Chili and Jerky Makin'

Once a year for the past few years Bill and most of his hunting buddies with significant others get together with their venison and antelope and make some awesome chili and starting last year they have been making jerky also.  Hunting buddy Larry graciously lets everyone invade his home and pretty much take over.  Everyone brings their dehydrators and electric cookers and lots of food and mass production starts.  Then it's bagged up and distributed.  This is a whole day process while all have fun while things are simmering in the pans.  They play washers, eat, drink, play washers, eat, drink, well, you know the drill.  Now this is what the men do...  Once everything is pretty much started, some of the women (ah, me included), kinda disappear from site and head north to Choctaw for a few hours of fun.  Then by the time we head back, most of the cooking is just waiting to be cooled off and packed for the trip home to everyones freezers.  A fun day is had by all. 

This is the best picture I could conjure up of Mr. Larry.  He is the sweetest and most gracious man.  And there with him is Ms. Lindie, his significant other.

Here are Tanner and Danny playing a little game of washers.  I've heard this can get pretty serious, but haven't witnessed any knock-down drag-outs yet.  All are very friendly games.

Here are a few more of our friends that we get together with for this fun-filled day.  Allen, Bill Paula, Kima, Amy, and Sandy.  Can you tell from the picture that this place belongs to a hunter? 

This picture is of a couple of great guys I know.  In the forefront would be Mr. Marshall.  He makes this "BEST" grilled stuffed bacon-wrapped jalepenos around.  Don't tell anyone, but one of the main reasons I always show up is because of his masterpieces.  I think that is all I ever eat.  And, might I say, I do eat my share.  Now for that guy in the background.  This would be Trent, Bill's son, my step-son.  I have to admit that he is a pretty good guy.  He is very supportive of his dad and is always here when needed.  He himself has a pretty-good knack with the grill spatula too.  Now if he could just show his Dad a few more pointers..

I've saved the best pictures for last.  Trent's son, Patrick came with him this year to get his first start with the jerky makin' process.  So him and Bill (PawPaw) spent the day going over the steps that make this awesome stuff.  Bill is pretty good with the jerky gun.  Can you tell from the pictures who Patrick takes after?  Is it not amazing the resemblance these two have?

A fun-filled day for EVERYONE!!!



My Favorite Nephew Graduated!!!

Seth Graduated
I say my favorite nephew, well he is, but he is my only nephew.  I love this boy like he was my own.  I didn't think my sister was ever going to have a kid, but she finally did, and I have loved him ever since.  He came into my life when things were a little "harried", I guess you could say.  He would always make me smile when I was down. I still can't believe he just graduated from high school and is waiting for his contract from the Air Force.  My how time flies.  I wish him all of the love and happiness this world can give him.

Now a little about the graduation.  Seth has been taking singing and guitar lessons for several years now.  He has sang at several different venues which I have gotten to go and see him.  Places like The Stephenville Opry, The Wylie Opry, Denton Mall, he tried out for American Idol in Austin, he was in his school choir where he sang solos and he is a member of the FAA Chorus.  He was selected to sing at his Graduation in front of all of his classmates and their families.  We were so proud. 

Now for a few family pictures from graduation day.

 Teresa (Mom), Seth, and Bobby (Dad) - My Mom (Memaw) and Seth.

After the ceremony, many of us went out to eat.  While we were waiting on our table, I went ahead and gave Seth his graduation present from Bill and I.  I had, of course, seen an idea on Pinterest and knew right then this is what I wanted to do for him for his graduation present.  You take an empty tissue box and decorate it, then, tape bills (money) end to end, roll the bills up and put in the box.  The caption reads, "Don't blow all of this in one place!".  I think he liked it.

 

SO PROUD!!!! 

She's Here!!!

Miss Bella Danielle Duncan made her appearance Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 2:34pm at Medical City Hospital.  She weighed 6 lb. 11 oz., and was 20 inches long.  Mandy and Baby are doing great.  They went home on Thursday. Oh heck, let me post a few pictures, I know your wanting to see her.

So those picture were the day she was born, I think I might can come up with a couple more of her a few days older.  As I am writing this today, she is one week old.  Mandy sends me a picture via phone almost everyday. Anyway, here are a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure.  Can you tell I'm a proud Gigi???

Here she is getting ready to go home from the hospital.  Is this not a precious picture?  Mandy said she just didn't like the bow in her hair.  Humm,  I really don't think that the issue here.

