RiSE AGAINST HUNGER Packing Event at Faith Tab January 7, 2018

Faith Tab participated in RISE AGAINST HUNGER this year.  First, we were offered the opportunity to make a financial contribution by taking an envelope indicating a cash amount from a Christmas tree in the lobby.  I participated in that.  Then Peg held a silent auction during the CONNECT Senior Luncheon and I donated several items to the auction.

Then we were asked to sign up to come in tonight to help prepare ten thousand meals.  Tables were set up with stations to fill, weigh and seal the individual meals.  Altogether, it took a little over an hour and a half to reach our goal.  

 This little girl carried the meals to the table where they were boxed up.

 This man was in charge of the event.

 This is a meal that has been put together, weighed and sealed.

the completed boxes are ready to go.

                                                  loading the truck.

All in all it was a fun evening.  I hope we do it again next year.  

DEEP FREEZE and COUSIN'S CAFE

We are pretty much in the middle of an extremely cold spell here in Niagara County.  I had decided to stay home all day today and tomorrow during the worst of it, but it worked out well for Peggy, Betty and I to go out for supper and exchange Christmas gifts.

So we went to COUSIN'S CAFE in the Bewley Building.   We all had fish and we all liked our meals.  The owner was teary eyed due to the death of one of her friends.  We exchanged gifts and had a nice time.   I was happy that the café was nice and warm and toasty!

I was glad to get home.

New Years Eve 2017

Peggy and David invited me to have dinner with them, and I accepted.  David prepared prime rib, lobster,  lobster bisque and Yorkshire pudding.  Peggy prepared shrimp cocktail and a nice green salad.  I provided tapioca pudding for desert.   Everything was delicious.   We watched the end of the football game on TV and Buffalo won and will go to the playoffs.

On the way there and also on the way back I drove down Maple Street and saw some very well decorated houses.    Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me.   But this was on the Lockportians facebook page:

When I got home, I called two friends, Betty and Pam, and wished them a Happy New Year.

12/29/17 Celebrating Becky's SEVENTIETH Birthday

My mothers cousin Becky turned seventy on December 13th.  Her sister Betsey reminded Peggy of it and we decided to do something to celebrate it.  I had planned to make a cake and we would celebrate it on Christmas Day but Becky was sick and could not come.

We arranged for Gail, Peggy and I (me and my two sisters) to take Becky out for lunch.  We decided on Cafora's on Route 78 in Newfane because it is closer to Becky and Gail.  It is a small family owned Italian restaurant.

We all had presents for Becky and she appreciated them.  Here is a picture of her opening one of them.

  Our lunch was great...............I had the fish fry.  Becky had eggplant parmesan.    Before leaving, we sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Becky.  I gave her a bag of small containers of items we had for Christmas dinner.

Christmas Dinner at my House: December 25, 2017

Carrie arrived home mid afternoon on December 24th.  We settled in for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and I gave her her gifts.  

On Christmas morning I called my grandkids and spoke to each of them as well as with Megan and Chris.  

I had invited Peggy and David, Katherine and Scott and Becky for Christmas dinner.   Katherine and Scott decided to accept a different invitation and Becky was sick, so it ended up just being the four of us:  myself, Carrie, Peg and David.  

Peg brought a lemon meringue pie and David had cooked the Appleton Farms Ham.  I provided

pineapple stuffing,  macaroni and cheese,  applesauce, rolls and butter, butternut squash casserole and cooked carrots.  The carrots did not turn out well, they just did not seem to cook thoroughly no matter how long I cooked them, first a few hours in the crockpot, then a half hour in the oven and then in the microwave.    Our meal was very good!!!

We exchanged gifts.  Peggy seemed to really like the crocheted throw I gave her.  They gave me a gift certificate to Millers Bulk Food Store.  I showed Peggy my Christmas decorations in my family room.  

My former mother in law made the two ceramic snowman heads with black hats and gave them to me.  

This little fiber optic tree belongs to Peggy, and I have that small collection of Christmas tins on display with it.  

I got this larger fiber optic tree at Rite Aid a year or two ago during their after Christmas sale.............75% off.  I really like it!

In the evening, Christa called.     It was a good day.  

SAVOR Holiday Lunch Buffet (Niagara Falls Culinary Institute) 12/23/17

Last year Peg and I went to this buffet lunch and loved it.  At first I could not find any information online about it, but I finally did find some information just a few days before today, which was the last day it was offered.  This year David wanted to join us.

They picked me up and we headed out, even though the weather was not all that good.  We were a few minutes late for our 12:15 reservation.

We were all disappointed because this year they did not offer prime rib and scallops (like they had last year).  But they did have a LOT to choose from and everything was delicious esp. the honey carrots.  The meats were salmon and chicken.  They had three different pizzas to choose from and there were some HUGE shrimp on the salad table.  The deserts were good, but not as good as last year.                                      the hot food station

 the pizza station

After lunch we went upstairs to see SANTA'S NORTH POLE TRAIL.

there were some gingerbread houses, made by kids, on display on the firsts floor.  

I enjoyed this outing, but I am not sure I will want to go again.  Its a bit pricey and I missed the prime rib.  

Life Group Christmas Party (12/19)and Christmas Lunch at Sean Patricks (12/20)

Tuesday the 19th (yesterday) was our last Tuesday morning Life Group at Faith Tab. before Christmas.  We planned for everyone to bring  a scripture verse or something else to share and also for each one of us bring a dish to pass.    Several of us passed out Christmas cards.  There was a pretty big turn out. I took devilled eggs, Karen brought scalloped potatoes with ham, someone brought a bread boat with dip and the rest was mostly deserts.

I shared the PARADOXICAL COMMANDMENTS:
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true friends; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world your best anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

It went over very well and a few ladies asked for a copy of it, so I said I would make copies for all of them.  

The office staff joined us for "lunch" and Pastor Craig came in and spoke with us for a bit.  

It was a great morning.  I love LIFE GROUPS!!!!!


Wednesday 12/20
Today, my "lunch bunch" of girls who graduated with me in the LSHS Class of l967, along with a couple of others we picked up along the way, met at Sean Patricks for lunch.....the last lunch before Christmas.  There were eleven of us:  myself, Mary Ann, Sheila, Darlene, Bonnie, Elaine, Nancy, Janice, Barb, Lynette and Liz.   We exchanged small gifts and had a great time.

I had the roasted turkey open sandwich, which came with mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a vegetable.  It was delicious!!!!  Everyone elses lunch looked great, and nobody had any complaints.

I hope we go there a couple of times in 2018, since there are several items on the menu that I want to try.