An August Wedding Out of Doors...

LoVE BoXES SHoP...

Smile!

Personalize your own photo slideshow My sister Alicia makes these for our family and I LOVE them! This one that shows how fun my crazy nephews are is one of my very favorites. I adore every single one of these folksies. They make me happy everyday.

A Few Random Thoughts...

I feel like my life is a fast moving hurricane sometimes. Where did the summer go? My photos of c are crazy because she was still little girl at the first of the summer, but it's like she grew up in the sunshine. She was more nervous to start school this year than last and couldn't get to sleep last night. It's back to school, dance, fencing and the social life of a teen. If she doesn't get up in time for me to visit with her in the mornings, I'll barely see her for nine months... so she has to get up! Our morning chats are one of my favorite things in life.
l is home with me, thank heavens. She has enthusiasm to spare and is finally learning to speak more clearly. Her new phrase, "CUTE! I LOVE it!" She enjoyed Jackie's vocal recital more than anyone, but couldn't resist joining in on one of the big finishes. Is Opera in her future?
My neighbor gave us a tip for scriptures that finally seems to have us in a routine. Everyone reads 2 verses. That is doable no matter how busy or how late. We can read for longer if we have more time and we've had some good discussions with it and it's working with the wide diversity of ages we're working with. .. for the most part. Family Home Evening and Scripture Study are habits that I feel are totally essential for my family right now and I just want to have zero guilt there.
I was grateful for our lesson on chastity in church yesterday. Our R.S. president gave a great lesson part of which was relaying an experience her son had when he was invited to prom by a girl who came to the door in a low cut backless dress and made the poor kid absolutely miserable for an entire evening. It is true that there are men out there that can have licentious thoughts about a woman in a burka, and I just don't think you can dress for them. But most men I think are fine as long as a girl doesn't have bits and pieces hanging out. I know some amazing women that wonder why they are always dating losers, but they dress in a way that a good man isn't even going to see them because he'll be looking the other way... and the guy that does look only wants what is being advertised.
The same is true for boys who go around with their pants hanging down. It makes them look like they are advertising for a gay lover... sorry to be so blunt. I'm just being honest. I hope someday soon, more elegant clothing will make a real comeback in the general population. Anyway, it was a fascinating lesson and I wish that we could have gone in to the Sunday School hour because so many had great observations and comments and I wanted to hear them all.
However, Sunday school was fun. Two elder missionaries came and they both seemed like they'd been in the field all of two weeks. I think they were a little nervous. Both of them are farm boys from small towns.. one from a dairy farm and the other raises turkeys. We were entertained by the stories of the Otis/Odena the $1,200 prize winning turkey and enjoyed so much the elder's best piece of advice for parents, "Money isn't everything, buy your kids a blizzard." I don't think I've ever bought my kids a blizzard... but maybe a YogoTogo is in order for the first day of school.. We'll see.

Waking Ned Devine...

With a charge not to rent Nazi, Government Conspiracy, films about failing schools worse foreign policy.. .. There was only one place to go. Rest in Peace Ned Devine.... you make us smile in every line.

Light from Within...

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. 
~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I like this quote so much and was reminded of it when I took these photos of the beautiful stained-glass of the Kaysville Tabernacle...

Woman of the Year...

From what I've read and from interviews I've seen of Katherine Hepburn, this character may be the closest one she played to herself and it's a great performance. But, the script needed a bit of tweaking. The ideas in the film are still very relevant.. and this is a film that could use a great re-make. Still, it's worth seeing the original.. it's is long and could easily be cut by at least half an hour and the ending leaves something to be desired.. that said.. It's Hepburn and Tracy and their wit and banter and chemistry is unrivaled still.

Wait Until Dark...

This is one of Audrey's most amazing performances and this is also one of the scariest movies I've seen.. but it's really, really good. See it! 

Bow Tie Pasta Chicken Salad: To Feed Almost the Whole World...

Bow Tie Pasta Chicken Salad:

1 (12oz.) pkg. bow tie pasta
1 (12oz.) pkg. spiral pasta
2 (16 oz.) Kraft coleslaw dressing (Christine only uses one bottle and I like that very well)
1 C mayo
20 oz. pineapple tidbits, drained
2 small cans sliced water chestnuts
2 C celery, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 pkg. craisins
1 C red grapes, halved
2 small can mandarin oranged drained
1 large (12oz.) can salled cashews
6 chicken breats, cooked and chopped

Directions:
1. Mix coleslaw dressing & mayo
2. Make this the night before, Add everything except oranges & cashes... which you add just before serving.
3. After salad stands overnight, toss and add more dressing if needed.

