Microburst

This afternoon we had a microburst.  It is a rare, small, yet very intense downdraft with lots of damaging wind and rain.

These are pictures of what it looks like and what happens.  From what they said on the news, it is like the opposite of a tornado.

Fortunately, we did not have any damage.  We did have to run around and close up all our windows and doors because the way the wind blew at 60 miles per hour while raining, the water just poured in and soaked everything near anything that was open. 

On the news tonight, they showed some of the damage.  One place was at BYU.  The winds were so bad that they snapped trees and such.  One tree broke and fell on a girl who was attending the gymnastics camp.  It knocked her on the head and shoulders.  She collapsed.  Christine saw it!  It was right outside the Cannon Center.  She watched all the rescue people tend to the girl and take her to the hospital in the ambulance.  She saw Jenni Meredith there and came to find out that the girl that got hurt was Jenni's roommate at the camp.  Thank goodness she was treated and released later this evening.

But look at how beautiful the sunset was tonight.  While we were washing dishes this is what we looked at.  The quiet evening shadows.

All that water makes for pretty green and lush surroundings.

Razzleberry Pie

This isn't my picture, I got it off the internet because I didn't take any of my pie, but you can see how delicious it looks!

Ingredients

--2 unbaked pie crusts OR 1 box of ready-made pie crusts with 2 crusts. The Pillsbury ready-made pie crust in red box are pretty good if you're not going to make your own.
--12 oz. or 1 1/2 cups of fresh raspberries in season OR 1 12-16 oz. bag of frozen raspberries 
--12 oz. or 1 1/2 cups of fresh blackberries in season OR 1 12-16 oz. bag of frozen blackberries
--1/3-1/2 cup sugar
--2 1/2 Tablespoons flour
--Pam spray

Directions
1. Thaw fruit almost completely and pour in colander to strain juice, if using frozen berries.
2. In large bowl, mix fruit, sugar and flour together. Line bottom of greased pie plate/tin with crust. Fill with fruit.
3. Lay top crust over fruit, moisten edges with water to "glue" the two crusts together. Seal by fluting, pinching, or press with fork.
4. Gently cut slits to vent while baking. Lightly brush top crust with milk.
5. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon sugar evenly over the top.
6. Cover edges with 1 1/2" strip of aluminum foil.
7. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.
8. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until crust is golden brown.
9.  Cool for 1-2 hours.  This will help that it doesn't fall apart when you cut it.

Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

OR go to the grocery store and buy a frozen Marie Callender's razzleberry pie.  They are pretty dang good too!

Tree Whisperer

Duff went to SLC early morning for some business meetings.  On the way back he decided to stop in at a little hole-in-the-wall place for a late breakfast/brunch.  Surprise:  his sister Jan and her kids were there too having a summer vacation breakfast!  They called Ann and she came over, and after went to Jan's house (which is right around the corner) and Jack came up.  They all had a good visit.  How fun is that?!

Meanwhile, Shaun worked on homework, and I started some laundry and did my thing as the Tree Whisperer.  Haha.  My family teases me because when I am here I talk to the trees.  They had been neglected when we bought this place and I decided they needed some love.  So I encourage and compliment them every time we come.  I fertilize and water.  And I'm happy to report they are doing well.  Lots of new healthy growth in the last 4 years.  When you drive up and come to the crest of the one hill on the way here, you can see our place and now you notice the big tall stately pines framing the front instead of these sickly sticks.  I know it sounds weird, but they are happy.

We had the most beautiful summer storm this afternoon. A little bit of thunder and lightening, but quite a bit of rain.  OH.  The aroma of summer rain on the dirt, the sagebrush, and the pavement! It is almost intoxicating. We just drank it all in.  Chris texted us and they were having some showers in Provo which cooled things down considerably on the fields.  It was welcome to the players.

Other than that:  not much else is going on.  I'm doing handwork, taking some summer walks, reading, and enjoying every second of not being committed to a schedule.  I took all the leftovers from Sunday's dinner and made a Shepherd's Pie for dinner and a Razzleberry Pie for dessert.  Summer raspberries and blackberries together.  Yum. Yum. especially with a scoop of vanilla bean ice-cream melting on top of the warm pie....

