Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone. December was such a busy month, I didn't even get on my blogs. We had 3 Christmas celebrations, plus 2 church programs for grandchildren. It was a great deal of fun. The weather here was terrible. We had everything from fog to blizzards, but it all worked out. It is always so much fun to see the little ones in their Christmas programs at the churches. There is always one or two that act out and make everyone laugh. It was so much fun. Also all month it seemed like we were always pigging out on food. :0)

Christmas

It seems like Christmas rolls around faster and faster.  Next week, a week from today, is Christmas again already.  Winter snows and cold have really set in and it is a couple days yet until the official first day of Winter.  We are definitely going to have a white Christmas.  There are always so much baking and cooking going on.  Everyone looks forward to the good food.

Thanksgiving Gathering

I was invited to extended family for a great Thanksgiving.  There was enough food for an army of people.  I am sure we all ate till we couldn't eat a bit more :0)  After eating, we played games.  They were so much fun.  We had so many laughs and such a good time.  Laughing is so good for everyone.  Then a lot of the women made a craft.  They make a different one every year.  It is really neat.

Graduation Receptions

This is a big weekend for graduation receptions.  It is a beautiful day for it.  Most people set up tables and food in their garages.  They have many pictures of their child growing up.  It has become quite a production.  I think it was much simpler when my kids graduated.  It didn't cost nearly as much either.  I often think each one tries to outdo the other.

Thanksgiving

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I spent it with my oldest son and daughter-in-law, her whole family and extended family and their 4 children, my grandchildren. We had wonderful turkey and gravy and all the usual and unusual salads. There was such a variety to cookies and specially made candies and at least 6 different pies. We played the most fun game with almost everyone playing and it took 5 tables of 4 people each playing. We won more and more candy of all sorts or lost some depending on how your game went. They took lots of silly pictures and it was a laugh a minute. I have lots to be thankful for.

Fun on the Holiday Weekend

We attended church on Sunday and honored our living Veterans as well as those who have passed on before. Then Monday we were invited out to our grandson's acreage for a big BBQ. We had never been there yet so it was neat to see all their buildings, chickens and big home. The kids had a great time playing outside as the sun came out and it was very windy so wasn't really terribly hot.

This was only one of the activities they had for the great grandkids. They also had a water spray to play in and a huge swing set. We all had lots of wonderful food and a good time was had by all.

It's a Birthday Circus!!

Our little great grandson had his 2nd birthday last week. His Mom is very talented and she did his party up in a complete circus theme. Everyone had a wonderful time. I wish we could have been there too. The food looked delicious as you can see here. Emry had a great time and a neat cake. Now he is waiting for his little brother to arrive next month. How exciting!!

Consumer Prices Post Another Gain

Consumers paid more to fill up their gas tanks, buy groceries and go to the hospital in January as prices on a range of items climbed. Inflation was increasing even as the economy was slowing dramatically, a development certain to raise concerns at the Federal Reserve. The Fed has cut interest rates aggressively in the belief that fighting off a threatened recession was more important than worrying about inflationary pressures. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose by 0.3 percent, the biggest jump in seven months. That increase reflected higher prices for medical care, education, clothing, tobacco and airline fares.

Harlem Tours

If you have never been on a Harlem tour, then you have really missed something. Harlem has so much more to offer you than you might think. This online website Harlem Tours sets up the most wonderful tours. They have a great variety of tours to suit everyone such as a Museums & Galleries Tour with Lunch, a Harlem Shopping Tour with Lunch, or how about Dinner, Entertainment and Wine Tasting Tour (for groups of 20). That is just a small sampling of the one day tours they provide. They live there so they know the best places, so much more than other tours who are based out of the area. They can even get you into some of the places to show you the fine architectural interiors designed by the masters. Many of the places they can take you are unknown to their competitors so you are in for a real treat. Visit beautiful Harlem and enjoy the ethnic food and Jazz.

This blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive.

