Halloween Spirit

I’m really into Halloween fall with all of it’s skeletons leaves and ghosts apple cider donuts and jack-o-lanterns pumpkins.

Seriously I just heard that Halloween business is down this year – from over 5 BILLION dollars to only over 4 BILLION dollars. What is wrong with this picture???

Anyway, since I am a little bah-humbug about the whole thing, it is a little difficult to do a Halloween post. But here goes…

A graveyard shot:

My Dad, Aunt Laurel, Aunt Bessie and Aunt Valeda at the grave of their parents, with my Great Grammie and Great Grampie Small.

A costume shot:

I am pretty sure I still have this costume in the costume box! Who is this cute little dancer?

A scary picture:

sorry girls!

What can I say – it’s the best I’ve got for this my favorite  holiday season of the year!

OCD

I know Maryellen and Barb are wondering how I got those Treasure Tower tokens so shiny…

 

 

Sprite, and OCD.

Who is this girl’s Grammie???

 

I just wish I had a picture of when she tried my Diet Moxie!

The Government Can!

Wanna join me in Washington DC next weekend?

www.912dc.org

The Taxpayer March – September 12, 2009

Bessie Amelia (Small) Erickson

No words can adequately express how much I love my Aunt Bessie, and how sad I am to know I won't be able to see her again in this life.
I wonder who is going to feed Walker his hot dog. I am so grateful that our family made the trip to Archer Idaho last year (Click to read that post) to see Aunt Bessie and Uncle Norman. I wanted to make sure my children and their spouses knew them, and I wanted them to know how much they mean to me.Here is her obituary - perhaps it will give you a little insight into this delightful lady and her well lived life.


Bessie Amelia Small Erickson was born Aug. 10, 1916, in East Bucksport, Hancock, Maine. She passed away at her home in Archer on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009. She was 92 years, 11 months and 22 days old.
Her siblings and one grandson preceded her in death.
Her parents, Howard Edwin Small and Janet Beatrice Giberson, died in the 1918 flu epidemic, and her grandparents, William and Maud Small, took the four orphans and raised them.
Her sweetheart, Norman B Erickson, and their six children survive her: Eric Edwin (Beverly) Erickson, Georgia Maria Erickson, Norman Small (Susan) Erickson, Tonya Jean (Gerard) Junkert, Victor Small (Mona) Erickson and Herman Small (Michelle) Erickson.
She never lost her New England accent, which endeared her to family and friends. She loved Archer and her neighbors and living in the West.
In 1939 she left Maine and traveled to Archer. She stayed with her recently married sister Laurel Hacking. When she went to church, a young man named Norman saw her and nudged the fellow next to him in the choir and said, "That's the woman I'm going to marry." Thus East meets West, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 11, 1941. She retired in 1981 from Ricks College, where she worked as a switchboard operator and in the David O McKay Library. She loved her jobs and everyone there.
She and her husband served an LDS mission to Johannesburg, South Africa, from 1981 to 1982. In their family, they have been blessed with 26 members serving full-time missions and five members in the Armed Forces. They also served together for 20 years from 1984 to 2004 as Idaho Falls Temple workers. She was a Young Women leader, Relief Society leader, Primary teacher, dance director and choir member and the ward librarian for 20 years.
She was always positive, happy and was adored by all her family. She was "Grammie" to 31 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren.
On Thursday, Aug. 6, there will be a viewing at Archer Ward from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Archer Ward church Aug. 7 at 11 a.m. with a viewing before from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.flammfh.com. Published in the Rexburg Standard Journal on 8/4/2009

Eric called to let me know what the funeral program was like - there were 130 people who stayed for the family luncheon. I am sure the chapel was full to overflowing. When I heard Eric's message I cried like a baby (yet once again) and was so sad that I couldn't go to Idaho to be with the family. Eric is a dear cousin and I sure do appreciate that he stays in contact with me regularly.

I love you Aunt Bessie. I love you.

Waterfront rules...

