Polka/Disco Torture

Over the weekend, my family I went to Valparaiso.  My niece Sherry is expecting to give birth to a little guy sometime in the next few months.  I crocheted him this little hoodie:

This past Thursday, was my 27th wedding anniversary, which we celebrated last week.  However, my husband strikes me with fear as he informs me that he has a surprise in store.  Oh, those words of terror, which I've heard so many times before!

This time was no different.  On the 3 hour drive to Valparaiso, he made a cd for us to listen to.  A sort of opera if you will, consisting of nothing but Polka and Disco music.  Yes, SERIOUSLY!  That's how he rolls.  Now don't get me wrong, I like a good Chicken Dance song at the occasional wedding reception as much as the next person, but 3 hours is just WAY TOO MUCH.  At the end of the trip, I had a mad hankering to go roller skating and play the accordion.

Saturday, was Mom's birthday, and we took her over to Coffee Creek park.  Gladdie picked black raspberries, Mom's favorite.

Afterward we all went over to the hotel for a swim in the pool and a soak in the hot tub.

Since we were in Valparaiso, partially on business, we stayed at the Hilton, which is actually in Chesterton, but close enough. 

Little Gladdie gave horseback rides.

Troy,  belly flopped, a lot.

The next day, on the way back to our house in Pendleton, the ball game was on the radio-- thank goodness.  :)  

To help break up the three hour drive, we stopped to visit Wildcat Creek in Lafayette.

Flesh Eating Fish

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it's been a few days since I've had the chance to post anything on here.  I'm planning on making up for that this week though.  In the meantime, here's some of what I've been up to:

Troy and I checked out a store down here not far from Pendleton called Family Leisure.  The have all kinds of fun stuff in there, and will let shoppers try most of them out.  We sampled the swing sets, air hockey, massage chairs, and arcade games.  What a fun store! 

Later that afternoon, we had a supper picnic (Subway) on the beach at Saxony.

I thought it was odd no one was really swimming there.  I was hot and decided to go in the water to cool off a bit-- then I discovered why no one really swims there.  Flesh eating fish attacked me!!! 
Very hungry, little bluegills, bit me, several of them, and those little fish were aggressive!  I showed a group of kids, including Troy, how to catch em in a bucket.  No Indiana fishes are going to boss us around!

I know of ladies who pay big money for fish pedicures.  It actually grosses me out.  Besides, I got my entire body groomed by fish for FREE!  :)

(Pic borrowed from Internet)

So, after a swim, and catching fish in buckets, we took what skin we had left, and cooled off with a snow cone.

The snow cone truck was awesome, as it had the flavored syrup outside for the customers to dispense as needed.  Troy made us a suicide combo, (all the flavors combined).

I tuckered the little guy out.  In case you are wondering, Gladdie and Jean went to Kentucky to spend the week at a horse ranch.

The next day, Troy and I went to the quarry.  I kept seeing big fish, but kept catching little ones.
 

To solve my trouble, I decided to put on a big bass fly.  While I was doing so, Troy caught himself-- in his own words-- "a HUGE 6 inch bass"!  :)

I was busy trying to get a reaction from the big bass.  I had three big bass strike all on the 4 wt. and missed each one!  

Even my faithful dog, turned her back on me.

Thank goodness for spirit lifting bluegill!
 

Easley Winery

Hey Ya'All!

I found out something new about myself yesterday.  I LIKE wine.  

 

I've never been much of a wine drinker, which may strike some of ya'All as odd considering I've made several batches of it over the years. 

The thing is, I like the idea of breaking out the old bottles of wine in the cellar for some special occasion.  I've just never cared for the taste of wine all that much until recently (yesterday). 

Much of my life I've spent pregnant, nursing a baby, or training for some fitness related goal.  Therefore, drinking wasn't conducive to my life.

However, now-- I may be on my way to becoming a lush.  I found wine I seriously LIKE!

For a change of pace, Glenn and I went to a wine tasting at Easley Winery.  It is the second largest winery in Indiana.

I started off with a Cabernet Franc that I disliked.  That stuff tasted awful to me, no offense, just keeping it real.  I drank it down anyways, as not to be rude.

The second wine, was Chambourcin, which after swirling (oxygenating) it, I found it to be okay, but still did not like it.   However, by the third glass of wine-- the Riesling-- I really LIKED it.

In fact, the Riesling was my very favorite of them all.  Now I know what you're all thinking, that they just kept getting better and better with the more I drank.  And that is actually somewhat true. :) Although, the Riesling was my absolute favorite.  Plus, it gave me a serious case of the giggles.

A unique fact about Riesling; the grapes it is made from are grown in the sands of Lake Michigan in Laporte County, Indiana.  How about that! 

Summer Fun

Anybody home?  So far, no birds have moved into Troy's new My Spy birdhouse.  It may be a little late in the year for house hunting birds.  Sheesh, come on birds it's been up for almost an hour now, the little guy is getting impatient.

While we waited for birds to move into their new house, Troy and I went through a box of candles stashed in the basement.  Ice cream cone, anyone?

Or how about a lemon scented crayon, from way back when?

In other news, my son, Glenn Jr. aka, Hub, came to visit us from his home in California.  

The next day, Troy and hung out at the pool in Fishers. In case you're wondering where Gladdie is, she is spending the week in Valparaiso with Grandma Huber.

I tried on his goggles and they fogged up on me.

Later that evening, Troy sarinated me with his beautiful fan singing! 

 Nothing says summer like a good fan ssoonngg!  :)

Quarry Picnic & Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Hey All,

I've got me a ten year old, who's going on 19!  Little Gladys is wanting to be like her big sister Jean.

For example, Jean had a Graduation party, picnic style, and now Gladys had to have a picnic style party.  Hey, who am I to say no to a picnic party?

Gladys invited her friends to the quarry for a picnic.

A few of my guests came along too.

The kids had a good time chasing water snakes.

And swimming with them!  They showed those snakes who the boss is!!! :)

Meanwhile, us adults had fun being social.

Troy kept offering his girlfriend, Abby, bouquets of freshly picked seaweed. (How sweet!)

Gladys had a great time and her party was a hit!

 

Another thing that was a hit, was the Strawberry Pretzel Jello Desert!  

I've been on a Jello dessert kick lately.  I can't seem to help myself, they are soo summery. 




This great creation has a yummy salty pretzel crust, creamy center, and tangy sweet fruit topping.

 
The thing I was additionally instructed on while making this, was to be sure to spread the cream filling all the way to the edge so it seals.  Otherwise, the jello layer will leak into the pretzel layer and we can't have that!
 


Slicing the strawberries in half isn't a bad idea either.
 

Those frozen berries really help the Jello set up quick.


My finished desert came out beautifully according to the kids.  :)

  

Strawberry Jello Pretzel Dessert

Ingredients:

Original recipe makes 1 9x13 inch baking dish 

• 2 cups crushed pretzel
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) package reduced fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen fat free whipped topping, thawed
• 2 (3 ounce) packages strawberry flavored Jell-O®
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen strawberries

  Directions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Stir together crushed pretzels, melted butter and 3 tablespoons sugar; mix well and press mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until set. Set aside to cool.
• In a large mixing bowl cream together cream cheese and 1 cup sugar. Fold in whipped topping. Spread mixture onto cooled crust.
• Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in still frozen strawberries and allow to set briefly. When mixture is about the consistency of egg whites, pour and spread over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until set.