1 + 1 = GOOSE

EL GOOSEMAN here... Yes it has been some time I know. This is the reason..

If you come over to either Seths' Gavs' Gages' or my house around midnight you will most likely find us playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 better known as C.O.D. Why? because it rocks! That's why. Anyway, this video game lets me and my friends and brothers bond every night even though were miles apart. I compare it to Bunco for the ladies... just a lot more blood, action and awesomeness. Well this post is not only about the joy of cod... With the stresses of keeping up with school, a job, another job, the singles ward, and pulling your weight in the virtual world of warfare there must be a way to relieve it all right? Well I found a way... This is what you'll need.
#1. Beef Jerky
#2. Favorite soda
#3. Music
#4. A tub with jets
The combination of all these things should look something like this...



The only things that compare to this level of relaxation are maybe being on the white sandy beaches of Hawaii, or maybe the deepest point in REM sleep... I don't know but i do know that my stress is now gone...went done the drain with the beef jerky crumbs and the last drips of my Dew. Now I'm ready for another week of reality... BRING IT ON! So for those of you that are stuck in the mess of stress... simply follow these 4 steps... you can thank me later.
This has been a post from yours truly. Goose out

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

I'm on a Wheat kick if you hadn't noticed.  Well, what can I say, I have wheat storage galore and with a mill now to grind it, I'm trying every wheat recipe I can get my hands on. It's winter and the weather has been so dreary! A good time to bake. This recipe is a winner, simple and easy and it tastes good too.


Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 package active dry yeast/instant yeast
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup hot tap water (120 - 125°F)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon honey or granulated sugar

Description: NOTE: To obtain optimum health benefits, rising and baking times may be extended.

Directions: Preheat oven to 425°F To prepare pizza dough, stir whole wheat flour; lightly spoon into a measuring cup and level flour. In large mixing bowl, combine whole wheat flour, yeast and salt. Blend in water, oil and honey or sugar. Stir by hand vigorously until all ingredients are well mixed; about 3 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise to desired size. Place dough in greased 15 x 10 x 1-inch jelly-roll pan or 12 to 14-inch pizza pan. Press dough to cover bottom of pan and up sides to form a rim. Add pizza sauce of your choice and your favorite pizza toppings; bake in oven 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and toppings are done.

Servings: Provides 8 servings

Calories/Serving: 146 calories/slice of crust only

Nutrition: One slice of crust only provides approximately: 146 calories, 5 g protein, 27 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 2 g fat (0 g saturated), 0 mg cholesterol, 37 mcg folate, 2 mg iron and 219 mg sodium.

Bread Making 101

Friday I made an executive decision and went out and bought me a Wonder Mill.

For those of you who don't know what an executive decision is, it just means I went out and bought something without telling Glade. I do that alot! Lucky for me I married a man who just rolls his eyes a
few times and that's the extent of it. I've always loved my husband for putting up with my spending habits. I want you to know though, I didn't even get one eye roll when he found out I made homemade bread and used my food storage! See I'm no dummy, first I fed him the bread, then I showed him the mill!

As Ali and I got ready to start the bread, I got a phone call from Emilyn saying she was tied up and wouldn't be able to help me. I turned to Ali and exasperatedly said, "Now what am I going to do?" Ali looked up at me and with deep abiding sincerity said,  "Don't worry Nana, I know how to do it really good! I know everything! I do it for my mom all the time!"

The wheat bucket say's 1999. I asked Ali if the wheat was too old. She assured me wheat is good forever, so I believed her.

After we spent five hours trying to get the lid off the bucket, Ali came up with a bright idea,
"I'll teach you how to make bread Nana, and you teach me how to take pictures."
Kids come up with the greatest ideas.
I went and got my little camera and put it in Ali's hands. I told her everything she needed to know.
I told her to look in the view finder and I asked her where my head was and where my knees were. I told her to hold the camera as still as possible and push the button.

Other than a little camera shake I think she did pretty good.
I told her to try it again. This time she said she was going to get all of me in the picture.
I think she's going to be a natural! What do you think?



After hours of trying to pry off a stupid lid on my buckets, I cracked out one of the bags and dumped my measured wheat into a bowl. It feels good to use my storage!



After Ali showed me how to assemble the mill I decided to call Emilyn. When she answered the phone, I told her I was a little concerned. "How come mom," she quickly replied. "A . . . hello dear, I'm taking instruction from a 4 year old." Emy assured me Alison is a pro when it comes to handling the mill. "She always grinds my wheat for me mom. You can trust her."

So here she is, my 4 year old instructor!
Emy was right, Ali is a pro at the mill and it wasn't long before my dough was looking pretty nice.



I love my Bosch! I've owned it now for over 30 years.
Lots of good things have come out of this machine!



Des finally joined us. She and Ali were practicing their camera skills taking self portraits.

 Silly Girls!

 

Our bread making day was a hit and Ali you are a stupendous teacher!

Thanks for showing Nana the ropes!

