Stew Cook

Happy Birthday, Ken! In honor of Ken's 60th birthday, the kids planned a fun day of cooking stew together, and then invited relatives and friends to help us eat it! This copper kettle came from Florence C. She gave it to Don G. who passed it on to us. Finally, after having it in our possession for nearly four years, we got a chance to use it, thanks to Jill's creativity in figuring it would be a great way to celebrate Ken's birthday. Lots of chopping and fixing went into that pot of stew!

Jill's getting ready to cry over all those onions!

One of my specialties--kitchen floor buns. This is a variation on the favorite Grady bun recipe, where I add several cups of various grains to the mixture. This time I used oatmeal, Red River cereal, and some bran flakes. My kids named them kitchen floor buns when they were rascals at home because they said it looked like I had swept the kitchen floor and dumped it into my buns! They are always a hit when I make them.

Leigh and Kirsten helped to dig the potatoes from my garden for the stew. Looks like we have and exceptionally fine crop of potatoes that we will soon need to dig for our winter supply.

Todd arrived by bicycle--he went extra miles besides the eight miles from his house to ours. He did a great job helping to chop up the cheese--left handed!

Even the guest of honor helped to peel the carrots! Most of his time was spent outside tending to the fire.

.Todd clowning around with his dad. We have never figured out how this kid got so tall!

Roy (and Deann, not pictured) arrived on the scene in the early afternoon. By this time, the steam was rising from the pot and smelling wonderful!

Ken's birthday present from the kids was a very nice gold watch. No more Walmart specials for him

This line-up of ladies was waiting for the stew to be declared ready.

After they got their tummies full, they managed to make their way outside the building to sit around the fire!

Instead of gifts, Jill wrote on the invitation to bring her dad a pie. Here he is with all eleven of them! He did not eat them all, but certainly enjoyed them with the others.

Ken reading his cards--His actual birthday was September 18, while I was enjoying Demorest convention. On that day, his 94-year-old mother fixed him supper--roast beef, mashed potatoes, tomato dumplings, other vegetables, and a birthday cake! What a grand lady!

Punk and Roy enjoyed a jam session of music, and others enjoyed listening.

I don't know how Ross escaped getting into any of the pictures, but he was a part of the day, too!

Thanks to all who came! We want to cook in this old copper kettle again!