Serving Men

Today marks Memorial Day. We remember those who have served and those who have fallen for our country. I am especially blessed for the men in my family who served in the arm forces. I'd like to tell you about. I do a terrible job of remembering exactly what branch and duty they served and it is not meant to be disrespectful, so I'll do my best and everyone can comment and fill me in on the specifics.

My Grandpa Juel served in World War II. I know he was in California. I know he always polished his boots because that put him in better standing with the officers. I think he helped run medical supplies.
My Uncle Bob served in the Vietnam War. I know he signed up right after high school instead of waiting to be recruited, which means he was 18. I know he went and came back with his best friend. I know he worked on the fighting planes. I know my mom, his sister, wrote letters to him on toilet paper. I know he saw things no one ever should see, especially when you 18. He doesn't talk too much about it. It's never glamorous in his eyes.
My Step-dad, Jerry, served in Vietnam. I know he worked on an air craft carrier. I know he learned how to crack 3 eggs in each hand at a time. I know he worked in the boiler room.
My Father-in-law, Bill, served in Vietnam. I know he guarded an air base. I know he worked the extra shifts no one else wanted because what else was there to do. I know he learned to hate green peppers while on duty. I know his dad, Bill, served in World War II.

 I know so very little about the duty of each of these men, yet I consider a few things. I think that war must make you hate war. I'm pretty sure that the term "friend" has no limit, no end during conflict. I'd say the thought process of sacrifice is checked at the door, when you sign the papers. 
I know that when these men die, they will receive a 21 gun salute and an American flag will be draped over their casket (and the grandpas have).
I know that I am thankful. You served for those you knew, those you didn't know, those you had met, those you were yet to meet and those who you will never meet.
Thank you.

Weekend Riders

This past weekend Bill took Audrey and Ben up to Minnesota to ride the motorcycles with our friend Joe. The area is normally for horseback riding, but a couple times a year it is opened up to motorcycles. (no horses, of course)
They left Friday night and came home Sunday. Here are pictures and my captions from their weekend.

So they get there kind of late Friday night and have to set up the tent. In the dark. At least Bill had set up the brand new tent in our basement the night before so he kind of knew how the thing went together.

And after you've been driving til dark and setting up a tent in the dark, there is just nothing like building a campfire- after you hunt for sticks and make four attempts at lighting the damp wood.

The next morning was a sound check. I guess to make sure the bikes weren't too nosiy. This picture cracks me up because the bikes are seemingly arranged according to color. I can just hear them- "Alright folks, we may be borderin' on bein' redneck, but there just ain't no cause for color confusion." I might have liked the trip after all.

The area where they rode is really nice. Here's a shot of the campground. Trucks, trailers, campers, etc. And if you weren't riding, you had to be eating. Goodness gracious, the food I packed for those three!! Lunch meat, veggies, chips, rice krispy treats, brats, potato packets, homemade scones and more! You can just see Audrey and Ben in the lower corner- reading and eating. And no, that isn't our truck.

This is the sweaty head of my boy. He rode, and rode and rode. He ran out of gas at least two times in less than 48 hours. Anytime he can ride, he is in heaven. Bill said he thought Ben might just actually sleep with his motorcycle the way some kids fall asleep at Christmas with their arms around their favorite toy!

Bill- "This is the life, man! Miles of groomed trails, campfire, sweat and no cell phone range, so work can't get a hold of me. Now, if only my woman were here."

Audrey, on phone at a high lookout- "Hi, Mom. I miss you. I love you. Can you come here and make us food? Dad just dropped Ben's bratwurst in the fire and he burnt our grilled cheese sandwiches."

"I'd rather be riding than stopping at this dumb lookout."

Whoops. A little too far off road. Don't they look like the troopers from Star Wars "Return of the Jedi"?

"Use the Force, son, to get your bike out of the trees" Alas, young Ward apprentice's belief in the Force is too weak and Master Jedi Dad must do it for him.

This is fun!!

Homemade Scones

I make scones. I do. I've become known for my scones. They are good. My mom has told me that now, she never buys scones in a coffeeshop because mine are so much better. Really.
The recipe really isn't mine to begin with. Bill found it for me a long time ago. I don't know how or why since he had never eaten a scone nor drank a cup of coffee in his life, but love will do that to a man.
The website is Joy of Baking.com and I just visited it. What she has listed as traditional and coffeeshop type scones is different than what I got years ago, so whatever to that. Here is what I make that gets rave reviews.

Cream Scones

2 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
1/3 c. unsalted butter, cold
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ c. heavy cream

Glaze:
1 egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp. cream
Turbinado (raw) sugar

Variations- about 1/3 c. each unless noted:

Dried cherries- vanilla chips

Dried cranberries- orange zest (1Tbsp)

Dried strawberries
Dried blueberries

Chocolate chips

Cinnamon chips

Chopped, toasted pecans

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter to large coarse crumbs. Add variations at this point. Mix together egg, vanilla, and cream. Stir into the well of flour until moistened. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead gently until dough is smooth. Pat into a 7” circle about 1” thick. Cut into 8 triangle sections. Separate and place on a parchment lined sheet. Brush with glaze and sprink turbinado sugar on top. Bake 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Edited to add: In response to the queries about the cinnamon chips and where to get them, I buy them at a bulk food store in Mt. Pleasant, near where Bill's parents live. Every time we visit them, I drag Bill's mom to town with me to buy several bags of them. If you are near me and would like some, just let me know and I'll just give you some. If you don't live near me, you can ask your grocer to start stocking them. Both Hershey's and King Arthur's Flour make them. Or you can buy them online. Or you can take Amtrak to Mt. Pleasant and visit the bulk food store. 
Turbinado sugar is raw sugar. You can find it in the baking aisle near the sugar. I think the box I bought called it sugar in the raw.
I don't usually add the glaze to the tops of the scones. Why? Because it requires more cream and another egg and I'm stingy. Also, if I don't make it, then I can get two scone recipes out of one pint of cream. The sugar still sticks to the tops without it.
 
