Daisydoodle

Thanksgiving Wishes!

2011-11-20T14:31:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is always a time to review our blessings, and express our gratitude for all that we've been given. But not only am I grateful for what I've been blessed with, I'm grateful for what I've been able to offer, however big or small. A statement made in a conference talk really made me think: When we stand before the Lord to account for ourselves, we may be asked who we served, not how many callings we held. Something to ponder!

I look forward to this time of year, not just because of the really good food that we get to stuff ourselves with, but being able to associate with family. With so many of us, it's always a giant affair, but it's always fun and well worth it!

I would wish for everyone to have a grand day, full of wonderful food and family, and a feeling of love to the Lord for it all!

Flamingo Pair

2011-09-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

While at the zoo a while back, these two flamingo's were sunning themselves. The rest of the flock were drinking from the pond nearby.

Oh, Those Mormon Messages!

2011-08-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

Each Sunday, we plug in the computer to the TV and watch Mormon Messages, along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing hymns on YouTube. Our favorites, or rather, my favorites are, "If You Could Hie to Kolob," by Lex de Azevedo (the 7 minute one), and "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."

Today was no different (except that we watched on our computer instead of the TV) and to our surprise, we found new videos to cry to! (every time we watch these, some of us cry) The ones we watched were from The Divine Creator. Excellent, excellent, excellent! Then there are those that we've seen before and still tears flood our eyes, and we choke up. What a great spirit it brings into our home. It's like being surrounded with angels! I don't think you can watch these videos and not feel the spirit at some point, and walk away feeling uplifted.

You know, I've heard it said that if you hear the same messages over and over, you get bored of it and don't pay attention anymore. BUT, I think if you hear a message repeatedly, it still soaks in and you gain from it. So watching these videos again and again really does do something in building us up and strengthening our whole family!

Those Mormon Messages.....keep 'em comin'!

Whoosh, Popping Eggs, and Sore Fingers!

2011-07-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

This past week has been quite an adventure! A few days in particular were quite memorable:

***Just as the last clothes pin clipped a towel on the clothesline, I heard WHOOSH! Startled, I turned around just in time to see a mini wall of water rushing towards me as the little quick-set pool we got for the grandkids overflowed! I forgot to check the water level after an hour of filling up the pool! It'd probably be a good thing if we had grass in our backyard, but we have desert landscape, and therefore, dirt turned into mud. I learned that sweeping watery mud works quite well.

***After taking out the garbage and checking on a few things outside, I came in to hear popping in the kitchen. OH, MY! The boiled eggs I was making to add to a potato salad turned into burned, scorched, popping eggs! I had checked the water in the pan just a few minutes earlier and I knew about how much time I had before taking the pan off the stove. But this time, I cut it a little too close and ended up taking the black-spotted eggs outside to cool down (if that's possible with the outside temperature being 108 degrees!).

***While sweeping between the washer and dryer, I found a ball of lint that wouldn't come out from around the little front foot of the washer. In attempt to lift that front edge with my left hand, and sweep the lint with my right hand, I realized that only my fingertips would reach under the edge to lift it up. TOO MUCH WEIGHT! Just after the broom cleared the front, lint collected, BOOM! The washer dropped to the floor (a whole two inches) and my two middle fingers instantly started hurting. The pain shot up the inside of my wrist and up to my elbow. I don't think that ball of lint was worth it!

Little (and big) mishaps make life interesting and memorable! (but I don't think I want a repeat of these things!)

If It Weren't For Air Conditioning, I'd be Outta Here!

2011-07-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've had it with the humidity!

But don't get me wrong: I love the desert. I love the heat. I love the dry heat. I love the sun and the light, everyday. For me, the daily sunlight is like breathing, I need it.

One thing I don't like is the humidity (even thought my previous post was praising humidity). I think I can handle maybe a few weeks of it, but after a while, I've had it. My few weeks are up! In looking at the whole picture, I suppose I can live with it since its humid for only a month or so during the summer. But if I were one of those first settlers in the Phoenix valley and lived through this hot, humid desert back then with no air conditioning, I'd have left for another part of the state or country, pronto!

I suppose other parts of the country deal with some humidity, but I find myself confined to the house enjoying the nice cool indoors sending the kids to the store instead of going myself, or running from my air conditioned car into the store and enjoying the cool air while shopping (dreading the walk back to the car).

What a great invention, air conditioning. And what a great blessing it is to have it! It'll seem totally worth it, till we get the electric bill. Then we'll be eating dirt for every meal! (just kidding!)

The Positive Side of A Hundred Seven Degrees

2011-07-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

The southwest desert in the summertime: triple digit temperatures, sidewalk egg-frying competitions, sunburns galore, swimming, (among other things).....
In my limited travels across the United States, I've learned enough about the weather in those areas to know where I like it best. Arizona.

But the hardest part of the summertime here (for me) is when the humidity reaches bath towel stage; otherwise known as the monsoon season. Reminds me of Alabama. Wake up fresh in the morning, showered, hair set, and dry. Then you step outside your front door, unlock the car and get in, and, surprise, you need another shower!

However, there is a positive side to the heat (unbelievably): the humidity is actually good for your skin and lungs. As uncomfortable as it is to be out in (once you've been used to the dry heat), its nice to breathe in moist air. Both in the heat and in the cool, higher humidity means adding lacking moisture to our bodies. That's why it's so important to take water bottles with you everywhere you go. Dehydration is pretty common, but can be avoided by drinking not just juices, but plain ol' water.

And the moisture really treats skin kindly. The big thing in any part of the country is a summertime tan. But as dry and leathery as skin can become, it's really refreshing to be in a high humidity area. You can feel the moisture soak into your skin. It's great! The combination of high (and I mean really high) heat and humidity is what sometimes throws me off when I walk outside and start dripping after three minutes! I have to remind myself that it's good.....really good!

So, there is a good side to high temperatures in the summertime: the humidity rolls in.

Of Dads and Men

2011-06-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is a wonderful day to give our men the much deserved attention that seems to be missing in today's world. Here's a small part of my perspective:

I love it when General Conference rolls around and all of the boys go to the Priesthood session with their dad. I love it when the Elders Quorum has a Priesthood fireside, or the High Priests have an evening together in like manner. The Fathers and Sons outing in May is another great time for the boys to associate with their dads, and later, the fathers can shoot the breeze around a campfire. I love it when the men get together for any occasion.

Their building each other up and supporting each other brings strength home to us. Too many times, wards will have a subtle matriarchial base as the patriarchs stand by (because they're so nice!). But since the priesthood leads, we should acknowledge, and follow; not blindly, but supportively. Our priesthood brothers should associate together and build those bonds with each other that will carry on for eternity. "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

A tradition with me: when my husband comes home from church, we discuss the priesthood lessons. (Back when the Priesthood and Relief Society books were different, around the 70's, I used to read the priesthood lessons because they contained more to-the-point subjects, were more direct, and had more quotes from the prophets and apostles) I love to hear the raw doctrines that are hashed over, the truths that are derived directly from the scriptures, the comments, and the tangents. I think our Relief Society lessons are sometimes too soft, mellow, "fluffy." They're nice and always presented properly; but nothing beats pulling out the scriptures and discussing meanings. (I like to get to the heart of the matter)

Dad is the head of the household. He leads, decides, blesses, saves, and makes allowances. When there's a crisis, its Dad who's called. When there's a medical emergency, it's Dad who's contacted. When someone's faced with a decision, it's Dad who's consulted. He's usually the first to be asked when someone needs a blessing. If there's a question about finances, he's in the mix of resources. When there's a chance to go camping, hiking, or fishing, he's one of the first to be notified. And I love it when the kids need to admit a wrong, and they go to him. It's hard, but they do it. And although he may have some weaknesses (and who doesn't), he still is the head of our home (a job I don't care to have) and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Husband Thoughts

2011-06-10T06:19:00.000-07:00

Husbands are a great invention! And I think I have the best husband in the world.

Not just because he’s my best friend, not because he takes me out to dinner (and even cooks dinner!), not because he takes me to places I want to go, not because he makes the decisions I’m supposed to make but I don’t want to make, and not because he works at a job that has the benefits and flexibility that allow him to be home as often as he can.

I think I have the best husband in the world because he still puts up with my indecisive-ness and wackiness after 30+ years. He tells it like it is when it needs to be told like it is. He has such a funny sense of humor, and makes me laugh everyday. He has such a broad base of knowledge, I'm still amazed after all these years, at how much he knows how to do. I've never met anyone who can, out of the blue on the first try, know how to build a patio, know where the fish are at the lake, knows how to fix a leak in a pipe buried in a wall, and can sense when a child (even a grown up one) needs something.

The longer I'm married to him, the more I'm amazed. You'd think that after the first ten years, you'd know all there is to know about a person. But that's just the beginning! I knew right off that he was led by the Spirit, but he's never let up with following the Lord's direction, even when it meant sticking his neck out to be chopped off!

He's the greatest! He still opens the door for me, still offers to get me anything, still listens to me ramble on about stupid stuff, still stares at me, and still provides a beautiful home for me.

And I love him to pieces!

Our Unexpected Snowtrip

2011-05-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

We really weren't planning on camping in the snow, but after arriving at our chosen spot late in the afternoon, the light drizzle of rain/snow never let up, and we woke up the next morning to at least 6 inches of snow on the ground.

When we got there, we figured at some point it'd all stop. But no! We hurried to set up tents between gusts of wind and dusting of snow, but never got the truck completely unloaded, so half of our gear was covered with snow, too.

We were freezing and everything was wet, including the insides of the tents. When we would tap the inside roof to knock off the snow, we'd get a shower!

It was quite pretty, though.

It's not just snow on the tops of the canoes, it's ice! We found out that the temperature than night was 31 degrees! Brrrr!

Soon after this picture was taken, we all packed up and moved to a lower elevation and continued our camping adventure in a dryer spot.

Even though we didn't choose to camp in the snow, I'm glad we did. It's one of those experiences you can say, 'been there, done that!'

Excuse Me, Could You Pull Over And Let Me Pass?

2011-05-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

On the road, and behind the wheel! I get into the car, slam it into drive, and speed away leaving skid marks behind me and screeching sounds loud enough to stir the neighborhood!

Just kidding! That was probably me as a teenager, but not now. Close, but not quite. Enough tickets and warnings curbed my tendency for wreckless driving. The speed part, though, hasn't quite left my blood. I like to get where I'm going, and do it quickly. I think that if you have a privilege drivers license, and you're going to drive your car, drive your car!

THIS is where my impatience shines through! (can you tell?) I realize that when you get a ticket for speeding, you tend to watch more carefully how fast you're driving, whether pulling out of the driveway, or tootling along on the highway. But I think that when you get into your car, you should drive, concentrate on where you're going, and be quick about it. If you're not sure about your direction or if you're enjoying the scenery, pull out of the way and let the long line of other drivers pass.

I've had my share of insane race car drivers try to run me over, and although my temper is slow in heating up, there have been times when I've let loose and pushed triple digits just to show up that other guy!

This is probably NOT the kind of behavior expected of me, and I will admit that I may not be (at times) the same person behind the wheel that I am everywhere else, but I do expect a certain behavior of other drivers on the road. Drive your car, and at least go the speed limit! If you see through your rearview mirror that traffic is building up behind you, pull over or speed up. Don't put on makeup, fix things in the back seat, put your shoes on, or talk and laugh with your passengers to the point of losing your concentration. Cell phone conversations have an automatic, involuntary connection to slower speeds on the road - get off the phone, or be conscious of your speed and drive normal. Or, better yet, use cruise control.

So, an apology in advance: if I tailgate you, pass you quickly, or you see me throw up my hands in frustration because you're not moving fast enough, I'm sorry. It's my natural impatience on the road that I'm trying to curb. But remember, if you're going to drive your car, drive your car! (apologies!)

