Doggy Days of Summer

Things have calmed right down here at the Lawrence Hacienda.  This week was filled with the lazy days of summer, and we have enjoyed it.  On Monday, we went to the movies:  Guardians of the Galaxy. 

We thot it cheezy, funny and utterly delightful (with the exception of a bit of coarse language, but not bad language).  On the way home, there was some crazy lightening over the Great Salt Lake.  We have had rain two days this week. 

Late Wednesday night, Carly called to say Graedy had broken his arm.  It happened on the monkey bars while the older boys were attending football practice.  So on Thursday, the Young Women had a temple baptism excursion I needed to attend; then Dad and I met in SLC and trooped on up to cheer Grae up a bit.  We were glad to see the whole group!  It seems the arm is still needing to be cast, and Grae has a bit of pain.  It helps when the grandparents bring Avenger popcycles and books to read.
Carly and I stepped away for a minute (Dad stayed with the boys) to buy peaches and vegetables at a local fruit stand.  Gotta love it!  We split a box of beets. 

The beets have been fun, in that there were enough to preserve for later in the year.  I just blanched them whole with stems still on--for three minutes.  Then immediately placed in cold water.  When cool, they peel so much more easily than trying to peel raw beets (ugh!).  Cut to bite-size and froze in freezer bags.  Hope they turn out good.  As a side note, we need to start shopping for a new deep Freeze.  Ours is finally biting the dust. :(

Since the fall days are coming up soon, I have been reviewing the fall/winter fashion 2014.  Am Pinning like crazy and planning some fun projects.  Sewing projects this week consisted of creating a pattern for an upcycled mermaid jean skirt. 

Still in process.  Will include photos next week.  I am also starting to work on Wren's birthday gifts for her upcoming birthday the end of this month.  More about that next week.  Also completed some t-shirts from scratch knocked off from J Crew that say "c'est la vie". 

An interesting Family History discovery this week was following the Bourassa Line all the way back to 1 AD.  Yes, you are reading that correctly.  Someone has really done some work there!  As you can guess, it gets into royalty which makes taking the line back much easier.  Ends up we descend from Joseph of Arimathea.  Check it out on  familysearch.org if you get time. 

Today we are cooking Dutch Oven Chicken and Potatoes, carrots, and onions for dinner.  We had hoped Carly and boys would be down, but Graedy's arm is sore and they decided to hang at home this time.  We love you all and hope your lives are super-great!!

Happy Summer!

Happy 4th of July!!  The only family we missed were Mattie, Lola, Sara and her boys....

 

Wren and Amy at the FlagRaising on the 4th

Ford and Leo love the FireEngine

My niece and nephew, Alexis and Jase Wanlass

Dad Matt honored at the GHS 100 year Float, he was Studentbody President in 1973

Ryder, Nasch and Judd

A salon was throwing out combs......

Jax and Nasch

Grandma Barb and Amy, then Ford

In June, Gen and kids and Carly and family and I enjoyed a day at Hyrum Reservoir Beach.  What a fun and relaxing day!

All the guys loved the sand!  Leo, Jax Ryder and Nasch and Graedy below

Gen and Amy

Ry, Nasch and Jax--the legs are Graedy's  -then Carly below!

This summer has been filled with so much fun and family!  Loni and Steve and fam moved from Wisconsin into their first home in Twin Falls, Idaho.  It is a beautiful home and perfect for their family. 

Loni and Steve's new home, just around the corner from the Twin Falls Temple.

(back patio)

Beautiful Kitchen!

Lastly, Dad and I enjoyed a vacation with Steve's Family on a Houseboat at Lake Shasta.  We stopped at Yosemite on the way home. 

 Dad and Ford

Uncle Matt helping Wren up the SlideStairs

Kent and Grandma Chris, Steve's Mom

Grandpa Brian, Steve's Dad

Kent piloting the boat..?

Kareoke personal bests!

"Jeez Dad!"

Mom Jill(Steve's sis) loves baby Kent

Steve and Lonz!

Judd on the knee board, what a surfer dude!

"I sing the songs that make the whole world sing!"

 

Wren-Fish

Clark hydrating

Play time

Me, in the Park

 

Dress Shopping
Spring has sprung and my crocus' are coming up in the yard.  The pansies I planted last fall are starting to raise their heads and wake up.  Watching this always gives me a lift.  It was fun to watch Carly's boys run up and down their yard as they gloried in the warmness. --Last week, Carly and Jay went on a cruise so 'Grans' got to hang out with Jax, Nasch, Graedy, and Ryder.  It was a delight to me.  We all got in the car on Friday afternoon and came home to be with Grandpa Matt who was pretty lonely by this time, having spent the week 'batching it'.   

Spring in Grantsville means it is time for the Old Folks Sociable!  This year it is on Saturday, March 23.  If you are not familiar with this event, you should be.  Best way to explain it is it is a town reunion for anyone who has ever been a Grantsvillite (Grantsvillian?). As described on Facebook:

     "Grantsville Old Folks Sociable - a community event honoring "old folks," founded in 1884. Today, it's a fun-filled celebration for ages 18 & older - with car show, honored guest reception, dinner, show & dancing."


