Friday's FIVE!

We had another wonderful Christmas Day - Celebrating the birth of our Savior... gathering together with family... eating and laughing - and exchanging gifts. I'm so thankful for all of my family - and the love we have for each other. This was a wonderful Christmas with many fun celebrations and services. Decking the halls kicked off the season - with parties hosted by friends, family and employers. We especially enjoyed seeing Tyler in the entertaining CSA Christmas program. We enjoyed the Candlight Christmas Eve service at Center United Methodist Church. We enjoyed fellowship and food and fun with the Lankenau family on Christmas day at 12:00PM and at 3PM we were back at Yellow Creek for a celebration with Katie, Phil, Tyler and Trevor...Betsy and Debbie...Mom and our nephew and niece, Jack and Allie. We were blessed with our newest grandson, Trevor this year...it was fun celebrating his first Christmas - and the blessing of Debbie as an official member of our family following their marriage in Hawaii in November. There is something special about every Christmas...

however, we all have those that stand out in our memory. This is certainly not all of my memories of wonderful Christmas celebrations, however, this weeks Friday's FIVE! is a collection of five of very memorable Christmases....

1. Approx. 1962 - I was about 4 years old, and I can remember waking up to a childs Christmas wonderland.... Santa had certainly come! We had hand knit stockings with our names on them...filled so full the items were falling from the stockings. Santa brought me a Betsy Wetsy doll and a stacking bunk bed and a baby carriage....all left under the tree that was adorned with those big lights that get too hot to even touch. Roger had a a big Bazooka gun ... and I think I remember a football helmet. It was the kind of Christmas a child remembers forever. We always would celebrate our Christmas mornings at home - Christmas Eve's were at Grandma and Grandpa Pences - We went to Grandma and Grandpa Alexanders later on Christmas morning until 1968... after that, they would come to our house. Grandma would wear her Christmas 'smock' and bring the coffee cake. Those are happy Christmas Memories at 52nd street...

2. Christmas 1973 - I was 15 years old...and it was the first Christmas that my Grandma and Grandpa Pence were not in Indiana to celebrate with us...They were snowbirds and had decided to stay in Sunny Florida rather than make the trek back to our hoosier winter wonderland. That year on Christmas Eve, instead of Grandma and Grandpa's house, we gathered at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Wildwood for a Pence family celebration. I can remember talking to my Grandma on the phone and being very sad that I wasn't with her. She made Wildwood Christmases special with red knit stockings hanging from the mantel - and the envelopes that were placed on the Christmas tree. I can remember Wildwood Christmas Eves vividly - I remember the ambulance that would bring my great Aunt Vera from her nursing home to celebrate with us...and I can remember playing in the basement with my brother and my cousins - those were happy days in Wildwood.... Later we had many, many happy memories at my parents home in Wildwood...a very special place to the Pence family!

3. Christmas of 1986 and we lived on Koldyke Drive - Steve and I had an especially good year at the Christmas tree lot. (We sold Christmas trees at the lumber yard in Wabash for Christmas spending money)... Santa Claus brought the girls desks filled with many desk and school supplies - the living room was full of toys and Santa brought the family a computer. We always spent Christmas morning at home with egg casserole and coffee cake. We would leave cookies for Santa and carrots for the Reindeer... Santa would often leave footprints for the girls to see.

We would go to Steve's Mom and Dad's on Christmas eve - Candlelight Church at 11PM and then we went to my Mom and Dads in the afternoon on Christmas day. Memories of my children in that big living room on Koldyke drive at Christmas are happy memories!

4. Christmas of 2000 - The first Christmas with our grandson. The first year we celebrated with him was a reminder to me that life goes on... and that this child was my legacy, that I would not live forever, but that a part of me would. Our 1888 Victorian home on Spencer Avenue in Marion was the perfect setting for wonderful Christmas celebrations with our family and our friends and neighbors. It was a beautiful home and we would spend weeks decorating and preparing for the holiday - we put up 5 Christmas trees in that house. Candles would illuminate every window. I believe there were 53 window candles in that house. Steve and I hosted a big Christmas party every year in that home and I loved the days of preparing for that party... however, that year... the focus was on this beautiful child. There wasn't a Christmas party that year or any year after that...but the gift of my grandchild, Tyler gave me hope for happy days ahead of me!

5. Christmas of 2001 - the year of change! I lived on Nelson street after my divorce. It was a hard year - the kids went to Steve's family on Christmas Eve, and I was in the house alone that day - but we all met together at Church that night. It was a night of heavy snow, and Betsy and Bruce went sledding after church! Bruce and I were getting pretty serious ... and I suspected an engagement was forthcoming, however - he was struggling with his business and he told me he would have to 'make' my engagement ring. Christmas morning he presented me with a hand whittled, wooden ring with a fake diamond glued to it. It looked like something right out of a Flintstone cartoon - but the real message of the gift is what mattered - my soulmate wanted to spend the rest of his life with me...we were engaged to be married! Bruce also gave me a bicycle backpack that year...and buried deep in one of the pockets of the backpack was my 'real' engagement ring - a beautiful solitare diamond. We celebrated that Christmas morning with Betsy, Katie, Phil and Tyler. It was my first Christmas celebration with the Lankenau family and Bruce's first celebration at Wildwood with the Pence family. Christmas is special for Bruce and I because our first 'real' date was on Christmas night ... 1974. I was 16 and he was 19 and we saw the movie, Airport '75 after our family celebrations were complete... We met each other again at Charmayne and Danny's Christmas Eve Eve party...and later, we were engaged in 2001 on Christmas Day! A difficult transitional year that ended up bringing many happy years ahead of us!

~~~~As I indicated earlier - this is not an all inclusive list....I've been blessed to have so many happy wonderful Christmas memories... Another significant Christmas was Christmas of 2007.

That is the first year that we celebrated Christmas Day at Yellow Creek Lake - and I loved every minute... I love that my Grandsons are able to build memories of Christmas in a place that is so special to so many generations for me. Ironically - our family has been coming to Yellow Creek Lake since the early 1930's and 2007 was the first year that there was ever a Christmas Day celebration at Yellow Creek... the first of many more to come!!!

