tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642521124075741722024-03-12T22:38:52.840-04:00Life in the mittUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-27141992839554802712011-12-19T16:22:00.000-05:002011-12-19T16:22:35.033-05:00Christmas tree!We wanted to wait until child #3 came home before we got our tree so he could be part of the traditional finding, cutting, etc. Unfortunately, he got home a week before Christmas--so the pickins' are a bit lean now. Here's our tree, in the midst of setup:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxb7EMHizikVz_Jan2__v_zkc__Tk-Dwz2mwhOclJjxv-nG6LHgx2QLOf4msuNG482rciLe0Xc54fSgo31zvQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-9759171073433971692011-10-19T09:22:00.042-04:002011-10-19T09:22:00.135-04:00Getting ShroomyI had a "doh" moment last week.<br />
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Last month in our RSM (that's what we call our monthly Relief Society Meeting) we taught the sisters some recipes that are contained in a jar. It is from a book called "Dinner is in the Jar". The ingredients are usually pasta, grains, legumes and dried foods and spices. Add ons can be canned meat or vegies.<br />
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So . . . one of the recipes had dried mushrooms in it. I thought it would be difficult to find dried mushrooms but Sam's sells them, and the price isn't too bad. Then someone mentioned you could dry them yourself. So this week as I was perusing the local grocery ads and saw that baby portabella mushrooms were on sale I thought "Doh! I could dry my own for half the cost!<br />
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So I did. 11 pounds worth. My basement still smells like mushrooms. <br />
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Dried mushrooms can be thrown into anything. They can be blended up into a powder that makes a nice rich broth. Dried mushrooms are used in Lipton's onion mushroom packets. I could make my own Lipton's! Doh!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Happy little bellas just dying to be dried!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2qkbXLBv9q3H7s1EXMshNZIyU7lcsBrlbVxG9kDxy20vRVNNWlO7bwYIrc3qm0Hp4Sv7ZzHpCsREu5NAL8V7svSMcHUSRmIsbC_txWxV0k5jf1YldzRRkVYL1tCBey85jrYVDlEUMcA/s1600/DSC01277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2qkbXLBv9q3H7s1EXMshNZIyU7lcsBrlbVxG9kDxy20vRVNNWlO7bwYIrc3qm0Hp4Sv7ZzHpCsREu5NAL8V7svSMcHUSRmIsbC_txWxV0k5jf1YldzRRkVYL1tCBey85jrYVDlEUMcA/s320/DSC01277.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> All sliced. You don't need to be too picky about size. And don't wash them. Just brush off the dirt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxhuHBLnjXT1DEOLLejamFZ6N-CmY6wnElE4pe2-_xVtDfmbnUJGoE9iTRsJBiViL8aMr8Mz1alNM3kuSrVTzzBH4niXn6d3FDjMaMzjLOGAYJTr_quit7jgKw2voaBPELJOBvA-04YU/s1600/DSC01279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxhuHBLnjXT1DEOLLejamFZ6N-CmY6wnElE4pe2-_xVtDfmbnUJGoE9iTRsJBiViL8aMr8Mz1alNM3kuSrVTzzBH4niXn6d3FDjMaMzjLOGAYJTr_quit7jgKw2voaBPELJOBvA-04YU/s320/DSC01279.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> On my drying rack. I got this at a garage sale years ago. Still works!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq6VMgMSq4JybUffxxvRm4veWvzk1LW0idV6cKDHbwKfy1Ro4sa4InfQ3ROYwQSSiQFkmTEV7NOMXmrrdOC-sixuruCIjCPLQcDi_LtnMzYxzvB6RnGxNMUwWoixtfFu0jtW84gkl2b0/s1600/DSC01280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq6VMgMSq4JybUffxxvRm4veWvzk1LW0idV6cKDHbwKfy1Ro4sa4InfQ3ROYwQSSiQFkmTEV7NOMXmrrdOC-sixuruCIjCPLQcDi_LtnMzYxzvB6RnGxNMUwWoixtfFu0jtW84gkl2b0/s320/DSC01280.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> All dried after about 9 hours. Looks kinda like a pizza!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibp90asgdggEgH-KzO4pBlY0gcbb7dhfDcbEdgpg7MmSbQV2jzcAf54vAv7Y1G1aJNJ2rqkJh5w_xTeFdf1Di3klOfa7THhGrhsp5R2bqvb7DYX9YREnkrJMwj52k6hTkXncuZ-5gYqVM/s1600/DSC01274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibp90asgdggEgH-KzO4pBlY0gcbb7dhfDcbEdgpg7MmSbQV2jzcAf54vAv7Y1G1aJNJ2rqkJh5w_xTeFdf1Di3klOfa7THhGrhsp5R2bqvb7DYX9YREnkrJMwj52k6hTkXncuZ-5gYqVM/s320/DSC01274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> After drying them, I store them in a mason jar. I got this handy dandy pump-n-seal a few years ago. Here's how it works. Poke a hole in the top of your canning lid with this official hole poker. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmLdbxVOqRSSnwSr-wp99qoegAESCvpn3f_Rwg8ir4C4UOB-7PxdrNPtcuAfD_Y6f7-Rw5-26gZNtoBaWsD_MpFl1ikbZKw8cyjpEbfEeqeD3CSeKD8DmmYmQaU4xXOEvPt-JwMEBHd0/s1600/DSC01282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmLdbxVOqRSSnwSr-wp99qoegAESCvpn3f_Rwg8ir4C4UOB-7PxdrNPtcuAfD_Y6f7-Rw5-26gZNtoBaWsD_MpFl1ikbZKw8cyjpEbfEeqeD3CSeKD8DmmYmQaU4xXOEvPt-JwMEBHd0/s320/DSC01282.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMm5T0z1eN-z4QAVIqbGi6RJZuoB-KS-KaI2dV7vTuQSrga1hiWmM5MrzjyPVp39PieH1u49_XZjZSr8wTjB_ZTMYWPe7OnwCrfpC0O6FNuqDufmf9szucNNDcwWT2BsYqDNe9O6IQD1Y/s1600/DSC01284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMm5T0z1eN-z4QAVIqbGi6RJZuoB-KS-KaI2dV7vTuQSrga1hiWmM5MrzjyPVp39PieH1u49_XZjZSr8wTjB_ZTMYWPe7OnwCrfpC0O6FNuqDufmf9szucNNDcwWT2BsYqDNe9O6IQD1Y/s320/DSC01284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> That wasn't hard!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGb5AkeabHs7ZCU8XWuCeJrAR45CFUZm1PmjnQ-pnPT_L-MN3ktvL0cKULUF6gORoaVCr6v9dRCFysGoX_yGQrJKYT1IHlag5TfUUOVTjU26bH1hCMd53ma7dXZ-MW9ZQN-sc923GtOPI/s1600/DSC01287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGb5AkeabHs7ZCU8XWuCeJrAR45CFUZm1PmjnQ-pnPT_L-MN3ktvL0cKULUF6gORoaVCr6v9dRCFysGoX_yGQrJKYT1IHlag5TfUUOVTjU26bH1hCMd53ma7dXZ-MW9ZQN-sc923GtOPI/s320/DSC01287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Then take these special seal tabs . . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NjhFAJv-9dw_8ytjt8W3KzWAw3egLr2LkRs8DC99_PuYjB5rYI_tSUGybektMKxHXOwsNBFso-o7N5Jz3D9k3M8WOcDDx1gWvey8qCReDaHVNm-fqhgBLnCDktZdGhmISK2OYxzNmSA/s1600/DSC01288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NjhFAJv-9dw_8ytjt8W3KzWAw3egLr2LkRs8DC99_PuYjB5rYI_tSUGybektMKxHXOwsNBFso-o7N5Jz3D9k3M8WOcDDx1gWvey8qCReDaHVNm-fqhgBLnCDktZdGhmISK2OYxzNmSA/s320/DSC01288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . and cover the hole. They are designed to let air out, but not air in. Clever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglj4QtTHPztPbTBP6hMsoXUYmnBA4eU_SzgJ3bwzhDLbZM-4WMZgpnCHOkt91l7XPmjnDm8RBidKMh9rWUtZGnQfZdWmb3IhHenUOStQ5JBd50TJtdqJGRpt3h4fFm5NFO8SJQ7dDhWAE/s1600/DSC01289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglj4QtTHPztPbTBP6hMsoXUYmnBA4eU_SzgJ3bwzhDLbZM-4WMZgpnCHOkt91l7XPmjnDm8RBidKMh9rWUtZGnQfZdWmb3IhHenUOStQ5JBd50TJtdqJGRpt3h4fFm5NFO8SJQ7dDhWAE/s320/DSC01289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Then place your pump-n-seal over the hole and pump away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT2BZEb92gsmcHiPI3jXMOlXYkeQTE6_L4CS9qwaGcNY02SVZ8cD4TpQ4UkUPfNiOWuu5IiXQIQTiugwHDu7LdmCpXkOhQJJRPv6idKMutTQzbYmIDQBIA8jZA4MrEQcVzGaSL3DNr24/s1600/DSC01290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT2BZEb92gsmcHiPI3jXMOlXYkeQTE6_L4CS9qwaGcNY02SVZ8cD4TpQ4UkUPfNiOWuu5IiXQIQTiugwHDu7LdmCpXkOhQJJRPv6idKMutTQzbYmIDQBIA8jZA4MrEQcVzGaSL3DNr24/s320/DSC01290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Voila! One bottle of sealed, dried mushrooms. Bon a petit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoLXlz4o8B5k8lXa_d_Myrfuej6vDt8fCTBDxtYSQzb1FhiGkodLP_J1igkLD6UF4yd01XU_VOmqKq29fxzlTo2Z_9HhHb3Iv6QZdE_wOXQs3VCVcWkfx_ofNvJYf9Sye4ZJmGU2IIAQ/s1600/DSC01291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoLXlz4o8B5k8lXa_d_Myrfuej6vDt8fCTBDxtYSQzb1FhiGkodLP_J1igkLD6UF4yd01XU_VOmqKq29fxzlTo2Z_9HhHb3Iv6QZdE_wOXQs3VCVcWkfx_ofNvJYf9Sye4ZJmGU2IIAQ/s320/DSC01291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Next . . . dried apples. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-23788616684254542832011-10-18T09:21:00.000-04:002011-10-18T09:21:49.742-04:00Something Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Hi! I'm back.<br />
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The next picture on my list was something green. I didn't want to go with the typical--an outdoor picture. There is plenty of green here. At least there was . . . At any rate, I thought I would show what I had for breakfast one morning. <br />
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I have been making smoothies with fresh spinach but often had the problem of some in the bag going bad before I could eat it. I sometimes forget I have spinach in my fridge . .<br />
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At any rate, I got the brilliant idea of using frozen, rather than fresh. I could always have it available, it would add a nice cold splash to my warmish shake. I hacked off a chunk and threw it in with some applesauce, carrots, celery, cucumber, flax seeds and a bit of water. It worked great! And I actually don't need to put in as much as I thought I would. The applesauce adds a nice sweet taste. I use unsweetened. So here is my green shot:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivt90R0NZDEojNEooecHr5-OXZd7CB8sF8ZYcS7e9X3lmfwniJ6tyKFGZFA9AyoqGg5Wc6tYW0e75_qchuKevdWdPo9cuFCwT3QtdEhZmjkJkoij3793GXvUfiXU9j38KJVGRGKg8Cbqg/s1600/DSC01265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivt90R0NZDEojNEooecHr5-OXZd7CB8sF8ZYcS7e9X3lmfwniJ6tyKFGZFA9AyoqGg5Wc6tYW0e75_qchuKevdWdPo9cuFCwT3QtdEhZmjkJkoij3793GXvUfiXU9j38KJVGRGKg8Cbqg/s320/DSC01265.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yummy, eh? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">I can hear my kids groaning.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">So try substitute frozen spinach and see if you like it!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-62557402738373476422011-09-06T09:47:00.000-04:002011-09-06T09:47:03.097-04:00Clouds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today is cloud day. I had a lot of fun with this assignment. When I woke up this morning it was a bit grey and I didn't think I would get a good picture. We decided to go up north for the day and visit our property. The sky began to clear the closer we got. Here's my first picture:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9imaM0R8TMQ2hEzKJqYis7UYkxj6Ve1bW7aSI78OUD0wQ4JFRB-DwcqWPlD8Da9yp0gWEm7_LON1PLXTtRdagy_L0jFgQ39qbEOI6GlFAiG19vXCEmcVVcQYDBhRfV76zddsE6uhblsQ/s1600/DSC_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9imaM0R8TMQ2hEzKJqYis7UYkxj6Ve1bW7aSI78OUD0wQ4JFRB-DwcqWPlD8Da9yp0gWEm7_LON1PLXTtRdagy_L0jFgQ39qbEOI6GlFAiG19vXCEmcVVcQYDBhRfV76zddsE6uhblsQ/s320/DSC_0344.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I started to see possibilities from where I was standing:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVBW7QVvpkVCZdeMActPEaE4qr0-9S-hcideC8NzyIPYMi4uUjZoboastcgvI0_vT6mLf5CNMKaB2QDtaOF0uHP3a8btf_wXZ6W60ATwb7X_DQE8pLahrb2RXp9n9zOLQ1x5QdMMWbjo/s1600/DSC_0413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVBW7QVvpkVCZdeMActPEaE4qr0-9S-hcideC8NzyIPYMi4uUjZoboastcgvI0_vT6mLf5CNMKaB2QDtaOF0uHP3a8btf_wXZ6W60ATwb7X_DQE8pLahrb2RXp9n9zOLQ1x5QdMMWbjo/s320/DSC_0413.