On Top Of The World

I am a huge Imagine Dragons fan.  No, not merely a fan, I'm more of a groupie.  I've also been called a "super fan" and "obsessed".  I've seen them in concert 15 times (I know this sounds super excessive, but I really REALLY like them) including a couple of acoustic performances and photo-ops.  The first time I saw them (March 2011) I paid $5 to see them open for another band that's now obsolete.  I fell in love with them immediately.  Their live performance is full of energy and emotion that can't be described.

Soooooo, why am I telling you all this?  Cause something awesome happened.

On my way down to St. George over UEA weekend, my husband informed me that ID was looking for extra's for their music next video.  They requested that anyone interested send in pictures of themselves in 60's garb.  I was headed right toward my best friend Lindsey Madsen, I knew she could work her magic with clothing and a camera and make me look good enough to make the cut.  This is what she did to me:

 I was just messing around on this one, but she made me send it in.

I think it's the leg reveal that got me the spot.

Or maybe it's the seductive face I was making at Andy.

A few days later, I got an email telling me where to be for the filming!  Wahoo!!!
I'm pretty sure they took everyone who bothered to send a photo, but who knows.  All I know is I MADE IT!
           
I showed up at 10:00 and sat in a room full of women at Studio C at BYU Broadcasting Center.  I felt like I was in a time warp, everyone looked so great in their 60's gear!  I chatted, made friends, and waited in this room with a 60's living room set.

How awesome is that couch?!  And the rug!

 At 12:00 they called me and a few others back and added some accessories to our outfits.  We were to be in the front of the pack, then the other ladies followed behind.  The director told us to run down the hallway past the camera as though we were storming into a concert.  Well, no problem for me....I've done this before!  So we all ran down the hall screaming with excitement (as though we were running into a concert) and when I ran past the camera, I saw them.

Dan Reynolds was watching us through the monitor with a huge smile on his face, eating a granola bar.  The other band members (Platzman, Wayne, and Ben) were huddled around Dan watching with as much excitement as we had!  It was so fun to see them.

We were back in the studio by 12:30 and told we could leave until 3, or just wait there.  I stayed there and hung out with some other die hards.  More people started filing in around 3:00.  It was a steady stream until at least 4:30, and we all waited.  And then we waited some more.

 ^Here are some of the friends I made.  Such fun ladies!

 After a few hours of waiting, the band came in and gave us some encouragement.  They looked so cute in their space suits!  They were very grateful for us being there, and humbled that so many would take the time to be in their video.  They answered a few questions and then headed back on set.

 Dan is such a friendly guy, he just chatted and hung with us for a bit.

 At this point, most of these people had been here for 5 hours.  I had been there (with a few other ladies) for 10 hours.  That's when Mac Reynolds (ID's manager and Dan's brother) brought in pizza for everyone.  They felt bad they were so far behind schedule and that we were waiting for so long.  Very cool of them.

About an hour later, we were called in to do our thing.  We ran into the big room cheering and dancing to the music.  This is what I saw from where I was standing...

 Wayne Sermon and Dan Reynolds

 Astronauts with guitars!

 They played the song over and over and we bounced the blow-up worlds around above our heads.

 My new friend Emily and I got our picture taken together with the band "on the moon" behind us.   She and I really hit it off and had such a fun night together!

The director

 I ran into my friend Larissa there.  Turns out her brother is the videographer for the film!  She is the sister in law of my college roommate from Dixie.  It's a small world.

 The band was behind the monitor calling the shots when they weren't on set.  It was so fun to watch them work their magic, give their input, and see their ideas come to life.
Daniel Platzman, Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Alex Sermon (Wayne's wife) Ben McKee

 Look how happy they are!

 I chatted with Daniel Platzman, the drummer, for a while.  He's (of course) phenomenal at drumming, singing, the viola and the guitar.  This poor guy was so exhausted he could hardly keep his eyes open.  It was 11:30 pm by this time and they had started the day at 8.  All he wanted to do was crash out for the night, but he told me all about his time at Berkley College of Music and how he was roommates with Wayne and Ben while they were there.

As extra's, we were banned from posting any photos from the day until the official video was released.  Well, that happened today.  Here it is for your enjoyment!

Here I am, at 3:14 in the video.  My half-second of fame! 

I can't wait until Dec. 30 when I see them in concert.  Again.  For the 16th time.  Wahoo!

Autumn Love

We took a trip up Big Cottonwood Canyon a couple weeks ago to enjoy the beautiful colors of Autumn, a season that never lasts as long as I'd like it to.

 ^^My cute kiddos and their darling cousin Ava 

 ^^The stream looked so beautiful with those leaves peeking down over it.

 ^^Crossing the river on a log

 ^^The path to heaven :)

 ^^My spider monkey swinging from the branches.

