Annie's Feathered Nest

Status Symbol of Choice

2011-12-19T23:32:00.002-07:00

This man can change your life. He is a Christian financial advisor who believes that the paid off home mortgage replaces the BMW as the status symbol of choice. Follow Dave's simple steps and be debt free in a matter of months. He talks 3 hours on the radio, five days a week.I like his wisdom on the blessings of paying tithing which is 1/10th of your income. You tithe to make something of yourself...to mold your character. It's a "no brainer" as far as Dave is concerned.

2011-12-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

CREAMY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

4-5 frozen chicken breasts...or 1 pre-roasted chicken

6 c. water with 6 chicken bouillon cubes...or 6 c. chicken stock

full stock of chopped celery

small package of baby carrots

1 chopped onion

3 cans cream of chicken soup

2-3 c. milk....or cream:)

1 package cooked extra wide noodles

Cook the chicken with your favorite method. Boil together the next 3 ingredients until vegetables are tender. Add the soup, milk, cooked chicken. Add cooked noodles last.

Serves 8-10

I like to Sandra Lee this recipe and buy the pre-cooked chicken. It is more flavorful. If I'm not dieting, I add cream! I like 'Country Style' homemade noodles.

I don't know what exactly it is that makes this the best chicken soup you will ever eat, but trust me, it is! Thanks to Lanell Ferguson for sharing this with me over ten years ago.

Party Potatoes

2011-12-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

This recipe from my friend, Lou Stout, has been the way I make mashed potatoes with gravy. I haven't put in the bacon or cheese and baked it ,but I know that would taste great, too.

Party Potatoes:

1 five pound bag white potatoes, peeled, cut in half and boiled
1 8oz. sour cream
1/4 c. chopped chives
1/2 pint whipping cream, whipped........I use cool whip
1/2 pound bacon, fried and crumbled
1 8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 c. melted butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
salt & pepper
8 oz. grated cheese

Drain potatoes, mash. Mix with all ingredients except whipped cream, cheese and bacon. Spread in 9x13 casserole. Ice with whipped cream. Sprinkle with cheese and bacon. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. If not browned, put under broiler for a minute or two. Serves 10-12.

Creme Fraiche Mashed Potatoes from Paula Deen

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons whipping cream

3/4 sour cream

2 pounds small red potatoes

1 teaspoon salt

One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons roasted garlic (from a jar or homemade)

1 teaspoon Paula's House Seasoning

1 teaspoon Paula's Seasoned Salt

1/2 stick butter, slivered

1/4 cup sliced green onions, green and white parts

1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

1. Prepare the creme fraiche ahead of time by combining 1 cup of the whipping cream with 1/2 cup of the sour cream. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours or until thick. Stir well and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Creme fraiche will keep for up to 2 weeks.

2. Put the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Add the salt and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and peel as soon as they are cool enough to handle.

3. While the potatoes are cooking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 2-quart round casserole.

4. With an electric mixer, beat the potatoes with the cream cheese, the remaining 1/4 cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons whipping cream, the garlic, House Seasoning, and Seasoned Salt. Stir in the butter and green onions. Spread the potatoes in the casserole. Spoon the creme fraiche on top and sprinkle with the chives. Bake until the potatoes are hot, 20 to 30 minutes.

Fruit Plate

2011-12-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

I loved this idea of dividing fruit on a platter with orange slices. Very nice presentation, don't you think?

Step Away From the Cookies!

2011-12-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

My family knows that I am like a crack addict when it comes to sugar cookies. Lynnette R used to feed my habit when we lived in Az. in the 80's. She even mailed me a batch after we moved to Portland) The following recipe is from my cousin, Susan. Sara made several batches for Christmas and we think the sour cream is a magic ingredient:

Cream Together:

2 eggs~
2 c. sugar ~
2 c. shortening ~
2 T. vanilla ~

Add in this order:

1 t. soda~
2 rounded t. baking powder ~
1 t. salt (may omit)~
1 c. sour cream ~
6 c. flour~
Refrigerate at least two hours. Roll out and cut into desired shapes. Bake 350 degrees 9-12 minutes.

Frosting:

1/2 c. butter~
3/4 c. shortening ~
2 egg whites~
1 t. vanilla~
4 c. powdered sugar~
Cream together this mixture and add food coloring. Don't refrigerate. Will keep up to 1 week on the shelf.

OR

Royal Icing:

4 c. powdered sugar~
5 T. meringue powder or 2 lg egg whites ~
1/2 c. water ~
Mix together sugar and meringue powder on low speed. Add a little water at a time until the icing is the right consistency. Icing should smooth out in ten seconds or less when dropped into bowl. Make a little thicker consistency for writing or decorating on top of a base.

I got this recipe for Rolo Turtles at the Superbowl party at the Miners. Three ingredients make up this delightfully yummy treat; pretzels, rolo candy and walnuts. Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Put rolo on top of pretzel and bake in 350 oven for 2-4 minutes. While still warm, put on the walnut and smush. Enjoy! I used the square pretzels because they have smaller holes in them and the chocolate doesn't melt through as much as the pretzels pictured, but they still work also.

Santa's Key

2011-12-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

Great for those who don't have a chimney!

look at frosty go.

2011-12-10T18:12:00.001-07:00

Nose So Bright

2011-12-03T16:38:00.002-07:00

Yummy Pinterest Treats

It's a Wrap

2011-12-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

Find all your holiday photos, old and new, and make them into a collage by simply placing them next to each other on a printer. Take that print and go to a print center and copy up large sheets. Cool right?

JoY

2011-12-01T08:40:00.003-07:00

Calgon take me away....

2011-11-26T21:22:00.001-07:00

Our Western Caribbean cruise took us, out of Miami, to Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan Honduras and Cozumel Mexico. We booked with Cruise Lady to get the benefit of an LDS musical entertainer and an in-demand speaker. We enjoyed uplifting, private concerts and inspiring lectures at sea, a church service on Sunday and gourmet delights.

We acted inebriated at Cozumel and posed for some shots for the grands! You know which ones I'm talking about......

We had two fabulous entertainers on our cruise. Let me speak of Michael Ballam first. He is the general director of the Utah Festival Opera, a professor of music at Utah State University, an accomplished operatic singer, pianist and oboist. His professional operatic and recital career has spanned nearly three decades and four continents. He has performed in the major concert halls in America, Europe, Asia and the Soviet Union, with command performances at the Vatican and the White House. His operatic repertoire includes more than 600 performances of over 70 major roles. He has shared the stage with the world's greatest singers, performed regularly with companies such as the Chicago Lyric, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Dallas, St. Louis, Kennedy Center and San Diego Operas. At the age of 24 he became the youngest recipient of a Doctor of Music with Distinction in the history of Indiana University. He lives in Logan, Utah.

John L. Lund was our in-demand speaker. His work has taken him on a thirty year journey where he has taught as adjunct faculty at major universities throughout Washington, Idaho, California and Utah. Because of his research in interpersonal relationships and communication, Dr. Lund has been able to serve both the business world as a consultant in "Improving Communications" and the private sector as a family counselor. He has served as a marriage and family mediator, relationship expert, BYU Education Week speaker, retired Institute Director, and is an avid Book of Mormon scholar. He and his wife, Bonnie are the parents of 8 children.

It was pure heaven to have both of these men on the same cruise. Usually they don't travel together. Michael doesn't just sing, he educates as well about the history of the songs. We could listen to him for days on end. He is one class act. John Lund knows more about the Book of Mormon history than one would ever want to know! What I like more than that was his relationship wisdom. I am a disciple of his!

More Cable Knit Ideas

2011-11-10T06:59:00.001-07:00

What's in your collection?

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

A home doesn't exist to impress other people~it should be filled with all the things that delight YOU. That's the first commandment of great design. Whether your tastes run to vintage or modern, any house can be captivating if it tells the stories of those who reside in it. Our homes are a tribute to our greatest pleasures.
A collection is a group of things gathered or collected. A person has a collection when they bring items together into a group. Collecting is a great hobby because it can be different and unique for everyone. Each found item has its own 'story'. All of us go through our lives collecting and discarding things around us.
I enjoy collecting many different things. My collections have changed over the years. Things I once found interesting, perhaps I no longer do. Take for instance my collection of pickininny craft objects! They are now 'gone with the wind'. I started each of the girls with their own collections during the 80's. They are no longer fascinated with bunnies, bears, music boxes or 'precious moments' porcelain. They have grown into different interests. I still love collecting; old alarm clocks, bird nests, birdhouses, old books, old reading glasses, baby shoes and bone china teacups and saucers~ to name a few!
A few years ago I decided to start a collection for each of my grandchildren when they turn 8. My hope is that someday, years from now, they will cherish these items, so lovingly gathered by their grandmother. But it's not a guarantee. I am collecting for them; (Josh) old boys books, (Rachel) bone teacups/saucers, (Daniel) measuring tapes and sticks, (Griffin) skeleton keys and padlocks and(Camdyn) crystal salt and pepper shakers. Because I love antiques so hard, it is a labor of love for me. Time will tell about the rest of it.
WHAT DO YOU COLLECT?

post script: this post was first written in 2008 and since then my girls have kicked me to the curb with the collections for the grands :/

Fall andThanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas

2011-11-06T20:16:00.005-07:00

These centerpiece ideas came from Martha, StoneGable, and Home is Where the Boat Is. Enjoy!

Then a Hero Comes Along

2011-11-06T11:46:00.004-07:00

I am in the process of updating some of my histories and putting pictures and mementos in my journals. I came upon this "presentation" Stacey gave to our family when we were in Thailand in 2007. It is entitled HEROES and it goes like this:

There's a hero, if you look inside your heart, you don't have to be afraid of what you are. There's an answer, if you search within your soul and the hurt that you know will melt away...Then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on and you push your cares aside and know you can survive, so if you feel like hope is gone...look inside you and be strong and you'll finally see the truth, that the hero lies in you...

