Sunday, December 30th, 2 PM This won't be interesting to you unless you are a family member. But if you are one of the C---k/T---x clan, read on!
Sunday, December 30 at 2 PM we're all getting together (as many as can) for The Great Spaghetti "I Can't Believe I Ate The Whole Thing!" Cook-Off Challenge. It will be in R-------e, at Barbara's. We're expecting ABOUT 30 people, counting the small fries.
This is the place to post info, sign up to bring food, make suggestions, and just generally "meet" until we meet in person then.
(A word to the wise... please don't post any clearly identifying information such as last names, addresses, etc. We don't want any party crashers!)
~~~
Here's what we know, so far:
The Matriarch is making her famous sauce (I've asked her to write down the recipe as she goes, so we can all replicate it in our own kitchens) and meatballs.
Lori is challenging The Matriarch by bringing her sauce.
Not to be outdone, The Patriarch, is offering his sauce, and challenging a blind-taste test.
We are hoping Debbie brings her meatballs.
Jessica is bringing the spaghetti (pasta).
Elizabeth will bring in the grated Parmesan/Romano cheese.
I (Judi) will bring a huge green salad.
Madeline's bringing in a fruit salad, and by popular request, Uncle Frank's Sugar Cookies. I've been begging for that cookie recipe for over 20 years, but she's loyal to the W----- Clan's sworn secret.
The Patriarch has also volunteered to bring a very expensive Chianti!
Rebecca is providing a dessert. I'm sure we can use more than one!
Barbara's doing the garlic bread... mmm-mm! And Debbie's offering her home-made French bread recipe to anyone who wants to make it. I think Barbara took her up on the offer.
The Matriarch has volunteered her Little Sister (Aunt Lynn) to make a cheesecake. (Funny how bossy Big Sister's are! Right, Lori?)
Dan agrees to bring the paper goods. I think he's banking on having less dishes to do, since he's in that 3rd generation AND a guy!
Each household bring your own beverages! Easier that way; you know what you like!
~~~
There will be a Gift Game. Anyone who wants to participate should bring a WRAPPED gift, without a "to" or "from" on it. It's easy to play and a ton of fun! (VOTE in the upper left column for GAG or REAL, and amount!)
~~~
I, for one, can't wait to see you all! ...WATCH THIS SPOT!
~~~
172 comments:
Oh, relief! The email format was driving me NUTS!
Jessica, you will probably need to ask Grandma how many noodles to bring. I have not cooked speghetti for over 4 people! However, speghetti does come in different thckness so I would like to request the "thick" kind (vs. the "thin" kind.)
bye!
BL_ makes wonderful sauce and taught me her "secrets" years ago. Since then, "J-'s spaghetti sauce" has become famous in the JWorld. So...seeing everyone condsiders his or hers the best (don't we?), I think we should have a little contest before the main meal -a blind test of sauces with bread dip and toothpiks to sample the meat. Then, after dinner vote: (1) which sauce matched up with the dinner sauce provided by the matriarch and (2) which sauce tasted best overall. But first, we must ask ourselves: can anyone bear the pain of not being judged "The Best?"
Oh yeh, under "anything else" I volunteer to bring the Chianti.
You got a problem wit' dat?
maybe we need to get a "outside" judge!!! this could be close!!! you all know who makes the best meatballs....so I'm sure that would be no contest!!!! good idea with the toothpiks etc. Jessica I'll get the name of the noodles for you...got to have good noodles!!! Sharpen up thoes cooking tools!!!
Patriarch: only if it's cheap.
Let me correct that: only if it's NOT cheap!
(Haste makes waste)
Who IS the patriarch???? Harry??? Who could be older than Harry!!!!?? :-)
PS I vote "no" on the cheap wine!!! cheap wine is only good after the first bottle!
:-0
L
A Patriarch does not have to be the oldest, just the progenitor.
And that would be...
IF jet-lag and Caleb cooperate, I plan on submitting my "Spaghetti and Meatballs" specimen to the contest, too. However, even if jet-lag and Caleb don't cooperate, you can count on me for the chopsticks (yes, Asians eat spaghetti with chopsticks!) and a dessert.
Just kidding, our white-as-can-be, half-of-us-are-from-Minnesota family won't be needing chopsticks, but I will bring a dessert. =)
I'd submit my spaghetti sauce, but I don't think Prego makes a jar with meatballs! ;-)
(Hey, don't knock it! It's a step up from Franco American Spaghetti. I used to love that when I was a kid.)