Mountain Monday

Kam called early.  He is one of the greatest guys.  Part of our 'maintenance group' here.  I don't know that I like that term, necessarily, because he and Nancee feel more like family and are dear, dear friends since we have had the cabin.  They watch out and take care of all the things we need to have done when we are here and when we aren't.  His crew was coming to clear the scrub oak.  That dastardly stuff that is so beautiful and yet so harmful in the mountains.  With the wet spring it has multiplied and taken off and is quite the fire hazard.  They are working on a good 30 foot buffer all the way around.  And making sure it isn't choking the groves of volunteer Maple trees we are nurturing.  Maple trees are so amazingly beautiful in each season.  But in the fall, they are the ones that offer up that gorgeous red autumn color.  When we first bought Cougarhaven, we didn't even know we had these 'little groves' of them because they were so overgrown with the scrub oak.  It was a precious find.

Christine was all packed up and we headed for Provo.  We have never done a sports camp before here.  We saw and learned a lot.  She is nervous not going with anyone she knows, even though when we signed her up for it that didn't seem to bother her then.  She will figure it out.  She's good at that.  And it will make her stronger.

Duff and I ran some errands while we were down the canyon.  I needed some supplies from Joanne's--thread and a cutting mat--dropped off Shaun's fall apartment contract, and headed for Costco for some bulk items like toilet paper and trash bags.  They carry dress shirts right now.  I've been buying men's dress shirts for 30+ years and these are really nice and at a Costco price.  I picked up a new one for Shaun and Duff got a couple tshirts.  I decided on the new book out about Porter Rockwell.  He has always fascinated me.  It will be a good one to read on the porch or deck.

While we were gone, Shaun went for his daily walk and didn't want to leave Darla alone.  Well, little Darla isn't used to walking up and down hills in the heat and altitude for several miles.  So he had to carry her home, where she gulped water forever and parked herself on the bean bag in the great room for the rest of the day.  Pampered pooch.

Sunday Etc.

There is something about the doing of it.  Going to church.  I've been thinking about that lately.  The getting ready.  The routine.  Knowing that that's a part of our week.  Our life.  Presenting our best self, however flawed, on the Sabbath.  Freshly showered, clean best clothes.  Hair and makeup done.  Christine forgot her church clothes.  So, of course being a teenage girl, didn't want to go.  It began the familiar conversation of, "We're on vacation..."  Well...vacation might mean a break from all other things, just not the Lord.  Anyway, once you get there you are always glad you did.  She made her plea again this morning.  We got ready and there she was, ready to go with us when we left.  She went up to Nats closet and found a skirt of hers that she could make-do with very cleverly.  Good thinking, Chris!

Home and put the rolls out and the roast in the oven.  By the time Shaun got back from the singles ward, it was smelling pretty dang good around these parts.

We continued on with our Anne of Green Gables marathon.  We were determined to watch all of them.  I was choked up when Anne finally finds Gilbert in Europe when the war ended.  I mean, what a love story for goodness sake!  Chris was making fun of me until she confessed that she too had a big lump in her throat when they hugged and kissed after being apart and not knowing if each other was dead.

Tomorrow is camp and she is nervous.

Getting Lost In The Day

We slept in.  The quiet stillness of the mountains.  The smell of the pines, sagebrush. Chirping birds.

We ate a simple breakfast in shifts.  Whenever we felt like it.  Watched the world cup.  Were still in our pajamas at 3pm.  Decided we should get dressed and go down to The Store for a few grocery items.  Christine and Duff volunteered to do the marketing while I finished unpacking and getting things organized for our stay.  As all new drivers, Chris is creating opportunities to drive! 

Finished Whitney's baby blanket set.  It turned out darling.  Started Bethany's.  I've really enjoyed finding creative ways to do the handwork.  Whit's set has cars so I did an edging that was round like the wheels.  Bethany's has stars so I'm doing an edge with points like those on stars.

Late afternoon, Christine and I decided we needed to do an Anne of Green Gables marathon.  Those are just some of the best classics ever.  We can quote them and still find ourselves laughing and crying in all the same places and surprisingly some new ones too.  The two of us comfy on the couch getting lost in Avonlea again. Good times. Shaun came down from the office loft and commented that it was almost 'sacriligeous' to be watching this without Natalie.

Long Drive

Not quite the drive from you-know-where (that will forever be the one where it took 8 hours from Vegas to home and I wasn't even on that one but everyone else was.  I stayed a couple more days with my parents and flew home.  They will never let me forget it), but a close runner up.

Got to St.George fine.  It was Christine's turn to drive.  The new permit is burning to be used....Merged onto the freeway just fine.  We get to Washington, and it is worse bumper to bumper traffic than LA.  It took us 2 /12 hours to go 15 miles.  No accident or anything.  Just ill-timed road construction and the frontage road and a back road all trying to merge onto the interstate with all the rest of us down to one lane.  Cars and trucks were pulling over left and right overheating.  Steam coming out of raised hoods.  Police cars zig-zagging their way in and out trying to get to them.

