Bet you thought that there would never be another posting on this site! Had some trouble with posting pictures and just got very frustrated. Santa brought me a new digital camera, so part of the problem is solved. The part where the blogger is just plain lame will have to be addressed later.

So far, I have managed to download pictures from my camera to the computer, but need a
co-pilot to help me get them to where I need them. JULIE...where are you?? PLEASE rescue me. I'm too young to die like this.................cough cough gasp gaaaaasp..............

On Saturday night, our little town celebrated Veteran's Day with a Retiring the Flag ceremony. I went over and got Big Papa out of the shop, he dusted the sawdust off and went in to get his "WWII Veteran" hat.

The ceremony involved lowering the flag at the firestation and placing it and about 20 other flags donated by townsfolk on a frame and burning them. It was a wonderful ceremony and I was pleased to see Big Papa participate. I wasn't sure that he would even go since he was still sore from kidney stones. He carried one of the donated flags with the Scout color guard to the burning site. You can see BP on the left side of the fire (he has a white paper in his vest pocket). I love living in this little Norman Rockwell town!!!

I'VE BEEN TAGGED

Rules: When tagged, you write 6 things about yourself then tag 6 friends.

1. I really hate rodents and snakes. Also, anything that jumps (frogs, grasshoppers, etc.)

2. I love to watch HGTV and pretend that I'm going to redo my whole house.

3. I wish that I hadn't quit college in the first semester to get married. The married part is good, but the quitting school has been a regret my whole life.

4. Often, my mouth runs away with me and before I know it I've made a big fool of myself.

5. I love tools. Playing in the woodshop with my Dad is a really fun day.

6. I love to read. Especially books about strong women or about cultures that are new to me.

Okay, here's the hard part. I don't know 6 people with blogs, so Julie and Jackie and Cordin--you are officially tagged. Have fun!!

Small Town Halloween

You know how much your dad likes to have booths..... So here we are with a booth in the park for the town Halloween celebration. Of course, there was Usana all over the booth, but the kids ignored it and played and had lots of fun. Dad did too.

The prizes were apple juice boxes and apples (left over from all the applesauce-ing we did) . Actually, the kids liked the healthy stuff almost as much as the moms did. Lots of kids came back for more apples (thank goodness). Next year the game has to have an auto pin setter! We couldn't set them up fast enough.

Following this part of the celebration came the parade down main street with Dave Crouse the police chief leading the parade with lights flashing. The kids were to Trick or Treat from the lines of parade observers rather than going door to door. There were homemade parade floats and a Halloween movie shown at the park. The fire station had a haunted house set up. Now I hope that Halloween is done for the year......don't need all that candy around here.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

Apple Sauced

Aunt Connie agreed to share some apples from her tree and brought them down last weekend. Little did we know that she would show up with 12 moving boxes full. 12!! We stacked all the boxes in my sewing room and turned on the air conditioner to keep them cool until we could get to them. Today was the day.

Aunt Shelley stood at the stove all day, Grandpa cranked the apple peeler (with a smirk on his face cuz it was fun to him ;) ) Uncle Don and Dad were designated corers and I rotated around and spelled folks who needed a break, made the syrup and washed bottles. Dad was also in charge of the canner which was outside.

We bottled 80 pints of applesauce and 44 quarts of sliced apples. AND STILL ONLY EMPTIED HALF OF THE BOXES. And besides being so productive, we fed the peels and cores to the horses, goats and chickens next door! How's that for do-gooding??

Of course, now I can't let anybody actually EAT any. Too much work!

Happy Birthday, Big Papa!!

Ok. So I'm an idiot. Can't figure how to rotate my photo, but I managed to get this far without being in direct contact with the family expert. Gotta take my bows where I can get them.

Anyway, we went to lunch for Big Papa's birthday. He is 82 today and doing well--except that he doesn't hear much. (But then, neither does your dad or I.) He wouldn't let us have the waitress sing to him. Said he would leave in a big hurry if we tried such a stunt. So we just had lunch at Iggy's and came home. Since we couldn't have candles and wishes, I asked what his wish would have been. He said that all he wants is to be here for his next birthday. THAT'S JUST WHAT I WOULD HAVE WISHED FOR!!!!! What a coincidence!

He is already back to the shop and planning how to build a tiller to attach to his tractor so that he can plow like a real farmer.

You asked for it...

Okay...so here is a look at your dad and his bicycle. He just came home from the post office and was a little perturbed that I made him stand up just a minute longer. Understandably, his knees are a little wobbly after his ride. He puts me to shame, but I'll get over it. You know that my idea of exercise is BUYING the exercise tape. Sad but true.