DeToy family reunion 09

The hosting clan, Tom's Family

The Carlson's

Bob DeToy's Family

Benson, Minnesota

Hosted by the Tom DeToy family

I will be adding more photos as they get uploaded by other family members!

Picked my first blackberries this year!

I picked about 3/4 cup of blackberries, they will be coming on strong this weekend. I also found a lot of Japanese Beetles, so I am off to the nursery to see about some beetle traps. I also need to pick up some RoundUp because my ditch by the road is being overrun by vines that nothing else will kill. Hate to use that stuff.

A shot in the knee

I finally broke down, after a month of heavy duty Ibuprofen and no change to my bursitic knee. That probably isn't a word. Yet. I got a shot yesterday. It didn't really hurt, and still doesn't. Let's hope this takes care of the left knee so it can get better and carry the right knee, which is the one I normally think of as my "bad" knee. Aging is such a fun process.

April rains in May

Haven't seen the sun lately, and my yard is a swamp. The flowers look happy, where they haven't been beaten into the ground. All the blooming trees have had their petals pummeled, hope they all got pollenated before this. I only planted 2 beefy tomato plants and 2 cherry, and already lost one beefy to cut worm. Still time to get another out there. Soon it is going to be time to start trimming the new growth on the blackberries back so I can get to last years wood and this years berries. They are growing inches a day it seems. The cats are spending major time on the window sills, checking out the birds that are nesting in the porch rafters. Drives them crazy, birds and cats.

Almost May

I put my air conditioner in the window of the bedroom today. I almost made it to May. Dang it.

It's the economy, doofus!

I have been disappointed lately with my box lot auction results. I was wondering if it was because I was starting them too early or too late? Wrong day? Would free shipping help? None of the above. I was hoping that people would be more likely to check out Ebay in the downturn of the economy, but now I think people just aren't buying, period. How has this been affecting you? Are you still buying whatever you want? Are you worried about your job, or are you in a comfortable place?

I thought I was, preparing for retirement in 16 months and thinking I had it under control, but now this! A quote from the linked article.

"The governor’s proposal would hit certain retirees even harder. For a retiree who is not yet old enough to qualify for Medicare, premiums would rise from $12.98 per month to an average of about $582 per month."

Now, that is a lot of moolah.

Not much changes around here. Mini Meatloaves

I made another batch of Mini Meatloaves today. Seems like I do this at least once a month. I made two batches for Mom when I was there a couple of weeks ago. It's just one of those "go to"
recipes when ground beef goes on sale. It is very handy to have them in the freezer for days you just don't want to cook. Bake a potato, toss a salad and you are good to go.

Mini Meatloaf

1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup quick cook oats (more if too wet)
1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
(other spices of choice)
1 small onion, diced
dash Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 pound ground beef (lean)

Sauce

2/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons prepared mustard
dash Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, combine the egg, milk, cheese, oats, onion, Worcestershire sauce and spices. Let sit for 5 minutes for oats to get soft.
Add the ground beef, mixing well, and form this mixture into eight miniature meatloaves. Place these in a lightly greased 9x13 inch dish.
In a separate small bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Stir thoroughly and spread over each meatloaf.
Bake uncovered, at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30-45 minutes, depending on how big you shaped your loaves.