Christine got some really good experience.  Stop and go.  Practice easing the gas pedal instead of jack-rabbit starts.  Passing semi-trucks.  Lane changes.  Merging.  Then it finally eased up and we headed on in to Cedar City to stop and cool off.  Got a Blizzard at DQ.  Darla stretched her legs as well.  We all needed a break.

Midway is gorgeously green right now.  And that's just in the dark.  Can't wait to see it in the morning.  Duff has climbed into bed, but Chris and I are watching a special about Michael Jackson.  Today is the one year anniversary of his death.  One of the radio stations we listened to on the way up devoted all their sets to his music.  He was a great musician.  Shaun is doing well, and had a good first week of school.  He has been working on all of the computers updating, etc.  That will be so nice to have done.

She Got Her Permit!

Yes, she did!

Only missed 2.

On the first day that we could actually sleep in, we were up early so we could be at the DMV in San Clemente when they opened.  We didn't have an appointment, which they recommend, because the earliest one wasn't until the middle of July.  She didn't want to wait that long.

Fortunately, the line wasn't too bad and we only had to wait about an hour total.  They have improved the system down there a lot since the last time we went.

She was really nervous.  Especially when the two boys before her failed.  I had my camera to take a picture, but didn't dare have it out in case the news wasn't good.  BUT, now I wished I would have because the look on her face was priceless!  That total look of surprise, joy, relief.  She turned around to us and carefully motioned for us to come up to the counter.  The worker was so nice.  Very happy for her and treated her really well.  Some dmv employees can be so impersonal.

She couldn't drive home because her behind the wheel instructor had to come and sign her permit.  So we called on the way home and Yvette worked her schedule out to come over around lunch time.  I was out working in the garden and Christine came skipping out with her gold completion paper in tact and all the signatures.  Guess what we did next?

Yep.  We went to Target to get a few things she needed to pack for Lacrosse Camp next week.  She did really well.  Although she did notice I grabbed the door handle tightly on a few turns.  But I didn't say anything.  Then we went to the cleaners to pick up the girl's wedding gowns and blessing blankets that I had cleaned and preserved.  She drove to the MiaMaid sleepover to celebrate the end of the school year.  She is on her way to her 50 hours of required time before her licence.

CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTINE!

(Jenny's scans all came back that the cancer is gone.  Everyone is so grateful for our prayers answered in her behalf.)

Last Day Of School

Today was the last day of school.

Christine is now officially a 10th grader.  Sophomore.

Wait.  Wasn't I just a sophomore? 

I do remember....!  Fun time in life.  Chris had a good year.  Adjusted to high school well.  Learned a lot academically and life lessons.

The girls decided to celebrate by going to the movies after dinner.

They spent the afternoon watching Toy Story 1 and 2 to be caught up, and then saw #3 at the theater.

Sarah's mom came to pick her up late tonight.  I wasn't prepared to see her bald.  She is fighting cancer.  She has been in the hospital a lot and we've had Sarah quite a bit of the time here and/or running her to where she needs to be.  Jenny had her next round of scans today.  We are all hoping for a good report tomorrow!

I W.O.N.!!!

I won a drawing! A random drawing contest from Pine Needles.  Pine Needles is one of my favorite sewing, needlework, quilting stores.  I love to go when I'm in Utah and I order on-line when I can't.  It is quaint and cute and the gals in the shop are fun and know their stuff and are always willing to help and answer questions.

See?  Doesn't it just look inviting?  Right in front of the shop is the stream with ducks.  Very picturesque.

I left a comment on the post and won the drawing.  I was #7, and I get this charming Laundry Day quilt book.  It is one of Sandy's latest creations.

I'm sooooo excited!  I can't believe I won!

YAY!

I'm excited to try my hand at this and know exactly where I will hang it.

Right now, I have to finish the 'brick' quilt I'm starting for fall.  I'll show you when I'm done.

A Really Neat Experience To Start The Day

We went to the temple early this morning.  It looked just like this picture with the fog (marine layer).  So pretty and welcoming from the cold morning outside.
Duff woke up at 3am.  He'd been having dreams about the temple.  Then remembered we had an assignment to do sealings today.  This morning.  I'm like, what?  My whole day is planned.  It would have been nice to know that detail.
I crossed things off my morning list of to-do's.
We were the only couple there for sealings.  A Brother Clark, who we did not know, got up this morning and said to himself that he needed to bring family names to the temple this morning to be sealed.  He usually does an early endowment session.  But felt strongly to bring his family names this particular morning.
He and the sealer were waiting for us as we walked in.
They found another brother to witness, and Brother Clark and I were proxy for his relatives.  They were all from Germany.  I felt a connection because of my heritage.  During one of the sealings--the Sister's name was Anna Margaretta--I had a very spiritual experience.  I saw she and her husband together crying and hugging as the sealer said Amen.
It was very real.  They were happy and had a sense of relief.  I don't think I will ever forget that.  Why did Duff dream all night about the temple?  Why was it so easy to clear my list? Why did Brother Clark break with his weekly endowment session?  Because it was Anna Margaretta and her husband's day.  Finally.

