So...whats for dinner?

And Nance, I think it would be a riot to hear a weather person forecast "hamster-size" snowflakes!!

Beautiful pics of food, cookies, and hamster sized snowflakes, lol!

Am back home after FIL's funeral services and military honors ceremony at the national cemetery, arrived at about 9 last night. My DS drove through the night Thurs to be there, and he and DD participated in the service by bringing the sacraments forward to the altar, along with their cousin. There were the three grandchildren present out of seven (one in Japan, one taking college finals, one who just didn't show up, and the little one taking school testing) so it was nice that they could have a hand in the proceedings. My MIL is hanging in but she looked totally exhausted, and with so much family in the house it was a bit crazy, but it was good to see everyone. The honor guard at the national cemetery forgot to bring their blanks so they could not do FIL's 21 gun - DH was mighty pissed, and the funeral director brought him over to the assembled young troops, introduced him as Colonel V, and they got a piece of his mind. They did do a very nice flag folding and played taps, but they had one opportunity to do this right and they blew it, and it was a disappointment. DD then suggested that we do our own salute since FIL/MIL's house is somewhat remote and on the water. She had her gun, one BIL had his, and my FIL had a 32, a 22 rifle and a shotgun. So, DD, DS, DH, and two BILs did their own 3 volley salute off the dock at sunset with a toast to "Papa" - they are definitely a "can do" bunch! DD and I had to go buy ammo directly after the lunch reception at the church and walked in dressed in black with sunglasses on - the guys at the gun store were a bit surprised to see us looking quite formal, but they were very supportive when we explained why we were there and they even threw in some free ammo to help out.

Back to the usual at home - decorating for the holiday and having a pork roast, mashed potatoes and steamed green beans with dill tonight. Poor DH had to go into work today just to try to catch up. He got home earlier than I did yesterday (DD and I drove separately from him) and got the lights on the big tree for me and washed the dog. He's a good man!

Lacey - actually we (St. Louis) have a local weather guy who coined that term "hamster flakes". His name is Dave Murray - was so successful here that he went on to the national scene (ABC or CBS I think) for a while, didn't like it and came back to St. Louis. He's about the best weather guy here but he kind of missed it today. For what it's worth, I'm not ready for this stuff either. In fact, if I never saw snow here again it wouldn't hurt my feelings one bit. As always, your cookies are beautiful!

SpecialK - how disappointing about the ceremony but it sounds like it was handled just fine! Your DH is indeed a good man.

Decided on easy tonight -- chicken/pork Trader Joe"s tamales with a side of black beans from the freezer and a cabbage slaw.

auntie - disappointing is the word for sure. They offered to re-do when MIL passes away, as she will be interred with FIL, but that is a day late and a dollar short for her - she should have been able to witness that tribute to her husnand. DH is at work and he just cc'ed an email to our home address that he sent to the funeral director, and he is asking her to forward him the contact info for the honor guard. She was awesome on all fronts - and this was not under her control, and she is writing her own letter, but his will come on Special Operations Command letterhead with his full title. Not only was my FIL a WWII vet, he was a Colonel himself - so I think whoever was supposed to double check whether or not they had packed the blank rounds for the 21-gun is going to get a dressing down. And possibly a spanking. And maybe a re-write on procedure. Good thing we are a well-armed family and could do our own, lol! The survey of the fam on who had guns, how many, and what kind, was pretty funny. DD has a concealed carry license and while I was surprised she had her gun with her since I was driving us there, I should have known better. She takes no chances, that one!

Nance, it was still snowing when I got to the nursing home, so I told my dad it was snowing hamsters outside and he just cracked up and watched it for the longest time, then, he would watch tv, look out and say It's still snowing Hamsters. out there............We thought for sure we would get birds on his feeder today. We could see them flying and lighting in the trees but none came to his window....bummer.

specialK!

You were one of the people in this forum that talked me off the ledge In the early days after my (first) diagnosis a couple years ago. I came here thinking I would figure out everything in about a week, and you all could tell me how long I had to live. Haha....

Bless you for helping out the newbies. You're a gem!!

Sounds like someone isn't taking his job very seriously.

Well, it wouldn’t be a Chicago Bar Show run without at least one “snow event,” and Mother Nature didn’t disappoint on closing day. As I was getting ready to head across from the hotel to the theater to get ready for today’s matinee, we were watching the Bears & 49ers slog through the aforementioned “hamster flakes.” Niners didn’t know what hit ‘em, and one of the Bears star running backs had never played in snow before! Despite the weather, we had a full and enthusiastic house. Bob whiled away the afternoon at Kitty O’Shea’s in the hotel, having trout and Guinness. I was very worried after last night’s cast party because I thought I chatted too much in a very noisy room and was getting laryngitis again. I also had forgotten to take my cough-suppressant before leaving home, and wanted to save my doses for the show—so I took the bedtime dose 90 min. before curtain and realized I was going to have to sleep without it after the first dose wore off. So there was a bit of coughing during the night so that I could have the next dose be effective for at least 6-8 hrs. to get me through the show.

