Christmas Past and Present

I was about three years old in this picture.  Fake fireplaces were "in", as well as lead tinsel on the tree.  Check out the wallpaper----however, many things have not changed.  Girls still get dolls, doll furniture, and we still hang up our stockings.

When I was nine years old, my sister Darlene was born, and this is her first Christmas.  That is the first TV we ever had---quite classy with record player and radio inside.  Another thing that hasn't changed is the train under the tree.  I remember this Lionel very well and loved to play with it.  We had all of the plastic houses and other accessories to go with it.

In our family, it seems, more is better.  We always have lots of presents for everyone. This is Heather before Adam was born.  She is obviously excited about tearing into the gifts.

Adam seems very disillusioned about the whole process of opening gifts.  I think he's opening a Fisher Price Airplane---which is still available....

Fast forward to the blending of Duane's family with ours.  Here we have his son Scott, wife Kim and two adorable granddaughters---Valerie and Amanda.

We moved back to Shirlmar in 2003, and had a great Christmas.  Here we have Valerie and Amanda, with Adam, a favorite uncle of theirs.

A favorite photo of mine with Heather.  Red sweaters are definitely a part of Christmas.

Maddie in 2010, in her "mink" collared red sweater.  Note:  No lead tinsel on the tree....

And, we can't forget the Christmas Angel----our own little Reesie looking very dapper.  Christmas is still Christmas after all.

Grandma's Dual Celebration

My birthday always comes around Thanksgiving, and many times it is on Thanksgiving.  This year I was lucky enough to have our blended family celebrate my birthday and Thanksgiving together.

What a great time we had!  Here we all are wearing the multi-colored scarves I gave everyone for the occasion.  Adam and Melissa were so gracious to have the dinner at their house, and this is under their beautiful tree in the backyard.  The dinner was superb, with everything you could imagine.  I must say Thank You to all the kids and grandkids for making this such a memorable day.

GIVE THANKS FOR THANKSGIVING!

The little turkey name cards  shown in my last post, were made by Maddie two Thanksgivings ago.  How time flies!  The blank one does say Grandma, but the word didn't show up in the photo.  I now hang them on the Christmas tree.  That Thanksgiving we were at Adam's new house in Lake Elsinore.  We had a great time.

This Norman Rockwell painting has always been one of my favorites.  Who wouldn't want to be at this table?  Such warmth and good cheer.  I'm happy to say that our family Thanksgivings have always been memorable.  This painting is labeled "Freedom From Want".  It is one of a series of Freedom paintings that Rockwell did.  He got the idea from an inaugural speech made by FDR called the "Four Freedoms Speech" in 1941.  The other Freedoms mentioned and painted are Freedom of Speech and Expression, Freedom of every person to worship God in his own way, and Freedom from Fear.

Here we are in 2006, in the apartment over the garage, where we lived until our house was built.  It was also the first year Melissa joined us.  Now there is something to be thankful for!  A new family member joined us in 2009----our own Reese Noah Garcia.

Another cute decoration made last year by Maddie.  Decorations made by your grandchildren are the very best!

With my Mom, I'm about Maddie's age here at a family gathering (perhaps Thanksgiving?) in someone's basement.  It didn't matter where the meal was, as long as the family was together

Although this isn't Thanksgiving, my sister, Darlene, my cousin, Barbara, and my niece, Chantelle, try to get together for family dinners whenever they can.  This year they do plan to have Thanksgiving together at Barbara's house in Bloomington, Indiana.  Wish we could all join them.

To all my relatives and friends, Have a Happy Thanksgiving!  I am thankful for all of you.

VETERAN'S DAY

It is increasingly important that we honor our veterans.  I have had grandfathers, uncles, my husband Duane, and my niece Chantelle serve our country valiantly.  In my header picture above are some of the patches and medals that my father, Richard Gerke, earned in World War II.  He sent the medals to me a few years ago and wanted his grandchildren to have them.  He was one of the lucky ones to come home alive, but did fight in major battles in France and Germany.  He would never talk about the War, but I do know that he was part of a unit that liberated a concentration camp.

Here's my Dad, 5th from the left with a Nazi flag that they captured.

My Dad was drafted into the army about 4 months after their wedding.  He was sent to several army bases in the United States to train.  Then, they had to part for three long years while he fought on foreign land.

Before he left, he was able to come back to his home in Chicago, and got this memorable picture of Mom in his hat and jacket.  In those days, everyone was so proud of those who served.

I am lucky to also have this photo of my Great Uncle Stanley from World War I ! (He was my Grandmother's brother on my Dad's side).  Veteran's Day is a Federal Holiday marking the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.  It was signed at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, in the 11th month of 1918.  Sometimes it is called Armistice Day.  I am very proud that I have so many family members who are veterans, and from every war that has been fought since World War I.  Happy Veteran's Day and may God Bless America!!!

Turkey and Teddy

Heather painted this ceramic for me years ago when she was about 12.  I have many ceramics that she has done, all with holiday themes.  These little guys have always been precious to me.

Grandma's Halloween

We only get a smattering of Trick or Treaters on Halloween, so I don't usually get into costume.  However, for some reason, this year I dressed up a little.  Don't want those grandkids to think I'm dull.

Not exactly "Cruella" the mean Disney character, but I don't like scaring little kids.

Not exactly stirring a  witches' caldron either, since we had our good friend Marian over for dinner.  I made chili, and pumpkin shaped tortillas with cheese inside.

I meant to make these for the kids this year, but never got around to it.  Maybe next year???

No, It's Not Halloween!