January 21, 2010

Journaling is a hard thing to keep up with.
Had a good weekend. Ate Yummy Taco soup at Em's on Saturday. Got to see her new house she's going to be moving into. We took a drive to see it. All four kids rode in the front seat with Glade and I. Didn't drive far, so we felt ultimately safe with our bad choice. Emy looked pretty funny in the back seat all alone. The kids loved it. Fun night.
Had the Blanch clan over for soup on Sunday. My sister (Phyllis) is a rock! Saturday she moved into her rental and they bulldozed her home into a pile of black rubble. I cried. The fire took everything. It was a beautiful home. She and her family are a great example to me. 
Played Bunko on Tuesday. I paid 5 dollars for a nice meal. Caroline makes a great host. Gavin stayed in his man cave. He knows his place in the world!
Yesterday I tended Eden. I gave her a bath. We ate Dee's hot cereal. We danced and watched the bunny show. That girl is energy in motion! Corbin came over with Kaedell to pick up Eden. It wasn't long and the tormenting began. I plunked both of them down on the couch for fighting. Corbin is smarter than Eden, he put on the required smile and got off! Eden persisted with her "I'll show you" attitude, sassing me at every turn.  I love it!  Corbin is four, he's getting smarter.
Signed up for the Bear Lake 1/2 Marathon today. No turning back now. What have I done?
Serious training begins! Love the C25K app on my iPhone. C25K stands for Couch to 5K. Week one day two - Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking.  I like how they fixed the app so my music plays in between the man with the big voice that suddenly speaks to me in my head phones telling me when to run and when to walk. As I listen to this program, my mind wanders in and out while I'm on the road, heart pumping hard. Sometimes I can't remember if I'm suppose to be running or walking. I know the big voice told me but I forget. Developed ways to hold my fingers so I won't forget. How crazy is that?
Broke a hard sweat today. Hope my foot holds out. How does taking two weeks off, kill 8 months of training? The body goes down hell fast!  Hahahah I accidentally typed hell instead of hill. I'm leaving it - it fits! How come muscle deteriorates so fast? 8 months of hard work and it leaves me in 14 days!
Cleaning out closets continues at a slow rate. Cleaned out the drug cupboard. 1993 expiration dates on bottles - I think it's safe to throw them away.
Heavy snow storm. Another tree casualty out front.  Who ever planted that tree a hundred years ago, across the street, sure planted it in just the right spot. It never fails to stop any car going too fast around my corner in a snow storm. Some non native to my curvy little road hits it every winter. Usually a teenager. Was the man behind the wheel clueless that there was a blizzard taking place? His green Rodeo is history. His four wheel drive did him no good. I drug him out from under the tree and up into my drive way so he could call the wrecker. Another metal heap for the junk yard.
Des and I are going to our oil painting class tonight. I'm painting a rooster.  We'll see.
Desi signed up for indoor soccer. Wicked, is all I have to say.
I think my sickness is finally gone. I was beginning to think something was seriously wrong with me, it lingered forever. It was strange. Best description - Flu like symptoms without Flu like symptoms.
Back on my vitamins.
Political note: As the dust clears from Tuesday night’s historic win for Republican Scott Brown in the Massachusetts special Senate election, the questions are starting to pile up. This did my heart good! I just know my dad rose up from his grave and said "Hallelujah!" A Republican capturing a seat from not only a Democrat but, Ed Kennedy (held for 47 years until his death)? Oh my, that knocked a few democrats flat! Thomas Jefferson said, "That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves." Discipline, we could use some of that today!
Oh, I almost forgot. I got my first blog book in the mail. I had the first year of my blog (2008) printed into a book. Glade sat and read it all night. Wow, our life recorded. It's awesome.
Question? On my bucket list is, "Write a book." Does my blog book count?  Can I cross it off.
Note: add new goal to bucket list, "Write a book and sell it."
Life is good. I am happy.

The Music Of Opportunity

Recently a friend of mine posted this on her Facebook. It's a clip of Patrick Hughes who is a young man at Univ. of Louisville who was born blind and crippled and yet now plays the piano beautifully as well as "marches" in the Louisville marching band. This was a piece done during ESPN College Gameday on 12/2/2006. The clip is touching and inspirational.

Fit For Life

Today I want to bring you some information, hopefully creating a desire in you to be fit for life.

Do you feel like Seth in the above picture, tired, lethargic, with no energy? Seth would say it's the books that put him to sleep, but the mood of the picture is sometimes how I feel when I haven't eaten right or given my body some physical challenges. 

I love fitness! Let me say that again, I LOOOOVE FITNESS!!! I think the human body is the most amazing machine ever designed! I'm growing old fast and now more than ever I appreciate my body and being blessed with good health. Good health doesn't always just happen, and now at my age, I realize the old adage is true, "Use it or lose it!" While I can't go out and flip upside down on the trampling like Goose in the above photo, I can walk faster than most joggers. 21 years of power walking has improved my life in numerous ways!

Taking the time for fitness in your life is "VITALLY" important! The word vital is an adjective. It means existing as a manifestation of life. It relates to being concerned with or giving the necessary maintenance to life. There is a reason the organs in our body are referred to as vital organs, or vital fluids.  Well people, I read somewhere a long time ago "You should take better care of your body, it's the only place you have to live!" The quality of our life as well as the functioning of our mind is greatly impacted by how we take care of our bodies.

Last night Seth was telling me I should watch some Dr. show on TV. He said on the episode he was watching, they analyzed body parts from people and told them their physical age compared to their real age. Seth informed me the woman on the show was only 42 but the organs in her body reflected she was the age of a 56 year old woman. Hearing that stood me at attention real quick. "How old do my body parts say I am?" immediately raged in my head. I care for my 88 year old mother everyday and her life style does not look appealing folks. I'm paying greater attention to how I care for my body... NOW!!!

Last May I got sick of food having a little too much control over me. From then on and throughout the summer I made some drastic changes involving how I eat and exercise. These changes were hard but so rewarding. I notice a big difference in how it makes my body and my mind feel when I'm practicing them.  I'm a firm believer in fitness! In order to stay motivated, I have some favorite fitness places I roam to on the internet. I enjoy reading and finding new ways of caring for the only place I have to live--- my body! Thought I'd share them.  Take my advice, do something everyday to change how you care for your body. Drink more water, take the stairs, park a little further away, have one less cookie, do a few push ups everyday, etc., etc., etc.. Start with small improvements and just keep adding good habits to your life. I know you will feel the benefits, they are very rewarding!