Who among us is a hero...The early pioneers of the church. They left their homes, lands and inheritance to follow in the footsteps of faith a young prophet boy who, by the power of God, set forth the establishment of his true church in the Land of Zion. How often do we awake and say, "Gee I'm grateful for my ancestors who trekked across the plains in blinding sun and bitter cold...losing loved ones along the way so i can partake of the blessings of the restored gospel? Does our family know of the reverence we feel when we ponder the sacrifice of these early pioneers?

Who among us is a hero...The Presidents of our Country. They have protected and governed, fought for liberties and justice, they too have governed our freedoms: to vote, to worship and have equal rights. How often do we awake and say, "Golly, our government is really top notch. It must be difficult to govern an entire country when half of them have "I hate Bush" decals on their bumpers. Do our neighbors know of the patriotism which we hold for our founding fathers?

Who among us is a hero...The teachers in our schools. Our children are in their care 8 hours out of the day. They are those who mold and shape their futures. From learning how to write the alphabet to algebra. How often do we awaken and say "I really appreciate the knowledge and care my children's teachers bestow upon them...and for little pay I might add. Do our children know what the impact education will make in their lives?

Who among us is a hero...Christ. He is the center of our lives. He is the reason we are here. He has made us who we are. It is his Father's test we are here to take. I am certain we awaken every day and say, "I am thankful for all that the Lord has blessed me with." Do WE know how important HE is in our lives? If we are willing to pattern our lives after HIM, then I can answer one last question...

Who among us is a hero...I AM!!! We all need hero's to honor and admire. So many figures that come in and out of our lives can make an impact. What sweeter knowledge than knowing YOU have been a hero in someones life. While contemplating this assignment, I have thought about my own children. Who is their hero? The fuzziest feeling I get as a mother is when my children put their arms around me and tell me what a great mother I am....usually it's in conjunction to buying them a gator-ade and candy bar, but it's 10 times better when prompted directly from their hearts. One Mother's Day Griffin wrote me a poem, he was 9. The simplicity of it brought me to tears:
     My mom is unique
     She is a biker, biking almost as fast as Lance Armstrong
     She is a walker, walking all around the neighborhood
     She is a Sunday School teacher, with 12 girls in her class!
     She is an exercise club teacher, pushing people as hard as she can
     She is an exerciser, from doing marathons to iron mans
     She is a Mormon going to church with me
     She is a reader, reading the Book of Mormon
     She is a salad eater, eating big bowls of salad every day
     She is a mom, my mom
     I love her.

It's been told to us time and time again, that there is no greater calling than to rear our children in love and righteousness. From that will stem respect. From that will stem love. From that will stem honor, and WITH that perhaps we shall become that HERO.

That's why we call them hero's. That's why we know their names and once you've heard their story...you're never quite the same. That's why we call them hero's, the best thing they ever do...is point to the best in us all, and say, "If I can, you can too."

Let's look at the story of a hero here tonight. Look around you, can you guess who I'm thinking of? There's an activity we play in FHE called Spotlight. Each Monday night I focus on a member of the family. I start out by saying the things this person does or likes and eventually the answers become personalized to that one individual. It goes like so:

This person likes cookies. This person likes to shop. This person likes to travel. This person like to read. This person likes to bike. This person likes to spend time with family. This person likes bunnies. This person is very creative. This person likes to decorate. This person drinks diet cola. This person eats cookies for breakfast. This person forgets when they loan you money :) This person is a movie star...no, that's Diane Keaton. This person is a mother.

Stacey with her daughter, Kennedy, in 2007.

This person changed 100's of diapers. This person stayed up late with sick daughters. This person took girls to dance, piano, ballet, violin and cello. This person held foofetts. This person made a beautiful home This person said nightly prayers with her children. This person thanked the Lord for trials and blessings. This person taught her daughters to love and reach out to those in need, to recognize everyone as children of our Father in Heaven. This person asked her daughters to skip school to enjoy a day of bonding together. This person admired her father, loved and honored him. This person documented her life and gave us the example to do the same. This person upholds her family heritage and instills in her daughters the reasons to do likewise. This person shows her daughters everyday the joy she found with the man she married. This person brings the spirit into family home evenings in creative and unforgettable ways. This person goes to great lenghts to show love for her grandchildren. This person has helped so many members in our family This person has been a hero to every single one of us.

She has listened to that prompting that on more than one occasion may have brought her to your bedroom door, your front door, or perhaps your telephone. She has given of herself and helped you rise from whence you had fallen. She has been the rock of your foundation whether through the influence of friends dragging you to lowly ground, raising children as a single mother, financial burdens of life or the heartache that prevails from decisions made on a path unworthy of travel.

Even outside of our own family unit we see her path as it winds it's way into the lives and homes of others. She is like Gretel, dropping crumbs along the path of Earth Life. We are then picking up these crumbs and partaking of her goodness and generosity. She won't need that trail to return home, because the path she is taking and the crumbs she is dropping will eventually lead to our Father in Heaven. Then wouldn't it make sense if we follow her example that we are following Christ's example. We are following that path that will lead us to become the HERO we know is inside us.

...and then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on and you know you can survive, so if you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong. And you'll finally see the truth that the HERO lies in you.

Obviously I loved this presentation! It has reminded me of the opportunity we all have on a daily basis to influence the lives of those around us. Many times we don't even realize that we are being watched and emulated. Thanks again Stacey, for such a loving tribute.

Never a Dull Moment

2011-10-28T07:08:00.001-07:00

Lindsey and I took the littles to Dinosaur Park in Ogden, much to their delight.

Trace's sister and husband came for a fall visit. We drove BettyWhite past Hardware Ranch to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and happened upon a family of moose.

Stacey flew down to join us for Witch's Night Out at Gardiner Village in Salt Lake. My oldest granddaughter, Rachel, also got in on the fun. We thought we were rocking our costumes until we got there....not even! Such creativity I've rarely seen.

I dressed some of our garden pumpkins up all snugly and warm in sweaters from D.I.

Some of our activities from Stacey's delightful visit.

Lindsey and I took Emma and Lydia to The Gateway in Salt Lake to see an IMax movie.

Gross Out Menu...Shudder-rific!

2011-10-20T19:48:00.001-07:00

1. Brains: shrimp cocktail anyone?

2. Ear Wax: Gross I know. It's mini marshmallows and carmel dip and all kinds of wrong. It wins the gross-out award of the year.

3. Vomit: spinach dip, if you please.

For the squeamish we offer appetizing treats as well: 4. Mummies.

5. Carmel corn tastes just like October: Spider Nests.

6. Eyeballs: Butterfingers balls.

7. Scabs: Beef Jerky.

Recipe for Butterfingers Eyeballs:
1c. creamy peanut butter
2T. powdered sugar
1 Butterfingers candy bar
2c. white chocolate chips
3T. shortening
2 pkg Butterfingers bb's candy
Beat the peanut butter and butter. Add powdered sugar. Stir in chopped Butterfingers. Shape in balls. Put on wax paper on cookie sheet and freeze one hour.
Melt white chocolate and shortening for one minute and 30 sec. at 70% power. Stir every 10-15 seconds til just melted. Dip the frozen balls in the chocolate. Add bb's then red frosting. Serve cold.

Hello Stud

2011-10-20T15:10:00.001-07:00

from azcentral.comblogs-jamieerose

Diamonds Are A Gourd's Best Friend

2011-10-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

from azcentral.comblogs-jaimeerose

Black/White

2011-10-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

Must get to the store to buy some chalk paint for this pumpkin asap.

LOL

2011-10-13T13:46:00.001-07:00

Cozy and Warm

2011-10-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

These had me at cable knit and cream!

Trick or Treat

2011-10-10T09:06:00.001-07:00

We held our family Halloween party early this year because the month is so busy. Trace's sister, Nancy, and her husband John came as our guests. Below, Trace set up a haunted house in the barn. Milly was in bed with her parents that night with nightmares!

The games for the littles were so fun. Lindsey had a dart throw at balloons. The balloons had a slip of paper inside with a number so the winner was the one with the most points. Sara made a "Witch Pitch" and the kids threw candy corn into the tiny caldrons, that were also assigned a point value. My mummy game consisted of unwinding a roll of toilet paper that had small prizes taped inside and the roll was passed to the next child when they came upon their piece of candy. We also made a tape recording of the kids telling a ghost story, with each one just making up a small portion of the plot. Then we played it back. They loved that! Of course, we had trick or treating at all the outside doors.

The costumes were so darling and clever. I think Ryan and Jamie outdid themselves. We also had a booth where all the kids got tats. That was a highlight.

The annual pumpkin contest continued in earnest. John and Nancy picked the Petersen's for the grand prize of a gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse. Bundys made the witch's feet, Petes made the garden vegetable Satan, and Caspersons made the space creatures going trick or treating. I truly love this part of the party to see what creativity the kids always come up with.

I have a lot of scary creatures I like to decorate with. The ghosts make sounds that are motion activated and I put a large ghost in the pantry with the 'caution' tape. When little Lydia arrives, we have to turn all the sounds off or she won't come in. There are others that feel the same way but they like to blame it on her!

The girls and their husbands just could not be more helpful and fun. They each bring a Halloween food item, a game, and of course their decorated pumpkin. They help set up and take down. We are truly blessed with helpful and fun children.

On The Road Again

2011-10-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

Trace and I went on a great road trip during the last of September. We drove to McCall Idaho for two nights at his brother's condo. Wonderful to relax and read, bike and eat out. Then we stayed two nights with the same brother in Nyssa, Oregon so Trace could give two firesides on his observations of the Church worldwide.

Moving north, we arrived at the Lake residence for many wonderful days in Vancouver. We got to go with each of the oldest grands to their sporting activities. Griffin and Camdyn are both in cross country this year, along with their regular soccer games. Miss Kenna continues to be a force to recon with on her soccer team. She was celebrating her 9th birthday close to the time I was there (Trace had flown home earlier) so she got to skip school to go to lunch with me, shopping for her barbies and to a movie, along with Camdyn. Stacey and I enjoyed two fun shopping adventures. Treasures were found at the Camas Antique store, as well as a pre-view at Cindy Elmer's garage sale. Stacey bought all the items on the top of her TV cabinet at the garage sale. One cannot imagine the delight of Cindy's pricing! It was with a heavy heart I had to leave the Lakes.

