The Reunion "Girls Night Out"

More than 40 years have passed since we walked the halls of our old High School. The reunion was coming up and I was anxious, wondering if I should attend. I missed the last two years of High School with them and in a way I didn't feel like I really belonged to the group. As I read the correspondence back and forth with the various "kids" on the Internet yahoo group I still wasn't sure if I would go to the reunion.

I decided to drive the five hours to attend the "Girls Night Out" the night before the reunion. I was more anxious to go to that than the actual reunion. As I left my husband at my mother's home with the parting words "I'll probably be back in an hour or so", I went out the door hesitantly with much anticipation and some dread. What if they didn't remember me, what if I was the only one who didn't fit in?

As I arrived at the home of Linda a girl I grew up with who had lived just a few blocks away I noticed the balloons in the back of a very lovely brown brick home. I was greeted by Linda whom I would not have recognized had I seen her on the street. She had grown into a beautiful woman no longer the young girl I remembered. There were a couple of other "girls" there who told me their names and we said our polite hellos. The others arrived shortly after, an assortment of sizes and faces, a total of fifteen women. I searched each face looking for that little thread of recognition from so long ago.

Valerie arrived, dear cheerleader Valerie whom I had gone through grade school and Junior High associating with. She still had the pretty long blond hair and cute figure. I recognized her immediately, still the sweet and popular Valerie.

We sat at two separate tables and visited while we ate. I sat at the smaller table with some of the girls I remembered. We started talking about grade school, Valerie commenting about a play we had been in and I started singing a song I remembered from one of our plays. As I started singing the other girls joined in with huge smiles and sung with me a song I have sung so many times since while remembering us up on the stage in our cute outfits dancing and singing for our parents.
We spoke of climbing the ropes in gym class and of other experiences that we had shared together. I started of feel that even though I might have missed out on the very last of the school experience with them that our time shared together had bonded us in some way. I felt at ease and was happy that I had made the journey to meet with them once again.
We went inside Linda's beautiful home to the comfortable living room where we sat in a circle facing each other. We talked for a brief time when Linda suggested we tell of what we have been doing with our lives. One by one the woman shared their experiences in life since they left the confines of High School life.

I listened in amazement to the experiences I heard. Some told of bad marriages, deceased husbands and parents. Others of financial problems, three of them had suffered the effects of cancer. Some were still married to their early sweethearts. Each had a story to tell, some or triumph and others of hardship and failure. Through all of this I could see what amazing women they had become. One a writer, one a brilliant computer programmer, others successful in business, a principle and happy mothers with wonderful husbands. I can't tell all the stores as they were private yet shared with girls they had shared so much within the past. Adding up all of our posterity thus far we counted over a hundred and fifty descendants.

It as truly amazing to have been able to see and share a brief but I should say healing time with these women. Growing up I thought I was the only one who had problems or should I say what a child and young woman would consider problems. After listening to these women I realized I wasn't the only one who struggled at times, that we didn't all live the perfect life but we have lived a life where we have become stronger because of our experiences and trials.

I feel truly blessed to have had the experience of once again associating with the wonderful people I shared my early life with. They helped to shape me into the woman I have finally become.

I went to the reunion the next night for the entire class and was greeted by the girls I had seen the night before. I would look at my former classmate's faces to see if I recognized them and then the name tab but after a short time I started looking at the name tab first and then the face. We had changed, but hopefully most if us for the better.

When I have the opportunity to go to another class reunion I won't hesitate but will look forward to again seeing and sharing with the friends I grew up with.

Child wood rolling pin set

This is a favorite rolling pin for children. They love using this, it is perfect for little hands to work in the kitchen while Mom or Grandma are baking. The small handles are just right so they can grip the wood rolling pin easily. You may find this set at http://www.stitchthrutime.com/

Venison Stew and Cherry or Blueberry muffins

Whole Wheat Cherry Muffins or Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour

1/8 to 1/4 sugar (or you can use honey)

4 teaspoons baking powder

About 2 Tablespoons canola or vegtable oil

2 eggs

About 1 cup milk. If you use white flour only use less milk

Combine ingredients (don't mix too much).

Put cherries or blueberries into muffin cups. I use frozen cherries as I don't usually have fresh cherries around.

If you want to put blueberries in put in as many as you want into the batter before putting into the muffin pans.

Put into well greased muffin pans, should make about 12 muffins.

Bake 450 degrees for 15 minutes.

Venison Stew or Beef Stew

Brown Venison (or beef) in large pan, add garlic and cook until brown

Add

1 quart tomatoes

A few carrots chopped

A few potatoes chopped

Celery

More garlic chopped

Fresh sage (or dried if you don't have fresh)

Parsley

1/4 teaspoon cayanne pepper (you may use more or less according to taste

Water, fill up to about 2/3 of pan after putting everything in. Water is important as you need to cook the vegtables. I let my stew cook for several hours on low simmer with lid on or until done.

If you want salt you may put it in but I don't salt my food when cooking as usually people will put salt in even before tasting and I don't like a lot of salt in my food. I would rather use herbs.

Throw in any other vegtables you want, it's your stew. If you do put in peas wait until right before serving and pot in briefly so they don't overcook.

If you have any leftover gravy or drippings from a roast also include it in also.

Planting Peas

Planting Peas

Just planted the peas. Hopefully enough to put in the freezer for the long winter.

I like to plant my peas about 3 inches apart and cover with three times as much dirt as my pea is in size. It is best to plant when it is cooler, not too cold or they won't germinate. Peas prefer the cold rather than the warm.
I know this doesn't look like Martha Stewart planting her peas but I don't have the gardeners she has sigh.. Even one would be nice..

All dressed up to feed the bees.

I may not look my best, but I would rather not look so lovely and get the job done. This outfit is one that helps so the bees don't get inside my clothes and sting me while I attend to the hives.

I just gave them medicine and fed them sugar water.

Bee sugar water

I use two cups sugar to one cup water.

I bring to boil 8 cups of water

Pour in 16 cups granulated sugar and stir until dissolved. Do not bring to boil again. You are not making candy and you just want to dissolve the sugar into the water.

Let cool and put into clean container.

Spring Bee Feeding

It is time to feed the bees and give them their medicine. Two new hives this year.

Tomatoes waiting for Spring

These tomatoes were planted in January from seed. It will be May when they are able to be planted outside.

Some of the tomato plants are heritage while others are not. I try to do early tomatoes although some are so good you just take a chance with them. These tomatoes are ready to transplant into bigger containers. I plant two tomato seeds per about 4 inch peat pot.

The trees are starting to blossom in the West and soon it will be time for apricot jam. If you want a good apricot and jam recipe just go to http://www.stitchthrutime.com/ for great canning recipes.

Long Hard Winter

It has been a long hard winter, the snow just melted last week (finally). Looking forward to spring with visions of a good garden this year!