Kirschling Kiddos' Request..Meg did asked for it!

                                   JUST GIVE MEG A CAMERA AND LET THE FUN BEGIN...            

                                              For that matter give any Kirschling one and here we go!

                                                    Gregory is awaiting Santa and behaving

                                                              Meaghan the Daredevil

                                                           Gretchen taking a Sunday Drive

Michael on a Monday cruise

Mother's First Birthday

Meg's is Three

                                                                  Meg's is a Mouse




                                   Courtney, Katie, Meg, Lindsey, and Gregory T...Cousins forever!
                                                         Duluth MN a day at the cemetery!


                                                           Gretchen Arrives 10-10-84 @ 10 # 4 oz

                                      But not before Meg and Greg sit down to cool off.

Barbara and Mary Ellen 1953

Virginia Minnesota

Gretchen's First Easter Rochester 1985

Michael would  join the family in 1986 weighing in at 10# 5 oz. and finding great solace in the arms of his big sister.

                                                       Gretchen seems distressed?

                        "We have been extra good this year, Santa.!" Greg hopes Santa is buying it.
                                                       Michael is blowing his cover, however

                                                   Easter Eggs for all in Biloxi. Mississippi

                                       Of course a trip to the golf course can settle the nerves too.
                                        ( Looks like Gretchen is going to clobber someone soon! )

                             Fat Tuesday is for partying...Eat Drink and be naughty for tomorrow is Lent!
                             While Michael prays....Gretchen looks like she has some wretched Gretchen ideas

Mom didn't show up again for the carpool... "Everybody hold hands" instructs Meg,  "I'll get us a ride home

In the spring of 1887 Meg would bring home a lovely stray cat which dad named Snickers...and...

In the summer of 1987 Meg would be medic-evacuated from the home with "cat allergies."

(I lost my 1987 Mother of the Year nomination quickly (AGAIN!)

Gregry would become a card carrying  Tree Hugger of Mississippi

  Bayou Chapter 101

MJK and RJK would go to Greg's induction ceremony for Bayou Chapter 101 in full dress

The Kirschling Women would remain at home and butcher Jack-o-Lanterns

After serious psychiatric and dietary therapy the younger two would conquer "Lactose Tolerance"

The Kirschling Kiddos would become aquatic adventurers.

Michael was considering joining the Mississippi Fishermen's Association

Gregory would find a home on Park Point for a homeless little girl! 

She would soon be mainstreamed into preschool

And her younger brother and sister

. . . 

Would always look up to her and her older brother

BECAUSE

She was literally always OUR HOMECOMING QUEEN!

May Day and Meaghan Marie

                                                                 May Day Biloxi, Mississippi
A long time ago and a far place away the tradition of May Day was celebrated to spread joy to a selected few.  We would do Dixie-cup May Baskets; complete with construction paper handles, fill them with M&M's and Jelly Beans (unwrapped of course) and head out before school to surrounding doorsteps.

I am proud to report I remain just as corny today.  (And then along came Meaghan Marie!)

All of my children are fantastic!
Michael just called and he is still looking for a job but his latest idea is a fantastic one!  He thanked me for the heads up on May Day and stated perhaps I "saved the day!"  This makes my day cuz of course I am reading between the lines thinking Jackie may get a May Day Candy Bar! Moms cannot always 'grill" the boys as easily as they can "grill" the girls.  After a weekend in Chicago Greg was looking forward to a Monday without "proposal" questions.  Meaghan goes into detail in her Blog about "having something wrong with her that she isn't married..." and I am thinking Greg has the same missing "chip."

All of my children are fantastic....Today though, Meg  rocks!

I had just read Meaghan's Blog when Gretchen called from Waynesville Missouri and I was "damning" Meaghan.  Meaghan wrote a Blog which manage to reduce me to a puddle of tears and totally bring me to a place so friendly, familiar and fantastic I was crying.  I just learned all tears stop you cold in your tracks.  I cannot function until I absorb the depth and wealth of the moments expressed by our oldest daughter.  For those few which are not too absorbed I will place a link...But be warned should you decide to read "Seester, Seester" you will have been bitten by the Meagster's bug and will need to read on to
MaMa (Miss) Meaghan.  (Click  on  Meaghan's Blog)
                                                                          Meaghan's Blog

                          Tell me how richer are you now that you have been touched by these Angels!

