I Agree

AMEN

Blog Moving

This blog is being combined with my other blogs on one page.  Please go to:   http://ricksblogcollection.blogspot.com/  to continue following this blog.  My future Ramblings with be published under the tab by the same name.

Thanks for taking a look at my new page.

Rick

2012 A New Year

Like everybody, I am am making several New Years Resolutions.  They include things like losing weight (isn't that everybody's?), reading more, less TV, exercising more, getting more sleep(going to bed before midnight), keeping my journal up, posting on my blog on a regular basis, and getting pictures printed.  There are assorted other ones also.  I also need to cut down how much time I spend on Pintrest.  Vickie really wants me to keep my journal up because she says after I am gone that is how she and my grand kids will remember me.  A morbid thought, but then on the other hand I am getting old and death happens to all of us. 

2011 had its ups and downs just like every one's year.  I had to resign my job with the city because of health reasons, but that freed me up to help Cathi in the early stages of her pregnancy.  In November we welcomed twin grand daughters into the family.  They are a joy and their big brother Isaac is a riot.  He is growing up so fast and is so smart.  Last fall I was added to the substitute cooks list for the county schools.  It is interesting to feed kids from elementary to high school.  It really isn't cooking, it is reheat add serve, but it has been interesting to work in what has been a predominately woman's world.  The kids seem to get a big kick out of it.  Christmas was fun with three grandchildren this year and it only promises to get better, as the kids get older.  I think I have rambled enough.  Goodnight.

Misc Thoughts

Vick and I spent last week in Yellowstone Park.  As the sticker in my truck window says "Yellowstone is my happy place."  This picture was taken early one morning on the Madison River.  Thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent in the Park.  It is almost a spiritual experience for me. 

Within the next four weeks I will be the grandpa of twin girls.  It is hard to believe but very exciting.  Can't wait.

Life is good for me.  My breathing seems to be getting better.  I have spent some time cooking in a couple of schools.  That has been a lot of fun. 

I have a great wife, whom I love very much.  We have a lot of fun together.  Looking forward to many more years together.

A day with Isaac

I have become a volunteer for Find A Grave.  Check it out at: http://www.findagrave.com/  It is a great way to add to your family history.

This past month I had my grandson with me on one of my picture taking trips to the cemetery.  He had a lot of fun and as you can tell he tried to upright one of the stones that was tipped over.  He was very upset that somebody would tip it over and not stand it back up.  He wanted to know all about cemeteries and in the process asked a thousand why questions about why dead people are buried there and where are they buried.  I wouldn't trade that afternoon for anything.  And he wants to go take more pictures with grandpa.

Grandpa's Bear

As Earl Pickle from the cartoon strip "Pickles" by Brian Crane says:

   "everyday you can be with your grandson is a   

good day"

Right now, Issac is my only grandchild, but he has twin sisters due in Dec.  That will change my life and I can't wait.

Eating Smarter

I have started trying to eat better and thus I have started a new blog with healthy recipes.  I have not given up on the regular recipe blog because I don't forsee myself ever quitting the cooking and baking I enjoy and have for years.  I will be eating a little smarter and exercising more.  My goal is to lose about a pound a week.  My doctors tell me if I can do the every week it shows the small changes I am making in my eating are sustainable over the long haul.  So far this year I am down about 15-18 pounds.  I know for somebody my size that is not much but If can can lose that much more by the end of the year, I will be down between 30 and 40 pounds.  What a grand adventure.

Baking cookies with Isaac

Last week my grandson and I had the chance to bake cookies together.  It was easy enough, because we used a sugar cookie mix.  He liked pouring the mix in the bowl and using the mixer to mix the ingredients.  

He even has a little red apron to wear to keep his clothes clean. 

As you can see, Isaac is even using his tounge to help get the cookie dough out of the scoop.  He worked at it until he was able to work the cookie scoop.

While the cookies were baking, Isaac took time out to read the comics.

Isaac enjoying the fruits of his labors.  He ate two cookies and wanted more.  I sent some home with him and he wanted cookies instead of dinner.

Not a bad thought:

Life is short, eat dessert first

It was a lot of fun cooking with my grandson.  We will be doing a lot more of it in the future.



April and the ice cream dasher

April this is for you.  This summer we have had Vickie's cousin April and her family over a couple of times for dinner and ice cream.  One of the treats is liking the dasher and guess who won.  This particular time I made malted vanilla ice cream and everyone enjoyed it.  THere is always room for homemade ice cream.  Enjoy April, we love you and your family.

