The Christmas Tree Experience

Thanksgiving evening Amberlea suggested we put up our Christmas tree. I usually do this Friday but with the offer of help I took her up on the suggestion. Mel and I brought the tree in from the garage. We got it set up and plugged in the lights. Well, only part of the lights would work. After finagling with it a while we decided it was not going to work. The options of what to do next were discussed. The decision that a new tree was needed was reached. I called to see if Home Depot was open - no. The only place left in small town Ada, Oklahoma on Thanksgiving evening was Walmart. Yes, they were open. Mitch, Am, Jett and I made a trip to purchase a tree. Amberlea suggested we might do a "real" tree this year. I was not convinced to do that until I saw the options and prices of the artificial trees at the store. They did have a "real" Douglas Fir tree that was beautiful. My mind was made up that a real one it would be this year!
Mitch & Amberlea thought Mel & I needed to have the "Famous Elliott Family Night Nachos". We bought the ingredients for them.
Time to head home and put up our real tree. The clerk had told us we needed to trim off a small piece of the trunk so it could absorb water. Evidently the trunk had been sealed after it was cut. I called Mel to check about a saw for this. The one time that all of his tools are not in the blue barn was now (he had been using them at the Annex cutting down trees getting ready for the new fence). He told me where a couple of saws should be. We stopped at the blue barn and Mitch found a battery chain saw that was perfect for the job.
The tree was put up and is beautiful. We even had one ornament to begin with - a pinecone was on this tree. The pine tree smell is wonderful!
The tree was set up and then everyone decided they were hungry for the famous nachos. Mitch & Amberlea prepared them. Mel & I definitely agreed that the nachos were delicious! Thanks Mitch & Am for the delicious recipe and experience of your "Famous Elliott Family Night Nachos". They may be come the "Famous Bradford Family Night Nachos" for us.
I decorated the tree on Friday.
(I will add more pictures later.)

Our old tree in the back of the pickup to go to the barn for Mel's investigation of how to recycle the parts of the tree


Our beautiful wonderful smelling "real" Christmas tree - Thank you Amberlea for the suggestion of a "real" Christmas tree. I am thinking now we will do this every year.


A couple of funny stories to go with this:
Mel told me he could have gone down in the pasture and cut us a real tree.
Mel is taking the old tree apart and thinks he can use part of it for a coat & hat rack. Knowing how creative my sweet hubby is, I am sure he can do that!

Pictures for the Christmas Card

Amberlea took photos of Mel & I for our annual Christmas card. She has become quite the professional! After doing research she had some great ideas. Thanks Am for taking these pictures for us!!

Jett wanted to be in the pictures. In fact, his feelings were hurt that he was not in more of them.

Thanksgiving Pictures

Pics of the day:

Grammy checking on the food in the oven


Our traditional dressing of which I am the one to stir together and then all sample to make sure it passes the "taste test"


I was checking on how the photo shoot was coming when the camera was turned on me


Mitch & Amberlea


Amberlea, Jett, Grammy, Brooke & Blake

A Blessed Thanksgiving

The Bradford Family is so blessed and we realize that throughout the year. Thanksgiving gives us a day just to focus on the blessings and to spend precious time with family. Good food, spending time together catching up on lives of family and thanking God for the many blessings is why Thanksgiving is so special. Having Mitch, Amberlea and Jett with us was so much fun. We are so looking forward to next year when the Melvin Bradford Crew will be together for their own Thanksgiving together. Having all 11 of us together again will be great!

Amberlea was very creative and made a table centerpiece using a small pumpkin, parsley and thyme. The day before she had made a nature centerpiece for Grammy using leaves, berries, grasses, etc. How creative she is!


Amberlea had told us about her toasted cornbread cranberry and walnut stuffing. She prepared it for us this year. Delicious!! Here Jett is helping prepare the recipe.