Top Ten

2011-09-08T22:01:00.001-07:00

Caleb Tracy Petersen was baptised in June. Sara did a wonderful job of planning everything. She and Jamie were the speakers and Milly sang a solo of "I Am A Child of God" that was so precious.

The annual visit from the Lake family was such a treat. We had the carnival, went to Bear Lake and vegged at home. We took the Petersen boys and their mama camping up Blacksmith Fork. Sara also turned in a great time for her half-marathon.

My brother, Paul Griffin, came for a short stay and Trace and I enjoyed going in BettyWhite with him to see Old Ephraim's grave. Lydia and Emma loved on him as much as possible.

Bundys invited us to hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon and we had a lovely day with them and the girls.

A favorite pastime of mine this summer has been to do lots of walking in the Logan Cemetery....no dogs and the atmosphere is peaceful : ) So I've taken some of the kinder with me to hike up the 124 steps to Old Main, walk through Utah State to the cemetery and then journey on to Lee's house for cookies and a ride back to the car. It's about 2 miles and the punks really enjoy it. Especially the "playing dead" part!!

Bundys went camping with us too,and Ryan and Emma drove with me to the grizzly grave as well.

Paradise TROUT AND BERRY DAYS just can't be beat for cheap entertainment. Six of the grands brought a trout to our fish fry that they had caught with their own hands. Lindsey and Ryan C. had to help Lydia and Milly, but from 5 on up the parents weren't allowed in the water. The kids were sure thrilled with their fish.

This captures many events with the Caspersons over the last few months.

And finally, our summer consisted of me traveling to Oklahoma to drive back to Utah with Lindsey and the girls. Notice the lovely FLAT landscape of Kansas. And last but not least, we went to Denver for a wonderful celebration for Trace's retirement.

THE GREATNESS OF GOD

2011-09-04T15:29:00.001-07:00

We can find comfort in the knowledge that God will turn all things in our life to good. This is a principle that is taught often in the scriptures. No situation is ever negative in the long run and, therefore, life is always fair. Whatever happens to us God can turn it to good if we trust him and stay on the path. He teaches that principle in every book of scripture. In the Book of Mormon, Lehi testifies to his son Jacob: "In thy childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow, because of the rudeness of thy brethren. Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for they gain (2 Nephi 2:1-2). Part of God's greatness consists in his ability to turn even the most negative of situations into positive truth and learning.

The Lord instructed Joseph Smith in this principle while the Prophet was suffering in Liberty Jail. "All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for they good" (D&C 122:7). Our Father in Heaven can turn even the most negative situations to good for us, if we will trust him and stay true to his gospel.

C.S. Lewis once wrote a little piece that very poignantly taught this truth. He said:
Ye cannot in your present state understand eternity...But ye can get some likeness of it if ye say that both good and evil, when they are full grown, become retrospective...All their earthly past will have been Heaven to those who are saved...All their life on Earth too, will then be seen by the damned to have been Hell. That is what mortals misunderstand. They say of some temporal suffering, "No future bliss can make up for it,: not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory. And of some sinful pleasure they say "Let me have but THIS and I'll take the consequences": little dreaming how damnation will spread back and back into their past and contaminate the pleasure of the sin. Both processes begin even before death. The good man's past begins to change so that his forgiven sins and remembered sorrows take on the quality of Heaven: the bad man's past already conforms to his badness and is filled only with dreariness. And that is why, at the end of all things, when the sun rises here and the twilight turns to blackness down there, the Blessed will say, "We have never lived anywhere except in Heaven," and the Lost, "We were always in Hell." And both will speak truly. (The Great Divorce.)

S. Michael Wilcox

2011 Home Tours

2011-07-24T18:22:00.001-07:00

I have spent hours and hours touring the homes of several women who have posted their homes for viewing on this site: Poppies At Play. Just click on the icon on the right sidebar for this year and last. The homes are all so different and varied but one thing is constant: These women love their nests and have taken great care to create a welcoming place for their families to retreat from the cares of the world. I hope you enjoy the tours as much as I did and can find an idea or two that you would like to use in your own homes. Enjoy!

Free At Last. Free At Last.

2011-07-15T13:03:00.001-07:00

Trace and I decided the time has come for him to retire from American Medical Response, after 20 wonderful years. I feel so grateful to AMR for the wonderful life it has enabled our family to enjoy. As this chapter closes, another begins!

uncle.uncle

2011-07-10T16:21:00.001-07:00

Trace has been gone to Thailand for 12 days and I am finally going crazy! So, for something to do, I took my camera to capture "A day in the life", on this July 10th. I can't wait for his companionship tomorrow. 21 collages...that should tell you something about the state of my boredom!!!

Bear Lake Adventures

2011-07-04T20:39:00.001-07:00

Trace and I rented a lovely cabin at Harbor Village for two nights and we all had such fun. We rode bikes, swam in the pool, played cards, ate yummy meals, played family soccer and swam in the lake twice. The cabin was brand new; 7 bedrooms, 6 baths, ping pong, air hockey, 3 DRV televisions, Xbox, $300 a night. What was not to love? (801-9953213). We definitely plan to return!!

BettyWhite

2011-07-02T22:30:00.002-07:00

Trace and I bought a new toy last month and have had so much fun with it. It has been named "BettyWhite" because Trace said we couldn't drive it fast and crazy, but had to take it slow and steady. Sara thought BettyWhite fit perfectly. Trace hates that name but, oh well. Anywho, the grands pretty much adore riding in it. Griffin took it for a spin and since it was his first experience with driving, he was pleased to say the least. This picture is now his profile on facebook!

Camdyn, Kennedy and Caleb rode with me over the Avon pass to check on our house in Liberty. After picking hand fulls of flowers, we had lunch and then conferred with my realtor on some issues with the house. We have a contract on it and will close in 9 days, God willing!!

Jamie's 40th Carnival Birthday

2011-06-30T20:49:00.004-07:00

To celebrate the arrival of the Lake family, Jamie's 40th and Daniel's 14th, we had a Carnival Celebration. Jensens, Searles, Ericksons, Petersens, Caspersons and Lakes were our guests. I invited a face painter, who was a huge hit. I bought a little bag for each of the seven youngest grandchildren and they carried it with them to each of the stations, where they received a treat after completing each game. All the adults helped with one station and treat. The 'booths' were: pin tail on donkey, face painting, duck fishing, bean bag toss, balloon shooting, photo shoot, cake walk, plink, golf putt, karaoke solo singing. I also had a snow cone, cotton candy and popcorn area. Hot dogs were the main course, along with delicious salads, a candy buffet, and the cutest circus tent cake from Sweet On You.

The teenagers patiently waited for the littles to finish so they could shoot skeet and my handgun. Then we met in the garage because we have no trees here yet and it was hot! Jamie organized the funnest and most crazy "Minute to Win It" games.

It was the best party to kick off the summer. We missed the Bundy's so much.

Pinterest Finds

2011-06-22T18:01:00.002-07:00

Here are some images I have found on Pinterest. Get onboard if you haven't already. What a genius idea.

Clever &Sweet

2011-06-22T17:53:00.003-07:00

Released. Yeah!

2011-06-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

I admire John Lund so much and have gleaned much wisdom from him on many topics. Here is a little gem I listened to recently in the car:

He starts by suggesting that if we went to the Prophet for a blessing to help us deal with difficult children and situations, he might say the following:

"I release you from being a judge. I release you from telling other people what they need, should and ought to do, even with your own family and I call you to be a special witness of Jesus Christ in how you treat people. I call you to be an apostle within your own family; to be a source of love. I give you a special blessing to be a source of power that you will go forth, and by virtue of your example and by virtue of your loving, you will be able to teach. But remember that you will only be able to teach to the level of their willingness to receive. Forget from this time forth that you will be judged or held accountable for how they act. You are not responsible. You are only responsible to love".
HOW WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

Tips for Grilling Vegetables

2011-06-08T16:16:00.001-07:00

~Always coat the vegetables with a thin layer of olive oil to help them cook evenly.
~Sprinkle with kosher salt or sea salt (and freshly ground pepper if you like). The salt is essential: It helps draw out the natural sugars and promote carmelization. Morton kosher salt is great for grilled food because it has large grains that don't melt quickly.
~When grilling vegetables, the grill fire should be medium to medium-hot. If the grill is too hot, the vegetables will burn on the out-side and be undercooked inside.
~Arrange the vegetables in the opposite direction of the cooking grate to keep them from falling into the fire.
~Turn the vegetables with tongs. Slide the tongs gently under the center of the food in the thickest part when turning.
~In general, turn the vegetables only once, halfway through the cooking time.
~Remove vegetables like zucchini and asparagus when they're crisp-tender; they'll continue to cook after they come off the grill. Bell peppers and eggplant, however, should be grilled until soft all the way through.
~Taste the grilled vegetables while they're still warm, and if they need more salt, add it before the vegetables cool down.

My Favorite Pet

2011-05-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

Meet my little love...Satan. This well-behaved pet has been residing with us since 1996. He is a favorite of the grands and has given more than one home-repair man the fright of their life. Because I love him so, you have to naturally assume that he is dead. Yup. What other kind of dog would I allow on the furniture? I know, I'm awful. It's not that I hate dogs. I've had several myself. Cocker spaniels being the family favorite. I've helped Lindsey's cocker, Mercedes, birth two batches of puppies....in my living room no less. But I've been chased by far too many of the beasts on my bike to even count. That is why I like to name dogs "Satan".

Cats? Never met a cat I didn't want to personally kill. But BUNNIES. Now that is a pet for everyone. I prefer angoras and mini-lops. We have had bunnies for about 7 years. We let them roam free on our property and have never know one to wander off. Get eaten by a fox YES, but wander off, NO.

