Spare a life...maybe even yours

One of my greatest fears and causes of sleepless anxiety is worry over someone, anyone...whether I know them or not....losing a loved one.  Especially for a senseless and preventable reason.  I would do anything to spare the suffering caused by a useless death of a beloved friend or family member.

If I could have one wish and one desire for 2011, it would be that everyone around the world would heed the warnings given and posted regarding texting and driving.  That they would put down those phones while behind the wheel of any vehicle.

I'm even more concerned about texting and driving than I am about drinking and driving.  It is accessible to every single person of any age, station in life and in many more instances...just as, if not more debilitating.

Over and over we hear of tragic, meaningless deaths by acts of texting and driving.  Not only for the person who is participating but for the innocent victims, caught unaware.

I don't think anyone can fathom the level and depth of pain felt by someone who has accidentally taken the life of someone else.  I myself, would rather die, then be the one who inflicted that kind of pain on someone else.  I couldn't bear it.

I can't tell you how many times I have been driving next to someone texting.  Numerous.  Infinitesimal.  Those are words that come to mind.  I see them every single day.

I shudder and revolt at the thought of my own children doing it.

Please.  Please, don't do it.  Don't risk it.  Don't even think for one moment that you are mature enough, or skilled enough to think that you can text and drive at the same time.  It only takes seconds to become incapacitated enough to die or cause a death.  Don't even text someone that you know is driving.  Don't make it difficult for them to make the choice to read the text or reply.  Don't do it.  Don't enable anyone.  Don't make it possible for them to take their eyes from the road for even one second.

Death people.  It's done.  Can you wrap your brain around that?  Can you comprehend it?  Is it worth it?



Ask someone who has lost a loved one to a texting and driving accident and see if it's worth it to you....to spare a life.

Things you do on Christmas Break

Me:  Church work
Boyd:  work
Hunter:  Musical Rehearsal
Bridger:  Making Videos



Oh, the joys of teenage girls.

Today will be the first day since school got out that there is no Musical Rehearsal and we'll just be home.  This break went by way too fast.

Rewind

A rewind of 2010

Favorites posts of the months....

January ~ A quick trip to see a Southern Belle

February ~ Working on my 'but' and appreciating 'this gift'

March ~ Worrying about my own Judgement Day

April ~ I called a truce.

May ~ Some doors closed and my chocolate obsession is underway

June ~ Feeling Alive.

July ~ Wrapping my mind around a move.

August ~ Exploring native markings in different places.

September ~ A piece of Italy.

October ~ Recapturing Beauty and learning to like myself.


November ~ Experimenting with photos and passion for hiking.


December ~ Witnessing history and charity.


And my favorite news of the year has been the progress at the Kansas City Temple.  


And if I could narrow down into 3 goals, what I'd like to achieve in 2011...this is what they'd be...


1.  More Holiness give me.
     Charity and love for Christ, my family and others.


2.  More Preparedness give me.
     Filling my lamps with oil.


3.  More Healthy Habits give me.
     More movement.  More vegetables.  Less gluttony.


More strength to ore'come.  
I know generally, "less is best" but this year, hopefully will be about the More that I can give not get.

Here's to rewinding 2010 and to More in 2011.

Happiness is: Cousins & Mayhem

It's always fun when cousins come, when cousins come...hooray!

Happiness this week is:
gratitude for a warm, dry home
healthy babies
shared talents
the sunshine showing it's face
greeting cards from around the country
mayhem and memories

What I ate and other Christmas gluttony

Christmas and all it's delicacies.

A stone's throw from where we slept...was the mountainside bistro featuring the Christmas Dinner of my dreams.

The girls were lovingly encouraged to wear their matching sweaters, courtesy of Santa..Mom.  

To trek across the courtyard on a moonlit, snowy night.

To "A European Holiday Smorgasbord."...it was called.

The stuff of heaven.

The menu....that I may never forget....

Swedish Mustard Herring with Dill

Curry Herring with Chopped Egg

Pickled Herring with Sour Creme, Chopped Red Onion, Boiled Baby Red Skins

Holiday Eggs with Shrimp and Caviar Creme

Gravad Lax with Hovmastaras

Warm Smoked Salmon with Horseradish Creme with Red Onion and Capers

Poached Salmon with Sauce Verte with Mayo and Lemon Slices

Mixed Green Salad with Fresh Herb Vinaigrette

Assorted European Relish Tray with Mixed Olives and Roasted Baby Peppers

Crudites with Fresh Herb Creme, Brie and Buttermilk Bleu Cheese

Swedish Meatballs with Sour Cream Mashed Potato and Lingonberry

Janasson's Frestelse-Au Gratin Potato with Anchovies, Onions, Heavy Cream, and bread crumbs

Rosemary Roasted Turkey with Lingonberry Chutney

Mull-spiced Wine Glazed Swedish Salt Cured Ham

Braised Red Cabbage

Carrots with Braised Onions

Port Tenderloin with Will Mushroom Ragout

Lingonberry Sparkling Cider

A Vast Variety of Swedish Holiday Desserts

My mouth is still watering, even though I am still full two days later.  And yes, I ate ALL that.

