Pease Pudding

This is a picture of a VERY happy man! Here is Brent with the first container of pease pudding he has had for probably about 15 years. For the ignorant among you (as I was before I met Brent), here is my friend Wikipedia's definition of pease pudding:

Pease pudding, sometimes known as pease pottage or pease porridge, is a baked vegetable product, which mainly consists of split yellow or Carlin peas, water, salt, and spices, often cooked with a bacon or ham joint.
It is similar in texture to hummus and is light yellow in colour, with a mild taste. Pease pudding was traditionally produced in England, especially in the industrial North Eastern areas - although it is now widely available throughout the country, often in butcher's shops (due to the bacon connection). It is often served with ham/bacon and stottie cakes.

I remember Brent's Grandad making this for him but this was the first time I have ever made it myself and the ultimate compliment was "that tastes just like the pease pudding my grandparents used to make".

Personally, I used a ham shank and green split peas with just salt and pepper to taste and it was oh, so simple!

Arizona Snow

Brent and I took Daniel, Heather and Danielle up north past Strawberry, AZ to find some snow. Well, we weren't the only ones out looking for it. The roads were extremely busy and it was very difficult to find anywhere to park. Anyway, we pulled of onto what is a picturesque side road in the summer months but with the snow the road had turned into a deep snow pit. We couldn't go very far down the road as there were a couple of cars stuck ahead of us. Brent and Daniel got out our shovels and went to help, but the other driver wasn't much up to listening to any advice (like let some air out of your tires!) and so after half an hour or so of digging, they decided to head back and join us.
The snow was a couple of feet deep and we had fun just walking in it and throwing the occasional snowball. I threw a great one which landed on Brent's ear, but he knows better than to return the favor! There were people on four wheelers and snowmobiles and in other places we saw tons of kids sledding. I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not as I hate the cold, but I LOVED it. The weather was bright and sunny and it wasn't really cold at all.
We have all decided we want to go back again soon and maybe next year, we could rent a cabin over the weekend. Of course, it would be better still if Olivia and her family could join us, and hopefully next winter they will!

My Mucky Kid

When I was a kid I remember a song by Cilla Black..."Oh you are a mucky kid. Mucky as a dustbin lid." Well this is MY mucky kid. Here is Max after he decided to bury his chicken flavored rawhide chew in the garden instead of eating it. Lovely black muck all over his nose!
As a follow up to this story, his sister Sophie dug the chew up the following day and ate it!

Danielle's First Car

On Christmas morning I discovered that my camera batteries were dead and by the time I'd charged them up, Christmas was practically over, so this was pretty much the only photo I got. This is Danielle with her very first car, a Disney Princess sit n ride in pink and lilac. It has built in music: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Old McDonald, Can Can and others, a trunk to store your valuables such as toys and a pacifier (dummy!) and can move pretty fast especially when on the tile floor.

Santa Baby

Yesterday Daniel and Heather took Danielle to some Christmas event here in Gilbert and Danielle had her first encounter with Santa. As you can see, it was not an entirely happy one!

How Come?

How come when it's a work day, I can barely wake up to the alarm at 5.20am? I drag myself out of bed and try really hard to wake up when I'm in the shower. How come on a day like today (my day off) I'm awake bright and early at 5.20am with no alarm, can't get back to sleep and don't even want to get back to sleep? It defies me, suffice it to say that this morning I did just that and feel bright eyed and bushy tailed with lots of energy to boot!
Thought: I wonder what time I'll need a nap this afternoon?

Books

I love to read novels. It wasn't always like that though. I think I read myself dry after school and didn't read for quite a while, especially while the kids were small but then I started reading again but just serious stuff; mainly doctrinal books. When I was ill in hospital in 2001, my RS Pres asked me if I would like some books to read. "No, no" I told her, "I don't read". Well she brought me Dean Hughes "Faith of My Fathers" books and I was hooked into reading again.

I love historical fiction the best, but I'll also read true historical books, particularly of the Tudor and Stuart periods. I usually go to the Half Price Book Store in Mesa and grab loads of them for 50c to $1 each, then either donate them to our library at work or D.I. when I'm finished. If they're REALLY good, I'll keep them!!!

As of the other day, I didn't have any books left so decided to re-read the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series that I read about 5 years ago now. I originally borrowed them from the library but since managed to pick up the first 2 books in the series for 75c each. I started on Outlander the other day and it's SOOOO good. I know that Santa has got me the other 3 books to complete the series that I needed, although he had to pay $4 each for them. Santa needs to learn some budgeting tips from me! Actually, I forgot that there is now a 6th book in the series, but until it comes down in price, I'll pass on it for a while, although a few more hints to Santa along with the fact that I have been NICE, might just work.