Chocolate Eclair Cake

This is one of my husband's absolute favorite desserts. My mother-in-law loved it too, and every time she brought it to an event came home with an empty pan.

It is an eclair/cream puff shortcut.

Meredith dropped by yesterday to bring Christine's bike back and brought Kristen and Logan with her specifically so they could have a piece and taste it.  She thinks I should make it more often.  I guess maybe I should!  It is so quick and easy.  Delicious too.  They asked for the recipe and I told them I'd email it, but then they said to just put it on the blog.

I got the recipe from Kim Ridge, a neighbor of ours when we lived in Orem about 30 years ago. You know it's a good one if you still make it after 30 years.

Chocolate Eclair Cake

1 box graham crackers

2 large packages instant vanilla pudding

6 cups milk

1 small tub cool whip

1 can Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge frosting

1.  In a large bowl, combine milk and both packages of pudding together and mix on low with a mixer for 3 minutes.  Set aside to thicken and set. 

2.  Fold the small tub of cool whip into pudding.

3.  Line the bottom of a 9 X 13 inch pan with graham cracker squares/rectangles. Pour 1/2 of the pudding/cool whip mixture over the graham crackers.

4.  Place another layer of graham crackers on top of the pudding layer.  There will be a few spaces on the sides and at the top that you might need to add a 'sliced' cracker to.  Put your craham cracker on a cutting board and with a serrated knife, softly and carefully with a sawing motion cut through the cracker to the size you need.  Don't be scared:  it is really easy!

5.  Pour remaining pudding mixture on top.

6.  Add another layer of graham crackers as in step #4.

7.  Refrigerate at least overnight but it is best at 24 hours. (or made 1st thing in the morning for that night.  You get the idea.)

8.  A couple of hours before serving:  take foil off of frosting.  Place in microwave for about 10-15 seconds to soften slightly.  This does 2 things:  makes it easy to spread and gives it a pretty shiny sheen.  Pour over top layer of graham crackers and frost until smooth. Put it back in the refrigerator.

Cut in squares to serve.  It is easier to use a medium to regular size spatula to serve and slide off with a table knife.

Just remember, the longer it chills the better it is!

6/21

Today is the 21st.  It is the first day of summer, officially.  The weather has been perfect these days.  You can't beat 73 and sunny with gentle breeze.

Today is the 21st.  John is 7 months old today.  He has 2 teeth, is crawling completely, loves to get under every table and chair he can find.  He pulls himself up on everything.  He loves to 'talk'.  He likes to pound on things and here himself make noise.  He is a great sleeper and napper.  He is good natured and happy.  He has discovered arrowroot cookies and loves them.

Today is the 21st.  Two more days until school is out.

Today is the 21st.  Monday.  That means laundry.  That means picking up from the weekend.  I got Shaun's room all cleaned out and up and gone through and ready for his next visit home.  Clean sheets on the other beds.  Washed all the towels and the bevy of pool/beach towels hanging on the hooks outside in the garage.  That sure has helped not having large wet towels in the house on the laundry room floor constantly.  I got all the things that belong downstairs down and upstairs up.  Isn't it crazy how they make their way from place to place?  I got all the shredding done that has been waiting for me.

Today is the 21st.  That means June is almost over.  Where did it go so quickly?

Banana Bread

This is all that is left.
It goes fast in our house.
Adrianne came home from work today and used up the over-ripe bananas and made a loaf of moist luscious goodness.  I walked in the kitchen and she was underway at the mixer.  Here is her recipe.  It is from Paula Deen Kitchen Classics cookbook:

1 stick butter at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 ripe bananas, mashed

Preheat oven to 350*.  Grease a 9 X 5 inch loaf pan.  In a mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugar; mix well.  Add the salt, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, and bananas, and mix well.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes.

You can use a mixer if you want, but this recipe is so simple and straightforward you can just mix it in a bowl by hand too.

Our Dad Is A&W esome!

We had a great day today.

Really good church meetings to begin with.

