Aunt Karan & Uncle Dick 50th wedding anniversary

                                                                            1962

                                                                          2012

The first part of December my Aunt Karan and Uncle Dick celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  Family and friends stopped by Tuscany's to congratulate and wish them 50 years more.  We thought it would be pretty neat to recreate their wedding picture.  L-R front row.  Kathy Hawkins Pardi, Ronnie Hawkins.
back row Mary Jane Cunningham Dodd, Karan Hawkins Cunningham, Dick Cunningham, Bob Hawkins.  From what I can tell we haven't changed a bit.

                          One of my cousins.  Karla with my dad.

                              The in-laws and the out-laws.   Jim and Mary Jane Dodd,  Karan
                               and Dick Cunningham and Dad.

Letters to Santa

These are the funniest things you've ever read.  I was laughing out loud and had tears from laughing so hard.

Dear Santa,
I hope you have a safe trip.  What kind of cookies do you like?
For Christmas, I would like to have a baby sister, to feed other
kids that don't have food and to be with my family, coal so I could
sell it for money and some new shoes I hope you have a great
Christmas.

Your friend,
Kristyn Biggs
3rd grade



Dear Santa,
How's the weather up in the North Pole?  The weather is nice down here.
I would like some beyblades so I can battle people with them.  I would also
like Pokemon so I can trade them.  Finally, I would like an MP3 player so
I can listen to music.  I will leave you chocolate chip cookies and milk.

Love,
Braden Pardi
1st grade



Dear Santa,
For christmas I want a football, a viteo camera and a bayblade I think that
I deserve it and why because I helped move my trailer.  I took care of my
brother and I burned the trash.  The reason I want a football is because I
like football and me and my brother like to play catch.  The reason that
I want a diteo camera is so I can remember fun moments and so I can
record the baby that my mom is having at the hospital.  The reason that
I want a bayblade is so I can battle my brother.  I wonder how you make
all of those presents?  I also wonder how they fit in your bag.  Don't think
I forgot about you.  I set up my Christmas tree for you and I gave you
cookies and milk.  I wonder if you and Mrs. Clause fight any at all and if
the elves annoy you.

Clayton Pardi
4th grade

Peanut Brittle recipe

This is my great grandmothers recipe made famous by my mom and carried on by Ann Morgan and her girls.

I remember the days when we would have the whole kitchen, and when I say whole kitchen I mean it, covered in the sweet peanuty peanut brittle.  Peanut Brittle day's were days when "all hands on deck" was definitely a true statement.  Our fingers were sore from pulling it thin but it was soooo worth it. 

Mom even worked with someone once to try to market her peanut brittle but being so thin it didn't travel well.

For the past several years the tractor dealership I work for has ordered over 100 pounds to ship out as Christmas gifts to people that we worked with all year.

This is the first year in many we haven't had any peanut brittle sitting around on the table.  I called Connie to see if she and Pam were going to make any this year and they didn't think they could.  I haven't ever made it on my own, Mom was always there to help me or me help her which was actually the truth.  This July we lost both Mom (7-16-12) and Ann (7-4-12).  I am planning on making an attempt at making it next year we'll see how that goes.


PEANUT BRITTLE

2 Cups Sugar
3/4 Cup Water
1 Cup White Corn Syrup

In heavy pan, cook until a candy thermometer reads 250 degrees (hard boil).
Stir often.

Add:
1 package Raw peanuts
1 teaspoon Butter

Cook to 290 degrees.  Mixture will turn lightly brown and peanuts will smell roasted.  Stir constantly.
Mixture burns very easily.

Add:
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

Stir vigorously until soda is completely dissolved.  Pour on to buttered cookie sheets.  As soon as possible using forks and your fingers pull until thin.

Cool and Enjoy.

Note:  Cookie sheets need to be buttered heavily so peanut brittle doesn't stick.  Stores well in metal Schwan Ice cream containers (mom's favorite).  But will also store well in a metal cookie can or zip lock bags.

Happy Candy making to you.

Brad and Sarah's new adventure.

