LIFE IS CHANGING

I am behind again..Lots has been happening..I had to take Phill to the hospital on 1/28/11 he had a terrible pain in his abdomen..Of course when they did CT Scan it showed that his one remaining kidney was infected..They admitted us..By us I mean us..I always stay with him whenever he is in the hospital because he won't let them do anything unless I okay it..Well we got the kidney looking better after putting in nephrostomy tube and IV antibiotics and then he developed an illeus..started treating that and then he went into A-fib..got him back into normal sinus rhythm and then kidney started causing problems again..creatinine levels up and down for days..then he developed CHF..finally after almost 3 weeks they told us he could go to a rehab center or go home with hospice..after much discussion with Phill and the boys, Phill opted to go home..Mark stayed with him on 2/16 and I came home and made preparations to get him home..we had him transported by ambulance since he needed 15 liters of O2. We got him home 2/17 in the evening and he was so happy to get here..Mark, Hans and Belinda stayed with us all night and everyone was here most of the next day..The evening of the 18th with Mark, Hans, David and I beside his bed, he returned to his Heavenly Father..Someone said you did so much work to get him set up at home for such a short time, but let me tell you it was worth it even if he had lasted only a few minutes..He wanted to be home and we wanted him here.

We had his funeral on 2/26 and everything was so lovely..We only had family members on the program except for the Branch President of the church. We had the services at the Sandy Valley LDS Church and burial in the Goodsprings Cemetery..There was standing room only in the church and at the luncheon afterwards we were packed in like sardines..Phill was loved and respected by everyone he ever came in contact with..Prelude and postlude music was by our niece Annette, our granddaughter Lacie sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere", Phill's brother Ralph and his wife Linda sang "In the Garden", opening prayer was by niece Annie, closing prayer was by nephew Scott, nephew Douglas gave a wonderful talk and wrote a great poem, son Hans gave a wonderful tribute to Dad,daughter-in-law Lori gave an awesome talk, brother Ralph gave a great talk, nephew Richard dedicated the grave..I am truly blessed to have such a great and talented family. Grandsons David & Heath, nephews Richard, Douglas, Scott & Kevin were the pallbearers.

I had family here for over a week, and they would let me do nothing..now I just need to convince everyone that I can stay alone and don't need a babysitter..Guess I should be grateful that they all care..I rode into Vegas with Bonnie late this afternoon and when I got home I was informed that everyone was worried sick about me because I had failed to let them know where I was..Ha ha, the shoe is on the other foot now!!!

It was hard to let Phill go, but I know he is no longer suffering and that he is with Thad, Gery and Ronnie..I am so thankful to have Hans right next door and Mark a block away..David,our grandson, is looking to move back to Goodsprings and that would be great..Val is only 6 hours away in Scottsdale so that is doable in a day.

I will try to post more often and hopefully the future posts will be more upbeat..Thanks to everyone that sent cards, flowers, food and for all the moral support..You never appreciate family and friends until you really need them..I have the best. Ruthie

2011 ALREADY, NO IT CAN'T BE

Well as usual I have fallen by the wayside...just can't seem to keep this blog up to date..I don't make new years resolutions, but will try to keep this updated.

After my last post I got sick..worst cold/flu I have ever had..I ran a fever of 102-103 for about 6 days..It was mostly in my head and throat never did get into lungs..I was pretty much down for the count for 12 days..I finally made myself get up and get busy..Got all the gifts bought and wrapped for the school program and party..Got all the toys, bike and food for the Christmas boxes..I had to make 2 trips to Vegas to get all the stuff from Help of So. NV..First load was only toys and bikes, 2nd load was all food items..both times my truck was full, full, full..I have a 1 ton dually with extended cab and they filled the bed and the back seat.

We had the school program on the 17th and it went so great..the kids put on a good program and Santa arrived and gave all the kids a neat present..we had 9 school age and 11 preschool age children..On the 19th we had a party and sing along for all the community..I made a huge pot of chili and we had lots of cakes, cookies and fudge..Served wassail and hot chocolate..the weather had turned nasty so didn't have as many as planned for but it was a great group..We ate ourselves silly and sang lots of carols..We were quiet an eclectic group as we had mormons, jews, catholics, born again christians and agnostics all together singing Christmas carols and no one missed a beat..It was fun and everyone left in great spirits..

