Cold winter day

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New From Huntsville AL

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Chestnuts Roast on an open fire

Ok we learned that if you roast nuts on an open fire while still in their shell they blow up! is that just my kids or do others try things like this too?

I had just gathered a lot of pecans, and brought them in and layed them out in front of the fire to dry out a bit. (Rain rain go away come again another day)

When what do you think my kids would do they tried roasting them, at first they cracked them from the shell and then toasted them. Then Ben wanted to see how one would burn. and yes it blew up.(They thought I didn't know) I figured they learned their lesson. Anyway, about 30 min later, bigger boom. I say Ben what the heck? He said, Well I was roasting it and it fell into the fire and I didn't think it would do anything and then it blew up. I said ya only this one was bigger than the last one. He said, I didn't mean to drop it this time......

December 2008

December 2007

Anderson

More Southern & Then Some

Here are some Recipe Titles

Game section
Oriental Armadillo
Barbecued Armadillo
Baked Armadillo
Easy Quail
Dove Hockey
Doves on the Grill
Henry's Dove
Stuffed Wild Duck
Southern Quail Smothered in Gravy
Quail in Mushroom Gravy
Dove Pie
Braised Pheasant
French Caretaker's Raccoon Goulash
Orange Duckling
Roast Duck & Wile Rice
Sour Cram Rabbit
Buck Wild Chili
Hassenpheffer
Fried Wild Turkey Strips
venison Prima
Venison Ragout
Venison Supreme

Vegetables Section
Grilled Asparagus
Apple- Carrot Bake -See Mormons aren't the only ones who use carrots in everythign
Carrot Sticks in honey
Collard Greens
Brussels Sprouts With Sauce
Mom's Purple Cabbage
Jalapeño Cabbage
Hot Hominy
Hominy casserol
Oven-Fried Okra
Fried Cucumbers
Fried Okra & Squash
Creole Okra
Onion Pie
Potatoes Magnolia
Baked Vidalia Sweets
Squash-Cornbread Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole
Fried Pumpkin
Sweet Potato Apple Casserole
Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
Shredded yams
Stuffed Tomato Salad
Tomato Pie
Green Tomato Casserole

Cakes Bars & Frostings
Mock Apple Torte (made with Zucchini sounds like a Mormon thing)
Buttermilk Beauty Cake
Doodle Cake
Hummingbird Cake
Jam Cake
Fig Cake
Holy Cow Cake (sounds like a Mormon Thing)
Hurricane Cake
Lemon Supreme Nectarine Cake
Preacher Cake
Mayonnaise Cookies
Kool-Aid Pie (Now I should have come up with that one!)
Hospitality Pie
Squash Pie (Wow looks like another Mormon Thing)
Mock Pecan Pie, using pinto beans ( we did have that at a how to use beans RS Night)
knee Caps
Funnel Cake
Homemade Honey
Pickled Watermelon Rinds
Pumpkin Preserves
Hot Pepper Jelly

And Then some
Lye soap
Organdy Magnolia Leaves
soap carving

Freezing Fresh Corn-On-The-Cob

I found this in a cook book I bought a few months back, I Really thought it was a great Idea, the cook book is titled "Southern and Then Some", A Cookbook by Alabama Farmers Cooperative,Inc

Freezing Fresh Corn-On-The-Cob
Don't keep going through the hassle of blanching all that corn once you have shucked and silked it. Instead, place corn on the top rack of your dishwasher and run through a regular cycle, (-the soap) I really works. Then place in zip lock freezer bags and freeze

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Relief, but sorta concerning

“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big
enough to take away everything you have.”
- Thomas Jefferson

This came from a friends blog, and I really liked it I have seen it before, but it really fits now.

Our Freedoms are now at risk, it is our duty as citizens to follow closely the comings and goings of congress, and the big man on the hill. It is our time to flood or congress men and women, local leaders with email, & phone calls every time one of our rights are at risk. We need to let the real voice of America be herd loud and clear. Keep congress honest, and true to the basic freedoms and rights that we have. Having all of our right provided to us by our founding Fathers we won't know what we really have until we loose it. Study up, and learn what is ours to protect. here is a few good web sites.

http://www.nccs.net/
http://www.garynorth.com/
www.lewrockwell.com
http://www.libertarianparty.org/

Take care and become educated in what is going on
Sarah

As our Family grows!