We didn't do breakfast in bed this year.  With the early block and no little kids anymore, we all valued our sleep.

Everyone was here for dinner.

With kids-in-law now, we do Father's Day either on the Saturday night before or on the Sunday every other year.  Last year was our year for Saturday night, so this year we got Sunday.

We had bbq rib eye steaks, baked potatoes, mushroom gravy, fresh green beans from the garden with garlic and some kosher salt and pepper, corn, salad, and Chocolate Eclair Cake.  This is one of Duff's favorite desserts, and he asks for it every Father's Day.

Christine and I gave him 2 aprons.  He has wanted some for when he grills, and for when he helps cook in the kitchen.  He was really excited about them. They now proudly hang on the pantry door hook with mine. (I have always loved a good apron!)

Mike, Adrianne, Josh, and Meredith gave him root beer for the floats that he loves, and one of his all-time favorite candies:  chocolate covered raisins.  And a pair of topsider tan and blue denim shoes to wear on the boat when they work out there.  He loves them.

Adrianne embroidered a hanky with Team Charlie on it looking forward to Eclipse coming out.  Duff has read all the books at the girls' request and has seen all the movies with them.

At church,  they handed out peanut butter thumbprint cookies with a chocolate kiss in the middle by the YW, along with ties made by the primary children.  Really cute, and really delicious.

Here is the fun poem:

"Daddies are the greatest guys,

They're sweet and fun and tender

But there's one thing they can't resist,

It's common to their gender.

When they come home from work at night

One thing they love is this:

A cookie and a glass of milk,

A big hug and a kiss!

So one this special father's day,

We've made a treat to share.

A cookie with a kiss on top,

And handsome ties to wear!!!"

Our day was sweet and good. After we ate, Duff told us something he had thought about during church about his dad, John Leon.  When he was young and had the chicken pox, he was tired of laying in bed, but too sick to really get up and do much.  One night after work, his dad came downstairs and brought him the book Treasure Island.  Duff didn't want to read it--he thought it was a book for little kids, and promptly told his dad, No.  To which his dad told him of his love for reading and that he wanted Don to develop one too.  That it would serve him well the rest of his life.  He promised he would give it a shot.  The story was so fascinating that he finished the book in 2 days and asked for another.  His dad just smiled and brought him Tom Sawyer.  He devoured it, and it began his journey with reading.  His dad loved Reader's Digest and read them each month cover to cover.

So, then he had us go around the table and asked each one of us to tell something about our father's that taught us something or that we were grateful for their example.  It didn't have to be anything big or profound, just a little something.

Mike:  How much it meant to him to have his dad with him on his very first scout camp.  He was fun, cool, and they had a good time together.  He saw him really interact with others and how he treated and helped the kids and other adults.

Adrianne:  How her dad taught her about a love for the earth.  He taught her how to scuba dive and she was always his diving buddy.  She doesn't feel safe if he's not with her when she dives.

Josh:  When we went to get all the things he needed for his mission and saw the bill. The cost didn't matter because it was for the Lord, and Duff just handed the clerk the credit card.  He really felt like his dad believed in him that this young kid would go out and do his best.  And he still feels that now, that no matter what he chooses to do, his dad believes in him.

Meredith:  How important family is.  He loves to vacation with his family.  Get away and go make some memories.

Me:  I grew up poor, but didn't really realize it.  I didn't know any different at the time.  My dad taught me to work hard.  He always worked hard.  He was not an educated man--by the world's standards--but he worked hard and wasn't afraid to try something new.  He sometimes worked two and three jobs to keep my mom at home and make ends meet.  He'd go to his main job, then home to change clothes, eat, and then go to the corner gas station to pump gas, change oil and work on cars until closing.  We were usually in bed by the time he got home.  I remember hanging on his legs at the front door and crying, 'please don't go daddy!', and he would peel us off of him and leave because he had to.  Now, as a parent myself, I realize how hard that must have been.  Then on Saturdays he landscaped houses. We used to like to go by the finished ones and see how nice they turned out.  He loved photography and fishing and had some really good quality equipment that he got when he was stationed in Japan during the Korean War.  I remember he and my mom having quiet discussions in the bedroom and then seeing him leave the house with his hobby items to go pawn them.  He never did buy them back.

Christine:  One time I was out of town, and she needed help and her dad asked if she would like a blessing.  She did.  She was comforted and figured out what to do.  She knows she can always go to him and is grateful he holds the priesthood.

We missed Shaun and Natalie and Robert and John Owen!

Love you guys--

Father's Day

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

We hope you all have a nice day with those you love.

'Wild-cat' ?

