Who would have ever known that I would get up out of bed shortly after 3 am to go shopping. With such a long day before and sore legs, Pamela and I decided to make a run for it. We looked over and over our flyer's, mapped out a course of action and hit the town.
I think we can honestly say that we were successful this year. Everything was able to be obtained with the exception of one item that didn't get on the stores truck, but they gave us a rain check.
Pamela even had to run through a store on her own, while I tried to park. The Lot was FULL. I don't think I've ever seen Shopko so busy...She even watched a store manager throw up. I guess everyone had to be to work (even the sick)...Arvil even came and joined up with us at 7 am, but held us back a little. We had to keep telling him to keep up. He found a few good sells too, once he got into the spirit a little.
We shopped for 6 hours and would have kept going if we felt lucky to leave the kids longer with their father and uncle and if Arvil hadn't said enough. But we felt we pressed our luck with the kids, so we agreed to come home. We did get the men to go out later with us to have the kids pick out a few things for shopping on Saturday. They didn't like the idea to much once they figured out that they had be bush whacked.
I can honestly say, that Pamela and I didn't have any run ins with any people this year. Everyone seemed pretty much friendly and willing to help each other out to a point. I think that the stores figured it out too, so aisles were clear and areas were ready for the many many people. We also got into rather short lines, so checking out wasn't to bad either.
So here's to everyone as you do your shopping, have patients, fun and don't get discouraged. The sales are out there, you just have to look...ENJOY! DON'T BE A GRINCH!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thanksgiving
Well, Thanksgiving came and went and we're all still alive. Usually I'm in the kitchen alone, able to make everything in my own way and time. I seems to wear myself out, but enjoy bopping around the kitchen listening to the radio. Well this year Arvil didn't go out hunting and Pamela, Jon and the kids were here. Needless to say, to much visiting was going on and people coming and going through my kitchen. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Let's see...Arvil and I went out shopping a couple of days prior to Thanksgiving. We were able to get a fresh Turkey, so no thawing. We decided to do Stove Top Stuffing, so it would turn out and everyone would enjoy it. I decided that I could attempt to make homemade rolls, something that I can't seen to do well, but Arvil can...We couldn't get yams, since all the stores sold out of them, so we went with Sweet Potatoes, which turned out wonderful...but...my pies this year...something happened to them. The crust just didn't fill right. But I made the pies anyway instead of dumping the crust and starting over. Everything was going well I think, until Arvil came in and sat down to talk with Pamela and I. My rolls raised faster then I thought they would, my sister has a way of using warm water to help them raise quicker, I didn't think they would be ready in 15 min. So my pies got moved to the side and I tried to roll out the dough after kneading the dough, like my sister's recipe told me to do. Needless to say, after doing 8 rolls, Arvil was called into the picture to finish them. As he finished the rolls, I started back onto my pies, but that was after I asked Arvil to open up the cans and mix up my pumpkin pie mixture. Who would have dreamed, that he wouldn't read the recipe on the back to make sure everything was in the pie mixture. As I went to pour in my mixture it seemed really really thick, with a 1/3 of the mixture poured into the shell, it dawned on me that I hadn't set out enough canned milk for him. So off to the pantry to get another can to combine to the mixture. I was able to save the crust already rolled out. So the pies went into the oven, after the rolls were baked. Then came the Huckleberry filling, but I put that in the wrong crust. I poured it into my crust that was already fluted and pierced for my chocolate pie. Oh well, I threw on a top and re fluted the edge. But then I started to smell burning. As I turned around, Arvil had taken the rolls from the oven and set them on the flat stove top, but since I had my hands busy, pouring the Huckleberry filling, I didn't turn off the stove, so all the rolls that were over the burner started to burn. Luckily my new Pampered Chef pans held up and didn't get scorched.
By the time everything finished cooking and we sat down to a lovely meal, We were eating 15 minutes ahead of schedule. It tasted really really good. The turkey was gone in no time. 14 pounds goes quickly with 9 people eating.