Schooling at Home vs Homeschooling

2011-05-05T12:02:00.000-07:00

The term "homeschooling" has taken on different meanings, of late. Up until about ten or fifteen years ago, homeschooling was defined as a parent teaching a child/ren at home using their own resources, creating a well-rounded curriculum of their own choosing, of core subjects including PE, art, and music. It was the parent's responsibility to search out and find the type of materials needed and wanted to teach at home. The parents were to provide everything a child needed to succeed in his/her educational goals or direction, including textbooks, workbooks, projects, supplies for experiments, etc. This required funds from the family budget, either great or small, and time constraints became a thing of the past; meaning there was no "teaching to pass an April standardized test." This opened up endless possibilities and opportunities for the "teacher" to spend as much or little time on a given concept or subject as deemed appropriate --- at least, in Arizona where homeschooled children were and are exempt from standardized testing - probably due to the high level of education parents were providing themselves. The state does not provide any supplemental funding to homeschooling families.

Now, the term "homeschooling" encompasses any type of schooling at home, beit original homeschooling, as described above, part-time schooling where students spend part time learning at home and part time learning at a physical building, online schooling where all of the curriculum is provided (and sometimes computers, too), and "group" homeschooling where parents pool their strong subject abilities, and take turns teaching a "class" made up of their own children. Schools that are state funded require their students to take the standardized tests, both in elementary school and high school.

In the past, we've homeschooled up to seven children at a time at home. But since living out here on the edges of civilization for the past 6+ years, our kids have been in public schools. Many times I've been tempted to bring them home (and probably should have) and resume our homeschool routine because I was really unhappy with the school. But after hearing about the alternative of online high school a few years ago, a few of our kids came home and worked on the computer. For us, it's worked out great.

BUT, I still have great memories of actually homeschooling the kids:

using books I bought at a discount store,
creating my own master copies of the human skeleton,
buying a slab of clay to use for writing cunieform as part of a history lesson,
saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, along with prayer,
playing a game on a redesigned gameboard to teach letters and sounds to a preschooler,
and being done with school just after lunch.

I loved it and I miss it. And I still have nearly everything I used back then. I give lots of credit and praise to families who DO actually homeschool because I know how hard it can be and how rewarding it is. But at my age, now, I think educating the kids on the computer is just as thorough.
Okay, here's my rant:
Homeschooling is teaching children at home using your own materials that you purchased, after having registered yourself with the state as being a homeschooling family.
Homeschool is NOT taking classes on the computer, or attending state funded classes either online OR in a building.
Therefore, for us, we are NOT homeschooling ---- we are online schooling.
And there you have it!

In Full Bloom!

2011-04-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Our Palo Verde tree in the backyard is in full bloom! Over the past 4 days it's become "heavy laden" with blossoms, and the bee's love it! There's a dull humming near the tree which can be a bit unnerving, but it's a sure sign of spring in the desert!

The yellow of the blossoms is quite bright, too! Almost neon!

I love this picture of a bee!

I think the whole hive is visiting our tree.

The funny thing is, that in another week, all of these blossoms will drop to the ground and the tree will be all green again!

Guess Where We Went Over The Weekend?

2011-03-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

Luke Air Force Base Air Show!

Every other year, this event is a must-go-to. All other plans get scrapped to walk what seems like 10 miles around these new and old airplanes, helicopters, and jets, with some of the pilots standing near them to answer questions.

But it's really interesting to see these planes up close.

My personal favorite!

It's a bullet holder on the side of the plane with people walking behind it!

Aren't they cute planes?

The Thunderbirds flew in their formation all over the sky....it was great as an ending to the air show.

The Big Fish!

2011-03-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

On the latest fishing trip, this one was caught. Pretty good! It seems all of the fish that the boys caught were pretty good sized ones.

I love fishing, but this trip I enjoyed relaxing in the desert rather than float around the lake.

It's so nice not to have phones ringing, and no traffic noises. The temperatures were quite nice: not too cold, and not too hot. Having said that, I did get cold one night, even though my sleeping bag is rated down to 15 degrees.

The most memorable part is this trip was that around 3am one morning, some wandering donkeys announced their presence near our tents. And boy did they "hee-haw," long and loud! Hard to go back to sleep after such a noise!

Renaissance Festival - Arizona

2011-02-16T05:39:00.000-08:00

The Renaissance Fair just opened in Arizona this past weekend, and we discovered that, after never having been to one before, it was a worthwhile day spent taking pictures.

Royalty.

Hey, Nunnie, Nunnie is a hilarious act. These two ladies crack one joke after another. They spend their time laughing, and making everyone else laugh on and off the stage!

This (above) is Twig. She's a favorite fairy!

Interesting sight strolling down a main street!

Here is a "knight in shining armor."

One of many shops to buy period cothing.

Jousting was a fun event to watch! Nobody got hurt and one knight won!

Back in the Saddle...at least for a moment!

2011-02-11T09:29:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize how long it's been since my last post, till I dropped in to write something. Where has the time gone? Who knows! This and that, here and there.....just life things to take care of.

After reading the Book of Mormon over and over and over, I decided to read passages from the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (the blue book). I'm just beginning, but quite a few pieces sink into my mind for contemplation. One, shared with my children, is an excerpt from a letter from Joseph Smith to Mr. Seaton, the editor of a newspaper in Kirtland, Jan. 4, 1833:

"...For some length of time I have been carefully viewing the state of things, as it now appears, throughout our Christian land; and have looked at it with feelings of the most painful anxiety. While upon one hand I behold the manifest withdrawal of God's Holy Spirit, and the veil of stupidity which seems to be drawn over the hearts of the people; upon the other hand, I behold the judgments of God that have swept, and are still sweeping hundreds and thousands of our race, and I fear unprepared, down to the shades of death..." (pg.13)

I like the "...veil of stupidity which seems to be drawn over the hearts of the people..." part because I see it so clearly. At times, I'm included in being shaded with that veil. It's only when a step back is taken to see life for what it is that I get a correct perspective. And that percpective is that this life is a school to learn how to return to our Heavenly Father, keep on track following the Savior every step of the way, enduring the bumps and bruises all along the way, to find eternal rest and happiness.

And thus are my feelings for this moment!

I Don't Think Could Ever Go To An Opera...

2011-01-23T15:14:00.000-08:00

On Sunday afternoons we like to listen to good music (mostly hymns) to keep the air light and uplifting. Once in a while we play a song in which the musicians give their all with their opera voices. The sound is great, it is uplifting, and we really enjoy it; but that's when our teenagers join in with their own version of the song and sing with their opera voices....quite comical!!! Especially when the boys sing! The song gets played over and over with a new rendition each time and I find myself wiping my eyes from laughing so hard!

I don't think I could sit in the audience at an opera and listen to the music without breaking out in laughter....it would remind me of our "choir" at home!

New Blog!

2011-01-21T10:16:00.000-08:00

After much confusion, frustration, and wasted time trying to make this quilting hobby a part of this blog, I've moved my Sweet Petal Stitchery "page" to its own blog. (there really was a page attached to my blog) Found on blogger by its own name, Sweet Petal Stitchery came about because of my need to be quilting something, and the ease of putting together quilts for babies/toddlers just seemed to follow.

Made mostly for my children and their babies, these baby quilts are also for sale. (currently one is available - others need to be ordered)

I'm hoping to build a supply both of my own designs and already printed designs. You'll want to check in now and then to catch the latest accomplishment! If you visit, leave me a comment, even if its just "hi, I was here!"

sweetpetalstitchery.blogspot.com

Sweet Petal Stitchery

2011-01-12T04:19:00.000-08:00

Lions, Tigers, and Monkeys!

This baby quilt is a must for cooler weather. The batting is a lightweight but denser polyester. Great for taking on a picnic or covering baby on cool nights.

Measures 42"x43"

Hand quilted

Machine binding

$30

Available now!

Orders, questions, or comments, please contact me:

sweetpetalstitchery@hotmail.com

Sweet Petal Stitchery

2011-01-11T10:26:00.000-08:00

Teddy Bear Toys - Red

This baby quilt is perfect for spreading out on the floor, or wrapping baby in for cuddling. It measures 1-1/2 yards square (43"x43") and has a thin 1/2" polyester batting.

Hand quilted, it has a secure binding and is washable.

Teddy Bear Toys - Red $30

Orders or questions, please contact me at:

sweetpetalstitchery@hotmail.com

The Power of Music

2011-01-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

I love to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing hymns with their trademark full-bodied sound. Such richness, such majesty, and such grandeur! Quite a moving experience! On Sunday afternoons, we turn the sound up on our Netflix TV screen and listen to them bring into our home a peacefulness, serenity, and happiness. The happiness occasionally turns to giddiness, but for the most part, the mood is just plain happy. I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to sit in the conference center to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing the hymns they’re famous for. I’m sure it would be quite overwhelming! (maybe one day….)

I get the maybe-not-so- sought-after calling of Primary Chorister and I really love it. When the children come into our early morning Primary quite solemn (or, in some cases, sleepy), its fun to get them up and moving through singing. They are all so much fun, yet we keep reverence amidst our practicing. I especially love it when the contest of singing loud enough for a hallway listener to hear, produces goosebumps! Such results should be had in all of our Sunday Sacrament meetings. With as many members as there are in our ward, we could actually produce enough sound, with our varied voices, to rival any choir, and an outside passerby would turn to look at our church building and marvel at our musical gusto! I’m waiting for that day! I love it when we go visit our grown children in their Sunday meetings and the congregation really sings! It’s great!

What an opportunity to worship through song each Sunday! There’s a temptation to pick up the rhythm and belt out each song. Music touches our spirits in a way that the spoken word doesn’t, and adds a great deal to our church meetings and our homes.

When our older kids were little, I had them sing in Sacrament meetings to songs by Janice Kapp Perry. They did quite well but hated it like kids sometimes do, but I liked it, it was good for them, and it helped us build memories they all laugh about now. A few of those songs became our family favorites.

Sweet Petal Stitchery - Baby Zoo Animals - Blue

2011-01-08T15:12:00.000-08:00

Baby zoo animals adorn the top of this baby quilt, and a matching solid blue fabric is used for the backing. Half-inch batting, and hand stitching throughout make this quilt quite versatile. I made a narrow 5/8" blue binding and stitched it with a secure, decorative machine stitch (which is the only machine stitch used on this quilt)

This baby quilt measures about 43 inches wide, and 42 inches high. Nearly square, it is larger than commercial baby quilts. It can be used as a floor blanket for baby to roll around on or used as a crib quilt.

Cotton/polyester fabric is used for top and bottom fabric, 100% polyester batting, and cotton/polyester thread complete this quilt. Perfect for the washer and dryer.

Every baby quilt I make is completely hand-stitched according to the top fabric pattern and has a machine stitched binding.

A New Year!

2011-01-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

Yippee! A New Year! Just another day on the calendar, and maybe just another day to others, but after the Christmas break, it's a great time to hit the "refresh" button and get going again with the routine stuff with a better outlook!

The Tree. Or, Rather, The Ornaments ON The Tree!

2010-12-20T05:57:00.000-08:00

Christmas trees are such interesting things....especially to little children. Its fascinating to see all of the ornaments that are available to adorn Christmas trees. And whether real or artificial, the Christmas tree continues to be an attraction for young and old alike. And who can help but touch those little snowmen, or bulbs, or miniature scenes that hang on branches? I like to see friends' and families trees (and even the trees at Home Depot, Lowe's, and JC Penney's) to see all their favorite ornaments. They're all so different!

The funny thing is that, as nice as it is to have a completely decorated Christmas tree, it's equally frustrating to have one decorated only from the top to half way down. Little hands pull and tug at those eye-catching ornaments and lights, and who can blame them?

For years, our tree looked great the first day or so; then by Christmas, it looked like it'd been drug outside and then back in. We were all really glad when it all came down the day after Christmas, got packed away (or thrown away), and left in the attic for a whole 'nother year, with the attitude of 'good riddance'!

