SPRING

I got my first seed catalog today, and so in the midst of the winter storms, spring is here! And let me tell you, this seed catalog is amazing! Its the Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (http://www.rareseeds.com/) and the pictures are beautiful. It comes on high quality glossy magazine paper, and some are full pages of this gorgeous fruit and vegetables. If I could, I would wax elequent about the pictures.

I love looking thorugh seed catalogs, I think I got it from my mother. I plan out all the varities I should buy, think about my garden and how this year it will be weedfree and gorgeous. I re-think the "don't buy fruit trees, you are renting" argument that I have every year with myself. I spend hours pouring over the different cultivars, and the new items I want to try this year.

They make everything sound so good in the descriptions! Here is the discription of the Chinses red meat radish (see picture on the left): The colorful "Beauty Heart" radish of historic CHina, the 4" round roots have white and green skin, but the magic is in their rose-red center, which is so sweet, crisp and delicious. A good radish to add color to salads and stir-fries; must be grown in cool weather and does best when fall planted. Sometiems called "watermellon radish" at market." I don't plant radishes any more because they don't really get eaten because I gues no one really likes them, but this description makes me want to plant 4 rows! Just reading the discription of all the varieties of tomatoes, or mellons, or peas makes my mouth water.

I know that I will end up buying plants from my local nurshery (Cooks ), and stick to the basics because I will procrastinate any buying or actual garden prep, but this doesn't lessen the enjoyment I get out of planning and dreaming!

For those of you who care about my life, its been crazy busy and yuck. so I can sit here and dream of digging in the garden and that makes me happy.

I did just get back from a sealing at the temple. I've only been to two of these work related ones. It is always bitter sweet. I'm so happy that there is a hopeful future for this little girl, but most of my other little (and not so little) ones won't have the same opportunities. I hurt for them, even as I rejoice in the possibilities for this one. I need this vacation time so badly right now.

Crazyness

So its been awhile since my last post, (as if you can't tell just by reading-but its ok to point out the obviouse just in case, right?). The month of November and now December have been flying by and I've been barely hanging on.

We celebrated Jamie's upcoming whatever with a bridal shower. Yes, I'm trying to be positive about it, but at times other things leak out :) At any rate Jamie had a good time and its always fun to be around whats left of the Cherry Chubs! We had lots of good food which also makes me happy! Melanie didn't get a lot of good pictures, but you can check here to see a little:

http://msmarthelm.blogspot.com/2008/11/utah-again-to-see-lovely-bride-to-be.html

So after getting over the stress of that (which honestly I shouldn't have stressed about since I made other people take over the hard part- I just do food! ps thanks Erin, Averies, Sarah, Jen, roomies, etc) we had Thanksgiving coming up. Trying to fit everything in at work with a shortened month (Veterans day, Turkey day) which was way stressful because I'm such a procrastinator. Also as some of you may know my work itself is not fun/stressfull/taxing/fill in your own descriptive negative word.

I REALLY enjoyed Thanksgiving! I feel bad that I didn't help out Neita who was on her feet cooking the whole time, but I sure came back feeling more positive about the world then I've been in awhile. I drove which isn't usually fun for me, but because I was excited about where I was going, and the roads were fine it wasn't bad. Going home again wasn't quite as much fun, but Jamie called me when I was tired and talked me through it till home. Again stealing from Melanie's blog, here are a few pictures:

http://msmarthelm.blogspot.com/2008/12/great-thanksgiving-day.html and from Amy's blog:

http://sunshinehelm.blogspot.com/2008/12/thanksgiving-feast.html

We ate tons of good food, and I had lots of fun hanging out with my siblings and nephews and neices. One night I cooked some "chinese food" and as people ate what I made I call it a success! Jared also made craeps (I don't know how you spell silly french words) for Breakfast. I have discovered that if I get sleep I do alot better on vacations, so thanks to the Neiders who made that possible.

On one of the days Nathan, Jared, Melanie, and I went out to Fish Creek Dam which was a really fun outing. I could've stayed there all day hearing the funny sounds the rocks made on the ice. Its this old dam from the 30's that needs repair, and Nathan is trying to help the families that rely on it for their farms navigate the state beauracracy to get it repaired ASAP! Its really cool looking with these arches and crumbling concrete. It was a scary standing under it where water was leaking through pretty good. We could also see missing chunks! here are a few pictures I found on the web. The first three are of Fish Creek, the other two show an abandoned dam in Idaho, much smaller, that is built in the same manner so you can see the cool arches.