 ^^This is a total personality shot of all three of my littles.

Look how bright the leaves are!

In years past, I always viewed Fall as the cooler days that only meant that winter was just around the corner.  It was not a pleasant time of year for me.  I always longed for summer to stay just a little longer because I am not a huge fan of winter.  Especially since it lasts at least 5 months here in Utah.

Now, I love Autumn!

Why the change?!

Last summer we moved to an older neighborhood with big mature trees surrounding us everywhere, and the colors of Autumn are vibrant and breathtaking.  Just on our property we have 5 large trees whose leaves of yellow, orange, and red dance to the ground for weeks.  It's a beautiful thing.  I do miss summer when it's gone, and I sort of dread the winter, but I thoroughly enjoy Fall now.  I see the hand of God in the beauty of His creations.

What's your favorite season?

Monday

I vacuumed today.  I sure did.  And I cleaned two of the bathroom counters, AND I showered.  Sometimes this is a sign of a good day.  Sometimes it means that I did something I knew I should, even though I didn't want to.  But in actuality, these are things normal people do on a regular basis.  So, normal is relative.  I've known for some time now that I do not fall into this category people call normal.

I love that.  I don't like to be just like everyone else.  I like to show my individuality in the way I dress, though only in subtle ways.  I tend to enjoy activities most people in my phase of life are not interested in.  I get slightly obsessive over my hobbies and go and go until I totally burn out.

Random thoughts late on a Monday night.  There ya go...as though anybody even reads this.  Why do I enjoy having a public journal?  I have no idea.  I'm a little twisted.

Artisan Bread

I've had a few requests for my Artisan bread recipe.  Ok Ok.  Here y'all go:

3 Cups lukewarm water
1 1/2 Tablespoons salt
1 1/2 Tablespoons yeast
6 1/2 Cups flour
*Optional: 1-2 drops Rosemary oil, or any fresh herbs you desire

You'll also need corn meal when it's time to bake.

Mix the water, yeast and salt together, then add all the flour at once.  Mix until evenly moist, but do not knead.  Cover loosely (with a thin towel or lid, not airtight) and let the dough rise for 2-5 hours.  I usually can't wait more that 2.  Once it's about double in size it's good to go.

Split the dough into 2 sections.  Using your hands, round each section into a ball by pulling the top of the ball down around to the bottom until the top is smooth.  Place dough on a floured cookie sheet (upside down so it can slide off easily, you will bake the bread on a cooking stone or a separate cookie sheet) and flour the top of the dough ball liberally.

After you have floured the dough ball, slash the top with a serrated knife.  Let the dough rise for about 40 minutes.

While the dough rises, preheat the oven to 450.  Place the stone (or cookie sheet you'll bake the bread on) in the oven on the center rack so it can get good and hot.

When the dough is ready to bake, take the stone out of the preheated oven and place it on a hot pad.  Cover the top of the stone with corn meal and gently slide the dough balls onto the stone.  Careful, it's HOT!  Place a pan (I use my broiler pan) with 1 inch of water on the bottom rack in the oven.  Place the stone on the center rack.  The steam from the water will make the bread a little crispy on the outside, but it will remain very moist inside.

Bake for 30 minutes.

When you remove the bread you will hear it crackle a little as it cools.  I love to dip it in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, make bruschetta, or slice it up and make garlic toast.  It's delicious!

Conference Weekend

Conference weekend is always a favorite for me.  This time around I did something I don't think I've ever done before.  It's kind of a big deal.  Are you ready to hear it?!  Ok, I Stayed Awake!  The entire time.  It's been a goal of mine for years and this time I did it!  Granted, I only watched half of the Saturday afternoon session because I actually tackled the laundry pile that sat on my floor for 3 days.

I enjoyed so much about conference.  The time at home with my family was (mostly) enjoyable.  There are always the times when all 3 of them need something at the very moment I need to be left alone.  The kids and I made some Conference Bingo cards for them to use as they listened.  It helped them listen and I felt the Spirit very strongly.  Mostly due to the fact that I let my 5 year old play games on my phone most of the day.  I'll pay for that tomorrow, I'm sure.
 