Finger food

2011-05-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

BACON WRAPS.....from Paula Deen

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese ~~
2 t. garlic salt or powder ~~
12 slices bacon~~
24 four and a half inch long sesame breadsticks ~~

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the Parmesan cheese with the garlic salt in a shallow bowl and set aside. Cut the bacon in half cross-wise so that each piece is about 5 inches long. Wrap a piece of bacon around a breadstick, starting at one end of the breadstick and finishing at the other end. Place on cookie sheet and bake for about 15 min. Remove from cookie sheet and immediately roll bacon wraps in the cheese mixture. Let cool and serve at room temperature.

Entitlement is biggest kid problem

2011-05-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

Linda and Richard Eyre published this article in the Deseret News on May 15, 2011:

Many readers saw and participated in the poll last week about what is the biggest problem or challenge faced by kids and their parents in today's world. The results were quite remarkable! Of the nearly 800 parents who participated, the clear majority were most worried about the sense of entitlement that kids seem to have today. Take a look at the numbers:
A sense of entitlement, 41.3%
Excessive technology and gadgets, 27.3%
Sexual experimentation, 13.3%
Peer pressure, 11.2%
Drugs and substance abuse, 3.3%
Bullying, 2.5%
Sibling rivalry, 1.1 %

"Entitlement" wins as the biggest problem. The second-place finisher, excessive technology and gadgets, is really about entitlement too--kids who think they are entitled to all things electronic.
Combine those top two answers and we have more than two-thirds of parents saying that a sense of entitlement is the biggest challenge they face with their kids.

We got exactly the same result when we asked a large audience of parents the same question recently in Southern California. We were intrigued and surprised by the size of the majority.

Think about it: Two-thirds of parents, with no explanation or discussion, voted for entitlement as the biggest problem of this generation of kids and the biggest worry for this generation of parents.

We asked the audience why. Their answers were fascinating. Among them were:

"Entitlement leads to low motivation."
"Kids think they deserve everything and don't have to earn anything."
"It makes them disrespectful."
"They don't know how to work."
"They think they have to have everything their friends have."
"It's the reason for all the other problems on the list. They think they can do whatever they want."

One Million Moms

2011-05-15T19:59:00.000-07:00

I joined this organization that combats pornography and indecency:www.onemillionmoms.com
They make it so easy to make a difference. As women we need to take a stand together to fight this scourge.

Navy SEAL Survival

2011-05-08T19:43:00.001-07:00

The blood in his eyes almost blinded him, but the Navy SEAL could hear, clattering above the trees in northeast Afghanistan, rescue helicopters.

Marcus Luttrell, a fierce, 6-foot-5 rancher's son from Texas, lay in the dirt. His face was shredded, his nose broken, three vertebrae cracked from tumbling down a ravine. A Taliban rocket-propelled grenade had ripped off his pants and riddled him with shrapnel.

As the helicopters approached, Luttrell, a petty officer first class, turned on his radio. Dirt clogged his throat, leaving him unable to speak. He could hear a pilot: "If you're out there, show yourself."

It was June 2005. The United States had just suffered its worst loss of life in Afghanistan since the invasion of 2001. Taliban forces had attacked Luttrell's four-man team on a remote ridge shortly after 1 p.m. on June 28. By day's end, 19 Americans had died. Now U.S. aircraft scoured the hills for survivors.

There would be only one. Luttrell's ordeal--described in exclusive interviews with him and 14 men who helped save him--is among the more remarkable accounts to emerge from Afghanistan.

Out of that darkness comes this spark of a story. It is a tale of moral choices and of prejudices transcended. It is also a reminder of how challenging it is to be a smart soldier, and how hard it is to be a good man.

I've just finished reading LONE SURVIVOR by Marcus Luttrell and his description of what it takes to become a Navy SEAL and then carry out dangerous missions is especially fascinating at this moment in time.

History Tour

2011-05-03T08:15:00.003-07:00

We took our oldest granddaughter, Rachel, to Washington D.C. last weekend. Her sweetness and goodness cannot be measured. For 17 years she has brought us so much pride and joy. We enjoyed touring Ford's Theatre and reflecting on our favorite American.

I have wandered "THE MALL" many times in my life but it was especially gratifying to share the greatness of this country with Rachel.

The Smithsonian never disappoints. The Holocaust Museum was a first for me and we were impressed with the reverent way in which this tragedy in our world's history was presented. Seeing The Spirit Of St. Louis always gives me the chills. Charles Lindbergh is one of my great American heroes.

I left the State Capitol Building wanting to "trade up" with my gun!

The war memorials and statues are so wonderful. I hadn't seen the World War II or Korean War memorials before and they pay tribute so beautifully.

We rented a car just to drive out to Mt. Vernon, and spent quality time. Reading more about George is high on my list.

Arlington Cemetery was the perfect place to conclude our adventures. I LOVE this country's defenders of freedom, from our inception through the current day. I salute those brave and awesome Navy SEAL's who just brought Osama bin Laden to the justice he deserves.

The Dressmaker

2011-04-27T10:00:00.002-07:00

The turbulent history of Afghanistan has inspired blockbuster novels...Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner, and best-selling true stories like Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea.

Now, The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon may be poised for similar success.

The book is backed by a perfect blend of publishing elements...a remarkable Afghan heroine, a high-profile writer, bookseller support and a marketing campaign with a celebrity roster.

Lemmon, 37 is a former ABC News journalist who is now deputy director of the Women and Foreign Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. She tells the true story of Kamila Sidiqi, who in l996, at age 19, began a clandestine dressmaking business to support her family and dozens of neighbors after the Taliban seized control of Kabul. Women were forced to quit their jobs and stay off the streets, effectively turning them into prisoners in their own homes.

"This story happens to be set against the most extreme of backdrops...Taliban-era Afghanistan...but it's a universal story that just as easily could have been set in the U.S. during the Civil War or the U.K. during World War 11," says Lemmon.

Little Food Junction

2011-04-26T20:01:00.001-07:00

Most of these cute ideas came from this site!

Easter Yummies

2011-04-18T16:00:00.005-07:00

Easy!

2011-04-18T15:57:00.004-07:00

Okay. I'll Tell

2011-04-13T17:13:00.001-07:00

Even though it might not seem proper to reveal some details of my recent trip to Vegas, I think I can trust everyone to be discreet!!

I went with Lindsey and Emma for three wonderful nights at Tahiti Village, south of the strip but on Las Vegas Boulevard. That was the key to our delight. It was an inexpensive hotel with all suite rooms. Absolutely no gambling machines in sight. Emma delighted in the beachy area connected to the pool, and the lazy river.

We went to M&M World, Tropical Rainforest, The Body Exhibit, 4-D movies, four shopping malls and they went to see the Dolphins and Secret Garden in the Mirage.

Emma suffered a "hot lava" moment in her new pajamas I made her wear...they were footsies and her mother HAD warned me that she sleeps hot. But since I sleep cold I didn't trust her. My bad. We had such delightful car conversations and learned what makes strong families from a CD of the same name.

Plans to return were made on the way home. Little did we dream then that Lindsey and Emma would return the next week with Ryan and Lydia in tow. Told you it was magic!

Spiritual Heart Attacks

2011-04-10T14:57:00.002-07:00

My fist-sized heart can pump over twenty gallons of blood through my liver every hour to remove the waste materials and impurities from my blood. During normal activity the heart beats about 4,200 times per hour. That's over one hundred thousand times a day, about three million times a month, or two and a half billion beats in a lifetime. There is no man-made material that can be flexed so frequently without breaking. During each of these normal beats, your heart pumps about two and a half ounces of life-sustaining blood. That's about six quarts a minute or two thousand gallons a day, which could fill four or five average-sized hot tubs or spas. During strenuous exercise, the heart can pump as much as thirty quarts a minute!

The heart must pump this enormous flow of blood through some sixty thousand miles of blood vessels, most of which are tiny capillaries with a diameter about thirty times smaller than a human hair. The heart pumps with such power that it may take less than a minute for your blood to circulate around your entire body. And yet, with no thought on your part, over one thousand times a day your heart sends each blood cell on this journey so that every cell in the body can receive nourishment and oxygen and have its waste materials carried away.

The Savior warned us that one of the major signs of the last days would be that '"all things shall be in commotion; and that men's hearts shall fail them" (D&C 88:91). I believe that this prophecy pertains not only to physical heart failure but also to spiritual heart attacks, which are far more common than the physical ones.

One of the most common reasons for death by heart failure is the denial of the person that anything is wrong and the resulting delay of examination and treatment--even after they become aware of their symptoms and warning signs. Rather than rush in for evaluation when a person experiences mild to severely crushing chest pains, many people ignore the seriousness of the warning signs and go on about life in denial, hoping they can get away with it.

And so it is with spiritual heart failure. We find ourselves actually considering breaking or compromising our vows and apathetic about our commitments and promises--alarming danger signs, yet we ignore them. Just as a person with a physically damaged heart loses energy and concern for life's pressures and duties, losing spiritual energy and concern should be a warning signal that things are not right with our hearts spiritually. When performance of our family and gospel duties becomes more painful to us than neglect, we are in serious danger of heart failure and possible spiritual death and should undertake an immediate evaluation of our values and priorities.

There are many problems that can develop in our physical heart and circulatory system, and each defect produces specific symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest, shoulder and arm pains, poor circulation, lack of energy, and erratic heart rate. Doctors listen to our heartbeat, monitor blood pressure, and test our cholesterol to try to detect pending heart diseases.

We can recognize physical heart attacks by the sudden onset of crushing pains in the chest, which often radiate to the shoulder, arms, and jaw. Spiritual heart attacks, in which "men's hearts shall fail them" can be recognized by symptoms such as an urge to break our covenants, to make evil choices, or to hurt others as we strike out in anger, revenge, or an unwillingness to forgive.

By Steven A. Cramer

Mobile Phone Creativity

2011-03-31T20:34:00.000-07:00

Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:
~1. Emergency
The emergency number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.

~2. Locked keys in car
Have you locked your keys in the car? Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone! If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is not object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other remote for your car, you can unlock the doors or the trunk.
*I just did this last week and it really works!!

~3. Hidden battery power
Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.