Weird Happenings

We have had a few of these Air Wick automatic air fresheners dotted around out house for ages now. We have one in our bathroom on a shelf and it's been there for the entire 5 months of us living in this particular house. Well, a few nights ago while we were lying in bed, it fell over on the shelf. Odd, but we didn't think any more of it until last night. It literally jumped off the shelf onto the floor. Brent saw it all. It was so weird. It smashed onto the tile and the batteries and fragrance canister scattered all over the floor. I fixed it today and put it back, so will have to wait and see whether we continue to be spooked.

Do You Ever Wish You'd Just Listened?

Yesterday at work I went down to the cafeteria and was pleasantly surprised that there was something I wanted to eat and therefore didn't have to rely on the good old favorite of chicken quesadilla. Now don't get me wrong, I like chicken quesadilla, but 3 times a week is a bit much just because there isn't anything else I like the look of. So, yesterday I got chicken breast, mashed potato with gravy and corn on the cob.
I took it into the break room, sat down and then Kathy said to me "Don't eat the chicken! Look at mine, it's pink! I'm taking it back!" Well hers was definitely pink so I dug around in mine but it didn't look too bad. Not pink at any rate. Well, I risked it.
At 2.05am exactly, I woke up to a train rumbling through my belly and Mount Vesuvius erupting all at the same time. I know. This is too much information. NOT what anyone wants to read. After a couple of hours, I went back to bed knowing I had about another hour to sleep before I had to get up for work. The alarm clock went off. I felt okay, but extremely tired, but figured the shower would probably wake me up. So I'm in the shower and gravity began working again. Do you know how cold it is at 5.30am sitting on the toilet butt naked and wet? (Please do NOT try to imagine the scene!!)
I am so grateful that Brent was up and about because I was so dehydrated and nearly fainted. My lips were dry and grey and I had to call in to work. All day I've been feeling very under the weather and tired but have noticed a gradual improvement this evening.
So when someone says that the chicken looks pink and you're not sure...just err on the side of caution will you?

Happy Birthday Honey

To those who know me well, they'll not be surprised about this post. Today is my honey, Donny Osmond's 51st birthday and to celebrate I've put together this collage from the thousand's of photos I have of him to recognise the day. If you click on the photos, you'll be treated to a larger sized yummy version. That face is just bliss to look at. Simply gorgeous.

Temple Lights

Last night Brent and I took Daniel, Heather and Danielle to the Mesa Temple to watch the evening concert and see the lights. This is a tradition that Brent and I do at least once or twice during the holiday season as we love to just mainly sit and enjoy the Christmas music. This year though, it was a little different as we had Danielle with us and it was just so much fun to see her react to the sparkly lights and the crowds.
The singers were the Kidman Family which consisted of 3 sisters and mom on the piano. They were excellent, just the type of thing I like to see. Lots of contemporary Christmas music sung with great voices. Danielle did lots of climbing on the wall, running her hands through the lighted palm trees and so enjoyed being able to walk around. Her favorite time was when she could do all of this without anyone holding her hand.
Anyway, here's some pictures.

This is so much prettier than in this photo, but it's the view across the pond. Really, this photo does not do it justice at all.


They had various nativity scenes on the east lawn of the Temple.

Here's the lighted camels on the north lawn.

These are the Kidman sisters who sang for us. They were really good.

Danielle with her Mommy and Daddy. Snug as a bug in a rug!

Did I tell you she could climb?

Finally, here's one of me and Brent with the Star of Bethlehem behind us.

Its a Dog's Life

While I was busy cleaning up and mopping floors (hard work!), here's what I saw through the patio doors. Seems like it's a dog's life for not only dogs!!!!

Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I had some help today putting up the Christmas Tree.

Here's the finished product all lit up. I love to sit during the evening with just the light of the tree.

Happy Birthday Heather

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A Thanksgiving Poem

A THANKSGIVING POEM (author unknown)

'Twas the night of Thanksgiving,
But I just couldn't sleep
I tried counting backwards,
I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned –
The dark meat and white
But I fought the temptation
With all of my might

Tossing and turning
With anticipation,
The thought of a snack
Became infatuation.

So I raced to the kitchen,
Flung open the door
And gazed at the fridge,
Full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey
And buttered potatoes
Pickles and carrots
Beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling
So plump and so round,
'Til all of a sudden,
I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling,
Floating into the sky
With a mouthful of pudding
And a handful of pie

But, I managed to yell
As I soared past the trees…
Happy eating to all –
Pass the cranberries, please!

My Pilgrim Name Is...