Spent last weekend in the Windy City enjoying the company of Ron, Greg and too Annelise.  Greg took me to see the new movie just released "Bully" and it was a winner!  It is not a "feel good' kind of picture but I think everyone should be required to see it! It is "life changing"....It is.

I took Greg and Ron to see Jersey Boys.  (I had seen it before but this 'repeat' helped to erase all memory of days past!)
Greg treated us to a White Sox game but they fell to the Red Sox but not before we ate 100 pounds of peanuts, drank beer and ate nachos.  (So much for sodium restricted diets!)
So much for any diets. . .
Just a few of our favorite and expanded dinners were feasts at:
                                                                                              Chicago Chop House Grill

                                                                                              Sabel Chicago

                                                                                               Ditkas

In my defense: Brought the bikes and made a 15 mile ride along the lake uneventfully.  (Have yet to repeat this effort however. My excuses are I have to read. "The Ice Man Cometh."

Did I ever tell you that ALL the men in my life have always been "BIGGER than Life!" and remain so to this day!

                                                       Grampa King Wisconsin Dells 1950 something

Room Service

Had a dog sitter hired and the two "honeymooners" (LOL) headed out for a long weekend which included a short medical meeting and two nights as guests at the Sheraton.

Sometimes you cannot write funnier scenes than the 'actual" scenes which do not need much embellishing.

Imagine Saturday morning...Ron wants to not be late and I want to head out around Madison with a low-key bike ride.  I am dallying and ask Ron,  "Call and ask to have the room "Maid-Up".

This is standard operating procedure for yours truly.  I usually travel with Yo Yo;  the wonderful barking "Little Shit," says Ron in all seriousness.  It makes everyone happy. . .The maid service, Yo Yo and me to take the dog while the room is renewed.  Alas, on Saturday I asked Ron to call while I laced up my feet...Not because I had Yo Yo but because having the room done while I am gone is a good idea.

Fast forward to my next hearing: "I want the Room Serviced....I have called Room Service because I want the Room Serviced...Isn't this ROOM SERVICE.". . ."I don't want you to bring me BREAKFAST!" proclaimed MY VERY OWN Dr. Brilliant

I can't LOL!  I can't do anything but gently, most gently with the most calm and quiet demeanor say,  "You meant to call Housekeeping (thinking  OMG...) BUT NEVER MIND" And then. . .

I laughed all by myself...all around the town.  I can unequivocally declare myself the "Happiest Capital City Biker" of this past weekend.   I am cycling past "Recall Walker" signs and I am hysterically on fire laughing out loud.  I am lucky to not be stoned.  I was told by one driver I was "On the wrong side."  He got laughed at too!  Later, Ron LOL too!  He is a very good sport!

Of course the room was finished when I returned.  I am certain the couple in Room 815 were farder for "employee hotel humor." Later we would finish off the Saturday locked in a downtown ramp near Martin Luther King Blvd.  Ron failed to validate the ramp ticket and neither of us had the techno skills to raise the exit gate.  It wouldn't take a credit card,  a $20.00 bill and of course not the ticket.  I had to call the emergency number and "The Voice" must have felt sorry for me.  Finally we are home!  Ma and Pa Kettle went to town!

Because it was across the street we went to the horse show too.  I am convinced we were the only people at the horse show who didn't own a horse.  We still don't own a horse.

. . . Ron got two new pairs of running shoes and I bought new knives.  Had to promise not to use them outside of the kitchen!  Also as a result of Whole Foods I have now a brand new best web site to visit. . .
                                                       www.BlueStonePerennials.com

Easter Lamb And Mom

Mother Mary aka Mary Ursula

Lamb Chops with Mint Sauce

Not per Mother Mary

yield: Serves 6

The lamb that we buy today hardly requires a typical English mint sauce (the puckery flavor was originally designed to cut through the stronger taste...

ingredients

• 3 8-chop racks of lamb, trimmed
• 6 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 3 cups fresh white breadcrumbs
• 6 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

• Fresh mint sprigs

Mint Sauce

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• 1/2 cup canned beef broth
• 1/3 cup minced shallots
• 6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar

• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

preparation

To make lamb:
Preheat oven to 450°F. Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Spread 1 tablespoon mustard on each side of each lamb rack. Mix breadcrumbs and mint in medium bowl. Press breadcrumb mixture onto lamb, coating completely.