But as the kids got older, the tree seemed to look nicer longer with each passing year. So now that our tree makes it through the season without being stripped of ornaments, I've decided that a perfect tree means there are no little children investigating! How sad! I think I'd rather have a 'handled' tree that shows wear and ornament rearranging, than one that looks commercially decorated!

Nevertheless, Christmas trees are the one thing that kids can not only look at (for a whole 3 seconds), but they can decorate and redecorate, over and over!

Christmas Is Here! Yay!

2010-12-08T14:35:00.000-08:00

What a fun time of year! Scurring here and there, finding deals, and eating lots of great, fattening food!

Between Thanksgiving with its well-balanced meal to look forward to (and eating lots of it), and Christmas with those sweets like fancy brownies, rich cookies and bars, and sweet breads to give and receive, the pounds seem to pile on, and stay on!

But what fun it is to try new recipes, eat it all, and then make more to share!

More later!

Wheat And Grinder Preferences

2010-11-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

The old standby, wheat, dominates our food storage, along with rice and sugar. But using wheat in bread poses a grinding question: do I grind the wheat into a fine flour? Or, do I grind it coarsely to get the benefit of the bran for fiber?

The electric grinder I bought years ago ground the wheat kernels into a nice soft flour, but didn’t have a coarse enough setting to allow me to get that bran I wanted to see in my bread; even the coarsest setting is still a flour. And, its extremely loud, puts a fine powder into the air as it grinds (so I take it outside to grind wheat), and takes a lot of care to clean after each use. But I still like it, and use it when I want a fine wheat flour.

So, I bought another hand-cranked grinder to get the coarse wheat I wanted for breads. It has different settings, but even at it's finest setting, it'still coarse. I love it! It mounts to the kitchen table and grinds perfectly. It takes a little longer to get the amount of wheat I want to store, but it's relative quiet, and I can have someone else help turn the handle for a while.

Another word about wheat: ideally, wheat should be ground just before using in recipes to get the most nutritious benefit. However, I find it difficult to leave my hand-crank wheat grinder out, mounted on the kitchen table or counter, waiting to be used when I’m ready to bake bread. Even leaving the electric grinder out (to take outside) wouldn't be practical either. So I coarsely grind several cups of wheat with the hand-crank grinder and store it in an air-tight canister to be used in pancakes, bread, and anything else I choose, and then its put away for a while. I do the same thing with the electric grinder: I grind lots at once and store it for use later.

My thoughts are that eating wheat, even if its ground weeks earlier, is still good for you. It’s better than nothing. The impression is often given that if one doesn't grind their wheat just prior to baking, you're either not a very good cook, or somehow you don't quite meet up to the ideal standard. However, I believe that if you can sprout your 15+-year-old wheat, then it's still good and you can grind it, store it, and use it whenever you need it. Otherwise, what's the point of storing so much wheat and using it a little at a time?

A personal preference: Between red wheat and white wheat, I like red wheat for it's stronger flavor in pancakes and some breads. I also like red wheat for a hot cereal cooked in a crock pot overnight. White wheat (finely ground) is good for a hint of wheat flavor in some breads.

Year's Supply Review - Freeze-dried versus Dehydrated

2010-11-09T15:46:00.000-08:00

(What I’ve learned…)

When deciding what items fit into your food storage, there are several choices: canned, frozen, freeze dried and dehydrated, among others. When looking for something dried, there are these options: dehydrated and freeze-dried.

Dehydrated foods are foods that have had the moisture removed (as much as possible) and stored in air-tight containers. Freeze dried foods are flash frozen, then dried. How is it made? “To create freeze-dried food, the item is first flash frozen, then a low-level heat is applied inside a vacuum chamber. This process melts the ice crystals without changing the cell structure of the food. Finally, the food is packed for long-term storage. This process retains much of the color, texture, shape, flavor, and nutrition.” (Emergency Essentials, November 2010 catalog, pg. 5)

So which is better? The answer depends on your taste buds, and your budget. Dehydrated foods, whether fruits or vegetables, still have some moisture in them, and therefore, are sometimes a bit more rubbery. And there is some color loss in dehydrated food. Freeze dried foods, are more crunchy; but a kind of easy-on-your-teeth, crunchy. Both work well in soups and stews, but used as side dishes, you’d have to experiment with your level of acceptance. Some dehydrated vegetables work only in soup/stew dishes, while others are passable enough to stand on their own as side dishes. And the cost of freeze-dried food items is usually more than dehydrated. But then again, you’d need to experiment with your own taste, and product usefulness to see what works for your family.

Granted, nothing is better than fresh, but either freeze-dried or dehydrated are good additions to a year’s supply of food storage.

I’d be curious to know if anyone has a favorite freeze-dried food, or a favorite dehydrated food….
My favorites are freeze-dried peaches and strawberries (expensive, but really good!).
Dehydrated apples are great for car trips as a snack. Tomatoes (and other vegetables) are great for soup.

Year’s Supply Review – Powdered Milk

2010-11-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

We all know that for what seems like hundreds of years we’ve been counseled to get our year’s supply of food and supplies. But a complete year’s supply of food can be hard to compile and store, and then compile and store all of the supplies that are required.

Our experience has been that even though storage space is an issue, having the extra is well worth it. We’ve found ourselves out of butter or milk, and resorted to using our reserves in powdered form. And there have been times when we’ve run out of potatoes, and used our canned potatoes, or we’ve run out of grape jelly and used our stored homemade jellies.

Most recently, we’ve used our powdered milk. Over the years I’ve tried powdered milk products, judging their taste and bake-ability, and have found that one brand, so far, has topped the others hands down. As far as using powdered milk in baking bread, any brand or kind works well. But drinking powdered milk is a whole different story. Taste is everything!

Provident Pantry’s Instant Nonfat Dry Milk has the taste a powdered milk should have (because it's supposed to taste like regular milk), and is worth its weight in gold. It mixes quite well; better than regular powdered milk, which can stay lumpy for a while. This milk mixes smoothly with little lumps that dissolve quickly. I usually add the water to the powder in a pitcher and whisk it to blend quickly, then use a long spoon or knife to loosen any powder at the bottom edge of the pitcher. Even though whisking produces lots of foam, refrigerating the milk (or adding ice cubes to cool it for immediate use) will break the tiny bubbles and make it smooth like regular two-percent, store-bought milk.

When we first bought Provident Pantry’s brand milk, I was so impressed with the ease of mixture and especially its taste, I wanted to tell the whole world how good it was (and passed my enthusiasm on to some ladies at church, and wrote a post about it). I even invited some ladies to come by my house and taste it.

I use powdered milk when we’ve run out of store-bought milk, and I use it in bread-making. Our picky teenagers sometimes turn their noses up at the thought of drinking any kind of powdered milk, but they’ll drink it, which is a good thing.

If you need to add powdered milk to your year’s supply of food storage, and know that at some point you might need to drink it, get the milk that you know will taste as close to store-bought as you can get (sounds like a commercial!). Because you’ll be glad you have it when you’re dollar-stretched or have run out of regular milk. And hopefully you’re family will enjoy the taste as well.

Halloween Reviews

2010-11-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

Our family Halloween party was a blast, as usual! We only took a few pictures because we were all running about, making it fun! We had our kid games:

eyeball race (carrying styrofoam eyeballs in a spoon across the livingroom)
coloring Halloween pages
the all-time favorite, fishing for candy (using a plastic covered board as a wall, and fishing poles made out of big sticks, with string and a clothespin on the end)
doughnut-eating contest (doughnuts are positioned on a long string outside where the kids tried to eat their doughnut first)
and, indoor trick-or-treating (our 6 big bags of candy were all given out!)

.......and our adult game, which was guessing amounts of things in two jars:

peanut M&M's
Reese's mini cups

Most of us dressed up and all of us had a great time!

Eliza Shares a Recipe

2010-10-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

Eliza found some easy cookies to make, and she was so excited to share them, that I thought I'd post her success. The recipe came out of the Hershey's Chocolate Cookbook, and is quite workable for a young baker, especially because it's all done in the microwave.
Chocolate Crackles
10 T. butter
6 T cocoa
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/2 c. nuts, chopped

powdered sugar

Microwave butter in medium bowl for 45-60 seconds or until melted. Add cocoa; blend well. Beat in sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and nuts. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or until firm.

Shape into 1 inch balls; roll in powdered sugar. Place 8 cookie balls on a plate and microwave at 50% power for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until surface is dry but cookies are soft when touched. Cool, and repeat with remaining dough. Optional: sprinkle with additional powdered sugar after they come out of the microwave.

Note: After mixing, Eliza put the dough in the freezer for about 1 hour. She used chopped peanuts in the mix. Also, the dough is the consistency of playdough, and therefore, produces a cake-like cookie.

Pretty good, for a young teen!

More Of These, Please....

2010-10-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

As much as I like the sunshine, it's always nice to see clouds and rain. And its always this time of year when we get a taste of cooler weather with breezes that make me really want more clouds and rain.

If I could put in my order for a weather change, it'd be for more clouds and lower temperatures.

Sweeper Helper!

2010-10-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

It's nice to see "good" bugs around helping to keep the insect world balanced on our back patio.

I guess I'll wait till this bug is finished scouring our broom for bugs before I sweep!

Close Call! Twice!

2010-10-02T20:18:00.000-07:00

Today we went out to the desert with the intention of hunting quail. Early in the morning, just as the sun comes up, the little desert animals are active. We heard quite a few dove cooing to each other, and some quail,.........

......but our big surprise came later as we'd walked quite a ways, and the sun had started heating up the desert. Paul (our 15 year old) and I were walking up a mound to get to the other side and search for quail when, all of a sudden we heard, "sssssss." Paul instantly saw a rattlesnake not 3 feet from him, coiled up and ready to strike. He nearly stepped on it! (It's colors blended so well with the dirt, it was invisible) After we both jumped back for our lives, the rattler slithered away under a tree, still shaking it's tail.

(this is what the western diamondback rattlesnake looks like)

A bit unnerved, we both continued on over the mound looking for quail. We saw a group of large quail a ways off and Paul shot. He thought he got one, but we searched and couldn't find it. So we decided to meet up with John, Rachel, and Thomas and show them the rattler (that scared us to death), and help us find the quail! After seeing the snake, they went with us over the same mound to the area where that missing quail was.

However, as we got to the other side of the mound, me being out front, I heard, "ssssss." I instantly froze! My eyes scanned the ground for a snake, but saw nothing. Until......I saw a small, greenish, coiled-up snake right in front of me about 10 feet away, that wasn't there before.

This snake did not slither away. It stood it's ground, as I stood mine.

I have a feeling that if I had made any move toward it, even if I had backed away, the snake would have charged me!

The faceoff ended, and I'm still here.

I later learned that this was a Mohave Rattlesnake (sometimes known as the Mohave Green Rattlesnake). It looks like a diamondback, but smaller, and greener. They're quite deadly, and they don't back down; unlike the western diamondback. Close call with that one!

In the meantime, while all this was going on, Dad and Liz got a few quail in their area, nearer the truck. At least they got something!

The next time we go to the desert, I'm going loaded to the hilt!

Our New Old Chairs!

2010-10-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

Re-upholstering isn't on our list of favorite things to do, but when we need to, we can do anything! (at least, we think so!) What an adventure this was! All the kids helped and made our job much easier (and faster!).

Our two sitting chairs were covered in a purply colored fabric when we bought them about 6 years ago. But the wear and tear of life warranted a recovering. We didn't want to pay for a professional to redo our chairs so we went to Fabric Depot and spent about 1-1/2 hours deciding on the right design. (Actually, we just got tired of wandering around picking a fabric and then shooting it down!) After spending only $25 for the two chairs, we figured it couldn't be that bad. What we didn't expect was the tedious removal of the 50 billion staples on the seat and on the chair back. But, it turned out fine, even though WE can see all of the flaws. (Hopefully they're not too noticeable to anyone else!)

