Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

So my first vegetable garden went from looking like this......

to THIS..... 

I have 5 tomato plants, 1 zucchini, 1 summer squash, 1 spaghetti squash, 2 cucumbers, 3 green peppers, 1 jalapeno, 5 red potato mounds, a small strawberry patch and 8 raspberry starts of which only 3 survived, and 2 rows of green beans.

here is a picture of the first harvest I made from it.... 

Since that first pickings I have continually been reaping the benefits of growing my own veggies.  It is true what they say, NOTHING tastes better than vegetable picked right from the garden. It has been fun watching everything grow and going out daily to see what veggies are ready to pick. There is something very satisfying in eating what you have grown yourself.

Besides the new adventures in gardening I have now for the first time in my life tried my hand at putting up veggies to eat later.  My first attempt was Dilly Beans.  My friend LeAnn had me try hers and they were so yummy.  I love dill and I had a ton (well maybe not a ton, but still a lot) of green beans so I thought why not try it?  LeAnn came over and coached me through my first try at canning.  It was fun having her there and it wasn't hard at all. 

Here is the finished product, 12 jars of dilly beans...... 

Every jar sealed, now the wait.  For the best tasting beans you need to let them age so the flavors soak in.  So around Thanksgiving I should be able to taste my work.  I can't wait.

My tomato plants have so many tomatoes on them that the plants have bent the tomato cages so badly that I can't get them to stand up.  I have already given tomatoes to my niece Heather and Dave from my carpool. I have broken off two branches trying to move the plants around to harvest the ripe tomatoes they are so heavy with fruit. I now have a bowl of green tomatoes because I didn't want to throw them out.  I will have to find a recipe that calls for green tomatoes so I can use them.

I'm sure my next try at preserving vegetables will be with tomatoes.  I'm thinking salsa and my own tomato sauce.....we'll see.

I Saw A Mighty Angel Fly!

On Tuesday July 12, 2011 the Angel Moroni was put on top of the east spire of the Brigham City Temple.  Because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity I left work early so I could watch.

When I got home it started raining, so instead of walking I drove and parked as close to the Tabernacle as I could. Here is a picture of the Temple as I was walking down 2nd South.

It was raining pretty steady by the time I came around the corner of the Tabernacle.  There I ran into my friend Trina and her boys.  They had been there for a while and they didn't bring an umbrellas because it wasn't even cloudy when they got there.  So I sat with them and shared mine.  Here is Trina, Isaac (in front) who I taught in Primary last year, her youngest son Garrett, and Steven was taking the picture.   

We had the best seats right on the Tabernacle front steps, here is our view of the Temple.

They say "The Heavens weep when the Saints meet".  I say they were tears of joy. A little rain never dampened our spirits. Everyone that could came to watch.  If they didn't have umbrellas they didn't seem to mind a little water and everyone was happy and enjoying each others company and the spirit that was there while we waited.  The Tabernacle had their speakers outside and had music playing.  Here's a picture of the sea of umbrellas in front of us.

I told Trina the the weather would clear up in time for the raising.  About 10 til noon the rain stopped and we could see the clouds starting to break up.

It was suppose to start at noon, so a few minutes after the basket with a few men went up.  It was so funny because the guys in the basket were taking pictures of the crowd as they went up.

They got to the top and had to hold on to the spire as the crane lifted them up the last few feet to the top so the basket wouldn't hit the spire.  They were up there for a little bit and then they came back down. 

We all of a sudden saw the big crane start to come done.  We waited for a while and then it started going back up.  It took the basket of men up again and then it brought them down.  We didn't know what was going on.  We all just waited.  At about 12:30 they announce that they couldn't raise the Angel at the time because of the wind that had picked up. We had a group prayer for the winds to stop and then we waited.

The skies kept clearing up and I kept watching the trees and waiting.  I guess to be honest at first I thought we would see a instant calming of the winds.  Then I kept thinking that is not how the Lord works.  I kept remembering things like, it's not our will but the Lords,  nothing can stop the work of the Lord, and that we just need to have faith.  So while others were getting discouraged and leaving, thinking it wouldn't happen today, I just sat there patiently watching the winds blow and waiting.

