"Oh What A Night"

Friday night we fly to Wendover to the Peppermill Concert Hall to see Tony Orlando in concert. It was more than a concert. Tony puts on a fantastic show, with so much energy, you can tell he is someone who loves to make people happy, he loves God, and he loves our country, and it shows.

We went to celebrate our 26th Anniversary with Al's cousin Adrian. It was also Adrian and Mary Anne's anniversary as well. So we thought this would be a fun way to remember our anniversaries. We bought tickets a couple of months ago and Adrian always has enough points to get our rooms for little or nothing.

So we started our trip by flying with Dane and Donya in Al's comanchee. Al loves to fly, but I struggle to find presence when I'm in the air! Friday afternoon was nice enough, a little windy....but not enough to stop us.

Dane and Donya in the backseat. I think Dane is taking a picture of me, taking a picture of them!
Here is a view from the front seat just as we pass over Antelope Island.

This is the Great Salt Lake with the Oquirrh Mountains range. The Oquirrh Mountains run about 30 miles south from the southern end of the Great Salt Lake. The mountains got their name from a Goshute Indian word meaning “wooded mountain.” The tallest point is Lewiston Peak 10,676 feet. This picture was taken looking through the front windshield of the plane. I don't know why my camera has given off such a blue tint. I love the reflection of the mountain range in the Great Salt Lake. If you look close you can see the blur of the airplane prop.

This is MagCorp. I had no idea what this business was until today. I have seen it many times when flying to Wendover, and I finally decided I needed to learn about it. My son was at our home today, so I asked him. He knew right off what it was, because a friend on Flickr had pictures of it. They have produced magnesium metal products since 1972. Using primary solar energy, the natural brine of the Great Salt Lake (which has nearly four times the magnesium concentration of the world's largest ocean) is concentrated, purified and dried into magnesium chloride powder. The powder is melted and introduced into electrolytic reduction cells to produce pure magnesium metal. Lots of controversy about this business because of all the pollution they create.

This picture was taken after the show. Al and I are with Kerry Cole. Oh is he ever amazing and a nice guy as well. He plays keyboard and has an incredible voice. Literally, he can sound like just about anyone you ask him to. He started with Willie Nelson and ended with Led Zeppelin. I could not believe his talent. When we met him after the show, he was so happy to talk with us and very gracious about having his picture taken with us.

I don't know how long Tony stayed signing autographs, but I'm so glad I was able to have his autobiography signed, as well as my ticket stubs. This was the cute lady in front of me in line. Her name is Rosie and it was her birthday.


Our neighbors were also at the concert. We had no idea we would both be their celebrating our anniversaries. I didn't get a picture of them, but I got their ticket stubs signed....since I was the one standing in line for autographs.

Almost time to leave beautiful(not sure that is the right word for the place in the desert)......Wendover! We had breakfast with Donya and Dane, then took the shuttle to the airport.

These 3 guys were foraging for food this morning at the airport. Another lesson for me today, I have never seen this bird before. None of us knew what it was. Of course my Western Birds Guide didn't let me down. They are male Yellow-Headed Blackbirds. What a great weekend. Thanks to everyone who made it so fun!

Ten Word Short Story

Like I don't have enough to do... This morning I woke very early and started blog hopping. I came across a site with this novel (pun) idea. So I spent the next 1 1/2 coming up with my first short story.

Here are the words for the week's ten Word Challenge: fruitcake, necromancer, gibberish, marshland, Lone Ranger, hog-wild, effluvia, plaintiff, phonograph, fern.


AND HERE IS MY STORY.....friends I don't have to tell you I am no "Adriana Trigiani"



How about some pen name suggestions?

Connecting to Life

The season was upon us and tenement in which we lived bustled with noisy activity. The phonograph blasted the songs of the season, and the aromas coming from the kitchen definitely let you know fruitcake was baking in the oven. The Law Firm I work for finally made the right move and closed down for a 2 week winter vacation.

The day was going well until Monica Winters, a college roommate, called to let me know that she was coming to Newhurst with her latest fling for the Christmas Holiday. I haven’t heard from Monica for several years. We parted ways when she became so heavily involved with her belief and practice of necromancer.