The kitchen chairs were much easier. We just took off one of the covers, cut the same pattern, and stapled it on. Pretty simple! Similar in color, the fabric seems to go well with the color of the wood. The chairs really dress up our kitchen table. The cost to recover each of 8 chairs cost roughly $6 per chair. Not too bad!

I'd only do this again if I really needed to, not a hobby I'd choose. But the results are quite satisfying, and less embarassing!

Peaches!!!!!

2010-09-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Time for Peaches!

I love this time of year because of all the fruit we get to preserve: apples, pears, and peaches!

It's also the time chocolate can be ordered, too. (but that's another story!)

Here's how I preserved our peaches: frozen and dehydrated.

With our box of peaches,

I put about 5 or 6 in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes to loosen the skins.

Then I put the peaches in ice cold water to stop them from cooking all the way through.

I just want to heat the skins enough to separate them from the pulp on the inside.
The skins slip right off! So Easy!

Then I cut them in half, take out the big seed, and slice them for dehydrating and freezing.

(Dehydrating: 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick, for about 8 - 10 hours, or till crispy)

(Freezing: 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick, for about 6 hours, or until nearly frozen)

The slices then go either on the dehydrater trays to dry, or on a jelly roll pan for freezing.

After they were nearly frozen through, I took a large pancake turner (metal) and scraped them from the pan and put them in a ziploc bag for further freezing.

I love the color of the water after scalding a few batches of peaches.
Rich rose color! (although this picture doesn't do it justice - a bit blurry)

These are the frozen peaches. Turned out great!

And these are the dehydrated peaches.

Quite thin, but still pretty good eating.

This was the first batch - paper thin.
(The other batches were thicker)

But whether thick or thin, they're still good eating!

The Unveiling!

2010-09-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

The Big Announcement!

Of all the guesses, Lynn's was the closest - a new business.

However, I really liked the other comments - lots of chocolate, and an amazing shed!

But here it is:

Regency Photography

Our new business isn't really new, just revived. Before moving here 6 years ago, we kept busy taking pictures; mostly of weddings, receptions, school pictures, proms, etc.

Now we've kicked it up a notch and are getting back into the swing of things!

It's really lots of fun taking pictures and portraits of posed and natural moments during an event or session.

And there you have it!

Update On Quilting Project

2010-09-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

Finally found enough time to work on this baby quilt that was started around the first of the year. Hopefully it'll be finished in the next few weeks, so it can go to someone, or be kept at home for the little ones who visit!

I love quilting but don't always keep up with it. I'm glad I started this one, so I could work on it whenever time permitted.

On a solid piece of fabric, I drew in pencil a simple design. I actually drew little simple birds on it, too, but I don't think I'll quilt them. There's enough going on in the picture, and the stitches are close enough together to leave them out. We'll see. I think I like this solid fabric idea better, because it's more personalized. But I'll take the printed design fabrics, too, anyday.

It's all fun!

Big Announcement...Coming Soon!

2010-09-10T04:54:00.000-07:00

For everyone other than family and a few friends, there is a big announcement/introduction/grand opening of something big coming soon.

Actually, this activity has been going on for a while, but I thought I'd introduce the world to our latest "thing."

To rule out any curiosities:
No, we're not having another baby. Too old!
No, we're not moving; sadly.
No, this isn't an announcement about giving inheritances to our children. (sorry, kids!)
No, we're not getting a new car.
And, No, to anything else.

Wait and see!
Can you guess what it is?

Four Layer Experiment!

2010-09-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here's the story:

Dad decided to have us try making a four layer cake. Our first!

I didn't make the frosting really smooth, because I figured it'd either be eaten in a flash, or it might fall apart. So why go to the trouble of making it beautiful when it falls over or layers slide off each other? I used to put toothpicks in the cake to hold the layers together (much to the surprise of the eater), but this time, I forgot. I think I was still in shock at how many layers we had.

To my surprise it actually held together and the slices looked great! This boxed cake, which is usually so light and fluffy, it falls apart at the touch of a finger, was firm enough to withstand layer after layer.

Not much frosting between layers, but boy, was it good!

The last piece, tall as a tower, held up on its own, too. Which I ate all by myself!

I think we'll do this again!

A Break for The Weekend

2010-09-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Labor Day Weekend took us to Lake Mary, Arizona, for our last camping trip for the summer. This is a view from the unpopulated side of the lake where not very many people visit. On a busy day (like Labor Day weekend), fishermen of all sorts line the shore to catch the big one! There is a road that runs alongside the lake just behind the lowest trees leading from Flagstaff south to Mormon Lake and Happy Jack.

These pretty flowers (with bugs on them) were everywhere. Further up near the pine trees were slightly bigger flowers and lots of grasses. Oh! And plenty of big rocks!

We discovered that the grasses gave nearly all of us hayfever allergies, AFTER we had all of our stuff docked on the shore.

This canoe was one of two canoes used to haul 4 trips (each) of camping gear across the lake to set up camp. We usually have quite a bit of camping gear, so this was quite a big feat! Exhausting, to say the least!

Dad and Thomas were fishing trying their best to catch dinner, and actually did! It was great!

The evening sky just before the sun went down.

For some reason, I got turned around and thought this was facing north. But, of course, the sun sets in the west, so this is west!

On this trip, we took our cast iron frying pans, and dutch oven, and it worked out great. We made a peach cobbler with a cake mix (tasted good!), and the eggs didn't stick to the frying pans!

Every trip we go on, I always forget something. The Ramen noodles got left at home, which was to be a lunch, or quick snack for everyone, and so did the first aid kit! Could have used them both!

(so many things to remember, even if they're on a list!)

Oh, well! Next trip, whenever that'll be, I'll remember the noodles and forget something else important!

Ramona and Beezus

2010-08-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

What a treat! Rated G, this movie is one I think we'll buy when it comes out. The reasoning and imagination of a 9 year old is really played out well. Ramona gets herself into situations that turn into accidents, even though her intentions are good. I especially like the scene where she gets frustrated at the dinner table after Beezus (her older sister) gets a great report card. When her father asks where hers is, Ramona retrieves it from the freezer. Her father reads the teachers' comments, and tries to take the positive side, but agrees with the lack of on-task behavior Ramona displays in class.

Ramona then declares she's going to say a bad word. Her parents anxiously wait for her answer. After three seconds of thinking, she comes out with "guts!"

Really cute movie!

Stake Youth Mud Day

2010-08-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

The stake had a mud football/play-in-the-mud day.

It started off with pizza. LOTS of pizza!

The kids had fun playing in the water/mud.

A ditch nearby provided somewhat of a bath.....as much of a bath as a ditch can offer.

The area was huge, but big enough for the crowd that came.

By the end of the event, nearly everyone was as mud-covered as this young lady!

I'm glad they all had fun, although it's not my kind of hands'on activity. Don't like mud.

2010-08-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly good, this version of Clash of the Titans is one you can watch over and over. The production is along the lines of Harry Potter, shot on location in many scenes: on the ocean, in the forest, rocky desert, etc. Quite intriguing. The characters are developed enough, even if you know very little of greek mythology, to follow the storyline. There's a little humor here and there that make it really enjoyable.

We actually bought this, hoping it would be as good as it looked on the cover. We weren't sorry!

An Evening In Prescott!

2010-07-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, we got to go to Prescott, AZ (one of our favorite places), and these are a few of the pictures Dad took.

This little shop is called Tickled Pink and has the cutest things inside!

This is the back of the County Courthouse just past sunset. Love the sunset!

This lit up cowboy's horse probably had reins dangling, but are no longer there. Looks funny now.

This candy store makes a lot of their own candy. We tried nearly all of the flavors of their salt water taffy, a huge chocolate-covered marshmallow, and boy, was it good!

This is the lobby of the St. Michael's Hotel. Very old, but quite nice.

This store has it's own guard dog! Wait, it's really a wolf! Really!

This is one of several art museums in a mini indoor mall.

And, this is a very colorful art gallery/souvenir shop.

The trip was lots of fun, and we can't wait to go back!

Stuck In The House!

2010-07-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

When it's so hot outside that you don't even want to take out the trash, there better be some pretty fun things to do inside. The temperatures here in the desert are the typical broiling hot for this time of year, and we're stuck in the house everyday after about 9am.

Good thing there's X-box, ipods, TV, and cooking allowed during the day. A new set of limits was put in place at the beginning of summer, so we all don't become computer-heads, x-box-heads, ipod-heads, and TV fanatics. Still, it's quite a good escape from the heat. Our rekindled adventure in photography has kept us busy, too.

We're waiting for the monsoon season to really kick in (probably by this weekend) to bring in the humidity that really makes you want to stay indoors! All we can do is wait it out.

But the fun never ends......

Zoo-ing Again!

2010-07-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

Back to the zoo again and these are the latest pictures. On this day, the temperature was forecast to be 113 degrees, which it actually reached later that afternoon, but the temperature at the zoo in the morning while we were there was around 90. Still quite warm, but we survived. It was a bit cloudy, and most of the animals were out to be seen.

I never knew there was,or payed much attention to, the interesting things in the loft at the childrens' petting zoo where the goats are.

Maybe One Day I'll Have One of These!

2010-06-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to have a bakery and sell breads, pies, cookies, and other mouth-watering goodies. Almost hidden, this little shop (called Grama's Bakery) is just about what I'd like to have. Really quite quaint, and cute, it'd be a starter place if I ever got that far. It's really quite small with two display cases 3 feet inside the door, and the baking kitchen is just behind the wall. There's just enough room inside for the little round table and two chairs we sat at waiting for our large order (which cost a lot more than I had expected) to be filled.

There's an equally small shop next door (out of sight) that happened to be for lease. And I'd like to lease it for baking breads, but we don't live in this little town of Prescott, so it's a no go.

Maybe one day!

(by the way, the pastries and eclairs were just delicious!)

Little Miss Fisherman!

2010-06-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

This fishing trip yielded no fish, but a few bites. Fun, nonetheless!

Boy, I wish I could sit like this, with only my feet touching the ground!

The Sights On One Road In Arizona...

2010-06-12T16:03:00.000-07:00

Sightseeing is great! A day trip took us on a road we haven't traveled in many years, and some parts further down the road, we've never seen at all. This are our pictures (in backwards order). Descriptions are above the pictures instead of below.

This is Watson Lake in Prescott, Arizona. Relatively new and man-made, it's still inviting on a hot day!

A pond on the grounds of a historic site where the governor's house, and other buildings were erected in the late 1800's.

One of the houses that can be toured; and we would have if we'd been there a half hour earlier.

The gazebo next to the above house.

This (below) is the official museum entrance and governor's house.

This barn below is in Skull Valley, west of Prescott. Lots of farming, fields, cattle, hills, and big, big trees. Across the road from this barn was a house behind a wooden picket fence that had a "Honey" sign. We were tempted.

These old-fashioned gas pumps add to the quaintness of this little town.

Below are some pictures of a drive-through little desert town called Congress, Arizona. A few people stop here to see the few sights and pick up a few gadgets.

For a day trip, it was quite fun!

Quick River Trip

2010-06-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

We went to the river the other day to see how high it was. Sometimes it's low and sometimes it's high enough to really fish in. On the other side of these big bushes was a coyote howling like crazy. We howled back and carried on quite a conversation! We thought that at any moment, it'd push it's head through the bushes and bark!

The middle plank was a little wobbly, but worked out okay.

At the top of the hill, Thomas saw a bit of the valley, and heard some buzzing!

The valley.

This was the source of the buzzing!

While up on the hill, there were lots of these rocks/stones.

Interesting!

Fun trip!

4 of 14....All cute!

2010-06-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

These are four of the fourteen wonderful, adorable, great grandkids that are the frosting on the cake in our family. From number one to number fourteen, they're all the BEST!