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Girls Day Out

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Fishing Rodeo Week

September 27, 2008 was a day that I won't be forgetting for a while. It was out district annual Cub Scout Fishing Rodeo! I had tried to get help, but because of some other distractions, I forgot to get the sign up sheets out and filled. I was in a bit of a panic, I had a huge event and no leader help. I sent a call for help out at church and the volunteers came in, I had more than enough people to help out. Although the list was small, we figured the rodeo would be equally small, there hadn't been many people register. We figured it was because of Big Spring Jam http://www.bigspringjam.org/ . But on with our show. We ended up having 150 cubs and their families sign up that day! (so much for early registration) We were so excited to have so many show up, We were sort of scrambling to get everyone signed in, which meant someone had to go get more copies of stuff made, and in the end, someone had to go get more food for lunch. Curtis our DE helped out with that. He was our runner and dude he ran! The week before the rodeo, I had a strict schedule of things that had to be accomplished, Monday, cut cane poles (bamboo) Tuesday class A uniform and follow up on donation requests. (Huge thanks to Gander Mtn. Target, Domino's pizza, Bridge Street Town Centre, Hobby Town USA, Bait Busters, and some others I can't recall right now) Wednesday, Cut more cane poles, (Thank you Kevin Kitchens), and follow up on porta-johns, acquire a key for the park. and get the grass cut.(come to find out we weren't even on the calender.) got everything lined up. make it home to get the kids ready for scouts. Thursday, meet with Curtis & Garret and make sure everything is is line, stuff 250 goody bags. Friday get the last of the preregistered scouts, and key to the storage room. Then on top of all that, Tuesday was Ben's therapy appointment, and Thursday was a therapy appointment for a friend that I drive for.

Then came Wednesday evening.

Then Wednesday night CeAnna came down the hall of the church how with the Elders, and announced that we were going to the fireside the Missionaries had planned for the following evening. I rolled my eyes and just couldn't figure out when or how that would fit in. Then came the pleading look of the Elder she was with. (the one I gave a good lecture to the Sunday before). I knew I had to go, I just didn't know how it would fit in. Thursday evening CeAnna and I went to the most amazing fireside I have ever attended, the main speaker was a new member of about 2 months, his testimony was so amazing. Before the Elders found him he was 100% atheist and proud of it. The spirit was amazingly strong, like lightening as he spoke. It felt so good to just forget about the rodeo for a while and to be able to get refocused and re-centered on what is really important in this life. Then as I went through out the week and I would pass by other members and see their smile, and say hey, it was so good to feel their spirit for just a quick minute. So as crazy as the week was, it was a week full of extremes. I am just so thankful for everyone that does what they are suppose to do so that as I breeze by them, I am able to feel of their sweet spirit, and be reminded that I am a Child of God, and that Heavenly Father does love me and does watch out for me. I am so thankful for all the angles that also support me in all I do.

In the end we had a very successful event, and I am still supper excited about next years fishing rodeo. And I don't like to fish!

Confrence week end

Dang Mary, I wish I could get my words out as good as you do, but Elder Holland's talk was only conformation to me, in all I do, and these scary roads I drive on, I know daily there are angels all around me and helping me. The week before the fishing rodeo, was extremely crazy.

This weekends conference to me was more like a spirit booster and reminder of what is need to be done before Jesus Christ can come, and that he will come, the battle against evil is very real, but No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, righteousness will prevail and I can either continue to help, or I can get mowed over.

"The Standard of Truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame. But the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and dependent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, until the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah will say, 'The work is done.'"

This has always been one of my more favorite quotes that I memorized as a missionary, I can't believe how much of it I have forgotten, gonna have to work on that one.

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General Relif Society Meeting

Last night although I was all the way exhausted I decided I would go down to the church to attend the Relief Society Meeting rather than just watch it at home. Prior to the broadcast from SLC we had a local stake RS meeting, so it was more in support of that than anything. I soon found my friend who what equally exhausted, and we just sat off to one side chatted and caught up a bit, and then went on into the chapel for the General RS meeting. As it started, I had a different feeling than normal. Usually I don't really care for these meetings, for one reason or another, but the biggest being, I don't see myself as being old enough to be in RS. The feeling I felt this time was the same feeling I had about 13 when all of my sisters were together in Boise and we all attended together. For some reason I really wanted to be sitting with all of them right then. Soon the meeting started, I felt the spirit and enjoyed the talks, mostly the straight forwardness of them. They were very bold about what we should be doing. Something I am very thankful for. One of the best quotes was by Sister Barbra Thompson who quoted Joseph Smith. "If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates. When I herd that one I was ready to jump up and head out and get to work again. I always knew I had extra help, now I knew it was a promise. The next time that really caught me off guard was during the song "Now Let Us Rejoice" just about the end of the first verse, I knew I was united with all of my sisters in singing this song, it was the same broadcast at the same time and I knew they were all there with me singing this song, so I just sang louder. (apologies going out to everyone who had to hear the earthly tones of my heart) It has been a while since I went to the church to watch the broadcast with, but it sure felt good and I am very glad I went. I think I am not starting to get RS, what a wonderful program here for everyone, not just the "RS" type.