I remember well the details of our very last conversations, I’m sure that these words escaped from my mouth, “Puhlease! Don't tell me you buy into that antique mumbo jumbo.” Monica was not in the least deterred. Nor was I with my conviction and arguments. “Monica, the spirits of the dead are not at anyone’s beck and call. It is only the egotistical soul that believes this. One cannot conjure nor command spirits.” These were my closing arguments as she slammed the double wide doors in the foyer, causing the ferns to tumble off of their pedestals.

This did not sit well with Monica and her hog-wild enthusiasm. Monica always wanted the last word in any argument during our law school days. So I was not surprised when the phone rang and she let out with vengeance, “There is great beauty and divinity in the darkness, though fear of the unknown keeps you from looking. If you had an open heart and are pure of spirit, you could be graced by the presence of spirits, but only if you are humbled by Love and Faith. Obviously, you are not ready to receive their message, nor would you appreciate a visitation.”

Oh was she right about that!

Now I had only 8 hours before she would be waltzing through our front door with the latest “Lone Ranger” by her side. I could only imagine what would happen when the gibberish of Monica’s latest craziness started vibrating throughout our peaceful dwelling.

Why had I said yes? That’s my history, I’m a pushover. Even when I was the plaintiff in my divorce, I let my former husband walk away from all the judgments against him. I just wanted out!

At the firm I’m always the one picking up a last-minute assignment and tending to clients’ every wish. Just before we left for the holiday, I put up some resistance to buying the marshland. What good could possibly come from buying property that has effluvia from decaying matter? I’m sure behind their closed doors they were all say, “This isn’t the Kristen we know.” Perhaps consciousness has become a part of me.

Time was quickly getting away from me. Shopping, laundry, and food preparation would have to be completed within just a few hours. I so wanted just a few minutes before the craziness of Monica took over my life again. Breathing deeply I curled my body into my favorite reading chair and left my own over-enthusiastic world to step into another.

What's for Dinner?

The seasonal availability of asparagus is a very short window. DH doesn't even like asparagus, but tonight it was a hit! This dish is made with Grilled Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta. It's quick and easy, my kind of dinner.

Here is what you will need:

2 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into bite-size pieces

1 1/2 pounds asparagus, ends trimmed

1 pound bow tie pasta

1/4 cup butter

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup chicken stock

zest of one lemon

juice of one lemon

salt and pepper

fresh chopped parsley

1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Here is how you do it:

In a large pot, bring six quarts of water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook to tender - crisp, about 2 1/2 minutes.

Take asparagus out of water and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking, set aside.

Return pot to stove and water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions in the asparagus water.

In a large skillet, set over low heat, combine butter, garlic, cream and chicken stock. Stir in salt, pepper, lemon zest, and juice. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add chicken, cheese and drained pasta.

Cut cooked asparagus into bite size pieces on a diagonal. Add asparagus and parsley to the pasta and toss all ingredients together.

Turn off heat and let pasta sit to allow the sauce to thicken and all ingredients to heat through.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with Parmesan cheese on the top.

Power of Positive Thinking

A week ago I took my Nine West Sunglasses to our great Dr. Stacy Rencher. I really wanted my prescription in my sunglasses. Dr. Rencher said maybe ~ maybe! The lens is big, curved, could easily pop out of the frame.....etc. So I said, "Hey, make it a challenge!"

Lookie, lookie, I have prescription Nine West Sunglasses! Just for the day that the magnificent sun made a powerful appearance.

Oh I am so happy!

Phenomenon

OMG! I awoke this morning to a truly unusual sight. There is this giant blistering orb of fire, in the sky. For the life of me, I can’t figure out what it is, but it warms my skin and hurts my eyes. So I’m really hoping that if it stays around for awhile my new shades will be ready today….I’ll check that out today too. After taking in a few minutes of this glorious view, quickly snapping a picture, I thought I better do to my research this morning and see if I can possibly figure out what this unidentified thing might be.
So I do the http://www.ask.com/ thing and ………there you go……. the answer is…..it’s the SUN!!
The magnificent, sacred Sun!
I’m sure that is something very familiar to my friends who are already enjoying the Baseball Season in Florida, Arizona, and California…..but it certainly hasn’t been a part of my world for hmmmm 6 months???? The birds at the aviary in my backyard were out in full force. Maybe the little hummers will join us soon. I can’t begin to tell you how very grateful I am for this phenomenon. I will find every excuse I can to be outside the entire day soaking up the fabulous rays.

