Busy and productive Saturday

Sometimes you just need to stay home and get things done. I have been neglecting housework for a while now.  A long while. But I buckled down and cleaned my range top--just in time for busy holiday cooking. It'SO shiney!!!!!

And i scrubbed some really dirty bathrooms.

And i prepared three guest rooms, re-arranging an extra twin mattress Mike got last month, sorting toys and some sewing and storage stuff. Will I ever make another denim quilt from all those old jeans? I sure hope so!

Swept and scrubbed the kitchen floor and cleaned the kitchen window over the sink (and the screen) . I can see outside now!

Did all the dishes, including all those hand-wash things that get ignored

Laundry. All of it. And the dryer conked out at the end.

Vacuumed the stairs thoroughly, and the rest of the carpet on main floor

Had a nice long visit with Katie on the phone

Paid some bills, read and sorted through paperwork. A lot of paper.

Ran one errand to Deseret Book (in sweats, wearing no makeup and they were so busy and crowded... oh well)

Ran a second errand and gave Eric a lift home from a Suzuki rehearsal.

And I have a list TWICE (or thrice ...or quadruple) that long of things I did NOT accomplish, but I wanted to focus on what I DID get done for a change.

And I was tired....but felt pretty darn good about a day well spent. They are few and far between.

Oh, and I started thinking about Christmas since I leave for Guam in TWO WEEKS and maybe Katie's before then. 《Gulp!》

Formerly a Foodie

Maybe I was a "Foodie" in my former life.

Definition of Foodie:

noun, Slang.

1.  a person keenly interested in food, especially in eating or cooking.

And I am not particularly interested in COOKING food.  I do like to eat it.  Quite a bit, actually.

I enjoy READING about it. My cookbook collection isn't grand, by any means.  I do have a few.  I have a few random recipes, as well.  But the books about cooking and food and culture here in the library have just really caught my eye.  You may have noticed that from previous posts.

Currently, I am on a wait list to read The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.  Recently I found a documentary film I rather enjoyed called "King Corn." It was available for free through the Utah's Online Pioneer Library.

Below is a description--a very detailed description-- of another of Michael Pollan's books called Cooked.  You might enjoy perusing it, as well.  IF you like food and/or cooking. If not, skip this one.

*****************************************

Cooked : a natural history of transformation 
Pollan, Michael.

Personal Author:

Pollan, Michael.

Title:

Cooked : a natural history of transformation / Michael Pollan.

Publication:

New York : The Penguin Press, 2013.

Physical description:

468 pages ; 25 cm

Content Type:

text rdacontent

Media Type:

unmediated rdamedia

Carrier Type:

volume rdacarrier

Contents:

Introduction: Why cook? -- Part I: Fire : creatures of the flame -- Part II: Water : a recipe in seven steps -- Part III: Air : the education of an amateur baker -- Part IV: Earth : fermentation's cold fire -- Afterword: Hand taste -- Appendix I: Four recipes -- Appendix II: A short shelf of books on cooking.

Summary:

"Fire, water, air, earth--our most trusted food expert recounts the story of his culinary education In Cooked, Michael Pollan explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements--fire, water, air, and earth--to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink. Apprenticing himself to a succession of culinary masters, Pollan learns how to grill with fire, cook with liquid, bake bread, and ferment everything from cheese to beer. In the course of his journey, he discovers that the cook occupies a special place in the world, standing squarely between nature and culture. Both realms are transformed by cooking, and so, in the process, is the cook. Each section of Cooked tracks Pollan's effort to master a single classic recipe using one of the four elements. A North Carolina barbecue pit master tutors him in the primal magic of fire; a Chez Panisse-trained cook schools him in the art of braising; a celebrated baker teaches him how air transforms grain and water into a fragrant loaf of bread; and finally, several mad-genius "fermentos" (a tribe that includes brewers, cheese makers, and all kinds of picklers) reveal how fungi and bacteria can perform the most amazing alchemies of all. The reader learns alongside Pollan, but the lessons move beyond the practical to become an investigation of how cooking involves us in a web of social and ecological relationships: with plants and animals, the soil, farmers, our history and culture, and, of course, the people our cooking nourishes and delights. Cooking, above all, connects us. The effects of not cooking are similarly far reaching. Relying upon corporations to process our food means we consume huge quantities of fat, sugar, and salt; disrupt an essential link to the natural world; and weaken our relationships with family and friends. In fact, Cooked argues, taking back control of cooking may be the single most important step anyone can take to help make the American food system healthier and more sustainable. Reclaiming cooking as an act of enjoyment and self-reliance, learning to perform the magic of these everyday transformations, opens the door to a more nourishing life. "-- Provided by publisher.

