*Are we as concerned with our spiritual safety, as we are for our physical safety?? If our lives are in order, if we are doing the things that we know that we should be doing...we have no need to fear.
Sunday Thoughts
August 31, 2008
*Are we as concerned with our spiritual safety, as we are for our physical safety?? If our lives are in order, if we are doing the things that we know that we should be doing...we have no need to fear.
Banana Crunch Muffins
August 30, 2008
Barefoot Contessa - Banana Crunch Muffins
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 lb unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 extra large eggs
3/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup mashed ripe banana (2 bananas)
1 cup medium-diced ripe banana (1 banana)
1 cup small pieces walnuts
1 cup granola cereal
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
dried banana pieces (optional) or granola cereal (optional) or shredded coconut (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line 18 large muffin cups with paper liners.
Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Add the melted butter and blend.
Combine the eggs, milk, vanilla and mashed bananas, and add then to the flour-and-butter mixture.
Scrape the bowl and blend well.
Don't overmix.
Fold the diced bananas, walnuts, granola and coconut into the batter.
Spoon the batter into the paper liners, filling each one to the top.
Top each muffin with dried banana chips, granola, or coconut, if desired.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool slightly, remove from the pan, and serve.
It Seemed Like a Good Idea...
August 29, 2008
Aparently I don't! I slid off the road, nearly hitting a large tree. So now what? The Farmer is out of town, and the men who work for us were gone for the day...so I called my brother-in-law, who was at an important meeting, and he called our foreman who....
Came and pulled me out! Yes.... that is a tractor....it took a tractor to pull me out! While I was waiting for the tractor to come I thought...why not take some pictures while I wait..so I started walking toward the peaches, they weren't too far away...and next thing I know I am sliding and slipping with mud up to my ankles and packed on my shoes like you cannot imagine. So I went back to the car.....
And the foreman hooked up chains, and pulled and pulled and horray! I am now free from the sticky mud. So now he is pulling me and I think, "why not take a few pictures while I am being pulled;) After all the tractor is doing all the work, right?!
And here they are! And yes, they were worth the mess...they are huge, they are beautiful and The Farmer was right! More beautiful than we have ever seen them. This little experience was a little reminder that I did grow up in the city, and I have not yet mastered a muddy farm road....
She's Going On A Mission!
August 28, 2008
Catching Up!
August 28, 2008
Today Is The Day...
August 25, 2008
Sunday Thoughts
August 24, 2008
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
It has been fun being in the middle of what Charles Dickens must have tried to convey when he wrote his famous book about our unlimited potential and with that potential comes great expectations. The campus is swarming with brand new high school graduates often accompanied by anxious but excited parents who are making a drop off in-between some beach time. But, you can see by the twinkle in their mothers eye that the beach is not near as important as the dreams they have for their 'favorite 18 year old' who has been been bombarded with advice and council about the families tradition of GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Most of the parents have forgotten to tell them all the truth about their freshman year so many years ago but instead they focus on inspiring them with what this first year will mean to their future, their missions, their careers, their future families and their eternal destinies.
Not so fortunate - but just as starry eyed - are the majority who arrive without any parent lagging behind but have left their island or village for the first time to begin their ascent to the top of the world. They are trying to remember what their mother tearfully told them as they packed their meager belongings and made that very long air plane ride to another island in the Pacific.
Everyone is here with Great Expectations. Not only the students and their proud and frightened parents but the faculty, staff, food services, housing professionals, studentbody officers, local priesthood leader and administrative leaders, all who are charged from a Board of Trustees to give the church a 'return on their significant investment' in these young lives. Truly everyone (from Pres. Monson, chairman of the Board, down to the 30 missionary couples who are here supporting all of the above) has only one purpose and mission which is to assist in transferring those 'expectations' into 'actualities'. These young people MUST do well. They MUST prepare for and serve honorable full time missions. They MUST marry well in the temple. They MUST be prepared and self confident that they will be able to go home at end of these formative years self reliant and become the church and community leaders all over the Orient and Pacific Rim (and the mainland) The incredible investment by the faithful tithe payers of the church must not be wasted or invested poorly. Each of these young lives has had 'matter yet unorganized' reserved for them all subject to their fulfilling their foreordained promise. Each comes with a future posterity as numerous as the sands of the seashore anxiously waiting to see if their mother and father can fulfill those GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Eternity and Eternal Life is at stake.
This army of incoming new recruits and their accompanying excitement is tempered by my first high council assignment which was being a participant to a church disciplinary action where a fine young man and his family took a step back in their ability to pursue the race toward these eternal quests. Satan is real, and although he doesn't seem to be as obvious in this hidden paradise, he surfaces and tempts and hints and sometimes wins in his mission. His victories must be temporary and infrequent.
It's exciting being here. We have GREAT EXPECTATIONS for our service here at 'this front' and we have GREAT EXPECTATIONS for everyone we love who are serving on the other many 'fronts' where so many lives are being impacted with decisions made by us and by them which will determine the outcome of those dreams. May each of us be there for them when they come to the forks in the road they will know which one to take knowing that those decisions will determine whether that 'matter gets organized' and whether the 'sands of the seashore' get a celestial or a terrestrial home.
