Angels We Have Heard on High

Feeling it with the giant headphones!
(I'm a nerd!)

Kalani, my student

Recording Studio aka mi casa
p.s Graham slept through the whole thing!

I teach harp lessons. I have for years, but as of right now I have only taken on three students. Finding a babysitter for three hours a week is hard enough! One of the greatest parts about having so few students is, I can really focus on each one and what they need. Kalani is one of my students and is very talented, but she needs a goal to push her forward. Through the late summer she struggled practicing and I was getting a little worried she was losing her passion for the harp. But then she came up with the idea to record some of her music for her Grandparents that are on a mission in Hong Kong. Well, this was the goal she needed! We decided to pick 10 songs and work hard on perfecting them for a CD. I asked Marty to help us record the CD and of course he said yes. (On the side- Marty is truly the sweetest, most selfless person on this planet. He sacrificed his whole night and even acted interested in our recording session! He is editing the recording and took the best pictures of Kalani for the cover of the CD. He is truly the best and I love him!) The night was a success and Kalani played beautiful. Her sister even came over to play a Christmas Duet on the piano for the last song. Kalani was so happy and it made me so happy. I love teaching. It is so rewarding to see someone you care about learn a talent, sets goals and acheive them.

REDBOX

Lean over the keyboard whilst entering your password to foil spies.

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This is really what the top of the REDBOX web-page reads on the reservation page!

It totally made me laugh!

Our Party!

When I was young my Grandma would take Suzy and I to Utah Lake to feed the ducks. It was a highlight for me that still brings a smile to my face. My Grandma would pop fresh popcorn and divide it up into two brown paper sacks. We would ride down to the lake in the back of her sedan (with the pink towels covering the seats... that is another story) and we would hop out and the party would begin. The ducks would surround us as we gave them of our goodies. I loved it! I still do! And that is why today I took Graham to Jamestown (we didn't have enough time to go to the Lake) to Feed the Ducks. I'm so sad that the video I took of him didn't work (I had it on the wrong setting, stupid me) because the noises he was making were priceless. He was so excited that he was squealing. It was a party with me and Graham. I knew he would like it... he's my son, how could he not?
I also know my Grandma was looking down at us smiling on our party.

She taught me well.

Me: "Don't grab the bars... the duck will bite your finger!!!"

Graham's thoughts: "Mom, quit saying my name... I'm trying to feed the ducks!"

This little piggy...

Over the last month I have been "eating meat sparingly." It hasn't really been very hard because I don't love meat all that much, but tonight I really, really wanted some Bacon. Yes, bacon. Bacon is really so good- it is crispy, salty, and full of smoky flavor. So tonight Marty wasn't home and it was just me and my bacon. I only ate a few pieces (which I've been known to eat a dozen at the Little America's buffet), so I thought I did pretty good when it came to giving in!

So do you have any secret foods you indulge in when no one is around?

Do tell!

Will's Pit Stop

Who would have thunk'd?

Something for us all to be grateful for this November!

Simple Math

a big salty pretzel + hand-mouth reflex = Graham forgetting he has on a huge puff coat

open cupboard + bundt cake pan = kitchen expedition

a role of toilet paper and a plastic pumpkin + a happy Graham
=
a 15 minute shower with no interruptions

Who is excited?

Me!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Delicious!

I realize I don't post very often about cooking, which is funny because I cook all the time and love it! My Grandma Sumsion was an amazing cook and would make feasts full of flavor and love. I would look forward to Sunday dinner at her home each week, especially her famous mashed pototoes. My own mother is a wonderful cook and has been my go-to gal for cooking questions as I've learned to cook and bake over the last several years. So I've decided I'm going to start posting great finds like this family recipe. It was my Aunt's, Madeline Westover, another amazing family cook, made famous for her Make-a-Mix cookbooks. This recipe comes from Home Cooking on Your Own. It is festive treat that's not only delicious to eat, but makes your home smell like the holidays! Enjoy!

Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce

1 1/2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
3/4 cup hot water
Lemon Sauce (below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a 8-inch square cake pan combine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Mix well with a fork. In a small bowl combine butter or margarine, egg, molasses and hot water. Add to dry ingredients and stir with a fork until batter is well mixed. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until done. Top with hot Lemon Sauce.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Baking Time: 30 to 35 minutes

Lemon Sauce

1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup hot water
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons lemon juice

In a small saucepan combine sugar and cornstarch. Add water and bring to a boil. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat, and add butter and lemon juice. Stir untill butter is melted. Serve over warm gingerbread.

Variations:
Instead of Lemon Sauce, top warm gingerbread with sweetened whipped cream and sliced bananas or peaches.

I like the Lemon Suace and the whipped cream!

Sleepy Hallow

I just have to say... I am so tired right now so please forgive me if this post trails a bit. We had a fun Halloween and I took our Little Frankenstein to Marty's work and made these breadsticks ladyfingers for the party. This is not my photo, but they looked just like this, but with red fingernails. It was very fun and not hard at all!

That evening we went over to a neighbors house for chili, cornbread and treats. Our neighborhood is the greatest! Everyone was outside (because the weather was so great) with a fire, treats, or festivities. We didn't get one trick or treater at our home, but I was so tired I didn't even care this year. I think there is a theme this month. I'm so tired! I try to keep up with everyone else, but it is wearing on my body and my soul. I've been going down on my medications, but I think I might have gone down a little too much because my heart has really been acting up this week. I feel that I should just be better and done with POTS. But really I'm just adjusting to living with it right now. Maybe I shouldn't be posting about this, but I know there are other people out there that are dealing with their day to day trials... and they are so tired too!

I'm really happy and loving doing so many things with Graham that last year at this time I thought I might never be able to do. I think that I should just stay positive, get some sleep (which daylight savings has totally thrown off Graham's sleeping and my neighbor keeps knocking during his nap so he is tired and cranky and therefore I'm tired and cranky) and I'll start again tomorrow.

I already feel better.

Thanks!