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As we were pulling into our driveway this caught my eye</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5RGuSkRJbLmLDt2jd4Bjnb_Xedj-hZVWx0vLb0yb-nWa3s4GBtrZBzownG6f0FV4neU5CP64q6Sob7FXcfNDP9c9J3CmX-BYZGQbmj6w5sW_RXg4jJU6EHc2OFM38spaXOoN8EmjT2E/s1600/Night+Clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5RGuSkRJbLmLDt2jd4Bjnb_Xedj-hZVWx0vLb0yb-nWa3s4GBtrZBzownG6f0FV4neU5CP64q6Sob7FXcfNDP9c9J3CmX-BYZGQbmj6w5sW_RXg4jJU6EHc2OFM38spaXOoN8EmjT2E/s320/Night+Clouds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It's funny, when you have a camera around your neck, you start to see things differently. We were walking on a pier and the differences in the water on each side caught my attention.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_YubO2a9MFaD6YyI4IhXJFcKgiYjTW4PAZfCMjO4xtn9_H7ctbd9UfmHhU07Obw2CQUU-Yut-T_avBkuWbOIm-BbNPG0lcVg5ZeVM7bMusUbTUfqmEi8-zC_BG_eup6SAHjkGz7OMEs/s1600/DSC_0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_YubO2a9MFaD6YyI4IhXJFcKgiYjTW4PAZfCMjO4xtn9_H7ctbd9UfmHhU07Obw2CQUU-Yut-T_avBkuWbOIm-BbNPG0lcVg5ZeVM7bMusUbTUfqmEi8-zC_BG_eup6SAHjkGz7OMEs/s320/DSC_0425.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A casualty of a windy day. The bottom was full of water. There was a box of Little Debbie Cakes on the front by the steering wheel. I wonder if they meant to leave that behind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYM0NTS1_lpf_Cd7y4MhLblgZdTiLlJJvVEGPKKq0cgzE686HvCcBLritO4L4KfNQ4JVHiqm9oUXrJpzY7hnakFl4_5xjWF63okWREEwKTZBW6wOPh8igJuz0rG6psCq8cM1LQklzk6Q/s1600/DSC_0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYM0NTS1_lpf_Cd7y4MhLblgZdTiLlJJvVEGPKKq0cgzE686HvCcBLritO4L4KfNQ4JVHiqm9oUXrJpzY7hnakFl4_5xjWF63okWREEwKTZBW6wOPh8igJuz0rG6psCq8cM1LQklzk6Q/s320/DSC_0424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We drove to our property and snapped more interesting photos. We are planning on putting the property up for sale, but as I was walking through I felt sad at the thought. It is so quiet and peaceful there, until . . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwl0pP5pGVgklDorPAPP0MZ5ddM-xapcQgGaQQoC4xSjWnckNcpSm46Fzfp2ZW26ia9qBwqg8Z2a93t0mV9-r1lsbdVQOOlytoZHf1rQlZlt4vPQGJepCompajsOtUoM3ZlMjEt84oM8A/s1600/DSC_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwl0pP5pGVgklDorPAPP0MZ5ddM-xapcQgGaQQoC4xSjWnckNcpSm46Fzfp2ZW26ia9qBwqg8Z2a93t0mV9-r1lsbdVQOOlytoZHf1rQlZlt4vPQGJepCompajsOtUoM3ZlMjEt84oM8A/s320/DSC_0385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> We left and were swarmed by the neighbors dogs. Then I remembered why we wanted to sell. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sk_RYEipzzr45osT3CsWDVvE1YldVa4YPEIAj4MtYnEPkkzHfo_ImwF-CBtdHxQYylW4V-FFV6a0LGchgG7Po_-ao_n5uPc4C8aQycn5TaKp3EpD3bMR-7ovVnIdrY1NDPs1zMyBA-U/s1600/DSC_0396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sk_RYEipzzr45osT3CsWDVvE1YldVa4YPEIAj4MtYnEPkkzHfo_ImwF-CBtdHxQYylW4V-FFV6a0LGchgG7Po_-ao_n5uPc4C8aQycn5TaKp3EpD3bMR-7ovVnIdrY1NDPs1zMyBA-U/s320/DSC_0396.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">These dogs barked for at least 1/2 hour after we arrived. And there is a dog kennel at the end of the street. They usually start up at 9:30 pm and bark until 2 am. Not our idea of peace and quiet.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a relaxing day just walking, looking and driving. People up north live a different kind of life. I like it.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-33389070985432451112011-09-03T13:39:00.006-04:002011-09-03T14:22:11.525-04:00Taking pictures. . . or trying to . . .<div>So, friends and family, here I am again. Blogging. No guarantees on how long it will last.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I was inspired by Mari's post <a href="http://www.just-me-and-t.blogspot.com/">http://www.just-me-and-t.blogspot.com/</a> and thought I would try to take some photos to improve my, er, lack of ability to take decent pictures. Here's the challenge:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAraewp0p2V1k45mJdakE7TmFp7NTlndzUpqykoskIJoSu6OT6HqLeK-sr57fsZWB6Qjb2sPArcLCTqQzh2-3KV6PnhSTLAIzjkK3coAU9q-pSYN_zUZSsFFOe4IW_UToqjdijD_OEi8/s1600/105913708_lWFhdQfv_c.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAraewp0p2V1k45mJdakE7TmFp7NTlndzUpqykoskIJoSu6OT6HqLeK-sr57fsZWB6Qjb2sPArcLCTqQzh2-3KV6PnhSTLAIzjkK3coAU9q-pSYN_zUZSsFFOe4IW_UToqjdijD_OEi8/s400/105913708_lWFhdQfv_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648191761732929778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 400px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center; ">Sounds, fun, eh?</div></div><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">So I decided to start by taking some up close photos of myself yesterday. Without makeup. Without a shower. Risky. Here's the first one . .</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1uvSoOQFj5JNhW-3ZL8vTcYpvkYg4OPsgx_4LyXeBC4KMXseqbUMFtVL4hpciR9lzIBOy9xqR46_0WU6mQTybvvLC4on9SBkjnQFKGeBpmAuhyphenhyphen6eE_TvP8nj0qj5naoc-4uN2JYds_Q/s1600/DSC_0297.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1uvSoOQFj5JNhW-3ZL8vTcYpvkYg4OPsgx_4LyXeBC4KMXseqbUMFtVL4hpciR9lzIBOy9xqR46_0WU6mQTybvvLC4on9SBkjnQFKGeBpmAuhyphenhyphen6eE_TvP8nj0qj5naoc-4uN2JYds_Q/s320/DSC_0297.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648194659814460322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Hmmm, not so good. Camera too high. Trying again . . . How about one of those artsy sideways shots?</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4nY4pF6ZyQp7Y4mEsqBstn_T7vLx5yA8tjoahX5zxVgGZP_BmU3sZAL4P9LWaHCGN7lN9lYiwdr6GmdRoRa7tSOM7lbhzkh5rhT2nq7Jp7of3RfqxxLStqTFSyqWH98oZNqGof9uPz4/s1600/DSC_0293.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4nY4pF6ZyQp7Y4mEsqBstn_T7vLx5yA8tjoahX5zxVgGZP_BmU3sZAL4P9LWaHCGN7lN9lYiwdr6GmdRoRa7tSOM7lbhzkh5rhT2nq7Jp7of3RfqxxLStqTFSyqWH98oZNqGof9uPz4/s320/DSC_0293.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648194663739530418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center; ">Oh dear. Camera is a bit too close? Bad lighting? Backing up . . </div></div><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><div><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlh18bo1cQZDCqeB0eI5oQUWZMd24gO7LZBNaQDJCQERQ1FAbCl0n_Ga3dVpbmcrhfpaAK5-fwloFdQvWivkbzspEmLJjL6bQ-pfViprBlBYwGfP0Ilvl9Mxw5yqdmdvM15x6wsnVsPKA/s1600/DSC_0306.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlh18bo1cQZDCqeB0eI5oQUWZMd24gO7LZBNaQDJCQERQ1FAbCl0n_Ga3dVpbmcrhfpaAK5-fwloFdQvWivkbzspEmLJjL6bQ-pfViprBlBYwGfP0Ilvl9Mxw5yqdmdvM15x6wsnVsPKA/s320/DSC_0306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648194671956966018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Oh my. Am I still breathing?</div><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Husband?</div><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7dPG_nvE6kQRjXcpFqYgeEi8TA8QRRrUKVLXa07P5TgnTdNns4-QE1ZqsHZd-KrCKYYP7E7ut2_J9JdABUWaefn9A22gZyrfpP4jKZS94ZlteYIK-6QKspZa0Dpx1e0a2j2ol2Rbu_8/s320/DSC_0315.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Yes?</div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS51LTi2wgOzSkE9b0eFiUnO_G0KHtmK-tpCJKFAZ6Tx3TgG9vdOBpEmoCwYV2WDP4CCqFSJojiASPkVgQvmuFSaSruJC9vLPOlXiJAO56v0Lu5ZRaqs-_PWxM8HORJOt6qgPvy0CvVP8/s1600/DSC_0318.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS51LTi2wgOzSkE9b0eFiUnO_G0KHtmK-tpCJKFAZ6Tx3TgG9vdOBpEmoCwYV2WDP4CCqFSJojiASPkVgQvmuFSaSruJC9vLPOlXiJAO56v0Lu5ZRaqs-_PWxM8HORJOt6qgPvy0CvVP8/s320/DSC_0318.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648196494524741586" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Can I take a picture of you?</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtIG1LBLDp5x9WHn7GkH2kYPlFl5-b9mgQGlbF9LWCXZtkZguUy98X5XYY0oEWQKnwDhpcrPXWbYcSdbYNETl7gXbtCNAVEAIHwsZssqxtJiVIc52nFEI5w8bBtaUXiyh7kbhq7OMA9k/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtIG1LBLDp5x9WHn7GkH2kYPlFl5-b9mgQGlbF9LWCXZtkZguUy98X5XYY0oEWQKnwDhpcrPXWbYcSdbYNETl7gXbtCNAVEAIHwsZssqxtJiVIc52nFEI5w8bBtaUXiyh7kbhq7OMA9k/s320/DSC_0316.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648196490043949490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sure.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*Sigh*</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So much for that!</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But, today after a shower and some much needed makeup, I tried again. With photoshop. Amazing what that program can do. Here's my headshot:</div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPYiB_BxYeoOYAhPNNFsm6aMqW0AsmBfy5HIsKtODweICrs1_e8aNG3tVmrXugk9EPHo1R2SWJgleqdmr3qGIGTcNSUyqKc1fagg79QVUpm_h9We0BE4GITKkWDw-VGpnG43wFHBsqpc/s1600/Head+shot.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPYiB_BxYeoOYAhPNNFsm6aMqW0AsmBfy5HIsKtODweICrs1_e8aNG3tVmrXugk9EPHo1R2SWJgleqdmr3qGIGTcNSUyqKc1fagg79QVUpm_h9We0BE4GITKkWDw-VGpnG43wFHBsqpc/s320/Head+shot.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648190315933809122" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Not bad!<div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And here's the next challenge:</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg018JSc95C1wGe9LOZaNi_JW66gTK4Ajr9A0dWbXRCovB1RdQPrKSv5LNNSFbwABr9Jy3Sx0X3jcEh4E8vhk8v5vgj52x-alZ29SkTFpIIdNtQzhCItyKJQT5qrKqEOs7xDYRlVWshx78/s1600/DSC_0341.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg018JSc95C1wGe9LOZaNi_JW66gTK4Ajr9A0dWbXRCovB1RdQPrKSv5LNNSFbwABr9Jy3Sx0X3jcEh4E8vhk8v5vgj52x-alZ29SkTFpIIdNtQzhCItyKJQT5qrKqEOs7xDYRlVWshx78/s320/DSC_0341.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648199183524256834" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Go Cougs!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-64872550134082953022011-02-02T15:14:00.003-05:002011-02-02T16:30:08.333-05:00The Big StormI thought ya'll would like to see what has been happening here over the last few days. It's been interesting! I assume you have all heard about the monster storm that was headed our way. Here's a little video clip:<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw0R-najOadPQ5y1uE_KCJIOeIAuk0n0RGdhfnLyURhyFMKeDVIfB0syr-ANFMN6eHIT13a5wMQW_nw36EGjg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Spring will come, eventually, I hope. I'm headed out to shovel!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-10085053103906789882010-09-12T10:33:00.000-04:002010-09-11T10:58:17.230-04:00Back again!Well, after an 11 month hiatus, I've decided to blog again.<br /><br />I guess after kid #4 left home, it seemed our life together here in the mitt was rather blah. All, I could write about was, work, church, hubby, repeat. Didn't seem all that interesting even to me. My kids' lives are WAY more interesting than what I am up to. But perhaps I can find something to share occasionally.<br /><br />Lately we have been ripping up the house. I have been pressuring DH to do something about the lack of insulation under our entry way floors. When they were built, the lazy contractor couldn't be bothered to do it right. I have been freezing every year since. We finally found someone who was interested enough in the problem to actually come up with a solution.<br /><br />He is the dad of a piano student. That helps.<br /><br />The problem? The insulation had to be put under the floor.<br /><br />The only access? Through the floor.<br /><br />So, last week I spent many hours tearing up tile so the floor boards could be cut. The guy that put in the tile? He did it right. Unfortuntely for me. Here is a picture of the front entryway with the floor cut out.