Wednesday, June 23, 2010

I'm going back in time!

This year marks the 25th year since I graduated from good ole' Evanston High School in Evanston Wyoming! 2 years after graduating, and 2 years of University of Wyoming, my family packed up and headed for Arizona... looking for work. And now... it's home.

Anyway... I have NEVER been to a high school class reunion, because it is so far to go. However, we have been in Utah visiting in-laws during the reunion times, which is always 4th of July weekend... but I've never had the desire to go. I've kept in touch with my close friends from high school anyway.

With the advent of Facebook, I have also recently gotten in touch with many of my friends from Junior High School - from Vernal Utah. It has been great seeing where they have gone on their paths in life. When I graduated from EHS, the next day I drove to Vernal to see my friends graduate from Uintah High School . I'd wanted to go there SOOO badly. My friends Carol Jo and Paulene were older than me, so they'd gone, and told me about all the fun they had their. I'm certain I was fairly devastated when we moved after 9th grade to Evanston, and I didn't get to go to UHS.

I had lived in Vernal from 2nd grade thru 9th, so I knew alot of people and had many friends. It has been fun getting into contact with them on Facebook. I stopped to see Kim Wall and Cory Hacking in Utah last summer and really enjoyed that. So, I've become an honorary member of the UHS class of 85, and now??? I'm going to attend THAT class reunion instead of my own. I am really looking forward to it. One of my Jr High choir buddies Dana Day Romeny lives in Tucson, and we are going to drive up together the end of July!. One of the reunion activities is going down the Green River from Flaming Gorge - something I used to do with my family. I'm really looking forward to it!! I'm hoping that many of my friends from 9th grade choir will be there also...

YahoO!!! I'm excited!

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Lame... I know

I have been a terribly lame blogger lately.

Things have changed, I am no longer employed.. so one would think that I would have time to blog. I spend far too much time on Facebook. I don't know if anyone still checks on me over here.

I knew back in December or so that my job would be ending - due to work demands my position was to become full time, which I did not want to do. It originally was going to end in January... but it took a bit of time to find my replacement, and then I was kept on until the end of May, preparing things for a move of the department to a new location. It worked out nicely, I took the last two working days of May off, went to Colorado with my family for a family reunion, and school is out so I am here with the kids!

They are busy with Volleyball camps, and swimming, I'll have to write more later.
I really need to get busy planning for my Cub Scout den meeting tomorrow! Ack!

Monday, March 08, 2010

Yum, yum, Yum!


I am so not a food blogger, but LOOK!!!




Mark is usually the one who peruses Foodgawker.com looking for
yummy things to eat. He happened to leave it open the other day,
and I saw this Recipe for Gingersnaps with Lemon-Ginger Cream Filling.
My most favorite cookie is Carr's Ginger Lemon Cremes...
SO, what could be better than HOMEMADE! I made them this afternoon
and they are Delish! However, only getting 20 cookies out of all that work, hmmm..
gotta enjoy them. Maybe next time I'll make them a little smaller to get more!
These'll be in the fridge, due to the Cream Cheese... now I have to decide who I'm going to
share them with... Who's been good lately??

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Two down, one to go...

Mom's birthday, and today is mine, one more birthday girl for this month.

Mark and the girls put together Lemon Bread pullaparts last night, we baked them this morning. It was kind of funny, though frustrating... the house was filled with smoke, as the angel food cake pans used to bake the bread tend to leak sugary juices in the oven. Three pans made, one bundt and two angel food (removable insert) pans, one for my work, one for Mark's work, and one for home... and then I didn't get the oven cleaner turned on this afternoon. Will have to plan to do it when we'll be away, because it basically burns it all away.... yep, stinky...

I took it in to work, though my coworkers didn't seem too excited. It was really yummy to me however, so it doesn't really matter!! Thanks family!

Mark & the kids also got me a sport cover for my new HD Zune - so I can clip it my belt, or it has an armband as well. It will make it easier for me to take on walks or rides, so that I don't have to just put it in my pocket. Yeay! At least it is getting warmer, so I can ride more... just have to get the motivation going again.

