Me (for Today Anyway)

I was sitting in yoga the other day...during the part where you are supposed to close out all of the thoughts that come into your mind. Naturally, the harder I tried the more they came. And I was just trying to figure myself out.

I know who I am, where I came from and why I'm here (if you don't check out www.lds.org). But I'm still trying to figure myself out. I guess it is good that I can't completely define myself. It means I'm evolving and complex in some ways.

But, I just really felt this anxious need to be more conscious of who I am in order to be more deliberate about what I choose to do or not do. So these are some of the conclusions I've come to.

1) I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I like to serve other people. I like to attend the temple regularly. I enjoy the comfort that I get when I make righteous choices.

2) I am a member of a family. I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother. This is where my greatest joy and my greatest heartache comes from. Being with my family for eternity is the most important desire of my life. I feel like I am just now beginning to understand family processes and relationships. I've definitely been a late bloomer in this area and I'm doing what I can to catch up.

3) I'm a teacher. But more than that, I'm a learner. I love being done with graduate school and knowing that now I am the one that gets to choose what I want to learn. I am learning Portuguese. I wanted to learn to decorate wedding cakes...no longer interested after Wilton 101. I am learning yoga. I have great family members and friends that teach me life lessons every day.

4) Some of my good qualities: I am a loyal friend. I am a hard worker. I am organized. I like to help.

5) A few of the weaknesses I'm working on: I am way too forceful. I don't like to examine my weaknesses and mistakes or admit that I am wrong. I am rash. I am impatient.

6) I like food...talking about it, eating it, making it, dreaming about it, watching it get prepared, etc. I especially like to travel and try local foods from restaurants and markets. I'm especially fond of cheese.

7) My favorite hobby is making gifts. I love giving away heartfelt homemade presents. I've done some quilted, some sewn, some crocheted, some cooked, some crafted. I love to learn to make simple projects and share them with others.

Goals: Serve a mission, travel around visiting my grandchildren, be active

great book

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0762109041/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&qid=1255757988&sr=8-4&condition=used

I just got a copy of Reader's Digest: Homemade: 702 Ways to Save Money and the Earth: How to Make Hundreds of Everyday Products (whew...long title).

So cool. Here are some of the categories: pantry staples, preserves, snacks, take-out, dry mixes, sauces (dressings, marinades, much more) beauty products, health remedies, cleaning products, home, gardens and pets.


I posted some recipes for homemade cleaning supplies on my group blog (Happy, Healthy, Frugal, Healthy) and you can see those on the link from this blog.

Here's one from the sauce category:
Butterscotch Sauce

1 1/2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 t. vanilla extract

Melt the butter over low heat. Add sugar and cream and stir until sugar dissolves. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir over vanilla. Serve warm or cold. Can be refrigerated for one week.

My Second LIfe

I dreamed last night that I had the opportunity to live a second earthly life, a chance to learn and grow in ways that I didn't the first time, a chance to correct some errors, a chance to make the seemingly mundane tasks I do more meaningful.

When I woke up I realized that because of the Atonement and the ability we have to progress, I have that opportunity. I think the dream was just a manifestation of some goals I've set for myself recently. Although I don't literally have the opportunity to return to the earth and begin a second life, I already have a new outlook on the life I'm living.

Here are a few of the things I wished I'd remembered more often the first time around:

1) Homemaking can be an art form instead of a task, if you do it in the right frame of mind.

2) The bonds between a mother and child are sacred.

3) Pride bring more heartache than almost anything and it makes you a prisoner. Swallowing your pride brings freedom, not all of the awful things you might imagine.

4) Heavenly Father is active in my life.

5) Simple expressions of love or gratitude matter.

