BREAD!!!!!!

I am always looking for new bread recipes and new ways to make. I saw a pan that would make my french bread crunchier. It is a stone bread crock. You put it in the oven cold and bake for about 45 min. I also found a recipe for bread with cranberries,raisins and nuts. I started to make it last night because it has to raise for 8 to 12 hours. You make it into a 15 inch loaf and put in the baking crock and let it rise for another 2 hours. It turned out beautiful and the crust very crunchy. Eric had a slice right out of the oven. He said it was great. I don't really eat bread, so I leave the taste to other people. I just love to make it and smell it.

LEMON TREE VERY PRETTY.....

A few years ago Meredith wanted a lemon tree for her birthday. Eric and I said,okay.A year or so later it produced 12 good sized lemons. Its all in her blog if you want to check it out.(cliffordinarabia.blogspot.com) Well... You know all those catalogs you get after Christmas for gardening??? Eric and I saw for $10.00,a lemon,tangerine,orange tree. What the heck, we ordered it. it was about 6 inches when we received it. It was three different trees together in a small bundle.So we planted it and set it outside when the weather got warm. It is now 2ft tall.We brought it in just before the frost. It loves the family room window,it gets alot of afternoon sun. We noticed a few weeks ago some blossoms forming on the lemon side. We are pretty excited. If Meredith can do it in New York City, surely we can do it here.She said it took about a year for the lemons to be ripe enough to use, no problem. I think this idea is going to be very cool.

REMEMBERING LAST WINTER

We had our first snow last week. It wasn't much,but enough to make us think about last winter and the fact poor Eric came home from work and had to shovel the driveway from 4:00 to 10:00 just about everyday. So we decided to do something about it this year. We call it insurance for the fact we will probably not ever have snow again.

LOOK WHAT WE GOT!!!!! YAHOO. A BRAND NEW SNOWBLOWER.

MEREDITH AT HOME!!!!1

Meredith was supposed to be in Seattle October 1st at 4 in the afternoon. Andrea and I got in plenty of time to help with luggage or what ever, okay were excited!!!!! We waited and waited and waited. I finally asked where her plane was and was told it would be late. It did not come in till 2:00am. We went back to Karens house for dinner. Everybody was a little disappointed. After dinner Andrea and I went to Alicia and James house. We were staying there. We thought maybe we could have a little nap before we went back to the airport. We just had to wait for about 45 minutes, although it felt like forever. Finally she came up the escalator. What a sight. She is even more beautiful than I remember. My heart was very full. We found out why the plane was so late. There was plane trouble.Shock. They were 6 hours late taking off.If it wasn't for one of the passengers seeing fuel leak and smoke coming from the engine Meredith and everyone else on that plane would probably not be here...
We got back to Alicia's house and went to bed.The next morning we went to the mall to find some clothes. Meredith did't find to much in the way of clothes but did find baking sheet pans. Since I was providing the dinner for Saturday night I needed to get back to Karens and start cooking. Friday night Andrea,Meredith and Eric and a bunch from Karens family went to a Mariners baseball game.I was supposed to go but I was tired and busy baking.
Satuday we went shopping again. Meredith found some clothes and a few other things she needed.
It was general conferance weekend so we watched it also.
We had a great family dinner Saturday night. Debi,Mallory and Mitchell came to Karen's house. Mike had to work.We were sad. Meredith wanted pork since it was a long time since she had pork. So I bought beautful pork loins at the commisary.I made rolls, fresh applesauce,mashed potates and gravey. Debi brought a great green salad. For dessert I made pumpkin pies and cast iron apple cakes. Everything turned out well. Everybody enjoyed the food and said it tasted delicious. I didn't eat because I never do when I cook for hours.
Sunday morning Eric took off to a friend he hadn't seen in many years.Mom,Andrea, Meredith and I headed over the pass and over to my friends Bob and Sandy Olsen. They live in Ellensburg. We stayed a couple of hours. We always have so much fun. I love going to there house. We raided her garden. She gave us fennel. We went through her cook books and found a great recipe for the fennel. At least everybody in my family said it was great. I had to work the night they had it.Oh well, I have decided to grow some of my own next year.
Monday morning I took Meredith to Best Buy and she and I went in together and bought her a new Apple computer. Then we took her old computer and bought a new battery so now I have a lap top of my very own.Which is what I'm typing on.Yahoo.
Meredith took off for Arizona on Wednesday to visit her sister Amy and her family. You will have to read Merediths blog to find out what she did there.
When she got back she worked on her computer. I worked nights. I left at 1:00pm and I got back at 10:15pm. My favorite part of this vacation of hers was when I got home from work, she and Eric and I would sit on our bed together and watch tv and talk. It was great. Of course some nights we didn't get to bed till 1 or 2 in the morning.Of course going to work the time she was here was a little tough. I was very tired.But I didn't care at all. I loved having her here. And I believe with all my heart that she will be going back to school somewhere here in the country after her contract is through in Dubai.I can't wait. Of course you are saying.Well where are all the pictures you took. OOPS. I forgot!!!! Sorry.Maybe next time.