I'm either an ADD Adult or Compulsive

Today is another fine SPRING DAY....Not...the wind is blowing, it has rained, and the sky is gray! So I decided it was soup for dinner. Off to the store for a few ingredients I don't have in the pantry. And to my wondering eyes - what should appear but this great looking Sago Palm - This handsome evergreen plant is neither a palm as it is often referred to as "Sago Palm" or fern, but is a primitive, cone-bearing plant that is related to conifers and requires both female and male plants to produce seed. The nice lady at the store said they are very easy to keep alive. I had to have it! It's now in my beautiful office, where I will enjoy it's aliveness.


But this is what I really went to the store for! Homemade Tomato Soup.......oh it smells so delicious I can hardly wait for dinner time. (In fact, I didn't wait...had a few little tastes while putting it all together.)

And this is what was also on special at the store today (not on the shopping list)..... $5.98 a case for these sumptuous looking strawberries. I also bought an Angel Food Cake, just in case I needed a few more carbs today!

Come on over if you can stand to get out in the rain, and join us for dinner.

The Comment Bug

Oh how I wish everyone was in tune with "A NEW EARTH", but like Eckhart has said, "Not everyone is ready."

OBVIOUSLY!

Some SLIM BALL posted a SPAM AD/VIRUS under the Comments section of my blog site! No, not just once, but twice, yes three times and more. What happened is when I went to read the comment a dialog box popped up to warn me that there was a virus that would cause my system to crash. Then it said that in order to remove this threat, I needed to download some software called XP Anti-Virus 2008.

BUT THIS XP ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE IS ACTUALLY A VIRUS!Fortunately this virus did not do any harm and I was able to delete it with some of my own anti-virus software.

This was so upsetting that I actually stopped blogging for almost a full month. I have now gone private on my comment sections. I so love to hear from kind, wonderful people, but slim balls are not allowed in my world!

ANY TYPE OF SPAM AND/OR VIRUS IS ILLEGAL AND WILL BE REPORTED TO BLOG SPOT.COM. THIS TYPE OF THING IS UNACCEPTABLE AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED ON MY WEBSITE! I AM POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO WARN OTHERS ABOUT THIS.

Unfortunately for me, I had some very nice comments from 3 of my friends this morning and I quickly hit the delete key for them, thinking or not thinking I was on the publish key. I was able to go back and read your nice thoughts, but they are now lost in space.

My Friend is Getting Married

Lynette and Gary are going to be married in June. Hooray! Gary is one lucky guy because my friend Lynette is: an angel, with sparkling brown eyes, and a figure like a fairy. We are all so jealous of that figure! Just look how darling she is.

I am so happy for the two of you. Life is going to be great. For sure my favorite wedding for 2008!

Willow Tree

In the backyard of my parent's home stands this majestic willow tree. I don't know that my mom would think of it as majestic, but it certainly defines their backyard. I remember being with my friends and swinging from the branches many days. Then my own children had their time to swing from it's branches. Now my grandchildren are enjoying the same old tree.

Once again I can't take credit for this picture, thanks again J for uploading all these fantastic shots.

This tree certainly gives off an energy that is uplifting. I love the inspiration that surrounds it.

Extra Hour of Sunlight

Time to Spring the clocks forward. What do you think? Here is my list of pros and cons. Add a few of yours if you care to comment.

Pros:

1. I know it is almost opening day for baseball.

2. It was established in 1916 for some war effort, and now it is a law, and I do follow laws and rules...but, hasn't that long since passed?

3. I know it is almost opening day for baseball.

4. Summer is coming soon.

5. Baseball spring training is here!

6. The sun is beautiful.....look at that ray of sunshine today.

7. A trip to spring training is sounding good.

8. I can actually walk without freezing my tush off!

9. Did I say it is almost opening day for baseball?

10. Only 20 days to opening day of BASEBALL!

Cons:

1. Less sleep

2. Less time to get ready for work....really!

3. Less sleep

4. It is dark in the morning.....really!

5. Less sleep

6. Giving up an hour of sleep is hard on my body.....Really!

7. DID I SAY LESS SLEEP.

8. Naturally your body wants to go to sleep when the sun goes down and wake up to it. On daylight savings time you do neither.

9. Life is always an adjustment to circumstances...why do we have to add one more?

10. I'm sure my kids (although they love to sleep) and grandkids (they never sleep) manage just fine, but I am an old lady and I kind of like the idiom: "Early to bed, early to rise, makes this girl healthy, wealthy and wise!"

