vacation-sunset and old friends

I don't know who the person walking on the beach is, but the sun came out on Sunday, and therefore there was a sunset (that we could see...or be blinded by as the case may be). Notice the sun is setting over the trees...I was looking in the wrong spot on Saturday for the setting sun, but the fog was so thick, I couldn't tell.

Actually, the sun was also out on Friday, but Denise's ankle was sore from her fall into the ocean, so we stayed at home so she could keep her foot up (which is now fully healed).

By the way, Sunday's high temperature (which was the hottest day of the week we were there) was about 70º. sigh. It was so nice.

As wonderful as the sun and temperature were, there was something even better.

Backtrack: Last August when Glen and I were in Brookings with our kids, I was surprised to see someone from my BYU ward my junior and senior years...Alan Brown and his family. His wife, Michelene was my sister's roommate that last year and is one of the ones who put on a little wedding reception for Deni and Pat (who married the day after we graduated). Anyway, the Browns were there on vacation, visiting from Utah.

This past week I wondered about the Browns...and there they were in Church on Sunday! So this time Deni and Michelene got to talk and Deni got filled in on what happened to some of the people they knew. Unfortunately it was the one place I didn't bring my camera this week, so no pictures. But it was so cool.

vacation-sunset adventure?

Another foggy day...there was just a tiny bit of sun today and of course it was while we were eating dinner.

After we replaced Deni's cell phone this morning (turns out we could do it in Brookings and didn't have to go to Crescent City again!), we visited a few local shops, then spent a few hours on the foggy beach. There were a few moments we saw our shadows, but never really saw the sun. It was glorious anyway.

Sunset??? Who could tell?

Sunset was supposed to be at 8:42, so Mom, Deni, and I (knowing we wouldn't really see the sun set) drove to the beach and watched the ocean. I took pictures, of course. So, I took a photo at 8:42, right when sunset was to occur. But of course all we could see was fog. Too funny.

vacation-another adventure

I took this photo up at the lighthouse in Crescent City, California. I love it.

OK, I've decided that calling things from my vacation "challenges" makes it sound like the vacation is a chore, so I'm switching to the word adventure.

The big adventure for today was Denise falling into the ocean. While I'm nice enough not to print the picture I took of it, I'm not nice enough not to mention it! I'll do that in a minute.

Dad, Deni, and I took a little trip on Thursday morning. First we went to the Jedediah Smith State Park and walked a trail and took some photos. Deni took a picture of Dad and me to post on my blog.

After the forest, we continued on to Crescent City. One of the things we did there was visit the lighthouse...which can only be visited when the tide it lower because you have to walk over the rocks to get there. We stayed until the tide came in...and the last foot or two of the path was covered in water.

After I crossed (getting my feet just a tiny bit wet), I turned to take a picture of Denise crossing...and she obliged me by choosing that moment to twist her ankle on a wobbly rock. I took the photo (not even realizing at the time that she was falling) right when her hands were about to hit the water. It was pretty funny...though I do feel bad for Deni. There were a lot of people standing around, but they were very nice and concerned about her, so maybe that took some of the embarrassment out of it for her. Now I wish I had thought to help her across instead of taking a photo...but too late for that thought now.

Now today we have to drive back to Crescent City...Denise's cell phone took a swim when she did and now it needs replacing. :(

It's foggy again (just like yesterday), but Deni is going to the beach for sure...

vacation- challenges: some met and unmet

OK, a challenge met: starting my Dad's blog.

Though at this time he doesn't have a post on it, but we did get it named and subtitled and put up 2 links: one to his photography club's website and one to my blog.

http://lagniappe-charlie.blogspot.com/

Challenge unmet: making peanut butter fudge.

Well, I mean I made it, but it didn't set up. It's like when we were all here in June, we failed at making no-bake cookies twice. They just wouldn't set up. Is it the moisture here or the electric stove that makes the outcome different than at home? This failure is just a tiny bit annoying...we are still eating the fudge, but are using a spoon instead of our fingers.