Here's hoping this was a joyous Christmas that brought many happy memories for everyone!

White Christmas

It looks like it is going to be a White Christmas...We've had subzero temps and snow flurries all weekend and the forecast indicates that the there will be snow on the ground and the lake will be frozen at Yellow Creek Lake for Christmas Day!

Baby, it's COLD outside!

We had an ice storm yesterday that left us without power and cable for almost 12 hours...

I was thankful for my iPod and my battery operated speakers, my Blackberry and my fireplace!

Schools were cancelled, giving kids and extra day of Christmas break! Many of our campuses at work were running on generators - and many roads were not passable with 1/2" of accumulated ice and fallen power lines and trees everywhere. My weeping willow trees along the lakefront are covered in ice... frozen in time...begging for warmer days!

I simply must go (It’s cold outside)
The answer is no (Baby, it’s cold outside)

The welcome has been (So lucky that you dropped in)

So nice and warm (Look out the window at that storm)

Friday's FIVE!

Christmas traditions are a part of the excitement and anticipation of the season... Those special things you look forward to during this blessed season. I'm a rich traditionalist - so our Christmas traditions are many. While we participate in the typical Christmas traditions such as Christmas dinners, Gift Exchanges, gatherings with family and friends and Christmas eve services at church- this weeks Friday FIVE! are five of a our families special Christmas traditions...

1. Red and Green Foil Paper

Santa Claus doesn't have time to put ribbons or bows on packages - so he wraps all presents in foil paper. Red foil paper for girls, Green foil paper for the boys. At our house - Santa Claus didn't bring all of the packages - he brought each child just one present.... usually the 'big' item on the Christmas list. This was the way Santa brought gifts to my house when I was a child, it is the way he brought gifts to my children...and it is the way he brings gifts to my grandsons at their home.

I remember Santa bringing Betsy "Talking Big Bird" - and the joy on that childs face still warms my heart. I remember the look on Katie's face when she got her Cabbage Patch Dolls - and I remember Teddy Ruxpin. The reflection of the Christmas tree lights on the shiny foil paper emits a warm glow on Christmas morning that says "Santa Claus has been here!!".... Let the fun begin!

2. Recycled Gifts

Christmas of 1976 - Steve and I had just married, and we didn't have much money. I taught myself to macrame' and made gifts for everyone. I made plant hangers and wall hangings and key chains. When Christmas came, I still had one item left to make - a Belt for my brother, Roger. That Christmas, I packed up his buckle and the beads and the jute that would become his belt - and wrote a note as an IOU - a promise that I would make the belt after the holiday.

The belt didn't get done - and he wrapped it up and gave it back to me the following year. We passed the belt back and forth for 25 years. The box would hold poems or some creative way to pass the gift back and forth.... On the 25th anniversary, we decided to retire the tradition. Roger put a few of the beads on his key chain... and I hang the buckle and a few of the beads on my Christmas tree each year. Sometime when the girls were in high school - they began passing back and forth a stinky strawberry candle that came from a Cross Country Team Christmas exchange. The smell of that horrible candle has not waned with years... it still smells as bad now as it did over 10 years ago.

3. Christmas Jammies

When the girls were really small, they would get Christmas Jammies for Christmas at Grandma Dubie's house on Christmas Eve. They would put them on at Grandma's house so they would have their jammies on and be ready for bed as soon as we got home (often falling asleep in the car) When the girls got a little older I started buying the Christmas jammies - I would carefully choose pajamas that fit personalities or the 'theme' for the season. When we would get home from Grandma Dubie and Grandpa George's house on late on Christmas eve, they would have one present to open ... and of course, that present would be the jammies. This tradition has continued throughout the years...and while I haven't bought Christmas jammies for two years, I'm sure Tyler and Trevor will be in new Christmas jammies this year!

4. Coffee Cake and "Grandma' Salad"

When I was a child - we always went to Grandma and Grandpa Pence's house on Christmas eve - and Grandma and Grandpa Alexander came to our house on Christmas morning. We always had "Grandma's Salad" at Grandma Pence's house - it was a recipe passed down from my Great Grandma Ballard - and my Grandma Alexander always brought a coffee cake to our house on Christmas day. We still eat "Grandma's Salad" at Christmas....and I know my cousins, Nancy and Amy continue this tradition... and we still have Grandma's Coffee cake for breakfast on Christmas morning!

Grandma's Coffee Cake

2 C Sugar

1 C Melted Butter

2 Eggs

1 C Sour Cream

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 C all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 C chopped pecans

2 T brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Combine sugar and butter. Beat in eggs, add sour cream and vanilla until combined.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt - gradually mix into sugar/butter mixture.

Pour 1/2 of the batter into greased/floured 10" bundt or tube pan. Combine the pecans, sugar and cinnamon - sprinkle on top of the batter in the 10" pan. Add remaining batter.

Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes - invert cake onto serving plate and dust with confectioners sugar.

"Grandma's Salad"

2 Large cans of Pineapple chunks

2 Eggs

3/4 C Sugar

2 heaping T flour

pinch of salt

chopped pecans

2 C mini-marshmallows

Drain pineapple and reserve 1 1/2 C juice, add sugar, wisk flour and salt into juice, add 2 beaten eggs - cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat, cover with wax paper and allow to cool. When cool - Fold in chopped pecans and marshmallows. Garnish with Maraschino cherries and pecan halves.

5. Special Christmas items

When I was growing up - we had three angels with red feather dresses...I don't know whatever happened to those angels - but I loved them so much. They always sat on our fireplace mantel.

When Katie was a baby, my mother gave me a little ceramic frozen pond winter scene with a snowman iceskating on it. The kids have always loved it - and it is one item they still expect to see when the Christmas decorations come out. One of my mothers most treasured items is her Nativity Scene that she had as a child....a primitive little creche now at least 75 years old, that she still puts out. She doesn't do much decorating for Christmas anymore - but the Creche is still the central theme of this blessed Christmas holiday....

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

Friday's FIVE!

