Brand New Day

Holiday Memories

I pulled the card out of the camera and plugged it into the computer and Yowza! Lots of Holiday shots on there. While that time flew by, I'm glad that there is photographic evidence that we did indeed celebrate those good times.

 

There's my kid's band marching in New York City on Thanksgiving Day!

 

And there's my kid! Bess had so much fun exploring the city with the Miami U. Marching Band.  She had Thanksgiving dinner while floating down the Hudson River on a dinner cruise! She got to see some celebrities in the parade but most importantly, she got to see the biggest celebrity of all--Santa Claus. Miami U. was the "Santa Band" this year that got to usher in Santa and Mrs. Claus  She came home with lots of pictures and stories of Gotham City.  She got to spend black Friday shopping in NYC--how fun was that? We had so much fun watching her!

After the college girls finished their finals, everyone came home.  We took a picture for our Christmas card.  This one made the cut

 

and this one didn't.

 

Gary, Grace and I went to a Cyclones game.

 

We visited Jungle Jim's and drooled over the bakery counter.

 

A bright, beautiful Christmas tree.

 

Cherished ornaments--like my buddy Luke

 

and an ornament that used to hang on Grandma and Grandpa Lahrmer's tree.

 

 

Christmas morning at our house. This is the last quilt top that my Mother in law, Nora Franklin,  pieced.  I sent it to the Quilting Guild at Mom's church early in the year to have it hand quilted.  Mom made the binding for it and Gary was surprised to tears to receive it.

 

The chickens will be wild about Grace's new farm boots.

 

There was food--lots of food.  This is an old appetizer recipe that can be found in any family or church cookbook.  It was very popular in it's day and my family really likes it. It feels like the 70s all over again everytime I make it!

 

There was a trip to West Virginia to visit Mom.

 

and teenagers--lots of teens and young adults.  It is so much fun getting together with family.  With my brother's children and stepchildren and ours--there are 8 young people between the ages of 16-23! Five of them are in college--exciting times.

 

We brought in New Years Eve Franklin style, sitting in front of the fireplace in our pajamas watching Dick Clark at Times Square:) Good times!

 

 

 

Remember Me?

I've been missing for awhile.  When I started to sign on to my typepad account this afternoon, I had to stop and think what the web address was and then I had to remember the password--Jeesh!  I also dug out the Nikon this morning and dusted it off.  This is definitely not like me! I've taken lots of pictures through the years and even though I took pictures over the holidays, for whatever no good reason, I've not taken many pictures since.  All that changed this morning.

I woke up, looked outside, and big flakes of snow was falling out of the sky.  The ground was white and everything looked so beautiful.  Mac the puppy was happy to frolic in the white stuff and even the chickens seemed to remember and like it? Is that possible?   Even though it didn't last too long, it was pretty and good and familiar. 

 

I felt inspired and got the Nikon out.
And then I thought about my husband/Valentine making his way to the left coast.

 

And then I made my first blog post of 2012.

 

"In your eyes, the light the heat

In your eyes, I am complete

In your eyes, I see the doorways

Of a thousand churches

The resolution of all the fruitless searches

In your eyes." 

(humming Peter Gabriel today--Happy Valentine's Day, Gary)

 

 

Zappa Plays Zappa/Return to Forever

Gary and I went to Riverbend last month to see Zappa Plays Zappa/Return to Forever Tour.  We were very excited to finally get to see the Zappa Band and it was WONDERFUL.  They played old standards--Cheepnis, St. Alphonzo's Pancake Breakfast and a favorite--Peaches en Regalia. 

 

I got to hear Frank in Pittsburg 1988 in what would be his last tour.  Gary, Marty and I drove up.  I was pregnant with Emma and Frank was registering voters in the foyer.  That was a memorable concert and great night of music. I will say the same for this concert.  It was so cool hearing Frank's music played by who Frank would want to be playing it--Dweezil.  He is so very talented.

 

 

After Zappa played, Dweezil graciously greeted fans.  I wanted to meet him so I walked up and ended up getting my ticket stub signed.

While I went to the concert most excited to see the Zappa Band, I enjoyed  Return to Forever just as much.  I'd forgot this old music--Chick Corea, Jean-Luc Ponty and Stanley Clarke--my goodness, these guys are terrific musicians.

 

Stanley Clarke played the upright bass like I have never heard it played before or probably ever will again.  Unbelievable.  Jean-Luc coaxes notes from that violin like none other and Chick plays the keyboard with the same passion he did 30 years ago.