<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN2_UmXnJePGWT-wCFqjeTVlEPtK9KiSJ5KlbWbwF6q021BWx2XK_-p0NSX80Fzx3onUkaSkDR8-rckvfErZdhdqNFcVsBQmWMR8bpABXjImkML_Gcue4Ii3VsYuVfwtZ4DvyQTmhLGM/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515665991651658866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN2_UmXnJePGWT-wCFqjeTVlEPtK9KiSJ5KlbWbwF6q021BWx2XK_-p0NSX80Fzx3onUkaSkDR8-rckvfErZdhdqNFcVsBQmWMR8bpABXjImkML_Gcue4Ii3VsYuVfwtZ4DvyQTmhLGM/s320/DSC_0002.JPG" /></a></p><p align="left">We also decided, since we were in demo mode, to add insulation around the perimeter of our house, where the basement walls meet the upper part of the house. Here's a look:</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2N9tlztwJsM_cqb_zvd6uMMMol701t3H6MX9FYdJxhczS4KPCRIxpaK7RkvDJljc2xgU0zYviQ0ZNwdLN183fKgodJ4702d2f0t33ieZ6lBlVHPd6Fh8HlBQFhqAYxgHzp1qQ2aUoAcY/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515666001276538466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2N9tlztwJsM_cqb_zvd6uMMMol701t3H6MX9FYdJxhczS4KPCRIxpaK7RkvDJljc2xgU0zYviQ0ZNwdLN183fKgodJ4702d2f0t33ieZ6lBlVHPd6Fh8HlBQFhqAYxgHzp1qQ2aUoAcY/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" /></a><br /></p>My house looks like a war zone:<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKxhNkbmRWM7dw_xI-utD5nz5s57q_PPj4_yFoWYtlmL6Icctgu2-IfAVqOr9rU7GcdsBE9ga3unbs687LffKibhzIfSq4bBcAZslcVo_Uu6yNWX5ttB79ij1PMC3tSS3fE1Vuh1jnXA/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515666010557756722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKxhNkbmRWM7dw_xI-utD5nz5s57q_PPj4_yFoWYtlmL6Icctgu2-IfAVqOr9rU7GcdsBE9ga3unbs687LffKibhzIfSq4bBcAZslcVo_Uu6yNWX5ttB79ij1PMC3tSS3fE1Vuh1jnXA/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" /></a><br /></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2N9tlztwJsM_cqb_zvd6uMMMol701t3H6MX9FYdJxhczS4KPCRIxpaK7RkvDJljc2xgU0zYviQ0ZNwdLN183fKgodJ4702d2f0t33ieZ6lBlVHPd6Fh8HlBQFhqAYxgHzp1qQ2aUoAcY/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG"></a>To be continued. . . when blogger allows me to upload more photos . . . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-87770722818194981362009-10-02T17:52:00.002-04:002009-10-02T18:01:46.840-04:00More baby photos<em><span style="font-size:130%;">Warning <span style="color:#cc0000;">**</span><span style="color:#cc0000;">Grandma gushing** </span><span style="color:#000000;">ahead . . .</span></span></em> <div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh3_lMXel3MQR6aIloixXiIxSsIQXtnlQjzyoun7iBx4oEss8ij8NGhq__xk7Pkv33DLY67oOJfmQrLYsFaTtHRH8bza6i-u1-JVgAiK6jHgxxtPOHrqLaGQBue6IcO8-L8jYlYND2q4/s1600-h/DSC_0192.JPG"></a> </div><div>I know that when you see these pictures you will agree. . . </div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;">This is just the cutest baby ever.</span></div><div><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000000;">I mean, how can you resist this face?</span></div><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span></div><div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId8s7vcoK96h89j-wgblX02LJjSebcKvZbuGnUzm3MDDMq3BNi2Fuf3oSVDDpuDqj22oJbD0-Wp5gyEdJVTGnKh9ORwPKIHu5nSCmEHkNDLd68j-VEoFYXrmW09Xn0ZDEKXoHv5oXSu-Y/s1600-h/DSC_0225.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388124842159766706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId8s7vcoK96h89j-wgblX02LJjSebcKvZbuGnUzm3MDDMq3BNi2Fuf3oSVDDpuDqj22oJbD0-Wp5gyEdJVTGnKh9ORwPKIHu5nSCmEHkNDLd68j-VEoFYXrmW09Xn0ZDEKXoHv5oXSu-Y/s320/DSC_0225.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">Or this one? . . .</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UnjBORsOxjq9_6eAlvyzoI4Di1YC-PW4PPE6Mv0kbrX7a9v33svXZLRudoUg1hoAfowE9pqg93IR4pHe-9D9eAXOFx5RD5dIbAKX2qZlu8zFpEaQFqbwRegWtYDCpjJAFodT5H3Ki64/s1600-h/DSC_0212.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388124850965086562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UnjBORsOxjq9_6eAlvyzoI4Di1YC-PW4PPE6Mv0kbrX7a9v33svXZLRudoUg1hoAfowE9pqg93IR4pHe-9D9eAXOFx5RD5dIbAKX2qZlu8zFpEaQFqbwRegWtYDCpjJAFodT5H3Ki64/s320/DSC_0212.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center">Nothing warms your heart more than daddies with babies:</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguarrI4Kxr9821S4p4q0vCF_X71ojIPmSYQKSzRt0JACAuRhgzLIZnYquaKihduBSONqLWWyB1XUzBWdVOPOBe5qcXmQ4xFPY6fEdLbaktp_4aVsZKzQrtHRAIAzbsJu_1bPZ1_kVYvj4/s1600-h/DSC_0198.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388124864700569170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguarrI4Kxr9821S4p4q0vCF_X71ojIPmSYQKSzRt0JACAuRhgzLIZnYquaKihduBSONqLWWyB1XUzBWdVOPOBe5qcXmQ4xFPY6fEdLbaktp_4aVsZKzQrtHRAIAzbsJu_1bPZ1_kVYvj4/s320/DSC_0198.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Too, too cute!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh3_lMXel3MQR6aIloixXiIxSsIQXtnlQjzyoun7iBx4oEss8ij8NGhq__xk7Pkv33DLY67oOJfmQrLYsFaTtHRH8bza6i-u1-JVgAiK6jHgxxtPOHrqLaGQBue6IcO8-L8jYlYND2q4/s1600-h/DSC_0192.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388124879148975186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh3_lMXel3MQR6aIloixXiIxSsIQXtnlQjzyoun7iBx4oEss8ij8NGhq__xk7Pkv33DLY67oOJfmQrLYsFaTtHRH8bza6i-u1-JVgAiK6jHgxxtPOHrqLaGQBue6IcO8-L8jYlYND2q4/s320/DSC_0192.JPG" /></a></p><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-74404199419174626592009-09-27T13:02:00.006-04:002009-09-27T13:26:29.129-04:00Baby is here!Our new baby has arrived. And he is so considerate! He waited until the day after I arrived before he made his appearance. And he is the most adorable thing ever, of course. I know most of you read his momma's blog, so I will try to put some pictures in that you haven't seen already. And these also are for the benefit of missionary son, who has been waiting patiently for news.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjaYVUC0ARM3D-qK_emBGKNtM9kCAiTAxeC2-5ZpUvlxfgWrXPMAQ837Gso2rKotggukTKifdS4WFQiykEOPFKkbrpNzq6ZsgZ6XG3sOj3XtvTikIxvBycJwthDTsHrfo16tJqwQMr5gO/s1600-h/DSC_0058.JPG"></a><br />So here we go . . . on to the hospital, during a contraction.<br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyhKyGL6BTRZKfVwtW3u5nAel2duvxkdBoKivoHtc5iwERWyOPZfXzTGGceokZVEtDIGHMm-hUeSJLBN6u7LROiwYVkBh9138s_MJEmMeyfX-sBzw09P-U41-LkPmMHOk1XHzkdSbzskw/s1600-h/DSC_0053.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386195088198371826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyhKyGL6BTRZKfVwtW3u5nAel2duvxkdBoKivoHtc5iwERWyOPZfXzTGGceokZVEtDIGHMm-hUeSJLBN6u7LROiwYVkBh9138s_MJEmMeyfX-sBzw09P-U41-LkPmMHOk1XHzkdSbzskw/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center">Six centimeters!</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjaYVUC0ARM3D-qK_emBGKNtM9kCAiTAxeC2-5ZpUvlxfgWrXPMAQ837Gso2rKotggukTKifdS4WFQiykEOPFKkbrpNzq6ZsgZ6XG3sOj3XtvTikIxvBycJwthDTsHrfo16tJqwQMr5gO/s1600-h/DSC_0058.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386195099547426002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjaYVUC0ARM3D-qK_emBGKNtM9kCAiTAxeC2-5ZpUvlxfgWrXPMAQ837Gso2rKotggukTKifdS4WFQiykEOPFKkbrpNzq6ZsgZ6XG3sOj3XtvTikIxvBycJwthDTsHrfo16tJqwQMr5gO/s320/DSC_0058.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY4g1XY4DL6hO12pZmJ9nbChVpgYWpzEX-z0mrGeQpTAz1McxOcKYalG4EYMESxqaPnKZKzSaspX43-vXptzpkJ7be520L5d7SB86vZ_UKPdwYbbya0r8SRyd0TaMnOR8TrOMdAkAzD2V/s1600-h/DSC_0068.JPG"></a>Labor is getting tougher.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY4g1XY4DL6hO12pZmJ9nbChVpgYWpzEX-z0mrGeQpTAz1McxOcKYalG4EYMESxqaPnKZKzSaspX43-vXptzpkJ7be520L5d7SB86vZ_UKPdwYbbya0r8SRyd0TaMnOR8TrOMdAkAzD2V/s1600-h/DSC_0068.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY4g1XY4DL6hO12pZmJ9nbChVpgYWpzEX-z0mrGeQpTAz1McxOcKYalG4EYMESxqaPnKZKzSaspX43-vXptzpkJ7be520L5d7SB86vZ_UKPdwYbbya0r8SRyd0TaMnOR8TrOMdAkAzD2V/s1600-h/DSC_0068.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386195116988597362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY4g1XY4DL6hO12pZmJ9nbChVpgYWpzEX-z0mrGeQpTAz1McxOcKYalG4EYMESxqaPnKZKzSaspX43-vXptzpkJ7be520L5d7SB86vZ_UKPdwYbbya0r8SRyd0TaMnOR8TrOMdAkAzD2V/s320/DSC_0068.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Welcome baby!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95PryPQRNg1h6KnK6qZmFJDcml5iggEmoaa79Q1Bu6KoTiQE87WIHcr8yYieo8rZ1YkjHPRFX9k4K_1paGtEeB6xVZkPwIFXMzQoSUGhkRcEKzSaW74HgUKEvZR9wwC477Ypk8r-wA8EW/s1600-h/DSC_0075.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386195118674904338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95PryPQRNg1h6KnK6qZmFJDcml5iggEmoaa79Q1Bu6KoTiQE87WIHcr8yYieo8rZ1YkjHPRFX9k4K_1paGtEeB6xVZkPwIFXMzQoSUGhkRcEKzSaW74HgUKEvZR9wwC477Ypk8r-wA8EW/s320/DSC_0075.JPG" /></a><br />Look at those long fingers!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiYRFXJvkNC3lUmXwlg7CUw-m1YPNo548m1rn64EcNlC2GJCoPhiP3wsdYwzLMD-8hPOZK2x_zLN8tOr_tpVxaUY2jNTG1Ak3lAWVpth5g2m4DB5hAhdStPpqlJRq7MKI6Lv2bFZBko2_/s1600-h/DSC_0081.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386195129431524338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiYRFXJvkNC3lUmXwlg7CUw-m1YPNo548m1rn64EcNlC2GJCoPhiP3wsdYwzLMD-8hPOZK2x_zLN8tOr_tpVxaUY2jNTG1Ak3lAWVpth5g2m4DB5hAhdStPpqlJRq7MKI6Lv2bFZBko2_/s320/DSC_0081.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">Cute baby</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf542hyphenhypheniBCv2Yk6fDvcWVhU8Us0jiu_h-PK0G_3dboYPCv7h-3wbbk-6VtAJEJVUEO33v3xGo1cEWzEtpDCPPFgEejBVJbjgtRizp4YCBuqp6p4QPB5HxePZ2OY2J025SB8zGv0L0iHsF/s1600-h/DSC_0087.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386195907736624242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf542hyphenhypheniBCv2Yk6fDvcWVhU8Us0jiu_h-PK0G_3dboYPCv7h-3wbbk-6VtAJEJVUEO33v3xGo1cEWzEtpDCPPFgEejBVJbjgtRizp4YCBuqp6p4QPB5HxePZ2OY2J025SB8zGv0L0iHsF/s320/DSC_0087.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkBPHxkSnfLrr5e0b7IL8g5vwHdziHMhAE3cR9WhZyVxhihTJyIqypvTjnzP-5gpnxFejSnKnJnWXukSP1BBdi9ZwOiyo6Js9Zcb_H6TxmTvUZnIoRVmBwDevtz83kYv0K-iTEwIMU9DZ/s1600-h/DSC_0095.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386195918273607794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkBPHxkSnfLrr5e0b7IL8g5vwHdziHMhAE3cR9WhZyVxhihTJyIqypvTjnzP-5gpnxFejSnKnJnWXukSP1BBdi9ZwOiyo6Js9Zcb_H6TxmTvUZnIoRVmBwDevtz83kYv0K-iTEwIMU9DZ/s320/DSC_0095.JPG" /></a><br />Proud papa<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFXXMul4cBmOFGVKFyQ255U78cpd_kJgKOtNuOB4homRDE5nZEqVuzQ-jc0Nb04H-Cp3S0b0VYfCeLsWKXGZn-q959KRgwa_9utV9xaohDujf7_GXWcsqJkLo1jdIPU855XEk_cSqZDo8/s1600-h/DSC_0092.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386195924340292354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFXXMul4cBmOFGVKFyQ255U78cpd_kJgKOtNuOB4homRDE5nZEqVuzQ-jc0Nb04H-Cp3S0b0VYfCeLsWKXGZn-q959KRgwa_9utV9xaohDujf7_GXWcsqJkLo1jdIPU855XEk_cSqZDo8/s320/DSC_0092.JPG" /></a><br />Getting ready to go home.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tP0guSR8aDJX3NvBuNNfJNwIvwHMeHTF0S8Rocsz195YqOnKyNHno-kulyTBH6g9gQlop2w31eZeeKTUMo38_46pci9fjZ_lUNeFd3X63d-rzReNAVwo4lFEGRusx6DSEana8YHuLoX7/s1600-h/DSC_0138.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386195930104913810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tP0guSR8aDJX3NvBuNNfJNwIvwHMeHTF0S8Rocsz195YqOnKyNHno-kulyTBH6g9gQlop2w31eZeeKTUMo38_46pci9fjZ_lUNeFd3X63d-rzReNAVwo4lFEGRusx6DSEana8YHuLoX7/s320/DSC_0138.JPG" /></a></div>I'll try to post more later. This has been a fun time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-72473449231653991902009-09-21T11:05:00.008-04:002009-09-21T11:05:00.240-04:00Basement RenovationsI have been itching to redo my basement. Remember the post awhile back where I was choosing tile colors? Well, early August I picked out slate and carpet for the work and now it is finally being put in. I think I watch too much HGTV.