My name is Joe Porter. I live in Champaign , Illinois . I'm 46 years old,
a born-again Christian, a husband, a father, a small business owner, a
veteran, and a home owner. I don't consider myself to be either conservative
or liberal, and I vote for the person, not Republican or Democrat. I don't
believe there are 'two Americas ' - but that every person in this country
can be whom ever and what ever they want to be if they'll just work to get
there - and nowhere else on earth can they find such opportunities. I
believe our government should help those who are legitimately downtrodden,
and should always put t he interests of America first.

The purpose of this message is that I'm concerned about the future of this
great nation. I'm worried that the silent majority of honest, hard-working,
tax-paying people in this country have been passive for too long. Most folks
I know choose not to involve themselves in politics. They go about their
daily lives, paying their bills, raising their kids, and doing what they can
to maintain the good life. They vote and consider doing so to be a sacred
trust. They shake their heads at the political pundits and so-called 'news',
thinking that what they hear is always spun by whom ever is reporting it.
They can't understand how elected officials can regularly violate the public
trust with pork barrel spending. They don't want government handouts. They
want the government to protect them, not raise their taxes for more
government programs.

I've never found a candidate in any election with whom I agreed on
everything. So when I step into that voting booth, I always try to look at
the big picture and cast my vote for the man or woman who is best qualified
for the job. I've hired a lot of people in my lifetime, and essentially
that's what an election is - a hiring process. Who has the credentials? Whom
do I want working for me? Whom can I trust to do the job right?

I'm concerned that a growing number of voters in this country simply don't
get it. They are caught up in a fervor they can't explain, and calling it
'change'.

'Change what? ' , I ask.
'Well, we're going to change America' , they say.
'In what way? ', I query.
'We want someone new and fresh in the White House ', they exclaim.
'So, someone who's not a politician?' , I press.
'Uh, well, no, we just want a lot of stuff changed, so we're voting for
Obama', they state.
'So the current system, the system of freedom and democracy that has
enabled a man to grow up in this great country, get a fine education, raise
incredible amounts of money and dominate the news and win his party's
nomination for the White House - that system's all wrong?'
'No, no, that part of the system's okay - we just need a lot of change.'

And so it goes. 'Change we can believe in.' Quite frankly, I don't believe
that vague proclamations of change hold any promise for me. In recent
months, I've been asking virtually everyone I encounter how they're voting.
I live in Illinois , so most folks tell me they're voting for Barack
Obama. But no one can really tell me why - only that he's going to change a
lot of stuff. Change, change, change. I have yet to find one single person
who can tell me distinctly and convincingly why this man is qualified to be
President and Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on earth -
other than the fact that he claims he's going to implement a lot of change.

We've all seen the emails about Obama's genealogy, his upbringing, his
Muslim background, and his church affiliations. Let's ignore this for a
moment. Put it all aside then ask yourself, what qualifies this man to be my
president? That he's a brilliant orator and talks about change?

CHANGE WHAT?

Friends, I'll be forthright with you - I believe the American voters who are
supporting Barack Obama don't have a clue what they're doing, as evidenced
by the fact that not one of them - NOT ONE of them I've spoken to can spell
out his qualifications. Not even the most liberal media can explain why he
should be elected.

Political experience? Negligible. Foreign relations? Non-existent.
Achievements? Name one. Someone who wants to unite the country? If you
haven't read his wife's thesis from Princeton , look it up on the web. This
is who's lining up to be our next First Lady? The only thing I can glean
from Obama's constant harping about change is that we're in for a lot of new
taxes.

For me, the choice is clear. I've looked carefully at the two leading
applicants for the job, and I've made my choice.
Here's a question - where were you five and a half years ago? Around
Christmas, 2002. You've had five or six birthdays in that time. My son has
grown from a sixth grade child to a high school graduate. Five and a half
years is a good chunk of time. About 2,000 days. 2,000 nights of sleep.
6, 000 meals, give or take.

John McCain spent that amount of time, from 1967 to 1973, in a North
Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp. When offered early release, he refused it.
He considered this offer to be a public relations stunt by his captors, and
insisted that those held longer than he should be released first. Did you
get that part? He was offered his freedom, and he turned it down. A
regimen of beatings and torture began.

