Over the Weekend

We watched 8 hours of conference and baked more bread in the sun.

The Walds stopped by with a surprise visit from Arizona
(Fred Wald was a missionary here 7 years ago).

We had a nice visit and shared some sun bread and Kindall's honey with them.

Between conference sessions on Sunday, we took the camera and a picnic to Rocky Creek Farm (again--Addie and Daddy didn't get to go on Friday).

Here are Addie, James, and Heidi on a tower of hay.

James, Heidi, and Addie on the farm truck.
Our family on the farm truck.
Addie, James, and Heidi with the pony.
Heidi, Mama, James, Daddy, and Addie in the pony yard.

James and Addie at the sign.

Looks like it was a good year for squash at the farm, too!

(We grew TONS at the ranch)

Heidi swinging

Addie swinging

Addie and James watching the pigs.

***

This morning we lost our "Ranch Grandma", Vivian Ellison. She has been in the hospital suffering from teh effects of a stroke for a month, so it is probably a great relief for her to pass on. Now she can continue her great love story with Grandpa Melvin after 18 lonely years. We wish comfort and blessings for her entire family.

Otherwise, the week has been fairly uneventful--cooking, cleaning, school, homework, meetings, laundry, etc. Life is good, fall is beautiful, and we are looking forward to the holidays!

***

PS: Here are some kitchen tips for ya:

1. I think the best seasoning for scrambled eggs is Trader Joe's Everyday Seasoning. It comes in a little grinder and it's so very good.

2. This is a super yummy recipe I tried this week. It's sure to become a staple for us...

PEANUT NOODLES & CHICKEN (click for link)
1/2 pound linguine (or spaghetti or soba)
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/3 cup peanut butter (chunky was so good!)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 pound cooked chicken, shredded
1/2 cucumber, peeled and cut into 2-inch matchsticks
1/2 cup bean sprouts (I used tiny celery slivers instead)
Directions
1. Cook linguine following package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
2. Mix together the soy sauce, lemon juice and cornstarch. In a medium-size saucepan, combine peanut butter, garlic, sugar, red pepper flakes and 1/2 cup hot water. Whisk in the soy sauce mixture and bring to a simmer. Whisk until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in the sesame oil.
3. In a large bowl, toss together linguine, chicken and peanut butter mixture. Scatter cucumber and bean sprouts over the top and serve at room temperature.

***
This is what THE GIRLS were doing during Saturday Afternoon session...

Girls During Conference 10.02.10 from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

Week in Review

Last Saturday we tried out our new solar oven for the first time.

We heated up the oven to about 320 degrees (it was 70 outside, with a breeze, but the sun did its thing), then put in some risen bread dough--see Heidi putting in the bread pan.

James, Addie, and Heidi watching the bread out back.
Bread cooking in the sun.

Almost ready...

Addie with a fresh-solar-baked loaf of bread.

Saturday was a FUN, SUNNY, work-around-the house kind of day.

I really enjoyed the Women's Broadcast that night!

On Sunday afternoon, Addie baked me a birthday cake while I was napping. She made this by herself and ceven cleaned up her mess (mostly). Earlier that morning, she and Heidi woke us up and told us they had breakfast for us. They made cheesy scrambled eggs, toast (from the solar bread), and sausage patties with juice and cleaned up after themselves, too! Lucky me!

My in-laws gave me some mad money for my bday so I got a good cut-and color on Wednesday.

***

Today (Friday) was FIELDTRIP DAY! James and I sepnt the WHOLE DAY with school kids!

This morning at 9:45, we walked with Addie's class from the school to the nursing home. Addie's class is adopting grandparents for the school year.

Here are the kids in the lounge getting orientation for the activities director.

Learning our way around
***

At 11:00am, we walked back to the school and joined Heidi's class for a trip to Rocky Creek Farm (about 20 miles west of town).

We had a picnic with all the first graders.

Then we took a hayride out into the fields to pick a pumpkin.

There were lots of fun things to see on the hayride--James spotted a witch!

Heidi on the hayride.

Heidi with an armful of apples, ready to make cider!

James and Heidi tossing apples into the chipper.

[the chipper is kinda fierce]

Tova (L) and Heidi at the Rocky Creek sign

James and Heidi at the sign

There was a bunny for sale under this flower cart.

James running to the Hay Fort.

Heidi on top of the Hay Fort

James hiding inside of the Hay Fort

Heidi petting the sheep.

James and Heidi after a great day at Rocky Creek Farm!

***

We stopped by to wish Aunt Debbie & Uncle Kurt a happy birthday (they have the same bday--isn't that cool) after our field trips and now we are cozy at home, excited for an awesome CONFERENCE WEEKEND! Woo-hoo for getting edified in your jammies! You should join us HERE-- that's where we'll be basking, all weekend long. What ever you do, this weekend, ENJOY!

