Rest in Peace Grandpa Jack

So with a weary heart I write this ironic post.  My beloved Grandpa passed away unexpectedly this evening from a heart attack.  I can't believe it.  Just last Monday I was writing about the one year anniversary of my Grandma's death.  I guess she didn't want to be alone on Thanksgiving this year and now Grandpa can join her. He was an amazing Grandpa.  He always had a story for me - and told lots of stories about hunting and his days on the road and in Alaska.  I remember our trips gopher trapping and how I picked out a stick one day that I carried with me every time we trapped.  He still has it.  I'm anxious to find it and see what it looks like today.  He was always laughing.  He always wore snap button up flannel shirts too - because real buttons take too long ;). He was a cornerstone of one of the best hunting camps a person could every dream of. My Grandma was the love of his life and my mom was the light of his eye and my siblings and I were the warmth in his heart. It comforts me to know he is finally reunited with my Grandma even though my heart will always ache for him. Rest in Peace my Dear Grandpa, you will be forever missed and forever in my heart.

Grandpa Jack Coffield

June 15, 1937-November 22, 2011

 

Grandma

Grandparents Hold Our Hands for a Little While

but Our Hearts Forever!

Today marks one year that my Grandma peacefully passed away surrounded by family and friends.  I remember the day like it was yesterday.  She had cancer for 34 years.  There were many times in her life where we weren't sure how long she was going to make it, especially the last few weeks.  I knew it was coming.  On Sunday afternoon, November 14, 2010, my mom called and told me Grandma was getting worse.  She told me I should think about coming home.  I really should have listened.  I made it home in time to say goodbye but I didn't leave until Monday morning.  So many times during those last few months there were "iffy" times and we weren't sure what the next day would bring.  This had happened before and she came out of it.  Monday morning I called and found out she was still hanging in there but that Home Health said it was a matter of hours.  I went to work and told them I had to leave immediately for Lancaster.  I got in my car and drove the entire 6 1/2 hour drive with one brief stop for more gas.  I made it to Lancaster around 1pm and sat next to my Grandma and crocheted ~ a gift that she taught me many moons ago.  It was very peaceful.  My sisters and brother crowded around as well.  We sat there for four hours talking, reminiscing, and telling Grandma stories.  Various friends and family would peek in occasionally.  Around 5pm Grandma's breath changed and we knew it was time to say our final goodbyes. With my mom on one side and my Grandpa on the other, holding her hand, my Grandma fell asleep.  It was beautiful.  I miss her so much.  She taught me so many things.  Her laughter was infectious and her knowledge endless. I am calmed by the fact that she is no longer suffering and that I will one day see her again.  She was a fighter and I hope that's something that she instilled in me, and something that will be passed down to my children. She was a lover and a giver.  She was so many things.  I'll love her forever and be forever grateful she was in my life for so many years.

Time Flies

Wow. I looked at the last date of my blog entry and could hardly believe that I let that many days go by - yet again.  I say I love to write and yet I neglect the very place where I can write whenever and whatever I want.  I will vow (yet again) to try be better tomorrow and leave you with this inspirational message:

Crazy Busy Beautiful Life

So these last few weeks have flown by and I have neglected my blog once again.  I'll hurry and catch you up so I can start fresh again tomorrow ;)

Halloween came and went - my hubby and I dressed up as Fred and Wilma Flintstone.  I don't have any fabulous pictures of us - plus he doesn't like his photo on my blog, but I'm sure we looked JUST like them ;)

Then we helped clean out the cabin and shut it down for the winter - that's always a sad, sad time of the year. But, I got some beautiful pictures (on my camera that I can't find) - it's even pretty when it's brown. 

The next few days I spent getting my newsletter ready for deer season.  Deer Season is a Holiday for my family (and many extended friends!) We have around 60 people that come up and stay at different cabins whether it be land they bought or on my Grandpa's land.  Then, we all get together for different meals throughout the week.  It's truly my favorite time of the year.  I write a newsletter that is going on 15 years....crazy to think I started it when I was 9!  So, I got that ready and packed and headed home for a 5 day weekend.  It was wonderful - but it was really nice to come home again too.  My hubby hunted at his family's house so I missed him while I was gone, it's always more fun when they can join you :) 

Now, I've been back since Monday and today's Wednesday and I'm working on getting back into my routine.  I didn't do so hot this morning because I slept in and it's already 10:30 and I should be doing something very productive.....I bought groceries yesterday and cut up all the produce right away so they are in handy little baggies to just grab and munch <3  Today I am going to throw some more chopped up veggies in the crockpot for a new stew for tonight's dinner.  Well, now you've caught up on my life.....more interesting things tomorrow - maybe. 

