Happy Birthday to a Very Special Brother

Today is my brother's 50th birthday.  Someone asked me if he was in mourning --- and it is quite the opposite.  My brother Bobby has no concept of age, hatred or the ugliness in our world.  My brother is autistic and mentally retarded (that may not be the politically correct term ... but it is what it is).  Bobby's verbal capability is that of maybe a one year old.  To look at him, the average person would think "he is an average guy on the street". 

I'm the little sister by three years.  As children I can remember playing games & running around outside.  I also remember the time he tied me to the clothesline pole and there were red ants at my feet and he was clueless!  Typical brother & sister story.  He also gave me the nickname "Tutti" ... his version of Suzy. 

My Mom made a very difficult decision early in my brother's life.  He went to live at an institution in the state of California.  I remember going to visit him, playing at the playground and noticing that the other kids in his 'home' were just like him.  As he got older and California began to change their policies and integrated the criminally insane into the institutions ... it was time for change.  Although my brother lived in a separate area for autistic individuals, Mom didn't want to take the chance that somehow Bobby would be co-mingled. 

We were blessed with a very special adult family home where Bobby now lives.  It is run by an 'angel' who was also one of the nurses at the State Hospital he lived at.  Willie is a blessing to our family.  I trust her & her staff 100%.  My brother is happy and knows no other life. 

I'm blessed by my brother.  He has taught me to love, be fair, and not take the little things for granted. 

On this day I wish my Big Brother who loves trains, kitty cats & going for rides, a very Happy Birthday. 

I love you brother Bobby .... your Tutti

Farm wife, 1900 *A description of her day*

Wow .... if I did all this I'd be soooo skinny & worn out!  The responsibilities of a farmer's wife have sure changed since 1900. 

I hope you enjoy this read as much as I did. 

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/farmwife.htm

We grow into our cowboy boots ....

Love is ... a great pair of cowboy boots!!! 

On my last day in New Jersey last week, Christina & decided that Mason Jar should have his one year portraits done by some great photographers with their fancy schmancy cameras --- that would be me (Grandma) and Nina (his Mom) with our Canon point & shoots!  So we dressed up the little guy and off we went to find that pile of leaves in the backyard.  Let me back up to the 'dressing' part.  Mom wanted a different shirt then Grandma.  I am partial to plaid shirts and blue jeans ... and guess what, I won!!  It wasn't much of a struggle, but still ... he was wearing that plaid shirt and I loved it.  As far as the cowboy boots, well it took some effort to keep them on his little feet.  So I tried to hold them in place during the pictures. 

Love how this picture shows the difference in our sizes ... the realness (if that is a word) of life.  We all begin small and grow into our boots. 

Thanksgiving & Thankfulness

This morning I was visiting with the farmer while he was working as choreboy at the feedlot.  He was telling me about the various things people were sharing they were thankful for on the radio this morning.  There were the usual ... family, job, home, etc.  And then a little girl came on and said she was thankful for her kitten.  It is the little things in our life that bring us great pleasure, joy and it is those things that, at least for me, I sometimes forget to express an attitude of gratitude. 

To list everything I'm thankful for would take me quite awhile ... so here is a short summary: 
*wet baby kisses
*my grandsons' voices during our phone conversations
*my daughters' ensuring that Grandma & Grandpa are able to see pictures (quickly) of our grandsons
*my husband -- his dedication to making sure we live a life that allows us nourishment, shelter and safety
*my friends who support my passions & encourage me to try new things
*my son - my 'baby' ... his dedication to self

As I remember Thanksgivings past, I have many memories of my children & the traditions we created as a family.  Drawing names at the Thanksgiving Table for our annual ornament exchange, saying 'Grace' and sharing what we each were thankful for.  And as the head cook ... letting each one of the kids pick a pie that I would make for them that year.  A few years we even ventured to New York City, braving the crowds to watch the Macy's Day parade while Mom-Mom Barber would get Thanksgiving Dinner ready for us when we returned to Greenwich from NYC.  There were Thanksgivings when we would share our table with Marines & families that were away from home. 