I Love Chicago!
August 22, 2008
The shopping is amazing! Can't say I bought too much...BUT...a good part of the fun is seeing shops that you wouldn't normally see and enjoy. Secretly, my favorite store here is the American Girl store;) Now that is a fun place!The landscaping all along Michigan Ave. is beautiful! Hanging baskets full of flowers, everything perfectly manicured. There are always interesting art exhibits mixed into the landscape which make it interesting and fun. This time it was mannequins dressed in all different items that can be recycled. Really great and creative!
I walked, and walked all in my new favorite shoes...that I borrowed from PreShie...but am not sure I will give back! Love the red Converse tennies.
Another favorite activity that we discovered a few years ago...Tea at the Drake Hotel. The Farmer is sure a good sport! He's game for almost anything. We head home tomorrow...it has been a wonderful trip...I love that we have a reason to return each year.
I'm Here
August 21, 2008
When we lived in Ohio, this is where we came to attend the Temple. It was also a place that The Farmer traveled to often for work, and of course I went along when I could. We came to love this city and look forward to returning every year. The Farmer speaks at the US Apple Conference, representing Mexico, each year. They always host the conference at fantastic hotels right in downtown Chicago. The above picture was taken from the window of our room. While The Farmer is away(at the conference)....his wife will be out to play...shopping! Shhhhhh! don't tell! He'll find out soon enough;) He has been known to hold bags on his lap on the airplane ride home....he is a good man!
Breakfast....yumm!...overlooking the lake....see why I love Chicago?!
What Would Your Title of Liberty Say?
August 19, 2008
This was our topic for scripture study this morning and I ask that same question of The Darlings...What would your Title of Liberty say? and I hope that they will really think about it. We will be making a family "Title of Libery" next FHE, a list of what we believe, and what we hold dear. Thank goodness for Captain Moroni, for his example of a man who stands for what is right, not only does he stand...he acts on his beliefs too.
Back To School
August 18, 2008
Sunday Thoughts
August 17, 2008
A Keeper
August 16, 2008
We Mourn...Again
August 14, 2008
Fall Garden Ideas
August 13, 2008
This yummy and oh so good for you, vegetable,
Garlic...a must for most all of my cooking,
Beets, carrots, chard and some great lettuce mix. YUMMY!
And do not forget about marigolds...they are an excellent helper in keeping bugs away. Also Mexico celebrates "Memorial Day" which we call Dia De Los Muertos, in November, and these marigolds will be ready for that day of rememberance. Many people in our area grow flowers especially for this day. What do you grow in your Fall garden...and do you have any special tips to make the garden extra special???? I would love to hear your suggestions
Another Summer Favorite
August 12, 2008
Here is the okra sliced and ready to cook. I dust it lightly with flour and place it into a pan with 1 T. of butter and 3-4 T. of oilve oil. Cook, stirring often until browned.
Here is the finished product! Yummy! It is crisp and wonderful. Along with garden fresh tomatoes you have a great lunch that is good for you.
Oops!
August 12, 2008
Sunday evening The Boy drove his Mother's car to see Uncle Frank (aka the Bishop). He drives alot and has been very responsible....so we have not had reason to worry, UNTIL...he thought that putting the car in neutral instead of park, while he ran into Uncle Frank's house, would be a great idea.
He came out to find this. The Mother's car had rolled forward and into the fence, knocking a section of it down. The Boy felt it was not his fault at all...totally the cars fault for rolling...hummmm??? No damage to the car. Uncle Frank and Aunt Cathy got some good laughs. And The Boy found that using "park" is a good thing.
Sunday Thoughts
August 10, 2008
A Few Darn Cute Things!
August 9, 2008
These frames...well I thought of myself..hehe..I LOVE THEM!!! Aren't they darling!?! Sweet and true messages on each of them. These can be found at Domestic Bliss, a very lovely boutique in Mesa.
And this precious playhouse...I thought of us all...don't we all secretly wish we had one for ourselves?? I sure do! Somewhere to retreat and relax. You will be delighted with the pictures of the playhouse. I have a chicken house that is pretty cute....but NOTHING like this little house, and well, I wouldn't consider the chicken house as a place to retreat and relax..atleast not for me;)
Check out Restyled Home for more about this sweet little house. You will love it~
A Day At The Ranch
August 8, 2008
It is a place full of great family memories for several generations.
I cannot remember seeing The Ranch so green and full of beautiful flowers. We have had so much rain this year....the streams are running and the flowers are blooming.
It was a wonderful day....shared with great friends/family. The Farmer's sister owns The Ranch now....her love for this place....reminds us how much we love it too!
Boss....the daddy dog....had a great day too...I think he is actually smiling;)
This Is What We Will Be Watching
August 5, 2008
The most impressive thing about the team is that 3 siblings will be competing, with their older brother as their coach, they are the Lopez family from Texas. Steven Lopez (above) is favored to win the gold in his class, he is amazing to watch.
It will be fun to watch all of the athletes who have worked so hard to prepare for these games. Can't wait to watch!