MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL. . .

I LOVE CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.  WE ALWAYS GO OUT FULL FORCE IN OUR DECORATING.  ALAS, WE HAD NO ONE TO HELP US THIS YEAR, SO RON AND I STARTED ON MONDAY, AND FINISHED FRIDAY MORNING.  HERE'S A LITTLE TOUR OF OUR HOUSE AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

WE'LL START IN THE LIVING ROOM. . .

THIS IS PART OF OUR CHRISTMAS VILLAGE, IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3-TABLE DISPLAY

THIS IS THE RIGHT HAND

SIDE OF THE VILLAGE. ..

THE RIGHT END OF THE TABLE--HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.  THE HOUSE TELLS "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AS EACH ROOM LIGHTS UP. THE TREE NEXT TO IT HAS A VILLAGE, SKATERS, SNOWMEN, ETC WINDING UP TO THE TOP.

THE NATIVITIES OCCUPY THE LEFT END OF THE TABLE.  ABOVE THE DISPLAY, THE WINDOWS ARE DECORATED WITH ICICYCLE WHITE LIGHTS.

NOTHING SAYS CHRISTMAS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE--THIS ONE IS DONE IN BLUE AND SILVER AND IS IN THE CORNER OF THE LR

THE NUTCRACKERS AND SNOWMEN MAKE THE TRANSITION INTO THE DINING ROOM. .

THIS IS  ONE OF MY FAVORITES ON DISPLAY IN THE DINING ROOM--OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS TO GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE WE GO. . . .

THIS IS IN THE KITCHEN--SANTAS ON TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE STOVE.

THIS IS THE DISPLAY IN THE FAMILY ROOM--AND THE LITTLE KIDS ARE WELCOME TO PLAY ANYTHING IN THE FR

OF COURSE, MOTHER NATURE DID SOME DECORATING OF  HER OWN.  THE DOVES ARE HIDING UNDER THE TREE TO FIND SAFETY FROM THE WIND AND SNOW

I HAVE LEFT A FEW THINGS OUT--LIKE THE CANDLE DISPLAY AND THE POINSETTA ON THE DINING ROOM TABLE AND THE DECORATIONS ON THE TOP OF THE PIANO, BUT THIS IS GETTING PRETTY LONG AND YOU ARE PROBABLY BORED.  SO, I WILL JUST SAY--MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SEASON AS MUCH AS I DO!

A little Lift

Well, after being down for so long, and Ron being down, too, it was getting a little gloomy around here.  But, last weekend Randy and Trampis came to stay after a football game, and Ky, Kres and Beckham dropped in for a surprise visit!!  I was so happy to have everyone here for a short time.  Trampis and Randy did quite a bit of work around the place in the way of winterizing; and of course, Kres had to help.

                              Trampis isn't real comfortable holding babies, but Beckham didn't realize it!

                  Randy and Kres experimented with how high you can build a block tower before it falls over!

                                         Beckham, in the meantime, was exploring new foods!

Then the work began.  Trampis and Kres helped Randy put some summer things in the barn loft for winter storage.

                             Putting the 4-wheelers away for the winter was a fun job for Kres and Randy. 

                               Kres found an elk shed that was a little too hard for a little boy to handle!

                                                          ..So Randy helped him out!

                                                    Riding the saddles was an OK job, too.

                                          Bekham had plenty of time to explore in the familly room!

                                                      Beckham is so cute and sweet!

Putting the last touches on the clean up--Kres explores one more time.  All in all, it was a great weekend.   Thanks for dropping in, Ky and helping me in the house, and Thanks to Trampis and Randy for helping so much outside!    we love you all!

Fun Healthy Eating

Recentlyl, Ron and I decided to embark on a healthy eating life--quite different for us.  So, I count carbs and calories and try to go for a healthy balance  (I feel like a hospital cook, because I weigh and measure everything :))In the following recipes I will be showing you, when I refer to milk, sour cream cheese, cottage cheese, etc, it is always low fat.   Here are a few things we have tried and enjoyed.

I began by stealing Krissy's Light Meals cookbook from Taste of Home, and using my Fix it and Forget it Lightly crock pot cookbook.  Both are excellent sorces for healthy recipes.

for Chhili Mac Casserole, measure one cup of elbow macaronni or small shells, cook it and set it aside.

