Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year filled with Happiness, Heath, and Love!

Lost in New York City ( Part Two)

After two days on a cramped bus we arrived in the bowels of Port Authority in NYC at about 5 am! We were tired, needed a shower , and very excited. Port Authority is located on 42nd street right in the heart of NYC, I could not wait to get out of the underground and see the outside. I had listened to a paranoid woman talking to no one on the phone about the phone being bugged, i had heard Sis in Law scream, looked over and saw a big man leaning over her chair with his hands on the arms of her chair, i don`t remember what he wanted, i don`t think he was, you know, all there, it just was`nt a nice place to be.





So here we are, dragging Sis In Laws 200 pound suitcase, and my little LIGHT one, trying to get above ground, it is a huge place but finally, we made it. Along the way, we had stopped at a phone booth to `alert` Sis In Laws daughter that we had arrived. She was the reason we went to NYC, she lives in Yonkers, which is where we`d be (intruding) staying. Her words were, STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. Well, i just thought it would be easier to spot us above ground outside, so, there we were, sitting on the steps of port authority , in the dark, during the quiet time of the city. Unfortunately i was wrong about being easier to spot.







An old black man was hosing down the steps, but he was kind enough to spray around us, He kept asking us " Are you sure someones going to pick you up?" He was a nice man, and we must have had HICK written on our foreheads. I ran and got us a coffee and a bagle to share, and oh my god, NYC bagles are the BEST! Well, finally, the man hosing off the steps appoligized but we had to move, he had to wash our step. It had been over an hour or so that we had been sitting watching the city wake up. We decided to go down into the bowels and call daughter again, we were becoming a little concerened.





I spotted a copper, I approached him and innocently asked, " Sir, is this the only entrance into the building?" He literally looked at me like i was from mars and said, "Lady, this is one of seven entrances." Deflated, i said, "Oh, well thank you." Minnesotans are always polite.

I`ve heard about the rude people in NYC but honestly, this cop was the only rude person i came across.





Sis In Law was tired, she was`nt excited about going back underground. We reached an elevator and she says, " I think i`m going to pass out." I looked at her, and replied, "if you pass out before you get into this elevator i am leaving you lay here." I`m sweet like that. It worked, she made it all the way down. I called her daughter. First thing i hear is, WHERE ARE YOU?? It seems they had been there and could not find us and had gone back home. Damn. I had to confess and mention how we had gone topside to wait. Again she said, STAY WHERE YOU ARE!!! Poor Julie, she and her cop hubby had packed up her two little ones and came into the city and...well, no nana, no auntie.





But hey , wait, her hubby is a cop!!!! He could`nt spot us sitting on the steps? Sis in Law was wearing a blaze red sweater and well, i was sitting on suit cases. Sheesh, we were the only two hicks around. We stayed where we were and watched alot of strange goings on. Finally, we were found. We sat quietly and listened to the lecture about how dangerous NYC was, we deserved it. We were good all the way back to Yonkers. And i have to say, I LOVE YONKERS, it is a city of over 1 million, but it felt and looked like a small town in the neighborhood we were staying at.

That`s all for now........see you tomarrow!

Two Hicks And Their Big Adventure

Several years ago, My Sis-In-Law and I decided to go on a great adventure, we took a Greyhound to the Big Apple, you got it, NYC. It was a blast, and a trip that will never be forgotten, and always , ALWAYS makes me laugh still. Only two hicks could have so much fun on a Greyhound.



Looking back, it kinda-sorta reminds me of the Beverly Hillbillys minus the cash flow. Seriously, it does.



This is the list of things i learned on that big adventure.



1. Never bring fried chicken on your bus trip, honestly, people will stare at you, and spell out the word FREAK with their eyes. And, it smells up the entire bus.

2. Never allow Sis-In-Law to pack her own HUGE bag, it will weigh at least 200 pounds.

3. Friendships made on a Greyhound only last as long as your cigarettes hold out. So so shallow.

4. When Sis in Law is spotted falling OUT of the bus, pretend you never saw it, let the bus driver deal with, that`s why we pay him the big bucks. it works like a charm.

