Happy Happy Birthday Jason

Jason has grown from the innocense of childhood to a great young man....I can say young because I'm the mom! This year we will be celebrating his 34th birthday. I've gathered a few photos that I hope will bring back lots of memories for you J. I wrote a note back when you were 4 that said you had the energy of a pocket sized atomic bomb....now I'm sure you feel the same way about your darling children.

Happy Birthday....the whole world celebrates with you!

Happy Birthday Glitter Graphics

Several years ago, and many times since, we had dinner at Macaroni Grill. I fell in love with their rosemary bread, which of course, put me on a quest to recreate this luscious loaf.

My first chore was to plant rosemary in the garden, which I did. Winter was not kind to my precious herb, so each year I procured a new little plantlet. Finally I have found a garden spot that loves my rosemary.....very close to the foundation....given warmth by my drier vent....I'm lovin' it...even in the cold of winter!

This is my version of the recipe, there are many on the net, I tweaked until I got the fine-tuned recipe I'm in love with. It takes some work, but the aroma and comfort that come from the oven makes it all worth every minute.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups water, warm 110 degrees

1 teaspoon sugar

2 teaspoons honey

2 tablespoons yeast

4 1/2 cups bread flour

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh garlic, chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

Cornmeal ---to sprinkle on baking sheet

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Directions:

Mix the water, yeast, and sugar together with 1/2 cup of the flour and let sit for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile heat the olive oil and garlic together over low heat for two minutes to lightly cook the garlic; do not brown.

Combine all remaining ingredients and mix until a stiff dough is produced; knead for 6 to 8 minutes....lucky me I have a Kitchenaid....thanks mom!

Place the dough in a mixing bowl and cover with plastic wrap; or towel; let rise for 1 hour or until

double in bulk. Note if you lightly oil the dough before covering with plastic wrap, it will be easier to remove from the bowl without sticking after it has risen.

On a floured surface, divide the dough into two equal parts and form into two round loaves by shaping them with your hands. Place on baking sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal, cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for thirty minutes.

Gently remove the plastic wrap without pulling on the dough, pierce the dough directly in the center with a sharp knife or other pointed implement. Push firmly from the top of the dough all the way to the bottom of the pan, quickly remove the knife or implement.

Immediately place the dough into the pre-heated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on wire racks.

Yields 2 loaves.....Enjoy with seasoned dipping oil.

Old But Trendy -

DH has always had a reluctance to pin, nail, or stick stuff to our walls. His complaint, “The holes are so ugly, so permanent, and the sticky stuff doesn’t come off at all….. so...there!”

Whatever the reason, this pin,nail, sticky stuff-phobia had kept me from beautifying the walls of our home……although the description can differ depending on whether you ask me or DH as to what beautifying means.

For years the walls were barren, lonely canvases begging to be decorated, crying out for me to somehow improve the décor! Finally, one day in the not-so-far-off past, vinyl entered my life…..we now have sayings stuck everywhere…

……..Which brought me to my Sentimental Sunday Post for today. I knew about vinyl long before it became trendy. I’m not sure if my parents had the same phobia as DH, but I think Mom was just a little on the exasperated side of the scale when she saw her new remodeled bathroom with this…………… stuck to the walls! Groovy huh?

Hope it brings a smile now…..cause it’s still there! Thanks Mom and Dad for putting up with all my exuberance as a child! I was such a happy child!

Cars Covered in Snow

On a cold winter's day while clearing the snow from your car, do the car parked next to you. My favorite winter random act of kindness. What a nice surprise. I've been doing this in our school parking lot for about 3 years now, not looking for pats on the back, just love to do something kind for others and wanted to share the suggestion with all of you.

Looking forward to next year.

2009 - A year to be filled with love, hope, dreams, and memories. I love blogging, and I'm hoping that I can make my dreams and memories come true this year. I've planned a theme for each day and will attempt to blog daily...but I won't beat myself up if I miss a day here and there. I so love when you stop by and visit, leaving me a comment is sometimes a scary thing...I feel the same way! Be brave, step out of your box, if you can, and just say whatever is on your mind....I'll cherish the moments.

Wordless Wednesday

Another Bail-out Request 2008

It was inevitable - the Jolly Old Santa himself has applied for a federal bailout to help save his Christmas Toy land. Rumor has it, that the few left in Washington, ~ Winter Holiday ~ were very reluctant to give into the jolly old man after he arrived in Washington with his flying sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer.