The best part of the day is the visiting with people you love and have grown up with, young and old.  At one time or another, we Grantsvillites all serve on the committees who make it happen.  This year Matt is asked to chair the Dance part of the Sociable.  Melodi, my sister, was the program chair last year; I served as Co-Chair on the 109th Sociable and am currently serving on the board of directors.  

What to wear.  Matt sent me off on Saturday to look for just the right thing and I spent the day at NordieRack, Kohl's, Ross, TJMaxx...didn't find anything--but did look a lot at shoes......

On Monday I decided to really get serious. I took myself off to SLC as 10am, just as the shops were opening.  Dresses were perused and studied at Macy's, NordieRack (I found that I really did need a couple pair of shoes which kept calling to me), JCPenney, Dillard"s, H & M, Ann Taylor, and finally Nordstrom's.  I had no luck finding just the right thing.  This marathon day was decidedly discouraging.  

What I learned is: 

• 8 out of 10 dresses have no or 1/2 cap sleeves.  Don't work when you wear Mormon underwear*.
• 9 out of 10 dresses have low cut front.  See above*.
• 7 out of 10 dresses are mini-length.  See above*.
• 9 out of 10 dresses are made with as little fabric as possible, with mediocre (at best) construction.  (You should know I am a fabric and construction Nazi.  If you know me, you know why.  I love 'real' natural fabrics (none of those crummy synthetics for me), rayon linings that breathe--polyester makes you feel as though you were wearing a plastic bag.  And the construction  :((--don't get me started...)
• Nordstrom Designer is the place I loved--but at an average of $425 on a dress--and did not wish to afford.  The construction is really there, design is on trend, and fabrics are scrumptious.    

So.  The conundrum continues.  I am back to finding a 'look' online/catalog/magazine and 'knocking it off' using my own time, ingenuity, and construction acumen.  In this part of the process I am still frustrated as most fabric stores have now converted themselves to quilt specialities.  Not much fashion fabric to be had in local retail.  

As an avid Project Runway follower, it would be my eternal dream to one day shop Mood in NYC or LA.  It occured to me that I may have some luck looking into online fabric purchasing.  So, I Googled Mood and was excited at what I found.  I can purchase yardage-the kind this Nazi loves-and designer fabric and trim from Mood at reasonable prices.  Shipping still has to be paid; compare cost of driving to the frustrating fabric store if I purchased local Tooele or SLC retail. 

The link is:  http://www.moodfabrics.com/index.php

At this juncture, the construction process is still in the planning stages.  I guess the next blog post will have to be photos of all of us at the Sociable in what we ended up wearing.  As they say in the movies:  "I will leave you know."

Cocoa, Anyone?

So I'm using the excuse that Valentine's Day is coming to be talking about chocolate.  Actually, anytime is a very good time to be talking about chocolate (he, he).  I like (love, love) all foods that contain chocolate:  Chocolate mousse, Chocolate pie, pudding (must be the original cooked version), Chocolate chip Cookies, (just to name a few) and hot Cocoa. 

I owned a T-Shirt once that said, To Me a Box of Chocolates Is A Support Group.

My research has included a visit to a cacao presentation in San Francisco, finding cacao beans on the trees at the Amazon in Peru,
 
and studying a number of books about chocolate.  I even read one called "Naked Chocolate" which was enlightening on several levels. 

But I digress.

In an internet research, I attempted a cocoa comparison, and found the following link:  http://thelunacafe.com/the-wonderful-world-of-unsweetened-cocoa-powder/    --which was better than what I have done.  Review the site, you will find the information very good. 

With continued Web research, I have found that (surprise!) Salt Lake City's Caputo's Marketplace has probably the best selection of the better cocoa's in this regional area.  I recently had a chocolate class there, and did not realize how good I had it.  Here's the link for Caputo's:  http://www.caputosdeli.com/.  They are happy to ship anywhere. 

So, yes, I took myself in to the store (3rd West 4th South area) and purchased a joyful can of Cacao Poudre Plantation to create some really yummy hot cocoa drinking. 

Back In The Day...

End of another era.  Matt and his brothers have just rented out their family home to Paul and Cory Cook.  That sounds simple, but it took several all-day Saturdays and two weeks of after-work evenings to remove all items and furniture.  Then, new carpeting and kitchen flooring -- and lots of scrubbing.  The home has been unoccupied since Sept 2011.  But it looks great, and the Cook family are excited to live there.  (The rent money helps keep Grandpa Dave in his cushy diggs at Diamond Janes.)  I asked Matt if it was hard for him to look back through all the memories in that home; his response was that it was just time to move on.  He did say his mom would be proud of how nice the home looks.  And that a happy and noisy family will be enjoying living there.  He had a good feeling about all of it.

So in the process, there were some photos unearthed:

Not sure who the missionaries are, Matt can tell you.
The lower photo is the climbing of Mount Fuji on a pday.

