Family Matters

The thing about family is that we don't get to choose them. Saying you don't belong to a family you were born into doesn't make it so.

This past year has been especially difficult for my family. We lost my dad's brother, the second sibling he has buried. It doesn't get easier with time or age. Both my Aunt Nova and Uncle Louis were younger than my dad. He just always assumed that they would bury him.

In January we lost the oldest of my parents grandchildren. Skylar was only 23. Probably the most difficult funeral any of us has attended. Then came the news that Mom has bladder cancer. That battle began in March.

The last day of August Daddy had a pretty major stroke. His memory and physical abilities have been greatly reduced by the stroke. He is doing ok, but every day is still a struggle.

Mom's surgery to remove her bladder went off ok. The cancer is gone, but she has had some issues with the actual healing part. Patty and I have learned enough about nursing to know that neither of us want to ever be one.

Jimmy and I both have had very stressful work experiences this year. Patty and Daddy have both now been diagnosed with diabetes...

You may be wondering why I'm bringing all this up... Well, the fact is family is where you go because you know they have to accept you, no matter what. Like I like to say - "we have to love you - God said so..." We all do our best with what we have. No one is perfect, and you can say that for a fact with my wonderfully dysfunctional family.

Thanksgiving is on the horizon. With all the losses and challenges of the last 12 months, I for one am really looking forward to finding the things to be Thankful for.

Long days and pleasant nights...

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

My baby girl is 23 today!

It was very cold Nov. 9, 1984. Mom and Dad made me walk all over Tulsa the 8th to try to convince Nicole it was time to meet everyone. She began her life like she has lived it - doing things her way and on her time.

Seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital. Jeff was in the midst of studying for midterms so her first car ride was in Mema's car.

It has been a wonderful 23 years. 2009 begins the next phase of her life. New OU graduate and will have a teaching certificate soon. Newly married. Trip to Europe on the horizon. What a wonderful year.

Long days and pleasant nights...

Good Girl Millie...

Today at lunch I was on the couch trying my best to take a power nap. Toby and Millie had just settled in when Millie jumped up and ran to the window. She looked out into the backyard and barked once then turned and looked at me.

My reply was simply, go outside and see what's there. So she did. The back door was open since it was such a beautiful day and I thought the kritters needed some fresh air.

Once outside I heard two more short and distinct barks. They weren't barks alerting me to the fact that there was a cat in the yard, or Dopey was running the fence line or even that the neighbors were outside. No, these were new barks that I had never heard. So naturally I had to go investigate.

The first thing I noticed was Millie standing by the gate with her tail on point and "talking" in the direction of the neighbors front yard. The second thing I noticed was that the piece of wood keeping Oprah Mae in our yard was lying on the ground. It only took 30 seconds to figure out that the black panther had escaped! The whole 30 seconds I was looking in Oprah Mae's favorite hunting spots, Millie stayed on point. Please understand that is a very long time for my rather A.D.D. dachshund.

I found Oprah Mae "hunting" in the front yard under a tree. When I brought her back in Millie chased her around the house for a couple of minutes literally growling at her. I guess that was her way of scolding her for leaving the yard without permission. After all she gets in trouble for doing that!

Yes, Millie received two treats for this job well done!

Long days and pleasant nights...

King Albert

When the Cardinals were swept by the Dodgers this year it hurt. Only a little - there are so many things going on in life right now that finding time to watch more than 3 post season games has been difficult. And thanks to my boys, I haven't had to worry...

The post season has already begun to be interesting, however. Management for some reason decided to hire McGwire as their batting coach. They evidently understand the fans may have mixed reaction to this hire. Immediately LaRussa, Pujols and Schumaker released statements and were around town chatting about what a great decision that was... I am going to whithhold my opinion until around July 2010. Just hope that random drug testing takes place on a daily basis in the St Louis clubhouse.

LaRussa has also signed for one more year. Duncan is back and they say the bullpen is staying put. In my opinion the bullpen is a huge problem. I would like to see money spent on another starter that is Carpenter and Wainwright calliber - no Smoltz...

In the best news of the off-season so far, Pujols is again racking up the awards. Looks like may be another MVP year.

Long days and pleasant nights to ye...

Momma's Pumpkin Pie by Tammie

I am not the cook in the family. Patty is by far the best cook of the children. Momma makes the best desserts known to man.

But this week I needed to vent some frustrations. So I bought a pumpkin. cut the top off and gutted it. Then I baked it.

Last night I actually made 100% from scratch pumpkin pie for today's Chilli and bake-off luncheon at work. The last time I made crust was in home-ec when I was in the 8th grade. I was so good at home-ec the principal was forced to transfer me to shop class mid-semester at the urging of my home-ec teacher.

Anyway. Margie once told me that if you can read, you can cook. So I pulled out my Amish cookbook and off we go. First problem, I didn't have a rolling pin. So, off to WalMart to buy that.

Once I began... I really started to feel like my mother. I had the oven on preheat. Dishes in the sink soaking. Laundry going in the washing machine. And the Phillies and Yankees were on the tv. Now all I needed was my dad to yell at. hehe

The pie dough turned out easy enough to make. After all I grew up in the kithens of Granny Mae, Nannie and Momma. The first pie filling was completed and poured. During the mixture of the second pie filling I realized that there was no brown sugar in the first pie. OH NO!!! Well not to worry, while completing the second pie, it dawned on me... I would just add brown sugar to the already poured pie filling... then stir.

Now the pies are cooking. Dishes are in the process of being washed. Clothes have been changed out. The table is almost recognizable. I called my mom. Then Patty. =)

Once the dishes were completed. It was time to begin the chilli for the luncheon. I couldn't stop at just one pot, I had two crockpots full of chilli.

The judging took place and I won!!! My totally organic pumpkin pie made from scratch had beat out the competition. One of the ladies commented that she didn't try it because she thought it was something someone picked up from Tippin's! Woo Hoo. That totally surprised me, because if you could've seen the pie. There is no way you would've thought that crust was store bought.

Long days and pleasant nights...

Cat Mommie

Being a cat mommie has given me surprises that no one warned me about.

A few weeks ago I found a dead snake along the fence line. Since I have dogs that were bred to find and kill critters that burrow and slink and it was Toby that brought my attention to the snake, I gave them full credit for the "kill."

Yesterday during my lunch time with the babies Oprah Mae brought a baby snake into the kitchen. She was very proud of her catch. So proud in fact that she tried her best to keep Millie and me from obtaining and killing said catch. When I finally managed to kill the serpent she became bored with it and ate it. This brings me to the conclusion that the first snake was killed by the black panther known as Oprah Mae and simply too big to eat.

Today she went outside to play in the rain. Then came in soaking wet. She jumped on the bed and me to let me know it was raining. Without her, I wouldn't have had a clue.

Long days and pleasant nights...

Fall...

I love the Fall for all the colors. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. This morning on the way to work I paused long enough to snap a shot of the beautiful drive I have...

Outside our building the parking lot has lit up with the colors of the season.

The downside to this all is that Winter is just around the corner. But before then we still get to enjoy Halloween - Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin and Momma going home from the hospital!