In 2001 the airline industry got their $15 billion....now Santa, why didn't you ask 7 years ago, surely you could have been grouped with this prestigious industry.

Santa, I'm sure you are just too late, because all through the "House" not a creature was stirring, not even our newly elected President.....he flew off to Hawaii.

The final word was that Santa was denied his petition, because his tax returns state that he works for milk and cookies....and the North Pole is actually an offshore place for industry!

Furthermore anyone who can climb down a chimney and get around the world in just one night…surely has the resources and frequent flier miles necessary to make it without government interference. Ho, Ho, Ho and Merry Christmas Santa.

Tomato Ravioli Soup

Tomato Soup is definitely on my list of comfort foods and when the weather is cold outside there is nothing like it! And when the garden is bursting with tomatoes there is nothing like it! Making this dish is simple and delicious.....even if DH complains that tomato soup is like drinking hot ketchup! What is he crazy, mad, or simply lacks faith in my culinary inspirations....? It's vegetarian and all!

Here's all you need...5 ingredients and water.....could it be any easier!
Tomato Basil Ravioli Soup

1 quart of tomatoes - thanks to dad we have a store room full

1 can tomato sauce

5 cups water

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon basil - and a few fresh leaves for garnish

2 cups frozen cheese ravioli - or fresh if you are skilled in making them

Pour tomatoes in blender and pulse several times to cut tomatoes in small pieces. Pour into large pot. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to boil on medium-high heat. Lower heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes or until ravioli is tender.

I know I said I wouldn't be here until New Year's Eve.....but it is cold outside and the computer looks so lonely without anyone sitting in the big easy chair.....so here I am ready or not!

What Christmas Cookie Are You? ----- Yes I'm the delicious Italian Biscotti!

You Are Biscotti

You are a very direct, honest person. You don't have time for dramatics or emotional pleas. You feel most comfortable in the intellectual realm, especially with science and technology. You are good at understanding difficult subjects. Understanding people? Not so much.

What Holiday Cookie Are You?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Warmest wishes to you all for a joyous Christmas and peaceful New Year!
I will be taking a blogging break to spend lots of time with family, while they are home for the next week.

See you on New Years Eve!!

Neil Diamond ~ So Good! So Good!

We traveled on Frontrunner and then waited in the snowy cold for Trax to see a dazzling Neil Diamond deliver a flawless, 24-carat gem of a show, sparkling with hits, gleaming with showmanship and energy not many 67 year old men could match. He is an old school showbiz legend who has suddenly become cool again – and he’s clearly loving every moment.

Last night he performed to a packed house and proved that he is one of music’s most enduring performers as he delivered hit after hit from his five decades in the business.

His 10-piece band, with a four-piece brass section and three female backing singers, were all excellent. A rockin’ jewel of a show that all of us who saw it will remember and treasure.

Thanks to Dane and Donya we were lucky enough to have floor seats on row 11….OMG we were so close! And I didn’t take these pictures, because they won’t let you! So thanks to all those lucky photo guys who post them in google images!

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice…..tomorrow the sun reaches its lowest point on the horizon, making it the shortest day of the year. What? No….not like in we have less hours in the day, December 21st has twenty-four hours just like any other day. But it’s called the shortest day because it has the fewest hours of daylight.

The shortest day, for me, is the beginning of cold, nose-dripping and nose-nipping weather!

Our ancestors had it right, fires were a part of solstice celebrations — not only to provide light in the darkness, but also to symbolize the burning away of the old year – I think it was to keep warm! DUH!

This is my idea of a great tradition, bring in the yule log on December 21 and keep it burning until Christmas…maybe New Years. It is suppose to bring good luck if you keep it burning for 12 days. Since we have a gas log….how about we just leave that baby on and keep the house at a toasty 75 degrees….I’ll be loving every minute of it and DH will be freaking -crazy-mad! So who do you think will prevail with this tradition?

Santa I Can Explain

Can you believe it? The big day is upon us, now that I'm officially on Winter Holiday.....we can't say Christmas Break anymore......Go figure! Christmas, the day we look forward to all year long, that special time that sparks joyful anticipation in the eyes and minds and hearts of little kids everywhere, that calls families together and loved ones in from far and near to love and laugh and give and receive. Why can't we just call it what it is?

I've been around for ..... years and I don't remember once, ever, hearing somebody object to the cheery greeting. " Merry Christmas" Do you? Have you ever heard "I don't believe in Jesus, so I wish you wouldn't say that Merry Christmas thing" from any individual........anyone?