~4. How to disable a stolen mobile phone
To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: *#06#. A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone is stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does, this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

~5. Free directory service for cells
Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial: 800-Free411 or 800-3733411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now. This is sponsored by McDonalds.

Wildlife Alert

2011-03-28T07:55:00.001-07:00

Teenagers seems to be out of control in these times, but what about wildlife? Don't they know they are not to be spending the winter in city neighborhoods, chewing down every arborvitae in sight? This herd of 18 bull elk is grazing happily a mile from our home in Paradise. "Hey, guys. Winter is over. Go back to your mountain retreat."

Since the snow is gone in Cache Valley, we decided to go get our lawn cushions from the garage in Liberty. Two feet of snow still lingers in Ogden Valley. We couldn't get into our driveway, even though we tried and nearly got stuck. I gave Jamie an antique hutch from the cottage and we had to carry it through the snow drifts to the road in front of the house. Not fun! Since we have gone away for so many winters, I didn't realize how long the snow is on the ground. I'm even more glad that we moved!!

Dirty, Spotty Dishes?

2011-03-24T00:30:00.002-07:00

Do you suffer from dirty-dish syndrome? You are not alone if you suddenly have cloudy glasses, spotted silverware and a fear of dinner guests. Blame a change in dishwasher detergents that became final in 2010. The new formulas lack phosphates, chemicals that are bad for the environment but good for cleaning. So here are five ways to get some shine back:

1. Forget product loyalty. The brand and type of detergent you've used in the past may no longer be your best bet. So try a few of the newly formulated products and compare results. Tablets and packets scored higher in a recent test than powders and gels. Rinse aids help, and are often combined with detergents in the newer products.
2. Know your water. Water that is hard is more likely to cause a filmy buildup on glasses and other dishes. And people who noticed no problems in the past may notice them now with the new detergents. You might consider installing a water softener.
3. Preheat your water. Before turning on your dishwasher, run your hot water tap for a minute or so. That will get hot, detergent-dissolving water into the machine at the start of the cycle and help prevent soap-stuck-in-the dispenser syndrome.
4. Try the vinegar cure. If your glassware already is covered in a sad, milky film, try this technique. Put two cups of vinegar in a bowl on the bottom of the dishwasher. Put cloudy glasses and other filmy non-metal dishes in the machine. Run a full cycle without detergent. Then rewash the load with detergent to remove any leftover vinegar. Metal items can be shined up with stainless steel cleaner or silver cream.
5. Read the dishwasher's owner's manual. Yes, it's a last resort, but desperate times call for actually reading the fine print on things such as proper pot placement and maintenance. Also read your dishwasher detergent label, especially if your are trying a new product.

Ten Must Have Items In Every Wardrobe

2011-03-21T11:00:00.001-07:00

(I posted this two years ago and think it still holds true today...especially the comments about dogs!!)

So, I was watching Oprah the other day. I think I am going to stop watching her though after that show about her precious "Sophie" dog dying....the love of her life. She was crying up a storm when her producers put together a video, with song, about the life of this dog. I am sorry dog lovers, but for the love of pete. Are there no standards of decency left? I digress. She did a great show on fashion and her latest guru showed the 10 "must-haves" for every woman. They are:
*trench coat...near the knee...in spring colors
*black turtleneck
*white turtleneck
*white jeans
*black trousers
*black skirt
*tunic
*dark jeans....wash inside out
*black dress
*white denim jacket or dark blue.

Going without saying is a cashmere sweater, a crispy white button-down shirt, flats and a large bag. The flats can be colorful and playful. The bag and shoes should not match. Susan and I were discussing this, she is my fashion advisor. We both asked, "what is a tunic", so I googled it, and walaaa, the above picture!

Freshen Your Wardrobe

2011-03-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

A basic white shirt is the perfect crossover garment. It looks fresh--and it makes getting dressed so easy. Going out for Saturday morning brunch? Toss it on with your favorite jeans and ballet flats, and you're all set. In a rush on Monday morning? Pull on a pair of slacks and the collared shirt and out the door you go. This year it's a perfect match for springs eye-popping greens, oranges, blues and corals.

HOW TO KEEP WHITES BRIGHT

A white shirt looks crisp with minimal effort. But how do you keep the white bright? Follow these expert tips.

*To keep stains from setting, sponge immediately with cool water.

*Don't give up after one washing. If a stain lessens with treatment, try again and even again.

Don't put it in the dryer until the stain is gone.

*Sprinkle salt on oily stains to soak up some of the oil before washing.

*To remove yellow sweat stains, soak the shirt in oxygen bleach overnight.

*For an all-natural stain-remover, mix 4 T. of baking soda with 4 T. of water and apply to the stain. Wash as usual.

*To brighten a load of whites, add half a cup of white vinegar to the first rinse cycle.

*Give the bleach a chance to work. Leave whites to soak for a few hours before washing. (check the care label on whether to use chlorine or non-chlorine bleach.)

*Don't wash your white work shirts with dirty socks.

Party with Petes

2011-03-19T21:03:00.003-07:00

Trace and I had a little winter getaway to St. George with Sara, Cody and the boys. We stayed three nights in a hotel, which pleased the boys to no end. Trace's siblings were holding a reunion at the same time, so we were able to visit with 5 of his siblings and their spouses. We drove through Zion's National Park on our way home and hiked. It was a delightful trip in every way.

Iraq Sandstorm...2005

2011-03-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine how hard it must be for the Iraqi "nesters" to keep their homes clean!! Call me OLD SCHOOL but I think dusting is essential for good housecleaning skills. The thing to remember when dusting is to not only dust the flat surfaces, but also all the objects ON the flat surfaces. I take many items outside every summer and hose them off; silk plants, iron gates, taxidermy chickens. Yes, I know I'm awful.
Look no further than your baseboards for an indication of needed dusting. That is such a perfect task for children! Give them an old toothbrush, a rag and squirter bottle and let them knock themselves out:) Since this is spring cleaning time, our front doors need to be given a once-over. The entries may need sweeping and hosing off. It is fun to hang seasonal wreaths on the door/and or plant beautiful flowers in extra special urns or pots. Our inside entry areas need to be welcoming and uncluttered. This area sets the tone of our homes. Cleaning the inside of the door and frame is a must, as well as the baseboards. Keeping the woodwork free from nicks and marks also adds a fresh look to our homes. I "touch-up" paint twice a year. With all my grands this is an essential part of my routine.

Happiness Is A Butterfly

2011-02-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

The Declaration of Independence guarantees every one of us the right to the pursuit of happiness. But because the Declaration is a political document and not a religious one, it does not warn us of the frustrations of trying to exercise that right, because the pursuit of happiness is the wrong goal. You don't become happy by pursuing happiness. You become happy by living a life that means something. The happiest people I know are probably not the richest or most famous, probably not the ones who work hardest at being happy by reading the articles and buying the books and latching on to the latest fads. I suspect that the happiest people I know are the ones who work at being kind, helpful and reliable, and happiness sneaks into their lives while they are busy doing those things. Indeed, one does not become happy by pursuing happiness I've decided. It is always a by-product, never a primary goal. Happiness is a butterfly---the more you chase it, the more it flies away from you and hides. But stop chasing it, put away your net and busy yourself with other, more productive things than the pursuit of personal happiness, and it will sneak up on you from behind and perch on your shoulder.

Winter Wonder

2011-02-26T10:39:00.001-07:00

While the Child Sleeps!

2011-02-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

Adele Enersen likes to photograph her child while she is napping. Most of us would rather nap while the child is napping. Just saying!

2011 Trends

2011-02-24T16:31:00.002-07:00

USA Today had an article in January that shared some "Simple, fast, cheap and better for you" trends. I have purchased the three pictured here, and highly recommend. The others are on my to-do list.

~Look younger, cheaper
Oh, how badly we want to look younger...but without paying big bucks. P&G's Olay brand is about to delve deeply into the down-and-dirty world of keeping skin super clean--on a budget. All of the anti-aging moisturizers only work if they can get below the skin. If the skin isn't clean, it's a waste. So this month they will officially introduce the Olay Professional Advanced Cleansing System ($30). It's a brush with rotating bristles that removes dirt and dead skin. The target: women over 35. "It cleanses like pro systems that sell for $200."

~Pro hair for pennies
Dry shampoo might not sound sexy. But in the world of mass hair care, it may well achieve cult-like status in 2011. It's all about wanting the stuff celebs get--but on the cheap. Like big hair. Dry shampoos have found their way into chichi salons in recent years and are often used behind the scenes before photo shoots and red carpet events. But they can cost a bunch. In February, Unilever rolls out Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo ($2.74 for 5 ounces). The trick that celebs use as a quick way to give hair volume will now be available to customers.

~Instant whiter choppers
It's too much to ask the Facebook crowd to spend weeks with whitening strips in their mouths. P&G gets it. Later this month, the company behind Crest Whitestrips ($54.99 for four packs that last a year). That's right. Whiter teeth in two hours instead of three weeks. Sure, it's peroxide heavy. But P&G insists it's enamel safe. "It whitens without the wait."

~Almost homemade
How do you make a prepackaged chip dip seem somehow homemade--and even natural? Give Frito-Lay credit. It's concocted something it dubbed Tostitos Dip Creations ($1.59 a pack). On the shelf, it's just a small envelope filled with seasonings. The key for consumers is what they do with it at home: add fresh ingredients. Chop up an avocado. Squeeze in some lime. And voila': homemade chip dip. When you bring it to the table, people will think you made it from scratch.

~Fast scratch

Just as the world of social media has made instant gratification a cultural norm, it's also become the norm of our kitchens. We want our meals fast--but not tasting that way. With that in mind, Kraft is turning its Philadelphia brand on its head. This month, it's rolling out four Philadelphia Cooking Cremes ($2.99 per 10 ounce container), which look like sour cream but taste like seasoned cream cheese. The move is a no-brainer. Philadelphia Cream Cheese sales are flatter than a bagel. Kraft kept pushing the line to be spread on bagels, but it discovered via social media that up to 25% of consumers were using it, instead, to cook.