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!! I love Christmas...I love the entire Christmas season!!!! This weeks Friday's FIVE is Five of my favorite 'Christmas Season' activities...The fun things that help to build the anticipation for the Blessed Day of Christmas!

1. One of my favorite things about the Holiday Season... is the Walkway of Lights in our hometown of Marion... I miss the Riverwalk - and the Walkway of Lights. When we lived on Spencer and on Nelson in Marion - the Walkway was within walking distance...and I loved walking that Riverwalk. It was especially enchanting during the holiday season when the lights were lit - and the gift shop was open.... a cup of Cappuccino at the gift shop would warm you up for the walk back home.

http://www.walkwayoflights.org/ http://www.walkwayoflights.com/

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2. Christmas Eve and Advent Services at church.... I love to sing the traditional hymns and participate in Christmas worship services. My home church, First United Methodist Church in Marion always had a Christmas eve service... and the entire advent season was a festival. We rehearsed Christmas programs, Bell Choir and Chancel Choir songs... There was always so much going on. Bruce and I are now attending Center United Methodist Church, a very small church in Silver Lake - and with a congregation of just 20, there isn't the Pomp that was always present at First United Methodist Church during advent - but there is no less reverence... Advent is advent... big or small, it is a time to prepare - to celebrate the birth of Christ.

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3. Saylors Christmas Eve Eve Party is a wonderful tradition... I have been attending this party for many, many years - and am now thrilled to be a part of the family - to attend this party with Bruce as my husband. Because we live out of town, this is an exciting party for us - because we often get to see friends and family that we don't see very often. It is a true holiday homecoming for us.

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4. Holiday celebrations with neighbors and friends ... Now that this is our home, after nearly seven years - we have established deep friendships in this community. I love the celebrations we have with each other. We share many festive dinners with Allen and Esther - we often get together with Janet and Steve, we recently had dinner with Johnsons, Pattersons and Schlemmers and enjoyed a wonderful holiday dessert at Schlemmers home in Wabash....

Pattersons host an annual party on the Sunday before Christmas. It is a nice time to celebrate with friends so close to us - that also have families that aren't so near....

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5. Children's Christmas Programs always bring tears to my eyes. I can remember my own children in Sunday School Christmas programs. I remember one year - Betsy didn't like her costume so she just pulled up her little lady bug costume and exposed her leotards... She was sooo funny. Katie LOVED wearing her sparkley/Crystal-ly 'fire-fly' costume... "ANGELS AND LAMBS...LADY BUGS AND FIREFLIES told everybody in sight...that Jesus was born in Bethlehem... on the Christmas night!" School programs with children singing "I'm getting Nuttin' for Christmas" and "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" bring smiles to my face.

My mother was such a wonderful grandmother to my children and she would always attend these school programs with me. Tyler is now in CSA (Community School of the Arts) and will be performing in his second CSA Holiday program this year. There is truly something magical about Christmas in a childs eye.

MERRY BLISSEN ALL BODIES!!!!

Still, Still, Still!

The lake is so much fun in the summer... Long summer days bring swimming, skiing, sailing and boating and neighbors and family are always around. The beer is always on ice, the salsa is always in the fridge... and the adirondacks beg for a tentant to come along and read a book on a lazy sunny weekend.
However, winter brings a different scene. It is soooo peaceful and quiet - our evenings are usually spent in our jammies in front of a fire - at an hour that usually sees us still out on the lake laughing and playing in the summer.
Today is a long awaited day for us... the day the lake freezes over. We woke up today to a skim of ice...to the peaceful, quiet of winter! Especially timely - during this Blessed Christmas Season!

Still, still, still,

One can hear the falling snow.

For all is hushed,

The world is sleeping,

Holy Star its vigil keeping.

Still, still, still,

One can hear the falling snow.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,

'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.

The night is peaceful all around you,

Close your eyes, Let sleep surround you.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,

'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
Dream, dream, dream,

Of the joyous day to come.

While guardian angels without number,

Watch you as you sweetly slumber.

Dream, dream, dream,

Of the joyous day to come.

Friday's FIVE!

I love Christmas... I love everything about it - and I especially love Christmas Music! During this Holiday Season many radio stations begin playing Christmas music nonstop the weekend after Thanksgiving - and I am constantly listening to the familiar tunes on the radio, on my iPod, streaming through my computer or on the TV. This week I will focus on five special songs of the season. Five songs that I love -
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1. While Shepherds Watched Their Flock -
A tradition hymn - dating back to the 1700's, based on the Gospel of Luke - 2:8-14. I can remember singing this song in church choir when I was about 7 years old...and I can remember both of my girls singing this song in Childrens Choir in church - We sang this hymn in church today and I still feel like Martha Daugherty is directing me when I hear this song.
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2. Christmas Cookies and Holiday Hearts
by Ruth Roberts and Bill Katz. We had this song on an album - a real record album... and we played this album over and over again when the girls were small. I can remember singing this song and baking cookies with the girls when they were very little. I remember one time baking cookies and decorating them - Betsy piled all the sprinkles and decorations in one small cookie. It was beautiful! We still sing this song to each other at Christmas time! "Christmas Cookies and Holiday Hearts... thats the way - the Holiday Starts! Christmas Cookies and Holiday Hearts...Goody Goody YUM YUM YUM!!!!
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3. Where are you, Christmas? Written by James Horner and performed by Faith Hill. The song was written for the 2000 version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" - I remember sitting at the movie theater listening to this song in tears....My personal life was in the midst of emotional upheaval - but this was a reminder that the blessed season was going to come - even without ...The ribbons! The wrappings! The tags! And the tinsel! The trimmings! The trappings! I had the true blessing of a new Grandson - and the promise of the Christ child... for
Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all!
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4. Joy to the World - Mannheim Steamroller. I also love Coventry Carol, Carol of the Birds, Good King Wenceslas and all of the wonderful Christmas songs by Mannheim Steamroller. These songs bring back many fond memories of wonderful Christmas days spent in our beautiful 1888 Victorian home on Spencer Avenue in Marion... the parties, the festivities and the friends. I still laugh when I think of the girls referring to them as "Mannheim Rollerblade" - and two years ago, I had a wonderful , festive holiday evening with my Mother... we had a wonderful dinner at Eddie Merlot's and then we enjoyed a fantastic concert at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. We had a front row table and enjoyed wine and cheese - while Mannheim Steamroller palyed all of the Christmas favorites. It was a special holiday evening I will never forget.