As I left the Military life, I began a new life.  In this new life, I continued to create Thanksgiving memories.  Working on Thanksgiving and being with my residents, sharing the Thanksgiving Feast once again with individuals whose families were unable to be present or maybe their families were no longer living.

And as I've begun a new chapter in my life, I continue to share Thanksgiving with loved ones, creating new traditions and ensuring that my loved ones, near & far, know that I'm thankful for their love. 

So on this Thanksgiving night, I thank each of you for being a part of my life.  I thank you for reading my words, sharing in my pictures, my thoughts & ideas.  I thank you for you. 

As we say in yoga when ending a class .....

*Namaste*

Recipe Blog Hop *Baked Brie* *Hot Apple Cider*

I L.O.V.E. to cook.  Nothing too extravagant.  Simple, classic & tasty.  So for the blog hop we are supposed to post a recipe and then link it back to the Diecut Diva Blog http://die-cut-diva.blogspot.com/2009/11/creative-cuts-more-mega-recipe-blog-hop.html#comments

Hot Apple Cider
In your crock pot pour one gallon of apple juice or cider.
Add two cinnamon sticks.
Add one bag of cinnamon red hots.
Add a couple 'shakes' of nutmeg.
Set to low heat and let simmer until red hots are melted.  Delicious!!!

Baked Brie     (I first had this at a restaurant in Iceland ... the only difference was they deep fried it -- yummy)

Brie with plastic wrap removed, but hard cover still on. 
Strawberry jam/preserves or fresh cranberries with orange zest.
Brown Sugar. 
Homemade or store bought pie crust rolled out into a circle. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

Place the round of brie in the middle of the pie crust. 
Place about three tablespoons of brown sugar over the brie.
Top with strawbery preserves.  Or, if you'd like a tangier taste, top with about 1-1/2 cups of fresh cranberries, fresh orange zest and a sprinkle of nutmet. 
Wrap the edges of the pie crust by first bringing up one side and then the opposite side.  Continue until the brie is covered.  Brush with egg white.  For a decorative touch, using seasonal cookie cutters, cut an additional pie crust into shapes and place on top of the already wrapped brie.  Just a few will be fine ... you don't want to over do it. 

Bake in over @ 400 degrees for 10 minutes and then lower heat to 350 until the pie crust is a golden brown. 

Set a table with candles, holiday music or maybe some Michael Buble.  Atmosphere is what it is about!  Serve with crackers, baquette slices and a wonderful glass of hot spiced wine.  Looks like I'll need to post another recipe! 

Bon Appetite!

My Favorite Gooseberry Patch Cookbook ... so far

I wanted to share with you my favorite Gooseberry Patch Cookbook --- Farmhouse Christmas Book.  Their are so many wonderful recipes, crafts, ideas, 'words' (I'm a collector of words) and individual memories.  The recipes are simple, tried & very true.  Two of the recipes in the book have become family favorites -- German Chocolate Cake and the Corn Casserole. 

Here is their site if you'd like to gander over www.gooseberrypatch.com

The Scrappy 'Diva' Lounge

If you know me well, you know I love to scrap & create 'paper' stuff.  I have a room dedicated to my love of paper & material.  My lounge is currently painted a deep sky blue.  It is not a large room and the window is long in width and shot in height.  So I was visiting with my JK @ a class the other night and we were talking paint colors.  I mentioned I had been thinking 'pink' -- for the girly girl in me.  She mentioned she'd like yellow and then I had one of my 'visions'.  When I get these 'visions' I see the end result and then I need to backtrack to figure how I'm going to get there.  I mentioned to JK that I'd like my 'lounge' to be (if you're prim & proper you might want to stop reading ...) Trashy Cowgirl Chic!  Would that not be a hoot and so much fun!!!!  I already have a vintage hutch I store my treasures in, so I'm part way there.  It would be a matter of ripping out the shag (gulp) carpet and quite a bit of work but so worth it.  I've seen fabric of cowgirls in short shorts & quite busty and I could use that for a chair cover, curtains and a few more things.  What do you think?  Any color suggestions?  Pictures?  Links?  I wouldn't be able to start this until after the first of the year.  Let me know what you think! 

