MeatLover’s Fest is set…
….and has been for the last 16 years.
We started this when we worked North Central University and noticed that over the Memorial Weekend our neighborhood was extremely quiet and peaceful. All our neighbors left to camp, be with family, or just go for a drive. That is when we thought we would invite the few students that were around for summer school and not gone for the weekend over.
What to cook? Well I decided to cook three turkeys. Two on the grill and one in the oven. The first year wasn’t technically all meat but that is when the idea came. We invited people back the next year and have ever since. We have been in four states and each of the them have had their unique take on the event. We are grateful for new and old friend and invite you again to come over.
Bring a stab of meat and I will cook it on one of the grills. Or fill your crock pot full of yummy goodness. We will see you on the shores of the Wisconsin River.
The Official 2013 Invite (surprising like the previous 5 years)
(diet) Root Beer night with the Pastors..
We had our new good friends over for dinner with their family this last week. Pastors Kari and Timothy are lead pastors Trinity Lutheran in Rhinelander. This will probably get one of us in trouble from someone in our respective churches because we were socializing. But I don’t care it was a great night as we all shared our stories of faith, ministry and relationships. They also have the coolest kids, who really liked to play with our chickens.
The time went by so quick and they were ready to leave….but we forgot to have the Root Beer I set aside for the night. I got a Diet Sprechers Root Beer from a cafe in Eagle River (Blends) while we were out with some other friends. So with my customary ritualistic lack of formality we opened the bottles and passed them around. We were a couple short so we split some into some wine glasses for kids. This actually seemed to bring great delight to their youngest as she gazed with wide eyes at me, “I can’t drink with glass”. Worried that she might break it, I relieved her fear. “It doesn’t matter if you break it or spill it because its Root Beer night. And anyways I think you will do just fine!”
They left 45 minutes later after we sat and talked some more. The power of Root Beer. (oh by the way the diet wasn’t bad. I actually think I would get it again. We are big Sprechers fans. Check out our whole collection.)
Lord of the Rings Day renamed…Middle Earth Viewing Day
Six years ago when I transferred from a church with Saturday and Sunday services to one with only one on Sunday I made the comment to a friend that I have my Saturdays free for the first time in a while and could watch the whole Lord of the Rings Trilogy in one day if I wanted. The couple of weeks between those ministry positions I took out my extended version box set and did just that. Just me in front of the tv for 11 and half hours.
As subsequent Aprils have come and gone I have continued that tradition each year. Several years in my eldest son joined and last year my youngest jumped on board. We would start around 8:30am and go straight through with only a five-minute break in the middle of each movie when the first disk is done. There are no breaks at the end of the movie because we thought the credits give enough time to do what we need.
We called this day, Lord of the Rings Day. Yes I know that is original. But a problem, if you can call it that, occurred this year. A new movie came out called, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. We decided not to watch this movie in the theater (another story) and wait until this day. But because of the new movie we can’t use the old name.
So we will call this day, Middle Earth Viewing Day. Now with over 14 hours of movie we need to start a bit earlier. We will move our tv and stereo to the basement so we can hide from the world. All food will be prepared down there on the Pizzazz and electric griddle and I have the dorm fridge fully stocked. I am hoping we can bring the Keurig down also.
Wish us luck and if you come by don’t expect any conversation.
Our girl can get adopted…and we are happy!
We just got the best news of our life last night (ok in the top 5). A girl named Sophia will be able to be adopted by our great friends. Her birth mother just lost parental rights. This was after over 3 years in foster care. This is a big deal to us because we had Sophia for nearly a year in our home before we moved to Wisconsin two-years ago. We always did foster care to help reunite kids with their birth parents (and sincerely tried in this case) but it was clear to us then that this would not be a good decision for mom or her children.
When we were deciding to move to WI Sophia was the main reason and at the end the only reason why we felt we might stay in Washington. We really loved her and were willing to stay months longer to possible adopt her ourselves. It became extremely clear that would not happen any time soon. It was also at that time our dear friends Will and NaKena decided to get their foster license to take care of a teenage boy (who they later adopted). They grew to also love Sophia because of their interaction at church and other activities and offered to be her foster parents.
We felt good to leave at that point. When we left Washington we gave many people in our lives gifts of remembrance but there was no greater gift then Sophia. She was truly part of our family and we deeply loved her. She has now been a part of Will and NaKena’s family of six since we left. Anyone that has foster cared or entered into the world of adoption understands the up and down roller coaster that occurs after every visit or court date. They have valiantly navigated those times these last two years and now are moments (barring any crazy court stuff) away from being able to call Sophia their own.
Side note about Will and NaKena. I have done some good things as a pastor but the day I decided to marry this young couple and choose to look beyond the negatives that others saw was the greatest thing I have done in ministry. That day when I pronounced them husband and wife at the Purple Wedding Chapel (a whole other story) and NaKena’s daughter Toryia promptly corrected me, in front of everyone, of my mispronunciation of their last name…I knew I liked this family.
I saw something that others didn’t. I normally don’t brag about things I have done, but I love to brag about the EgelerSix and the impact our family has had on them. I am really proud of them even as I sit in my writing chair some 2ooo miles away wishing to be with them as they celebrate. The FehlenFive is bursting with tears, pride, joy, excitement and any other adjective similar to those you might think of.
We love you guys.
Here are few pictures:
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- Celebrating Dwanye’s adoption (and soon to be first bio baby)
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- Three kids blending together (Sophia in center)
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- Glamour shot of Sophia
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- I would like to think I taught them to hunt for trees also
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- Here is a time when I gave Toryia a Trophy for BocceBall Tourney
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- Giving Will and NaKena a certificate suitable for framing
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- Friends over for MeatLover’s Fest. Sophia at my leg and NaKena at my right.
Root Beer Night : Henry Weinhard
We had an impromptu Root Beer night together. It was not on the schedule but we were getting really sick of all the snow in April so the family thought a good Root Beer might help spring get along quicker. Henry Wienhard was the chose this evening. This was the oldest brew (by bought date) in our reserve and one that we have been anticipating and had high hopes for.
Well the evening didn’t fail. I don’t know why but this one is one of our favorites by far. Spike at Root Beers Review (http://www.rootbeerreviews.com/brews/henryweinhard.php) also thinks the same and has some more scientific reasoning. I do find that companies that make handcrafted beers make better Root Beers than ones that specialize in sodas.
Either way it was a great night…and there is still snow on the ground.
Root Beer night : Brady’s Brewhouse Growler
We went to hang out with my Dad and his Fiancé for a few days after Easter and he had an Easter basket all set up for the FehlenFive. It has the customary candies and cans of oysters as well as a non-customary log of summer sausage. There was also an added bonus.. A whole growler full of Root Beer from Brady’s Brewhouse from a town near.
A growler is a half-gallon glass container. Wikipedia says “The term likely dates back to the late 19th century when fresh beer was carried from the local pub to one’s home by means of a small galvanized pail. It is claimed the sound that the CO2 made when it escaped from the lid as the beer sloshed around sounded like a growl”
So we poured out glasses while watching, “The Voice” and had a great evening with Bernie and MaryAnn. The flavor was great, but one point to note with growlers is that they don’t hold the carbonation. My dad bought it a week earlier and didn’t think about that. So needless to say, it was flat.
But we still had a great night! Check out our list of Root Beers we have had and our reserve stock here.
