Christmas on Road Creek

Jeffery complains every year that there is something wrong with the photos of our Christmas gathering on Road Creek...she's not in them. Well, this year we decided to correct that. Here are some photos from our gathering this past weekend.

Here she is sampling some of Michelle and Luci's 'Splenda Snacks'...

Here she is making sure that Melissa and Shawn don't get 'Too Close' on the sofa...

And here she shares a private moment with Grandma and Michelle...

Check out these and several more photos at Clyde's Flickr Page.

Smelling The Wuv

Grandmother Phyllis has been busy all year making quilts for her family. And when I say her family, I mean all of her children, their spouses, their children and their grandchildren. She has been non-stop quilting.

We are all very grateful that Aunt Janice and Uncle Earl have been coming down during the winter months and keeping Grandmother busy. While they were here Aunt Janice and Grandmother put up a quilt. This has really meant a lot to her. She was so bored. She thought she would never be able to quilt again because of her failing eyesight. But she has learned that she can tack quilts and they are still beautiful. Especially to her family.

Well she has been making special quilts for the grandchildren. She made a very pretty Spiderman quilt for Caleb (He thinks he really is Spider man.) Amber told grandmother that they had been trying to get Caleb to sleep by himself, so she decided to give him his quilt early, hoping it would encourage him to sleep by himself.

This was a very good idea. Amber says he has been dragging this full sized quilt around the house all day long. Amber said she sat down with Caleb and asked him, "Caleb, did you know that Grandmother sewed a special ingredient into your quilt."

Caleb looked at her and shook his head no. She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Caleb, Grandmother sewed some of her love into you quilt." His eyes got big! His mother said, "Caleb, smell your quilt."

He pulled the quilt up to his nose, took a big sniff and squealed, "Momma, I smell the wuv!"

She looked at him and said, "Caleb, rub the quilt on your face."

He quickly pulled the quilt up to his cheek and squealed, "Momma, I feel the wuv!" He was so excited to know that his grandmother had put love in this quilt.

Now his mother thought he should share some of the love and asked, "Can I smell the love, Caleb?"

He looked up at her and let her know what he thought about this suggestion, "NO!" For several minutes she begged to smell the love and finally he agreed. She pulled the quilt up to her nose and took a really big sniff. The scream that came from Caleb almost pierced her ears, "You're smelling all the wuv, Momma. STOP IT!"

He drug his quilt around all day. That night after they had all gone to bed and Amber ended up sleeping with him, he woke up around twelve and whispered, "Momma, you forgot to snuggle me."

Amber, of course, was under this quilt with him and had it pulled up to her face. As she rolled over to snuggle him she heard him mumble something under his breath. She asked, "Caleb, what did you say?"

He turned to her and said, "I said stop smelling the wuv!" He is so afraid she is going to sniff out all of Grandmother's love from his quilt.

Posted by Jeff

Thanksgiving Dinner 2005

I'm not sure whose idea it was but this year we gathered the Stalker and Looney families together at the church at the mouth of Jimmie's Creek. The church has a nice kitchen and dining area on the lower floor that was just perfect for our group.

Mom and Dad and all of their kids were there of course...

We were joined by Patty, Randy and Sandra Kay with their spouses and several of their children. Danny Looney was able to attend too.

Someone counted twenty-seven of us in all. There was more than enough food for everyone. In fact, we could have fed another twenty-seven easily.

I don't know if it was going back to the church where we all grew up, or getting together with cousins, neices and nephews that we hadn't seen in quite some time, but something about this gathering brought back special memories for many of us. None more special than our memories of Junice and Hula.

A couple of people have already said that we need to do this again next year because this was..."the best Thanksgiving ever."

Jeffery Hen - She Can't Find Panda

After Patricia Hen, Vicki Hen and Roo got Jeffery Hen home and put her in her freshly make nest the hens put together for her, she fell asleep immediately. Deep inside of Jeffery Hen a little bitty egg yolk has started to form.

When Jeffery Hen woke up the next morning, she felt very good, as if she hasn't been sick at all. She was completely confused. The first thing that crossed her mind immediately was "Where is Panda!" She flew right out of her nest and immediately started out looking for her.