~Sweet on potatoes
If 2011 is the year of anything, it's the year of the sweet potato. The orange spud has broken away from the holiday stereotype, thanks to growing consumer awareness of its health benefits, such as vitamin A and beta carotene. Hopping onto the trend is ConAgra, whose Alexia line already owns 44% of the frozen sweet potato market. In March it will introduce Alexia Sweet Potato Bite Sized Puffs, ($3.49 per 20 ounce bag). And why not? The $147 million potato puffs segment has been flat for years due to lack of innovation. "We're reinventing the classic by putting a sweet twist to it."

~Simplify my life
Consumers aren't just time-pressed---we're downright lazy. We sit at our computers or in front of our high-def TV's and look for ways to do less. The folks at ConAgra, maker of the Orville Redenbacher Popcorn brand, are helping in an outside-the-bag way. In March, they will roll out the Pop Up Bowl ($2.99 for a three-pack). It's microwave popcorn that pops into a round bowl shape instead of a tall bag. "This is the biggest thing to happen to popcorn in 25 years." The bowl shape means no worry about finding a bowl for your popcorn. For germ freaks, no worry about touching the same greasy bag that the gang's sharing. This will become the new standard for microwave popcorn.

Lake House

2011-02-23T09:07:00.018-07:00

Trace and I drove to Portland to visit the Lake Family for our February get-a-way. Todd was on a medical mission to Hati to help the earthquake survivors with their medical needs. We adore these kinder and their mother and LOVE to spend time in their cozy nest. We spent one night downtown at the Marriott on the river before Trace had to fly to Trinidad. The girls and I enjoyed a baking day and I taught them how to make carmels, pizzelle cookies and crepes. Brody and I enjoyed two days together when I tended him while Stacey was at work. Griffin and I bonded over a new cell phone, scriptures and clothes from Abercrombie.

Game Day Recipes

2011-02-03T20:12:00.008-07:00

Martha shares many Superbowl recipes, some of which I plan to serve for the big game. I also just discovered a new site called foodily.com It boasts the larges collection of recipes bar none.

Just Ideas for Valentine's Day

2011-02-02T12:11:00.001-07:00

Online Safety

2011-02-01T09:04:00.006-07:00

Your children love their personal devices and the wonderful world of the Internet. They like to use it anytime, anywhere, whether at home or outside. But you want to protect them from inappropriate content. Discover Mobicip.com.

Mobicip stands for Mobile Child Internet Protection. It is dedicated to creating a safe, secure and educational online experience, especially for children. Children can now easily surf the Internet on mobile internet devices like the iPod Touch and iPhone. These devices are not merely toys, but rather highly capable computers that are skimming the surface of what is possible on a mobile platform. Internet safety on these devices is as important as it is on regular computers.

After I had posted the above information I noticed an e-mail from my computer filter, K9, and this is what it said:
"Blue Coat has extended our K9Web Protection technology to protect families browsing the Internet on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The app is a safe web browser available for FREE from the App Store. The browser automatically blocks adult content and malicious sites.

Now, I don't want to overstep my stewardship but PLEASE parents, get some kind of protection downloaded on your kids handhelds, or ~~POCKET PORN~~, as I like to call them.

FiveFingers

2011-01-29T10:30:00.001-07:00

Every once in a while, a product comes along that changes the way we engage in sports--like shaped skis, full suspension mountain bikes or over sized tennis rackets. It bucks tradition and makes people think differently. Sometimes this happens in footwear and a whole new category is created, like sport sandals, aerobic fitness trainers or Vibram-soled dress shoes so comfortable you could run a marathon.,

Vibram FiveFingers might be considered such a product, a revolutionary footwear design that allows our anatomy to work naturally and move more freely. Imagine a footwear that can actually help make the foot healthier, that can strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs, improve range of motion and increase sensory reception important to balance and agility. Imagine footwear that might just make running safer and healthier, by encouraging a forefoot strike and a more natural running form that creates less impact on the knees, hips and lower back. That is what Vibram FiveFingers can offer.

I bought mine in Florida and I am pretty pumped about them! Especially good for bunion related problems and toes that don't want to point where they're supposed to!

sUPriSe!

2011-01-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Sara bought her sister, Stacey, a ticket to fly to Utah to surprise us all for her birthday. I haven't been that surprised....shocked really.....since I don't know when. Sara had planned a mother/daughter retreat for that weekend at my house, so I knew we were getting together. I just didn't know it would be ALL my wonderful daughters and oldest grand. I love to just sit back and listen and watch my girls enjoy each other. Sara made our meals; she should have her own cooking show. Games were played, the hot tub was filled to capacity and Stacey got in her outdoor running, even in the 26 degree weather. My favorite activity was the Marriage Seminar where we shared ways of enriching our marriages. We each talked about good qualities in our husbands and then shared traits we liked in each other's husbands. Tears were shed. Support was given and received. Family. What else is there?

Winter Magic

2011-01-22T14:18:00.009-07:00

These precious little faces need no further comment!

Sledding Fun

2011-01-22T14:18:00.008-07:00

Since our three acres has some slope to it, the day of sledding was enjoyed by people of all ages, from Trace to little Milly.

Hardware Ranch

2011-01-22T14:16:00.002-07:00

Cody and Ryan took the boys to HARDWARE RANCH to participate in the feeding of the elk. Being boys, it was pretty much the best time ever.

I Am In Love...

2011-01-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

With my Kindle. At first it was just a crush. Then I started using it frequently. Now I can't live without it. I take it everywhere I go. It keeps me company in the car when Trace is on his Blackberry for endless overseas calls. I take it to the doctor's office and while I get a pedicure. Since I have my scriptures on it, I even take it to church. I have always been a serious reader, but now I can polish off two books a week. (yes I am a speed reader who does not read every word.) Anyway, on my current vacation to Florida, I will have read 6 books before I get home. Consider if I had to haul those same books through the airport in my purse, or stuff them in my carry on. The only downside is not being able to highlight (which is a feature on Kindle, but not one that I have mastered) AND the books can't be loaned to friends. However the books are purchased for half the price of a normal bookstore. So, there's that.

The 5 books I have finished are:

Water For Elephants...Sara Gruen

Winter Garden...Kristin Hannah

Heartbroke Bay...Lynn D'urso

That Old Cape Magic...Richard Russo

The Lake of Dreams...Kim Edwards

I strongly recommend the first two. I'm not going to lie. I don't like fiction much. Historical fiction is one thing. Romance fiction is a waste of time for the most part. Unless I need a complete diversion. Harry Potter? The vampire nonsense? Paallleeeaaase.

Some nonfiction I've read lately and loved:

Decision Points....George W. Bush

Empire of the Summer Moon...S.C. Gwynne

Outcasts United...Warren St. John

Unbroken...Laura Hillenbrand (i loved this book)

Some fiction that I haven't hated:

The Confession...John Grisham

Cutting for Stone...Abraham Verghese

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet Nest...Stieg Larsson

The Girl Who Played with Fire...Stieg Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo...Stieg Larsson (the above 3 books are a bit racey)

The Help...Kathryn Stockett

House Rules...Jodi Picoult

I Still Dream About You...Fannie Flagg

The last book on this trip is On Mystic Lake...Kristin Hannah. My bed is turned down. My ice water sits on the nightstand and my cookies await. Good Night!

More than Disney World

2011-01-17T15:51:00.001-07:00

Trace and I have been in Florida for more than a week and I have had the best time ever. I don't know why, but I haven't traveled on business with my husband for such a long time. That needs to stop! We stayed in Ft. Myers for 5 days at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, and then drove south to Marco Island to stay in a Marriott Resort for the rest of the time. I've read five books and will finish 6 before I return. Oh, KINDLE, how I love you. The weather has been in the 70's and we have been in heaven.

The Best Is Yet To Be

2011-01-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives.

Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope? Yes! Is that charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ. If something is buried in the past, leave it buried.

Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever, That is a New Year's resolution I ask you to keep.
by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Totally Tasteless New Year's Eve

2011-01-08T16:45:00.008-07:00

We had the most hilarious Tasteless New Year's Eve Party. I didn't even have to clean the house. The decorations came from my boxes of previous holidays...valentines, easter, 4th of july, halloween, etc. Everyone dressed tacky. My Mom thought Bundy was sporting a purchased coat of chest hair! Each couple gave a 5 minute tasteless presentation: ~bragging about children's sports achievements~ reading a story for kindergarten children and telling what the teacher is REALLY thinking about the children~bragging about sports prowess (84 year old mom)~ guest etiquette~buying a pension plan~doing a slow dance with your spouse and needing to "get a room"~weighing everyone and spotlighting their problem areas~passing a jar around for donations for a college couple~leading the group in a nursery song complete with body actions~~and my personal favorite....a video about tonsil stones. You should check that out on you-tube. Sick beyond words to express. Which is just what we were after!! Way to go Lindsey:)

We took all the toilet paper away and I won't even mention what Sara did to one of the toilets. We did post a sign on one of the john's that said: if it's yellow/let it mellow. If it's brown/flush it down. This was a night when decency took a vacation. And I never knew how refreshing that could be.

Griffin Events

2010-12-23T14:45:00.000-07:00

We had a busy two days with parties and wedding showers. Three of my sisters met at my house for a cookie exchange and candy making. We hope to all five do this on an annual basis. The next day, Lindsey helped my sister throw a wedding shower at my house for her daughter...the cute one in the blue wig! She is getting married to a great guy on New Year's Eve. That evening all the Griffin clan met at Gary and Nancy's for a sleigh ride, dinner and games. The first picture shows some of the six desserts Gary made. Yum/yum. It's nice to have Mom home from Arizona for a few days. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Baking with Annie

2010-12-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

So far I have had my baking day with two families. (The Bundy's are coming on Wednesday.) I love LOVE this tradition that has been going on for quite a few years. I always decorate cookies with the younger kids, and then the older ones get to try their hand at something harder. Rachel made two batches of candy, Daniel made a HUGE bowl of chex mix. Sara made candy, cookies and chex. I ALWAYS gain five pounds in December, and this is why!

