Weekend In Idaho

So I needed a little getaway and so I tagged along on the trip to Idaho. Josh and Stacy and all their kids, Morgan, Andrew and Leah and Les and myself enjoyed a great weekend in Ashton with the Baums. It was perfect and just what I needed. Everything went great. No little mishaps just lots of good company, food and entertainment. My pictures are sort of out of order but such is my life.

The little girls found a box that intriqued them for the whole weekend. They played in it and pushed each other around in it. Leah attempting to push Essie around.

On Valentines Day Shelley and Maren made sugar cookies. Maren enjoyed using the little rolling pin. She is quite the helper in the kitchen. She was so excited when we started ringing the doorbell and leaving little Valentine surprises on the doorstep. She seems to be at that perfect age for those kinds of things.

The fruits of their labor

Maren had a very cute hairstyle provided by Morgan on Sunday.

Notice the cute heart in her hair. It was an ordeal to get it done but very cute nonetheless.

On Saturday we spent the afternoon out in the snow. Esme enjoyed the little yellow sleigh as long as it was in motion. She enjoyed it so much she fell asleep and had to be taken in for a proper nap.

Kelsie and Les on one of the snow machines. Morgan insisted that I go out on the tube. I got on a tube with Stacy. Morgan drove us around in the fields behind the cellars. We fell off a few times. Morgan also fell off the machine a few times. Crazy Driver! No injuries that was the great thing. I do have a nice bruise on my knee. Don't recall which wipeout it would have occured on. Hannah learned to drive one of the snow machines. One of the best memories was taking her out and teaching her how to drive it. She was so nervous about me driving it fast but was fine when she was driving it. That is Hannah for you.

Maren and Leah having their chance in the sleigh. They felt a little cramped and did not last too long in there together.

Leah in her mother's rocking chair. She loves any chair or stool that is small and that she can attempt to sit on.

At the breakfast table.

I love this picture even though window is a little bright. They all have really cute little expressions.

Trying to capture a picture of them all sitting. Easier said than done.

Precious little faces.

Esme loves her big sister.

Zack enjoying his crepe even though it looks like he is eating a burrito.

Leah getting a little breakfast courtesy of her Nana. Leah would wake up with crazy hair every morning. She is too funny for words.

Travels Cancelled for a Spell

So I have had to come back home and take a break from my travels because I have been cursed with the old bronchitis. I have been on antibiotics for a sinus infection for the past 2 weeks and was finally feeling better when I started coughing uncontrollably causing barfing and 0ther unmentionables. So I am now on my next antibiotic and a temporary inhaler. When did I turn into my Mother? I have been at home because I have been unable to work. I also got sucked back into my Dog The Bounty Hunter addiction. Whitney would be so proud. Watching that show gets me in touch with my white trash side. So I promised myself no more "Dog" today and so I am back to my usual BBC movies. I will get back to my travels soon though. In response to Les' blog, so if I understood it correctly she wanted lists of things that we like to make, or are known for and then recipes of some.

5 main dish favs. 1. Shrimp Tacos. 2. Lasagne. 3. Grilled Chicken Marinated in Masterpiece Honey Teriyaki glaze. 4. Tator Tot Casserole. 5. Quiche Lorraine.

5 fav desserts. 1. Bakers Brownies recipe on the box. Learned it from Anne Adele. Put ice cream on it and some fudge sauce. Heaven!!. 2. Yummy/Scummy Bars 3. Zucchini Chocolate Cake. 4. Texas Sheet Cake. 5.Goobledy Goop.

Recipes Requested
Baklava
1pound walnuts
1 pound almonds
1 t. connamon
1 pound filo dough
1.5-2 cups of melted butter
Syrup
4 c. sugar
2 cups water
1 c. honey
1 cinnamon stick
1 slice fresh lemon

Grind nuts in food processor or blender. Mix in cinnamon. set aside. Place filo dough in a bowl and cover bowl with damp cloth. Don't let cloth touch dough. Butter a 13x9 pan. place 3 sheets of dough on bottom of pan. Spread liberally with melted butter. Sprinkle with some of the ground nuts and connamon mixture. Repeat layers using 2 sheets each time after that. End with 3 sheets on the top. Cut into diamond shapes. Place whole clove in center of each diamond. Bake at 300 degrees for 55-60 min.
For Syrup : in saucepan combine sugar, water, honey, cinnamon stick and lemon slice. Boil gently, stirring occasionally. for 10-15 min. Remove from heat, discard cinnamon stick and lemon and let cool.
Directly after removing baklava from the oven pour half of the syrup over the top evenly. Wait 1 hour and them pour the rest over the top.

Zucchini Bread
1c. oil
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
3 t. vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini
3 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
3 t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 c. chopped nuts Recommend pecans

Makes 2 large loaves or a 3 small loaves. I like to make small ones. They are cuter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour for large loaves or 3o min for smaller loaves.

happy eating

Marrakesh, Morocco

Yes, I did a little visiting to North Africa. Specifically Marrakesh. I decided on Marrakesh because I thought the music would be fun to have on the blog and I have always wanted to go to Morroco. I guess I should have gone last year when I was over in Cadiz, Spain. You know, it is just a short boat trip across the Mediterranean from Spain to Morocco. I was interested in Marrakesh when I saw the movie The Man Who Knew Too Much, which of course was my hint picture of Jimmy and Doris. I recommend the movie. I also recommend Marrakesh or at least Googling it. I don't know where I am heading next but stay tune to find out.

