My Endless Family

Larry's nephew, Dustin is going on a mission. He will be serving in the Florida, Tallahassee Mission and reports to the MTC next Wednesday.

Last week he and his parents flew to Los Angeles so he could receive his endowment in the Los Angeles Temple. His mother, Robin's family are mostly in So. Cal. and she wanted them to be able to participate. His dad's and Larry's parents flew in from Utah also. The session was small for a Saturday morning, only about 50 people. We were about half of that.

Whenever the Perkins and Jex family get together I can't help but think about how extended my family is. Growing up in the Church is like growing up in a small town where everybody knows everybody and we're all related.

Robin's dad, Bob was my bishop when I was in my mid-twenties. Her mom, Nancy was my visiting teaching companion during the same time period. Her sister, Karen is married to Steve Adams. His dad, Lloyd was my bishop when I was a teen-ager and Steve was in the very first Primary class that I taught.

My week-end and more friends and family in the next post.

My Dentist

This is the antithesis of my dentist.

He looks much more like he used to tour with these guys.

Much more than that, he does not like to inflict pain. Maybe he is in the wrong field of practice? He gives so much Novocaine that I feel like I'm going to be numb for the rest of the week. He also give a whopping dose of Motrin before you leave so you won't be sore later. And he calls that evening to see if you are doing okay.

He does do good work so I think I'll keep him and try not to drool too much until I can feel my lips again.

Thanks, Doug.

When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?

Sleep is good. That's all I did yesterday between shifts.

Sometimes We Fail

Today I was going about making Tropical Punch Kool-Aid Jelly for my friend Kathleen when I accidentally poured the water intended for the canner into the hot jelly mix.

Well that will never set.

I put another cup of sugar in and boiled it a little longer.

Anybody want Topical Punch syrup?

Pajama Party

Wow. It was so cold last night I had to wear pajamas to bed--tops and bottoms--Brrr.

Fasting, Prayer and Proposition 8

How fitting that we should counter indulgence with abstinence.

In Our Lovely Deseret

Another hot day today and I was determined to do one more batch of jelly. Currently I'm waiting for the water bath to boil and once my latest batch of preserves is preserved, I will put this project aside for a while. I'm out of jars anyway and not ready to purchase more at retail price. Maybe I need to hit the thrift shops and look for jars. Lots of people don't know what do to with jars when they are done with them.

Well, if you were given the contents as a gift, you can return the jar to the giver in hopes that they will fill it again with something yummy and give it back to you. If you bought jars thinking you would get into food preservation and your garden wasn't the success you had hoped for and buy commercially produced product is more your style, I'll take the jars. (proof is in my garage--when aunt carol bonde moved to st. george she gave me all of her quart jars--most of them are still out there--i have to figure out Christmas gifts for everyone that can fit in a quart jar--clever packaging, yes?)

Then there are the jars that will take standard canning lid that you buy spaghetti sauce in. There's also a great jar that Mrs. Richardson's ice cream topping comes in. I think it's about 12 ounces, a great size for jam.

Anyway, I made honey-lemon jelly today. One more step to making my food
storage edible.

(brigham young envisioned the state of deseret reaching the ocean here in sunny so cal)

Back to Work!

I've been off work since last Wednesday. When I left, negotiations on our new contract (yes, we are a union hospital) were underway. Depending who you talked to we were either close to an agreement or getting ready for a strike vote.

We have a contract. I guess I have a job for a few more years.

(thanks florence)

Creativity

Today I created.

I made some conserve. (never knew what conserve was exactly - apparently it must be more than one fruit, contain citrus of some sort and nuts) It was a recipe I found that uses dried fruit of all sorts, an orange, toasted almonds and is spiced with cardamom. (fell in love with cardamom in portland recently - got some cardamom vanilla ice cream - wow) The taste I had was quite, well, tasty.

I also made some jelly from Tropical Punch
Kool-aid. I know that's cheating but it is fun and after all, jams and jellies are mostly sugar anyway.

I find it satisfying to hear the "pings" as each jar seals.

(guess i know what everybody is getting for Christmas)

OUCH!

When good underwires go bad.

(i guess i need to buy some new underthings)

Wooo-Hooo!!

I've got a follower!!

(doesn't take much to get me through the day)