Another MKAL

I just got home from my LYS and made a yummy purchase.  This is for a Stephen West Mystery-Knit-Along that starts later this week.  I'm going for subtle here...and it will be perfect with a red sweater for an Ohio State basketball game, or with several other sweaters I've got.

Hopefully, it won'd shed too much on my black wool coat!

A Wedding in the Family!

Here are my 3 lovely offspring...in birth order.  Kendra got married June 22nd.  This photo was taken before the ceremony while we were taking 'our side of the family' photos.  I caught the kids off-guard...and love how it looks like the boys are 'done with their job' of being the Brother Protectors!

Despite a bit of heat/humidity early in the day/afternoon (and the venue NOT cool enough) it was a very lovely day.  The mixing of 2 wonderful families!

I Scream, You Scream...

THIS is what I've been doing lately.  Okay...this is what I've been obsessed with lately!

We've had (2) Cuisinart ice cream makers (the kind you freeze the bowl) for awhile.  Why two?  Seems like Bill & I had the same idea one year for Christmas.  He & Marshall used the one he got for me several times before wrapping it!  At the time, they were in Columbus & Parker & I were still in Delphos (Kendra was at Ohio University)...so we decided to keep both machines...one for each house.

Time travel 10 years forward.  One random day, we both realized an ice cream machine with a compressor would make our lives much happier. (I know, we're quite pathetic and need to 'get a life')

Then last month, Bill, Marshall & I went out one Sunday and picked black raspberries, then stopped to picked up some vanilla ice cream on the way home, planning on having said berries over the ice cream.  After we ate our treat (which was quite tasty by the way), Bill hopped on the computer, went to Amazon and ordered the above ice cream maker.

And THAT is what is on my mind 38 hours a day...ice cream concoctions!

I've found the perfect custard base and have made numerous batches of the luscious frozen goodies.
Vanilla Bean
Black Raspberry
Chocolate w/Peanut Butter chunks
Strawberry
Vanilla w/Chocolate/Butterscotch Swirl
Chocolate with Peanut Butter/Hot Fudge chunks
Butterfinger w/Chocolate/Caramel Swirl
Burnt Butter Caramel
Beer (that was a total bust...even for the people in the family who love those awful microbrews [and was eaten by the garbage disposal])
Peach
Chocolate
Wendy's Frosty Ice Cream

And do you think I even thought of taking a picture of all that ice cream I've made???!!  I promise to post some photos...and recipes...soon.

Then there was the day I went with Parker to pick black raspberries.  His froze his stash and is going to use them for either his home-brewed beer...or homemade wine.  But that's a whole other blog post!!

...off in search of ice cream ideas

4 Generations

I titled this post '4 Generations' since I put my parents photos in the picture, too.

Except for the youngest generation, we're in Birth Order.  Just wouldn't have worked to put the 2nd youngest holding the baby!!  These photos were taken after Mother's funeral luncheon last month.

We started the 'grandkids' in birth order when the youngest (who belongs to me) was a maybe 5 or 6 years old.  Every time they're together now (these days it seems to be mostly at weddings!) they line up this way.  I have to chuckle when I see the shortest next to the tallest.  This generation ranges in age from 42 down to 28. (I'm sure they're pleased that I mentioned this!!)   I take credit for the 6th, 8th and last.

The 'great grandkids' range in age from 13 down to 4 months.  In this photo, the oldest is holding the youngest, her cousin, the 2nd youngest is being held by his brother, 3rd youngest by her cousin.

Even though, because of geography, we don't get together very much, we always have such a great time when we do.  We did pretty good this time...the only 2 that couldn't make it was a brother-in-law (Phoenix) and a niece's (the short one:-) husband (northern Illinois).

Next time we'll be together (as many as can make it) will be in June at my daughter's wedding...a much happier event!

My Mother

 Agnes Schuerman Swick

8.20.18 - 3.9.13

Mother...you were the BEST

You will be truly missed by all

Enjoy your restored memory

Have a great time with Daddy

...save me a good spot!