Bluebird

Est. 1914 right on Main Street across from the Tabernacle

This is the cherry ironport I told you about in this post.

Yeah, this place is pretty much amazing! They serve huge warm dinner rolls right as you're seated. The food has been great every time we've gone and I think Gabe made it there again recently. Yum-O!

This darling sign is hanging right by the exit. AMEN!

a few more

These pictures were from a walk I took in Utah right before I left. So pretty. I miss those mountains!

By the way, I want a cherry tree now.

Green canyon

Gabe and Joe taking it easy. So cute!

The Merry Widow

A group of us including Ron and some his family went to opening night of Merry Widow. Gabe was amazing! I think he impressed everyone and definitely stole the show!

On the left is our friend Lisa, who attended our ward in Houston, and Ron, her father who hosted us in Utah. On the right is our friend Jennie who also sang in the program. Being silly after the show.

Then we had a flat tire. Such is life.

Good job honey!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lately

Wisdom teeth extraction...check

Feel like getting hit by a truck...check

I feel so lousy. I made the quick decision to get a consultation with an oral surgeon and scheduled my surgery within two days. It had to be done. I've been putting it off waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long, but the feelings of remorse exist still. It hurts to talk, but I can type. Hopefully I'll feel better in a couple days. Wish my hubby was here, but if I waited that long we would have been too close to our move to Minnesota. I wanted to be completely healed. Mom and Linny are taking good care of me, though.

Aside from that, I just wanted to share some news with you all. Gabe competed in a singing competition in Utah yesterday and won!!!! He gets a paid trip to Italy to sing at the international level now! I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo proud of him!!! We don't have all the details but as soon as we know more I'll let you know.

Group shot of The Merry Widow cast (minus a few). Pic from one of Gabe's friends. Can you see Gabe? Ten points to gryffindor if you find him. That might be the drugs talking.

Stay tuned for more blog updates from Utah and my cousins wedding!

Have a cookie and thoughts on shortening

While I was in Utah we had the privilege of staying in a home with a packed pantry and freezer. One night while I was alone I went hunting for a cookie recipe and the right ingredients. I found everything pretty quickly including vegetable shortening which I had never recalled using while cooking. Never. Can't remember my parents ever using it either for anything.

A few days later while reading The Help (my new favorite book) I came across the following passage. Minny is attempting to help Celia become a better cook.

I’ve never told a white woman what to do and I don’t really know how to start. I pull up my stockings, think about it. Finally, I point to the can on the counter.

“I reckon if there’s anything you ought to know about cooking, it’s this.”
“That’s just lard ain’t it.”
“No, it ain’t just lard,” I say. “it’s the most important invention in the kitchen since jarred mayonnaise.”
“What’s so special about”- she wrinkles her nose at it- “pig fat?”
“Ain’t pig, it’s vegetable.” Who in this world doesn’t know what Crisco is? “You don’t have a clue of all the things you can do with this here can.”
She shrugs, “Fry?”
“Ain’t just for frying. You ever get a sticky something stuck in your hair, like gum?” I jackhammer my finger on the criso can. “That’s right, Crisco. Spread this on a baby’s bottom, you won’t even know what diaper rash is.” I plop three scoops in the black skillet. “Shoot, I seen ladies rub it under they eyes and on they husbands scaly feet.”
“Look how pretty it is.” she says ”Like white cake frosting.”
“Clean the goo from a price tag, take the squeak out of a door hinge. Lights get cut off, stick a wick in it and burn it like a candle.”
I turn on the flame and we watch it melt down in the pan. “And after all that, it’ll still fry your chicken.”

The book is so freaking amazing. So, after some experimentation with butter v. shortening, I tried both. It was amazing!

Sift 1/4 c flour

1 ts salt

1 ts baking soda
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 ts vanilla
1/2 tb water
2 eggs

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup reese's peanut butter morsels

1 cup nuts (I used chopped walnuts)

Combine dry ingredients. Add shortening, butter, vanilla and eggs. Mix. Fold in choc chips/pb and nuts. Then bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.  

  

Campfire

Before I came home we went up green canyon with some friends and had some yummy food. The canyon was beautiful at dusk. We had so much fun. I'm in Orlando now and I miss my honey and the beautiful Utah weather!!

fun

It is all over and I am sad. Going in I had equal parts elation and disappointment that it was all over. The movie was great. So glad I got to see it with someone who loves it as much as me.

******************************************************************

Today we woke up on the sixth anniversary of our engagement. Gabe had been home from his mission only a few weeks. I had recently passed my nursing boards, and was working as a new nurse. I was thrilled he was home. We spoke about getting married and prayed and the peace always came. On our very first date January 8, 2000 we went to the Olive Garden and five and half years later he took me back there. After dinner was over he blindfolded me and drove me to a friend's home directly across the street from the Orlando temple. He brought me in to the house sat me down and serenaded me on the piano, then got on his knee and asked if I would be his. It was magical with the backdrop of the illuminous temple.