Later that night, it was finally time for pie, Arvil went up and got Huckleberry. It was really good to, so he said. Then Jon and Kyra came down with their Pumpkin pie. Kyra was so excited with all her whipped cream that she didn't notice the taste, I guess, because Jon let out this terrible sound. He wasn't going to eat the pie, it just didn't taste right. So he gave it to me to try. After a couple of bites, it came to me that the sugar was left out. I had put it in front of Arvil, but he didn't get any out. He was just going to open the cans that I had asked him to do. So before I could dump the pies, Arvil took a piece and poured sugar over the top then the whipped cream. He said it tasted fine that way, but we'll pass.
So hopefully next year will be better...maybe we'll go somewhere instead...
Let's see...Arvil and I went out shopping a couple of days prior to Thanksgiving. We were able to get a fresh Turkey, so no thawing. We decided to do Stove Top Stuffing, so it would turn out and everyone would enjoy it. I decided that I could attempt to make homemade rolls, something that I can't seen to do well, but Arvil can...We couldn't get yams, since all the stores sold out of them, so we went with Sweet Potatoes, which turned out wonderful...but...my pies this year...something happened to them. The crust just didn't fill right. But I made the pies anyway instead of dumping the crust and starting over. Everything was going well I think, until Arvil came in and sat down to talk with Pamela and I. My rolls raised faster then I thought they would, my sister has a way of using warm water to help them raise quicker, I didn't think they would be ready in 15 min. So my pies got moved to the side and I tried to roll out the dough after kneading the dough, like my sister's recipe told me to do. Needless to say, after doing 8 rolls, Arvil was called into the picture to finish them. As he finished the rolls, I started back onto my pies, but that was after I asked Arvil to open up the cans and mix up my pumpkin pie mixture. Who would have dreamed, that he wouldn't read the recipe on the back to make sure everything was in the pie mixture. As I went to pour in my mixture it seemed really really thick, with a 1/3 of the mixture poured into the shell, it dawned on me that I hadn't set out enough canned milk for him. So off to the pantry to get another can to combine to the mixture. I was able to save the crust already rolled out. So the pies went into the oven, after the rolls were baked. Then came the Huckleberry filling, but I put that in the wrong crust. I poured it into my crust that was already fluted and pierced for my chocolate pie. Oh well, I threw on a top and re fluted the edge. But then I started to smell burning. As I turned around, Arvil had taken the rolls from the oven and set them on the flat stove top, but since I had my hands busy, pouring the Huckleberry filling, I didn't turn off the stove, so all the rolls that were over the burner started to burn. Luckily my new Pampered Chef pans held up and didn't get scorched.
By the time everything finished cooking and we sat down to a lovely meal, We were eating 15 minutes ahead of schedule. It tasted really really good. The turkey was gone in no time. 14 pounds goes quickly with 9 people eating.
Later that night, it was finally time for pie, Arvil went up and got Huckleberry. It was really good to, so he said. Then Jon and Kyra came down with their Pumpkin pie. Kyra was so excited with all her whipped cream that she didn't notice the taste, I guess, because Jon let out this terrible sound. He wasn't going to eat the pie, it just didn't taste right. So he gave it to me to try. After a couple of bites, it came to me that the sugar was left out. I had put it in front of Arvil, but he didn't get any out. He was just going to open the cans that I had asked him to do. So before I could dump the pies, Arvil took a piece and poured sugar over the top then the whipped cream. He said it tasted fine that way, but we'll pass.
So hopefully next year will be better...maybe we'll go somewhere instead...