At about 1:34 I notice that the back crane (the one that was going to lift the Angel) started moving again, and then the driver of the front crane got back in.  For the third time the men went up in the basket, this time they started doing things to the top of the spire. Then the sun came out all the way and the winds died down.   Here is the second attempt.

Then we heard the signal, the air horn blasted twice, a cheer went through the crowd.  Next thing I saw was this sight.  If you stand at the front of the Temple there is a window above the doorway and right now it looks all they way through the building and out a matching window at the back.  There hanging in the window was the Angel...this is the best picture I could get of that.

As the Angel came up over the Temple, the Tabernacle started playing the song "High On The Mountain Top".  It was worth the wait. 

Then came the process of hooking all the cables from inside the spire to the Angel.  This took a little while and because the sun had come all the way out it went from about 70 to 90+ degrees in a half hour.  The umbrellas started going back up for shade. 

Here they are turning the Angel so he faces east

Lowering him onto the spire 

Unhooking the cables 

The Angel Moroni is in place, the air horn blasted three time to signal it was done.  Another cheer went up through the crowd. 

It was well worth the wait, an awesome afternoon.   

I played the tambourine.....

This last week has been pretty uneventful....

I had to work on the 4th and then I just came home and was lazy. Jamie and the boys were doing stuff with her friends and Leslie's gang was camping.  I didn't even stay up to watch the fireworks from my bedroom window.  I know....BORING!  But that's my life when I have no one to do anything with.

Tuesday I had to have a root canal.  It went smoothly, although they had to put this wedge in my mouth because I couldn't open it big enough  for him to see the tooth.  Not pleasant and my jaw is still a little sore.  I woke up Wednesday at 2am with the most horrific headache, and when I called the dentist he told me that sometimes instead of the tooth hurting from the procedure it will manifest somewhere else.  Lucky me.  It lasted until about 6 that evening.  I have to go back Monday for the first appointment for the crown.  Fun times.....

Conly was working overnights to set the back to school mods so I was by myself for lunch everyday.  I got to know some of the new people I work with better.  I had lunch with Amie our GM receiving clerk and she is great.  On Friday I went to Applebee's with her and Beth our UPC/Claims clerk.  So although it was quiet without Conly, I got to know some new people.

Last night Jeremy's band American Attic was playing at the Smithfield's Relay For Life.  I asked my friend Cathi is she wanted to go.  We headed over early and had dinner at Olive Garden.  Then headed out to Smithfield.  Forgetting that we were heading further north we forgot jackets and it got a little chilly by the time we headed home, also the grass was soaking wet and our toes were numb because of course we had on sandals.

I have still yet to hear the whole band play together. Last night two of the members couldn't make it, their drummer and other guitarist.. But one of the old members-Robert was back from his professor gig in Iowa for a visit so Jeremy had him play keyboard.  He is very good too.  Their other guitarist, Jesse, was there. They were very entertaining.  The first thing that happened was the announcer got the bands name wrong when he introduced them and called them "Attic Attack" instead of "American Attic"......

There is not a big crowd at these things because everyone is either walking or shopping the booths but when Jeremy started to play these little teeny bopper girls came over in their pajama pants and sweatshirts (see they knew it was going to be cold).  So Jesse handed them their tambourine. The little girl giggles and starts to play it.....I looked at Cathi and we started to laugh. The girl had NO sense of rhythm at all.  They finally got tired of the tambourine and handed it to us.

After Jeremy had played a couple numbers the teeny boppers shouted out if he knew any Eminem (sp?). We started laughing and then Jeremy being the good sport he is, did his best at rapping, hilarious!  Then they shouted "where's the Bieber?!"  Cathi and I lost it at this point and couldn't stop laughing.  Jeremy had the weirdest look on his face, we found out later that he thought they had shouted "Where's the BEAVER?!"
Oh My.......:)

Weekend with Jax and Trev......

So this last Friday I invited Jax and Trevon to spend the night  Jamie brought them to the store and they came home with me. 

