Christmas Dinner 2009

Thursday, 24 December 2009

It was our turn to cook and have the family together at our place. We had dinner at Roger's place at Thanksgiving Day on the 26 November.

The chef at work with his turkey......




There was plenty for 9 people



Except for the pecan pie and the rolls, the rest are home-cooked: roasted turkey, roasted chicken (specially prepared for one who didn't care for turkey), cornbread dressing, baked corn with bacon, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potato, pumpkin pie, cherries pie, and green beans.

If only Lian, Yean, Merri, Barb, Courtney, Sheridan, Landon, Addison and John were here. I miss all of them.

Sunray - The Annual Band Christmas Concert

Thursday, 17 December 2009

There were 4 bands performing tonight, namely the Sunray Middle School Band, the Sunray 5th Grade Band, the Sunray 6th Grade Band and the Sunray High School Band.

Joshua was the only member in this band playing the tuba.

Then there is Michelle who did the tape dance while the another band performed "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The battery was out and we could capture.......but at least....

I enjoyed the concert, especially the 5th graders band.

Thanksgiving Day 2009

Thursday, 26 November 2009

Instead of the traditional turkey, we had beef brisket. Roger had it smoked and then roasted. I don't care for beef, but I enjoy this (minus the burnt surface).


Roger cooking the gravy for the beef brisket



The other traditional thanksgiving food we had were: pumpkin pie , pecan pie, mashed potatoes, cranberries jello, corn, candied sweet potatoes and not forgetting rolls.


Baked beans are not traditional thanksgiving food, nevertheless I am grateful for that. I love baked beans even though it rewarded me with flatulence! I liked the deer jerky that Roger prepared as well, especially the spicy ones, because they are more softer and gentle to chew.

The occasion reminded me of our Chinese New Year Eve family reunion dinner.



Here is something I learnt about "The First Thanksgiving" as published in The Moore County News Press (Wednesday, November 25,2009)

Quote

Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day, presently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863. It did not become a federal holiday until 1941.

Most Americans celebrate by gathering at home with family or friends for a holiday feast. Though the holiday's origins can be traced to harvest festivals which have been celebrated in many cultures since ancient times, the American holiday is tied to the deliverance of the English settlers by Native Americans after the harsh winter at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The First Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God and the Native Americans for helping the pilgrims survive the brutal winter. although half of the pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower had already died, many more would have had it not been for the Native Americans teaching the pilgrims to harvest foods. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three whole days providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Indians.

The traditional Thanksgiving menu often features turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. Americans may eat these foods on modern day Thanksgiving, but the first feast did not consist of these items. The foods included in the first feast included duck, geese, venison, fish, lobster, clams, swam, berries, dried fruit, pumpkin, squash and many more vegetables.

Unquote

Bagpiping "America" at Golden Corral, Amarillo (Texas)

Monday, 16 November 2009

Golden Corral restaurant showed their appreciation for the veterans by offering them dinner on the Monday after the Veterans' Day. This was the 2nd time Mike played for Golden Corral restaurant. Last year he played in Yuma.

Being a veteran himself, he also had his free dinner after the entertainment. It was very nice of the manager that Mike could take out dinner for me too. I like the food and the environment at Golden Corral restaurant.

Bagpiping "Amazing Grace" at Groom (Texas)

Friday, 13 November 2009

Finally I got a video of Mike playing his bagpipes. This video was taken by a visitor at the Cross in Groom (Texas) on Veterans' Day (11 November 2009). Mike decided to stop there for a visit, after playing for the travelling Wall in Childress (TX) in the morning, on his way to play for the veterans waiting to eat dinner at Applebee's in Amarillo

Low Blood Pressure

Friday, 16 October 2009

1:15 am: I was annoyed because I was forced-awoken by Mike’s calling my name. I was wondering what was so important a discovery, from the internet, that it could not be shared after I have awaken up naturally later in the morning!

He was sitting with his legs stretched out, on the recliner chair in the sitting room. He looked pale and perspiring. He told me to get the landline handphone for him. He said he had to call 911 because his blood pressure was dangerously low. He had been feeling unwell and couldn't sleep for the past hour. He suspected that the Prazosin HCL (3 capsules by mouth at bedtime) that he took the night before, was the cause of the drop of his blood pressure. He hasn't taken this medicine for the past 1-1/2 weeks. I took down his reading as 64/44.

Our Sunray City duty policeman came, followed by 2 paramedics and then 2 fire department men. Mike called his son, Roger, as well. Roger and Robin live only a few houses, on the same street, away from ours. Paramedics checked Mike's blood pressure and said that they have to airlift him to Amarillo VA hospital (since Mike is under the medical care of the VA department). They feared a heart attack.

Robin & I was told to drive to South West hospital in Amarillo. There is no heart doctor at the VA hospital. At South West hospital we were told that Mike would be sent directly to the VA hospital. The VA doctor said that the Prazosin HCL has been known to cause low blood pressure. His heart was okay.

Prazosin HCL is a treatment that Mike was prescribed, for his PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Mike's condition was stabilized and cleared for release at about 7 am.

Robin drove Mike and I back to Sunray. It was an hour happy ride compared to the earlier ride from Sunray to Amarillo.

The Love of our Father in Heaven

Friday, 23 October 2009

There are many versions of the Dick & Rick Hoyt story. I like the Song (Go The Distance) that accompanies this video. This is a very inspiring and touching true story. And I think of my Heavenly Father and his love for us. I can't help shedding tears as I watched this video.

Talent Show

Sunday, 16 August 2009

Roger with his gang (Soggy Bottom Kazoo Choir) at their church's talent show this night.


Michelle and her mum, Robin, sang

Siblings' Masks

Sunday, 26 July 2009

Doesn't matter whether you are a male, it is okay to apply on a clay mask on your face to cleanse and to beautify. Lian had it on and Yean agreed to have his face done as well on this day. I, personally, have done this for a long time, can't remember when I did last.

You Raise Me Up

Sunday, 29 March 2009

This song "You Raise Me up" by the Celtic Woman, embedded into my blog, is dedicated to my parents. Dad passed away in September 2005 and Mum passed away in November 2007. I miss them.



When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up, to more than I can be

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up, to more than I can be

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up, to more than I can be

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up, to more than I can be
You raise me up, to more than I can be

The Generations of a Family

Tuesday, 23 December 2008

The 3 Generations (Mike, Joshua and Roger)


The 4 Generations: (Irene, Robin, Betty and Michelle)

Joshua - Beauty Pageant

Friday, 19 December 2008

Joshua took part in the school's beauty pageant, which I understood it being an annual affair. The participants were also footballers!





Joshua (with purple wig) and the winner of the beauty pageant. He was my favorite - cute!


Must take a picture with Joshua!