The first thing she did was to look for Roo; she couldn't find him or Bear anywhere. Everybody has been wondering why Jeffery Hen was out of her nest if she was going to start laying an egg. Patricia Hen saw her and came running toward her and said, "Jeffery Hen shouldn't you be in your nest."

Jeffery Hen said, "Well, I feel just find now, I am worried about Panda, I can't fine her."

Patricia Hen said, "Oh, my goodness! When was the last time you have seen her."

Jeffery Hen said, "Yesterday!"

Patricia Hen said, "Yesterday! and its almost evening now!"

Jeffery Hen said, "I can't fine Roo or Bear either one every since either."

Patricia Hen said, "I'm pretty sure she is with them; surely Roo won't leave her along."

Jeffery Hen was getting so worried that she all most forgot she hasn't eaten anything today. She looked down and saw some weed seeds and picked them up and ate them. The seeds did taste good; the seeds didn't solve her worrying problem about where was Panda.

Jeffery Hen finally when over to Vicki Hen house to see if Panda was there. Nobody was home; Jeffery Hen decided she was going to have to go home. When she got home the hen house was empty; but she was so tired that she couldn't go on with the hunt. The day was almost over and she thought that by the time it gets dark Roo will be home and then she will know where she is; she set in her nest till Roo came home.

When Roo and Bear came home; they did not have Panda with them. She screamed with all of her might, "Where is my baby!"

Roo and Bear looked at each other and didn't know what to think. Jeffery Hen broke down and started to cry. Roo knew something had to be done; so he flew up into the top of the Redwood tree and started crowing, "Panda, where are you!"

All of the chickens in the neighbor came out of their hen houses immediately to see if they could be of any help. Out of the blue Vicki Hen showed up with her twins and along side with them was Panda.

Vicki Hen said, "I have kept her for the last two days, I thought nobody else wanted her."

When Roo looked down out of the tree and sees that they have found Panda, he stopped crowing and flew out of the tree. He took Panda and thanked everybody for finding her. Vicki Hen told him that she was with her all of this time. Roo took Panda home and surprised Jeffery with her.

"Oh, Panda!" she cried, "Where were you?"

Roo said, "We forgot to go to Vicki Hen's house and get her."

Jeffery Hen said, "Oh, Vicki Hen took care of her all of this time. Did you thank her."

Roo said, "Yes, I thanked her."

Posted by Aunt Meaner

Pikeville City Park in Fall

Last weekend Jennie and I took Emerson up to the City Park in Pikeville to play on the playground equipment there. The trees in the park were near the peak of their fall color.

A new statue of former Mayor Hambley had just been erected a week or two before...

The colorful trees provided a fine backdrop for it and a festive place for Emerson to play.

Posted by Clyde

Fall in the Mountains

We have really seen a burst of color in the last few days. Luci made a comment about how beautiful our house looked from up on the hill this past spring when we were picking strawberries. I though I would send a picture of how nice it looked with the fall leaves in the background.


I also took a few pictures of the boys having fun in the fall leaves that have fallen in the yard at their grandparents house up on the hill. I hope this makes the Florida gang homesick for the hills of Kentucky.

Posted by Michelle

Jeffery Hen Gets Sick

While Jeffery Hen was staying with the baby chick and Patricia Hen was out getting herself some fresh air and something to eat, along comes Roo. Roo said, "Bear said that you were staying with Patricia Hens chick for a while."

Jeffery Hen said, "She'll be back in a few minutes, she just wanted to get some fresh air and get something to eat."

Roo asked, "Where's Panda?"

Jeffery Hen said, "She playing with the twins out there."

When Roo sees Patricia Hen coming he went out and picked Panda up and brought her into the house and told Jeffery Hen it was time to go home.

Patricia Hen thanked them and as quick as Jeffery Hen started toward the door, something inside of her gave off a big pain. It hurt so bad she couldn't stand it. She fell to the floor.

Patricia Hen and Roo tired to pick her up and she just stood there. The first thing that crossed everybody's mind is, "Jeffery Hen is going to lay another egg."

