Thanksgiving 2014

Family comes first at Thanksgiving, and we were so blessed to have our kids and grandkids with us this year.  Everyone was in a good mood, and we had lots of fun.  The food was great too!

 

I wanted everyone to sit together so we got out our folding tables and chairs and set a festive table.

Maddie has a tradition of making the place settings, and this year they were adorable flower pots, each with a live succulent and 2 colorful felt feathers.  On Pinterest, I found a simple napkin holder of twine and a piece of rosemary from my garden.  The real pressed leaves came from my high school buddy, Carol who sent them all the way from Illinois.

 

Before the meal, we always have some wine and appetizers and congregate around our kitchen island.  Believe it or not, the conversation going on here is all about cell phones.  Wow, how important those have become!  I need to listen in and learn as much as I can.

 

We always laugh about how Heather and Melissa can't talk without using their hands.  I wonder what this conversation was about???

 

            Daughter-in-law Kim looks like a sister to her daughters Amanda and Valerie.

 

Finally got Reesie to smile for a picture!

 

 

Melissa and Adam's baby boy is due in February, so I gave them a onesie that says,

"I'll have a bottle of the house white."

 

 

Scott and his "girls"!

 

 

We try to end each Thanksgiving with a group photo.

Smile Reese!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramona Duck Club

For many years, Duane has been a member of the Ramona Duck Club, a non-profit duck hunting club near the San Jacinto Wildlife Preserve, by Lake Perris.  He enjoys duck hunting amongst the small ponds in duck blinds constructed by the members.

 

Because it is a non-profit corporation, the members must have a meeting of all members each year.  This year, only 8 members came to the meeting, but it is possible for a member to give another member his proxy for voting purposes.  Duane, being the secretary, attends every meeting.

 

 

Most years we are lucky enough to have the annual meeting at Doheny State Beach.  Not only is it at the ocean, but they also have a large grassy area with trees, and picnic tables on a concrete patio.

 

 

A short walk takes you to the beach itself, which is gorgeous, and at this time extremely uncrowded.

 

 

This year, Duane's son Scott came with us, and while the meeting was being held, he and I took a stroll down by the water.

 

 

You can also rent bicycles of all kinds and have a ride on the many trails around the area.

 

 

Many thanks to the members who brought in a Taco Man dinner, and to the ladies in the background who arranged all the dishes and heated the tortillas.  It was delicious!

 

 

A good time was had by all, we were well fed, and what a bonus it was that the Club was able to obtain a liquor license for the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auntie Charlotte

When I was a child, I had numerous Aunts.  My Mother was one of eight children, and my Dad was one of four. In addition, there were several Great-Aunts too.  However, I have just one sister, and she has only one daughter---Chantelle.  For the past couple of years, Chantelle has visited from Indiana, and this time she stayed for 3 weeks. We love having her here, and I always try to think of fun things to do.  I love having a niece, I'm so happy to be her Auntie!

 

When she arrived, we went to her favorite Mexican Restaurant out here---

Casa del Rey in San Dimas.  This time she had a banana margarita.

 

 

I had to take her to the beach, so we stayed at The Tamarack Beach Resort

in Carlsbad, and the weather was perfect.

 

 

The sunset was spectacular that evening.

 

 

One thing we did a lot of was eating---here at P.F. Chang's in Chino Hills.  Notice

the bag?  Yes, we did some shopping there too at the Shoppes at Chino Hills.

 

 

One of Chantelle's priorities was to visit some wineries in Temecula.  We had

a great time that day with Adam and Melissa, and tasted soooo many wines!!!

 

 

The next day we revisited a restaurant where we had had dinner the night before

and had some Bloody Mary's at The Gambling Cowboy in the old town of

Temecula.

 

 

Of course we had to have a family Barbeque, and Heather hosted it this year.

I always love taking pictures of my three granddaughters (and granddog).

 

 

Scott, Kim and the girls loved meeting Chantelle, and Kim was thrilled

to find out that she was taller than Chantelle!!!

 

 

Heather and Jason did a great job with the meal, and

everything was yummy!

 

 

Reese was happy to show off his train set.

 

 

The day before she left, we went to Graber's Olives in Ontario.