5. When Sis in Law falls inside of McDonalds, pretend it did`nt happen, just grab her bagged burger and fries while passing by and say, " See you on the bus." Totally ignore the kind helpful man being swatted away by said Sis In Law. THIS WORKS.

6. When nightfalls and it`s time to sleep on the bus and passenger in front of you is snoring, just gently but VERY firmly, press your knee into her seat and knee her. Sis In Law will stop her snoring, repeat as needed.

7. When confronted on a bus by a drug crazed man acting STRANGE, stay calm, trust Your bus driver to call police and have him removed from the bus. Never a dull moment when you travel Greyhound.

8. Just smile and pretend you don`t know the woman throwing a fit on the bus because there is nowhere to sit, follower her off the bus, shrug your shoulders and roll your eyes, insinuating to the people on the bus that yeah, ain`t she crazy? Wait to reprimand Sis In Law when you get off the bus.

That is pretty much most of the valuable lessons i learned on my two day Greyhound trip, but the fun did`nt end there, pulling into Port Authority Bus Depot in the wee hours of the morning were so so exciting and hysterical. I`ll tell you tomarrow!

Sweet dreams

Almond Tea Bread

Those little loaves just came out of the oven, and i can`t wait untill they are cooled, i`m eating one. Their looks are deceiving, they look like just another loaf of desert bread, untill you bite into a slice.

The above pic is a little blurry, but this is the one i am saving for ME. These are Almond Tea Bread, and I promise, if you serve this to guests, they will love it and they will love you for them.

Almond Tea Bread

Cream together: 2- 1/4 C. Sugar

3 eggs

1- 1/8 C. oil

Sift together, and add to above mixture alternately with 1-1/2 c. milk

3 C. all purpose flour

1- 1/2 tsp. salt

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

Add: 1-1/2 Tbls. poppy seeds

1-1/1 tsp. pure almond flavoring

1-1/2 tsp. pure butter flavoring

1-1/2 tsp. pure vanilla

Beat 1-2 minutes

Pour into greased and floured bread pans

Bake at 350 for 40 to 45 minutes (do not overbake)

Remove from oven, and while still warm glaze with:

3/4 C sugar

1/4 C orange juice

1/2 tsp. each of almond, butter, and vanilla flavoring

This makes 5 small loaves

This bread goes so fast i usually make a double batch...........you`ll love it!

Popping In

I hope Everyone had a fantastic Christmas, and that Santa was good to everyone, he sure was good to me, my kids spoiled me.....................again.

I just wanted to pop in and tell you to go over and check out http://huntersfishermenliars-skip.blogspot.com/ He posted the things that have been keeping him so busy for the last month. His project was a complete success, the kids loved them. Making them was alot of fun for him.

Take care all.........till we meet again!

From A Christmas Past

My Camera does not do this picture justice.

This Santa is all done in cross stitch, it is 11"x14" and is matted and was put into a nice frame. I just hung it today and was thinking about all the work that had gone into this picture, all the hours sitting and cross stitching, and then to just give it away. Amazing.

My Sister Kathy made and gave me this picture years ago, and I cherish it. My sister is the most talented and crafty person i know, she does such beautiful work, i have always been so envious of her talent and patience, and i have always been one of the beneficiaries of that talent. I don`t know which is bigger, her amazing talent or her great generosity, they go hand in hand i think.

Almost everywhere i go in my house, there is a little something that will remind me of her. She passed down her crafty talent to her daughter Jettie, she also makes the most amazing things.

I just wanted to show you all a gorgeous christmas picture..........It makes me smile, i hope it will make you smile too.

Wow, Time Flys!

Has it really been this long?????

Christmas is here already, and next friday all my kids and grandkids will be here! I am cleaning and cooking like crazy cuz, i ALWAYS wait till the last minute. I guess i work best under stress.

Skip and I have been so busy making fun stuff, i think skip plans on posting soon after this weekend, he wants to show off his creations, and lets face it, after Christmas, things slow way down in northern minnesota, so i have a feeling he`ll be getting back to his blog, and me too!

Anyway, i just wanted to say hi to everyone and let you know i`m not dead or anything!

Be Back Soon!