Christmastime....and Thanksgiving shots, too

Somehow the pictures that Grammy takes, are usually of the little ones. Go Figure ! I do, occasionally get an adult in there, for a change. Here are a few from the gathering for the Thanksgiving feast, and the rest are Christmastime...

Holiday festivities....

Friday and Saturday were nights of great food, and fun. Will Green, Jim's brother, came in from Iowa, and we haven't seen him for years, so he wanted to get together. We truly enjoyed the great meal, and atmosphere of "Portabella" restaurant in Clayton.... The food was outstanding, and we had time to catch up on news and do some sharing. We had fun seeing Will, and finding out what he's been up to. Cindy and Jerry talked about some of their recent travels, and Judi and Paul shared a bit about all their Christmas plans with family. ---- if you go there, try the rainbow trout with pistachios, and the sauted spinach---- out of this world- everyone loved their meal !

Paul fits right in...

Judi and Paul are in St. Louis for their family gathering at Trent's house, so we all got together at our favorite restaurant, Kirkwood's Amicis--- the greatest Italian food around !! We usually try their "specials" or the tuttomare or penne vodka, and love the salad.... their pizza is great, too... We take all our friends there, and have never been disappointed..... They do an amazing business, even in this time of uncertainty in the market, etc.. I guess folks still like to go out for a great meal !!
We laughed and joked, and had a great time... We even got 4 desserts, and passed them around the table for everyone to try !!! togetherness !! ha !

2nd Annual Christmas Party--

What fun... Loads of great stuff to nibble on, Lots of funny stories to tell, Lots of things to reminisce about, and then the most fun-- The CRAZY FUN bunko game (each person provided at least 4-6 crazy, regifted, Goodwill, or White Elephant gifts to share... Some of them were acquired at the party last year !) tee hee...
After the "taking of the gifts" from one another, We circle the room with the unwrapping, one at a time...(we love to drag it out !) The Ziggy theme was Jennifer's, and we all loved our Ziggy stuff ! They get funnier every year ! Thanks, for coming and sharing your joy and laughter with me ! I had a great time, too !

Ka, Ka, Ka, Katie !

Here she is wide awake.... What a precious little bundle she is. She looks like her big sister, Gracie !

New "boys" for Christmas...

Brad and his partner Michael are back in Dallas, again... Unfortunately, Santa Fe was not the retirement "dream" they had hoped it would be, so they're back in "big D", and have adopted two new babies to keep them company. Aren't they adorable?! (Brad is hubby Bus' younger bro)
I had a dachshund when I was 12 years old, named "Gretchen" and she was the love of my life for a long time !!
These two little boys are named Cole (the black one, who weighs in at 3 pounds) and his bigger brother, Clay (the brown one, of course, who is a whopping 4 pounds) They won't get much heavier than double their current weight, and are just too darling for words... I'm glad it's not ME that has to potty train them, though. ! Good luck, guys !

Always loved to BAKE !!

I've always loved to bake.... Cookies, cupcakes, brownies and cakes, biscuits, cornbread, even coffeecake !! In all the years I've been married, though, I don't believe I've ever made my mom's recipe for Black Walnut Cake.
I run across the handwritten 3 x 5 cards every once in awhile, but never have gone to the trouble-- before yesterday, that is. For one thing, it calls for Black Walnuts, which are hard to find ( I'm not sure why) and it also specifies Cake flour, instead of regular, which I never have on hand. The third obstacle was the baking pan, which is a tube pan, but Not a bundt pan. Anyhoo, I saw the black walnuts one day at Dierbergs, and decided to take the leap.... I even purchased a special pan at Viking for the task ! Another trip back to the store for the cake flour, which I had forgotten to get, and then one final one, because I was totally out of butter, and needed a cup of it !
My grandbaby sat up in her highchair watching me mix the batter. I'd like to teach her to love to bake, too, someday.... You finish the batter by folding 4 whipped egg whites into the batter. It looked just the way I remembered it did when my mom used to make it. (She was an excellent cook in every way, I think!)
Here's the recipe. Maybe you won't wait 40 years to try it ! Ha !

Black Walnut Cake

Sift 2 cups sugar
Beat until soft 1 cup butter

Add the sugar gradually. Blend these ingredients until they are very light and creamy. Beat in one at a time:
4 egg yolks
Sift before measuring: 3 cups cake flour. Resift with 3 tea. bakingpowder. Add these ingredients in 3 parts to the butter mixture alternately with third of :
1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk
Beat the batter until it is smooth after each addition
Beat in:
1 tea. vanilla
1/2 tea. almond extract (optional) ( I put it in )
1 cup chopped nut meats
Whip until stiff but not dry:
4 egg whites
1/8 tea. salt
Fold them lightly into the cake batter. Bake the cake in greased loaf or 8 in. tube pan in a moderate oven 350 degrees for about 1 hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or ice with carmel icing.