Just in case you know someone who is so against our merriment......guess they'll just have to accept our ornament that we leave for Santa......we can explain or DENY....anything!

Merry Christmas.....Happy Winter Holiday!

Photoshop Element 6

I am a digital photo rookie......not to be confused as a professional. I have been using Photoshop Element 5 for almost a year with a little success. I wanted to do a little more with my photos...correct all my flaws! Tuesday I enrolled in a class for Photoshop Elements 6 and I was very happy with what I learned. Yeah......... you don't even have to be a genius to use it.

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

Today I am sharing our salmon dish because it's simple, easy to do, the flavor is so intensely good, and our dear friends would like the recipe. DH was not a very big fish eater until he met me.....now he craves it and wants me to make it at least once a week. Thanks to J we have learned to cook it on a cedar plank...of course this is his picture!

Besides being very tasty, it's even good for you! Did you know that according to Web MD, a 3oz. serving of salmon has more vitamin D than 1 cup of milk? So it's a great way for all of us to increase are calcium intake, not to mention all the other health benefits .......Omega!!!!

Ingredients for marinade:

4 T lemon juice
1/2 lb butter
2 T soy sauce
Pepper
Chopped Parsley
Chopped Chives
Green Onion
Blend - warm in a double boiler.....DO NOT BOIL

Pour over salmon and let set until ready to grill.

Prep Cedar Plank:

You can purchase a cedar plank at any kitchen supply store for around $12 but DH picked up a 5' untreated cedar fence plank at Home Depot and cut into several planks....Yippie! Wash plank and soak in water for 3-4 hours. Plank will float so weigh it down with a heavy pot.

Grill Salmon:
Pre-heat grill on medium high heat. Place plank directly on grill. Allow plank to heat up and begin smoking before placing salmon on plank. When plank begins to smoke, lightly oil plank and place salmon, skin side down, on plank. Add sliced lemon and dill sprigs to fillets. Allow to cook, covered, for 10-12 or until salmon is pink and cooked through ...137 Degrees. I use a meat thermometer because you don't want to over cook fish. Remove from plank and serve.

Let me just tell you it comes out perfect every time! Deliciously moist..... never dried or overcooked, if you cook it to exactly 137 degrees, I guarantee it will turn out for you.

As good as any Salmon Bake you'll ever attend........but then again you have to do the work! We still have a family tradition of attending the Garland Salmon Bake 1st Saturday of June every year......and I don't have to clean up anything!

Enjoy

Christmas Cards

So today I'm thinking about sending Christmas cards the old fashioned way. Honestly that is something I rarely do anymore and it's really kind of sad. A few years back I made some really cute handmade cards, so as I'm organizing the storage room I'm thinking maybe it's time to resurrect the lost art of snail mail cards.

Perhaps I'll even include one of those long winded enclosures telling all about what my family has been up to during the past year.....shivers going up my spine.......Nah...that isn't going to happen don't worry......wait, isn't that what my blog is for? So Merry Christmas Family and Friends...I just saved 42 cents on each of you.

The picture which doesn't to it justice is the card my BFF Nancy made and sent out this year......My mom loved it and called to tell me what a talented friend I have. You are amazing Nancy.

Tree Flocking

Back in the day...my parents always went to Cloward's Tree Farm to buy our Christmas Tree. We could walk around the farm and always experience that good old-fashioned Christmas feeling. Cold, crisp, and a bonfire to warm our backsides.

After hours....probably minutes.......the tree farmer would load the tree we had carefully chosen, into our truck and homeward bound. Now the experience gets interesting..... Mom like flocked trees.......Dad......hated the process! But in the end he was always able to transform the lush green pine into a snowy masterpiece.

Looked something like what is outside my window this crisp snowy morning!

Thanks Mom and Dad for the memories. Mom if you still want that flocked tree...the tree farmers will do it for you now!

Perigee Moon

A night-time spectacle….no you can’t see Neil Armstrong’s footprints……but holy molly it looks like a cosmic spotlight!
Look how well J did with his camera….he captured (perfectly) the smallest lunar feature that most people can see with the naked- eye: the Sea of Crises or Mare Crisium (MAH-ray CRISS-ee-yum).

This is my attempt....not bad if you are looking for vampire moons!

This picture came from Wikipedia

A mare (MAH-ray) is a crater that filled with lava that afterwards cooled and solidified into basalt. We study the moon in 3rd grade, mare was one of favorite vocabulary words.

