Christmas and Babies

.

This is me with my first born baby, Keri.

Christmas and the birth of Mary's first born make me remember Keri's birth.

No, I did not wrap her in swaddling clothes and lay her in a manger, but she may or may not have spent a night or two in a cardboard box cradle.

Anyway, Mary the mother of Jesus experienced giving birth.  She had to change diapers, or whatever the Biblical equivalent of those were.  She nursed her baby.  She potty trained him.

I did those things for Keri.  Amazing to think of the parallels.

Now Keri has grown up, and much like Jesus she waited to begin her "ministry years" until she was about 30.  Since then her spiritual life has matured and blossomed into something truly beautiful.

A few minutes ago I found a post of her Christmas Story ponderings over on her blog.  It is worth the read, please go check it out and tell her I sent you.

I am so proud of this child of mine.

It's OK, I'm her mama, I'm allowed that kind of pride.
.
.

One Frag, Two Frag, Red Frag, Blue Frag

.
It's late and my creative juices have all dried up.

Maybe I have just enough creative mojo for a frag or two, so come on in.
.
.

* * * * * * * * * * * *  

.

.  
Just wondering.
When you participate in a linky party like FF,
Do you go around and comment on ALL the links,
Or do you wait and only comment on those
Who visit you first? 

Enquiring minds want to know.
.
.
* * * * * * * * * * * * 
.
.    

What a cute couple.

Of course I'm a bit biased - - - 

it's our son, Kelly,  and his wife, Cathy.

Stole the picture right off Cathy's google+

.

.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

.  

Isn't this cute?

My little cousin Andrea painted it.

I think I need to commission her to make me one.

.

.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

.  

Someone made all this mess on the tablecloth.

One person.

Mega-mess.

She shouldn't be taken out in public.

.

.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

.  

Have you ever had pickled green beans?

A jar full of garlicy, dilly, crunchy, goodness.

My cousin Doug made them.

.

.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

.  

Yesterday I sent an e-mail to Bret Bielema,

The Badger Football coach,

With a bit of "back seat" coaching

Advice for the Big Ten Championship game

In Indy Saturday night.

HE SENT ME AN E-MAIL BACK!!!

.

.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

.  

See these little 50's chicks?

One is Sister Pam and one is Keetha.

Can you tell which is which

And who is who?

.

.

My bloggy friend Podso sent me this photo.

She is on the far right.

Check out the bangs/hair.

Doesn't it look like we should be sisters?

.

.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

. 

 

A couple of weeks ago I went online

And bought a few of these as Christmas Presents.

Aren't they adorable?

No, they are NOT phones, they're tablets.

But they're STILL adorable.

Just the other day I looked them up again.

Sold out.

Man, I'm glad I took care of my Christmas

Online shopping EARLY this year!

 .

. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

.

If this face has the look of someone

Caught with their hand in the cookie Jar,

There's a good reason for that.

Only it wasn't the cookie jar,
It was the deviled egg platter.

.

.

And he didn't even do a very good job

Of covering his tracks, either.

.

.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

.

.

Recipe for yummy goodness:

   

Get one of these and - - -

.

.

Pop in one of these,

(This EXACT flavor)

Brew

.

Pour in some of this.

ENJOY!!!

(this is NOT a paid advertisement)

.

.

* * * * * * * * * * * *  

Thanks for joining me for these colorful frags.  

Now, please hurry on over to Mrs. 4444's place 

And see a whole rainbow of frags on display.    

.

.

.

Click this: Mrs 4444

.
.

To Weed or Not To Weed

.

I love blogging.

Besides watching college football and eating, it is my favorite hobby.  Fact is, I'm not sure WHICH of those three things I love best.

What I love "bestest" about blogging is finding new friends and making new connections - - - new threads to weave into the tapestry of life.

But let's be honest.  That "connection" doesn't happen with every blogger you run across in the universe-wide web.   Just as in real life friendships, the "bosom" ones are rare and far between.

Yes, I said bosom.

Some bloggers you run across in this wide universe and nearly instantly there is a click.  Before you know it you are weaving your bloggy threads together into a most satisfying and gorgeous tapestry.

Then others - - - uh - - - not so much.

I really do try to be selective about which blogs I decide to follow, because I take my following responsibility very seriously.

But IT happens all the time - - - you get a fun/funny/affirming comment from some new blogger, or you happen across a new blog which reaches out and grabs you in some way and you think, "now THIS is a blogger with whom I could tango."

Then, after a while you realize, 'Ummmmm - - - not so much, we're not even twisting!"

Now you have a blog-follow issue.  Your follow list is getting longer and longer but you are really only communicating with a handful.

We bloggers are a "heady" bunch - - - we NOTICE our follow numbers.  We throw a party over ever single NEW follower and go into weeks of mourning, including sack cloth and ashes, over every one lost.

Oh come on - - - admit it - - - that blog followers number is as big to the adult you as the whole popularity scale thing was to the pimply high school you.