Now, I've just recently tweaked my cinnamon chip variation by adding a teaspoon of hazelnut syrup to it. It gives an extra depth to the flavor. Don't know what cinnamon chips are? They are just like chocolate chips except cinnamon flavored You must find yourself some and a world of possibilities will open up to you. Plus, you will never be able to make a nice cranberry/orange scone ever again.
You will never buy scones again. Just save your money for the coffee. Enjoy!

Chicken Update

I thought you might be interested in seeing what those sweet chicks have grown into. Not quite so sweet any more. You might want to start thinking along the lines of succulent now. They only have a few more weeks left and they are getting big. I did not take a picture of the next set of chickens that are three weeks behind, but the difference is quite noticeable.
I went out to Shelli's the other night to help put them to bed and Luke and Ariana came with me. Luke got to fill the feeders and Ariana got to turn on and off the hose so I could fill the waterers. Then we went to look at Shelli's barn and while in the barn, I spotted an egg. I pulled Ariana over and asked her what she saw. She asked, "Is it an Easter egg?", because the egg was brown. Shelli let her take it home and Ariana was all ready to have her egg for breakfast the next morning.
The fund raising for the Bibles is moving along. The goal amount to raise is going to take a while as we hope to instill the value of giving to the jr. highers by having them give most of the money towards the Bibles. At this point, mostly, we'd love your prayers for our endeavors. And the chickens would like you to eat more beef! :)

I-Cubs Fits Luke

After the recital, the fam went to an I -Cubs game. We went with the 3-M club and had a tasty meal and got free hats. We were going to get t-shirts, but they were all adult x-large, so never mind. Doesn't Luke look cute?

We got cozy under our winter coats, hats, mittens, and blankets. It was a pretty cold for our night game.

About the 8th inning, an I-Cubs guy comes up to Luke and asks him if he wants to answer the Honey Bee Trivia question. Huh? Well, Luke said yes and he got to go down, stand on top of the visiting teams's dugout. They asked the trivia question, and guess, what? Luke got the question right! Okay, they primed him. And his prize? An adult x-large t-shirt!! Now, there was this little girl sitting in front of us and she was all about Luke once he was famous. 

We had tuckered out kids after the game. Luke never took hat off the whole time. I tried to change him into his jammies when we got home, but he wouldn't let me take his hat off. As soon as I'd pull it up, he'd reach up and hold it down. 

 We had such a great time. Thanks, 3M and I-Cubs!

Piano Recital

A couple of weeks ago was my piano studio's spring recital.  All 18 of my students played. Each played at least two pieces from memory. I had three students perform original compositions and there was one duet involving a student, a teacher and two sombrero hats! I would like to say we had fun, but most of my students would not say the recital is fun :)
Ben and Audrey both played and I have included part of Audrey's performance.

I'm so proud of all my students for their playing. There are only a few experiences in life like a piano recital. Where you have only one shot to get it right, to go for perfection without any direct coaching in the process. It is huge! When they sit at the piano to play, even though I'm close by, I can't say to them "Okay, get louder here. More! More! Slow down. Listen." etc. They have to do it all themselves. And when they don't quite get it right, they have to learn how to handle themselves through it. It's big.
I'm proud of them. Did I already say that? I know. Afterwards, I got up to talk but couldn't because I was crying. It took me a while to get my composure. The students, however, were hoping I'd hurry up and get done because there was cake and ice cream waiting for them!!

And look at this cake!! My friend, Kristin, made this cake for me! It officially goes down in the history books as the coolest piano recital cake ever! It also tasted great.
I'd show a picture of my entire piano studio, but I don't have permission from the parents, so I can't. I will share with you the quote I read, but mostly cried through, to the audience at the recital and I think it aptly sums up how I feel about my students.
"You will be a musician when not only your hands but also your heart and mind are full of music." Robert Schumann

What it takes to be a MIL

This is my mother-in-law, Laura. Laura Lee to some, but Mom to her two sons and their wives, her daughter and Grandma to 5. Pretty much that's all it takes.
Oh, well that really wouldn't be doing justice to this wonderful woman I love, so I'll go on...
Well, I met her for the first time at her son's graduation from undergrad. We went to Hickory Park for supper. She was nice. Later, I threw up from the nerves of meeting Bill's parents for the first time. (She doesn't know that and it isn't it all related to how wonderful she is and didn't affect our relationship. Well, at least not up to this point.)
Then I spent the night at her house and ate cinnamon rolls from the wrong pan. The pan that she had made to send to her daughter in college out of state.
I chose not to order salad at Hickory Park anymore and made sure I waited for the rest of the family before sneaking a cinnamon roll. She forgave me for all of that.
After that, we pretty much hit it off.
Then we went shopping for flowers for my bridal shower. She showed me how to make a piecrust, angel food cake and 7-minute frosting and how to can green beans and make homemade applesauce.
She is lovely. She has the nicest complexion. But her true beauty is inside. She loves the Lord and she has a gentle spirit. Seriously, I have hardly ever seen her lose her cool. And let me tell you, she is juggling a lot sometimes. Being a farmer's wife is way more than just chief cook and bottle washer.
She loves to bake cookies and rice kripsy treats with her grandkids. She makes baby blankets. She manages an ever expanding garden. She is first to give out hugs and kisses when someone has an owie. She is tender that way.
Her love language is words of encouragement. Mom, you have loved your family truely, deeply and respectfully and I want you to know, it means all the world to me.