Shaun got to Midway safely yesterday.  It was a good drive and he and Bryce had a nice road trip.  He reports that it is green and beautiful and very different than when we were there in April when winter was trying it's best to linger.

It is finals week for Christine, so yesterday began what has been known in our house as finals weekend.  Study, study, study.  I took her for the traditional 'break' to Panda for some lunch.  Then she hit the books again.  Josh and Meredith were back and forth during the day and night.  Adrianne was on her computer almost all day long (!) doing things for everyone else.  She and Mere helped Chris with an English project for her accelerated class, then put together a dvd for father's day for Meredith's dad.  It turned out really nice.  He will love it.  I need computer lessons from Adrianne.  She loves her MAC laptop.  I'm learning how different they are from other pc's.  She is really talented on it.  She has and knows how to use all these programs to make amazing things.  My little computer world is so limited.

We seem to have a stray cat that has adopted our yard.  I have noticed some 'signs' that something like a cat has been in the back, and saw evidence of it in our garden, but couldn't quite wrap my arms around that because cats don't make it outside here.  The coyotes, bobcats, etc. grab them right away.  But it came right up to our back slider this morning.  We couldn't believe our eyes.  And it is a big gray and black thing.  Bigger than Darla.  It regarded us and when I opened the screen it went running.  Okay.  Gone, right?

No.  Later at dusk, Darla was itching to go out.  When I opened the door and she took off, this same cat came out from under the bushes along the back fence and ran, hiding by some other set of bushes.  When Darla got to it, the cat hissed and arched it's back.  Darla whimped out and ran away!!!  I went over to it and my presence didn't seem to scare it off either.  I actually had to chase it out of the yard and up and over the fence where it took refuge under Mike's car.  It looks well fed and kept.  No collar though.  We aren't necessarily cat people, so I don't know much about them.  I wonder if it belongs to someone and is lost?  Is there such a thing as a 'wild' cat?

Patriotic Banner

Yes, God Bless America!

It is that time of year when we get ready for summer and all things patriotic.

So gone are the spring bunnies and eggs, and the red, white, and blue is arriving.

Look how cute this 4th of July banner is?

I made it with some help from EmmieCakes.

Go to their site and check it out.  I found it easy to navigate and order.  Everything arrived timely and in the most organized kits ever.

Hmmm.  I feel some Christmas present ideas coming.......

(so sad.  The Celtics lost last night in the final game 7 at Staples Center.  The house was rockin' with people and bbq fixin's.  But our Laker part of the fam loved the last 2 minutes of the game.  The mixed devotion personalities flared a bit too much for my liking.  Good thing we are a family and realize sometimes we can each be a jerk and we can put it behind us and move on.  Glad we can cool off until next season...)

The End Of An Era

We heard about it.  We speculated.  And today it is official:  Utah went to the PAC-10.

It is the end of an era.  The thrill is now gone.  That decision will change the face of the state forever.  No more rivalry.  What a great move for them as a school.  More exposure, more money.  I really am happy for them for those reasons.  Every institution deserves things like that.  Seriously, I am being sincere.

But I will miss the rivalry.  People should now take down their swamp cooler covers.  It doesn't stand for anything anymore.  Some say it will still be there or might be enhanced.  Nah, it's gone.  And will be less and less over the years.  What will happen to the Beehive Boot?  So what.

I do wonder if they will get a new coach.  I mean the hypocrisy and all.  All the bad talk about the BCS, and now he's front and center in the middle of it.  Hmmmm.  I think he is still a closet BYUer and Utah is just the job that pays the bills, as evidenced by my grocery store experience.  One will do almost anything to pay the bills.  Like Duff's brother's neighbor who lived his whole life a U fan and basketball coach there until he lost his job and ended up at the Y coaching. Oh the ying and the yang.

So farewell.  I will truly miss it.  It's never been popular to have principles.

Marine Layer

The Marine Layer.

Living here, we all know what that means/is.  When the news weatherperson mentions 'marine layer' we get it.  It is a thick mass of cool, moist air that accumulates over the ocean.  It is caused by a temperature 'inversion', which means that the air close to the ground is cool and the air that comes in above it is warmer.  This warmer air presses down on the cooler air forcing it back down so it can't go anywhere.  It hovers over the horizon of the ocean waiting for the evening temperatures to cool on the land and then it drifts on in.

Foggy and often with some drizzle.

The fog can last until the middle of the day when the heat of the sun is finally warm enough to evaporate it or pushes it back out to sea.

This is what we locals call "May Gray" and "June Gloom".  Sometimes, it never warms up enough and stays that way all day during this time of year.