I am stirring one of the dishes for the Thanksgiving meal


3 generations - Jett, Amberlea and Grammy (age 83)

Our Wintery Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning we awoke to strong north winds, lightning and rain. The weathermen had said there was a slight chance of rain. After a while the rain changed to sleet and/or freezing rain. As the morning progressed we had a beautiful "winter wonderland". The icicles glistening in the sunlight and the fields and plants covered in the white sparkling color definitely put us in the holiday spirit.



Icicles hanging from the fence rail

Learning to Blow Bubbles with Bubble Gum

An important thing for any child to learn is how to blow bubbles with bubble gum. I remember what an accomplishment for our girls when they were little and now we are experiencing "the thrill" with another generation.
Jett had been working on the buble task for a short time. While on the farm he actually blew a little one and then proceeded to blow more and more. After doing a few successfully he let out a "victory yell" of accomplishment. It is so much fun to watch the progression of childhood tasks to master!

The "Little Professional"

While watering the cows Jett climbed on the panel fence. In the eyes of a cautious protective Grandmom I could just see him losing his balance and falling into the trough. I suggested that he be careful while on the fence. Jett replied, "I won't fall, I'm a professional!" That should take take of any Grandmom's worry!

Having fun on the gate


My "Tractor Men" - Putting out hay using the tractor

Boots, Our California Cat

Boots, who was Bryan & Melodi's cat in California, became an Oklahoma farm cat when they moved to Germnay. He is so good natured and lets the grandkids pick him up and hold him.
I was putting water in the troughs for the cows when Boots decided he would get a drink. We have 6 troughs we fill. (The troughs are temporary until the fence at the Annex is completed.) Boots decided he needed a drink of water. Of course, he did not select the trough that was almost full - instead he hopped up on the one that was about 3/4 full. He precariously leaned down into the trough for his water. A cow decided she would see what Boots was doing and started smelling of him. I could just see him losing his balance and falling into the water. Boots decided he better hop down and find water somewhere else. Another cow had come up to the trough and Boots just rubbed against her nose. He is not afraid of the cows as the other cats seem to be. I suppose he wanted to show this cow he was not intimidated when on the ground. I think Boots thinks he is "King Cat" on the farm .

Our Oven Experience

Here is my trusty oven that I use so much. Last Saturday I made an apple pie and cleaned my oven using the self-cleaning option. Sunday when I was ready to make cornbread, well, the oven would not heat! Monday I called the appliance repairman (the only one in a small town) and he could not check it for another week and then would have to order the part and wait a few days for that. If I was lucky, I might have the oven fixed Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
While visiting with Jerry on the phone I mentioned my oven. Wednesday, he came by and checked it. The oven shut-off thermal fuse was not working. After calling Greer Appliance Parts in OKC, Mel and I drove to the city and picked up the part, $59.96. Come to find out this part goes out in RCA Whirlpool ovens quite often. I now have a lifetime guarantee on the part. All we have to do, yes all we have to do (not an easy task) is take the oven out, take the back off, remove 2 attached clips and then drive to OKC for the new part. It will be much simplier for me just to clean it myself.
Mel and I came home and replaced the part which was very easy to do, just attach a clip to each end. Replacing the back - after some thinking, discussing and trial and error we did figure out which part of the back went first, etc. Next time we will watch and may even take pictures of how it comes apart. Always, "Live and Learn"!! Mel and I were proud of ourselves for accomplishing another task that we had never done before (and hope not to do again).



The small part that causes the oven not to heat and my lifetime guarantee

Mel and I decided we would invest in a toaster oven to use for small tasks while cooking for just us (save the big oven). I decided on this one. I have now tried it out and it is wonderful!

Results of Tearing Out Fence

Ready for the new fence

Just a small amount of the wire and posts taken out

Tearing Out Fence

How do you tear out fence? Well, The fence team, Mel and Cathy, have a system worked out For the wire: Cathy cuts the wire and Mel rolls it up. For the posts: Mel digs around the Bois d" Arc posts and adds water. After the water has soaked in, Mel drives the tractor with a chain attached around the bucket on the tractor, Cathy gets the other end of the chain and wraps it around the bottom of the Bois d'Arc posts and out they come. With the steel posts, Cathy wraps the chain around the bottom and Mel lifts up the bucket with the chain and up come the posts! What a great fence team!




