A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-02,03-05...A Few of Our Finest Set Their Finest Tables

Billie,deadhead, JustAmy, LUV W, Mrs.Nooseman, tuliptree, GodBlessUSA

[Billie]

It started with our thread on June 7th of this year, called   Mission: Possible!,  and a follow-up thread on July 12th & 13th, titled   Ready ~ Set Tables ~ GO!

I am so proud today to present some of the work of six of our Finest Freepers who took those two threads to heart and have been creating their own beautiful table backgrounds ever since. None of them have seen the others' tables, and all of them have been anxiously awaiting this day to see what the others have done. :)

All I can say is: "Prepare to be impressed." As an added bonus, you also get to meet them 'cause I asked for their photos, too!

Date: August 2, 2005
Bring your family, friends and pets
Kudos to Dutchess and Aeronaut for renting jets and flying FReepers in from all over the world for the summer party

• Jitney to the beach will be leaving at 9 a.m.
  JH2 will be our driver for the day
  
  
• Back to deadhead's in the evening for
  a barbecue, drinks & fun.
  
  
• JustAmy, MamaBear, and Aquamarine have
  volunteered to be our cooks for the day
  
  
• jwfiv and Temple Owl will be our bartenders
  
  
• FR's bluegrass band, featuring The Mayor, Diver Dave, LadyX, OESY and WVNan will be our entertainment.
  They will be playing all evening,
  bring your dancing shoes!
  
  
• lonestar and MEG33 will have treats and toys for our pets
  
  
• Join LadyX, JohnHuang2 and jwfiv for:
  'Pin the tale on the donkeyDemocrat'
  
  
• Hula hoop contest at 7:00 pm, to sign up,
  check in with tuliptree76 and Victoria Delsoul
  
  
• Pie eating contest, The Thin Man and ST.LOUIE1
  will cook the pies and host the contest
  
  
• Karaoke Time with
  Texagirl4W, Lakeside and GodBlessUSA
  
  
• Face painting by DollyCali, GailA, and dixie sass
  
  
• Egg tossing and water balloon tossing will be hosted by
  Luv W, KittyMittens, and Mrs.Nooseman.
  
  
• Poetry reading by JustAmy, NicknamedBob and Jen
  
  
• Pippin, Billie, gabz and snugs will judge the dance contest

Our night will end with a beautiful tribute,
to honor our Military, past and present.

• Christian and Logan will recite the Pledge of Allegiance
  
  
• Billie will sing "The Star Spangled Banner"
  
  
• Temple Owl, Diver Dave, Excuse_My_Bellicosity, Dubya, Colonial Warrior and The Mayor have a very special firework presentation planned
  
  
• Tents will be set up in the backyard,
  no driving or flying home.

Have Fun!

Lori, Marissa and I arrived home very late Saturday night.
Why am I working on this table, you ask?
Because Billie is a tough task master.

Dutchess finally gets a real bear hug from Lori.
Dutchess then joined us for breakfast and a fun visit to the Columbus zoo.

Attending a great picnic lunch organized by DollyCali were OhioWfan, Commiewatcher, Boxerblues, Dubyaismypresident, Mama_Bear,
JustAmy, Dr.Deb, PrissyMissy, MollyPitcher and DollyCali.
The food was delicious and the wine was wonderful..

After lunch, we toured the Stan Hywett Mansion and Gardens.
This was a beautiful setting to meet and get aquainted with new Freeper FRiends.

We arrived in West Virginia to a WARM welcome and good fellowship. MrWVNan treated us to a good ole southern breakfast of biscuits and sausage gravy.
yummmmm, yummmmm
We found a couple of other places to sample WV cooking as witnessed by the above pictures:
Top: WVNan holding babychick, scubachick and Mama_Bear.
Bottom: MrWVNan, WVNan, unidentified local, Mama_Bear and Its_me_K.E.T. enjoying White Castle burgers.

Dutchess and DollyCali met us for lunch before our flight home on Saturday. It was a time for relating our experiences and reflecting on the super Freeper Friends that we had met.