Check out a few of these places and see how you like them.
1- Fitness Spotlight Mike O’Donnell use to have a site called “IF Life” a while back (about intermittent fasting). Scott Kustes use to manage aa site called “Modern Forager” about healthy eating and healthy fats. Separately these two fitness blogs were great. About a year ago they joined forces and created “Fitness Spotlight”.  It's a complete No-Brainer…this site is a fave!
2- Conditioning Research  is another goodie! Chris over at “Conditioning Research” is like the news source for the fitness industry. He is really on top of everything. I've often wondered if this guy has a million “Google Alerts” set up and other tools for him to stay on top of what’s happening in health and fitness. If a story comes in on something he's usually first to find it.
3- The Daily Fitness Solution Blog I love this blog! Everyday I can pull up a 20 min. routine and chose my level of performance. All of these take little or no equipment to complete.
4- Whole Health Source  Stephen Guyenet runs this site. He's a pretty knowledgeable guy. He conducts bench research on body fat regulation. He shares his research on what works and what doesn't work. For instance did you know one pound of fat contains 3,500 calories? According to Stephen, "That represents roughly 40 slices of toast. So if you were to eat one extra slice of toast every day, you would gain just under a pound of fat per month. Conversely, if you were to eat one fewer slice per day, you'd lose a pound a month. Right?" read what he says. You'll find this an interesting article.
5- Fit Bottomed Girls Don't you just love the name? Launched in May 2008, the Fit Bottomed Girls website features multiple weekday posts with fresh fitness content for women and girls. You can find a little bit of everything on this site. Check it out.

News From Nursing School

First scroll to bottom of page and pause the blog music then press play.

So I didn't make it in as an alternate to but it was my first go around. I will be applying again soon and will let you all know then but as for now this video puts it well how I felt.

The Garden of Eden

Recently I was asked to write an article about our ward garden.

The article and photo are going to Salt Lake to be archived. Talk about pressure!

From left to right, Deserey and McKinley Corey picking tomatoes in the garden.

The Garden of Eden

It was referred to as “The Garden of Eden,” even though the entire half-acre didn’t resemble the Garden of Eden at all. I think most of the summer the weeds nearly overshadowed the crops. If the Plain City 7th ward youth were going to name the ward garden for it’s looks, by all rights they should have named it, “The Lone and Dreary World Garden.” But they didn’t. You see, how it looked made no difference to the young men and young women who tended it with tender loving care during the summer of 2009.

How the ward garden came to be is one of those hair-brained ideas that over takes a person in the middle of the night. It was our Bishop, Judd Cook who had his sleep disturbed with dreamy eyed visions of our youth tending to plants of every kind, learning a work ethic, and serving our ward like never before. Suddenly with nothing more than the single thought of all this garden would provide, he presented it to the young men and young women leaders, we fell under the trance, miraculously a half acre appeared out of practically nowhere, (who has an empty half acre they’re just not using?) And the next thing I knew, I saw the youth all raise their arms to the square exclaiming, “We’re in.” That was it; suddenly I had my brown jersey gloves on, I was transported to 6:30 AM on an early weed day… I’m sorry, I meant weekday morning, and there I was standing in the middle of a garden bed picking Dotter off the plants.

I could write a book today on how life itself was reflected in all aspects of our garden. There were the weeds and the threat they posed to each tiny tender plant. There was the battling of the raccoon kingdom, who by the way, thought they’d take up new residency on our little piece of land. The raccoons must have spread the word to the bug kingdom, because soon we were battling those tiny pests as well. Basically it took every effort we had to keep all of these threats to our precious garden at bay. Isn’t that how life is?

Next there was the watering, fertilizing, plowing, and tending to every need the garden had. It was arduous and hard to say the least. But as all of us worked together side-by-side something wonderful grew besides plants. There was a fair share of complaining by all, but even that was fun. Then there was the giggling; laughter of every kind could always be heard in the garden and it didn’t matter if the sun was going down or just coming up, a happy spirit always rested amongst us, hovering just beneath the plants. Anything negative that threatened to hinder us was overshadowed by the relationships we were suddenly forming with the garden itself and with each other.

It wasn’t long before the whole ward got involved. We found that many hands were needed besides youthful ones to make our garden a success. The willing spirit of all the members, quorums, various entities of our ward truly made our garden feel like “The Garden of Eden.” I personally think the Bishop's blessing upon the garden when we first started brought in spirits of the noblest kind that blessed our efforts in every way.

As the summer grew hot and dry, rewards started to grow on every leafy stalk. It wasn’t long and we couldn’t keep up with the picking. The nice part was the garden provided food for everyone. The elderly in our ward who spend many a day alone got more visits and fresh produce than they’d ever seen. Young families struggling to make ends meet found lots of fresh food to serve up for dinner. Canners and stovetop cookers came out of hiding and everyone got to enjoy the fruits of our Bishop’s small and any thing but simple idea.

Last night I pulled out one last bag of frozen corn from my freezer. As I was dumping the golden yellow kernels in the pan I thought about how wise our Bishop had been the night he had his afflatus. The produce tasted good after it was heated and I took a minute to sit at my table and reflect on the last time we all met at the garden to pull the plants and till the earth under in preparation for winter, it was time to put our garden to bed. The garden had served her purpose well, and that evening as we all stood around to offer up our final prayer of gratitude just has the sun was setting, I could see in every face a sense of great accomplishment. It was then I realized, "Life began in a garden."

