Happy Birthday Hillary!

This year Samantha and I were lucky enough to be in Utah on Hillary's birthday.  We all went to "The Lion House" for lunch and then made donuts (from an old pioneer recipe) for dinner/dessert.  Hillary also got her wish to spend some un-interrupted time at Desert Book, to look at whatever books interested her.  We love you Hillary and hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Walking in Idaho in July

I have so much to blog - to document to remember - about the trip that Samantha and I just made to Utah and Idaho.  But I want to start in the middle for this last day of July.  One morning, in Idaho, we took a drive down an extremely long country road that I remember from my childhood.  My Aunt and Uncle have a house and farm on this road.  I decided to pull over and walk a bit and soak it all in.  I love the wide open spaces and fields of growing vegetables and grain.

Norman Rockwell for Sam Chandler

Looking forward to visiting with my dad today.  It will be the first time I've been to his grave since he passed in 2012.  He will forever be remembered for his joy of reading.  I love how Norman Rockwell captured this sentiment. I can just imagine him as a child, in small town Idaho, sitting in his bed reading (although he had to share it with a few brothers, unlike the picture below).

biscuit week

For my Great British Bake-Off project I decided to copy their "biscuit" week.  When I first started watching this I wondered why biscuits were not included in the bread weeks.  Turns out cookies are called biscuits in Britain.  But, it's not just cookies - there can be savory biscuits as well.  I guess the category includes sweet biscuits (what we call cookies) or crackers or scones, etc.  My favorite "show stopper" was during season 5 where the bakers made what we might call gingerbread houses.  But they weren't just houses - they made carousels, dragons, windmills - all kinds of stuff from "sweet biscuit" dough that they cut out with their homemade patterns, and then assembled into 3 dimensional masterpieces.

Well, I don't have that kind of talent.  But I decided to pretend I was doing a "signature" challenge and a "technical" challenge.  My signature cookies were obviously chocolate chip cookies - something I can make in my sleep.  So that took about 10 minutes.  But I do admit that sometimes I am very frustrated with the outcome of my cookies.  Sometimes they come out exactly like I want them - a bit crispy on the outside but soft and chewy in the middle; slightly raised/not flat.  But sometimes they come out very flat, or cakey or just something else altogether and I don't know why; I don't know what the variable is that makes the difference - the temperature of the kitchen?  the brand of ingredients?  I don't know.  That is one reason I like watching this show - because they give scientific facts about how ingredients work together, what processes do what to the food, etc.  Especially breads - I'm learning all about what activates the gluten, what does this and that during the kneading process, etc.  But that is information for another week.  Back to cookies.  Like I said, I made them in about 10 minutes and they turned out pretty much how I like them.  But again, I was thinking about what the judges would have to say about them/what they would find wrong about them.  I can't imagine what stress those bakers go through!

excuse my shadow on the plate

For my "technical" challenge I decided to make a very common cookie that I have always liked but never made before.  I found the recipe in a Hershey's cookbook.

I think they came out good: I like the taste, but I would probably make the cookie part a little smaller next time so you could have more chocolate per cookie.  Or, maybe next time I would drizzle some melted chocolate over the cookie before I put the kiss on. OR I think I will DEFINITELY try it again using Reeses Peanut Butter cups instead of Kisses, huh?

Last of all, I want to include some interesting background information on British cookies.  When we were doing my Mom's "Queen of Our Hearts" birthday party I got a lot of European cookies from the store.  You know - chocolate covered shortbreads, this and that, and something called "digestives".  I wondered why on earth cookies would be called "digestives".  Even though they tasted good, it doesn't sound like a very appetizing name.  The Great British Bake Off people researched the name and said that some of the earliest cookies were with whole wheat flour and bi-carbonate of soda, and of course sugar.  They tasted good and were said to have helped control babies' colic and adults' "flatulants" issues. Well, maybe we need more "digestive" cookies around here!

2016

Recently I put on one of my old favorite movies to listen to while I worked in the kitchen, and it almost just felt wrong.  It was about a family whose biggest problem in life was that their father had gotten a promotion which meant they were going to be moving to a new city.

  I've been trying really hard to not jump to conclusions or dismiss people's experiences in regard to the stories that have been in the news lately.  So many serious and terrible and tragic things are happening.  Maybe it's always been like this, but with the instant accessibility of news these days, it's just all over the place.  And everyone has an opinion.  And our opinions are of course based on our own experiences and the information that other's choose to give us - including the news networks.  So it's hard to make sense of it all, and like I said, I've been trying to have an open mind, and trying to still dwell on the good in life.

Then I all of a sudden remembered a theme idea I had last year but never put into play: looking up and posting Normal Rockwell paintings and the history behind them.  Some of them are lighthearted, happy and all about the ideal Americana, just like the movie I alluded to above.  And there's nothing wrong with that.  Some of them are of the difficult things that were happening in the era that Normal Rockwell was painting.  And those are important too.

