Happy New Year!

Another year has turned over once again.  Time to think about what you want to do different this year,  what you want to accomplish in the coming year,  what you don't want to see repeated and to remember what is the important things in life to center on.  Hope everyone is enjoying this day with good friends and family and lots of good food.   Happy New Year to you and yours!  Make each day count!

Feeding the crew...

I have had the privilege of having a crew of men stay at The Lodge for the past 6 weeks or so.   They have been a delight to be around.  I don't normally cook but I do for these young men cause they work from early in the morning till after dark each evening.  They enjoy my cooking and I enjoy cooking for them.  Hope you enjoy some of my pics of the good food we have shared.  I always appreciate new recipes and several have passed on their favorites to me and I try them out on "the crew"

 Bacon wrapped cheeseburgers and jalapeno brats are always a big hit

 perfecting the art of making gravy

 this recipe for Habanero Cheddar Jalapeno Bread was a big hit and we have served it often

 Joel request the Pork Loin covered with a rub and simmered in the crock pot all day

 Morgan taught me a new Breakfast casserole which is delicious

 The large mushrooms are stuffed with Buffalo Chicken Dip.  Yummy...

 Sometimes we serve pizza

 They had never tried 15 Bean Soup before

Pork Steak on the grill

 Zucchini Bread cooling

 Home made cookies warm from the oven

 These are a special group of men and I certainly will miss them when they go home.  I think they need their own reality show.  Heck,  they are much smarter and funnier than the Duck Dynasty guys...

 They enjoy my cooking and haven't found anything they don't like,  except maybe oatmeal...

 Joel always has a smile on his face morning or night

being away from friends and family is always hard and cell phones are wonderful.  Although getting good reception is not always so...

Hope you enjoyed my little food preview.  Some new members have been added to my imaginary Walton family here in the country.  Living the good life and sharing it with others!

New tire swings at the Retreat Center

It's all about swinging

I recently realized that for some strange reason I have never been on a tire swing. And tire swings are a tradition as old as man I am sure. Since I had a couple old tires lying around I figured the homestead needed an addition.

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First a suitable tree had to be found.

Then the perfect tire was picked out...

Notice my grandson is wondering how this is gonna work...

And of course the "bigger kid" has to make sure it swings properly.

Then it was Mark's turn to climb on and make sure it was just right.

So I thought since swing #1 worked so well that we needed another one up by the kids play gym. So I pulled the truck up next to the tree and with much caution and prayers going up to the Father above, I climbed on top of the truck to put the rope around the tree. I will have to admit that it later had to be taken down and the tractor brought around and a chain put from tree to tree much higher up before it was completed. Whatever...

Grandson Mark thought this swing worked great also. And it will be the perfect height for little brother Kaden to climb up on also.

Now everyone is happy. One smaller tire swing and one bar swing. Now to cut off the excess rope. We can officially say we have a good old fashioned country tire swing at The Retreat Center. . In duplicate. Bring on the good times!