Once Upon a time in Littleton . . .

There lived a little boy who 
wanted to be a dragon.

He was very sweet, 
so being a dragon wasn't going to be easy.

His mother figured out a way to 
put together a cape

that would enable him 
to believe he could find the 

fire inside of him to be a dragon.

Troy 1986

Sadly, he never found the fire 
inside of him to be a dragon . . .

but he did find the fire inside of him 
to speak a beautiful language.

So today he is a 
Hot Italian Professor instead of a Dragon!

Grant . . . 

so far my favorite grandchild hands down.

This kid is constantly being watched over by a dog.

Miles, Lucy, Sammy, Annabelle, Gabbie.

They all adore him.

This is Sammy watching over Grant.

She is hoping for a lick of Grant's face - or some crumbs.

This is Grant finally seeing that mysterious black object 
that Nana always seems to be holding in his face . . . but never letting him touch.

Mean Nana. Sweet Grant.
Honestly . . . I want those eyes. Maybe in my next lifetime.
 

I am trying to become an artist . . .

hence the reason I have "painting" as part

of my blog description.

Here is the latest attempt at pastels . . .

and hopefully many more to come.

I made peach jam today.

I wish I had some amazing original recipe

that I could share with everyone.

But the truth is . . . I use Sure Jell's recipe.

It is as good as any gourmet recipe I have tried.

Tastes good. Looks good. Is good.

I love autumn . . .

This definitely goes into my favorite sunsets file.

The problem is . . . if I paint this sunset - it won't look real.

But it was real. Very real. Sunday night.

I am definitely painting this one.

"Real or not real?"

Sound familiar to anyone?

Finally! Peach Chutney Season!

Many years ago my friend Carole and I talked about making 

Peach Chutney in the fall. Well it took me twenty something

years before I actually made it - but it is now a tradition.

Chutney is surprisingly a mystery to some people.

It is perfect as a glaze and a condiment with meats and fish.

It is also wonderful with cream cheese and crackers.

It actually is wonderful when you just eat it with a spoon.

yum yum yum yum yum yum

So here are the pictures and the recipe.

 Peach Chutney

4 cups peeled diced ripe peaches

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 cup rainsins

1/2 cup craisins

1/3 cup diced sweet onion

1 jar McCormick crystallized ginger

1 Tbsp sea salt

1 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp ground ginger

7 1/2 cups sugar

1 pouch liquid fruit pectin

Put the peaches in a large kettle and add all other ingredients except the pectin. 
Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat and stir constantly for one minute. 
Remove from heat and immediately stir in the pectin. 
Continue stirring for 5 minutes allowing it to cool slightly. 
Pour into sterilized jars and seal with paraffin wax.

Store in a cool, dark, dry place.

Makes about a dozen 8 oz jars of Chutney.

I usually double this recipe so that I can give some away.

Erin Lee . . . you have a late birthday and housewarming gift coming your way!!!

Sometimes in life we cross paths with people who are celestial . . .

and sometimes our children cross paths with their children.

Today I met the parents of Anziano Teodosi who served

a mission with my son Troy in Southern Italy.

This is the picture of Troy and the two 

Italian brothers that he loved with all his heart.

Anziano Teodosi, Anziano Troy, Anziano Da Silva 2005 

I visiting teach Valerie Smith, and her husband 

Thane served his mission in Rome, Italy.

He converted Anziano Teodosi's parents.

They came and visited the Smiths today and

I was granted the gift of meeting them.

After I met them I took a picture of

Thane and Brother & Sister Teodosi.

  My little Sunday miracle.

A long time ago in Littleton
***

Once upon a time there lived a little princess.

It was nearing Halloween time,
but her mother was very ill. 
This was a problem because the 
little princess needed a new gown 
for the Halloween parade. 
So her mother spent a little 
bit of time each day 
to create the perfect dress. 
It took her mother a whole month 
to sew a very special pink satin gown. 
The little princess was so happy 
when it was finally completed that 
she agreed to pose for this 
picture to honor the 
Halloween season and traditions.

The princess' name was Emily Kathrine.

But everyone called her Katie.

She is no longer a princess today,
she is now a Queen.

And her mother is still her Halloween seamstress.

I was mentioning to someone recently 

that I once had short hair . . . 

and then I found this picture 
and I love seeing me with my 
daughter Katie and my sister Susan.

This was almost a decade ago ~ 

and yet it feels like yesterday.

Just yesterday when I had short hair.

Once Upon a Time in Littleton

A long time ago in a land across the Rocky Mountains,

lived two little girls who had matching nightgowns.

One had a very trendy pair of glasses, and a cool bracelet,

the other a piece of red licorice.

Their names were Katie and Natalie.

This is a picture from one of their sleepovers . . .

Next week check out the next edition of 

Once Upon a Time In Littleton . . .

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!