So peaceful in the morningOur visitors came to check out the ropes - I love the loonsProof that not only was I the "gatekeeper" - I even got on the dock to lifeguard.What a view - what a great time.Some of our fearless crew - this picture is missing all the daytimers that came for the day or only for a few days. Barb T. was our fearless leader and what would camp waterfront be without Tom and Ben? Of course I am the one with the megaphone and the clipboard. Ilona (front and center) had the most nicknames (Ilona rhymes with Iguana so I called her Iggy - she was always sweeping so we also called her the sweeper. Tom loved calling her Zena since her last name starts with a Z)The girls had so much fun in the water - the tent was my domain as the "gatekeeper".Kayaks were definitely the most popular watercraft, but we also had canoes, rowboats and sailboats.Ben pulling a train of inflatables.Evelyn proudly serving her meal during "Bishop's Night" - it's a tradition we all love.The camp service missionary - reminds me of the caretakers when the boy scouts owned the camp -always showed up at mealtime! Doesn't he look guilty??? (sorry Mike)YW Camp 2009!

If I were a Pioneer....

There would be covered wagon riding...

Handcart pulling...
Game playing...

Dutch Oven Cooking...

Picture Taking...Ice Cream Making...Butter Making...Storytelling...And some very curious people in the line at Wendy's wondering what on earth they are carrying in the back of that "covered wagon"! Rochester Ward Pioneer Day July 25, 2009

A great time was had by all :-)

Brimfield

For a few years now I have wanted to make the trek to Brimfield. "The Antiques and Collectibles Capital of the United States", Brimfield, MA is the host to thousands of dealers and tens of thousands of people three weeks every year - always in May, July and September. Brimfield is a sleepy little town with a population of 2,000 - but watch out during show weeks!

I left with a little cash in my pocket, and my trusty little point and shoot - knowing I would likely have more fun taking pictures than actually buying anything.I kept saying "I have one of those in the attic" - "I have that", "I remember that", "I wonder where I put that"...you get the drift. It was kind of like spending six hours in my house/garage/attic! I am pretty sure I could have my own mini-Brimfield, thanks to Larish and our Maine Packrat ways.

There are dozens of fields lined up with dealer after dealer selling every kind of antique and collectible imaginable. This cow was watching the last field very carefully, wondering when her field was going to be invaded by dealers. She was giving everybody what for too - mooing like crazy.I couldn't help but love this little girl in the food court - she was crying because she wanted to see her Grammie!
I loved this crazy painted Oak piece (and somehow never noticed that great jar until just now!)...You could get sterling - love these bundles tied with ribbon.
I hear they need a few extra hands at Girls Camp this year...
Or maybe a sign for the kitchen...
You could also outfit a marching band, or even an entire high school from the seventies! Click on the picture for a closer look...I love the old tubas...
I was the Lead Majorette in high school, but a guy was the Drum Major so I didn't have one of these hats:All in all, I spent $5 to park and a few dollars for lunch and water - but otherwise got away with a new appreciation for all that junk in my attic. Next show is September 8-13, anyone want to get away for the day?

Fettucine Alfredo, Red and White Mustaches

Compliments of the Food Nanny:

Alfredo Sauce:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 (3 oz.) package cream cheese
1 pint heavy cream (you can use fat free half and half - if you really want to)
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt and ground black pepper

1 pound uncooked fettuccine

1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Mix in the cream cheese. Stir in the cream and garlic powder. Increase the heat and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat and simmer, stirring often, while you cook the pasta. If the sauce needs additioonal thickening (for example if you're serving it as a dipping sauce without pasta), you may sprinkle in flour, 1 tsp. at a time. Cook and stir for desired consistency.
2. Cook the fettuccine according to package directions; drain.
3. Stir the Parmesan cheese into the sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Toss the sauce and the pasta in a large bowl and serve immediately.

Serve with a tossed green salad and hot French bread or bread sticks.

I should add

5. go on South Beach Diet and swear off this ridiculouly fattening recipe forever.

I use the alfredo sauce in this recipe:

Red-and-white Mostaccioli
(serves 10-12)
1 pound uncooked mostaccioli or other tubular pasta
1 Alfredo Sauce Recipe
1 26 oz. jar spaghetti sauce (or 3 cups homemade sauce), divided
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, drain.
3. Meanwhile, prepare Alfredo Sauce
4. Spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce in a 9 x 13 pan. Layer half the pasta, half the Alfredo sauce, half the spaghetti sauce, and 1 1/2 cups of cheese. Repeat the layering with the remaiining pasta, alfredo sauce, spaghetti sauce, and cheese.
5. Cover with aluminum foil and bake about 30 minutes or until it is hot and bubbly.

