Forget the quilt for now . . .

Bedspreads are way easier to make!

I finally got around to doing something to make my bed look like it was actually made - 
instead of just a comforter and some pillows.

The best part . . . all this fabric only cost me $2.00 a yard.

A great deal and a new look = satisfaction!

Nothing too fancy . . . 

I might add a few embellishments sometime . . .

I told Katie and Julie L. that I thought the pillows might be

too big . . .they both replied,

Can pillows be too big?

I guess only if you are throwing a love sac on top of your bed!

Next project . . . paintings to go over the bed.

That one will be a bit more difficult to produce.

Time to post my latest Grant pictures . . .

Grant wondering what I am doing . . .

Grant wanting Nana's camera . . .

Grant realizing I am never going to give him my camera to play with . . . ever.

Joseph and Emma Smith

I wish I had the brilliant mind 

that pretty much everyone younger than me ~ 

and some older than me ~

have when it comes to figuring out 

how to post pictures or links on their blogs. 

This little tidbit of blogging I have still yet to discover. 

(Erin - I desperately need a wee bit of your time deary.)

So instead of a picture I am posting an address ~
for some reason I cannot get it to post as a link
(so just this once copy and paste - okay?)
It will lead you to something that is very meaningful to my heart.

http://www.josephsmithjr.org/

If you go to this website you will find that it is the

Joseph Smith Emma Hale Smith Historical Society.

It represents some of the most noble work 

that is being done on the earth today.

Anyone can become a member ~ 

and if you become a full annual member 

your fee goes to a great cause -

helping to gather the descendants of Joseph and Emma.

I am very blessed to be allowed to serve on the

JSEHS Historical Society Board.

Each time we meet I am reminded that no matter

how big or small our gifts and talents may be ~

there is always a place to give what we can

to help others in accomplishing great things.

So today I am encouraging any and all 

to pass the word along and check out the

JSEHS website.

Also check out the facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Joseph-Smith-Jr-and-Emma-Hale-Smith-Historical-Society/140143479354039?ref=ts

It does a soul good. Pass it on.

 

So . . . do you remember sometime late last spring

when I posted this picture:

I informed all of you that I would show you the before so that you could truly appreciate the after. 

Well here is the after picture:

This my friends is why you will not see the word gardening as part of my blog.

And by the way - those are not wildflowers blooming.
They are weeds.

And just to show you that I have 
absolutely no pride left when it comes to what 
I reveal about my green thumb skills - 
I am also showing you the before and after

pictures of my flower pots.
I am sure you will love going out in your own yard now
and appreciating the beauty you have created.
Enjoy!

Pumpkin Bread Season

I love this recipe and make it all year -

but it is always best in the fall . . .

and since autumn is just around the corner -

I literally could feel it all around me in the air yesterday . . .

I decided it was time for this post.

Pumpkin Bread

1 cup butter - softened

3 1/2 cups sugar

6 eggs

1 large can Pumpkin

Mix together until well blended.

In separate bowl mix together well:

5 1/4 flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 Tbsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp nutmeg

Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture alternating with:

1 cup milk

1 Tbsp vanilla

Chocolate chips or nuts can also be added.

Mix until just blended and then spoon batter into greased bread pans.

Bake @ 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes -

or until cooked in the center. Cool on wire racks.
Makes 3 large loaves - or 4 regular sized.

Delicious warm with butter - or cool by itself!

   

Future Doctor . . .

Future Lawyer . . .

Future Movie Star?

Katie and Teddy and Jeff.

Teddy - you will always be loved and missed.

Sundays when all the family comes together . . .

along with a few friends . . .

these are very nice days.

Matteo and Grant will be good friends . . .

as soon as they stop stealing the other's pacifier!
We finally just removed those little mouth peacemakers and let them play 
so we could see their smiles . . . which are amazing.

I heard that the night air was
32 degrees in Park City this past week . . . 
which means that this is just weeks away.

Which is just fine by me since 

I am tired of the heat of summer . . .

and I love Halloween.

Troy is in shock

over Trevor's ripped body.

Rock climbing is a serious

hobby for that 

handsome son of mine. . .

he has become a 

most adventuresome man.

Congratulations Trevor -

you have lots of chutzpa!

I love being a grandmama . . .

One of these days I will post that spaghetti recipe . . .

Right now I am just having too much fun with this little guy.

the latest edition to the gulbrandsen family

  . . . and yes you can call me crazy for allowing another one of my teenagers to bring home yet another dog . . .
she is a miniature dachshund and her name is gabby

Yep ~ Another Sunset ~ My Other Obsession

But the obsession below is way better . . . 

 

Some of my children think I am obsessed . . .

with this particular child . . .

And you know what?

I am.

How could I not be?
What I would give to have those eyes & eyebrows . . . 

Cherry Tarts

These two bite morsels are delectable . . .

 Recipe:

~ Crust ~

mix together until crumbly:

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup shortening

pinch of salt

2 Tbsp sugar

2 cups flour

blend together and add to above mixture: 

1/3 cup milk

1 egg yolk

Place the dough between two layers of wax paper.

Roll out approximately 1/4" thick and cut into

circles with either a cookie cutter, 

or the rim of a large drinking glass.

Place rounds on a cookie sheet.

I use Wilderness Cherry Pie Filling and add about

1 1/2 tsp of Pure Almond Extract to it.

You can use any kind of fruit filling you prefer.

Spoon a small amount of pie filling into center of round.

Fold in half and with a fork crimp edges to seal.

Cut small slit in top of tart.

Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 15 minutes,

or until golden brown and bubbling.

These are wonderful hot or cold.
I usually double the recipe.

  

A Summer Sunset

Oh how I love these late evenings . . . 

Katie and Grant

swimming on a summer's eve

 

The New and Improved Annabelle

It is amazing what a good haircut can do 
to improve one's image!

tanner & grant

summer

sun

grass

goodness

GIRL'S CAMP 2010

Warrior's of Light rock!

No ~ I have no pictures to display.

This would be because I was in charge of food.

I adore the beautiful young women who surrounded me

for three whole days.

I love each and every one of them.

However,

I am not sure I like to cook.

Thank goodness there were 

lots of women to help me.

I came home after three days . . .

thanks to Tonya and Shauna . . .

who came up and took over and endured to the end.

The night I got home

I slept for 10 straight hours without even

getting up to go potty.

That my friends is called exhaustion . . .

. . . the kind you can only get at girl's camp.

~ goodbye June ~

HELLO JULY!!!