Back to the Zoo!

2010-06-04T04:43:00.001-07:00

We went back to the zoo and found some animals that weren't out the last time we went. We had lots of fun, as usual.

Diamondback Rattlesnake (that we don't want to see when we go hiking!)These guys are so cute! Cats!

The stork was finally in sight and stood still long enough for lots of people to take pictures.

Several swans wandered in and out of the pond.

Flamingo's were called "maflingo's" by one of the kids when they were little.

The Cheetah's were out and about on this day.

The lion is moving from his resting spot down to the bottom of the exhibit.

The gazelle's were prancing about like they usually do. This shot was taken during a moments' rest.

The Koi seem happy. I like this little pond with the lily pads and rocks and tall grasses.

No animals here, just a picture of the flowers and the reflection in the water.

Lake Trip

2010-06-04T04:05:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend (Monday) was THE best day, so far, of the summer. We went to the lake with some friends and had a blast. Wasn't too hot, but hot enough need a swim. This little guy (below) help us catch get some bites on our fishing lines.
Watermelon and the lake: the perfect match!

The canoe was great! Fishing out in the water proved to be the best idea for catching

dinner. And THIS was dinner! Not much, but enough for a taste.

And this (below) was the noise we heard all day, but didn't see where it was coming from. Burros wander around the lake munching on whatever they find, and talk to each other all day.

Quite a fun holiday!

Braided Bread! Yum!

2010-05-15T16:32:00.001-07:00

This recipe turned out great! I used a regular bread recipe, cut into thirds after it's first rising, and made three different things out of it: This braid, some nut-filled crescent rolls, and a loaf of raisin bread. The crescent rolls disappeared in a blink, and the raisin bread needed more baking, but all turned out great!

The hard part is keeping hands off of it till dinner!

Taking Random Pictures...

2010-05-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

Below is a picture of the lights that shine on the Arizona Temple. I'm facing west and standing on the sidewalk that surrounds the temple. The tomato food we watered with is really working!

The soldiers who crossed the desert in the Mormon Battalion once walked here as they made their way back north to California. This is looking southeast-ish. They came from beyond the light-colored mound at the end of the foothills in the center of the picture.

These are two jets that look surprisingly clear, considering they're several thousand feet in the sky.

This is a truck engine BEFORE it was taken apart for repair.

Just random stuff here and there, but fun to share.

The Zoo!

2010-05-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

This is the Zoo!(Just kidding!)

Below is the real zoo.
This tiger looks like he's ready to pounce!

Cute little baby zebra. Looks just like his mom and dad!

Lunch time for the tortoises.

The orangutan exhibit is always fun.

Little turtles sunning themselves. A few minutes after taking this shot, three turles dove off the log and went for a swim.

Church Prom Pictures

2010-04-19T09:00:00.001-07:00

The church prom was great, according to the attendees. Even though there was the usual last-minute chaos, all the kids had fun!

Even though it may look like "dates," with Thomas (pictured above) with Rachel, and Rachel (pictured in pink) with Olan, they all went as friends. It was great!

Church Prom...

2010-04-09T03:35:00.000-07:00

About eight years ago, a stake here in the west valley put together a church-standard prom for kids to attend that was similar to a school prom. They invited other stakes to attend, and over the last several years, the attendance has grown, and it has become quite a nice alternative for the kids. A few of our older kids have gone to school proms as a group with church-friends, but the rest (whoever wanted to go) went to the church prom.

So this year, we have two teenagers planning to attend. It's quite interesting to see them worry about the details of who'll drive, what they'll wear, the cost of it all (and who's going to pay for it), and where they'll go to eat (all dressed up). I love to see their faces as the costs add up and their savings become depleted. Kind of a "welcome to the real world," awakening! As those details get worked out, they seem to really appreciate the penny-pinching standard around here.

And, as usual, I get to sew a new dress for the semi-formal required attire for the evening. Should be exciting! Our "top designer"-minded daughter always has new ways to alter an already wonderful pattern, so this year we'll see how this one turns out. I'll post pictures after its over (when our checkbook is zeroed, and my fingers are healing! Just kidding! )

This Is What You Do....

2010-03-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

This is what you do when you haven't budgeted enough money for hair color!

Enough said!!!

Garden Progress

2010-03-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Our sprouts are off to a good start. Each of us has our own little spot in the backyard with our own garden goodies growing! Hopefully, they'll do great and produce something!

Paul's section (above): squashes of some sort.
Strawberries!

Thomas' section (above): squashes and green onions.

Tomatoes (above) doing great!

Rachel's section (above): spinach!

And...Liz's section: sunflowers in the middle of the yard! Can't wait for these to bring in the bees and add some color!

There's Grass Growing In The Desert! (sounds like a Dr. Suess book)

2010-03-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

There really IS grass growing in the desert! And it's all due to the rains we've had over the past few weeks/months; more than usual. By this time of year, the January rains have come and gone, and the grass pops up for a week and then dies. And no more rain comes till maybe April-ish. So what a treat it is to see green in the desert!

What a nice, refreshing thing to go to the desert, like we do, and walk on grass rather than dirt. (but not with bare feet, though) If it rained here more often, the desert would be more like the southeast where grass would be everywhere and the bushes would grow huge and take over. Which would smother out the snakes and scorpions. Yay! But then we'd have other bugs like amazon roaches, maybe ticks, and other bugs. (and lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh, my!)

I think I'll take the desert with it's few rainy, grassy seasons and live with the too-hot-for-bugs terrain. At least for now!

Aloha Festival Pictures - Lots of 'em!

2010-03-15T05:19:00.000-07:00

The annual Aloha Festival in Arizona is scheduled every March and is an event not to be missed. It is a wonderful display of the Polynesian culture from the islands of Hawaii, Tonga, and Samoa. We really like going to see dance performances, listen to the music, eat the fabulous food, shop for things we really don't need but can't resist, and catch up with friends.Food made right on the spot!Lots of performances.Ukelele's galore!The Long Boat!Such bright colors!Almost lunch time!The raspberry lemonade here is fresh and irresistable!

The little sunburn we get each year is worth it!

Spring Break! Yay!

2010-03-12T09:06:00.001-08:00

Any opportunity for the kids to be home is always a time for adventure around here! Each day will hold a spur-of-the-moment consensus of fun. But who knows what mischief will fill each day over the next week:

Tooth Tale!

2010-03-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

I went to the dentist last week to see how this cavity (that I knew I had, but was avoiding the pain of it all) was progressing. And, of course, it had been getting a little bit worse over the past few months.

The dentist (who was visiting the dental clinic downtown, and who I know very well) said I would need either a filling or a root canal, and the only way to determine that would be to dig in (or drill in). So I braced myself for the usual painful needle-stick to numb the area. But he used the Q-tip with numbing stuff on it first, then stuck the needle in. I like it better when dentists use that numbing stuff before shocking you with that needle.

I didn't feel a thing! It was great! And to make things even greater, the side of my mouth (on the outside) wasn't even numb (a miracle!), which usually happens with back teeth cavities.

Then the drilling began. He drilled and drilled and drilled. Then discovered that a filling was all that was needed. Boy, was I happy! Then he filled, filled, filled! A lot of "bite down on this paper," to get it just right, and then he sanded and polished, and out the door I went.

I was really surprised that my mouth didn't hurt at all, and I was good to go for lunch! With visits like this, I could have my whole mouth redone!

What a great dental visit from a great dentist!

Quilt Beginnings

2010-02-09T07:25:00.000-08:00

For me, quilting is a productive passtime; a hobby with satisfying results. One thing I have learned: you can read all the quilting books ever written, and see all the varieties of quilts ever made. But each person interprets quilting, from beginning to end, in their own way, in their own style, with mostly the same results: a beautiful quilt!

I'm starting a different kind of quilt (a baby quilt) that is easy to do. Instead of having for a quilt top a patterned design that I just stitch on the lines, or a pieced quilt that I stitch around shapes, I'm using a solid color front and back and stitching my own design on it. The paper patterns are laid on the top, traced around, then stitched over. Later, I'll bind the edges, wash it, and it'll be ready for use!

THE DETAILS

Supplies:

* 1-1/4 yards of fabric for top

* 1-1/4 yards of fabric for bottom

* 1-1/4 yards of quilt batting, I'm using 1/2 inch

* quilting needles (1 or 2)

* thimble of some sort (see below)

* quilting pins, which are longer than regular sewing pins

* scissors

* and a frame to put it on

George Carlin's View On Aging

2010-02-08T04:24:00.000-08:00

I came across this email a few years ago, and thought it was pretty good. His words:

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How hold are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life...You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony...YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50.

And your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50, and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that, it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90's, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

The Hunt!

2010-02-05T06:24:00.000-08:00

Deer hunting season is over here, but the memories are great! No, we didn't get a deer this year, but not for lack of trying.

I don't know about hunting in any other parts of the country, but hunting in AZ, and especially in the desert is quite tricky. In the forest or wooded areas, sound is absorbed in the tree foliage, tree trunks, and cushioned ground. But in the desert, it's dirt you walk on, and see-through bushes you hide behind. Not exactly ideal, but you adapt. Therefore, movement (or lack of) is critical.

We sat on the edge of a field, waiting for the deer we knew would be coming onto it from the desert, but none came. Morning hunts before dawn, and evening hunts at dusk at different sites turned up a few sightings, but no deer were close enough to nab.

Oh well! Maybe next year. Hunting is a good skill to master. Quite a few qualities one must perfect: patience, silence, being absolutely still. (All things I tried to get my kids to do!)

Last Saturday's Vehicle Show

2010-02-02T16:03:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, we went to a military vehicle show. The Arizona National Guard hosted a display of different older vehicles. They also had a yard sale-type thing where individuals had military surplus items for sale. We picked up a few things, like boots, hats, and gadgets. It was great!

ALSO, I'll post a bit about our hunting trips over the last few months. Our season ended this past weekend, so now we can carry on with other things!

Not Much To Say....For Now!

2010-01-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking for the past few days what I could post that would be significant, interesting, or amusing, but nothing seems to fall under any of those categories.
I really do have a lot to say, and could probably talk your ear off and bore you to tears, but it's routine, hum-drum, regular ol' stuff. I usually like to write about what I'm learning, or something I'm currently doing, or something I'm bugged about. But things are a bit stagnant at the moment. I guess I could write about how I'm waiting to get some fabric for another baby quilt that I'm going to post a step-by-step, how-to thing; or I could write about our latest hunting trip, or how to tackle organizing a walk-in closet that's piled high (that I don't really want to even look at right now). Regular stuff. Or maybe you'd like to hear about how wonderful it is that it's finally raining here, or about my quest for finding a music book from long ago (long story). More regular stuff.
I guess when something strikes my fancy that seems important enough to post, I'll be sure to write about it!

The Babies Are Rolling At Grandma's House!

2010-01-14T04:23:00.000-08:00

Babies are hilarious to watch when they begin to wiggle, scoot, and maneuver their way around on the floor! This past year we had 4 grandbabies added to our family, and since October, we've watched them each figure out how to move across the carpet to get somewhere else. Tears of frustration pushed them to the rolling stage and off they went!

Our daughter-in-law, Allison, left baby John in the middle of the floor to play, walked into the kitchen to get something and walked right back to the living room, and baby John had rolled 12 feet away! He was really fast! I couldn't believe it, so I watched him start in the middle again and roll and roll and roll! Another time, Sarah brought over baby Nathan and he rolled himself to the edge of the sofa and got wedged between that and the end table. Then baby Jesse came in to play and was squeezed to the sofa as baby Nathan rolled around some more. It was a real "roller derby!"

It's really funny to watch our grandbabies roll into the sofas, under end tables, into each other, and everywhere! The next stage is crawling and they're each doing their best to get up on their hands and knees. Another cute stage to watch!