The state has required the families to drain more then half the water out, and take out two of the arches in the shallower part just in case it all of a sudden fills up again and then decides to break if there is an earthquake or just a complete failure. I think the plan is to build an earthen dam around the old dam to speed up the repair process, so the families can continue to utilize the water resource they depend on. Unfortunately they are runing into roadblocks all along the way and the dam isn't getting any better. I wish there was a way to save the dam as it does look really cool, and an earthen dam just doesn't have quite the same awe factor! Hopefully Melanie will get her pictures developed and scanned in so I'll have more pictures to show! --side note in this part of the land water is probably the most valuable resource we have!

The week after that I went to Vegas for Melanie's companie's employee apreciation party. I just have to say that their company must appreciate their employees more then the State of Utah does :) We had a really awesome dinner (with Prime Rib at one of the carving stations- if you don't know I used to work catering events and cut myself pretty badly doing that on one occasion), and then tickets to see Cirque du Soleil- Ka. It was a great show and was really entertaining. Its amazing what people can do!

Saturday Melanie and I participated in the Great Santa Run of Las Vegas. Its an attempt to get back the record for the most Santa's in 1 place. Who knew there was a record, but it was really fun. I've never seen so many Santas in my life, thats for sure! During our walk we could see nothing but Santas for the whole mile!



I give the experience 2 enthusiastic thumbs up! Afterwards we had to rest from our strenous experience by hanging out with Melissa in their hottub. Now I could really use one of those in my backyard!

On Sunday Melanie had decided to have a turkey dinner. The turkey took a lot longer then the only other turkey I've done (last year), so we ate our dinner in courses. We had burned stuffing first, then some really good squash, then some mashed potatoes, then some turkey, then some mashed potatoes and gravy (couldn't make the gravy until the turkey was done. It all tasted good (yes even the burned stuffing), but my clothes smelled like turkey when I got back home, and I'm sure Melanie's house still smells that way! Melanie doesn't have a meat thermomoter so we used a candy thermometer (look closely at the turkey).

So I got back home and got back to work. I'm a little stressed with trying to get everything done in a MUCH shorter month as I will be gone to New Mexico (and California for Jamie's thingy) for 2 weeks.

So I've been stressed out, but today I had pizza and then went for Frozen Yoghurt with Jamie, Brittany, and Kate so all is well tonight.... that and the fact that I'm not working until tomorrow evening (it being a short month thats the only time I could fit in a couple of visits)

Angela and Mom are spending the night tomorrow on their way back to NM from Angela's college adventure. Hope she passed her classes so she can go back again!

Temple trip

Jamie and I went to the temple on one of the Fridays in November. We decided to go to the Jordan River because its a cool looking temple and neither of us had been there. Its actually reminds me of the Provo temple on the inside which is wierd because they don't look anything alike on the outside! I'd like to make it to some of the other nearby temples soon.

PS it was cold!

Confessions....

I don't have any thing new to say, so I thought that would make a good blog :)

On Friday and Saturday Jamie and I made her bridal shower invitations. They are very cute and every one is different. All of you are invited if you know Jamie. Its Nov 22nd, 11 at my house! Here is a picture of most of the ones we made. I got a little carried away at the scrapbooking store so we have some left over paper and die-cut flowers. We are just going to send them to the people around here, but if there are leftovers (or if I make more) you far flung cherry chubs might get an invite. It was a fun project even if I tend to get overwhelmed with even little responsibilities such as making sure Jamie has a bridal shower. Now I just have to actually mail them. (ps I covered up the addresses for this post-those scribbles aren't actually there!)

Its been rainy. I actually like gray rainy days. Probably from growing up in the desert. However, I didn't really like today. On gray rainy days I want to stay at home and drink hot chocolate and read a cozy book by the fire, with occasional forays out to feel the rain on my face, or at least watch the patterns on the window. But today, I had to go to work. Enough said.

I have found that I tend to blog about what I cooked for Sunday dinner. I don't know why because I'm really the only one that cares (and maybe my roommates who eat what I cook). I think this makes me extra boring. Oh well, I will blog about it any way. I made enchilades verdes caserole with the tomatillos I picked from the garden before it froze over. I should've used them weeks ago as they weren't quite as tasty as when they are fresher. I also had asperagus because it looked good in the store and I'm the worse impulse buyer I know. Then I tried a recipe that Sarah found for the cabbage from the garden. Tasted ok, but our cabbage is a little bitter. Probably didn't get watered enough or something. Cabbage gives you gas, just so you know.

The one fun thing I made last night was pumpkin muffins (at 9pm). I had leftover pumpkin from the 7-layer pumpkin dip that I needed to use up. They turned out good (thanks mom for the input) and Cathy was persuaded to come over and visit because of them. Yay for friends! It was my kind of recipe which means measuring is optional. The problem with this kind of cooking is that I can't always reproduce the results!

I am feeling very trunky in my ward. I didn't go to FHE tonight even though I was actually home before it started. I have guilt about that, but not enough to actually go to activities. I blame work. Since my work involves social, I shouldn't have to be social afterwards!

