The Meandering Thoughts of Jan

It is official, we are Olympic junkies in this household.  We are watching women's swimming as I speak.  I love the Olympics, especially that they are in England this year.  Not only am I constantly getting excitable by the competitions, but also when I see areas on screen that I recognize from England.  Honestly, I don't even care what sport it is, I love it all.  Which is so funny, because I'm not really a sporty person.  I just like seeing people living their dreams.  I've teared up more than once (or twice) for both the athletes who win and lose.  The Olympics, so emotional.  Anyway, to ring in the Olympics, I put together a fun British dinner for Danny and me while we watched the opening ceremonies.  Any excuse to eat English chocolate. These are brought to you, well to me, by the London Market in Salt Lake City.   Cheese scones from the British Market. A popcorn "torch". Danny raising his po...

My honey (in my very non-biased opinion) is a master when it comes to the guitar and bass.  He recently had two gigs with different groups of friends where he got to display his fine guitar playing talent.  His performance was a bit swoon-worthy if you ask me, but I am his wife. First off, Danny and his friends Jeff, Joey and John playing "Fearful Odds" (an original) at the Relay for Life Concert in Murray. And yes, I was the camera woman for both of these videos. Second performance was at Lehi Arts in the Park where Danny played with his friend JaNae.  You should check out her music , she has an amazing voice.  However this video is just of Danny playing a song he composed.  Enjoy!

I came across the greatest find yesterday. (Remember simple things bring me pleasure.) You see, we have this cute tree in the corner of our backyard, which has been lovely in every season.  It blossomed in the Spring and I assumed it was a crab apple tree, because it looked similar to one that my neighbors had growing up.  As kids, my friends and I used to dare each other to eat the crab apples on the way home from school and laugh at each other's puckering sour faces.  However, I noticed the fruit growing bigger than a crab apple, so I investigated last night and found that we have a plum tree!  Oh the joys!  I'm a plum farmer and I didn't even know it!  I tasted them and they are delicious, sweet and tart.  Now I need some good plum recipes.  If you have any, send them my way. plum good Yesterday was the grand holiday of Pioneer Day here in Utah.  I even got work off!  I missed the parade and most things pion...

* I almost decided to not write this post after reading the news this morning about the shooting in Colorado.  My heart aches for the victims and the families of those affected by this senseless violence.  Reading the updates on the news websites has left me with a gloomy feeling all morning.  But then I thought one of the purposes of my blog is to focus on the good things in life.  My own little reminder of the many blessings I have.  I still believe there is more good, love and charity than evil and hate in this world.  So this is my own little way of pushing back on the inhumane and selfish individuals that get so much media attention by listing a few things that made my heart smile this week.  In the words of a friend who posted on facebook this morning who is from Colorado... "We need to keep believing in the good even though we are surrounded by so much bad.  I promise, there are more of us than them." Sweet Thing #1 A week or two ago the...

On the scale of one to chaotic, this past weekend inched closer to chaotic than I would have preferred.  It was super busy with some interesting occurrences.  I woke up this morning exhausted.  At least a lot of our busy activities were fun. Here's the weekend update... Friday morning: We woke up to one car in our car port.  We generally have two.  Unfortunately, Danny's car was stolen.  Not a happy thing to wake up to at all.  We called the cops and the insurance company and then figured out how to get through our schedule with one car. Friday night/Saturday morning, 1am: We got a call from the police and they had found our car! Yay!  They told us we had to go get it then.  So off we went in our pajamas to pick up our long lost car.   Saturday morning: Got up and cleaned the house. Saturday afternoon: Had a party with the girls in our primary class.  The kiddos in our class earn parties if they are reveren...

We had book club while Melina was in town, so no video chat needed.  It was so great to all be together.  For this book club, we read the classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass .  Melina and Talena put together such a cute book club.  We had a tea party in honor of the book.  The delectables were delicious and adorable.  I have such creative friends.  We discussed the book for a bit and then dove into world problems or at least our problems.  It always feels so validating and enlightening to discuss life with my amazing friends who know me so well.  I always feel uplifted after spending time with them, no matter what we do. Our Alice in Wonderland tea party. The smoking caterpillar from the book made with grapes. Chess sugar cookies. This picture of Talena makes me so happy. Our cheerful book club, Me, Melina and Talena.  We all put ribbons in our hair in honor of Alice....

Today is hot, very hot.  Our swamp cooler just brings in humidity in this heat and not actual cool air.  I had cooked to about medium-rare from sitting in our house, so I made a request to the husband that we leave our oven-like apartment.  We went to the best air conditioned place we know of, our little car. The thermometer read 91 degrees at 10pm, craziness.   (The high today was over 100.)   We meandered through the streets of SLC and ended up getting smoothies to cool off.  Not a bad evening.  And now, some stuff. I really liked this article on the importance of scripture reading.  It takes an interesting psychological approach.   This made me sad , but if the U of U can't take the heat of competition, so be it. (Danny does not approve of this bullet point, haha.) My deep thought for the day...

I really like Ted talks, because they make me think.  Thinking is a good thing, I hear.  I stumbled across this Ted talk that was shared by a co-worker and I really like the idea that is shared by Elizabeth Gilbert (Author of Eat, Pray Love which I actually haven't read, but I did see the movie.  And as I say that I cringe so much, because I hate when people say that, as if a movie can replace a book - sorry filmmaker coworkers, but it's true. I have the desire to almost postpone this post until I have read the book so I don't have to admit that, but I'm going to ignore that urge and carry on.)   Anyway, I really enjoy the idea that Elizabeth Gilbert shares about creativity.  Although she says it in a different way than I would, I agree with her reasoning that so many creative souls become tormented souls because they don't give acknowledgement to their Creator who gave them creativity in the first place.  And might I add, I think every person on this earth...

Slept in, my favorite part of any holiday. Made smoothies for breakfast. Watched a couple of episodes of "24", because watching Jack Bauer take down terrorists is very patriotic.   Enjoyed a delightful lunch at Noodles and Company.  Don't worry, we only chose from the American menu...that is actually a lie, but it sounded good. Visited the Sugarhouse Art Festival.  Ummm, there were lots of hippies. Visited Danny's Uncle Tom and Aunt Diane's house and chilled with the cousins. Went to my brother Tim's house for dinner. Consumed way too much food and multiple desserts. Pushed the nephews on the swings until I told Dr. C my arms would fall off.  Unfortunately, he believed me and was confused.   Won Apples to Apples!  I'm known for my mind reading skills. :) Watched a firework show put on by Tim and played with sparklers. On our drive home, parked on the side of the road and watched more fireworks.  I love fireworks! HAPPY INDEPENDENCE...

Oh friends, you know what summer means to me?  It means hiking season!  What joy it has already brought me.  A little escape to nature does wonders to my mood.  I've enjoyed a bit of the great outdoors recently on a few different hikes. Big Cottonwood Canyon - The Red Pine Trail Bryce Canyon - The Queen's Garden Trail All smiles at the beginning Becky, Me and Talena Our group! (minus Danny)  Christoper, Is, Dave, Melina, Me, Talena Elly, Becky and Tad! Bryce Canyon -Mossy Caves Trail The Born Sisters! Talena! Danny up by the arch. Me, Talena and Melina! Danny exploring the waterfall. Foot Shot! Dave and Is.  This little girl loved the water. Part of our group by the Mossy Caves.  Is (sleeping), Dave, Melina, Becky, Tad, Christopher and Danny. The End.