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5. Silent Night - Of course, Silent Night would be the Favorite. I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas Eve services at First United Methodist Church, singing out the candle-light service to Silent Night... I remember many different versions... and many different times.
The services always end in silence... as the congregation walks silently out of the church.... into the "Silent Night"....
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Honorable Mention
Still Still Still ... is a beautiful carol and I love the peacefulness of this song. We sang this in Church choir more than once - and I have several different versions on my iPod.
Fum Fum Fum - I can remember singing this song in the Church choir directed by JoAnn Rediger - and standing in the alto section next to my dear, dear friend, Sandy Steele. I also have many of renditions of this on my iPod.
Hot Chocolate - and all the rest of the music from Polar Express

Friday's FIVE!

The Magic Elf!!!

First Christmas Shoes

Baby's First Christmas

From my childhood Christmas Tree

Bruce's First ornaments

Katie, Phil, Tyler and Trevor... and Betsy and Debbie gathered with Bruce and I this weekend... for an evening of laughing and Holiday cheer. We had a wonderful time together eating snacks and drinking Asti and Beer... and decorating the tree together. It is the first time since Christmas of 2001 that the girls have helped decorate the tree - and we had so much fun looking at all of the ornaments and remembering the special events or memory that each ornament holds. Our tree is full of memento's - items from vacations and special events. The tree has Baby shoes, the pin to my first sailboat, handmade ornaments and school and sunday school projects, items from vacations and travels ... if it is a trinket - and it is special to me....it usually goes on our Christmas tree. This weeks Friday FIVE! is a tribute to five of my FAVORITE ornaments that are on the tree -

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1. The Magic Elf - This was on my mothers Christmas Tree when she was a child. It is kept in a special glass case when it is not on the tree. It is a magic elf...that watches all children and reports to Santa Claus... the elf comes to life when he is placed on the tree... "tinkle, tinkle, tinkle ...IT's MAGIC".... The elf is always the last ornament to be placed on the tree...and the story is told while sitting around the tree every year. My adult daughters humored me... with their spouses this weekend...and let me tell the story the of the 'Magic Elf' once again. We laughed and laughed and they told stories of the times that they would be arguing in the living room - in front of the Christmas tree... and they would suddenly stop and say... "Wait, we better take this argument to the dining room because we don't want the magic elf to 'see' us fight"... It's a fun tradition...

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2. Baby's First Christmas Shoes - I have both of the girls first Christmas Shoes tied with red ribbons on the tree. Katie's are white patent leather and Betsy's are black patent leather and they were both bought at 'Resnecks' in downtown Marion.

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3. Baby's First Christmas - that carefully hold newborn photos of the girls. Tyler was especially tickled to look at those photos and compare them to his new brother. He laughed and teased his mother and his aunt about their 'chubby' cheeks.

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4. Glitter Bird - This is an ornment that was on my childhood Christmas tree - we had several of them and they were purchased at the 'Ayres Glittershop' in Downtown Indianapolis. I loved these birds when I was a little a girl - and I love that I still have one on my tree.

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5. Bruce's First Ornament - The first Christmas Bruce and I spent together was 2001 - it was the Christmas we became engaged. It was an exciting Christmas - but the transitions were difficult for all of us. I felt bad for Bruce because the Christmas tree was full of memories... of our family....he didn't have any ornaments on the tree. We remedied that by getting him a 'personalized' snowman and bicycle ornament for the tree. Eight Christmases later, and now he also has eight years of memories on the tree ... including a Hilly Hundred wristband, paper umbrellas from our wedding in Key West, a Fishing boat from Matlacha - and many other mementos from our travels.

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Honorable Mention -

"The Heavenly Host' ... the top of our tree doesn't have a single angel ... there are many angels on our tree and they all gather at the top ... the last three angels to go on the tree belong to Katie, Betsy and me. Katie's is a handmade angel ornament from a Church Bazaar, Betsy's is from her babyshower flower arrangement and mine is another ornament that was on my childhood tree - it is a little angel with a wax head that was 'my' angel as a child - and it was also an Ayres Glittershop purchase.

Our Christmas tree holds many, many memories...and many, many ornaments... and while it isn't a 'designer' tree or a 'theme' tree... and the ornaments aren't all perfect, store bought treasures....but home-made items, mementos and trinkets that mean something to all of us. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful tree in the whole world!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL!!!!

Trimming the Tree!

Reading a Christmas tag with childhood writing ... that stays on my tree

Hanging the magic elf

Telling the story of the magic elf... 'tinkle, tinkle, tinkle....IT'S MAGIC!

Friday's FIVE!

Its Thanksgiving week! This week I'll focus on five of my favorite things about Thanksgiving ... Over the years - I've celebrated Thanksgiving in many different ways and many different places. This year -the girls are going to their in-laws.., and my brother lives in San Antonio - so Bruce and I are going to pick up dinner at Meshingomesia Country Club and take it to Moms. Bruce and Mom and I will gather together and give thanks for all the wonderful things in our life!

Bruce and I will then travel to Carmel to gather with his family in the late afternoon. While I keep a gratitude journal - and I do try to focus on gratitude ... I also enjoy the tradition of the holiday!!! Five of my Favorite Thanksgiving Traditions...

1.PUMPKIN PIE!!! My Mom's Pumpkin Mom is the best Pumpkin Pie in the world - and I LOVE Pumkin Pie!!!!

2. I can still hear my Daddy saying... "My, my, my, my, my" ... and that means "OH MAN...this is really good food and I'm so full I can't hardly stand it..." I miss my Daddy.

3. Bruce is one of 7 siblings... and getting a word (or an elbow) in edgewise is always challenge. The excitement - and the closeness of his large family is a lot of fun. A large family is something I always wanted to be a part of...and now, I am!