Do you possess such strength of character? Locked in a filthy cell in a
foreign country, would you turn down your own freedom in favor of your
fellow man? I submit that's a quality of character that is rarely found,
and for me, this singular act defines John McCain.

Unlike several presidential candidates in recent years whose military
service is questionable or non-existent, you will not find anyone to
denigrate the integrity and moral courage of this man. A graduate of
Annapolis , during his Naval service he received the Silver Star, Bronze
Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. His own son is now
serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq .

Barack Obama is fond of saying 'We honor John McCain's service...BUT...',
which to me is condescending and offensive - because what I hear is, 'Let's
forget this man's sacrifice for his country and his proven leadership
abilities, and talk some more about change.'

I don't agree with John McCain on everything - but I am utterly convinced
that he is qualified to be our next President, and I trust him to do what's
right. (ed. note: Can any Democrat say this about Obama?) I know in my
heart that he has the best interests of our country in mind. He doesn't
simply want to be President - he wants to lead America , and there's a
huge difference. Factually, there is simply no comparison between the two
candidates. A man of questionable background and motives who prattles on
about change can't hold a candle to a man who has devoted his life in public
service to this nation, retiring from the Navy in 1981 and elected to the
Senate in 1982.

Perhaps Obama's supporters are taking a stance between old and new. Maybe
they don't care about McCain's service or his strength of character, or his
unblemished qualifications to be President. Maybe 'likeability' is a higher
priority for them than 'trust'. Being a prisoner of war is not what
qualifies John McCain to be President of the United States of America -
but his demonstrated leadership certainly DOES.

Dear friends, it is time for us to stand. It is time for thinking Americans
to say, 'Enough.' It is time for people of all parties to stop following the
party line. It is time for anyone who wants to keep America first, who
wants the right man leading their nation, to start a dialogue with all their
friends and neighbors and ask who they're voting for, and why.

There's a lot of evil in this world. That should be readily apparent to all
of us by now. And when faced with that evil as we are now, I want a man who
knows the cost of war on his troops and on his citizens. I want a man who
puts my family's interests before any foreign country.

I want a President who's qualified to lead.

I want my country back, and I'm voting for John McCain.

It is not a black and white issue, it is a right or wrong issue.

It is late, I am tired, but I wanted to post some thoughts from listening to stuff on the elections today. If I didn't know any better Obama could really win me over. But in the back of my head every time, he says more government jobs, (only he doesn't say government) it is stuff like, jobs on highways, jobs to help better educate our children, there is another one I just can't thing of it. so basically government jobs. I think higher Taxes. Then when when this AIG thing came aboard and I can't remember if it was Obama or Biden that said, "If Bush hadn't gone all happy about cutting regimes, we (the government) would have had the power to just step in and help, with out it having to go to congress. Wow that was scary. Now for a side note less government, less regimes (btw regime means: A government in power) So when Obama wants more regimes that means he wants More power for the president, or government, with out having to go through the people, (congress)

Now on the other hand I really don't agree with a lot of what McCain is doing, but I do sort of agree with the comments that McCain's party had to say over Obama's. My favorite by far is what Ron Paul's group had to say. Let it be, and yes it might hurt a bit, but it will work it's self out. Lets think about this, if I forget to go to Church on Sunday, and nobody is there for the nursery lesson, and to set things up and so on. Heavenly Father isn't going to step in and make it right, just because others might have to suffer because of my negligence. No someone would realize I wasn't there, and they would try to cover for me.

Just as one last thought, I think America really messed up when Ron Paul had to step down.

One sunny day in 2009, an old man
approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue ,
where he'd been sitting on a park bench.
He spoke to the Marine standing guard and said,
'I would like to go in and meet with President Barack Obama.'
The Marine replied, 'Sir, Mr. Obama is not President and doesn't reside here.'
The old man said, 'Okay,' and walked away.
The following day, the same man approached theWhite House and said to the same Marine,
'I would like to go in and meet with President Barack Obama'.
The Marine again told the man, 'Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Obama is not President and
doesn't reside here.
' The man thanked him and again walked away.
The third day, the same man approached the
White House and spoke to the very same Marine, saying
'I would like to go in and meet with President Barack Obama'
The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said,
'Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Obama.
I've told you already several times that Mr. Obama is not the President and doesn't reside here.
Don't you understand?'
The old man answered, 'Oh, I understand you fine. I just love hearing your answer!'
The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, 'See you tomorrow, Sir!'