Friday, November 21, 2008
My New Kitchen Flooring 11.14.08
Arvil and I talked about replacing our flooring in our kitchen due to vinyl tiles popping up and starting to warp. But I never dreamed that I would come home from work last Friday night and have my kitchen in a total disarray, with a floor 1/2 way completed. Arvil had called earlier that day and asked what color of flooring that I wanted, but I didn't know, so I told him to ask for samples and we would then decide. Well, forget the samples, Arvil just had that "get er done" attitude...Arvil had been working at a friend's home for a few weeks being the perfect fix-it man. They remodeled their home 3 years ago and never seemed to finish it off. So Arvil had completed everything they wanted, so either he was really bored and wanted something to do, or he was in complete agreement with me that the floor needed to be replaced. By 7:30 PM, Arvil was done with the floor, the furniture was moved all back in and our floor looked wonderful. It's hard to know that it's vinyl flooring and not laminate, which is lying right next to it. It sure made our kitchen look rich and comfortable. The flooring was a little darker then I would have like, since it shows all the crumbs on the floor, but it's getting the best of me. I'm really enjoying the look and am thankful for a great handy husband, that is able to do improvements so well.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
My trip to WA & OR continnued...
I had just finished up with Mom & Dad in WA and was headed to Oregon to see the kids. Pamela had worked hard to get some stuff done around the house but we still needed to do much before the party on Wed. night, the 29th. Kyra was turning 7 years old. But 1st of all we were all hungry and when I asked the kids what they wanted for dinner, it was decided very quickly that we would have Mexicain. So off to the local restruant to have dinner, all went really smoothly, except Ethan, he was tired of sitting in the high chair and with fruit loops all over the floor, was passed from person to person as we all ate. The kids loved their own burritos that they each get to make with rice and beans.
Wed, the laundry was stated in full force, clothes were sent upstairs with each child once they were around to help out and keep busy, old junk items were taken out to be tossed, items were taken to GoodWill and to storage, several times...Treat bags went to school with Kyra to help celebrate with the class...Time to pick up the cake from WalMart and to get something to eat before everyone arrived. Plus Jon worked hard and mad on the front porch to make sure it was strong and sturdy, for all the people that would be coming up to the door. We had a great night and several grandmas confused Kyra a little, when asked who gave that to you...There was Great Grandma Shaw, Grandma Shaw (Jon's mom), There was Grandma Kathy, (Jon's step mom), a friend that was close to Jon when they were growing up, so she to was called grandma and then there was me,Grandma Anderson. We had to make sure who was talking to who, when grandma was said.
Thursday, we had more fun with cleaning, moving items to storage and getting ready for Halloween. We had lunch at a Chinese restruant, which is also a big hit, since they give you enough food for 2 or 3 meals at a very low cost. We ordered faster internet services that day for Pamela and Jon hoping to get them installed quickly, but to our amazement, the person never showed, so it was back and forth on the phone to the company to see why the serviceman wasn't there, after waiting several hours, we receive word that they don't have a man until the next week. So we waited in vain.
Friday, Megan and Jon had a field trip out at Megan's teacher's house and around the neighboring farms to look at animals. Then we tried to get ready for going out...We decide not to do the church's Trunk or Treating, but decided to go to WA, but because there was a long line at Pizza Hut, (trying to redeem Kyra and Megan's book it gift certifcates), they messed up on the pizza and we waited to get it corrected. By then we were tired and ready to just hit a few houses for the kids, then head home. We were tired. I believe the kids scored with the candy... They had a huge bowl full when they returned home that night.
Saturday, Pamela had meetings and selling events, so Grandma got to be the babysitter for the whole day. I started to come donw with allergies, but seemed to keep it together for the most part. Something that I now know that I'm to old to do, day in and day out. Pamela has my greatest respect to handle 4 children.
Saturday night, I headed back to Mom and Dad's to rest before leaving on Sunday. It had rained most of the week-end, so all different smells were in the air and I seemed to get sicker and sicker. But my trip home was a success and I even stopped in Post Falls to say hi to a former boss. It was great to be home, but wonderful to see how the children had grown. I look forward to seeing them again at Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A week w/Parents, 4 Grandkids & Others...
I decided that I needed to spend some time with my parents and then see 4 of my grandchildren. It's been since a few months since I've seen the 4 that are in Oregon and also my daughter Pamela and her husband Jon.
So I headed off on a Friday afternoon, after a day of work and reached the Tri-Cities about 9:00PM. We visited for a while and caught up on some TV shows, then headed off to bed. It was really nice to be in a cool room to sleep and have the basement pretty much to myself.