My Neighborhood Was FLOCKED

What a beautiful Sunday Morning. Look at the blue, blue sky and the perfectly flocked trees.
Here is a look at the neighborhood street. It was breathtaking to see the sky so blue and the trees so white with fresh snow.

The first thing I thought of was my dad with the vacuum out in the front yard flocking our Christmas Tree. Oh it was an experience to remember! One particular year I remember the bag of flocking went sailing down the road because Dad was sick and tired of the vacuum plugging up. Trying to fool Mother Nature....was not easy back then.

Today We Celebrated Dr. Seuss Day!

We always celebrate Dr. Seuss birthday in March. This is a copy of the page we put in our portfolio this year. Each student got to wear the HAT

Smiled big because of that.

TO DR. SEUSS Theodore Geissel,

friend of my youth provider of wisdom,

laughter and truth

Yertle the Turtle,

the Cat in the Hat

The Grinch and the Lorax

and creatures like that

all taught me lessons

I'll never forget and I thank the good doc

I ain't forgotten them yet

Strangely named felines and odd colored fishes

If I ran the circus and other fun wishes

they led me to wonder about what I would be

when I got much older like a hundred and three

Would I ever like Green Eggs and Ham

Would I ever dislike that Sam I Am?

I found that the world was a funnier place

And his stories put many a smile on my face

And now I'm grown up and have kids of my own

and I read the good doc when I have them at home

and pass on the lessons I learned at his knee

though I'm not that much older just thirty and three.

A friend sent this poem to me in an e-mail...I don't know who to give credit! Some people are just so darn creative.

Copper Bell Rain Chain

After the movie Nina wanted to drive by a new store Homebase. We did a track race through the place, it had some amazing ideas! The picture above was one of my favorites, so I came home did a little research here is what I found:

Copper Bells Rain Chain

Rain chains ('kusari doi' in Japanese) are hung from the corners of your roof, attached to the gutter system to guide the flow of water gently to the ground; they have been used in Japan for hundreds of years.

Years ago, people used rain chains to guide the water into large barrels to catch the water from the roof for household purposes and gardening. Rain chains are a beautiful alternative to traditional downspouts. They guide water visibly downward to the ground.

This is known as an "open" waterflow system. Rain chains also sound great! Using our gutter attachment piece, rain chains are easily installed for an efficient and beautiful waterflow system.
These exclusively designed, pure copper bell cups are breathtaking! They feature a folded lip at the top and hand hammered accents.

Saturday Girls Trip

Spending time with friends is always a great way to avoid the "Winter Blues". Today was one of those lucky days in my life when I got to spend time in the company of three very close friends. These great ladies always provide me with a uplifted energy and renewed spirit.

I am very passionate about food, I am not a connoiseur in any form but I do enjoy a good meal. Fine dining would always be my choice and exactly my cup of tea. We had lunch at "The Garden Restaurant" in Salt Lake City....what a view and yes the food was fabulous. Look at those beautiful smiles. I have been blessed with some really good friends throughout my life. I am very happy to have these 3 in my life today. Where would I be without their understand hearts, gentle words of encouragement, and simply always being there.....day or night!

After lunch we saw the movie "Bonneville".....did they get the title from the Salt Flats?

We all enjoyed the experience, maybe we connected with one of the characters, or maybe it is just our age. The story is about a recently widowed Arvilla ( Jessica Lang ~ maybe Nina and LeAnn), who is accompanied by her friends Margene (maybe Nancy) and Carol (of course Lynette), on a trip from Pocatello to Santa Barbara. Arvilla takes her husband Joe's vintage Bonneville and heads towards Santa Barbara to deliver Joe's ashes to his recentful daughter, Francine. En route, however, a series of offbeat adventures leads the women on a journey that will change their lives and show them there is more than one way to keep a promise. Her friends, life-of-the-party Margene and goody-two-shoes Carol, volunteer to go with her for moral support. Expecting to fly, they're surprised when Arvilla picks them up in her '66 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, and shocked when she cruises serenely past the airport and hijacks them on a reluctant road trip that becomes the ride of their lives.

The movies theme of warm hearted friendship, self-discovery, and the memories that make life worth living is what we are all seeking.

I have been extremely lucky and truly blessed indeed to have these women in my life. Thanks girlfriends for your gift of friendship. I'll do a road trip with you any day!