Back In The Saddle Again!

2010-01-04T09:05:00.000-08:00

January. The first month of the year. A time for starting anew, setting goals for the year, and leaving last year behind, having learned a few good lessons.

I've decided NOT to make any New Years' resolutions this time around. Mostly because in doing so last year I seemed to fail miserably.

My crocheted blanket that started out wonderfully only gained two other colors during the whole year when it should have at least 5.
Our garden, which was tediously cared for, completely and promptly withered away to brown twigs.
My idea of trying wood working never got off the ground.

However, there were some really great successes:

I kept my sewing machine busy making dresses, costumes, and other assorted things.
The smell of fresh baked bread scented our home (and the neighborhood) on a regular basis.
Quilting baby blankets filled extra time here and there with the fun of seeing the completed project.

So with this new year, I've decided to give gardening another try, keep up the quilting, sewing, and crocheting, and maybe some new ideas will come along, too!

THESE ARE NOT NEW YEARS' RESOLUTIONS, JUST SOME IDEAS!

A Christmas Tradition: Mincemeat Cookies

2009-12-07T03:29:00.000-08:00

A tell-tale sign it’s Christmas at our house is the making of Mincemeat cookies. I grew up with these Christmas cookies, but not everyone (outside family) likes them. Actually, mincemeat sounds rather gross to me, but made into cookies they disappear quickly.
Mincemeat is a mixture of minced apples, raisins, spices, currants, and sometimes minced meat (which, if it is in the jar, you can’t taste it), that is usually made into pies. Never tasted mincemeat pie (and don’t care to, thank you!). It is NOT like fruit cake. It is a cake-like spice cookie with little chunks of apples and raisins, and a little sweetness. Mincemeat is only available during the Christmas season, and one jar makes two batches. Recipe is on the jar.
Try it! You might like it!

Mincemeat Cookies
1 c. shortening
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
3 cups unsifted all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1-1/3 cups (1/2 of a 28 oz. jar) None Such Mince Meat

Official directions:
Preheat oven to 375F. In large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugar. Add eggs, beating until smooth. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Stir in mincemeat. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and no longer glossy in center. Makes about 6-1/2 dozen.

Note: In my usual style, I mix all the dry ingredients first, cut in the shortening, and then mix in the eggs and mincemeat. They turn out the same as following the official directions! (watch over-browning around the edges)
Another Note: there are two types of mincemeat: apples and raisins, and brandy and rum. There's a little red oval label on the lower right side of the regular label that tells you which is which. We always buy the apples and raisins type.

Christmas? Wait! I'm Not Ready Yet!

2009-12-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

Even though red and green things decorate our house now, my mind isn't quite there yet. Give me another week, and I'll be in the full swing of all things Christmas (and be a week behind!).

Christmas baking, music, snacking, shopping, sharing, serving,....all of what makes this holiday the greatest! Don't ya' think?

More importantly, the season brings a reminder to be more Christlike to everyone, everywhere, all the time!

Thanksgiving: Games and Fun Stuff like: sknhigatinvg, serthva, and safet!*

2009-11-22T16:44:00.000-08:00

Tradition plays an important part in any holiday celebration, and for us games and fun things to do are just as important as Thanksgiving dinner. The little ones, and even the big ones, like to have something to do while waiting to eat what’s in the oven.

Having coloring pages, puzzles, and movies are standard for get-togethers. Several websites cater to such needs for holidays to keep kids unbored and are indispensible! Here's just a few:
http://www.familyfun.com/thanksgiving
www.dltk-holidays.com/thanksgiving
www.holidays.kaboose.com/thanksgiving
www.bethanyroberts.com/thanksgivingfun
http://www.billybear4kids.com/
http://www.blackdog4kids.com/
www.thekidzpage.com/thanksgiving

A few homemade games also contribute to the fun for younger kids, like pin the something onto the something (pin the feather onto the turkey for Thanksgiving, or nose onto a jack-o-lantern for Halloween), a game of hide the turkeys (laminated pictures of a turkey hidden around the room or hidden outside), pinecone turkeys with real colored feathers and pipe cleaner heads.

One of the most popular games at any holiday gathering involves candy and has no name (at least that we know of), but involves all who want to play, little or big, and can be loud. (however, some of our 3-4 year olds have a hard time with the noise, and letting go of the candy once they get it)

This is what you need: one die; a box or bag of candy (a box of junior mints, a bag of licorice, or any kind of firmer candy. Soft chocolates squish too easily); and duct tape, packaging tape, or any kind of strong tape. Wrap the box or bag of candy about twenty times with one continuous piece of tape. Choose one number from the die and let everyone know what it is. Begin with everyone in a circle on the floor, the die at one end and the candy at the other. One person roll’s the die and passes it on around the circle, while the candy is passed from person to person at the other end till the number is rolled. When the number is rolled, the candy is immediately given to that person and they begin opening the candy as fast as they can before someone else rolls the number. The candy is passed (or thrown) from person to person to try to unwrap it and win, and the die is passed (or thrown) from person to person around the circle to try to roll the number and get the candy. When the candy is totally unwrapped (or close enough), the game is over and the winner gets the somewhat mangled contents to keep or share!
This is a fun, fast-paced game that brings out the kid in everyone!

*(Title unscrambled which you probably already guessed: thanksgiving, harvest, feast)

Thanksgiving: The Menu!

2009-11-18T02:12:00.000-08:00

Our dinner fixin’s are probably about the same as everyone else’s, and the list is just as long as it is every year! Turkey, Ham, stuffing/dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn casserole, sweet potato soufflé, au gratin potatoes and funeral potatoes, corn, carrots, broccoli, green bean casserole (new this year), black-eyed peas with sausage (new this year), soft and fluffy rolls, cottage cheese/cool whip salad we call “fluff,” deviled eggs, vegetable tray, and of course, cranberry sauce (jellied). Our myriad of desserts that top it all off are: pumpkin cheesecake, carrot and cream cheese lava cake (new this year), French silk pie, buttermilk pie, cranberry cobbler, cupcakes, and pumpkin pie. (and that’s not as much as we usually have! But we’re not completely finished gathering desserts yet).
Our two favorite dishes of all time at EVERY Thanksgiving are the corn casserole and sweet potato soufflé. The Corn Casserole is a Paula Deen recipe, and is really good!
The sweet potato recipe is an old one from my mother-in-law who was born and raised down south and cooks like a chef! I grew up despising sweet potatoes. I was born and raised in the west where mashed potatoes and gravy were my favorite. The only way I’d seen sweet potatoes served at Thanksgiving was laid out in a pan, whole, with toasted marshmallows on top. No thank you! It wasn’t until my early twenties when we were newly married that I tasted my mother-in-laws’ sweet potato soufflé and was sold on sweet potatoes. I watched her make it year after year when we’d go over and help with dinner at her house. I make it the same way she did and it’s still a big hit! Okay, here’s the recipes (after all this rambling):

Corn Casserole
1 (15-1/4 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14-3/4 oz.) can cream-style corn
1 (8oz.) package corn muffin mix (recommended Jiffy)
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 to 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream and melted butter. Pour into greased baking dish (8x8 or 9x9). Bake for 45 minutes , or until golden brown. Remove from oven and top with cheddar cheese. Return to oven for 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand for at least 5 minutes and then serve warm.
Note: we add the 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese into the mix instead of spreading it on top, and bake for 1 hour. 6-8 servings.

Sweet Potato Souffle
1 can (29oz) yams, drained
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 can (12oz) evaporated milk
Preheat oven to 400F. Grease an 8 inch baking dish. Mash yams with a fork and add remaining ingredients together until smooth. Pour into prepared baking dish and bake 1 hour or until center tests done.
Note: the yams can be pureed for a smoother texture or mashed with a fork. We like both!

Thanksgiving Series: Decorating

2009-11-12T20:44:00.000-08:00

We love holiday decorations. There’s nothing that makes a season come to life more than to have some decorations around the house – inside and out. And the nice part about decorating is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. For Fall, we have some wreaths, flowers, and wall hangings (bought or handmade) that are usually put out around mid-September and last till Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving only! (The day after Thanksgiving, the big transfer from Fall to Christmas happens)

In our early years as a family, we started our Thanksgiving decorating simply: a bunch of eucalyptus in a vase with a bow around it. It looked dressy enough and didn’t break our fragile budget. And they smell good, too!

Now we make our own flower arrangements (when we can) and add a few other decorations each year. I used to think that going all out and decorating for the holidays was a rich woman’s thing; but it really isn’t. A little here and a little there make the picture perfect. I found that it added to the holidays’ excitement, whatever holiday it was, and also got the kids involved (and that’s always a plus!).

A kitchen window valance adds to the seasons’ atmosphere. It’s a straight piece of fabric (no gathers) with contrasting ruffle and bows – simple.

For our massive group, we usually use paper products for our eat-a-thons. One day, it’d be great to have holiday dinnerware, with matching placemats, and silverware, like this one from JC Penney's. I think one needs a storage closet just for the dinnerware. I love the colors and designs for Thanksgiving and Christmas…..and even regular everyday dishes. My mother-in-law had real fancy dinnerware, crystal, and silverware in years past that we’d use for the holidays. Some matched, some didn’t. But that was okay. It was fun! One day, we’ll get there!

Thanksgiving Series: Planning

2009-11-10T07:52:00.000-08:00

Since Thanksgiving is only a little more than two weeks away, it's time to really get serious about planning. Usually, planning is done at the first of November with a rough idea of a menu, guests, location, time, and activities. But since I've lolly-gagged the last week and played too much, I woke up yesterday realizing how close our next-to-favorite holiday was, and thought I'd share some ideas over the next few days/weeks of what we do at this time of year to make THIS holiday tasty and fun.

PLANNING

Consider these ideas to better organize your holiday:

Location: If dinner is at your house, make sure you have enough room to accomodate your guests. You don't want anyone to be eating their turkey while holding their plate, standing in the hall. Because we've had Thanksgiving at our house for the past 25 years, all of our kids know where to come. We always eat together for our Thanksgiving dinner; but for this holiday, I've tried to encourage the married girls to not only be a part of the family dinner, but cook their own turkey and fixin's so they learn how to do it on their own, and how NOT to do it.

Head Count: How many people will come? If family members are out-of-town, determine how many people will be attending. Occasionally, we'll have an extended family member, or a friend eat with us. We always plan to put the leaves in the tables and bring out a few folding tables for extra seating and serving. It is at this time of year we wish we had a bigger house. We'd thought about using the church building to accomodate all of us, but that thought quickly disappeared. It just wouldn't be the same! There's no place like home!

Time: What time will you actually sit down to eat? Once the time is set, you can backtrack your baking and cooking times, allowing for everything to be ready ON TIME. This will allow you to schedule oven use, set up time, etc. Ours is more of a late lunch than dinner. We do this so that the afternoon nap can take place (just kidding!)

Extra Activities: If there are children coming, you'll want to have some entertainment planned to help them enjoy the day, too. Tradition here is a morning football game, usually including grandpas, dads, brothers, and all teenagers. For the itty bitty ones left at home, coloring pages, puzzles, and movies usually keep them busy, while the moms and non-football-playing girls help in the kitchen.

Menu: Tradition usually plays an important part in the menu. Whatever you've eaten for dinner in the past will dictate your preferences. Our menu usually consists of the usual turkey, possibly a ham, stuffing/dressing, two kinds of potatoes(sweet potato souffle, mashed potatoes with gravy), a few vegetables (carrots, broccoli, green beans, corn), rolls of some sort, and lots of desserts (pumpkin pie, french silk pie, pecan pie, carrot cake, buttermilk pie, and a few other ideas. We usually have more desserts than dinner food - for us, that's tradition! (A definite menu will be upcoming in a later post) Each year, the menu drops/adds a few things, but the basic stuff (turkey, stuffing, vegetables, rolls, desserts) stays the same. After we decide on a menu, we make assignments for married kids' to bring; they either bring it made up, or cook it here; which necessitates an oven-use schedule.
Invitations: Usually done by phone, but for the past few years, our scrapbooking girls have created some really cute invitations. This year we sent out this one:

On the back are the details and assignments decorated with an orange ribbon.

