Sisters

I want to introduce you to my sisters.  This is a continuation of yesterday's post.


This is my oldest sister.  She was a school teacher, then owned her own parking lot maintenance business, now retired she works on improving her mountain home, and pursues her favorite past time--fishing.







This is my middle sister.  She contracted polio at two years old, and spent the next 8 years in and out of hospitals. Although she had severe physical disabilities, she lived life full. She was pursuing an education that would lead to employment as a UN French enterpretuer. Her funeral was a celebration of her life. The college choir sang "When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be"


This is my baby sister. She was smart and talented.  Piano and guitar made beautiful music under her fingers. She is a nurse, a unique woman.




Each of my sisters are special, each have special talents and abilities, and I am truly thankful that God brought them into my life.

Brothers

I was the oldest of seven children, I have three brothers and three sisters.  My folks had the formula for a balanced family--birth order--me, two years later brother, two years later sister, then brother, then sister, then brother, then sister, then brother. Today I am thankful for my brothers!

 Oldest brother--cowboy, then insurance executive, then cowboy--loves to hunt and bake bread--perfect loaves of all kinds, oil painter in the tradition of Grandma Moses.




Middle brother--ex Navy, lumberjack, landscape business owner before he retired, grill master, air brush artist.





Baby brother--Arena riding horseman, business executive, excellent gourmet cook, watercolor artist.




Each is so individual but special.  Each has added so much to my life.

Pumpkin Peace Pipe Pie

My mother-in-law, a Minnesota farmer's wife, had an amazing collection of unusual recipes--some of them top secret.  But she did share this Thanksgiving Pie recipe with me.  It is made with ice cream.  How good is that?

Pumpkin Peace Pipe Pie

For the crust, I used Cinnamon Graham crackers, 2 packs

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

Pulse in food processor until crumbs are finely crushed, and butter is blended.

Press into pie pan, I used 10 inch, if using smaller size, save extra crumbs for another time.  Chill

Combine 16 oz. canned pumpkin

1-1/2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix well then add--

16 oz whipped cream or Cool Whip topping

Soften 1 quart vanilla ice cream and fill pie crust half full

Finish filling with pumpkin mixture

Freeze about 4 hours

For garnish, In heavy pan caramelize 1 cup slivered almonds with

1/4 cup sugar over high heat--Don't take your eyes off them

Stir constantly, when sugar melts they will brown in just a few seconds.  Cool on foil.

Freeze until about an hour before serving.  Decorate top of pie just before serving with addition Cool Whip, or whipped cream, and almonds.

This pie will be gone in a minute.  So cut yourself a little piece, and enjoy

On This day of Thanks

Last week I watched my little grandkids while their folks were at work.  We decided to make a tablecloth for their mom for Thanksgiving.  So after a quick trip to JoAnn's for some wide muslin, the 5 year old got busy.  Brother wasn't feeling well, so he opted out of the project.  The imagination and excitement that went into the tablecloth!!  After is was finished, she asked if she could write her name on it.  I suggested she also put the year.  Notice the backwards "2's"  I was going to correct her, but thought better of it.  This is her art work.  PS  I did draw the legs.

So on this day of thanks, I am thankful for so many things, but at the top of the list is the creativity and joy of a child.

Off We Go

I have been so fortunate to be able to travel.  After college in Denver, I lived in France for three years.  While I was married (an Air Force wife), we moved almost every couple of years.  Every place had its attractions and highlights. In the past four years, I have been able to take a vacation every year.  I love planning, assembling all the highlights, and charting the route. 

Oregon fall color

My first vacation in later years was to visit my daughter in Oregon, with side visits to see my brothers and sister.

Me horseback riding in the Yukon

Yup, that me

The following year, my Prescott daughter took me on an Alaskan cruise.  We saw glaciers, wild life, and went horseback riding in the Yukon.

Alaskan glaciers

Old Faithful geyser

Then I retired, so I went on a month long road trip.  I went site-seeing and visiting family that took me through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, and then home.  It was so fun to be able to drive by myself, and stop where I wanted and see whatever caught my fancy.

Goodbye Oregon, Hello Cali

Then last year I traveled to Hawaii for my daughter's wedding. We spent 2 weeks on Kauai, and 10 days on the Big Island.  I saw so many special things.

Sunset in Kauai

So I am thankful that I have had this chance to travel.  Not bad for a timid mountain girl from Wyoming who never imagined that one day she would see all those far away places she had dreamed about.

*****

Now Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Let's start with something controversial...dressing or stuffing? What's it called at your house and what's included in your recipe...cornbread? oysters? sausage? chestnuts?

If its from the turkey it's stuffing, if cooked outside the bird, it's dressing.  I like to make mine with cornbread, sage sausage, and oysters, But usually have to leave out the oysters--the kids say they are yucky.

2. Who do you sometimes compare yourself to?

I'd like to compare myself to my mother.  She was such a good role model, but I'm not even close.  In actuality, it would be more like Pig Pen.  I am so bad at putting stuff away.  That's what happens when you live by yourself (my excuse)

3. When were you last inside an airport?

This summer when I returned from Hawaii for my daughter's wedding.

4. What is one side dish that absolutely must be included in a turkey dinner?

Mashed potatoes and gravy, yum!

5. What Christmas song do you dread hearing?

"Hear comes Santa Claus" It is so far from the true meaning of Christmas!

6. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money 'in a tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round?

I don't give money to individuals, but I sometimes have gift cards to a grocery store (excludes cigarettes and beer), or gift cards to McDonald's that I will give to the less fortunate.  I do donate money to the Salvation Army bell ringers, and adopt a boy and girl from the Christmas Angel trees.  I also fill shoe boxes for  Samaritan's Purse.

7. Share a favorite Thanksgiving memory. If you live in a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving share a favorite memory associated with food.

All my Thanksgivings with family are memorable.  Growing up we didn't have the traditional meal, we just couldn't afford it, instead we might have a nice elk steak with trimmings from our garden, but we had much to be thankful for.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I just mailed a birthday gift to my friend in Colorado.  I couldn't believe how much the postage was!  The box was a foot cube, and it wasn't that heavy. Glad all my other mailables are small.