50 Years of Loafer

It has actually been 51 years since we first went to Loafer Canyon, but cabins take time.....so 50 years of actually enjoying an evening in the beautiful canyon and sleeping in the fresh air is what I call living.
This was the cabin I enjoyed when I was just a "Little" girl.
In 2006 my kids decided it was time to return to the great outdoors. So we went in search of a new place for a new generation to enjoy Loafer. Above is the lot they settled on. It took months of work to clear it and get it ready for the building of a new cabin.
August 25, 2007 this is what the cleared lot looked like.
Just 1 year later look at my Daughter-in-love and her family have put up! AMAZING......AWESOME......AND BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL

Jason, Al, the kids and I have put in a few moments of work and I do mean moments...... But we love it just as much as anyone can!

Can't wait to show you the picture in a year from now!

Happy Birthday Brevin

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

How to Survive "Hubbies" High School Reunion

How to survive your husband’s forty-year high school reunion:

1. The Buddy System:
Bring a Friend Don’t attend the function unless there is at least one other spouse there whom you have previously met and enjoy talking to. (Thank you Mary Clair and Debbie, Thank you Robin!)



2. Superiority Complex:
Have the best looking Husband in the Room
If possible, do what I did and: arrive with the best looking guy at the party. Lee and Gary are the other two gorgeous men in the room. (Also, stating here that Al, Lee and Gary are the hotties of the group will maybe get me some brownie points. Not that I need them you know! )


3. Safety in Numbers: Bond With the Other Spouses
They feel your pain. Lean on them.


4. Laugh a lot and act like you are totally enjoying the evening.


5. Take plenty of pictures…..
This will keep you busy and you won’t have to look like you have been totally abandoned and neglected while hubby is off mingling non stop!

Mr. Lasorda Comes to Town

Remember when I said "No"....I'm not doing all that ball park stuff this summer! I'm such a push-over and it's so much fun! Every Saturday that the boys...that would be "Raptor boys".......have a home game, the host families put together a little tail gate get together! When Tommy comes to town he is always happy to spend time with us and have a few helpings of our fabulous food. Today several of us had our pictures taken with him. When I told him I was Italian he gave me a big hug! What great memories. Wonder how many millions of lives he has touched with his life's lessons, stories, and genuine kindness!

Cabin Update

Wednesday I tried....really...I tried....to help at the cabin site. I actually painted maybe 4 sheets of something or other that goes somewhere! After my feeble attempt I got a horrible headache....and spent the afternoon sleeping in the motor home...ugh! I don't know where this crew of workers get their strength and energy....cause I have none. In spite of what I can't do to help....I love what the cabin is looking like! I will be able to wash a few dishes and fix a few meals when it is all finished and ready for sleep overs! CAN'T WAIT!

The Summer School Play

Tuesday was the big production for the summer school plays. The GKs had cute little parts and said all their lines perfectly. Of course, Missie....knew her part and everyone elses as well. Unfortunately the lighting was terrible and I got picture that I can't even edit with Photoshop....ugh! After the plays we were going to have a birthday lunch, but misfortune stricks and Daughter-in-loves car has a flat tire........I did get pictures of the guys who kindly fixed it for her!

Halie hated the sounds of the repair shop. We were on the road in no time at all. These guys were truly nice guys....they didn't want to even charge us. So I gave them a small tip and said thank you so much!

Classic Auto Repair .....800 North in Orem, Utah......there are still a few good guys left in this world!

Happy Birthday Miss Halie

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

This is so me...it is scary!

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it manifests:

I decided to water a small dead spot on my backyard lawn. After I turn on the hose I put it down and went back into the house. The mail had arrived so I walked to the mail box and took out the mail. Walking back into the house I looked over at my car and decide it needed washing. As I start toward the garage, I remembered the mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box just a few minutes earlier.

I decided to go through the mail before I washed the car. I laid my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and noticed that the can was full. So, I decided to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I took my check book off the table, and saw that there was only 1 check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the glass of juice (KABALA) I'd been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the juice aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. The juice is getting warm and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the juice, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need water. I put the juice glass on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decided I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, DH will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back on the end table where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

• At the end of the day:


• the car isn't washed


• the bills aren't paid


• there is a warm glass of juice sitting on the counter


• the flowers don't have enough water


• there is still only 1 check in my check book


• I can't find the remote....DH screams!


• and I can't find the car keys.


• and the new storage room in the basement is now flooded because I left the water on out back!
  

