Fishing.

Ice fishing is totally fun, if you're into losing fingers, toes and your tiny little ice fishing pole. Kay Schwedhelm took Phil out to Summit Lake for the experience. They caught a few bass but had to throw them back.
Phil assured me he wouldn't fall in since the ice on the lake is up to a foot thick. He wants to take me out sometime. I'm going to pass though.

This is Kay.

Expecting!!!

Well, after 13 weeks Phil and I are ready to announce our good news! We've got a bun in the oven! We expect our little one to come into the world around July 26th. My tummy is already starting to grow! Yesterday we listened to the greatest and most amazing thing we've ever heard, our baby's heartbeat. Everything appears to be going very well and mom and dad (that would be me and Phil!) are very excited, also not so sick anymore!

Phil's tummy is growing too, but I think it has something to do with the Nutty Bars, or at least I hope so.

Recipes.

Yum y'all. I made this the other night. I didn't put the squash or zucchini in it because Phil's scared of them, but it still turned out delish so I thought I'd share. It's the perfect supper or lunch (or both for a few days since it yields so much) for these 5 degree days! By the way it requires 8 hours to cook! I cooked mine for 7 then got too hungry to wait, so start this one early in the day!

Ingredients for Slow-Cooker Veggie Chili

2 large carrots, diced (1 cup)
2 celery ribs, diced (1/2 cup)
1 medium-size sweet onion, diced
Vegetable cooking spray
2 (8-oz.) packages sliced fresh mushrooms
1 large zucchini, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1 yellow squash, chopped (1 cup)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon seasoned pepper
1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
3 cups tomato juice
o2 (14 1/2-oz.) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
4 (15-oz.) cans pinto, black, great Northern, or kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn

Saute first 3 ingredients in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat 10 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add mushrooms, zucchini, and squash; saute 3 more minutes. Add chili powder and next 2 ingredients, and saute 5 more minutes.

Stir together tomato sauce and tomato juice in a 6-qt. slow cooker until smooth. Stir in diced tomatoes, next 2 ingredients, and carrot mixture. Cover and cook on LOW 8 hours.

And while I'm at it and for the sake of my dear uncle who inquired, here are the recipes for "Porcupine Meatballs" and "Creamy Chicken Enchiladas":

Ingredients for Porcupine Meatballs

1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 slightly beaten egg
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tbsp parsley flakes
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp chopped onion
1 10 3/4 oz can tomato soup
1/2 cup water
1 tsp worchestershire sauce

Combine meat, rice, egg, parsley, onion, salt, pepper. Mix thoroughly. Shape into about 10 balls and place in 9x9" pan. Mix soup, water and worchestershire sauce; pour over meatballs. Bake 40-45 mins at 350. Serves 4-5.

Ingredients for Creamy Chicken Enchiladas:

2/3 cup condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
2/3 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
4 flour or corn tortillas (6 inches), warmed

In small bowl, combine soup and sour cream. Spread half over the bottom of an 8 in square baking dish. Place 1/2 cup chicken and 1 tablespoon cheese down the center of each tortilla; roll up and plcae in the baking dish. Top with remaining soup mixture; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered, at 350 for 18-22 mins or until heated through. Serves 2.

Open House.

We finally had a chance to have our first open house. The weather was good and Phil served up his fine home "refreshments", so we had a very good crowd and a good time.

Here are some of the "refreshments" I contributed. I also made queso and kept making the mistake of calling it "queso". I got funny looks and was asked, "What's queso?". Here it's known as "cheese dip". Easy enough I guess.

Vernie had to get in on our photo op. I think he and I look like beautiful angles. I suppose Phil does too, in his own way.

Some of our guests began to arrive. Here is our church organist, Janice.

Phil serving his brew.

Here's Lorenz trying to decide if he wanted "queso" or honey ale.

Madeline and Betty played Rock Paper Scissors for who got the next glass.

Family!

The weekend after Christmas Mama, James, Sandy, Sara (BooBoo) and Elle came to see us! I was so happy to have them here. They were able to stay for 4 days then had to make the 18 hour trek back to Texas. Sunday our friends Clint and Jodi Pearson, who lived in Texas years ago, came up from Kenard NE with their kids, Cody and Caitlin, for church service and dinner.

Snow fight!

James emerges from Phil's igloo, or maybe he's going in backwards.

Phil and Cody in the igloo, which really got roomy thanks to all the child labor.

After dinner we went over to the park for some extreme sledding! Here's Sara.

Clint and Elle have a go. Elle acts terrified for Clint's sake.

Sandy prepares herself to take the plunge.

She took it bravely.

Phil sports an older model sled for speed and more mobility and to look cooler than everyone else.

Sandy, Sara, Elle and James.

The Hughes Family Angels.

I looked like a rectangle, but I was warm!

We took a tour of downtown Bancroft. Here's Main St.

Me and Sara on our way to Roger's Market where I do most of my in town grocery shopping.

Shopping at Roger's.

Here's our bank.

Kay and Loretta Schwedhelm had us over to their place to sled on their hill and it was quite the hill, but you had to watch out for the cornstalks on the way down. Here Phil, James, Elle and Kay make the walk back up, the fun part.

On their last night here we all went over to Lyons, about 7 miles from Bancroft to eat supper at The Branding Iron. It was a treat to get out to a real restaurant!

Elle and Sara really took to their new uncle Phil.

Can you blame them?

With Mama.

Christmas.

Our first Christmas together and it was a white one! It was a very busy time for Phil, we had 4 services at church in 3 days. He was tired when it came time to sit down and open gifts, but I think he enjoyed it. I know I did!

New earmuffs and slippers from Mama!

Glenn and Roberta Kai had us over to there house on Christmas day for dinner. The Munderlohs were there as well. We had a good time and I didn't have to cook!