December 2023

 

The Rausch boys at home on Christmas Day--little Isaac was sick.  I divided the Christmas food and sent them a care package.  Not the happiest Christmas surprise but ended up sweet anyway. We finally gathered altogether for our gift exchange on New Year's Day.  

This crew spent the day with us and though we missed the cousins and their mom and dad, we had a sweet time.  The chocolate cake in the photo above was not served for our Christmas, but was taken to a gluten intolerant friend...it is a flourless chocolate cake.  I included the photo because it is pretty.  Wonder what it tasted like???

Bekah put together her Lego set with me standing by as an observer.  Bottom are the girls' gifts they received at their home--a ball pit for Baby K and a set of cushions that can be a fort, a fence, a couch or anything she can think of for Bekah.  Neato!!!  

Precious Bekah photos taken one day when she was with us after school.  She gave great concentration to setting the Christmas village up just right and then decorated the little tree.  She and Poppy worked on a Christmas I-spy book.  

Lower left--I watched Kathryn a couple of hours one day during December.  I would rock her to sleep and then she would not let me lay her down.  Very sweet time with her except--my shoulder hurt a little.  Worth it.  

I turned 70 this month.  Can't believe it.  I set up lighting just right and took the selfie bottom center the morning of my birthday.  Melinda and fam gave me red gloves and a scarf that I love!  And she always makes me that delicious strawberry cheesecake pictured above.  It was a wonderful evening.  SO blessed.  

Nicole had a birthday this month.  She received, among other things, a manure fork and a wheelbarrow and was perfectly happy!!!!!  We love her.  

Jim and Myrna are our oldest and dearest friends.  We love them dearly!  So glad to have this good photo of the four of us taken New Year's Eve.  

December 2023

 

December 1^st—Spent the day in the Burlington ER with John, Dx umbilical hernia with Dr. Jarvis recommended immediate surgery.  There were no hospital beds available anywhere in surrounding areas and no surgeon onsite at Burlington. They ended up deciding he was safe to send home.  Meantime, back at the ranch—our furnace went out.  Jonathan, the man with connections, called his Garnett friend the furnace guy who delivered the needed part to Nicole, who was at work.  Jonathan then came over and repaired the furnace. 

December 2^nd—John is ok… I made a meal for Diana and sent roast and vegetables to Jonathan and Nicole.  

December 3^rd—Stewed 2 chickens, put 6 quarts broth in freezer.  Jonathan, Bekah, and Brian did chores.  

December 4^th —(Monday) Met with Dr. Jarvice. Appointment with surgeon scheduled for this coming Thursday.  Met with Remington Pinnick re our umbrella insurance policy.  

December 5^th—Made and froze a layered snickerdoodle cake for Nicole’s birthday. Daniel has Covid—all their family except for Isaac are sick.  

December 6^th—Made chicken soup for Rausch family. Finished a photo album for Amy’s Christmas present and wrapped Jarvis gifts.  Jon combined on the hill.  

December 7^th—Appointment with Dr. Todd Brown, surgeon, for John’s umbilical hernia.  

December 8^th—We went to Burlington for my driver’s license renewal this morning.  Foggy.  Picked up a deli lunch from Hoovers. Bekah here after school. <3

December 9^th—Enjoyed a vegetable soup supper with Jon and Nic for Nicole’s birthday.  Rausch family still have Covid.  

December 10^th—Rest day.  Chiefs lost.  

December 11^th—Stewed two chickens. Hung Christmas stockings.  

December 12^th—Haylee here. We went to Burlington for John’s pre-surgery EKG.  Baby K has a fever.  

December 13^th—To Emporia for a grocery pickup and Fanestils for gifts for Daniel, Jim & Myrna, and Curtis and Jole who have helped with chores sinces John’s dx.  Jonathan to Iowa.  Now Nicole is running a fever too.  

December 14^th—Now Bekah has the virus.  Took them a care package.  Made Christmas meatballs and vegetable soup for the freezer.  

December 15^th—Got the grands’ presents wrapped. It took all day! John made ginger snaps.  

