April 22, 2011
This is the date chosen for our daughter and her fiance's wedding.....Good Friday.....Ritzywife is happy!!
The daughter wants just a simple outdoor ceremony.  She has her dress bought, and it is beautiful..
She will  make a beautiful bride....just a Mother's observation ;-)
I have been trying out new recipes again, now that the holiday's  have passed by.  One is a  Mexican chili sauce (pictured) that I found online.  It was a hit with the family.  I believe it is the first "authentic" tasting Mexican dish I have made in a long time.  It is delicious!!!!!

Made the homemade bean/cheese burritos to go with the sauce.  The Mexican rice is the "Knorr" brand.  I had never tried this brand before but it turned out wonderful.  Taste and texture were just right.
Even made homemade sopapillas for dessert.  YUMM!!!!
The whole family loved the food!!!  That doesn't happen often when Ritzywife tries out a new recipe.  All I can say is--"this one is a keeper"......
I am going to start a pot of soup/stew for dinner tonight.   All I can hope for is that it turns out like "Papa's", my Dad's.  The daughter thinks her Papa is the ONLY one who knows how to make good soup.  Every time I make mine, all I hear is "this doesn't taste like Papa's"......I am thinking about asking Papa to stop and make the soup for me, hehe!!!
Gotta go get busy....Ritzywife out...............

Here we are into January and the time just keeps flying by.  Well, the daughter and boyfriend have set a date for their wedding......April 22, 2011.  Gee, (we/she, are/is) going to have to get with it.   It is fun and frustrating watching her think and talk about what she wants.  I am staying out of this until my opinion is asked for, hehe!!!
She wants a very simple ceremony with just a few people present. 
I am STILL waiting on that snow........Looks like it's gonna turn colder in a few days.   Maybe I'll get my wish soon.  Ritzy still thinks I am nuts for wanting the white stuff......but I don't care cause I love it!!!!
I have all my Christmas decorations put away for another year.  It's always sad to see them come down and get put away.  I love the Christmas season and all that is included.......always have......and probably always will....
It has been pretty busy around here.  The days are getting longer.......only by seconds, but they ARE getting longer.  Looking forward to Spring and getting my "gear" ready to fish for the crappie that come into the creek nearby the house.  Can hardly wait!!!!!!!
That's about all I have for now.......Ritzywife out.....................

What is going on around here......I sit here behaving myself and my two supposedly "mature" adult kids are treating and talking to me like I have "ticked" them off.  I don't know what I have done.... If they want to act like that, they can go somewhere else to do it.  No room for that kind of attitude in Ritzywife's home....
Ritzy and I have been more than generous to our kids, and sometimes I don't think they even realize what we have done and gone thru for them.  Guess that is one of those "Wait till you have your own kids" experiences...
I love my kids, but they sure can be "pills" sometimes..
Yeah, I know Ritzy and I are partly to blame because we are still letting them live at home.  But I would never kick them out and anyone who knows me  that is not an arguable point... So, Don't go there!!!
I'll just try to be patient and let everyone "chill".........
Poor Ritzy is dealing with coughing and sneezing and being congested.  He sounds terrible.   Get this, he doesn't understand why I don't want him to kiss me or get close for a hug, DUH......I do not want that nasty little bug going around!!!  I don't have time for it!
I WANT SOME SNOW!!!!!!!!  I don't know if we will ever get any.   Looks like the rest of the U.S. is getting all of it.   Hey, don't forget us here in Oklahoma!!!!!
Well, I gotta go finish getting supper ready......Ritzywife out...................

I would love to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas!!!!  I hope everyone had a wonderful day.  We started out the day going to my mom & dad's.  After opening gifts everyone hung around until lunch time.  After eating all  that GOOD food Ritzy and I came home to take a nap and rest a bit.  Went back to Granny's for dinner at 5.  After returning home, the daughter, her boyfriend, the son, Ritzy and I opened our gifts.  It's just easier on everyone if we wait until Christmas night.  I have found that I  kind of like it that way !!  Well earlier in the week I had wrapped 2 gifts that the daughter's boyfriend had gotten her and I assumed that was it.
But.......while at Granny's, she and the boyfriend returned from visiting his family and she came in and went to the bathroom.  After coming out we started talking and I noticed something on her hand.  I asked her to show it to me and my sister even asked what it was and when she told us -  my mom, my sister and I just started crying.  It was an engagement ring!!!!!!! YIPPEE!!!!!!!!
That boyfriend asked her while driving down the highway on the way back home........he always said he was going to be different about it and sure enough it was different allright!
I am so happy, not only for her and her guy, but just happy as a Mother knowing her daughter has found the love of her life and now they are engaged to be married.........soon I hope ;-)
We didn't have any snow this Christmas season, but I guess I will get over it.  I guess we had enough last year to last a few Christmases...........it is cold, though!!!!
Everyone seemed to be happy with what they received.  As stated before, our main christmas gift was our trip to Branson.  This was a very good year for us.  A lot of memories and good times.......not necessarily "things".  Those memories can't be taken away and will last a lot longer than any gift.
Now it's time to get ready for 2011.  I can't believe a year can go by so fast. 
We have church tomorrow and I had better get to bed to get some rest.  I woke up at 4 this morning and didn't fall back asleep til almost 6 then got up a little after 7.  Even tho I had that nap, I am still getting sleepy.  Gotta be ready to teach my class and play that piano.....
That being said....Ritzywife is out........

