Raindrops Keep Falling - It's the Seattle Way!

Ahhh... A little rain just makes life a bit more interesting!

Grab your umbrella,

And your rubber boots

And you are ready to spectate at 

A SLOSHY Seattle Soccer Game

A rather messy sport, if I may say so.

 See the cute little smiling guy in the blue shirt? That's our grandbaby #1, Payton.

Always running... Always smiling.

These little five and six-year-olds are pretty serious players!

Well... MOST of the time.

Great Job, Payton! Potts and I can't wait to come and watch another game!

Seattle Rain

What do you call two straight days of rain in Seattle? 
A weekend.

It only rains twice a year in Seattle: August through April and May through July.

What does daylight-saving time mean in Seattle? 

An extra hour of rain.

What's the definition of a Seattle optimist? 

A guy with a sun visor on his rain hat.

How to predict weather in Seattle: 

If you can see Mt Rainier, it's going to rain. If not, it already is.

A newcomer to Seattle arrives on a rainy day. He gets up the next day and it's raining. It also rains the day after that, and the day after that. He goes out to lunch and sees a young kid and asks out of despair, "Hey kid, does it ever stop raining around here?" 

The kid says, "How do I know? I'm only 6."

Unbelievable!

We were driving home from Seattle when we passed THIS on the Idaho freeway. I couldn't believe my eyes, pulled over to the side of the road, begged Randy to get his camera out of the trunk of the car, pulled out and crept up behind this "accident ready to happen" for a second time. Didn't want to get TOO close, as you might imagine. What in the world? He was even carrying a TREE on top -- And what was with the buckets and baskets?

To his credit, he DID have his flashers on.

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."

                                                    Thomas A. Edison

Fresh Bread

"Bread is the warmest, kindest of all words. Write it always

 with a capital letter, like your own name."

from a café sign 

Hi

My name is Evylee

My mommy, daddy, baby brother, and I live with Gammie and Potts.

This week, my mommy is being trained for a new job.

Gammie is taking care of me.

Today we decided to make bread.

At first I didn't want to touch the sticky dough (I don't like getting my hands dirty), but Gammie showed me that it was fun -- kind of like playing with play dough.

I shaped it, and put it into my own little pan.

We waited and waited for it to get bigger.

Ethan had fun making lots of noise with the pots and pans!

I cried a little when it was time to put it into the oven. I wasn't sure what would happen, but before long, it was all finished and I had my very own little loaf.

"The smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly

 flowing water, is indescribable in its evocation of innocence

and delight."

M. F. K. Fisher (1908-1992)

Gammie sliced it for me and I ate it for lunch! YMMMM!

"If thou tastest a crust of bread, thou tastest all the stars and all the heavens."

Robert Browning

Whole Wheat Bread

5 1/2 C. very warm water

1 1/2 T. salt

1/2 C. oil

3 T. dry yeast

1/2 cup honey or brown sugar

12 – 14 cups whole wheat flour

or a combination of wheat and white flour 

Mill 10 cups of wheat. Combine water, honey, oil, yeast, salt in mixing bowl.  Add 8 cups of flour.  Mix ingredients.   Let yeast proof for 10 minutes.

Slowly add 4 – 6 cups of flour until dough begins to pull away from the side of the mixing bowl.  Knead for 10 minutes.  

Oil hands.  Remove dough from mixer and place dough on oiled surface.  Divide dough into loaf-size portions, and shape into loaves.  Place loaves in greased pans.  Oil top of loaves for a soft crust.  Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until double (approx. 25-45 minutes, depending on the strength of the yeast.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 – 50 minutes.  Remove bread from pans and put on wire rack to cool.                       

Serve with butter and honey while still warm.

I wish!

Paisley Grace - Six Months

Hat and blanket were knit with all my love. So happy to have a cute photograph of all  THREE creations!

Evylee turns Three

In Loving Tribute

Linton Harold Collier

Born October 17, 1926

 Noble Son

Loving and Devoted Husband

Dedicated Father

 Cherished Grandfather

Grandpa Collier passed away on December 30th, 2010. After living a good long life, his heart gave out. Thank you, Grandpa, for your great example of courage and devotion. Thank you for teaching your son to be trustworthy, faithful, and true. You can imagine how very much this means to me. Thank you for teaching me the importance of cherishing this choice land in which we live, the importance of taking care of my body and keeping it in tip-top shape, and the importance of keeping in touch with and staying close to those I love. And last but not least, for teaching me the importance of a goodbye kiss.

I kiss you goodbye now, Grandpa Collier

I will miss you.

May God be with you...

'til we meet again.

Freely Ye Have Received, Freely Give

Today is December 30th. Today we celebrate our 30th Anniversary.

12-28-10
Randy received a call:

"This is so-and-so from The Roof.  I'm calling to confirm your reservation at 7:00 pm on Thursday night."

Randy a bit bewildered replied, ".... Okay....  Is this supposed to be a surprise?"

"Ummm.... yes...."

Maybe it is the tasty food, maybe its the fancy atmosphere, maybe its the incredible view of the Salt Lake Temple where we were married; this just happens to be our favorite restaurant. Someone gave us a very sweet anniversary surprise. Audrey and Jenni happen to know who it was, but they are sworn to secrecy. "When someone wants to give, just be willing to receive, and DON'T ASK QUESTIONS!"

So, whoever you are, please accept our very sincere delight, surprise, and pure appreciation for a very thoughtful gift! We were thrilled to tears. You have touched us deeply.

"... Sacrifice is made sweet to us when we treasure the joy it brings to another heart."

President Henry B. Eyring

"Freely (we) have received, freely (we will) give." Matthew 10:8