Celebrating Our 10th Wedding Anniversary

Arriving at our 10^th wedding anniversary is an absolute miracle.  My husband and I are a dual military family, meaning we are both soldiers.  We have completed four deployments, two each, and numerous military schools.  Since we are not full-time soldiers, we have also had our civilian careers, and educational responsibilities.

Add to this, we are a blended family meaning, he was divorced with a daughter.  I was divorced with a son.  We came together to make one family, and raise our children together.

Plus, we opened Chippy’s Ice Cream Parlor in 2008.  Many people claim opening a business together can be the end of a friendship, or a marriage.  For us, it has brought us closer together.

My husband is the greatest son to his mother, father to our children, my best friend, and life partner.

Thank you for your love and patience with me over the years.

"Sometimes I have believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

-Lewis Carroll

-CSR-

First Sign of Spring Break

Chippy’s Ice Cream Parlor is open for the season, marking the official first signs of spring break in Clayton, Indiana.  Chippy’s is always open from spring break to Labor Day.

Our most exciting feature, at least what our friends at Chippy’s are raging over, are the waffle bowls instead of waffle cones and farm fresh brown eggs.  

Waffle bowls don’t leak.  

Last year I became a licensed retailer of eggs.  I raise my own so I know exactly what they eat (leftover ice cream), how they are treated (fat and happy), and where they have been (eating  my vegetable garden! Uhhh!!!)  I gave them the leftover chocolate soft serve ice cream last week, and am awaiting a chocolate egg.

*This week Chippy’s has sold 10 gallons of Chocolate ice cream!  That’s a lot of Chocolate, one scoop at a time.

-CRS-

Christmas Wish list...so you have all had plenty of advanced notice

1. Copy of the Hunger Games.  I know I am behind.  Reading anything other than classic literature requires energy on my part, but I must read this one before the movie comes out March 23, 2012!

2. Passport for travel abroad.  {Travel wish list 2012 to come later, but considering London, Paris and Rome the top priorities. Suggestions appreciated.}  2011 has been a year of travel within the continental U.S., for 2012, I need to explore while I, or if, can.

Sweaters, Ralph Lauren, are always appreciated.

-CRS-

Hosting Thanksgiving

Cartoons really are for adults, or at least this adult, as I truly adore them, especially Looney Toons and Charlie Brown.   Ww watch Charlie Brown Thanksgiving to get into the spirit every season.

What are your Thanksgiving traditions?

Appreciating the family I do have in Indiana to sit around the table and share a meal with this season.

-CRS-

Halloween 2011

After visiting Salem, Massachusetts, I have a new appreciation for the history of events.  Honestly, witches scare me, I believe in ghosts, and before going trick or treating, I suggest watching the movie "Hocus Pocus."  Below is a little snippet of the movie...I put a spell on you...

Another excellent movie to understand what happened in Salem is the movie, "The Crucible." 

What are your Halloween traditions?

Grateful for history keepers, hoping we do not repeat mistakes from the past.

-CRS-

Cascade Cadets Football

Cascade Cadets Homecoming game
GO BLUE!!!

As our Cascade Cadets football season sadly comes to closure, I wanted to mention, the Chippy's family owes a huge debt of gratitude to the football program, especially Coach Hagenow and Junior Varsity coaches for the daily energy they invest in the young men of the Cascade Cadets football players. 



Jacob Thayer, Cascade Cadets



Football has been crucial to the development of my farm boy.

Many thanks to the Cascade coaches, fellow football moms who are excellent cooks and time managers, and of course the players who are sweating it out like gladiators on the football field!

-CSR-

October Traveling

Last year Chippy's Ice Cream Parlor was open during October.  This year, because of schools changing to a balanced calendar instead of the traditional calendar, Chippy's closed early.  Teddy and I have decided to take our fall break to explore places we've never been, starting with New England.

Ready Teddy?

First things first, we have our own Vietnam vet navigating for us.  Always best to consult subject matter experts.

Michael Shepard, Navigating in Boston

After a self guided tour of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, the Freedom Trail and several shops along the way, we tried our luck in Salem.

Sweet Witches in Salem

Perfect fall weather graced our travel all week.  We learned about the Salem witch trials in the Witch museum, took the trolley tour all over town, and ate at a local eatery on the main thoroughfare through town.  Salem was the highlight of the trip for me, as it was filled with history, and art.  I have a new appreciation for Wiccans, although I am not a member.  Who could disagree with their philosophy of whatever you do comes back to you three times, and appreciation of nature?

Precious gratefullness to my dad for his company and land navigational skills.

-CRS-