What is wrong with this picture?

As I drove by this house last evening,

I discovered something was wrong.

You are thinking the obvious.... a bad picture.




Okay so lets fix the picture and try to see what's wrong.

Okay that's better. A picture of a plain looking house.

But what most of you don't know is this,

the three sister's great grandparents built this house.

Irene and Ward Hall

They lived in this house at 819 Black Hills Avenue,

for as long as us grand kids can remember.

We have great memories of grandmother's house.

Years later our parents purchased this house, and resided there.

But what is missing from this picture is part of our childhood.....

Oh yeah, the great big tree in front of the house.

The tree that we climbed high into the branches,

because you could climb higher in this tree than the apple or cherry tree.

The tree we jumped out of into huge snowdrifts during a winter snow storm.

It saddens me to see the tree gone, and yet another

memory of grandmother's house changed.

The house has changed owner's over the years, and

with new owners things about the house have changed also.

But cutting down this magnificent tree is the saddest change.

Of course the current owners are probably

relieved that it won't fall on the house now.

Belated Celebration

It was a dark and stormy night ....

  

.... no really, it was!

We drove to town and picked up Mom.

Soon we were at our destination:

The Feed Barn in Mitchell.

If you haven't eaten there before, you're missing out.

We had reservations for 7:00 p.m.

and we still had to wait for a table.

And wait.

And wait some more.

Actually, it wasn't that long.

They took us back to our table and got our drink orders.

Can you believe what Dani ordered?!

Please don't tell law enforcement that she's only nine!

Actually, this was Niece Two's face when I ordered the frosty mug.

 She didn't even try to hide her disgust.

We ordered the Cajun boil and the waitress came with long 

sheets of butcher paper to cover our table.

By this time, we are starving and

can hardly wait for the feasting to begin.

Mom and the nieces ordered jambalaya

  

for which Mom was rewarded with a fist bump.

We finished our soup and salads and they put bibs on everyone.

 

 
 

  

Next, they brought each of us melted butter.

And finally, the main course .....

  

  

They brought out several buckets of crab legs ...

 

... and then finished with the rest of the Cajun boil.

 

Yep, they dump it right on the table and you eat with your hands.

Barbaric, but we loved every minute of it!

Check out those succulent crab legs!

Of course, Sister Two and Niece One found other uses for them

and dueled across the table --- much to the 

delight of Niece Two!

 

All conversation ceased as we got down to business.

Belinda, the owner, checked on us throughout the night.

Actually, Sister Two and I paid her to keep Mom occupied so that we didn't have to fight Mom off for the shrimp and crab legs!

Niece Two should have had less to drink

so that she could have eaten more.

While Mom and Sister Two pondered whether or not to have dessert, 

Mardell was wondering how we ate as much as we did!

Niece Two didn't have to think twice about dessert.

They were out of her usual cherry cheesecake, so they improvised for her.

Mom was surprised with a birthday treat ....

... but not near as surprised as the waitress when

the pie and flaming sparkler tipped over onto her arm!

Fortunately, she got it righted without burning herself.

Nothing like taking off your oxygen so you can blow out your candle!

 

Mom decided that she should have birthdays more often.

Or maybe we should all just get together more often! 

If only they could stay 9 years old....

We were driving to town last night for yet another meeting,

and daughter #2 was telling us about her day at school.

This is how the conversation went:

"It was so gross in music class today,"

"What was so gross ?"

"We had to dance in music class."

"Why is dancing so gross?"

"It was slow dancing mom..... with boys!"

"Slow dancing with boys.... slow dancing?"

" Yeah square dancing"

"Oh, square dancing. I don't remember that being a slow dance."

"But I had to hold a fourth graders hand!

Yuck boy cooties!"

Well Dani you just keep that attitude,

and life will be good (for mom and dad).

Too darn funny and we had a good laugh.

Life is like a Cake Walk

We held our annual county 4-H Fun Day this past week end.

Once again all the kids had a great time.

In years past I helped in the food booth,

so I didn't make it around to the penny carnival booths.

But this year I helped run the booths.

You could shoot baskets, play plinko,

have a pillow fight, or have your face painted.

Just to name a few of the booths.

The 4-H club my family is involved with ran the

cake walk.

I never realized before that people really want to win

a cake. Some really want to win more than one cake.

It was a busy booth all night long.

As was the duck pond.....

and putt-putt golf.

Our club also ran the local jail....

but I think the deputies must have been

trained in Mayberry.

As the door is wide open,

and they are easily distracted.

Of course the kids didn't seem to care.

They were having a grand time.

This great cake was won by daughter #1.
I think the 4-Her who made this cake,
could guest star on
the Food Networks Ace of Cakes show.
It was really neat!

(and must have tasted good also as it was missing a few pieces last night).