Great Shopping

My friend Karla just opened a Etsy Shop! She's got fun, homemade items at good prices, and she does a super job making them. Check it out!

Here's just one of the items. More are at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6975091 Have fun browsing!

Procrastination

Have you noticed certain chores around the house that you hate, despise, and abhor? Does it take you forever and a day to talk yourself into doing those chores? It does me. Here are a few of the things I struggle with:

I dislike unloading the dishwasher and putting the dishes away. It only takes a few minutes when I finally talk myself into doing it. It's always been this way. While I was growing up we did all our dishes by hand. Guess who ran to WASH the dishes every time. ME, because I disliked drying them and putting them away!

I detest folding the laundry and putting it away. It's slightly better now that the kids do their own laundry, but I still don't like it.

I abhor making button holes. Seriously, I can put off making button holes for years, and then finally I get it done or I give up ever wearing the item.

And last but not least...

I absolutely hate binding quilts. I hate trimming the edges, pinning the binding and getting it ready for the machine. Once that is done I hate sewing it. It's so big and bulky.

The crazy thing about all these things is that they only take a small amount of time to do once I get started, but I waste so much time getting started. It takes 10 minutes to empty the dishwasher, 10 minutes to fold mine and Tom's laundry, 15-30 minutes to make button holes and 2 hours to bind 3 quilts, but sometimes it takes me years to get around to it.

The procrastination is the hardest part. You'd think I'd take the easy road and not procrastinate, but then, that would be too hard!

Special day

October 20, 2009

Happy Birthday, Tom!

I've been so blessed to have this wonderful man in my life for 25 years now. That's more than half my life. I truly can't think of what life would be without him. I think it would be totally boring, actually.

Thanks, Tom, for all the great adventures through the years.

Bread and Races

While we were doing all the canning a week ago my Magic Mill mixer gave up the ghost and we ordered a new Bosch. After about 5 days and I still hadn't heard a word from the company, Tom called them and found out that the order hadn't gone through. So we got online and ordered through a local company called Harvest House. It was going to cost $100 more, but we figured we'd at least have somewhere to take it if we had problems in the coming months.

That afternoon, Harvest House called to tell me that because of a special they had going they could save me $75! Then she asked when I wanted the Bosch delivered. She asked if I wanted it that day and where I lived. I gave her directions and then she said, "We'd want to beat the traffic. Will you be home in the next hour?" OF COURSE, I WILL! I was so excited! Not only that, but she called back today to see how my new machine is doing.

My favorite bread recipe:

Whole Wheat Bread

6 cups warm water

2/3 cups oil

2/3 cups honey

2 Tbsp salt

2 Tbsp yeast

1/3 cup gluten flour

1 Tbsp lemon juice

16 cups whole wheat flour (approx.)

Blend water, yeast, oil, honey, salt, gluten flour and lemon juice with about 9 cups of the flour. With mixer on, continue to add more flour until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Beat on medium to high speed 10-15 minutes, until gluten is formed and dough becomes elastic. Mold and place in greased bread pans. Let rise until about an inch above the pan while preheating the oven to 400 degrees. Put bread in preheated oven and lower the temperature to 350 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes. Makes 5 loaves.

Now for the racing...

Tom was talking to his aunt last time we were in Utah and she told him the best thing she ever did was start running marathons when she was 50. So he came home and found the Barber to Boise 5k run to enter.

Tom and Tim before the race


Here's Tom warming up for the race.

Below is Tim warming up (or should I say...goofing off with James)

Tim is nearing the finish line!

Here comes the old man!

After the race

Hannah said, "Mom, we should train for the 5k walk next year." I think it's a great idea.

From the frying pan, into the fire...

My motto today is..."Ready or not..."

A few weeks ago Bishop extended a new calling to me...a calling I've always known I would have the opportunity of doing, but didn't look forward to doing. In fact, I had so successfully told myself that it would be years yet before I was asked to do this, I was totally shocked when he asked. Immediately the Spirit entered the room and I knew I was supposed to do it at this time. I have been on pins and needles ever since. I've experienced such a variety of emotions and thoughts.

Today I was sustained as the new Relief Society president in our ward.

Most of the time I'm anxious, nervous, just plain scared, and feeling inadequate. The rest of the time I know I trust Heavenly Father. I know that through Christ and His atonement I can do this. I know as long as I do my best He will be there to make up the difference. That is a very good thing!

So, here we go to new experiences, new duties, new lessons. I'm nervous about the future, but I'm excited about it as well.

Whew!

60 pounds pumpkin grown in our garden = 12 quart pumpkin puree and 10 pint pumpkin pie filling

3 boxes grapes from a neighbor = 15 quart grape juice and 21.5 pints grape jelly

20 cups granola, 2 loaves zucchini bread and one pumpkin pie = happy family

all day in the kitchen = exhaustion

58.5 full bottles on the pantry shelves = priceless

7 quarts are in the cooker

pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling

juice and jelly

granola and zucchini bread

TGIF!!!

What an incredibly long week!

My kitchen manager had jury duty this week. She was called in on MONDAY morning. So I went to work 1.5 hours early.

Wouldn't you know it...she got picked for a jury. Not just a quicky jury either. They will be in court for TWO WEEKS! And that's BEFORE they start deliberations!

So all week going to work early, working with subs (not that they are bad, just different than normal), dealing with the district...It's been an interesting year already.

By Wednesday I thought it should be Thursday. Thursday should be Friday, and I nearly cried to think today wasn't Saturday, and I still had to go to work.

But it's over now!!! It's the weekend, baby! I'm going to enjoy it, finish getting rid of my cold, bottle the pumpkins and some grapes, get a nap or two, finish reading a book or two...!

Anyone got some fun date ideas for tonight?

Mini/Working Vacation

The working part was successful. Tom and the boys explored BYU-I campus so they could attend general priesthood meeting. They met an Elder who served in our stake and is now attending BYU-I. This young man is majoring in the same thing John wants to do...psychology...so John was able to talk to someone in his major. We also found an apartment for John. He just needs to apply for that now.

Here's the Vacation part...

We drove a loop from Rexburg through Driggs, Idaho Falls and back to Rexburg. It was fun to see the scenery, but didn't make listening to conference very easy.

Rexburg Temple

The Tetons

Idaho Falls Temple

We saw snow off the road so Tom stopped and the kids had a snowball fight.

Then we needed a restroom. The sign said the trailhead was 6 miles down a dirt road and we figured that was the closest restroom so we went on an adventure.

Finally!

On the way home we decided to take the back roads. We went through Arco, past Craters of the Moon, and on into Twin Falls where we attempted to watch conference with my sister in her teeny tiny apartment. Most of us slept...had the best nap! Good thing we can catch conference on the internet. It wasn't the most successful conference weekend we've had, but it was the only one we had to make the trip.

Craters of the Moon

On the way to Twin we got snow.

This is Linda's new house. She had put an offer on it when we were there Sunday. Monday she let us know that the offer had been approved. Can't wait!