Turkey Bowl Festivities

Ouch...it hurts...

What? A post? I'm speechless.



It's been so long I'm rusty. My fingers feel like pin-pricks click clicking away on Blogger. Who knew it would hurt so bad.
Just kidding.
A travelogue is unavoidable, so here's a little rundown of the past couple of months. Has it really been that long? I'm not promising any memorable reading or even complete sentences. But then, do I ever?


August and September:
Camping with some fellow residents and families. Drove through the very nice town of Troy, Montana home of the Trojans and other famous people, like Heather?


Hiked an amazing cedar wood forest. Many cedars are hollow in the middle so you can climb inside. The cavities are called "Fairy Dens." How magical.



Enjoyed great food and company. Oh, ate raw corn on the cob and it was very, very good. The next time you come across corn picked within a few hour, try it raw. You’ll be glad you did.



Seattle: pretty much a 24 hour trip. For dinner on Friday night we stopped at this little Vietnamese-American diner. Natalie heard us say “eel burger” (followed by a mutual question mark) and very matter of fact said, "I want an eel burger." No hemming or hawing, just plain and simple.
And she got one.
And she ate one.
The owner got such a kick out of it. He watched her from the counter and then came out to our table and in very broken English asked her how she liked it and was smiling like mad. I tried a bite and gracefully filled my napkin within moments of it touching my tongue (carefully making sure the nice owner guy was not watching). In the morning we hung out at the pier. Saw an almost alarming number of OSU fans, including many boat decked out. Get it! Decked...out...

In the afternoon, Jared went to the OSU v. UW game with some guys from med school and the kids and I had a great time at the zoo.

What could she possibly be saying?


Oited?




This is us on the Seattle Temple ground. I was not expecting to feel so emotional going back for the first time since we were married. The grounds have changed some and it was just beautiful. Our little family where it all started. (Don't flower pots and 3 year olds make nice photographers?) I just love this photo of Isaac. Covered in who-knows-what, a sticker on his forehead, toddling along all happy-like.


We also visited George, Washington. Stopped for gas and when I stepped out of the car I practically fell over from the aroma. I don't usually describe towns having "aromas" but this one did! I’ve never smelt anything better. It was warm, minty, fresh, slightly dusty and all I can think to describe it was harvest---especially fitting because a huge trailer full of onion rambled past us as we were stretching and taking it all in. I just walked around in a daze taking deep, fulfilling breaths.
So, if I’m ever asked what my favorite smell is, I’ll say George, Washington. How’s that for conversation?A huge round of applause goes out to the first person to correctly say where this photo was taken. Here's a hint: not too far is a restaurant named Martha.

October:

Chewy died. Very sad few days for a certain small girl. She still talks about her and tells everyone "My pet is Chewy. She died." Lots of interesting conversation about death. There's a guinea pig heaven, right? Next to the goldfish heaven, I think. As we were digging the hole in the backyard Natalie says, "Hey! Maybe a prince guinea pig will come and dig her up and kiss her and she can come back to life." You can only hope. It's taken some time to get over missing her squeeking and whistling when the fridge opened and shut, or not being able to feed her treats (celery tops and broccoli bits). We miss having her sitting in one place munching happily on grass while the kids played around her in the backyard and Isaac going nuts with joy and terror when she'd run around. Natalie says she most misses hiding lettuce for her to find. Thanks Tara and Kenny for giving us a great pet for the past few years. And thanks to all our family and friends who were genuinely sad for us when you heard she died.


Let's see, what else? Met NJP's daughter Cali and she's just wonderful! I call dibs is she ever wants another place to stay.

Harvest Moon Ball---our stake adult dance. You know it's a rock'n party when a record player is playing a majority of the songs. We had a great, great time.

Mom's visit. She was here in the midst of "Jack the Pumpkin" visiting as well. I wanted to do something fun for the kids so each morning there was a surprise (ie. halloween flashlights, 79 cents each, or scavenger hunt clues to find ingredients for pumpkin cake, etc) with a note from Jack counting down the days until Halloween. I did 10 days which was waaaaay too many days. Next year he's only going to visit maybe 3 or 4. She was so confused how a pumpkin could get up on the table. Both kids loved it!

