Wednesday, November 7, 2018

There is Nothing Permanent Except Change

There are changes afoot here on the Kasner farm.  Our son Travis and his wife Kristi are in the midst of buying their own home and will be moving soon.  Happily only about a half hour away.  Our grandsons will stay in Corbett school for the foreseeable future, and will ride the bus home here so we'll still get to see a lot of them.  The new home is on one and three quarters of an acre, 4 bedrooms and a big shop.  The boys are thrilled that they will have their own bedrooms now.  Kristi is thrilled that she'll have a nice big kitchen of her own.  :-) And...


Above, meet Michael, our middle son's stepson from his previous marriage.  Michael wanted to come back to Oregon, so Shawn drove to below Los Angeles to pick him up now we have 8 people living in our farmhouse!  He's sleeping in a nook on the upstairs hallway for now.  When our son's family moves to their new home he will have the other bedroom upstairs.  Shawn will be getting his own home at some point.  But for now.. we've added another chair to the dinner table.  :-)

Yesterday my younger sister Denise hosted her own birthday luncheon at her house.  She's on the left, elder sister Roberta on the right.


Denise is a fabulous cook and prepared "Butter Chicken" in her Instant Pot, and served over rice, and Naan bread.  Her hors d'oeurvre was a mushroom Brie with rice crackers and big juicy green grapes.  YUM!  

Butter chicken or murgh makhani is a dish, originating from the Indian subcontinent, of chicken in a mildly spiced tomato sauce.


Shirley's gift was this lovely etched glass serving tray which she had added these delicious dessert bites.  These are called "Love Bites" by Carnie Wilson.  Delicious little cheesecakes, brownies and cakes.  YUM!


I gave my sister a Willow Candle by Park Hill Collections.  I have one that the scent is "Corner Bakery" which I loooove.  I wanted one of those but the shop was out of that scent, so I got her the "Bundled Evergreen" scent which is a light pine scent.


Dayle and I were watching Good Eats by Alton Brown on the Food channel and he was making the ultimate pecan pie, he used this English "Golden Syrup" instead of our light corn syrup my mom used, so I ordered this on Amazon and Dayle and I are going to try to make one.  I'll make the crust while he puts the filling together.  :-)


The mailman brought the above and also this bracelet below.  I support 4Ocean - for each bracelet you buy they pull one pound of trash from oceans around the world.  The beads are made from glass recycled from bottles and other glass pulled out of the seas - the cord is made from recycled fishing line and plastics also removed.  I try to buy one or so a month - I want a whole rainbow of them.  I also give them as gifts.  My 2 sisters and Shirley all wear them 24/7.  :-)


And so.. the election was yesterday.  Progressives such as myself hoped for a more thorough victory for a positive change.  But we DID win the House of Representatives!  PLUS, many new women were elected of different ethnicities which I'm pleased about.  I was disappointed that Beto O'Rourke of Texas and Stacey Abrams of Georgia lost their Senate run.  Unfortunately the Republican male winner of the Georgia election was also in charge of over-seeing the election and he did some terrible meddling with the election which makes me angry.

But there is hope!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

18 comments:

  1. Your sister's birthday luncheon looks delicious and what nice gifts! I am going to check our your ocean bracelets I know a couple of people who would love them and how they are made. Like you, I was hoping for a bigger change in our political climate, but small steps forward are better than none, right?

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  2. what a fun birthday lunch. Those little desert bites look delicious and I really like the candle that you gave Denise. Your house is going to be very empty someday soon isn’t it? Methinks you’re going to really miss Kristi and everything she does around there won’t you? At least everyone will still be close by. I hope you have a great day. The sun finally came out here this afternoon for a little while. Blessings, Betsy

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  3. Gosh things are changing for you Teresa, but that is life. I'm glad your son and Kristi will not be too far away and you will still see your grandsons a lot!
    The birthday eats looked delicious and such lovely gifts. Hugs Anne x

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  4. You certainly have a house full right now and I bet it will be much quieter when the family moves. At least you will still get to see them regularly which will be lovely for you all. Happy Birthday to your sister. Butter chicken is a regular in our house. xx Susan

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  5. You have a welcoming home to have all those residents, Teresa. That's wonderful. I know you will miss having the grands around all the time, but you must be happy for them to get a place of their own. The pecan pie sounds great! Lovely celebration for your sister. I'm with you about the election, but trying to look on the bright side. ♥

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  6. I continue to pray for blessings for you and yours and me and mine, our nation and world...so many challenges and changes. A few years ago I made Flap Jacks [oat bars] with the brand of syrup you purchased and hope you and Dayle have good results making your pie. Happy Birthday to Denise! xx

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  7. Wow Teresa change is certainly happening at yours but everything sounds very positive. I smiled to see Golden syrup on your table...that's a brand which has not changed from my childhood and is still on every supermarket shelf here. Your meal looked great fun. Hugs xxx

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  8. Such good news that your son and his family are now in a position to buy their own home. Although I am sure they will be greatly missed. We use that syrup all the time it is quite a versatile addition for all sorts of sweet treats. Love the bracelet.

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  9. I guess there are many many houses in the UK with a tin of golden syrup just like that in the cupboard. It's been in the same tin forever( well a long time!)

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  10. There can never be too many chairs at a table. I envy you the closeness of your family .

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  11. I told myself before the election that winning the House would be enough. So that happened, but I confess, I hoped for more. But, I take heart in the fact of how close those gubernatorial elections were. Also, even more heartening, the diversity in new office holders is unprecedented. But the best takeaway was the outstanding number of voters! Especially the young folks!

    Sounds like some new and exciting changes in your world! I know you'll miss your son and his family.

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  12. What a busy household! Congrats to Travis & Kristi on their new house. I know you will miss them (and all their help!!), but so nice that they will be close by and you will still see the boys frequently. Your sister's birthday luncheon looks delicious Teresa!! Happy birthday to Denise!

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  13. How wonderful that your son and fabulous daughter in law will be very nearby. I so wish My Allison lived nearby. For now, we are thrilled Zach is in reach of a hour plus drive.
    i want all those love bites!!!

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  14. I am a biased Brit, but I prefer golden syrup to corn any day. Out of the lion came forth sweetness.

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  15. I'm glad your son and daughter in law and family are getting their own house, and not far away! I'm sure they are excited. And another person at your table...fun too! I'm excited for thanksgiving as our kids and grandchildren will be here! aw....the instapot food! I need to use mine again. I didn't use it much over the summer though. Looks like your sisters had a good time together! Candles...always soft scent for me. Nice bracelets too! Take care, x/o

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  16. it must be one big happy family there with all your family guests, how lovely!. Thats just how i think of a farmhouse in my mind. the candle sounded heavenly, oooh that meal and sweet treats. The Lyles golden syrup tin ive grown up with (loved that they've kept the tin traditional...my mother and grandmother made syrup pudding with it! oh my! heavenly. Actually, in the attic I found some tins id washed and kept, one tin has a christmas pud on the front. lovely posting as always x

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  17. How wonderful that your son's family have found a house and that your oldest grandson is living with you for a bit. I bet the little ones, who aren't that little anymore are enjoying him so much. You have such a welcoming home no wonder they all want to live with you.

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  18. Lots of changes in your family - exciting but hopefully not overwhelming. We love butter chicken, a firm favourite when we go out for an Indian meal. I have never cooked it myself (but we do cook a lot of different curries). I like my butter chicken with peswari nan, a sweet version of the plain nan. I am so hungry! x

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