I finally got shopping done for my own family, got it all wrapped and was happy to sit back and relax..We went over to Hans' house Christmas morning to watch Carley open her gifts..She was cute and not that interested after the 1st one..It was a book and she was ready to sit down and read, after much coaxing got her to open everything and she was so cute..Little kids make Christmas morning..We went to Mark's house in the afternoon for dinner..of course we had more gifts to open and give..David, Belinda and Hunter, Hans, Shawntell and Carley came over also..Mark and Terry got Carley a doll stroller for her new baby and she and Hunter had a great time going around and around the whole house..They shared pretty good..All in all it was a great Christmas.

New year's eve day we had Hunters 4th birthday party out in Pahrump..Christi, Heath, Crista and Junior came up from Glendale, AZ, so we got to visit with them also. Belinda got a cute spiderman cake for Hunter it even had his picture on the cake..the picture was taken back in the summer and he had his face painted at the fair..We came home and went to Pinkertons for a little while and then home and in bed before the new year rang in..Well that pretty much gets us up to date..talk to you later..Ruthie and Phill

ON TO CHRISTMAS

I got the whole Thanksgiving Dinner done and over..hurrah!!! It seemed to be harder this year than years past, could be that I am getting older. I even had less people this year, only 38 and the average in past years has been 45. I had more help this year too. I got Dana and her family to take all the tablecloths and decorations up to the Community Center and set that up, what a great help that was. Hans helped on the day with some dish washing as I cooked and he sampled, tasted and told me what was needed in some of the dishes. He is a really good cook and I love working in the kitchen with him. Everyone raved over my creamed corn this year. I think it was that good Colorado corn that I got and put in the freezer. It was so sweet everyone thought I had put sugar in it, which I hadn't. Colleen and Jeri did most of the clean-up and washing up, which was wonderful because by that time I was done in. Holding with past years we put everything in the fridge and went home to come back on friday and heat it all up and lots came back for leftovers. Got fridays mess cleaned up and still left everything there. Hans and Shawntell went up on saturday and brought all the my round tables, decorations, crock pots, utensils, etc. home and put away. That was a feat in itself and one that was much appreciated. Saturday was a complete vege out day for me!!!!!

Now it is time to get on with Christmas. Julie Newberry and I will shop for the school kids on the 2nd and hopefully get that all wrapped over that weekend. I have sent in the list to Help of Southern Nevada for toys, bikes and groceries for families that need help this year. Phill and I will go to Vegas and get that all picked up around the 17th. Then the real work will start with sorting all the canned goods and getting the boxes made up for the families. I have a list of about 32 families for this year. Some of the families are in Primm so that will involve getting them out there. The boxes for here in Goodsprings I can have most of the people come to the Community Center and pick up. I still have my own family to shop for of course and will do that when I find the time.

I need to make some Christmas candy before I get to busy. I want to make some cream candy, pecan roll, fudge and caramels. Hope the weather stays cold and dry as that is best for candymaking.

Oh yes, I forgot we are having Community Christmas get together at the CC, which is something else I have to organize. We will sing carols, have cookies, hot cocoa and spiced cider and just have a good time.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and you are all getting in good shape for Christmas!!!

IT"S FRIDAY

Okay it is less than a week to Thanksgiving, gotta get cracking! I can't believe how fast this year has gone, seems like a couple of months ago I was planning and cooking last years Thanksgiving dinner. I must be getting old, can't seem to keep up like I used to.

Haven't accomplished as much as I wanted today. I still get to crawl around in the storage closet and get out all the Thanksgiving decor, still have to iron all the tablecloths. I do have the menu planned and organized,so I know when I need to do what.

We are going down the hill to the casino tonight to have dinner with Doris & Dick. They finally arrived yesterday afternoon from Florida. It doesn't seem like time for them to get here yet but it is. Can't wait to see them and have them here for 4 months. We have a standing dinner every friday while they are in town and look forward to it all week.