To illustrate:

This is about 7:30am from our backyard.

You can see the blue sky and then the thick blanket of fog.  The sun is up, the temps are getting warmer, and so it pushes the fog bank out towards the ocean again.

Now, when I went to bed last night, it was so thick you couldn't see our backyard fence when I let the dog out.

Look at the shadow of our house.  This is about 9am.  See how the 'bank' continues to move on out of there.

Aha.  You can barely see the house shadow in the very bottom left corner.  This is now around 10:30ish.  Look how the marine layer just keeps on going.

This accounts for so much of the moisture in our air.  Moisture is good!  It helps keep things green and lush, and also helps keep our skin more supple and not as dry and wrinkly as other areas with dryer air.  Now, on the other hand, when it gets really hot in the summer, oh the humidity ruins the best of hair-do's!  Like on my wedding day--May 5th--(see, May Gray.  It didn't burn off until late that afternoon, thus my hair was flat, straight and a wreck.)  Or if you have even the slightest bit of bend in your hair, it will curl and frizz up.  Christine has a little bit of natural curl.  Once when she was younger and had been at soccer practice, she came home and couldn't tame the ringlets framing her face.  So she found the scissors and cut them off!  What a surprise awaited both of us when the humidity left and the personal trim job manifested itself!

I just thought I'd share for my journal.

Tell me about where you live...

(Got some more flowers planted in the front yard, so now that is done.  I can start on the back yard next week.  Not too much to do there.  I picked off 18 cutworms from my red geraniums this morning.  Dang them.  And they are smart little buggers, changing colors to what part of the plant they have eaten: bud, flower, or leaf.  I had to look hard.  But I felt victorious as I squished them in the paper towel!  Stay away from my flowers, will ya!  Everyone was gone tonight except Adrianne and I.  We ate roast chicken dinner together and watched Wheel of Fortune.  Duff and Mike still at work, Christine at her last lacrosse practice for the season, until summer league starts, Shaun off at the movies with friends, and Josh and Mere headed for Disneyland for some dinner and a few rides after work.  There was a big snafu with Christine's yearbook over a transportation fee that we have now paid twice.  Long story, so she will get it tomorrow.  John loves the phone now and will talk to me (in his baby language) for quite some time.  It's so funny.  Just like he is having a real conversation.  I will say something and then he answers it in dadadalalala.  Then stops and waits for me to say something else and then he jabbers away again.  He won't even be 7 months until next week.  I told Nats yesterday to watch out:  he's gonna keep them hopping he is so advanced at everything.  They have nothing to compare it to since he is their first, but the things he does are very early for his age.)

Provident Living for JUNE

Fruits and veges, gang, this month.  Good too, because the local markets are having lots of sales on exactly the items called for.

I don't know about you, but the earthquake on Sunday....hummmm....3 in a week????  Let's be prepared!

Remember:  you can store it in my garage for now.  JUST GET STARTED.

Love, Mom and Dad

My Question Today Is About Worms:

I worked in the garden and the backyard today.  And did laundry.  The gardener comes on Wednesdays so I try to get my work done on Tuesdays in preparation for Miguel.  I like to get the garden weeded, tomatoes tied up, the rose bushes and geraniums deadheaded. Hand water good.  I don't care how good a sprinkler system is, there are still places in every yard that need a little hand watering TLC.

My question today is this:  How do you get rid of cut worms on geranium plants?  I get them every year at this time after a beautiful worm free spring.  I dare to say that I hate them.  Along with slugs and snails.  But right now the only effective way I have found to rid my pots of them is to go out in the early morning and hand pick them off.  Now the good part of that is being able to squish them to death (with a shoe or papertowel, NOT my hand) and know that they will never bother your blooms again, but it's getting old.  HELP!

I don't know who the Lakers played tonight, but it wasn't the Celtics.  Good Grief!  C'mon guys.  Get your head in the game!  We had Baja Fresh for dinner to support the YW camp fundraiser, and watched When In Rome.  Now that was a really cute chick flick.

Happy BDAY, Jacer

Hey, hey.  Here we are to wish you a very happy birthday, Jack.  Hope your day was filled with everything wonderful.  You are steady.  You love deeply.  You are really a 'teddy bear'!  You are a heck of a baseball player.  Thanks for always supporting us.  We appreciate it.  We send all our love for a great day!

Music Medal

Christine came home from school today with this medal.  The Music Awards were on Friday night and we didn't attend because of the wedding.  She was given the award in String Ensemble for Most Improved.  She switched from violin to cello 1/2 way through the year, so she totally deserves it.  She has worked hard at improving at the cello and has done well.