Ok...I'm in..prepare to be challenged! I'll take care of the bread as well! If anyone wants suggestions on the type of pasta, I reccomend Barilla(thick spagetti), it's a little more expencive, but worth it :)
looks like things are moving right along....I still like coke with my spaghetti..to old to change now!! Are you going to make spaghetti also Barbara??? sounds good on the noodles..pasta is hard to figure out on "How Much" not knowing how everyone can eat..so best to have too much and just save left-overs.
Barilla is excellent, I agree. A quick guess on how much would be 7-8 lbs, dry in package. With salad and bread as side dishes, that should be enough.
Make my Coke Diet!
Barilla it is! I'll just get a bunch... can always save packages we don't use.
I hope my mom doesn't mind making meatballs! She is in Ohio so she doesn't know I volunteered her, but they are really good! I love them (and I will offer to help her). =)
Ok, OK, OK. Maybe I used the term "patriarch" too loosely. I have since looked it up in dictionary.com and found no less than 28definitions -none of which I can absolutely ascribe to. So, if its "old and venerable" yeh, maybe Harry is the patriarch. If it involves the progenitor, well...even though I never realized I was progenitating at the time, I guess that would be me. It 'don't matter!' Lets all just get sloppy stuffed on spaghetti and enjoy a long-over due family reunion!!!
Thanks for getting this started, Pup.
And I will, in spite of my well-known parsimonious background, bring a VERY expensive Chianti...
I still don't know who the "patriarch" is! My guess would be Rick? If so, besides Rick, where are all the guys with their input???? Let's show a little involvment, a little noise!
Hey, if we are going to have more than, let's say 2-3 speghetti sauces, I may make my trendy "Red sauce" which isn't speghetti sauce, per se, but an excellent red sauce! Ya, maybe that is what I will do. Still need speghetti noodles, so it should fit right in!
L
"Will the REAL Patriarch please step forward!"
C'mon Lori... you are the only college-educated second-level sib!
Patriarch: the male head of a family or tribal line; a person regarded as the father or founder of an order, class, etc.
Progenitor: a biologically related ancestor; an originator of a line of descent.
Now do you know?
(Another hint: Harry has never touched a keyboard, and Rick doesn't use spell check)
Of course I know what Patriarch is...Dad was my first thought, but I don't think he even knows about the speghetti thing yet. ???
Dad, you out there?
PS
What is a second-level sib???? Is that like second rate????
:-)
Well Judi I have good news for you..Spaghetti-O's have meatballs in the can!!! so now you can enter the contest!!! Also aunt Lynn is in for the meatballs....she asked me how to make them and then want to use my sauce!!!! something is wrong with this picture!!!!
Am Im still the "Matriarch"???
Attention Lori....no way are you going to get out of making YOUR spaghetti sauce....all I have heard was how good it was...better than mine....etc....so, no way are you not making it unless you are afraid of loosing!!!!!??????
I didn't mean to start a big philosophical discussion in the midst of all this wonderful food talk! Also when I used "BL_" and "J-'s spaghetti sauce" in a comment, above, I was trying to keep out the interlopers and party crashers -not to fool my own kids!!!
OK LAP-C, put down the medical dictionary and consider this simple litmus test: Figuratively line up all the people at the reunion for a group photo. Which ONE MALE, if removed (from birth) would cause the removal of the most persons in the photo?
I believe that one can safely refer to that one male as the "patriarch/progenitor."
(you could run the same litmus test for "matriarch")
Now, on to the feast!
Love and appetite,
Yer D--!
Well, ya....that's what I know "Patriarch" to be!! My confusion came when I thought you didn't know about the "shin-dig" yet...ergo, you wouldn't be posting!!! ergo, ergo the confusion as to who was claiming "patriarch"!!!
Hey Debbie, where the heck are you?????????????
Debbie is in Ohio with Greg and Charlie and Dave right now. I have been keeping her updated on everything... ;)
Thanks, Jess!
Yes..I will make my yummy sauce as well! It was my mom's receipe! I'm happy to host this at my house if that works for everyone!
Judi, cute idea for a gift exchange...can it be gag gifts or only nice items???
Wow, I've been out of town for the day, and this place has been buzzing!
Lori: second level sib means 2nd generation. Patriarch and Matriarch are first level; Daniel, Jessica, etc. are the third level; Caleb is the fourth!
I knew you knew what a patriarch was, but since I thought Dad was already invited, I didn't know where your confusion was. Now, I get it!
Mom: I agree! Lori, bring your spaghetti sauce, not some trend red sauce substitute!
Barbara: On the subject of the Gift Game... I had another request for actual gifts, not gag. What does everyone think? I have some ideas for very usable $10 gifts.