Brown 2 lb lean ground beef, onion and garlic.  Add 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can kidney beans, drained; 1 small tomato sauce, 1 small can green chilis, 1 teas salt, 1 teas chili powder, 1/2 teas pepper.  Now add the cooked macaroni.  Transfer to a large pan or casserole dish, bake for 30 min, top with 2 cups low fat cheese and bake 5 min longer.  One 1 cup serving has 343 calories and it is delicious.   I served it with green salad with low fat dressing mixed in and a sugar-free orange jello with mandarin oranges and cool whil mixed in.

Take the left overs from the dish above, add chicken broth--1 or 2 cans, depending on how many leftovers, and it makes a great soup!!  I served it with a slice of fresh homemade whole wheat bread and 1/2 an apple.

This was very good if you like Chinese food.  I sautaed 1 cup celery, 1 cup sliced onion, 1 lb package of bean sprouts, 1 small can mushrooms, 2 handfulls of frozen mixed vegies untilk limp but still crisp in canola oil.  I then added 1 can chicken broth, mixed with 2 TBS corn starch while cold and 1 TBS soy sauce and 1TB honey.  I then added some left over roast pork--but y ou can use any leftover meat you want to, or canned meat or shrimp.   I served on 3/4 cup canned Chinese hard noodles.  I served it with sugar-free jello made with 1 small can no-sugar added fruit.  It was yummy!

Brown 1 lb hamburger, add 1 TBS flower and 1 cup milk, 1 cup of frozen vegies (I used mixed)  Serve as a gravy over 3/4 cup instant mashed potatoes.  Serve with no-sugar-added applesauce and coleslaw with tomatoes and a light mayonais dessing.

This is the leftovers from above, served on 3/4 cup spiral noodles, coleslaw and applesauce with cinnamon, 1 TBS chopped walnuts and 1/8 cup raisens

Start with 1 cup fat free sour cream, add 2 teas lemon pepper and 1 teas dill.  smear a little of the sour cream in the bottom of the crockpot, add 2 boneless-skinless chicken breasts and put the rest of the sour cream on top the chicken.  cook on high for 2 1/2 hours, serve with 1 cup winter squash and sf jello.  Even Ron liked this one, and he doesn't like sour cream!

This is 3 oz salmon fillet cooked in 1 teas canola or olive oil, 1 cup winter squash, 1 cup spinich and 1 purchased dessert cake topped with 1/2 cup splenda sweetened rasberries and a dolup of cool whip!

We have enjoyed other yummy things, like ginger beef served on rice noodles, vegetable beef soup, and a 4 oz steak served with a ww english muffin and green salad with 1 TBS thousand Island Dressing.,

Hope you have enjoyed these menus and had a glimpse into our new healthy-eating plan.   It's actually kind of fun!!

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE!

I decided, in honor of NBM (National  Blogger's Month), :)  I would do a flashback post.  This takes us back to September of 1983. 

This picture takes us back to 1983.  My friend, Eileen Furguson (on the left) and I (right) were stay-at-home moms trying to think of ways to make a little extra money.   I had 5 kids and she had 3.  So, we decided to dress up like clowns and sell balloons during the Pendleton Roundup.   Here were are, all ready for the big parade.   We each carried 50 balloons, and we made Randy into a clown, too, tied 50 balloons to his suspenders (much to his chagrin), and we all went along with the parade sellling the balloons.  The idea was, when we had sold ours, we would take Randy's and then send him on ahead to where we stashed our helium tank to blow up more balloons.   About a block into the parade, Eileen sold her first balloon; and, not remembering that she was holding 49 other balloons, reached into her pocket to get change, and away they went.  The crowd loved it--but we weren't too happy.   We quickly untied Randy's balloons and sent him on ahead.  Twice during the parade, I was approached by carnival people who informed me the parade was exclusively their territory and we should get lost!   Well, we had bought a liscense from city hall, so we knew we were ok!  After the parade, we sold balloons near the entrance to the Round Up.  We did pretty good--2 parades and 2 days of selling before the show, losing 50 balloons and paying for them and a helium tank, we each netted a little over $800--and the balloons were sold for $50 a piece.   We were pretty successful, but we had bought 3000 balloons and had some left over, so we went to Ellensburg, Washington and did the same for their big Round-up!  Can you even imagine--ME as a CLOWN!!  It was fun!

Other happenings around the same time:  (From my journal) 

Kim went off to BYU.  She didn't really want to go, but she wanted to be there (if only she could take her family!)  A lot of tears were shed by Kim, me, Ky and Krissy!!

