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!!!!