What was a line of Bois d' Arc posts that are no longer there

Grandparents' Day at Jett's School

Jett led the way to his classroom

Jett and Grandpop getting doughnuts

After putting his backpack in his designated spot, we met his teacher, Ms. Mary, then he showed us various activities they were to do. We also met some of his classmates. Grandpop and I had a fun time!

Jett and Amberlea

Jett had made a special picture for us. He had painted a cross and glued on the cross the poem, Grandparents, by Stacy Smith. Thank you, Jett!

"Children's children are a crown to the aged,..." Psalm 17:6
Mel and I are blessed with 5 precious crowns!

Panera Bread Before Grandparents' Day

Tuesday, November 9th was Grandparents' Day at Jett's school. Mel and I had planned to go by Mitch and Amberlea's house before school; however, Mitch was not feeling well so we met at Panera Bread.
Mel and I enjoyed cafe mocha and cheese danishes, Jett had a chocolate chip muffie and Amberlea had a cinnamon crunch bagel. Yum! Delicious

The Women' Conference

The women's conference was wonderful. Everyone really enjoyed the day.
At my table I had Julia, Geneva, Carolyn, Margaret P., Addie, Patsy and myself. We were thrilled that Rosa was able to go with us. We had a great time visiting, eating, and making a bowl out of double-sided scrapbook paper. It turned out so cute!
Door prizes were given away and lucky me - I won a reflexology massage from the Artisan Salon in Ada!
Our speaker was a lady from Arkansas who is of Catholic Faith and in charge of stewardship in her church. We heard a great message about "Faith" - and exercising our faith one step at a time. She presented Biblical truths for women from all faiths which this group included. What counts is salvation from Jesus and then trusting him with out whole hearts to lead, guide and direct us in our everyday lives. How very, very true!


Carolyn and Geneva working on the bowls

The completed bowl

Table for the Women's Conference at Fitzhugh Baptist

Saturday, November 6th, a women's conference was being held at our church, Fitzhugh Baptist, so hostesses were needed to prepare tables for the day. I volunteered to be a hostess. Friday, November 5th (Melodi's birthday) I prepared mine using a rooster theme. This is how my table looked. After preparing it I came home and e-mailed the picture to Melodi and Amberlea for their approval. Both approved of how the table looked so I was all set for Saturday, the day of the conference.

We Moved Cows

Mel and I bought 15 acres that joins the "annex" to the south. It does not have a fence on Lightning Ridge Road side so we need to put one there. Since we are doing that fence Mel decided we would just do the whole stretch from the barn at the "annex" to the end of the 15 acres. (People drive very fast on that road.) So Mel and farm wife get to tear out the old fence at the "annex". In order to do that we had to move cows first. 11 cows, 2 yearling heifers and 10 calves were moved. The cows didn't know what was going on but did co-operate.

King Fall Festival

The King Family had a "Fall Family Festival" on October 30th at Surrey Hills Farm. I sent out invitations to all family members. (Next year we are counting on having more family members, Bryan & Melodi & the kids) to add to the fun.
The menu included hot dogs, chili, brisket, dips, chips, a fruit tray and plenty of desserts.
We had 22 that attended.
After "stuffing" ourselves, a hayride was enjoyed by several. (Thanks to Joe and Margaret who brought hay!) Mel hooked the trailer with the hay to the tractor and took us along the turnpike and serenaded us with the radio in the tractor. The song, The Farmer's Daughter, was especially enjoyed.
Amberlea was our photographer and took some wonderful pictures of the families together. Thanks Amber!
The kids had a great time playing outside and the adults visited as well as watched the OSU football game on TV.