My Biggest Accomplishment of 2010 - Cheesecake!!!!

2010 Thanksgiving Cheesecake
click on picture to enlarge photo

I debated long and hard about making a cheesecake for our Thanksgiving dessert, but in the end I decided to give it a try. I couldn't find the recipe I'd used years ago, so I opted for the one on the back of the box of Keebler graham cracker crumbs. As you can see from the picture, it turned out beautifully! Not only tasty, but so pretty that it needed to be preserved in a picture.

By the way, the dessert plates were a wedding gift to my parents. They are "Satin Ribbon" by Fostoria.

Hubby's New Project

1952 Ford F1 Shortbed

The body is original and most of the rust is surface rust which (I'm told) can be removed fairly easily. Hubby can't wait to get to work on it!!!! It'll take awhile to get it restored, but when it is, it'll be beautiful!!!

Hyla E. Athey Watson, My Mom

Hyla E. (Athey Forbragd) Watson

1924 - 2010

On Nov. 5th my mom lost her battle with breast cancer. She'd have been 86 at the end of the month. She was one of the most independent and free spirited people I've ever known as well as practically fearless. She was raised in an age where women didn't go to college or join the military and yet she did both. While in high school she earned a full scholarship to the College of Wooster
http://www.wooster.edu/    and when WWII broke out she enlisted in the Coast Guard. She was always very proud of both of these accomplishments. She felt that there was no greater gift than service to one's country.

She was also extremely proud of her heritage. It is because of her that I have so much information about my maternal lineage - including documents about ancestors who colonized America in the 1600's, ancestors who received land grants and settled Ohio after the Revolutionary War, and ancestors who fought for the Union during the Civil War.

Mom, like my grandmother, Elizabeth Athey, was a member of the Eastern Star. My grandfather, Clifton Athey, was a 32nd degree Mason. Mom was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She raised three children as well as a grandson and was never one to shirk responsibility. She believed in education for those who truly wanted it, but didn't think that it should be forced on everyone.

Because of her, I developed a love for both books and history and I'll be forever grateful that she opened this world to me. My adult life has been greatly influenced by her ideas and social attitudes and I can never thank her enough for what she gave me.

She was raised in the Presbyterian church and had a strong relationship with Christ. She wasn't afraid of death, but actually looked forward to meeting her Lord. I know He met her at the Gates of Heaven and she's with Him now.

Love you, Mom.

Diana

My Baby Got Married!

It was a wonderful wedding!!

Ahhhh!

Our two beautiful daughters.

Because of security & privacy issues these are the only pics I'm going to post - although I'd love to share all the pictures with the whole world!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO BETH AND BRANDON!!!!

Me Oh My!

We all know that time flies, but every now and again it really hits me. Today is the last day of summer and tomorrow autumn begins! My mom is still hanging on, but of course we don't know how much longer she'll be with us and my daughter's wedding in California is fast approaching.

I thought I had tons of time to prepare for the wedding, but now that there are only a few weeks left, I realize that there is a lot left to organize. Flowers have been taken care of and the smoked salmon is being shipped in from Josephson's (yummy!!) but my daughter needs to decide on the guests' dessert tray ASAP so I can get that ordered. Thank heavens for the internet!

I did go out and buy my mother-of-the-bride dress, (but still have to get shoes), and I have decided on the jewelery (pearls) and other accessories. For me a dress is a big deal as I'm a blue jeans mama and dresses aren't my most comfortable attire. But, as mother-of-the-bride, a dress is mandatory and at least I found one I absolutely love.

So, for now, my writing and superflurous emails have gone by the wayside, although I'm still reading and researching Northern traditions, myths, and music.

Runes - Northern Mysteries & Magic by Freya Aswynn

A couple of weeks ago my sister Jaimie sent me some books on Runology and I've been reading almost nonstop. This book, Northern Mysteries and Magick by Freya Aswynn, has really impressed me. It's a very positive and beautifully written book. Ms. Aswynn goes into the deeper meanings of the runes (and the various levels of meaning that each one represents) and does it in a way that's easy to understand.

Like many people, when I began my study of runes, I thought they were just an alphabetic divining tool, but they are much more than that. They encompass the whole esoteric belief system of the Northern Peoples before the age of Christianity. This belief system is as complicated as any other religion or philosophy - including the Hindu religion.

Runology is a fascinating study one that will have a prominent part in my next novel.