Permit to hunt...

I have to say I am pretty excited about this! Getting this applied for and having it is making the prospect of hunting a deer this fall very real. I only have to learn how to shoot the rifle, find a deer willing to be shot and then actually hit the thing. But I feel like it will be a good time. Chan is willing to go along and teach me what to do and that should earn him a medal or something. The thing is, I can take two deer with this permit. One tag is for either buck or doe and one is just a doe tag. I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do with the meat. I am not actually that fond of big game meat, but Roy, the man who owns the land where I am going to hunt, claims that since the deer live off his corn fields the meat is very tender and tasty. We shall see. Maybe we should have a big party and feed everyone off the deer that I kill...that's counting my venison steaks before they are shot I would say. Well, trust me, I will keep you posted and there will be pictures if I kill one.

So I was in the bathroom...

I can guess what you are thinking. "Patti, that is way too much information and really we don't want to hear about it." But I think you do want to hear this, because a lot of you were in there with me. It was the basement bathroom and I had walked in to throw something in the garbage and noticed a signature on the wall that I hadn't seen before. That caused me to start to read the walls. So many memories came back to me of all the wonderful times that we have had in this house. All the amazing people who have spent time with us and allowed us a part in their lives. This, of course, made me start to cry because so much time has gone by and lives change and people move away and kids grow up. But being in there and, in a sense, "hearing" all those kids that I love "talk" to me was extremely precious. 

I saw Sam Swartz's signature and remembered the friend of his, Jeff Christy, who would come out, turn on the T.V. to ESPN, lay down on the floor in the family room and fall fast asleep every time. Somehow this is always one of my favorite memories, mainly because all the other kids out here would be running around or in the basement hanging out and he felt comfortable enough to act like it was his own home. 

I was reminded by Andrew Olive's note that he, Quinn and Adam used to come out at 5 a.m. and fish and then at 8:00 a.m. they would come in and eat huge pancake breakfasts and then fall asleep in the family room but not before I had read them "Little Black Sambo". 

Alyssa Helmink's name reminded me of the time that she and Jayme spent an entire day diving off the dock and swimming, ate a huge popcorn ball, made s'mores and then the next day were so sick from too much sun. Ashley and Jill Wieskamp's "Boys = Poopy".

 Bobbi's 4x100 Relay team and the times they spent here. I know I could go on and on but you get the idea.

10 years of signatures and comments. 

10 years of amazing times and people.

10 years, lots of food and drink later, and I have never once regretted putting a pack of permanent markers in that bathroom.

I am often asked if it will be hard to repaint that room. Are they insane? Why would I ever paint over a masterpiece?  

More...

Now I know more. My Dr. called and all the tests came back benign. So relief (even though I was thinking that was what I was going to hear) just to be DONE. Thanks for caring and praying.

Waiting...

Is there anything more annoying than waiting on something? I suppose there is but I, right now, would be hard pressed to come up with it. I was told on Thursday that I would have the results of the tests from my surgery on Friday. No results. Saturday, no results. Sunday, no results. Monday, no call yet. I hate waiting. Even though I actually don't expect anything bad it is getting on my nerves. I just want to be done wondering. I also want to be done being tired. I am not a good patient. Do you see now why I don't go to Dr's? Whine Whine Whine. and wait. More later when I know more.

Saturday evening on the dock...

Oliver trying to get at the fish food that I threw into the water.
 He loves the fish food.

Mae being quite regal and watching the catfish come up and eat the food.

The ripple in the center is actually a catfish and that is it's head.
Mae was so fascinated by it. She just stood there watching it.

Today...after 29 years...

Well, here we are 29 years of marriage later. We went out to supper and then came home and sat on the dock and enjoyed the cool evening. I was feeding the fish in hopes that a large catfish would come to the surface, but no luck.

29 years ago today...

Second wedding in the new Lincoln Berean Church building.
This is now the Kindergarten Room at church.

July 25, 1981
So glad we both said "I do" and we have!

Me and my dad.

I had a little surgery...

I went to the Dr. in June and the appointments just kept piling up until finally a week ago they decided I needed to have surgery to remove a cyst on my left ovary. That happened on Wednesday of this week and I am home now. I came home yesterday and am waiting for the results of the tests. The cyst was the size of a lemon. Glad they took it out. Now I just feel a little sore and tired and bored, to be quite honest. When I know more I will let you know. And I got a flower from my Doctor. Never had that happen before.

In other animal news...