So, from time to time, even knowing some poor bloggers WILL lose one of their coveted follower numbers, you just simply have to weed.

You go through your list.

You look for those you no longer recognize the blog name.

You check to see if the blog is even still in existence.

Then, with tears streaming down your cheeks for THEIR loss, you click to un-follow.

Yes, today was THAT day for me.

I put on my bloggy big girl panties and axed right through my "blogs I follow" list.

Sigh.


Graphic Credit:  shopify.com
 .
. 

Over the River and Through the Woods for Sunday in My City

.
.

On Thanksgiving Day we quite literally drove over the river (the Mighty Wisconsin) and through the woods to get to our family gathering.
.
. 

It was a sunny, warm, sepia-brown sort of a day.
.
.

We passed directly through the heart of cranberry country, which makes up much of this central portion of Wisconsin.
.
.

Water abounds in the flat marshy areas of cranberry country - in fact, that IS what MAKES it cranberry country.
.
.

We passed many a cranberry bog in many a marsh.   This is how those bogs look after harvest and waiting for their white overcoat of snow, which should be coming very soon.
.
.

Our destination was Cousin Doug's house nestled in the rolling hills of Tomah, Wisconsin.
.
.

I wish my camera lens didn't "flatten" the hill.   This is Doug's "sugar bush" where he harvests maple syrup come spring.
.
.

We gathered around the table - just five of us - with very grateful hearts.

I'm taking the picture.

Fisherhubby, ever the jokester, is pretending to hold my hand at my vacant place.

.

.

We filled our plates to overflowing with our version of holiday fare.

We are truly blessed.

.

.

Joining Unknown Mami

For Sundays in My City.

Today my city is Tomah, Wisconsin.

.

.

20,000 Frags Under the Sea

.
Don't worry, I PROMISE there won't be more than 19,999 frags in this post, nor will ANY of them be under the sea.

The title is a shameless hoax.

But, please come on in anyway and enjoy some weekly fraggin'.
.
.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

.    

Fisherhubby wanted me to take deviled eggs to our Thanksgiving feast, not sure WHY he is soooo enamored with my deviled eggs - - - but there you have it.

I saw some football deviled eggs over at the OTHER Keetha's blog.  Yes, there IS another Keetha, Virginia.

I thought I'd combine TWO of my loves in ONE batch of deviled eggs - - - food and football.  And I did it ALL for that other love of my life, Fisherhubby.
.
. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

. 

While we were spending our Thanksgiving up here in Wisconsin, this is how PART of our Indiana Family was spending the day down there.

Don't they look good?
.
.

Well, how about NOW!?!

I gotta admit it - - - this is my FAVORITE one.  I'm especially partial to the pencil mustache.

Too bad Peepaw has forgotten HOW to be silly.  ;-)
.
.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

.

.  

And while we were spending Thanksgiving here in Wisconsin, and Keri et al were spending Thanksgiving in Indiana, THIS portion of the fam was spending Thanksgiving in Northern Florida.

Cell phone picture texts are da bomb - no?
.
.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

.  

This is what Fisherhubby considers an appropriate way to "carve out" his pat of butter.

Did I ever mention that he's only 14????
.
.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

.  

We had a fairly hard freeze one night last week, and THIS is what "erupted" from the oriole feeder.

Not sure what cataclysmic forces caused it.
.
.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

.

.  

Fisherhubby won't TOUCH this stuff, and I'm glad 'cause then I can EAT IT ALL.   YUM.
.
.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

.

.  

Someone gave Daughter Keri this "King" mug for her birthday, and she shared it with me 'cause of my King collection.

She shared a PICTURE with me, NOT the mug!  ;-)
.
.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

.

.  

If one pulls their solar patio lights out of the ground, piles them on the back stoop, and leaves them there for oh, say three weeks or more, did you know they will still glow all night right in their pile?

Of COURSE I have no proof or other reason to KNOW this knowledge - - - I just know it by osmosis or something.
.
.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

.

.  

Up here on the usually frozen tundra, once DST ends it gets DARK really early.  When I took this clock picture at 6:33 pm, it looked like this outside:
.
.

Fisherhubby and I have noticed that once it gets dark, we begin to feel REALLY tired and ready for bed.

He will look across the room at me and say, "Is it midnight?"

I glance at the clock and say, "Nope - - - just 6:45."

It's a nightly occurence, and about THAT I kid you not.

.

.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

.

.

Thanks for joining me for these 20,000 (or less) frags.  Now, please hurry on over to Mrs. 4444's place and see all the other fine frags on display.    

.

.

.

Click this: Mrs 4444

.
.

Giving Thanks With a Grateful Heart

.
Many folks in blogland have been doing days and days of gratitude posts.

Not quite sure why I didn't jump in on that - - - but I do know for sure and certain that it WASN'T because I'm not grateful.