"For my son, who is in the United States Air Force." ~ LUV W

HIGH FLIGHT

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds--and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of--wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew-
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand and touched the face of God.


~~~~Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee~~~~
Killed 11 December 1941

A Tribute to our awesome Troops and the USA!!!

Good Morning FR Finest.

I chose a patriotic theme for this thread,because it is important to me that we never forget what happened on 9/11 and who is keeping us safe.

Our Troops fight for our freedom and keep us safe.

We should thank our Troops every day and show our support for what they do,because they sacrifice everything for us.

Always remember that.......

It is the SOLDIER, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the SOLDIER, not the courts
who has given us the right to keep and bear arms
It is the SOLDIER, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the SOLDIER, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the SOLDIER, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the SOLDIER, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the SOLDIER, not the politician,
who has given us the right to vote.
It is the SOLDIER, who salutes the Flag,
and serves under the flag.

So join me in saying........

God bless our Troops!

God bless the USA,the land that I love!

Happy Ice Cream Soda Day!

Strawberry Ice Cream Soda

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed
3/4 cup strawberry ice cream (3 small scoops)
3/4 cup cold cream soda
whipped cream
strawberry halves for garnish, if desired

PREPARATION:

Mash strawberries until well blended with the syrup. Stir together strawberry syrup, 1 small scoop (about 1/4 cup) of ice cream, and about 2 tablespoons of cream soda in the bottom of a tall glass (14 to 16 ounces). Add remaining 2 scoops of ice cream. Pour in enough soda to fill glass, and garnish with whipped cream and a strawberry half if desired.

Makes about 12 ounces, 1 serving.

06-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #12

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-01-05 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Billie]

Last, but not least, I asked GodBlessUSA to do our pledge graphic...

[Billie]

We've been working behind the scenes on this for about three weeks, and some of you are being pinged here for the first time because I asked for their ping lists. Hope you'll drop in and say hi and take a look at the terrific tables they've created! Everyone has worked very hard on theirs but no one has seen the others' posts or the way it's put together, and it's been killing them! Now they finally can!

[Billie]

Good morning! It's Tuesday. Rise and shine, and thank you all once again! You've set 6 very beautiful tables for today!

[NicknamedBob]

Wow! I'm speechless!

[Lakeside]

I am speechless. What an absotultly fantastic thread. Well done everybody! I just *love* pictures. It's great to put a face with the FR handle.

But ya'll think that's great.. wait'l ya hear Texagirl4W, GodBlessUSA, 'n me tearin' it up come karaoke time. Look out!

[Billie]

Darn! My link above to yesterday's thread is wrong. :(

Military Monday 08-01-05

[beachn4fun]

I am impressed! Great layout and tribute! We can never say it enough (especially to those of the Vietnam era)

[GailA]

Good morning, lovely thread today, off to my quilting guild in a short while.

[Allegra]

GREAT thread as usual, Billie.

And congratulations and thanks to you all for being such wonderful Americans and proud patriots. People like you make me even more proud to be from the good ol' USA!

[Billie]

Wow! I'm speechless!

No! Not you!!!! :)

[Gabz]

Absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wonderful work, all of you!!!!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning Billie.

Wonderful thread!I love what you did with all of our tables.;)

[Billie]

I am speechless. What an absotultly fantastic thread. Well done everybody! I just *love* pictures. It's great to put a face with the FR handle.

Thanks, Lakeside - I'm always thrilled to see the faces of our freepers, too! Have been looking forward to posting this.

But ya'll think that's great.. wait'l ya hear Texagirl4W, GodBlessUSA, 'n me tearin' it up come karaoke time. Look out!

Well, bring it on!!!!! LOL

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning Beachy!

[StarCMC]

WOW LADIES!! I'm impressed!!!!

[beachn4fun]

[Billie]

I am impressed! Great layout and tribute! We can never say it enough (especially to those of the Vietnam era)

Thanks, beachn4fun - they've been making some beauties, and it's fun to put some of them together all at once.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning Star.

[Billie]

Good morning, Gail, and thank you - it was fun working on this with these girls. Enjoy your day quilting!

[MEG33]

Oh WOW! This is terrific..and I love the pictures of some of my favorite posters,too! Thank you all.

[Billie]

Thank you, Allegra. It's always so good to see you - are you coming back home for R&R in a couple of weeks?

[razorback-bert]