This one was taken a few couple of days ado.  I'm loving this little girl more and more.  I can't wait to see her again.

 I got one today of her and Lucas together. So sweet.

 

Okay, that's all for now, but just be ready to be seeing more updated pictures soon.

Have a Good Day!

Gaila

Couple of things to Catch Up

Here are a couple of sewing projects I've been working on the past couple of weeks.  Not near enough though.  I need to get my sewing groove back on. 

These are the things I whipped up for Amy for her graduation.  She is doing her classroom (hopefully she gets her own "job" soon) in robots.  So I made her up this cute little Robot Pillow that she could use as her room Mascot.  I got the pattern from Fat Quarterly.com. It is called the Geared Up Robot.  I saw it and knew I had to do it for her.  I also added a little embroidery to personalize a little for her.

She also requested a camera strap for her new Canon Rebel Aaron bought her for graduation.  So of course, I made her one.  She also requested a "Wal-Mart" bag holder for her pantry, but didn't get to that yet.

And here is my Block of the Month for our May Quilt Guild meeting.  I got it finished today.  Needed to get it out of the way because I'm going to be at hospital soon, within hours to meet my new granddaughter!!!  Soooo excited.  There is one little piece that is off, but I'm fairly pleased with it.  I would love to win this months blocks.  I love these colors.

Then just a couple more pictures I took the other day of my sewing area after I cleaned it up and got it a little more organized.  This isn't all of it but the main area where I sew.

Here is where I keep most of my fabrics.  This is the armoire in my bedroom.  I cleaned out all of my stamps that I used to keep in here and now it houses my fabric bolts.  I wrap my fabric around comic book boards that are acid free.  I order these online.  I love having it where I can see exactly what I have.  I do have "alot" more, some of it under the table in the above picture and some other here and there, but this is the majority and it is mostly fat quarters.  I don't have alot of large yardage pieces.  I usually just by that when I need it.  I think I want to start concentrating on getting more solid colors.  I never have the right one when I need it.

Okay that's all for now, gotta get my hospital bag packed, oh, wait I mean my purse, iPad (charged up), camera (charged up), phone (charged up), plus plug in charger....   Ummm, what am I forgetting?????   Car is gassed up.

What's on my Design Wall?

My big project I'm working in between all of the little projects is Jordan's Texas Quilt.  He saw this and loved it in the shop in Whitesboro when we visited there one day in September last year.  So, Gigi gave in and bought it and I am just getting around to getting it made for him.  He will be here soon for a few weeks.  Can't Wait!!!!!  So I plan on working on it some while he is here so he will hopefully always remember the special times we shared.

Scrapbooking Pages

I haven't shown much about my scrapbooking on this blog as of yet.  One reason, because I haven't done just a whole lot over the last year.  The quilting bug hit me, and that's all I've been doing.  But, a couple of weeks ago, I finally was able to get away for a Retreat weekend in Canton.  Three fun days with girlfriends and amazing food and pampering at Ragle's Retreat.  Vickie and Marshall are great hosts.  I would recommend their place for any kind of retreat (scrapbooking, quilting, etc).  They are small and only have room for 6, but that's what makes it so nice.  All of the personal touches they provide is what makes this place so much fun and relaxing.

So, here are a few of the pages I completed while there.  They are mostly page kits that I have bought at convention and other places, but such fun pages.  They are all of my grandson Jordan when he was a baby.  Yes, I'm that far behind, but have a plan and hope to catch up in the not tooo distant future, but have lots to do on several albums.  I hope you enjoy looking at my completed pages.

This little boy (well, he is now 9 years old) is one of the best things that has ever happen to me.  Just thinking of him brings a smile to my face.  Luv you Jordan.

Graduation Day

My youngest child Amy Renee' graduated from Texas A&M-Commerce with a Bachelor of Education on Saturday. I have never been so proud of one of my children. Amy has persevered over 8 years of ups and downs and has managed her way to the top. I am so proud of her for keeping her faith and pushing through and achieving her goal.

She has had a great husband to help her though this last year as well as the three years previously.  Aaron has supported her in this journey and for that I am so thankful that he came into her life when he did.

Amy and Aaron (aka A2)

Bill, Amy and myself

Nan, Amy and Ashley and their blinged out caps.

Now on to the next events this month, Seth, my nephew has his Baccalaureate tonight, birth of granddaughter, and Seth's graduation next week.  Very eventful month, but so blessed.