This weekend was spent mostly with grandkids and getting ready for my one woman show on Friday. With their Mom off to a military spouse blogger’s event and their Dad off to Reserve Military Duty…it was my turn to have the gkids all to myself! Always one of my favorite things.
We started off the weekend with Olivia’s long-awaited participation in her first horse show at the Clark County Fair Grounds. Her stable, Blue Moon, was well represented in the walker, trotter, jumper classes with students of all levels. This being her first show, she was a bit nervous and a lot excited. Freshly pressed riding jodphers, new riding boots, helmet and snazzy emblazoned jacket is impressive even on an 8-year-old! Her stable horse was one she’d practiced on quite a bit, and a bit smaller to assuage her trepidation at being thrown off a much larger horse a few weeks before. She gives new meaning to “getting back on the horse”! She rode in three events and garnered ribbons in all three….the last one her best showing with a second place. We are all proud of her and we sent lots of pictures to Mommy…who had to miss the event.
Thank Goodness her daddy was there to see her shine!
My son-in-law is a tolerant and giving man! He is a great daddy and a general “do good things” kind of guy. He has helped me around my house any number of times so I like to pay him back when I can by cooking his favorite meals. With a name like Volkman, you can guess that he likes German food…so as a bit of a thank you for all he does, I like to surprise him with some of his favorite dishes from time to time. So for Saturday night dinner (before leaving for his duty on Sunday) I made him a German Feast!
My dad’s mom’s maiden name was Warren…an English/German name and she taught me a few German dishes. I made Sauerbraten mit Spatzel (Roast Beef in Red Wine with Noodles) Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage and Apples, Green Beans with onion and bacon, and Apfel Strudel (Apple Strudel) for dessert! It was a hit. The kids loved the noodles with beef and gravy on top, and even ate a fair amount of veggies…surprising me by liking the cabbage dish! It turns out ruby-red and has a sort of sweet pickle taste. The Apple Strudel was served warm with whipped cream on top and was devoured in seconds!
But for me, the dessert came by way of the KU vs Ohio State in the Final Four match up! I am an avid Jayhawk Alum and follow this basketball team like some devotees do gurus! Worried that we were behind the whole game, I was ecstatic that KU pulled it out in the end to go on to the Big Dance. UK vs KU…epic matchup! Rock Chalk, Jayhawk, KU! Go Big Blue!
I’d say everyone went to bed with a happy tummy that night!
On Sunday, Dad left early in the morning for his two weeks of reservist duty (in Hawaii, poor guy!) and Mom was not scheduled to come home til after 5. What to do for entertainment? Why art projects of course! We decided to make Easter Baskets and Cards. So amid the construction paper, scissors and glue, we wove baskets, cut and stamped out eggs, birds, bunnies, flowers, and chicks to our heart’s content. I remember trying to do this with my own kids and worrying the whole time about making a mess and getting glue all over. Funny how with grandkids all those little worries seem trivial compared to the absolute pleasure of watching their imaginations go wild! Cooper, who had on his favorite rock and roll tee-shirt decided to make himself into a ninja bunny complete with buck teeth! Olivia was content to show me how they made pretty little round woven baskets at school and she made some beautiful collaged Easter cards for Mom and Dad. Not to be outdone, Cooper and I launched into weaving our giant Easter Basket project that, according to Cooper would “hold more candy”….that boy is always thinking!
I was almost sorry to see my daughter come home…but she was full of news of the conference, her plans for new blogs and her gratefulness for having such great leftovers in the fridge! It was a great weekend for all.