Trunk or Treat (Jared dubbed "Practice trick or treating") This is our monster car. There was smoke from a fog machine coming out its mouth and the candy was pushed out on a long tongue (red fabric covered board). It effectively scared enough kids to satisfy us.


Halloween--- a friend of mine came over with her kids because her husband was working late. Jared was nice enough to wrangle all the kids up and down the street as we munched veggies (hooray us!!!), chatted, and passed out candy.

Okay, I'm tired of writing. I've got to build up my stamina from not working out my fingers for so long.

going back to school

If I were going back to school...these are a few things I'd like to learn:

1. How to create my own sewing patterns.
2. How tailor clothing to fit like it was made for me or Natalie, or Jared, or maybe YOU!
3. How to make bookshelves look inviting, homey and not like a recluse professor's office with haphazard stacks and shoved in titles.
4. How to write well. Specifically more technical pieces such as magazine articles or grants or even just a page of prose or editorial.
5. How to grow a large field of tulips or daffodils.
6. Anything and everything related to running a business.
7. All the ins and outs of investing: stocks, markets, strategies, etc.
8. Cooking school in general would be dreamy.
9. Somehow cross the bridge into correct computer terminology (ie. a giga? and a RAM of what?).
10. A pen and ink class with watercolor.

That should do it for now. :) I'd always love a once a week yoga/pilates class while I'm at it. Anyone want to join me? Huh? Huh?

Middlemarch Highlights

By far this books has the most satisfying epilogue I've ever read.

George Eliot begins her Finale chapter by writing:
"Every limit is a beginning as well as an ending. Who can quit young lives after being long in company with them, and not desire to know what befell them in their after-years?"
Isn't that so true of a good book?
Further down the page she writes, "Marriage, which has been the bourne of so many narratives is still a great beginning...It is still the beginning of the home epic---the gradual conquest or irremediable loss of that complete union which makes the advancing years a climax, and age the harvest of sweet memories in common."

When I started this book, ohhh, several weeks ago, I had no idea it was about marriages and life in the English countryside.

A few other quotes to read and re-read:

"We are on a perilous margin when we begin to look passively at our future selves, and see our own figures led with dull consent into insipid misdoings and shabby achievement." (pg. 783)

"We mortals, men and women, devour many a disappointment between breakfast and dinner-time; keep back the tears and look a little pale about the lips, and in answer to inquires say, 'Oh, nothing!' Pride, helps us; and pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our own hurts---not to hurt others." (pg. 62)

"A human being in this aged nation of ours in a very wonderful whole, the slow creation of long interchanging influences; and charm is a result of two such wholes, the one loving and the one loved." (pg. 409)

On choosing a profession:
"You must be sure of two things: you must love your work, and not be always looking over the edge of it, wanting your play to begin. And the other is, you must not be ashamed of your work, and think it would be more honourable to you to be doing something else. You must have pride in your own work and in learning to do it well..." (page 562)

And finally, a TOP 10 list that isn't exactly a top 10 list, but a list of 10 characters in order of favorite to least favorite because every end of the spectrum regarding character and character development is included in this book.
1. Dorthea Brooke
2. Will Ladislaw
3. Caleb Garth
4. Fred Vincy
5. Mary Garth/ Dr. Lydgate (tie)
6. Sir James
7. Cecilia Brooke
(the above are "good")
(the following are "not so good")
8. Raffles/Mr. Casaubon (tie)
9. Bulstrode
(Actually, I don't mind those three. Their actions were key in great development for others. But, their personalities just grated.)
10. Rosamond Vincy
(Was she a prototype for Rosalie?)

I'd really love to hear from you if you'd read this book and tell me what you think. :)

That is all. Won't say anymore because it will give it all away!!!!

buns and rolls

A while back I heard a NPR interview with Kevin Costner. Listen to it by clicking HERE. He was surprisingly articulate, not because I assumed otherwise, but simply because it was never a topic of thought before. The interviewer asked him how he lost weight after having to gain for a specific movie role. He said simply, "I stop drinking milk." At this point I'm thinking he's not exactly the poster child for the Milk Your Diet campaign. He goes on to say when he stops drinking milk, he also stops eating all the things that go WITH drinking milk. Pretty brilliant, hun? Cake, cookies, microwaved Twinkies (yikes!), brownies, hmmm...I'm headed to the kitchen now. Just jesting. O bviously not a course of action most people especially women pregnant, nursing, or not pregnant and nursing, kids, and anyone else who doesn't want to be a complete nut about getting enough calcium, vit D, etc. (I had to throw that in there :)) but the idea is good.