Makin' It Strong Where You Belong

I've been thinking about my brothers and sisters a lot this week. I found an old mix CD and put it on while driving James to the soda fountain yesterday and I guess my emotions were too close to the surface because this old song just made me sob. Remember how it was our anthem? (Willy, Laura, and Lisa might remember anyway). It definitely stands the test of time. I love each of you so much. I am thankful that we've had eachother to face (and sometimes create) life's challenges with.

LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE
Livin' on free food tickets
Water in the milk from the hole in the roof
Where the rain came through
What can you do?
Tears from your little sister
Cryin' 'cause she doesn't have a dress without a patch
For the party to go
But she'll know she'll get by—‘cause she’s

[chorus]
Livin' in the love of the common people
Smiles from the heart of the family man
Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can, as she can

It's a good thing you don't have a bus fare
It would fall through the hole in your pocket
And you'd lose it in the snow on the ground
Gonna walk into town to find a job
Trying to keep your hands warm
When the hole in your shoe lets the snow come through
And chills you to the bone
So now you better go home where it's warm

Livin’on a dream ain't easy
But the closer the knit
the tighter the fit
and the chills stay away
You take 'em in stride
With family pride
You know that faith is your foundation
With a whole lotta love and a warm conversation
But don't forget to pray
Making it strong where you belong [repeat chorus]
--by John Hurley

Birthday

I spent my birthday morning catching up on laundry (which I was happy to do)--I had about 4 loads to fold or hang up and I got that done by 9am, did a little yoga, then hopped in the shower. I enjoyed all the facebook messages and phone calls--THANKS!

After my shower, James and I went on a date to Western Drug's soda fountain. He got a circus sundae, I got a vanilla coke. He played trains (they have a play area), I window shopped.

James and his treat

all gone!


The seats at the soda fountain are saddles--giddyup!

***
After the soda fountain, we came home to get my stuff ready to go to Billings and got phone calls about my mama going to the hospital (dang). I had a wonderful lunch with my dear friend Debbie at her house, then we headed out for the temple.






The first part of our temple visit was totally mortifying to me. First, I wanted to rent a temple dress but forgot to bring a dollar cash. They said people do that all the time and it's no big deal, but still--how lame. Then during the sesssion (in which we served as witnesses), when I opened my freshly -laundered temple bag, little pieces of lint flew EVERYWHERE--I had washed a Kleenex in my bag and hadn't noticed. I just about died of embarrassment. I wished for a dustbuster! But then we went into the celestial room right at sunset--west end of the room is all stained glass windows, so you can imagine the stunning illumination. It reminded us of our morning in Paris exactly 2 years and 2 days ago, when we were the first people to enter Notre Dame just as the sun was rising and we saw it pour through those stunning rose windows. Such a good memory!

Billings Temple Birthday from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

After the sesh, we had a WONDERFUL dinner at Johnny Carino's and stopped by World Market to get some european chocolate. Because my birthday is also the day we discovered Tunnock's Caramel wafers in Edinburgh, Scotland. THAT birthday ROCKED.


But so did this one. The cherry-on-top was when TLC's "No Scrubs" came on the radio and I got to pump it up and do my award-winning karaoke (my love for TLC knows no bounds, may Left-Eye rest in peace). So now I'm 39 (but I wish I were 40, cuz I've felt 40 for about 30 years). Woo-hoo.

Ya Say It's Your Birthday?

It's my birthday, too!

Happy, Happy Birthday to

Aunt Marti & Abby!

1972--my first birthday with Auntie M
my 31st birthday and Abby's 3rd
PINK CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Monday was a Good Day

James and I cooked all day long...a triple batch of Cookhouse Chili, Corn muffins, cinnamon rolls, and granola (all to freeze or share with ailing friends).
James was my cinnamon man!Go chef James!

Kinda looks like a mad scientist, er, mad chef here!!!

YAY, cinnamon rolls!

***

Tuesday began with me doing breakfast dishes while listening to NPR and I was so surprised when Joseph Smith and Moroni were on Writer's Almanac [click to read] with Garrison Keillor. Garrison read Joseph Smith's description of Moroni so beautifully. It was a nice start to my day, and the poem of the day was really beautiful, too.


***

We also made granola and it is YUMMY. Here's the recipe:

Alton Brown's Very Flexible Granola Recipe
Ingredients
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup cashews

[or 2 cups of whatever nuts you have on hand

--we used pecans and walnuts and 3 TBS toasted sesame seeds]
3/4 cup shredded sweet coconut
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup

[Maple is not my fave, so we used molasses--mercy, it's GOOD!]
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins [or tiny pieces of any dried fruit]

Directions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar.

In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, oil, and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color.

Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.

I Made "Greek Chili" This Weekend and It Was So Good

2 pounds bone-in chicken breasts, skin removed
2 cans (15.5 ounces each) Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
3 tablespoons Greek seasoning
2 teaspoons paprika
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 zucchinis, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 fennel bulb, trimmed, cored and sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
Directions
1. Combine chicken, beans, tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of the Greek seasoning and 1 teaspoon of the paprika in slow cooker; add broth and 1 cup water. Cover; cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours.

