Big Pig

I (Kelly) will be fishing in the first "Big Pig Finraiser" at Froghollow in a few weeks. I am really excited about this as I am the only female of the twenty total contestants. The winner will be determined by the person that catches the longest fish. I know it will be a matter of luck, but I certainly hope luck is on my side!

Old Fashion Tea Cakes

Old Fashion Tea Cakes

recipe taken from the Georgia Market Bulletin, Jan 2010

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup cooking oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 2 teaspoons vinegar

2 1/2 cups self-rising flour

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Combine sugar, oil and vanilla in large bowl of electric mixer. Mix well; add eggs, beating well. Stir in baking soda dissolved in vinegar; add flour and stir to make a stiff dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll to 1/4 inch thick and cut our with a 3-inch round cutter. Bake on lightly greased baking sheet for 10 minutes or until light brown. Remove to wire racks to cook. Yield: 4-5 dozen, depending on size cutter used.

Testing note: These are crisp, not too sweet cookies from our grandmother's day when sugar was rationed. Some recipes call for sprinkling the warm cookies with a sugar and cinnamon mixture. They are wonderful with a cup of hot tea or coffee.

Jan. 2011

We experienced one of our largest snow/ice storms the week of Jan. 10. We were so prepared. We had three sleds, lots of soup and grill cheese makings, coffee and our generator. What more could we have needed? We had no school, lots of food, tons of fun with friends and no loss of electricity! I also continue to play with my photography hobby!

It seemed like a great time to build a fire!

Catfish loved the snow, while Tut was not so sure about the slippery ice.

Jeep!

Tranquility!

Such a nice time for a fire.

I love my kids!

Sabalo was so not sure what to think of all this white stuff on the ground.

The sun finally comes out, but does little to warm things up!

Anna participates in 4-wheeler sledding!

Anna Beck and I before our sledding adventures.

Steve in a snowball fight!

Yes, we LOVE the hat!

Snow, snow and more snow!

Sabalo loves stretching out in the sun!

On Friday Steve and I went to the Atlanta Boat Show. I could not believe just how bad the roads were in Atlanta. There was so much ice on the roads. I was very happy to be back home in the mountains with clear roads.

Check out our sledding video!

Belize - Dec. 2010

Steve and I made our fourth trip to San Perdro, Ambergris Caye, Belize in early December. We spent five days on the island. We had a great time. I caught my first bone fish and Steve landed his first tarpon.

Steve spent lots of time fishing at the "Croc Hole." When the wind was blowing I spent lots of time on the golf cart.

On the Delta!

I love the idea of being able to recycle Coke bottle for cash!

We took the cart through some nice mud at the southern tip of the island!

Steve with his largest tailing bone fish!

Say cheese Mr./Ms. Bone Fish

Steve wading on the south end of the island.

This is the spot where he caught the big bone fish.

While riding on the golf cart, Steve would take his flip flops off and they would slide around in the floor board area. I repeatedly told him they were going to fall off? Did he listen? NO! So we lost a flop. He was devastated. We drove all over town and finally found his lost flop! He was one happy kido! Maybe he will listen better next time. Yeah right!

Steve caught a little cotta at the Croc Hole.

Kelly fishing (unsuccessfully) at the Croc Hole.

Hillyboo, our fishing guide provided us with fresh squeezed orange juice.

Croc Hole fishing again...

Steve being Mr. GQ on a pier at the northern end of the island.

Steven is one happy little camper with his first tarpon. He did not care if it was a baby!

Tarpon are such pretty fish.

I was not happy to be all muddy.

Just when Steve said to stop playing around that were we moving to a play where there are some fish, I caught this snapper type fish.

When we left the room, I always had to carry everything!

Steve's happy fish!

See how the fly rod is bend on such small little fighters.

These little buggers fight!

Steve's little fishy!

One of my first bone fish!

Steve's favorite meal of grilled chicken from the lady outside of the supermarket.

We were looking for bone fish, but they were hanging out in deeper waters and I got bored when I could not find them.

We ate breakfast every morning at Lily's.

Steve ate many meals of stewed chicken with beans and rice from street venders.

I enjoyed relaxing on the veranda overlooking the ocean!

Steve on the veranda at the Conch Shell.

My 32nd birthday lunch - Neri bean tacos with Marie Sharps.

I think this is my favorite meal ever.

Check out our Belize fishing video on YouTube!

* No fish were harmed in this production. I strongly believe (Belize) in catch and release. K

December 2010

December seemed to go by like a flash of light. I spend the first few days getting ready for our Belize trip. (more to come on that soon) Then we had lots of catching up to do when we returned. We had three snow days during the last week of school in December. We spent most of Christmas with family and friends and joined in the new year with a quite night at home.

Our front yard on a beautiful December afternoon.

I attempted to take Aly & Camerons' Christmas pictures.

I discovered it is very difficult to get two children to work with the camera, at the same time.

Christmas Day snow at Papa White's.

Our Christmas tree at the barn.

Christmas Day snow above the Ranger Camp.

While off of school for Christmas break I spent a day in Athens, with a Alana and her family. I can not get over how cute Henry and Yona are! I could just eat them up!

Tut spent hours watching me finish up Christmas cards.

Fishy and Piggy

Tut spend lots of time hanging out in his bed downstairs.

Our 2010 (5th) Christmas tree.

The basement was decorated for the dogs (Dawgs)

Welcome!

We had some VERY cold nights. Tut slept under a sleeping bag several nights.

A quick snow burst in mid December.

We lost three days of school the week before Christmas break.

We celebrated my birthday on a snow day at Benihana's.

My photo of Steve in the Keys was an honorable mention for

Yeti Coolers December photo of the month contest.

On one of our many lazy mornings during Christmas break Fish and I fought on the bed. I can still (barely) get her in "baby" position. I can not believe she is already FOUR!

Dad and I before we ran in the Reindeer 5K in Dawsonville.

We had not pictures of our 4th 5K, the Frosty 5K in Dahlonega.