4. I love doing the cooking - and hosting the dinner. When the kids were young - we would alternate years with George and Dubie and Mom and Dad.... and when it was the Fennimore year, I would often cook. I have hosted once since Bruce and I have married - and I'm looking forward to many more! I love to get out my china and my crytal ... I love to cook the traditional turkey and the trimmings...and I love to see my kids satisfied faces at the end of the meal!

5. What would Thanksgiving be without .... The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!!! I love it...

The bands - the floats... the Broadway musicals, the Rockettes and SANTA CLAUS!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU!!!

Winter on the way...

Fall migration brought a flock of chubby Bufflehead to enjoy the foggy quiet of the lake this morning. The stillness of the lake after a new fallen snow is such a peaceful place! This week, we had our first snow... and this morning the snow on the adirondacks and the paddle boat are reminders of the season ahead of us...with memories of the seaon behind us. I do enjoy the snow... and the season that it brings. I love the holidays and the time spent with family and friends at warm winter gatherings. It won't be long, and we'll be trimming the tree!!!

Batten Down the Hatches!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.... and I do enjoy a cozy winter evening with a fire in the fireplace...wearing sweaters and fuzzy slippers - but it is the warm weather and summer fun that warms my veins - the season I truly look forward to during the entire cold winter months. Today we put the mast down on the Hobie and Bruce put it on the trailer for winter. Sail on Sailor - Summer will be back soon!

Friday's FIVE!

Job's Daughters is an organization of young women between the ages of 10 and 20 who are related to a Master Mason - My mother was a past Honored Queen for Jobs Daughters - and her father was Master Mason, so it was only natural for me to consider Jobs Daughters as a pre-teen. It was customary for an officer of Jobs Daughters and a Guardian to visit your home when you expressed an interest in joining the Bethel. It was Nicki Ball and her mother that visted my house that day. Nicki was a pretty, popular high school cheerleader - and I wanted to be just like her. Little did I know at that time, that Nicki would be one of the closest friends I have ever had - my 'Best Bud' , my "BB" as we have referred to each other.

Nicki and I have kids close to the same age - and we were involved in several organizations together, it was only natural that we would be connected. We became very close though when we also became neighbors - we were neighbors in Marion and neighbors at the lake. My kids call her "Aunt Nicki" - Our families spent a lot of time together.., and Nicki and I shared recipes and entertaining ideas ... and Saturday afternoons. When my 25 year marriage ended, Nicki was my true, unconditional... stand beside me...listen to me cry, hold my hand friend. When I moved from my family home - she understood my grief... When I married Bruce, she shared my happiness...and when I moved from Marion - other than my family, it was Nicki I missed the most.

Today - Nicki still lives in Marion ... but we have remained BB's in spite of the distance.... Nicki and I spend hours painting or working glass at the Pottery Bayou - we email ... we talk... we text... We share laughs...we share tears ... and we share joy...Nicki is my forever friend!

This week on November 12th, Nicki celebrated her birthday...it was also Kent, her husbands birthday...and their wedding anniversary - So - in honor of my BB, who is also an amazing cook -

This weeks Friday FIVE! is five of "Aunt Nicki's" recipes that have become family favorites!

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1. AUNT NICKI'S PASTA SALAD

12-16 Oz cooked and drained Pasta

1 8oz bottle Italian Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing

3 oz pkg. sliced Pepperoni

1 1/4 C Sliced black olives

1 small sliced red onion

1C chopped green, red and yellow pepper

1/4C chopped fresh parsley

1/2 - 3/4 C shredded parmesan cheese

Combine ingredients and refrigerate

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2.HOT ARTICHOKE DIP

A Family Holiday Favorite!

1C grated fresh parmesan cheese

3/4 C Mayonnaise

1 C Chopped/Drained Artichoke Hearts

Bake in a shallow pan - 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.

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3. NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS ROLLS

2 Loaves frozen bread, slightly thawed

Chopped Pecans

1 Pkg instant Butterscotch Pudding

1 C Melted Butter

1 C Brown Sugar

Slice bread into 1" thick rounds. Sprinkle pecans into a lightly greased 13X9 pan

Place bread on top of Pecans

Stir melted butter and brown sugar over low heat until sugar melts

Pour over bread and cover with wax paper and towel over night

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool 15 minutes and invert on platter to serve

Sprinkle with dry pudding over bread

(Bruce LOVES this recipe!)

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4. NICKI'S SUMMER SALAD

Known to us now as (Katie's Wedding Salad)

1-2 Bunches Romaine

1 pt. sliced strawberries

1/2 med sweet onion, thinly sliced rings

1/2 c slivered almonds

1/3 C Sugar

1 T Butter

Melt Sugar and butter until carmelized over med heat, stir in almonds until coated.

Pour onto wax paper and crush when cooled

DRESSING

3/4 C Hellmans Mayo

1/4 C Milk

2 T poppy seed

1/3 C white sugar

2T Raspberry Vinegar

Combine Romaine, strawberries & onions. Top with crushed almond candy and toss with dressing.

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5. CHRISTMAS MORNING HASHBROWN CASSEROLE

Combine 1 C Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 1/4 tsp pepper and 1/2 tsp salt

Cook 1/4 finely chopped onion in 1 T butter until translucent

Add to cheese mixture

Fold in 1/2 C Sour Cream and 1 Can Cream of Chicken soup

Combine mixture with 4 1/2 C frozen O'Brien Potatoes with red and green pepper

Top with 3 C crushed potatoe chips tossed in 1/4C butter

Place into 9X13 pan and bake in 350 degree preheated oven for 50-55minutes

(I had to call Katie for this recipe, and she said to me "This recipe is on one of my most treasured pieces of paper - Aunt Nicki gave me this paper with her handwritten Christmas morning recipes and a Christmas morning timeline...I truly cherish it")

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Honorable Mention -

GRADUATION APRICOT SALAD

2 3oz pkg Orange Jello

1 C boiling water

1 16 oz can apricots, peeled, drained and mashed

2 jars baby food apricots

1 pint sour cream

Disolve jello in boiling water, add baby food and apricots to jello.

