will spend the day at home. Warm and safe instead of in a snowstorm someplace.

Christmas List

I finally made a list.  I had to.  With less than a week until Christmas I need to see that MOST of the bases are covered.

The Christmas Cards have been mailed. 

The downstairs tree is done.  The Shiny Brite tree upstairs still needs some work.

The Christmas Morning menu has been determined.  The Christmas eve menu is in progress depending on who and how many people are here.  Today we will make Seafood Gumbo to put in individual servings for the freezer and we may have it on Christmas eve…well… I will only have it once in a week so I will have Vegetable Soup instead.  If I get real ambitious I will make Garlic Knots…we will see how my time goes this week.  We are busy all week…something happens everyday except Saturday…which may be the day I finish everything that didn’t get accomplished during the week.

All gifts and stocking stuffers are in progress. 

I will make two batches of pumpkin bread, one regular and one gluten free….hopefully!

I think that Jinx The Lumberjack tried to make a collect call and got hung up.

Monday before Christmas

I made some more white chocolate and cherry fudge to deliver in tins to a few of the neighbors.  We delivered one tin and had a good visit.  Old neighbors moved on to live closer to their children and one has memory difficulties so she is in a Memory Care Unit.  They sold their lake home to other neighbors that had adjoining land. 

There was snow fog on the lake as it was getting dark. They have been removing a few trees to have a better view of the lake.  They now own the entire North end of the lake.  It is a nice setting but you have to be a mountain goat to get to the water from this new property. We have been calling them “The Land Barons.”

 

Chance is feeling much better, his diet has been returned to normal.  He still wears the harness to come down the steps…he hates the harness but it keeps him from falling and injuring himself.  He plays a little ball and actually tried to jump at the snow being thrown off the snow shovel yesterday….so he is good to go until the next aging episode.

Jinx The Lumberjack

You have heard of the Elf on a Shelf?  Well we were looking for one and couldn’t find one.
Lo and behold a package came in the mail from Kansas.  Inside was a very nice bunch of Christmas Napkins and a Lumberjack Christmas Ornament.  Thank you Kay!

We discussed at some length of what to name our Lumberjack…Paul was obvious as was Jack…but I think he may be a bit mischevious so Jinx it is! So we have a Jinx the Lumberjack who makes us smile before he ends up on the tree.

The bubble lights made their way to our kitchen window.  Decorating continues…as will Jinx the Lumberjack’s adventures.

Christmas Flags

I finally got the flags changed.  Chance supervised.

It keeps spitting snow…all week…it is very dreary weather.

The Lionel flag is fun to look at so bright and colorful.

Far Guy had a Doctors appointment in Fargo yesterday, the roads were wet and sloppy but not icy.  We stopped at a Dollar General Store and Menards…we are the last of the big shoppers. Chance enjoyed the outing more than we did.

Chance was exhausted when we got home…so we all had a long nap…and woke up to more snow.

Soon I must make a list and check it twice…but not just yet

Shiny Brite Progress

The Shiny Brite tree is in progress.  I go upstairs and add a box or two of ornaments to the tree from the stash a couple of times a day.  The Sandras, Jennifers, Lillians, JoLynns, Minnies, Mildreds, Leanns, and Chances are on the tree. The Madelines, Cyndis, Raes, Tom and Lindas, Edies, Graces, Susans, Kays, Hazels and many ornaments from Far Guy will be hung soon.

The Stash…I have a system… and all boxes are marked with what ornamanets and who they are from…I should really take photos of each box. For now my post it notes work great!  When all the ornaments are in this big wooden box that looks a little like a coffin…there is not much room left for expansion of the collection. One by one the boxes are taken out, the ornaments put on the tree and the empty boxes stacked on the table.   Some ornaments lose their hooks…some have wobbly metal caps that need to be repaired.

A gift from blog friend Mildred last year.

I feel blessed to have very thoughtful friends who have gifted me with Shiny Brite ornaments over the years. 

Chance had a fairly good day yesterday, he enjoyed a ride to town. 

Chance update and Snow

We finally got a little snow.  It has been snowing off and on since Sunday night.  We have about three inches total. 

We are a Nusing Facility for an aging Boder Collie.  He is still weak after his bout with pancreatitis.  His diet is slowly being increased from just water to rice and boiled hamburger…and pumpkin.  He likes cooked carrots so some of them have been added to his food also.  He is REALLY hungry and he thinks we are starving him to death.  He wears his harness coming down the steps as his back legs are weak especially the right leg.  He is a pain in the neck when he wants food.  Far Guy made him some more homemade pumpkin treats with egg, rice flour and pumpkin…he likes them and knows they are kept in the fridge…and will lead you there.

