CHRISTMAS DAY IS ALMOST HERE

I say "LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW"

Gotta have snow for Christmas, right? My cousins are arriving tomorrow on Amtrak from California. They ordered me to have snow when they get here. Well, I think they are going to be happy because we've got 2 1/2 ft on the ground.

Here are a few scenes here at Cabinhaus. We are waiting for our family(s) to arrive next week. The Moulton's from California on Monday and our kids and grandkids on Friday and Saturday. We will go to my nephew, Rory's on Christmas Day where we'll have a Crannell/Kested/Moulton Christmas.Our family Christmas will be on Saturday the 27th. To be continued!!!!

FULL MOON ON OUR POND

What a gorgeous scene tonight on our pond. One of the many reasons I love it where I live. Last night we got an 8 inch snowfall. Talk about a winter wonderland !!! The pine trees were burdened with the weight of the very heavy snow.

These pictures don't do it justice....wish my cousin Tom was here with his super duper camera.

What's your 10 - 4?

Remember when CB radio was popular? My father in law "Witch Hopple" was on the air everyday. He had so much enjoyment out of it. I think it was his "computer" of the day, as my computer is to me now. He gave my mother in law the CB handle "Witch-Hazel", but she wouldn't talk to "that thing".

At one time he was having a great time disguised as "the little ole lady". No one knew who "she" was for a long time. They thought she was a real person. Email, texting and IM has replaced the CB although I think the truckers still use it. My husband and I had a CB also. I was Cinnamon Stick and he was Uncle Josh.

GET WELL WISHES

Hi Joyce...My granddaughter had Dr Seuss's book, "The Footbook" here this weekend. It made me think of you. Double click on the picture. Love it !!!

(P. S. My friend Joyce had both her feet operated on )

TWO OF MY 9 BEAUTIFUL GRAND DAUGHTERS

EXPERIMENTING with a new program

Here goes my new experiment. These are random pictures from Thanksgiving.

Picture one: Someone was trying to be funny and set this on Larry's plate

Picture two: Chris looking at the ads for Christmas shopping

Picture three: "Pinch" our favorite seasoning

Picture four: Mackenzie and Katie arriving for Thanksgiving Day

CABINHAUS THANKSGIVING

Family

I am so thankful for all my family and that so many of them were able to come to the cabin for Thanksgiving.  The food was great and everyone chipped in making and serving.  We took so many neat pictures I don't know which ones to post.  There were 18 of us for dinner.  Darcy, Misti and Bryan stopped in Wednesday night for a visit but didn't come for dinner on Thursday.  Abby was in Savanah and Stephanie was in Germany.  There were also 7 family dogs here.   What a "hoot"!!!!  They all got along very well, but got into some serious horse play once in awhile (Ginger, Maggie, Mocha, Maya, Molly, Scout & Corky)

Megan   Kathy  Jessie

Kenzie putting the placecards on the table

Misti and Brian

Kate helping to make biscuits

Jessie, Shari & Jenny making biscuits

Steve, Corky, &  Scout with Steve's RV

Jello Wiggles is a family tradition

Oldest and Youngest gkids:  Sammy and Jeremy

Dinner : Jessie, Mackenzie, Megan and Kate

Dinner at the big table

Jeremy, Jenny, Sharah, Bruce, Chris, Sue, Steve, Scott, Kathy, Shari, Steve, Gail, and Larry

MERRY TOSSMAS

Check this out before you go "Christmas Shopping"

Be sure and watch it to the very end.

FARKLE AND SUPPER

I forgot to take pictures again tonight. My friend in Minn. seems to always have her camera ready for every event, big or small. I meant to take some tonight. We had guests over for supper and played Farkle afterwards. If you haven't played Farkle yet you don't know what you're missing. Well, it's actually sorta a mindless game, but fun nevertheless.

Supper was simple, but I did something different. I made meatloaf and baked it in a cupcake pan. It made 6 individual meatloaves, which I served on a meat platter. I used the large size cupcake pan. Each serving was browned and didn't fall apart like when you bake it in a casserole dish. I wish I had taken a picture of it !!!