Whip sourcream until smooth, spray mold with PAM. Pour into mold and chill overnight.

Nicki made this for Katie's High School graduation open-house and Katie wanted to make sure this recipe was included, as it is one of her very favorites!

Friday's FIVE!

President-elect, Barack Obama - November 4, 2008

Grant Park - Chicago ... very near Betsy's neighborhood

Barack Obama Rally in Marion, IN April 2008 -

(Mike Morgan on the bottom left, Katie's father-in-law. Katie's head in the left bottom corner....)

Katie clapping just under Barack Obama's right hand at the Barack Obama rally in Marion, IN

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This week, in a historic election.... Barack Obama, Senator from Illinois - is the first African American to be elected President of our nation. It was a fierce battle from the Primary election - as Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton for the democrat nomination - and then on to the general election where Barack Obama/Joe Biden beat the John McCain/Sara Palin Republican ticket with 365 electoral votes. It was an exciting election with a strong focus on 'Change'...

Below are 5 other significant Presidential elections in my lifetime...

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1960 - I was only 2 years old and I don't remember the election - however, it was the election of John F. Kennedy (D) against Richard Kennedy (R) It was significant because I do remember vividly where I was when the beloved "camelot" president was assissinated in Dallas, TX on Nov. 22, 1963. I was in my family room just home from Kindergarten - playing with Kim Blaugher - my lifetime friend and schoolmate...when the Special News Bulletin came on the TV. I remember my Mom crying... I knew it was significant... and it remains one of the pivotal historical events that Baby Boomers still remember and discuss... along with the first man on the moon, the space shuttle disaster and 9/11.

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1968 - I was 10 years old... and the 1968 Presidential election included the assissination of demoncratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy - the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Demonstrations against the Vietnam War and race riots across the nation - that hit home when our family lumber business burned to the ground as a result of racial tension and arsonists.

Richard Nixon (R) won over Hubert H. Humprey (D) and Gov. George Wallace (I).

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1976 -The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate Scandal. Gerald Ford, the republican candidate -was appointed Vice President in 1973 when Vice President Spiro Agnew was forced to resign following conspiracy charges. Vice President Ford became President in 1974 when Richard Nixon resigned after the Watergate Scandal. It was my first election - I was 18 and I voted for Gerald Ford to be elected president - however, he remains the only president to serve without ever being elected. Jimmy Carter won the election over Gerald Ford by a narrow margin.

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1984 - Incumbent President Ronald Reagan/Vice President George Bush won with 525 electoral votes, the highest ever recieved by a presidential candidate, following a strong economic recovery from the recession of the early 80's. The election is memorable for me though, because Walter Mondale the democrate nominee appointed the first female Vice Presidential nominee - Geraldine Ferrara. As a young adult woman, I was baby boomer raised in a home with a stay at home mother... with most of my friends working full time - it was truly a time when it seemed equality for women was making strides!

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2000 - Vice-President Al Gore (D) vs. George W. Bush, son of the former president George H.W.Bush. This is memorable for all of us because of the now famous 'hanging chads'...

Chad were made infamous in the highly contentious during this election where a majority of Florida votes used punch card ballots. Incompletely-punched holes resulted in partially-punched chad, where all corners were still attached, but an indentation appears to have been made. These votes were not counted by the tabulating machines, resulting in a Florida recount.

The outcome of the election was not known for more than a month after the balloting ended because of the extended process of counting and then recounting Florida's presidential ballots.

On January 6, 2001 - George Bush was declared the narrow winner of the electoral vote - although Al Gore carried the popular vote.

Happy Birthday, Charmayne!

I believe it was the summer of 1973...Epworth Forest, North Webster ... Senior High Institute -
I was a member of First United Methodist Church, but I attended New Hope United Methodist Youth Group with my neighbor and my friend, Teena... New Hope was a small Methodist Church, so we had to share our camp cabin with kids from another small church. Charmayne Lankenau was a member of Hanfield youth group. We became fast friends that week - and embarked on a friendship that would last a lifetime.
Fast forward to December of 1974 - Charmayne and I had gone to a favorite gathering place for teens/young adults. She introduced me to her brother, Bruce. Bruce and I were both very attracted to each other - and less than a week later, on Christmas night... we went out on our first date. We dated on and off for almost a year... and then we each went our own directions - but my friendship with Charn didn't waiver. We remained very close friends....
Charmayne was in my wedding party when I married Steve. When Charmayne began her career as a Realtor - her first home sale was to Steve to I... our house on Koldyke Drive.
Life went forward... we both had children...busy careers... grandchildren.... etc. etc. etc.
Charmayne was always one of my dearest friends... a confidant that I trust completely....
I always knew she would be a friend for life - but at that time, I never dreamed that we would also one day become family. Today Charmayne is still one of my dearest - closest friends....my lifetime friend....and now she is also my sister-in-law!
I'm so thankful for her - and the entire Lankenau family...
My family, the Lankenau family!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHARMAYNE!
I love you!

Friday's FIVE!

Margaritas in Chicago!

Betsy "Erckle"

Aunt B

Been in the dress up box at Grandma's

Kermit and Miss Piggy

Rock Stars!

Bruce and I enjoyed a day in Chicago with Betsy and Debbie yesterday. We had such a wonderful time - celebrating Betsy's (and Debbie's August) birthday...and wishing them a farewell before they head off for their Hawaiian commitment ceremony. We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo, enjoyed great Margaritas and dinner at a Mexican place and then packed up in a cab and enjoyed the view from the Sears Tower - we always have fun with Betsy and Debbie.

Betsy has been the life of the party since she was a child - she is natural born comedienne...

She has always had the ability to make all of us laugh... Betsy was born 26 years ago, on Oct. 31st at 9:33AM weighing in at 9# 9oz - with a head full of dark hair on her petite 19" frame...Betsy has brought joy to my life since the day she was born... I'm the luckiest mother in the world to have two wonderful daughters. In honor of Betsy's birthday - this weeks Friday FIVE! is a celebration of five things about Betsy that make me smile!