December 16^th—Mostly finished wrapping gifts. Baby K to doctor—pink ears. John made two batches party mix and we browned the sausage for our Christmas brunch and froze.  

December 17^th—Made and froze noodles, punch base, and 1 dozen sliders. Chiefs won.  

December 18^th—To Emporia for a grocery pickup, ate Chinese.  

December 19^th—Made chicken soup. Delivered Christmas presents to Jole and Curtis and Myrna and Jim.  

December 20^th—John’s surgery day for umbilical hernia.  Melinda went with us as a driver and intercessor, thank the good Lord, I about went down as we checked in (!).  Stressed.  All went well, home by noon.  

December 21^st—John doing well PTL.  Work day but then rested in the afternoon.  

December 22^nd—My 70^th birthday.  Wonderful family gathering.  

December 23^rd —and 24^th--Working to get ready for Christmas. 

December 25^th—Isaac is sick, Rausch family did not come over.  So I split the food and sent them corn pancakes, hot spiced fruit, and monkey bread.  Very sad but sweet lowkey day with the Borns.  Didn’t open gifts, will meet on January 1 to do that.  

December 27^th—made party mix, chili, and fudge.  Ran to the Dollar Store.  

December 28^th—watched Baby K while Jon did chores.  She went to sleep but I couldn’t lay her down!! Made fruit cups.  

December 30^th—getting ready for gatherings

December 31^st—New Year’s Eve with Jim and Myrna, our best friends. 

November, 2023

 

Rebekah wrote a prayer for Aunt Mindy's birthday:  Dear Lord, please let my hole family have save travles to there homes. and ant Mindy have a good birthday too and Lord just let everyone that dose not know you Lord let them know you. We are soo tanful for Ant Mindy. God Bless Ant Mindy, unkle Brine, Isik, Logen, Daniel, me, and mom, DaD, Grammy and Poppy! Kathryn! Amen

November

1^st—3 classmates free to come to coffee; Myrna, Kathy L., and Diana came over to visit.  

2^nd—Rebekah day! Daniel down with a cold. Nicole at work today. I made a little pan of chicken enchiladas for Nic and Bekah to have for supper; Jonathan is in Iowa.  

3^rd—Baked and froze 4 roasts, cooked stew meat for soup. Jonathan and John finished combining Harshman’s.

4^th—Made and froze vegetable soup. Jon and John combining on highway. 

5^th—Delivered roast dinner to Diana. She is having cancer treatments.  John combining. 

6^th—annual doctor appointment in Topeka.  The exam caused problems, will search for a new doctor before next year’s appointment.  

7^th—Kathryn day. Melinda took care of her at their house, but I brought lunch and held the baby.  My low stamina and arthritic pain don't allow me to carry Baby K around all day, but I can be a support.  

8^th—Migraine began with aura and blind spot. Logan and Isaac ame out for an hour during Daniel’s scholar bowl.  

9^th—I worked 8 hours on Irma’s slideshow. Stewed a chicken. The combine broke down.  

10^th & 11^th—I worked all day on slideshow both these days, John and Brian got the combine going. 

13^th—To Melinda’s with Rebekah after school.  

14^th—Took chicken rice soup to Diana.

15^th—Nic flew to Tuscon, Arizona

16^th—Picked Bekah up from school, made chicken salad and had Jonathan and Bekah to supper.  Prepared 3 turkey breasts and froze them for Thanksgiving.

17^th—Caught Isaac’s sore throat virus.  Picked Bekah up—crafts! Puzzle! 

18^th—Postponed Mel’s bday dinner til tomorrow-still not feeling well from the sore throat virusl Wearing mask and gloves, I made and froze Thanksgiving dressing & mashed potatoes.  

19^th—Mel’s birthday celebration! Nicole flew back from Arizona.

20^th—Put rolls and a small turkey with broth in freezer.  Baby K has pinkeye!  

21^st—More Thanksgiving day prep—set up tables, froze sweet potato casserole. 

22^nd—All day spent on Thanksgiving prep.

23^rd—Rebekah’s 8^th birthday!  Thanksgiving! Beautiful day for an after dinner walk.  Wonderful time together.  

24^th—Recup day, took down fall décor.