Serve with a tossed greed salad and Italian or French bread.

And of course

6. Do not eat if you are on the South Beach Diet.

Moose River Trip - Scott's Pictures

A few more pics taken by the amazing Scott:

The above is of when we first started out - I love the fog on the water.

When we were lined up like this - one canoe following another - we kept thinking "It's a small world after all" and it sometimes felt like we were stuck on a Disneyworld ride - only it was not motorized.

Here is that great fisherman shot I missed with my camera:

Ron and Janet did stay in the boat for the most part:Sometimes I paddled:

Sometimes I hung on for dear life:

This picture makes me think of Steve Earl's song "Sparkle and Shine":

Look at these clouds:

Awesome, awesome, awesome!

We just love the two young men that came with us - Scott and Jeff you are the best!

OK I think this is the final post on the trip. Hope you enjoyed our mini vacation! Just wait until next year!!!

Third Day June 27 - Holeb Falls to Attean Landing

Yep that's right, this is a 34 mile round trip adventure! It is called the bow trip because the map looks like a bow, as in bow and arrow. We don't backtrack and we end up where we started. Here's a map to show you the route:

OK On with the third day.

As I ended the last post - it IS amazing what a good night's sleep can do for an attitude. I woke up saying "Let's hit those rips!"

It didn't last long. But I did get a little braver, asked Scottif he would take me down them and he agreed, In our morning prayer, Ron prayed long and hard that I would be brave, and I prayed that I would know when I should NOT go down. It worked and all in all it was a great day with no more anxiety!Although I did hold on for dear life!Janet, Maryellen and Barb all paddled through the rips.Tyler has the most athletic yet graceful paddle technique I have ever seen. I loved when we were behind them because I loved watching him paddle.After an exciting ride down Mosquito Rips and Spencer Rips - we had time to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The last day was no doubt the best day because we all got enough sleep the night before. It was great weather and we really enjoyed all the river had to offer.

Barb did a good job paddling Jeff down the river :-)

Janet has the prettiest paddling technique of the girls (in my humble opinion)

We even stopped to share an ICE COLD Diet Coke - aaaaaaaaaaaah.

It wasn't long before we heard the familiar rush of the river and knew we had arrived at Attean Falls. This is a double set of rapids and is a familiar place to those who have wiped out on this trip before. There are two sets of falls and the first one was a piece of cake - long and fun and everyone did fine running it. The second was bit more tricky. I got out to take a look and Jeff and Barb ran it just fine - but Jeff's advice to me was to stay on shore, which I gratefully followed!
Ron and Janet came next and this is what I saw when I rounded the corner:

Hey what is Janet doing swimming?

And why is Ron clinging to that canoe?

This is my favorite picture of the whole trip! Look at that water!
Scott and Jeff bringing the infamous #13 through the falls....

Maryellen and Tyler made it through just fine, although perplexed why on earth
Ron and Janet got out of the canoe to take a swim...

Where's that first aid kit?

Lots of bailing and a couple of bandaids later...

we were on our way.
Back into the boat!

Yep, that's where they biffed it...

On the road again, leaving the falls and headed for Attean Lake...

The river widened out and pretty soon we were on the Lake again.The storms chased us out of there and the lake got very choppy, but we made it back to shore in record time!Back at shore, packing up
Jeff and Barb paddled together the last day...so that Scott could convince me to stay in the canoe!
Yummy dinner and bathrooms in Jackman Maine. We really didn't want the party to end so we went out to eat before we headed home.

Evidence of wildlife: On the way home we saw a beautiful bull moose with a big rack - and I SWEAR to you he is right here in these woods. Maybe YOU can't see him, but we all know he is in there!We did see this moose on the road, and Barb and Jeff saw a mom and baby moose in the river. We saw loons, ducks, an eagle, snakes, fish, crows - and I saw a red fox on the shortcut through the woods on the way home! There was also a racoon that enjoyed a meal at our last campsite compliments of the boys cooler with no latch. Oh yeah, and speaking of wildlife, Scott and I rounded a corner on the river and came across a woman naked from the waist up. That was pretty wild.WE DID IT LADIES!!! WE DID IT!