<br /><br />Before they came I had to paint. I hate picking paint colors. It is such a big responsibility. Especially if I don't like it.<br /><br />Anyway, I did the ceiling first. I know you can tell its different, right?<span style="font-size:78%;"> hehe, I know you can't. don't lie.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkRZaiOi6bAy0V8CxGNvEOV73Cl8bfDeg0qbIGqMg4lUm1N1tceBZCt-j5O9klE1NA7TYjAZhC8SuEvZAdAdMBMknJ8bY3WqANceEhxa02IqpW4bbMYq35IZTkZ8HdEIsjbFr42E60kLe/s1600-h/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+013.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkRZaiOi6bAy0V8CxGNvEOV73Cl8bfDeg0qbIGqMg4lUm1N1tceBZCt-j5O9klE1NA7TYjAZhC8SuEvZAdAdMBMknJ8bY3WqANceEhxa02IqpW4bbMYq35IZTkZ8HdEIsjbFr42E60kLe/s320/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383196322761733170" border="0" /></a></div><br />Then the wall color:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDXrEmGuaG-R7__w2NYbDPmhc9sFaFnHGUlZVGgp-KSjp-c0iMIbADGSdVWAM2BcoB8vpgdSMZGOQMNvj4VzOSmriw3s3AAriTeZ9CZlWeuQ0VOYzRLEd6pkTkJA76zp9P_-oI6dEH9uv/s1600-h/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+011.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDXrEmGuaG-R7__w2NYbDPmhc9sFaFnHGUlZVGgp-KSjp-c0iMIbADGSdVWAM2BcoB8vpgdSMZGOQMNvj4VzOSmriw3s3AAriTeZ9CZlWeuQ0VOYzRLEd6pkTkJA76zp9P_-oI6dEH9uv/s320/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383196324843725570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the stove, with a bit of the original wall color in the background. <span style="font-size:78%;"><br />see our woodpile outside? we are getting ready for winter.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KFlQVyflG4aIsSd0mPk92iMoYKnfj-gKqjM8EaHW7MYSMnK5QAlviu4iHJ6hvnrOG2pb7qxGhbe3DMtqBcM2Ts6VRbb2Tz8OGfdVVBUBkERoJzeAGRtPCPFIOeRo_lGCYsACYmm2cOBk/s1600-h/Basement+Renovations+9-14-09+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KFlQVyflG4aIsSd0mPk92iMoYKnfj-gKqjM8EaHW7MYSMnK5QAlviu4iHJ6hvnrOG2pb7qxGhbe3DMtqBcM2Ts6VRbb2Tz8OGfdVVBUBkERoJzeAGRtPCPFIOeRo_lGCYsACYmm2cOBk/s320/Basement+Renovations+9-14-09+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383196334098692258" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Then . . . the tile guy came, yeah!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR7HklK9cB37GMQo5pH_xK4AK33-GNHN87UKFsZiKfAxzm4kfxXeYz6s729PdYSTT80GdYQtHDJAPLXczZN9ZNZNNzIpyYSAg20r1JlM4089D0UoDp95EfXcAOcyzfq9nwW-cvyh-GK0H/s1600-h/Basement+Renovations+9-14-09+002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR7HklK9cB37GMQo5pH_xK4AK33-GNHN87UKFsZiKfAxzm4kfxXeYz6s729PdYSTT80GdYQtHDJAPLXczZN9ZNZNNzIpyYSAg20r1JlM4089D0UoDp95EfXcAOcyzfq9nwW-cvyh-GK0H/s320/Basement+Renovations+9-14-09+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383196339146417826" border="0" /></a><br />I picked out these decorative metal accents. Aren't they cool?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-9KHUdBBqfNwLUsuge5D6uuuIUiFhgQXV6nxgi375G8dWXZ8qfUzbksYL9uV98vS6scYTJCpPQP0dSN2Y570YRuTZlmi7aijtmnX0to_CbGfdUnMlfOM5xhndD1_8CAl7PHUSsYnzuHC/s1600-h/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-9KHUdBBqfNwLUsuge5D6uuuIUiFhgQXV6nxgi375G8dWXZ8qfUzbksYL9uV98vS6scYTJCpPQP0dSN2Y570YRuTZlmi7aijtmnX0to_CbGfdUnMlfOM5xhndD1_8CAl7PHUSsYnzuHC/s320/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383197497282374754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Completed, except for grout. I was drooling. Wall color looks good!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qTEnz6NWaZL9nLw58LvmaTPR9B9mcxVDDaVZ2iog4V-5BhEZRawG8iKCHLFPIVBynzR_v5aa6XVZq_DZOKvXSAPsscwFIGhcgO-g2KK36VkfEfcmXEDH17q2Mw-dBBq5jahPCvV1IGzm/s1600-h/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qTEnz6NWaZL9nLw58LvmaTPR9B9mcxVDDaVZ2iog4V-5BhEZRawG8iKCHLFPIVBynzR_v5aa6XVZq_DZOKvXSAPsscwFIGhcgO-g2KK36VkfEfcmXEDH17q2Mw-dBBq5jahPCvV1IGzm/s320/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383196347959178818" border="0" /></a><br />With grout in:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVWCxbqg1Le1ARYp7gTJKjmeYBskY_hLFMomtDseoX_2NzubHbE7T0kGlwEvxhI-KIvOJ3CjKjhbJLWjwOApeDzkNNxET-6GmKBG1n9IBgpP7AFvthPO-OtLNfnq-FQgvjeUYwFp2svUL/s1600-h/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVWCxbqg1Le1ARYp7gTJKjmeYBskY_hLFMomtDseoX_2NzubHbE7T0kGlwEvxhI-KIvOJ3CjKjhbJLWjwOApeDzkNNxET-6GmKBG1n9IBgpP7AFvthPO-OtLNfnq-FQgvjeUYwFp2svUL/s320/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383197508672420802" border="0" /></a><br />Next . . . carpet! Stairs took a LONG time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBExAybFybPJPGxZlt4ag37Kr6oZmtLWFLbR5pES95TGZrdOgjVSWBQ8dFlG6PnkyN_jfwIJr7fXFRoXHAyzydbxh0uHQzUNRIxtogBHnTZw5BqGIX4uJxSGsV-LDfnnWhkIpIwsJeDbOG/s1600-h/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+006.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBExAybFybPJPGxZlt4ag37Kr6oZmtLWFLbR5pES95TGZrdOgjVSWBQ8dFlG6PnkyN_jfwIJr7fXFRoXHAyzydbxh0uHQzUNRIxtogBHnTZw5BqGIX4uJxSGsV-LDfnnWhkIpIwsJeDbOG/s320/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383197516318853106" border="0" /></a><br />Carpet man, doin' his thing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YVhCO-bGNvHxSaosl4hA6Vk0sABaVPc2BMmuh3I0la1x77wdIQVwkgrvTihu7eBO3alu8Wcpdu5Y_wO8UqsQ6cBQM7XrR-95ZEB_PdOf_kW1Z0KewZRfVFQHRMTawh5liTxKhghyc-Sz/s1600-h/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YVhCO-bGNvHxSaosl4hA6Vk0sABaVPc2BMmuh3I0la1x77wdIQVwkgrvTihu7eBO3alu8Wcpdu5Y_wO8UqsQ6cBQM7XrR-95ZEB_PdOf_kW1Z0KewZRfVFQHRMTawh5liTxKhghyc-Sz/s320/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383199131975725282" border="0" /></a><br />I like the color.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72_QcaEb754HQds2PLEBkHqKyaHXewyJdAz7usqA29CRNXM9bAjEmRvrMtOyLQo6h_PL3721HZpWr0WV3iurCujm_NdqUVjyeBvUhGEk6Z5eq13fdLj0WR6_JLs29C3EwHnC-KhjPwtRF/s1600-h/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+009.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72_QcaEb754HQds2PLEBkHqKyaHXewyJdAz7usqA29CRNXM9bAjEmRvrMtOyLQo6h_PL3721HZpWr0WV3iurCujm_NdqUVjyeBvUhGEk6Z5eq13fdLj0WR6_JLs29C3EwHnC-KhjPwtRF/s320/Basement+Renovation+9-14-09+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383199134361198514" border="0" /></a><br />Before . . .<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCCjRbIN0Swtwk1s5nVpDTJa2AsVouanHoyLSjwYfrYMyQutDkdK6xQcYXnYlSrMXO-6t46rXzmE4WVBvLTQlr3RDhwjftnerarW5er2jtMix6kZYcLnxe4dEr6nhuufxEn51anp0MrG7/s1600-h/Basement+Renovations+09+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCCjRbIN0Swtwk1s5nVpDTJa2AsVouanHoyLSjwYfrYMyQutDkdK6xQcYXnYlSrMXO-6t46rXzmE4WVBvLTQlr3RDhwjftnerarW5er2jtMix6kZYcLnxe4dEr6nhuufxEn51anp0MrG7/s320/Basement+Renovations+09+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383266677361057858" border="0" /></a><br />After . . .<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EThA4vmbIVJDnuxYQgAs_pNkbNOjR_w_KIpzHUEgAyGou7brkRIg7BdAkfqBwEPngzKFnk-8pnC9lUM1WiExy2EOk3z595U-sztgJNLC2tYk-0NsTu4Ii0K2yUjko-GOONiOx9Sl7F-W/s1600-h/Basement+Renovations+09+007.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EThA4vmbIVJDnuxYQgAs_pNkbNOjR_w_KIpzHUEgAyGou7brkRIg7BdAkfqBwEPngzKFnk-8pnC9lUM1WiExy2EOk3z595U-sztgJNLC2tYk-0NsTu4Ii0K2yUjko-GOONiOx9Sl7F-W/s320/Basement+Renovations+09+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383266680749992546" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-8987359643848901522009-09-19T10:41:00.005-04:002009-09-19T11:03:41.990-04:00ChicagolandShortly after we arrived home from our western trip, DH and I took a trip to Chicago.<br /><br />It was great fun.<br /><br />We took the train, a new experience for me. I really liked it. I like keeping my body close to the earth.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1aqXHD_7suXnveHD0xTLh9kWTN58HqkK2PPBtm0JPaL3NeoRrM92VJX8-kWcOIm9oJKrUkjYLOmSx-hVcg0AyU0uKJ3rH4HKO422dA3reYPo7cK_Vm3r3j58WtspnHwGxmhKFF4KM2n2/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1aqXHD_7suXnveHD0xTLh9kWTN58HqkK2PPBtm0JPaL3NeoRrM92VJX8-kWcOIm9oJKrUkjYLOmSx-hVcg0AyU0uKJ3rH4HKO422dA3reYPo7cK_Vm3r3j58WtspnHwGxmhKFF4KM2n2/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383190531169478738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I don't know why we feel we need to tip our heads back when we take a picture.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Xl1Kt5tQdLsNMyCLnVahL2nUDtCZNwZw36egVJ_76pFYQZreWgzR1H-lz8WcNLrpnafG6j6pIBINy07jJw4rPihGhgLxxo5aD8Za_0562mWomdKDQp5-4kyZ2qc0zONAoRKzuLYJpyKW/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Xl1Kt5tQdLsNMyCLnVahL2nUDtCZNwZw36egVJ_76pFYQZreWgzR1H-lz8WcNLrpnafG6j6pIBINy07jJw4rPihGhgLxxo5aD8Za_0562mWomdKDQp5-4kyZ2qc0zONAoRKzuLYJpyKW/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383190539959501410" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Here is Union Station--huge and very cool. We ate lunch there.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhAo8G6yIp1f1pkqkNmUVvWvCPNbGyX_BevB5iLA6K20z9mX8ANCH2rxd5EYX21tLN6mmUUl4eeBOIX5KRZ1rJUwzZuv6qqf79u6p0Nzf38AuVWLCnmEFgQ1iYI_3witxZRPlu9dqNFZQ/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhAo8G6yIp1f1pkqkNmUVvWvCPNbGyX_BevB5iLA6K20z9mX8ANCH2rxd5EYX21tLN6mmUUl4eeBOIX5KRZ1rJUwzZuv6qqf79u6p0Nzf38AuVWLCnmEFgQ1iYI_3witxZRPlu9dqNFZQ/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383190544954945858" border="0" /></a></div>We stayed in a hotel right in the downtown area. When I saw our room, I didn't want to leave! It was tiny, but oh so gorgeous.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eUJ7PxINAVXLRKHZM5Pf7wlwiMYSZPAUyENdH8AJ5IzwBNLxyunK8yuFAbc1ksh17xJXqmwPlykX4ZQNgvtjwVyDRZww1g0DevAV20xFBuXPsv0hnkNI1JymdE4YBBA3TQt-om4ExJL8/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+006.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eUJ7PxINAVXLRKHZM5Pf7wlwiMYSZPAUyENdH8AJ5IzwBNLxyunK8yuFAbc1ksh17xJXqmwPlykX4ZQNgvtjwVyDRZww1g0DevAV20xFBuXPsv0hnkNI1JymdE4YBBA3TQt-om4ExJL8/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383190555245510434" border="0" /></a></div><br />And the bathroom! The shower was heavenly.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvz28iu1vwgrFBQbUC7NAuiOcz_CGrezri7P7nthef_B_8ScmG6Ws9X0Sh60I0hgNSQWM9jdh6ZJO7ki-TQ1BOjmuMZ11w48SJm0JBsSdX4ULw1tWRECZZhOCC5EDTkF_VAzZ8tSd3wyWh/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+009.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvz28iu1vwgrFBQbUC7NAuiOcz_CGrezri7P7nthef_B_8ScmG6Ws9X0Sh60I0hgNSQWM9jdh6ZJO7ki-TQ1BOjmuMZ11w48SJm0JBsSdX4ULw1tWRECZZhOCC5EDTkF_VAzZ8tSd3wyWh/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383190559959974978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">While in Chicago you must eat pizza. So we did. Based on the advice of friends who had just been there, we ordered a small one. We still couldn't eat it all.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQmALjJqJIkfsxCvoBnuxuSo1175ZxUUvOmE-1txxjcAUmGurPLl2dJ4AoduJtjjHHRIMv9Cu40IqdA2kT8UvdXkwZRQzWgTyT_G8k5HpogXg8_h5WTeKTzwrGukGwEvLNexFPugt9AEP/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+012.