I love all the Facebook birthday wishes! I really enjoy being in touch with so many people from all stages of my life! Probably my oldest friend (longest, not age oldest) is my 2nd grade teacher Kris! I've mentioned her here before. We moved to Vernal Utah from Magna, where I knew her. Then I've had wishes from friends in Vernal, then Evanston - high school friends, then Laramie college friends. Mission friends from England = got called a bonnie lass by Steve Cain from Jarrow . Lol ! Of course friends from Arizona, Oregon, and also several of my online friends from RTVW *waves* most of whom I've never met or spoken to! They are mostly the reason I have a blog!

I feel very blessed today - thankful for my life - it's not the best ever, but I'm trying to make the most of what I have.

I asked Mallory yesterday - "Do you know how much I love you?" She said... "more than anyone else..." which is so true. I'm glad she knew that. Sometimes, oftentimes, my kids are grumpy and don't get along, don't always speak politely... but I'm glad above all, that she knew that.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Remembering Mom

Sunday the 7th was my mother's birthday.... she would have been 67 years old. Of course, it is nearly 4 years since she passed away.



On Monday night, we got all the family in town together at Nathan's house to celebrate her birthday. I made a Pineapple Cheesecake that she used to make - I rarely make it because my family doesn't care for it, but I always liked it. I do know that it is a recipe that her mom used to make as well. I couldn't find the original recipe in my recipe books or box, but I found a similar one online that worked out pretty well.



Pineapple No Bake cheese cake


1 lg. lemon Jello
1 c. boiling water
8 ounce. cream cheese
1 lg. can crushed pineapple, liquid removed
1 can Pet lowfat milk, chilled (I added Whipped Topping instead)
Graham cracker crust
1/2 c. sugar
Directions
Mix Jello and boiling water till dissolved. Chill. Then beat.
Beat cream cheese and sugar till creamy. Add in beaten Jello to cream cheese. Beat Pet lowfat milk to thick, mix in cream cheese. Add in liquid removed pineapple. Put graham cracker crust in 9"x13" pan. Pour mix in chill.

It really needs probably overnight to set up well enough - I didn't give it quite long enough so it was a bit soupy.



I asked my children to write any memories that they had of her, to share that night.



Mallory's is as follows.. (with her spelling)



Grandma Nancy

What I loved about Grandma was she would always read to me Pickles to Pitsburgh. I also loved when she gave us orange creamcicles. I remember sitting on the swing when we got out of the pool. And I remember sometimes going to there house and getting babysat. I do love being with her because she was always kind and loving to everyone. I loved her very much. She was pretty fun to be with. I remember going into a room holding her hand while she was gone. (when she passed away) . Those are things I remeber.



Pretty good spelling for a nearly nine year old. Mallory is a great reader - she tries to hurry a little too fast sometimes.



Jessica wrote a poem - lets see if I can find it.

Well.. havent' managed to get it from her, but wanted to get this posted anyway....

Friday, January 22, 2010

Mashed Potato Cake

Okay , yes I have been a LAME blogger lately.. I really don't consider myself a writer.

On Facebook, friends have said I should blog my recipes, since I'm always cooking..
I'm by no means a professional, but figured I could share some of the things I make.

Mashed Potato Cake is a recipe from my mom... I'm not sure if she got it from her mother or not.. When I mention it, I get funny looks from people, but really.. it's just a starch, like flour, I suppose. It's a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes, even if you put salt and pepper in them.. makes no diff, but not if they are garlic... (obviously...)
It is a cake that needs no frosting, but is more like a snack cake.
Cocoa, raisins (optional, but we like them) and cinnamon, nutmeg & allspice make it almost a spice cake, I suppose.. so.. here goes

Mashed Potato Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and Flour a 9x9 pan
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed potatoes
1/2 soured milk or buttermilk
1/2 cup raisins
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
6 Tbsp cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
Mix together sugar, shortening, eggs & mashed potatoes.
Mix dry ingredients together and then add alternately with
milk and vanilla to sugar mixture. Then stir in raisins.
Bake in a greased and floured 9 inch square cake pan
at 350 Degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Do not frost it... we never have.. it is yummy best just out of the
oven with a glass of ice cold milk!
I hope someone is daring enough to try it.. let me
know if you like it!