Although Mare Crisium is not the smallest sea on the Moon, it is a mere 260 miles in diameter, spotting it is quite an accomplishment, so you can see how proud I am of J’s abilities to capture it with his camera.

Venture outside and take a look at this marvelous moon....but beware of the weirdos that might be lurking close by.

Digital TV Conversion....Oh Not another Y2K

My parents were asking about the latest Y2K event that will happen in 2-09……
So this is just an FYI regarding the change of TV broadcasting signals from analog to digital on February 19, 2009.

If you receive your television broadcast over the air---from a rooftop antenna or the old rabbit ears---you’ll need to make some changes by then to continue watching TV.

So what does all this mean? If you have an analog TV you will need to hook up to a cable or satellite system or purchase a converter box to change the digital signals to analog. Cable and satellite TV subscribers will be fine during this transition, but you will want to check with your provider to see if and when you will need a new set top box…you know that big thing on the top of your TV!

You don't have to throw away your analog TV set; you just need to get a signal converter box. There is a coupon program that allows consumers (2 per household) to receive a $40 coupon per converter box. If you have purchased a TV since March 2006 ….it is equipped with a digital tuner…..if it’s older than that you need to take the above actions.

There’s more info here: http://www.dtv2009.gov/

Don’t be surprised if you cords look something like this soon!

Does any of this make any sense?

Christmas Dinner

Some years winter descends on us quickly here in Utah, this year we haven’t been blessed with any thing much more than a small flurry. By Christmas we normally have a heavy snow blanket and temperatures are in the teens. Holiday lights, gatherings of friends and family, and the special meals we cook bring needed warmth to our houses and our lives. With 15 days still left to go…I’m sure we’ll have plenty of snow and way too much food.

This is also the time when I seem to stop worrying so much about fat, calories (maybe I don’t worry about it to often at all) and enjoy luxurious and special meals with friends

Again this year we had first get-together of the season with our friends at the Grey Cliff Lodge. Whenever we are with the Kelsos and Rhodes we seem to always have a magnificent dinner, a pleasurable reunion, and loads of amusing conversations. When dinner can last for more than 2 hours you must know how gratifying it is.

It truly was a great evening had by all! Thanks…….for the generous portions of fun and laughter we always have with you guys.



Obviously my camera was not set with the correct apertures…..because these pictures stink! Maybe someday I’ll learn how to be a photographer!

Wordless Wednesday

"Grace"

In the course of conversation with some of my very dear colleagues, we decided that it would be a great idea to attend “Let’s Do Holiday Lunch, with Richard Paul Evans”. This popular event always includes a silent auction for fabulous items, lunch, and a presentation by Richard, himself! Being able to attend this luncheon is such an honor.

I was running a little late today, thus parking was a problem…. I drove through the entire lot before finding a place. As I got out of my car, guess who was getting out of his! Yes sir…..it was Richard. I smiled and said, “Oh my, the guest speaker….and I love your new book!” I showed him the copy I had in my purse and he offered to sign it for me so I wouldn’t have to wait in the long line that will form after the luncheon….YES, the sun is shinning on me today!

I loved the novel. Of course, I had picked it up back in November when I knew I would be going to the gala. You know it is that compulsive thing I have! The cover with a lit candle is beautiful and very intriguing. I would have bought the book without any thought of being lucky enough to attend the luncheon.

I brought the book home and read the back cover where there is an excerpt from the first chapter…..Yes a love story, narrated by an older person, I gather. "She was my first kiss. My first love." She was a little match girl who could see the future in the flame of a candle."

The front flap has a note from Richard….we are on first name basis now……. to the dear reader where he discusses his inspiration for his tale of a runaway girl, the naïve boy who hides her and his relationship with her and his younger brother. It's the most autobiographical of his novels.

The Author’s Note: “In 1874 a little girl was being abused by her parents, but the missionary could only help her by having her declared an animal with rights because there were no laws against child abuse. This situation incredibly didn't get better until the early 60s, which I soon discover is the time Grace is set. Before the story begins Richard included Hans Christian Anderson's sad tale of The Little Match Girl, obviously an inspiration for his novel, and then the story begins from the perspective of a fourteen-year-old boy.It's October 1962, ten days before the Cuban Missile Crisis when the world was supposed to end. The boy explains that his father came down with Guillain-Barre Syndrome leaving him temporarily paralyzed and so the family moved into a rundown section south of Salt Lake City where his grandparents used to live.