So I want to start with 2 pictures of law enforcement with my own thoughts at first:  I want to give a big "shout out" and "thank you" to an old friend of ours, Demetras.  We all have adjectives and titles that describe our lives.  Demetras is, among many other things, African American and a Police Officer.  A few days ago he did a live question and answer session for any of his Facebook friends that wanted to participate.  He gave his honest opinion and knowledge about questions he was asked. The things he talked about that I appreciated the most was the advice he gives his own children about what to do if they are pulled over by the police.  He has a unique perspective - one who tries to protect people and enforce the laws, and one who himself has been pulled over by the police as well.

And here I am, this middle aged white female who has nothing to fear;  I have of course been pulled over/scolded by the police a few times in my life, as I would assume every driver in America has, but I have always driven away with a warning.  Yet lately I have caught myself feeling a little more anxiety than usual as I have driven past a police car.  The following Normal Rockwell paintings, and the experiences that Demetras shared, has reminded me that in most cases the police are there to serve and protect.  And I feel thankful for that.

Brave and sweet little Ruby Bridges
The police escorting her to school as others try to keep her out

"The Runaway"
spending some time with the boy before
he escorts him back home

Walking in July

I might have to make a "part 2" for July, since I am hoping to take some interesting walks in Utah or Idaho this month.  But for now, just in case, I want to remember climbing this mountain/hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  I've had a few companions throughout the month who have made it even more fun.

On a particular windy day

One of the best places for finding star fish,
when the tide is right.  

On a particularly blue day

Cousins

done, done and done!

Summer school is over!  I am celebrating by taking Luke to a movie this afternoon.  He actually has only a few weeks of summer left.

Next week Samantha and I are off on a pilgrimage of sorts.  We are going to see our Utah kids and spend "Pioneer Day" with them.  And if that was not enough to rejuvenate me, I will also be 1.  going to dinner with some "long lost cousins" - people I haven't seen since the family reunion days of my childhood.  I'm not even positive that I have ever met all of them, but it will be nice experience.  2.  rent a car and drive to Idaho to tour Samantha's college, town, etc.  She won't be moving there for a few more months, but there is so much to do to get ready.  3.  stay with a cousin I haven't seen in a while but absolutely do remember - she and her son used to live in the Sacramento area and come over and hang out.  4.  take my time on the drive, stopping at several places along the way - most importantly my Dad's grave.

I'm pretty excited!

And here is a random picture and thought to end this post.  I hate my wrinkles - but having the name "Grandma" helps me to accept them a little better.  I can't wait to have some more bonding moments with my Dobbins grandchildren this month too.

Mary Berry would not have been impressed.

So I decided to start on that summer challenge today.  It turns out that the judges of The Great British Bake Off have also done some tutorial episodes, where they show exactly how to make certain recipes.  After watching one I decided to try out a new recipe.

In the regular episodes there are 3 baking challenges per week.  The first challenge is the "signature", meaning the bakers get to make a favorite recipe they brought from home; then there is the "technical" where they have to make the judge's recipe, and third is the "show-stopper", which is supposed to be something elaborate and impressive.  Each week has a specific theme, like cakes or breads, and at the end of each episode one contestant is eliminated.

So today was my "cake week".  My Signature bake was "Down Home Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake". Reggie gave me a cake cook book decades ago that has this recipe.  I love that it uses mayonnaise instead of eggs and oil.  It is a little bitter, which - when frosted - is my favorite cake.  I am planning on bringing it to my Sunday School class tomorrow.

For the "Technical" challenge I watched the tutorial of Mary Berry's "Medeira" cake and followed her instructions to the letter.  Actually that is a lie:  I admit, I am too cheap to spend the money on fancy ingredients.  When it called for super-fine "Caster" sugar I used regular granulated, and when it called for self-rising flour I used all purpose and added baking powder.  I think the judges would have sniffed these substitutions out instantly!  It didn't rise quite as high as Mary's:

 but it does look similar. 

 I like the flavor combination of lemon and almond, and I am now a big fan of homemade candied lemon peel. 

So, I can mark "Medeira" cakes off my bucket list.  I don't think the recipe is a keeper for me, but it was a fun thing to do.  Oh, and I think I'll just stick to the 2 challenges a week.  I don't think I have what it takes for a "Showstopper"; or maybe I'll try one/something super and elaborate at summer's end.

p.s.  I like this picture - it is the cast of season 6.  I admire the fact that the contestants do not try to get each other eliminated.  They just do their best and cheer each other on in the mean time.  Is that sickening sweet?  Well, I guess that fits!  (Tell me we don't need more pictures like this in the media today!)

a garden in the fog

Once a week at our summer school we get to visit the garden that is on sight.  If I understand it correctly, this garden is a co-op kind of thing, owned and maintained by residents of the town.  So it's really nice that they let the kids experience it.  And I have to say, it is the tidiest, prettiest and most successful garden I have every seen.  We got to pick snap peas, plums, strawberries, blueberries, carrots, potatoes - the list goes on and on.  I think I better take some pictures next week to illustrate my point!