Outside of the henhouse, Roo sees Bear out playing with his friends, he hollers for him to come and help out with Panda. When Bear got to the henhouse, Roo handed Panda to Bear and told him to take her home and keep an eye on her. Bear took Panda, but on his way home, Vicki Hen asked him what was the matter. Bear said, "I don't know; the only thing I know is Dad told me to take Panda home."

Vicki Hen said, "Watch after the twins for me and I will go and see what the matter is. I will try my best not to be gone long."

When Vicki Hen got to Patricia Hen's henhouse to investigate the matter. Jeffery Hen was upon her feet gasping for air. Vicki Hen said, "Do you all suppose she is going to lay another egg."

Patricia and Roo said, "That's what we think." Patricia Hen went out of her henhouse to look for Mike, to get him to stay with the baby till she helped with getting Jeffery Hen home. When she found Mike, they both rushed home. Mike agreed to stay with the baby. Patricia Hen and Vicki Hen help Roo take Jeffery Hen to the watering hole to get some water and they also fixed her up a nest to lay in.

Jeffery Hen knew she has to be 'with egg' cause this is how she felt the other time she was 'with egg', but this time she knows how to lay an egg.

Posted by Aunt Meaner

Fall Colors

The cold temperatures the past few nights and the bright sunlight today really have the colors starting to pop here in Kentucky. This is the view from Clyde and Jennie's backyard.



I hope there is still a leaf or two hanging on the trees when Jeff comes up for Thanksgiving. 

FLORIDA HALLOWEEN

Grandmaw's home has been invaded by a short little witch and a very small yet chunky turtle.

Ranger Boys

We have had a woderful Fall Break the boys have really enjoyed their Ranger we went to Somerset and purchased. They even enjoyed taking their momma on a ride through the field in front of the house.

We are still working on the garage but we are getting closer to getting it finished up. Hope everyone has a great October.

I will take some pictures soon of the beautiful fall leaves in the edge of the woods. I hope it makes Jeffery home sick for Kentucky!!

Posted by Michelle

Head Scratchin'

I have no idea what is going on in this picture.

Maybe Shawn can explain it.

Huge Belly Ring Sale

Luci and Sherry couldn't resist checking out the "HUGE Belly Ring Sale" in Gatlinburg.

'Virtual' Jeff

VirtualJeff
Originally uploaded by C Stalker.

During our visit to the Great Smokey Mountain we paused for a group photo. From the left are Clyde, Luci, Sherry, 'Virtual' Jeff and Michelle. 'Virtual' Jeff had to stand in for the real Jeff who could not make this trip. Michelle carried her through Dollywood and most of Pigeon Forge.

When asked about 'Virtual' Jeff the family members replied:

• CLYDE: "Well, she don't eat as much as the real one and that leaves more for me. I like her."

• LUCI: "She hasn't embarassed me near as much as the real one usually does. I like her too."

• SHERRY: "She ain't no fun to WILK. I like the REAL Jeff."

• MICHELLE: "How come I have to carry this thang around? I'm gettin tired of it."

Smokey Mountain Maurader

While we were in the Smokies this raccon visited our chalet each night and dined on the contents of our garbage cans. Jennie watched him one evening, she said he was expert at getting the lids off the garbage cans. He could unlatch and pop the top off a can, all in one quick motion.

With the Stalker family there he was not getting much in the way of scraps, so Jennie tried feeding him some graham crackers.

Click on the photo to view full size

Coon Huntin'

Popaw Stalker told a story about going “Coon Huntin” with Homer Adkins and Bear Justice.

Popaw and Homer had been bragging all week about what good shots they were and what good coon dogs they had. Homer would point his finger like a gun and say “Bang, thump, (Varmit hitting the ground after each shot) Bang, thump, that’s how it’s going to be.”

The dogs treed a big coon and they started shooting at it. They shot 27 times but still hadn’t even wounded it. When they gave up and stopped shooting (or ran out of ammo I suspect), the coon jumped down out of the tree and attacked their dogs (Walker and Snider) biting and clawing them till they were bloody all over. It would have killed both of them if Bear hadn’t hit it in the head with a stick. They had to just come on home and patch up the dogs.