Did I rename one of my chickens? Yes, I did. The chicken formerly known as "Emily" is now "D. Biddy". I changed it after getting hilarious texts and emails from my sister about a person she was having to deal with and my sister's husband referring to that person as "D. Biddy". I thought it made a great chicken name and as "the chicken formerly known as Emily" is an unsociable, neurotic, paranoid chicken, that Bella, Alice and Roselie don't like at all, I thought "D. Biddy" fit her much better. I don't even have a picture of "D. Biddy", she is that paranoid of human contact or any contact for that matter. I will try to get a picture and add it here later. I know you are all excited about that prospect. 

Ghost Cat...

This is Tiger, we have had him since 2000, he has been an outdoor cat since 2003 (kicked out due to the fact that he thought a basket of clean laundry was a good substitute for his litter box). It is now 2010 and every time I open the door onto the deck he somehow manages to get into the house. This morning I stepped out with my coffee to enjoy a cool breeze and watch the storm rolling in. I went back into the house and there he was sneaking around the corner into the laundry room! How does he do it? Perhaps it would help if he wasn't the exact same color as Mae. Or if he wasn't a ghost. I am pretty sure he walks through things like doors and walls. Pretty sure it sort of creeps me out when he appears out of no where and meows. 

He probably really isn't even alive anymore he just haunts our deck. 

Killer Chicken Wings...

Jayme called and told me that she and some friends are coming out to hang out and spend the night. I said should I make chicken wings? Then I thought that maybe the rest of you might like to know how. As I have thought about my blog, I have been considering what wisdom I can pass along and really I am only confident in my cooking so... OK, on with the lesson. 
You need one bag of frozen chicken wings, thawed. Pour out the excess liquid from the bag, rinse and pour out that liquid. While they are still in the bag coat them with about 1/4 cup of Fat Boy Sweet Rub (Shown here with the sauce ingredients)

and then pour in about a 1/2 cup of flour and coat them with that. They will be then coated with a sticky flour coating. Dump them into a large bowl and coat them with Panko Bread crumbs. It really needs to be Panko (I am obsessed with Panko Bread Crumbs. They make everything so crispy.)

They should look like this.

Have a pot of oil heated to 375. I use peanut oil and maybe a little Crisco Oil in there too. Just remember when you put the oil in not to fill it too full, because it boils up when you add the chicken and it would be disastrous to have it boil over. 

I am the worst at keeping track of time but I would say 8-10 minutes if you have 5-6 pieces in there. But it should be golden brown and look something like this.

You can keep these warm in the oven. Now for the sauce.

1/2 jar of Smuckers Simply Fruit Apricot

2 tsp. of  Dynasty Potsticker Gyoza

2 Tbsp. Honey

1/2 cup House of Tsang Korean Teriyaki Stir-fry Sauce

2 Tbsp. of A House of Thai Sweet Red Chili Sauce

Mix all this together and gently heat. When you are ready to serve the wings just put them in a large bowl and pour the sauce over them. Stir to coat and then stand back or you may lose a limb in the rush to eat them. 

Hope you enjoy this. I know I do.

Good bye, Hello...

Several days ago I lost a little silver ring that I wear on my right hand. Since it is tiny it only goes to the first knuckle on my ring finger. I have worn a little silver ring there for at least 15 years. Well, the other day I was working around and noticed it was gone. I searched my jeans pockets, the laundry and around my room and bathroom but no ring. I gave it up for lost. 

Good bye, little silver ring.

Today I got some leftover meatloaf (Do you see where this is going?) out of the fridge to make a meatloaf sandwich. (yum, on toast with a little ketchup and Miracle Whip, sorry, side trial) I put the piece of meatloaf on the cutting board to slice it and it fell over and there, stuck to the bottom, was my ring! Bryan was a tad grossed out but that's only because he is a germaphobe. It had baked, so I am sure any germs were well cooked. 

Hello, little silver ring.

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time...

Yesterday I took a walk in the early morning. I set out along Pella Road then went north on 82nd to the stop sign and turned east on Princeton Road. As I headed down Princeton Road I came to a farm track about halfway to 96th. I thought to myself that I would take that since it would come out at the east end of our development. So I walked along enjoying the cooler aspect of walking on grass with trees nearby and then it ended...in a harvested winter wheat field. Ok, no problem, I will just walk through that to the development. Well, that ended in a little gully that cut across...so I stepped carefully onto the long grass, all the while thinking "if there is a snake in here or a badger or a rat or a skunk..." And I was feeling quite proud of myself for not hitting any water and just as I thought that...SPLOOSH! my right leg went into water up to my knee and that pitched me forward into the weeds on the bank. I caught myself with my right hand and hurt my wrist (not badly, just jarred it). I can just imagine what the video of that would look like if there was one. So I am thinking "Oh well, the development is just across this gully." NOPE it was still across another field of harvested winter wheat and one more little gully! So now my right foot is sploshing and slipping, my left foot is wet and muddy, my wrist hurts and the winter wheat remains are scratching up my ankles, it's hot, the bugs are biting me, I am sweating and thirsty. I almost did a happy dance when I finally reached our cul de sac. 

