Scribble Picnic–Fairy

     I don’t often draw human (or "fairy"!) figures, but had to give it a try with this week’s Scribble Picnic theme.  I started with a couple of sketches as seen on the right below.  Our daughter-in-law chose a Tinker Bell theme for the nursery when our oldest granddaughter was born, so I switched to using the leftover material from making curtains for my fairy inspiration.  I debated staying with regular pencil, but decided T. Bell would be more recognizable in color.  (Note to self–get some quality colored pencils ordered!)  You can see the fairies others chose to draw by clicking on the links at this page.  I hated missing last week’s Lantern theme, but we took a trip to see some of the grandkids for a few days, then went on to spend several more days “touristing” in central and north central Oklahoma.  We quite often take a short trip of some kind in March, our anniversary month.  This year marks 34!

C–is for Corn Flakes Candy, Cantata and Christmas

Mixed up some Corn Flakes Candy this afternoon.  So simple!

Combine 1 cup corn syrup and 1 cup brown sugar in a 3-quart saucepan.  Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture bubbles.  Remove from heat.  Stir in 1 cup peanut butter and 6 cups corn flakes until well coated.  Drop by teaspoons on waxed paper.  Or, press into well-buttered 9 x 13 pan and cool until firm before cutting.

I usually make some for Christmas, but we had plenty of other sweets around, so didn't this time.

Christmas–that's my second favorite holiday (after Easter).

In a way, Christmas always begins in October for me, as that is when rehearsals for the community Christmas cantata begin.  I’ve missed a few years, maybe more than a few, but have usually sung in it over the past thirty-eight years!  I had an uncle who taught music here one year in the early 1960s, and apparently he was instrumental in getting the annual event started.  What a joy it is to sing about the birth of Jesus, the real meaning of Christmas!

Our traditional Christmas Eve soup and gifts with Benny’s side of the family was at his sister’s, just up the road.

Usually we go to a Christmas Eve candlelight service, but since Christmas was on Sunday, the Lutheran church (which we attended until a few years ago) had a Julotta (Christmas, just before dawn) candlelight service we went to instead.  Then we went to our Berean church's Christmas Day service.  Had a non-tradtional Christmas Day dinner here of crockpot BBQ pork ribs, followed by a relaxing day of nothing in particular.

Midweek my side of the family gathered for our WWW Christmas, always fun and filled with laughter, food, games (always Nerts), gifts, traditions and memories.

This would be our three (so far) grandkids!

Some of the immediate family was able to stay the entire week. Then we celebrated Christmas again with all the immediate family on New Year's Day!

Blessed, blessed, blessed!

We Have New Names!

As of June 4, thanks to the arrival of Andrew Michael, Benny and I have new names.  We are now Gram E. and Grampa!

  

 

We Interrupt this Blog Break...

.....with an actual post!  My apologies for not getting back to the Alaska trip coverage.  Hopefully that can resume at a later date.

Since November, my thoughts have been more focused on a different topic--weddings! : )  Yes, plural!

T and J announced their engagement in November!

M and B announced their engagement in December!

Oh dear, I may have to break down and start using actual names on my blog, or we'll all be totally confused.  : )  It won't even work to use last name initials, as those overlap with some of our first name initials!  Yep, I think it may be time.

So.......

Matthew (our oldest) and Brittany will be married in Louisiana, where she is from, the beginning of May!

Trina (our youngest) and Josh's wedding will be here, at our home church, the end of June.

Meanwhile, in January, Kelsey (our second born) and Adam bought their first house, an older farmhouse, that they are so happy to call theirs!  That meant the fun of helping with their move.  (Really, it was fun!)  Of course Benny and I realized there will be two more moves to help with later in the year, so guess we were just getting practiced up!

 (taken at annual New Year's Eve party, this year at Other Farming Couple's home)

Final Hint--a REALLY BIG one!

If you checked in on my previous post, http://joeks55.blogspot.com/2011/10/big-hint.html , or a few of posts ago, http://joeks55.blogspot.com/2011/09/some-questions-some-answers.html ,  then you know I've been leaving hints about where B and I went on vacation in August. 

This is the final hint.  I'd say that it's a REALLY BIG one.  (hint, hint)

Next time I'll reveal where we went.

Spring Hodge-Podge

It was fun to see these colorful train engines one day.

A pastor from Papua New Guinea visited our area. M, B, and our pastor showed him around. He enjoyed seeing a Kansas farm first-hand.

Pastor C takes a break!
This is taken at Alcove Springs, a stop along the Oregon Trail.
They also took him to the dairy where T used to work, checked out the calves, and helped with the milking!

Then it was back to our place for kite flying and our first picnic of the year!
Another Spring day in April the director of a day care in a nearby town asked M to come over and fly kites with the kids. Good thing B, B's sister K, and I went along to help. They've mostly gone back inside now, but there were bunches of kids who tried their hands at flying kites!

We celebrated Easter at K and A's, their first time hosting family for a holiday. They did a fine job!

A trunk back of the van full of Spring!

Sarah Circle handed out the pansies after church for May Day gifts.

Yes, though it took its sweet time getting here, Spring has sprung!

A Quest, or Four

I took part in the Kansas Senior Spelling Bee again this year. The sign that greeted us made us smile!


Unfortunately, I didn't make it out of the written round.

But my "Quests" were great support anyway.Thanks for being there K, A, Mom and B.
Maybe next year I can make it to the oral rounds once more!

Miscellaneous Winter Pictures

A couple of weeks ago, someone told me it was Spring! What? I didn't get any pictures from winter posted! So, without further ado, this past winter included.....

A caroling party
Celebrating Christmas (A, K, T, and M)
Gathering with family
A new game... ...or two
Starting the New Year out on the right foot
A little snow and a lot of cold

The basement walls finally getting some border, which we bought years ago, before border was "out of style." Isn't that right, Mom? ;)

A Swedish supper with church and neighborhood friends

And adding a "few" more miles to the van!
(if you enlarge the photo, you'll see that's five zeros after the two)

The Big Day

Time to finish posting about this wedding, don't you think?

(Thank you to my sister-in-law for the photos taken in the sanctuary.)

-Early morning at the church-
The hairdresser blessed us by coming there to save on extra trips into town!

-The girls-

-My two favorite girls and me-

-Filling in some extra time-

-The flower girl fixing a little snack before the ceremony-

-Pastor with B and my mom-

A's mom and I had the privilege of lighting the candles.

-The guys-

-Concentrating on their tasks-

-My dear B, with a serious job to do-

-Bubbles for the newlyweds!-

I just enjoyed the reception, so didn't take any photos of that. The hall was decorated beautifully with navy and bright pink, and included many fresh flowers from B's sister; my brother, P, did a great job of emceeing; everyone liked the photo booth; the food was delicious; and it was a fun, relaxed time with family and friends!

-Time for Mr. and Mrs. to leave the reception-

-But maybe not quite yet-

-At least not without a little help-

Best wishes, K & A, with prayers for a long and happy life together.
We love you!