Visit From Ed & LIsa

August 22nd.... My daughter and her new husband, Ed came into town for a weekend visit with Bruce and I.... They were just married July 12th.... They originally planned to marry August 23rd, but plans changed and they moved the date up a few weeks to accomodate other important issues going on in and around their lives at the time... Unfortunately Bruce and I were unable to attend the wedding, but understood fully their need to change their plans and gave them our full blessing ...... As they had already gotten the time off for August, they decided to pay us a weekend visit and call this their honey moon.... (They did get away for a few hours on Saturday for some time to themselves)....

Of course I had to take a few pictures of the newlyweds. throughout their visit.... Hard to tell they're in love isn't it.....

Showing off the weddng rings....

I think my daughter (finally) picked the perfect man for her husband... It is so easy to see how much he loves and adores her.... and she him..... Her children think he's just "AWSOME"....... ED... We welcome you into our family with open hearts.... Thank you for all you've done to bring the light back into my daughter's eyes and into her life..... I know God has plans for the two of you.... And I look forward to watching HIM bring them all into fruition over the coming years......

The Making and Devouring of "Ed's Famous Ribs"...

Once our good friends, Vaughn & Debbie knew Ed & Lisa would be coming into town, Debbie immediately came up with the idea this would be a good time for them to finally get to sample some of the famous "Ed's Ribs" they've heard us brag about.... We ran the idea by Ed & Lisa, who agreed to our plan..... So Saturday afternoon, Bruce and I took them out to Sam's Club where we allowed Ed to pick out his choice of ribs to work with... Then Sunday afternoon, after church we all gathered around him in the kitchen to watch him do his thing.... (No pressure Ed)....

Possibly a little showman within???...

First step..... open the packaging and wash down the meat.... (By the way... These are baby back ribs).....

Placed in the baking tins ready for the next step.....

As we didn't have large enough tins, Ed had to cut each set of ribs in half....

Then he slices into the back sides ever so slightly so they can obsorb the ingredients better during precooking in the oven....

Adding the "secret" ingredients......

And a little touch of TLC also goes into the mix......

As Ed says, This is the most important step.... Making sure the tins are tightly sealed during the oven cooking.....

Instead of using the oven, Ed thought he's like to try something new and precook the ribs in Bruce's steele kitchen ..... It was a very hot day and we wouldn't have to have the oven running any more then necessary... (I still had to bake my Mac & Cheese)....

Once the ribs precooked the time required, it was time to start the grilling part of the craft....The Chef working his magic......

Mmmmmmm..... Mmmmmmmm.... Looking Good!!!

And.... Oh yeah... A little of Merredith's Mac & Cheese to go along with the ribs....

Table set... ribs served.... Time to eat.....

This pictures says it all I think... Need I say anything more??

A little editor's note here.... I DO NOT DO RIBS!!!.. I DO, DO ED'S RIBS!!! The others pale in comparison by far!!! These are the best ribs out there... Not only are they DELICIOUS.... the meat falls right off the ribs.... Delicious and tender.... We keep telling Ed he needs to open up his own little place... He says he's thought of it... And calling it, "Ed's Rib Shack"..... (Sounds good to me..... Now just take my reservation please)

A Little Wedding Cake Surprise For The Newlyweds...

Unbeknownest to the newlyweds, I ordered a small wedding cake made so instead of just any dessert after Ed's famous ribs, we'd also take a few moments to celebrate the two of them and their marriage by presenting them with the wedding cake.... And of course you can't have a wedding cake without pictures of the couple cutting it....

Nice and easy does it.....

Open wide, Lisa.....

Congratulations Newlyweds!!! .....

Visit With Old Friends....

Before coming to town, Lisa had called and asked if I'd help her get hold of some old friends from when she lived in New York... Ralph & Beth... She had lived with them for a short time and during that time they built a very close and loving relationship....She had hoped her and Ed could take an afternoon to visit them at their home in Lowville, but as it turned out they would be closer to our area and asked if they could just drop by our home instead... Well of course... We loved the idea...Here they are getting caught up with all the news in each other's lives since they last seen each other.... (the young fella over to the right is their grandson).....

