Thanksgiving

Yesterday started out like a normal day for me. I went to work like any normal day. The only thing different was that I would be getting paid extra money because it was a holiday. I actually could have had the day off. It's hard to pass up the hours when I'm getting paid more to be there! But people still fly as much on the actual holidays as any other day. It's amazing how full our flights were!
I had been invited to go to my friend Tina's house for dinner (at four or five o'clock)in the afternoon. She had recently moved into her house with my help along with some of my other friends. So she decided this would be the time to break in her kitchen with ALOT of cooking! She also invited her cousin and his family along with her Mom. We each brought something to contribute to the meal. I made an apple pie from scratch. Tina and her Mom pretty much made the main meal. Turkey, potatoes, stuffing and sweet potatoes. I made the gravy for them as they never had done that before. They really liked it too! (sniff, sniff, ....so proud!) Her cousin had brought over two casseroles. Needless to say, we ate too much!
After cleaning up the mess in the kitchen, Tina sent some leftovers with me to take home. I had no problem with that!
The holiday itself happened to be right in the middle of my normal work week so I hadn't planned on going anywhere out of town. I figured that I might as well work that day too. In the past years, I have worked a double shift. But I can tell that I'm getting older. My body doesn't like the sound of a double shift let alone actually working it! And typically I work on Christmas as well. But this year I plan on being in ND! I can't wait! It's been many years since I have! Dad and Beverly haven't been there in the winter except for last year as they had been traveling south with many other snow birds. However it will work out for me to have days off for almost a week. So I'm heading north to the frozen tundra!
I hope your holiday was as filling as mine was. I spoke to family after I got home from Tina's house. It was fun to hear about their respective days and how they ate too much!
I definitely have much to be thankful for. I've been healthy this year and am gainfully employed. I have a nice house to live in and two cats to keep me company when I'm actually at home. I also have great friends to hang out with whenever we come up with a reason to get together. And I have a wonderful family that I may not see as often as I like but we speak on the phone and that works for me in between visits. Don't forget to count your blessings as I'm sure you all have many things to be thankful for as well. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 8000 Calorie Poem

May your stuffing be tasty,

May your turkey be plump.

May your potatoes and gravy, have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious,

May your pies take the prize.

Any may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off of your thighs!!!

This skinny little fella is either running from the "oven" or he's demonstrating how to exercise!!! Hee Hee!!

I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends around you. I will actually be working until 2PM and then joining some friends that invited me to their house. Stay safe in your travels and eat lots!!!

Thanks for Sharing!

This is the time of year when all the pumpkins are harvested from the fields and you see them in virtually every grocery store in town. But since Halloween is over the prices have dropped on them. A few weeks ago I bought a smaller sized pumpkin with the intention of using it for some baking.
Yesterday I cut it open and cleaned out the seeds and strings. Then I halved it and placed it face down on a cookie sheet and baked it in the oven for approximately 45 minutes. Once it was done, I let it cool for awhile and then proceeded to strip the pumpkin shell away from the orange colored "meat" inside. It smelled a great deal like a fresh squash had just been served as part of a meal! I put it into a freezer safe container and put it into the freezer for safe keeping.

**Short story in this story**---During my trip to ND back in July, I brought back with me, most of my Moms' old cookbooks, the recipe card boxes that she used to use and pages filled with recipes, that had been torn from various magazines that used to grace the mailbox back in the day. The recipe card boxes are my most vivid memory of watching my Mom in the kitchen when she set about digging out a favorite recipe for whatever the occasion she needed to bake some goodies. For instance; a church bake sale, a funeral, Ladies Aide, etc. Perhaps she was preparing a dessert for some one's birthday in which many family members would get together. Or it could have been simply to stock the freezer with sweets in the event company would drop by unannounced. There are recipes in those boxes from Grandma Moberg and Grandma Roloff, our many Aunts, some neighbors, ladies from our church, just to name a few!

So, I knew I would find a good recipe for Pumpkin Bars in one of the two boxes that I now have in my possession. The first one I opened and searched through was a strike out. No fear, box number two was very close at hand. The very first recipe in the section marked "Bars and Cookies" was for Pumpkin Bars! Sweet! It happened to be from my Grandma Roloff too. And on the back it included her own recipe for the Cream Cheese frosting that is so common on Pumpkin Bars. Even better! **OK....now back to the other story.**

---2 days later.....