A couple days ago we all returned from Branson.  We had all decided to take a trip to Branson and Silver Dollar City for Christmas instead of buying gifts this year.  Well, it was a great idea.  We had a wonderful time.  The first day  we were there (which was Sunday) was the only day Silver Dollar City was open while we would be in Branson.  We checked into our hotel and then went to the park.  Did I mention it was COLD!!!!!!  An arctic front had come thru for some of the coldest weather of the season.  Sunday nite while watching the parade and looking at all the Christmas lights at Silver Dollar City the temperature was about 17 degrees with a NW wind blowing at 20-25 mph.   THAT'S COLD!!!!!   But, you know what----it felt great sitting there waiting for the light show and parade and drinking some hot cappuccino.  (I will post a picture when this darned Internet speeds up.)
Ritzy and I did our own running around while the kids did what they wanted some of the time, but we were all together most of the time.  It was sad to see the time come to an end, but at the same time we were glad to be headed back home. 
Wednesday, I took my truck to have some maintenance work done and was running late so I picked up a hamburger around 2:30 or so.  By 4 pm I was NOT feeling well at all.  I was nauseated and just not feeling good.  By 5 I was chilling and could not get warm.  So, I took my bath and by 6pm I was in bed with the electric blanket turned on High.  I guess I got some food poisoning by eating that hamburger.  Let's just say it was not fun.  Yesterday I was only able to eat toast and crackers and drink some flavored water.  The daughter's boyfriend asked why I wasn't eating last night and I told him that just the thought of food made me sick.  I am now up at 1:30 on Friday morning eating some more crackers and drinking water.  Maybe later today I will feel like eating again.  
I still have some things to get finished before Christmas.  One thing is that family calendar I make every year.  The only thing holding me back is we have a nephew and niece expecting their second child anytime.  My sister-in-law (the Nana) called yesterday and said that the niece found out during her check-up that she was dilated to 2 cm already.  So, here I am waiting on that baby to get with it  so I can finish the calendar ;-)
I hope to get to feeling better soon, because there are some goodies I like to make for the Christmas season........
Well, I am starting to feel sleepy again, with that Ritzywife is out...................

I can hardly believe it is Thanksgiving .  I just finished baking 2 pumpkin pies for Granny's.  I tried a new recipe this year, saw it in the newspaper - Paula Deen's recipe, I figured if it came from her I couldn't go wrong.  I had some leftover filling so I baked it in a small dish.  As I post this, I am trying that filling out on some warmed up sourdough cinnamon rolls....Mmmm.....yummy.  I think they will like the pies ;-)
Well, ususally Thanksgiving weather in Oklahoma is kind of mild, mostly in the 50's - 60's  range......but not this year.  We are under a Winter Weather Advisory.  It is 31 degrees outside with a small chance of precip.
Makes me think back to our first day of Spring........we had one of the biggest snows recorded.    Have heard a lot of speculation about our Winter weather this year, they are calling for normal snowfall, but more ice.  That call for more ice makes me think back to 2007 and the ice storm we experienced while Ritzy was deployed with the Oklahoma National Guard.  No thank you very much!!!   At least this time I would be a little more prepared......Ritzy would be home, and I have that generator. 