 

 

After the concert, I had the opportunity to shake hands with Chick Corea and thank him for the wonderful music.  The Return to Forever Band played songs familiar to me and some that I want to look up and hear again.  It's time to dig out the old wax and hook the turntable back up!

Hey, the Pavillion at Riverbend is pretty nice.  We've seen Santana/Jeff Beck there years ago but I'd forgotten how nice it was. I like being outdoors but yet under roof.  There was a real light show going on all evening with the lightening/thunder--again, very enjoyable.   Summer evenings just don't get any better than this--sitting beside my guy, sipping a glass of wine, Mother Nature's light show all around, and fabulous music!

Louisville

Grace and I recently paid Emma an overnight visit.  It's a nice little road trip and it was our first time to see Emma's new apartment.  As has become our custom, we headed to the Highlands when we were ready for supper.

 

Impellizzeri's  boasts the best pizza in Louisville.  It's where the locals go.  It's the only pizza I've tried in that town, but I'd be hard pressed to go anywhere else.  It's pizza made the way that I like it--wood fired, thin crust, lots of herb flavor.  There is usually a wait to get into the place.

 

I am seriously drooling looking at this right now.  YUM!

 

My dinner companions. 

After dinner we drove through an old part of Louisville called "St. Matthews."  The houses in Old Louisville are so beautiful.  A lot of them are single family homes and a lot of them have been converted to apartments.  Emma lives in one of those beautiful old homes.  A lot of the apartments are occupied by students/grad. students.  Anyhow, Old Louisville is known for the many types of architecture.

 

This home is so pretty. I love the chairs adirondack chairs in the front yard.  Emma and I went to a street fair (huge street fair) in St. Matthews last fall.  We stumbled into an open house in one of these old homes.  Wow! The house had an elevator, huge curved staircase in the entry hall, beautiful wordwork and built-ins.  Beautiful.

 

Look at the transoms on the first floor and the 3rd floor bay window.  I also love the columns.

 

I've noticed that quite a few of these homes have courtyard backyards--walled, lots of flowers, strung lights.  I love driving through this part of town.

I'm planning another visit in the next couple of weeks. Emma and I will be hanging curtains in her new place--pics to follow!

Homecoming

Our hometown high school homecoming was this past week/weekend.  It started with classes meeting after school to decorate floats, and ended with a parade, homecoming football game and homecoming dance.  We had a tailgate party in the school parking lot before the "big game" and bundled up for the first weekend of chilly fall weather.  It's all good! 

Emma came home for the weekend.  She caught up on sleep and laundry, got her hair trimmed

 

and curled her sister's hair and hair feather for the dance.

 

 

This group met at Mark and Diana's house for pictures.  Everyone has new dresses and grown up shoes.  The smell of hairspray and cologne filled the air--teen spirit!  They all left for dinner at Ruby Tuesdays and then headed back to the high school cafeteria for the big dance.  Kids, this is the stuff that high school memories are made of!

 

 

Grace (over) reacts to Kuan's corsage.

I can't help but reflect on how fast time passes.  It really doesn't seem that long ago since I was in high school and the time that Emma and Bess spent at the high school went entirely too fast. I know that Grace's time will speed by so I will consciously try to savor these moments. I'll keep my camera close just in case my memories fade!

When Grace looks back, she might remember a new dress (with polka dots!)

 

 

 

awkward moments like learning to pin a flower to your (first) date's shirt in front of your Mom's camera lens 

 

 

embracing friends

 

 

flower corsages that match your dress perfectly

 

 
and first high heel shoes.

Pass those tissues!

Redhawk Football

This past weekend was Parents Weekend at Miami, so Mom, Gary and I traveled to Oxford to see Bess and watch the Miami/Bowling Green football game.  The weather was perfect for MU football.  We had tickets high up in the stands.

 

The view from our seats.

 

 

Bess is marching her trumpet with the MU Marching Band this season.  It was exciting to see the band out on the field--their show has a lot of energy--loved it!  Thanks to one of Bess's friends for taking this picture from the sidelines.

 

 

Appropriate game day attire.

 

 

The post game show.

 

 

Grandma tailgates with a thermos of coffee.

 

 

We caught up with Bess after the game.  Dad carries her trumpet, Grandma gives hugs, and Bess announces the Marching Band's big November gig--marching in the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade!  We get invited back to her dorm room "because it's clean."

 

 

OK. "Clean" by college standards means that the room has been doused with Febreze and most of the clothes are up off the floor--some things just never change!