Today after I got home from work, I was in the mode to do some baking. The weather outside was quite chilly and overcast. What better day for heating up the oven?
I got my Grandma's recipe out and went to work. My Mom had hand written her own little notation that the recipe made enough to split into two pans. So I made them but used half of everything. I still used a cookie sheet and it spread out enough that the bars were quite thin. But still enough to eat! I then proceeded to make another batch (I had quite a bit of pumpkin to use up!) and used exactly what the recipe called for. It raised up a lot and made the bars nice and thick!
After they cooled, I made the home made Cream Cheese frosting. I was able to frost both pans with the one batch of frosting. Yummy! So now that I've teased you with this story, I'm going to share my Grandma's recipe with you. You'll love it!

Pumpkin Bars by Mary Roloff (my Grandma)

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup oil/olive oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 15 oz. can of pumpkin ( I used real pumpkin...same amount)

Mix this together in a large mixing bowl. Then sift together the following:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp each: ginger, cloves, nutmeg

Stir this together and add to the pumpkin mixture. Mix well and pour into a greased and floured pan. (I use a cookie sheet) Bake at *350 for 25-30 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 2 8 oz bars of softened cream cheese
• 3/4 stick of butter
• 1 tbsp cream or milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• About 4 cups powdered sugar

First cream together the first four items until soft. Then add the powdered sugar a little at a time until it's the right consistency for spreading. Enjoy!

It's almost Thanksgiving and I'm thankful I had Grandmothers that were awesome cooks! They in turn passed that talent on to my own Mom! Thanks to all of them for giving me some too!

I am taking part in another open house this weekend. I and the other consultants were all asked to bring 2 dozen cookies/bars. I will bring the Pumpkin Bars. Hopefully I haven't eaten them all before Sunday!

Annual Pumpkin Patch Outing

Each year around this time, a random day in October is picked out by our culture committee at work and it's designated for any Southwest employees and their families to go to our local (huge and getting bigger every year!) pumpkin patch, which is just to the west and outside of Omaha near Gretna.
We reserve a tent, arrange for hot dogs for roasting, chips and sodas, marshmallows for toasting and a bon fire. The employees that have signed up in advance are given tickets to get in free and have the option to either go anytime during that day at their convenience or be there when the meal will be available. The culture committee pays for the entrance into the pumpkin patch.
Vala's Pumpkin Patch is locally owned and welcomes visitors in from anywhere. There are literally hundreds of people that come and go each day that they are open during the month of October and even the latter part of September. They have so many activities to do ranging from walking through mildly haunted houses to petting farm animals, eating your favorite kettle corn or turkey leg to having a sit down meal or taking a hay rack ride out to the over sized pumpkin patch. You can even pick out the pumpkin of your liking to take home. There are all sorts of home made goodies.....jams and jellies, fudge, pumpkin bars and the like. You definitely would never starve. There are many locations spread around the entire patch where you can reserve a spot with a bon fire pit. In that case you would provide your own meals and bring it in with you. If you do like our big group does from work, then you reserve a tent in case of chilly weather or rain and let them bring the food to you! I remember having those rainy nights in the past where the tent was definitely a welcome shelter! It made for a muddy walk around the patch as well.
This year I went just before the meal would be delivered. It was still daylight and the temperature was right at 50*. The sun made it nice and warm until it set. Then the night air became instantly chilly! Before the sun went down I walked around the entire patch and snapped pictures of the main attractions. I wanted you to see just what we get to take part in. It's so fun and if you ever get to Omaha in the fall, it's a must see while you're in town.
Here are the pictures that I took....Enjoy!

Click any photo for a close up...

The main entrance gate.

The jumping pillows

Near the pedal carts

The sign on the depot where you take hay rack rides.

Inside the mines (fake of course!) See the sleeping bear with the dolly? They are fearful of waking the bear in their effort to rescue the doll! (inside all the buildings there are recorded voices of conversation as if the little figures are speaking to each other. That's how you know what's going on in each scene.)

the mining tracks

Goes without saying....

All the characters move along with the music that they are singing.

The Pigtucky Derby pig races track. Yes, they bring out two brothers that have conversation and interact with the audience. Jokes are told, etc. Then there are several little pigs that race around the track. Very cute!

Pumpkin Tee Pee

Kids can wander through and pet little bunnies.