Food is No Substitute in HIV Fight

Scientists in South Africa say they have found no evidence that healthier eating is a substitute for medical drugs when treating HIV/Aids and TB. This follows an exhaustive study on the links between nutrition and treatment. South Africa's health minister has faced ridicule in the past for stressing the benefits of beetroot, garlic and potatoes in fighting HIV. South Africa has one of the world's highest HIV infection rates and has increased the rollout of Aids drugs.

Food

VICKY & BILL BROUGHT MEATLOAF AND BAKED POTATOES FOR A SUPPER. THAT IS GREAT. HAD A GOOD VISIT WITH TERRYS. KATIE TAUGHT ME A FEW THINGS ON THE COMPUTER TOO. I LEARN MORE EVERY DAY. HAVE HER BLOG ON MINE TOO NOW SO I CAN READ HERS TOO. I NEED TO EMAIL HER SOME STFF TOO BEFORE I FORGOT. DULL ACHE IN HAND. DOUBLE PAIN PILLS THIS TIME SAY, I SAW TAMMY (MIKE'S EX) AND MARY JO. THEY BOTH WORK IN RECOVERY.

Wedding

We went to the wedding of a grandniece yesterday in a large Catholic church. When we arrived, 2 hours drive from home, we went to a Village Inn restaurant and had lunch. they feature pies, every kind imaginable and all good. If they don't offer you pie at the end of your meal, it is free. They also serve it by the 1/2 slice which is plenty but you just have to have some. I tried their newest Hawaiian strawberry pie and it was wonderful. They also had a vilaccinno, like cappiccino drink that was very very good. After the wedding, we went to a gold course way out of the big city, following another niece over freeways, out into the country highways, till we thought we would never find our way back. It was a beautiful lodge and the caterers had done it up just beautifully. The appetizer bar had a collection of very unique vegetables, meats, cheeses, breads,iced tea and coffee. Once the bride and groom arrived, we had a lovely buffet of salads, rolls, meats and veggies. The grandfather has been in a nursing home now for maybe 2 years and Paul was able to be at the wedding and reception in a wheelchair. Jennie, his wife, has failed considerably and we blame alot of it on a car accident she had last fall as she had a few serious injuries. She is beginning to show signs of dementia, which is really sad as she was the one of the 10 brothers & sisters in the family that had the most outstanding memory of dates, birthdays, anything you wanted to know. Jennie is going to be 87 the end of July. Her sister, Agnes had flown in from Dallas and she hasn't changed a bit in 3 years. She is going to be 89 in September and looks 70. Frank, who will be 74 the end of the month, hasn't changed a bit nor has his wife, Ethel, age 72. They travel all over the United States and go to Arizona in the winter, pulling a 32 ft. trailer. But next winter, they plan to go to Texas and stop off in Dallas and visit Agnes and her family a bit. Frank had cancer behind one of his ears and it appears it has returned and now it looks like he may have it behind the other ear. They were planning to stop in Rochester at the Mayo Clinic and see when he can get in again to have it checked. He had an extensive surgery by and on the one ear last fall. Dorothy, a niece who is 70 and seems 55 was there too and 5 of us went back to the Village Inn to spend some of the 3 hours between the wedding and the reception. We all sat around and had coffee and 1/2 pieces of more of that wonderful pie. This time, I had a carmel pecan silk pie that was like a bit of fluff in your mouth. Just wonderful. We had the greatest visit with Agnes and Dorothy, Frank and Ethel. Just like a reunion. The reception was so noisy and the music so loud, you could hardly hear yourself think, let alone talk to each other. The Lodge had a balcony out over Sailorville Lake and was beautiful with telescopes to view it too. We found a map and I found a Highway we could take north and avoid all the freeways until we were well out of the big city and we got home about 20 to 10 which was earlier than we expected. But a good time was had by all. We are resting up today and staying in out of the rain. We do not like missing church but the weather outside is frightful and it's that kind of day for napping :0).