Arrange lamb, meat side up, on large baking sheet with rim. Roast lamb 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Roast until thermometer inserted into lamb registers 130°F. for medium-rare, about 20 minutes longer.

Transfer lamb to work surface. Tent with foil; let stand 5 minutes. Cut lamb racks between bones into chops. Arrange chops on plates. Garnish with mint sprigs; pass Mint Sauce separately.

To make sauce:
Combine 1 cup mint, broth, shallots, vinegar and sugar in heavy small non-aluminum saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Simmer 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 2 hours.

Strain sauce into large glass measuring cup. Place cornstarch in same saucepan. Gradually whisk in sauce. Bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir until sauce thickens slightly and turns translucent, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.) Stir in remaining 2 tablespoon mint. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes about 1 cup. 

               Mother Mary took great pride in her lamb shanks.  She used to ask the butcher to save them all for her, in a day and age when they were tossed rather than sold.  She wouldn't think of ever serving them (which she simmered in her orange cast iron covered roaster in a homemade barbecue sauce of dry mustard, brown sugar, and ketchup) without Mint Sauce.  The roaster (which I still have today) is devoid of spots of cast iron on the bottom.  Mom probably packed a mean shank in her day!

To the novice of mint sauce you have to realize it would better be called it, "Mint Vinegar."  But somehow it works! To the non descendants of Mother Mary you can buy Mint Sauce in some condiment aisles still made by "Crosse and Blackwell" It is English.  My rule is when I find it...buy three!

Recently we got three of the four home for Easter. Yet, I had four because Josh goes where Gretchen goes.  Without much protest from Ron, the Easter bunny:  he hide 100 plastic eggs and the kiddos had a blast searching for eggs. Gretchen won!  She made out like a bandit. Then the kiddos said we should eat in the dinning room and ,Yes!  We sat down to lamb shanks with mint sauce.  Grandpa didn't know what he was eating!  Lamb is still distinctive with or without mint sauce! 

Gretchen and Josh are stateside and Meaghan remains in Germany.  If anyone can survive without her sister it is Meg. Meg is so funny!  She is in Greece with friends as I type this.  She is tossing around a new car and thinking VW diesel Golf But she is "not sure they sell them in Germany."

Well, I always like to spend money when I am depressed!  I bought a capiz shell lamp once.  I thought I was the queen of Milwaukee that day!  Then we had four children and my depression ended.  I have been too busy to put myself first for 34 years.

This may be only April 15th...our taxes are done, as are the offsprings' by their reports...WE DO NOT OWE! . . . 

I just turned on the AC which is probably a new record for our seventh year in Wisconsin.  It is a 90%, humidity day & damp; very damp; Ron's watching the Stanley Cup play-offs (Nashville 3... Detroit 1)  and I am watching him.  I am also sure I just saw a rainforest's monkey swing though the woods.  It is rainforest warm today!  Mike just left for MSP because the weather is supposed to become ugly by late afternoon.  (Someone check on me tomorrow.)

I was thinking if I air-condition the house and wait out the weather in the basement it will be less humid.  I am hopeful I will also create a 'tornado defying negative pressure home'.  Or one without a roof. . . What do I know?  

As always there is never a dull moment when "Ma and Pa Kettle" go to town with any combination of Kirschling kiddos and the outcome is "double your pleasure, double your fun with Doublemint  Doublemint gum!"  Last weekend was Greg, Gretchen and Josh.  This weekend Michael told about his free falling experience from the top of the Target Center and had Chuck in stitches with his (Michael's) getting home from Brewer's Park. Needless to say the evenings rocked!

Well it is on to watch the Penguins play the Flyers which Ron tells me is a "Hate Match.   I can nap through fights too!"

My Dad, his car, his mom Gertrude...
maybe returning from Korea Late 1940s?  Maybe Grandpa King's Car too?