3rd Annual Christmas Party

2010-12-19T18:02:00.003-07:00

This is the third year we have gathered at a hotel for our Family Christmas Party. We met at the Ogden Marriott to swim, play games, gorge ourselves on treats, bowl, and see a movie the next day. A lady from the concierge lounge judged our crazy hat contest, and she declared the Caspersons the winner. It was fun and especially enjoyed by the kinder who love hotels with such enthusiasm.

GRoWn UP giNGErbrEAD PArtY

2010-12-15T17:12:00.001-07:00

This site shares some great ideas for hosting an adult gingerbread party!

Cuddl Duds

2010-12-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

My friend, Joanne, introduced me to Cuddl Duds and I should have put them on my list of favorite things. They are: very lightweight, feel like a second skin, soft & comfortable, have crew neck, stretch, 93% micromodal and 7% spandex, quick-drying. They are like long-johns....to keep you warm. I bought mine in J.C. Penney's but I just googled them and they can be purchased at many places. This is how I can keep the heat down low and stand to be at home. Since we now have propane and not natural gas, our heating costs are unbelievable. Newman! Cuddl Duds also come in white with many sleeve choices. Trust me on this if you live in cold climates.

December Favorite Things

2010-12-06T10:48:00.002-07:00

Here are just some of the things I love about this time of year. First, I love saying "Merry Christmas" to people instead of the lame "Happy Holidays". I make sure to say it to EVERYBODY I meet.

I enjoy hot chocolate...7-Eleven has the best in-store hot chocolate bar of any other place. I love cider drinks, too.

Cookies...ALWAYS...but especially now. I love my baking day tradition where each of the girls comes one at a time with their children to have a baking day with Annie.

Christmas music. It can be so spiritual and soothing and helps me to truly reflect on the meaning of this time of the year.

Advent Calendars. They are so fun for the children, even if the same one isn't used year after year. But it would be nice if it was the same one....just saying.

I love wreaths and greenery, especially if they are fresh and from the Pacific Northwest.

I have been collecting Santas for over twenty years and I LOVE my collection. Some have been kicked to the curb and now I only have ones that are 'worthy' of remaining. Quality versus quantity is my motto.

Snowmen are such wonderful friends during this time of year! I love seeing them in stranger's yards and having snowmen building contests. For years I always made a snowman cake for Stacey's January birthday.

I love the tradition of hanging stockings on Christmas Eve. As a kid, I always got an orange in the toe and some sundry candy. The stocking wasn't the main event and so I continued that tradition with my girls. But I know others who do just the opposite. It's all good.

If there were no other Christmas decorations besides a Christmas tree, I would be satisfied. They can be so beautiful, whether decorated simply or grand.

I love Christmas balls, Christmas centerpieces and all the other little odds and ends of decorating a house for Christmas. I enjoy having one little object in each room, if possible.

Finally, I adore nativities. I only have one. But it is one of the most lovely ones I have ever seen. For years I collected Betsy Clark nativity pieces, but I gave that one to Stacey after I found my current set.

Do Things For Love

2010-11-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

Some of the greatest examples we have of others who gave and sacrificed because of love are the Mormon pioneers. The following is a touching story Elder James E. Faust told of one of those great people:

Stillman Pond was a member of the Second Quorum of Seventy in Nauvoo. He was an early convert to the Church, having come from Hubbardston, Massachusetts. Like others, he and his wife, Maria, and their children were harassed and driven out of Nauvoo. In September 1846, they became part of the great western migration. The early winter that year brought extreme hardships, including malaria, cholera, and consumption. The family was visited by all thee of these diseases.

Maria contracted consumption, and all of the children were stricken with malaria. Three of the children died while moving through the early snows. Stillman buried them on the plains. Maria's condition worsened because of the grief, pain, and the fever of malaria. She could no longer walk. Weakened and sickly, she gave birth to twins. They were named Joseph and Hyrum, and both died within a few days.

The Stillman Pond family arrived at Winter Quarters and, like many other families, they suffered bitterly while living in a tent. The death of the five children coming across the plains to Winter Quarters was but a beginning.

The journal of Horace K. and Helen Mar Whitney verifies the following regarding four more of the children of Stillman Pond who perished: "On Wednesday, the 2nd of December 1846, Laura Jane Pond, age 14 years, ...died of chills and fever. On Friday, the 4th of December, Harriet M. Pond, age 11 years, ...died with chills. Three days later, Abigail A. Pond, age 18 years...died with chills. Just five weeks later on Friday the 15th of January, Lyman Pond, age 6 years...died with chills and fever." Four months later, on the 17th of May, 1847, his wife Maria Davis Pond also died. Crossing the plains, Stillman Pond lost nine children and a wife. He became an outstanding colonizer in Utah, and became the senior president of the thirty-fifth Quorum of Seventy.

Having lost these nine children and his wife in crossing the plains, Stillman Pond did not lose his faith. He did not quit. He went forward. He paid a price, as have many others before and since, to become acquainted with God. (In Conference Report, April 1979, p. 79.)

We seldom realize that our kind deeds and the sacrifices we make on behalf of others affect not only the individuals with whom we surround ourselves but future generations as well. I hope that during the coming Christmas Season we will reflect on our actions and see how far reaching they can become as we strive to move forward with faith.

Live to 100

2010-11-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

Twenty Signs you might live to 100

1. You eat purple food.

2. You have been a college freshman.

3. You have a drama-free marriage.

4. You enjoy good friendships.

5. You have strong legs.

6. You set goals.

7. You feel 13 years younger than you are.

8. You have a positive outlook on life.

9. You're outgoing.

10. You've got skinny friends.

11. You don't have a housekeeper.

12. You often walk instead of drive.

13. You do aerobic activity five hours a week

14. You don't like burgers.

15. You skip cola, including diet

16. You love tea.

17. You limit calories to 1,400 to 2,000 a day.

18. You don't snore.

19. You weren't overweight as a teen.

20. You have a flat belly.

Hellyray. I have 16 out of 20. I refuse to live one day after 80 so looks like I better start fighting more with my husband, stop exercising, add even more weight in my stomach and double my pop drinking. I'm just saying.

Bottoms UP!

2010-11-17T10:24:00.001-07:00

A guide to good living~~and living it up

Technology seems to be stacking the odds against exercise. In addition to being old-fashioned couch potatoes in front of prime-time television, we're now also staying glued to computers. You may spend as much as 56 hours a week with your posterior planted in a chair or couch, according to an Institute for Medicine and Public Health poll of more than 6,300 people.

But when you sit for long periods of time, your body starts to shut down metabolically.

Plop down on your butt for a full day and the fat-burning chemicals in your body diminish by 50 %. That means it's harder to exercise and you're more likely to get fat. Researchers have identified an increase in this condition, which they call "the sitting disease." Staying planted may be literally killing us through obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. To get moving, here are three tips:

>>>Stand every half hour. Even if your work chains you to a desk from 9 to 5, you don't have to take it sitting down. When reading e-mails or talking on the phone, hop up on your feet. Take walks with coworkers for idea meetings instead of heading to the conference room.

>>>Move (even a little bit). By fidgeting or tapping your fingers or toes, you can increase the amount of calories you burn during the day. Maintaining some kind of movement, even if you're sitting still, will help keep your metabolism revved up. Another bonus: Such constant motion can keep you more focused and less likely to be depressed.

>>>Watch on the go. Give up television? No way, huh? Then limit tube time to two hours a day and watch while cycling on an exercise bike or walking on a treadmill. If you don't have those fitness contraptions on hand, then sit-ups, push-ups, or other similar exercises will work.

Don't Look Back

2010-11-16T21:07:00.001-07:00

Wish I knew where I got this picture from! Isn't it a jaw dropper. A picture says a thousand words...

I Fall 4 Fall

2010-11-09T10:36:00.001-07:00

Self Imposed Spiritual Blindness

2010-11-06T08:39:00.001-07:00

Sometimes we know the truth, but we close our eyes so that we will not see and come under obligation. When we deliberately close our eyes to hide from the truth, we impose spiritual darkness and confusion upon ourselves and "we grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men" (Isaiah 59:10).

"Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house"(Ezekiel 12:2).

Amulek was such a man, a man who knew the truth and the ways of the Lord but was "inactive" and disobedient until an angel changed his heart and prepared him to become a companion and assistant to Alma. His words are interesting. He said, "I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people. Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart" (Alma, 10-:5-6).

Amulek was like the people mourned by Christ, whose "heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them: (Matthew 13:15).

Choosing to close our eyes, so that we do not see truths that obligate us to change and improve is defined by the Lord as sin. "But if he repent not of his sins, which are unbelief and blindness of heart" (D&C 58:15).
This self-imposed blindness angers the Lord because it frustrates the purpose of our coming here and wastes our probation.

"For thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off: (Moses 6:27).

October Sky

2010-11-01T21:35:00.001-07:00

We had a family Halloween party last night with the three girls and their children. It was a blast!

Rachel looks straight out of the closing scene of Mama Mia!

Sara made this scary but tasty 7 layer dip.

Frankenstein and his Bride were the hit of the night. When Trace revved up his chain saw even the adults were frightened. You had to be there. It was dark in the barn, even though you can't tell because of the camera flash, and then he did a mean and scary voice. Emma burst into tears and called him 'stinkypants'. We'll pay for her therapy:)

The scarecrow contest was new this year and I was so impressed by the girls efforts. Even Trace got into the event. Bundy's took first place with the naughty 'mooning' pumpkin!

The pumpkin contest has gone on for years. We started this when we lived in Liberty. Petersens went home with the blue ribbon this year with their brown werewolf rendition.

If you have a party to host, always invite Lindsey over to help you decorate!!

Some of the kinder went with me to Dinosaur Park while it was still decorated for Halloween. These kids cannot get enough of that place.

Cody and Caleb went deer hunting and Cody bagged this buck, which delighted his son to no end.

I forgot the warning not to put bubbles in my jacuzzi bathtub and turned Jaken into a bubble boy. He is standing up by this point and begging to get out!

