Lily: (CRUSH CRUSH CRUSH!)
oops!
(laugh)

Jules was visiting my parents this weekend, so I got to spend a couple hours with her.

I love being an auntie.

I love this picture of Jules and her Grandpop.

(more…)

This holiday also had a trip to VA, where my all of my cousins were in for Christmas. At the instigation of Ben, we made the Lithuanian cookie Krusties (pronounced, at least by my family, christies)

The recipe is fairly simple:

Krusties
1/2 tsp baking powder
6 whole eggs
6 egg yolks
2 sticks butter
6 cups flour
1 shot whiskey/rum
pinch cardamom

1 large can crisco, for frying

Mix together all the ingredients in a mixer. Wrap in waxed paper or place in a plastic bag, and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to make, heat solid fat (Crisco or lard) in large frying pan. You’ll need an inch or two of hot oil.

You’ll also want to line most of your work areas with newspaper, or used wrapping paper, or anything else that absorbs oil and sugar, and makes clean up easier.

Find aprons for everyone–this can get messy! We rolled out our batches of dough on floured waxed paper.

(more…)

I had a nice Christmas, especially since I was unexpectedly able to spend part of it with Jules.

(more…)

This weekend we visited Jules, and I have to say I think I got some really good pictures. YAY!

Today would have been Grandmom’s 94th birthday.

Today I am going to eat apple pie (her favorite) and emulate her, by being kind to everyone, especially when I don’t want to.

I miss you Grandmom.

So Jules wasn’t the only one who had fun at the park Saturday.

Did I instigate any of this silliness?

Maybe. But not all of it. Some happened all on its own.

To escape the insanity of the WVU-LSU game, we went to Parkersburg to visit my brother and family.

I, of course, took a ridiculous number of pictures of Jules. I also learned a lesson, which is make sure you haven’t accidentally bumped your camera and changed a setting. What I thought were going to be some of my favorite pictures didn’t turn out.

But I can’t complain, because I did get some pictures I like very much.

with Jules!

(more…)

(more…)

(more…)

Yeah. I’m a geek. And an easily amused one at that.

UPDATED! Now with more charred goodness!
(more…)