So I am back at it. I am tired of the cold weather and the pollution in Salt Lake so I have packed my bags and I am off seeing the world again. So are you up for all the excitement and competition of discovering where I am visiting? I hope so.

I flew into the city at night. It was quite a long flight but I was happy to finally get here. This is the night market where there is a lot of stalls that sell a variety of things. This city is famous for this market. This city's name was derived from the name of the country in which it is in. This city is known has having Seven Saints. I thought that was bit interesting considering its location.

I did not realize that there were mountains so close to the city. It was not something that I expected to see when I flew here.
This is the hotel that I am staying in. Don't you just love this courtyard. So typical for this area.

Here is the open air market in the daylight. It is always crowded with people trying to get a great deal. Talk about haggling over prices.

I came across this little house as I was out sightseeing. I love the brightness of the blue.

A beautiful view of one of the towers at sunset.

Another view of the tower in the shopping area.
I saw these piles of spices in the marketplace. Cool Eh?
No wonder I was always getting lost. I have to work on my Arabic


I loved this view of the mosque halls.

I gotta go. I am off to a bellydancing class

Daze of January

I have not been doing a darn thing that I feel is exciting enough to be blogging about but I suppose in the month of January today is as good as it is going to get. I have been off of work for a few days this week for the common Winter illnesses and a few not so common for me anyway. But I am doing better now after a few days of watching BBC movies and just hanging out on the couch. I wanted to spend some time with some of the chillins and so when Jonas called me this morning I told him that I would come and get him and we could come back and hang out at the house. A few minutes later Maren called me and asked if she could join the fun. Actually I had to read between the lines when she wasn't really uttering anything at all. She got really excited when she was invited for the day of fun as well. We started off with some typical Saturday chores, getting the oil changed and a trip to Walmart. Then Jonas explains that he wants a small Key Lime pie for lunch. That can only mean one thing to me, a trip to Cafe Rio. After we got home and had lunch we did puzzles, one of which I accidentally shoplifted from Walmart. I will have to deal with that later. After 2 puzzles we broke out the Old Maid cards. Just as expected Maren wanted only Ballet Betty and Alto Annie. She gave poor Bagpipe Barney to Jonas because he wasn't good enough for her. Then she was a little upset when Jonas ended up winning. Go figure when you give all the boy cards away. She was however, okay with Baker Benny because he has a pink cake that he is holding. This was all so predictable because I remember playing the same way when I was a little girl. Then after Old Maid it was onto a game of Slap Jack per Jonas' request. He loves it so much and can't figure out why I am so lousy at it. I guess I play like Grandpa did. It is more fun that way. Then it was time for a short cuddle on the couch. That was short lived and then onto the next game, Hide and Go Seek in my bedroom. It was actually pretty fun and they loved it of course. Josh and Stacy and the rest of the crew came over and then we went out to dinner. Then it was home for me. I turned on TCM just in time for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I can't find my copy so I was excited to see it again. I remember when I was a teenager I taped some of the songs off of the TV when it was on so I could learn the words. I still know them well. I remember listening to those songs on a Walkman while I was doing my chores. Those were the days my friend. It was a nice day. Nothing too major or exciting but relaxing and very enjoyable. I am also very excited. I just found some more movies on BBC America that I have not seen. Wow, it has been a great day.

Recapping 2008, My Favorite Photos

I had this idea a week or so ago that I wanted to do a year in review of pictures. These are some of my favorite pictures of 2008. I took very few of these myself so I am glad that you were all willing to share pictures on blogs, etc. These pictures bring back good memories of the past year of being together for vacations, holidays, the wedding, the blessing, or just any old day. You have seen them all before but they are just so good I wanted to share them again and the reasons why they caught my eye.This one, I did take and laughed hysterically when I looked at it up close. Definately top 10 material.

I just love seeing the kids together.

A cute picture of Les.

Just a good one of the kids at Thanksgiving Point.

Morgan trying to handle 2 kids and doing it well.
Arden looking innocent.

Essise loves the water as we found out this summer. Notice her toes.

I just like this one even though Banner looks a little troubled.

It is so rare that these boys get together that I thought a picture of the 2 of them was pretty special.

Shelley took this one. Salmon poppies are one of my favorite flowers and I just loved this photo when I saw it. Notice the water droplets.

Quite artsy I thought.

Just the boys loving being together. Jonas has some food on his face. Oh well, it is still very cute and very indicative of their close relationship.

I think the story behind this one was hilarious. She just looks so upset that you can't help but laugh.

Thrilled kids doing the dishes. I thought it was just fun because they were all together.

What a view!

His look of determination caught my eye.

A great action shot.

I love this face.

Having the best time ever. I love all the blues in this picture.

I think this is a great shot of Miranda and Brooks but the dramatic background is what really caught my eye.

That little face. SOOO cute.

2 more beautiful faces.

I loved this picture from the moment I saw it. Alan took it while Shelley was trying to comfort little Essie on the morning of her blessing.

Just a cool picture. Taken by Madi

This little face always makes me smile. Check out those lips.

I love the colors in this one. The white, gray and pink are very striking to me.

Pink, gray and white again. I love it.

I like Hannah's half smile in this picture. She looks so cute.

Shelley was on a roll that day at Thanksgiving Point. I loved the coloring in this one. Her little peaches and cream complection. I love the dimple.

That little smile says it all.

Cute little cheeks. Essie is always good for a smile.