I don’t have time today to write about everything that was gained by this special experience, but you can imagine it, and I’m here to tell you it was all good, all of it insightful, and indescribably rewarding. In closing, all I can say is in one small summer, we gathered so much more than produce from that garden. She really grew in our hearts to be our “Garden of Eden,” beautiful and rich in all she produced and her bounty left a mark on us, one that will long bless our lives. I think that’s how it is in the gospel as well. No matter what we are striving toward, if it is good, and if we are giving it our purest efforts, no matter how infantile that might be, our Father in Heaven tenderly gives back to us His great bounty. Just like the Garden of Eden in Adams day, Our Heavenly Father was with us in our Garden of Eden as well, and that is what forever seared us in the experience. Isn’t it funny, we sought to grow a garden and instead the garden grew us!

It’s January now and recently the youth voted on what projects we want to do for 2010. Looks like your hair-brained idea was a huge success Bishop! I better get me a new pair of brown jersey gloves. Looks like I’m going to be weeding come summer! I can’t wait, we’re veterans now, just wait until you see our “Garden of Eden” this year!

Faye Crowther, Miamaid advisor in the Plain City 7th Ward 01/14/2010

January 11, 2010

Thursday January 14, 2010
Goal: Write in my journal at least once a week.
It's already the 14th of the month. I don't feel like I've accomplished much, but remember I'm cleaning from the inside out.
Basically I've lived in my red and black flannel moose pajamas, sporting my favorite Eddie Bauer long sleeved, 90 percent Puma Cotton/10 percent spandex T shirt for 14 days. (Working at Eddie B's has its perks.) I did get dressed to exercise, run to the store, go to church, and work on Tuesday, but keep in mind, I returned immediately to my hibernating attire the second I got home.
Note regarding favorite T's: I went ballistic when I discovered that these t-shirts feel like a second layer of skin. I now own well over a dozen in brown, charcoal, gray, creme, tan, and hot pink. Yesterday I worked at the store and four new colors came in; purple, blue, yellow and turquoise. I didn't buy a single one. That took more self-restraint than I can even describe! I love these t-shirts, I wear them day and night! I want the purple one. Well, we'll see what the budget allows.
For the record, I've worked at Eddie B's for 5 years now. I just got a nice 5 year gift certificate to spend in the store. I should give Eddie B. a certificate for putting up with me for 5 years, LOL.
My financial goal this month ---get organized!
I've been working non stop on my computer to get my finances organized. Organization takes time!
I read an article today on debt and it said, "Denial is the American way."  Then it went on to say that there is a dirty little secret about debt: The longer you have it, the longer it lasts. It's the biggest Catch-22 there is. You built up debt because you couldn't live on what you had. Now you still don't have enough to live on -- AND you have the additional expense of paying back the debt. It's like quicksand. That's an understatement. I personally have learned in my short life that debt truly has draconian pressures, harsh and severe!
Why is it every January I want to fix everything in my life? So I'm thinking of having a little more self-restraint and actually tackling the "B" word (budget.) No more Puma cotton T-shirts for me (except... maybe one purple.) I just know it's going to kill me if I don't get a purple one.
In February one of my sub goals for my new year's motto is going to be "Live Moderately."  Yes, this will be no fun, but in the end will produce greater happiness. It feels good to be in control of one's life!
In an effort to teach an old dog new tricks, I downloaded Dave Ramsey's material. Reading about baby steps! Working now on the snowball debt relief plan with a few minor changes. It's all so arduous! I love the word arduous! Writing down my goals in my journal is torture-some.  Thomas Moore said, "It's not easy to visit the place in ourselves that is most challenging and to look straight into the image that gives us the most fright; yet, there, where the work is most intense, is the source of soul."
I'm looking at myself and I've decided I too often live by my father's motto "Money was made round to roll not flat to stack!" There needs to be balance. The scriptures teach moderation in all things! While I'm happy I'm not the miser who sticks every penny in the bank for he is no healthier than I. I am at least happy I've enjoyed a good part of life. Gavin will agree with me, spending money is so fun! Right now though, I am not happy with this part of my life so time to reign things in a little.
I'm writing my goals down right here in black and white for me to plainly see them, now I will be held accountable. Aren't I brave? Well, brave or stupid!
Besides getting organized this week, yesterday I got dressed and spent the day with my mom. I love my mom! She is the greatest lady ever. I took her to get her hair done, ran to the grocery store for her while she was in the chair, upon returning and getting her all seated in the car, I then listed off every restaurant in Ogden, she loves to get lunch after her hair is done. She selected Maddox.
I called the order in on my cell. My mom loves Maddox Halibut. We got the luncheon special and a drink came with it. She ordered her cherry Pepsi and I ordered orange. As soon as my mom heard me say orange, she requested I change her selection too.
"Given up your Pepsi, mom, That's not like you." I rendered.
She went on to tell me with a big smile, she was changing it up today.
Even at 88 years of age my mom is still witty! This however is where I have to record the funny thing that happened when we got close to Maddox.
The mind is a very strange thing. As soon as my mom caught sight of Maddox her memory came back to her. Suddenly she looked at me and said, "Ooooh, Can we get a fresh lime." It caught me so off guard, I started laughing. My mom loves Maddox fresh lime drinks and it only took the sight of Maddox to refresh her memory. Even at 88 some things never leave you.
"Do you want to change your orange to a fresh lime mom?" I asked.
"Yup, I got to have one of those." she said. She was like a little kid, so excited. This is what I have to look forward to when I'm 80 I secretively thought.
Side note: Maddox is a rip off! They've raised their prices so high. For two specials it came to 35.00 dollars. Give me a break! We did get two crab salads, but still. That's the second thing my mom loves, Maddox crab salad.
We drove home and ate in the comfort of her kitchen. I'll bet she said a hundred times how much she loved it. After we ate I vacuumed, cleaned out under her sink, gathered the paper, fed the cat and doctored her poor leg.  I just know I'm going to miss these times when they're gone. 