I was especially moved by Elder Holland's talk (said everyone) for multiple reasons:

1. The first reason is that I just barely, I mean like 2 days ago, finished "Heaven Is Here", the book Stephanie Nielson wrote of her experiences with life threatening trials.  She is the author of the popular blog www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com.  I have been bawling on the couch for a week as I read this book.  It is so inspiring and motivating to do all I am capable of.  She has inspired a renewed hope in me.  What an amazing woman she is.  And her husband.  Oh my.  He's just an angel.  Elder Holland spoke of her family, her trials and her ability to rise above the darkest moments of her life.  
2. The second reason is that he clarified in a very matter of fact way that depression is, in fact, a thing.  It's very real.  It's not something people make up or something that one can just will away.  It's difficult to live with, understand, manage, and talk about.  And I suffer from it.  It was validating for me to have him normalize it a bit.  It's nothing to be scared or ashamed of, but it needs to be recognized and managed.  I am lucky enough to be surrounded by very loving, supportive and understanding people who help me when I need it most.  I hope to get to a point where I feel "myself" soon, whatever that means.  For now, I take the breaks I need, work hard when I can, and try to keep busy.
3. The third reason is simply that Elder Holland ROCKS!  He's a fantastic speaker and always delivers his messages very well.

I felt God's love for me this weekend.  I am grateful for the reminders of the things I can do to be happy.  God's love is what makes me happiest.

Here are a few pictures of some of the things we did during the breaks:

I made some rosemary artisan bread that we love to dip in oil and vinegar

This is pretty much what Man did the whole time...this or the phone.

I found Syd bathing Dallas without being asked!  What a sweetheart!  He's not a fan, but he smells much better now.

How was YOUR weekend?

Spring Lovin'

You may have realized by now that I LOVE spring!  Flowers, new life, the green coming back, the warm weather.  Everything about it rejuvinates and motivates me to get moving.  I took a stroll (again) around my yard this week, and here are the treasures I am devouring while they last.

Peonies about to bloom!  These were in bloom when we looked at this house last year (on May 10 to be exact) and I fell in love.  I've never had peonies, but I am a proud owner now!

My freshly planted tomatoes have survived the cold weather thus far with the help of recycled milk jugs to protect them at night.  I am excited to watch them grow!

Here is part of my stash of tools, I have so many tools I can hardly keep track of them all, but I use these a lot.

The beginnings of my beautiful Peace roses! 

Cherry blossoms mean only one thing...CHERRIES!!!!  I hope to get a lot of them this year.  We have lost a good portion of the tree due to disease and broken branches in the winter storms, but we hope the healthy parts prevail.  The cherries last year were divine.  

There has been quite a bit of pruning this year...  

The pear tree (upper left) has had grape vines taking it over for a few years, and it needed to be thinned out badly.  I cut out a bunch of branches, but it was definitely hard to stick the just the recommended 30% per year.  I wanted to make it perfect...but these things take time or I could kill the trees.  

Apple branches littered the ground (upper right) as I thinned that tree immensely also.  Now I am left with a massive pile of grape/pear/apple/cherry/spruce/walnut clippings (below) until June when the city dumpster gets dropped off.  I might just fill one up all by myself.

I finally spruced up the Spruce.  He he...get it?  But yeah, I spread out 4 yards of compost throughout the flower beds, and cleaned up most of the pine needles and organized the pinecones a little.  

(I figured that since I will have an endless supply of pinecones (sprucecones) I may as well use them somehow.)

 Now, the tulips!  Ahhhh, how I love tulips.  They are so happy and refreshing and beautiful!  It's a shame they don't last longer.  I am indebted to the previous occupant of my house who planted these beauties.  They sure brighten up my front yard!

Just to put it into perspective...this is a before and after of the garden.  The photo on the left was taken last September, before I worked on it too much.  The photo on the right is how it looks now.  2000 glorious square feet of loamy garden-ready soil!  

If you can find the pear tree and the swing set in both pictures, that will help you visualize spacing.  The neighbors have added those tall trees on their side of the fence so it looks even better!

 Here's to a lovely gardening season!

My Favorite Time-Out

I LOVE READING!

Reading has not always been something I love to do, but in my adulthood I have learned to really enjoy it.  It's legitimate free time for me.  I don't feel guilty taking time out for myself to read, not in the least. It's especially enjoyable if I'm soaking in a giant bubble bath while I am reading.

No bubbles this time, but a giant bath nonetheless

I was talking with my sister in law a few weeks ago about our kids and reading.  We both have a child that does not love it, and has difficulty with reading comprehension.

What is the remedy for this? More reading, of course!  

Those kids just love that!  My sister-in-law and I both decided that if someone told us to grab a book, any book we wanted, and that we were required to read for an hour a day, there would be NO complaining.  It would be a welcome assignment!  One of my favorite assignments of the day, actually!

I've been in a habit of finishing every book I start, regardless of whether I like it or not. *which is actually a very strange thing since I don't feel that obligation toward the more important things*  I recently realized that this is not a good habit.  It wastes a lot of time actually.  Somehow I felt I owed it to ?someone?, the author maybe? to finish the book.  Why is this?  Strange.

So, I have set a new rule for myself:

If I check a book out of the library and don't finish reading it before it's due, I have one chance to renew it.  If I have to renew it more than once, then I obviously didn't love the book enough to finish, and it's not worth my time!