And then there's this...

Something to nosh on in between feasts.  As if we needed more.

Toffee Crack from Me and My Pink Mixer

Saltine Crackers

1 stick of butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 bag of chocolate chips

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.  Place saltine crackers all over foil.  Make sure the entire cookie sheet is covered in crackers.  Melt butter in a saucepan and add brown sugar.  Stir over medium heat until caramelized (about 3 minutes).  Pour toffee over crackers and spread evenly with a spatula.  Place in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes.

Remove from oven and pour bag of chocolate chips all over toffee.  As they melt, spread evenly.  Top with chopped pecans or other nuts if desired.  Place in freezer to set chocolate.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas...with out the Christmas gluttony.

Speaking of Birds...

I get to spend the next few days with all my chicks under one roof.

So...

Graphic from So Very Happy

I get both...to be with my birds and the french fries....and to top it off, I'm sure there will be fry sauce involved, which is just maddeningly happy.  

Some times I feel a little melancholy for the remaining days of a year.  I almost panic.  There's still a couple of weeks to fulfill all those 2010 resolutions!  Right.  

I'm hoping that this year will be different.

I'm looking forward to ushering a new year.  

Blue bird, New Bird, Baby Birds....Bird is the word....

May all your Christmases be filled with Birds.

Unsolicited Pie Endorsement

I think I found my dream job.

To be the official spokesman for Croshaw's Pies....here in St. George.  (Click on Crowshaw's Pies to go to their website)

They don't know me from Adam...but I know them.  I've been stalking them all week.
From the front counter, I watched them hand-making their pie crust dough.  Like, the real way...old fashioned...with their bare hands.

In fact, I approve of them so much, I have had Croshaw's pies for breakfast for three days in a row now.

Today's breakfast menu:
Cream cheese pie with divine graham cracker crust with a sliver of Pecan Pie on the side.

Since I've had dessert for breakfast, I probably ought to go to Croshaw's today and order some of their homemade soup or a pot pie!

I know...my unsolicited opinion doesn't count for much, but I'd say I'm their biggest fan right now.

So, if you decide to check them out....tell them the Dixie Mom sent you....and that she'd like an official pie tasting job.


Oh. And if you haven't already done so...go find some Santa's in your area and come back and post them on the Santa Sighting link party....here.
Don't you believe?

A Santa Sighting Linky Party

When what on my daily walk should appear...

but Jolly St. Nick and Mrs. Claus standing near!

I thought it would be fun to get into the spirit of Santa Claus by finding evidences of him in as many places as possible. Play along and let's see if we can catch the spirit!!

As for me and my house...we BELIEVE!

Share your Santa Sightings.....



Post your photos of Santa's and link back if you can!  The party is open until Christmas Eve, so come back and link your post.





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In a hole

I'm in a bit of a hole, in many ways, right now.

My hobbit home is in a hole.  I think I recently discovered that we have spectacular sunsets almost every night. Since sunsets are simultaneous with dinner, and we have not one hobbit window facing the west...alas, I have missed the majority of our delightful red displays.

I happened to catch this little fire ball on my way to the high school a couple of nights ago.  It pays to be busy about business during the bewitching hour.

I wonder as I wander out under the sky...

How Jesus our Savior did come for to die.

To save on'ry people, like you and like I.  

I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

I can't help but think on these words when I get these glimpses of stunning evening light.

There are other holes left to be filled.  

The winter blues have officially set in.  Try as I may, I am not doing well at shaking them off this time.  I don't have the luxury of having my usual rescuers around me this year. I'd say I'm about a day and a half away from becoming a clinical hermit and putting in the final nail on my proverbial bondage coffin.   

Nothing wrong with that except that I will burrow myself deeper into the hobbit hole, and then I'll never see the Light.

And is it me or is everyone in a dire situation right now? I am consumed with anxiety and worry for everyone else. Unable to assist from my hobbit hole. If earnest prayers can penetrate my clay tiled roof, then know that they are being lifted at all times from a this little corner of the desert. And if those I love can find comfort, then I will too.