After we got home and changed we headed over to the city pool.  I have a Lego fairy that Leslie and her kids brought back for me from their vacation last summer and it hangs on my rear view mirror along with the Shamu tail that Jamie and the boys brought me back and and an " I love Grandma" beaded thing that Cambria made for me.  Whenever Jax gets in the car he feels the need to give this fairy some kind of weapons, today was no exception.  Here she is with a sword and a giant bone, looking pretty scary ;).....

Jax actually let her keep the sword and it is still in her hand and she is protecting my car as I type this.

We spent a couple of hours at the pool, It wasn't too crowded considering it was a hot Friday evening.  Jax had his goggles on and was swimming under water seeing if his Lego submarine was water tight.  Trevon loved the slide.  I just sat and watched them and of course the people.

I just have to say that even at my biggest I knew better than to think I looked good in a swimsuit, or that I would torture anyone else by them having to see me in one.  That being said, I was about ready to throw something at the big middle aged man with the huge beer gut, half bald head with the scrawny pony tail and bad plaid shorts, that kept sitting down in front of me and exposing most of his hairy backside.....get the picture? Ugh!

After the pool we headed to Arby's for some dinner.  We ended the evening watching movies and having ice cream sandwiches.  Trev was the first to fall asleep, I was noddling off around 10,  I don't know how late Jax stayed up.  He can be a real night owl.

The next morning we just hung out watching cartoons and playing games on Jax's laptop.  Trev loves to sit and watch Jax play..... 

Here are my cute boys...... 

Saturday we went to the matinee and saw Cars 2. It was so good. I heard so many mixed reviews about it, but we loved it. Jax and I laughed all the way through it.  We had Wendy's for lunch afterwards and then I took them home.  It was a lot of fun.  They are growing up so fast that I need to make sure I spend as much time with them as I can, before going to grandma's house is not "cool".

Weekend at Leslie's.........

Last weekend Leslie and Paul were celebrating their anniversary by going to Park City, so after work on Friday I headed out to Tremonton to stay with Cambria, Braxton and Gunner.  

We started out the weekend by having dinner at Subway.  After that we played Dance on the Wii.  It was great fun, especially watching Gunner try to keep up with the dance.  At one point Cambria and I were doing a duet and Braxton all of a sudden shouted, "Grandma can dance?!"  Well of course I can dance, I haven't lost it yet.  Then we played Guitar hero.  

Cambria decided to put on a show for me.  She and Braxton and Gunner danced and sang songs with her ipod, very entertaining. Then we put on a movie and popped some popcorn on which I broke a tooth!  Lucky for me that it didn't hurt, but it took off the front of one of my molars.

I tried to get up early enough on Saturday to workout before the kids woke up but just as I started my video both Gunner and Braxton woke up.  Gunner then tried to do my workout with me :).

Then we just hung around the house.  Braxton was trying to teach Gunner how to ride his bicycle with out training wheels.  When I came out to watch, Gunner would only let him push him on the grass, he was too afraid of falling on the sidewalk, but he did ride it for a minute and Braxton was so proud of himself for teaching his little brother something.  

For dinner Saturday night we went to Taco Time.  I got my favorite, the chicken casita burrito.....boy do I miss our Taco Time.  Gunner polished off a large cheddar mexi-fry all by himself, and then wanted more.  Here are the kiddos waiting for our food....

When we got home we made strawberry shortcake and watched movies until we all fell asleep.

Sunday Cambria decided she wanted to make her parents a surprise for when they got home so I helped her make some brownies.  Then she made a cute picture and taught the boys a cheer to do when their parents walked in the house.  It turned out very cute.

Well I went to the dentist Wednesday and he was able to fix my broken tooth without having to put on a crown, but it was close enough to the nerve that he said I have a 50/50 chance of it turning into a root canal.  We'll just have to hope for the best.  The bad news...I do need a root canal on a tooth that had started bothering me on the other side, I'll get that done this Tuesday.

American Attic.......

It's no secret that I LOVE music, all kinds, if I like it I listen to it but my heart is in rock. I always have music playing, even at work.  A few years ago I became friends with Jeremy H.  He was our produce department manager in the Perry store and then he became an APC (Asset Protection Coordinator).  He is now also in he new Ogden store, and I now 'get' to go on shrink reviews with him.