Chicken Paillard & Ponzu Dressing

Many of you know Glade loves to cook. When ever he makes a nice chicken Breast dish he loves to pound the chicken thin. Today I found a great recipe and tried it myself.  It's a fast and delicious healthy dish! I loved it! Serve it with a light salad topped with a Ponzu dressing.  It makes for a nice light dinner if you overindulged your way through Christmas.

Here's the ingredients you'll need for the Chicken Paillard

4 Chicken Breasts pounded flat
coat with extra virgin Olive oil
4 sprigs of chopped thyme
2 Tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley
1 lemon zested and juiced
White grape juice to taste
Season with course salt and pepper to taste
1 Cup Chicken stock

Pound your Chicken breasts 1/4 inch flat. To avoid splattering pound between two thin sheets of Saran wrap. Coat with a tablespoon or so of extra virgin Olive oil. Take your kitchen tongs and gently place flattened breasts in a nice hot oiled skillet. Season with Parsley, Thyme, salt , pepper and any other seasonings your prefer. Zest with lemon. Cook about two to three minutes on each side, depending on how flat your Chicken is. Make sure the color is nice and white being fully cooked through. Brown on both sides. When thoroughly browned add your Chicken stock and grape juice, cover and simmer a 4-8 minutes. Serve on nice bed of salad greens.

Ingredients and instructions for the Ponzu Dressing that goes on your salad greens.

Combine

2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
2 tsp Dijon Mustard
1 Tbsp fresh orange juice
1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 Cup extra virgin Olive oil
1 tsp fresh Ginger minced
1 clove Garlic minced
1 spring Onion or Scallion minced

Stir well and serve on nice bed of greens. I like to toss in a few slivered almonds on top of my salad.

Recipe by Marlon Alexander (Posted to allbirdsbaking.blogspot.com)

Em's Best Ever Honey Wheat Bread

I like to use the word “granola” as an adjective. As in: Summer Savon my friend from Cleveland who nursed her kids until they’d memorized their multiplication tables.” Summer is officially a granola. Yes, I have a granola friend, even though I haven't seen her in years. When I lived in Cleveland, if there was a dye hard rally to save the planet, Summer was the lead sign holder in the protest. She even drove a green Volkswagen Vanagon to look the part. I miss her granola ways.

When I think of homemade wheat bread I think granola, and I think of Summer. So my question today is, "How crunchy are you?” Are you a granola? Do you love homespun homemade whole wheat bread? I personally think wheat was invented to torment man. It's healthy for you and that's why it tastes bad right? See I gravitate more towards the saying "The whiter the bread the sooner your dead!" That's why I'm barely breathing, I luv white bread!!! What's not to love about all those empty enriched ingredients.
Did you know ninety eight percent of all bread, pastries, and pancakes are made from refined white flour. The nutrients which have been robbed from white flour are essential for serious stuff like: immune function, cell communication, appetite control (now I know what my problem is,) free radical damage, fetal brain development (all you prego mothers.) Not only that but five hundred other functions in the body are highly affected when you consume enriched white flour.
Robbing your body of all these vital nutrients can contribute to; heart disease, strokes, colon cancer, diverticulitis, chronic constipation, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, blood clots, hiatus hernias, gallstones, peptic ulcers, and the one 67 percent of all Americans struggle with... obesity.
Maybe I should give up my poison, whatdyathink? With Emilyn's recipe now not only are you eating the freshest whole grain possible, you've added flax seed, one of the highest nutritional seeds known to mankind. I'm going to throw in my Chia seeds too and then look out! I don't want to surprise you but I really am totally an earthy girl!
This is where I have to interject, that I've truly tried so many wheat breads I can't count them all. I always think the same thing after every bite. It boarders around something like, "If I have to eat this I'd rather die!" Remember I've given up swearing or I would really tell you what I think it tastes like, that is... until Em brought me over a loaf of 'H E R' homemade wheat bread. I guess what I'm trying to say in this lengthy paragraph is that if I tell you Emy's homemade honey wheat bread is the best recipe ever, I'm not lyin'! You can't fool me when it comes to wheat no matter how hard you try!
In an effort to change my atrocious ways, today at the last second, I talked her into coming over and showing me how to make it. The whole entire process took less than 15 minutes. I couldn't believe it. I was typing up the recipe on my computer and looked up to see bread dough being scraped in the pans, it was that fast. I was astonished, homemade delicious bread, ready to bake in less than 15 minuets, that's my kind of recipe! Not only that but you'll love the... no kneading as well as how you don't have to twiddle your time away waiting for the dough to rise, only to spend more time punching it down in gorilla warfare, just to start the process all over again. The clean up took longer than the making. SAWEET!
I hear word of Em's yummy bread has spread. Em said her neighbor has bread day scheduled on his iPhone. Ok, not really... but I'm sure it's only because he hasn't thought of it yet. Instead Jon's complaint is that Jenelle hides the bread she brings home from Emy's house, so he has to come over and get his own slice. Jon shows up every week for his slice of brown goodness.
So now I've sold you on the benefits of being a earth grown granola... Here's The Tools You'll Need. Side note: All of the items needed to make this delicious bread, including the Mr. Coffee grinder, can be purchased at Kitchen Kneads located on 3030 Grant Ave. Flax seed included.