 

He is still eating snow.  He is improving..and those of us who are older know that it takes a little while to snap back.  He is going to the mailbox with Far Guy again…he refused to go for a few days.  So there is improvement.

His anal tumor seems to be better…it disappears…and then appears.  Go figure.  It doesn’t seem to be painful for him…it probably hurts me more than it hurts him…cause I am delegated to keep his butt clean.

We have a good friend who is a retired Veterinarian…he says we are doing all the right things.

I worry about Chance taking off to the woods to hide and die alone.  We had another dog that was close to death and she kept trying to hide in the yard and refused to come in the house.  So I am glad there is snow so at least we can track him.

Chance is over 13 years old.  He has been a good friend.  No doubt he will rebound this time but realistically we know the day when we say goodbye is coming closer every day.  So we will enjoy him while we have him.

Wistful Wednesday: Christmas 1969

Christmas Day in 1969.  Far Guy and I had been married five days.  We spent Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas Day with Far Guy’s family.

This is an old Polaroid photo taken by Far Guy’s Dad…he liked to take photographs.

In this photo we have Far Guy’s Mom, Far Guy’s sister Janice with Muggy, Far Guy and me.  Looks like we had a bunch of snow that year…as I recall it was a very cold that Christmas.  Note the flocked Christmas tree, Far Guy’s Mom wanted a white tree that year…something puzzling about this photo…the drapes to the East  (behind the couch) were hardly ever open. The photographer must have need more light.

When we visited the old house last summer I took a photo from just about the same spot.  I wonder where they will put the tree?  It was always in its place in front of that window for years and years.

Sauna Delivery

My baby brother ordered a Sauna and it was delivered last Friday.

It was made in Royalton Minnesota and it is a all Cedar hand made product.

It came on a larger trailer and was unloaded onto this small trailer to make its way down the hill into its final spot.

It was a very interesting process.

Up the ramp and onto the deck

Around the corner into the spot that was designed for a sauna.

The trailer had a break apart axel and with a jack and blocks it was lowered into place.

Here is a peek inside. That is a Swedish Stove there in the middle.  Four people fit nicely…six if you have skinny friends/relatives.

My brother pretending to pour water over his wifes head.

Our parents came to see the new sauna.

My baby brother was quite happy with the sauna delivery….he will be even happier when his house is finished.  I have been the official photographer for 13 months now.  The house is still about 2 or 3 months from completion.

I heard the sauna worked as advertised.

Grands: Adam

Far Guy took a few photos of Adam’s VEX Robotics Tournament.

 

Adam

Relaxing

Competition

Adam’s father was asking him why the robot quit?  “Because someone didn’t change the battery.”

Their group won first place.  Three teams worked together at different parts of the tournament.

There is one more tournament before they go to State.  They are already going but will use the next tournament for more experience.

Way to go Adam!

Chance: Uffda

It’s me Chance…that handsome kinda sick Border Collie.  I don’t know what I ate…french fries with bad grease no doubt….and french fries are one of my most favorite foods.  They gave Far Guy and Far Side tummy aches.  I am older than them and my system is finicky.

I have pancretitis.  I have been as sick as a dog can be… Far Side and I spent almost one whole night together inside and outside…I barfed and barfed and Far Side almost barfed too.  She was a trooper and wouldn’t lay down inside when I was outside barfing and eating snow…she would come visit me outside…and make me come in and in twenty minutes or less I had to go back out again and again…it was a long night with almost no sleep. 

Well I tell ya what Far Side on no sleep cries easily.  She was worried…when Far Guy woke up in the morning and was briefed she said “I am going to sleep now…you are incharge.”  After a two hour nap she was still exhausted and bawling, I was still sicker than a dog so neither of us were in any shape to go with Far Guy up North to watch Adam’s Robotics Tournament.  So we stayed home…we napped and went outside and ate snow at regular intervals.  She brought my bed to the landing. She said “No stairs for you buddy.”

Far Guy came home and I looked better at least that is what he said. I felt better and started whining for some food…I ate some boiled rice and finally drank some water.  I am still weak.  I fell down the steps…Far Side says I have to wear my harness up and down and there is no fooling around with the steps and I am lucky I didn’t break a hip or a leg.  Far Side say she thinks I have escaped death once again.

Chance

Rescued Santa

We stopped by the antique shop in town one day…we didn’t have too much time to explore but as we walked quickly through I happened to spy a couple of things I needed wanted should not have bought for $2.

It just added to my project/someday list.