25^th—Put up the little Christmas tree much to everyone’s dismay, next year will go back to the full sized one.  It snowed about 4 inches today!  

26^th—Probably the very last family dinner at Johnnie and Irma’s house for Johnnie’s 97^th birthday.  

27^th—Picked Rebekah up. Jonathan and Nicole bought a vet table in KC.  Had boys over and made cookies.  

28^th—Got most of the Christmas presents ordered.  

October 2023

 

October, 2023

1^st—Nicole preg-checked cattle then we had a pizza supper. I watched the girls awhile. 

2^nd—Took Bekah to school and picked her up. Irma had a cancerous tumor removed, is home tonight. 

3^rd—John took cattle to sale and planted rye. I began sorting through Irma’s photos (3 laundry sized boxes) preparing to make a slideshow for her

4^th—Made big pot of chicken noodle soup and delivered some to Brian and Melinda and to Johnnie and Irma.  John picked up groceries. 

5^th—Made butterscotch bars, took a walk. 

6^th—prepped for a family meal for tomorrow night. Got Johnnie’s childhood photo album scanned and shared with family members. 

7^th—had all our kids and grands to supper. Nic preg-checked cattle. We had the first pot of vegetable soup of the season. Saw a Starlink train and Isaac spotted a shooting star.  

8^th—Prayer day for family. Watched the Chiefs…they won!  

10^th—Sorted photos and made no-bakes. John took two loads of cattle to Emporia.

11^th—Had Myrna and Diana out for coffee.

12^th—Picked Bekah up from school

13^th—Made chili for Sunday. Went to HS football game and watched Bekah cheer! 

14^th—Made a vegie tray and fruit platter for Sunday.  Not feeling well.  

15^th—Tried and failed to move airport cattle. Had everyone over for a frito pie supper.  

16^th—Took Bekah to school.  Have had a 3 day stomach upset.  Rested.  

17^th--Made lemon bars to have in freezer—Jon’s favorite and it is his birthday month.  

18^th—John took a load of cattle to Emporia. Had Linnie and Marilyn over for coffee.

19^th—Watched Lo & I awhile this morning and Baby K this afternoon during P/T conferences

20^th—made orange jello salad, layered salad, and corn casserole for tomorrow night. Jon and John worked late on combine.

21^st—had Isaac and Jonathan’s b-day celebration here—we had sweet & sour pork loin and potato casserole.  

22^nd—John combined Jim’s.  Chief’s won!  

23^rd—stomach upset. Took Bekah to school and picked her up after. Guys combined 70 acres.  

25^th—to McPherson in driving rain to eye doctor, passed 20/15 vision test!!!  Improvement!!

26^th—made a big batch of Texas style chili and 2 dozen cinnamon rolls for the freezer.  We had over five inches of rain yesterday! 

27^th—sorted photos all day, uploaded Grandma Ellen’s family’s photos to Shutterfly

28^th—more rain.  We’ve had over 6 inches altogether. I worked at home doing housework and sorting photos, feeling despair over EVER getting done!  

29^th—Worked on Johnnie’s slideshow all day and then prepped for Mel and family to spend the night—their sewer is clogged.  They ended out not coming over, got it unclogged.  

30^th—Bekah day—got her off to school, picked her up after, and played with cousins.  

31^st—took chili and cinnamon rolls to Mel’s and had a fun Halloween.  

September 2023

 

Lower left--Isaac won the Coffey County tractor pedal pull at the county fair this year and here he is competing at state level...and enoying an ice cream cone after.  Upper left--a cute couple, and Baby K with her favorite spoon.  Right--Bekah took us to Grandparents' day at the community center and was a perfect little hostess, leading us around and helping us when we didn't know what to do! 

All 11 of us gathered at the Rausch House for the Chief's football game on the 7th...they lost!!  

Upper left--I have such fond memories of my favorite cookie at Bible School when I was a child--I remember the lady who made and served them laughing that such an easy cookie was my favorite.  Bottom left, my favorite meal from Panda Express. 

We celebrated Brian's birthday on the 24th.  He is a blessing to our family.  