My husband wears many hats.  This particular outfit is not only his hunting garb, but rain gear as well.

Duck Season opens on October 22 this year.  Duane belongs to a club---named on his hat----Ramona Duck Club.  Here he is in one of the blinds.

Sometimes he stays overnight at the club, and gets to show off his cooking skills.

He doesn't only hunt at the Duck Club, but here he is in Mazatlan, Mexico where he hunted with his friend Paul.

After the hunt they celebrate at Senor Frog's establishment.

At home he takes on the uniform of the residential gardener.

When our house was being built, he became Duane the construction worker, and did a little tour with a Bobcat.

But, I love him best as my "HUNK"!!!

Halloween At Shirlmar

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays.  The fun part is dressing up, and seeing what others are wearing.  As kids, Heather and Adam dressed up every year.  Here are just a few examples. 

Heather at 19 months.  She loves it, even though she probably didn't know the significance.

The following year in a costume her Grandmother made.  As you will see, it was recycled as Adam's costume later on.

Yep, there he is entranced by Kristie's hat.  Big sister, Heather usually wanted to be a princess, dancer or other fashionable lady.  In this picture is also another neighbor, Kenny.

Sure enough, here she is as a princess with little brother Smurf in attendance.

Then, along comes Madonna, and the Karate Kid, and my kids are transformed!

Oh Oh----then along comes future husband, Jason, and she's a princess once again.

I must end with a few words about Adam's artwork.  He constructed this haunted house on his own, and it had all of the elements, including bats that flew out the windows.  He always amazed me with his designs.

Praying Mantis

Finding a Praying Mantis in my garden is such a joy.  They are, by far, my favorite insect.  They are not only fun to watch, but are so beneficial to your plants.

This one is spectacular!  It is showing such joy and happiness.  I wish he was in my yard, but I only found him in an email.  I have, however, found many over the years in all different colors.  They blend in with their surroundings.  Many years ago, my son Adam bought some at a nursery and let them loose in the yard.  I like to believe that the ones I see are descendants of those original bugs.

Horsing Around

We have been having lovely Fall weather, and when it gets a little cooler, the horses in the neighborhood come out.  People enjoy riding when it isn't 100 degrees.  Brings back memories of my family and horses.

Here's my Dad, in Chicago, probably around 1930.  Men with horses would visit the neighborhoods and for a small fee, let the kids ride the ponies or horses.  I remember doing this myself once or twice.

I have always loved horses, and if real ones weren't available, any rocking horse or fence would do.

There was a place called Kiddieland, right outside of Chicago, and I think my parents would take me there every Sunday.  I would shun the other rides and ride dozens of times on the ponies.

Like I said, even a fence would do.

When Heather was about 2 years old, she took a ride with her Dad on old "Babe".  Babe was a sweet old horse who gave us many years of riding pleasure.  Right behind our house was a horse trail, and before the houses were built out back, there was an old avocado and lemon orchard that was lots of fun to ride through.

Adam was about 18 months old here, and seems to have gotten horse fever too.

Eventually, we got Heather a pony, but she never felt comfortable without Dad by her side.  Later on, when she was at Cal Poly, she actually took a P.E. class that taught her how to care for, saddle, and ride a horse.  They would have to catch the horse in a field, then saddle it, and walk, trot or gallop.  She met a girl in that class named Jennifer Moore, and that friendship lead to her meeting her future husband, Jason.

My favorite horse, or I should say, Welsh Pony, was Chipper, a spirited little pinto.  Heather, and her friend Kristie found out how spirited he was when they decided to give him a little hay and then get on his back without a saddle.  He threw them both, and Kristie ended up with a broken arm.

Adam never really took to horseback riding, but his preschool had a picture day where all the kids had their picture taken on a pony.  Brought back memories of the horses and ponies in Chicago.

Booyah!!!

The Booyah tasted sooooo good.  Worth the work.  It's really not hard, just a lot of prep work like browning the meats, removing fat, skin, bones, cutting up veggies etc.  The consistency is that of a thick soup or stew.  As Rachel Ray would say, "stoup".  We enjoyed it, along with corn bread, and a first rate football game!.  Didn't hurt that the Packers won.  And to think that I remember Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr.  Duane and I were comparing notes and each of us remembers the first Super Bowl like it was yesterday.  "Sigh...."  I believe the Bears play next week----another family favorite.  Wonder what I should fix for that dinner?  I know that because of the stockyards in Chicago, BEEF is BIG.

Go Packers!

NFL season opener is coming up on Thursday, featuring the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints.  Being from Wisconsin, my husband Duane is a dyed in the wool Packer fan.  He grew up near Green Bay in a quaint little town called Sheboygan Falls.  Duane is also known as the Bratwurst King at our house, and has his own special recipe.  Bratwurst are "THE" thing to eat at Wisconsin BBQ's.  He actually started grilling "brats" at age 8 when his father discovered his talent.

Here he is at Heather and Jason's house doing the Labor Day BBQ.  He's always requested as the go-to cook.

Yesterday, I was informed that there is another Wisconsin recipe that he loves, and I plan to make it the day of the game:

Yes, a good old fashioned beef, chicken and vegetable soup.  Yummmmm.  The recipe is quite involved and they use short ribs and chicken thighs, but you can add practically any vegetable you want.  If you want the recipe it is in the October/November 2011 issue of Cook's Country magazine.  Or just let me know and I'll send it to you.  I'll let you know how ours turns out.  Duane says the recipe sounds just right, and he knows his food.  Can't wait to try it!