Green Beans

My husband planted green beans for me this Spring because I love to can them. I like to add 1/2 t. salt, 1/2t. sugar and a splash of vinegar to each pint to give them just a teeny bit of zing! Boy, it sure is a sweaty job to pick these green giants. Come on over for Sunday dinner and I gaurantee it will include green beans.

Poor Wally

Tristan loves Wally.
Wally's bandage had smiley faces all around it.

Poor Wally! Friday Mike went mountain biking and took Wally with him. Wally loves to go running with Mike, he loves to be free! Well, they went at 5:30 p.m. in very hot, humid heat. After the bike ride Wallly jumped in his kennell and Mike drove to Christofferson creek to let Wally play in the stream. Wally came out of the kennell and tried to jump out of the back of the truck but he had no use of his back legs and fell onto the ground and dragged himself to some bushes. Mike put him in the stream to help him cool off and ran him back home. He was lethargic, barely breathing and paralyzed. Now you know I have had struggles with this black Lab for the last 18 months and have blogged some mean things about him but I shed a tear or two when he was so close to death.
Took him to the vet where they won't even look at the dog unless you sign a paper saying you agree to pay $500 for them to take a look. Wally is Tristan's best friend and he was there and very upset, so Mike signed the papers and the vet took care of Wally.
Come to find out the sweet dog had heat stroke. So strange that heat stroke manifests itself by paralyzing a dog's body and can take life away from such a spirited hound. He stayed overnight at the vet and Mike picked him up Saturday morning. I have never been so happy to see that dog as I was then, and he could walk again! He is almost back to his normal antics and I am so glad he is o.k.

Apricot Jam

This morning I made delicious Apricot jam. This is my sweet mom's recipe and it is extra yummy because it has crushed pineapple and orange Jello added to it to make it puckery. Imagine making sweet and sour chicken with this added, think we will have it tonight with rice and Zukes from the garden. I would like to share the recipe with you.This recipe makes 14-15 pints of jam. I love that you don't add pectin to it, therefore you don't have to go to Wal-mart and swear out loud when the pectin is all bought up.
The Jello makes it a bright orange color which adds to the taste too.
Boil, boil, toil and trouble. Make sure you chant this out loud while stirring and add a cackle at the end.

Amanda's Apricot Jam1/2 cup lemon juice
2 large boxes orange Jello
5 20 oz.cans crushed pineapple, drained
10 cups chopped apricots
15 cups sugar ( this is not a type-o, really 15 cups sugar)

Bring above ingredients, except Jello to a boil and boil for 20 minutes stirring constantly. After 20 minutes of boiling add Jello.
Pour into pint jars, seal and hot water bath for 10 minutes. Enjoy!



Sweet and Sour Chicken

1 cup apricot jam
1 cup Russian or Catalina salad dressing
1/4 cup water
1 packet onion soup mix

Put chicken pieces in baking dish and and pour mixed above ingredients over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes covered and 30 minutes uncovered, total cook time 1 hour. Serve with rice. YUM!

If friends were flowers I'd pick you

I have been making these sweet flower pens for about 2 weeks and they have been fun to watch turn into a flower.
Friday Erin, Carolee and I got together for a quilting bee. We started off with a fieldtrip to Material Girls an awesome fabric/quilting store in South Jordan and of course after that a trip to Cafe' Rio for dinner.
We came to my home and worked on separate projects and then we all worked on these cute flowers, and of course I had to sew the Star Trek sign on one of Justus' shirts, he is very much into Star Trek. We had a great time sewing and giggling. Friends - GOOD, Alone - BAD.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

Last weekend Mike, Tristan and I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House at Daybreak, Utah. Mike's sister Pam and her husband Joe and their daughter Miranda flew in for the weekend and we started it by visiting the temple. I have great pics to share but I have to wait until my sweetie has time to burn them onto a disk to show you, I promise they will come.
The temple was breathtaking inside. The colors were beautiful. Funny thing, my favorite part was the chairs in the Bride's room. What a great opportunity to see this temple from the freeway at night time too, it reminds me of the Nauvoo temple and what I picture it as. From the freeway it is a ways away, but you can see it's shape in bright white lights and it is beautiful. I love the temple.

Scentsy Summer Picnic

I can't begin to share with you what a great time I have had the past 2 1/2 years with my Scentsy business. As you can see from the pictures below I have met some great Scentsy consultants and their families. I have great friends because of Scentsy too. This picnic was DA BOMB. Thanks to everyone who came, Have a Scentsational Night!


Aubri came with her beautiful daughters.

We had the opportunity to meet Scentsy families from all parts of Northern Utah.

Andrea took time out of her busy schedule to drop by. I am so glad she came.

Tanya brought her man Alex the tree lover/power weight lifter and their cute kids.

Mike enjoyed everything on the menu thrice.

Fred and Melanie brought a to die for Strawberry cakey dessert.

Dannette and Carter loved the chicken.


Tristan brought his friend Austin and I think they had fun.

Oh say can you see?

And when I count my blessings, I thank God I was an American child.
An American child, 'cause dreams can grow wild born inside an American child.
Phil Vassar

Independence Day is a great holiday. Cotton will be marching in the Freedom Festival parade in Prove. He is going to play the Tuba this year for band. I giggled at this picture of him with the Tuba because it makes him look small and he is not a small guy.My sweet sister made me this Ann and Andy many years ago. I cherish them. They are proud to be Americans.

Hopefully we will snag a watermelon to celebrate with and see fireworks. I am grateful for my freedom and I am proud to be an American.
Happy Independence Day.