Debbie's going to have a lot of reading when she returns from Ohio. I think since we've volunteered her for meatballs in absentia, we might as well assign her kitchen clean up while we're at it. Shall we take a vote?!
REMINDER: We still have some openings for food sign-ups. Dan? =D
I like the idea of real gifts, too. Even gift cards such as Starbucks, gas cards, or Target cards make great $10 gifts!
Instead of Assigning Debbie for kitchen duty, why don't we have all the men clean up???
Then us girls can chat :)
Ya, I think the men should clean up! I have been around a lot of families in the past 20 years and ALL of them had equal contribution from the men with cooking AND cleaning! It now seems very odd to me that growing up, the guys in our family just sat on the couch!
yeh, I think the men should clean up...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!? Dis is an ITALIAN feast!!! Da Godfather would roll over in his grave!!!!
watsa matta for you, anyhow???
Sheese!!!
I have a workable solution to Clean-Up. (And, I'm serious)
I love to clean up... I know, I know, it's weird. But, I'd rather clean a kitchen than cook- ask my family!
So, if someone else will bring the salad, I volunteer to do ALL the clean up! =D
A Poll has been added to VOTE for the type of gift for the game. Please vote!
I'm for no gag gift...also, I think all the YOUNGER grandkids should clean up....(we really do not want Judi not to make the salad..she makes a'killer' one!!!)
Yea, grandkids can clean up! Or, Judi, you and I can do it for old time sake. You wash and I "rinsy".
You best bring the salad at any rate!
Lori
I'll put down for Aunt Lynn dessert, although she is in Fl. right now..she makes a good cheese cake!
Hey..as long as I don't have to do major cleaning..I don't really care who does it!! LOL I'm opposite of you Judi, I will gladly cook anytime but I don't like to clean up the mess!!!
I'm guessing if the younger generations clean up this is without Caleb and Ellie??? LOL
Kyleigh has told me she likes to do dishes!!!
we'll save Caleb and Ellie for back-up!!!!
does younger generation mean kids in high school or younger? or ALL
3rd generation "kids"? just curious :)
That can be decided by the third gen...since I'm second...it doesn't matter much. LOL
Hey, how about a combo gag/real gift??? that is partly what makes the game fun....trying to ditch the gag gift for a real gift!!!
Just a thought.
The thing that stinks about a combo gag/real gift is some of us will bring a real gift but get stuck with a something like polident.
In my never-to-be-humble-opinion, I don't think the combo idea works, either.
The problem is, once a person opens a gift, they're not allowed to trade. It's always the next person in the sequence. So, if you had the gag gift, you'd probably be stuck with it, and everyone would be trading for the better gifts.
I suspect, even with real gifts, some will be better than others, and some will even appear to BE gags!
So, it's either all gags, or all real...
I agree with pup: One person's treasure is another person's junk.
The way I have played it is with all nice gifts, but once someone picks a gift they unwrap it but it can be stolen up to two more times...It makes a fun game but in the end everyone still ends up with a nice gift...
nice gifts has always been fun..that is my vote.....do we need to have someone sign up for paper plates etc??? don't want those grandkids over worked with dishes !!!( i am looking out for them !)..
All the paper and plastic we can muster!!!
Too bad they can't make pots and pans out of paper or plastic!
Hey 3pip's...since you are staying in our house..are you mustering in my cupboards???LOL
so, would it be a good idea if we all bring some HEAVY paper plates?? and cups??
Naw... I think it would be easier for one person to bring them all.
I think I'll suggest these to Daniel.
Someone still needs to claim the grated cheese...
And, have Madeline and Barbara tossed a coin yet? We still don't have the location confirmed!
I'll bring a dessert also, and cheese/hot pepper.....think we have just about everyting covered...good idea to have us each bring our own drinks....
Hold your horses, Mom... Madeline hasn't signed up for anything yet. Give it a little more time! I don't think she's been on this post yet.
=D
I will confirm that it is being held at Barbara's house! We (Barb and I) spoke about it and she was planning on it.
Yes..Maddie and I talked as well and figured it would be a little easier at my house since I have more room. Is everyone in the CL--K and Tr--x clan going to be here except John and Tiff? Too bad they can't come as well..This should be fun..:)
Regarding the 3rd-Level clean-up crew. . . Being a 3rd-Level with a 4th-Level in tow, I think I should be exempted. Maybe I can send in my 4th-level contribution as my replacement. . . but I doubt he'd be much help.
As for gag vs real: I say real. . . but if we come up with a GREAT gag gift from here in Singapore, we may just break the rules. But, we won't break the rules unless we're sure the gift would be steal-worthy =)
Jessica: What do you say about a game of Settlers? Josh and I can bring it.
