You  hear on the news about all the flooding in distant states, and my heart goes out to them, but this one really hit home.  These are the little towns around Montana close to where I used to live and traverse.

Each day, it seems to get worse.  I am sad. The photos were  posted on Facebook by a friend of mine. Thanks Ro Hein.  The little cafe where we used to eat when we played golf is all but completely under water.

My friend Laura grows lilacs all around her home.  Each year she asks people to come and get some so that we can enjoy them along with her.  She usually brings me some in a tin can.  I don't transfer them to a vase because I like the country look of them.  Unfortunately they don't last long so I sniff them while  I can and it takes me back to my childhood. Mom has a lilac tree and so did the neighbors where I used to pick and pick them and then haul them in a wagon full of water trying to sell them.  We probably never sold any but it was a fun time and the fragrance is forever in my mind.  Thank you Laura for sharing.

Birthdays Galore!

May is a month full of anniversaries and birthdays in our family.   It goes like this:
May 1:  May Day (I usually try to get flowers on this day)
May 4:  Daughter Colett'
May 5:  Brother Greg
May 6:  Daughter and SIL Matt and Colett's anniversary
May 9: Daughter Amy
May 10:  Sister-in-law Debi
May 14:  Good friend Colleen
May 18: Niece Kymbre'
May 20:  Hubby Wayne
May 21:  Niece Jem and Son-in-law Wes
May 23:  Nephew Matt
May 25: Grandson Alex
May 30:  Memorial Day

Then throw in a few weddings, graduations and  Cinco de Mayo and what a fun (and expensive) month it is.

Saturday we hope to party hardy with the men of the hour Wayne and Wes.  It's tradition now with Wayne's BBQ ribs, and Jello cheesecake (his favorite dessert).  This year Shon and all his family are here for the week so it will be even more special.  Happy, happy birthday to two loving, sweet and generous guys.

Wayner (yes, we call him that)

                                                                             Wes

Gourmet Dinner Club for April 2011

Gourmet Dinner Group

April 25th, 2011

Doug and Julie Ahlstrom

Jamie and Dave Harper

Doug and Julie Ahlstrom hosted dinner group this month along with the help of their daughter Jamie and son-in-law Dave.  The theme this month was German food. Dave had served a mission in Germany so was willing to help out by cooking some authentic German fare. I have to admit that I have had little German food in my life, and the little I did have was not my favorite.  I have had German potato salad that was very vinegary and that I did not like,  sour kraut (which I did like) and brats which were so-so.  Well this dinner turned my taste buds around, and I have a new appreciation for it and hope to try more things in the future.

                                  These are  German dumplings called Kloesse.
          They are very large, not like the tiny dumplings your Grandma put in her soup.
           

                                 

Who knew that asparagus is a German staple.  I didn't, and I LOVE asparagus. 

This is thinly sliced beef layered with honey mustard, bacon and onions, then wrapped around a dill pickle.  It is called Roulladan.  Dave also said that Germans use gravy on lots of things, so he whipped some up to pour over these and the dumplings. These are really tasty.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm fruit goes with anything.

Paul and Susan Welton

These were puffs of Susan's home made bread dough stuffed with ground meat ( Paul used turkey)  with onions, cabbage, salt and LOTS of pepper. They are called Bierocks. I am a black pepper fan so they were just perfect for me. 

Jaymie and Jim Utley

Jaymie made the German potato salad.  It was nothing like the potato salad I had tried before that was so vinegary.  It was delicious with just a hint of sour and lots of bacon.  I am now a fan.

Wayne and I always work together as a team when we cook.  I am the prep cook and I chop, chop, chop and he does the actual cooking.

For this month we made Bratwursts on a bed of caramelized onions and peppers.

I am not a brat fan because they are always so greasy, but I boiled them first and then Wayne grilled them so that much of the fat was released.  If you are a fat fan, then don't boil first and you will love them.

Brats

                                             Scott and Lori Bennett

   

Strudel

Last but certainly not least is the dessert made by Lori. They are apple Strudels, one with almonds and one without.  Lori also made the sauce to pour over it.  It was like liquid pudding and absolutely delicious.

We missed the Turner's this month so you won't get to see what color of hair she has this time.  Wink!

    

You might have a pretty great Mom, but she couldn't be as good as mine.

Mine raised 6 children...4 naughty boys and two naughty girls.  We all love each other and are close but we did give Mom some hard times as we grew up.  I think we are pretty good people now, but I know how many nights she spent on her knees in prayer just to get us to adulthood.  She and Dad must have agreed to take on spirits in heaven that were a little hard headed and stubborn and agreed to try to get us back to our Father in Heaven.  I think those prayers worked.  But don't stop Mom those prayers Mom, we will always need them.

Happy Mother's Day, you are the best!!

Colett's Big Birthday

I was in the hospital 40 years ago today. I was worried about giving birth and how I could be a mother of two at only 20 years old. I had had a baby almost exactly 13 months earlier and was not sure I could handle another baby so soon. Then Colett was born and my heart melted. Now I had a little girl that would forever change my life for good. She was so sweet I couldn't even put her down, and she stayed on my lap for 5 years until her sister Amy was born and I needed the room for her. Shon may have gotten short changed, but he was such an easy going and sweet little tot that he didn't seem to mind. Colett Loraine turns 40 today. It seems just like yesterday sometimes.

Colett....we call her Lettie or Lett

with her babies Isabelle, Millie and Nick

with her hubby Matt

with her sister Amy

her last birthday in the 30's

getting the squeeze from Daddy Wayne

With her sister Amy and her Mom...me

Getting ready for dessert

The beauty queen.... which she truly is

Happy 40th Birthday lovely Lett