See the skeletons trying to fix the old truck? One is inside trying to start it up after the one on the outside tweaks the engine. Steam comes out, the sounds of attempting to start it up, etc., are seen and heard. Funny!

Mums for sale....so colorful!

The goats cross over some of the walkways below to get between their little corrals.

Over-sized rocking chair. Notice the kids sitting on it. And check out the sign on the rocker!
(click the photo for a closeup)

One area where you can pick out your favorite pumpkin or gourd. They are all for sale.

The Bones Family band. The music is cute...

Their close up....

Trying to keep the machinery going....which by the way is a long way from running!

The Barnyard band....

The entire stage...

Here is the pumpkin chunker....it shoots them way out into a field.

A ghostly ship of pirates.

The Mum Maze......very pretty.

Some old pumpkin cider drinking fellows with their mustached dog.

A couple of clumsy fellows....one of which is falling off the ladder that's going up to the loft of the barn.

This is just one small area that you can reserve a section for your group that includes a bon fire.

And yet more pumpkins!

Pumpkin Creek Sawmill.

Calamity Jans Mining Supply (the owner is named Jan Vala).

You can tell just looking at the pictures which ones were taken early in the evening. This is something for the entire family to enjoy. I would love to have my nieces here to take them there sometime! I know they would love it!

Fall Festival of Crafts

Yesterday was a busy day for me. I participated in a craft fair that was held at one of the elementary schools, Westbrook Elementary. It started at 9 AM which meant I needed to be there by at least 8 AM in order to haul in and set up my things. I brought in my Tastefully Simple products which included some samples of Beer Bread, Gotta Lotta Garlic Salsa and other party samples which didn't need refrigeration. I also had pretzels and tortilla chips there for the sampling of all the dips. People loved it! I ended up getting 2 scheduled parties and 2 that really want to have one but couldn't figure out a date. One of the latter two wants to sign up to be a consultant! Whoo hoo! I had an order too so my day was a huge success! Many others took my card and that is the reason I was there. To get my name out there!
They provided lunch for us and it ended at 3 PM.

I had to take some pictures of my table after I had it set up. Because there was an aisle both behind and in front of my table, I made it easy for people to see what I had from either side. Here are some photos.....
(click each photo for a close up view)

My table from the back side....

Just some of my display.

From the front, the sample dishes.

The front of my table.

But my day wasn't done yet. I still had an actual party that night at 6 PM! Yep! More to do! I drove home, unpacked the craft fair things, repacked my party things and left an hour later for the hostesses house. It was a combo party with my friend Tammy and her Lia Sophia jewelry.

Once done with that I drove home, unloaded my vehicle and plopped down in my comfortable living room chair. I was past the point of exhausted! After watching part of a movie, I woke up about 1/2 an hour later and collapsed in my bed. Not a bad days work after all.

Helping People Breathe

Last month I was part of an open house along with my friend Tammy Champion. We held one together with her jewelry by Lia Sophia and I with my products from Tastefully Simple so that we could donate some funds to the Nebraska chapter of Cystic Fibrosis. When we decided to do this we were unaware of how much more would come of it. Apparently there was a short writeup in the Omaha World Herald about it. But we have no idea who put it in the paper. I haven't read it myself but Tammy has it for me.

Then after the all was said and done, we were invited to attend a benefit dinner as well for the same cause because of what we had done. It was an honor to be a part of such a great cause. Tammy's sister Debbie works at Bellevue University and they were the reason we got involved in the first place. We were invited by them to attend the benefit dinner. So she and her husband Steve and I and our mutual friend Trisa (my date) all went and joined Debbie and her family for the evening. The dress was business casual and dinner consisted of many restaurants from Omaha setting up small food stations in the huge ball room. Guests could mingle and eat the cuisine that suited their taste. Before dinner there was a silent auction of more than 60 items which included a gift basket that Tammy and I donated. She gave jewelry and I gave food products.

After the dinner was done there was also a live auction which brought in many more donations than the silent auction itself.

A special guest speaker attended. It was Trev Alberts. Trev Alberts was named the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Director of Athletics on April 29, 2009. One of the most decorated defensive players at the University of Nebraska Lincoln's Cornhusker history, Alberts became Nebraska's first Butkus Award winner in 1993, capping one of the finest seasons in history by an NU defensive player. As senior co-captain, Alberts led the Huskers to an undefeated regular season and an Orange Bowl appearance against Florida State.
Alberts was the fifth pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts and played for the Colts until 1996. He has served as an analyst on college and professional football games for major national networks.