Hope everyone is healthy & happy, talk to you later.

HALF THE WEEK IS GONE....LOL

Well it is wednesday and half the week is gone and I haven't done much but vegetate after the big weekend..so this morning I got busy..I've got 4 dozen rolls in the freezer, 2 loads of laundry done and folded, beds made and another boiled raisin cake made (Phill didn't get enough at the party cause he had to share). It is only quarter of 12 and now I am spent so guess I'll just putter the rest of the day.

We went to town last night with Hans and his family. We just needed to run by the bank, grocery store and grabbed a burger at In-n-Out. I picked up a few things for thanksgiving dinner..Smith's had some great looking yams so got 25 pounds of those..last year I had the dickens of a time trying to find yams at a decent price..last year they wanted $2 a lb. so I grabbed them last night at $1 a lb..that is way too high but better than last year. Also got some cranberries, last year I had to go to several stores before I could find any..these stores just don't stock up fresh items for the holiday anymore..guess most people just buy already prepared or go out to eat..yuck..years ago when we weren't having any children for Thanksgiving dinner Liz conned us into going out to dinner with her and Claude..big, big mistake..we had the worst dinner and we've always vowed never again..there is nothing better than a big ol' home cooked turkey dinner!!!

Well better find something to putter around with and get this cake iced.

Recipe for Gram's Boiled Raisin Cake

So many requested copies of this recipe at Phill's party, thought I would post it on here.

BOILED RAISIN CAKE

1 LB. RAISINS
3 tsp CINNAMON
2 tsp ALLSPICE
1 tsp CLOVES
3 CUPS SUGAR
3 CUPS WATER
1 CUP CRISCO/BUTTER
4 CUPS SIFTED FLOUR
1 tsp SALT
1 tsp SODA
2 tsp BAKING POWDER
1 CUP CHOPPED NUTS (OPT)

PLACE RAISINS, SPICES, SUGAR, CRISCO/BUTTER AND WATER IN SAUCEPAN AND BOIL TOGETHER FOR APPROX. 5 MINUTES..COOL..IN LARGE BOWL ADD SIFTED FLOUR, SODA, SALT AND BAKING POWDER..SIFT ALL TOGETHER..ADD IN THE COOLED RAISIN MIXTURE AND ADD NUTS..MIX WELL..DON'T OVER BEAT..PUT IN FLOURED, GREASED 9x13 PAN OR 2 ROUND CAKE PANS..BAKE FOR 1 HOUR AT 350 DEGREES.

NANNIE'S CARAMEL FROSTING
1/2 CUP BUTTER
1 CUP DARK BROWN SUGAR
1/4 tsp SALT
1/4 CUP MILK OR 1/2 & 1/2
2 CUPS ICING SUGAR

MELT BUTTER IN A SAUCEPAN OVER LOW HEAT. STIR IN BROWN SUGAR AND SALT. BRING TO A BOIL OVER MEDIUM HEAT; BOIL HARD 2 MINUTES, STIRRING CONTANTLY. REMOVE FROM HEAT. STIR IN MILK. RETURN PAN TO HEAT; BRING TO A FULL BOIL. REMOVE FROM HEAT; COOL TO LUKEWARM. STIR IN ICING SUGAR AND BEAT UNTIL SMOOTH. IF FROSTING IS TOO THICK, BEAT IN A LITTLE MILK.

THIS IS PHILL'S MOTHERS CAKE RECIPE AND MY MOTHER'S ICING RECIPE AND THEY GO GOOD TOGETHER. GUARANTEED TO BE A CROWD PLEASER!!!!

WE ARE STILL ALIVE AND KICKING!!!!!

Well after seeing some other family member's blogs, I thought I better get to blogging again..Where to start.

So much has happened since I last posted I'll just hit some of the hightlights of the last year.

We had a wonderful Christmas with all of us going to David's in Pahrump. We had a greaaaat Easter fishing at Sunnyside. All of Mark's family and all of Hans' family along with Phill and I. We had snow, rain, wind and sun, but most of all we had a blast..There is nothing better than a camping trip with your kids, grandkids and great grandkids..Popo and Gramma are truly blessed!!!