Yay, Jenny has joined the comment section! This is my big sister......well she isn't technically "bigger" then me, other then her ginormous spirituality! :)

I wish I could leave comments on her cute blog, so maybe she will set one up through blogger so I can leave comments about her reglar one (hint, hint).

I like your blog Jenny! Lots of interesting stuff going on in your family!

Now we just need Neita to get a blogger ID and we can be one happy on-line family! I think I like the blogs because I get to see pictures of my family members, and get a glimpse into their day to day life. Its also fun to see comments left on my blog, even if I don't have as many funny entries as Melanie.

Wonderful MOM

So, I just want to let everyone know that my mom got a blogger identity so she can leave comments. That means she loves me! I think Melanie and I have been pushing it the hardest, but she did it none-the-less. Hopefully it wasn't a painful experience for her. Maybe she will even..... blog (gasp!) as she has one foot in the door!

I do have to admit that when I saw that she had left a comment on Angela's blog I was a little jealous. Kicks back to the old middle sibling, sibling rivalry thingy (figures she would leave one on Angela's... youngests get everything), but once I checked my last post and saw her comment, I was ok :) Funny how that reaction came on so fast, little suprising as I thought now that I was all grown up things like that wouldn't bug me. Hmmmm this post turned into all about me again, funny how that happens.

I taught Sunday School lesson on 3Ne 16, 20-21 and (tried to) focuse on gathering and building/establishing Zion in our hearts, homes, etc. Seems to me that sibling rivalry=pride, which is NOT good. So, I'll have to continue to work on that!

Speaking of teaching Sunday school, that is definately one of the reasons I'm looking forward to "retiring" from the singles ward. Ward change is about the only way to get off from that calling. Its good for me, and I enjoy studying up on the lessons, but I get so dang nervous and scattered and flustered in front of peoples. Just ask my roommates how red my neck turned this last time!

Another thing about leaving the singles ward is I will be in a new temple district so I won't be serving there anymore after the Christmas break. This is both a relief and a sadness. It means I will have my Saturdays free again, and can probably travel easier on the weekends, but I will miss the strength and blessing its been in my life. Also, I will miss the wonderful sisters I work with who amaze me with their strength, literally! I'm quite a bit younger then most of my friends there, but they are in much better shape then me! I'm dead on my feet after a 5 hr shift and they do it several times a week and don't always take a dinner break. WOW! If I don't get a dinner break its hard for me to feel any spirit other then irritation! Also, since I've been there for almost 3 years now, I've gotten to do the Mandarin Chinese session on the first Saturday of every month (5:00pm session). That always makes my day! This last time I was really able to help out, all in Mandarin! My daily chinese speaking is pretty non-exsistant now, but I can do the temple and that is way cool!

This post is dedicated to my wonderful dad. He calls me every first Sunday of the month, even if I don't ever answer my phone. He helped mom set up the blogger comment thingy, and he is the greatest dad I have ever had!! Love ya dad!

Day After the Day After Haloween

Well, while I'm sitting here waiting for "Dinner in a Pumpkin" to finish cooking, I thought I would write a bit about Haloween (I know its not Haloween- so its too late for Dinner in a pumpkin, but I had so much fun, that I wanted to spread out the joy!). By the way it has been raining pretty constanty since last night, and its a dreary Sunday, but I like those!

I think our tree has just about lost all of its leaves now, and they are wet so it was good that we had Noah come over to jump in them Friday. I put Max in some leaves, and he seemed to like it.

We also picked our last pumpkin from the garden. i was hoping it would ripen some more, but its still cool, even if its mostly green. Its the biggest of the 4. After Sarah, Noah, and Max left for naps and other important pre-Haloween activites, Jamie and I carved our pumpkins (yes they are from my garden) first is her's then mine, plus an additional close up of mine because it is so cool!

We, well at least I, had fun decorating our house. I got a few things on sale including a pumpkin latern, tea light holder ghosts, hanging ghosts for our tree, a skeleton for our door (thinking of Gage), pumpkin bowls, gourds, and orange mini lights. Jamie got the spider web stuff and put it on our porch with the lights, and inside with some spiders. Very festive! I'm only sad that we didn't do it earlier so we could enjoy it for longer.