The DiningTravelers

St. Paul Grill

Just returned from a whirlwind tour, Saw Greg and Annelise in the Windy City...ventured to ST Patrick's Day at the St. Paul Hotel with a visit to the WCHA tourney...and did all the following only gaining four pounds.
Returned from Napa via Las Vegas yesterday and Michael and Jackie valeted us from the airport to Salut

Chicago's Joes

Enter Wine Country

Baron Rothchild meets Robert Mondavi

Sterling

Windsor Winery of Hearlsburg CA


Your table for 2 at Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant at The Culinary Institute of America will be ready for you on Wednesday, March 2X, 2012 at 6:00 PM.   CIA Dining @ GREYSTONE

"Good Afternoon Ron,- before you decide what you're doing this weekend think about this . . .
How about a delicious Duck Cassoulet with flageolet beans gently simmered in a tomato and vegetable broth and then flavored with foie gras and boudin sausage, top that all with a slow cooked crisp duck confit and Viola!"
"Barb, Bon Appetite! How about enjoying a Surf and Turf with Petite filets and Australian Lobster. A sure way to make anyone smile .....
Todds Fine Dining Henderson Nevada

The list goes on but I did say only four more pounds.  Add the wine tours of Napa Valley and Healdsburg.  Discredit the LaTorque Chef's Table Tasting menu at Napas Westin as "miserably inadequate."

Add        Mustards of Napa

We ate on this vacation in 5 different states and cannot rate the experiences separate from each other.  This vacation was all Ron's idea as he just came home a month ago and said, "Let's go." 
I was so glad he wasn't on the phone!

I started reading Greg's recommended "The Hunger Games".  Sisters Katniss (MEG) and Prim(rose) (GRETCHEN) are sadly separate and I had to called Meaghan to see how she was doing as Gretchen and Josh are returning as I type this from three years in Baumholder, Germany tonight.
Gretchen being the sister she is, gave Meg her iPhone an hour ago.  Meg dropped hers in a mud puddle two years ago!  I have Gretchen's bed (cuz she still likes to sleep in her old bed) ready with a few pink layette items adorning the pillows. Uncle Greg bought her a copy of "Goodnight iPAD."  I am recording "Goodnight Moon" soon.
Finally I found this picture.  This is not Gretchen first rodeo!

Post"AL" Traumatic Dental Casualty Day

     "I realize how postal I become when thee dental appointment day arrives.  Yesterday was a Do-see! I faced my first periodontist. A feat which I had (not gallantly) avoided, cancelled, postponed for the past 20 years. The dentist in Gulfport, Mississippi had boldly recommended this option.  We left Mississippi in 1992. First, I went scuba diving with him as he was already in the class.  Didn't help the periodontal disease or my fear of dentists.  Cured my fear of sharks!

     I  experience extreme panic and anxiety by lashing out at whoever is in the vicinity when I have a scheduled dental appointment. Yesterday, I was doing my best to alienate my ride to Wausau by acting out. I am working on repairing the "resulting" outpour of showered verbal abuse but frankly I firmly believe the resolution to 'The Dental Chicken Dance' is  prescription narcotics.  I know how bad this sounds to the Wisconsin Department of Licensing  and to my S.O., a card carrying member of the The American Medical Association. . . but by 1:00 p.m. Ron was eyeball pleading me to take an Ativan.  Driving to Wausau I was apologetic and remorseful.  I WAS mellowed.

     I am to return to periodontal Wausau but I am not thinking about when, 'til then!  I plan to treat the "driver" better starting immediately!  (That part about "for better or worse." was realized yesterday as I did the darndest to become the  worstest!)

     My dad , Big George; would be 85 years old tomorrow had he not died in 1975.  I still think about him a lot and hope he will see I am trying to repair my bad behavoir of yesterday.  Dad was my rock on dental days way back when...1961-1971.  We would visit Dr. Aysta upstairs and after Biss's Locksmith and Gun Shoppe downstairs.  Who knew gun shopping could bring such relief?

 

     Our son, Greg, is 34 years old since Tuesday.  My episiotomy still hurts.
(First attempt to laugh at myself.)  Greg did write a poignant email yesterday and telephoned.  This is the same one who earlier wrote "The Day in the Life of K.. . "  (The kid can write!)

     I am reminded there is no amount of money which can cancel the value of goodtimes, good stories, good friendships, good humor, contributions of my offspring and the increasing value of loving relationships.
The quote for 2011-12 year has been from a twelve year old to his Grandma G. when he said, ". . .  you give me memories." (Above is a memory/gift from Mary Ellen which speaks volumns.)

     Our offspring continue to "slapstick" slay us with their antics and humor.  Gretchen and Josh have renamed my first grand baby from Jaxx to Riley.  Greg wrote he hopes the name "Riley" is not replaced with the name  "Mud".  Everyone but Gretchen likes the name "Riley Anne Rud"...the jury is out on "Mud Rud."  My sister Patty had a Great Dane named Meaghan (1979) when our Meaghan was born. . .so, this seems in keeping with tradition!