Jeffery Hen - Patricia Hen's Egg Hatches

As Panda got older and her feathers started to get bigger, she started to fly just about a feet away.

Outside of the henhouse, Mike Stone, got upon his henhouse to announce the hatching of Patricia Hen egg. Panda wanted to go and watch the egg hatch. Jeffery Hen took Panda with her to watch the egg hatch.

When they got over to the henhouse the house was crowded with other hens wanting to watch the egg hatch. Jeffery Hen decide to just take Panda back home and wait till late in the day and go, by that time the crowd will be gone and she would get to see the chick after it has hatched out of it shell. She also thought that Panda was too young to watch the egg hatch.

Late in the afternoon before the sun went down, Jeffery Hen took Panda and went over to Patricia Hen's henhouse to see the little chick. When they got there the chick was sound asleep in the nest. Patricia Hen was clearing out the eggshell and was making her nest just a little more comfortable for her chick.

Jeffery Hen asked Patricia Hen, "What are you going to name your baby?"

Patricia Hen said, "Mica! but we are going to nickname her Micey."

Panda wanted to see the chick, she thought she could fly up to see it, but she couldn't. Jeffery Hen said, "Panda, has been trying her best to fly every since she found out she was growing feathers."

Jeffery Hen picked Panda up and showed her the sleeping baby chick. "Chirp," said Panda.

Patricia Hen wanted to go outside and get some fresh air and hope there will be something to eat out there also. She asked Jeffery Hen would she stay there till she got back. Jeffery Hen agreed to do so.

Quick as Patricia Hen left, Panda started chirping, Jeffery Hen couldn't get her to keep quiet and stop flapping her wings, so she looked out of the henhouse and she saw Vicki Hen outside with her twins. She took Panda over to her and asked her will she keep and eye on her while she watches over Patricia Hen's baby chick.

Jeffery Hen said, "Panda will not keep still and she is very noisy, I keep thinking she will wake up the baby."

Vicki Hen said, "That's alright," she said, "she can play with the twins."

Well, Panda enjoyed playing with the twins; they had a very good time.

While Jeffery Hen was at Patricia Hen's henhouse, Bear came around and Jeffery Hen told him to tell Roo that she has to stay here and help Patricia Hen out with her baby. Bear went off to tell Roo what Jeffery Hen had said.

Posted by Aunt Meaner

Guess Who ?

It's time to play another game of
"GUESS WHO ?"


Can you identify this glamor girl?

Enter your guess in a comment below and come back in a day or two to see what you may have won.


<--- CLICK on the photo for a larger view.

A Small Reunion in Laurel County

A couple of weekends ago we had a small gathering down here in Laurel County. Shawn and Melissa came for a few hours and Mamaw and Papaw Stalker came for a stay. We had a wonderful time.

Melissa loved looking at Shawn’s birthday picture on the StalkerClan. ( He has not shared that website address with her. )

Mamaw Stalker enjoyed sitting on the lumber and bossing Jim and Oliver as they finished up on the deck.

Papaw Stalker took a chair on the deck and from his perch every few minute would holler, “Someone needs to help Oliver work.” So I took a picture of Papaw Stalker helping Oliver work.

Meaner kept in constant contact wanting to know how we liked our gifts she had sent us. (She must of called 6 times in 4 hours. ) For Shawn, he got several razors and refill kits. (Shawn don’t have that many hairs on his face this should last him for decades )

And for me I got a box full of stockings and a calender to count down to Christmas. (Now that I am building a deck and building I have no money for Christmas. ) All went well and a good time was had by most! Oh, by the way Shawn, you need to call your mother!

Posted by Michelle

Blair and Caitlyn

Jeffery and Randy have a couple of new grand children.

Here are a few photos: (Click on the photos to view full sized.)

---

This is Caitlyn,
Amber and Jevon's new little girl....

Here is Blair,
Mindy's new little boy...

Here they are together...

Another shot of the two cousins.

Amber with Caitlyn...

and Jevon with his little girl...