Lists and Sucker Recipes

I really like lists. I like writing down things to do so I don't forget to do them. I like checking things off, and feeling a sense of accomplishments. Sometimes, I sneak in one or two things I've already done onto my list, just so I can check them off right away.

A few years ago, I did a time line for my parents ... the list of all lists. I had my siblings help me compile places we have lived, cars we have owned, pets we loved (and just tolerated), visits to the emergency room, missions, births, weddings, graduations, etc. Then I compiled all of those into a year-by-year timeline with cute little graphics. It was an AWESOME list. But a little weird trying to fit a record of so many lifetimes onto a handful of paper. I wanted my mom to have a reference when she organized photos. (Oh yes, this one was in 1973 because we were in the Springville House).

Last night I couldn't sleep. I got on a carousel in my brain, flipping through all the tasks I had to do before Saturday. I got up, made a list with three sub-categories, and wrote down everything. Then I had a bowl of Cookie Dough Ice Cream and fell asleep.

Change of topic: Does anyone out there know someone who makes suckers? I'm looking for sucker recipes. My suckers melt at too low of a temperature (Leo's melted in the hot car today), and sometimes morph at even cool temperature when they are left in the cupboard for a while. I need to fix this before I try and sell them in the sun at the farmer's market. Anyone who comes up with a solution to this will get a LIFE TIME SUPPLY of peppermint three stooges suckers.

Lilly and the Russet Gigantus

For those of you who don't know, I wrote a book called Lilly and the Russet Gigantus which is still looking for a publisher worthy of its greatness. My brother-of-many-talents Toby is creating the book in audio form, and it should soon be available on i tunes. (I've heard a chapter, it is really funny, Toby has Mr. Widison's voice down pat). Toby has also created an author's blog to create some buzz (PR word for getting someone to hear it besides me and him). I love having my own PR guy. I wish I would have had him in high school ... I probably would have gone to prom!

Anyway, check out my Lilly blog. Toby has also made some very valuable comments about how to improve the book -- most of which involve a bloody word hatchet. I've begun the carnage, and it should result in an evenly lovelier, more engaging read. I really value his input ... and I'd love more feedback, if anyone wants to look at the new version! It actually is a great book, if I do say so myself, and I really do believe it belongs in print.

Family Circus

I have always been amazed that The Family Circus is still in print. Really, I've never even chuckled at it. The other day, I accidentally read it (yes, I still read newspaper comics every day), and thought with a shock, "this looks a lot like my blog! AAAAAaaaah!" For those of you who roll their eyes at the "cute" antics of Billy and the crew, I AM SORRY that my blog is reminiscent of Family Circus. Really, they are so much cuter when they are your own kids, and your own stories.

This, of course, does not mean this blog will become more pithy. I just wanted to let you know that I am aware of my life imitating a mediocre-eye-rolling-really-not-that-funny sort of art. Oh well.

We are gearing up for the big 40th anniversary/Retirement Bash for the Palmer Parents at Bear Lake. It should be a lot of fun if the weather cooperates! I can't wait!

A two-year old's dilemma

It had been a tough morning. Leo had three fits over 1. Scooby Doo. 2. A Burger King Crown. 3. Sponge Bob Square Pants. It had taken a lot out of him. Now he was faced with another tough situation ... he was both Hungry AND Tired. What to do? Easy, combine the two!

I wondered where he was going with that pillow!

Cottage Food

I've been trying for a while to figure out how to sell my cute suckers. The problem is, I don't have an industrial kitchen, which means I can't do it legally. I recently found out about the Utah Cottage Food Industry Law, which says I can sell shelf-stable foods if my kitchen is certified. I have to have my kitchen inspected, and my recipe approved, and a food handler's permit, and my label created and approved. So, it is going to take a while.

