We Got Pie!

 Thursday night I got to host my woman's service club at my home for a pie social.

We are always looking for something fun to do as a group.

We have done day trips together, evenings out, and museum trips but sometimes it is nice just to stay in and enjoy each other's company over something sweet.

Besides, it gave me an excuse to break out my grandmother's china.

I love this delicate china.

Not to mention that our club flower is a pink rose.

I had everything set for the gathering.

I even set out some non-sweet snacks for munching on. 

We had a very enjoyable evening laughing, talking, and enjoying some very tasty pies.

We might have to plan something similar to this next year.

Maybe a bring your favorite cake party!

Any Excuse for a Party!

We here at the Peter's Ranch look for any excuse to throw a party.

This year's Christmas party was an open house - we started early and ended late 

so that folks could come and stay as long as they liked 

and still make their other Christmas obligations.  

Tis the season for holiday parties.

I wanted our guests to bring medications for our upcoming Uganda mission trip 

so I didn't ask anyone to bring goodies to share.  

We had plenty of food.

Plenty!

On the breakfast table we had buffalo chicken dip, artichoke dip, pico de gallo, 

guacamole, bleu cheese tartlets, two different cheeseballs, bacon-wrapped dates 

(oh my goodness, these are good) and ham rolls.

On the dining room table there was veggies and dip, barbeque meatballs, 

relish tray, three kinds of cookies, fudge, pralines, Mom's pumpkin bread 

and fruitcake, fresh apple cake, and cheesecake with sweet cranberry topping.

In the decanter is friend Chantell's fresh-squeezed Presbyterian Punch.

Yep, that's the name.

It is to die for!

(especially with a splash of vodka - Presbyterians don't mind.)

Speaking of adult beverages, we went through many bottles of wine.

Many.  Lots.  I got many new labels and corks from this party.

BTW, this is the family room Christmas tree.  

I love the old fashioned tinsel.  It makes the tree sparkle and it reminds 

me of my childhood Christmas trees.  

And as usual, there were friends congregating in the kitchen.

Friends in the dining room.

Friends in the family room. 

Even friends in the laundry room!  

To be honest, the bar was set up in this room.  

There was a steady flow through this room.  Just saying.  

I also had some Apparent Project jewelry for sale in here.

For those last minute gift needs. 

Hey, I am a full-service party hostess.

All of the girlfriends were under one roof!  

This is quite an accomplishment these days.  

We are all so busy.  

Now we have photographic evidence that this actually happened.

As much fun as the evening was, this was the best part!  

My generous friends brought so much acetaminophen, ibuprophen, 

and Tums, and vitamins for our Uganda trip.  

This was a huge help.  

Partying is always more fun when there is a good cause to support.  

Thanks friends!

Spirit Come

Once a month our church has a contemporary service known as "Spirit Come".  

There is a small group of musicians who lead the music in this service.

I am privileged to be one of these musicians.  

Katy is the bubbly one in the group - even though she is sporting an orthopedic boot for a broken foot.

Gann runs the sound system and plays drums for the group.

Toby takes a moment to get her guitar in tune before our rehearsal.  

Jeff and Frances on the left fill out the current group. 

Tonight's service was our Christmas service.  

We sang some favorite Christmas songs and a few folks shared their 

favorite Christmas memories. 

It was a wonderful service to get us all in the Christmas spirit.  

Stepping Back in Time

A while back several of my Legacy club friends and I went to Ethridge, TN for the day.

 (ok, maybe I shouldn't be talking about my friends at the same time I am posting a hog picture)

We wanted to see what wares they were selling, see where they live, 

and enjoy some wonderful homemade goodies.  

We saw handmade baskets, furniture, canned fruits 

and vegetables of most every description.  

Little toys and trinkets carved out of wood.

We saw lots of windmills, barns, plain homes, and people contented with their simpler lifestyle.

Many clotheslines were hung with dark and blue pants and dresses.

The only bright colors on this clothesline were from bandanas.

How'd you like to have to get around town in this buggy?  

When walking around the properties we had to make sure we didn't step in any "exhaust".

All in all it was a wonderful day.  

We talked and laughed on the drive.

We ate a wonderful lunch at a local meat-and-3 restaurant called the Red Rooster Cafe.

We came home with our treasures - mostly fresh-baked goodies and breads.

We talked about what it would be like to live this lifestyle.  We decided while it would be fun for a short time, we really do like our appliances, cars, and computers.  

It wasn't for us but I can see how this uncomplicated and unhurried life - 

separated from the hustle and bustle of the modern world - 

could be a very serene and balanced way to live.

Getting Our Halloween On!

My friend Beth does Halloween up right.

She and her family love to throw Halloween parties and go all out.

No simple jack-0-lantern and a bowl of candy here. 

There is something really cool to look at everywhere you look.  

This year she added these white painted gourds that she bedazzled with black crystals.  

Very cool.

Her daughter, Harriet, had fun hosting several of her friends this past weekend.

Can you guess who Allison dressed up as?

Amy Farrah Fowler, neurobiologist, from The Big Bang Theory.

Although Ben wasn't dressed up he did enjoy helping with some of the 

"Minute to Win It" type games that they had lined up for the kids to play.

It was a rainy night so they were playing the games in the garage.

After dinner, the adults were inside watching the final game of the World Series.

Pretty exciting stuff, huh?  

It was a fun evening in a very creepy place!

Thanks Beth!

Splish Splash

Today we met up to swim at Mrs. Jennifer's pool.

She has a pool and no kids at home.  She has graciously asked us 

to come and swim anytime we want.  

Sweet!  

It was a wonderful sunny, but not terribly hot day.

Just right for playing and bobbing around in a pool.

Much fun was had by all.

Ben got really tan working at our church camp this summer.

He is always ready to keep the tan going.  

He has the ladies to impress, you know.

He and Allison had fun playing with each other.

Here he is demonstrating his lifesaving skills...

delivering his sister safely to the side of the pool.  

We started playing a diving game.

As they were getting ready to jump...

I would call out an animal...

This gave them just a split second to imitate the animal before they hit the water.  

They were pretty fun to watch.

 Between the goofy looks on their faces

 to the weird dives, 

it was pretty fun to watch.

About here is where I called out "Llama"!

Here is her llama.

About to be a very wet llama.

Splash!

 You can practically watch this kid grow this summer.

What a fun afternoon.