6) "Stuff" is a burden.


p.s. Atticus Finch is my hero.

p.p.s. Here are 3 things worth almost anybody's time. Take a look:

http://www.flylady.net/pages/welcome_main.asp

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/apronevangelism.htm (read the article called Apron Evangelism)

http://princessacademies.com/

my favorite websites

http://foodgawker.com/ ---a feast for the eyes

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/ ---great recipes, also a homeschooling section

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/ --sewing ideas

http://slickdeals.net/ --daily deals

http://www.sscs.cc/-- south sutter charter school

www.chowhound.com -- lots of good advice

www.lds.org --- the best

http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/cookbook/2009/artisan-bread/boule.html --easy bread

http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml --community supported agriculture

http://www.etsy.com/ --love it!

Kalai's Travel Diary

Kalai’s Travel Diary
July 21st- I left my lifelong home in Orem, Utah and spent the night in a Rawlins, Wyoming hotel room. Along the way I saw bison and passed through Fort Bridger, Wyoming (a trading post along the Mormon pioneer trail). I was a good girl.

July 22nd- We left Wyoming and cruised through Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. My daddy just kept driving and driving and his only break was a power nap in a Missouri gas station parking lot. We went through Council Bluffs, Iowa and I learned that I’d been sorta following the Oregon Trail. My great, great, great… grandpa, William Wood, marched from Council Bluffs to San Diego with the Mormon Battalion. It made me glad I was in a car instead, but there was a small bit of drama during a brief stop when my parents tried to stick me back in my carseat before I was ready. Once they saw the error of their ways, things went well. I was a good girl.

July 23rd- Today was another big day. I crossed the Mississippi River. I saw the Gateway arch in St. Louis. It was a little blurry through the back of my eyelids. I also went to Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee before I got to see my grandparents in Elkmont, Alabama. I was such a good girl.

July 24th- My one month birthday and I’m already seasoned traveler!

You Don't Know Me...

If you look at these pictures and think, "Natalie must have sewn these projects," then you don't know me. But I did.

p.s. Don't look closely. Afterall, I did make them.

Nothing like the impending birth of a grandbabe to get a woman sewing. This is some the LDS fabric I used to make the bibs, burp cloths and blankets. I used a striped fabric on the back of the flannel blankets. I put some cozy chenille on the back of the bibs. The burp cloths are made from a diaper and really isn't crooked (I folded it poorly). I made the the bambino 6 burp cloths and bibs and 2 blankets in different fabrics.

Two more projects: a shopping bag and a skirt.

This is the fabric I used to make John some birthday pajamas. He refused to model them. I got this print because he likes to watch movies...I didn't buy it to punish him like he claims. Let's hope the bambino is more grateful then its grandpa.

Sacramento in Spring

For behold, this is my work and my glory

— to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

Photo swiped from Caryn (who swiped it from her Dad)

my prayer

Factor Five Leiden

Why Should You Be Tested If You Have a Family History of Factor Five Leiden?

When David Bloom, 39, went to Iraq in 2003 to cover the war for NBC News, his wife, Melanie, naturally feared for his safety. Would a bullet or a bomb claim him? A land mine? An ambush?


Instead it was a blood clot lodged in his lungs that ended his life. Ms. Bloom subsequently learned that her husband carried a genetic abnormality, factor V Leiden, that greatly increased his risk for developing blood clots.
Mr. Bloom had three other risk factors for clots: a long plane ride to Iraq, erratic eating habits that could have caused dehydration, and cramped sleeping space in Army vehicles. But had he not had this genetic quirk — or had he known about it and the higher risks it carried — he might have escaped his fate.

From the NY Times

___________________

Factor V Leiden is not a disease, it is the presence of a particular gene that is passed on genetically. Factor V Leiden is a variant of the protein Factor V (5) which is needed for blood clotting. People with Factor V Leiden have blood that has an increased tendency to clot.

A blood clot (thrombus) normally forms to stop the bleeding when an artery or vein is damaged, such as when you experience a cut. Clots form as a result of chemical reactions between specialized blood cells (platelets) and proteins in your blood (clotting factors). Anti-clotting factors control excessive formation of blood clots. One of the clotting proteins is factor V. People with factor V Leiden have a genetic mutation that results in factor V protein responding more slowly to the anti-clotting factors.