Now, the first night, I thought I was a disaster. I couldn’t hear my voice on the low notes, so I assumed it was weak and I pushed or else I couldn’t be heard. It felt very “gravelly.” But the director told me she watched the video, and I sounded fine. Hmm. Gordy (my son) also said I came through loud & clear. Nonetheless, the sound guy gave me some more volume on the lowest & highest notes the next two performances, so I assumed I was passable. Bob and our friends who came Friday said I sounded great, but I felt I still wasn’t “there” yet. This was perplexing to me, because I sounded great in the dressing room practicing and in the green room during warmups—as well as during the full-ensemble choral numbers. And my spoken lines were at the just right volume all along. I was so frustrated, and almost jealous that the other soloists could sing so clearly yet effortlessly. So today, we began the song, with me starting—and I came through loud and clear without pushing myself, so I was able to fully act without my voice cracking. But suddenly I heard everyone else perfectly too, and we nailed our solos, unison and harmonies. What was the difference? Well, today they finally got the stage monitors working! They hadn’t been on the first three nights! Our mics were those tiny (about the size of a grain of rice) little wireless ones taped to our cheekbones, so you can’t get the kind of instant mini-monitoring you can from a conventional stand or handheld mic.

We were supposed to meet for fish & chips, Kaliber, and Irish coffee at Kitty’s afterward—but Bob couldn’t find me a seat at the bar, so we ate at the self-serve canteen (“Herb’n’Kitchen”) in the hotel—cappuccino (yay—I can have dairy again!) and a roast beef/fontina/arugula (grown on the hotel’s rooftop) sandwich on focaccia. But because the focaccia was soggy, I just ate the “innards.” Since Bob had had several Guinnesses, I drove us home…in his little front-wheel-drive Fusion Hybrid. Those hamster flakes were supposed to have turned to rain by midafternoon. Yeah, right. They were coming down hard and fast and sticking. It was sloppy walking and touchy driving—the main roads were salted and plowed, but not the neighborhood streets & alleys. Managed to get us home safely.

Poured myself some Beaujolais Nouveau (Momessin) and flipped on the TV. What was on? A PBS special called “Hugs & Knishes,” about how food. tradition & family intertwine in Judaism. So what did I eat? Chopped liver, of course. Watching a special on “Hamilton” right now. Makes me miss the Bar Show (“Shamilton”) already—and realizing as I listened to the actual songs how verbatim our harmonies were, and how closely the parody lyrics (our writers are brilliant) track the original. Can’t wait till I see the real thing this April!

Eric - LOL

Wow, busy bunch here!

Sandy, glad your show went well.

Special, so sorry about the blanks not being brought. That was the most moving part of my Dad's Military funeral if you don't count when they handed me the folded flag. I lost it completely on that one. Hubby and kids sound very resourceful though and Dad knew someone came through on that front.

We had some snow on the ground when we woke up this morning but it is supposed to turn to all rain. Some co workers called in late because they live it Litchfield county and they had quite a bit more than we did in Central CT. Winter has arrived..it is supposed to be in the teens by Friday. YUK!

Yesterday I made a big pot of beef barley soup and I also made the innards of what will become a beef pot pie at some point since I cut up a roast that I had in the freezer and had too much beef for just the soup. Served the soup with grilled cheese sammies on sourdough bread. Very nice chilly weather dinner. Brought a bowl of the soup to work today for lunch. That particular soup goes quickly in my house no matter how big a pot I make. We both love it plus I brought a big container to my neighbor who just had surgery.

Today, we are having leftover roast chicken from Saturday with potatoes and veggies.

Need ideas on the best brand of pressure cooker. DD asked me what I want for Xmas and that is what I decided. Let me know ladies cause I know you all use them and I have not in many years. I have an oldfashioned one my Mom left me when she passed and I never use it.

chisandy - thank you for your thorough re-telling of the performance nuances, it makes me feel like I am there! I have no problem speaking in public but I have never been in a performance of any kind other than choir at church, I admire those who can sing/dance/act in a live setting!

eric - and it may hit the fan...Lol!

carole and april - they called themselves The Replacements, and I am sure my FIL was smiling down! He was referred to as Mr. Fixit so that is what they did too!

Crockpot chicken and dumplings---just so so

The strawberry banana cheesecake salad is pretty good. I didn't use strawberries as I had blackberry in the fridge.

1 block softened cream cheese, 1 container softened cool whip 16 oz vanilla yogurt 1/2 bag of mini marshmallows and a small package of jello cheesecake pudding, Mix these together well in a bowl. then add your fruit and 3 sliced bananas, The bananas will discolor, so if you are sharing this you want to make it and eat it the same day, otherwise, close your eyes and enjoy.

You can change up the fruit, add nuts, etc.

After a couple of days eating out, when we got home I wanted soup. Made a big pot of vegetable beef with part of a chuck tender roast. Very satisfying on a cold windy night.

lacey - hope you are feeling better soon! You can bet DH will double and triple check if we do another military honors funeral! Is the restaurant you are thinking of using for the rehearsal dinner Espana? I don't have any personal experience, but with that area being a tourist destination most restaurants there are good, or they don't last. If you are looking for a burger place at any point there are two - blocks apart, that serve among the best burgers I have ever had - T-Rays (quirky hours, take note), and Tasty's. Both are mobbed at all times, but worth the wait!

My dad will want a military funeral. I think I will tote my own bullets to the service......just in case. Honestly special, it sounds like a scene from a bad movie.......

I don't have a pressure cooker but I made a comment on Facebook after reading all your posts. An attorney friend said "now you have said pressure cooker on Facebook, t he FBI will be monitoring you" and another frined decided to order one.....She said she was gong to make beef stew in it, but I haven't heard how it turned out. On Cyber Monday, they were 68.00.