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQmALjJqJIkfsxCvoBnuxuSo1175ZxUUvOmE-1txxjcAUmGurPLl2dJ4AoduJtjjHHRIMv9Cu40IqdA2kT8UvdXkwZRQzWgTyT_G8k5HpogXg8_h5WTeKTzwrGukGwEvLNexFPugt9AEP/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383192224792251778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw-yX5toP1gxzQbKrdLDNan7DJsvVv80O9rLpznQTi-qyE09ycNcLnu3Sl-Pje0U9oHHbvCpdzQDhtU2h5-sKUSOHUM_Jfi-TAAk_vaBsR05o9vbmEubdTN5K1uXJsE_GPMjBCipmJmWz/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+014.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw-yX5toP1gxzQbKrdLDNan7DJsvVv80O9rLpznQTi-qyE09ycNcLnu3Sl-Pje0U9oHHbvCpdzQDhtU2h5-sKUSOHUM_Jfi-TAAk_vaBsR05o9vbmEubdTN5K1uXJsE_GPMjBCipmJmWz/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383192231733020626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The next day we left our hotel and went out on a little adventure. We decided to go to the museum. Here we are on our way, with Chicago in the background.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs9oavgE5o8AcNpv21ypnwm8v65eSwfV4J7EPs4SpX7_97rwXRbjnTy8vMPDhUwShjO3Rft0-04-BYVWEdnxbSJOJyiAIKcAAK-13JaIRtir5QN-arO7GOaQn1CNzX4MPxW9wG14W2mqA/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+016.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs9oavgE5o8AcNpv21ypnwm8v65eSwfV4J7EPs4SpX7_97rwXRbjnTy8vMPDhUwShjO3Rft0-04-BYVWEdnxbSJOJyiAIKcAAK-13JaIRtir5QN-arO7GOaQn1CNzX4MPxW9wG14W2mqA/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383192238328276082" border="0" /></a><br />The museum was featuring pirates. Arrgh!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kE3hQWKRkl6qb70agmc1xKvWYKjv9qz35AJ6G_i6wS0mNNbHDnmIw5FAMgdWd0vmHxMla2CrIILDb2Ae8Vhz37KquG1HPKuUcbkA2KCUty41WDXpdGQ7BO8m9JWpemCwqjFrAN6bF_t5/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+019.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kE3hQWKRkl6qb70agmc1xKvWYKjv9qz35AJ6G_i6wS0mNNbHDnmIw5FAMgdWd0vmHxMla2CrIILDb2Ae8Vhz37KquG1HPKuUcbkA2KCUty41WDXpdGQ7BO8m9JWpemCwqjFrAN6bF_t5/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383192244956164946" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to get acquainted. He was nice enough, but not very talkative.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-9KGPK2BeOH4umf4R-U65mTGyzDlpPLFwSvUg4XrTi33oG6oJgHZ4DLpk1Mi3F-hchpm4q-j2g3ekMMKxHi28Q7Wr9YlkSfyJLJ3nwcLSmqBNFt1sZbjyuw3yRSkJ4-nIjnO8Z79XAwX/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+022.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-9KGPK2BeOH4umf4R-U65mTGyzDlpPLFwSvUg4XrTi33oG6oJgHZ4DLpk1Mi3F-hchpm4q-j2g3ekMMKxHi28Q7Wr9YlkSfyJLJ3nwcLSmqBNFt1sZbjyuw3yRSkJ4-nIjnO8Z79XAwX/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383193411979807378" border="0" /></a><br />This guy greeted us as we walked in the door. I am glad they're extinct.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUVXoUSJkWp03KBaEsE4Xcn0Nl1QSnDLwqyR76nQe6mrbX77Fx4he-GaD6bNeGQsX4fnfrzGS5Y1sl61MW1k82Qk6VAJBYP-eUDCHEgWZP3DdRm9TjRSjODs0M51-RtV79bCDMc_i1K7Q/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+020.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUVXoUSJkWp03KBaEsE4Xcn0Nl1QSnDLwqyR76nQe6mrbX77Fx4he-GaD6bNeGQsX4fnfrzGS5Y1sl61MW1k82Qk6VAJBYP-eUDCHEgWZP3DdRm9TjRSjODs0M51-RtV79bCDMc_i1K7Q/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383192254844547682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was a fun trip. Made me smile.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyzeUlM03Ms-BNSfa8aEX6Pr1mWxbt_xJznQQBteu0j07umdtMjdiHGvQ_YwSxmRPrd1WCYmPYXBLA7lqTsJLrSThPPJoqwnKH6yAqTFSK-hqWg58DDuxlkiWorUKPfgTkwQzJ93VNSwk/s1600-h/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+023.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyzeUlM03Ms-BNSfa8aEX6Pr1mWxbt_xJznQQBteu0j07umdtMjdiHGvQ_YwSxmRPrd1WCYmPYXBLA7lqTsJLrSThPPJoqwnKH6yAqTFSK-hqWg58DDuxlkiWorUKPfgTkwQzJ93VNSwk/s320/Chicago+Trip+8-1-09+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383193422234234450" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-47746857160743007602009-09-02T09:16:00.004-04:002009-09-02T09:22:17.569-04:00Letters from the fieldWe received these precious pictures this week from Elder H. He wants to know what has made you a better person? If you have thoughts for him, please write. If you don't have his address, contact me and I will get it for you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Not sure where this is. Looks like a little robot in front.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XuK53hcGBLlZTMwBmrpAHhXSajBEGHtMisjzBQB5JlCgcMg6tffUDQN_sF0ANb0Munnv20j2EJyTGFtWtxOxp-5YcDFIGn2tTIOCj-wXL1bb4Wknp_XQwAee6mrO8XeHYzEKbclon4p2/s1600-h/IMG_1039%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XuK53hcGBLlZTMwBmrpAHhXSajBEGHtMisjzBQB5JlCgcMg6tffUDQN_sF0ANb0Munnv20j2EJyTGFtWtxOxp-5YcDFIGn2tTIOCj-wXL1bb4Wknp_XQwAee6mrO8XeHYzEKbclon4p2/s320/IMG_1039%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376859214814163154" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_2BIAH2cT-U83gkJMrHZDMdxCtVtJ1Q7Fnvjm-qWjEWtbNz8qJt4Di6dC5YKdiSmTIFGHn77u-iObZyYA9Wi3IUPh_P8C2VtTzMsmmppnxJ3JApp9n2kh-R7rtdVXQ36CLOesMJ9ruvA/s1600-h/IMG_1012%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_2BIAH2cT-U83gkJMrHZDMdxCtVtJ1Q7Fnvjm-qWjEWtbNz8qJt4Di6dC5YKdiSmTIFGHn77u-iObZyYA9Wi3IUPh_P8C2VtTzMsmmppnxJ3JApp9n2kh-R7rtdVXQ36CLOesMJ9ruvA/s320/IMG_1012%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376859204168003058" border="0" /></a><br />This one is precious. I hope the hat comes home with him. Poor Elder, so far away from home, still has to chop wood.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1euzjvJ_kY9hgUqsWV7UMgEiZjSbEjRmESDJcg_KLKXN-YJhH8l1EWqW1xuqMAfw9aKdchxlASLIk-gLsgfhofXK5M80rIusv_uHHKc04txplhpx-HfSU4u5pWTxuwv5Tuae-GFNBpmo/s1600-h/IMG_1047%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1euzjvJ_kY9hgUqsWV7UMgEiZjSbEjRmESDJcg_KLKXN-YJhH8l1EWqW1xuqMAfw9aKdchxlASLIk-gLsgfhofXK5M80rIusv_uHHKc04txplhpx-HfSU4u5pWTxuwv5Tuae-GFNBpmo/s320/IMG_1047%5B1%5D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376859216189947458" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-26615928215315923722009-08-26T14:02:00.003-04:002009-08-26T14:20:35.911-04:00The Washing Machine did itYou know how clothing items seem to disappear after the laundry is done? Like socks? And it is always a mystery where those things go? We can only assume that the washing machine is the culprit.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGKA3I0bLMdARH068W4_fOnQos5cZSr47z0V8GbPtsKb9jzVYRQh_QLlhKlo55mAaRWdefkSnG6jpmwnl17FUZlcaKCNgWf0xdge-02WR-3I8eIf_3echjlRgMOvUKP0F1r2uwvBW9d9J/s1600-h/Washing-Machine-668029.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGKA3I0bLMdARH068W4_fOnQos5cZSr47z0V8GbPtsKb9jzVYRQh_QLlhKlo55mAaRWdefkSnG6jpmwnl17FUZlcaKCNgWf0xdge-02WR-3I8eIf_3echjlRgMOvUKP0F1r2uwvBW9d9J/s320/Washing-Machine-668029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374338259982041186" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Well, I have a story to tell you about missing clothes. I can laugh about it now.<br /><br />After all our travels were finally over, DH came to me and told me a pair of his pants were missing. I went through the usual questions, "When did you wear it last" When was the last time you saw it" "Did you look in the closet", etc.<br /><br />He insisted it wasn't in the closet. Now, some of you can relate, as our eyes age it is much harder to see things, especially in a dark and small closet (did I mentioned that our closet is the size of a breadbox?) So I went through the clothes, checked the laundry, checked a few other less obvious places.<br /><br />Huh.<br /><br />No pants.<br /><br />Then we wondered "Did we leave them in Chicago? In Utah? In the airport?"<br /><br />Meanwhile, DH was getting desperate for his favorite pair of pants.<br /><br />A day later I noticed that one of my capris was missing. And another one of DH's pants and a shirt! This was getting weird. I do hear strange sounds in my house at night, do we have a clothes thief?<br /><br />I looked everywhere. And was completely stumped. Couldn't find anything.<br /><br />Fast forward to last Monday when I decided to mow the lawn. As I went into the garage my eye caught sight of one of our backpacks, looking suspiciously full of something.<br /><br />No way.<br /><br />I had a faint recollection of DH going on a slap-dash hike with the scouts before their official trip. I slowly walked to the backpack and opened it up. You guessed it. It was full of the missing clothes, and some others I hadn't noticed were missing.<br /><br />H (no longer DH), when confronted with the findings, started to remember that he had filled up the pack from the dirty clothes hamper for extra weight and "padding".<br /><br />Well.<br /><br />After he got out of the doghouse we went for a walk. He said to me "Remember when you told me that so and so said he heard so and so say that so and so should do something?"<br /><br />I said, "When did I say that?"<br /><br />He said, "About 4 years ago, I think."<br /><br />What a memory!<br /><br />Go figure.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-57054131436154921752009-08-13T19:43:00.010-04:002009-08-13T20:50:26.380-04:00New Post . . .! Ta da!Back from Utah . . .<br /><br />But you all knew that.<br /><br />So I thought I would post a few pictures from the trip with just a few keys words so you wouldn't nod off before you got to the end. So . . . here we go!<br /><br />There was . . .<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">LOVE</span></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgzRoNZxR27AfeQGKaId2fAbuK9__QVoALBnxKPWnfWJe-MXdKmlbX3SkNKqcNtPcLcd_QogPwztADT8SSTvlQQnr2DasZo31G7aziLcgPN2_0uko9nUXJnSTH6LQ1Rmlt0bfMdAMXlOK/s1600-h/July+2009+124.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgzRoNZxR27AfeQGKaId2fAbuK9__QVoALBnxKPWnfWJe-MXdKmlbX3SkNKqcNtPcLcd_QogPwztADT8SSTvlQQnr2DasZo31G7aziLcgPN2_0uko9nUXJnSTH6LQ1Rmlt0bfMdAMXlOK/s320/July+2009+124.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369602248493276994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftXZyAH7ji5fvpp-ox8GCB264qbM0HEObh_31lu6M56LiDr6miTOWY59QWukavmzPmcuiNqWgbXxDP58kqYj7IlD5CNvzh8B_Yxzn1Eqq9c27h54dHxANyNC5aXSn7PnMFufGh0r1_jcL/s1600-h/July+2009+051.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftXZyAH7ji5fvpp-ox8GCB264qbM0HEObh_31lu6M56LiDr6miTOWY59QWukavmzPmcuiNqWgbXxDP58kqYj7IlD5CNvzh8B_Yxzn1Eqq9c27h54dHxANyNC5aXSn7PnMFufGh0r1_jcL/s320/July+2009+051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369602269569700706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzyh9AOMPaZg8mSKKvF3RXS3dFA1ehGQuYAlpU-91yYeYBseBgKIxyFHje6DWSfLSz4gYhurlNa0RsCfJsCxuj9CIFkEYPMOFVwrrdin7h9LddiXbbhcFYGtAaXXXHdE9gPIAfXyD2JH5/s1600-h/July+2009+071.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzyh9AOMPaZg8mSKKvF3RXS3dFA1ehGQuYAlpU-91yYeYBseBgKIxyFHje6DWSfLSz4gYhurlNa0RsCfJsCxuj9CIFkEYPMOFVwrrdin7h9LddiXbbhcFYGtAaXXXHdE9gPIAfXyD2JH5/s320/July+2009+071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369602261157550658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNqFI8lmK7rqzWniCuaBzlz1GlL4GBGlFqiM7WnviD-DXaMTwMEqY4DQBCOrbzBysu2QUB48eh6LdnohYvL20cXFnN8Smg1_GMlpw2egJBj94c7xqCUoTKltNx9gWXZfj4FNiKeWjN4tI/s1600-h/July+2009+164.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNqFI8lmK7rqzWniCuaBzlz1GlL4GBGlFqiM7WnviD-DXaMTwMEqY4DQBCOrbzBysu2QUB48eh6LdnohYvL20cXFnN8Smg1_GMlpw2egJBj94c7xqCUoTKltNx9gWXZfj4FNiKeWjN4tI/s320/July+2009+164.