Happy 4th of July

Isaac, McKenzie and Julia eating ice cream and watching fireworks.

Yesterday was the 4 th of July.  We had a great time at our house.  Cathi, Shawn and Isaac came over, as well as Vickie's cousin April and her husband Chay and their girls McKenzie and Julia.  We did the usual grilling.  Had lots to eat and even had some fireworks for the kids.  Along the way we made homemade ice cream, that was enjoyed by all.  We invited the Bishop and Sally Doxey and the Lower family over to help eat the ice cream because homemade ice cream is only good when it is fresh.

We are thankful for the freedom we enjoy and very thanful for those who put themselves in harms way to protect our freedom.  God bless America.

Like Grandpa

Grandpa lives in his coveralls.  Isaac's grandma and grandpa McOmber bought him a pair of coveralls and his grandpa Long happened to have a matching pair.  Grandma Mickey(Long) had to get a picture of us in our matching coverlls.  Grandpa looks rough but Isaac looks cute as ever.

Isaac turned two in April.  This picture was taken at his birthday party.  He is usually so easy going and happy, this tuff guy picture is great.  He had a lot of fun eating his Disney Cars cake.

Today I joined the recipe blog craze.  I have only one recipe on it today but it will grow as cooking is one of my favorite past times.  Just ask Vickie.  The link is: http://ricksfavoriterecipes.blogspot.com/.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

What’s Your Soup Personality?

You’ve heard it a million times: you are what you eat. But what exactly does that mean? According to a study by Brian Wansink of the University of Illinois, it means that the kind of soup you prefer can determine quite a few things about your personality.

When 602 women and 401 men were surveyed by telephone, here’s what Wansink and his researchers found:


The four most popular soups are chicken noodle, tomato, minestrone, and vegetable.

Chicken noodle soup lovers score high on the church-going scale, are fond of pets, are more likely to be stubborn, and less likely to be outdoorsy.

Minestrone slurpers are more likely to be physically fit, nutritionally conscious, family spirited, and on a restricted diet. They are also less likely to own a pet.

Vegetable soup aficionados are homebodies at heart, less likely to be world travelers, less likely to be spontaneous, and more likely to read family and home magazines.

Tomato soup sippers can stomach more adventure, are more likely to be social, and tend to enjoy books and pets.

Two-thirds of those surveyed agreed that soup made them feel better about themselves, and more than half said chicken noodle soup made them feel better when sick.

Casanova

Mother's be warned - whenever Casanova Isaac is around keep your daughter's locked up or they may get kissed.  His favorite target is Jane Duru.

Orphan Gamer

It is plain to see Isaac is not into fashion.  His Grandma bought him some Sesame Street socks and he wanted one of each on over his pj's.  He is enjoying paying Play Station with his dad.  His controller is hooked up but he doesn't care.

Winter Freeze

We have quite a spell of below freezing dry weather.  For January we are at less than ten per cent of our normal precipitation.  For the last two to three weks the temp has remained about freezing or below.  Times like this it sucks to work outside.  It is quite pretty though when the fog puts a frosty coating on everything.

Christmas with Aunt Marge

My Aunt Marge came to visit this Christmas.  She is Civilian Military and is currently stationed in Spain.  When shen comes to visit she brings gifts for the family from what ever part of the world she is stationed in.  She has brought me some amazing and beautiful Santa's to add to my collection.  This year one of the things she brought was a matador hat and when we put it on Isaac he walked around Grandma nad Tigger's (Great Grandpa Long has called Isaac

 "Tigger "from day one.  Isaac now calls his great grandpa "Tigger")house with his 'hat' on.  Thank you for your thoughtfulness Marge.

We Love You

Marge and Santa

Christmas 2009 comes to an end

The time has come to hang up the Santa suit for another year.  It was a lot of fun.  Santa wishes he could get a dollar for every time he was asked for a Nintendo DS or DSI.  That was the rage this year.

Vickie and I spent the morning with Cathi and Shawn watching Issac open his gifts.  It was a lot of fun.  He got some Mega Blocks and had more fun dumping them out and walking through them than building with them.  Kids make Christmas a whole lot ore fun.

Cathi told me I need some help with the pictures I take with my new Canon camera.  I tolg her my camera is smarter than I am and I am still tryng to figure both it and Lightroom picture editing out.  This is one of the pictures I took Christmas day.  I aged it and darkened it a little bit.  I am having fun trying new things with my new camera.

I hope all of you have a great New Year.