THISILDO: JANUARY 2008!!!!!

Hi All,

I know it's only a few weeks since I last wrote, but as I promised pictures, I thought I would write as well (can't help bad luck eh?).

When I last wrote, I mentioned I was expecting guests for New Year's and also had planned a 'girlie' day out with Alex.

Our day out was wonderful. It began with a trip to the hairdresser's where Alex intended to have her long, black locks cut and styled. The transformation was wonderful and we left with Alex looking like a million dollars. Unfortunately, it had begun to snow heavily and her new style was soon covered in snow. She was not concerned, and we headed off to browse through some antique shops. We had planned many things that day but the antique shops held our interest for far too long. We spent hours browsing and thoroughly enjoyed it. After shopping we had a wonderful lunch and headed off to the jewellery store. What women we are - the jewellery store was closing down and yet we resisted.

By the time we headed for home, it had been snowing heavily for some time and the roads were really slick. We had one minor slide, but Alex was in control. We arrived home to find that Rochelle had arrived and later that evening, John, Vickie, Lyn, Briannah and Darrien arrived safely too.

We had a wonderful weekend - John pulled the kids around on a toboggan tied to the ATV and later he took Rochelle and Lyn for rides on the snow mobile. I went to get the camera, but was sidetracked and missed the perfect kodak moment. Lyn and Rochelle each borrowed a pair of Paul's Bib and Brace snow mobile pants. The crutch on Lyn's almost hit the floor and Rochelle had room also to accommodate an extra!!! (Am not sure I should have women staying who are so happy to get into Paul's pants)! They both enjoyed themselves, despite the apparel and remained very warm!

On the Saturday we went for a drive to try and spot some elk at the Elk Farm. We were fairly daring and thought no-one was around, so we drove up the drive way and the farmer came out of his barn. He was most accommodating, and to our delight, he let us drive right up to the fields where they were. Unfortunately, they had all lost their antlers, but the antlers were on display on the roof of the barn and around the barn. They were inquisitive animals and stared at us as much as we stared at them.

Our guests were here for the New Year's Party, and proved to be lots of fun. We laughed so much over the days they were here, that my jaws ached. They were also very helpful in food preparation for the party.

I had worked out the menu, but Lyn put in a special request for a pavlova. I decided that as they had proved popular in the past, that one would not be sufficient for everyone to have a piece, so decided to make two. Luckily they turned out fine, but that is not the end of the story.

Our menu included roast pork, as I was lucky enough to find a huge leg of uncured pork (not easy here in the States, as most of them are cured as sold as hams). The pork needed 8 plus hours to cook so it was in the top oven. (Pavlovas had been made the day before). I was also cooking a whole beef tenderloin, which needed approx. 1 hour. I was also doing baked potatoes, macaroni and cheese and green bean casserole, biscuits etc. so the ovens were much in demand.
I had everything worked out according to time and degrees. (clever, clever me). So I turned on the bottom oven to preheat whilst I went to shower.

Now I do like a nice, long, hot shower, but with so many guests, I behaved myself and had a quick shower, but when I left the bedroom, my nostrils were assailed with a sweet, sickly, burnt smell!!!!!!!!!!! The house too was rather smokey!!!!!!!!!!

The others quickly informed me that I had missed the drama! When I turned on the bottom oven, I had forgotten the pavlovas were resting there!!!! Needless to say, they had quickly burnt and even produced flames. The doors and windows were opened on this very cold night, about 1 hour before guests were due to arrive! The blacked pavlovas were outside on the bar-b-que!!! By the end of the evening, they looked perfect again, as they were covered in 3 inches of snow! lol

Oh well, we had way too much food, more than ample desserts and Lyn did get to watch me make them and she got a copy of the recipe to take home. The whipped cream for the pavlovas was used for Irish Coffees instead.

We had a great evening, with a couple of new faces as well, though a few of the old faces were missing this year, as a couple of people took sick and others did not take the risks on the hazardous roads. I was having too much fun and forgot to take photos this year, but am hoping Lyn did and that I will get copies in the future?????

John and the clan left on New Year's day as he had to go to work the next day. Rochelle stayed on for another day as road conditions were still not good.

Paul and I set to work then, packing away Christmas decor and taking it easy.

Alex came over for an impromptu visit one evening (in her pj's), while we planned our trip to England. I am reasonably flexible with dates, but she had to work it around her work schedule.
We made decisions and I booked the trip the next day. My itinerary is below (mainly for Sid's benefit as he is always so organised in emailing us his!)

My birthday was the 10th - thank you all for the beautiful cards and many, many phone calls. I spent the first two or three hours on the phone - thank you to Damien for waking me so early!!!! It is worth getting older, just to get to chat with everyone.

After breakfast and the phone calls, we headed off to the casino for the day. Four Winds at New Buffalo. It has been opened about 6 months and has a North Woods theme, so we were very interested to check it out. We left around 11am and returned home around 10pm, having had lots of fun and a great meal. We certainly didn't win anything, but we don't have to sell the house either!!!

We went to dinner the next night with John and Alex for yet another birthday celebration. We went to a restaurant called the London Broil in Plainwell. We had passed it on many occasions and always meant to check it out. John and Alex are regular patrons and now we know why. Once again, a great meal and great company.

John and Alex also invited themselves over here for dinner one night - but they bought the dinner with them. John cooked it at home and then bought the cooked meal to us. I have to say in all honesty, it was the best meat loaf I have ever had. I really like my meat loaf but his far exceeds mine. He got the recipe from some T.V. show.

Well folks, that's about all the news for now. Hope everyone has a wonderful 2008.

Oh - one of my New Year's Resolutions is to take more care when visiting Kelly and Nate and doing their laundry. Seems last time I did it, after folding and hanging his permanent press dress pants, he wore them to work. When walking down the hall at his office, accompanied by a couple of his bosses, a pair of Kelly's panties (knickers), slid down his leg and onto the floor!!!! He bent down and picked them up, put them in his pocket and continued on. I asked if the others noticed and he said "sure they did"!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well.

Lots of love,

Paul and Kathy

My Itinery

Leave America on 15th February (Overnight flight from Detroit) After kissing Paul goodbye!
Have lots of fun!
Return on 25th February and kiss Paul hello!!
(Hope you like this one Sid??)