So, for everyone who hasn't thrown in the towel on all the wonderful "milk and ____" combinations just yet, here's a few recipes certain to brighten any day.

p.s. I'd like to dedicate this post to Cassie and GP neighbors. Ha!


Buns From Heaven
to die for (literally at a pound of butter a batch!)

Dough:
2 T. yeast
1 C. warm water
2/3 c. plus 1 tsp sugar, divided
1 c. warmed milk
2/3 c. butter
2 tsp. Salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten
7-8 cups flour, or more if needed


Filling
1 c. melted butter, divided
1 ¾ c. sugar, divided
3 T. cinnamon
1 ½ c. chopped walnuts, optional
1 ½ c. raisins, optional

Creamy glaze:
2/3 c. melted butter (1 stick plus 2 T)
4 c. powdered sugar
2 tsp. Vanilla
4-8 T. hot water


In a small bowl soften yeast with warm water and half of the sugar; set aside. In a large bowl, mix milk, remaining sugar, melted butter, salt and eggs; stir well and add yeast mixture. Add half the flour and beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour until dough is slightly stiff (dough will be sticky).

Turn out onto a well-floured board; knead 5-10 minutes. Place in a well-buttered glass or plastic bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk about 60 –90 minutes.

When doubled, punch down and let rest 5 minutes. Roll out on floured surface into a 15x20 inch rectangle.

To prepare filling: spread ½ c. melted butter over dough. Mix together 1 ½ c. sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over buttered dough. Sprinkle with walnuts and raisins, if desired.

Roll up and pinch edge together to seal. Cut into 12-15 slices. Coat bottom of a 13x9 pan and a 8 inch square pan with remaining ½ c. melted butter, then sprinkle with remaining ¼ c. sugar. Place cinnamon roll slices close together in pans. Let rise in warm place until dough is doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until rolls are nicely browned. Cool rolls slightly.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix melted butter, powdered sugar and vanilla; add hot water 1 T. at a time until glaze reaches desired spreading consistency. Spread over slightly cooled rolls.




Happy Buns (aka no guilt)
to live for, but certainly not heavenly (3 T butter)

Dough
11/3 cups warm skim milk (110 degrees)
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
31/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
1 package rapid-rise or instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt

Filling
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

Icing
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
4 tablespoons light cream cheese
1 tablespoon skim milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. For the dough: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. When oven reaches 200 degrees, turn it off. Lightly grease large bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Coat 13 by 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Mix milk, syrup, and melted butter together in large measuring cup. Mix flour, yeast, and salt together in bowl of standing mixer fitted with dough hook. Turn machine to low and slowly add milk mixture. After dough comes together, increase speed to medium and mix until shiny and smooth, 4 to 6 minutes. (Dough will be sticky; if it seems too wet and is not forming ball, add up to 1/4 cup more flour as needed and knead dough 2 minutes more.) Turn dough onto heavily floured work surface, shape into ball, and place in greased bowl. Cover and rest in warm oven for 10 minutes.

3. For the filling: While dough is resting, mix sugars, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter in medium bowl until incorporated.

4. To make the rolls: On lightly floured work surface, roll dough into 18 by 12-inch rectangle with long side facing you. Sprinkle sugar mixture over dough, leaving 1/2 inch border along top edge, then lightly press sugar into dough. Starting at edge nearest you, roll up dough. Brush border with water, then press dough to seal.

5. Using chef’s knife, slice dough into 12 rounds, then place in prepared pan with cut side up. Cover pan with plastic wrap coated with cooking spray and return to warm oven until rolls have nearly doubled in size, 30 to 40 minutes.

6. Remove pan from oven and heat oven to 350 degrees (rolls will continue to rise on counter as you wait for oven to heat). Remove plastic wrap and bake until rolls are deep brown and filling is melted, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pan front to back halfway through baking.

7. For the icing: While rolls are baking, whisk confectioners’ sugar, cream cheese, milk, and vanilla together in small bowl until smooth. Remove pan from oven, turn rolls out onto rack, and flip them right side up. Cool 10 minutes, then spread icing over rolls. Serve hot or warm.