Buddy the Elf

I LOVE the movie ELF. Doesn't everyone???? Buddy the Elf makes me just laugh. It definately is my favorite Christmas movie. Facebook is even having a special day on Thursday, December 18th it is the ~Answer the phone like Buddy the Elf Day!~ "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?"

Biltmore

Last week Keith and I went to North Carolina. We have been wanting to back for a LONG time and finally got to go. Last time we went was 10 years ago. We wanted to go back during the Holiday season. We went to see the Biltmore Estate in Ashville. It was their special time of year.

It is the time of their Candlelight Christmas Evenings. The Biltmore Estate's story began in 1895 with George Vanderbilt, of the wealthy Vanderbilt families. This estate is huge and sits on 9,000 acres. http://www.biltmore.com/. More to come......

I Spy with My Little Eye

Oh whoops, I guess I can't. Today I was getting my hair done (wonderful feeling-don't you just love getting your hair shampooed and scalp massaged?) when all of a sudden my I felt like there was something in my eye, it became red and swollen. Then it happened, my eye looked just like an eye of a fish, the sclera (the white part, look it up people) was overtaking the iris (my iris is green) it looked like a HUGE blister. I ended up going to Instacare and found out that there was a huge scratch just under the top of my eyelid on my sclera and down the side. It felt like there was a rock in my eye. The doctor said that there was some foreign matter in there the size of a large grain of sand. To bad the foreign was not Daniel Craig or Hugh Jackman mmmmmm. The doctor gave me a prescription for anti-biotic eye drops for a few days and said that I would be fine. Thank goodness because Jack Bauer is coming back next Sunday and I having been waiting to see Keifer Sutherland again, yes baby!

Veteran's Day

On the coast of France, not far from Ruon where Monet would sit and paint, there lies a cemetery that sits in a countryside in Dieppe. This is a special place for me, I have only been there once, but will always remember. It is a cemetery of Canadian soldiers that were killed in World War II. This cemetery is for soldiers who were killed in Operation Jubilee on the shores of Dieppe. There is not much history of that battle. It is taken care of so immaculately by little school children of Dieppe, who are taught by people who have much respect for these soldiers, in fact the day that I went there with Keith, my parents, and one of my brothers, Matt, to dedicate the grave site, it took 2 cabs to get us all there, it is a little drive from the town, yet the cab drivers would not let us pay them, and told us in their broken English to take all the time we needed. This cemetery is special to me because it is there where my Grand-father lies. He died in 1942 when my Mother was only 2 years old, but he died serving his country of Canada. My mother would lose her Mother when she was only 9. No, I don't know much about my Grandparents on my Mother's side, but I will someday. I have much respect for Veteran's and for Military in general. I am so grateful for what they do for me to keep us free. Thank-You!

Sister's Southwick and Anderson

Last Saturday was a GREAT day, I had the day off from work so that I could go to the Saturday session of Stake Conference with Elder Nelson, which was awesome. During the day Keith and I ran errands and when we got home, I happened to check my Facebook account and there was a message from my MTC companion Gina, (yes I actually went on a mission to Beautiful British Columbia) who I haven't seen since my wedding. She was in good old F-Town at the Tea House and sent me a message to see if I was home to call her if I wanted to see her, would I! She and her party were just leaving the Tea House when I got there. I absoloutely LOVE technology of today. THANKS GINA for getting in touch with me. It was so great to get back in touch.

Stranger

What has a stranger done for you lately, was a question posted to me. Well this morning, I dropped my keys in a garbage can at a local gas station, and the attendant hurried and gave me some plastic gloves to get them out. Silly me. This question really made me think what have I done for a stranger lately?

106?

Last night in his victory speech, Obama spoke of Ann Nixon Cooper who is 106 and voted. I looked her up and cannot believe she is 106. She looks amazing. She should be blogging or something to tell us all how she looks so good. She looks better than Tommy Lee Jones these days.

