From Five Starts

Not long ago IFA was giving away five free bare root strawberries, so I picked them up and gave them to Jared and now we have lots of strawberries. Went out to do some weeding and picked a bucket of these little red sweeties, throwing away as many because of being overripe or the birds/ants having feasted. Now what to do w/them? I think we might have strawberries w/milk for breakfast. That would mean having to wash and hull them...okay I can do that.

And what are you having for breakfast?

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Went to Julie and Julia last night (a movie) and loved it!! though a few words could have been expunged. I had read Julia Child's My Life in France just recently and thought it absolutely charming...such a witty, personable, upbeat character. The character of Julie was upset in the movie because the her idol Julia was aware of the blog and found it distasteful and disrespectful that Julie was working through Julia's cookbook in a year and blogging about the experience (totally confused w/the Js?). "But that's the purpose of a blog. It's supposed to be all about me, me, me."

I tend to forget that I'm writing for me and phooey on all the rest of you. If you happen to tune in, so be it. If you're put asleep after a sentence, too bad, don't read.

I'm in a good mood this morning. The air is still cool before the day's heat. T just left for work. Gave him a cheerful bye--no reply back. Like that's news? R, V and J are still asleep. J starts a new season of soccer today. I'll try to post a pic later.

Morning Nectar

I put up a hummingbird feeder a couple months ago and it has been a big success. It's right outside my work window and so I get to watch these amazing birds. They'll come right up to the window as though they're looking in. Funny thing--I was warned that they're not terribly friendly w/each other and it's soooo true. There are four feeding spouts and I have two birds vying for position on a regular basis (occasionally three), but will they share?? Are you kidding? They buzz each other, have aerial fights and you can actually hear them yelling (bird chatter) at each other.

This morning as I sat down to work, I noticed that the nectar was empty (they've been really hungry lately--maybe filling up for their impending flight south?) so I refilled and w/i seconds they were back. BTW: Don't buy the premade expensive hummingbird nectar at the store. Just make your own w/1 part sugar and 4 parts water heated, bring to a low simmer just enough to dissolve the sugar. Keep extra stored in fridge. Simple.

My Baby You'll Always Be

You may be 19, you may be taller and you may be the eldest of the sons, but my baby you'll always be (born August 22, 1990). You were the smallest of my babies at 7 pounds 12 ounces and the longest at 22 inches and look at you today!!

For the boys' birthdays, we went out for Chinese Friday night. I felt like it was my celebration. Anytime that I don't cook and do dishes is a red letter day in my book.

Good job Tony!! He told me that he got his final grades this week and he passed his three summer classes, thus he now has an associates degree, or will have once he officially applies.

My Guys at Last Month's Trek

Okay, I went w/R to a post trek BBQ for the leaders of last month's trek and the photographer told us the website and password to get in and look at the photos, so have been spending a HUGE amount of time looking through all the many pics to find some of my guys and here they are...R on his trail horse (he was the medic).

Victor (blue shirt) and Connor Blauer pulling the handcart.

V at the front of the rope pull over the Sweetwater.

Victor pitching a rag ball during a gaming session.

R on the Sabbath donig a little reading.

and R again (love that tie!!) on the Sabbath. How did a guy by the name of Gonzalez from south of the border end up in Wyoming dressed in this garb?

And This is What 17 Looks Like

Ah, to have the vitality of this kid who is now officially 17. Strange-looking cake, I know. In our household, pie is more commonly the dessert of choice, in this case a cherry pie. Victor enjoyed his birthday playing golf, what else? He had his last tourney at Riverbend, placing second and earning a towel for the day. A towel? queried I. Turns out he was going to buy one anyway, so a good prize. He then played his second match w/his high school team at Mountain View, his team coming in second again to arch-rival Bingham but not bad considering there are six teams in the region.

Ahh, Private Sleeping Quarters

Finally, all three boys are sleeping downstairs, each to his own area. Jared has a cot under the stairs and was the first to make the move down. Victor reminded him last night, "What do you expect? You've taken over the storage area" when J was heard to voice a dislike. Sorry J. Am hoping he soon moves up, as I's not sure where I'm going to put the Christmas deco.

Ah, V's bed arrived yesterday. We purchased this gently used item from one of R's friends. V is in padded heaven after what he's put up with of late.

And Tony. I told the big T that I need to think about window treatments and get him a comforter so that I can take back my quilt. He told me to consider the quilt my gift to him. Ya, right. Think again big guy.

Lone Peak

A week ago the Priests took a hike, turned out to be a very steep, strenuous, all-day hike to the top of the mountain (Lone Peak) overlooking the Salt Lake Valley. They left at 6 a.m. and didn't get home until 10 p.m. Both were very tired and very dirty. V said it was the hardest physical thing that he has ever done. R, who is an adviser, went and was struggling so didn't do the last couple of miles. I'm glad that he chose not to do more than his body would take, thus having to be carried off the mountain or worse flown off via LifeFlight. I would have been dead at the bottom of the trail. Sure am glad that I have memories of when I used to do hikes like these. Last night at mutual V received a CD w/a bunch of pics, so here is V at the top.

V is in the red cap w/some of the guys. Gotta love his "farmer's tan."

And yes there is still snow in some spots. V said it was very REFRESHING to take a handful and put it under his cap to cool off a sweating head. They're all good kids and I appreciate their leaders taking the day to be w/these boys.

Out of the City

Yesterday evening I drove up to Midway, which is by Heber City (think Park City area). I did not think to take any pictures, but here is a picture of a home for sale (a 3B2B) in the development for $500,000. The home in which I visited was a three-level, seven-bedroom, nine-bath with two full kitchens, two full laundry rooms, and a sauna room w/a view of the valley. It was gorgeous. It was totally my dream house. The development had a Swiss theme (Midway was settled by Swiss immigrants) and the homes have lots of wood beams. This house was decked out in top workmanship--wood, granite, tile....

My girlfriend from CA is here for the week w/three other friends from CA. They're having a girls' week. They're all down-to-earth, common folk like me and Shawna, living from paycheck to paycheck (in fact, one lady when she heard that another lady's mission president raised the monthly allowance from $400 to $580--I know that's another story, she burst into tears wondering how she would be able to afford her son's upcoming mission, contemplating getting a part-time job, so in essence "common folk"). The owner of the house was one of the ladies. She actually co-owns the vacation house w/her sister. You would never know that she has a rich daddy. She doesn't look or dress like money. It was a gift from their father a couple years. He owns Amsco Windows Company. In addition to buying the home, he gave them a million dollars for any upgrades, decorating and furnishings. She didn't tell us that--Shawna told me later.

It was sooooo peaceful and quiet up there. I did not want to come home. The ladies could invite a friend for the evening. Two ladies had guests. Lucky me!! It was really fun. I could live that like every day--no work, just good conversation and food. I felt like my BP dropped a good 20 points last night. It has always been my dream to live out of the valley and up in Midway, but definitely a dream.

Here's a random picture on the internet of the Midway Valley, which was representative of the view on the deck as we sat and ate. Remember that when the sun goes down up there, it's a good 15 to 20 degrees cooler than here in the Salt Lake valley. A perfect place to live in the summer.