He is a musician and MANY of our talks always end up about music, what we listen to, or are playing.  When he hears something he thinks I would like he is always telling me. Jeremy has a band, in the beginning they were called The Flocked Cows, now they are called American Attic.  Here is a picture of them on their latest CD....... Jeremy is in the rebel tshirt......

So I've never heard his band play, I have the Flocked Cow CD so I've heard what they sound like, but they have had some member changes since that CD and of course changed their name.  They have played a couple time promoting their new CD but I have missed seeing them. They have had their songs played on on the radio but it's not the same as hearing them live. Well last Friday night I found out that they were going to be playing at the Brigham Relay For Life.  I was so excited.  It was right here in Brigham, no reason I couldn't go down and see them play.

So when I got to the park I met up with my friend Sarah C. We found Jeremy and he was a little stressed.  All his band members weren't going to make it.  Doug was there (the guy at the end in the picture), but the rest were too far away and stuck in traffic, they also had the rest of their equipment.  But Jeremy is a professional and he played solo.

Here he is getting set up..... 

He sang several of our favorites and then had fun with some cover songs... 

He even played the song he wrote about his Grandmother who had lost her battle with cancer a few years ago. It was soo good and there wasn't a dry eye to be had among us when he was finished.... 

Doug even got on stage a couple of times and danced for us, the picture I took didn't turn out good though.  It was very entertaining.  

After he was finished I bought his new CD and he gave me a bumper sticker and a tshirt.  Then Sarah and I got to be roadies and help him and his wife Laura carry his guitars and stuff to his car. I am so glad that we have become friends, he is a good person and very talented.  Now I can't wait to hear the whole band!  I'll be able to say "I knew him when" when he becomes famous.....;)

Memorial Weekend.......

I had the best Memorial day weekend.  It started out with Trevon's birthday party at the Layton Family fun Center. 

My dad was there and he hadn't seen me in over a year.  I now refer to it as my "Biggest Loser" moment.  You know when the contestants have their makeover and then their families get to see them....Well I didn't have a make over but it was just as special.  The look on my dad's face when I walked in was priceless.  It was very emotional for the both of us. 

He has been a huge support during this lifestyle change.  He reads my WW blog and sends me emails and calls me.  Here we are...I'm not sure whose smile is bigger.....

 Trevon's birthday is actually this weekend but Jamie was gong out of town and so she decided to throw his party early.  Here is the birthday boy and his Star Wars cake....isn't he the cutest?!?!?!?

The kids love to have parties at the fun center.  They can ride their scooters, roller skate, and there are a ton of games for them to play.   But the kids are not the only ones that have fun.......

Here is Paul (in the grey) and Charles (in the black) busy playing some of the video games......

Here is my sister Angel going around the rink on a scooter....

and here is my daughter Jamie on roller skates....

After the party I went home with Angel because I was spending the night at her house.  We stopped at Charles and Debbie's to drop off dad and Charles.  We stayed until Mom and Debbie got home from my cousin David's wedding luncheon.  We visited for a while, then Angel and I left for her house.

Angel took me to dinner at Zupa's.  We had their Cream of Asparagus soup and their Chicken Summer Salad.  It was sooooo good. 

Sunday morning we met mom, dad Charles and Joe at IHOP for breakfast before mom and dad headed back home to St. George. 

Angel insisted on taking a picture from the other direction because she said

 I'm always taking the pictures and I'm never in them. 

Angel brought several of her photo albums for us to look through.  It was a lot of fun seeing all those old pictures of us.  Good idea Angel!

That afternoon Angel took me to see Les Miserables at the Capital Theatre.  It is the first time I have seen it and yes, I cried at the end.  It was so good.  Oh, by the way,the Capital Theatre has the BEST oatmeal cookies at their refreshment table.  Just sayin' if you ever go there.  After the show we went to Olive Garden for dinner.  I had their Venetian Apricot Chicken...very good...a must try if you get the chance.

It was the best weekend even if I had to cut it short to go back to work on Monday. There are more pictures here and here on my FB page if you want to see more of my weekend.