Who next

Dear Mr. Obama,

It is August 30, 2008. My name is Mark Gregg. I am a 50 something conservative white male. I have followed your campaign closely, including the speeches you and others made at the democratic national convention. I am respectfully providing you with seven simple (probably shallow) reasons why I could never vote for you. I believe my opinion is shared by many people. While there may not be quite enough to prevent you from becoming president of this nation, I do think there is an awakening to the fact that you are not a (the) messiah that the media and liberal Hollywood entertainers are trying to portray you.

1. I hear your mantra of change, change, change. Yet, you picked a long term, liberal, Washington insider (Joe Biden) to be your running mate. This is NOT change. It is a move that hypocritically refutes the very thing you supposedly stand for. Your campaign then slammed McCain for picking Sarah Palin, apparently, because she is NOT a Washington insider. She is a maverick who cleaned-up Alaska’s quagmire of political scandals. Which way is it, Barack? Is it okay for you to pick a Washington insider under the mantra of “change”, but not okay for John McCain to pick a smart, aggressive, reformer?

2. You have the single most liberal voting record in the senate. This indicates to me and others like me that you may very well be an angry black man seeking to punish our country for sins of a different generation. I am not racist. I have some biases just like you and every other human alive. Unlike the Democratic party who claims to be for the minority (but their record heavily refutes this), I will give any person who truly needs help, help. I married a “minority” girl 35 years ago (she is Hispanic) and have seen the evils of prejudice first hand. However, I have also seen my wife and my children and others in her family throw off the veil of self imposed prejudicial bondage and move ahead. They love our country and do not view themselves any different than I view myself as a citizen of this country. Your lovely wife so disappointed people like me during this campaign when she stated it was the first time she had ever been proud of this country. She apparently never noticed the massive aid we give dozens of other countries. She apparently never noticed the sacrifice of literally millions of veterans who helped make this country a free nation and helped liberate other nations from brutal dictators such as Adolf Hitler. She apparently does not remember that she attended Ivy League universities with scholarship money that ultimately (at least some of it) was paid for by our taxes. This troubles me more than you know. She is an angry black woman who appears to not like her country very much. I don’t want her representing me to the rest of the world.

3. You claim Christianity but apparently do not realize that the Bible teaches that he who does not work, does not eat. The Bible does not say or even suggest that he who CANNOT work, should not eat. Yet, your liberal policies reward people who are capable of working, but choose to not do so. This bothers me. I know that if you are elected our taxes will spiral upwards. You should heed the words of Winston Churchill: “We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.” If I like anything about you, it is your campaign promise to balance the federal budget. Unfortunately, we have heard this a huge number of times from a number of different politicians and we realize that when you energize the very liberal Nancy Pelosi, Robert Byrd, Ted Kennedy, etc, etc, and the many other Democrats like them, a balanced budget will never, ever happen on your watch.

4. During your question and answer session with Rick Warren of Saddleback Church your answer concerning the question of where does life begin, stunned me: “Above your pay grade?” Does this mean when something bad happens as President of this nation that you are going to look at your salary to determine if you can respond? I am sorry, but this was the most serious gaffe I have seen you make. Frankly, it shows me that you are pandering in the most obvious manner. You will choose your words not from your heart, but from an agenda that I believe is still hidden from the American people.

5. If anything stands out about you it is probably your appeasement mentality. In this era of rampant, radical Islamic extremism and with the latest stunt pulled by the re-energized Russian government, I am not sure appeasement is healthy. I again revert to the words of Winston Churchill: “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”

6. You and your party tacitly believe that a 13 or 14 year old girl must have the parents approval to have the school nurse provide them with a Tylenol when they have a headache at school. Yet, this same girl can become pregnant and the school can skirt her off to a clinic and abort the child in her body without the parents knowing or being notified. This scares the hell out of me. You have two little girls. Would you be upset if this happened to them and you were not informed? Then why do you stand for this? It makes no sense to me.

7. My seventh and final point (for now) is your supporters. I have watched the Hollywood entertainers that support you, systematically embrace Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and others like him. I see the continuous smut and garbage produced by Hollywood, the very people who promote you the most vigorously. It is not a positive point to me and others like me to see these over-paid, bizarre, poor examples of human existence fawn over you and push you and your liberal agenda as hard as they do. The way that I see it; When the devil is for you, we should question whether or not we should be against you.

In closing, I just want you to know that you scare me. I cannot vote for you. It is not because of your skin color. It is because these items and many, many others like them. Do not claim that my dislike for you is race based. It is because I do not feel you have the best interests of this nation at heart.