What a blessing Jen was at our home and wanted to go tanning in the basement or the whole dang basement would have been a swimming pool!

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all dang day, and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem because it all really happened. Now I'll try to get some help for this condition, but first I'll check my e-mail and of course read a few blogspots.

So y'all need to do me a favor. Please foward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember who the heck I've sent it to.......oh that's why I have a blogspot!

Happy Anniversary 2008

With all the things going on in my life......you would think I would have a better "Remember" system! Yesterday just happened to be my parents anniversary of 61 years. I don't think I could ever thank them enough for all they have done for me! They are two very special and wonderful people. They provided a supportive and caring home for their only child....ME.... to grow up in, and most importantly, a loving environment where their marriage and our little family thrived.

My parents are the epitome of graceful and gentle love, enjoying life to the fullest, and give depth and meaning to what "happily ever after" is all about.

Although yesterday was really their anniversary, I would raise a glass today to salute and honour the wonderful example they have set about what love, life and laughter is all about any day!

Fire Tooooooo..... Close to Loafer

The kids drove to the fire last night about 8:30. The cabin project is about 10 miles east of this fire. It has made all of us a little nervous. I stayed awake until about 1:30 watching the internet for any news.

1 SEATS, 2 Helicopters, 125 Personnel, 2 Heavy Air Tankers

Springville, Salem, Payson, Spanish Fork, Mapleton, Santaquin, Genola Forest and wild land fire, Utah County Fire. All of these stations are part of the large crews that are fighting this fire. Thank goodness for this brave group of people who are working to protect those close to the burn.

Green, Green, Green....Zucchini, Zucchini, Zucchini

Is zucchini a weed?

In the past I have only had this level of gardening success with weeds -- I honestly can grown weeds that would make you cry with joy (or pain.) But I have never successfully grown many useful things -- case in point: all of my basil plants have died. AGAIN. I have a few tomatoes plants that are doing well, but green peppers ....basil.....lavendar.....never want to live in my backyard for some reason. Zucchini has never failed me and every year I plant extra....just so ya'll think I'm a gardner....not like "Dan Gardner"...just a gardner!
This is just a little flower bed along the back of my home....
By the end of the summer I will have been to busy to pick a few and they will grow the side of a T-ball bat....won't the GK's have fun with that!

****Celebrate Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day, is approaching.... it is August 8th

This lesser known holiday was created, undoubtedly, to creatively distribute abundant zucchini harvests. To "celebrate" this holiday, which happens every August 8th, wait for the darkness of night, sneak over to your neighbor's house and leave some zucchini on their porch. Don't ring the doorbell and run, just let them stumble over it in the morning.

If you really like your neighbors you might leave them a delicious loaf of zucchini bread --- I'm sharing 2 recipes with you today so you can get your game plan going for Zucchini Day!

#1 This is a Sweet Bread and delicious ~ Brown Sugar, Pineapple and Zucchini get the same billing in this recipe. So maybe we should call it Sugar Bread!

Pineapple Zucchini Bread

1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup margarine, softened
1 cup grated zucchini
1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple with juice
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground allspice
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
½ cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp corn syrup
¼ tsp ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 350. Grease and flour the bottom only of a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, cream brown sugar and margarine until light and fluffy. Reserve 1 TB pineapple juice. Stir in pineapple, zucchini, and eggs. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and allspice; blend well. Fold in nuts. Spread evenly in prepared pan.

Bake for 60-70 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, and then remove from pan.

To make glaze, combine confectioners' sugar, reserved pinapple juice, corn syrup and ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Mix until smooth, and spoon over warm loaf. Cool completely on wire rack. Wrap and store in refrigerator.

#2 ----This recipe has a lot less sugar ---so it qualifies as HEALTHY!

Ingredients

3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup shredded zucchini
1 tablespoon grated onion

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Oil and flour a baking pan that is sized 9" x 5". In a large bowl, add and mix the flour, Parmesan cheese, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Blend well and set aside. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Add the buttermilk, sugar and butter and beat the mixture with a fork until it is well blended. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and only blend until the flour is moistened and the batter is still lumpy.

Add the zucchini and onion to your zucchini bread batter. Pour your batter into the greased and floured baking pan. Put it into the oven and bake for one hour or more. Check for doneness by putting a toothpick into the middle of the loaf. If the toothpick comes out clean, your zucchini bread is done.

Place your bread in the pan on a rack to cool for ten minutes. Remove from the pan.

Now you can easily get ready for the big Zucchini Holiday August 8th.....let me know what your family is doing for that big day!