The Lawrence family in about 1984.  Photo taken at Nana's.  Loni, check out how much Wren really does look like you at that age!

The Way We Were  (not really, our Prom was "Misty").  Yeah, this is us at our Jr Prom.  

Get Ready to Haunt...

As I have another 'date' with the residents of Diamond Jane's this friday, I 've been mulling over presentation ideas.  Of course, it should be something to celebrate the October holiday.  

Here is  fun recipe for Mummy Dogs I found that I know many spooks could love!

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/crescent-mummy-dogs/d52a57d7-ab8a-4a1c-8dae-f9f90d03b912

Another fun recipe (and a fav of mine) is Pumpkin cheesecake.  Check it out!

http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/28208/Pumpkin-Toffee-Cheesecake/detail.aspx

What I have chosen to do is a lollipop made from Jello!  Here is the recipe:

CHERRY LOLLIPOPS

3/4 cup white sugar

1/2 stick real butter

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 (3-ounce) box cherry gelatin dessert

Nonstick vegetable cooking spray.

20 lollipop sticks

Butter or spray nonstick vegetable cooking spray onto parchment lined cookie sheets (and inside the measuring cup you are planning to measure the corn syrup in).  Arrange half of the lollipop sticks on each and set aside.  In a small saucepan over medium heat add sugar, butter and corn syrup together until sugar has dissolved.  Slowly bring to a boil, stirring frequently.  Insert a candy thermometer into syrup and continue cooking until temperature reaches 300 degrees F.  Remove from heat.  Stir in gelatin until smooth.  Remember, this sugar syrup is very hot and can cause a painful burn!  Using a metal tablespoon and working quickly, drop heaping spoonfuls of lollipop syrup on end of each lollipop stick.  Cool completely.  Wrap each sucker in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container.  

With mine, I found a pan made by Wilton that I will use to mold the suckers.  

After the suckers set, I plan to decorate with Royal Icing that sets up hard in a variety of colors.  

Reflecting Back:  Karin Christiansen Ross

Scanning the obituaries this week, I happened to locate news of our friend and dance teacher:  Karin Christiansen Ross.  I almost missed seeking the obit as it was listed under Karin Ross.  We did not know her latest last name--she acquired it after her studio closed.  I was truly sad to see she had passed away; and so very young.

Karin is someone we truly loved and appreciated.  She was young, vibrant, full of the discipline and love of performing.  She was filled with talent herself, and gave freely to her young students and proteges.  She became such an important and vital part of our lives during those blossoming years for Loni and Gentri, and often Carly too.  By then Carly was involved in drill team and just was too busy.  The girls and I, and sometimes Raffie made the trek to SLC twice and sometimes three times weekly when they were dancing with Karin.  Those were precious times, as we laughed and visited in the car--and the girls prepared themselves to enjoy the exhilaration and joy of self-improvement in the area of dance.  It was a challenge and sacrifice to get ourselves to dance regularly--but a time for all of us!  Karin molded and encouraged our girls into beautiful ballerinas.  

We loved it, and we loved Karin.  

Karin Ross

1964 - 2012
My beloved and graceful ballerina princess has left this world to find a new body to continue her journey helping children fulfill their dreams of dancing. Born on November 8th, 1964 in Salt Lake City, Karin T. Christiansen was adopted as an infant by Alfred and Gertrude "Chris and Trudi" Christiansen. At the age of three, Karin began dancing in the Virginia Tanner Creative Dance Program. She received her early ballet training and learned folk dancing from Tamara Gladikova. Karin went on to receive her BFA and MFA in ballet with an emphasis in teaching and character dance from the University of Utah. She enjoyed performing as a member of the U's Character Dance Ensemble for two years. Her incredible passion and enthusiasm for dance and ballet led Karin to create the Ballet Department's first library of sheet music for ballet and character dance.
For 16 years, Karin touched the lives of countless children at her Christiansen School of Dance in Holladay and the International Folk Ballet as Artistic Director. Karin's folk dancers from her school performed for years at the Snowbird Oktoberfest spreading the enjoyment of dance to many. Afterwards, Karin helped her best friend Christy McQuaid continue to inspire young dancers at Christy's Utah Dance Center in Sandy. She has helped choreograph beautiful performances for Mountain West Ballet and served as the Artistic Director for Mountain West Ballet's production of the Nutcracker in 2010.
After her year and a half battle with cancer, she is survived by her husband Chris, the two loves of her life Sassy and Daisy, her Mother Trudi Christiansen, sister and brother in law Nicole and Kevin Aagaard and her step sons Bryant and Brendon Ross.
The celebration of her life will be held at the Western Garden Center Atrium, 9201 South 1300 East, on Wednesday , October 3, 2012 beginning promptly at 6 PM. Online condolences at larkinmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Primary Children's Hospital in name of the Karin Christiansen School of Dance so many more children might be able to fulfill their dreams of dancing. Her unique grace and beauty will truly live in our hearts and feet forever.

Published in Deseret News from September 30 to October 1, 2012