Our newest arrival...

a yard complete with sod.

Yes, Evan's fit paid off and the crew promptly completed the job today. The remains of the day: a gutter full of scraps and pallets.

Hmmm, I wonder how many weeks until that is cleaned up?

Unfinished project…

Day 4 since they started laying sod...

….the job has not been completed. It does not look promising.

Water & Reunions

It is not a reunion in our family without a water fight!

My mothers cousin, Heather, put together this reunion for the Reeder's. We met at a park in Brigham City and caught up as we ate lunch. The event was topped off with a traditional water balloon fight followed by cups and buckets.

Keeping promises…

During our recent trip to Lake Powell – I was once again asked for a recipe. This one is from my collection, handed down to me by my mother. (Sorry, no photo)

Banana Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 Cup shortening

1 Cup sugar

1 beaten egg

1-1/2 Cup flour

1/2 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1-3/4 Cup rolled oats

1 Cup mashed bananas

1/2 Cup chocolate chips (I double this)

Measure dry ingredients. Add bananas, oats & chips. Drop on ungreased baking sheet. 12-15 mins @ 400. (My oven only needs about 10 minutes)

Like banana bread, these are always best the next day.

So long & Welcome back…

So long

and welcome…

they did not deliver enough sod… so we will have to wait until tomorrow for the project to be completed. (Not holding my breath!)

Good riddance

We have been informed that tomorrow is sod day. We have been suffering in the  dirt and mud for nearly 4 weeks now and endured the dead, brown lawn for weeks before that. Guess we better gear up for an increased water bill.

Brayden

Summary

Rock Chip in windshield $15

Lost Visor $7

Sunken towel $13

Blown tire $100

Otherwise perfect trip $PRICELESS

We enjoyed our days on the lake and headed home early so that we could get our guests home in time to see their dads on fathers day. When we blew out a tire on the trailer, we were only delayed a little over an hour. As we continued home all was well. We had just passed Nephi and then…

Cursing

Fear

Panic

Relief

Concern

Déjà Vu

Trembles

More relief

Nausea

All in a matter of seconds.

Cursing – can’t believe what we just saw

Fear – the truck and trailer ahead of us just over-corrected and rolled.

Panic – Kylee and her friends are ahead of us. Where are they?

Relief – They are just ahead of this mess.

Concern – Is there anyone in the trailer and is everyone OK?

Déjà Vu – seems so familiar to the fatal accident we witnessed a few years back.

Trembles – those memories come flooding back and cause us to shake!!

More relief – only the trailer rolled, no other cars were involved, everyone is OK. (I heard a gas leak as we were helping assess the damage and we found leaking propane tanks on the trailer. Some men removed them, shut them down, and moved them away from the scene.)

Nausea – too many emotions and memories in such a short time.

We proceeded home with great caution – commenting on so many reckless drivers that are all around us and so grateful for the MANY unseen miracles that get us home safe everyday!

Day 2

Eli

Day One

Started of chilly and ended up wet, yet somewhere in between we all managed a bit of a sunburn.

We explored a canyon we have to seen before. Face Canyon is just before Last Chance and on the opposite side of the bay.

We had lunch in Last Chance and ice cream at Dangling Rope. Stopped off at Rainbow Bridge for a small hike and photo op.

On the way out of the canyon we were hit hard with a rain storm. The thunder echoes in the canyon were incredible and the rain was very cold. The wind blew it into the boat at every angle and we were unable to keep dry.

We did find a spot or two to swim and Chester made sure he joined in.

Road trip

We left this afternoon for a fun filled, and hopefully dry, trip to our favorite spot, Lake Powell. A wet, but safe arrival. Dinner later and a good nights rest before a full day on the lake.

  

 

…and then came more rain

It amazes me what can happen in a few minutes. Fortunately the streams are running away from the house!

My collection

I love to collect recipes. I collect more than I prepare. Once in a while, I will actually make something from my piles of printouts, magazines, books or foodie-blogs. One all time family favorite comes from “Taste of Home” Magazine. My family fell in love with these cookies instantly!! While my parents were serving their mission in Edmonton, Canada – I would often ship them the Milk Duds so they could whip up a batch to enjoy and share. I am now passing this on to you:

Chewy Surprise Cookies

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups butter-flavored shortening
• 1-1/2 cups peanut butter
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 package (10 ounces) Milk Duds

Directions

In a large bowl, cream the shortening, peanut butter, 1-1/2 cups sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Chill for at least 1 hour. 
Shape 4 teaspoons of dough around each Milk Dud so it is completely covered. Roll balls in remaining sugar. 
Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks. 

Yield: about 8 dozen.

Progress

What’s next? Rain, then MUD??

 

Rain

If you need a reminder of what rain is, just look outside. I have pulled out the soup recipes again. BBQ out, Crock Pot in.

Becca

Regret **UPDATED with photo

She did it... Kylee cut her hair!!

Photo (if she will allow it) to be uploaded soon. I love it... but her mothers opinion is not helping her get over the shock and remorse.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Neale

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Good... we are officially off of house arrest. The crew showed up at 7 pm this evening and as of this very moment, the lawn has been cut and is awaiting the rolling and removing. As far as we know, the sprinkling system survived, although this theory has not been experimented upon.

The Bad... ask Evan about how his day went.


I am just grateful that he did not wear any underwear with holes in the behind.

The Ugly... the photo says it all.

We will be there between...

You know the deal: utility connections, furniture delivery. It is a wide open window: We will be there sometime between Noon and 8 PM.

Today looked more promising. We were scheduled today for the dead lawn removal and soil prep; the first step in the replacement lawn. The good news ... they showed up on time. The sprinkling system was properly flagged and then

the sod cutter broke.

Off to the service department they went but not without the WIDE open window of maybe later today, possibly tomorrow. How is that for commitment. So here we sit under house arrest, missing family events (sorry Emily) waiting for that mysterious time to come.

This better be REALLY good sod.

Loner

Tuesday nights have become lonely nights. Something that can be enjoyable once in a while. Evan is at the Stake, Kylee is at Institute, and Taylor at Young Womens. Tonight I opted out of mindless TV watching and headed up Little Cottonwood Canyon. I am still trying to figure out my camera so I took some experimental photos along the way. I still need to learn a few more settings but this is what I was able to capture...