Family out to SD for Thanksgiving........and Christmas

What a fun time we had this past week.  All of our kids and grandkids were out --- except our oldest son, Rick and his wife, Claudia....they live in the Netherlands.     We  (well, we slept in our own beds) -----all stayed at the Schelhaas Hunting Lodge.  Such a neat place ---- and so much room!!!  Full kitchen, Great Room, two bathrooms with showers,  and 14 beds.  Everything you need and more!!

"Tumbly" the Tumble Weed Snowman was our Christmas mascot............took lots of pictures around her...(note the flowers in her "hair")

Our Grandkids..........(Bottom row - L to R) Keller, Sawyer, Oliver, Halle....(Middle Row) Brennan, Sidney, Colton, Clayton... (Standing) Austin, "Tumbly" and Trenton   No! I haven't lost my mind - Tumbly is not a grandchild!!

We took our two 4 wheelers over and so they got used a LOT.  There was deer hunting and coyote hunting --- success in both.......   Then there were those nasty prairie dogs -- hunted them too.

Trenton

These two guys (Brennan and Clayton) were pretty happy too.   Not every day you find some with horns.

Grandpa said Colton could shoot all the Pheasants he could ---- WITH A SLINGSHOT!!  --- He got one!!!!  Yup - a tailless one, but oh well!!!  It was a pretty good shot too....."from across the road and then a little more".

Our two little grandkids who live in the city got to feed Don's cattle with Grandpa and
Brennan.   I found feed on the floor --- must have come in with their shoes.....they had fun on the grain pile. 

Oh -and then there was a clay pigeon shooting......and walks.......and cookie baking.....and picture drawing......

Top one is Sidney's ---- she's a Junior in High School and bottom one is Halle's ...she's in the 4th grade.  Anyway - they both just looked at a picture on a phone and went to drawing.   Halle didn't like her first one .....so she started over....this one is perfect.   And then, much to my joy!!!!!  - they gave them to me ----- They are hanging on our wall!!!

We were lucky enough to have a Raptor/Falconer -- what is it....come out to Don's Preserve to get a couple of pheasants.  Don and Jeannie were gone - so Gary caught the birds.  Anyway, it was too windy to send his Perigrine Falcons out (they are in training) but he did come out and "display" them --- which was so nice!!! He said he would come on another day to work them.  They (two of them) were born this spring.

Part of our "gift giving" was some crazy saying Tee-Shirts.  Here is a sampling.....

Holly didn't agree with that one --- that she snores --- but Dennis TOTALLY agreed!!

 Dennis is work work work.......

We did a lot of laughing over some of them!!!!

And then for our entertainment----Keller recited the entire poem .....

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

He's in Preschool!!!!

And every morning and every evening we had grand displays of glorious beauty!!!!

Thank you Lord for everything!!

Gary and Barb

Sausages from venison +++

We made some "bratwurst sausages" about 2 months ago.   We used about 5 lbs. of venison and then ground up our (delicious) pork roasts to make 12 lbs. of meat.   They were delicious.....but - wow - what a lot of work.

Yesterday we used up the remaining venison, some pheasant breasts , 1 package of pork roast and 1 lb. of bacon.  Gotta use what you have and see how it tastes - right?!  This was about 15 lbs. of meat -- so we figure it was 2/3 venison --- just in case you are wondering.

We use the REAL pork intestines for stuffing....adds to the excitement   :)  :)     After stuffing them we let them sit in the refrigerator overnight.   Come morning -- it was out to the smoker.  About 3 hours total cook time --- a 1/2 hour of drying time --- 1/2 hour of smoke ---and then an hour at  approximately 190 degrees until the sausages reach an inner temperature of 160.

We just did a taste test --- and they are a success.   We hope to go over to Don and Jeannie and vacuum pack these.   Our first batch got a little freezer burn just being in zip lock bags.

It was real cold this morning and windy --- so Gary put 2 tarps and a blanket around the smoker in order to keep things working properly.      I think there might be a couple of changes in batches to come........ a new electric grinder and some new recipes (Gary wants to get away from the store boughten mixes).

Anyway --- fantastic way to use that venison!!!!
Gary and Barb

Fall ---- Autumn ---- Cool weather ------ Friends come visiting

We had some VERY good friends come out for a visit...... It was short, but oh, so sweet.

Bruce and Glenda Peters, Sue Pfnister, Sally and Ken Kreuze and then me and Gary with Toby and "mama cat".

We have a hard time (sometimes) finding ways to entertain our guests.   But it seemed that we did OK with them.    A little cattle drive, some pheasant hunting and some outdoor fun with "yard yathzee".....and then, of course - good!!! food --supplied by them I might add.

OOPS  --- this is one that got away.

We are always so thankful for fun times with friends - whether it be from near or far..... we are so blessed with "old" friends and "new" friends.  

We are really looking forward to Thanksgiving --- our family is coming out to South Dakota this year.   We will be staying at Don and Jeannie's "Guest House" - "Hunting Lodge".  We pray that the weather will be good for traveling!!!

God Bless and STAY WARM  --- it is COLD out today but predicted to warm up next week.  Deer hunting tomorrow...... So catch the next blog --- we finished up all our old venison thinking we will get a new supply........made sausages. YUMMM

Gary and Barb

Halloween fun at JDC

We had our 9th Annual Halloween party at the Detention Center tonight.  We made pizza ---- oh  - there are only 3 kids at JDC and the girl hasn't come to any of our meetings and we couldn't talk her into coming  - even to make pizza.   So all we had was two boys - Diego and Tajhon.  But we sure had a lot of fun!!

First we had a short lesson from Psalm 56:3 - "When I am afraid I will trust in you....." Thank you Julie!!  Then out to the gym and put our 4 pizza's together (should have only made 3 -- but had 4 dough ready).  Most of the kids that are ever in JDC have never made their own pizza --- so this is a new experience for them AND a fun one.   Some really get  into it and put lots of toppings on and others just the "safe" stuff -- sausage and pepperoni.  Diego had asked for bacon and so I made sure I had a nice supply of bacon pieces....well Julie was also looking forward to putting bacon on our pizza -  but it was all gone -- RATS!  Diego DID share his pizza.

I am always the one that has to go to the kitchen to get the pizza's baked -- so I miss out everytime!! on the games --- the fun part.    Tonight we had the famous chariot races, 2 liter on a rope (gets twirled round and round above Gary's head and the kids have to jump it as it comes around), the hula-hoop lift (my name for it - some of you have tried it)... and then balloons on a string to pop (on ankles), and walking stilts.    I hear there were a couple of accidents during the chariot  races but no trips to the ER. 

We then ate pizza and Sprinkle bars (request from Diego -- yes, he's been there before).  Everyone was stuffed and we had leftovers for the girl.     Then it was time to divvy up the candy.  Gotta work for it.     We put an empty water bottle on the gym floor --- two teams  - Pastor Mark and Julie against Diego and Tajhon.  Gotta knock down the bottle with a tennis ball -- if you knock it down you "get a candy" -- if you DON'T knock it down --- gotta "give up" a candy.  Play until someone was out of the candy they started with.  What a hoot!!!  LOTS of give and take!!  Then we gave them each a bag of the candy.  Everyone had a good time -- even me!!

As Julie said --- even if there were only two boys -- they need something different to do and have some fun.  I think we were successful in that tonight. 

Release Time tomorrow --- our 4th time with the kids.  Things are going pretty good.  We sure do appreciate your prayers!!!

Rain tonight on the way home and that could turn into snow during the night.   Winter will be here soon enough!
Gary and Barb