     Gretchen sent me a new Keurig which I may not have paid for (?) and I found Starbucks Blonde Kcups in Wausau yesterday to plug into it.  Meaghan and Gretchen found and sent (but signed from all) a four name necklace for a celebration of my babes.  Michael gave me a gold and rhinestone watch and has one to give dad when we see each other next. (Rhinestone Ron?)  Greg gave us a copy of  "a FILM that can SAVE your LIFE,"  FORKS OVER KNIVES which we haven't watched yet but he did recommend and we enjoyed "Midnight in Paris."  I have gifted out "Finian's Rainbow" x 3 this week to near dear ones...but probably will never get it shown on the big screen here!  (Modern Family)

Soon we will see a lot of hockey in St.Paul, after going to the "Green Tiger" in the Windy City...
To round out travels, Napa is being discussed complete with the CIA. (Thanxs Gwen for the heads-up!) 
As RJ has stated, "Don't know how long I'll have you around."  
Keeps a girl on her toes..Especially with how "postal" I was yesterday!
But I will improve in an attempt to please my parents and at least get to revisit them one day!
                                                                    Love The Views!

                                                                   20 weeks

LIFE OF KIRSCHLING BOOK ONE by Greg Kirschling

movies.  In fact as a chubby little preschooler, there was nothing else I really wanted to do.  Already by that time my parents had unsuccessfully tried to hook me into various team sports, but I wasn't nibbling.  In kindergarten I tried soccer, but I wasn't very fast, and one afternoon my parents forgot to pick me up.  I waited for them outside at the downtown YMCA for what seemed like hours, scared out of my Keds, and I was sure at the time that I was scarred for life.  Later, when I tried the kids' swim team, I nearly drowned, prompting the lifeguard on duty to jump in and actually save someone, another event I wasn't anxious to re experience.  Furthermore, my memories of early P.E. are a kaleidoscopic jumble of embarrassing moments, the worst of which involved me splitting open the seat of my pants in front of the whole class. I exposed my red G..I. Joe underwear, and even the teacher laughed.  Now , as I look back I realized athletics was making me occasionally very miserable in my early years.  Yet it seemed like every kid was athletic, or at least involved in athletics, and so I hopped on the bandwagon at a young age, crossing my fingers everytime I put on a pair of tennis shoes, hoping I'd magically take to sports.  What else was there to do?
     Then I remember the golden day I stumbled onto a solution, one of the most important days in my life,certainly the most cathartic.  One day in late May, 1983, when I was five years old, my mother came to school and pulled me out of class.  I think I figured I had a doctor's appointment, but my mother was mum.
     Only five, I vaguely remember a long walk in downtown Rochester, Minnesota, which at the time probably seemed bigger than it actually was.  I had no clue where we were headed, but finally we turned into what looked like the ticket booth of an old theater.  Then I remember sitting with my mother in a plush, dimly lit burgundy and cream theater.  Confused, with no one to turn to I supposes that when the curtain went up we'd watch a play or hear a concert.
     The lights went down. The curtain rose.  To my surprise, I saw a screen and suddenly, I was attacked in the dark on all sides by a burst of trumpets.  The Star Wars theme was overpowering, and I nearly fell out of my seat.  Two hours later, I learned I'd just seen the premiere showing of Return of the Jedi, the latest in the Star Wars saga.  I'm the kid who saw The Empire Strikes Back eight times in the theater and owned all the action figures; needles to say. I was shocked into open-mouthed euphoria at the surprise of another Star Wars movie.
     Yet I barely recall watching the movie for the first time, I only remember the actual experience itself, from the moment when John Williams' brass sprayed the theater and transported me onto another wavelength.  Ever since then, I've been in a galaxy of my own, far, far away from sports, for soon I started watching movies anytime and anywhere I could, even though the experiences was never nearly the same as it was in that classic theater, the kind of place where all movies should be watched.  I developed a fascination with films as I have for nothing else in life, and I can trace most of the reasons why back to that May afternoon.
     Sports and athletics don't approach the thrill that most movies provide; nothing does really.  In movies real life is postponed, then quickly forgotten, embellished or accentuated.  You can cast off from the world for a while and then sail home changed, refreshed and alive.  Even if the ride is sometimes rough, the trip is worth retaking.