Thanksgiving 2016

Thanksgiving was pretty quiet and a much smaller affair than in the past.  Shawn's family joined us, along with Wayne and EldaMae.  Everyone else went "hither and yon".  Dinner was good but just a different feeling in the air this year.  I made a yummy chocolate dessert that everyone said was better than chocolate pie by a long ways, so I think it will stay on the menu for next year, and the next, etc.  Brook brought along a Mad Libs game that we had fun with and the kids helped me "put up the tree".  They were so excited to help, forgetting that my tree is a small, tabletop ceramic tree that Gma Jennie painted many, many years ago.  We got out the nativity sets and they set them all up around that little tree.  I have Dad's too, in a box in the closet.  Mom made it years ago when he was in the nursing home and I have put it up in Brad's man cave a couple of times.  Not this year though.

The adult table set with linen, china, and silver.  Always so pretty.  Thanks, Mom!!

 Grandkids in the man cave.  Good kids.  Will do great things!!

My Christmas corner, all decorated thanks to helpful grandchildren.  Brenna, Cole, Evvie, and Dane helped set up the tree and nativities.  Bradey and Kenzie provided me with the two beautiful poinsettia plants from a FFA fundraiser.

Brad's 60th

We are always happy to celebrate our birthdays around here!!  That means we are still vertical and alive!!  Yea!!  Decided to take the lazy way out and do a no-host type of dinner at the Dude Ranch for Brad's 60th birthday.  It was a nice evening to have everyone together and, of course, we always miss the ones that can't join us.  Wayne and Shelia were visiting Pam in Portland. Verlin and Annette paid for our dinner which was very kind.  Thank you one and all for showing up and celebrating.  It was a nice evening.

Never disappointed at the "Dude"!!

A Little More 2015 Fall Fun

Hunting season is always a big thing around here.  We counted on game meat while raising our family and are now helping our grown families fill their permits.  It is really a family affair. I don't like Brad to go out alone, so it's usually a threesome with Mike and Bradey or a twosome with brother Verlin.  Shawn even joined in on the fun of elk hunting this year.

 Gpa Brad and Bradey washing out and cooling down a nice little buck.

 A yummy tradition.  A pot of beef stew waiting to warm up cold hunters.

It was a very good hunting season this year.  Brad filled his deer and elk tags.  Shawn filled his elk tag.  Verlin filled his elk tag.  Bradey filled his elk tag.  Mike filled his deer tag.  Lots of yummy meat in our freezers.  We do our own butchering so after cutting and wrapping all but Verlin's, we were tired of the process but grateful for the bounteous harvest.  We had to purchase a new freezer!!!

!!!HALLOWEEN!!!

I've always enjoyed Halloween -- the fun, friendly ghost type, not the bloody, spooky type.  Things change as the grandchildren grow, but we still enjoyed a couple of fun little (and big) visitors.

 Evvie (front and center) with her cute cousins came by in the atv.  It was a warm and beautiful day for trick or treaters.  Look at that pretty pink night sky!!

Kaylie and Kenzie visited too.  Pretty cute football players!!