Challenge met: finding a trinket to bring home (like I need any more...I brought home 2 in June).

It was a beautiful, sunny day yesterday, but the wind was ferocious, so it wasn't a good day to go to the beach. Deni, Mom and I had already planned a day trip, so it turned out to be perfect timing. We drove up the coast as far as Port Orford just to look at a few little shops. At the Wooden Nickel in Port Orford I bought a new glass dangley for my kitchen window.

We also enjoyed the view of the ocean from the car window, but we did stop a few times so I could get better photos. But, just how many photos of the ocean do I need? A lot, apparently.

vacation-next challenge: finding the sun

Mom and Deni on Lone Ranch Beach

A ship coming in to the harbor...with a bit of blue on the horizon promising clear skies for later

The sun has finally come out...after we spent hours at the beach by the harbor today. It's just as well. That way we didn't get too hot (bundled in our sweatshirts, we might have had to take them off) and we didn't really have to worry about burning as the clouds were pretty thick.

Yesterday we visited Harris Beach as well as Lone Ranch Beach (just a little north of Harris). Didn't see the sun then either. But it was still wonderful.

Today we also managed to find the Slugs-n-Stones and Ice Cream Cones...I had chocolate peanut butter with a waffle cone for lunch today. It was marvelous. Amazingly my sister had never been there before. Glad we fixed that terrible omission.

And speaking of fixing things...brought the car in this morning. We needed 2 new tires for sure and one of the other ones didn't have much life left. So they paid us $10 for the one decent tire and I purchased 4 new tires. It's peace of mind for the trip home and they have really improved how smoothly the car rides.

vacation-first challenge: flat tire

My sister, Denise, could not go to BYU Ed Week
this year, but we wanted to do something together. We decided to go visit our parents in Brookings, Oregon.


Denise arrived at my house on Saturday, so she was able to be there in Church when I was called to be the new Primary President (gasp! but that's a post for a different day) and when I was set apart, so that was very, very neat.


Monday morning we set out at 7:40 and guessed we'd be arriving in Brookings at about 5 pm. We had a little adventure along the way that changed our arrival until 6:10. The adventure was this: we were stopped for construction on 44 and a few minutes after the traffic was allowed to slowly start, there was a funny noise...we had a flat tire.


We were blessed because we weren't going very fast,
we found a little niche to pull off in,
there was no traffic whizzing past us while we changed the tire (which was on the other side of the car from the traffic anyway), and
I WAS ABLE TO GET THE LUG NUTS OFF!!! (that's the biggest miracle of all).
We had all the pieces we needed,
the car's booklet was in the glove box so we had instructions (which we really needed because we couldn't figure out how to get the jack detached from the side of the trunk),
got the car jacked up,
changed the tire (which was a full-sized tire and not a doughnut-yea!).


Now, the tire was a little low on air, but it had enough. We drove a while and stopped in Hat Creek. She didn't have air but called ahead and sent us to Old Station where there was a gas station that had air. We checked the tightness of the lug nuts occasionally and managed to make it to Brookings with no further problems.


I'm so proud of us!!! I took the picture of Denise when she wasn't aware I was doing it...didn't tell her till many miles later. My arms are just a teeny bit sore today, but I'm just really happy that it all worked out so well.


I had kind of hoped that someone would stop and help us (I knew if we really needed help I should put a white cloth on my antennae, but I wanted to try it on my own first instead of acting like a helpless female) but I'm happy to say now that we managed on our own.


At one place where we stopped to check the lug nuts a man came over to us and asked us if we were the ones he had seen changing a tire. We said yes and then he said something about we were just putting our stuff away so he knew we didn't need him. It was nice to know that someone would have stopped to lend a hand if it had looked like we needed it.


Day 2 has now started...and we gloriously don't know what we are going to do today, though obviously I need to get the flat fixed and the other tires checked before we head home again.

Andrew and his cousin Mindy are in Iowa City

I missed a very important phone call this afternoon. I hope I get the details right...

