I have had Red Lobster gift cards for a year now, and after a trip to see the Country Christmas lights in the White Creek Lutheran Church area in Bartholomew County. The light are drive -thru and fun to see. I can recommend it.

I told Heidi that if I went that I get to choose dinner and she agreed. Bruce and Mendy were with us and we even got e trip to Kroger. Great selection on everything.

This was a wonderful way to start the Christmas 🎄 vacation.

Heidi’s parents and brothers and all spouses and grandkids were included in this second of several Christmas parties we will host and attend. Ken was in from California for the week and got to see his grandkids as well as patch some drywall for us and put in a storm door for Richard and Nina, just to name a couple. Not sure a $5 Brownstown basketball ticket and a tenderloin and fries from Poplar Street is adequate payment for all he does, but that is what he got.

We tried the Caribbean restaurant a week ago and were talking to the diners at the next table and they gave Heidi their business card to Amazing Graze. Heidi ordered this incredible charcuterie board with prosciutto and some other fancy meats and 🧀 and veggies and it was a hit. From the presentation to the quality and taste, it was outstanding!

The Army/Navy football game was on and the four little boys(Jude, Irie, Brooks and Lawson) all got gifts 🎁 and were the center of attention. As they should be.

After a basketball game this morning and helping Heidi host the party, I was looking for a recliner. However, there is an LC staff party tonight and we host the Melloncamp Christmas tomorrow. I saw the meme last week:

“Oh, next week things will slow down and we will rest then. And that’s what you keep saying until you die.”

Heidi wanted to make sure what time I would be home tonight because she was making dinner and we planned on attending the St. Peter’s Advent Service. I had just enough time to walk the dogs and then she had this waiting for me.

The aroma that hit me as I walked through the door was stimulating and the sight and sound of the burritos sizzling on the griddle added to the excitement.

1. Cook up a pound of chicken with taco 🌮 seasoning.

2. Mix Ranch dressing and cheddar cheese.

3. Add black beans and 🥑 avocado.

4. Wrap all that goodness into a tortilla and slap it on the griddle with some butter.

5. We topped it off with another slice of avocado to make it pretty and some 💃 salsa. On the side was some delicious sweet corn 🌽 from last summer’s garden.

6. Most important!!! Be married to Heidi and despite all of the dumb man things that you do, she still treats to dinners like this.

The girls drug us along for the Christmas home tour on Friday night. Originally Mendy and Heidi said we could wait at the tavern while they toured the homes. Using better judgement, they adjusted to go on the tour and maybe skip the last couple of houses and go to the tavern. (Probably a good idea.)

The 🎄 Christmas trees at Lanthier Winery and the beautifully decorated homes were impressive and fun to see. Then, Bruce and mine’s instructions were to drink a 🍺 beer at the Mad Paddle and then order food at Shipley’s. So, we had a tasty pint each of Blood 🍊 Orange for $14. Then we had a pint each of Amber Bock at Shipley’s for $3.50. We like the Mad Paddle, but we may make a business decision next time and stick with Shipley’s Tavern. On a side note, Shipley’s has been there since 1867.

Notice the ALL CAPITAL LETTERS!!! It’s because this Bad Boy deserves the recognition. This thing is two inches thick with a bourbon 🥃, 🍍 pineapple, brown sugar glaze and is out of this 🌎 world. To quote Charlie Stahl of Wegan, Indiana when he ate one: “I didn’t even need my teeth.” 🦷 It is that tender and delicious 😋.

Reed’s also has a nice beer menu featuring Quaff On! Strawberry 🍓 Blonde and Kirkwood Cream Ale. 🍺 🍻

There was a great crowd there on a Friday night with several familiar faces in the crowd. Along with a friendly staff, there is no reason not to try it.

Shawn Malone has got the home town theme going strong at Brooklyn Pizza and Harmony Park! Pictures, paintings, clever names for his micro brews; to name a few. Oh, I guess he has some fantastic 🍕 pizza on the side.

What has me thinking the most is the beer mug program. You buy a big 🍺 mug for $X. {Pretty sure he said $55 and I think the mug is 20 ounces.} So when you come in you drink from your own mug, as well as get an extra 4 ounces each time you fill it up. It is good for a year. There may be some other perks but I didn’t write anything down.

Also, you can buy a beer for someone and put the coupon on the bulletin board for when that person comes in they can enjoy a free beverage. However, it would probably be courteous to return the favor.

Upcoming events that I am interested in are a release of The Hustler hibiscus 🌺 beer along with “Hustler” Rip Rogers there to sign autographs etc. on the Friday after Thanksgiving. 🦃 And if you want one of those mugs for 2022, be there on December 11 and get the party started.

Last week Heidi and I salvaged one last pick of 🫑 peppers from the garden before the frost. She had been talking about Stuffed Peppers for a while and I wasn’t really buying into the program. However, these bad boys were incredible!!!😋

There was a combination of ground beef, 🌾 rice, seasoning and spaghetti sauce stuffed into the hollowed out pepper and topped with cheese. Heidi has been patient with my food preferences and I have come a long way on what I have and will try with her guiding me. Thank goodness I listened to her tonight!

With an outstanding meal in my belly I am getting back to the Cigar Ring and 🥃 Bourbon label table I have been working on. Most of the cigar rings are from Dr. David Wintin and the bourbon labels that I boiled off the bottles are from Jon Tilmon. After tonight all that will be left is the epoxy resin top. This will be a great euchre table when completed.

Hard Truth Hills is an excellent restaurant as well as a distillery. Throw in the Quaff On! Brewery with the good food and this place has got it going on.

Hard Truth Hills is an excellent restaurant as well as a distillery. Throw in the Quaff On! Brewery with the good food and this place has got it going on.

The 6-1 Packers travel to the desert 🌵 to take on the 7-0 Cardinals. Green Bay has been my favorite team since about 1968 when I got Paul Hornung’s autograph. Paul was in Seymour to promote Kentucky Fried 🍗 Chicken as I recall and came by the stadium to visit the team. My Dad was on the Seymour football staff at the time and I got the signature.

It is my duty, as a 53 year Packer fan to do what I can to support my Cheese 🧀 Head brothers from the Wisconsin. Thus, my excellent dinner consisting of a Johnsonville sausage from Sheboygan, slices of some Wisconsin Farms Muenster cheese, and a Pabst Blue Ribbon, brewed in Milwaukee. (The Packers used to play some home games in Milwaukee.)

Did you know? Pabst Beer won a blue ribbon in 1893 for the title of America’s finest 🍺 beer. And since then has been known as Pabst Blue Ribbon.

The sausages were slow cooked in a bed of 🧅 onion and peppers 🫑. Darn good!