Respectfully,

Mark A. Gregg

My Next Life

In my next life I'm gonna be a bear.
If you're a bear, you get to hibernate.
You do nothing but sleep for six month.
I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate,
you're supposed to eat yourself stupid.
I could deal with that, too

If you're a bear, you birth you children (who are the size of walnuts)
while your sleeping and wake to a partially grown, cut cuddly cubs.
I could definitely deal with that.

If you're a momma bear, everyone knows you mean business.
You swat anyone who bothers your cubs.
If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too.
I could deal with that.

If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling
He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat!

Yup.... Gona be a Bear

1 year ago this week

Last year at this time me and my family were all gathered together in SLC Utah preparing for the funeral for Ruth Nick and Audrey. (my sister, her husband and youngest daughter). At about this time to the day one year ago, I was out shopping with CeAnna, Megan, and Adrienne. We all wanted something purple to wear to the funeral and viewing, at DJ's request. (DJ is now known and Joie,) It was a break from the norm for that week, and the four of us ended up have a ton of fun! For starters there is Me the one in charge I don't really care for shopping, then there was Megan, who's definition of dressing up is a skirt and a T shirt, nothing frilly or even puffy sleeves at all! Then there is CeAnna who is either all girl or all tom boy depending on the day. Then there is Adrienne the Queen of all shoppers, who learned form the best Ruth. (that is what she says anyway) It made for a very interesting outing. CeAnna and Megan quickly found their purple outfits, that of course included a skirt and a shirt, then came Adrienne, I liked it she didn't, she liked it, it wasn't in her size, and on and on. I think we had about 10 outfits to try on, I ran back for a different size of something, and on the way out of the left corner of my right eye I saw the outfit, grabbed it to, I was trying to get Adrienne to hurry a bit, we were on a time line. So now imagine all the stress, Sister and family die, one is still in the hospital, we had been working on information, getting the viewing ready, pictures, flowers, program, along with keeping up on DJ and her needs and including her in as much as we could. So here we are waiting for Adrienne to hurry and go through her outfits, finely I get this idea that if she just hands me the clothes she has already tried on, and I would put them back on the hangers, and put them on the reject rack. So Just after asking her to hand out the clothes she had already tried on, a lady walks out of a stall, and then over the top of her stall comes all the outfits she didn't want. The lady and the clothes collided and Adrienne was laughing inside her stall, (she didn't know that all the clothes that she just threw (not handed) landed on top of and in front of this lady and I was now getting one evil eye from hell!) So after she left, I just bust up laughing, and because I was the one in charge I told her "I said hand them out , not throw them over the stall door" then I told her about the lady that they landed on , and that only helped us laugh harder. So did it actually help get things done faster, I don't know, but we did make it to the viewing on time, so no regrets here, I don't shop there, I don't live there, neither does Adrienne, so no harm done. It really was a shopping experience I won't ever forget.

Pictures

Check out my slide show, that will change with the weather too. I see the world & dream in pictures, not words. So enjoy which ever part you choose.

What is the last thing you will say.......