Oh yeah, today is Ritzy's birthday.  Happy Birthday Ritzy!!!!!!    He catches up with me in age....at least til March, hehe!!
This cold I have been dealing with is hopefully on the downhill side.  This  coughing has about "ate my lunch", and I am ready for it to be over.  Also, I have kept Kleenex in business....  I sure hope I can taste that turkey and all the trimmings today.......if not, I am not gonna be very happy ;-)
The daughter and boyfriend are eating Thanksgiving lunch with his family in Joplin.   They will be here this evening to eat leftovers at Granny's.  I am gonna miss having them here, but it's ok.  I have told my kids that I understand if they have to be somewhere else on the holidays.  She already sent me a "text message" with her Thanksgiving wishes.   Actually, when I received it, I couldn't believe she was already up, haha!!  She's gonna get me for that one.....
I went  to Tulsa yesterday to help her box up a few things.  It looks like they will be moving their belongings to their house on Sunday.  What they need while staying here for a few weeks will be brought here.  As I said before, they don't want to move in the house till the floors are re-done.
I just want to tell everyone to go spend time with your loved ones if possible and have a great holiday!  Ritzywife out.............. 




 

Yeah, that is what I would like to know.  As I stated in my last post, I had "offended" my daughter and boyfriend, without meaning to of course all the while trying to think of them.  We got that all worked out and everything is cool.........but, here comes something else from a totally unexpected direction.....Sunday we observed the Lord's Supper at our church.  Well. for the last 7-8 years Ritzywife has been responsible for getting everything ready for that, only because no one else would.  No one said any different this time. Our attendence on Sunday night is really low (about 20).  So instead of filling 2 holders of grape juice and 2 plates of bread I only did one of each and thought if we all (small group, remember) sat together it would be easier on the deacons to serve.  Besides, there were only 3 present that night.  As we dismissed Church Training and proceeded to the sanctuary I suggested to a couple of the couples present that it might be easier if we all sat together.  One of the women spouted off--Well, what if we don't want to sit over there with you----which, really shouldn't have surprised me considering the source.  I just said to just sit where you want then......Another couple came in and noticed that everyone was sitting on the same side and said something and Barbara, the one who spouted off said "Cheryl, told us we HAD to sit over here.  I was up at the piano at the time hearing all of this complaining about sitting.....(good grief people, get over it) I could not believe it!!!   Well, here comes the preacher and his family and guess what----everyone started telling them that I was telling everyone where to sit. By this time I had just about had enough and was ready to walk out.  We finished our song and I went to sit by my Mom . Then, the preacher asked what was going on with everyone seated together and I raised my hand and said I would tell him.  I proceeded to tell him that we all knew there would only be a few there so I only filled one tray of juice and one plate of bread.  I was trying to make it easy on the ones serving.   Ritzy and Dad ( I thought, were going to be serving).  NOT!!!!!!  Well,  While telling him this , the ones complaining really started spouting things off about me saying that Cheryl said this or Cheryl made us do this.  All lies.... All I did was suggest that it might be easier if we just all sat as a group.  I turned at one point and said " I am about ready to leave",   they may have thought I was joking but I was dead serious.  I had just about had enough of this.  We were in church, people!!!!!     It seems the preacher forgot to mention that he was going to serve everyone that night.   I was almost in tears at this time and VERY close to getting my things and walking out.  All I tried to do was make things easier on the ones having to do the work.  Well, that was not the end of it, forward to last night at home.  The daughter and boyfriend came back for a great-neice's birthday.  She turned 2.  After the party we were all at the house and the daughter brought up the subject that her gas tank was on E and it was 15 miles to the nearest gas station.  I looked at her and was telling her how dangerous that was .  Not only for her truck, but for her in general.  I told them to put some gas (that Ritzy had in the garage) in her truck before leaving.  Anyways, I was trying to explain to her to always have gas in  her truck.  You never know what could come up.  Well, the son and boyfriend were playing XBOX all this time and the son chimed in and told me to just keep my thoughts to myself because what I had to say didn't matter because they are gonna do  what they want.  Again, all I was trying to do was offer some helpful advice.  I simply closed my laptop, got up and proceeded to my bedroom.   Then the son made another comment about me leaving.  I turned (almost in tears again) and told him that this was the 3rd time in a week I had tried to help someone and dang near got my head bit off-----I was thru!!!!!    I then went to my room and sat for a while.
After a few minutes, the daughter knocked on the door and came in.  I told her that I was not trying to boss her around and that she would have NO IDEA what I was going thru until she had a son or daughter with a vehicle and out on their own. 
When I was younger, I would often wonder why some older people were so cynical and it would seem like they didn't care.  Well,  I am beginning to see why.......It would be so easy to just say "That's it, I've had enough of this"  and never try to help again.  But, I know me and I will probably never quit trying---and probably keep getting hurt......when it comes to my family.  As for church, I have always stepped in to do whatever needed to be  done, but I am now going to wait til I am asked to to a job.  It's time for someone else to do thier job!!!
That being said........Ritzywife is out.......................