Last evening we were invited to Krista and Gerald's for supper. I took along a white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for dessert. This is one of our favorite cheesecakes.

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted

In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter.

Press onto the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan. Set aside

Filling:
3 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 T. flour
1 t. vanilla
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 package (10-12 oz.) vanilla or white chips
1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam 

In a large mixing bowl beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the sour cream, flour and vanilla. Add eggs: beat on low speed just until combined. Fold in chips. Pour over crust.

In a microwave safe bowl melt rasberry jam. Stir until smooth. Drop by tablesppons over batter. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl.

I actually used raspberry pie filling on this one, as I had some in the fridge left over from something else I had made.

Bake at 325 for 75-80 minutes or until center is just set. Cool on wire rack ten minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen. Cool one hour longer. Refridgerate overnight.

Now, I read somewhere that running that knife around the edge is supposed to keep it from cracking, but mine cracked anyway. Does anyone know what the secret is to a crackless cheesecake? Please share if you do!

It was still good, although I think I should have baked it just a tad bit longer. The center was not quite dry enough.
The rest of supper was delicious. She made baked chicken, broccoli casserole, stuffing , gravy, and biscuits with jam and honey. Also some of her pickles.

After supper we decided to go miniature golfing. Here's Gerald, the bushes are hiding his ball, again!

What can I say, I did it too! Here Krista takes a shot.
She often wins, but Tim won this time. He also was the only one to get a hole in one. I was very rusty and my score was terrible. I won't say what it was!

Tropical storm Hannah is blowing through today, and we are finally getting some much needed rain. We had so much rain all summer and gardens and fields were looking so good. Our house is surrounded by cornfields and the corn was just beautiful up until about two weeks ago. It's something what a couple of weeks without rain will do. So we are very thankful for the rain today. It makes one feel a bit lazy though. We went out for breakfast this morning, then Annette and Tyler went shopping with Krista. I baked whoopie pies when we got home, now need to go get them filled and wrapped, so I shall move along.

Well, it's good to be home again after being gone for a week. We left last Friday and went to Ohio for the Schlabach reunion. This is my relatives on my mom's side They've been getting together for a week-end every summer, starting in 1967. It used to be camping, but now it's just two days of getting together, visiting, games, eating, our traditional homemade rootbeer etc. It was good reconnecting after not seeing most of them for two years. Paul did a terrific job of organizing everything and making it interesting.

Here's Paul doing the traditional candy throw. It was started by my Uncle Leroy, then passed on to my Uncle George, and now Paul does it.

I noticed that most of the kids are now the great, great grandchildren. Well, the bigger ones aren't! They were helping the little ones

My great nephew, Max.

My sister Eileen and Aunt Fannie Mae

Sunday afternoon Scrapple game

Monday we left Ohio and traveled to Michigan to visit Tim's parents. His sister Becky and family from South Carolina were also there. The guys helped Grampa getting in firewood, clean fence rows etc.

Tyler on the computer with Heidi watching

Becky does a good job in the kitchen.

Hotdog roast

We came home Friday evening around 6:00. Troy had kept the home fires burning while we were gone, and the flowers and everything looked great. Tim mowed some lawn and we got everything put away. Then we spent some time around the campfire. A perfect ending to our vacation!

Tyler and Annette star gazing

I liked this picture of the campfire and the shoes on the left.

Oh, it's good to be home again!

Some pictures from this past week-end...

Troy's parents, sister and his niece and nephew came to visit him. Since he lives here we got in on the visit, too. They came on Friday evening and left on Tuesday. Travis was also here. He came on Thursday and left on Sunday.

Here they are playing "Settlers of Catan" on Saturday afternoon. I didn't play. I didn't really have time, and that game is beginning to get the better of me, anyway!

Saturday evening Keiths and Dales were here for supper. Amy really liked our kitten, and I love this picture I got of her. The kitten is totally relaxed. You can carry it around like a baby.

Of course the guys had to get in a few games of croquet!

Here's Troy's niece, Ella, with the kitten.

Troy with Ella and Andrew.

And with the rest of his family, minus his brother-in-law who's in Guatemala right now.

Donna, Mickey and Carrie

We enjoyed our visit with them very much.

And here's a picture of our  puppy that we got almost three weeks ago. Her name is Chloe and she's an Australian Shepherd. We sure enjoy having her, but she is a puppy and needs lots of training! We're working on it and hopefully it will pay off someday.