Jeff and I have a goal to run a 10K sometimes this summer. I had plans to run the Smithfield Health Days 5K today, to get us thinking about what a 10K would really involve, but the registration was full. I was disappointed. Jeff, the trooper he is, agreed to a Family Fun Run today. We ran to the Zoo, then stopped to play on the playground, eat some snacks, we ran into some friends and chatted for a while. We toured the zoo and got balloons. Then we walked home. Actually I sprinted the last block, but Gabe still won ... he did have a bike, after all. It was fun.

This weather is PERFECT. Cool and beautiful. Blossoms everywhere. As Leo said when the snow first started melting, the world is getting color again! We walked through a local nursery called ... get ready for this .... the Green House. One of the greenhouses was filled with scarlet blossoms on the tables, and hanging baskets filled with yellow, pink and white. It was intoxicating. I could feel something going on inside of me as I walked through that place. Something waking up. It turned on my senses, gave me energy. I LOVE SPRING!

Books I've read recently:
Shakespeare Stealer series (liked it)
Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency series (really like it)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (To kids)
One lame one ... I can't even remember the title. I just picked it off a shelf at the library, thinking that I needed to expand my cannon. WWWWay lame.
The Botany of Desire. Nonfiction, but very entertaining.

I'm always on the lookout for more food writing. If you would pass along any that you come across in your reading, I'd appreciate it!

Oh, how they grow

I thought I'd post a couple of movies so you can see how the boys are growing! Benji is so big! He is six and a half months old, and can almost crawl. He has been teething, and quite the slobber-puss, as illustrated below.



This one is Leo's dramatic death scene. I don't know who taught him this, but when anything bonks him, he does this very serious fainting thing. I find it quite funny.



Gabe is making great strides in some important areas too. He has started riding a bike without training wheels ... after several weeks of me jogging behind him, holding his jacket, he just decided he could do it, and took off. He's had a couple of spills, but it hasn't phased him. He also lost his fear of water, and has been dunking and jumping off the side at the indoor pool. I'm really proud of him!

Vacation to Zion

We just returned from a much anticipated trip to St. George and Zion. We had a lot of fun and got a lot of sun (all the better, because it has been snowing HARD here for the past two days. Spring has not yet reached the Great White North). I was nervous about the drive, but it went really well, as long as we took breaks every hour. I was nervous about pulling mom and dad's trailer, but that too went well, and was soooooo worth the soft bed at night, and the sink to wash in.

I even used the trailer in St. George, when the kids and dad slept in the hotel room, and baby Benji screamed in the middle of the night. It was a nice retreat, and took a lot of stress off of my nights. The hotel had a pool and a hot tub, which occupied a good part of each day for me and the kids, while Jeff attended a conference. We also explored the many city parks that St. George had to offer. My favorite was the Slick Rock City Park, which had a great climbing wall, and beautiful xeriscaping. The kids loved the Hidden Valley Park, which had fun water features, play structures, and this weird bouncy flooring.

After three days in St. George, we headed with mom to Zion National Park, my old stomping grounds. We spent four glorious days there, camping by the river, and taking the shuttle into the canyon to do day hikes. Gabe was the best little hiker! He really enjoyed the cliffs, stairs, and slickrock. Leo and Benji hitched a ride on mom and dad's backs and fronts, respectively. We also spent some time playing on the river in the sand, and splashing in the cold green water.

For those doubter, the park shuttle was wonderful. We hardly moved the truck once we pitched camp. It was so fun to hop on the bus and let the cool sweet canyon air blow through the windows and onto my face. We didn't worry about parking. We didn't worry about locking doors or leaving the vehicle. The canyon was a lot quieter too. Gabe participated in the Junior Ranger Program, and earned his badge after attending a ranger program and answering a lot of questions about canyon wildlife. The last night we were at Zion, we walked over to the Imax Theater outside the gate, and saw a GIANT screening of Horton Hears a Who. It was a fun end to a fun vacation.
















Leo taking a little snooze during our hike to the Emerald Pools





















Gabe and Leo at Weeping Rock, with Mom doing a little rock climbing in the background.





















We loved having the extra baby-holding arms around!