quake, anniversary, shingles

Our week started off with a 6.5 earthquake that woke us all up at 4:04 am Monday morning. I slept through the beginning part of it as to me it only lasted about 5 seconds, but someone said it was actually about 13 seconds worth of shaking. We have not felt any of the many (72 so far) aftershocks and nothing fell or broke, so it wasn't scary to me. I took the picture off the wall that usually hangs above our bed and went back to sleep.

The quake was centered in Tonopah, about 175 miles south of us. The highway between here and Vegas was damaged and they had to close it down for a day to repair it.

Andrew's done teaching his classes and the school year for his area ends this week. What a year! Congratulations, Andrew!

Glen has continued to work on the greenhouse (as well as spending lots of time in at school cleaning out his classroom). The greenhouse is almost done! There are giant windows that will be the walls. Glen hopes to finish it this week, but he has a lot to do in at school, so we'll see.

For Mother's Day (and Father's Day, Glen's and my birthdays, and Christmas), the kids chipped in and got us a Purple Bed! The mattress has arrived, but the bed frame isn't due here until tomorrow, so at this point, the bed in on the floor of the middle room. Kaellen did nap on it yesterday, but usually we just lay down on it and enjoy its cushiness. Glen and I are excited to have a new bed. Thanks, everyone!

Besides getting my gift early, so did Ryan and Angeles. As an early birthday/Christmas gift, we recently bought a subscription to Rosetta Stone for Angeles. She and I are currently studying Mandarin and having a blast. Ryan wanted a 3-D printer, so he got his gift money early, too, and bought himself a printer. They are having a blast with it, too.

Today is Ryan and Angeles's 2nd wedding anniversary. They each used the 3-D printer and made some gifts. Angeles made boxes to hold game pieces for Quacks in Quedlinburg. Ryan made a heart-shaped keepsake box. Ryan also sewed a little pillow for Angeles using a material she really liked.  Plus Angeles made a Jeopardy game where Ryan had to answer questions to earn spending money. Too much fun! These kids are so creative! Happy Anniversary, Ryan and Angeles!

Angeles dressed up as a game show host for her Jeopardy game

the boat is the test pattern that came with the printer. The orange tab was for Glen.

these are the boxes Angeles made to hold Ryan's game pieces

So, it turns out that the stabbing pain in my shoulder was from shingles, and not from a pinched nerve. I am doing so much better (ah, to sleep without pain!), but didn't do any major home projects this week. I did, however, make another batch of bagels and also some pretzel bites (with cheese dipping sauce). I used the recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe. It's my go-to site for recipes these days.

https://www.melskitchencafe.com/chewy-pretzel-bites/

So we continue to plod along and are doing well. Now only 12 days exist between Glen and his long anticipated retirement (but only 2 until his 57th birthday, which is this Tuesday). Counting down the days!

disappointing ice cream and other things

I have two weeks to cover and I haven't been feeling energetic--for almost 2 weeks now, I've had a pinched nerve or something in my back, so my productivity has really slowed down. I am feeling somewhat better, but I see the doctor tomorrow and am hoping to feel whole again soon.

Out of order we have:

It's important to know what a habanero is if you are buying something that has it as an ingredient. Poor Glen was disappointed yesterday when he bought a carton of mango and habanero sorbet swirled with coconut ice cream. He likes mangos and he likes coconut. He did not know that habaneros were spicy peppers. (He did not like the ice cream in case you were wondering.) It is weird--you take a bite and it's mango and coconut sweetness-and then your tongue slightly catches on fire (the lid ranks it 2 chili peppers out of 3 for heat).

Glen continues to work on building the greenhouse. It's coming along nicely, but it's dark outside now and I don't have an updated photo, so this one from last week will have to do.

Two weeks ago for Family Home Evening, Angeles wanted to do something different, so she organized a campfire complete with s'mores and the Jamiesons. We practiced appropriate social distancing in that the Jamiesons sat on one side of the fire and we sat on the other. Luckily it wasn't windy because Joseph had already called dibs on the non-smoky side of the fire pit--and the smoke went straight up, so we didn't have to suffer smoke in our faces. We had a lovely time.

Ben, Joseph, Kathy, Gary, and Hannah

For the closing musical number at family church today, Kaellen, Ryan, Eric, Hannah, and Angeles sang the Come Thou Found of Every Blessing/If You Could Hie to Kolob medley that is sung by the group Eleyni. It was absolutely beautiful. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying "home church." What a blessing to be together to worship.

(normally you don't take photos during church--but "home church" doesn't seem as taboo)

Today is Mother's Day and tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of the passing of Glen's mother, so we took a trip to the cemetery this afternoon to put some flowers on her grave. Yesterday marked 4 months since my father passed. We miss them both.

The men made a wonderful huge salad bar for dinner today (at my request). It was delicious. And Angeles made me some tarts. And Hannah gave me a sleeve of my favorite Girl Scout cookies--thin mints. Good day.

We got to video chat with Alex today. It's transfer time this week, but he and his companion were happy to find out that they are staying together because they have been making missionary videos and have many more good ideas that they want to turn into realities. Elder Niu likes to cook as well as make videos. He made some pies and they delivered them this morning. Sister Bytheway was kind enough to text this photo to us and to Elder Niu's parents. Alex said he helped by giving his companion moral support. I told Alex he really should learn some cooking skills from his companion while he has the chance.

I also got to chat with Andrew, Heather, and Henry today. Henry was so cute--he was so excited to tell me all that they had done for Heather for Mother's Day. And it turns out that Alex isn't the only family member making videos for Facebook. Heather made a video where she plays the piano and the violin and sings the Primary song "Mother I Love You." She has such a beautiful voice (wish I could sing half as well!).

And of course, I talked with my mom today. She is keeping very busy. her latest project is painting her bathroom. I can't wait to see it--and her. Love you mom! Happy Mother's Day!

I did manage to cook a little the past 2 weeks and Eric made doughnuts this week (I didn't get a photo of the doughnuts, but they were good!).

homemade English muffins (a little heavy, but good enough)

homemade bagels, very ugly but good toasted with cream cheese

I did manage one real project in the last 2 weeks--painting the counter in the big pantry.

before (a sage greenish color)

after (a light blue color)

And that's the brief overview. We are doing fine and hope you all are, too.