Dick Clark

We lost an American Icon today with the passing of Dick Clark. 
I grew up watching American Bandstand.  He was the voice and face of Rock and Roll when I was a child and a teenager.
It is a great loss. I have fond memories of him.  His show was the highlight of the week when I was a young teen and pre-teen.  I loved to watch his show. I remember seeing Tony Orlando, Donny Osmond, The Jackson Five, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, ABBA, and many more.  If it was on Bandstand it was worth listening too. 
He kept us all young, because he was "America's Oldest Teenager."
Dick Clark will be missed by millions of fans, and I am sad to see him go.
I wish his family strength in this difficult time.  My prayers go out to them.

Earaches

I now fully understand why my youngest son screamed when he had ear infections as a baby.  They hurt like the dickens.  I mean intense make you cry kind of pain.  I could sure use some of those good drugs they gave me after my open heart surgery to take away the pain.
My teeth hurt so bad I cannot chew on food or even run my tongue over them as the pressure from my sinuses and ear is so intense.  If I was a baby had no words to express my pain I too would scream.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Branson Missouri

I had a long and tiring trip to get there, but enjoyed my visit with my cousin and her family. It was a long drive from St. Louis, MO to Branson, MO in the dark. It took me longer to drive in the dark than it would have in the daylight, but then I do not have that great of night vision and I am definitely not use to those big rigs whipping past me on the interstate.  Alaska does not have that many big rigs and we do not have major interstates.  It did bring back memories of when I use to choose to drive between those big rigs because you could go faster and use less gas.  I guess I have slowed down as I aged. Oh wait, I am still young, I must mean become more cautious since moving to Alaska.  Yes, that sounds so much better.

I arrived in Branson very late and had to find my way out in the country to my cousin's house and when I say in the country I mean she lives way out and up a winding road at the end of the road, or darn near.  In the dark I missed a turn and had to flip a U-turn to find the right road. They name roads after the ABC's there.  I was looking for T-road. The turn was lost in the dark.  I found it the second time and arrived at her house about 2:00 AM.
Of course, we did not just go straight to bed, not we stayed up for another hour or so talking and then slept in the next morning, me more so than her, but then I was running on about 3 hours of sleep total when I arrived at her house.  I never do sleep very well on airplanes.
The next morning we had a nice chat and took pictures.  It was a snow day for Branson as they had gotten a couple inches of snow. For this Alaska girl that was funny as we get 14" and all they do is cancel after school activities if the roads are bad.  In  twenty years of teaching in Anchorage I think I can count on one hand the number of snow or ice days, where they canceled school. Alaska is prepared for it, and we have all the heavy equipment to clear the roads, while Missouri and other places do not get much snow so they are not prepared when it does come.
Lauren still lives at home and she enjoyed the day off. She road her four-wheeler.

Janie and I preferred to stay inside and chat, though we did take a ride with her husband, Dan. We went way up to a housing area that is on the edge of the Ozark Mountains, and the roads were a little hairy with all the ice.  Dan reminds me of Tom when it comes to driving, he just goes. Janie and I held on tight on a few of those turns as it was scary.  Dan enjoyed and I think he enjoyed scaring us also.
I really enjoyed my visit with my cousin and hope to see her again soon.
I am also very thankful that she and her family are safe after came through the tornado that hit Branson this last week.

Winter Snow

I woke up this morning to more snow falling outside. We are less than 13" away from beating a record for snow fall set during the winter of 1954-55.  Considering that it is still early in the season for Alaska, we have a very good chance of breaking the record.
When I look out on my back porch I see this:

Out my front window I see this:

It is a little too much snow for me.  Don't get me wrong, I love a white Christmas, and snow is pretty, but I hate it on the roads. Too many idiots come out when the snow falls and accidents happen because they do not know how to drive slower.  I also get tired of winter and want green grass and pretty flowers, and to be able to ride our tandem. The cold gets to me as well.  I love Alaska, but really wish our winters were shorter, and not as dark.
The good news is we are gaining daylight each day and that means summer will come, just not soon enough for me.
Until then we are in a race to beat the record for snowfall in a season and we may well win.

My Soldier, Private First Class Ehmann

Private First Class Ehmann; 
Caleb Schneck and  Bryce Ehmann, with Capt. Yaw, who swore them in.

I just returned from a trip to Missouri to see my son, Bryce, graduate from basic training and AIT.  He enlisted in the Army National Guard in August 30, 2011 and left home for basic training September 12, 2011.
He had a short block leave during training in December and came home for the Christmas holidays.
He brought me his official picture when he came home. I took a picture of it with my iPhone.

Private First Class Ehmann

They now post pictures during training on Facebook and I snagged a few that had Bryce in them.  Here are two from the 701st Military Police Battalions Facebook Page:

Bryce is the red face peeking out around the leg.

Bryce and his platoon mates during the field training exercises.

He also sent me this one:

Dress uniform, before adding ribbons.

Then I took a bunch while down at Fort Leonard Wood for Family Day and Graduation.

Family Day. The ribbon on the left is for Marksman with two different weapons. Above his name is the MP emblem.

Wearing the rank of Private First Class.

Bryce at the MP Memorial.

Bryce at the Camp Museum MP exhibit.

Bryce and I at the Family Day Banquet.

Then on graduation day I took several pictures including one of his platoon during the ceremony.

Bryce is in the back row, because of his height. In front are Drill Sgt. Desimmon and Drill Sgt. Roderiguez.

Private First Class Ehmann with Drill Sgt. Roderiguez.

Both Drill Sgts. told me that Bryce was a good soldier, and they were pleased to have him.  Drill Sgt. Roderiguez said he was quiet.  I guess she did not get to experience him at his wildest, with a bunch of boy scouts playing video games. 

If you have not guessed by now Iam very proud of my soldier.

Lastly, here are Private Schneck and Private First Class Ehmann after graduation in their dress uniforms. They certainly look a lot more grown up than they did in August.

I am very glad to him home for now and looking forward to spending time with him, as I know Caleb's mom is as well. These two fine young men are here to serve in the Army National Guard of Alaska and the United States of America. 

Wanda's Vegetable Stew

I have been making a new vegetable stew this winter that Tom loves.  I have modified it a few times to get it just right and now think I have perfected it.

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Vegetable Stew

By Wanda

2-4 cloves garlic

2 - onions

4 - packets chicken bouillon

5 - 6 cups water

1-2 tsp. Thyme

1-2 tsp. Basil

1-2 tsp. Black pepper

½ -1 tsp. Sage

1 tsp. Rosemary

4 - 6 – carrots (depending on the size.)
1 – turnip

1 - red pepper

1 – yellow pepper

1 – orange pepper

1 - butternut squash

1 - parsnip

4 – small red potatoes

2 – med. sweet potato

1 – med. Zucchini

Start by chopping and sauteing two onions in just a tiny bit, less than a tablespoon of olive or grape seed oil; along with two to four cloves of garlic, depending on the size.

Then blend the onions, garlic, chicken bouillon, 3 cups water, thyme, basil, black pepper, sage and rosemary until smooth.

Pour the bouillon mixture into a large pan.

Chop the carrots, turnip, red pepper, yellow pepper, orange pepper, butternut squash, parsnip, small red potatoes, sweet potatoes, and zucchini into small bite size pieces.  This is the most time consuming part of this recipe.

Add the chopped vegetables to the bouillon mixture, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let simmer for several hours, or cook in a crock pot all afternoon on medium heat.

This makes about 8 servings, so I freeze half and make dinner and lunch for Tom and I out of half, saving the rest for another day when I do not have the time to chop all vegetables.