Here's the bite:

She's quitting music.  I can't believe I'm even writing this down.  On the one hand I am SICK about it.  On the other I'm OKAY.  She wants to take photography.  Photography.  I love photography.  I wish I had had opportunities in school to learn it and be good at it.  Photography is so IN right now, and cameras are so affordable and good nowadays.  How do I tell her she can't take it?  And with lacrosse as her first love, she can't do both music and photography.  I made all my points for the music choice, but it was her decision to make, and she chose photography.  So I am supporting her.  I will really miss the music around the house, but now I can get some tutoring and help with my picture taking, right?

Congrats Chris on the award.  You're awesome!

(Tonight was Taco Night and we had everyone here again.  You can't help it on Taco Night.  They are so dang good.  We gals stayed downstairs and watched the new Alice In Wonderland.  We all fell asleep.  Guess we are still tired from the wedding last week...)

Nice End To A Great Weekend.

--Church.  Good RS lesson on prayer.
--Home teaching with Duff.  He has a single sister so I am his companion.
--Pork Chops for dinner.  Shaun's request.  All kiddos over for dinner.
--Celtics/Lakers.
--Lots of extras over.  Perudo.  and more Perudo. 
--Crepes for dessert.  Thank goodness I tripled the recipe and made it earlier in the day so it could settle and chill in the fridge.  It stretched well.  We had 13 for crepes and all the dessert trimmings.  I was cranking them out left and right.....

Nice end to a great weekend.

Ten-Thirteen

We got finished cleaning up and taking down around midnight.  Then we had some car snafus and car key snafus and ended up here at home until those all got figured out and everything was found and where it should be.  By this time it was around 1am.  Christine and I needed to unwind a bit, so we parked ourselves on the family room couches.  I think Yours, Mine, and Ours was on.  The next thing I remember was that it was 3am and Dan In Real Life was playing somewhere in the middle.  I tried to wake Christine to have her go up to bed, but she wasn't budging.  I let the dog out and went upstairs and climbed into bed makeup still on.  I never go to bed with my make up on, ever! 

The next thing I remember was waking up and rolling over to look at the clock.  Ten-Thirteen.  WHAT?  I had slept that long.  I was exhausted.

I don't remember much else of the day, except that Duff went to work, I helped Adrianne with some little sewing projects for Teagan's one year old birthday party they were going to that afternoon, and I watered the garden and went to the grocery store.  Oh, and I did have to go to the church to enter all the vt stats before the Sunday morning meetings.  Everything else is a blur.  I like weddings on Fridays so you have the rest of the weekend to recover!

Megan and Dan

The happy day was finally here!

The Mr. and Mrs.

Megan and Dan

Just some of the flowers and arrangements.

Very beautiful.

The Food.

Fruits, vegetables, artisan breads by the slice, and a carving station with beef tenderloin and turkey with approriate condiments.  A chocolate fountain too!

The Cake.

Klaus from Heidelberg Bakery outdid himself again.

The Candy Station.

Candy necklaces, ring pops, gold chocolate coins, skittles (megan and dan's faves), nuggets, kisses, and of course the gummy sharks.

Guest book table, bridal portrait, and pictures.

The venue.  "X" marks the spot!

The Pirates Lair, aka, set up and decorations...

Patti had a children's room set up in the brides dressing area once the wedding party was finished getting ready.  Christine and Karley hosted activities for children.  Pretzel fish crackers, pirate coloring pages, a pirate quiz, Disney's Peter Pan movie showing, and certainly one of the favorites was the I Spy.  Each child recieved a 1/2 sheet card with different things to take a picture of with a disposable camera that they got to take home.  It was a hit!  (click to enlarge this or any of the photos)

Kristen, Megan, Meredith, Christine, Karley

The dancing has begun!

Christine and Erik.

Christine caught the bouquet.

Well, one piece of it.

SURPRISE!

The toss bouquet was made up of 6 smaller nosegays all tied together to look like a large bouquet.

When Megan threw it, she untied the ribbon first (no one noticed, she was so subtle) and it separated into all the individual ones, so most of the gals got one of them.  How cute is that?  I've never seen that before and I really loved it.

I only got the aftermath of sending the happy couple off on their honeymoon with a giant sparkler arbor because I was in the line with my own pyrotechnic.  I totally forgot that I have a fireworks setting on my camera.  It would have made these pictures so much better.

Christine and Karley gathered up all the gold coins while we were cleaning up.

They made a wish and tossed them backwards into the wishing well behind them.  I snapped some pictures. Teenage dreams......!