Our Great grandson Leo...

Looks like the Olsen twins.

Bill and Jo's Granddaughter gets married

Leo and Keri traveled to Indiana this past weekend to attend Alyssa Brooker's (Bill and Jo's granddaughter) wedding. He sent us pictures.

Brett & Alyssa

                                                     Addison

Horse drawn carriage for the bride and groom

 Capital building in Indianapolis

 Brenda(mother of the bride) and Keri

 The bride and her mother

 Norm, Alyssa and Brenda-bride with her parents

 Bill and Keri

 Jo and her daughter Barb

 Jo, Barb and Bill

 Cutting of the cake

Peculiar trip

We went to see our Missouri kids before heading south for the winter.

This is where Leo prefers to be and Gary gets his exercise this way.

 Nana Susan reads to eager listeners

Leo built a wooden block structure and then wanted to kick it down. He knew he had to put his shoes on first to cut down on the pain. Smart boy for 2 1/2 .

Miss Elise needed to get her "homework" done. She is in kindergarten now you know.

Gary and Leo playing cribbage against Papa Butch.

Bits

Sunday celebration of Leo's Birthday. And that is a caterpillar on Leo's hand waiting to go into a jar so Brady could take it home.

And below is Monday's(12th) celebration on the actual day of Leo's new decade birthday.

 Rode today on the trail going a ways past the bridge before turning around. This shot is looking south before getting to the bridge. I do not usually take photo's from this side.

 West side of the bridge. The water is much lower than earlier this summer.

 Along the trail, farmers have access to their fields. This one has been recently harvested.

 Notice the sky color reflected in my bike mirror?

 Mother Natures Yard Art.

 A house along the trail has been targeted for demolition for quite some time. Today was the day.

Elise's Kindergarten Picture

First Woman

In 1971, they were short of managers for the younger Little League Ball Players so I volunteered. Yes, you read that right, ME. I did have the help of Leo Brooker and Lindsey Larson. The two guys did the athletic part with the boys and I took care of discipline and paperwork. Gary and Jason are in the front row, second and third from the right. I was indeed the first woman little league coach in the state of Iowa. I actually did not give that a thought but 2 or 3 years later there was another woman given the credit for being first and I said, "Hey, I did that! And before she did!" 

A bit of this and that

A tombstone of Butch's Great, great grandpa.

Colleen gave Jason a Remington Print to accompany his  Remington  statue.

A bug on the trail trying to get to the other side.

The socks are still there!

Workers on the tower beside the bike trail.

Butternut Mac & Cheese

In case you wonder about me, as it is widely known I do not like to cook, I read cookbooks like novels. I like to think I can pick out good recipes even if I do not prepare them. I am guessing I may actually make about 10% of those I keep, and about 5% of those I might make twice.
The truth be known I do like to cook but in my own way and in my own time. When Butch and I are just hanging out at home with not much happening I cook quite a bit believe it or not. I burn out easy on eating out.
The recipe below does sound a bit dramatic and I am not sure all of it is necessary to end up with the same result, but that being said in all fairness to the people who painstakingly test and record recipes, I do make it as instructed the first time as it is the only way you truly give it justice. So now I must add a butternut squash to my grocery list.

This is one where you can fool yourself into believing it is healthier than straight Mac and Cheese. Whatever way you look at it, it sounds good to me.
Butternut Mac & Cheese
Prep: 5 Minutes
Level: Easy
Cook: 45 Minutes
Serves: 12
Ingredients
12 ounces, weight Macaroni
1/2 whole Butternut Squash
 Olive Oil, For Drizzling
2 whole Yellow Onions, Sliced
8 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons Flour
2 cups Whole Milk
 Salt And Pepper
2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar
1/2 cup Seasoned Breadcrumbs
Preparation
Cook the macaroni until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Carefully cut a whole butternut squash in half lengthwise. Drizzle half the squash with olive oil and place it on a rimmed baking sheet, cut side up. Roast it in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes until fork tender, watching it to make sure the surface doesn't get burned (it should have some brown areas.) Store the other half of the squash in the fridge for another use. When the squash is roasted and tender, scrape out the flesh and mash it with a potato masher. Sprinkle it with salt and pepper and set it aside.

While you're roasting the squash, add the onions and 2 tablespoons of the butter to a large, ovenproof skillet over low to medium-low heat. Stir occasionally, cooking the onions until they're deep golden brown. Remove them to a plate and set them aside.

To the same skillet you used to cook the onions, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium-low heat. Sprinkle over the flour and whisk it to make a thin paste. Cook it for 2 minutes, then whisk in the milk. Cook it, whisking gently, for a couple of minutes or until slightly thick. Taste and adjust seasonings. You'll probably want to add more salt!

Turn the heat to low and stir in the mashed butternut squash. When it is warmed, stir in the cheese. If the sauce is overly thick when the cheese is melted, add a splash of milk. Keep stirring until the sauce is nice and hot, then stir in the macaroni. Taste and add more salt if needed.