The next day was a very exciting, I helped my mother blow out the underground sprinkler lines. It was a good thing that I somewhat watched Arvil the week before. But within 45 min. to an hour, all zones were dry. That was quite a learning experience. We then decided to go pick up my sister Carol and hit the town. She had been waiting for a carpet man to come and give her some quotes and advice. By the time we picked her up, the man had came and went and she decided to lay vinyl flooring in her kitchen, entry way and washroom, but wasn't sure how the floor under her carpet looked, so she left instructions for Evan, her husband to tear up a corner of the carpet to see. By the time we returned with all our goods we found, Evan had tore out all the carpet in the area that would have flooring. But it looked like a lot of work was ahead for him to get all the glue and rough edges sanded down. We decided to go out that night to Tony Rama's and had a wonderful meal, thanks to dad's gift card. Sunday was church and a get together by Carol/Evan's family, Craig/Bonnie's family, Pamela and the children and mom and dad. Goodies were enjoyed by all. Monday Mom, Dad and I all went shopping again and by the end of Monday night, Evan decided to replace all the sub flooring and lay down new wood before the vinyl would be laid. So we all jumped in the car and headed off for Home Depot to buy what Carol/Evan needed for the floor. With living in Montana, it can give you perks every now and then, (such as NO TAX). Tuesday, Mom and I hung Christmas lights around her house and out on the pine tree. A job that we wanted to get done while the weather was right. It should look pretty good, it a wind doesn't come up and blow them down. Then I was off to Oregon to meet up with Pamela, Jon and the kiddos. And the fun really began...to be continued
So I headed off on a Friday afternoon, after a day of work and reached the Tri-Cities about 9:00PM. We visited for a while and caught up on some TV shows, then headed off to bed. It was really nice to be in a cool room to sleep and have the basement pretty much to myself.
The next day was a very exciting, I helped my mother blow out the underground sprinkler lines. It was a good thing that I somewhat watched Arvil the week before. But within 45 min. to an hour, all zones were dry. That was quite a learning experience. We then decided to go pick up my sister Carol and hit the town. She had been waiting for a carpet man to come and give her some quotes and advice. By the time we picked her up, the man had came and went and she decided to lay vinyl flooring in her kitchen, entry way and washroom, but wasn't sure how the floor under her carpet looked, so she left instructions for Evan, her husband to tear up a corner of the carpet to see. By the time we returned with all our goods we found, Evan had tore out all the carpet in the area that would have flooring. But it looked like a lot of work was ahead for him to get all the glue and rough edges sanded down. We decided to go out that night to Tony Rama's and had a wonderful meal, thanks to dad's gift card. Sunday was church and a get together by Carol/Evan's family, Craig/Bonnie's family, Pamela and the children and mom and dad. Goodies were enjoyed by all. Monday Mom, Dad and I all went shopping again and by the end of Monday night, Evan decided to replace all the sub flooring and lay down new wood before the vinyl would be laid. So we all jumped in the car and headed off for Home Depot to buy what Carol/Evan needed for the floor. With living in Montana, it can give you perks every now and then, (such as NO TAX). Tuesday, Mom and I hung Christmas lights around her house and out on the pine tree. A job that we wanted to get done while the weather was right. It should look pretty good, it a wind doesn't come up and blow them down. Then I was off to Oregon to meet up with Pamela, Jon and the kiddos. And the fun really began...to be continued
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Slideshow Troubles
After many, many hours of trying to get my Sideshow to go onto my blog/page correctly and to download not as a posting, I finally made it...It Was Very Frustrating!
I was directed to Picasa by Google, thinking that I just may have stumbled onto a great sight that will do everything easily, but then locating all my pictures from all the different files on my computer was another challenge, then came all the uploading and downloading and organizing the pictures how I wanted them. This was several hours in it's self. When it came to dropping them onto the sight, well...that's when the hair pulling began, and no, the child at my house isn't into blogging, so he wasn't much help, but he tried...Good thing he's going to school this spring.