In the normal clotting process, anti-clotting proteins combine to help break up factor V to keep it from being reused and forming clots when clotting isn't needed. However, the factor V Leiden mutation keeps the anti-clotting proteins from breaking down factor V, which keeps it in the blood longer and increases the chance of clotting.

What are the symptoms of Factor V Leiden? There are no signs, until you have a blood clot (thrombosis).

What are the danger signals?'

The most common problem is a blood clot in the leg. This is indicated by the leg becoming swollen, painful and red. Or a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary thrombosis) may develop, making it hard to breathe. Depending on the size of the blood clot this can range from being barely noticeable to the patient experiencing severe respiratory difficulty.In rarer cases the clot might occur in an arm or another part of the body.


Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A complication of a deep vein clot can be damage to the valves in the veins in your affected leg, which normally serve to keep the blood flowing upward to your heart. This may result in a condition called chronic venous insufficiency, which causes chronic swelling and discoloration in your lower legs, because of the impaired blood flow.

Pulmonary embolism. DVT puts you at risk of a clot breaking off and traveling to your lungs or your brain. A pulmonary embolism can be fatal, so it's important to watch for signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism and to seek prompt medical attention.

Dangers-- oral contraceptives, pregnancy, estrogen replacement therapy, surgery

People with Factor V Leiden should:

Avoid standing or sitting in the same position for long periods of time.
When travelling it is important to exercise regularly - the blood must not 'stand still' Altitude can worsen the problem.

Being overweight or smoking will greatly increase the risk of blood clots.

Women carrying the Factor V Leiden gene should not take the contraceptive pill as this will significantly increase the chance of getting thrombosis.

Women carrying the Factor V Leiden gene should also consult their doctor before becoming pregnant as this can also increase the risk of thrombosis. The mutation has been linked with an increased risk of miscarriage and possibly other complications during pregnancy, including pregnancy-induced high blood pressure (preeclampsia), slow fetal growth and early separation of the placenta from the uterine wall (placental abruption). If you're a woman with factor V Leiden and you get pregnant, you're doctor should monitor you carefully throughout your pregnancy.

Other advice from my hematologist:

Never, ever let yourself get dehydrated.

Wear a medical alert bracelet in case of an accident and always let your treating physican know you have Factor V Leiden.

Walk for exercise.

Freebie Week!!!

It is freebie week on my group blog. So far, I've posted info for free lip gloss and a key chain. The link is to your left.

Thoughts on Family Home Evening

GOSPEL IDEALS IN FAMILY LIFE

1)HAVE AN HONEST HEART –3 Nephi 10:6
2)BE RESPONSIBLE MOMENT TO MOMENT –Leviticus 19:18
3)BE CONSTANT IN SERVICE – Mathew 7:12
4)BECOME ONE WITH HEAVENLY FATHER

25 Things About Me

25 Things About Me- From Facebook


Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

1) Tag 25 people? I don't know 25 people.
2) I moved around when I was growing up....Okinawa, Louisiana, New York, etc.
3) I was baptized in the ocean.
4) I love to collect cookbooks. I think it's genetic.
5) I gave birth to premature twins.
6) I love cheese.
7) I have a house in California and one in Arizona. I like them both.
8) I'm a teacher with a Master's Degree in Cross-Cultural Language Acquistion/Multicultural Ed.
9) I don't mind flying but I hate airports.
10) I homeschooled my daughters.
11) I like musicals. I'm going to see "Wicked" for my anniversary.
12) I just got a new mini-lap for work and I love it! It's dinky.
13) I wish I could sew. I have visions of myself sewing. But it just doesn't happen.
14) I'm trying to figure out how to make whole wheat bread without it turning out like a brick.
15) I have a raclette. And you don't.
16) My husband is a graphic artist.
17) I have insomnia. When I do sleep, my dreams are vivid.
18) I am always cold. ALWAYS.
19) I hate to try on clothes.
20) I like to surprise people.
21) I spend a lot of my day buying things....educational things. It's fun though.
22) I love to watch the Food Network. Challenge, Throwdown and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives are my favorite.
23) My favorite thing to do when I travel is try to find out where the locals eat.
24) When I go to Arizona, I like to hike, play, tennis and swim.
25) I have a lot to learn.