Summary:

"In Cooked, Pollan explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements--fire, water, air, and earth--to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink. In the course of his journey, he discovers that the cook occupies a special place in the world, standing squarely between nature and culture. Both realms are transformed by cooking, and so, in the process, is the cook"-- Provided by publisher.

AGW 2015

Yes, I went to Paris for AGW this year. :-)

Not really. The seven of us stayed at the South Point Hotel and resort. We spent time at the pool and hot tub, we went to  a movie ("The Intern"). Donna and I had a spa experience (ahhhhh), and we all played a game [Telestrations] together, too! We also ate a lot of food. Well, some of us did. 

Now, that's a BIG Horse Statue!

Well, I thought if I uploaded photos from York that I could put them into the blog.  Apparently not. They are all blurry. So Sorry.

Mom brought me her History book that she and Donna put together. It covers her Mom's Early years and has lots of photos and narrative of her growing up in Southern California. Aunt Tuny is looking through it int he above photo. And below.

And they are still such goofy girls when they get together!

And Pamela fits right in.

Sharing photos and stories.

Taking more photos to make more stories.

We wandered through the lovely Bellagio atrium, all decorated for Fall. Tall dandilions, one HUGE squirrell, some cute owls and racoons, and lots of lovely flowers.

Hmmmm.  I uploaded the two photos above differently.  I really don't want to have to re-do all these photos.  They CAN all be clear. If I do them one at a time. Oh, well. Let me know if you are interested in seeing a blurry one more clearly and I will do it. Just for you.

Cousins

Barefoot sandals at the pool. I actually did a little swimming in the pool and yoga by the  pool. I was trying to get my "Outdoor Challenge"points for SUU. Too bad the roller coaster ride was so short, or that might have counted for an outdoor activity, too! Ha.

Yes. I rode the Manhattan Express.  All by myself.

Katie & Family

 I didn't take many photos on my tablet that are easy to load onto blog, but here are a few. Above, Katie with Rachel, waving. This is the first time they have met, on this visit to Cedar City. We are so glad both families could be here!

 We played one game of "Kid History" Sunday before Nick' family left.

 Ah, that snake. Always a favorite toy. Corbin.

 Spelling with "Bananagrams". Hayden.

Hayden LOVES drawing, too. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a current favorite .

 So fun, just to sit around and chat. So hard for Katie to get comfortabe enough to sit anywhere for any length of time. She (and those babies) are really growing!

 I don' t know if Katie and Casey ALWAYS wear matching clothes...maybe she is practicing for twins?

 Anothee attempt at sitting comfortably.

 Hayden and Corbin playing air Hockey

 With Casey. I'm not sure who won, but I know it was a pretty intense game. ( But not NEARLY as intense as when Braeden L plays!)

Maybe someday I can upload some photos from my camera and add those. Although, I seem to be turning into my mom--photos are not worth it! I get frustrated with the quality of the pictures and give up easily. I thoughtthe tablet would do abetter job, too. A lot depends on the photographer, I know....someone suggested a class. Not worth the time and expense when others take so many nice ones.

Sleeping in. Or NOT

This morning is a Saturday. It is one of the first ones in a long time that I do not have to be anywhere or do anything. I get  to listen to General Conference on tv and putter around in the house and catch up with the stuff that I need to do after having fun family visitors, etc. Maybe wash the car, do some laundry.  And Mike is out of town.

Friday was a long day, and I fell into bed fairly early (for me), exhausted. The first thing on my list for Saturday was

SLEEP IN.

Only I was so tired when I went to sleep last night that I forgot to turn off my alarm. Ugh! Now, I realize my 5:45 am wake up time is not as early as some folks', but it is WAY early for me, and that was such a disappointment and spoiler to my sleeping in. So I turned it off and tried to go back to sleep.

Only our house phone made some weird beeping noise in my bedroom that it doesnt usually do. The message light flashed, and THEN it made another flash I d never seen before...almost like a white flash. Hmmm. So, I got up and unplugged THAT. Add to my Saturday   list: "buy new house phones". I rather hate shopping, especially for electronics.

Went back to bed. It was still only a little past 6 a.m. and I snuggled back under the covers. We finally have some cooler weather. I mean, it IS October, after all. Some of our days have been really hot of late, so having some cool air come in the bedrom window kind of felt nice and refreshing.

Except I heard a strange noise in the house. Was that the FURNACE coming on!?!?! Yes, indeed-y! So, I got up and turned off the furnace --which I didn' even know was ABLE to turn on since the power switch for it should have been off. I think perhaps someone may have turned on the switch, thinking it was the storage room light switch.

Back to bed. No wonder the covers felt so good ( but it' not THAT cold!!)

When the phone rang ( clear in the kitchen now, with no bedroom phone--ha!) with a person calling to ask Mike about nails and bolts, I gave up.

Good Morning to you, too!