Upper left--there's our Logan receiving a signed baseball from famous Royals player Bobby Witt!  Bottom left--a beautiful sunflower painted by our Daniel.  Lower right--Rebekah still wants me to keep the Calico Critters available for play so I ordered some new lighting for the dollhouse!  

September

1st--Took bday gift to Myrna. Had phone convo with Diana. We went to Daniel’s FB game at Lyndon

2nd—Watched Logan’s FB game. Jon and girls came to lunch

3rd Labor Day weekend supper of chicken pie with our kids and grands. Volleyball and football in the front yard. Pretty sunset. 

5th—Took Bekah to school, picked her up at the end of the day and down to the cousins to play. 

6th—I stewed two chickens and made chicken pie for Amy and crew—they are recovering from Covid. John and on combining corn—only 32 bushel per acre 

7th—We watched the Chief’s game at Brian and Melinda’s—they lost! 

8th—Attended the Grandparents’ Breakfast at the Community Center with sweet Rebekah.

9th—Cooked for the freezer in my ongoing attempt to have a meal for 10 and a meal for 5 in the freezer at all times

11th—An inch of rain! Morning and after school time with Bekah, played with cousins after school.  

12th—Logan and Isaac came out and we made monster cookies! Melinda took Daniel to the doctor—staph infection in his ear.  

13th—Rest day for me, John combining corn

14th—Irma asked me to do slideshows for her and Johnnie like I did for my mom. Began gathering and sorting photos

15th –Grocery pickup

16th—Worked until 2 am on Johnnie’s slideshow

17th—Jon and Nic came for supper

18th—Bone density test in Emporia, I have osteopenia but not osteoporosis 

19th—Rausch family to Royals game, Logan interviewed Nick Loftin as a Capitol Federal Junior Broadcaster, and got a signed baseball from Bobby Witt!!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PP-m2Z4140

20th—Grilled a pack of chicken breasts, marinated and baked a brisket—put all in freezer!  

22nd—John broke the feederhouse chain on the combine yesterday…it rained ½” today. 

23rd—Daniel mowed our lawn, I made cinnamon rolls, John went with Melinda to Burlington for Isaac’s game. I made a lovely layered salad for tomorrow’s family meal.  

24th—Brisket supper for Brian’s birthday! 

25th—Melinda and I watched Kathryn today. I picked Bekah up after school.

26th—rest day

27th—John dam inspection with Watershed board, Melinda and I watched Kathryn, Rebekah got braces! 

28th—flu shots, Bekah after school.  

29th—Picked Bekah up after school, went to cousins to play

30th—baked a pork loin, made an apple crisp, prepped a salad, made 3 pitchers of brewed iced tea.  John preparing to plant rye.  

August, 2023

 

I painted the walls, woodwork, and door and gave the back porch a good cleaning.  

Kathryn was so funny here.  She spied me and thought I might advance to take her from her Daddy's arms.  She carefully squnched down so as to hide from me, eyes only showing.  

Lots of cooking this month, some in preparation for Jonathan and Nicole's moving days on August 4 and 5...home to Lebo!  I served sloppy joes and cookies for the movers for the noon meal on the fourth, walking tacos for supper, and sent a sweet and sour pork loin over for their supper the next evening.  Such a blessing to have both our kids' families within ten minutes of us!  

I cleaned and painted the back porch on the 10th--so nice to have that done.  We made room for our old stove to live back there so when the new range comes I will have two big ovens plus the two small ovens when I cook for family meals!!  

Daniel was so much help to us this summer, helping John with haying and with jobs like helping to carry our old air conditioner out and the new one up the stairs for John to install.  I put up some zucchini relish, made chicken pot pie, an apple cake, meatballs, and chicken soup for Johnnie, Irma, and Amy who all had Covid toward the end of the month.  Johnnie was hospitalized for a day with it.  

Horrible heat wave beginning August 19 when the thermometor said 114.4 in the afternoon.  The heat was just brutal the week of the 20th.  

On August 19 about 9:10 pm I saw a Starlink satellite train moving southwest to northeast--just happened to be outside turning off the hydrant we'd had on watering our tomatoes.