Friday Night Ritual: Pioneer Macaroni and Cheese

Reflecting back on my younger days Friday night meant meeting friends after work, making plans to see a movie, or having a game night at somebody's house.
Friday night is different now and it is just the way I like it. I usually stay a bit later in my classroom Friday to reorganize after a busy week and frontload the upcoming week. When I arrive home I am ready to regroup and rest. Friday night dinner at our house is a quiet affair. We gather to eat outside front of the fire or catch the last evening light on the deck. Now more of these Friday night meals will be inside at the table.
  Somewhere along the way homemade Macaroni and Cheese became a ritual. I think this happened mostly because it is a favorite dish of JEJ. I usually have the ingredients available and it is very easy.
JEJ also reminded me last night that "it is such a comfort food". Who doesn't crave comfort food after busy week. Last night I added a green salad with blue cheese dressing and I was in comfort food heaven.

 I have experimented recently with a variety of cheeses that I happen to have in the refrigerator. Last night it was cheddar, a bit of cream cheese, and shredded parmeson on top.  On another recent Friday I used Pepper Jack cheese which made it very yummy. The basic recipe is the old favorite from the original Betty Crocker cookbook. I have adjusted the amount of macaroni and make other adjustments along the way.

Looking at the page from my Grandma Woolum's cookbook, I think we have both have left a few food spots on this page.

The Yurt of Martin Creek

What does this look like to you? Last week-end I thought it looked like a very large wrapped hot water tank .  JEJ came up with a great idea to wrap our gazebo with the side material from the portable carport. It is amazing how warm it is inside.

Next he took a few blankets and hung them up inside, moved in more chairs, built a fire, and it was very cozy.

Shelby had to agree as she tried out the loveseat.  I liked my friend SueDean's suggestion of calling it our own personal yurt.  We now look forward to enjoying the warmth in the Yurt of Martin Creek.

God's Country Part 2

 JEJ took the dogs for a hike to Lake Ellen today. The weather was perfect for catching the colors of autumn, reflecting sun on the water,

and some peace and quiet. JEJ said he was the only person there.

The dogs loved their quality time at the lake.

Yes, I think he found God's Country Part 2 today.

God's Country

I gave the Sibling Assignment this week: "What do you consider 'God's Country' and why? Raymond Pert's will be here and Silver Valley Girl's will be here.

God's Country

–noun

1.	an area or region supposed to be favored by God, esp. a naturally beautiful rural area.

2.	an isolated rural area.

3.	one's native region.

---

 I would consider many parts of the Inland Empire of eastern Washington, northern Idaho and eastern Oregon God's Country. When I surveyed my photo files recently, Lake Chelan displayed its beauty in the early spring of the year in 2008 as an area I am sure is favored by God! It is also one's native region. JEJ grew up in the area.  We even took a rural road and found the land that he lived on as a child. The house was gone, but he remembered the location.

Annie loved Lake Chelan and it was her God's Country because it was a country full of squirrels for her to be obsessed over. The sunrise reflecting on the early morning lake was a beautiful sight in the early morning from the campground.

Lake Chelan in the early spring is quiet and untouched. When we were there snow was still melting and there were five of us at the campground. Two people on bicycles showed up later. We could walk the shoreline, sit by the fire,and  photograph sunrises and sunsets.It was a place I would consider God's Country. I look forward to returning again during the early spring or fall of the year.

Traveling Through Time With The Photo Box

My sister Silver Valley Girl is visiting this week-end. I asked her to bring up two photo boxes from Mom's house. They are photos I organzied a few summers ago. I wanted to begin a scan project so I would have them to use for a variety of purposes. The picture above was taken in Orofino when we spent Christmas there one year. We are posing with Grandma West.

When I posted a few photos on Facebook earlier today my cousin Cyndi commented, "It's amazing how photos can trigger so many senses. The pictures of Grandma's house and flower beds remind me of so many different things." These pictures reminded me of so many different things. I never remembered seeing the picture above until today. Mom still uses the clear chip and dip bowl set she is opening that was a Christmas gift one year.  My mother is famous for saving everything.

The coat I was wearing was very special and here I am wearing it as I stand in the doorway of the first house I really remember.  Seeing I have those fancy shoes on in winter, we must have been headed to church.

This is the front porch of the same house above, but I was too young to remember what was going on when the picture took place. Again, my Grandma West was at our house for a visit. I never remembered Raymond Pert wearing suspenders much. It must have been hot.

Beautiful October Sunrise

The day has begun on Lake Roosevelt with a beautiful sunrise.