The next few posts will include links for organization, recipes, and other somewhat useful information.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

2009-11-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's already November and Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Where has the time gone? In the stores, the Harvest time theme is barely hanging on, with Christmas taking over shelf after shelf. Wow!

I think too much fun is keeping us busy as bees! And I think you need to have fun to make life worthwhile! The day to day routine things, the somewhat big events, and the occasional catastrophe really chip away at the year. I also think time flies faster as you get older and I hate that "older" part; but I'm not really "old," I'm just gaining experience, so there!

I figure a drop of chocolate here and there gives my engine a little boost, and after Halloween, there's plenty of hidden chocolate around here to get a drop of!

Halloween Highlights!

2009-11-02T10:35:00.000-08:00

We sure had lots of fun at our family party! The only drawback was that it was hot inside and out! We were so involved in the games, we forgot to turn on the a/c!

We had lots of games, good food (a bring-your-own-meat thing), trick-or-treating, and an overload of candy which disappeared by evenings' end!

January Weather for One Day!

2009-10-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is supposed to be really cold here according to the weatherman. The usual temperatures of mid 80's will drop to the low 60's with a slim 10% chance of showers! BUT, just for one day, so we'd better enjoy it! For our big Wednesday, as January weather pays an early visit, we'll be outside wearing coats, sweaters, beanies, and gloves! Yippee!

A Stitch Here, A Stitch There...

2009-10-22T03:33:00.000-07:00

One of my ongoing projects, like the blanket I started crocheting a year ago, is a baby quilt to give to someone when it's finished.

I bought this fabric last fall and it sat in the closet all this time waiting to be put up on a frame and stitched. Finally it's getting worked on.

For this one, I bought an easy pattern for the front, a matching blue color for the backing, and thin batting. I decided that because the lines on the front are bright green, I'd use bright green thread for quilting, even though it'll contrast with the blue backing. Usually, the quilting thread will match the front and the back. But in this case, the thread will blend in only on the front.

I like buying fabric like this because it's easy to stitch on the lines and always turns out great. In earlier days, I made quite a few picture quilts where I'd make up my own designs, machine applique them onto the quilt top and stitch around the shapes. But after going through a few sewing machines (they don't make them like they used to), I moved to the easy stitch kind where all you have to do is follow the lines. One of these days, I'll go back to making custom quilts.

Somebody Invent This Silly Thing!

2009-10-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

If there's a need, there's a product to fill that need. Some products you just have to laugh at and some are really worthwhile. It's a matter of perspective, I guess. Example:

Somebody wanted to clean the lint out of their dryer filter without touching the lint. So a dryer lint brush was invented.

Somebody who takes their housetrained pets with them in the car needed a place for their pets to do their business, so a portable car litter bag was invented.

Another person wanted to carry with them (on their person) a small container of toothpicks, so a pocket toothpick holder (personalized, even!) was invented.

So here's my suggestion for an invention: something to wrap around your neck when you're curling your hair so you don't accidentally burn your neck and leave a scar (or two or three). That would alleviate the need for bungee-cord-tied hot pads!

Three Costumes and a Party

2009-10-15T05:36:00.000-07:00

This year for Halloween, we're going back to our old tradition and having a family Party. Way back when, our medium-size kids and little kids really enjoyed playing games of all sorts: from bobbing for apples to ring toss. They liked the variety and, of course, the candy prizes. But for the past several years we have been attending the Ward Halloween Party with all the games, contests, trunk-or-treating, and parade. Lots of fun!

Such happy memories of the past sparked this return to the Family Halloween Party to accomodate all the big kids and little grandkids who love winning games and eating candy! So, we're devoting our planning, prizes, ideas, and time to having a blast in our own arena - home! It has all the fun of a state fair with a home atmostphere. There will be bowling, donut-on-a-string eating contest, pumpkin carving contest, penny toss, cake walk, and more to keep the Halloween fun alive!

And because trick-or-treating is a part of it all, a few costumes will need to be made. Our box of past year's costumes either don't fit anyone, or someone wanted something new - three someone's to be exact! So with only a few weeks to go, out come the sewing machines and scissors for a few new cute costumes to add to the box!

It Must Be The Air.....

2009-10-08T11:44:00.000-07:00

This lazy, too-relaxed feeling must be the changing of the seasons. In the southwest, the seasons change from hot (summer) to cool (winter) That's it! Hot and cool. The few weeks of In Betweens (in the Fall and Spring) are those where the weather is so wonderful it makes you stop and take notice and even puts you to sleep. A cool, gentle breeze during the day, and nice but not-yet-ready-for-a-sweater, refreshing evenings..........Lovely! Simply lovely!
BUT, it's those days that I don't want to do anything! Even the simplest things! Like mail letters at the post office, or go for a walk, or take out the garbage (oh, wait...that's the kids job!). We've already tackled the hard jobs at the beginning of the week: trimming the front yard tree, cleaning under the washer/dryer, steam cleaning the carpet. It's perfect weather for a hammock and a good book! I Love It!
It'll be back to the work, work, work, schedule next week, but for now I think I'll grab my book and find an empty sofa cushion!

Thought I'd Skirt This One. Apparently Not.

2009-10-01T05:16:00.000-07:00

Over the past month, we've been enduring a few coughs, sniffles, fatigue, and sleepless nights. One by one, we've caught some form of this virus/cold stuff. And with each person taking their turn, my selfish thoughts were, "I'm not gonna get this! Yay!" But the cheering ended as I heard my voice changing, like when you have a stuffy nose, and my throat becoming a bit sore.

Moms aren't supposed to get sick! We're supposed to hold everything together taking care of things, sending Dad's off to work, kids off to school, making sure the laundry is done, the house is clean and wonderful with meals organized and ready.

But day by day, I'm feeling worse and worse. The little cough has turned into a hacking cough that hurts my throat and lungs. And now a runny nose! I can't stand it when I get sick! I feel like I'm missing out on so much. The kids are old enough to take over, but still I feel like I'm neglecting my job. And it's not so much "my job" (like its a dreaded responsibility) as it is my love for my job! I like being able to take care of a nice home, make good meals and have a great atmosphere for my famly. Oh well, maybe my turn will be over quick!

The only thing I can do is rest and take whatever medicines are necessary to get back into the swing of things. Can't wait!

Mary Poppins vs Stuart Little

2009-09-21T05:17:00.000-07:00

As far as suitcases go, Mary Poppins' wins.

Dad always said he could live out of a suitcase, and after being on a mission for two years, I'm sure he got used to it. All of the "necessary/survival" items were packed and unpacked, as he traveled from one place to another for short stays in different towns in England. At that time, his suitcase was the size of a Stuart Little suitcase. No fluff, just the basics.

So when we got married he told me that he could live out of a suitcase, and didn't need much else. The only thing he had to have was a good meal at the end of every day. No problem! I (sadly) learned to cook AFTER I got married and customize our meals to both our tastes (drawing mostly from my mother-in-law's recipes).

As time went on, though, the suitcase subject (still Stuart Little size) stood in the background.....until yesterday! During a casual, evening conversation with the kids, the suitcase sentence was brought up again. Alisa (oldest daughter visiting) joked that it was probably a Mary Poppins suitcase!

I know Dad can still live out of a suitcase of WHATEVER size, but if I had to choose one, it'd be a Mary Poppins suitcase! This'll be one subject we'll always remember!

And THESE Jeans Don't Fit Because.....

2009-09-16T05:36:00.001-07:00

When I went in the closet this morning to pick out a pair of jeans to wear for the day, I studied how each pair fit and tried to decide how comfortable/uncomfortable I wanted to feel. I looked at the choices and wondered: Does every woman have more than 4 pair of jeans? Total, there are three sizes.
As I looked at the jeans section of the closet, my eyes scanning each pair, I mentally reviewed the history of each pair (which, by the way, why are jeans/pants called pairs? Granted, there are two legs, but there's only one seat, right? So why is a pair of jeans one article of clothing?).
I'd like to keep my jeans forever, patched holes and all. But, when they get to the stage of too-many-holes-that-simply-cannot-be-patched, they're retired. Sad day for me, relief for Dad.

The first pair to be considered for the day were one of two favorites (only because they fit the best for today's weight. The other favorite is in the laundry). They're a more high-waisted pair and longer, and they stretch. They are about 4 years old. I ended up choosing them.
The second pair were wider-waisted, but tighter legs; not so comfortable. They don't stretch. They are worn as a last resort. Not very comfortable and slightly older than the first pair.
The third pair hanging in the closet, were Cabela's brand; my favorite two months ago when I could fit into them better. They stretch. In fact, I liked them so much, I bought another pair. If I could just get rid of this tummy flab, they'd be in first place.
The fourth pair, Cabela's.
The fifth pair was another wider-waisted, tighter-legged jean, but shorter length. I don't even know why I have them; I don't like at-the-ankle jeans.
The sixth pair will probably never be taken off the hanger because they're really too small. The hopes of ever getting back into them gets slimmer everyday. They're probably the oldest jeans in any closet on my block. DI?

By now you've guessed that jeans hold a top-notch place in my book; they're the uniform of choice for momhood, essential outerwear for everything outdoors, and can still look sharp for dressier occasions! Jeans fit my lifestyle!

So after today's choice has been made, I still wonder: does every woman have more than 4 pair of jeans?

Your thoughts?

I've Had It! The Garden Is Going!

2009-09-15T08:29:00.000-07:00

I really like having a garden in our back yard. It is something that makes you feel self reliant (because you are). Before moving into our present house, we had an in-ground, 12 x 20 foot garden that we added mulch and gypsum to every year. We borrowed a roto-tiller from our neighbor and turned in our additives which made our garden smell good and look rich with that dark brown soil. We always planted a variety of seeds and tomato seedlings. Every two or three weeks, we watered with Miracle Grow, and harvested plenty! In fact, we ended up, one year, taking three grocery bags full of roma tomatoes to church to share. (we loved tomatoes, but didn't eat much spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce or puree, or I would have bottled it) It was wonderful! I really miss that garden. Dad did most of the work, but we all helped as much as we could.

In the past, we've tried several methods of gardening, my favorite being in-ground. Like the last few years of our gardening history, last late-winter/early spring, we prepped the soil and strung the twine for our square-foot gardens. We planted seedlings and seeds, watered, prayed, weeded, watered, prayed, and smothered it with love.

At first the seeds came up and the little starter plants did really well. Then we noticed that the swiss chard tasted really salty, the tomatoes which never grew bigger than a ping pong ball were salty, and the other more sensitive plants never quite got going. The plants were, after two months, starting to die off, and we couldn't figure out why. Then the weather got to the "too hot to grow anything" stage, when we usually end our gardening season, and we quit.

So as the season reached the "ready for fall planting" time, we considered again whether to begin our garden. After having such a bad taste in our mouths (literally) from last spring, we discussed at length our views of gardening. And it came down to the agreement that the garden is going!

Sad to say, but no more square-foot gardening for this family. We'll have to try container gardening, or hope we move to another house where the soil isn't so stinkin' hard! I'm sure other families who live in this area have great success, but it seems for us, it isn't happening.

The Quiet of the Morning

2009-09-10T05:16:00.000-07:00

I love the early morning before the sun rises, before kids wake, before the day begins. I love the quiet, peaceful feeling in the house. All is dark, except for the nightlights strategically placed to dimly light the downstairs. There is but little sound, and what sound there is, quickly fades into silence: children tossing in their covers, the dog turning over in her kennel, the occasional house-settling creaks.
This is the time I value most during the day, and I can get quite a bit done. It's my time to organize the days schedule, catch up on emails, check on finances, work on my calling at church, and, maybe if I'm not too tired, read a chapter or two in a current book. It's the time to think in silence, which happens at no other hour. And this I need for my sanity!
Laundry is started in the early morning and is done by the time the kids go to school. Even still, with laundry going, the house is quiet and serene. I love it! It's my favorite time of day!