I don't mind that only two people came to our party, more food for us!!!! Actually as you may know, I'm not that social and so I was very comfortable with a small party. I'm glad Cathy came afterwards and she was a really good sport about bobbing for apples and eating left overs. I was careful this time to not over prepare too much food, but there is toooonnnnnssss of candy left at our house. And its mostly good candy like Snikers, Butterfingers, Almond Joy, Kitcats, whoppers, M&M's which means I want to eat it all! Pictures of me bobbing for apples, plus me and my roommates in our awesome costumes, us with our pumpkins, and me and Kate cheering for Eric as he bobbed for apples:

This party was not nearly so stressfull, one because I didn't try to mamke as much food, and two (and most importantly) Jamie baked all the cookies! We had sugar cookies, spider/bog monster cookes, and blood-eye cookes (actually cherry chocolate drop cookies). I made pumpkin 7-layer dip, and artichoke-spinach dip. I also tried to make a smokey Gouda dip that didn't work (still don't understand how it sperated like that....yuck!) but we didn't miss it. Our plan was to have a fire and roast hotdogs, and smores but as not too many people came we decided it wasn't needed. Too bad because

Cathy had brought over a lot of wood. I put the hotdog stuff in the freezer so we will have to do a roast later before it gets too cold. I also made Rootbeer and here is a picture of the fun process, along with our cute table the day after.

After our two guests left, and before Cathy stopped by, I went outside, and discovered how fun it is to run around in a cape. No wonder super hero's have them!!!!! It was suprisingly warm even in the light drisle of rain. I tried to catch a lucky leaf, but no luck that night. Thanks Jamie for the fun pictures, and all your help! You are my biggest fan!!!! oops reverse that.

For more pictures and commentary on Haloween see Jamie's blog (we did use mostly the same pictures so far warning!): http://jamesfarfar.blogspot.com/2008/11/halloween-noah-max-and-sarah-came-trick.html11/halloween-noah-max-and-sarah-came-trick.html

Late Thoughts

I have to get up early tomorrow. Thats one of my least favorite things in the whole world. Because of that, I find myself putting off going to bed which really doesn't make sense. It just makes the inevitable harder, but here I am still up and wanting to put off going to bed because it means I'm going to have to get up early.

Anyways, I was leaving a long comment on Melanie's blog when I thought to myself, "self, this is turning into a blog entry, so you should just write it down." So here it goes.

I've been reading on some of the blogs I follow that they are going private. Some are blogs of people that I grew up with and now live far far away and have lives very different from mine (ie married with kids). Many of them were good friends of my little sister who lets face it is way cooler then me and so had a lot more friends then me (thats why her middle name is "favorite") or siblings of people I do know etc.

I totally understand the wanting to go private. Who knows what wierdos out there right now are reading this. But frankly, if someone is going to stalk/murderate me, its most likely someone that I know (ie maybe someone who hates me because I took away their kid or something, or someone who thinks they love me because we had a conversation at institute once :) Its true that I don't link to others' blogs on my blog just in case. But I still must not understand all the reasons for people going private......

At any rate, it makes me sad when I'm not able to secretly follow someone's blog anymore. I guess its because then I don't feel obligated to leave comments if I don't feel like it. So maybe its because at the heart of it all, I'm really lazy! That is probably true, but I'm sad also because some blogs I only check on occasion or just stumble across briefly before they go private, I'd feel weird inviting myself onto someone's blog I only sort of know.

Well thats my ramble for now. I've been getting these headaches because I think my contact perscription needs to be upped, but I'm too busy right now to schedule it. Its only gotten bad this last week or so, but I'm having a tough time reading road signs, and I realized I'm squinting at the computer screen (hence the headaches at work?). I think I will try a new pair tomorrow just in case I got a bad one this last time.

Domestic?

So this week was very crazy busy. In many ways its good to be busy again, but its kind of stressful. This Saturday I was very busy but didn't get much done. I did Can some tomatoes which look pretty, but I only got 3.5 quarts. That was a lot of work for not much reward, nonetheless after canning those and making spaghetti sauce today, our tomato pile has gone down significantly. On a happier note, the grape jam fiasco actually wasn't as disasterous as previously recorded. Some how they set. Weird. Probably still tastes funny!

More news of the dehydrator: We've done many batches, but it seems as soon as one is done, that it gets eaten up. Interesting because we can do about 12 apples in a batch. Needless to say we are getting plenty of fiber in our house. So we also tried making some fruit leather with apples and grapes. I think I would like one with peaches and strawberries. Grape skins are a little bitter!

We went on a Sunday walk (Jamie, Kate, and I) up South Fork towards Big Springs. It was beautiful! The sky was so blue!

and we were following a beautiful stream most of the way. Maybe its because I grew up in the desert, but anytime I hear water I'm amazed. Its such a beautiful sound, and I just want to jump in. This water was cold so I only put a foot in.

We came up to a beautiful meadow where we took beautiful and silly pictures! It was a glorious fall afternoon that just made me happy to be alive. I sure like Jamie's camera!

This is me trying to catch a lucky leaf. I got one!

I picked 3 of our pumpkins today. Here is a picture of the mini pumpkin and a carrot from our garden!