OUR FIRST DEEP-FRIED TURKEY

First, you hang the Hawaiian marinade-injected
turkey in a tree, using a clothes hanger
converted into a "turkey tree hanger".

You use this turkey in a tree to measure the height of the grandsons...first Jake...

then Scot...

Next, you get help from the oldest grandson in lighting the heater to boil the oil...

Now using the turkey tree hanger as a turkey

dipping hanger, you put the turkey into the boiling cottonseed oil (because it was cheaper than peanut oil!)...

Hang the cooked turkey back in the tree (its home away from home) to cool...

Voila! Burned on the outside, yummy on the

inside (Note to Self: Sugar burns upon contact

with boiling oil, thus, maple syrup was not a

good choice for coating the turkey.)

Veterans Day

Veterans Day makes me think of my daddy -- I can still hear his soft, southern voice in my head -- he was so kind and loving when he wasn't drinking -- I never doubted that he loved me, he was just a tortured soul....who drank to forget and drank to relieve the pain....but I still remember him and that voice.... Happy Veterans Day, Daddy!

Sale, Devils Fall Short, Fun With The Shaw Boys

I wrote this blog before and my computer blew up, so let's see if I can recreate it -- it might even be better this time!

Scot, showing me his mouth is empty and he needs MORE CANDY!!

Friday we worked again cleaning stuff out, and about 6 p.m., we decided what the heck, why not have a sale on Sat. from 7 a.m. to noon? No reason to delay the inevitable, so I ran to the bank and got change, we went to Home Depot to get signs, and I colored in the arrows that Ray drew...

Happy Scot got more candy...

Saturday we were up at 5 a.m. -- YIKES! -- I was putting stuff out while Ray took the signs around...some guy arrived at 6 a.m. -- it was still DARK out, what was he thinking??! Sale was okay -- didn't sell as much as I wanted to get rid of, but we will have another one in 2 weeks and get more out of here... Our wonderful neighbor Marc saved us by helping us put things away and getting us Subway for lunch -- thank you, Marc! Oh, yeah, Marc is a pilot and his window got hit with something at 14,000 feet while flying from Detroit to Philly -- shattered the window, but it stayed in place and he was not hit by flying glass -- if they'd been a little higher, he said he would have been on the 6 o'clock news -- scary!

Yes, Scot loves his Nana for giving him candy!

We rushed off to the Sun Devil game on Saturday evening -- they played USC, so I wasn't thinking we would do very well, but I was surprised -- the Devils played their best given the coaching and play-calling -- the coach actually put in a freshman quarterback who did quite well with what he was given....please coach, get a clue!

Jake is having a nutritious Skittles breakfast...

Sunday was a great day at The Shaw Boys' home, playing "How much candy can you eat before Mom gets home?" Hey, Nana is supposed to spoil them, right? -- so they had Skittles and M's (code word for M and M's) for breakfast! They are so much fun....see the pictures....

Jake with his mischievous grin, and relaxing in the big chair...

and Scot, well, this is not something I can even begin to explain -- a 2-year-old eating his big toe -- but see it for yourselves, folks, he actually gets his big toe in his mouth!!

Nana, Jake & Scot watching the Cardinals/Bears game on TV, looking for Daddy in the crowd -- we didn't find him, but the Cardinals found the end zone often and won big!

My Mom & Papa John (my step-dad) came over today for the second Thursday in a row to help me sort and price things for our eventual yard sale. They are so loving and giving and I'm very lucky to have them -- and their help! This would be an insurmountable task without them....we are just about ready to have the sale -- maybe on Saturday if Ray gets just a few more piles sorted -- how exciting! After watching "Clean House", I'm anxious to see just how much money we can make -- and how much we can get rid of.....photos to come....

Arizona Sunsets

I've heard about sunsets around the world, but I believe we have the best right here in our own back yard -- these were taken from the northwest side of our house in Tempe, Arizona....judge for yourself....let me know what you think....

Volunteer of the Year -- Going The Distance

Yesterday morning I attended the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast held by Assistance for Independent Living, the organization I volunteer with. I just started there in August, and have really had only one client the whole time -- taking David to radiation treatments, doctor appointments, things like that, and visiting him when he has been hospitalized (3 times so far) -- and I didn't think it was such a big deal. However, I was surprised to learn that I was the first volunteer to stay with someone all the way through treatment, and more surprised when I won the Going the Distance: New Volunteer of the Year 2009 award! After all, I've only been doing this for 3 months and have gotten so much personal satisfaction from helping someone who has no transportation, no family, and few friends here...that tears at my heartstrings and makes me determined to do all that I can do for him....no award can compare....a picture was taken with Arizona Corporation Commissioner Sandra Kennedy (who cared for her grandfather), which I'll post when I get it....in meeting other volunteers, I discovered that we all share many attributes, not the least of which is humbleness....we are receiving far more than we are giving....I urge everyone who have even one hour a week to make a phone call to volunteer....you WILL make a difference!

I was slicing onions yesterday with a slicer/dicer -- my fingertip got sliced and diced -- difficult to type with throbbing index finger....let's see if I have any interesting photos to post....

Oh, yeah, here I am on Saturday with the Geico Gecko before the ASU vs. California game -- we had the game in hand and lost on a last second field goal -- bummer! I don't know about you, but I'm blaming the Gecko.....also, hottest weather for any game so far, and on HALLOWEEN!!

What a busy few days.....Papa and Mom brought Jake over for an overnight visit on Thursday...they helped me get stuff ready and priced for our upcoming sale....Jake colored, watched his favorite movie "The Lion King"....we took him to his favorite restaurant, the Mc Donald's, where he ate all of his chicken nuggets and played the free video games! Back at home, Jake watched "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" while I snoozed and he continually woke me up every time I got to sleep...our grocery store Fry's was having trick or treat for kids, so I did my grocery shopping and Jake got lots of candy, decorated a cookie and a balloon and had so much fun -- he is truly a joy to be around...Back at home, he chose carrots for dinner....watched hockey with Ray and ate Buffalo Ranch Doritos with ease (Ray thought they were pretty hot!)....the highlight of the day was bringing our giant blow-up Gumby into the living room for Jake to wrestle with him...For the first time, Jake slept in his own bed (our guest room), with Gumby to keep him company....didn't need Gumby....Jake fell right asleep...must be all that wrestling...

Friday, the 30th, was the big family Arizona State Fair day! Okay, here are the fair pictures....enjoy!

The family starts the fair adventure!






Jenny & Jake on the Big Slide...

Scot enjoying himself...

Eating -- a fair favorite!

Jake with SpongeBob, what a thrill!

Ray & Jake on the teacups -- Jake almost upchucked, but wanted to go again....

Jake flying a helicopter...

Scot and Mommy (Jenny)...

The Shaw Boys winning their prizes...

Nana and Scot in the petting zoo -- he didn't actually "touch" an aminal (his word), but he loved to be with them!

This is the only ride Scot would get on -- once it was over, he wanted nothing to do with any other rides, "I don't want it!"

So, that was our day/night at the fair -- everyone left full of food and fun and looking forward to next year!