Definitely a game of settlers!
And how about for clean up if anyone, 2nd generation or younger (this includes spouses), who does not prepare any food helps with clean up...???
Great idea, Jess, and I'm trying to picture twenty people cleaning up! LOL
Actually, with paper plates and cups, good quality plastic forks and spoons, it shouldn't be too bad. We just need to make sure there's a BIG trash can and those heavy black liners in it.
Once again, I VOLUNTEER for K.P. If anyone wants to help, that's fine. And, I'll definitely let Caleb help me! =D
What is settlers???
Barb: Settlers is a board game. I've never played, but those that have love it! Something to do if you're not watching football or doing dishes! :-P
On a personal note...
I just found out that Elizabeth and her boyfriend, Paul, will be coming after all. I'd misunderstood when she was leaving for college.
Hip Hip Hooray!! I'm so glad she will be there!
oh good, it will be nice to see elizabeth and meet her b/f!
Barb, you should play settlers with us... you'll love it! =)
sounds fun..I love board games...I'm glad Elizabeth is coming as well :) Where is she going to college???
Ps: I'm curious to see how many comments will be on this post by Christmas! :)
Hi Barb!!
Elizabeth is going to BYU Idaho (brr-r-rrr, it's cold there!). She'll be living in school-approved off-campus housing with four other girls.
They do things differently. Instead of quarters or semester, they have trimesters. She'll be attending Winter/Spring and Summer, and will be back in California for Fall.
I'm curious, too, about how many posts we get here... I'm hoping a 100!
I think we will get to 100 posts for sure... especially if people who haven't posted yet (ahem... my mom... mike and madeline...) start posting! =)
I think we will EASILY do over 100 posts.....but don't look for the boost from people who haven't already posted (except maybe debbie), you are either a "poster" or your not!
ta ta
It sure made my day when I heard "Bear" will be with us Christmas...also we should hit 100 with no problem...if we can get Dave, Debbie, and even Charlie and Greg!!!! You guys must have something to add....
( I'm getting my "stuff" together for the cook-off..don't want to forget anything!!!)
Yes, I wonder how many people are lurking, but not commenting?!
Come on out and play!
So. . . with Elizabeth planning to be there, is there anyone that will be missing besides JT&T?? Besides them, will we have 100% attendance of the clan?
It is too bad we can't find a way to get JT&T out! How much are plane tickets? Is that the only thing stopping them?
I could be mistaken (wouldn't be the first time) but I think Jessica said she offered to help JT&T come out, but John has a new job and can't get the time off. That's why she is going back before Christmas.
But, yes, they will be the only ones not there that I know of, unless one of Mike and Madeline's girls have to work that day.
Becc...i already talked to Jessica about that...guess it has to do with them going "south" in Feb. and time off where ever he finds work around the holidays...I suggested about air fair etc....maybe something could change...hope so!!!
Pup and Grandma are correct. JT&T can't come because John needs a winter job and can't ask for that much time off (especially around Christmas and New Year's Day) when he will be gone for a week in February. I offered to help bring 'em out but money wasn't the issue. Unless we can pool together $8,000-10,000 to get them through the winter rather than John not having to find a job?? haha- we'll just look under our couch cushions!
Can we pool together another $8-10,000? That would get me through at least December quite nicely!
Ok, I'm back from Ohio. Needed a few days to get over jet lag and catch up on laundry & work.
Yes I'll bring my meatballs, but in all honesty they are "one of" Grandma's recipes, you know how her recipes evolve over time,(and I use Prego Traditional sauce obviousley not hers.) Sooo...when mine win, I really have to share the glory with her!
I ran out of room...I also have a really good french bread recipe (which i think i got from Pup!) I'd be glad to pass it along to anyone willing to make it.
I see the Queen (mom) has spoken... (after I helped her figure out how to use that "word verification" where you type in the letters)!
...by the way, can't (won't) those that choose to use the "word verification" feature just dump it? Its just a PIA... Really, what purpose does it serve? Educate me...
wvfiapia
Word Verification is so that computer-generated comments can't be left on your blog. It happens a lot on myspace.com and other blogs where comments are left that advertise or promote various things, including not-so-appropriate type stuff.
xjadvvn
Good answer Jess...
AND, some of those computer-generated messages contain viruses, which unsuspecting users could inadvertently click on and end up with the Black Screen of Death (or Blue Screen if you have a Mac).
BTW, I'm pretty savvy, but can you guys tell everyone else ;-) what "wvfiapia" and "xjadvvn" mean?
I think everyone knows what PIA means!