DIY: Jolly Rancher Vodka

It's that time of year again - Holiday Season!  I love it - every stressful aspect of it!  Each year I get better and start shopping earlier for Christmas Gifts. This year I'm making lots of homemade gifts.  One of which is Flavored Vodka.  I don't have a lot of friends that LOVE vodka, but I know a couple special gals who will really love this fruity treat.  It's pretty simple to do - but I added pictures just to make it a bit more fun :)

Ingredients you need:
1. Vodka (I used Karkov)

2. Jolly Ranchers (about 12 per 8oz of vodka)

3. Some sort of storing device (I chose this pretty flasks from The Container Store)

Step 1:
Wash your containers!  No need to sterilize them though, you are putting vodka in them :)


Step 2:
Separate out your jolly ranchers by flavor/color.

Step 3:
Insert separated jolly ranchers into appropriate containers!!  Remember: about 12 ranchers per cup!

Step 4:
Fill flasks with vodka until almost full!

Step 5:
Shake them up every few days. The jolly ranchers will dissolve on their own and your vodka should be ready within a week! 

When it gets closer to Christmas I will show you how I decorate the bottles for gifts :)

The Vodka just hours after it's prepared...already dissolving!

Gasthof Zur Gemutlichkeit

Last night I had the wonderful opportunity to accompany a med school friend to a presentation about Global Health.  Not only was the information that was presented very informative, inspiring and motivational - but the food was awesome!!  I've never really eaten 'real' German food before.  We went to a place called Gasthof Zur Gemutlichkeit in NE Minneapolis.  It was phenomenal - everything from the various types of German beer, to the cheers (Ziggy Zaggy, Ziggy, Zaggy, Oi Oi Oi!), to the waitresses in German Uniform, to the Rouladen and Weinerschnitzel to the checkered tablecloths - it was all fabulous!

I'll give you a run down of what I tried.

Rouladen - Marinated beef rolled with mushrooms, onions and bacon - DELICIOUS!  This one was my favorite!  I'm normally not a mushroom kind of girl, but I may just start trying more mushrooms because it was sooooo good!

Weinerschnitzel - Breaded Veal Cutlet - Now I'm glad that I tried this BEFORE I knew what it was because I'm one of those name people, where if it's something that I think sound gross (baby cow :( ) I will not eat it.  However, it was very tasty!

Jagerschnitzel - Pan fried pork loin in mushroom sauce - I ate a bite of my friend's and wasn't terribly impressed.  It reminded me of country fried steak and I'm not a huge fan of that either.  I'm glad I got to try it though!

Mash potatoes and gravy - Now this is something I'm very familiar with - yummy!

Spatzle - homemade pasta - which were HUGE noodles - and awesome!  We covered them with the gravy from the potatoes

Red Sauerkraut - I did not try this but it was available in the buffet. 

They also had Caesar salad and some delicious bread and this awesome dessert that I still can't figure out what was in it - sometimes it tasted like apple and other times I thought I was eating chocolate - perhaps it had both...hmm..

Spatzle and Rouladen

You should check this place out and if you are in the area you should REALLY go there!  I brought some food home for the husband and he loved it just as much. My hubby and I have definitely decided it's a destination for our parents some visit!  http://www.gasthofzg.com/

Book Review: Toxin

So I actually finished this book a LONG time ago - I just kind of forgot to write my review about it.  I've read a few books since then. Jaycee Dugard's "A Stolen Life" and, okay, so maybe only one.  Man, I have to get on that! Remember when I said I needed to finish my "Summer Reading List". Well, this book was on it!

Toxin by Robin Cook was awesome.  I recommend it to everyone.  It started out scary and scientific and brought in a ton of emotion with a love story and played on parental instincts (or not, since I don't have any :-P ).  I cried.  I don't actually remember laughing - it's not really a funny book.  It made me not want to eat meat for awhile though.  It is about an E.Coli outbreak at a fast food restaurant (and no, it isn't a true story ~ although, it could be!!). I really don't want to spoil it for anyone.  I will just say that it makes me appreciate hunting and slaughtering my own meat! Or my husband doing it..hehe.