With all this bread making Emy decided to invest in a Whisper Mill. I know, this makes it official, she's a granola. A person can't grind their own wheat and not be a granola! Summer would be so proud of her! I've decided to invest in a Whisper Mill from Kitchen Kneads. All this earthedness makes me want to go out and buy a pioneer dress to go with it! I'm thinking if I get a Whisper Mill I might actually use my wheat storage. Usually I just store it for ten years, throw it out and go buy new. If I had to actually eat my wheat I'd probably get some huge gastronal blotation and die. If you don't want to grind your own wheat you can buy it already ground, we won't make fun of you (to your face.) Remember it's best to use fresh! Emy's fresh ground wheat I'm sure adds to the divine qualities of her tasty oh so moist bread.
Get a Mr. Coffee grinder to grind your flax seed. I'm buying one of these today! I'm excited because I can also grind my Chia seeds in it too! This is the handiest little grinder I've ever seen. It took me half a minute to grind the flax seed. Do not make the mistake of grinding flax seed in an electric mill. The oils will jam your mill and you'll have an expensive repair bill on your hands. Emy learned this principle by hard core experience!!! You've all been warned!
A Marble slab comes in handy but is not necessary. Any hard surface with lots of Pam cooking spray on it will work.
You'll definitely want a Handy Scraper. Now I know why this little tool was invented.
A good Spatula for getting every last ounce of dough out of the mixing bowl!
And 4 Bread Tins (Em has found tins seem to work the best.)
Ingredients
8 Cups hard red or white wheat (yields about 11 cups of flour)
1/4 Cup ground flax seed (DO NOT even think of eliminating this ingredient, this is the key to this breads good flavor and it adds to the health quality --- remember you can't be a granola if it isn't healthy!)
2 Tbsp Salt
3 Tbsp Yeast
5 1/2 Cups Hot Water
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
3/4 Cup Honey
Pam cooking spray
Tip to make your experience easier. P A M
Pam your bread tins, Pam the counter. Hell, Pam everything! (sorry)



Generosity counts here ladies!
Separate the ingredients. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and add to the wet ingredients in your Bosh or whatever mixing machine you are using. With all ingredients added to your mixer, mix on level 2 for 8 min. It's a very wet looking dough so don't let that scare you. This is what makes it a very moist tasting bred!

After mixing the dough, Pam your hard surface and dump the dough out.

A hard non porous surface is best.

Divide dough into fourths and scoop into your Pam'd bread tins.

Let your pans sit for ten minutes before baking.

Bake on the CENTER rack for 25 min. @ 350 degrees
Turn out onto a cooling rack, let cool and get a piece fast because as soon as your bread is discovered it will be gone!

Thanks Em, I'm going to have you come over and show me how to make this often... hahahaha.
Maybe once a week. :)

Anna and I say, "Wahoo, here's to being a total granola!"

January: Live Life Soulfully

Late in the fall I took some pictures for my niece Holly. I'm giving Holly the most patient award because she has waited forever for me to finish. Today I was working to get them done and I couldn't help but smile when I got to this little picture. This is Holly and Marc's youngest daughter. Isn't she a doll? There is something amazing about the human soul and how it radiates from within. I think this is why I love photography. I love catching the human spirit on film.

Last year I read a book by Thomas Moore "Care Of The Soul." The book is intended to help bring greater depth and sacredness to everyday life. I found it interesting when the author stated that a spiritual life of some kind is absolutely necessary for psychological health, defining the care of the human soul as a sacred art. When I edit pictures like this one, it isn't hard to see the sacredness in each individual soul and I know as I experience life with greater spirituality my life takes on deeper meaning and brings me greater happiness.

The emotional complaints of our time, complaints like emptiness, meaninglessness, depression, disillusionment about marriage, family, and relationships, loss of values all reflect a loss of soul. We seek after so many 'things' that we think will bring us happiness but without soul, whatever we find will soon be unsatisfying.

"Soul" then is not a thing, but a quality or dimension of experiencing life and ourselves. It has to do with depth, value, relatedness, heart, and personal substance. Soulful Living is about conscious living from the inside out to achieve deep happiness, fulfillment and to feel passionate about work, life, relationships and yourself. To utilize your talents in order to contribute something of real meaning in the world.

As I have pondered how to implement my new motto this year "Be Happy," I couldn't help but pull out my "Care Of The Soul" Book again and skim over the highlighted parts. Every time I do this I realize that the small things in everyday life are no less sacred than the great issues of human existence. Therefore in part, my challenge in being happy lies somewhat in finding the sacred in the mundane tasks that I preform over and over again each day. Life is full of mundane rituals and it isn't always easy to find the sacredness in them whereby I can feel joy.

Thomas Moore said, "The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest. And when imagination is allowed to move to deep places, the sacred is revealed." I must admit the older I get the more pleasure I take in the simple tasks of making a home. For instance I love to hang clothes on the line to dry, there is something about wet fabric blowing in the wind especially in the early morning sun that is satisfying. I use to have a clothes line at my trabin and I enjoyed hanging my laundry out. Just recently I made a make shift clothes line behind my house with my dog tie out. It feels good to be creative! I'm going to put in a real clothes line I swear! Lately I've taken to washing my dishes by hand, it's methodical and for some strange reason I enjoy chopping vegetables. As I think about caring for my soul, maybe it's not really what I do but how I look upon it while I'm doing it. I think in there lies all the difference. I think this is the secret to soulful living.

To the soul, memory is more important than planning, art more compelling than reason, and love more fulfilling than understanding. Living with soul then is living from the heart not the head! Maybe that's why I loved editing this little picture of Brinley. Because I worked from the heart and in doing so found the sacred.