Congratulations Marcel

My dear freind Marcel has launched her new website today! You can see it here http://www.marcelwalker.us/index2.php. Her work is creative, beautiful, breathtaking, and very memorable!

Congratulations on all your hard work, may you have much success in your pursuits!

Family Halloween

This is my brother Danny. Every year for Halloween he gets quite creative on his costume. He does work at Home Depot and does wear his costume there, I think it is quite brilliant. I think this year takes the cake. He even had a robotic soundtrack playing with him the whole time. Kudos!!!!!

This is my cool nephew Nick 'Spydy' and my sweet neice Syd 'flower'.

What a fun halloween 2008 was. Everywhere I went there were more kids dressed up this year than in years past. The costumes for the most part were so creative and the kids seemed to have so much fun. Maybe because it was a Friday, but I am thinking that people right now seem to be just getting back to basics and enjoying each other more and the simple things in life.

Battery Operated Sumo

We gotta love Jodie's resourcefulness. Go to Wal-Green's today for typical errands and come home with a battery operated sumo costume for Guy to wear tonight. The scary thing is that Guy became the wrestler and totally encompassed the role. If anyone remembers the "Hans and Frans" skit from SNL, one only has to think of the line "and we're going to PUMP YOU UP" !!!

Fun Friends

Look what "motley crew" of the Ranches 2nd Ward showed up at our house for Halloween Trick-or-Treat. We made homemade root beer with dry ice and Hires Big H root beer extract! ONLY THE BEST! The nun said he was trying to bring culture to the neighborhood, but one wonders what he is thinking giving that he HAD to have the U flag behind them.

What will you be for Halloween?

I went to the 'guys' (the nephews) costume parade yesterday. Not all the schools around did one, but they did. Jake (army guy) LOVED his make-up so much he did not want to take it off. Erik the pumpkin wore Grandma's costume she wears to hand out candy in. He put so much gel in his hair, it was sticking straight up! They were so cute. I am just happy I am not with them after all the candy they ate.

Freebies to those who vote!

Krispy Kreme/Ben & Jerry's are giving out freebies to encourage people to vote on Tuesday. I voted last night so I DO qualify!!!!!

MM MM GOOD

OK Jodie here it goes....

Italian Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups
Giada de Laurentiis with a twist from Keith

Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Serves 12 Servings


10 cups coarsely shredded cooked chicken (from about 3 purchased whole chickens if want)
2 cups roasted red peppers, drain, patted dry, and coarsely chopped
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
3/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1/2 grated Parmesan cheese
1 lemon, zested finely
1 1/2 cups (about) Red Wine Vinaigrette, recipe follows
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
24 butter lettuce leaves (from about 3 large heads)
1 (4-ounce) piece Parmesan

Toss the chicken, red peppers, shallot, parsley, basil, almonds, Parmesan cheese, and lemon zest in a large bowl with enough vinaigrette to moisten. Season the chicken salad with salt and pepper to taste.

Arrange 1 large lettuce cup and 1 small lettuce cup on each plate, overlapping slightly. Spoon the chicken salad into the lettuce cups. Drizzle more vinaigrette over the salads. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve.
Do-Ahead Tip: The chicken salad can be prepared 4 hours ahead and refrigerated. Just before serving, spoon the salad into the lettuce cups.

Red Wine Vinaigrette:

1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh lemon is the best / use the juice from the zested lemon)
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup olive oil
Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually add the oil and blend until emulsified.
Yield: 1 3/4 cups

The World's Largest Eclair

Today my cultural event was to go and see the world's largest eclair. Dick's market stayed up all night and made this 6 foot eclair. I asked if they would be in the Guiness Book of World Records, they said there was no one there from Guiness, but they did not have any eclairs in their records. Their bakery is TOO DIE FOR. Everything is good!

What I did during General Conference

For my birthday last month, Keith got me a Cricut, I have been playing with it ever since. Recently I was a at a Scrapbook Store (in Utah, REALLY? what are the odds?) and they had a class for signs, with Believe or Welcome on them, so during General Conference I thought I would try and make something like it with all supplies I have collected (collected, it could be called a museum). It was fun and Keith helped me put the colors together. We REALLY did pay attention to conference, we just had FUN listening.