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369602278052299282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">HIKING<br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ocLw829E7V8DITzzD2zrMjzHuBLE7jNdpGUuwdbeGSfXlKY-q4bZeUyH8h6WM2BoxSEM4SQXbzRE-PhPa-uEWXyeziPKM_R1arqeFM2x3NJ5Dd452E5XjizDT5S3zIqw9po7XSs5GPxK/s1600-h/July+2009+185.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ocLw829E7V8DITzzD2zrMjzHuBLE7jNdpGUuwdbeGSfXlKY-q4bZeUyH8h6WM2BoxSEM4SQXbzRE-PhPa-uEWXyeziPKM_R1arqeFM2x3NJ5Dd452E5XjizDT5S3zIqw9po7XSs5GPxK/s320/July+2009+185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369606635000214866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPxJdgguQdfkx4wtWluQFiHIJc2AUc8iWScSG9VIqSAEFi819RLncCGJm3unO_JD5KIUq1M04XVqQ1-ATb5PXWop8e-pNM4NKHRThqWnkkuxbd5DXtIF1Go4hyphenhyphenVu9uPquJcmKFHzPz_-W/s1600-h/July+2009+072.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPxJdgguQdfkx4wtWluQFiHIJc2AUc8iWScSG9VIqSAEFi819RLncCGJm3unO_JD5KIUq1M04XVqQ1-ATb5PXWop8e-pNM4NKHRThqWnkkuxbd5DXtIF1Go4hyphenhyphenVu9uPquJcmKFHzPz_-W/s320/July+2009+072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369606654169879186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnqGewK10MR6KPDwnmrXFRXUKY1bkm4MDinReHYgZgTPjfoM0ylMn8Igzc_wYk_8deQvkHFEBOJkQTOwwoGJtB3w4fLw-cDWtfOIPVdZwyarui8IBlntnIek5ciyaRSBtKm5OObdKjMwC/s1600-h/July+2009+240.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnqGewK10MR6KPDwnmrXFRXUKY1bkm4MDinReHYgZgTPjfoM0ylMn8Igzc_wYk_8deQvkHFEBOJkQTOwwoGJtB3w4fLw-cDWtfOIPVdZwyarui8IBlntnIek5ciyaRSBtKm5OObdKjMwC/s320/July+2009+240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369610538047787938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYAucfg4GJ4_rnniN3__TNdACPBHXtCeUXYoiunMsw5mMhtHIR2rqv8JTKrBg9jQs976I5eTga1hvvzni2k-cgnk_3JrijXoY4ntVQVuZxOEMY5P1LhbkocxOgx5BUvXXIa_KFtlM3iPO/s1600-h/July+2009+032.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYAucfg4GJ4_rnniN3__TNdACPBHXtCeUXYoiunMsw5mMhtHIR2rqv8JTKrBg9jQs976I5eTga1hvvzni2k-cgnk_3JrijXoY4ntVQVuZxOEMY5P1LhbkocxOgx5BUvXXIa_KFtlM3iPO/s320/July+2009+032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369610528886617426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">FAMILY</span></span></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ptJZxpKmoF8YR511dFEJqPHgud92ce2wVVUqGZJO03LpATApYg4LOB9sOa-RoaNKMz5TdQbhLhm6fXWH8wg95hKI7oliSt7ys9A5lBXmSKZ6tleQiVB6KTKz6G6Hw5zBMINtmlMTJagy/s1600-h/July+2009+063.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ptJZxpKmoF8YR511dFEJqPHgud92ce2wVVUqGZJO03LpATApYg4LOB9sOa-RoaNKMz5TdQbhLhm6fXWH8wg95hKI7oliSt7ys9A5lBXmSKZ6tleQiVB6KTKz6G6Hw5zBMINtmlMTJagy/s320/July+2009+063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369610516702669762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKuJfZXO5p9Zc24uJoEFvmBjCYzcgNkFTn6Js-rUlKzKmx6gHbogotFen7QVvHdTCMxzvekypdKJkl9dXWHc74RI0J0FTH931GGO3um43spdBf4IjDNf8bv14lkYzXvzxvEgkitrlPZbP/s1600-h/July+2009+145.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKuJfZXO5p9Zc24uJoEFvmBjCYzcgNkFTn6Js-rUlKzKmx6gHbogotFen7QVvHdTCMxzvekypdKJkl9dXWHc74RI0J0FTH931GGO3um43spdBf4IjDNf8bv14lkYzXvzxvEgkitrlPZbP/s320/July+2009+145.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369610500284835282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">FLOWERS<br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIaclj5EFJUje2FbzcrB2j3CGHvHU4l_xXP2Z2_QxWA5SsB9-Hgc1MwLLaoH8SwQjAjPm4HJhOmLoDg0hDMz_nYRrpezMhZ9-X-Iop4DzuArX-k7olQbxQkX6NrDnGk1AoM1SgLfcAnou/s1600-h/July+2009+117.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIaclj5EFJUje2FbzcrB2j3CGHvHU4l_xXP2Z2_QxWA5SsB9-Hgc1MwLLaoH8SwQjAjPm4HJhOmLoDg0hDMz_nYRrpezMhZ9-X-Iop4DzuArX-k7olQbxQkX6NrDnGk1AoM1SgLfcAnou/s320/July+2009+117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369615194654426370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIBds-ush6YrAnTb43T8m_HsFjneARQWuUUYxdck2j_gy93ENFt9xjnMMjA4OH-4-ON8LOUe2qoPgQ_hA7_jFkqTFy8bpWUNxBbXxapelpEYSYObOXzL5eDHwMNKcQ1lxyqPbtmOgM_Xn/s1600-h/July+2009+118.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIBds-ush6YrAnTb43T8m_HsFjneARQWuUUYxdck2j_gy93ENFt9xjnMMjA4OH-4-ON8LOUe2qoPgQ_hA7_jFkqTFy8bpWUNxBbXxapelpEYSYObOXzL5eDHwMNKcQ1lxyqPbtmOgM_Xn/s320/July+2009+118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369614266252509906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">FISH<br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4II6R3trg18kkorTVsmvI_zyMRxAcjxQR5I5E6T_O_ugTtpwJf2HBCX6GadRdgVxo9D8OiCkqTwVygq2oeEH7KD8Vah4UlJGr7wO9rkgMaJOG8VNrWA75IbdS9cLrYxj23AfcsZAm7tZ/s1600-h/July+2009+176.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4II6R3trg18kkorTVsmvI_zyMRxAcjxQR5I5E6T_O_ugTtpwJf2HBCX6GadRdgVxo9D8OiCkqTwVygq2oeEH7KD8Vah4UlJGr7wO9rkgMaJOG8VNrWA75IbdS9cLrYxj23AfcsZAm7tZ/s320/July+2009+176.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369614282734038162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8K969gPlwOVSFeHtKueV2NaYMrFbFSqOV10c5MpTPFOoeeHiYVES3oBkVuyK9OerhHEFetXgsldMV_hB_AzZlQv3Wi1QYjHRfsAgl98uuUTbEnHlfpcyKwDm42wHJC761Mqxuiv_bBfy2/s1600-h/July+2009+111.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8K969gPlwOVSFeHtKueV2NaYMrFbFSqOV10c5MpTPFOoeeHiYVES3oBkVuyK9OerhHEFetXgsldMV_hB_AzZlQv3Wi1QYjHRfsAgl98uuUTbEnHlfpcyKwDm42wHJC761Mqxuiv_bBfy2/s320/July+2009+111.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369614273201946738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">And more . . . but that is for another day</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-60862086287757487872009-07-04T20:25:00.001-04:002009-07-04T20:27:06.796-04:00Happy 4th!Happy 4th of July everyone!<br /><br />I will be taking a brief hiatus from blogging for the next few weeks--but check in a bit! If I can get computer access I will try to post.<br /><br />Utah here I come!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-82364139499749477702009-07-01T14:50:00.002-04:002009-07-01T14:57:21.305-04:00For my beloved sister in AZ<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXvl8MllJJmDFuAgN6_HiApTWTFIDzUkxef02rg8Ve2d74l_TJOXgXkD_7HoRGgjukFYnoCT_7Bxe_SYoMSklt2mNLcIuZViovVCUMH6Xfm-wNtS-gct_Vw_TLZpAWWXbuU_5gUPDcLzl/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 423px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXvl8MllJJmDFuAgN6_HiApTWTFIDzUkxef02rg8Ve2d74l_TJOXgXkD_7HoRGgjukFYnoCT_7Bxe_SYoMSklt2mNLcIuZViovVCUMH6Xfm-wNtS-gct_Vw_TLZpAWWXbuU_5gUPDcLzl/s320/Blog+Pictures+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353567534065530226" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >July 1, 2009</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >2:50 PM</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >62 degrees</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Rain</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" > . . . .</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My door is always open<br /><br />Bring a sweater<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-78630864154532736162009-06-30T07:16:00.000-04:002009-06-30T07:16:51.328-04:00The age old questionI never thought about this as a kid.<br /><br />I mean, it was always there for me, every night, without question.<br /><br />I would never even <span style="font-style: italic;">imagine</span> that it would be missing.<br /><br />But this week, I feel like I want to scream every time I hear the words:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">WHAT'S FOR DINNER?</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Lately I've been saying, "I don't know . . ."<br /><br />I teach from 3-7 three days a week. If I don't plan for dinner in the morning, it is too late by 2 in the afternoon to get it started. And usually in the morning I'm trying to do something else. Then there is the problem of getting it in and out of the oven during teaching time without burning it or under cooking it.<br /><br />Yes, I know about the crockpot. But after awhile, everything starts to taste the same when it is cooked in the crockpot. It gets this . . . "I've been cooking for the past 10 hours" flavor.<br /><br />Some nights I resort to this:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwmzN1hMSFhwjv48I-JQBilenevaf_tjw7sP4OiWorw8-bfGBLWu2kHBEBE3GaEjPCJ6aHfT6FcI84N6_wQPcJSeFcF60azQQ6AFrFDudSLxGeOn7q7ZRjUodMRau7n8qF8tIZbon_d2O/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwmzN1hMSFhwjv48I-JQBilenevaf_tjw7sP4OiWorw8-bfGBLWu2kHBEBE3GaEjPCJ6aHfT6FcI84N6_wQPcJSeFcF60azQQ6AFrFDudSLxGeOn7q7ZRjUodMRau7n8qF8tIZbon_d2O/s320/Blog+Pictures+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351033415025906210" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then I remembered that I had this!:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydMXeR71C9ToE1sm_-wdXLfYTBDTYYfs8Xhvjne40cXFgUPZCc46MGEOUZ3yK-0oO7F9SGNCOlltnq0bGvVnk8gEXvspUCGmDzDq1i6LbWXYU3NgNrU0GOtQK-ia84U-VA9sw3ulaVRH-/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydMXeR71C9ToE1sm_-wdXLfYTBDTYYfs8Xhvjne40cXFgUPZCc46MGEOUZ3yK-0oO7F9SGNCOlltnq0bGvVnk8gEXvspUCGmDzDq1i6LbWXYU3NgNrU0GOtQK-ia84U-VA9sw3ulaVRH-/s320/Blog+Pictures+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351033407564960466" border="0" /></a><br />MMMmmmmmm. . . . . . .<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our family reluctantly tried this recently. DH was planning on a 3 day backpacking trip and needed some food to go with it. Ah, this was the perfect solution! However, once it is opened it must be eaten within 1 week. So DH portioned out his servings for backpacking, and Ems and I planned to eat it at pretty much every meal for the next week. But hey, at least I can answer that age-old question!<br /><br />Pass the tums please.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-72777040446910633072009-06-29T12:27:00.000-04:002009-06-29T12:27:10.476-04:00Heavy Loads<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">**Anyone else having trouble with post options? My posts are not posting when I schedule them. Just wondering. **<br /><br /></span>DH and I are trying to get ready for a potential backpacking trip when we go to Utah.<br /><br />I say potential because I'm not sure which may go out first -- his back or my hip.<br /><br />At any rate, we are thinking positive and are beginning our training.<br /><br />We decided to go early on this morning because it was expected to reach 95 degrees. Some of you may think that's a bit chilly, but when you add humidity to it, it becomes quite unbearable.<br /><br />So we headed out early, the two of us, backpacks on and a smile on our faces.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJ5UZC96a8Op0W3s8TP_QxjJ95wSYZRen7kpwdz1VOiHyDtpeV6IOwcUGkuOk18b7vD16qPm8PA_toUXLooVXoXr4W0CqC0GH0m8eo44xTjAdfdhggcV3LS2a7U2gfE5JpFflWTdOXtOi/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJ5UZC96a8Op0W3s8TP_QxjJ95wSYZRen7kpwdz1VOiHyDtpeV6IOwcUGkuOk18b7vD16qPm8PA_toUXLooVXoXr4W0CqC0GH0m8eo44xTjAdfdhggcV3LS2a7U2gfE5JpFflWTdOXtOi/s320/Blog+Pictures+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351000612884505570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetcRloDrxcDnrxfLtJFB2ZFUhvqzA3YZoS5xsPJlEt0wS2bkvMpBj4A5jm9upvYeTGIWSLIA1vdM8GAs2gWL71Z3Or6B1Y-3-uJ09X2OAQvcDrepfD8pfMFCuovhsmR7nmzx9pmR18o18/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetcRloDrxcDnrxfLtJFB2ZFUhvqzA3YZoS5xsPJlEt0wS2bkvMpBj4A5jm9upvYeTGIWSLIA1vdM8GAs2gWL71Z3Or6B1Y-3-uJ09X2OAQvcDrepfD8pfMFCuovhsmR7nmzx9pmR18o18/s320/Blog+Pictures+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351000618634469666" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Here the lovely stretch of road lies before us. This is where we live, people. It looks like this all around us. Cool, huh? It's nice to have a trail right out our front door.