Oh. Well, I've had unprotected commenting since April and haven't contracted a CTD. I HATE viruses but I think in this case, the probability of getting one by not using WF is pretty low. To each his own.
For THIS Blog, for some reason I always have to do 2 WFs!!! (it always rejects the first one)
wviapia: word verification is a pia.
...maybe its because I type "f" when I intend "v"
???
Sorry, Dad, IELALRMF.
(in every life a little rain must fall)
=`(
"xjadvvn" meant nothing: it was the word verification I had to insert. I just thought gpa did the same thing with "wviapia" haha
Grandpa, there is the option of "listening and typing the letters as you hear them" if you click on the blue, wheelchair icon next to the word verification =)
Jessica, you crack me up!
ROFLMTO
OK. I will use the blue wheelchair even though it will make me even older than I am. In any case, I always have to type in the 2nd WV -even though I am SURE I have typed in the exact required letters.
(OOPS...it won't allow me to do that!)
So, here goes...
I see you are keeping it clean: replacing the "A" for a "T" in ROFLMTO - good choice!
You guys gave me a good laugh!!
Anyway, back to bread, Debbie if you want to give me your receipe for the french bread that would be great!!!
Yeah!! I would love to pass the buck...I mean the recipe to you can i just e-mail it to you instead of blogging it? Or better yet i can call you! How old fashion! Where will you be tomorrow? I can track you down & give it to you. Thanks, it is really good!
Hey! Why don't you blog it so we can ALL have that great recipe?
I think after this Christmas dinner, we should have continuous topics to keep the convo's going. Nothing political or religious, just about stuff like recipe's, memories, the little kids or whatever anyone else comes up with. Most of us blog several days a week anyway... this has been so fun!
It looks like we will hit 100 posts by the end of today! =)
well maybe we should try for 200...here it is still Nov. long way to Dec 30!!!good idea regarding keeping up to date after the big "cook-off"...how come Debbie is getting out of not making her French Bread??? come on Deddie not the same unless you make it...or are you going to make your oatmeal cookies, with the oatmeal. instead?? love ya
(ya, some times it takes me a 'few' times on that word verification...using the sound would not be much good for me !!!!)
My mom said the sound verification was in another language when she tried it!
Our mom doesn't know how to make our favorite pies for the holidays... so we were wondering if Grandma would be kind enough to take a couple of requests from her little guys. Little guy #1 would like a french silk pie and Little guy #2 would like a pumpkin pie, both made with more love than your average pie!
I want to know something...
Can I ADOPT little guys #1 and 2?
Hay little guys 1& 2....Will have your pies ready for you when you get here on Christmas!!!!and filled with lots of love... (and no they are not up for adoption!!)
Little guys #1 & #2 are MY brothers :D <--proud grin from older sister. They are so cute!
OK. Who's sitting back and counting comments...waiting to be #100???
OK anonymous... climb out from under that rock!
Oops...that would be me, and I wasn't even counting!!!
I think it will reach 200! It is only November! I agree with Jess, this has been fun and we should keep this up!!!
If you guys want Debbie to make the bread that is fine with me :) I just offered to get the receipe since I said I would make the bread, but I will gladly make or get something else!!!(I don't want to be the "one" that screwed up Debbie's receipe! LOL)
Barb, the way I read it, Debbie wanted to pass on making the bread. I think when you are visiting somewhere, it's hard to cook in a strange kitchen. (Not that you have a strange kitchen, Jess!)
My kitchen is not exactly user-friendly. Like most apartments, one side of the oven cooks faster than the other side! And, it also had this little kitty (although, a cute kitty) that stands at your feet the whole time you are cooking!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
WOW! I have missed a lot of comments! I have been a very busy "single" parent. Jana has had a terrible stomach flu and had to go to the ER for fluids. I had to wrangle Ellie for four hours at the ER. Do you know how hard that is to do with a toddler??? Not very, when you have a perfect child! She was sooooo good! Okay, I will stop bragging, but really, she is quite the marvel with good behavior.
Patriarch, I agree the Word Verification is wacko. I usually have to type it twice too. I thought it was just me and some undiagnosed dyslexia.
I agree we should keep this going after Thanksgiving. Maybe we should create a "Family" blog. That would be fun! I think you can have multiple people access a blog site. (add pics and stuff).
Okay, gotta go. Well, not really. Mimi and Boppa (Ellie's grandparents) came down last night to help out. I got to sleep without having to run upstairs once last night! (usually to find "binky" or fill her water cup). Right now I am commenting here only because Mimi and Boppa are downstairs feeding Ellier her breakfast. :-)
Extended family Rocks! Can't wait to see the rest of you in a short while.