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1. When Betsy was about two years old, Katie was in preschool... Betsy and I would spend a few morning hours with Grandma Isabel and Grandpa Pete. Betsy loved her Grandpa Pete - and she would go back to the bathroom to 'shave' with him in the mornings. The look on her face and the determination in her walk walking back to the bathroom with Grandpa still makes me smile! She would proudly walk out with shaving cream on her nose ... knowing she would get a laugh from Mom and I. Her toddler and childhood antics were just a glimpse into the joy this child would bring to me...

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2. Betsy has always loved hats... When she was child - she always had some kind of hat on her head. A railroad hat, a baseball hat = you name it... she had a hat a on her head. She would wear the hat as part of her 'costume' - as a prop... or just to keep her long pony tail out of her eyes. She had a huge collection of hats and most childhood photos of Betsy are those with something on her head. I still laugh thinking about Betsy in all of her hats and head-dresses.

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3. Betsy has an incredible sense of rhythm...and she is a very physical comedienne. Her body movements - head movements and facial expressions are often enough to just send me over the edge. It doesn't matter if she is 'dropping it like it's hot'... or singing Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime" or... Barenaked Ladies "One Week"...I just start laughing. She is so funny - and she has so much rhythm and she moves her head and body with so much energy... that it usually has all of us laughing to the point of tears.

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4. Betsy loves movies - any movies...she always has. She knows the dialogue to many movies - line by line...and she can flip through a movie and edit the bloopers for all of us to see. Betsy has extremely high level perceptual skills and she has the ability to 'see' things most of us cannot - it always amazes me the detail she is able to percieve that most of us would never even recognize. Some of Betsy's favorites (that I remember)... are Fried Green Tomatoes, My Girl, Sandlot, Late for Dinner and many, many more. She has a collection of movies that rivals the local rental shop.

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5. Betsy has a compassionate heart - and a deep love for animals. She had so many little 'critters' in her room when she was growing up. She had siberian dwarf hamsters, fuzzy hamsters, guinea pigs and geckos. Our dogs were usually 'Betsy's' dogs... she was Prissy's forever companion... she loved her pets - but her ability to love isn't limited to animals. Betsy is warm and loving and has the ability to bring us all together. She and her sister have a very close - deep love for each other... and she is Aunt B to her nephews and I'm certain that Trevor will grow to love her as much as Tyler does. I'm so thankful for the love of both of my daughters...and for the love they have for each other... and the love they each have for our family and their partners.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETSY - I LOVE YOU!

Betsy's Birthday Week!

It's Betsy's Birthday week!!! This Friday - on October 31, my Betsy will be 26 years old! She was born on Halloween making it a pretty hectic fun filled day. It involved careful planning to get the trick or treating, the birthday presents, the cake and the favorite birthday dinner scheduled. Birthday dinner menus in our family traditionally involved the birthday persons favorite foods...and Betsy always chose her Mama's baked MACARONI AND CHEESE.

I would usually add Hamburgers and a vegetable to the menu... but I think Betsy would have been satisfied with just the Macaroni and Cheese! HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK, BETSY!

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BETSY'S FAVORITE MACARONI AND CHEESE

3 C Milk

6 T Butter

6T Flour

3/4 tsp salt

1 and 1/2 Pound Velveeta Cheese, cubed

1 16oz pkg elbow Macaroni

6-8 slices dark toast

1/2 C melted butter

Prepare macaroni - undercooked, rinsed with cool water, drain thoroughly and set aside. Wisk flour with 2 C milk - Pour into large saucepan, add remaining milk, 6 T butter, salt and cheese cubes. Stir constantly over med heat until thickened and cheese is melted. Toss macaroni into cheese mixture. Pour into 9X13 baking pan. Cut toast into small squares and toss with 1/3 cup melted butter Top macaroni and cheese with butter toast cubes. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

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MACARONI AND CHEESE -NEW VERSION

8 oz uncooked Elbow Macaroni

1/2 C Butter

1/3 C Flour

2 tsp dry mustard

2 tsp salt

5 C Milk

4 C (1 pound) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Optional - Buttered Bread Crumbs

Cook pasta according to directions. Preheat over to 375 degrees. In large saucepan, over med heat, melt butter, stir in flour, mustard and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat. Add 2C cheese, stir until melted. In larw bowl, combine sauce and cooked macaroni. Spoon into PAM sprayed 13X9 baking dish. Top with remaining 2 C cheese. Top with Buttered bread crumbs if desired.

Bake 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly - let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Friday's FIVE!

We've had white caps on the lake all day today - the wind has really been blowing hard. The season is winding down - the leaves are turning...and there is a fire in the fireplace. Most of the boats are out of the water, piers are out and the 'lakers' have packed up and gone home for the winter. Since we have made YCL our full time residence...we have made many wonderful friends - and one of our favorite end of summer events is "Bethy's Fish Fry"... Bethy is a dear friend and neighbor that lives on nearby Loon Lake. She loves to fish - and then when the season is over...she loves to feed us the fish that she has caught. This week's Friday FIVE! is a nod to those 'residents' of YCL (and close surrounding area) that will keep us company during the cold lonely winter!

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1. Allen and Esther - our cold winter friends as well as our summertime fair weather friends. We spend our summer days together out in the boat...and our winter days shopping, eating out or just sharing a pot of soup.

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2. Beth - Our friend Bethy... however, Bethy will be snowbirding to Florida for several weeks later in December...but she will be here for the next few months. We always enjoy the Friday evenings that Bethy meets us at the Silver Inn for a beer and a burger!

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3. Debbi and Kevin - Kevin grew up on YCL and they now live a few miles east of us. Debbi makes the BEST sugar cookies you have ever tasted. Good friends - good neighbors.

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4. Hal and Aimee - I grew up on YCL with Hal. He grew up on a farm just south of the trailer court on the lake. He now lives on the south of the lake. We don't see a lot of Hal and Aimee - they still have kids at home with busy sport and school schedules...but they are good neighbors that we know we could count on if we needed something.