Book Club February 2008

I've Been Tagged

Tag! I'm It.
I have been tagged by Nancy:

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning

B: Each player answers the questions about themselves

C: At the end of the post, the player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

10 Years ago today...I was happily waiting for Spring Training to Start. I was on my way to Phoenix to watch the Brewers play. I of course was teaching 3rd grade at West Clinton Elementary. I was also thinking about my 30th year class reunion. I was 10 pounds thinner.....and I'm working losing that so I can be awesome at my 40th year reunion.

I Enjoy: Cooking, reading, spending time with my family. I must have 100 cook books, and I don't dare admit how many other books I have in my home. If you have been there you know what my library looks like. I belong to a bookclub that has really made a difference in my life. My family is my first love. I know that I bug them all the time, because I talk to all of them at least once a day....sometimes 2 or 3 times a day.

What would I do if I was suddenly a billionaire. I'm sure I would see that my family was debt free.... then I would buy a Bed & Breakfast (hire Jason and Nancy) and enjoy being the Hostest with the MostessT I would travel to Italy, and learn the language.

3 of my bad habits: This is not a fun question....

#1. I eat to much. Most of my life I have been very slim...now I just eat to much.

#2. I use shopping as RETAIL THERAPY. I own to many shoes...is that possible?

#3. I do laundry only when I have to...or when I'm tempted to buy more socks!

5 places I have lived:

Spanish Fork, Utah

Provo, Utah

Orem, Utah

Kaysville, Utah

Clearfield, Utah

5 Jobs that I have had:

I worked for my parent's at their Hallmark Bookstore. GIFT FAIR

Geneva Steel as a clerk

Selective Service as a Draft Board Secretary

Mountain Bell ......as a order clerk

Teaching.......2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade......this is year number 29

5 things people don't know about me:

I pretty much can't answer this question, because then everyone would know 5 more things they probably don't want to know about me. Okay - I'll keep it generic

1. I'm compeitive

2. I'm spoiled (just a little bit)

3. I don't make public speeches.....I'm way to nervous to stand in front of a group of adults.

4. I avoid situations that are confrontational.

5. I am a Morning Person... I love watching the sunrise.

Tag your It.... Jason, Robyn, and Jayedee

Weekend Breakfasts

Breakfast Sausage EnchiladasIngredients:
2 lb browned breakfast sausage

1/2 cup green onions chopped

1/2 cup green peppers chopped

2 1/2 cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese

(There will be left over sausage mixture. I use it the next night on baked potatoes.)

10 flour tortillas

4 eggs beaten

2 cups half and half

1 tablespoon flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

4 drops Tabasco sauce

Sour Cream ~ Salsa ~Guacamole
Directions:Cook sausage. Add green onions, green peppers and cheddar cheese in a bowl. Divide into tortillas and roll then place seam sides down in greased rectangular baking dish. Combine beaten eggs, half and half, flour. salt, garlic powder and Tabasco.

Pour egg mixture over tortillas then cover with foil.

Refrigerate overnight.

Bring out of fridge 30 minutes before you start to cook.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. (I bake mine in a roaster oven)Remove foil during the last 10 minutes of baking. Serve with sour cream, salsa and guacamole

Here is our breakfast buffet, with fruit, drinks and Peach Pancake Breakfast! It was delicious. There were no left overs this morning. We have decided to try this recipe with Mango, adding a little cinnamon and nutmeg to the batter.

Peach Pancake Breakfast

Make Bisquick batter with 2 1/2 cups pancake mix, using only 1 cup of milk. Pour into greased 9 X 13 cake pan.

Drain 1 (16 oz) can sliced/diced peaches; arrange peaches on top of pancake batter.

Cook link sausages cut into bite size pieces; arrange on top of batter with peaches.

Bake 30 – 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

SYRUP:

1 c. peach juice
½ c. sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons butter
¾ c maple flavored syrup

Mix together peach juice, sugar, and cornstarch. Cook until clear and thickened (stirring constantly). Add 2 tablespoons butter and ¾ c maple syrup.

Serve syrup warm.

So, I think I was Snowed In! Look at this

Here comes Halie! Her dad used to make a huge pile of snow in the corner of our front yard. Every winter that we had enough snow, he would pile it, pile it, pile it, until the bushes underneath needed a year to recover. The neighborhood kids would come with their plastic sleds and away they would go. Looks like he is continuing the tradition.

Snowed In at Hayhurst B & B