RBFC- girls gone wild (well, maybe not soooo wild, ha !)

-Our RBFC (Retired Best Friend's Club) was missing 2 members, Marlene, and Kris on Wednesday, but we had to carry on !!! WE MISSED you guys !
We had our usual meeting at the Bread Co. and then headed off for the St. Louis Art Museum for a little art history lesson in the contemporary galleries on the top floor. We ran out of time and have to go back to catch the Pollock and De Kooning exhibits in Sculpture Hall. Anyway, we headed to the Central West End and the B O W O O D Cafe, with the nursery attached... The cozy little restaurant has just been open for 3 months, although the Nursery part has been there for 3 years !
We had a nice lunch and shopped among the greenery. I purchased a huge Amaryllis bulb, which is beginning to sprout, and should bloom, perhaps, by Christmas. A very fun time was had by all. Here you will see Joyce, Jan, Lisa and Sandy enjoying the company, the food, and the sights !
--- Next month we planned a luncheon at the Robust restaurant, and a matinee of the movie, "Australia" with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Fun out with my peeps...

We had a little birthday get together, and I got to visit with my good buddies... It's so hard to find time while you are teaching, as Julie and Suzy still do... I miss them ! We've been planning a night out for the last year to see the Celine Dion concert- Unfortunately, the diva had to cancel due to sore vocal cords...
Hey, Celine, we'll catch up with you in Feb.! Rest your voice for awhile...

B I R T H D A Y 's Aren't so bad,,,

I had one of those memorable days which add to the sum of your years !! Birthdays sometimes make you feel old, or at least older, but when you have a wonderful family like I do, they are not so bad...
I feel so blessed with a fabulous husband of 41 years, a dear and darling sister, 3 fabulous kids, the best daughter-in-law in the world, and the most lovable and precious grandbabies anywhere !! I feel so lucky the "number" for my birthday doesn't mean a thing !! Super great friends top off the list, and make me feel so special. S O B L E S S E D !

Just like "Papa"

Grace kept us "in stitches" yesterday with her antics !!
She is watching every move you make, and when Grandpa reads the paper he always wears his reading glasses. She climbed up on the couch, brought a section of the paper with her, and then promptly wanted glasses, too. I ran for the camera, and Grandpa and I got considerable fun watching.
I finally found a pair with clear glass lens, and she wore them around for half an hour, too ! Too funny !

Yes We Can, and we DID !!!!!

click any image to enlarge
After spending a day canvassing for Obama in the city on Monday, Tracey and I worked outside the polls on Tuesday. It was a beautiful, but long day giving support to our candidate by greeting voters and answering questions at the polls. We worked outside of the Meramec Elementary School with some dedicated Democrats, including Sha'Ron and Monzel... We found both of them delightful, and full of hope and enthusiasm on this day of monumental change for our country. We were able to meet so many great people, and share with them our hope for a better America to come.
Tracey was able to attend the celebration at the Chase Park Plaza. I was so tired and hungry that I went home, after the polls finally closed. While watching the election returns with my hubby, whose father was appointed to a post by Missouri Democratic Governor Warren Hearnes years ago, we celebrated along with the crowds across this nation in the choice of Barack Obama for our 44th President ! --SO INCREDIBLE --
Hopefully we will ALL work to achieve the changes we need in this country to make us strong again ! It can't help but give us all hope to see how change can occur for the better with he work of EVERY group in our nation working together !!!!

28 year friendship

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It's been a year since our old group of friends has gotten together... Judi has met and married a wonderful man named Paul, and we had the opportunity to gather and get to know him a bit. Judi's children, Trent, with wife Julie, and Trisha, with her husband Boyd, had a great party to introduce Paul to the St. Louis connection... We had so much fun, sharing grandbaby pictures, catching up with what's going on in our lives, and just generally having lots of fun and conversation... Trent's home is beautiful, and everything was so delightful. The day couldn't have been nicer. We were inside and out, and enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks, guys !

"Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat..".

Halloween is getting to be such a big holiday...

Grace had more fun this year, but only went Trick or Treating to 2 houses, because some of the costumes and masks were JUST A BIT toooooo scary for her. She had fun, though in her Bunny suit (not like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story") Kate slept through the whole thing !!

Shabby Chic baby's room

Here are some of the pictures of the chest of drawers and the new paint job in Gracie's room. The cottage white furniture is very fun. Her Daddy put up a chair rail, and Grammie still has some curtains to make, but it's coming right along ! Both of her Grandma's got that painting job finished in no time !!