The Halloween Store

On Saturday night, while the guys were are Priesthood Session, the girls (plus Erik and Jake) went shopping. We found a fun Halloween shop. Jake looks good with the dreds we said he could be Manny Ramierez for Halloween and Traci LOVED the glasses.

Christmas Card Cheer

Our ward has a card night once a month. This month it was my turn to choose cards to do and host it the "PARTY".

Gotta love Pesto ...

Pesto

2 Cups Fresh Basil

1 Cup fresh Italian Parsley (sometimes I use all Basil)

1/2 C. Parmesean Cheese, grated

1/2 C. Pine Nuts (toasting is optional)

2 Garlic Cloves, roughly chopped

1/4 t Salt (to taste)

1/8-1/4 t pepper (to taste)

1/2 C. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Juice from 1/2 of a Lemon

2 T. Water

Dash of sugar (this will help brighten all the flavors)

Put all the ingredients except the Olive Oil, Parmesan Cheese and Sugar into a food processor and blend until finely chopped. Add the Olive Oil and Parmesan Cheese. Process until smooth. Add the Sugar. Pulse for a couple seconds to just incorporate. Refrigerate for at least a half hour for the flavors to blend. ENJOY !!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

An easy dinner idea ...

Bring some water in a large pot to a boil. Add your favorite pasta. It will take approximately 7 to 9 minutes to cook to al dente. If you want to add a vegetable like fresh Broccoli, add to the cooking pasta with approximately 4 to 5 minutes left to go. Drain.

Take a Rotisserie Chicken and shread the meat. Add to the pasta. Toss with some pesto sauce and then drizzle lightly with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. ENJOY !!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

An easy appetizer ...

Cut a French Baguette into thin slices (or you can buy pre-cut). Put on a cookie sheet. Drizzle the French Bread Baguette slices with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and sprinkle with salt. Put in a 400 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes until bread is toasted. Let cool.

Serve with Pesto and Shaved Parmesan Cheese.

Rosh Hashanah

Last night began the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. It is their New Year. When Keith and I lived in Florida many know that we taught early morning seminary and of course part of that was the Old Testament. When we lived in Ohio we loved going to institute with Rebecca Stay who had studied Hebrew and Jewish Studies; she helped us get a deeper understanding of the scriptures especially the Book of Mormon with Jewish background and their traditions. With these two experiences, Keith and I became more familiar with Jewish traditions. Even living in South Florida everyone mistook us for being Jewish with Gold as the last name.

The Mishnah, the core text of Judaism's oral Torah, contains the first known reference to Rosh Hashana as the "day of judgment." In the Talmud tractate on Rosh Hashanah it states that three books of account are opened on Rosh Hashanah , wherein the fate of the wicked, the righteous, and those of an intermediate class are recorded. The names of the righteous are immediately inscribed in the book of life, and they are sealed "to live." The middle class are allowed a respite of ten days, until Yom Kippur, to repent and become righteous; the wicked are "blotted out of the book of the living.

Rosh Hashanah is very interesting to me because it is again their new year for people, animals, and legal contracts, but one of their traditions is that they have 10 days to go and repent, they have got to think about the last year and what they have done in the past year and forgive those who they have wronged. It was explained to me by one of the Jewish faith that you must go and tell someone you are sorry, and then it is up to that person to forgive you, whether they do or don't is up to them, you have basically done your part.

Forgiveness is an interesting thing. It is a wonderful process that our Heavenly Father has given us, we feel so much better when we can confess forgiveness, however short or long that may take us; and to be forgiven is a whole other process and sometimes it is harder for us to say that what someone else has done to us will be forgotten because we cannot turn our feelings off like a faucet. There was a Rabbi who died in 1880 and has spoken of forgiveness...

