A Most Memorable Christmas..or not

First off, many thanks to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting our wonderful Pink Saturdays..For info on Pink Saturdays head over to So Just What Is Pink Saturday?

Our assignment this week is to tell you one of my childhood memories about a special holiday.  Oh I have the usual memories, barbie dolls, bicycles and easy bake ovens..the one that truly sticks out in my mind is kind of a sad one..I won’t go into a ton of detail, suffice it to say it had been an awful year for our family.  The year was 1969.  I was 16.  My parents had suffered the loss of our home due to financial problems and we moved to another town, into an apartment.  We had very little furniture, but we had clothes on our backs, food in our bellies and a roof over our head.  It was tough for the oldest child (me) at 16 to be moved to another town, another high school and since both parents worked, to be chief cook and babysitter to my sister and brother.  No wonder they still think I am BOSSY…Moi?? LOL.

Anyway back to the story….For some reason we did not cook a Christmas dinner that Christmas Day 1969.  My dad had wanted to take us out.  Now, in those days, not many restaurants are open.  In fact, even though we lived in L.A. County, NO restaurants were open.  NADA.  We drove from place to place, parents, 16 and 10 year old daughters, and 6 year old son.  We found nothing.  Of course it was dark, we were probably all crying and my dad was most likely cussing, lol…so we ended up going to a liquor store and bringing home the goods to fix chipped beef on toast. 

And you know what, it was DELICIOUS.  Things slowly improved for my folks, we stayed in that town long enough for me to graduate high school, my brother and sister grew up, my parents ended up buying their own home once again several years later. They have now been married almost 59 years!  But I have NEVER had chipped beef on toast for Christmas dinner ever again!

Normally our assignment is to introduce a blog and blogger new to us during the week.  We have been and are still traveling so I have not been on my computer much.  Next week!

Have a wonderful week and may God’s many blessings be yours!

Our Illinois Vacay! Part One

We have been spending the last few days here on my sister Cindy's little farm.  She and Bruce are great hosts and always make us feel right at home.  We had a real nice Thanksgiving, just the four of us, broke with tradition and baked a HAM…it was delicious.

We spent Wednesday afternoon and evening in Davenport, IA..which is about an hour from their home.  We ran a couple errands, saw Bruce’s sister Karen who is in the hospital, then met up with Bruce’s brother Mike, his wife Deb, their kids Megan and Matt, and Matt’s friend Valerie, and also we got to meet and eat with our new friend Anthony Peoples and his friend Ray.  Anthony is the local TV Weatherman on WQAD.  Had a great time, great margaritas and fun for all!!

 

Thursday was HAM day at the Carney farm!

 

Even Pierre, Laci and Halo had their special dinner:)

Friday we went up to the Massbach Ridge Winery a few miles north of here in Elizabeth, IL.  It is owned by Cindy’s doctor and wife..some wine tasting and buying..A quaint and charming winery!

 

Fun with Carl’s silly corn cob pipe!

After the winery we took a drive to an island town called Sabula, Iowa…not far from here..got out and took some pictures, it was such a nice day!

  

Ok, that’s it for this post!  Hope you enjoyed the pics!

Pink Saturday in Illinois!

Thanks firstly to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound-Pink Saturday.  A big shout out and thanks to her for so graciously hosting our Saturday fun!  Be sure to visit and see all the wonderful bloggers participating! 

I would like to introduce you to a blog new to me this week, each week we try to find a new blogger to showcase.  Take a peek at Mille Fiori Favoriti and say hello to Pat!

We are spending the holiday at my sister’s home in western Illinois.  She and her husband live out in the country just east of the Mississippi River..we arrived this past Monday and plan to stay until midweek, leaving around the 2nd of December for the 3 day drive home.  We had a wonderful casual Thanksgiving just the four of us, and the four legged critters too.

We left home in Southern CA on Friday the 20th..First night was spent in Gallup, NM..2nd night in Oklahoma City and 3rd night was in DesMoines, Iowa.  We brought our little doxie Halo along, he has been a dream and a very good traveler!

I really don’t have any pink pictures so far this week.  We are heading to a local winery today so maybe I will find some cool pictures there..I thought I would post a few pictures of our trip so far.

Today we visited Massbach Ridge Winery in Elizabeth, IL.  It’s a small family owned winery in NW Illinois, very quaint and charming, with delicious wines may I add!  While we were tasting, I took some pictures…Enjoy!  And yes, they are PINK…

I especially loved this metal ‘purse’ for used wine corks.  I might have to go back to get this!!!

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by!