LDS Museum of History and Art: The LeConte Stewart Exhibit... Part 1

If you grew up in Kaysville, then you have no choice, you must see this exhibit. Many of these paintings are pictures of my memories.. places that no longer exist today or no longer exist like they were. LeConte Stewart is our painter, biographer of the land, farms and barns that have passed away and been replaced . "Barnes are going" he said, "they tear them down or they fall down." We aren't an agrarian society anymore, but farms are our foundation, they are what we came from.

My ten year old home stands on the site of some one's old farm. It makes the land sacred to me. Someone carved an existence out of the wilderness and survived on this land. It gave them the very bread they ate. LeConte Stewart had the talent to paint anywhere. I am so grateful that he recorded this place that is so dear to my heart and did it with such care. His life was glorious and he new success in his own time, which is something for any artist. But, he was troubled by great tragedy in his life losing all his siblings and his mother within a few short years. I wish I knew how and why they all died, but I can't find it anywhere.

In any case, LeConte turned to nature and art for comfort.

Painting is more than expressing the appearance of things; it is expressing the spirit of things. When you know and love a tree, you can paint its spirit, the quality God gave it.  ~LeConte Stewart

He was a fan of this little bit of Whitman...



AFOOT and light-hearted, I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose.
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune—I myself am good fortune;
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Strong and content, I travel the open road.

I also loved this declaration of faith:

I would like to tell you what kind of Latter-day-Saint I am. I couldn't be anything else, and that's why this church- the things that it proposes have got me enraptured. The Lord started it, and all I can do is fall in line. I tell you, it's over powered me. When I go out now and paint a tree, I just feel His spirit. I tell you it's marvelous... ~LeConte Stewart

Go! See the exhibit and those pictures will sing you a song that you'll remember from when you were very young.

LDS Museum of History and Art: Part 2...

 The LDS Museum of History & Art is a summer tradition, but we should go even more often. It is really excellent. And, if you have questions, the missionaries there are really knowledgeable. In addition to the really great LeConte Stewart exhibit (REALLY excellent).. there is a quilt show and a very fun children's activity center. .. In fact, don't take your kids unless you've planned to stay because they can learn some Mexican dances wearing the big skirts.. collect eggs from chickens and play farm etc... They won't want to leave.

I'm sorry about the terrible photos. I have never been able to take a decent photo w/out natural light. But, anyway I wanted to show you a few of the beautiful quilts they have on display. This one above was my favorite. I love crazy quilts. It's fun to read about them too. They all have an amazing story.

I don't know how to make quilts, but I know enough to know that this one was hard..

They have a fun magnet board for children to design their own. L likes crazy quilts too.

Z'Tejas Achiote Marinated Chicken Salad: The Real Recipe...

RECIPE...
Marinade

• 2 oz. Achiote
• ½ c. Orange juice
• ½ c. White vinegar
• 1 t. Black pepper, ground
• 1 t. All spice, ground
• 2 oz. Garlic clove
• 1 T. Paprika
• 1 T. Kosher Salt
• ½ T. Oregano, ground
• 4-6 Chicken breast with skin

Preparation:
1. Add all 9 ingredients to a blender and blend well.
2. Place all chicken in a large dish. Using gloves, make sure chicken gets thoroughly coated.
3. Marinade 4-6 chicken breast

Cooking chicken breast: Salt and pepper chicken breast and place melted butter down on Teflon skillet top. Place marinated chicken skin side down and place a weight on top. Sear for approx 4 minutes till crispy then turn over. Cook till done then turn on skin side down for approx one minute before slicing.

• 1 oz. Lettuce shredded 1/8"
• 1 oz. Red Cabbage shredded
• ¼ Avocado sliced
• 1 Roma tomato-small
• ¼ c. Sweet corn
• 2 T. Cotija cheese
• ¼ c. Black beans
• 2 T. Pumpkin seeds
• 3 oz. Ranch Vinaigrette
• 5 oz. Achiote chicken breast sliced

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in large salad bowl. Pour ranch vinaigrette over salad and mix well so all ingredients are covered.
Dressing recipe:

• 2 c. Favorite ranch dressing
• ¼ c. Balsamic vinegar

Mix two ingredients until consistent throughout.

Or, you could go eat it at the restaurant like I did... It's really yummy.

Summer Love: Wedding Cake Toppers...

LoVe BoxES SHoP...