"Your forgiveness must be real and complete, so that no trace of rancour remains in you. It must be a genuine restoration of the old brotherly love; what has happened must be really obliterated. Do not deceive yourself. It is so easy not to perform this duty. If left to itself the mind long remembers insults and injuries, even after forgiveness has been asked, even after reparation has been made." Rav. (Rabbi) Hirsch

Heavenly Father gave us this world to be tested and tried, it is hard because we are all 'natural men', but our Father in Heaven loves us and we are blessed to have the Book of Mormon to know that every day we can be reborn and feel as clean as we did the day we were baptized (if my memory will allow me to think back that far). I love that some put aside 10 days to forgive one another, I just hope that I can be doing it every day with their passion and with their commitment.

Ohio State Game Day

Yes, Andrea finally let me post a little corner to her blog. You might not first recognize the music playing along with the blog, but it is The Ohio State University fight song. It is played at all football games, of which I had the privilege to attend last Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

Having graduated from Ohio State, it has been several years since I last attended a football game. Since then, the stadium now holds over 104,000 thanks to a rennovation a couple of years ago. Terrelle Pryor made an impressive start as quarterback (a Freshman from Pennsylvania who in his senior year of High School passed for 4,000 yards and ran for 4,000 yards).

I attended with some college friends, so it was great to renew acquaintences and take in all the tradition associated with game day.

That Touch of Mink

Who is my favorite Actress Doris Day hands down! So when I took Barney and Molly out this morning and they went crazy barking and pulling me towards the house and I saw something black and heard a hissing and realized that this was one of the Minks that had been released from a Mink farm in here locally on Sunday by the ALF (Animal Liberation Front), along with the 600 or so others. Who would think there were still Mink farms and one so close. The only thing that I could think of was the name of a movie starring Doris Day and Cary Grant "That Touch of Mink". At first I thought it may be a cat, but it was too small, then I thought it was a baby skunk, but ignorantly enough I don't know if they are born with white stripes; it was too long to be a ground hog, then I remembered the conversation that my Mom and I had yesterday about this and how I didn't even know what a Mink looked like. Mom knew because her cousin once had one when my Mom was a little girl.

I called Animal Control and they said they would dispatch someone out. I described what I had and they confirmed it was a Mink. I also asked what would happen to it and she assured me that it would be released back into the Mink farm. Cute little thing but very, very scared.


UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***

Animal Control came and found the Mink and took it away. He said that it was a pretty mean one as it hissed and moved around in the net. To quote him he said, "They don't get any meaner than this". I am so happy that neither of the dogs or I were bitten. Three other people stopped when he was taking it away and said that they lived around me and that they had one in their back yards as well.

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission

Wow, how time flies! That is an old saying isn't it? But that is how I feel. When Keith and I first got married, I got to meet a family that have become very close to my heart. The David and Cherie Williams' family from Grafton, Ohio. They had 4 children, Chase, Gage, Sadie, and Gavin, that was in 1996. Now in 2008 they have 7 children adding ,Faith, and Chay . Last week Keith and I were able to have lunch in Utah, with Elder Chase Williams who was called to the Riverside California, Spanish Speaking mission, before he went into the MTC in Provo. What a GREAT time we had. It was great to see him, especially since in October of 2007 he was driving back to Cedar City to college when his car he was driving rolled over and he broke his neck, and had to have his head sewn back together. Seeing him in ICU with tears down my face, I was praying so hard that he could be made well, so he could go on his mission. Seeing him last Tuesday, there is a scar on the side of his head, visable when he turns his head and he is a missionary. Keith and I are very proud of him!

A Celebration of Hula

Salsa with salmon

Poi

The top of the Poi Plant

Last Friday a work collegue invited us to a recital of sorts. My friend Chris Gaui is from Hawaii and he teaches Hula at a community center in Salt Lake, he had a celebration of his 20 years that he had been teaching Hula, the last 10 of which have been in SLC. He had some of his students perform older, and newer.

The food was ok, but I think you have to get used to it. It was fun to see, I told Keith that he definitely HAS to go to Hawaii. Maybe someday?