Our new little Haynes-- Welcome Katie !!

Katherine Marie, aka "Katie" is such a sweet little thing..... Her mommy and daddy are so happy with their little family !!!--- WE LOVE YOU KATIE !!

RBFC- adventures !

The new and exciting adventures of the RBFC (Retired Best Friends Club) continues with it's first scheculed get together.... We met at the So. County Bread Co., and then several members went for a long walk in the park. After the walk, some joined in and went for a "house tour" of Lisa's and Durwood's fabulous new home, overlooking the Mississippi River, with so many wonderful added features. My favorite was the "project" room, which is a wonderful cabinet and countertop filled room with storage, and water supply, and it will eventually have two large electric saws installed for Durwood's carpentry work. Lisa plans to cut fabric, sew, and work on her stained glass projects there. Also, their garage was something to behold, with places for at least 6 vehicles, including their boats, antique car, two motorcycle thingies, and lots of room to spare. The decks on the back of the house which overlook the river bluff are wonderful, and most of that side of the house is glass..... They have added a fire pit, to sit and drink a glass of wine and watche the river in the evening, how romantic. Unfortunately, no pics of the wonderful space, you'll have to let your mind imagine the view...
After the tour, we headed to Kimmswick for a wonderful time on the porch of the Blue Owl, enjoying their home cooking !!!

Next month it's Joyce's turn to plan our event !! (We MISSED you, Kris !)

New baby sister

Yesterday at 1:48, Gracie's new baby sister was born ! Momma and baby are doing fine, and baby is precious! Grandpa and I kept Grace entertained while Mom and Dad were very busy at St. John's Mercy Hospital.... We got to get a peek at her and hold her for awhile . She was only 4 hours old ! WELCOME , precious baby girl ! We love you already !

Marty's debut show

A former art student of ours, Marty Ryan, had his first one man show , which opened at a Maplewood gallery on Friday night. My good buddies, Julie, and Pat and I met at Schafly's mini brewery, and then went to the opening. Other Mehlville teachers, Judy, and Sue were there, also.
We were all so proud of Marty's accomplishment, and his drive to include 100 paintings in the exhibition. All of his work showed very expressive imagery, and use of vivid color. His inner thoughts were his subject, and he showed great courage to put himself out there the way he did.... His work was all on canvas, and he uses acrylic for his medium. They varied in size and approach to the subject, with images ranging from landscape, to floral to portrait... He sold quite a few, too, and had an EXCELLENT turn out !! Congratulations, Marty, Keep up that painting !!!

Our little dancer...

Gracie and I love to dance... Well, to be honest, I've somewhat ambushed her, and made her watch dancing with me, HA! I love to watch , "So You Think You Can Dance", and, as a result, Gracie really seems to enjoy it now, too. (I don't let her watch other TV, I try as much as possible to give her actual hands-on experiences instead-- But this show is my one exception)
Anyhoo, she has a couple of "dance costumes", and I think she knows they are like the ones that they wear on the show, and yesterday she tried on her first leotard. She seemed to enjoy the whole experience, which includes looking at herself in Grammie's full length mirror..... WHAT A HOOT !!! She is such a JOY !!!

The first official meeting of the RBFC (retired best friends club) took place with the charter members present, Kris, Lisa, Marlene, Joyce and Sandy,(and Gracie, too, as an honorary member) at the St. Louis Bread Company... Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.
The purpose of the group is to live up to motto : Live Healthy, Spend Wisely, and Enjoy our time together.... We will meet each month to that end, with each member setting up the schedule for an event (walk in the park, trip to the zoo, a class, some other activity, or just a fun outing) It sounds like fun !! Here's our first official PIC, and the woman who took our picture for us, HA !
If you have a cool suggestion for us, just email me @ sanso46@yahoo.com
thanks, Sandy

Joe Biden comes to MEHLVILLE HIGH !!

Joe Biden will be coming to MEHLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL !!!

Joe Biden will be there for an open forum discussion on Tuesday, September 9th. The assembly is open to the public... LOOK for the coverage on the news Tuesday Evening.... YEAH, JOE, and BARACK !! Here's hoping people are listening to your wonderful message, and will elect the two of you in November, to set our country on a better path !!!
I will try and leave a link for your informational website-- take a look !!

http://www.biden.senate.gov

What a Game !!! Fantastic !! Full of energy and electricity in the air ...
First we went to a MIZ ZOU party at the Maulin's, and then the game later in the evening...
We had excellent seats, and during half time, our son Ted got us passes to go onto the field, and we loved it !!!
By the way, we saw over 90 points scored, and the Missouri University Tigers defeated the fighting Illini !!! A very close and exciting game !!