Lori
ps my handicap dude didn't work. do they have a handycap for the handycap?
fyi i am now typing it in again!
Okay, I'm going to TRY taking the WV off. (See, I can be flexible!)
But, I might add google ads. With all the traffic around here, I might pick up a little extra income. =D
testing, 1-2-3.
Happy Thanksgiving from beautiful,sunny,snowy minnesota! The lake out our picture window is starting to freeze around the shore and a light snow has accumulated on it, very Norman Rockwellish. Barb I definately do not want to attempt cooking bread in jessica's oven, and i sincerely appreciate your offer. So here's the recipe!
Preheat oven to 375*
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 pkg dry yeast
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 TBLS each sugar & oil
3 1/2 cups flour
Disolve yeast in water then add remaining ingrediance. Kneed until elastic. Cover & let rise in a warm location. After 40 min. kneed again then shape into a loaf.
Let rise again for 10 min. then slash the top (either length wise or several times diagonaly for decoration) then let rise another 20 min.
Bake for 25 min. then turn oven off & let it sit in the oven an additional 10 min.
This only makes 1 loaf so I always double it as you will eat atleast 1/2 of a loaf as soon as it comes out of the oven! My guess with this gang we'll probably need 6-8 loaves-you might want to recruit more help!
P.S. I vote for putting those squiggely letters back up if it means keeping out the ads & viruses.
Hooray. Now lets hope the Bogie Man don't get you!
Oops. So easy now, my comment was taken before I signed a name (anonymous was in err)
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Today promises to be turkey and NFL football overload day.
Love and Joy to all.
Thanks grandma. You're the best. I'm sure the pies will be delicious.
Happy Thanksgiving all! Besides the usual thanks, like health, family and living in a prosperous Nation, etc.... I would also like to express my deepest and heart-felt thanks to the internet, google, and blogosphere! Without such, I would miss my family even more.
Half joking, half sincere,
LPC
zzzzzzzzzzz Naptime while the turkey cooks!
Hey Lori, keep us posted on Jana, Ok?
Well the sun must be doing it's thing, the snow and ice are gone already. It looks like it's in the80's out there,but it's really only 18*!!! I got my long johns on and Dave & I are going for a quick flight while the turkey cooks. Love to all!
So... I'm slaving away in the kitchen- stuffing and basting a turkey, setting the table, making side dishes- and my Blackberry is going CRAZY dinging with comments on this post that I can't respond to!
But for today, I'm The Chief Thanksgiving Chef, and totally enjoying it, since I don't often have the chance to cook for more than two people anymore.
Love to all... and keep on dinging!
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving...and how blessed we all are living in this great country....
looking forward to Dec 30...anxious to see you all...this will be the best Christmas gift I could ever have......just having my family all to-getther..
DING!!!
Hey, if I post at 6am, does that mean I wake you up at 3? Do you ever put that thing away???
:-)
Bye, enjoy your day!
There is a setting on the Blackberry that allows only phone calls to ding or ring. I keep my cell phone by my bed in case... well, all you parents of grown-up kids understand! =O
Hope Jana is feeling well enough to feast today. Stomach flus are nasty.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Debbie, I wish we had some of that weather here.. It always feels weird when it is bright and sunny outside during the holidays. Even being born in SD it never felt quite right...
Well, why most of you all are getting started, or wrapping it up, we are settling in to a good book, fighting of the turkey-induced coma.
Love to all......
PS Jana got tiny-itsy bitsy sized portions of Thanksgiving. Think opposite of "Super-sized". Infact, I do believe Ellie ate more than Jana.
Okay, nigh-nigh!
Sure is quiet around here this morning!
Is everyone splayed out on the sofa, groaning with post-Thanksgiving-stress-syndrome? Or, as I KNOW Madeline is doing, is everyone gone shopping? ;-)
Eating left-overs and resting. Well, resting as best as one can with a two-year old!
Had a great turkey dinner at judi's..sure was good!!! came home about 5 and Michael and family come over for pies (had a few to choose from)..some of the girls had to work went back to R. M&M stayed here...Madeline up at 4am to hit the stores with her family..then Michael made us breakfast..(at 9am)had a nice visit....hope you all had a good day also.........
I get to write a 12-17 page paper on polygraphs this weekend! And another 3-4 page paper (topic TBD). What a fun way to spend my 4 day weekend! =)
I went to work for a while. Dave got started on his winter "honey do list" & began shampooing the carpet (then went flying). C & G are out getting their hockey gear ready, skates sharpened etc. No other plans for the weekend. Trying not to eat all the left over rolls and pie in one day! Love to all!