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXN5Sft06UxEMlqXf4O_UHjgi4bbMTHKRu2AdHdqXAh0Xeyy2Mc3x4UHcQKMjVnxEALFsMdmOpCPrQA-CKS1Exuc8WnNkPeNqoQl8nK6yyf4q2AtGM-hzlC4oNygS6dehI4i6djlOX6dz/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+006.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXN5Sft06UxEMlqXf4O_UHjgi4bbMTHKRu2AdHdqXAh0Xeyy2Mc3x4UHcQKMjVnxEALFsMdmOpCPrQA-CKS1Exuc8WnNkPeNqoQl8nK6yyf4q2AtGM-hzlC4oNygS6dehI4i6djlOX6dz/s320/Blog+Pictures+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351000623379851218" border="0" /></a></div>It was a nice walk. But by the end I was ready to be done. You can tell by my forced smile.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJW8auto-N7KvaCpe0rHVTiQZ37QsoSw1EH7sfg9AE_Ui-TnAxuuJoU2mFmHI7zyjuyRLG6-zaIHtNQUEFt9xHddHoFKzGHcqIpEjljM3COryI-l8Hszt-jjjirg-E-T0_e3sptAu-hXk/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJW8auto-N7KvaCpe0rHVTiQZ37QsoSw1EH7sfg9AE_Ui-TnAxuuJoU2mFmHI7zyjuyRLG6-zaIHtNQUEFt9xHddHoFKzGHcqIpEjljM3COryI-l8Hszt-jjjirg-E-T0_e3sptAu-hXk/s320/Blog+Pictures+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351000629352277586" border="0" /></a><br />4 miles, yippeee!!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-57528768069333292442009-06-27T10:08:00.000-04:002009-06-27T10:08:58.483-04:00What do you think?I need your opinion.<br /><br />I have an indoor project I'm working on. We are replacing our carpet with new (yeah!) this summer and I have decided that I also want to tile behind the stove. Here is the stove:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PqKyVOagqqme14U9ey5ecd9pfLT7uz5qOxb6hn4yL6CUBlaON4WOHP2AITT8Z5RIC81d2eyTYH_6R-wLad-EYgmD6e1qNd46MtqKHQiGVsZI98X6wpwTNp5kSWosEM7siKCV3uktM4ft/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PqKyVOagqqme14U9ey5ecd9pfLT7uz5qOxb6hn4yL6CUBlaON4WOHP2AITT8Z5RIC81d2eyTYH_6R-wLad-EYgmD6e1qNd46MtqKHQiGVsZI98X6wpwTNp5kSWosEM7siKCV3uktM4ft/s320/Blog+Pictures+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349881235838918610" border="0" /></a><br />Very plain and boring. We have it on a tile platform now, but we want to replace that and also tile behind it. So here are some choices:<br />Tile choice #1 (The big one and the ones across the bottom:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oXKs5Dq_784eBA7FGTkVX1cIqehPHOxTe_wnwPcvW1cgYH8_pLrtBEcLQvn4rykgle8KLzJT-P8zLxZArnfiMZ46w-L_w69R0gMyq_2_kBhEdWtF_l9MM_YSJA2XaKLFAxtv7zjyTjxm/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oXKs5Dq_784eBA7FGTkVX1cIqehPHOxTe_wnwPcvW1cgYH8_pLrtBEcLQvn4rykgle8KLzJT-P8zLxZArnfiMZ46w-L_w69R0gMyq_2_kBhEdWtF_l9MM_YSJA2XaKLFAxtv7zjyTjxm/s320/Blog+Pictures+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349881227911904338" border="0" /></a><br />This is a slate look.<br /><br />Ok, tile #2<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5LZZ0CYku6Kv8zHFgQSHkK7UnvBFgmIregYglgexGWEZ4zN4f6tZlhFL4G2X9Ar3R9MbJgkVArDPRYhS5DICQOn6k8Tc7PH_Pj1EKAc-qnxmN0kyN3UT9i5RZEI9IihRkxSdyF1bSf97/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5LZZ0CYku6Kv8zHFgQSHkK7UnvBFgmIregYglgexGWEZ4zN4f6tZlhFL4G2X9Ar3R9MbJgkVArDPRYhS5DICQOn6k8Tc7PH_Pj1EKAc-qnxmN0kyN3UT9i5RZEI9IihRkxSdyF1bSf97/s320/Blog+Pictures+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349881222553878098" border="0" /></a><br />A little lighter in color, no?<br />And tile #3 - I was looking at the big one, but I'm open to suggestions.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLlzEeT6qFlK2IHzhFfqZzqipwOhRngJ2qioE8gYpl0uYi9CP2D9KqG6tQuKzppOP0iLUFYqB1t2Hox6hAT6h1UhorOALa5s339H3-JW7zQC-JYagoY6RikAU9GsuLatLH6MNaSA1tFdf/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+007.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLlzEeT6qFlK2IHzhFfqZzqipwOhRngJ2qioE8gYpl0uYi9CP2D9KqG6tQuKzppOP0iLUFYqB1t2Hox6hAT6h1UhorOALa5s339H3-JW7zQC-JYagoY6RikAU9GsuLatLH6MNaSA1tFdf/s320/Blog+Pictures+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349881219288671426" border="0" /></a><br /></div>I'm not very good at matching colors and seeing what looks best. I know that some of you are . . . :-) So please share your opinion!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-80966604950359015832009-06-26T10:27:00.000-04:002009-06-26T10:27:30.722-04:00Finishing up Walkways<div style="text-align: center;">Here are some pictures of our sidewalks getting put in. They look great!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijoA2QtaElm8tzRox4D7HHdKpzDEFWZYixiKqTIWJaap2xJ-KyI8X0i6uZ-3eiy_lfDd1mQEV18wBxlJq1OSSm9lr_l6Y_N8-i6WS70b4cHXcoo4EE7t-6cr2B6PtuMJW0ADhQOWY5nfG/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijoA2QtaElm8tzRox4D7HHdKpzDEFWZYixiKqTIWJaap2xJ-KyI8X0i6uZ-3eiy_lfDd1mQEV18wBxlJq1OSSm9lr_l6Y_N8-i6WS70b4cHXcoo4EE7t-6cr2B6PtuMJW0ADhQOWY5nfG/s320/Blog+Pictures+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350698162327818018" border="0" /></a><br />Watching this come down the driveway was scary! They decided to stop before getting on the pavement. Thoughtful of them.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQR_zB30gup9Aozbhh-y9IkP4rVZxfZd3wnghJIcxzqY7VDy1wMVOzsSMD2FU6eRxGhllmRPVgGPC7gfHwUj2WfaE3kcgPTEaBbmlqlccbEvnKFPmpmnjy7RqNpcYcIRXBqSkm5CWaX4Q/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQR_zB30gup9Aozbhh-y9IkP4rVZxfZd3wnghJIcxzqY7VDy1wMVOzsSMD2FU6eRxGhllmRPVgGPC7gfHwUj2WfaE3kcgPTEaBbmlqlccbEvnKFPmpmnjy7RqNpcYcIRXBqSkm5CWaX4Q/s320/Blog+Pictures+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350698173213204258" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Concrete had to be brought in by wheelbarrow<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMbDUHIKClolKWjNqMd9eTfqcinVaiCfQ0JL11Gf5Xv6i6CaLvadL13EKkQgB5ihJB0l2HIkedg4Q3VqO9V7x4BHOrHEzHu_cBqgzXCBaRe200Zi0HsXC9WWxBeMtVTw4iJJ6ynuMGrb4/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMbDUHIKClolKWjNqMd9eTfqcinVaiCfQ0JL11Gf5Xv6i6CaLvadL13EKkQgB5ihJB0l2HIkedg4Q3VqO9V7x4BHOrHEzHu_cBqgzXCBaRe200Zi0HsXC9WWxBeMtVTw4iJJ6ynuMGrb4/s320/Blog+Pictures+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350698167974616114" border="0" /></a><br />Spreading it out<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6PK0UWYyJafG-SvrYTA2piKdkwg0zFRGY-rMsLwwhy5SKiAPBOUa28fsl83IhVM_dq_vgptKttDqxHjRaloB7_qcB3_V1NBnNTaQRVzh-OhY_1NlKHR071KDlmsyqrLHsfOBEjT0fRzw/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+017.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6PK0UWYyJafG-SvrYTA2piKdkwg0zFRGY-rMsLwwhy5SKiAPBOUa28fsl83IhVM_dq_vgptKttDqxHjRaloB7_qcB3_V1NBnNTaQRVzh-OhY_1NlKHR071KDlmsyqrLHsfOBEjT0fRzw/s320/Blog+Pictures+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350698184747388178" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Smoothing it up<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFktASQYBZb1U9f7fE_0XaFMQxtejVq46oSjs917gh0vil128TC2DCxVGEkUayfLFSzt0ED2I6UvfHocEfCpLblG5icfwmHAtzavHErX5Ql_eG-nn4zR_ip0JY8wcN0TX5aUEh3YeOeccA/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFktASQYBZb1U9f7fE_0XaFMQxtejVq46oSjs917gh0vil128TC2DCxVGEkUayfLFSzt0ED2I6UvfHocEfCpLblG5icfwmHAtzavHErX5Ql_eG-nn4zR_ip0JY8wcN0TX5aUEh3YeOeccA/s320/Blog+Pictures+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350698179957785218" border="0" /></a><br />First step completed!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdJgI1lyuEOjVC8K9a4HFs15Lut2ggJFywxvgjCr-UtEvIiNG5wxcZ9umS9SzPoNZVdvmruX2VUKrRVAx2VFTj84nf_3ddbeIq2tICxMp3d-vNMUmPdwZW7-9I-41_squCfX2IIsa-LHF/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+021.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdJgI1lyuEOjVC8K9a4HFs15Lut2ggJFywxvgjCr-UtEvIiNG5wxcZ9umS9SzPoNZVdvmruX2VUKrRVAx2VFTj84nf_3ddbeIq2tICxMp3d-vNMUmPdwZW7-9I-41_squCfX2IIsa-LHF/s320/Blog+Pictures+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350856411117285346" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Putting the stamp on. They sprinkled a charcoal colored powder on the concrete before they put the stamp on. You can see the dust from the powder flying up.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_U__UwYR9EvleVQ0ureuXrGmtwN5k1szOV5RXO6fpfL1NOreCemIkmPbv4SkletJPCk26pyzF5XLKfgCfr7D0rqG_ssznjQWozIbHCXesKJSS3SQ0tJ1Y05jhznmP_-5o5DZXf_YfvYO/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+023.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_U__UwYR9EvleVQ0ureuXrGmtwN5k1szOV5RXO6fpfL1NOreCemIkmPbv4SkletJPCk26pyzF5XLKfgCfr7D0rqG_ssznjQWozIbHCXesKJSS3SQ0tJ1Y05jhznmP_-5o5DZXf_YfvYO/s320/Blog+Pictures+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350856414344754306" border="0" /></a><br />Ta Da!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpIkZOAthaMTPv2_HxCNN_IFH8vxME7cdMhlgkE42kuKWUV9rV0QK1-35mvHbj5rynyy8wC82lN62E5Q9032dUKFMbp0vIpQ28WHCcSGvhjIFvDlFEhgcPxX0Dvq2um-vBFAb2K0ZuFmr/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+025.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpIkZOAthaMTPv2_HxCNN_IFH8vxME7cdMhlgkE42kuKWUV9rV0QK1-35mvHbj5rynyy8wC82lN62E5Q9032dUKFMbp0vIpQ28WHCcSGvhjIFvDlFEhgcPxX0Dvq2um-vBFAb2K0ZuFmr/s320/Blog+Pictures+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350856423362155634" border="0" /></a><br />They are coming back to clean up and shellac it. They they will be finished!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-15800545770191737682009-06-25T08:31:00.000-04:002009-06-25T08:31:43.798-04:00A Benchmark<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">It has been 365 days since this boy</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zFT3d4BnH5eVp3nQAA9H7GpH3CFrx_mtJg2QtzmjS4Vs7XseqkHzRlNzIiExdwuU4Ow4n1wE-jbXBX-12WWz0N1iXXf_wHPiSCo2HaQiJYypnDxmpeInwsNiNs7GKMBQ_nRdU3WQInKR/s1600-h/Adam's+Farewell+002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zFT3d4BnH5eVp3nQAA9H7GpH3CFrx_mtJg2QtzmjS4Vs7XseqkHzRlNzIiExdwuU4Ow4n1wE-jbXBX-12WWz0N1iXXf_wHPiSCo2HaQiJYypnDxmpeInwsNiNs7GKMBQ_nRdU3WQInKR/s320/Adam's+Farewell+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351021986132254562" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >entered the MTC. </span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Only 365 more days to go.</span><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >I miss this.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y7_FBf5d5tBw-dsCoSUENdCkO2yqdlebfQsyh1PqDwAoWDQFZ9xLMTWlFWykkq9ZhMI9aOsSVCuttt2Y7sHf0e9jePOKXzjCHkS3xAPxlxqfuAk9RICzp_RiL3vYvlBZU4fa1R6qA6Ap/s1600-h/Adam's+Farewell+005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y7_FBf5d5tBw-dsCoSUENdCkO2yqdlebfQsyh1PqDwAoWDQFZ9xLMTWlFWykkq9ZhMI9aOsSVCuttt2Y7sHf0e9jePOKXzjCHkS3xAPxlxqfuAk9RICzp_RiL3vYvlBZU4fa1R6qA6Ap/s320/Adam's+Farewell+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351021989630427426" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-67921396503033834152009-06-24T09:45:00.000-04:002009-06-24T09:46:42.055-04:00My new loveEms saw the start of this post and said "uh oh".<br /><br />I have been busy since February working on this:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOgEKrtivG5vLM-Tjf170moNrMLJZn4h-eQfpYyVvIzG7jH45UJrSsA5W7a_GOrY-EIbJWM2OA3V3GrPDNWWcNs-e7ZoFoNfi_nde19-YprS4v2I6ci42zRCOdo3EIZVW69BsNKcgKRyi/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOgEKrtivG5vLM-Tjf170moNrMLJZn4h-eQfpYyVvIzG7jH45UJrSsA5W7a_GOrY-EIbJWM2OA3V3GrPDNWWcNs-e7ZoFoNfi_nde19-YprS4v2I6ci42zRCOdo3EIZVW69BsNKcgKRyi/s320/Blog+Pictures+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349875646612382130" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Preparing this scrapbook has been a labor of love for son #1, and I have learned a lot about his mission as a result. However, do you know how difficult it is to scrapbook about an event when you were not there?