We have a Lamenite foster child this year--Craig Tapaha, from Wolf Point Montana.  This opens a new chapter in our lives!

No school today--it was declared a National Day of Morning in honor of the Korean jet that was shot down over Russia.

Ron had surgery to have a rather large tumor removed from his nasal cavity.  It was so big they had to break his nose to get it out!   Thank goodness it wasn't cancerous!

Robert is doing well in school and is the manager of the 9th grade basketball team--something he really enjoys!  He enjoys lots of friends and has a good social life.

Randy is determined to be a good athlete.  He was a starter on the 7th grade football team, and is on the traveling basketball team.  He is also 4th chair trumpet in the band.

Kylene loves school--she finished the 3rd grade math book in 1/2 a year and is now in the 4th grade book!

Krissy loves school and is doing well.   She has a special kind of personality and is full of self-esteem!! 

Mom's estate is finally settled, and we will receive $132 a month for 10 years! 

I am substituting a little and enjoying being a mom!

Hope you enjoyed my flashback!

How to Survive Back Surgery 101

I just had my 14th surgery, and that's 14 too many!  Someone said, "You could write a book" . .  .so, here goes.   You can make surviving back surgery (or any surgery for that matter), by planning ahead.

believe it or not, a small incision can cause a lot of painYou'll need a few good books

. . .a few mmindless-reading magazines

a phone, a remote for the light switch, a paging system, and, sadly, a barph pan : (

You'll need a cane and a devise to pick things up off the floor--because when you can't bend, lift or twist, you drop everything. . .

Don't forget someone or something to keep you company. . .

. . .a computer and Sudku book are necessities.  .

You definitely need pain pills, pills for muscle spasms, and anti-inflammatory pills. . .

Ice packs--more than one, because you will definitely forget to put them back in the freezer. . .

A TV, with lots of good programs DVR'd to waatch during the wee hours of the night when you are iceing your back--

And, of course, tape and gauze to protect the incision, and plastic bags to tape over it when you shower...

Don't forget the high-fiber snacks to get the bodily functions moving. . .

A couple of good caregivers are essential. . .

After all of this, you should be pretty well set.   Then be patient.  It's been three weeks, and I am still  using all of the above, waiting and hoping for the day the pain goes away and all is well.   But, in spite of all the planning, I forgot one thing....CANDLES---the power went out yesterday from 2 pm until 9:30 pm.   It's really weird to be in the house with no power but candles, and you don't feel like getting dressed and going someplace and the house gets darker and colder and darker and colder--until, finallly a truck shows up at the power pole across from the house, you see sparks flying from the top of the pole and . . .at least it gives you something to do when all else fails.   Well, hope you learned a little about surviving surgery--I'm still in that mode and hope to be feeling a lot better soon!

Mm hw R U

Wednesday, Oct 14

Mm hw R u?

doing pretty good--not as much pain.   Went for a walk

Thursday, Oct 15

M hw R U?

bttr wnt 4 3 wlks & only tk 3 pn plls

Friday, Oct 16
Mm whre r U?

stl at Krissys--cnt travl untl seing dr on 20th

Fri, Oct 16
M hw r U?

Things I dd tday:
sm lndry, 2 wlks, md bred, but K got out mxr, flr,etc, tk lng np, 3 pn pls,
evryon lving to move cws at strky--ht being alone--MKS LNG EVNING

Satruday, Oct 17 

Mm hw r u?
ALN E!  TK WLK, TK SHWR BY MSELF, AM DOING SDOKU PZLS NOW, MRE PAIN--TK PL AND TK NP.  HOPE u R AL HVING GD WKEND AND EVRYON S OVR BEING SCK.  LV 2 ALL
MOM

Random Thoughts . . .

I am addicted to frosted animal cookies ! : (

Cats are sooooo worth knowing. . .

1/3 off is not the same as 30% off on the sales rack. . .

Music I can play makes me happy....I am so grateful to my dad for insisting his girls play the piano, encourageing me when I was learning the clarinet, and supporting me through my determination to take organ lessons.   He's the reason music has been such an important part of my life.   Playing your own music soothes the soul!

How dull life would be without the ability to be creative!

I have been fortunate in my life to be able to develop and use some of my talents!

I love the fall season, and winter squash!

I hate being unable to do something--whatever it is and for whatever reason. . .

Cell  phones are both a curse and a blessing!