But hey.  It goes away....these blues.  Until then, I'm on Santa Sighting duty.  We are believers in this hobbit home. Last night I witnessed literally hundreds of "Santas" plow through an over-capacity-filled Walmart with their "lists" of wishes to fulfill.  Locally, there was an adopt-a-family program running and I was honored to observe families, scouts, children, students and grandparents piling their shopping carts with gifts for those they don't even know. Santa is real people.

Santa knows and fills the holes.

That's what my Christmas wish is.....to have the holes filled.

History in the Making

No new earth shattering history being made here today.

But yesterday I discovered how a little Dixie history was made.

With my partner in crime (aka visiting teaching partner extraordinaire), I discovered a trail here that's new to me. Not new to the area, just to me.  We traversed the trail used by early settlers to haul basalt lava rock to and from a quarry for the foundation of the St. George Temple.

I see this trail everyday from the road I drive on and never knew....that it really is one of Dixie's original trails. I've seen dozens of blazed trails in this area...never ones blazed by the original inhabitants though.

The story goes....President Young wanted the temple to be built in a location that was a little less desirable. It happened to be a place that would turn into a marsh after rains.  There was also a spring discovered inside the lines of the newly placed foundation walls.  The spring was capped and the President's revelation of the history of that sacred site and what it was to be, was fulfilled.

In order to build a sure foundation, "impervious" to the alkali, damp soil...basalt lava rock was blasted and chipped away from the side of a nearby butte in large slabs or bricks.  These slabs were hauled on the underside of wagons down the steep slopes.  Remnants of powder blasting and cutting of the rocks are still there today.  A designated trail has been established with the entrance being located directly behind the St. George airport....which is lucky for us because it has eliminated the steepest parts of the trail by starting there.

Once again, the plucky resourcefulness of those pioneers astounds me.

And because I am a little obsessed with a certain similar history in the making....(witnessed here)...this day was an extra special treat for me.

Thanks to S.A. I was able to be one of the few witnesses of history in the making today.

December 14th Happiness is:

This evening's happiness brought to you by:

The Christmas light displays of Dixie.  Enjoyed from the cab of the Ford truck, with the windows down on a balmy night. With only a t-shirt, sweats and a pair of flip flops on.

Let your light so shine.

Lola's Christmas Wish

Dear Santa,

I've been a good dog this year.

I've cut way back on my dirty laundry shredding.
I only steal socks in pairs now.
I had to move far, far away this year and ride in a stinky car for hours and hours.
My owners blame me for every smell.
I've only escaped twice since we moved.
I willingly trudge through sand, rocks and streams with my explorer owner.
I've learned to sleep at the foot of the bed....mostly.

So, because of all that goodness...I have a few requests for Christmas this year...

Please Santa, can I have an ornament of myself on the tree? It's all about me around here and my owners don't seem to get that.

Plus, sometimes SHE (the boss lady) MAKES me go for long walks very early in the morning...it's frosty out there Santa!  I need a cozy sweater to keep me warm.

But please, please Santa...don't bring me something that would embarrass me.  I hate humiliation.  Like this poor fellow here...

And Santa, I seem to have misplaced all my tennis balls.  I can't find them! And my owner is always yelling.."Lola, get the ball!"  And I run around looking and looking and I just can't find them and....oh, please Santa, for the love of sanity, PLEASE give me more tennis balls!!!

And I've been thinking very carefully about this one, Santa. Do you think I need a buddy?  I mean, I am getting older and wiser and maybe I could be a good friend. Maybe I just need someone that I can boss...I mean, play with.  Do you think you could send something small and fluffy...just for me?

Santa,  I'm just going to go back and do what I do best...and take a nap.  

Thanks for your consideration,

Love, Lola Ebola, the Wire Fox Terror...er....Terrier.

Sweet & Spicy Tradition

I have a new obsession, er....tradition.

Cranberry Salsa
1 bag of fresh cranberries
1 bunch of cilantro
1 medium onion
1 small jalapeno without the seeds
1 cup sugar
Juice of one lime

Mix in a food processor or super blender and refrigerate for an hour...if you can wait that long.  I didn't and it was pretty darn good.
Serve alone or over a brick of softened cream cheese with tortilla chips or crackers.

Thanks to Avoiding the Laundry for the recipe.  Although, after I've finished off the second batch, I'm not sure I'll be very thankful anymore.

Oh, but be sure not to rub your eyes two hours later after making the salsa.  That jalapeno pepper will still have the power to burn your eyes out!

And, the salsa is really good over enchiladas...just sayin'.

I think this tradition will be around for more then just the Christmas holidays...