In my next life, if I'm not going to be a farmer, maybe I will at least be a gardener.  Stranger things have happened.  In fact, I have realized that no matter how old we get, we are subject to change.  Now, I am in NO WAY going to pretend that I am this great example of making healthy food choices.  But, lately I have been getting so excited about the abundant fruits and vegetables I find at my favorite store: "Sprouts".  Today I was gushing over the huge strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and grapes.  It brought back memories of when I was a little girl and my grandma had raspberries growing all around the perimeter of her backyard.  When she said we could pick and eat some all of my cousins were so thrilled, and I wondered what the big deal was - fruit was just not my thing.  In fact, my mom said that even as a baby I preferred the jars of vegetable baby food over the jars of fruit baby food.  But now, I get it.

Combine that with the fact that I am trying to take walks everyday and wow - it's a whole new me!  Well, not a WHOLE new me because you know I am making cookies tonight!  Everything in moderation, right?

p.s. You know what else - and this one kind of bothers me:  I have been "crashing and burning" by 10pm a lot this summer, and automatically waking up by 6:30 am.  What's up with that?  I've always loved being a night owl.  But my internal clock just won't allow it as much as it used to.  Oh well, I'll go with the flow.

did I mention that it's cold?

Yes July - we might have to do indoor recess at summer school today because of the wet fog.  And 50 something degrees isn't that cold unless the wind is blowing.  No, we don't necessarily pack away our clothes around here according to season.  I think I'll be wearing a good thick coat today.  But, I guess if it were 110 degrees during the day, like it is in some parts of the country, then we would have to do indoor recess because of the heat.  So I'm not complaining.  But I am looking ahead fondly to our beautiful autumn weather, and some sunshine when Samantha and I hit the road to check out her college (ah!).

Life lessons - don't delete too quickly

As teenagers go, so far, Luke has been great.  I love him and enjoy him so much.  He is one of the best parts of my life.  He is, however, still a teenager, and sometimes I tell myself I need to have the energy/patience, etc. to get through this last one!

This morning I was going through a list of my blog posts, deleting every one that was still in "draft" form, assuming they weren't important enough to keep since I hadn't posted them.  But one that I had written last year and titled " Mariah & Ross - I'll see you on the other side" caught my interest and I decided to read it.  I'm not sure why I didn't post it, but I want to now:


If I could do things differently, I think that I would grab little Mariah's face, right before she started those pre-teen years and say "I'll see you on the other side" - meaning the other side of childhood.  
If I knew then what I know now, I would have been a lot happier, knowing that my sweet, loving Mariah hadn't disappeared - that she was still there, just a little hidden inside all those teenage emotions. 

Mariah is a miracle to me.  One of my favorite memories of her life is when she and I were partners; when Hillary and Julia were at school during the day, and before Samantha had entered this world, she and I had a few mommy/daughter hours.  I called her "my shopping partner" as we ran errands, and we took a nap together every day, waking up in time to watch an episode of I Love Lucy before we picked up Julia and Hillary.  After that, there may not have been a lot of moments where it was just the two of us, but I hope she did not feel forgotten or neglected. 

In the last couple of years Mariah has become such a source of strength to me.  She seems to know just the right things to say to make me feel good about myself.  I've enjoyed our time together and our talks as I've been able to visit her in Utah.  For example, on this last visit as we were driving to Salt Lake City she told me of some of her experiences at her work, with the teenage girls.  It reminded me of some things that I should keep in mind as I parent teenage Luke and as I work with teenage girls at church. 

And Ross.  How could the stars have aligned so perfectly that they would find each other?  Certainly being in such a large dating pool as Provo Utah makes things easier to find a marriage partner, right?  But on the other hand, in such a large "pool", maybe finding one that you are so compatible with, and so in love with, is more of a miracle than we think.  Mariah and Ross bring out the best in each other.  I can see their happiness at this wonderful stage of marriage, when it is just the 2 of them in their cute little married-student apartment that they have decorated so nicely.  I think this is such an important time of life they they will look back on fondly and tap into as they continue to grow and change.

and they're off!

We wish Luke a very fun week at scout camp!  They left this morning - props to Reggie for being one of the drivers (4:30am ouch!)  And thanks to the Porters for letting us come over and shoot off fireworks in their front yard a day early.  Jade and I reflected on how crazy our sons are, but what little time we have left with them - life really does go by so fast.

Just starting out as little ole' cub scouts

And big thanks to the leaders for all they do!