Mindy, our niece, just moved to Iowa City, Iowa so her husband can attend law school there. Today she saw some missionaries and said that her cousin had just arrived from the MTC and did they know Elder Perazzo. They did! They said he was nearby. She drove around a bit and found him doing some street contacting. I'm just flabbergasted (isn't that a great word?).

So we now know Andrew is in Iowa City and near his cousin! I also know he spent $40 since arriving in the mission field (buying a used bike?). That's the extent of our knowledge. I'm guessing a letter will come tomorrow...and I won't be home to see it. My sister and I leave for Brookings, Oregon in the morning to visit our parents for a week. Glen will have to read it to me over the phone.

Can't wait.

pictures of some of yesterday's baked goods

Here is the King's Hawaiian Bread, Date Nut Bread, Yucca Buns with Pineapple Jalapeño Marmalade and a loaf of Multigrain bread. (my skills at blogging with pictures stink, and thus we have this jumbled mess. Following these pictures are the links to the recipes or the recipes themselves)

some recipes

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen yesterday. Today I am going to share the recipes from yesterday's cooking focus. I have these recipes in a word program...but I can't copy and paste to my blog (am I doing something wrong or is that to help prevent plagarism?), so here are some links as well as 2 recipes.

Here's what I made:

YUCCA BUNS (Pan de Yucca)

I ate that with Pineapple Jalapeño Marmalade (it is fabulous), which I had previosly made. Recipes can be found at:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/simply-delicioso-with-ingrid-hoffmann/yucca-buns-pan-de-yucca-recipe/index.html

DATE NUT BREAD (simply divine with cream cheese):

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/date-nut-bread-recipe/index.html

SIX HOUR TRI-TIP MARINADE:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bbq-with-bobby-flay/6-hour-tri-tip-marinade-recipe/index.html

Can you tell I love FoodNetwork???

Then I also made KING'S HAWAIIAN BREAD:

http://www.grouprecipes.com/37231/kings-hawaiian-bread---copycat.html

And this, which I could not find on-line.

EX-GRILL FRIENDS (from the Looneyspoons Cookbook)

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2" slices
1 small eggplant (about 1/2 pound), unpeeled, cut into 1" chunks
6 small red potatoes, 1/4" slices
1 medium red onion, cut into rings
1 yellow, orange, or red bell pepper, 1" chunks
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup (2 oz) feta cheese
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon rosemary (I would leave this out next time)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6-12" x15" pieces aluminum foil, sprayed with cooking spray

Prepare grill medium heat setting or preheat oven to 400º.

Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Evenly divide vegetables among the foil. Fold up the sides to create a loosely sealed pouch, so the steam can escape.

Place packets on grill and close lid or place in the oven. Cook 30-35 minutes, until potatoes are tender.

Glen recently bought a bread maker from Savers for $13. At the time I thought he was nuts, but we have been making bread just about every day...and sometimes more than one loaf. We've been experimenting with different flours we are grinding with our grain mill. It's really fun.

Anyway, here is our basic recipe and variation:

MULTIGRAIN BREAD

In order, put these ingredients in your bread maker:
9 oz water (1 cup + 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons softened butter
1 1/3 cup bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup 7-grain cereal (buy in bulk at WinCo)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

VARIATION:

I learned at BYU Ed Week last year that when making bread at least 2/3 of the flour needs to be from wheat (whole wheat or white flour) and up to 1/3 can be whatever grain you want. So we take the basic recipe from above and instead of 1 1/3 cup bread flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour, and 3/4 cup 7-grain cereal we do:

1 cup bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
and then any combination of brown rice flour, barley flour, spelt (also now available in bulk at WinCo), oat flour so that it adds up to 3/4 cup and 1/3 cup so in the end you are using just over 3 cups worth of flour.

We also have triticale (all you Star Trek fans...remember the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles?" they were eating the triticale), quinoa and millet that we haven't tried yet. Fun, fun, fun. Tell us if we look like we're gaining weight. Might have to cut back a bit.