<br /><br />It is hard. I look forward to his input on the journaling side of things<br /><br />Here is a sneak peak, son #1! But you will have to come home to see the rest:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkn7uirfY1VfUvVtOA4Ly3pli02KT_bG6w6-MHMZM63GxaAeE3VLwBda_q5QF3EpTRkSUEBNaf08gZcflcpIe6XnL1EaZlkE8KDCiANs4lYkpY4JCKEGOkQffRR47A5_zLa-34NUwABluK/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkn7uirfY1VfUvVtOA4Ly3pli02KT_bG6w6-MHMZM63GxaAeE3VLwBda_q5QF3EpTRkSUEBNaf08gZcflcpIe6XnL1EaZlkE8KDCiANs4lYkpY4JCKEGOkQffRR47A5_zLa-34NUwABluK/s320/Blog+Pictures+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349875654722075266" border="0" /></a><br /></div>True confession time: I really don't like scrapbooking. I get overwhelmed by all the little doodads and I HATE the mess it creates. Then when you put it all away, you don't want to get it all back out just to do one more page. I also hate those moments when you are staring at a blank page and you just can't figure out what the layout should be.<br /><br />On to the theme of this post--my new love. Take a look at this:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1YqcVnhRjgVNrEJI9ztwKtDvTIGgIYTssXFrr4qApCS98eCwdAh6-kfD_LMyb7Kf2MNteNYniH3-VTlBI_y35VdjsiQz3k3QUCZX96J2Kyp5EsPLlp6fjgAE65HhHyeTtcAxOwY2FymF/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1YqcVnhRjgVNrEJI9ztwKtDvTIGgIYTssXFrr4qApCS98eCwdAh6-kfD_LMyb7Kf2MNteNYniH3-VTlBI_y35VdjsiQz3k3QUCZX96J2Kyp5EsPLlp6fjgAE65HhHyeTtcAxOwY2FymF/s320/Blog+Pictures+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349875660426302066" border="0" /></a><br />Here is a peak inside:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMhc5BMhuQTzeYklQIezD-CNaYVzGVOH21RKPB5YpkkxeUipgilKLGPEWsOhiCa9lmd8tgWgIBMaXyw6YAGyEXPFSGianH_lGBma5hcLVdJfFlfY_6BoT4BVfB285IQosJouk946KPHF9/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+006.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMhc5BMhuQTzeYklQIezD-CNaYVzGVOH21RKPB5YpkkxeUipgilKLGPEWsOhiCa9lmd8tgWgIBMaXyw6YAGyEXPFSGianH_lGBma5hcLVdJfFlfY_6BoT4BVfB285IQosJouk946KPHF9/s320/Blog+Pictures+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350212326601638306" border="0" /></a><br /></div>I purchased Adobe Elements about a year ago, along with a nice new camera. At first I was as overwhelmed by it as I am when I scrapbook. But with a little time and a little practice I got better at using it. And then we had a digital scrapbook class at church.<br /><br />BAM! I was hooked. No mess, free downloadable materials and ideas, and a place that will print and then ship for free (there's that word again!) My kind of hobby!<br /><br />I already have ideas for the next book. . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-60699734414802742702009-06-23T16:16:00.000-04:002009-06-23T16:17:41.858-04:00Walkway UpdateThe boys came today and started working. They are so efficient. In just a few hours all this was accomplished:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAV8qvmbOMNZdMayNufW4rNGTTv7yFeYTRZElgQkKONzZcEGksqmNJ3TtEiFkmRn1PHqu2N-yG4le-tW6OknJwVnR9bLDwzx4VHTttdbSlvkQbTwlUzdLCq1ChyzQsLuC1AQwzbJed57Lo/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAV8qvmbOMNZdMayNufW4rNGTTv7yFeYTRZElgQkKONzZcEGksqmNJ3TtEiFkmRn1PHqu2N-yG4le-tW6OknJwVnR9bLDwzx4VHTttdbSlvkQbTwlUzdLCq1ChyzQsLuC1AQwzbJed57Lo/s320/Blog+Pictures+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350215636051486802" border="0" /></a><br />oooh, la la<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoin1bnGU_pIa_9Xf8BCymOig-vK-Ku95aq_TEdaW-XEUzQTUJruWf4SPViS20Pmm_4sC5K1miZwbe5Vu8ObuDHTnD64sB_ntPT0zpPkt6fPzIBMJf1Tu9UjsR_W4BNrThmL2ulh5jBVn0/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoin1bnGU_pIa_9Xf8BCymOig-vK-Ku95aq_TEdaW-XEUzQTUJruWf4SPViS20Pmm_4sC5K1miZwbe5Vu8ObuDHTnD64sB_ntPT0zpPkt6fPzIBMJf1Tu9UjsR_W4BNrThmL2ulh5jBVn0/s320/Blog+Pictures+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350215643208068338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;">(that's DH feet, he thought I was taking a picture of him, hehe)<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LG40YgdkFteekJvK50l2rXZdrz6vqi3NfnzK_1JUXvsSaMeHSHssJuqHVFHzKP6LUaF2TEyXyUghQl23CnzcqA2Ew2Y2dvCsrvVcdR_niMy05qRlKUrT3xBpg512hQZ_KYtaghWCctej/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LG40YgdkFteekJvK50l2rXZdrz6vqi3NfnzK_1JUXvsSaMeHSHssJuqHVFHzKP6LUaF2TEyXyUghQl23CnzcqA2Ew2Y2dvCsrvVcdR_niMy05qRlKUrT3xBpg512hQZ_KYtaghWCctej/s320/Blog+Pictures+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350215649440777826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >(you can see Em's feet too - my family is picture crazy!)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_sph-SjqEBKXSMIeCG2-lABZv-ondsi6g7W-9IT0pqnIk619uM1tyLVIwGiSybDScriDHkkzI1L9YYTKGhanTasZTjNlt_aUDf9Ktl_bnCspZYNIAEWi2X-XVQqs3HFQkVbyejxrhG4L/s1600-h/Blog+Pictures+005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_sph-SjqEBKXSMIeCG2-lABZv-ondsi6g7W-9IT0pqnIk619uM1tyLVIwGiSybDScriDHkkzI1L9YYTKGhanTasZTjNlt_aUDf9Ktl_bnCspZYNIAEWi2X-XVQqs3HFQkVbyejxrhG4L/s320/Blog+Pictures+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350215654660337042" border="0" /></a><br />Concrete is scheduled to be poured on Wednesday, yipee!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-33775000460582070202009-06-22T08:00:00.000-04:002009-06-22T08:00:21.770-04:00Projects . . . more projectsSo, let me tell you a bit about what is happening in our household this summer.<br /><br />There is something about the warm summer wind that urges me to do things. Household type things. Home improvement type things. I can feel DH rolling his eyes about now. He knows that I start the projects, but he usually has to finish them. I am the inspiration behind his elbow grease.<br /><br />Case in point . .<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">My walkways.</span></span><br /><br />I have been eyeballing my walkway to my house for some time now. They looked good in their time . . . and that only lasted about two years. Snow and ice really take its toll on walkways.<br /><br />We felt so clever when we put them in. I'm sure my kiddos remember this because they were helping us do it. We purchased a concrete stamp, some bags of concrete and some sand. None of us had ever worked with concrete before, but hey. . . we could do it! Plus we were on a strict budget. We couldn't afford to pay anyone to do it.<br /><br />The first walkway went well. It looked nice! We were proud. The stamp created a little stone type look. We filled it in with a mix that went in the joints.<br /><br />We admired it from near and far. It did look good.<br /><br />After awhile the mix that went in the joints started to decay. Rapidly. Little ants made homes and weeds grew in the joints. Our little stones started to sink deep or rise up, depending on where the resident mole would travel.<br /><br />This winter, as I was shoveling, I realized our pathway was so uneven that it could be a danger to my little students as they came to lessons. Something had to be done.<br /><br />So I called a local concrete guy, who also happens to be a neighbor and a former piano family, and had him come over to bid on some new walkways. When I recovered from the sticker shock, he said the magic words that got me, "You know, you could save $500 if you pulled these walkways out yourself."<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br />SOLD!!</span><br /><br />Well, actually I did think about it for a minute, then I signed him up. Miss Ems and I started the project. Here is a before picture, which I always forget to do until it is nearly the after:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMK41F1BGwv0hegdQXqSCj_EHvSTP0AxR0WxMEySeNx9hbanw-3PEDYARoNhRHzgMzkeRb70fRICvl70fSPe9udagpC5ivRJlIza7eVgbWQlkSHNG_DIBJG6U91vjYjmtgbfXj7p4uoYx/s1600-h/New+Walkway+6-17-09+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMK41F1BGwv0hegdQXqSCj_EHvSTP0AxR0WxMEySeNx9hbanw-3PEDYARoNhRHzgMzkeRb70fRICvl70fSPe9udagpC5ivRJlIza7eVgbWQlkSHNG_DIBJG6U91vjYjmtgbfXj7p4uoYx/s320/New+Walkway+6-17-09+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349870219886899410" border="0" /></a><br />And the after:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcx19TxhzBWgw0Zbz8BFNXlG9D2hqIxzlP65nCnQkZ2xqjWaabzkRF26qp29t3IQbWBGz86VhxwMSyyJOybHcOuOeWsP4ScLl6QgwQHbxDSQhcaGWVMWVqP3qU_VzBzLyfincmKg_zo-k/s1600-h/New+Walkway+6-17-09+004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcx19TxhzBWgw0Zbz8BFNXlG9D2hqIxzlP65nCnQkZ2xqjWaabzkRF26qp29t3IQbWBGz86VhxwMSyyJOybHcOuOeWsP4ScLl6QgwQHbxDSQhcaGWVMWVqP3qU_VzBzLyfincmKg_zo-k/s320/New+Walkway+6-17-09+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349870244105580210" border="0" /></a><br />Here's my helper:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mEWiZTHgb8Hfr_T6moLyb3hCbVhSc1eWDSCTp0l9x0m1coRUu0xWq9UNmHMY0NPrPmZ2bF-zNydPEU5OnYKBIdHMKUyduapEuO4sivRVYt5_RG0QYfHIGkAuM725-YdSw3we8pP6NlgO/s1600-h/New+Walkway+6-17-09+005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mEWiZTHgb8Hfr_T6moLyb3hCbVhSc1eWDSCTp0l9x0m1coRUu0xWq9UNmHMY0NPrPmZ2bF-zNydPEU5OnYKBIdHMKUyduapEuO4sivRVYt5_RG0QYfHIGkAuM725-YdSw3we8pP6NlgO/s320/New+Walkway+6-17-09+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349870233481813522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcPk21r-1zv17HiRw2S8BNN7Ndwc5I38PRMrtsii15PBk3h7pWHv0QtThFQbS42M3qoW_fTRIlGEbKmPMz8XQH6bDQTeFXyEKRniCUlqcBobGZpjl7bBM4s_82xjF5i8IwScSGQb2cTsM/s1600-h/New+Walkway+6-17-09+002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcPk21r-1zv17HiRw2S8BNN7Ndwc5I38PRMrtsii15PBk3h7pWHv0QtThFQbS42M3qoW_fTRIlGEbKmPMz8XQH6bDQTeFXyEKRniCUlqcBobGZpjl7bBM4s_82xjF5i8IwScSGQb2cTsM/s320/New+Walkway+6-17-09+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349870228564652754" border="0" /></a><br />She benefits too. Look at those muscles!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIhyphenhyphenCSzlhIeF4Y3asKDTdQfvfcKpDy7VNlaWdQ3I9IwXcW2EpRFeLIJpEVyeD1lUUGYk-bbvAI8Rxo_NzF2EWxNish5VFDBtA2p7NoyMP9gwmsMmn2M6hKB-wtEOeXFVS_aE_7MBPJ0yI/s1600-h/New+Walkway+6-17-09+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIhyphenhyphenCSzlhIeF4Y3asKDTdQfvfcKpDy7VNlaWdQ3I9IwXcW2EpRFeLIJpEVyeD1lUUGYk-bbvAI8Rxo_NzF2EWxNish5VFDBtA2p7NoyMP9gwmsMmn2M6hKB-wtEOeXFVS_aE_7MBPJ0yI/s320/New+Walkway+6-17-09+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349873441902623378" border="0" /></a><br />Keep watching for a follow up to the NEW and IMPROVED walkways!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064252112407574172.post-90100476744271851792009-06-20T19:36:00.002-04:002009-06-20T19:38:58.329-04:00Youth ConferenceI have been very occupied this week with Youth Conference.<br /><br />It is over now, and I PROMISE I will put some more blog stuff up. Right now I just need to sleep.<br /><br />I just have to say that the youth of today, the ones who are trying to live the gospel, are the most awesome kids ever. They are truly a shining light in these dark times.<br /><br />It gives me hope for the future.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1