Gooy, rich desserts are EVIL!

I love the temple and what I learn there--it gives me direction in life.

I have been blessed with great kids and grandkids!

I always wanted to be able to sing and ride a horse.

I am tired of "standing around" all day, and being unable to sit for more than 10 minutes without hurting!

I have a list of good books to read--thanks to Kim and goodreads.com!

I'm reading a book about a guy who sees and communiates with ghosts, zombies, and spirits of every kind.  Are you surprised?   I am, too!  But, it's pretty good.  (it's fiction)  I'm going to read Carol's recommended 6 books next. . .

I ordered a Hoover Steam Vac Duel 5 from Costo for $149 and free shipping.   I checked it out on Sears (they were having a big sale) and the sale price was $229.   Did I get a bargain or what?
I hope it's user friendly! (and gets the carpets clean)! 

Old age brings a sense of peace,a sense of worthlessness, a sense of accomplishment, a sense of sadness, a sense of joy in watching your kids as adults and their kids accomplishing because they are good parents, a sense of fear. . .

WOE IS ME/RON'S A SAINT!!

Since the Family Reunion, I have been SUFFERING from a pinched/inflamed siatic nerve. In case you are wondering what suffering means, invision, and try to imagine, someone stabbing your left hip with a big knife, then twisting it and pulling it down your leg! Then imagine not being able to sit or lay without intense pain. After standing most of the day, or leaning against a wall standing only on your right leg, imagine how good it would feel to finally go to bed. Relief at last----but, then you have to get u p in the morning, which creates more pain than you can ever imagine in your left leg, to the point that it causes you to weep uncontrollably! Well, that's how you suffer with siatic nerve pain. So, I have been receiving chiropractic help. Then one day, we thought maybe we could use the stretching devise Ron has for his back. So, he strapped me in one Sunday night--object, to stretch the back and maybe unpinch the nerve. So, here I am:

The devise stretches the back for 10 minutes, you rest for 10 and repeat 3 times. It didn't hurt at all UNTIL--I had to get up. My back went into spasms, I couldn't move, and the pain was so intense I actually went into shock. I was so cold, shivering uncontrollably, and sobbing! Now, here's part of why Ron's a SAINT. He helped me lay down, got me a warm quilt, propped my feet up and stayed with me until things calmed down. Then I fell asleep for 5 hours. then he helped me to a lower bed, got me comfortable. and watched over me while I slept 8 more hours!! SINCE THEN (going on 2 weeks now), He has to help me get out of bed and get moving, while I cry from the pain, he has to help me shower, dress, and do whatever else has to be done. He even lets me hang onto his arm in public!!!! (he hates public affection--is that a Waite thing?)

Last Friday and today I went to see Dr Alan Waite, and already I feel better. But, I have a long way to go. So, woe is me, and thanks to Ron for being the best husband ever, and a saint!!

THE LAST WORD OF SUMMER. . .

In our adventures this summer, we discovered a scrapbook store in a little cottage in the country. It was adorable inside and out. But, this place had a couple of extra perks--like a swing and lots of animals. The kids loved going there. Cynjyn and Kres enjoyed the swing.

Then they discovered the miniature donkeys. Here's a new-born, as cute as can be!

Not only is the baby adorable, but his spotted mama is kind of unusual, too!

Here's a potrait of the little guy (or girl)? Adorable

Well--back to the family reunion. Kres has a look of terror on his face because Taz liked to put him on the little cart and speed down the entire, empty gathering hall. The face tells the story!

This all took place before other people arrived. Needless to say, we put it away before the other kids could discover the fun! The hall was then filled with tables and chairs.

Here we have some adults relaxing in the kitchen, while . . . .

Kresimir and Cynjyn did the dishes!!

and Trampis tried to beat Randy at a game of ping pong in the game room!

During the summer, Kim and Beckham really bonded! They had a true love for one-another!

Well, you know how mixed up I always am--these kittens were playing under the porch at the scrapbook store.

Taz, Beckham and Kres liked to snuggle in the big chair under the quilt Taz made for himself.

It amazes me how well these two can do puzzles. All of Kim's kids are good at puzzles, and it seems Kres has inherited the talent, too. Here they tackle a floor-sized dinasaur puzzle. I don't think the other grandkids enjoy them quite as much!

Kres looked quite satisfied with the whole summer!

I accidently loaded this picture--don't ask me how! But, what's cuter than a little boy contemplating a mud puddle?