This has certainly been one for me.

I hope the new one holds a lot of Hope and the Best of the Future for All.

:)

What Do I want To Be When I Grow Up?

There were several things that I was interested in "being" when I reached Adulthood. The pre-requisite mother/housewife, a nurse, school teacher, singer...

I failed miserably at anything that I tried; but the person that I most wanted to be like was my Grandma Truitt. She was awesome!



Her favorite Saint was Mary, of course.





She was the picture of love and patience. She was also the most FUN person that I had ever met, as a child. I still miss her greatly even now as an adult. Whenever she was alive, I would think of her and she would call me on the telephone. If she was thinking of me, I would ring her. Without fail.

The best person ever!

I miss her so much. So much...

There are some folks who help me get by, though.



What do want to be when you grow up?

Discuss.

Pizza Night!

Tonight I made three pizzas. Two on home-made crusts, and one on *Bob*oli*.
I sent one with K., and made the other two for a friend who might arrive tonight or tomorrow night. Traveling from Delta, AK., I felt she deserved an adjusted ETA. I'll save her some, most definitely! We have a much anticipated "Girl's Night In!" waiting for us, mmm-hmmm!


I took this opportunity to test my photo skillz (which are sadly lacking!) and try to convey the awesome deliciousness of the dinner that will be available; even though it will have to be re-warmed.


Oh well; second day pizza is always great! :)

Enjoy!

Guess Who's Two?

That's right! My little lady-bug; Judith Evelyn Baber!

What a wonderful gift for me, to be a grama!

Thank you; Michele and Jason for the most wonderful grand-daughter I've ever had! ;)

I Love You All!

Grama.

This Must Mean...

It's time for chicken soup! If I were to make it like good ol' Mom; I'd just open up a can, but you all know--that's so not me! Even my intention to just assemble a simple soup mushroomed into something a bit more complex. What can I say; cooking is my therapy. I made some biscuits using a recipe from Diane's Place. MMMMMM-MMMMM!

I don't know about you; but when it's doing this outside,



it's a good day to make a mess of the kitchen!




First, I boil up a whole chicken. Then I cut up the available veggies, and saute and season them in my dutch oven.






Next, I strain the stock and add it to the veggies.




It turns out different everytime, but this method gets the job done!

Soup's on!

;)

Back in the Land of Darkness and Northern Lights

So, I returned to Alaska on Friday after a convoluted flight with delays and an extended lay-over with an unexpected hotel stay in Phoenix. Nice room; no clean undies or female sundry thingies. I know; TMI!!! Anyway; needless to say in addition to being sick the last four days of my trip with a chest cold, I can't think of a more crappy way to cap my visit home. I made it alive (barely) and in relatively one piece.

I have some pics from my trip and a few videos to share. I'll post those in the coming days.

It's great to see K. and very strange to find that Joey is truly gone. Knowing something in your mind and realising it in the heart are two different matters indeed. I've been a bit marney the last few days; still expect to see him sneaking up onto the bed, or practicing his "not begging" routine beside the dining room table; drooling all the while, not making eye-contact. There will never be another Joey.

As for seeing the kids and Judy-bug; I had a great visit! My, how quickly time flashes by. I'm getting so old. I still think that I'm in my late thirties, but my body is letting me know that I'm definitely nearing fifty. I am really going to start an exercise regimen this week. No waiting until the New Year. I want to be around for my great-grandkids! Can't do that without taking care of myself; besides I don't think that I'll survive the a**-chewing I will receive from my kids if I don't! ;)