The moral of this is that exercise is supposed to be good for you so today I just stuck to the road.

Another View...

Usually my view across the pond is from our deck looking at the neighbor's house, but last night we were out fishing and the sun was setting and it was just spectacular. I am so glad I had put my camera in my pocket. Yes, we caught fish. And, funny story, which could have been really bad but didn't turn out that way so it is funny, right after I took this picture, Bryan cast again and I was still behind him and he didn't know it. His lure smacked me right in the side of my face. Fortunately, the hook didn't catch. It would have been rather ugly since it hit my chin and eye. But it made me laugh after I realized the stinging was just from the lure hitting me not from the hook. Bryan didn't think it was funny until this morning when I said that I hoped there was enough makeup in the world to cover the damage he had done to my face. There is none, don't even worry about it.

Just a little more about Esprit...

These two adorable girls, Nicole and Chloe, were my assistants on tour. I must say they were excellent! I never had to do a job that they had committed to. They were always right where they needed to be and I appreciated them so much. Plus, we could have epic conversations about Harry Potter and they didn't think I was weird. 

P.S. My hair in this picture is the result of staying in a well, shall we use the term flea bag?, motel that didn't have a blow dryer and since they usually do, I don't travel with one as a rule. Not that with or without is that easy to distinguish, but, I can tell and it was annoying. ok, enough about that.

Anna, Jayme and I, with Chloe jumping in the shot. We were laughing about the fact that people sometimes think Anna is a part of our family. So we took a "family photo". Someone asked her after we performed in church if she was Bobbi Clark's little sister. She said "No, I'm a Stoner." Then she said the lady just looked at her and said "OHHH" for some reason this made us laugh really hard. Perhaps you really need to see Anna tell the story. I thank her for daily making me laugh.

This is the skit "Jeopardized Faith" I have to say this one was the skit that made me laugh the hardest every night. John (with the glasses and preppy sweater) just got funnier and funnier. I wish I had video of it. Jayme directed this one and did an amazing job with it. Way to go, Jayme!! So proud of you.

My other favorite skit "Story Time with Miss Rachel". Written by my dear friend, Carey. Brandon (white shirt and tie) was so hilariously 5 years old. Rachel was an amazing annoyed teacher and Isaac and Sam played little kids extremely well. It just made me laugh to watch it. You know it's a good skit when the kids laugh at it each night. I feel so blessed to work with all these people and especially with the teens who have the greatest hearts in the world.

It's a beautiful thing...

Bryan came out and took some pictures of me hanging clothes up on the maiden voyage of the clothesline. It was so fun. I really, really like it.

This just makes me smile. Didn't have a clothespin bag so I made one out of a quilt block and some canvas.

Esprit Tour...

It is the morning after the home concert and I, of course, woke up at 5:00 a.m. I have an inability to sleep in. Tour was great. But the Seward concert picture is seriously 1 of only 2 pictures that I took on tour with my camera. Just didn't have time to take many. Oh well, usually the kids take tons of them so I am sure I will have lots to look at. We had an awesome time on tour, even though the crowds at the Iowa and Wisconsin venues were small. They seemed to feel the need to give us tons of food to take with us. Let me just say the kids didn't starve. This was a great group of kids, but then I think I say that every year. So it must be true. I am glad to be home. I am excited to do laundry and hang it on my new clothesline! But today is a bit damp and cloudy yet for that so...later. Well, I suppose I should get on with my day. It is good to be home.

Oh, I will just include this picture that Bethany took of Charity and I at the Seward concert.

I'm getting a clothesline!

I went out to the shop to tell Bryan something and found him building my clothesline. What a great guy.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The Parade...

