By: pattie1005 (pattie)

Our Player in the Spotlight this month is smiley_girl_69r, known to us all as Sam.

Sam was born in Richmond, Indiana on 6 August 1977. She now lives in Muncie, Indiana.

Sam joined Mountain Euchre back in 1998 or 1999 and it is her only home – she wouldn’t go anywhere else. Her favorite partner is grousse1956 – why she doesn’t know – lol.

Everyone on mountain is Sam’s friend. She couldn’t single anyone out.

Sam is a nursing assistant in a nursing home, where she takes care of elderly people – she enjoys helping others.

Sam has three beautiful boys, Aaron who is 12 and twins, Nicolas and Nathanial who are now 5. They are growing up too fast. She has a terrific sister, April, one niece Shyanne and two nephews, Mason and Jacob and a step niece, Jessica. They all live in Virginia. Sam’s mom and her step dad, John, also live in Muncie.

When asked about a funny story, Sam told about a time she was at Walmart and she put her son, Aaron, on one of those mechanical horses, and put the quarter in the horse thinking she was back far enough, when the stupid horse’s leg went into her knee and she was hurt so badly she couldn’t get up. She just lay there like a fool – it was amusing to see – she laughed at herself because she laughs at anyone if they slip or fall – she is sick like that – lol. Now everything she goes by a mechanical horse she just giggles and she never put her boys on one again.

Sam’s family have a popular pet – a guinea pig named Sam.

She is a huge fan of Jimmie Johnson – her life is her kids, her work, mountain and of course racing.

Sam has sent us some photos of herself and her beautiful boys.

By: lord_darth_vadar_of_the_sith (Shaun)

Hiya all here are some fun and challenging Saint Patrick’s Day and other luck O’ the Irish questions to challenge you in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day. Enjoy!.

Place your mouse over each question to see the answer.

1. What is the official symbol of Ireland?

2. Who was Saint Patrick?

3. What is another name for the country of Ireland?

4. Where was Saint Patrick Born?

5. Michael Flatley popularized what Irish dance step?

6. What Irish symbol can also be used to treat snake bites and the sting of a scorpion?

7. Saint Patrick changed Ireland’s colors to green, true of false?

8. What topic did Irish poet W.B. Yeats like to write about?

9. What dance became popular in the beginning of the 20th century?

10. According to legend where can you find a Leprechaun?

Hope you find these questions challenging yet entertaining too.

Shaun

By: destinyyy_girl_2005 (Debbie)

BRAVADA7 WONDERFUL PET DOG, MAGGIE

We acquired Maggie last April, due to very unusual circumstances. As many of you know, we have raised and shown Irish Setters since the 1970’s, and having a Golden Retriever , or any other breed for that matter, was never an option.

A good friend of mine had recently lost his 10 year old Golden and missed her terribly. He asked me to find a replacement, as I had found him Katie many years ago from a friend of mine, who showed Golden’s. His life style did not warrant getting another dog, as he traveled so much. I told him he really didn’t need another dog, which as it came to pass, he didn’t. I was taking care of her when he was gone, and it got to the point that I had her more than he did. At first, I was upset with him, as Golden’s shed much worse than the Irish Setters, and it seemed like I had to vacuum daily, as well as daily brushings.

Well, as you can imagine, we fell in love with her, and she with us. He then decided that she was happier with us, and asked if we just wanted to keep her, and we agreed.

Maggie is from one of the top Golden Retriever breeders in the country, with her dam being the # 1 Golden last year, and her sire winning the National Specialty three years in a row, which is quite a feat. Maggie was supposed to follow in their paw prints, but she just got too big. She the same size as the males, which is a serious fault in Golden’s.

Maggie is now 2 years old, and quickly joined Shauna in running our household. She loves to play in the snow, and is always making canine snow angels in our back yard. She loves the water, and will swim and retrieve all day if we let her. Shauna hates rolling in the snow and going in the lake, so she just rolls her eyes, and thinks, “what an idiot”! Shauna is much to prissy to mess up her coat, and would just rather lay on the beach and watch the antics.

Well, Maggie is now an official member of our household, and the hit mascot of my grandson’s baseball team. Maggie is not spayed, and naturally every kid on the team wants a puppy from her. We are still thinking about it, but after breeding Irish Setters for so many years, it would be a drastic change, but who knows what the future will bring.

By: _gloop

Sweet and Sour Chicken
Sent in by roses_35us

Ingredients:
1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken cut up into 1 inch cubes
½ cup apple cider vinegar
½ cup packed brown sugar
3 Tbsp reg or lite soy sauce
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 large onion cut into 1 inch pieces
1 green and 1 red pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
20 oz. Can of pineapple chunks or tidbits in natural juices
Drain pineapple and save juice
Add enough water to pineapple juice to make 1 ½ cups
1 clove chopped or mashed garlic (optional)

Directions:
Sauté chicken and garlic in small amount of canola oil. Cook until browned
Add brown sugar, vinegar, ginger, cardamom, soy sauce, and pineapple juice. Stir until mixed, then add peppers and onions. Cover and simmer until peppers and onions are almost done. Add pineapple.
To thicken sauce you can use cornstarch, flour or arrowroot dissolved in water. Do this just as you would to make gravy.
Thicken sauce. You can add a little gravy master or kitchen bouquet to make sauce a little darker
Serve over a bed of rice, noodles or chowmein noodles.
Save leftovers in freezer containers, food saver or freezer bags and freeze… Quick dinner if you save them in individual servings.