This was extra special special to many Omaha people as they go crazy in this city for the Nebraska Cornhuskers! Another respected (well, sometimes!) person in attendance was the Mayor of Omaha, Jim Suttle. When we were getting ready to leave, he and his wife were standing by the entrance doors of the building. In fact, he opened the doors for us as we were exiting! So I asked to have a picture taken with him. He said, "Sure!" Tammy and Steve had a photo opportunity with him earlier inside the ballroom.

There was a dance afterwards which we didn't stay for. It happened to be Tammy's birthday yesterday as well. So we met a couple of other friends at Old Chicago later to celebrate that.

It was very rewarding to be a part of it all. I never knew much about Cystic Fibrosis but after hearing from some of the unlucky people that suffer from it, I'm more interested than ever before. They need volunteers to do anything you have time for. It's utterly amazing the strides that have been taken to help find a cure.

Here are just a few pictures that I had taken.

Mayor Jim Suttle of Omaha....with Me and Trisa Eastman.

Me and Tammy Champion with the basket of our products that we donated for the Silent Auction.

I learned something at this dinner as well. First of all, if you didn't know about it before, the symbol for CF is a rose. Here is how this came to be. Very touching.....

65 Roses is what some children with CF call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce.

Mary G. Weiss became a volunteer for the CF Foundation in 1965 after learning that her three little boys had CF. Her duty was to call every civic club, social and service organization seeking financial support for CF research. Mary's 4 year old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each call. After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his Mom, "I know what you are working for." Mary was dumbstruck because Richard did not know what she was doing, nor did he know that he had cystic fibrosis. With some trepidation, Mary posed the question, "What am I working for Richard?" "You are working for 65 Roses," he answered so sweetly. Mary was speechless. She went over to him and tenderly pressed his body to hers. He could not see the tears running down Mary's cheeks as she stammered, "Yes Richard, I'm working for 65 Roses."

Since 1965, the term "65 Roses" has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say does not make CF any easier to live with. The "65 Roses" story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

It's okay if you shed a tear while reading that little excerpt. I did.

From Mowing to Snowing

Wednesday, October 7TH was almost the perfect fall day. Temps were in the mid 70's, a light breeze was shuffling the fallen leaves through yards, and it was a clear sunny day. The previous days were chilly with rain so my grass had grown enough in the last 2 weeks that it was time to mow.
Once I got home from work, I went right to the task at hand. The grass was very plush and had a dark lush green color. One could have thought that it was July or August by the way it looked. Although I knew what the forecast of weather had in store for us here in Omaha, I never would have thought it would happen based on the weather we were currently having.
The coming weekend was calling for rain, freezing temps hovering around 27*-30*, and a possibility of snow. Yes, snow. In October. Snow. Here, in Omaha, in October. Calgon, take me away! Really? I couldn't remember snow falling in October prior to Halloween in the 14 years that I've lived here. But, they said on the TV that it would only be roughly ½ an inch to maybe an inch in some areas. Mainly on grass covered surfaces.
Today, I was fortunate enough to have the day off from work. Thankfully so! I woke up and looked outside. Guess what I saw? The "S" word! You got it. Snow! But it was nowhere near only an inch! Sheesh! I would wager a guess and say there was almost 4-5 inches. No less either. And the worst part of it all? It was still snowing very large, wet flakes!

My geranium that's still blooming! But now it's most likely in total shock! It looks neat though, with a dusting of the white stuff.

I still had flower pots out because the flowers were still doing well due to our mild weather that is typical of Nebraska at this time of year. I was in no hurry to get them emptied out. Little did I know that it would actually get so cold so early! I actually had an appointment for my sprinkler system today sometime before noon. They were going to blow the water lines out and prep them for winter. And they did too. In the snow. Water sprayed out over the top of the snow covered lawn as the sprinkler heads barely stuck up through the white stuff.
I scurried upstairs to grab my video camera and captured the proof. It was very fluffy the way it sat atop my deck railing and plants.

If this is any indication of what our Omaha winter is going to be like, is hibernation out of the question?

Here is the link to my video. For some unknown reason, I was unable to put the video directly into my post. It works this way too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QbkZCo_8OA