Celebrating the Season

COW POOP

I've put my winter coffee mugs and other items away.  I'm ready for spring, but know it will be a while yet.
Had lunch with Nancy and Patty on February 23.  We enjoyed a nice visit at The Country Kitchen.
No other news.  Thanks Nancy, Carol and Tommy for the Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday pics.

I am always amazed how Nancy makes every holiday, big or small, fun for her family.  I guess I am way too lazy.  She baked a KING CAKE from scratch.  She said it took most of the day as the dough had to rise twice.  The results were worth it from all accounts.

Lookin' Gooooood!

As if home-baked  King Cake wasn't enough, a Shrove Tuesday dinner of red beans and rice with shrimp & sausage topped off the occasion.

Beads for "Bruiser," too!

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Holy cow!

MICHAEL JACKSON'S kids are out with their masks on again!!!!!

Oops, my bad.  It's not Blanket and Paris; it's Jimmy and Carol!

They celebrated the memory of their trip to the Big Easy one year ago with  masks, King Cake from Randazzo's in New Orleans, hurricane drinks (with glasses bought in NO) along with beads.

Carol is thirsty after a dinner of jambalaya with scallops and shrimp.

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And lastly . . .

Tommy & Judy's church always has a Shrove Tuesday dinner.  They alternate between a pancake dinner and red beans & rice.  I'm not sure which they had this year, but here is Judy with the kitchen crew.

Okay, the party is over!

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Nancy made apple dumplings---a recipe from days gone by.
You  have to baste them---too much work for moi!

Family Artiste Update

Kerry's latest still life (oil on canvas).  She started peeling an orange and then painted it, calling the painting "strip tease."  I love seeing her creativity.

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I omitted the picture below in error on my last post.  However, Brett has some doubts that I did it because "Ronin" is wearing Gronkowski's jersey (New England Pats).

Who thinks I would do such a thing?!

Rumor has it that "Ronin" turned over his dog dish and buried his stuffed football outside when the Pats lost!

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Blast from the Past:

Aunt Theresa out on the paddle boat with Rebecca, Lew and me.  This was the Allen Family Reunion when it was held in Binghamton.

That's all!

Some Kinda Fresh . . .

. . . and some kinda stale news.

COW POOP
Things have calmed down after a very busy time.   NCAA tournament is just around the corner.  Still a mild winter, thus far, for which we are all thankful.


Tommy stayed a couple of days after Theresa's funeral.  Lunch at Sprague's Maple Farm with Nancy and Barry and a stop by Cathy's house made for a nice time on Friday.

Of course, he just LOVED it at our little cabin:

Saturday morning we drove over to Nancy and Barry's for lunch, and then N & B drove Tommy to the airport.

The free-range turkey dinners are the most popular item at Sprague's.  Tommy opted for the turkey dinner in a sandwich:  turkey, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce between two slices of bread.

We cannot resist pictures by the fireplace.

We had a nice visit with Cathy.  She showed Tommy the antique whistle cup that was his as a child.  Mom let her have it.  He said he didn't remember it, and rightly so.  It is breakable so he probably never even used it!!!

Smokey the Bear cup.

As we leave, Nancy poses with "Rupert."

Lunch Saturday before heading to the airport.

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 Timmy and Kerry go out for a Valentine's Day lunch.

Gordon Biersch in New Orleans.

Kerry with a bead dog for Mardi Gras at the restaurant.

Looks like Pi Man needs a shave---again.

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Super Bowl Memories

I challenged Nancy and Lacey to a football helmet decorating contest for Super Bowl Sunday.  After about ten minutes of decorating, I gave up.  My cookies were a disaster.

The only one I was happy with was the yellow cookie!

 Nancy's cookies.

Lacey's cookies (as you can see, she is not a football fan).

And the Moons go all out for the big game:

"Bruiser" is into the game.

 BRETT'S upscale Super Bowl munchies!!

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"Radar" is tired out from play time.

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Another Side to NANCY---

Nancy likes to be the first one every year to make a snow angel.  BUT we have had very little snow!  On a day we did get a good snow I ran outside, made a snow angel and sent the picture to her.  "Beat ya!"  This did not go over well. 

So after our last, brief  snow fall, she had to one-up me (or should I say one "down" me).  That devil!!!

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Critters Corner:

I think that "Tinkerbell" could have beat the BEST IN SHOW last night!

"Carlie" wins Miss Congeniality.

And "Chip" and "Geisha" just don't give a meow!

That's all---I did this quickly as I'm off for Presiden't Day weekend.

Send news!
*Next Day NOTE:  I just realized I left out one Super Bowl Picture.  I will put it on the next post.

A Fitting Farewell

Aunt Theresa's funeral at St. Catherine's was not only a celebration of her life and her faith, but also of her Irish heritage.  Thank you Uncles David, Dickie and Robert for all of the thought and love that you put into our final farewell to Theresa.  We will cherish the memory in our hearts!

Theresa said she considered herself an "Allen," and many of us were there to say our final goodbyes.

Uncle Dickie took some pictures at the request of Aunt Catherine (Sister S.) because she could not be there.

Uncle David

Tommy talking with David.

In front is Bridget, Dickie and Kathy's daughter. (Not sure of the others.)

A moving rendition  of "Oh Danny Boy."

                                                       

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 Tommy relaxes watching his favorite TV personality,
 "Bill O'Reilly."

More photos of Tommy's vist later.

That's all for now.