2. When there is 1 hour cook time remaining, heat oven to 425 degrees F. In a large roasting pan, toss together 2 teaspoons of the Greek seasoning, 1 teaspoon paprika, zucchinis, onion, fennel, garlic and olive oil. Roast at 425 degrees F for 35 minutes, stirring twice. Stir in lemon juice, oregano and zest.

3. Remove chicken; shred into bite-size pieces. Discard bones and stir chicken back into slow cooker. Stir in vegetables, remaining 1 teaspoon Greek seasoning and salt; cook an additional 15 minutes. Sprinkle with feta cheese, if desired.

***

Also, check out Kimmy-Kim's North Carolina blog HERE.

More Farewells

This is me and my friend, Bridger "BJay" Smith outside the White House in 1996.

This is me and my friend, Jessica Juett, outside the capitol in 1996.
Not long after this, Bridger and Jessica got married and made a happy home in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

This is BJay, Jessica, and their four gorgeous children, Christmas 2009.
Even though we live all the way across the country, Jess and I have been good pen pals and our kids exchange fun packages each year. This year, Hila (far right) even wrote her own valentines to my kids! They are the cutest family.

Last weekend, they took a family vacation to North Myrtle Beach. On Monday morning (as we were driving to Logan, Utah to bury Grandpa Bill), an "unexpectedly strong tide" pulled four of them out to sea. BJay saved Jessica's mom and three children, but lost his own life.
You can read more about him HERE.

Today his little girl, Hila, turned seven. Tomorrow is his funeral. It makes me pretty heartsick, but I know those same blessings that were poured out on my family just two weeks ago are being poured out on my dear friend and her babies today.
***

After a busy day in Logan, I checked the internet to get details on this story and see what, if anything, had been mentioned on facebook. I found this beautiful sentiment on Jessica's page:

Thank you, everyone for your love and prayers. I feel them. There is a lot of love in the world, it is a powerful thing. It makes you do things you think you can't. And save people who mean more to you than your life. I am thankful for that. I am thankful for my life, for my children and that I married the champion of my heart. Our life together was wonderful.

That is amazing grace, Jessica.

***

So yet another Saturday at 10:00am, my body will be here, but my heart will be with loved ones at a funeral for a good man--this time in Pinehurst, North Carolina, instead of Tucson.

God bless you, Dear Smiths!

***

Today I got an email letter from my cutie cousin, Joseph Elrey, who is serving as a missionary in the New York Rochester mission. I hope he won't mind if I publish a sentiment here:
" The times when I am most obedient are the times when I love the mission the most. I think about the influence of our hero and the wonderful ways he has shaped and influenced my life. He is such a part of me. When I do something right I know I did what he would have done and when I receve praise I know I have made him proud. The best part about it is, in looking at everything he has taught me and desired for me, I realized something: He was my best example of being Christlike. When I do something right, I know it's not me acting like grandpa, but it's me being like Him whom I represent and it never was the praise of my grandfather but the praise and satisfaction of my Savior. I love my grandpa! Hey, go get his cowboy hat from off the porch and save it for me--the one he always wore to do yard work in and sit and love the sun in. Boy, it will be nice to sit with him again and instead of admiring the beauties of the earth we can admire the beauty and expanses of the universe. Ha! That will be a treat!" [-Joseph, 09.17.10]
I have felt that way often and said so in Grandpa & Grandma's 50th Anniversary book. Today I wrote back and shared this story with Joseph & Uncle Sam:
I had a dream, a very vivid dream after I came home from visiting Grandpa in April. In the dream there was a monsoon shower, a really fierce one, and everyone was battening down the hatches, so to speak. We were in an unfamiliar house, one with an arched balcony overlooking the desert--like Ballantyne's up on Sunrise or something. Anyway, Grandpa was in a wheelchair and he and I were sitting on the balcony watching the storm roll in and when it got really fierce, Marti and Gram wanted him to come in and kept calling him from inside. He told me to get him a blanket because he wanted to stay out. I brought it to him and tucked him in all cozy. Then he told me to shut the door so nobody would tell him to come in. And the the storm just poured and the thunder crashed and it was BEAUTIFUL (like the night of their anniversary party). He held my hand and said, "I want you to remember this forever."
So on that "farewell" weekend in August for the anniversary party, I was praying all weekend for a full-blown monsoon storm, but it never came--it just hung over us all weekend. UNTIL the party was over and I was driving up to Phoenix to catch my plane. The sky over the desert was literally FULL of lightning, over and over. I was SO HAPPY. Later I realized that it was probably the last storm my Grampy would watch, the very last time we would be together in this life, and I was so thankful.

Quite the legacy. I miss this:

Gram & Gramp with Heidi, James, and Addie on James' blessing day, October 2006.

Grampy last summer in Alaska...livin' the dream.

Farewell at Logan Cemetery

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