I'm not sure what started this impulse to finish every book I pick up, but I realized that there is no need to spend my limited reading time on a book I don't love.

I am in the middle of reading "Between Shades of Gray" right now.

No, not the other "shades of gray" book, this one is about a family taken into slavery and their struggles and strengths.  I love to read books about people overcoming trials and learning how they dealt with hard things.  They help me appreciate my many blessings, and they inspire me to be better than I was yesterday.

You can link up with me on Goodreads and see all that I have read and want to read.  Please recommend books you love to me, I'd love to hear what y'all are reading!

Anyone interested in starting a Book Club?

Apples, Apple Juice, Applesauce...

My windows are all foggy.  I've been busy in the kitchen tonight making apple juice and applesauce in my steam canner.  I have never made either, but it both turned out delicious!

About 2 weeks ago I ordered a 40 pound box of fuji apples from Bountiful Baskets for $23.00.  It was such a good deal, and last time we did this we ate them all up in no time.  I guess now the kids are a bit sick of raw apples and I still had half of the box left.  It was time to do something with them before they got mushy.

So I got to work washing:

 Apples cored, sliced and put into the steam juicer.

This particular steam juicer is the Nutri-Steamer.  It has a water pan on the bottom, then the juice pan with the dispensing tube, then the colander holding the apples, then the lid on top.

This is all the apple juice I got from all those apples, sadly.  Only two quarts.  I sealed the bottles using my steam canner, boiling for 20 minutes and then removing the jars from the canner (with a jar lifter) and letting them cool on a towel on the counter.

Then I mashed up what was remaining of the apples with a potato masher,

and put the mess into my food processor to puree the mashed apples.

I added a little cinnamon and filled 3 jars with this deliciousness!

Put them in the steam canner to process for 20 minutes. 

Here is my loot.  Three quarts of applesauce and two quarts of apple juice. I drank a glass of the apple juice just now and it's like nectar.  It's so sweet and tasty!  The applesauce is also very delicious.

I have quite a few apples left, and I think tomorrow I will be dehydrating them and adding some to my homemade granola!  Click on the link for the recipe, it is divine!

Gratituesday-A Friend Saved

This is a post about my gratitude to God

Today was a scary day for me.  My friend Rachel ran in the Boston Marathon and she finished in 3:41:21 - AMAZING!!!!!  This is the finish line the day before the race.  She's a little excited! :)

I'm sure you've heard about what happened today in Boston.  The bombings were horrific.

I signed up to receive text updates on Rachel's progress.  Every 10 km I would get updated on her time and pace.  After the third text, I was anxiously waiting for the final one to come through telling me her finishing time.  I kept thinking about it and wondering if she was ok.  Then, I got the update and was so impressed with her time!  She is in terrific shape and runs speedy fast.

Then, it wasn't until hours after it happened that I heard about the bombings.  I had no idea.  My concerns for Rachel's safety were there before I even knew she was in actual danger.  She crossed the finish line 30 minutes before the first bomb blew.  Not only am I amazed at how fast she runs, but I'm also thankful for it today.  Here she is after the race.

Rachel came to visit me just 3 days ago.  She surprised me by showing up at my house after not seeing her for over 4 months!  She is a very inspiring person in my life.  I'm thankful for her safety, that God protected her, that our visit last week was not the last time I will see her.  I am heartbroken at the loss of those that were killed and those that were injured today.

My friend was saved.  Mother of 4 beautiful children, a wife, sister, daughter, and friend.  I'm grateful to God for all that He has blessed my own life with.  The blessings are countless and continual.  I owe Him so much, yet I know it can never be re-payed.  The best way for me to show my gratitude to God is by the way I live my life.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Blah Ewww Ugh, Ya know what I mean?

Do you ever have those days where you just feel...blah...?  Ugh, today is one of those for me.  I have done a lot of productive things, such as:

• pay my taxes  (Booooooooo)
• pick up my book on hold at the library
• exercise
• go to lunch with a friend
• babysit my cousin's darling son
• send off a birthday package
• wash 4 loads of laundry

But somehow I still feel like a slug, a useless blob of wasted flesh.  Probably because I focus on all the things I have yet to do today, like:

• fold those 4 loads of laundry
• make my bed
• clean the floors
• shower
• start cooking dinner
• and an endless list of must-do's

I'm trying to Enjoy what I can.  I just hate the gloomy days that keep me indoors instead of in the dirt where I long to be.  Growing things.  Looking at my flowers.  Pulling the weeds from around my raspberries.  Mowing the lawn.  Pretty much anything in the sunshine and nature.

I just want summer.  I guess I'll go eat some of my Summer In A Bottle! And maybe I'll vacuum for a bit.  I always feel better after dumping a canister of filth into the garbage can.