Red

Red - Reddish in color or having parts that are reddish in color

August 28, 2009

First you start with some GORGEOUS red potatoes . . . .

. . . drizzle with olive oil, season with fresh herbs and garlic (always garlic) . . .

. . . sprinkle with coarse ground sea salt, black pepper, paprika, and the surprise ingredient, brown sugar. Bake the potatoes, toss a salad, steam some carrots (cuz carrots ALWAYS go with potatoes) . . .

. . . and you have a delightful summer meatless meal.

My brother suggested the brown sugar on the potatoes. I was horrified at the thought, but he is a pretty good cook. I asked him how much, like a tablespoon? He laughed and said, no! Pile it on! I scooped out a half cup of brown sugar and started sprinkling it on and could only bring myself to put on about half of what I had scooped.

What do you know? The brown sugar added so much to the flavor, and I should have put on the full half cup!

Dirty

The tree branch finally broke. I was hoping that somehow it would hang on . . . I'm just waiting for the other one to break now. Let this be a lesson to us all - THIN THE FRUIT!!!

Dirty - soiled as with dirt; unclean.

August 27, 2009

Calvin brought me some red potatoes today. I love red potatoes, but don't frequently buy them because russet is so much cheaper. We ordered pizza tonight because I had a $20 coupon that was about to expire, so I guess these will be dinner tomorrow or Saturday. YUM!! Roasted in the oven with olive oil, onion, and fresh herbs . . . my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

3 weeks from tomorrow we are off on our trip! That means my countdown is almost under 20 days. It has been a long time coming, and will be over all too soon! I'm already shopping for next years cruise, so that will help with the depression when we come home and I have to prepare my own meals and make my own bed, and pick up after myself . . . I really should have a room steward at home.

Stitch

Stitch - A link made by drawing a thread through material with a needle.

August 26, 2009

This is the project I just finished. Christmas is coming, you know. Since this one is now done, I went on the hunt through my stuff for something new to work on. In my drawer of stitching treasures, I found 2 started, but unfinished projects. I closed my eyes and chose one. When I saw what I had chosen, I was pleased to find that it is actually almost half way done! So I set about getting myself organized to work on a new project, which includes putting all my floss from the last project back in my giant tackle box. This led to the unpleasant discovery that I have once again outgrown the space. I'll have to reorganize it, AGAIN, but that is such a long and horrid task I'll have to have some time to psych myself up for it. Anyway, I got busy on the new project, which includes many frustrating minutes of figuring out where I am in relation to the pattern. So I stitched the rock wall completely, and then started on the bridge, and realized why it is that I had put the dumb thing in the drawer in the first place. Every single square of the pattern is stitched, and it makes my eyes buggy to look at the pattern. It might have to go back into the drawer one or two more times before I can finish it. Note to self: don't get any more patterns like that.


I got Jack signed up for football today. Football starts off great, but the games are in the evening and by the time October comes around it's no longer fun. Just cold and miserable. And frequently rainy. Sometimes snowy. Not fun.

Overwhelm

Overwhelm - To present with an excessive amount.

August 25, 2009

I met with the out-going primary 1st councilor tonight to learn what this new calling will entail. I've been serving as secretary for about a year, so this will be new. I took my secretary notebook to my meeting, and came home with 3 more notebooks of stuff, plus a giant Triscuit box full of scout stuff. Wow. That's a lot of stuff. I guess I'll be doing some sorting and organizing.


I had a busy day today. It's funny how it works that way sometimes. Today it seemed like I just ran from one thing to another with hardly any time to rest, and then other days I don't have much to do. I still never got my laundry done today. Yeah, the laundry I've been working on since Saturday because I hate laundry THAT MUCH. I finally got my checkbook caught up and bills paid just a few minutes ago. I think I should have more money. Where does it all go? I guess I really shouldn't complain since there is enough to pay the bills. Thanks go to my wonderful husband who works so hard for us. (He reads this - I have to be nice!)


I finished another cross stitch project. Now I don't know what to do. I have piles of patterns that I should go through and get started again on something before I lose my motivation. I also need to hem my new cruise dress. I don't think I've ever had to hem a dress for myself before. It is an unusual thing for me to get something that is too long. I need to take it up about an inch and a half. Only 3 and a half weeks until we go!

Foolish, Dramedy, Vine-ripened

Foolish - Resulting from stupidity or misinformation; unwise.

August 22, 2009

Although I know better, I just couldn't bring myself to thin the apples on the tree. Now, as we approach the end of the season, my apples are small, and two of the branches have broken. There was a lesson in the Ensign a while back, I think the theme was on sacrifice or something, but the object lesson was about thinning peaches on a peach tree and how hard it is to pluck off perfectly good fruit in order to get better fruit. That was my problem. I knew I needed to thin it, but I just couldn't bring myself to pluck off that fruit and toss it away. Okay. Lesson learned.