Lisa & Beth....

Lisa & Ralph......

The quilt in the picture below, is a gift Ralph & Beth received for their recent 50th Wedding Anniversary... (They were also married on July 12th)..... Beth's sister, Birdie, makes quilts and she put this one together with the help of other family members... She sent each one the square material and asked them to create their own square with whatever they wanted to personalize their wishes to Ralph & Beth.... Once she got the squares back, she put them all together to make this gorgeous quilt....

Nice quilt, huh Vicky!!! Will send you some more close up pictures as well....

The Bride & Groom

July 12th, Lisa's & Ed's wedding day!!!... I thank God for bringing such a grand fella into my daughter's and grandchildren's life.... The photos below are just a few from the CD they brought along with them for their visit.... Although I'm not the photographer, I think the one they had got some really good shots of them and we only had to edit a few... and then mainly to put some in black & while or a little cropping here and there... The wedding took place outside in the back yard of her best friend and Matron of Honor and her husband (the Best Man).... I might add here a HUGE "THANK YOU" to Cathy & Mark for all they did to make their wedding day a beautiful and memorable occassion for them!!! It was only the four of them, but Cathy and Mark not only provided their beautiful back yard for the ceremony, but also added some special touches such as champagne and chocolate covered strawberries to toast them after the ceremony... Took them out to dinner at a very nice restaurant, and then sent them off for the night at a lovely hotel for their honeymoon night..... NOW THAT'S FRIENDS FOR YOU!!!

The Beautiful Bride.......

The beaming Groom....

Hiding in the bushes and sneaking a kiss....

Posing and smiling pretty for the camera....

Wishing you both many, many wonderful and blessed years ahead!!!

WOW!! I'M 60 NOW!!

August 4, 1948.... Day of my birth.... 60 long, long, long years ago.... (Thank you for that "kind" reminder, Vaughn)My dear "brother" Vaughn....

Debbie thought that since I would be turning "60", It should be reason to have a party..... So her and Bruce put their heads together (with a little help from me) to throw me a 60th Birthday Party..... She also thought I should have my very own tiara to wear.... I'm thinking "Why?" "Isn't turning 60 enough to deal with?"

Lots of good food to go around....

Pizza, pizza, pizza.....And we can't forget the beautiful birthday cake from Alteri's.... Chocolate cake with raspberry filling and of course chocolate frosting.....

For a change, I wasn't in charge of the camera... That was left to Bruce and our good friend, Lil....

Lil and her husband, Will...

Knowing my love for veggies (NOT), my boss, Pete, couldn't resist giving me a bag of zuchinni and summer squash.... Thank you, Pete... Thank you so very much!!!

He also couldn't resist giving me a flashlight .... The story behind that is Bruce and I had been experiencing some electrical problems (which our good brother, Vaughn was so good to fix for us in the meantime)... which left us without lights in our Master bathroom and our guest bedroom.... But to give credit where it's due... He and Kim also gave me a gift certificate for the Chocolate Cottage.... more than made up for the other two gifts..... Can't wait to hit that place....

My boss, Pete.....Our good friend, Donna....

My card from my favorite aunt, Aunt Bett... which she also reminded me, she's my only aunt, but she'd still be my favorite even if I had many, many more.... And I know I'm her favorite niece too.... Just don't tell my cousin, Jeanette, she thinks she's the favorite....

Debbie's and our new little kid sister, Karen.... isn't she just the cutest thing.... Welcome to our family sis....

MerMer and BonBon.... together again....

Debbie and me....

Debbie, knowing how much I've wanted bushes for around the house (like forever)... got me these two little bushes here.... Now I just have to figure out where we'll be planting them.... I have a couple of ideas.... So have your shovel ready, Bruce....

Our guys getting some fresh air on the front porch...... (I finally got my hands on the camera)....
Pete and Kim heading home (and trying to avoid me and my camera... didn't work)...

Thanks Debbie and Bruce.... What a great party.... I am definitely a blessed woman..... with great friends, and especially a great husband....