I did get a garden in of sorts with the help of Hans and Mark. It did terrible this year..Why, I have know idea. I ended up buying 2 lugs of blueberries and made jam, 40 dozen ears of corn and put it in the freezer and a bushel of green beans which I canned. I got 10 pints and 22 quarts of green beans. I have yet to pull my beets and pickle them, which is a project for this week. We had tomatoes to eat but not enough to can, which is a great disappointment..I have always tried to can around 100 quarts of tomatoes every year. Our home canned foods are going to be skimpy this year.

In May I had to move Lulu into our home, as she was not able to take care of herself anymore. That worked okay for awhile and then she got so she wouldn't go outside and walk. She stopped eating and that started a real decline. On 9/28/10 it seemed like she might have had a stroke so called 911 and had her taken to the hospital. Yes she did have a stroke, but they discovered also that she was full of cancer. The doctor said she had to have had it for 3-4 years to be spread thoughout her the way it was. I had to put her in a Hospice center and on 10/10/10 she passed away. She would have been 85 on 12/27/10. After 40 years of friendship and looking after her it has left a great hole in our lives. She was cremated and we will place her ashes in the Goodsprings Cemetery.

September was a bad month!! I took my neighbor and friend Pat Cash in to the hospital on the 18th and she died in the car on the way to town. Pat was a member of the branch and had lived here in Goodsprings a couple of years longer than us. She had a son Matthew that was Ronnie's age and they were great friends growing up. I had to contact Matthew in Germany and break the news and then I helped him with memorial service and cleaning out the house. Pat so enjoyed our monthly dinners that we have here in Goodsprings and we will miss her alot.

Other than 4 or 5 parties this summer it has been very quiet around here. We did go to Ralph and Linda's mission report in Cedar City and that was fun. We got to see lots of family and that is always a good thing.

Phill had his 80th birthday on friday November 12 and we celebrated with a big bang-up party on saturday the 13th. Some family and friends chipped in and got him a flat screen TV, which he is really enjoying. Lots of family came: Ralph & Linda, Joanie, Debbie, Earl & Annie, Doug & Nettie, Davey & Danessa, Naomi, Airdree, David & Belinda, Hunter, Heath & Christi, Crista, Junior, Lacie, Lori, Remi, Asia, Hans & Shawntell, Carley, Mark & Terry and lot of friends. First Phill went for a glider ride in the afternoon and then we had his party up at the Community Center. Counting Phill and I there were 64 party goers..Phill said he didn't think he knew 62 people and was pleased as punch that so many showed up. I fix a baked potato and salad bar and that seemed to go over good. We had birthday cake without ice cream and I also made Phill a boiled raisin cake..Of course after spending $30 on ice cream I forgot to take it up to the center..DUH..What a fun time we had and how blessed we are for such wonderful family and friends!!!

Now it is time to get my Thanksgiving dinner together. This will be the 4th year I have cooked dinner and served it at the Community Center for anyone in Goodsprings who wants to come. We have averaged around 44 people every year, so am planning on the same again this year. I'll cook 3 turkeys, 1 of them I am going to smoke and not have a ham this year. I usually make the rolls ahead and freeze them, which I should have started doing today and didn't. It takes about 10 dozen every year. My menu this year is: turkey, stuffing (Grams recipe), mashed potatoes & gravy, candied yams, green beans, red cabbage, corn pudding, frog eye salad, strawberry pretzel salad, relish tray, rolls, pumpkin pies, lemon merinque pies, pecan pies, mincemeat pie and boiled raisin cake. Sounds yummy doesn't it!!! You better come to Goodsprings for a truly homemade dinner, I make everything from scratch.

I don't do black friday, so can relax and vegetate the day after all the cooking. I will be up and running on monday the 29th as Julie Newberry and I will go shopping for all the school kids and preschoolers in Goodsprings for our annual Christmas program at the school and where Santa will give each child a present..This tradition was started around 1906 here in Goodsprings and we have kept it going all these years.

Guess that somewhat brings us up to date..I will try and keep this going once again.

Phill is doing good healthwise, we just take it day by day. Heavenly Father has blessed us in so many ways!!!