My Other Blog

I've got another blog. It's a group blog and focuses on living simply but well. I just posted a post there with specific information on buying homes in Queen Creek, AZ. You can check it out at: http://wisewordsfromfriends.blogspot.com/

Holiday Recipes

Kelly's Easy Manicotti

1 lb. Ricotta
1/2 c. Parmesan
1 T. Parsley (I used Italian seasoning)
garlic and nutmeg to taste
2 eggs beaten
8 oz. Shredded Mozzarella--save some for top

Spaghetti Sauce
Egg Roll Wrappers (available in the produce section)

Mix the top ingredients to the consistency of mashed potatoes. Spoon into the egg roll wrappers and roll up. Place some spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Then put in the manicotti rolls. Spoon spaghetti sauce on top and the rest of the mozzarella. Bake at 350 until hot and bubbly.

Cider Cheese Fondue--We doubled it and served it with BBQ ribs.

3/4 c. apple cider
2. cups shredded cheddar
1 c. shredded Swiss
1 T. cornstarch
1/8 t. pepper

french bread, pears and broccoli

Boil the cider and add the remaining fondue sauce ingredients (toss them together first). Dip in bread, pears and broccoli.



Raclette Christmas Eve 2008 version

Mango sausage
Sundried tomato sausage
5 kinds of Spanish Cheeses
5 kinds of other European Cheeses
chopped bell pepper and onion
sliced fresh pear, apple and pineapple
French bread
raspberry honey mustard dipping sauce
roasted red pepper and onion dipping sauce

Peanut Butter Cookies


1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
3/4 c. peanut butter
2 c. Bisquick
1 tsp. vanilla
Granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter until smooth. Add Bisquick and vanilla; mix well. Shape into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Flatten with fork or , bake 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool. Store in tight container. Can be topped with a Hershey kiss after baking (instead of flattening).

Mexican Wedding Cookies
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups butter or margarine, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 1/2 cups flour
1 cup finely chopped nuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
Additional powdered sugar


1. Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, mix 1 cup powdered sugar, the butter and vanilla. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Roll in additional powdered sugar while warm. Cool completely on wire rack, about 30 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar again.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft) Bake 9 to 11 minutes.

Secret Saguaro Sugar Cookies
(Use the CUT OUT Cookie recipe on the back of the package) Ha!



Hearty Chicken and Noodles Soup Try It!
Recipe Category: Soups
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Yields: 8

1 bag (12 oz.)Reames® Home Style Egg Noodles (Frozen Section of Walmart-YUMMY)
12 oz.boneless, skinless chicken breast cubed & precooked
1 can (32 oz.)chicken broth
2 largeonions, chopped
2 tbsp.parsley, snipped
1 tsp. dried thyme, crushed
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 bay leaf
1 bag (16 oz.)frozen mixed vegetables
2 cupsmilk
2 tbsp.all-purpose flour
Preparation: Place chicken cubes, chicken broth, onion, parsley, thyme, pepper, and bay leaf in large Dutch oven. Bring to boil. Add noodles and frozen mixed vegetables. Return to boil. Simmer covered for 20 to 25 minutes or until noodles are almost tender. Combine 1/2 cup milk and flour, mix until smooth. Add to noodle mixture. Add remaining milk. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.

Ringing in the New Year in AZ

Wish You Were Here.

Snow

It snowed today. In Woodland.

Veggie Pics

These pictures go with the post below.

Kale, Leek, Celery Root

my cooking disaster/blessing

I went out to Full Belly Farm yesterday and took a walk with Anna, one of the owners. The fields were green and the day was perfect, perfect, perfect! We walked around the field and she kindly picked me some veggies to take home. There were three kinds of kale (one of which is only grown on that farm), a leek and a celery root. I was so curious about these because I'm kind of a carbotarian and I've been wanting to branch out.

