Posted on 01/01/2025 7:08:47 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
((Augie)) So sorry for your loss. How kind of you to step up and help his family.
Augie you did good brother.
It’s been a brutal week.
Pops just called to let me know another one of our old-timer farmer neighbors was called home yesterday. That’s two neighbors and my buddy in the last three days.
I need a break.
Thats a lot to deal with it. But like you said they are called home. A much better place than the world right now. They will be praying for the ones left behind.
I know it doesn’t help you much today, but I had a 5-year period where I lost my Grandma, my Grandpa and my Step-Mom.
Dad and I were like...WHAT NEXT? But, Life goes on, and so do we. ;)
Today, I sat down with mom & we went over what food & drinks we are having at the housewarming party Sunday. Once that was done, I put the recipes on a spreadsheet by ingredient, how much needed, & where located in the store & sorted by location, then ingredient. After that, we headed for Walmart. Almost 4 hours & 2 grocery carts later, we finished up & headed for home. I am worn out!
Here’s the menu:
A hot wassail* and a cold ‘Christmas’ punch*, bottled water.
Hot chicken salad sliders*
Lil’ Smokies wrapped in bacon*
7-layer Dip & scoops
Hot artichoke dip*
Meat & cheese charcuterie board garnished with cornichons & olives (green & black), 2 mustards, carmelized onion spread (Aldi), Cranberry Apple Jam, various nuts, red grapes & a variety of crackers.
Fruit & vegetable ‘snack’ board* with a half pineapple bowl centerpiece. 3 dips: ranch*,sweet fruit*, caramel dip. Lots of colorful veggies & fruits.
Dessert tray: cookies, Meyer Lemon cake, fudge, various candies.
*Recipe available online - I can post links if interested.
I will start prepping tomorrow, do most of the ‘heavy’ cooking Saturday, put punch together Sunday & get prepared food on boards, serving plates, etc. Trying to keep the stress level as low as possible :-)
I’m so sorry for your loss, Augie. I hate losing friends and family. There’s always this gaping hole, and no way to fill it. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.
Sounds like a feast of epic proportions! How many folks do you expect?
Get your rest tonight. The next few days are gonna be big ones!
Praying for continued good health, and safe travels for your guests! Have fun!
I think about 25, could be a few more if some of the kids come along (high school age). My cousin’s 2 boys have ‘hollow legs’ - one just graduated HS last spring, the other is early 20’s & I know for sure he & his wife are coming. There won’t be any Lil’ Smokies or slider leftovers, I suspect!
My SIL knows I want to get into making charcuterie boards so she gave me an extra large wooden cutting board & some small ceramic bowls for dips, etc. From my brother (she ordered for him, I am sure) a sausage & cheese gift box and a nut gift box. She also brought items from a huge Harry & David gift box her brother had sent her. Mom also got a large Whitman’s Sampler candy box & the neighbor at the lake just sent us homemade cookies. We have a lot of ‘neat’ stuff to sprinkle around our ‘boards’. Mom has a huge oval silver tray that we’re using for the fruit & veggies. My goal is to have a “feast for the eyes” & if the recipes turn out (the 7-layer dip is an old reliable favorite, the rest are new to me), then I think it will be a true feast.
I got all the house projects done except one - was not able to get railings up where we are missing a section on the stairs to the 2nd floor. I have everything except the metal fasteners to attach the handrail to the newell posts. Those fasteners are out for delivery today - no way I can do the staining & carpentry work by Sunday. Once I do finally get those railings up, I think all the ‘inside’ house projects are done - maybe I can make some raised beds for myself!
Augie, I am sorry to learn of your loss this morning. You and Mrs. Augie have my sympathy. This is a terrible way to begin the new year.
Bon; I don’t even like the smell of people burning logs in their fireplaces. I can’t imagine how all that destruction smells. Wear a mask and stay safe!
25 is a reasonably large group of people! I’m sure there will be nothing left. I predict the lil Smokies will be the first item to disappear; those are so yummy!
Sounds wonderful! I know your party will be in all the Society Pages next week! ;)
Small rural town ... you have to watch what you do - it gets around.
Qiviut, you and Diana have the greatest views from your front doors! Along with everyone else here we are just happy that you and mom are settled in to your new country estate home!
“...have the greatest views from your front doors!”
Which view would that be, Pete?
Junk vehicles up on blocks?
A port-a-potty that gets moved to Bear Camp and back every season?
An escaped Steer grazing my garden?
Puppies of all shapes and sizes trashing my landscaping?
An escaped Mule trashing my lawn?
My falling-over barn?
An escaped hunting dog...hunting my cats?
LOL! Wouldn’t have it any other way. :)
Thanks. I have a lot of elderly neighbors, some in walkers and/or wheelchairs - I worry most about them and this terrible air. Lots of people have asthma and allergies, including my daughter, and I’m glad she isn’t here.
Today, our air is a bit better - we are in the yellow/orange zone this morning - still unhealthful, but better than the purple zone we have been in the past few days - right now we are at 112 down from almost 400 - I think that it the particulate count and extremely unhealthful. I wear a mask when outside.
I heard the fires are still raging with 0% containment, the Eton and Palisades fires in particular. It depends on which way the wind is blowing and I noticed Catalina Island off the coast was in the yellow/orange unhealthful zone, so the wind has shifted in their direction.
I just got another weather alert saying winds are moving back in this weekend so our air quality may turn very very bad again. Staying inside as much as possible. What a mess!
Thanks for your concern, as always, Pete!!
I don’t know if people who have lived here all their lives notice the mountains/scenery as much as mom & I do, being ‘newbies’ living in the area. I know they do see some of it - had someone at church mention a gorgeous sunset the week before. I pulled up a picture on my phone and she said “that’s it!”.
Every day, from sunrise over the Blue Ridge, which we can see from our kitchen bay window, to sunset over the Massanutten Range, viewed from our back patio ... or now, when it’s super cold, through the French doors at the back of the house, we really have stunning views. During the day, making trips to town or the grocery, visiting relatives, etc., I notice the shadows on the mountains, the way the light hits and changes during the day .... so very blessed to live in such a beautiful setting. It’s even more meaningful because this is where we have FAMILY.
If there is a good memory, people have a way of removing the clutter and irrelevant objects and you end up with something like this:
"> It looks a lot like the field beyond the fence on my parents property, at least in my recollection of that moment.
Yeah, I’m not complaining - just being my usual smart-mouth self. ;)
But seriously - the Port-a-Potty and the junk trucks really CAN go. Anytime. In THIS lifetime, Please! ;)
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