Sad news on Chapita.

My brother passed on to be with the Lord at 11:00 on Monday night. Please keep his family in your prayers.

Kathy

[Billie]

Absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonderful work, all of you!!!!

Thanks - we had fun sneaking this on everyone! :) Now see, if you hadn't been running around tripping over sewing machines and breaking ankles for sympathy, you could have done one of these too. :)

[Allegra]

are you coming back home for R&R in a couple of weeks?

I'm going to meet a friend and one of my sisters in London. (Gotta protect that ex-pat tax break! LOL)

We planned the trip before 7/7 and decided there was no reason to let the terrorists make us cancel, so we're going ahead with it. Flights, hotels, etc. are all set.

I joke when friends here ask me where I'm going on R&R: "Oh, I'm going to London. I need a break from all this bombing and terrorism." ;-)

[Billie]

Wonderful thread!I love what you did with all of our tables.;)

I'm glad - I certainly enjoyed it, and especially great to wrangle some pictures out of all of you! :)

I need to take a break, but will be back!

[Allegra]

My brother passed on to be with the Lord at 11:00 on Monday night. Please keep his family in your prayers.

I'm so sorry. I certainly will keep you and his family in my prayers.

[LUV W]

*yawn*

Y'all woke me up and I was up really late last night thanks to someone who will remain nameless---Mrs.N-----but I just had to see what all the ruckus is about!

Great job putting this together, Billie! Wonderful to SEE all the ones who kept the secret!

All the tables are just beautiful and GBU--your pledge was very special!

[LUV W]

Thanks, Gabz! It was so much fun! It was sooooo hard to keep the secret for this long!

[dutchess]

Absolutely awesome thread Ms. Billie. You sure are an excellent teacher (with some "exceptional students".!) Off to a conference. Back later to play! PROMISE!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Morning LUV!

I absolutely love your table.

GBUSA you really know how to surprise people love the pledge
presentation.

All the tables are just wonderful.

Thank you Bilie for allowing me to participate.It was great fun.

[MEG33]

Hello, Allegra..Have fun..Looks like the Brits are doing well on the roundups.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Prayers for your brother,you and the family sent!

[Gabz]

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dutchess]

AWESOME JOB...all of you!!!!! And so nice to put a face to your screen names. Lovely job Finest Friends!

[dutchess]

Kathy. I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. May he rest in peace. Prayers for you and your family.

[LUV W]

((((hugs)))) It is wonderful to seeeeeee you. And you didn't stick your tongue out at me. Hee-hee!

Your tribute to the troops and America is just beautiful. Hasn't this been fun? I couldn't sleep for another minute this morning. And I am pumped to see these beautiful efforts.

[Lakeside]

I am so sorry. I will surely miss Chapita. He's one of the few who've been here at FreeRepublic for years--one of the ones I always clicked on to see what he had to say.

Prayers lifted for his wife and family.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

{{{HUGS}}}

Thank you,I like yours very much indeed.It is nice seeing you ,too.You didn't stick your tongue out at me and so I didn't have to stick mine out at you.LOL.

It was great fun and to be honest I would do it again.:)

I love all the tables.

GBUSA really has done a beautiful job for the pledge.

[LUV W]

Thank you! It was so much fun--and soooooo hard to keep a secret for this long! LOL!

[OESY]

Great work, all!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

I'll see you when you get back.

[LUV W]

Yes, it was great fun. And....that little Stinker surprised everyone, didn't she? Her pledge was great. I loved that you can sort of see our personalities in our various tables.....everyone knows how I love planes and the Air Force and flying! LOL!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Yep,she sure did.LOL.

I agree and it is funny that the both of us chose a patriotic table.LOL.

I love the poem in yours.

[LUV W]

Thanks! That poem has always been a favorite of mine!

Funny that WE would choose the patriotic themes! LOL! Like we don't do one every single day either here or in the Canteen!

You are so cute!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

LOL.

Well that is because it's in the blood and I couldn't think of anything better.~chuckle~

To be honest it's not one of my better pictures.LOL.

I like yours way better then mine.

[LUV W]

So sorry for the loss of your brother. You and your whole family are in my prayers at this difficult time.

[LUV W]

Well, it was just about the only current one I have! LOL! I just don't think of getting my picture taken. You don't think anyone is gonna look at it and go---EEEEEEEEEEEEK? :o)

[Mrs.Nooseman]

LOL.

If anyone goes eeeeeek it'll be over my picture and not yours.LOL.

[LUV W]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!

That critter scared me as I scrolled by! :o)

[Pippin]

KEWL!

HOWDY EVERYBODY!!!!!

TBW, GBUSA, Love the screenname! :o)