Who can resist an old carving that just needs a little help…and the jingling bells were driving Far Guy nuts just in the store. (Yes it might be me and the bells that drive him over the edge.)

The Santa had a strange look.

Before: Santa stares…kinda spooky.  He needed to be rescued.

After…I sanded him a bit, thinned down some brown paint and brushed some on and took most of it off, re painted his wonky eyes…put some snow on his hat and cuffs and a little glitter glue on his tree…and then I sealed it.

He looks good on the wreath outside the door.  Maybe I will add some lights and maybe not.

The bells ended up outside also…that was the extent of my Christmas decorating this week.

A Flag

A few weeks ago my baby brother gave me a flag.  He said I should have it.  I said “yuck it has a snake on it”… of course Far Guy knew all about the flag.
I decided to put it up for a short time before Christmas takes over.

The Gadsden Flag.  Designed by Christopher Gadsden during the American Revolution.  It was considered the first flag of The United States and was replaced later by the stars and stripes.   The Gadsden flag symbolizes patriotism and the right to our personal freedoms.

Have you heard the big Minnesota news?  One of our Senators resigned yesterday…poor Al…got caught by his bad actions.  He was elected by the voters in “the cities” and never really represented outstate Minnesota…or Veterans.  The Veterans part is what made me unhappy, he ignored questions from Far Guy.   Don’t let the door hit you in the butt Al.  So long.

I recall when I was in first, second and third grade…my teachers all had one thing in common…they would say “Keep your hands to yourself.”   Seems to me maybe teachers and parents are not teaching that so much anymore.

I cannot imagine anyone being silent about any kind of harrasment for 20 plus years…yet it seems to have happened to many women.  I tried to remember back 20 years ago…I had to go back 40 years before I could come up with one situation where I just laughed out loud at the person and said “You have got to be kidding.”

I have just about had it with the Me Too crap.  Stick up for yourself when something makes you uncomfortable…get a backbone…jeeze louise don’t wait 20 years.

Oh Fudge!

What an adventure.  I picked three different Fudge recipes to make for the Christmas cookie exchange.  I was nervous because some of my attempts at fudge have been spoon worthy.

The first recipe was a breeze.  I will make it again in a heartbeat.  White Chocolate Cherry Fudge.  3 cups white chocolate chips, 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk, 2 Tablespoons butter melt together stirring often (all the time) then add 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract…I might have added more! and one cup of dried cherries chopped into small pieces. Stir well and place in 8 x8 baking dish that is buttered or use parchment paper. Chill. Easy peasy!

The second recipe had four different layers and each layer had to be cooled in between the next…what a putzy recipe.  It is called Caramel Peanut Fudge…but I used almonds.  I was anxious to get on with the layers so I started tossing ingredients for the layers in different pans…well that was a mistake because one of the steps had two parts…it should have boiled for 5 minutes…well that did not happen…hence that layer is a little lot gooey…but it is real tasty.  If I would have used the peanuts the recipe called for this might be real similar to The Pearsons Nut Goodie candy bar in the red and green wrapper that can be found near the checkout counter that is one of my favorites.

Far Guy helped me for a while before he got disgusted and had to have a nap.  I struggled on…and on..my fingers and every butter knife in the house was a sticky mess…but they are what they are and they are in their pretty little cups.

It has been renamed messy fudge.  If you keep it in the fridge I bet it pops right out of that cup!

The no fail old Fantasy Fudge recipe is one of Far Guy’s favorites.  I find it too sweet for me. (we have different palates) I made that one last and had to call Far Guy in to stir when it got too hard for me to stir.  That is the recipe that you have to boil sugar, butter and evaporated milk for five minutes without burning it and then stir like crazy to melt the marshmallow creme and chocolate chips.  I used dark chocolate chips and almonds because we like almonds better than walnuts.

No Fail Fantasy Fudge in a pan lined with parchment paper.

About this time I am real tired of my fudge filled afternnon…this was the last pan to be dealt with.  Then I had a vision of the fudge in the candy stores…it is in big hunks.

Well that works for me! I was out of pretty foil wrappers anyway.  An assortment of fudge will be packaged into 10 tins before the cookie exchange…for now they are chilling in the freezer and I am way tired of being in the kitchen.  Oh yes Far Guy has his own personal stash of his favorite fudge…I told him he could share if he wants to but not with me. 

It is interesting that we rated the fudge exactly opposite of each other …with my fav being the White Chocolate Cherry then the Messy Fudge and lastly the No Fail Fantasy Fudge.

I checked all my ingredients and all of this fudge is gluten free.