Dramedy - "The Wonder Years" is an American television dramedy created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens. It ran for six seasons on ABC, from 1988 - 1993. Set it 1968 - 1973, the series tackled the social issuess and historic events through the eyes of the main character, Kevin Arnold (played by Fred Savage).

August 23, 2009

While the rest of the state of Utah was properly at the dedication services of the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple, I was sinfully at home, in my pajamas, the WHOLE day, watching episode after delightful episode of The Wonder Years, which is without a doubt the best show ever on TV. I am not a crier, I don't cry at much (I did cry during "Up"). But I cry like a baby over this show. Never let it be said that I am devoid of sentiment. Well, not entirely devoid of sentiment anyway.

Vine-ripened - Ripened naturally on the vine; not allowed to ripen artificially.

August 24, 2009

I love August tomatoes. They are gorgeous and taste even better. I made fresh pico de gallo to go with our dinner tonight with my home grown tomatoes and green onions.

Dehydrate

Dehydrate - To preserve by removing water from

August 21, 2009

I am so glad that I have 2 basil plants. I cut one almost down to the ground, dried it, and all I have left is enough to fill this shallow bowl. I should have cut it before now so it could grow again and I could cut it again, but it's one of those things that is so easily forgotten. I'll cut the other one tomorrow. Luckily, basil is something that is used sparingly, so I think it will be ample to get me through a year.



I am a firm believer that everyone needs to grow herbs. Whether you grow a garden or not, you need to grow herbs. I took an excellent class on herb gardening a bunch of years ago (for those who know Tonya Lemone, you know what I mean!) and have grown herbs ever since. There are some staples that must be in every garden: basil (annual), parsley (biannual), thyme, rosemary, chives (all perennial), and dill (annual that becomes a perennial if you aren't careful!). Sometimes I grow cilantro, but both dill and cilantro are very tempermental and I haven't had good luck with them since we moved. I'm still looking for the perfect spot where they will get enough sun but not burn up. Herbs are an excellent investment. Consider that an herb start costs about $2.50 at walmart, and then consider how much you pay for herbs in the little bottles. Especially for the perennial things that you only have to buy once. Not only is it a money saver, but also consider that if we actually had to eat what's in our food storage and garden, a little basil and rosemary for seasoning might help things go down a little easier. Provident Living, Tonya Lemone calls it. I have even grown garlic a couple of times. Once I had parsley that was so plentiful I had to give it away as gifts. Another time I had chives that were taking over the yard, and just took bunches of them to my neighbors, whether they wanted them or not (who wouldn't want chives?).



I learned a neat little trick recently. I read somewhere on the internet that if you take the root end of your green onion, and plant it in a pot in a sunny window, it will keep growing back. I have some little daisies trying to grow in my kitchen window, so I thought what the heck, and stuck some root ends into each of the 3 pots. What do you know? They WILL keep growing! I have cut back each of those 3 onions several times, and they just keep growing back. I haven't bought green onions in weeks, and you all know how I put green onions in everything! Whodda thunk?

Commence, Ripen

Just when I thought I had it all figured out how to ge the pictures in the right order, it's all backwards again. This is Jack and his friend Derek and Addie and her friend Anneliese walking home after a successful first day at school.

Taylor wasn't interested in having her picture taken this morning. I think she thinks that as a 9th grader, she has outgrown this little routine.

Commence - To begin; start.

August 20, 2009

However, Jack and Addie still enjoy the routine, and made sure that I didn't forget to take their picture before they left. Addie was so excited I wasn't sure that she was going to last until it was time to leave. I think last night was kinda like Christmas for her. She informed me it was the best day of her life when she came home, and told me every single detail about her big day. Jack wasn't quite so elaborate, but is delighted that all his best friends are in his class. That poor, poor teacher.

Ripen - To make or become ripe or riper; mature.

August 19, 2009

More with the grapes . . . they are almost there. If I can just keep the birds out of them! I went berry picking tonight and got a small handful of raspberries from our new plants, about 5 strawberries, and a good bunch of blackberries. Lane will finish in the morning what is likely to be the last picking. I'll get some jam made on Saturday.

I made what I hope was the FINAL trip to Walmart for school supplies (yet another $35). Taylor needed a certain type of folder, a certain type of binder, a certain calculator, a certain COLOR of highlighter, graph paper, etc. Despite my best intentions, I always end up going back for more stuff. Who uses blue highlighters anyway?