Melt the remaining butter and combine it with the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the macaroni and bake it (I do it straight in the skillet!) at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until the crumbs are golden and the edges bubbly.

Serve immediately!

Fall in Iowa and Hitch Itch

Wish I could lay claim to this photo but I cannot. Sure liked it though.

Now this one I can claim as my own. Took it this morning when Butch and were walking the trail. Too windy for biking.

Starting to get Hitch Itch. Looks like we will be on the road about the 25 or 26th. Staying a few days in the Canyon Lake Texas area is in our plans with arriving in Magnolia Park in Donna Texas on the first of November. Very much looking forward to seeing the friends who draw us south each year.

Rode the trail

Mickey and I rode the trail today. We went past the bridge a ways to an area I have dubbed 'the church'.  It is very quiet and peaceful in the church and if you go a bit further there is a fast running stream at the bottom of a deep ravine. I have tried many times to get a good picture of it but have not succeeded. I did get a bucolic photo at the bridge.

Send off

Went to a send off for Pete and Jerilynn last night at Mickeys. It was a small group but very fun. Pete and Jerilynn are the couple we went to see in Florida last Spring. They had such a good time there that they are itching to get back. We and other Magnolia Park people are very understanding of that because we have the same feeling for Texas.

The new Magnolia Park (Texas) manager called the other day and verified when we were coming and I told her the first week in November. She was very nice. Said she wanted to be sure to have our lot ready for us when we arrived.

Butch's finger with his 7 stitches is covered up but I think it is healing nicely. He will be getting the stitches out on Friday.

Ethan

It has been awhile since we have seen what Ethan is up to. He has joined Tiger Scouts. I think that is for the younger boys. He is loving it. I think the scouts were made for him.

Baked Ham and Cheese Wraps

Update- They were a hit and very easy.

So here is the straight skinny. I get peeved on Facebook when you see a recipe and you think it looks great so you click on it and find out that you have to jump through hoops to actually see the darn thing. It happened this morning so decided to help you out and jump the hoops for you. This recipe sounds like a winner to me. What do you think? I plan to make this later in the weekend.


Baked Ham and Cheese Wraps

Ingredients
1 can Pillsbury™ refrigerated Classic Pizza Crust
¾ lb deli ham (thinly sliced, but not shaved)
12 slices Swiss cheese (thinly sliced)
Glaze
½ cup (8 tablespoons) butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Unroll the pizza dough onto a cutting board and press into approximately a 13×18-inch rectangle. Top with ham and cheese slices. Starting on the longer side of the rectangle, roll up the edge tightly. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face down. Cut into 12 slices, approximately 1-inch wide. Arrange in prepared baking dish.
Next combine the butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and poppy seeds in a sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk until the butter is melted and the glaze is smooth and combined. Pour evenly over the rolls.
Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours or bake, uncovered for 25 minutes until golden and browned. Enjoy!

car keys -

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.


Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr's office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him..... He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.

Please pass this on even IF you've read it before. It's a reminder.

In central Iowa

There is a glare on it so in case you cannot see it is 39 degrees. Hope this isn't a trend for October 2015 in Iowa or Texas.

Better

Butch is on the mend. He has found a few bruises and he overdid it with his bandage and set it to bleeding a bit the first day He is having trouble with not being able to do things. We are just 2 days into it and he is fit to be tied. He even agreed to go for a walk with me today. Colleen is on her way to Cincinnati and her daughter Aubry and family. It goes without saying I will miss her.
Butch and I walked a couple of miles. That helped. He is doing a lot of computer gaming, wandering around in circles, reading his kindle, snacking and such.

On another subject, we got our flu shots yesterday. We had been hearing some bogus info about high-dose flu shots killing seniors. NOT TRUE. So don't let the sellers of fear get under your skin. No pun intended. It seems there is a higher dose flu shot they give to high-risk patients such as people with respiratory or heart problems. We are healthy enough to not need that so we asked for the low dose. It seems some places are giving the high dose to everyone. Why they choose to do that is beyond me but remember it is a choice and so ask for the one you think you need.

Leo's Photos

Leo says-Who cares that it's nearly October !!
I can bloom if I want to !!
So Barb, do I have the Photogenic touch ??

And yes he does! And this was my answer to him. "You do take great pictures. You should take more of them. Learn to see, appreciate and photograph the things around you. It is a super life enhancement."

Our plans

Our plans tonight were to go to the movie. "A Walk in the Woods" is playing and it is free popcorn night. But at 4:00 Butch decided to work on the motorhome windshield, on a ladder and without telling me. I was in the midst of putting our supper together, chicken enchiladas when he came in and told me he fell off the ladder and sliced the hell out of his finger. It was obvious at first glance that stitches were needed. So we dashed off to the clinic and one and half hours later we are back home with 7 stitches in Butch's finger and supper now fixed and in the oven.

Here he is giving us the finger.