FALL COLORS

Ah, my 2 favorite seasons...spring and fall. What another gorgeous fall day we had today!

Light breeze from the north, the smell of wood burning in the chimanea, leaves falling in all colors from the trees, dogs close by crunching on acorns from our huge oak tree, roasting some marshmallows in the fire , my arm in a sling for another 4-1/2 weeks...just a great autumn day to be alive!!! "There is a purpose and a season for all things under heaven" as quoted in Song of Solomon..."a time to grow and a time to harvest". The time for harvest is done and its time to get ready for winter.



I took this picture thru my Blu-Blocker sunglasses, which are the best in the world, hoping to capture the colors I see when I wear them, but it fooled the camera and didn't turn out.

Hope you had as glorious a fall Sunday today as I did!

Rotator Cuff Surgery

Man, my shoulder looks like lunchmeat...5 holes in it! I guess when i did it, i butchered it up good. My college roommate that was there for part of the surgery said they hd to do 2 more holes to anchor the tendons...i guess i ripped them up big-time.

So now starts the long process of rehab/recovery. I hear its painful...it already has been. I got a rash on my neck (i think it was from the percacet), so I quit taking that and am just dealing with the pain...and using hydrocodone when it gets really tough. Thats what happens when the 50+ year old body listens to a 30 year old mind telling you "you can do it!)

HOLY COW! HOLY COW! HOLY COW!

Listen to me closely folks...the number 11 team in the nation, my Kansas State Wildcats, boat-raced the Gayhawks 59-21 yesterday in Larryville, and then to top things off, the Gooners of OU get beat AT HOME! by Texas Tech. Way to go, Red Raiders!!!!! What an awesome day!!!

EARLY CHRISTMAS IDEAS....maybe

For that executive in your life that has everything, the perfect gift that says " I love you, ya schmuck!" Hand-crafted out of American Walnut and White Oak, this business card holder is hand-sanded to an ultra smooth finished and then protected with multiple coats of clear finish...guaranteed to give years of service. Nothing says "Look at me, I'm a big wheel with my own business cards in a personally crafted wood holder" as this item does. The flair & prestige far outweigh the reasonable price...call today for pricing!

*p.s.- as our head of development & manufacturing will be undergoing rotator cuff surgery Monday, delivery for this years holiday season cannot be guaranteed.

SUNDAY'S RECIPE- MASHED POTATO SWEET ROLLS

This has nothing to do with the recipe...its just our "puppies" being scared of that foreign substance falling from the sky Friday nite....y'know, RAIN!!!

MASHED POTATO SWEET ROLLS

1/3 cup instant mashed potato flakes *** 1/2 cup boiling water *** 1 cup buttermilk *** 2 large eggs *** 6 TBSP soft butter *** 1/4 cup sugar *** 1 tsp salt *** 3-1/2 cups flour *** 2 tsp instant dry yeast

Combine flakes and boiling water in bread machine and stir by hand. Add rest of ingredients in order listed. Set bread machine on Dough Only setting and start. Lift lid after machine has started to knead and check if enough flour has been added (dough should pull away from sides...add small amount of flour as needed) Let machine run its course...usually 1-1/2 hours to mix, knead, and rise. Remove dough from machine and place on floured surface and pat down flat into 12" x 18" rectangle, spread 1/2 stick of softened butter onto dough. In small bowl mix:

3/8 cup brown sugar *** 2 TBSP white sugar *** 1 TBSP cinnamon *** 2/3 cup chopped pecans, optional. Sprinkle this mixture onto dough and roll up the long way, then cut into 12 equal parts. Place into greased 9" x 13" pan or similar sized pan...let rise till double in size. Bake in 375 degree oven 16-18 minutes, remove from oven and drizzle your favorite icing/frosting.

** These rolls are incredibly light and fluffy...could be a new FFF (Funk Family Favorite)! I separate them, wrap them individually, and freeze for my breakfasts during the week.

CHEF'S CHOICE-BLUE MOON HARVEST PUMPKIN ALE

Direct from the kitchen of Chef Funk comes this seasonal recommendation...pick up a bottle or 6 pack of Blue Moon's Harvest Pumpkin ale...you'll be in for a treat. Its a fall season ale blended with ripe pumpkin and the subtle flavors of cloves, allspice and nutmeg in a smooth wheat base that ends up smooth and lightly spiced. It has become one of my favorites and I hope you'll give it a try.