I finally decide to drop that sight and go to Becky's and Karen's site, where they configured their sideshows. So the picture uploading and downloading started all over again. When it came to the organization of the pictures, well, that went out the window and I decided to select the shuffle pick...but it still wasn't right. Needless to say, my sideshow went in as a posting, not as a set item. So after giving up or taking a break, a quick call went out to Karen to see what I was doing wrong...so back to the computer I came, FINALLY, It Worked! BUT...I now had 2 sideshows of the same pictures...revolving at different times, it was quite interesting, but not what I wanted. With a few more Helps from Google and Blog Spot, the posting was deleted and now my pictures are where I want them.
I hope you'll enjoy watching my children and grandchildren as they grow and as their lives change. I love them more each day...They are my Life...They're why I do what I do.
I was directed to Picasa by Google, thinking that I just may have stumbled onto a great sight that will do everything easily, but then locating all my pictures from all the different files on my computer was another challenge, then came all the uploading and downloading and organizing the pictures how I wanted them. This was several hours in it's self. When it came to dropping them onto the sight, well...that's when the hair pulling began, and no, the child at my house isn't into blogging, so he wasn't much help, but he tried...Good thing he's going to school this spring.
I finally decide to drop that sight and go to Becky's and Karen's site, where they configured their sideshows. So the picture uploading and downloading started all over again. When it came to the organization of the pictures, well, that went out the window and I decided to select the shuffle pick...but it still wasn't right. Needless to say, my sideshow went in as a posting, not as a set item. So after giving up or taking a break, a quick call went out to Karen to see what I was doing wrong...so back to the computer I came, FINALLY, It Worked! BUT...I now had 2 sideshows of the same pictures...revolving at different times, it was quite interesting, but not what I wanted. With a few more Helps from Google and Blog Spot, the posting was deleted and now my pictures are where I want them.
I hope you'll enjoy watching my children and grandchildren as they grow and as their lives change. I love them more each day...They are my Life...They're why I do what I do.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Blogging Can be Very Frustrating!
Here I am, sitting at my computer for the 4th time today, going in and out of websites, trying to decide what music I want, what pictures or gadgets do I want to add to my Blog...around and around to this and that, saving this, changing that, trying to add pictures to no avail. Some things go right, then other times...SMACK, your stomach drops out from under you. Everything that you just spent 2 hours doing is GONE...What did I do? Where did it go? How can I get it back or can I? Now I have to do it all over again...is it worth it, so family and friends can see my progress, Or do I say, NOPE...I'll settle for what I have...Good Luck to me next time I sit down to do something...or do I swallow my pride, Get on the phone, ask how someone how did they do that cool thing...or by dang just say, I'm going to figure this out...
Needless to say, I can be stubborn at times...So here's to me that I'll get the hang of this blogging real soon. Or it could just be the death of me!
Needless to say, I can be stubborn at times...So here's to me that I'll get the hang of this blogging real soon. Or it could just be the death of me!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Who Would Have Thought...
Here it is almost mid October; shorter days, longer nights, cold morning temperatures in the mid 20's, daytime highs of 40 or so. Abandoned gardens turning brown and black from the clear cold nights and morning frost, leaving vegetables exposed for deer and scavengers. Tree leaves are turning bold reds, golden yellows and crunchy brown, as they are blown from the trees, drifting to the ground for children to play in. Frosty morning temperatures bring ice layers to vehicle's windshields, glistening with crystals to be scraped off before work. Deer come out of hiding to feed on green grass, rotten apples and abandoned produce, trying to gain weight to prepare themselves for the fast approaching winter. People are exclaiming how Summer was just here and how it feels like winter, where did Autumn go? Hunters anxious for different hunting seasons to open, so they can provide for their families and fill their freezers. Stores are displaying Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween paraphernalia before school has hardly started. The years seems to slip away faster and faster each passing year...
