Over the weekend her post-concussive episodes seemed to be getting shorter. We are hoping and praying they are starting to get shorter to stay. Yesterday we took her to church again but while Joe and I were eating she had started with another of her episodes. Since she doesn’t seem to do well in crowds, we brought her home from church and in 2 1 /2 hours she was back to her normal self. Later in the evening she had another one that also lasted 2 1 /2 hours. One change we noticed is that she could walk unassisted during these episodes which is the first time she has been able to since her brain concussion June 2. So we think we can see some improvements in her.
One of my friends and her children spent part of one day here last week. They ate lunch here and we got acquainted with her newest baby, Matthew. Matthew was born on July 7. He has an 8-year-old sister and 6-year-old twin brothers. Lovina, 6, and Kevin, 4, were really thrilled to see their playmates again. Due to a bad case of poison ivy I did not want to hold Baby Matthew which I regretted. The girls made up for me and kept passing him back and forth. Such a precious bundle to love. It was nice visiting again and the children had a nice time together.
On Friday evening we were glad to have my editor’s parents Jim and Rita join us for supper. It had been awhile since we had seen them. Joe grilled some chicken and we made mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, corn, cole slaw, cheese, tomatoes, homemade bread, butter, strawberry jam, walnut pie, and peaches. Walnut pie uses the same recipe as pecan pie, except walnuts used in place of pecans. We sat on the porch and sang and visited after we ate. We were glad they could stop in on their vacation. We gave them a tour of our house which they had not seen yet.
Last night Jacob, Emma, and family came for supper. They brought sweet corn and we made homemade jalapeno poppers using banana peppers instead. Along with that Joe also grilled some T-bone steaks and hamburgers. While we were preparing supper, the children had to catch some of the chickens. Four-year-old Kevin and 3-year-old Steven decided to let them all out. Those two little adventurous boys sure keep us going. It is so cute standing back and listening to them talk to one another, each blaming the other for letting the chickens out.
A Cadillac, Michigan reader asked for my recipe for Poor Man’s Steak. This is made a lot for company or for a wedding where they can prepare it the night before and just have to heat in the next day. A lot of people also use this recipe for deer meat.
Homemade Poor Man’s Steak
3 pounds hamburger
3/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup diced onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
Mix all of the ingredients except for the cream of mushroom soup and shape into a narrow loaf pan. Let set for at least 8 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Slice into pieces and grill or fry just enough to brown each side. Put slices in layers in a roaster pan and spread mushroom soup (without adding water) onto each piece. Bake 1 hour at 325.
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