The activities here? Rick is in the garage making two blender lamps for our new Bay Area outlet, and bee-bopping to oldies.
I did some Secret Shopping (I get paid to shop; yes, it's real) and am about to enter my reports online.
Just had a piece of Matriarch's leftover pumpkin pie--- YUMMY! So glad all the calories in it disappear after Thanksgiving Day.
Dinner will be leftover turkey of course!
How's the new store working out?
So far, so good. Looks encouraging.
This week we sold a clarinet lamp and a blender lamp!
I believe this is the first year that I did not do early morning shopping on Black Friday... I actually slept in.. I may not have saved money...but I feel great :)
It's in the Clark blood.. I LOVE sleep ...
Jana, Ellie and I all layed low today with Jana recuperating and me fighting a new cold. Ellie felt great! We still managed to have fun with her by going to Target and buying a few things. Ellie got VERY excited at her new storage containers!!! Since we do not have a lot of room (our main living area, as it turns out now that Ellie is older, has become the play room.
Any way, we bought 4 storage containers, each with a theme. One has her train set, one has her kitchen food/utensils, one has her play people, etc. She is allowed to open one "tub" at a time. When she wants to move on to new toys in another tub, she has to put everything back in the first tub.
The really cool thing is that she LOVES being organized like this. Thank the Lord, she wont end up like her messy Mommy?
:-)
Ok...Who is the party pooper and not going to do the gift exchange??? LOL
This comment refers to the word game, and is placed here because I was instructed not to leave other comments there (does that make sense?)
Anyway PD, kudos for presenting us with such a fun game! 'problem is, its so frustrating that I have to type the WV more than once. However, I may have discovered the problem...it may time out and change to word internally but not display the new word. So, I think I may have overcome that little glitch by immediately entering the WV, then my identity, and finally typing the comment... 'seems to work!
Oops! didn't work. Dang. Back to square 1.
2nd try...(am I the only one experiencing this problem?)
I was wondering who the party pooper is, too, Barb! No gift exchange... no speghetti! j/k. But I think if someone can't afford a gift, a gift of service, like a free 20 minute massage before the party is over, might be a good and costless alternative! =)
Debbie taught me a song long ago, and it goes like this: "There's a pooper at every party, that's why we invited YOU, party pooper, that's you!"
I happen to know who the broke person is, and I can't tell you their name, but I'll give you a hint!
She's related to me and she's at Disneyland this weekend (maybe why she's broke)...
Maybe the broke Disneyland-goer can give one of her free, weekly "pounds" she gets from her job? Just an idea that won't cost her anything and something that many people will be interested in =)
No I have been having the same experience...though maybe it was just me....I wondered if my eyes were going!!!!
Which experience, Matriarch? The word verification challenge, or being broke!! ;-)
I only meant the person was a party pooper if they just didn't want to play...being broke is different...been there done that :)
Does this person work at St--bucks???
If so... something from there(even if it is free to them) would go over quite well...(at least for me :) lol)
testing
I think why it asks you to do the WV more than once is because of what Patriarch said..with my testing..it only asked for it once! You just need to be quick...
or just suck it up and type it twice..lol
I guess I can give up one of my free weekly pounds of coffee to the cause! =(
Are you listening, Party Pooper?
The next person to bring up "Word Verification" gets 40 lashes. From now on we should not mention religon, politics, or WV!!!!!!
;-)
Hear! Hear!
Ours is one of the most analytical families I know...
Wow... over 24 hours without a post! Things are slowing down a bit around here! (Or we are all just getting busier and don't have time to post!)
My reason for lack of post is that I am now fighting a cold w/fever. Ellie is still doing fine. Jana and I are barely hanging on! :-)
We've been gone all day and are just returning home. I'm still fighting a cold. I'm at the tail end with just the cough, but it's keeping me (and Rick) up at night.
Today is the first day that it really looks like maybe summer might actually be over! (Catch my reluctance?) It's 60 degrees and overcast, with slight wisps of fireplace smoke around the neighborhood. I have a turtleneck sweater on, and am already counting the days until Spring when I can dress lighter again.
I do hope we get some rain soon. I'm tired of watering all my outdoor pots, which is the only thing I don't like about Summer!
Happy Cyber Monday tomorrow! While Madeline gets up and shops all day on Black Friday, I look forward to shopping online. Less traffic, no gas burned, and they bring the stuff right to my door... (Kids, better drop some hints soon)
;-)
60 degrees,turtle necks, and fires in the fire places?!!!! I honestly was outside turning off the Christmas lights last night and it was probably 28-30 degrees, and I was thinking "wow it isn't even that cold out" not that I'd want to hang out there for more than a few minutes but it wasn't bad. (Long Johns make all the difference.) the 60's are definately t-shirt weather around here. C & G would even be in shorts for sure. Anyone want to come for a visit? This will be my last weather post, I promise.
