Simple Traditions...

Do you have a family holiday tradition that is your favorite?

I have several but one of the best at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and the 4th of July is that after dinner was over the guys put on their aprons and did the dishes and all the clean up.  

Memory doesn't tell me when we started this. I do know that it was one Thanksgiving when we were all gathered at my mother and father in laws Song of the River house. It may have started with the losing of a poker bet to the Cowman's card shark grandmother... 

There were a lot of us, as the Cowman was one of seven children. At the time we were all married and had small children. Those of us who married into the clan, brought our mothers, fathers, siblings, and any friends that didn't have a place to go. It was a darn good thing that they had a big open rambling house. 

Over time it became tradition for the guys to do clean up, and let the women folk rest after days of cooking.  So as we retreated to the living room with classes of wine, and savored the moment, the guys could be heard over in the large open kitchen.  We would occasionally be consulted on how to handle china, stemware, or where a pan went.  They were actually very good at it and funny with it.  There were so many of them that it all was done in no time with much teasing banter and laughter. When they had finished, they would join us and the banter and laughter carried on...

Now we are scattered far and wide, and seldom get the chance to all be together. Some of us still carry on the tradition, but it's not the same...    

Blessed...

Giving thanks with...

for the many 

that are my family and friends,

 and that I finally found pie tins the same size as Costco pies...

Always & forever...

Duck or else...

We have all been listening to my granddaughter, Lauren, grouse about having to go to Oregon with Marymine.
  

Lauren was told that Marymine had to go to a meeting in Oregon with Lauren's uncle Sean this weekend. Marymine informed her, that she (Lauren) was NOT going to be left home alone, so she just needed to suck it up. 
  

The grousing by Lauren was on going... she was not giving up on trying to talk her way out of going.  She had been bombarding her brothers, and sister with texts complaining about this awful treatment by her mom. 

What Lauren didn't know had been arranged by her mom.... was that her big brother, the corpsman, was flying out from the East coast to take her to an Oregon Ducks game...

Happiest of Birthdays to my Lizzy.

 PS:  Got a note from my Lizzy (Lauren): 
"Another amazing day, Ducks won 44-10. By far the best  birthday ever. Definitely worth sitting in the cold! Thank you to everyone"

Wapiti woes...

Dad and C got back from hunt'n the great Wapiti at my brother's in Ideeho.  They spent a week with my brother, roaming the back of beyond.  Lots of hunters were seen, few elk, and only the butts and legs of those few.  

Dad did get to see grandkids, and great grandkids which was a big plus. They all wanted to keep him, but I had tagged him up so that wasn't possible.

C did most all the driving, they went up the Northern route (Oregon) and came home the Southern route (Nevada).  Dad said they saw a nice big antelope in Oregon and he would have brought it home, except he refuses to eat roadkill no matter how fresh.TYJ.

It was awesome that C would take time out of his schedule to do this for Dad.  The day after they got back, he and his wife were off to Colorado looking for a summer home.  He happened to mention before he left that he had just picked up his new Benelli Performance SBE...sigh.

Dad is not walking as well as he was this spring. Got him into the doc and scripted for PT.  I've been taking him to PT (great young man that Dad likes) three days a week. That, some diet changes, and trying to do less for him, has him showing some improvement. 

Since he was talked out of buying a motorcycle by the Doc, he has now decided to train on Willie with a shock collar.  Willie is no fool he has been hiding out under the duvet on my bed...