Kitty to Vet

Isn't she cute? She seems like she is asking "What? I have to go where?!" Well, it was about time for her annual kitty shots, which is an event in itself. I have to plan it for my day off but also when Audrey is available as reinforcement. Sidney does NOT like to ride in the car! So Audrey, Sidney and I headed to the vet. We love our vet & their staff. He is close to retirement but is so kind and patient with Sidney. First he checked her ears - she growled. Then he checked her teeth - she snarled. Then he lifted her up and weighed her - huge growl. Then the temperature taking.... And finally it was time for her shots. The vet's assistant brought in the syringe and said she could hear Sidney whispering "sweet nothings" to the vet. Then he gave her the shot - %&@(!&. Then he gave her a new green scarf for being such a good patient - doesn't she look lovely? (and rested?)

Good Bye Facebook = Hello Life !

I had been swaying for a couple months between keeping my Facebook account open and shutting the whole thing down. I came home one day and just shut it down. I have not missed it for a second! I was surprised how much time it took out of my day even when I played none of the games - Though trying to collect "friends" probably was a game in it's own right.... Then I read an article in the June Ensign by Elder Bednar. He spoke of many ways technology can rob us of time but more importantly, missed opportunities on improving interpersonal skills and creating REAL bonds. Got me thinking... How many times have you read "anonymous" comments on blogs or news stories and thought "that person would never ever say that face-to-face". You know they are hiding behind the ability to stay anonymous. I think the technology we have today is a major blessing in our lives but can make us more bold only when we're hiding behind a keyboard or while texting. Even if what we are typing is nice and communicative, it takes away the "real" of our world. Does that makes sense? Elder Bednar mentioned that nothing can replace "the warmth of a tender hug" or to "see the sincerity in the eyes of another person". Which brings me back to the real reason I stopped my Facebook account. I would say about 30 of my Facebook friends were actually friends and would stop and chat with me in the grocery store or at church. Rest are just nice acquaintances who only happened to go to the same school or church I did. So maybe what I'm really saying is that I need to spend more time in the real world collecting real friends, real experiences and enjoying a real life?

I thought so...

Wake up and ...

start a completely unplanned remodel! Yeah! John had to remove the toilet on the upstairs bathroom because the $2.00 wax seal needed to be replaced. After he had removed the toilet and was ready to put in the new wax seal he stopped and asked "While I have the toilet removed, did you want to go ahead and remodel the bathroom"? Audrey and I said "You bet" and went to the store that day to pick out tile and fixtures. He had the entire bathroom ripped apart before I could get a "before" picture, but here is the old sink, shower door, medicine cabinet and the linoleum flooring. You get the idea...

Grill

Near the end of the school year in Audrey's welding class, the students were encouraged to do projects that are requested by people outside of the school. This creates an environment of a professional workspace so the students can get a taste of what it would be like if they got a job as a welder. Audrey was assigned to make a grill that would attach to a fire pit frame to create a giant outdoor grill. She made the grill by using flat bar and spacing them about 1/2" apart from each other. She wirefed (welded) the flatbar to a metal frame and created the grill. Then she had help from another student to create hinges so the grill could be removed from the fire pit for cleaning. She used some round bar and a cutting torch to heat up the bar and bend it into a hinge-like shape. She used the rest of the round bar to create a handle to lift the grill. She finally welded the hinges and handle to the frame and completed the grill. It took her a little over a week to finish it, and the person requesting the project was very satisfied. Even her teacher complimented on how good of a job she did. Now I want one!!!

Memorial Day Cemetery Tour

Grandma took Audrey, Mariska, Dakota and Cheyenne on her annual Memorial Day cemetery tour. They decorated the graves at Orchard Prairie Union Cemetery (Eugene's and Grandpa Gramlow's graves); Fairmont Cemetery (Great Grandma Carr's, Aunt Alice's & Great Grandpa Gramlow's graves); and Elk Cemetery (Great Gma & Gpa Steele, Uncle Don & his son, Aunt Charlene & her 2 sons). They also stopped by Aunt Carol V's house for a visit as well as going to visit Aunt Tricia and Grandma Whisler. Afterward they stopped at the Ram Drive-in for lunch.

Rhubarb Crunch Cake

RHUBARB CRUNCH CAKE
3 cups rhubarb cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 small package strawberry jello
1 cup butter
1 and 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 TBS white sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans

In a medium bowl, mix rhubarb with jello powder. Set aside. Mix topping ingredients in another bowl. Set aside. In large mixer bowl, combine butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Add half of the flour with salt, baking soda and baking powder. Mix well. Add sour cream and mix again. Add remaining flour and mix just until blended. Spread 1/2 of cake batter into greased 9x13" pan. Spoon rhubarb over cake batter (use a slotted spoon). Sprinkle 1/2 of topping mixture evenly over rhubarb. Drop remaining cake batter in spoonfuls over rhubarb/sugar filling and spread evenly so that all of the rhubarb is covered. Sprinkle the remaining topping over cake batter. Bake at 350º for about 35 minutes. Cake should be firm and nicely browned. Do not under bake. Serve warm or cold. Store leftover cake in refrigerator.

Iron Man 2

Another Saturday, another movie with the family, right?! This movie was really good. I actually enjoyed it better than the first Iron Man movie. After the movie we stopped at Sawtooth for lunch. Enjoyable day and a nice way to spend a rainy weekend. Being as it was the Saturday before Memorial Day of course it was raining!