As I sit here editing pictures, feeling inspired by human spirits that peer at me from behind the glass, I have come to realize a great thing and that is, in my pursuit to "Be Happy" I must live each day more soulfully, searching for the sacred in all parts of life; I must live life from the heart, like Thomas Moore said, "From the inside out," even in the mundane.

An overdue glimpse into the Umbrell house

I came down stairs and found these lonely mini spooners cast to the side for their lack of sugary frosting. I found it funny and thought maybe there was a life lesson to learn from this scene. What do I cast off to the side because I can't see the sweetness on the surface? Hmm...

I came across a great wheat bread recipe a few years ago and now my family does not like store bread anymore. So once a week I make four loaves of bread to feed my family and Ali is always right there to help me. She loves cooking with me and being my kitchen helper(beater licker).
I love these moments!


Meet Brownie's boyfriend, Kiko. Don't worry, our house is still G rated. I put a show on for the kids so they wouldn't see the one going on in my kitchen! I'm crazy, but we thought we would try for puppies. We thought it worked but now we're not so sure. I guess time will tell.

Well it wouldn't be a true glimpse into our house without a picture of Kate sporting high fashion. This girl loves stylish clothing! I think she chages outfits at least five times every day. Yesterday she was walking around the house with her purse and high heel sandals ready for something, and I couldn't help smile and snap a picture of this almost daily occurance. :-)

This is my little red headed trouble maker. Here she is showing off her blue lips while Kate is off to the side lecturing her for eating Kate's blue bottle pop.

These are just a few of the great moments happening daily at the Umbrell house! Some of which don't look very sugary on the surface, but there is definite goodness on the inside!

Here is my comment on all of the blog posts that I've now caught up on: Great! Love them! Keep up the posting! Side note-Mom, for my birthday all I want is a memory card full of all of the great pictures you've captured of our family. Until next post... (which I promise will be sooner)

Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup

There's nothing like a hot slow cooker full of soup simmering sweet smells into your house in the dead of winter. Here is a recipe for some yummy Baked potato soup… otherwise known as the best soup ever. Since I'm a soup lover and a potato lover, I thought I'd give this soup a try. This recipe is so rich and creamy and I like how it's just enough potato chunks for them to be obvious.

The soup is beyond easy. Four ingredients, that’s it. Potatoes, chicken broth, evaporated milk, and seasoning salt. The recipe calls for Lawry’s seasoning salt but I find that you can use any combination of spices that you enjoy. I like to add a little chicken bullion too.

Toppings are what count with this soup. Try using bacon bits, chopped green onion, and lots of cheese.

Ingredients:

3 large baking potatoes
1 (14.5 ounce) can of chicken broth
1 (10 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon Lawry’s seasoning salt or season to your preference
Chicken bouillon optional
cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onions (as garnish)

Directions:

Peel and cube potatoes. Place them in slow cooker and cover with chicken broth, evaporated milk, and Lawry’s. Cook on low for about 6 hours or until potatoes are fork tender. Use a slotted spoon to scoop most of the potato chunks out and place in a bowl. Mash with a potato masher or fork. Transfer back to slow cooker and stir to combine everything. Serve with cheddar, bacon, and green onions if desired.

Enjoy!
(Recipe taken from Fake Ginger's slow cooker recipes)

Metamorphose

Deserey is always buying music for her iPod. For Christmas Santa left an itunes gift card in her stocking. Santa knows what Desi loves! You can always get Des an itunes gift card for any occasion because she loves them and never has enough of them, see music is like air to a teenage girl, maybe an old lady too.

Last night she and I drove home from Bear Lake. It was late, we were the only travelers on the road, us and a lonely moose. In the quiet black of the night we were content to sit comfortably and listen to the music, headlamps lighting our way, leading us home.

When we drive together, there are rules. I control the wheel and Des controls the tunes. She usually sings along. I love that. I love her sitting beside me. I love her company. I love her life energies pulsating next to me, filling the car with epiphanies--- you know, those sudden, intuitive perceptions of insight into the reality or essential meaning of my life. Some would describe them as a simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence. To me they are life sustaining. Her life makes my life better.

Some of the best times in my life have been driving to and from Bear Lake in the quiet of the night with my kids! I have heart warming memories of each child in the seat next to me. I dread the day I have to drive alone.

Last night Des played a new song for me. She has good taste in music. Maybe it's just my yearnings for spring, or her love resting there next to me, but something in the song really moved me. Music always moves me.

There are few insects that fascinate me like the butterfly. It's the whole metamorphose thing... it's fascinating. I want to metamorphose... live my life with drastic change.

Last night though I thought of all the stages of metamorphosis my children go through and how that causes my life to magically transpose, and I just want to say for the record... I hate it when they fly away! It's like a piece of my heart gets ripped away never to reattach.

Beautiful song Des! Soon you will be a beautiful butterfly. I can see the transformation taking place now, I know your wings are forming, pieces of your mother's cocoon flaking away revealing glimpses of the powerful metamorphose to be. It won't be long now, the clock is ticking, and soon you will finally rise and spread wide your colorful wingspan. Like all the others, the future will call you up and that's the day you'll take flight. A mother can't ask her little caterpillar to stay cocooned forever, but all mothers can hope. So when you fly Desi, don't fly to far for too long!

I love you. You are beautiful. I love all of you. All my beautiful butterflies!

Journal Entry: January 4, 2010

Since I love to take pictures I got this bright idea today to journal my life with photos. I'm not quite sure how this is going to work since the idea is new, but something tells me I'm going to like it.
President Spencer W. Kimball gave this counsel: “Every person should keep a journal and every person can keep a journal. It should be an enlightening one and should bring great blessings and happiness to the families. If there is anyone here who isn’t doing so, will you repent today and change—change your life?”
Here are some of the things we are encouraged to keep in our journals.