Cowgirls love a whole lotta bling!

I can't keep this a secret!!!  Danni Jo's creations are incredible.  I first met her at the Farm Chicks show in Spokane last spring.  I bought one of her necklaces and wore it to my daughter's wedding.  Other than my wedding ring (for obvious reasons), her necklace is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry I own.  Danni Jo is very friendly, will personalize your gems and so much more.  I hope you take a moment and check out her wares.
http://www.vixencowgirl.com/

Insanity at its Finest

This is the bumper sticker on the back of the cattle truck ... and I've come to discover it's truth.  One of these days I'll expand upon my thoughts about "Insanity at its Finest".

Conversation at our home this morning:

Cowboy:  "I'm getting ready to load".

Wife: "Have a good one ... see you tonight"

*Homefront gets quiet and I continue to get ready for the day. *

Cowboy in loud voice:  "Are you in here?"

Wife: Yes

Silence from Cowboy

Wife:  Do you need me?

Silence and door shuts.

I pull on my pink (yes oh so girly) clogs, a coat, grab the camera (you never know) and head out towards the barn.

Cowboy:  Pointing to front of truck and barks the orders "Stand between the truck and the fence".

Wife sees two cows running up the road and our great cowdogs chasing them ... in the wrong direction!!!

Cowboy chases cows in pick-up with two smart cowdogs in the back barking (they are fierce!)

Cowboy gets cows back down into the barn lot.

Just another moment at the Big Red Barn.   

Nesting & A Hodge Podge of thoughts, musing & holiday music (already!)

First I wanted to share my Halloween pictures.  Had fun carving the pumpkin.  I don't remember carving a pumpkin since the kids have been at home ... so at least 10 years ago!  I went nontraditional & used patterns I found on line at http://www.southernliving.com/  So much fun.  Even cut my 'lid' from the bottom -- so much easier to put my candle on the bottom.  Then I decided to put a not so scary fella on the front porch.  I sure had fun decorating and preparing the front porch.  It brought a 'smile to my heart'.  I need to remember that it is the little things, the fun things that make me happy & bring joy into my life. 

Nesting:  Do you find yourself 'nesting' at this time of the year?  Yesterday I decided to create a much cozier feel in our home.  I changed some decor out and replaced it with more fall-like colors.  Found a few dishes in the attic, filled them with chestnuts from the from yard (and we have LOTS!), put a darker quilt over a chair, made a pan of hot spiced wine and the smell drifted through the home and I knew I was home!  What do you do in your home to create comfort, love & coziness? 

Thoughtfullness on Words: 

Yesterday while listening to Soul Series (Oprah's XM station) I was listening to a conversation between a Christian pastor and a professor of Philosophy @ Columbia University who was also studying Buddhism.  He said something that has stuck with me "... Impermanence is part of our life".  The Pastor spoke of his Mom often saying words that he now looks back and would say "Mom was Buddhist".  She would say those words we all have heard so often ... "This, too, shall pass".  The philosophy professor went on to expand with the thought that not only the 'bad' shall pass but also the 'good' as nothing in our life is permanent. 

November 1, 2009

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  While I was in the Fabric store yesterday they were playing Holiday Tunes!  Outloud I said "already!" ... and my inside voice was yelling "Yay!!!"  I L.O.V.E. holiday tunes.  Each year I promise myself one new holiday CD.  Any recommendations?  I was looking at the new Sting Winter CD ... have heard good reviews.  Would love to hear what your recommendations would be for holiday music.  I'm open to all suggestions -- I've quite an eclectic taste in music. 

Happy Holidays!