Hold The Cheese!

2009-09-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

My first ever cheese-making adventure worked and didn't work. I got a book about home cheesemaking, which was great, and began the process (with a few girls to help me). The recipe I used (Ricki's 30 minute Mozzerella) really took about one hour, even though it is supposed to take 30 minutes, because it was the FIRST time I'd ever tried making cheese and, the first time you do anything, it takes longer than normal.

I don't have any pictures from this first attempt, (and pictures are essential for this project), because it was a trial effort. The next time I make cheese, I'll have pictures. So hold on for the next attempt! This area of culinary art really takes some practice - like making homemade bread: the first loaves are bricks, then you progress to nice, soft, can't-get-enough bread.

It Worked - because the milk actually curdled and separated into curds, and then stretched into a smooth rope that looked like cheese sticks.

It Didn't Work - because the flavor was rather bland (which can be fixed) and the texture on the palate was a bit powdery/pasty (which can also be fixed).

All in all, it was quite interesting and fun!

Simply Bored!

2009-09-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

Not very often around here do things come to a stand still, but the last few days have been rather boring. After working on and finishing the expected stuff (house and church), I found myself looking around for something to do. I usually have a backup project or activity to fill in during a slow schedule, but none of them seemed interesting, so now here I sit staring at the computer. I was so bored the other day that I got a headache from playing on the computer for so long.

To say that posting on my blog is a waste of time would be totally untrue! Blogging is never, I mean, never a waste of time! Don't you agree?

Anyway, as the minutes tick away, one thought/project seems to keep coming back to mind. And that is CHEESEMAKING! We'll see where that goes over the next few days! Stay tuned......I'm picking up some points that'll be of interest to someone!

Nail Polish Is For Slow Days

2009-08-27T05:03:00.000-07:00

Great invention, nail polish. Adorns the fingernails with a myriad of colors. Provided the fingernails just sway in the wind during an afternoon walking! Nail polish, a.k.a. "paint nolish" around here, has been used as an excuse for not doing dishes, skipping homework, and, is always the culprit for a prolonged absense. The locked bedroom door isn't secluding the studious child preparing for a test. Nay!, but the hiding place for a fingernail frenzy!

While growing up, I really never got into the color collecting. I just had a few soft pinks that graced my nails once in a while. In contrast, I caught our twelve-year-old the other day, changing colors every hour! And it wasn't just soft pinks but dark purple, bright green, sky blue, and candy apple red.

I like wearing nail polish when 1) my fingernails are long enough, 2) there's time to do it, 3) when the color matches an outfit (especially for church), and 4) when I don't have to scrub anything, work outside in the yard, or do dishes. In other words, when it's a slow day.

I get really frustrated when I'm wearing nail polish that's turned out great and then I have to scrub the stovetop or work at some other job that peels it off. Then I realize it's chance to try another color! It's fun to take time for myself and do a little painting! (provided it's a slow day!)

Random Thoughts

2009-08-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about a few different things lately. Just random thoughts.

* I love my family and home. What a blessing it is to be married to a wonderful man, and have children both grown and still at home. The humor around here keeps life light. All this seems more than I deserve, sometimes.

* Aging: who says you have to age gracefully? I don't want to admit it, but I am getting older and my body lets me know that every morning when I don't want to get out of bed.

* What makes a well-rounded woman? Is it being well versed in scholarly endeavors? Is it being an excellent homemaker, skilled in cooking, baking, finances, childcare, nursing, and gardening? Would that also include hunting, fishing, car mechanics, and carpentry? I'm for that!!!!! Is there more, and is it all necessary?

* Why does dental work have to be so expensive? A nice set of teeth shouldn't cost a fortune. Everyone deserves to be happy (and not embarassed) with their teeth, right? So why can't it work to have a great smile without breaking the budget (for the next 6 months)?

* When you're a kid and you need comfort, you run home to Mom and Dad. When you're a Mom and Dad and need comfort, you turn to the Lord and go to the temple.

I still think I need another lifetime to learn all the stuff I want to learn and do all the stuff I want to do!

Pomegranate Jelly!

2009-08-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

This recipe was just as fast as the Spiced Apple Jelly. An hour at most, from start to finish, and you're done!

GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES

large bowl for measured sugar

wooden spoon for stirring

8 qt. stock pot

1/2 pint preserving jars with lids and bands

pomegranate juice

powdered pectin

granulated sugar

butter, optional

boiling water bath or steamer canner

Recipe:

3-1/2 cups prepared or bottled pomegranate juice

1 box fruit pectin

1/2 tsp. butter, optional

5 cups granulated sugar

7 (8oz.) half pint glass preserving jars

Begin:

Prepare canner and set aside. Heat jars (I put them on a cookie sheet in a low heat oven - 200 degrees). Soften lids by putting them in hot water till ready for use.

Measure sugar in a large bowl; set aside.

In an 8 qt. stock pot, pour pomegranate juice. Gradually stir in pectin. Add up to 1/2 tsp. butter to reduce foaming, if desired (I did. See it?).

Over high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.

Add entire measure of sugar and dissolve thoroughly. Bring mixture to a full boil again.

Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat; skim foam if necessary. I use a napkin to lightly skim the surface of liquid to gather foam to the sides and lift out any foam.

Ladle into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch head space. Wipe rim, set lid on top, twist on band till fintertip tight.

Process in canner 10 minutes.

Remove jars and cool.

This and other home canning recipes can be found at the Ball Canning website.

Can We Eat, NOW?

2009-08-12T05:54:00.001-07:00

I'm not really a Cruella DeVille, but when it comes to getting work done near a mealtime, the work comes first.
The kids need to do certain chores before they eat breakfast. And if their room isn't Mom-clean, and they ask, "Can we eat now?" the answer will be, "No."
If they haven't changed their clothes for the day, and they ask, "Can we eat now?" the answer will be, "No."
If they haven't combed their hair, and taken care of their responsibility in their bathroom and they ask, "Can we eat now?" the answer will be, "No."
They have been taught that if Mom or Dad asks them to do something in the way of a chore, they are to always do it - no question, debating, side-stepping, etc.
Once in a while, a defiant attitude creeps in and when the question is posed, "Can we eat now?" the answer is not only, "No," but another job will be added, and another, and another, depending on the intensity of the attitude - which drives the attitude to the fullest extreme. The attitude works its way out by submitting to Mom and Dads requests, job after job, all the while enduring gnawing hunger pains.
Then, after a while, when that penitant, submissive child asks, "Can I eat, NOW?" the answer will be, "YES!"
Hunger can be a great tool when getting teenagers to do their chores. And I'm still NOT Cruella DeVille!

Spiced Apple Jelly

2009-08-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

Fast and simple jelly made from apple juice - a family favorite.

4 cups bottled or canned apple juice

1 package powdered fruit pectin

5-1/2 cups sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

In a small stock pot, combine juice, spices and pectin; bring to a full boil. Stir in sugar; return to boil; boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; skim off foam.

Ladel into hot jars to within 1/2 inch of jar top. Wipe jar rim, seal, twist on lids. Process in water bath canner 5 minutes, or process in fruit steamer canner 5 minutes. Remove and cool; tighten lids. Best if left to set 12 hours before opening.

Delicious! I love the amber color with little specs of cloves floating around in it.

I love my steamer canner! It's great for making jams, jellies, and bottling fruit, and it's so easy to use. I bought it about 20 years ago, and though it shows wear, still works great. Holds 7 quarts or pints.

Next jelly making venture will be with pomegranate juice!

Stairsteppers are great, but.....

2009-08-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

Treadmills and stairsteppers are great for exercising, but there's nothing like the real thing: walking on dirt, walking uphill, and climbing. Desert hiking, as opposed to mountain hiking, are a bit more stark in scenery, temperature, and terrain. Desert treks in the southwest have a benefit, though; viewing nature at its best. The colors are a quite faded until it rains. The plain dull green and brown become more vibrant and the smell of creosote and sage blend to be a refreshing burst of energy in the air, and it's wonderful to be out in the midst of.

I really don't like exercising because its an official attempt to work muscles and pump blood through my veins. I'd rather clean the garage or rearrange the entire contents of the house around. I'd rather paint a room, do yardwork, wash trucks and cars, or play basketball for an hour. But.......

.....hiking on trails or in raw desert seems to work for my mind (and body). I've found that starting off with a level, straight walk for a good distance, then working up an incline on a hill gets my heart working, legs working, and mind working. Eventually climbing over large rocks where you have to pull yourself up and over, through and beyond, over and over, until the top of a mountain is conquered, really gives me a sense of accomplishment. And what a workout! I usually feel like I'm gonna collapse, but just a minute of controlled breathing, and I'm good to go! Those muscles scream for help from the heart, the heart pumps its hardest to provide fuel for the demand, and, oh boy, what a great test for a body! Uphill and downhill, both are necessary for exercising leg muscles.

The kids like hiking when its not a power walk. The boys take off like its nothing, running up the steep hills, while the slower ones like me and Eliza, pace ourselves. Even Dad has a fast enough pace to leave me standing still and keep up with the boys. Pretty good for a grandpa!

All in all, I'd rather hike uphill in the snow (like that'd ever happen here!) than officially exercise! But that's just me!

Blueberry French Toast - side note

2009-08-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

I was in a hurry when I wrote the last post about Blueberry French Toast; I was so excited to share the recipe because it was different from other recipes I've tried, and I was on my way out the door. And, to be correct, our daughter, Alisa, made the whole thing for us by herself early yesterday morning for breakfast for the whole family. However, among the many gourmet french toast recipes, my favorite is Stuffed French Toast.
Pretty simple: make regular french toast using texas toast but spread cream cheese between each set of two slices of toast and serve with blueberries and strawberries, and even a slice of orange on the side. Pancake syrup drizzled over the top with powdered sugar sprinkled over the whole thing really makes for a rich, filling breakfast. Your mouth says, "more, more, more!" but your tummy says, "stop, stop, stop!"
I always like hearing about and trying recipes. Any variations on this one that are out there would be great to hear. Please share!

Blueberry French Toast. Outstanding!

2009-08-07T11:17:00.001-07:00

I wish I had a picture of this. But since I don't, try to imagine the beauty of it. This recipe was found on the back of a Safeway Texas Toast bread bag and was developed by cookbook author Marlene Sorosky Gray. Our daughter, Alisa, made it for breakfast blueberries and strawberries, and both were a big hit!

Bluberry French Toast Casserole
4 eggs or 1 cup egg substitute
1/2 cup whole or fat free milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
7 slices (we used 6) Safeway Texas Toast
4-1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries,
not defrosted (about 1-1/2 lbs.)
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons cornstarch
powdered sugar for sprinkling on top

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. Dip bread into batter; turn to coat both sides. Cut last piece in half to fit and place bread on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour any remaining batter over bread. (If desired, bread may be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight.)
Place oven rack in top third of oven and preheat to 450 F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place blueberries, sugar, cinnamon and cornstarch in dish; stir to mix well. Place bread slices on berries. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toast is golden and berries are bubbling. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. To serve, use a spatula to remove toast to plates. Spoon blueberries and sauce over toast.
Makes 6-7 servings.
What we did: we used one 9x13 dish each for blueberries and strawberries. We made up the egg mixture and set aside. We mixed the berries and ingredients in a separate bowl and turned onto the 9x13 pan, then, after dipping the bread slices into the egg mixture, we placed them over the berries, then baked, and ate!

Love This Song; Great Arrangement. Watch!

2009-08-06T04:46:00.000-07:00