Yesterday we were in a parade. So when we got to the area where the parade was supposed to start we were a little confused as to where we were supposed to be in the line. So I went seeking information. The young man in the "Parade Official" shirt was very helpful and told me that our group was listed as A14, he shows me on the list. He showed me where that was in the street. So I get all 80 people down to A14. (someone's driveway) He then told me that we were to follow the black car and be in front of the red car. OK. Got it. A few minutes later Carey say's "We are supposed to follow the red car, he's a State Senator. That girl just told me they always go before anyone." Ok, so I tell everyone "follow the red car not the black car." Then I notice the State Senator talking to the girl and waving his arms around and gesturing and saying "How can two groups get assigned to the same spot? I am a State Senator, that's my spot." (Possibly because I didn't see the need to MOVE all 80 people over 15 feet to someone's lawn, just planned to fall into line where we were told) So I go over and say "It really doesn't matter to us where we are in the parade, we will follow the red car, it isn't a problem at all. We are just standing where we were told but we will do whatever." State Senator looks at me introduces himself , and says, "You're in my spot, I am A14, I am a State Senator. You follow me." (He is shorter than me, anyone who knows me well knows what was going through my head. No? Let me help you. "Ok, Napoleon, you're short, get over the complex.") I smile and say "No problem, it doesn't matter to us at all where we are in the parade." He introduces his wife. She shakes my hand and says "Nice to meet you, I hear you are following us, right?" Oh yes, you servants of the public, we will follow you. Oh yeah, Got my vote. I mean, if I cast one that is. 

What do I know of Holy...

Of all the songs that the kids sing on tour this is probably my favorite. I just really relate to the all words, but especially the first verse...

I made You promises a thousand times

I tried to hear from Heaven

But I talked the whole time

I think I made You too small

I never feared You at all No

If You touched my face would I know You?

Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)

What do I know of You

Who spoke me into motion?

Where have I even stood

But the shore along Your ocean?

Are You fire? Are You fury?

Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?

What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out

I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about

How You were mighty to save

Those were only empty words on a page

Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be

The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

(CHORUS)

What do I know of You

Who spoke me into motion?

Where have I even stood

But the shore along Your ocean?

Are You fire? Are You fury?

Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?

What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

(CHORUS 2)

What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?

And a God who gave life "its" name?

What do I know of Holy?

Of the One who the angels praise?

All creation knows Your name

On earth and heaven above

What do I know of this love?

(CHORUS)

What do I know of You

Who spoke me into motion?

Where have I even stood

But the shore along Your ocean?

Are You fire? Are You fury?

Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?

What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?

by Addison Road

Ready, Set, Go...

This is always the good time, the time you know that all the work you have put in is showing and you can sort of sit back and enjoy the fruit of it. Tour is work but not the kind of "getting ready, what am I forgetting" kind of work.

July 4th in Seward, NE

We marched in the parade, ate some good BBQ, then went to the concert site. For some reason, known only to the committee there in Seward, they cancelled the fireworks. It had been a drizzly morning in Seward but by 5 p.m. the sun had come out and it was amazing. Anyway, we felt like we had made a commitment to sing and would follow through on that. I was so glad we did. The kids did great. We had a good crowd and it was just a great start to tour. So tomorrow we take off and it will at times seem like it will never end and at times like it is flying by. 

Memo to...

Ashley, Bobbi & Jayme:

I just want to take this opportunity to tell you all that I love you and consider myself so fortunate to be your mom and have friendships with all of you. Thank you for all the laughing and teasing and memorable things that we have said to each other and done with each other. You each amaze me in your own unique way. I catch myself thinking quite often that I wish I could be more like (fill in the blank here with any one of your names)... Anyway, you all have such an ability to make me laugh and feel special. Thanks. I am always so happy when I can tell people that I am your mom.

 

Love, Mom

P.S. while I was writing this, having a serious moment, your dad walked in wearing a tank top! :-) 

It's what I do...

My life outside of the home involves administrating Esprit, which is our high school choir through the church. Last night was our last rehearsal before tour. I am so ready to be done getting things ready and just get going. I am sure the kids are too. Fun to have Jayme along helping me this summer.

Cake...

This really is a cake. It is on a full size dinner plate. I made it in my new cake pan that looks like a piece of bread. Peanut butter frosting and Strawberry spread. 

Laundry continued...

I have Esprit rehearsal tonight so I am leaving this note on the table for Bryan. I think it is self explanatory. 

Laundry...

I am washing a load of clothes (perpetual) and the thought just struck me that I want a clothesline! I really have always wanted one. And I would only use wooden clothespins on it. I may have to see if Bryan would do that for me. I mean how great would this be as a clothesline! Someone made art out of it. I want to do this. I think I probably will. I am feeling an obsession coming on.

I have broached the subject with Bryan and he is thinking about it. I even resorted to folding my hands under my chin and batting my eyelashes at him. Shameless.