Andrew called

We knew Andrew was leaving the MTC at 4 this morning and that his plane took off at 7:40, so we kind of guessed if he called us from Salt Lake it would be early. It was. The call came in at 5:15. We talked for about 10 minutes.

I asked if he were excited. He said, "Umm, yes." I asked why he hestitated. He said it was because he was more nervous and scared than excited. I wonder if he's feeling better now that he's in Iowa? Depending on where his first area is, tomorrow he could be going to South Dakota, Nebraska, or Illinois.

Just yesterday he bumped into Jared, another good friend from BYU (he's bumped into a lot). For those of you who know Aaron Vincent, Andrew bumped into him last week.

Due to the Provo temple being closed for cleaning for part of his stay in the MTC, he only got to attend one session there. I'm so glad he got in...I think it was 8 sessions here before he went. Don't know when he'll be able to go again. There are no temples in the mission's boundaries. But, depending on where you are serving, you might get to attend the Winter Quarters, Nebraska temple or the Nauvoo, Illinois temple. Pretty darn exciting.

He emailed us once and wrote us twice while he was in the MTC. It's his next letter that I'm really looking forward to. Can't wait to hear all his news...

adorable project

This project at stamping last night was just too cute and clever not to share. I stamp with 4 teachers and one school district employee. This idea was borrowed from gifts that the Jr High principal gave to his staff. We're guessing his wife, Amy Lords, made them. So I want to give credit where it's probably due.

Anyway, it's a note pad. The only stamping involved (which you can't see very well) is a little "just a note..." in the lower left hand corner. You take a photo frame and attach a post-it note pad to the outside, then add a few decorations. Make an insert of pretty paper, to which you've attached a "box" to hold your mini-pencil at the side. The pencil itself was wrapped in matching paper and a ribbon was tied to the top to keep it from slipping through the pencil holder.

Here is the decorated frame with the insert pulled out.

This is just to show what the picture frame normally looks like standing up, though for the note pad it gets used while it is laying (lying? I really need to learn that) down.

One final comment on the project. I realized after I made it that I was just following instructions...and since I'm left-handed, it means that my pencil is on the wrong side. Mom, guess one of the things you are getting for your birthday next month? I'll have to make myself a new one.

Now this picture is because Ryan and his cousin Brent were so inspired by the "s'mores" that they went and made mini-s'mores. It cracked me up.

stamping night-cards and s'mores

Tonight is stamping night. We bring a treat to share...I stole this idea from a friend's blog (don't know where she got the idea from). Take a marshmallow (I used strawberry flavored as well as regular marshmallows) and then dip it in melted chocolate and then crushed graham cracker crumbs. S'mores on a plate.

We also bring a stamping project for everyone to do. The idea for my card tonight came straight from the new Stampin' Up! catalog. I used their pattern and adapted it to my stamps.

Cookies for the 4th

The are 2 times each year that the extended family makes cookies: Christmas and the 4th of July. I always make gingerbread cookies and then choose something else. Kathy always makes sugar cookies and something else. At Christmas time this is OK, since there are so many shapes to choose from. On Independence Day it seems that stars are the shape of choice. Until now.

I wanted something different, so I hunted through my cutters and came up with the idea of making Liberty Bell cookies...I found a fluted spoon to make the crack on the bell with. The frosting dims the effect, but I'm still thrilled with my idea.

So, Happy Birthday America! And thanks to the men and women and their families who serve(d) in our armed forces.

Andrew's first email came

It's been a long week waiting for news from Andrew. I am on an email list for mothers with missionaries serving in the mid-west. On Monday I found out from a mother that Andrew was her son's companion. His name is Elder Tyler Lunceford and he's from Maeser (Vernal), Utah.

Today we finally heard from Andrew himself. Sounds like he's doing great. He's bumped into several friends from BYU and on Sunday he was just 10 yards away from the prophet, Pres. Thomas S. Monson, who was there to set apart new mission presidents.

We knew he was fine, but it sure is nice hearing from him and having that confirmed!