Brittany's Birthday Week started out with a Daddy/Daughter date! (Yes, Gram...I got to have a birthday week too!!! ;)
We had 1st tasted this restaurant on Deputation years back... so Bob Evans it had to be for her Birthday breakfast with Daddy!!
Spinach, Potato, Omelet in a biscuit bowl: this was Brittany's choice.
Daddy went with something a little more familiar: Blueberry Crepe
For our birthday, Mommy always cooks our "birthday menu". Brittany chose: Company Chicken, Mashed potato's, Candied carrots, Sweet Corn, rolls, and Russian salad.
Later in the week we had a Birthday party, fun family night with a few of Brittany's friends! (Since we weren't allowed to "call it her Birthday party"=)
We had Pumpkin Chili, and Regular Chili, Homemade French bread, and a fun Recipe for Homemade Focaccia (also an Italian flat bread seasoned with Rosemary and Fresh Parmesan) that I found and a choice of: Chocolate or FunFetti Cupcakes, (which Natasha lovingly made and decorated for her sister) Black Raspberry pie, (thank you Daddy for all of these fresh from your garden) Chocolate chip pie,(which Brittany made herself this time), Pecan pie and ice cream for desert.
The first pie on your left is Brittany's Chocolate Chip Pie (also known as Brown Durby!) I thought Jesus really helped her!
This picture was taken when Brittany was two at Cades Cove, TN. We got a few weeds flowers to match the flowers that she had picked in her hand. Why Not, they were FREE!!! =)
Brittany's art work of Painting her Pumpkin's WHITE... she loves everything with touches of White!
These Beautiful flowers were a gift from the Becker's for Brittany's party. Thank you so much Becker's for the lovely flowers and for allowing us to use your home as Party place!
These two candles were gifts from the Dickinson's, who couldn't be with us, but were there in spirit and prayers! Thanks so much, Heather for praying with me, Jesus really helped her party to turn out SO well!
Thank you Dickinson's for the "candles"! They were a BIG hit...especially with the Wegener's! (He wants to talk business with you! ;)
We ended by playing some games. Which really didn't get underway til Brent got home! Thank you for your service to our country, Brent! God Bless you, and welcome Home!!!
Fall calls for all the pumpkin recipes you find or learn about, at least I think so! Here's one that our Pastor's Wife made for treats recently and I begged for the recipe. Posting this just for my dear sister, Heather!
Delicious and so moist! Other scones that I've tasted are dry, these are yummy even when served cold!
Pumpkin Scones
2 1/4 cups plain flour 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed 1 egg 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 1/3 cup milk 2 tablespoons pecans, optional (I didn't have any, so it wasn't an option! =)
In large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, pie spice salt and baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk egg, pumkin and milk add to crumb mixture just til moistened. Turn to lightly floured surface and knead 10 times. Pat into 8" circle and cut into 8 wedges. Separate wedges and place on greased baking sheet.
Bake at 400o for 12-15 min. (The original recipe came with a Cranberry butter recipe, but I didn't have those and thought I would like it better with this glaze instead.) Serve warm with homemade butter cream glaze! Enjoy!
Here is the glaze for those of you that wanted me to add it... (Easier said than done, for I just do it till it looks right! =) But here's how I start at least...
Glaze:
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
1 Tablespoon milk
1 cup to approx 2 cups of powdered sugar
Stir this all well, till it resembles a soft icing.. I usually make mine pretty thick, for when you add them to warm Scones they spread well and cover it better rather than a thinner glaze! Enjoy!!! I've had to make them twice since blogging this for my son saw the blog post and begged requested for them again! His sweet delighted squeal was well worth the extra effort!
We had our church get together - 1st ever in the Fall and it was a BIG HIT! The weather was perfect to make a bonfire feel wonderful! Here are some of the pics of the people's tailgate themes! I was soo pleased with the huge variety! Some of them won prizes and some didn't, but it was GREAT FUN! Can't wait til next year!
This was one of my personal favorites!! Click on it to see the "Tail", along with the "gate"! Great job, guys and the best part was they just ordered pizza and they were done!!! I love it! And with their two little guys making things hectic DOUBLE TIME for them, everyone LOVED IT! Great going, Kennedy's!
This Patriotic tailgate was one of the winners! Great job, Beckers! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
These are just some fun pics of our Minister of Music... it was soooo cold that I bet their hats were "needed" too!
They were laughing so hard at how silly they must have looked! And we WERE LAUGHING at how silly they DID look!!! =) Love you guys though, Ryans!
The Turkey before Thanksgiving oven!
Cute Lil Pumpkin!
The "TURKEY" after it's been stuffed! Sorry, Rob!
The Ryan's and Jowers did their tailgate together and won the prize for Best Decorated! We ALL Agreed!
We had folks show up from somewhere near the "Hick-ville" area, I think!!! Great Fun!
The Winner below is the Cox's and Campbells! Somewhere they lost their real tires!
And some folks that look like they were from "South of the Border"!
Connie and Denise did a wonderful job decorating for Pastor Appreciation! God has truly blessed us at CNC with some of the most godly, giving Pastors on earth! And their wonderful wives who stand by them! We LOVE YOU ALL and are SOOOO happy that God led us here!
Hutchinson's Pony Rides for 5c... too cute!
Here's our Haus!
We borrowed a friend to stand with Darla for the other kids from this Haus were out playing!! It was so cold that we wanted something WARM, so I made Chicken Spaghetti and homemade Garlic Breadsticks! Should have found a way to take COFFEE, for my Orange-Lemonade was a TAD cold to drink! =)
Another view of Campbells and Cox's display!
Eisenhart Jr's all about HUNTING... who's surprised! Hope they get a deer, this year too! We sure enjoyed the venison that ya'll gave us last year!!! Hint! I mean, Delicious!!!!
The church display for the Pastor's!
Delicious Spanish Food!!!
Earls and Truesdale's booths! Delicious hot cider and all kinds of tasty treats for all to share! YUM!
The Final winners for the MOST work!!! The Wegener's! And they put on a wonderful fireworks show for us after it got dark!
It was just so much fun! Natasha was cleared by her Doctor to get to play volleyball for the 1st time since her surgery in March and so she was thrilled! We all were! Of course, We forgot to get pics of the bonfire, and volleyball groups! Thanks CNC for being such a FUN, LOVING, Church! Nothing beats good ole Christian Fellowship! We love ya'll!
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Today we said good-bye to a precious lady, neighbor, and friend. We miss her dearly, but look forward to seeing her in heaven. The most important thing - she was a child of God, forgiven, and walking with Jesus! Mamie Neal passed away a week ago and our hearts have been sad since we heard the news. She lived across the street and was known as the "Mayor of Bodmann" and EVERYONE on the street respected Mamie Neal. We learned at her funeral yesterday that those from her church loving called her "Mother Neal"! This pic was taken when we had her over for her birthday, before she got so sick with her cancer!
Natasha and Brittany were honored to get to play a special violin/piano number (medley about heaven) at the funeral service. Although there was much sadness in the packed church, the Pastor reminded us that we were there to celebrate her home-going and preached a powerful salvation message. "We are all going to die, and you won't be late for this appointment!" (Pastor Ellington). May God help us to live the life, be faithful, and get serious about living for God and following His commands. Christians love, forgive, reconcile, go the extra mile, and our self-centerdness can be purified!
What an experience that we hope we never get over! Getting to attend Mamie Neal's "Celebration of Life" at her church here in Cincy! Though we miss her much here, we plan to so live to meet her again, as the choir sang so well when we "Goin' up Yonder!" What a hope we have, all because of Jesus!