Prudence Mullins

What's Your Pilgrim Name?

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Family and Friends!

Surgery went well

Christopher's surgery went well. He was about 3 hours late going in, but the surgery didn't take quite as long as expected. The doctor told Olivia that his kidney had not developed properly, it was perforated and thin as a potato chip. He's still got his IV but has tolerated some juice and Olivia is hoping that he'll be able to go home either tomorrow or Thursday.

A Pleasant Evening

Last night was a very pleasant evening. Here's how it went:

4.30pm Dinner. Yum, I love roasted pork tenderloin.
5pm Online family history research for my friend David.
7pm Dancing With The Stars final. I said after the very first show that my 2 faves were Brooke and Lance, I think I was a fairly good judge. I think that's the order they'll go. Brook will claim the Mirrorball.
8.30pm Some more family history research.
9pm Boston Legal and Drumstick ice cream.

Can you see how easily pleased I am?

What's been happening

On Wednesday morning I was chatting with Brent and kinda tidying the bedroom at the same time. When I bent down to pick up his dirty laundry from the side of the bed, I heard PING!!!! Yep, my back gave out on me. I managed to get up but boy, oh boy, was I in pain. If I sat down I was fine, but the minute I tried to straighten up to walk I was in agony. I tried everything; Ibuprofen, topical pain gel, hot baths, hot showers but by bedtime, I was worse than ever. I called in to work as I knew I would never make it the following day but overnight a miracle happened and when I woke up I was definitely much better, thank goodness. Today, I'm fine but can still feel a little stiffness if I sit for too long.
The moral of the story is: NEVER PICK UP YOUR HUSBAND'S DIRTY LAUNDRY!!!

Danielle's tear duct surgery went just fine on Thursday. The doctor just about had to make a tear duct for her right eye, and her left was pretty blocked too, but other than a little blood oozing from her eyes that evening (perfectly normal), she had no ill effects from the anaesthetic or surgery and was running all over as usual that afternoon. Thank you all for your prayers. Now we just have Christopher's kidney removal to get through on Tuesday and hopefully then we'll be able to relax.

Prayers Appreciated

Tomorrow my granddaughter Danielle who's 14 months old, is going to hospital to have her tear ducts unblocked. She's had lots of runny eyes since she was born and often gets infections in the ducts which makes her look like she's been socked in the eye! Not good! It's supposed to be a relatively simple and quick procedure, but nevertheless, we hope everything will go well.
Next Tuesday, my grandson Christopher who's 6 months old will be having his right kidney removed. Now that's much more serious, so prayers will be greatly appreciated. He was born with it being in the wrong place and not functioning correctly so has had to be on antibiotics since birth. We all know that you can live quite happily with only one kidney, but its still scary to all of us.
Thank you for any prayers and good thoughts you send their way.

Happy Birthday Jordan

Only a week ago I was celebrating the birth of my oldest. Now it's the turn of my youngest, Jordan. How can he possibly be 20 when I'm only 29 myself?

He's a few months old here.

Age about 18 months.

About 2 with his Sonic the Hedgehog look. I remember he was very uncooperative that day, wouldn't smile for anything!

Age about 4.

Age about 7.

Age 11, taken at Twigmoor Woods. It must have been May because the rhododendrons are in bloom.

School photo, age 13.


Age 15, taken on vacation in Utah.

Graduating High School, age 18.

Taken just last month, age 20 complete with the mandatory Ipod!

Taken yesterday. Cool dude!

I Love You Jordan!

Green eggs, no ham

One of the docs at work has a young son with a passion for rearing chickens. They're not ordinary chickens, mind you, and they don't live in an ordinary chicken coop. They are various breeds of exotic chickens who live in the Taj Mahal of chicken coops which is about 30 feet long, with misters to keep them cool when its hot and automatic lights to extend their laying times. Anyway, he called me yesterday with a plea to let everyone know that he needs empty egg cartons and I asked him if he was selling them. Here's the result. Organic eggs at $1 per dozen and some wonderful green ones included. He did tell us what type of chickens they came from, but I couldn't remember the proper name except the mongrel variety of that chicken is known as the "Easter Egg Chicken."

Anyway, I also found the cartoon below that shows how decorated Easter eggs are REALLY made! How funny!

Conversation with Husband

Me: So, what are you watching?
Husband: The History Channel.
Me: I can see that. What in particular? The evolution of the Yo-Yo! (said in a sarcastic fashion).

Husband: No

Me: (seeing a cow on the screen) Oh, the evolution of the cow?

Husband: No, the Black Dust!!!

Me: What? (rolls eyeballs).

Help! Laurel, I KNOW you know how I feel!

Happy Birthday Greg

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