YET...I STILL HAVE TO MOW MY LAWN...whoever heard of mowing lawns in mid October, especially in MONTANA! My lawn's as green as it usually is, in the hot summer days of July. Usually by mid September, the mower has been retired until the following spring, which is usually in MAY. I do have to say though, it's been wonderful having such a beautiful yard since we completed installing our underground sprinkler system. (Our greatest accomplishment of the year!) Yet the deer are breaking and ruining my newly planted trees as they rub and rake the branches to rub off the dying velvet from their antlers. Oh if they only knew the cost!
The weathermen have been predicting rain or snow in the valley floors, and how this year could be a long cold, wet winter. The bees must be in agreement, since they're building hives up high, out of the way of snow drifts. Who knows, this year might surpass our winter of 1998 when we received 3 1/2 feet of snow in one night. I guess Arvil and I need to get busy to prepare for winter. Hoses need to be rolled up and put away, bushes need to be cut back and dead flowers cut and thrown away. Sprinkler lines need to be blown out and things put away. Who knows, we may need to have gloves and snow shovels handy soon...but just in case it doesn't snow this week-end. I'LL BE OUT MOWING MY LAWN AGAIN NEXT WEEK!
YET...I STILL HAVE TO MOW MY LAWN...whoever heard of mowing lawns in mid October, especially in MONTANA! My lawn's as green as it usually is, in the hot summer days of July. Usually by mid September, the mower has been retired until the following spring, which is usually in MAY. I do have to say though, it's been wonderful having such a beautiful yard since we completed installing our underground sprinkler system. (Our greatest accomplishment of the year!) Yet the deer are breaking and ruining my newly planted trees as they rub and rake the branches to rub off the dying velvet from their antlers. Oh if they only knew the cost!
The weathermen have been predicting rain or snow in the valley floors, and how this year could be a long cold, wet winter. The bees must be in agreement, since they're building hives up high, out of the way of snow drifts. Who knows, this year might surpass our winter of 1998 when we received 3 1/2 feet of snow in one night. I guess Arvil and I need to get busy to prepare for winter. Hoses need to be rolled up and put away, bushes need to be cut back and dead flowers cut and thrown away. Sprinkler lines need to be blown out and things put away. Who knows, we may need to have gloves and snow shovels handy soon...but just in case it doesn't snow this week-end. I'LL BE OUT MOWING MY LAWN AGAIN NEXT WEEK!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Blogging World...Here I Come
It just takes my breath away to see how my daughter's and my niece have created their blogs. Some are very professional looking. Now my sister-in-law is starting to get into this, so I thought that it might be fun too.
I thought to myself, "that if my children could do this, I should be able to do it too. I'm only behind them a couple of decades in the technology world, but I'm the older person here. I'm somewhat smart, I should be able to figure out the computer and what the sites telling me to do, Right. It should only take me a few hours...well maybe 5 or 6".
I'll see how long I can keep up with blogging and make it interesting. It may last a couple days or maybe a week or two...maybe I'll even surprise myself. I'll start slow for now, since I sit at a computer all day long, the computer at home is sometimes the last place I want to go to when I'm home.
I'm sure it will be a while before I'm up to the level that my children are at. I have already realized that I need to somehow save/store my pictures better on the computer and that I don't have very many photos of me...I guess I'm usually behind the camera.
Wish me luck!
I thought to myself, "that if my children could do this, I should be able to do it too. I'm only behind them a couple of decades in the technology world, but I'm the older person here. I'm somewhat smart, I should be able to figure out the computer and what the sites telling me to do, Right. It should only take me a few hours...well maybe 5 or 6".
I'll see how long I can keep up with blogging and make it interesting. It may last a couple days or maybe a week or two...maybe I'll even surprise myself. I'll start slow for now, since I sit at a computer all day long, the computer at home is sometimes the last place I want to go to when I'm home.
I'm sure it will be a while before I'm up to the level that my children are at. I have already realized that I need to somehow save/store my pictures better on the computer and that I don't have very many photos of me...I guess I'm usually behind the camera.
Wish me luck!
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