TWO CARS IN THE GARAGE!!!!!!!

This weekend Eric and I worked very hard on reorganizing and cleaning garage. We took a load to the dump and a load to Goodwill. Then I reorganized it. We were then able to get 2 cars in the garage. Wow what a surprise for Andrea when she got home from Seattle. We have never had 2 cars in any garage that we owned. As soon as the basement is done we will be able to move the furniture back down stairs and then maybe park the truck in 3rd garage. Our vehicles won't know what to do with themselves.

BACK YARD AND GARDEN FINALLY DONE!!!!!

Eric and I finally finished our yard and garden for the year. The grass is beautiful and the garden is lovely. We have planted the second wave of seeds in the veggie garden. It is doing very well. We will have another batch of veggies in about 3 or 4 weeks. Next year we plan to build a shed and start to replace the upper deck and add bottom deck.We hope to build an outdoor kitchen also. So next year will be a busy one also. But at least the veggie garden is completed. All we will have to do next spring is plant. YAHOO!!!!

ANGEL AND THE CABBAGE

About amonth and a half ago we noticed our last cabbage was being eaten. We checked it for bugs, there were non. We thought maybe we have a bunny problem. But nothing else was eaten. Not the lettuce or spinach or beans or peas. It kind of crossed my mind that maybe our Angel was eating it. She loves fruit, especially dried fruit. But maybe she likes cabbage also. About a week ago we noticed Miss Angel was sitting next the cabbage chewing. So I thought I would take pictures of her sitting next to the cabbage.

DESSERT

We had an activity at our ward last night. Eric signed us up for a dessert. It turned out wonderful. I thought I would share what it looked like with you. It is Filbert,chocolate rasberry tort. It was very tasty.

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

There is a man in our Ward that has a garden I envy. It is everything I love. We as a Relief Society visit it every summer and have a dinner there. It was great. It gave me many ideas.

Wyatt's 3rd Birthday Party!!!

Benjamin brought his boys up for us to enjoy this summer. Wyatts birthday happen to fall on their visit.Lucky for us. Karen and Bruce came over to see all the Grandkids. They decided to bring Leah,Natalies oldest girl.It was time for the little cousins to meet. We had a Pinata and cupcakes and we brought Mcdonalds food home for the little ones.I think they all had a good time. I know I sure did.

Squirt Guns and fun!!!

We gave the little ones squirt guns to play with. Little did we know that Aunt Karen would be their target. She was drenched.Oh well the Kids had a blast.

STRAWBERRIES ARE SO GOOD TO EAT

We decided it was a perfect time to go Strawberry picking while the kids were here.
It was pretty warm outside but with all of us picking it did not take very long.The strawberries were very tasty. I made a rustic tart.

THE PROJECT

While Sam and Elizabeth were here Eric gave them a project to make. It was a dog house. Sam learned how to use power tools and Elizabeth took most of the pictures.She also learned how to hammer nails. I think it was a good time had by all.I know Eric enjoyed doing something with his Grandkids.

Silverwood Park

While Amy, Sam and Elizabeth were here we took them to a local amusement park named Siverwood. It had lots of huge rollercoasters which we found out that Elizabeth loves to go on. She was a maniac. We did some fun water rides and just had a great time being together.

Camping With Sandy and Bob Olsen

When Benjamin was up to visit this summer he brought his boys and his trailor and truck. He left the trailor and truck for us to use. We and our friends the Olsens decided to go camping in Wenachee for 5days. We are so glad we had Bens' trailor. It had air conditioning. It was over 100 degrees while there. The campground was very clean and beautiful. It had bike trails, walking paths,beach,volleyball courts,tenniscourts and beautiful campsites. We enjoyed being with Sandy and Bob. I was able to do some dutchoven cooking. Something I love to do. Good food,good company,you couldn't ask for more. Thanks Bob and Sandy for a great time. Can't wait till next year.

We went to Leavenworth to look around. We had a wonderful lunch and I found a beautiful picture for my bedroom wall at one of the shops. I have always loved going camping and shopping. Very fun.We had such a wonderful time being with friends we have known for a very long time.

Camping with Jodi and Scott

The end of July, first of August Eric,Andrea,Mom and I accepted an invitation to camp with our friends Jodi and Scott Riggins. They share property on Lake Roosevelt.It was 105 degrees there. We had a good time. The mosquitos and wasps were very hungery while visiting outside. When we got there,there were deer laying in their yard. They were very content,until we got there. The view from the property was very beautiful. We very much enjoyed our little vacation. Thanks Jodi and Scott.