we had a great fall so far...

this scone dough rising, we made about four larges batches of dough then dad rolled it out and had it all ready and pre-cut in scones and on cookie sheets and in the fridge. he cooked them and I passed them out and helped with the cinnamon sugar --we lost count but estimated that we served between 150 and 175 scones--even on that cold, rainy night

Halloween night was a great way to end October-the scones were a big success and went smoothly and we had many positive comments for serving hot scones on a cold night. It seems it will be a tradition of ours for years to come, as it has become a tradition of the neighbors to enjoy them. so time will tell, but for now dad and I worked like a team and pulled it off again and had a ball doing it. dad dressed up in his drivers license jacket and border patrol hat, I wore overalls and lots of makeup and ratted up my hair...

learning new things...improving on the old things

a fun part of life to me is learning new things, I also like to learn from all you in my family and neighborhood too. this past week yoko k. taught me in her home one afternoon to chop and cook some Japanese rice and food, then we shared time eating it together, it was fun. She made the comment, that food always taste better together shared--I have to agree. I wasn't sure if the pics does it justice--but just so you get a feel -I enclosed a couple of pics. it was delicious--I would pass along her teachings to anyone who wants to learn--Bryan likes Japanese food so that was my motivation for learning to do it. I have tried for 31 years to do it and each time I get a little better. Now with Yoko's help --I feel excited to cook it.

Happy Halloween --boys and Ghouls....

pics from last Halloween---

friends and family "ghouls and boys"-Come over for Scones Sat

Just for fun--...

a fun tradition we started a few years back was to cook scones, so just inviting you to join in if you are out and about Sat night--we'll do our level best to make the best scones ever!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!! BE SAFE

grandkid-fall fest-Call style

It turned out that some of the grandkids were going to be here yesterday Sat. So we got thinking we should have a grandkid "fall fest' in the front room--so
*we dressed up in costumes, rang the doorbell and had grandpa pass out baggies of goodies that Hayley had prepared into baggies,.
*at the door the girls also gave grandpa Halloween cards that they had signed...
*we played a musical 'card' game --like musical chairs only we sat on some Halloween pictures on cards
*we played a game when you roll a big dice labeled the sides of the dice labeled as follows
Pit crew man (hunter) , Jack o' Lantern(anna), , witch(abbie) , Princess (mayley, Cow(kaci), Cat(megan)-then when they rolled they picked little prizes out of a sack- later we chuckled because megan told nancy--I chose a little dog and its not real and "so you'll let me keep this dog"--
*We also had a chance to make "witches brew" they added the ice cream, sherbert, raspberries and strawberries and honey--which in the end turns into a delicious smoothie.
*we had 'ghost popcicles' = white cloth with faces over the popcylce
* we had a big refrigerator box--to crawl through to let them call it their 'spook alley' but it promptly got dubbed by hunter as the 'garage' for cars and instead all the kids took small cars in it--later that night--some of the kids drew pics on the walls of the box and decorated it up cute
* lastly we finished off a batch of scones (Halloween scones aka. navajo tacos) a trial run on the scones that we will serve up to the neighborhood kids--next sat.
* then their parents came back from girl's day out, and from looking at vans and it was fun.

well Dad is an incredible gardner

I also baked cinnamon rolls and 'swiss bread' go with the yummy corn

I was a little scepticle last July 24th when dad planted corn just for fun. In honor of the pioneers planting corn that late in the season in 1847--well--they had corn that year and so did we!! woo
we ate it for dinner last night and it was delicious and though we may not do that next year it was a fun experience/experiment to try to see what we could do--just for fun.
We had originally planted squash in the spot where the corn was and it didn't make it--so that was part of the reason for the late planting too--so now we know -- corn can make it (if you have a beautiful fall like we've had, and if you don't care if you have to wait all that time for all that yummy home grown corn goodness).

Fall time-Don't ya love it?

This has been an exceptionally beautiful fall season here in Ut. and I think we had great weather in Alaska this fall while we were there last week --as well (pictures here from both Ut and Alaska)
I love being out of school for UEA convention (even though I barely started teaching) I love the kids to come draw pictures on the sidwalk--I love the fall apples, and fresh potatoes from the garden that wait to dig up in the fall.

I love the sunshine and fall colored leaves, I love the pumpkin Pie with ginger snaps and whipped cream that we had in Alaska for my birthday celebration --I love the birthday celebration! thanks for all the kind love letter and sweet gifts by the way-some of the cards were from susan chapman, LaNae, Carolyn, and you kiddos, then some of my gifts included, card seats from brad and kerri, a food warmer and yummy smelling bath gel &balloon from brianne and bryan and earrings from Hayley and a new blender from Stephen and nancy, and shirt and pants from dad, and a love note and breakfast in bed. I also appreciated phone calls from Lyle, Ellen and LaNae, and Laren and all of you kids. all in all Oct 5th was a marvelous day I taught school and then went out with dad to a movie call "You again" it was comical. Then we had a party in Alaska complete with pie and balloons and singing and then we sang again at the baptim dinner and ate choc chip ice cream cake. One can't wish for more than that can they? So a birthday- isn't my only reason for loving fall--but it was a big part. Now let me add some more reasons to love the fall. --I love the feeling in the air. I love the change of seasons and the sense of crisp air as I rode Brad's bike around last week or currently as I ride my bike to school just for the fun of it. I love walking around the block for fun, in the afternoon in the fall air with dad.

happy, spiritual days

This past month has brought such wonderful experiences. Seeing all the beauties in nature was happy and spiritual for me--holding a new born baby was spiritual to me, attending church in a different ward,(in Alaska) yet feeling welcome there was spiritual to me. Going to the Alaska temple and being the witness couple was spiritual to me. Reflecting on conference talks (both Stake conference and general conference) was spiritual to me. Listening to a prophets voice (Pres. Monson) at the Gen. Relief Society meeting and at conference was spiritual to me. Enjoying listening to the tabernacle choir sing on Sunday morning was spiritual to me. Having my visiting teachers drop by with a message was spiritual to me. Reading the scriptures at night with Bryan (we are in the Pearl of Great Price)
was yes...again.. spiritual to me. Hearing about the Tender mercies that Heavenly father gave some of my friends was spiritual to me. Having tender mercies in my own day to day life has given me strength and was spiritual to me. I just have really enjoyed that things that have brought joy into my life this month and I wanted to write them so I wouldn't ever forget, how much a part of our lives, from day to day, are joyful and spiritual.