After the game, we headed over to watch the Bellbrook band competition and see Grace march with the Lebanon Band (too dark for pictures.) 

Forever the Parent,

Sue 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like a dog to water

I was visiting with by brother at the farm last Sunday and I brought out my camera to show him some picture or another that I'd taken.  As I was scrolling through pics and passed these, he made me back up so that he could see them.  Then he laughed. And laughed. And laughed. And then he made fun of my over precautions and laughed some more.  I mean, I guess I can see the irony in putting a life jacket on a dog, but is it really so funny?

 

 Swimming is really  good exercise for Mac's elbow dysplasia. 

 

 

And sometimes that crazy pup gets winded and tired while he's in the deep end.  And now I don't have to worry.  And shouldn't  every person/dog  be safe in the pool?  And

 

 

oh, just fergedda 'bout it!

Thrifting

This morning I visited one of the two Goodwill shops in our little town.  Since we are in the crossroads of Dayton and Cincinnati, both cities have their Goodwill stores here.  Both stores have been built in the last 2 years--they're clean and organized.  I went on a mission to find curtains/drapes/rods for windows in Emma's apartment.  I am about to the realization that I need to purchase yardage and make them as I have been having no luck in the drape department. I did not, however,  come home empty handed.

 

Carhart jeans in Grace's size--new with tags. Carhart is all the rage in this 4-H community and is the brand of choice at the Tractor Supply Store. Score!

 Our family likes to play board games and I found one that we've never played before called "Life Stories."  The box looks like it's never been opened.  The back shows examples of cards that you draw that read like "tell about one of your best childhood friends" or "tell a story of a time that you laughed so hard."  This sounds like a fun game to play this winter when everyone's home for the holidays.  

I also found a pair of shoes in Emma's size in a brand that she likes.  She says that she's been looking for a pair of casual shoes to wear with jeans.  The soles are hardly worn and the little tassles are cute. 

What else?  The vintage thermos--I love these.  I have several and I take them to football games on Friday nights filled with hot chocolate.  They're so old school and so am I.

 Lastly, a Moosehead cookbook.  I bought my original Moosehead cookbook at Mother Earth Foods in Parkersburg, WV 20+ years ago.  This copy has been around for a few years and is filled with more vegetarian recipes.  I paid a little over $15 for these treasures!!  Sike!

 

Tomato Tomahto

Mac and I walked out to the garden this morning to see what was ripe.  The green beans aren't quite ready yet, but finally there are beans growing.  We have lots of peppers and I also picked several yellow squash.  We have lots and lots of basil and lots of tomatoes.

 

I picked an egg basket full of cherry tomatoes.  All of these are from two cherry tomato plants! 

 

 

All washed up.

 

 

Today I am roasting tomatoes.  I cut the cherry tomatoes in half and placed them on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.   I added basil leaves to one pan and some rosemary to the other.  I drizzled olive oil, added kosher salt and fresh ground pepper--then into the oven for 3 hours at 225 degrees.  I also threw in some cloves of garlic.  This is gonna be good!  Meanwhile,

 

these heirloom tomatoes and about half a bushel of their sistas are begging to be used.  We planted about 2 dozen tomato plants this year.  I've already canned 22 quarts of tomato sauce, plus we've had plenty for eating.  Last week I made delicious bruschetta.  Today, I'm making more tomato sauce since we have used most of the sauce on our shelf during the winter.  This tomato sauce recipe was given to me by a friend about 30 years ago.  I've used it over and over and it's become a family favorite sauce.  The pasta sauce on the Kroger shelf never measures up to the sauce made with our own organically grown tomatoes.

 

This little contraption has been a big help to us through the years.  We bought this almost 30 years ago and we use it every summer.  The tomatoes get washed, cored and quartered then added to the white reservoir at the top and plunged down through the strainer.  When the handle is turned, the juice runs out and into the bowl while the skins and seeds go out the side and into another bowl.  It eliminates the whole tomato blanching/removing skin step!   

 

Victorio Strainer! 

 

This receipt was in the bottom of the box.  We bought this for $37.54 in "ninteen hundred and eighty three."  (I thought I should talk like an old timer since the receipt looks so old!)  I just checked online and they still sell these gems.  Sears has them and I'm sure that the Amish store, Lehman's,  still stocks them.

 

Victorio Strainer--I sing your praises!   By the way, the kitchen is smelling amazing right now from those little tomatoes roasting away in the oven.