 

Brad & Sarah are starting their new adventure.  They are in the process of finishing their

move home.  They have bought a home and are moving it to the ground they bought from my dad.  It's about a mile from our house so of course this Grandma is super excited that the grandboys will be able to ride their bikes over for a visit.  The above picture is just before it was all unhooked at the previous site.  Came from Hutton Twp down at Charleston, south of Grandma Coartney's.  So it was quite a trip.  Traveled south to the Westfield blacktop then past the 5 mile house on into Charleston.  Passed through Hindsboro and Oakland and made the final 4 miles east of Oakland to the house site.

 

 

 

 

In Sarah's words "we have movement"!

 

Getting ready to head accross a field down in Hutton.  The road was too steep and crooked.  Plus to many tree's.  A big thank you to Rick Updegraff for his help with his big tractor.  I don't see any pictures of it but Sarah said he was down their ready to go in case they needed a pull.

Back on the road headed to the blacktop.







 

 

 

 

 

 

Pulling into their drive way.








Had to have a little help from Dad with the tractor.
Ground was just a little soft.

And the final destination.  The boys were so excited last night as were mom and dad.

Today Brad is digging the ditches for the water and electric lines.  The kids are hoping to be able to move in pretty quickly. 

Pretty excited and happy for them!!!!!!!!

Clayton singing at Antioch Baptist Church Revival

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XZs-HyhyrA

Our church held a revival in conjunction with our 125th homecoming celebration.  Clayton sang on Saturday night.  He had been sick the day before so his voice is a little scratchy but even with that he did a marvelous job.  I keep telling him that God has given him a wonderful gift.

For my Daughter in law

Smiles from Above

 

The angels took her way to soon

A mom, a wife, a friend

She taught her girls so, so much

In the too few short years she had.

 

She’s watching over her girls today

Just like yesterday and tomorrow

They think of her today

with love, laughter and a little sorrow.

 

Each little girl is all grown up

They have their own families too

And the special part deep in their heart

Is that little part of you.

 

So as this season comes and goes

They shed a few more tears

But they will think of you today

And share your great big smile.

 

 

By: Kathy Pardi

Written 10-15-2012 for Sarah, Amanda and Gwen

 Linda Kay (McDaniel) McGinness Hendry          2-9-1957 - 10-15-2001

Lazy Saturday

 Last Saturday Brad moved their chickens and ginneys up to the house.  They've adjusted well.

Boy's will be boys.  Take a guess what Braden is doing.

 So this Saturday Brad and Clayton decided to mow the yard.  Here is Clayton mowing for the first time.  He's mowing with Brad and Sarah's mower.  Brad's driving our Kubota mower.

 And the rest of the pictures are Braden being Braden.

 Oh and our baby kittys to.  We've got 5 kittens.  They are so playfull.  Yes they look all wet.  Well our big ole black lab likes to clean them.  She had just got done.

8-25-2012

The end of an era.  The last day Martha's was open. 

 

Just part of the work crew.  It was a long day and very busy.  Several of mom's dedicated and loyal friends and customers stopped by to visit or shop.  

 

 

The store

Well Saturday is the last day the store will be open.  Going to be a real change.  Mom told me not long ago that she would be in business for 40 years on October 3rd.  We think that includes the years she had her upholstery.  It really doesn't matter the number of years the store was open but oh the lives she and that store touched.  The stories that were made and sharred the pranks and mishaps.  This has been a big part of our lives.  My children and grandchildren each spent many hours up here "helping" grandma Martha.  The following pictures are some I found with different things from the store.  Not even a drop in the bucket of the going ons at the store.

The excersisers.  Mom and Caroline.

Balloons!

Key's and grandkids.

Halloween costumes.

More costumes.

Iron on sequins on a prom dress.

More balloons.

Grandkids and the fun things they came up with.

Even had the Easter Bunny.

More Balloons.

Naps.

Snowmen.

Fun with the boxes.

Fashion Shows.

Paint.

Sign making by the pre school to welcome home Brad from Iraq.

The window washers working on slave day for Church Camp.

And of Course Titan shirts. 

Don't have a picture but there were plenty of Oakland Oaks shirts made along with Oakland Ambulance Tshirts, pee wee league, little league & Pony league, Football, volleyball and basketball shirts and of course Martha's MAB shirts.

Saturday's just won't be the same after today August 25, 2012.