• 1. Important events, impressions, and personal feelings

• 2. Personal counsel, promises, and blessings received and the circumstances surrounding them

• 3. Deaths, births, marriages, baptisms, and endowments

• 4. Personal triumphs, failures, and struggles and how they are met

• 5. Current local, national, and world events that impress you or influence your life

• 6. Simple occurrences in daily life.

• With that being said I embark on a new way of keeping a journal.
  

January 4, 2010
Still at the Lake. It's a perfect dismal January day, cloudy and gray!
Spent the day setting some goals. Worked most of the day on my Mac Power Book G4 laptop. I love my computer even if it's old! My eyes hurt I've been working here too long. Is it too or to?
Had a bowl of Captain Crunch for lunch. Not really part of my nutritional goals for 2010. I love sugar!
Still trying to figure out what germ plagues me. My body aches all over. 800 mg. of Ibuprofen controls it, but then when the drug wears off I'm back to aching again.
It's now 4:29 PM... better think about going home. :(
Em called a while ago, Anna and Craig have been throwing up.
Caroline also left the cabin last night heaving her toenails up and I just got done talking to Kelson who is home in bed. He too now has joined the vomiting club. Wow, I can't wait to get home. I'm saying that with great sarcasm.
Positive note to self: I'm not puking!
Personal Feelings: Everyone is sick and broke in January!
Des is downstairs playing Mario Cart. To bad she has to go to school tomorrow or we'd just stay here.
Inspirational quote for today... "Any inner space, no matter how large will be filled by any agitation, no matter how small." C. Terry Warner
On the spiritual side. I seek to follow Moroni 6:4 ...Keep them continually watchful unto prayer relying alone upon the merits of Christ who is the author and finisher of my faith."
My head hurts. Time for more Ibuprofen.
Life is good. I am happy.

Hello 2010

I'm looking at the number 2010. Does it really say 2010? I swear I just got use to writing 2000 as apposed to 1999. Now today for the first time I wrote down 2010 and... yikes... suddenly I feel old!

So here I sit, thinking about what I'm going to do this year and what my 2010 motto will be. What's a motto... a short saying that expresses a rule to live by. I started this tradition a while back and I like it. It's motivating! This year I'm going to fine tune it and I'm going to develop 12 goals (one for each month) to help me stick to my motto! I just know I'm on to something!

Today I'm pondering over the old while trying to come up with the new. It's funny how I can look back at each year's motto and know exactly what I was struggling with the year prior. The struggles I face and the life lessons I learn throughout a given year motivates me to pick a new motto that will inspire growth in myself while providing me with goals to move toward for the upcoming year.

Starting with 2006, here's how my life's motto's have gone.
2006 - Just Do It! (Working on procrastination.)
2007 - A Thing Done When Thought Of Needs No More Attention! (Still working on Procrastination.)
2008 - 2008 Will Be Great! (Kelson would return home from his mission in December of 08. Preparing for his return was a great motivational theme for me. I also learned that it's my responsibility to make my life great. It doesn't just happen on it's own, and I constantly find attitude in life is everything.)
2009 - Rise Above it! (2008 despite the joy of Kelson's return had some trials and the beginning of 2009 showed some intense struggles as well. I had been pretty prayerful over my choice of a theme for this new year. While driving out of a dense gray inversion layer in Bear Lake where I could see nothing, the spirit delivered a powerful message to me. That day as Des, Kate and I finally reached the clear blue sunlight, I'll never forget as I looked at the stark contrast between the dense cloud that was now below us and the brilliant clear blue sky that rested ahead of us. That is when the spirit instructed me with great force, "You can rise above it." And I'm here to tell you --- I did --- In the year 2009, I did just that, I rose above it and it was no easy task. This last year I've never worked harder on myself. It's been arduous, grueling, difficult and very satisfying all at the same time. It's a great feeling to know with the help of my Father in Heaven I can indeed rise above that which threatens to put me down and hold me back. I learned somethings about myself this past year. It always feels good to conquer parts of myself!!!

I've heard alot of people refer to 2009 as a year of intense struggle. I guess I'm not the only one that thought 2009 was a hellish year, but instead of referring to it as a year of intense struggle, I'm going to refer to it as a year of intense learning. What's the saying, " Experience is a hard teacher because it gives the test first and the lesson later." Now here I am looking back at a year filled with so many hard lessons and I look forward to applying what I painfully learned. Wisdom doesn't come easy.

Therefor in searching for my new year's motto today I stumbled upon a quote "Happiness is not a station we arrive at in life but a way of travel." And looking back on some of the trials I encountered in 2009, I am reminded of a talk given by Elder Holland "Lessons learned in Liberty Jail." Probably the overriding theme of that speech was the counsel given to the Prophet Joseph Smith from the Lord Himself, "Be cheerful in all things!" It's a sure fire guarantee we are going to have trials in this life. So for the year 2010 I have happily chosen for my motivational motto: Be Happy! (Saying that out loud, I almost want to add "Don't Worry" in front of it.) Learning to be happy through all of life's difficulties is something I have long needed to work on. It's no easy task for me to be happy when things don't go the way I'd like them to go. But in my realization of just how short life is, I'm going to miss out on the best of it if I can't learn to be happy through the whole of it.

With those thoughts in mind, I look forward to this brand new year and the chance to apply all the life lessons I learned in 2009. Here's to doing it cheerfully!

So in finishing the above statement. This Year I Will... Be Happy!