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

Friday's FIVE!

In anticipation of our upcoming hiking trip to Great Smoky Mountain National Park - last week's Friday's FIVE! was a tribute to five of my favorite GSMNP hiking trails... This week I will highlight 5 of our families favorite "Parkway" hotspots. We truly do travel to GSMNP for the beauty of the National Park - the hiking and the amazing views...but after a hard day hiking, it is fun to stroll the Gatlinburg strip and experience some of the touristy schmaltz. There are some people that never make it south of Stop light #10 - and actually come to this area just for the downtown attractions - we are not those people... but I'm not ashamed to admit that we have fun while we are there...

1. The Big Floating Marble Ball at Ripley's Believe It or Not! http://www.ripleys.com/ I think we only visited the attraction one time... but a stroll down the Gatlinburg strip isn't the same without a quick push on the big floating ball.

2. The Fudge Shoppe - I LOVE Chocolate Pecan or Chocolate Walnut!!! Such a well deserved snack after an 8 mile hike!!! http://www.fudgeshoppeofthesmokies.com/

3. Smoky Mountain Brewery http://www.smoky-mtn-brewery.com/ Bruce and I love the Smoky Mountain Brewery - and the micro-brews.... We like to get a sampler and discuss and compare the attributes of the Black Bear Ale or the Cherokee Red ... We are usually visiting during the seasonal tap of Octoberfest...one we both really enjoy!!

4. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Aquarium http://www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com/ Yes - it's true... this is one of the 'attractions' on the strip we really do enjoy. It is a wonderful aquarium ... and worth the price of admission.

5. Beneath the Smoke http://thegreatsmokeymountainsparkway.com/_shoppi/gsbensmo.htm I love this shop on the Parkway. It has wonderful prints - and paintings of the hiking trails and falls in the GSMNP ... there are wonderful wildlife photos and prints - a great collection of Big Sky Bears and various other interesting mountain collectibles, books and 'kadooies'....

Honorable Mention

The Happy Hiker - http://www.happyhiker.com/ This is a great Outfitter that isn't directly on Parkway... but it is a great place to browse and find supplies and accessories for hiking or kayaking.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS

OCTOBER is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone.
Domestic Violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender.

Domestic Violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.
Often - Violence is happening in a home where you least expect it... it is generally the victims pattern to 'hide' the fact that abuse is occurring... Don't close your eyes to abuse - stay aware and offer help. If you are in an abusive relationship - Save your life - and GET OUT...

if you know someone in an abusive relationship - encourage her/him to get help and to GET OUT! Help is available...TOGETHER we can END the LEGACY of ABUSE!!!

BREAK THE SILENCE - MAKE THE CALL! 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE http://ndvh.org/

• 1 out of 3 women ... in all of the world have been victims of Domestic Violence
  
• At least 3 women are murdered everyday by their partners
  
• 75% of those murders, occur in the home


• Violence against women costs companies approx. $75 million a year in lost productivity
  

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

1. Attend upcoming events around the country.
2. Spread the word that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
3. Show your PURPLE POWER! Wear Purple and pass out Purple Ribbons!
4. Help a service provider in your area. Call the Hotline to find out local organizations that support Domestic Violence 1-800-799-7233
5. Encourage others to join the Million Voices Campaign to End Domestic Violence in America.

PLEASE JOIN THE MILLION VOICES CAMPAIGN
The Million Voices Campaign is a group of people and organizations in America willing to educate, inform, and raise awareness about the problems of domestic violence and sources to help. Joining is easy and free of charge. Help us achieve the goal of ONE MILLION members by joining the Million Voices Campaign and give America a million reasons to END Domestic Violence! http://www.ndvh.org/support-ndvh/join