Two years ago in September our family to a trip to Southern Utah for Fish Family Reunion, the first for his side of the family, and everyone knew it would be the last for his grandma Betty Fish.
So we pack up our thing for a fun filled extended weekend on Smith's Mesa, we hiked all over the place, got dirty, thought about how we would fight a fire if it got any closer than it did, and help redo the water pipes and bury them that came down from the spring that gave them water in the cabin. We knew we were really short on time, but wanted to spend time with my family, I kinda threw them for a loop, and said because of time we only had time to go to SLC, for a day, and then the next morning we were going to head off back across the US to Alabama. Somewhere headed up the state of Utah, Ruth convinced us to just swing by her house and check out their unique cement home, it wasn't that far of I-15 she said. And from there it was a straight shot to Mary's not a big deal at all. Well after driving about 30 min we get to cedar fort. and then to the Home of Ruth and Nick. Yes unique it was, but then so was Nick and Ruth, I wouldn't expect anything else for them. But it was very much them, and it was a nice home, I sort of teased her about her ceiling and told her it was really creative, I really liked the barbed wire as crown molding. Most of all I liked her collection of lamps and old thing and how she decorated it. Then we got a phone call Nick was on his way home, and he was going to stop and get some hamburgers for dinner. So while we waited for Nick, Ruth convinced us to hike up to the water tower, I tried really hard to just sit and chat, but nooooo she wanted Chad and the kids to be able to find some Cedar fort follicles. I didn't have good hiking shoes on, in fact after getting to Mary and Tim's I had to go out and replace my shoes so I had something casual nice for Temple square. Yes I could have gone and gotten out my work shoes I had used on the Mesa but they were buried, and I just didn't want to unpack the car just to repack it again. So that was my lazy call not Ruth's, I just blame her for everything because it was a miserable hike. It had just burned and it was super dusty! and then the Hill up to the water tower, well that would be considered a mountain in these parts. For some reason I ended up with Audrey on my back and she had the purple pack that I now have, full of water, camera (I think) and snacks for the kids.
My kids had a blast, they loved every bit of it. Chad even found some cool follicles, although he really didn't want to be out there too. Chad and the kids went a head, Ruth took on my granny pace and we just talked and walked. When we got back Nick almost had the hamburgers ready, we ate and then headed over to Tim & Mary's. Just for the record, it was more out of the way than just on the way. The next day we spent with the rest of the family and yes Ruth and the girls were there too, It was a very fun packed stress free day, that went by way to fast. As the day came to an end and every one was saying their goodbyes, I just had to let Ruth know my feelings about the hike, but also that I was glad she dragged me up there. In future chats and what ever, I would give her grief about it's just out of the way, it isn't that far, when she planed her trip to the South East in April 07. She was going to see Esther, and then her brother in law Chris. And this time it was me trying to tell her it wasn't that far out of the way, It would only add about 300 miles onto her already planed trip, not a big deal, then what surprised the heck out of me is when she came back and said ok we can do that. But in the end Nick couldn't get off work, and she didn't feel safe driving that distance alone with just her and the girls. (I think she flew into SC and then drove to AL, and then flew home from Montgomery) I don't really remember why, we didn't plan on meeting up with her in Alabama, I would have gone in a heart beat, but it was never a topic we discussed. Oh well guess I will have to wait to get the answer on that one. I really hope it wasn't me that put it off. I do know that the main focus of her trip was to See Esther and her family, and Chris and his family. yes we were 3rd on the list, because she had just seen us in September. I had thought about surprising them in SC but I was just there in January, and I knew how big their apartment was. So it was what it was, because it is what it is. I would like to think that if I could live it all over again, I wouldn't be so negative about the hike, and that I really would have taken the time and enjoyed it better.

Night of all nights,
Last night started out like almost any other night, went to sleep with out almost no issues at all, and then out of the blue I was startled awake like nothing else, I don't remember the dream, don't know if I want to either. But once awake almost I had a RSL attack from no where like nothing else I have experienced. I only say RSL because that is the best I can describe it. At first I thought it was drugs gone wrong, way wrong! but I checked my heart rate and that was fine, breathing was fine, I could do simple tasks with no problem. So I knew I didn't need to go to the hospital. I tried relaxing, with some of my normal tricks, as I waited for the requip to kick in. It was only getting worse, my arms and legs were shaking like I was having a seizure, only I wasn't (I don't think anyway) because I could talk to Chad, and I was being fairly reasonable under the circumstances.
He wanted to take me into the hospital, but there was no way I wanted to go there, I couldn't explain it to him, how could I explain it to a Dr. I couldn't get comfortable in my own house, how in the heck was I going to get comfortable at the hospital. So he asked if he could give me a blessing. (the whole time I am shaking out of control, worse than baby shakes, except it was just my arms and legs) He gave me a blessing, and was very straight forward, and right to the point. I bless you that you will be able to relax, long pause, I bless you that you will be able to be comforted and rest. long pause I bless you that you will be able to sleep well, long pause, and then he ended. I just having Chad a wake and talking to me was 100% comfort in and of it's self little alone a blessing too. I came out got a drink of water, took CeAnna to the bathroom turned off her 1:00AM alarm. and went to bed, and was asleep just about that fast too. I had a dream, Ruth was there Brushing my long hair (except it is really short right now, my dream hadn't caught up to my hair cut yet another story) We were just talking about everything and how it was all okay, not to worry. I don't know why I don't worry about her, I worry about everyone else, epically the Jarman's and Joie. And Joe & his family. I worry about everyone else about the same and just what they are dealing with and the stress going on in their lives, but I don't think worry is the right word, I spend time thinking positive compassionate thoughts and sending them your way. (the prayer in my heart thing) Along with daily prayers. I don't think it was actually Ruth in my dreams, but I do know she really had issues with RLS and we would have a lot of conversations on that topic. I do think she was close by in spirit, and wished she could make it better for me. It was a really freaky night for me, that ended feeling really close to my sister.