It's a cute place specializing in everything olives, and we had

fun looking at all the olive paraphernalia. 

 

 

Truly an amazing variety of things.

 

 

Everything about the place was darling, and the grounds were beautiful

 

 

There is also a museum of old equipment, photos, and memorabilia.

 

 

The only regret we have is that we did not spend more time in Temecula

in its old town.  For instance, I wonder where this bridge leads???

 

Come back soon, Chantelle, so we can explore some more.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thinking Blue!

Life is constantly evolving, and nothing is as heartwarming as hearing the words, "We're going to have a baby!"  It's especially true if you are going to be the Grandparent of said baby.  I'm thrilled to say that this happened to us just recently, and we are tickled pink------but in this case, it's BLUE!

 

Adam and Melissa didn't actually say, "We're going to have a baby."  They were much more creative (possibly thanks to Pinterest), and gave us this charming bottle of wine.  I cried!

 

 

To let us know the sex of the baby they used another cute idea when they came over for a BBQ.  Everyone chose either a mustache or a tiara to guess which they thought it was.  Mostly, the girls picked the tiaras, and the guys chose the mustaches.

 

 

Maddie, of course, was wishing for a girl.

 

 

Then came the drum roll, and 4 girls were chosen to push up the confetti that would announce the sex of the baby-----either blue or pink.

 

 

 

And.......it was BLUE!!!

 

 

Confetti and blue stars flew everywhere, and everyone cheered!

 

 

The guys were thrilled that one of their own would soon join their ranks.

 

 

Then Grandpa grilled us a very manly bratwurst dinner, while making fun of hot dogs.

 

 

P.S.  Can you tell that Melissa has a cute little baby bump???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Bratsgiving

Johnsonville started a new and silly holiday this year---Bratsgiving!!!  It is a combination of Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and Halloween.  There are bratwurst wreaths, bratwurst pumpkins, and even a bratwurst turkey.  The date of this holiday is August 16th.  So, in the spirit of this new holiday we had a barbeque on August 16th!

 

The stars of the barbeque were Johnsonville brats.

 

 

I couldn't upload the Johnsonville video, but you may be able to view it by going to

www.johnsonville.com

 

 

Duane is an expert at grilling bratwurst.  We also had to grill some hot dogs for the kids.  Just looking at this picture, which would you rather have?

 

 

Here, he's making fun of the lowly hot dog.  Oh yes, beer is also an integral part of the celebration.

 

 

Brat grilling is a great way to bond.

 

 

A good time was had by all, and we will be celebrating once again next year.

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50th Reunion Part II

 

Darlene and I wanted to visit the church we attended when we lived in Sunnyside Estates---

St. John The Baptist Catholic Church.  It is still majestic!

 

 

As you can see, the interior is ornate and reminds me of some of the old churches in Europe.  The carved wood is exquisite, as are the wall paintings, and statuary.

 

 

There are several stained glass windows that, when seen in person, take your breath away.

 

 

Even the cemetery is fabulous with its statues and grave markers.

 

 

It's full of grottos, chapels, stations of the cross and beautiful grounds with a pond.  Here we are in front of one of the larger chapels.  The structures are all hand made of stone.

 

 

This is the school we went to.

 

 

St. John's recently got a new roof and the old slate roof tiles were all saved.  This is one that Carol purchased.  The money goes toward helping the school and church.  I am happy to say that since this photo, Carol has also purchased one for me, and I should get it soon.

 

 

I also got another surprise from Carol-----a BFF diet Coke can!

 

 

That evening we went to the reunion itself.  Carol was showing her orange (our favorite color.)

 

 

The next day we picked up my cousin Mary Ann in Chicago, and drove down to Bloomington, Indiana to visit another cousin----Barbara.  

 

 

I love these ladies, who were like sisters to me when I was growing up.

 

 

Here we are in Barbara's front yard, with her husband Jim, and my niece Chantelle.

 

 

After our visit, we returned to Lake Geneva where we had dinner at Sprechers---another hot spot, and were happy to share a bottle of wine.

 

 

Back at Milwaukee airport, bracing ourselves for another long flight.

 

I must say, however, that this trip was among the best I've ever been on.  Good friends and relatives, good food and wine, and a memorable occasion-----my 50th High School Class Reunion!!!