Pick me!!! Pick ME!!! I want to visit Minnesota!!!
What time our we doing this???
I recuited my friend Kellie(who is a photographer)(Jess, you know her from State Farm) to come for a little while. I figured with all of us together it would be nice for her to take some photos of us..
I figured that she would take some candid's, a big group shot and any other family groupings that people want.
Oh...one more thing..about the french bread...I misunderstood and thought that it was a receipe for garlic bread... not to actually MAKE bread from scratch...I have never done that...and I don't think that our reunion is the best time for me to test my bread making abilities..lol(sorry Debbie)
Plus, I don't know if I even have the time to do it since we are having the reunion at my house...
So, I will gladly buy Raley's freshly baked french bread...or if someone else wants to make it, that is fine and I will make something else...
Excellent idea with the photographer!
This is turning out to be quite an event. Perhaps we should make it a two-day event and everyone bring their own family pup tents! In addition to a photographer, we could hire a family therapist! Just kidding all.... couldn't help myself. Daring to do with "email"????
Can't wait!
-Lori
PS kidding about the pup tents too
Instead of pup tents, let's just stay at a Motel 6.
At least if we stay at motel 6, we could use the towel doubled as an exfoliator! haha
Do those of you who make "homemade" sauce smash up tomatoes for your sauce, start with a tomato paste, or add lots of seasonings to a store-bought sauce like Ragu?
RAGU!! I would never!!!
Ok..I don't mash up tomatoes!!
I use Prego..SSSSHHH
Plus a bunch of secret seasonings!!
Yes, there is definitely an wide berth between TOTAL homemade and out-of-the-can.
Personally, I use Prego MARINARA sauce; add meat, onions, parmesan cheese and seasonings. Never had a complaint yet! (Well, since I divorced in 1994--LOL!)
I think someone should put out a store bought sauce (as is) amongst the "homemade" ones and see if it holds it's own in the sauce competition! Ragu is too plain but Prego might stand a chance. Who knows.
Uhhhhhhh, actually, I don't think any bottled spaghetti sauce can hold its own. I've had Prego straight out of the jar, heated of course, and it's pretty darn blah.
Ok, I'm going to be gone for the day (Sausalito with Rick's family), so you guys behave around here!
TTFN! =D
I said behave, not go to your rooms and be quiet!
Where is everybody?
I agree with Jessica. I think it would be fun to throw Prego into the competition. Whoever enters it would be entitled to add 4 extra spices/ingredients of their choice (plus meat if they desired).
Heck. . . I might even decide to enter the Prego. I can make a pretty mean Prego concoction!
I think you should, Rebecca! It would be fun to see how it holds up in the competition! =)
looks like we will have more spaghetti than we know what to do with....I do think those who make it, should not be judges....!!!is any one else making meatballs beside Debbie and me ???? (been busy checking ALL my spices!!)
Matriarch: are you using Watkins spices?
I'm making salad only, so I can judge! Are we doing a blind taste test? 'Cause I'd know your sauce anywhere, Mom! It has a distinctive color. Well, and of course, a distinctive taste! A winning taste.
Oh-oh! Can we even find a non-partial judge?
There is no sense in judging the speghetti. First of all, everyone knows what the Matriach's taste like! Second, even if you did like the other recipes better (eh em!) it would be heresy to vote for anyone other than the Matriarch's!!!
Okay, maybe some outside judges from the neighboorhood??? !!!
All spices are ready to go...and ofcourse they are WATKINS...nothing but the best!!!
Hey, what time are we having this???
Barbara... As far as I know, it's at 2:00 PM!
Since it's at your home, it's your call, actually.
"Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player" i.e., "I'm only the blog-hostess!"
I just realized, anyone under the age of 50 may not get the reference to "Don't shoot me..."
"Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player" is the sixth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John.
Oh, and maybe anyone over the age of 65! ;-)
2 pm sounds good to me!
I have always heard some form of "Don't shoot the messenger" so I just figured you made your own version of it or were confused. I guess I am just the wrong generation have gotten that =)
Wow! Well it certainly was fun planning the event! But, it's not over until it's over!!! Let's see how many people can make it next year. We can try to do this again. (Maybe John/Tiff and family will be able to make it).
If not, we came close!
My winning sauce will be on display in Turlock later this week, for those daring enough to try!
The challenge is still ON!
Love to all,
Lori
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