She told me that the kale is good sauteed with olive oil, garlic and tahini sauce. The leek is similar to an onion, but milder. The celery root needs to be peeled and cubed.

I decided to make a soup last night and asked John to pick up the missing ingredients at the store (chicken broth, potatoes, and cream). I planned to make Cream of Greens soup (the recipe is on the Full Belly website). I was going to substitute the onion for my leek though and add some celery root too. So, I fried up my bacon only to discover that the bacon had gone rancid. It had the most repugnant smell ever!

I thought the soup wouldn't be the same without the bacon so I went to Plan B. I found a Spanish Tortilla recipe on the same website that called for kale and onions (which I substituted for a leek). I added some fresh Parmesan cheese to the top and it turned out quite well. The leeks created a wonderful aroma and the kale wasn't bitter (like I feared). It was a succcess! John even asked to save the leftovers for lunch the next day!

I went to clean up and put the kale and leek trimmings in the disposal. I've always thought John was paranoid because he doesn't like me to use the disposal, but this time he was right. Since John wasn't home at this point, I decided to pretend like all was well until he discovered it....which didn't take long. Three hours later we (he) pulled the last of those super tough little leek strings out of the disposal. Not. Good.

So although some (John) might term the evening a complete disaster, I had a blast yesterday out at the farm and in the kitchen!

Thanks for the Memories

One of the things about Thanksgivings are that they all tend to blur into one gluttonous binge. I must admit, the leftovers are my favorite part. Why? Because I love cold food. There is nothing better than a plate of chilled Thanksgiving side dishes.

The girls have been helping with Thanksgiving dinner longer than they can remember, I'm sure. They've always been good in the kitchen and every year they know their role.....They are in charge of the green bean casserole and the cookie buttermilk pudding.

The Thanksgivings that stand out the most are the odd ones. The first was odd because John was recovering from knee surgery. He scheduled the surgery two days before Thanksgiving so he wouldn't have to miss much work. We had Thanksgiving at home (just the four of us) and the girls helped with a lot more than the green beans and pudding that year. We had ham instead of turkey and we had funeral potatoes instead of mashed. The girls made place settings that looked like turkeys. They were made out of a fudge stripe cookie, a candy corn and a caramel. They looked a lot like this:

Cute, huh? Anyway, that was John's favorite Thanksgiving. Perhaps it was the painkillers, but I like to think that it was better because he got to spend so much concentrated time with us and that was rare back in the day. We ate and sat around watching a Christmas special put on by a certain Tulsa, Oklahoma boy band. Whenever, we got too close to John he would take a little swipe at us with his crutches. He was so worried that he would re injure his knee...I guess he wanted us close but not too close.

We spent one Thanksgiving at Disneyland with the Stapps and the Willis'. The girls loved the walkie talkies that we used in our convoy. We had a grand time. It was also my birthday and I got a surprise cake from the Stapp family right during the Christmas parade. I rode on some of the youngsters rides with Julia and Rachel. If they're reading this, I apologize for the Snow White disaster. I had forgotten how scary that witch really is. I went on "It's a Small World" with Jessica. It was her first time. I have to say that I think a lot of us really loved being together that night by the teacups, eating birthday cake and watching people come down the Matterhorn.

The other Thanksgiving that stands out is last years. It was anything but traditional because of the weather. We were at the Arizona house and the weather was ideal. We spent a lot of the weekend in the pool. When we weren't in the pool, we were eating. We didn't eat at home on Thanksgiving. We ate out...we were still settling in to the the new home. However, we did a few meals at home that weekend, including a killer raclette. We also ate at a festive Mexican restaurant that was decorated to the nines for Christmas. That night (the night after Thanksgiving), we strolled around the temple grounds that were all lit up for the holiday. Magical (See the picture on top of this post. No,that's not Disneyland). We played tennis. We went to the Tucson botanical garden. Wanna know the best part? Having our family together and having our first holiday with our brand new boys. It's enough to make you downright grateful!

Pain Free Freebie

http://www.goody.com/Promotions/freebies.aspx --This one asks for your phone number, but it isn't required.