Would you believe I do not have a single picture? Not one. That was before I had a digital camera or camera phone. We were a little preoccupied anyway.

I am leaving Utah tomorrow so we tried to have a fun day in between shows. We ate at a local joint called Angie's. They are famous for their "kitchen sink." So, we just had to get one. Twist our arms.

When we finished it (with another friend) we got a bumper sticker. Really it was Gabe's prize.

He had a performance tonight and he boasted about his new bumper sticker.

He texted me earlier to say that everyone wanted his picture with it.

I told him I was proud.



Potter lovin'!

We are going to see the movie tonight!! We are so excited. We got our tickets yesterday just in case they sold out.  

Ummmmm, could you tell I was excited?

I am also really sad that it's all coming to an end. I started reading the series when I worked at TMH in the mother/baby unit. It seemed like everyone was reading them but me! I quickly fell in love, of course. Have you seen it yet? Did you love it??

In honor of Arry Potter here is a link to a recipe for Butter Beer that we have tried before with friends! It's delicious! Give it a try!! Heather Bailey has all kinds of fun Potter recipes!

Butter Beer

lovely wall art

This could be yours for four whole quarters. Looks like a placemat turned wall art.

We love the DI. (thrift store in UT)

local treats

Here are some fun treats we have been experiencing in Utah lately! We had countless people implore us to go get Aggie ice cream when they found out we would be in Logan. The shop is located on USU campus and it did not disappoint. In fact, we had it two nights in a row!

The next joyous discovery has been from a local operation called Cox Honeyland. We have become addicted to cream honey. Try in on fruit, oatmeal, cereal, ice cream, crackers, granola, cookies, etc. I plan on buying a giant tub of this before we leave! Soooooooooooooooooo good!

The next amazing thing we found was Root Beer milk, made at Gossner Dairy farm. Believe it or not this stuff has a shelf life, no refrigeration necessary. I still haven't figured that out. Not only does it come in root beer flavor, but also mango, orange, and banana. Whaaaaat? The root beer milk tastes like a root beer float and it's very tasty. We haven't tried the other flavors but I've heard they are like drinking creamsicles. They even have recipes for the stuff. Go here Crazy! Have you ever had root beer milk?

Shows, shows, shows

Gabe has had one performance after the other lately. The season opened up last Wednesday and have already had 5 performances. Tomorrow is Gabe's big show, The Merry Widow. Michael Ballam recently spoke before a Tabernacle concert and introduced Gabe and spoke very highly of him, which is always nice to hear. He told everyone the story of meeting Gabe and when he heard his audition piece from The Merry Widow he instantly knew he had to replace the Danilo whom had already been cast. He said, "I wasn't really sure how to go about telling someone they were out of a job, but it happened pretty quickly...since that person was me." Everyone thought that was pretty funny! I'm sure Gabe will exceed his expectations. Here's another costume pic for you from The Merry Widow!

Gabe's first performance of Don Giovanni went really well. After all the shows there is a meet and greet outside the theatre and Gabe was thrilled to be able to meet President Dieter F. Uchdorf, a leader in the LDS church. He greeted everyone in the show, but I think Gabe may have been one of two people who actually knew who he was. Gabe said he was so gracious. I wasn't there and Gabe was unprepared with no phone or camera, so he was even happier to see him the next day after South Pacific with his wife. Gabe came prepared with phone is hand this time.

Fun times!!!!

I saw a mighty angel fly

I saw a mighty angel fly; to earth he bent his way,



A message bearing from on high to cheer the sons of day.

Truth is the message which he bears, the gospels joyful sound,

To calm our doubts, to chase our fears, and make our joys abound.

He cries, and with a mighty voice; Ye nations lend an ear, and isles and continents rejoice:

The great Redeemer's near!

He cries; let every ear attend, and thrones and empires all!

Fear God, and make the Lord your friend,

The King, the Lord of all!

Fear God, who made the water pure, the heavens, sea, and land

His judgement will be swift and sure; the day is night at hand. Then all ye people worship God;

Give glory to His name!

To spread these tidings far abroad

The holy angel came.






Text: Anon., ca. 1840
Music: English melody, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872–1958.

Costumes

Gabe likes to take pictures of his costumes and send them to me. Take a look see.

Masetto (Don Giovanni)

Masetto, take 2

Random French man in South Pacific. Haha!

Hunka Hunka Burnin' sailor love in South Pacific. Excuse the urinals.

Aaaaaand, my personal favorite...........

LOL!! He captioned this photo "Do you believe in modern day prophets?"

Ensemble member in Boris Godunov

He's been a little busy!