I also served baked potatoes/sour cream, carrots with brown sugar/butter sauce, spinach and mandarin orange salad (made my own dressing), and apple crisp and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

NORTHVILLE GIRL'S ANNUAL REUNION

This year was the 55th annual Northville Girl's Reunion

It's neat to see former students that you haven't seen in awhile and also meet some of the younger ones. More older ones attend than the younger crowd. It's usually a nice banquet, but not set up too good for mixing. We received a numbered ticket when we arrived, which was later drawn for the prizes. This year the prizes were home made pies, cookies, fudge, bread, custard, and some other goodies. They were made by the committee. My number was drawn when most everything was picked, but I got a huge dish of raisin custard (which I love) and the nice big dish was included.

Here was the menu

Buffet Luncheon: Roasted Chicken, Baked Ziti, Red Potatoes, Vegetable, Mixed Green Salad, French Bread, Dessert – Coffee, Tea and soda are included

Entertainment
Hilarious and gracious – Shea Lauria, as hostess, 50/50 raffle and delicious prizes!!

I grew up with Shea ( she was Mary Lou back then) We lived in the same neighborhood, played hopscotch, rolling poley, softball, dolls, , and many little clubs.

Here is the table of prizes. I don't think they were all there yet when I took this picture.

There were only 3 of us from my class there. This is Nancy and Marilyn from my class

The lady in the purple sweater is the wife of the principal when I was in school

The banquet was over around 2 p.m. I had to get home to a prepare supper for guest. A couple and their girls. (6th grader and 9th grader). I made my famous speghetti sauce, salad, garlic bread and apple crisp for dessert. We had such a good time that I forgot to take pictures. I was so mad at myself. They brought me roses so I did take a picture of them after they left.

I need to rearrange them

BILL GROGAN'S GOAT AND SAM

Sam is our resident goat.

He loves people and if he's outside loose he will follow you around like a dog would. He gets lonesome and tries to find whomever might be outside. Well, this morning he couldn't find anyone, so while I was working in the kitchen he must have heard me. This picture shows him looking for me.

He's standing on the wicker couch

Now you've probably heard of Bill Grogan's goat, right?

Bill Grogan's goat, was feeling fine

Ate three red shirts right off the line.

Bill took a stick, gave him three whacks

And tied him to the railroad tracks.

The whistle blew, the train drew nigh

Bill Grogan's goat was doomed to die.

He gave three moans, of mortal pain

Coughed up those shirts and flagged the train.

Sam didn't eat any shirts but he did start eating my table scarf that was on the porch

We all love Sam !!!!

VETERAN'S DAY and "MY HERO"

Today is a day to be thankful for all our veteran's and remember their sacrifices to their country. Each one of us should thank at least one veteran today. I have two uncles that served in WW II of which both are now deceased. My Uncle Don lost his leg and almost his life while in a fox hole in Germany. Thanks Uncle Don for your sacrifice.

Now here is "My Hero" my husband. He served in the army reserves for many years and then was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis. We had two little kids at the time when he had to leave home. Thanks Honey for your part in protecting our country. Enjoy your day and always remember we are proud of you.

1961

Hurray...the Dam is getting fixed

I know that some of you reading this may not think this is very interesting BUT to me (and my family) it's been a long wait to get this done. We haven't been able to drive around the pond for 3 years. I know that everyone that uses the pond will be so happy it is fixed.

This is the erosion which has taken out over half the road by the dam.

Owen Jensen and Larry assessing the situation before Owen "digs" in with the backhoe.

The first "bite"

It scares me seeing the water drain out. I fear for the fish, but I've been told that there'll be enough water left in the pond for them until the dam is rebuilt.

Taking out the road

The water running out on the other side of the dam

The only sad thing about fixing the dam is that we are going to lose this beautiful clump of white birch. Their reflection in the pond is such a beautiful sight. I talked to Steve Cook, my cousins son, and he has told me how to preserve the logs. They have to dry out for a least a year before they can be used to build with. I've asked Steve if he could make me a bed from it and he assures me that he can and will.

Now we have to wait until the pond drains down about 2 or 3 ft before the next step. The upper part of the pond, near our cabin is going to be bulldozed as soon as the water level goes down. A lot of dirt has come down the creek over the years, plus lots of cat tails and weeds have grown up. The bulldozer will push the muck over into the neighbors front yard, which will bring them closer to the pond and also build up their yard.

