Aaron Tippin’s ‘Kiss This’ and Chris LeDoux’s ‘Cowboy’ Chris wants everyone to know that despite all the rumors that he died when he had his liver transplant, he is alive and kicking, just not quite as high right now. ‘He Rides Wild Horses’ will soon be hitting the airwaves on a radio station near you.

For my youngest brother, Sam E, (we all think he needs some Sam-E too) he insists on doing everything himself, will not ask for help, learns by trial and error, spent 10 years driving an Army tank, dresses like a roofer (which he is) but shows up to funerals in a custom tailored suit (didn’t recognize him without his chew of tobacco), for this jack of all trades I chose: Chuck Wagon and the Wheels ‘Off The Top Rope’, and Confederate Railroad’s ‘Rockin’ Country Party Pack’.

For my older sister (When I say she’s older, I’m not allowed to tell you her name!) But, I can tell you Trace Adkins is her favorite country singer. She has many of her paintings adorning the walls of several banks and restaurants in Louisiana. After years of managing restaurants she was injured on the job. She thought life was over, but in fact a new one was just beginning. She and her husband have one daughter still at home, and are now foster parents to another young girl they hope to adopt. On top of all this, she’s spent the last few years going back to college to get her degree in marketing. Life’s never easy for her, because she takes on so many tasks at once. Her theme song should be ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’. Therefore, my choice for her is BJ Thomas’ new album ‘You Call That A Mountain’.

For my younger sister Pat, who works long hard hours as a nurse, adopted one little girl and has acted as a foster parent to other children, is basically a ‘hunting season widow’, I offer up an album guaranteed to give her a well deserved laugh: Kacey Jones ‘Every Man I Love Is Either Married, Gay, or Dead’

For my Mom and Dad, who started taking guitar lessons in their 60’s, play down at the senior citizens hall on Saturday nights, would give you the shirt off their back, has now gotten into raising goats (that’s another story), raised 6 kids in a 4 room house, worked two jobs and then came home to work on the farm, go to church on Sunday, I chose: Farm Aid Volume I Live and Jim Nabors ‘When He Spoke’, and because my Dad is such a Bluegrass fan, Dolly Parton’s ‘The Grass Is Blue’.

My niece Wendy is getting married in June. Because ‘It’s A Love Thing’ who else but Keith Urban could fill that stocking?

To my son Greg, who’s good looking, (And he’s single girls!), in the Navy, stationed in Connecticut, nothing’s more appropriate than Jamie O’Neal’s ‘Shiver’, and NSYNC’s ‘Home For Christmas’.

To my stepson Tim, who’s good looking (sorry girls he’s married), also in the navy, stationed in Connecticut, likes music of the Alternative Style, Sonny Landreth’s Levee Town and The Gourds (both on Sugarhill Records) fit the bill.

2 lbs. raisins
1 lb. Currants (washed & dried)
½ lb.Citron
2 Tbls. Grated nutmeg
1/8 oz. Grated cloves
1 lb. Sugar
¼ oz. Cinnamon
1/8 oz. Mace 
½ tsp. Salt 
½ quart brandy 
juice of 1 orange & one lemon 
1 lb. Beef suet 
2 lbs. chopped Granny Smith apples