The first part of the book is about the boys getting used to being so poor and bullied at school and building a clubhouse in their huge back yard. I enjoy meeting such a typical family from the 60s. The older boy gets a job at a fast food place where he works with a couple of jerks, then finds a girl out back dumpster diving and that's Grace. He gets leftovers for the starving girl and finally has the idea of having her stay in the clubhouse. She doesn't want to go back home and he doesn't press the issue.The chapters are very short and alternate between the boy's and Grace's perspective. The little brother must be let in on the secret as his brother helps Grace make a home out in their clubhouse, which has a mattress, a water pump, a transistor radio, a calendar girl in a red bathing suit and electricity and eventually a Christmas Tree. It's soon pretty cozy and Grace likes novels. She stops going to school (the same one the Eric attends), he keeps feeding her until he picks up what's in her locker, the search for her reaches the television news, President Kennedy saves the world, Grace celebrates her sixteenth birthday, she and boy awkwardly fall in love, he then is shocked when she reveals why she ran away and he feels so stupid as she called him. I'm reading this wondering how is this going to end….those of you to know me…..I must read the last chapter if there is not going to be a happy ending.

Richard explained today that the novel takes place at time when there were no shelters for abused kids who can't go home and nobody even believed or wanted to believe that kids could be abused by stepfathers. Animals were protected more than children. Grace has no family in the area and really loves the boy who is so kind and generous.

I nervously read on...(I really tried to restrain myself from reading the ending….)
Finally it's Christmas Eve. All three chop down a little tree and decorate it and the clubhouse. They exchange presents and the next day Eric pretends to be sick so he can spend the day with Grace. It's the best day of his life...and the next day is the worst. I’ve given you enough information now…I do hope that you will pick up a copy and enjoy a few undisturbed hours of reading….
There's an Epilogue where Eric updates us on what his family is doing today and how he became a feared prosecutor of people like Grace's stepfather who got what he deserved. They all sound so real and yet the story also seemed like a dark fantasy to think that Grace, so much like the match girl, hid out for three months in a boy's clubhouse.

Richard leaves us with a letter at the end of the book, telling us that there are thousands of girls like Grace everywhere. With the tremendous success of his book The Christmas Box he established an organization to build emergency shelters for abused and neglected children. Four shelters in Utah have served more than twenty thousand children. He announced today that they are planning shelters in several other states, beginning in Arizona. With the release of Grace he has established The Christmas Box Initiative to help every youth in America exiting the foster care system. If you would like to join in with the cause you can go to their website http://www.operationkids.org/ and click on Life Start Kits. Or you can call 1-888-257-KIDS.


Thank you Richard for another wonderful novel…..Can’t wait for next year! Hmmmm and the character will be named…inside secret!

Thoughtful Thursday

Wordless Wednesday ~ No Words Necessary

Celebration and Forgiveness

Hard to believe that December 1st is already here, and the thermometer is still reading in the mid 50's. With Thanksgiving behind us, the official beginning of the Christmas season has come. So please join in with me and celebrate life and find forgiveness in your heart.I honestly believe celebration and forgiveness could be considered synonyms, because celebrating is all 'round good exercise for your heart and forgiveness relieves the body of stress. What beautiful partners they are....happiness and love. This month has so much celebrating, it is probably very fitting for us to start the month off with celebrating everything possible.

Let's celebrate by having new experiences, maybe discover a new place to take a walk, ('cause it did make all the difference in the world), or perhaps learning how to make it through these very difficult times. Certainly there are people who have come before us who have faced times even more difficult than we face today, and they made a difference by how they were able to celebrate and forgive.On the evening of December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, an African American was arrested for disobeying an Alabama law requiring black passengers to relinquish seats to white passengers when the bus was full. Blacks also were required to sit at the back of the bus. Her arrest sparked a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system and led to a 1956 Supreme Court decision banning segregation on public transportation. I believe we should celebrate Rosa Parks!

Today President-elect Barack Obama plans to announce longtime advisers and political foes alike as his picks for top administration jobs at a news conference, nominating one-time political nemesis Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state. In addition to Hillary, it has been announced that he is keeping Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who has run the Pentagon for the last two years under President Bush. If political rivals can come together for the good of our country, honorable citizens - democrat and republican alike - should join in the celebration.

'Tis the season to be jolly and make the most of it, deck the halls, hang the mistletoe, bake some cookies, and forgive those who you need to forgive. I celebrate my life every day I live....thank you family and friends for filling it with blessings and happiness!