Hot Peppers

Over the years living in a family who likes to grow HOT peppers, I know that when you handle them the oil can burn your hands. This really hasn't really ever bothered me until last year! When I decided to cut up a whole bunch of peppers all at once, ohhh very painful. There are a lot of suggestions to do to prevent this from happening, and treatment if it does happen. So this year I took the suggestion to wear gloves. (duh sort of a no brainer from last year's experience) So I was off and ready to do stewed tomatoes, with peepers and onions. I took me about 2 hours to cut up all the peppers and onions, and when I was done I put the latex gloves in the garbage, washed my hands and proceeded to finish up the project! OHHHHHH burning hands just like the year before what the heck. so I did a Google search again and found... don't use latex gloves the oil seeps through latex. So once again my hands were on fire. I tried the rubbing achol, I used powder, dish soap, laundry soap, baking soda, orange cleaner, Tylenol, and I even tried to find our ocean potion. (CeAnna loaned it out to someone) l l I didn't want to waist milk on my burning hands, but that was a suggestion. So I headed out to find some ocean potion, found something like unto it, used it once, and my hands were all better. So if you are going to be working with peppers, wear safety goggles, (I use my normal glasses) and don't use latex gloves.
I have some heavy duty green vinyl gloves to try next time around! Anyway happy cooking with hot peppers!

The AC

When it comes to an AC unit, they use a lot of juice, and make a lot of noise, and make your home very comfortable during any season. When the AC stops working what a night mare, all of a sudden this thing that made your home comfortable, is a ball of stress, and where the heck is the money going to come from to fix this beast. First thought, well there didn't used to be AC units, I will just tough it out for awhile. Well after a day of that you wish you would have called the AC guy a week before it broke down so there was no down time. Ok so the broken AC wasn't really that bad, we didn't have to actually go with out this year. But the thought of having to relive last year quickly came to mind. Then the reality of what was really wrong, a plugged drain line. My first thought was ok where is the drain-o. Good thing we didn't have any on hand, or I probably would have used it. So my next thought was call Kevin (the AC guy) who is also a friend of ours so I went a head and put our friendship on the line and called a professional to help me fix our AC unit with out having him come over, or paying him. Just simple information that I sort of found on the internet later on. I am thankful I did talk to him before turning to the internet, that would have made life really interesting. Anyway His first words were you didn't use drain-o did you? He knows me too well. he went on to say simple get your shop vac and just put it on the other end of the drain and let it suck it out, if it doesn't come out call me back. I figured if it didn't come out I would get Chad up in the attic with the air compressor and I would be at the other end with the shop vac. Well it really didn't need anymore than the shop vac, and it came right out. Now for our next problem. Because AC drain lines are known to get plugged they have a drip pan under them, to try to prevent them from having them bust in the ceiling of the room it is over. (This really did happen in AZ very funny story) Well our drip pan was set in so the water would run away from the back up drain and not to the drain, so there was a drip pan full of water that wasn't draining in the attic, do we just let it evaporate. or do we get the shop vac up there and clean it out. We cleaned it out. Nasty! then we followed the directions we found on the internet. dump bleach down the drain, and then clean water, that really made a difference in the clear part of the drain that we could see. Anyway here is the list of common AC yearly maintenance I found on the internet stuff anyone can do, as long as they own a shop vac. (If you don't already own a shop vac, go get one, once you've had one for a year, living with out one would be like living with out a toilet.) With notes on how we did it.

Locate the drain line. It runs from the furnace and will go to a nearby floor drain.

Step2

Visually look for clogs, debris, mold or mildew. ( there wasn't much of the drain you could see, and the actual drain from the AC unit was harder to get to than the drain at the other end)

Step3

Disconnect the line and remove any clogs by blowing air with an air compressor, running hot water through it, or blowing forcefully through one end. (Do this if using a shop vac on the other end doesn't work)

Step4

Run a solution of half-water, half-bleach through the line to kill mold or mildew. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove all bleach from the line. (we used full strength bleach, but we did rinse thoroughly)

Step5

Reconnect the drain line. Make sure the line drains in a straight downward line. This will help prevent clogs from occurring. (never disconnected ours, I guess we could have if we really needed to but we didn't)

Step6

Clean the drain pan clean to remove any debris, mold or mildew. Your drip pan is located above the heat exchange on your furnace. It is critical to keep this cleaned and properly functioning to avoid water invading the heat exchange. Rust holes in your heat exchange means the furnace needs to be replaced.

Step7

Perform this maintenance on your condensation line annually and any time you see water coming from the drain pan.