TO BE CONTINUED !!!!!

A PRIVILEDGE

This is where we voted today. (Note the historical museum in the background) That red sign says, "Vote Here". Voting in a small town like ours brings the community even closer. We cast our vote, and are each proud of the others that have come out to cast their vote. Many friendly hello's, how are you's, and chit chat takes place. The local Rotary Club was selling food, which also promotes community gathering around to enjoy the refreshments. I'm glad to be an American and a part of "Small Town America."

PT COMMUNITY WELLNESS CENTER

Every Tuesday and Thursday I tell people that I go to PT (Physical Therapy) But what they don't know is that.....well, here is my PT instructor.

Now the cats out of the bag !!!!

Actually I really do go to PT, this is Steve, my Physical Therapist . And I took this picture today....Halloween !!!

He works with me everyday. Here's what is written on the Wellness Center website. "Steve has 13 ½ years of experience in various settings including outpatient orthopedics, med-surg rehab, inpatient sub-acute and acute rehab, skilled nursing, home care and sports medicine. He has treated patients ranging in age from 4 to 97 with diagnoses that include pre- and post-op orthopedics, sports injuries of all kinds, stroke, traumatic brain injury, RSD and just about anything else you might think of that requires therapy.

Joyce is an assistant at PT. She records my exercises as I do them and also helps to set up some of the equipment that I need to do the exercises. We've become good friends. Thanks Joyce.

Some of the exercise machines that I use.

I also do many exercises that don't require these machines

I am thankful for all the help that I've gotten here. Everyone there is so nice and very caring. I've improved so much and continue to do so.

GRANDCHILDREN

THEY ARE ALL TREASURE'S FROM GOD

Jeremy, Sharah, Stephanie, Abigail, Misti, Darcy, Megan, Jessica, Mackenzie, Katherine, Samuel

(Note: Grandsons at each end)

Sometimes I'm over-whelmed with emotion

when I see them, hear from them, or think about them.

Their birthday cards, phone calls, little notes, just stopping by, their vacation visits, I love it all.

I'm going to show you just a couple of very meanful things that two of them wrote and gave to me. The booklet that Megan made ten years ago, I have saved in a plastic ziploc bag with

the note; "One of my most valued possessions"

This first note is from Mackenzie, age 7 (Mack and sometimes Kenzie) wrote when she and Jessie were here for a week this past June. (Kenzie turned 8 in August)

Thank you Mackenzie....I love it!!!

This little booklet Megan made when she was 10 years old while Jessie and her were staying here for a weeks vacation. Megan is now 19 (as of Nov. 7th) and in her second yr of college.

One of the pages.

(The booklet is 5 1/2 in by 3 1/2 inches)

Now I just have to list the 30 reasons, (Remember this is seen through the eyes of a ten year old)

1. You are always helping people 2. You are the most creative person I know, 3. You are loving, caring, kind. 4. You are one of the many people that E-mails back. 5. You are always busy helping, 6. You never ignore people. 7. You always have time to listen. 8. You listen well. 9.You always have crafts, which I like. 10. You have lots of animals. 11. You always know what's going on. 12. You are always calm. 13. You always have food. 14. You always have time to help. 15. You are always calm. 16. You have time for everything, even if you really don't, it seems like you do. 17. You are allways patient. 18. You are Young (even if you don't think you are!!!). 19. You have a sense of humor. 20. You always have ice cream. 21. You are always up to date. 22. You can always brighten up someone's day. 23. You are a GREAT cook. 24. When you come into a dull room, you always brighten it up. 25. You always have something for me to do. 26. You have great crafts, writing, love and much more skills. 28. You are always nice. 29.You never yell. 30. To tie things up, You are a GREAT grandma !

Can you believe that? "It made my Day and The Rest of My Life"

Thank you Megan

I have a huge file of the Gkids drawings, newspaper clippings, writings, home made cards, announcements, graduation invitations, events in their lives etcetcetc. You just might see some of this on one of my future posts. At one time they had a club, called the CCC Club. They even had a newspaper they put out once a month. More on that later.