  

Okay, the tomato puree is  mixed with peppers, onions, garlic, tomato paste, sugars and lots of spices.  It's gonna be hot in my big silver pot!

 

After cooking on the stovetop for two hours, the sauce gets ladled into hot jars and then processed.

Remember those little cherries in the oven?  They are finally done and worth the wait--they have such wonderful flavor!  They're good for snacking right out of the oven.  I added some to pizza for supper, then stored the rest in a jar in the refrigerator for snacks, tossing with pasta,  or for a bagel topping in the morning.

 

Delicious pizza.

 

Yummy roasted tomatoes. 

We ended up canning 7 quarts and 7 pint jars of tomato sauce today--this brings the summer total to 29 quarts and 7 pints.  They look so pretty on the shelf.  With more green tomatoes on the vine and ripening, we should have more to can next week!

 

Ch..Ch..Ch..Changes

Our household shrunk by two last week as Emma left for Louisville to start her school year and we moved Bess to M.U. for her first year of studies. 

Emma was home for the summer to do two internships.  Since she kept her Louisville apartment, her move from home  involved carrying her suitcases to the car and driving off.  She started school yesterday and already is in the thick of writing legal briefs and selecting topics for a law review paper. 

Office attire was in order for Emma's summer internship at Sen. Sherrod Brown's office and also for her second internship doing immigration law paperwork for a local attorney.  Doesn't she look professional?  When she leaves the house looking all grown up like this I like to call out "did you remember to make your bed?" as she's leaving--I think it helps to keep her humble.

The move for Bess was not so simple.  We started months ago gathering dorm room linens, desk supplies, getting books, selecting courses--really, this move to Miami has been a year in the making.  *note to self--start Grace's college search her Junior year of high school.* 

 

 

 
Her pretty dormitory.

 

 

The place where she'll be receiving her mail

 

 
and the dormitory parlor where she may someday receive gentleman callers.  I know what y'all are thinking, but I've seen "The Help" twice this week and I've decided that I prefer the 60's attitudes and modesties better (not the attitudes before civil rights) so in my pretend college world, this IS the only place where young ladies will be receiving gentlemen callers!

 

 

Setting up her desk.  The room is Very small.  Since Bess is doing marching band camp this week, she is moving in 4 days earlier than the rest of the freshman class.  She'll get to meet her roomate on Thursday when she moves in.  As we were unpacking boxes and filling drawers and closet, Bess turned on the radio to the station she usually listens to.  She listens to classic rock almost exclusively, so I wasn't surprised to hear the Casey Kasem top 20 countdown???  Are you kidding me?? Casey Kasem is still around??  Bess tells me that she listens every Sunday.  Then the countdown started and they're playing Chicago--you know, ♫The feeling is clear, clear as a blue sky on a Sunday day, Everything was youuu...♫  Then Casey chases that song with ♫Please come to Boston♫ by Dave Loggins.  I can't tell you how strange it was to sit there and be listening to music from 1972 while moving into a dorm room.  Seriously, it was more than a little surreal.  When Casey started playing probably one of the most awful songs ever "Having my Baby" by Neil Sedaka, I felt a pimple start growing on my face and I started wondering if I would fit in.  Yep, all those good old insecurities feelings of 1972!

 

 

I'm standing in the doorway here. The beds are bunked and to the immediate right--this room is seriously small!

We've talked to Bess several times this week.  After moving in on Sunday morning, she auditioned for a spot on the marching field.  She just called to let us know that she got a spot and will be marching her trumpet this fall and going to New York to march with the Miami Marching Redhawks  in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. She's making new friends and says that college band camp is so much more fun than high school band camps.  She went to her first party last night, hosted by one of the band upperclassman.  Gulp. "Relax Mom" she tells me and even though it goes against every motherly instinct I have, I take a deep breath and tell myself that she's (I'm?) ready for this new stage of life.

So, all's quiet on the homefront here.  We're all trying to realize our new "normal."  Grace is wondering how life will be with "just Mom and Dad" and we're wondering that same thing ourselves.  Grace went to a friend"s house for overnight and Gary and I sat and talked about how empty nesters must feel and wonder what do they do?  Thankfully we will have a few years to think about that question and how to "re-invent" (Emma's words)  ourselves as a couple. We throw out suggestions-- Do we remember how to play backgammon?  Should we learn to dance?  Neither of us like to bowl.

We watch Wheel of Fortune, have a beverage and ponder life.  Umm...