Am I Too Old

I received a phone call from a gal who was in the last ward I served in on my mission in Vanderhoof, British Columbia. She said the best way to contact her was to be on Facebook, so I went and joined. In the last few days, I have really gotten into this. I have reconneted with soooo many people. I found a website for people who use Facebook that is really fun as well, I wish I could get this on my blog, because it is fun, it is called Pieces of Flair.

Recently I read that to go to high school and not be on Facebook is unheard of. Having gone to high school so long ago, I feel that I may be too old for this. But I have reconnected with people who are a bit older than I so maybe it is that I am not too old and just love keeping up with the trends???

Local Fare

I LOVED this chair made out of Rossignol skis.

Chairs from Logs at the Bar

Keith is an avid fan of local buisnesses and restaurants, so we try new places ALOT. One of his favorites lately has been the Blue Plate Diner in SLC, especially because it was featured on Food Networks TV Show Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. This week in the new October 2008 Salt Lake Magazine they featured the '65 Great Breakfasts'. Our schedules are soooo opposite, but the other day I had the night off and we decided to go dinner, it worked out that we were able to go with our neighbors Kimberly and Johnathon Rivers which was so much fun. We decided to try a place from the magazine. So we tried Jeremiah's in Ogden. So we went and it is a place with a hotel around it and we didn't know what to think. Oh my we were surprised. They are known for their breakfasts I guess, we didn't take them up on that. I had their fish breaded with macadamia nuts and Keith had their Chicken Fried Steak, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm yummy; they are also known for this as well I heard later. If you live in Utah and are in Ogden I would try it. Not very pricy and very, very casual but it will be worth your drive. Keith can describe food and atmosphere so much better, I have told him that he needs to start a blog on restaurant reveiws, hmm we'll see.

A Touch of Cleveland

Yesterday was my day off and Keith and I went to the University of Utah, to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. The show there now is "Monet to Picasso from the Cleveland Museum of Art". It was so much fun. It made us really miss Ohio and the culture and the food, especially because after we would go to the museums in Ohio we would go to "Little Italy" to have wonderful italian.

YOU DID IT

To quote a line from " My Fair Lady " [with a little editing].....

"You did it...You did it You said that you would do it And indeed you did, maam, you did it You did it...You did it"

I have just fininshed reading the 9th and last book in 'The Work and the Glory' series, by Gerald Lund. Long ago I said I wouldn't read these books. That was when we lived in Florida and I was teaching early-morning seminary and I felt that I needed to teach from the scriptures and not have any outside influences. But about 12 weeks ago, I started from the beginning (because that is a very good place to start) and I just finished the series.

These books really strengthened my testimony in the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the early beginnings of the church. I found myself crying some of the time, especially when they were in Kirtland. Having lived so close to Kirtland and going there several time, the spirit was very, very strong! I have a new resepect for the pioneers, knowing what they went through, making fresh loaves of bread in the wilderness, etc..., their experiences make me want to be more diligent and hard working, the word industrious kept coming to my mind.

After I read the first book, I watched the movie, then after the 2nd book, the 2nd movie, and then after the 3rd book the 3rd movie {although I was very upset with the 3rd movie for not following the book more}.

Can't get it out of my mind

So on the 25th of July, our good friends the Horn's, Keith and I went and saw the Osmond Family with the Tabernacle Choir! Yes, I cried through 90% of the performance. Donny told us about the story of writing this song. He was recording a song and his son called him from his mission. They spoke and a few minutes later his son said he was fine, he just needed to know that his father was there for him. So he wrote this song. While he sang it, he showed pictures of his parents and at the end there was the picture of the Savior. I just can't get it out of my mind.

Close Call

So, on Thursday, I was leaving the hosptial to go to work, and there was a car that was parked a little close to mine..................

Do ya think???????????????

Now I am not a little person, but I don't think that Paris Hilton could get through that. I was pressed for time, so I got in the passenger side and climbed into the drivers' seat. Now that may be nothing for most of you, but for me it was huge!!!