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5. Jim - My neighbor ... for three generations. Jim is a full time resident... and our nearest neighbor in the winter months. Jim is like a brother to me - and we argue like siblings...and will watch out for each other like siblings. When I am working in my home office ... and it is quiet and lonely - it is good to know, Jim is just a few feet away...if I needed something.

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Other neighbors and friends that we will keep us company this winter...

Janet and Steve - who are our favorite GDL's... XOXOXOX

however, they spend alot of winter weekends here...and we are always happy to see them!!!!

Dave and Brenda - Brenda also grew up on the lake - however, they recently became full time residents of YCL - we are happy to have become aquainted with them.

Gary and Cathy - our closest eastern winter neighbors. It's always nice to know there are people close and watching out for each other!

Roger - the local crusty 'boat' guy... keeps a watch out over all of us. Roger is always concerned when my porch light is left on - neighbors watching out for neighbors....

Weigh-In

Because of my busy travel schedule - my last weigh-in was three weeks ago, 9/29/08. I've traveled to Nashville, Indy, Gatlinburg and Memphis since that date... I've had ... beer... Memphis Ribs...Gatlinburg fudge...Smoky Mountain Brewery beer...hot wings, convention food...breakfasts...beer...trailmix...fudge...etc. etc. etc. Until tonight, my weigh-in attire has been khaki shorts and T-shirts...dropping Indiana temps mean it is time to pull out the jeans and sweaters. I'm not making excuses - I've NOT been following the program - but a weigh-in in heavy clothing is also going to make a difference. I was not suprised ... that my weigh-in resulted in a 3.2 gain. After the schedule I've had - and the restaurants I've been to... I was not disappointed - but now it is time to get back to business. I might get back to CORE, but I have tossed around following the flex program for a few months. CORE is wonderful whole foods - and I feel so good while I'm following the CORE program - but FLEX would give me a little more 'flexibility' throughout the Holidays. Whatever I do - I have to get myself back in the mindset of following program again! I enjoyed my Weight Watchers class Monday night. I have made new friends - and it is good to see them when I get there. We encourage each other and cheer each other on... which is truly the foundation of the Weight Watcher program. I'll be in Louisville next week - and won't get to weigh-in Monday night...but my travel schedule is starting to slow down a little ... and I'll be able to weigh in November 4th...just in time to get fired up for the Holidays!

Friday's FIVE!

It's been a busy few weeks... Last week I flew from Fort Wayne to Nashville, TN for a business meeting for a few days- From Nashville, TN to Indianapolis for two day meeting ... Bruce picked me up in Indy and we drove to Gatlinburg and the GSMNP for a long weekend siesta... This week on Tuesday I flew back to Memphis - and yesterday... my return flight from Memphis was late, so I missed my connection in Detroit to Fort Wayne. I was rerouted from Detroit to Cleveland...and then from Cleveland to Fort Wayne. I love my job - and the opportunity to travel and see places and meet people that I otherwise wouldn't meet... but as I sit in my own comfy chair tonight - with my husband next to me...and the dog curled at our feet - I am reminded how much I love my home and my comfortable surroundings...This weeks Friday's Five! is dedicated to five things that I love about being at home...

1. My own comfy chair with my computer in my lap - and my google browser pointed toward day dreams on Travelocity ... and window shopping on Ebay - with a fire in the fireplace.

2. My dog - next to me all day long.

3. A weeknight beer and a bowl of soup at the local watering hole with our friends, Allen and Esther....(Friday night is always good too - but I'm usually home by Friday night anyway)...

so it is the weeknight 'meeting' that I'm especially appreciative tonight.

4. The Solitude of the lake on a fall weekday... piers are out - most boats are out... and most of the lakers have closed up for the winter. Peace.

5. Having my husband to talk with... or to just be silent with... my partner, my friend.

There's NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!

Friday's FIVE!

Cades Cove

Alum Cave Bluffs
Alum Cave Bluffs
Charlie's Bunion Trail - Appalachian Trail
Charlie's Bunion

We have just returned from our trip to Great Smoky Mountain National Park - We had a wonderful time! This is a late entry for Friday's FIVE! and lists five highlights of our trip!

1. FIVE BEARS! After unpacking, we had time to go into town for dinner on Wed. night... just as we were leaving our cabin - we nearly hit a very, very large Black Bear! Then... on Thursday we saw a small cub running across Newfound Gap road - and then, Friday we made a trip out to Cades Cove and saw a mother and two large cubs. It was a record trip for Bear watching - We also saw a Coyote while we were horseback riding, several deer, a box turtle, a shrew, and group of turkeys... it was an eventful trip for wildlife!

2. CHARLIE'S BUNION - I have been hiking the Smokies since 1993 - and I introduced Bruce to the park in 2001. Bruce has now hiked every trail that I have ever hiked! Charlie's Bunion is a beautiful 8 mile round trip hike that follows a length of the Appalachian Trail. http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/charliesbunion.htm The trail reaches elevations over 6100 feet - and involves some technical climbing - but it ends in spectacular views.

3. ALUM CAVE BLUFFS - I think I mentioned this in a previous Friday's FIVE! This is one of my very, very favorite trails ... and I think this was my 7th trip to the Bluffs. Spectacular Vistas, interesting geology and amazing demonstrations of the biodiversity of the GSMNP make this a favorite for many GSMNP hikers.

4. SMOKY MOUNTAIN HORSE BACK RIDING - This was a first for us - Bruce grew up with horses of his own, however this was the first time we have been riding together - and the first time we enjoyed trails in the Smoky's while on horseback. The views were beautiful - and it was a wonderful way to enjoy the park while resting a day between hiking Charlies Bunion and Alum Cave bluff.

5. CADES COVE - The weather was perfect for enjoying Cades Cove 11 mile loop in the VW with the top down. As I indicated above - we saw 3 bears at Cades Cove - and a lot of deer. Traffic wasn't too bad and the color was beautiful - there are many 'pull off spots' to enjoy the scenery or get out and walk... or just sit and contemplate the beauty of the mountain. We brought along a growler of Velas Hellus from the Smoky Mountain Brewery - It really doesn't get much better than that! http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm