Prize Mother

Last Saturday there was a rodeo and a chili cook-off. I entered the chili cook off, not because I make the best chili in the world, but because I felt that was one way I could contribute to the family-oriented activity and ensure that such fun activities would be successful. I did however get competitive about it. I carefully diced up an entire 7lb. chuck roast and simmer it with home roasted chili peppers and just picked from the garden onions. I secretly hoped that it would be the best chili there. I soaked beans from my food storage, and simmered them for 4 hours, only to find that they were still hard and dark. I threw them out and added the un-mentionable to the large pot of perfect chili ingredients - CANNED beans. It was just a few hours to the cook off, and I needed to get it there in time to feed the crowds. I was sad that it would not be the best chili there and the most discerning of palets would know that my chili was fake. I sent it and didn't worry about it further. But it was wonderful to know that my boys and Jeff, carefully guarded the leftovers, bringing them home and begging to have chili again that night. They went on and on how it was the best chili there and that they didn't even have a second taste of any other chili, so they would have room for more of the best chili in the world. I hope they know how great that makes me feel. After all, their's is the only opinion that counts in my book. By Sunday night, they had eaten every bite.

I'm not sure I'm a blogger

I have a hard time sitting down and putting my feelings into words, then so much time goes by and I would have to write a novel to update things, and I just give up and read Steven's and Alicia's blogs. I guess I am better off just jotting down a few observations. Jeff just got through writing his life story to be included in a book that his sister is publishing. We had to look up old photographs and I am so in love with Jeff. It was amazing to see how the boys and Jill have grown, how life has turned out for the Strong family. I never thought of myself ( closing in on 6 feet tall) as little or petite, but next to my teenage boys- I am tiny.