I love October, and this year more so than normal. We journeyed to Portland for Kennedy's baptism, which was a highlight. She is such a lovely child. She has her mother's constant smile. Their smiles are their trademark. For her gift, we gave her eight five dollar bills tied to a candy bar and balloon. A sign that said 'give me five...happy birthday Kenna' was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs and she had to run through it like the football teams do. She thought it was pretty cool. In Stacey's stake, the kids get baptised on Sunday, which I think is genius. We tended the kids one night while Stacey and Todd went downtown for an overnighter. On our last night we threw a little Halloween party and the kids went trick-or-treating to several doors at their own house. A real crowd pleaser. Stacey didn't want them to have any candy so I gave them little toys and more healthy items. I made chili, cornbread and mummy dogs. Trace invented his Frankenstein costume and gave little Brody a fright when he knocked on his door.

Only Martha for Halloween

2010-10-26T20:55:00.002-07:00

Trix or Treat

2010-10-25T20:54:00.002-07:00

Recipe on Bakerella

Candy Corn Madness

2010-10-25T20:49:00.003-07:00

Recipes on Amy Atlas

Taking the Cake

2010-10-25T20:23:00.005-07:00

I HIGHLY recommend the following recipe!

Chocolate Lover's Dream

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2 1/2 c. flour

3/4 c. cocoa

2 c. sugar

1 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1 c. sour cream

1/2 c. veg. oil

1 t. white vinegar

1 c. hot water

candy of your choice

Combine flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Add eggs, vanilla, sour cream, oil vinegar and 1 c. hot water. Mix with a wooden spoon until batter is smooth. Fill cupcake liners half full with batter. Press several pieces of candy bits of your choice into batter...Rollo's, snickers, Hershey kisses. Put more batter on top of candy. Bake for 18- 20 minutes.

Frosting:

1 c. butter

6 oz. chocolate...melted and slightly cooled

2 c. marshmallow cream

3/4 t. vanilla

10 T. powdered sugar

Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and chocolate together until fluffy. Reduce speed to medium and beat in marshmallow cream. Add vanilla and sugar, increase speed to medium high and beat, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally until smooth and fluffy. Chill 20 minutes before spreading.

Hay Hay Paula

2010-10-13T16:12:00.006-07:00

I follow Paula Deen on facebook and she gave these cute ideas plus the recipes. It's worth following her! Also FYI, I have put my favorite decorating, party and recipe sites on my blog now under Learning Sites. More will follow. Keep checking! There are some FABULOUS ones. I especially want to recommend THE DATING DIVAS because they give some wonderful ideas for good dates with your husband.

Be the Change

2010-10-10T09:50:00.022-07:00

In talking to MANY, many women who's husbands suffer from pornography addiction I find myself SO frustrated. What saddens me is the fact that our precious young LDS women are marrying men who bring this addiction to the marriage and they aren't given a head's up and offered the CHOICE of whether to proceed with the marriage, at the time of engagement. If these young men were given more help at the beginning, they wouldn't proceed to the later levels where they leave the videos and computers and act out with real women. Because by then it is usually too late for a marriage to be saved. And maybe not because the wife won't forgive, but because the men don't want the wife anymore. I had an e-mail this week from a wonderful young woman that just crushed me. Her 12 year temple marriage failed because of her husband's pornography addiction and his unwillingness to repent and save his marriage. Something needs to change.

My point to this is that mothers and wifes need to be more proactive. I do believe that most mothers probably don't have the ability to handle a son's (or daughter's) confession to pornography. And that is why I highly recommend the book by Gerald Curtis; The Worth of Every Soul. Reading this book gave me so much compassion and insight into the feelings of just one man suffering from this affliction. And they do suffer. I totally believe that. I am angry about many aspects of this terrible problem, but I am not one bit angry at those who view pornography and wish they could stop. My heart goes out to them.

In all the reading I've done and all the women I've talked to, and all the experts I've listened to, pornography almost always starts before a man gets married. They have the mistaken idea that once they can have actual sex, their problem will go away. We need to counsel our daughters to just ASK their fiances if they do porn. But girls are just thinking about the wedding dress and not this monster of a problem lurking in their future. So now they are married. And they still don't ask because it is just so far from a possibility. But pretty soon the husband starts wanting to do kinky stuff or they stop wanting to have sex at all. Or she sees something on the computer. So THEN she asks. I'm suggesting, ask SOONER. Don't be so trusting and naive. We ARE living on the most wicked planet ever before created. That ALMOST makes me want to say: they aren't to blame. Wives, just suffer through and let it work out in the next phase. I'm just saying.

So solutions. Well, mothers/wives, steal yourselves for the possibility. Read on the subject and develop compassion and understanding. Install a surveillance system on your computer. Buy Dr. Kevin B. Skinner's book and 5 Cd's entitled Treating Pornography Addiction. Also purchase these 6 Cd's; Strengthening Recovery Through Strengthening Marriage. Link here. Encourage anyone you know who is struggling with this to seek counseling and attend a 12-step program sponsored by the church.

A change in solving this epidemic needs to happen. Be a part of that change.

Spector

2010-10-05T14:04:00.005-07:00

You are only $100.00 away from knowing what is happening on the computer in your home. This is a small price to pay to find out what the children/husbands in your home are doing on the computer. EVERYONE should have a filter installed on their computer. We have k-9 web protection. Be aware that men who view pornography, however, can find ways around a filter. That is why I think THIS is such a marvelous invention. Spector is installed in a stealth mode so that it is not easily detected. Spector is the world's most popular Internet Monitoring and Surveillance solution. (If I had a job where I used a computer at work I would be very careful and only use it for business purposes. Many people I know get on their blogs and facebook, etc. while at work.....you never know if your boss is spying on you. I'm just saying.) Install it on the computer you wish to monitor and start receiving copies of their chats, instant messages, emails, web sites, keystrokes, plus it provides screen snapshots and much more. It automatically sends you, to your own email, exact copies of the above mentioned activity.

And F.Y.I.....my husband does not view pornography!

Getting Serious About Pornography

2010-10-03T09:08:00.001-07:00

Imagine a drug so powerful it can destroy a family simply by distorting a man's perception of his wife. Picture an addiction so lethal it has the potential to render an entire generation incapable of forming lasting marriages and so widespread that it produces more annual revenue~~$97 billion worldwide in 2006~~than all of the leading technology companies combined. Consider a narcotic so insidious that it evades serious scientific study and legislative action for decades, thriving instead under the ever-expanding banner of the First Amendment.

According to an online statistics firm, an estimated 40 million people use this drug on a regular basis. It doesn't come in pill form. It can't be smokes, injected, or snorted. And yet neurological data suggest its effects on the brain are strikingly similar to those of synthetic drugs. Indeed, two authorities on the neurochemistry of addiction, Harvey Milkman and Stanley Sunderwirth, claim it is the ability of this drug to influence all three pleasure systems in the brain--arousal, satiation, and fantasy--that makes it "the piece de resistance among the addictions."

According to Dr. Victor Cline, a nationally renowned clinical psychologist who specializes in sexual addiction, pornography addiction is a process that undergoes four phases. First, addiction, resulting from early and repeated exposure accompanied by masturbation. Second, escalation, during which the addict required more frequent porn exposure to achieve the same "highs" and may learn to prefer porn to sexual intercourse. Third, desensitization, during which the addict views as normal what was once considered repulsive or immoral. And finally, the acting-out phase, during which the addict runs an increased risk of making the leap from screen to real life.

This behavior may manifest itself in the form of promiscuity, voyeurism, exhibitionism, group sex, rape, sadomasochism, or even child molestation. The final phase may also be characterized by one or more extramarital affairs. A 2004 study published in Social Science Quarterly found that Internet users who had had an extramarital affair were 3.18 times more likely to have used online porn than Internet users who had not had an affair. Among other things, the Withersponn report is a stern warning to all married women to take seriously the signs of a sexual addiction, before it is too late.

The Stats On Internet Pornography

2010-10-01T20:01:00.001-07:00

1. 12% of the websites on the Internet are pornographic. That's 24,644,172 sites.
2. EVERY SECOND...$3,075.64 is being spent on pornography. 28,258 Internet users are viewing porn.
3. 40 million Americans are regular visitors to porn sites. 1 in 3 porn viewers are women. 70% of men ages 18 to 24 visit pron sites in a typical month.
4. In the US, Internet porn pulls in $2.84 BILLION per year. The entire worldwide industry is worth $4.9 billion.
5. 2.5 billion emails per day are pornographic. That's 8% of all emails.
6. 25% of all search engine requests are pornography related. That's 68million a day.
7. 35% of all Internet downloads are pornographic.
8. Utah has the nation's highest online porn subscription rate per thousand home broadband users: 5.47
9. 34% of Internet users have experienced unwanted exposure to porn either through pop up ads, misdirected links or emails.
10. There are 116,000 searches for "Child Pornography" every day.
11. The average age at which a child first sees porn online is 11.
12. 20% of men admit to watching porn online at work. 13% of women do. The average porn site visit lasts 6 minutes and 29 seconds.
13. The least popular day of the year for viewing porn is Thanksgiving.
14. The most popular day of the week for viewing porn is Sunday.

Home Tour Part 1

2010-09-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

Free picture collage generated with Smilebox

Home Tour Part 2

2010-09-28T16:29:00.003-07:00

This picture collage generated with Smilebox

Home Sweet Home

2010-09-26T21:09:00.002-07:00

Getting To Work

2010-09-26T15:57:00.003-07:00

Barn Raising

2010-09-25T15:43:00.002-07:00

This is the spot we decided to build the barn on...what's this WE? I mean Trace decided to put his barn. His grandson, nephew and 3 son-in-laws helped him get started. He fell of the ladder twice, the second time breaking some ribs. No good. Finally he healed and was able to complete the task. We love having a place to put all the tools, snow blower, lawn mower and such. You can never have too many tools I have come to find out. 5 hammers...yes they are ALL needed.

We Love Camping

2010-09-22T07:14:00.001-07:00