VOTE for Best Individual BLOG!

Vote for Laura!
Ah, I am sure that our Laura never thought she would be in an vote… but then… here she is! It is quite an honor to make it to become a FINALIST and everyone in the family is so proud. Her BLOG  is really a good one… even if we are a little biased.

So, if you could take a moment and add your support by voting for  Laura for Best Blog!  It would be a kind thing to do.

Roger, Kristin, Karen and Karla ( the Laura support team)

Trick or Trunk? Hmmmmm

Halloween 2007 was wonderful!
Halloween is such a wonderful time each year… it brings out all the children… young and not-so-young! Grandma June came to the door… but we still knew who she was! This was Karla’s first time giving out the candy.. she loved seeing all the smiles.

We placed a few of our old Paper mache’ masks on the fence for decoration… many happy times gone by. Kristin’s ‘voochko’ mask was in the courtyard.

Karen  tells of a different way they do Trick or Treat in Knoxville. Parents in the community meet at some common location – a church or park — and open their trunks to their cars and the kids roam around asking for treats. It’s nice… but I like kids coming around the neighborhood.

This year… I ate none of the candy! ( It was See’s!)

Roger Freberg 

Happy Halloween!

Karla's addition to the Halloween decorations!

One of the most fun evenings for children… and now it seems young adults… is Halloween! Every year, I look forward to it and now that we have more children in the neighborhood… the community just seems to be more alive!

Tonight, have a safe and happy Halloween!

Roger Freberg

Teach Your Children to Cook!

when children cook... it's wonderful!
People are not really all that surprised when a man says he can cook… we’re all getting used to that. It does raise an eyebrow in surprise, when folks discover that your children cook very well… and they naturally ask how ?

Here are a few thoughts:

1) Children — boys and girls alike — enjoy cooking food that they will eat, especially if a) it is something they will enjoy and b) it is relatively simple to make.

I was only a few years old when I cooked up my first pot of rice… it burned at the bottom , I then added butter and I was in heaven!

2) Desserts are usually the first things children are willing to learn. Roughly 80% of all cookies baked are Chocolate Chip, so this is a good place to start. Getting children involved in holiday cookie making, cookies for school birthdays and cake making starts to expand their baking experience!

Karen’s first effort was “Death Cupcakes.” A chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting smothered with chocolate chips and topped with a “Blow-pop”. Obviously, Karen brought cola to school to add to the excitement of her birthdays!

Both Kristin and Karen enjoyed making  Mudbars  for themselves and their friends!

3) Personally, I never forget the wonderful smell of bread. Baking bread the old fashioned way or with a breadmaker is a logical next step.

Kristin loved her bread and her yummy cheesey breadsticks!

4) Simple meals are next: learning sandwich making, the art of the barbecue and a home made Pizza are always interesting for children!

My nephew Scott loved my “Meat-za Pizza”! Although I don’t know if he ever made one for himself?

ahhhhh... wonderful!
“Bobotie”  is an easy ‘fun’ dish to make from South Africa!

5) Children are ready for a more ‘academic exercise”… some people call it ‘learning.’ This is where I present them with a simple cookbook (Better Homes and Garden’s is perfect).

Once you get to this point there is  no stopping them … Plus… then even Mom and Dad van take a break now and then!  Karen  & Kristin have developed their own style.

Mom taking a well deserved rest!

Roger Freberg

PS. When everyone is ready, Seafood Gumbo  is fun to make and can be frozen in many little contaniers to extend the enjoyment for the days ahead!
 

Sweet Romance: Honeymoon Husband

Honeymoon HusandShirley Marks Has followed up on her romance  “Geek to Chic”  with “Honeymoon Husband.”

Now, guys, I know that in your heart many of you although crusty on the outside find a tear or two for a wonderfully romantic story.

My daughters chide me a bit when I pull out some of the sci-fi episodes with severely romantic plots. Star Trek Next Generation’s “Inner Light”, or the original Star Trek “City on the edge of forever” or several of the Stargate episodes where an alternate universe “Carter” is in love with Jack O’Neil. I do have my favorites.

I won’t spoil the plot to Shirley’s book… but let’s just say there is a ‘cad’, a ‘true love’, a ‘misunderstanding’ and a tropical setting. Check it out.

Roger Freberg