Jonathan, Bryan, Amber and me

Jonathan, Bryan, Amber and me
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

Me and my sons in law, along with my eldest bearing Caroline and Brody. They'll be here in about three weeks.

Mexican Train Gang

Mexican Train Gang
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

Left to right: Cary, Charlie, Rusty, Shane and Keith playing Mexican Train. I think I won. No, maybe not.

The Walters kids

The Walters Family
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

Llewel, me, Larry, Diane and Sue at Thanksgiving 2005

Larry Turns 70 November 22

Larry Turns 70 November 22
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

How is this possible?

Mikki and the ladies in the Sumrall family

Mikki and the Ladies in her family
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

The Sumrall lady-folk at Thanksgiving 2005

Wayne, David, Gay, Mikki, Angie and Darlene

Mikki, Gay, David, Wayne, Darlene and Angie
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

Left to Right. Wayne is the one with the rare white catepillar on his lip. Mikki's siblings at Thanksgiving 2005

Mimi's Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal Cookies: (I don't know if this is the one Sue uses or not, but this is the one Mom put in the Eastview Cookbook and the one she gave me. 1 C. Brown Sugar 1 C. Granulated Sugar 1 C. Shortening 2 Eggs, well beaten 1 tsp. Vanilla 11/2 C. Flour 1 tsp. Soda 1 tsp. Salt 3 C. Quick Oats 1 C. Chopped Pecans. Cream sugars and shortening together. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add flour, salt, soda, oatmeal and nuts; mix well. Form into rolls, wrap in waxed paper. Chill Thoroughly. Slice 1/4 inch thick. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet @ 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 5 dozen. NOTE: When I have been in a hurry, I would leave in the bowl, cover with saran and let it chill in the fridge for about one hour and then dip it out. The cookies don't turn out as perfect, but they are still good. You just don't want the batter to dry to much, that is why they say wrap them in waxed paper.

Mimi's Chicken & Dumplings Recipe

(Mine, as in Diane, and Mom's....it is really a guessing game) Prior to cooking this recipe please read this "New Disclaimer": This may not be the actual Mimi Dumpling Recipe. This may not taste like Mimi's dumplings, look like Mimi's dumplings, smell like Mimi's dumplings, act like her dumplings, nor digest like Mimi's dumplings. Actually, Sue has the actual recipe. Diane just made this one up from observation, trial and error. (However, they are pretty dang close to Mimi's) Chicken Broth: - One large Fryer or Hen completely thawed - Remove the inner sack that usually includes the neck, gizzard and liver [I do not use these, but Mom would sometimes include them because Dad liked them....I do boil the neck with the rest of the chicken because that meat is very tasty. - Do not remove the skin on the chicken prior to cooking. - For ease of handling, cut up the chicken [removing the tail point] so it will cook faster (if you don't know how, I can show you) - Boil the chicken until tender, - Remove all chicken from the broth - saving the broth - let the chicken cool, remove skin, de-bone & de-vein (discard skin, bones and veins). - Chop larger pieces of meat into bite sized pieces and set to one side. - To the broth, add black pepper to taste and one can of Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup. If the broth is not fat enough (yellow), add one or two sticks of butter. Let simmer until all is dissolved and blended well. While that is cooking slowly, make up the Dumplings: In large bowl combine - - Approximately five cups of All-Purpose Flour (DO NOT USE SELF RISING...you will have a mess). - One good rounded up hand full of Crisco Shortening (SOLID - NOT LIQUID)(I think it would be somewhere around 1-1/2 Cup.... [Crisco now puts out the package of individual sticks of Shortening. One stick works real well - Of course if you are making a huge two pots like I did at Thanksgiving, it will take at least two of the sticks) ---------------------------------- HINT: Crisco Shortening can be kept in the freezer so it won't spoil until you make Dumplings the next time. ---------------------------------- Combine the flour, the salt and shortening. Mix together well until mixture resembles course corn meal. Add Ice Water (needs to be very cold) gradually and mix with hands (sorry) working the dough until it begins to look like the consistency of a pie crust....it can be a little sticky because the next step will take care of that. Pour approximately two cups flour on a flat surface. Remove a good double handful of the dough from the bowl and work more flour into it until it is the consistency to be able to roll it out with a rolling pin (Don't add too much or you will have tough little dough wads instead of dumplings). Roll the dough in every direction guaranteeing that the dough is consistently thin all over. Roll very thin because when you cook them they will get thicker. Cut the dumplings down and across into bite size pieces (approx. 2" X 3")they don't have to be exact.... Drop the dumplings into the hot broth mixture. Press down with a spoon - do not stir too much or you will have mush! Continue doing this until you have all the dumplings rolled, cut and in the broth. Let them cook on low for just a few minutes and then add about 1-1/2 cup cold sweet milk. Stir enough to mix the milk in. Taste to see if they are salty enough...if not at this point you can add more salt to taste! Eat and enjoy........

Foggy Afternoon at Go Away Farm

She's close!

Amber about 3 weeks out
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

Amber joined us yesterday at the office Thanksgiving party for a little while. She is really looking like the delivery of Caroline and Brody is around the corner. We're ready!

The newest Walters

Hana on her first night as a Walters
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

We have been working for weeks to get a new family dog and it finally culminated today with the entrance of Hana, a 4 year old retired show dog. She is a Shiba Inu, a 3,000 year old Japanese breed. She looks so much like a fox that it is hard to believe that somewhere along the line there wasn't one in the woodpile (as Bandaddy would say). I'm already afraid that she may be smarter than me....

Jared's Thanksgiving Art Presentation

Jared's Thanksgiving Art Presentation
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

Our Creative Director, Jared Van Braeune walked into the conference room at adplex, picked up a black marker and gave us all a wonderful Thanksgiving comic. The boy is unreal. No props, no nothing but a marker and about 5 minutes.

Dan Thurman, Galen and Terry Sabom

Dan Thurman, Galen and Terry Sabom
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

Dan loaned me my first unsecured bank loan for $200k 21 years ago, and Terry Sabom has been my legal counsel for 25 years. Both have been good friends and good counsel. I'm 51, Terry is 61 and Dan 71. Funny, I feel like I'm gaining on them.

Go Away Entrance

Go Away Entrance
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

November 10 at Go Away at sun-up

November 10 at Go Away at sun-up
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

Wow!

Raton NM, first night in the Alpenlite

Raton NM, first night in the Alpenlite
Originally uploaded by galenwalt.

26 degrees on our first night