Sisters

About five or so years ago Mellonee, Tara, and I went to New York City to visit Abbigale while she was working on her Masters Degree at Colombia University. We went to all the touristy things first then some other great places Abby knew about. It was early spring and it was cold. We had so much fun sleeping on Abbys bedroom floor and giggling all night' driving to Palmyra in New York traffic and then home again at night when none of us knew our way. That was not nearly as scary as having Abby point us to the subway with minimual directions. She was engaged to Rob at the time and was thinking a great deal about him. Nevertheless, she made sure that we got to see everything that we wanted to including Grand Central Station. We had so much fun that we decided to try to make Sisters an annual event - and we have. It was great this year as usual and it doesn't seem to matter where we go as long as we're together. I am so glad that I had daughters!!!

Re-connecting

Sometimes I feel like I am alone in the world. It is usually when I haven't seen my children for a while and Gale has been very busy, and I am tired or overwhelmed with something. But, when I have the opportunity to have my children and or grandchildren around me and hear their goals, the progress they have made, their giggles, hear them talk about the Lord I get connected again, and all is right with the world. I am so grateful for family whether near or far and I am grateful for the time in which we live where we are only a call, or text, or email away. As I continue my journey in Family history it re confirms that we are all a part of each other and to some extent dependent on one another. I remember hearing a quote about not being able to get to heaven by putting others down but by helping each other up.

Isn't it funny- the things that go through your head in the hours that you can't sleep in the middle of the night. Tonight I went to bed at 10:00 and I am still up at 3:00. I've thought about all my kids, the cleaning chores I need to do tomorrow, the places I have to be and how I am ever going to fit it all in. I've thought about the terrible economic mess we are in and what it is doing to dear friends and loved ones. I've even thought of recipes I want to try and about crafts I need to work on for the cabin. My mind should be mush but it just keeps running and thinking of new things to contemplate. I've thought about our wonderful body run by a brain that makes most computers look like toys. And a heart that just keeps plugging along. Wow aren't we amazing creatures. Maybe I am just tired but the human body is marvelous. So organized and functional it is nearly unbelieveable. Imagine what our bodies would do if we didn't abuse them but could stretch out and actually reach our full physical/mental capabilities. Right now I would just like to turn everything off for about 8 hours. Oh well, who doesn't need a little alone time in the middle of the night.

I love surprises!

Today I came home to a box at the front door. Thinking it was something that I had ordered online I carried it inside. The box said Sherrys Berries ! That couldn't be; it must be a recycled box. But no! It was Sherrys Berries and it was addressed to me. And may I tell you inside were the biggest strawberries ever covered with about a 1/2 inch of chocolate, nuts on some, coconut, choc chips and some with plain (ha) old chocolate. MMMMM they are good too! I ate three as I was trying to control myself all afternoon so I could share with Gale. Also included was a box of chocolate (white and dark, and milk) cherries with the stems on them. Yum! And may I say that this was so fun, because it wasn't something that I had been yearning for, but it was a surprise. I guess there is still some kid left in this old woman. I have everything in the world that I want and need but I still love sweet surprises. So, Thanks Mitch and Jody for todays excitement. And thanks to all the rest of you for the love and excitement I always get from you too. I love my family even better than surprises. Presents are fun but it is the sweetness behind them that make them meaningful. Like a visit from two daughters when they knew better than I did that I was sad about my brothers death. Like re-arranging their lives to take care of a helpless mother after knee replacement. Like all the sweet meaningful notes and cards and phone calls. Wow am I blessed.

Easter Egg Hunt

It was such a nice celebration. Gram and Gramp were a little stressed but Gale went over and helped them get the chairs and tables out of the Attic. Then he went back on Saturday morning to hide half of the eggs. We had a great lunch and then off they went to the field. Mellonee found the silver egg in a tree under some old gloves and Minon found the Gold egg two bushes down from where Daren was methodically searching.The kids screamed and giggled indoors and out and had a wonderful time. Mellonee and Daren and the kids left on Saturday. Minon and Mason and Matthew stayed as did Tara and Braden, Tyler, and Blake. We all went to church together and then had tacos before the Collards left. Tara and the boys stayed until Tuesday. It was great to have them for a couple of extra days. I am always amazed at how well they get along and how much they love each other. Tara and her Dad went running so she could keep up her training for the Marathon. I think they ran about 3-4 miles. Gale hadn't run in quite a while and claimed he was out of shape. If I could run 4 miles I'd be in the best shape of my life. I'm proud of all my athelete children.

Cake Slide

Jodys birthday just happened to fall while she was here so Mitchell ordered gifts to be sent here. Well, you know these boys like the morning so I heard my bedroom9m door open and talking in my ear. "Hey, Gramma Kathee, did you know it's moms birthday today?" at that point I didn't really care cause I had had about 4 hours sleep. Anyway while I was slogging out of bed and getting dressed they decided to make Jody Breakfast in Bed. They used my cutting board for a tray and made her Raisin Bran, actually there were about ten flakes floating in 2 cups of milk. Jody, like all moms, was a good sport and ate her breakfast. The boys then hopped around for about a 1/2 hour until Jody got up and opened her presents. Anyway it was as exciting for them as their own birthday. I thought it was very sweet.
After the boys left Jody and I were reminiscing about birthdays past. I told her about the cakes I always had as a kid from the little Italian bakery in Eagle Rock and she told me about her yummy ice cream cakes she had as a kid. Since she doesn't like cake they had ice cream "cakes" made with pralines and cream and covered with fudge. I tried to figure how I could get to Twin to Baskin Robbins but since it wasn't possible I decided that I could do as usual and make it myself. So I bought Ice cream and hot fudge sauce. Couldn't find pralines and cream so I bought as close as I could get. Put two large containers of ice cream in my spring form pan and put it back in the freezer for a couple of hours. I got the fudge sauce into a bowl and heated it to room temp and a nice spreading consistency. Then came the fun. I put a large gob of the chocolate frosting on the top of the cake and spread it around. For just a minute it looked beautiful then it started to slide, and slide, and slide. In about a minute and a half I had a white Ice cream cake and a nice large border of hot fudge sauce. I hurried it to the freezer and as I passed Jody she said "I have never figured out how they keep that fudge sauce on the cake, either!" Happy Birthday Jody,