So blessed.

So much for which to be grateful.

Here are just a few - - -
.
.  

I am thankful for family.

Even for the son who does his BEST to torment and torture

His momma at every turn.

Yes, that WOULD be the son who delights

In removing the labels from the canned goods

In my pantry.

Son, you know who you are.

.

.

I am SO VERY THANKFUL

For this little sponge with 

Dish detergent in its handle.

Makes swishing dishes before 

Putting them in the dishwasher a breeze.

Oh, and my DISHWASHER.

For you I am TRULY grateful!!!!

.

. 

I am thankful that my breadbox (which I love)

Can do double duty as a recipe holder.

SCORE!

.

.

I'm so thankful for reusable refillable water bottles.

Just think of all the plastic that is NOT 

In the landfill because Fisherhubby and I

Use these puppies EVERY STINKIN' DAY.

Gotta love all the bright color too.

.

. 

I am thankful for black bears.

They give us HOURS of joy each summer

As we keep our eyes peeled trying to 

Spot one live and in the wild.

Sightings are RARE, so when we make one

We are giddy as school girls - - - 

Especially Fisherhubby

He loves getting in touch with his

Inner giddy school girl.

Besides, black bears give me something to collect.

.

.

Oh my goodness, I can't believe I didn't put THIS one first.

I AM SO VERY THANKFUL FOR FOOTBALL!!!!!

(Especially college football.)

I'm thankful that my dad started

Taking me to high school football games

When I was just an elementary school tot

And thereby instilled in me

A veritable LOVE of the game.

Right now, I'm VERY thankful that

Notre Dame, SIL-2's alma mater,

Is NUMBER ONE!!!!

.

.

I am thankful for these three vintage egg cups.

I had wanted some for a long time.

I'm afraid I may even have been coveting some.

Then I found these and brought them home.

.

.

I am thankful for bits and pieces of vintage nostalgia.

I think they help turn a house into a home

While at the same time reminding us of our 

Roots and our heritage.

.

. 

Oh my bloggy friends,

I am SO thankful that I NEVER

Have to use this washboard for it's intended use.

Just think, we COULD have been born

before the invention of the automatic washing machine.

Truth be told, I DO remember the old

Wringer washer variety.

.

.

I am thankful for this little stiff plastic dish scraper.

Makes getting those dried-on bits off 

SO MUCH EASIER.

You too can get one at your local Wally world.

.

.

And last but not least,

I am so very very very thankful and grateful

For Thanksgivings past

When we all lived within an hour radius

And could meet in the middle

For a day of togetherness.

Some of those pictured above

Are gone now,

But I am thankful for time well spent together 

And for the memories.

Yes BIL Joe, I'm even grateful to YOU

For throwing bits and pieces of rolled up napkin

All over my house, where I would find them for 

Weeks to come - - - 

Because it spiced up the day.

Now, to all of you I say:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

For what are you thankful today?

.

. 

Sooooooo Typical AKA Thanksgiving Prep Lists at the Broyles' House

.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL!!!

Here are our Thanksgiving prep lists at the Broyles' house - - - just for fun and giggles.
.
.  

Fisherhubby's Thanksgiving "prep" list
1)  Lie on couch and watch TV - CHECK
2)  Take a nap - CHECK
3)  Go to bow shop to try to sell old bow and tree stand so he can buy new ones - CHECK
4)  Take batteries out of the boat for the winter - CHECK
5)  Watch more TV - not yet
7)  Take another nap - not yet
6)  Eat supper provided on a plate and delivered right to the couch where he sits - not yet
.
. 

Keepie's Thanksgiving "prep" list
1)  Go to grocery store for Thanksgiving ingredients - CHECK
2)  Bake cranberry bread - CHECK
3)  Hard boil eggs for deviled eggs - CHECK
4)  Put boiled eggs in cold water to cool - CHECK
5)  Clean two bunches of fresh broccoli and chop it up - CHECK
6)  Steam two bunches of fresh chopped broccoli - CHECK
7)  Sautee onions for broccoli casserole - CHECK
8)  Chop water chestnuts for broccoli casserole - CHECK
9)  Put prepared broccoli, onion, and water chestnuts in the refrigerator, ready for putting the casserole together tomorrow morning - CHECK
10)  Thaw chicken for tonight's supper dish - CHECKing
11)  Peel eggs for deviled eggs - not yet
12)  Mash and mix deviled egg yolks - not yet
13)  Put deviled eggs together and refrigerate for tomorrow - not yet
14)  Boil spaghetti for tonight's casserole - not yet
15)  Simmer sauce for tonight's casserole - not yet
16)  Put together and bake tonight's casserole - not yet
17)  Deliver plate of supper to Fisherhubby while he sits on the couch watching TV - not yet
18)  Check e-mail and blog from time to time - CHECK

Here's hoping all of y'all have a joyous, thankful, Thanksgiving!!!
.
.