We spent the afternoon at the Getty Center viewing artistic masterpieces by Van Gogh, Cezanne and Monet. The greatest treasures went home with us that evening and continued to arrive throughout the week as we welcomed family members and enjoyed a family reunion.
Welcome Bookwise Friends
It’s a party – thanks for stopping by! I know you’ll enjoy
A HARVEST AND HALLOWEEN HANDBOOK
A Guide to Creative Autumn Occasions
If you are looking for new and exciting ideas for fall celebrations you’ve come to the right place! The Handbook is in the editing stage right now, please leave me a message and I’ll make sure you get one of the first copies when it comes out.
In the meantime, feel free to visit my October 2010 blogs and watch for new ideas in the next few months. I’ll be posting Halloween and harvest project instructions; like the cute tags on the tree above as well as mouth-watering recipes.
If you like what you see, please sign up as a follower and I’ll make sure to get you the ideas you love to make your holidays extra special. Simply scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on follower – it just takes a minute.
A CATERING HANDBOOK and A HOLIDAY HANDBOOK will be ready soon as well. These books are filled with delightful decor, recipes and instructions to help you prepare wonder-filled parties, receptions and events. Your family and friends will love the unique treats you’ve created just for them; especially the artistic presentation.
Thanks again for stopping by – I look forward to hearing from you!
Pam
By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea…
You and me, you and me, oh how happy we’ll be!
I love the ocean. I believe that the beach is one of the places Mother Nature is at her finest.
I spent my growing up years at, near or in the ocean and would like to share a few tips
to help make your day even more pleasant. For all you lucky ones who will spend your day frolicking in the surf, enjoy!
Taking children to swim at the beach? Get a tide chart and plan your trip for low tide, the waves are smaller and usually more gentle. For tide schedule predictions try
www. saltwatertides.com.
You can go on their website, select your beach and get a schedule for the days you’ll be at the ocean.
Flotation devices make the day safer and much more fun!
Look for a beach with lifeguards- they are trained to spot unsafe water conditions; such as rip tides and sharks. They keep an eye on everything happening on their beach, and are worth their weight in gold.
Watch for warning flags near the water; some warn of unsafe conditions, others delineate surf and swim areas.
Say a little prayer for me; don’t forget a little prayer of thanks and help for a safe and fun day.
Near the water, the tiny v-shaped marks in the sand mean sand crabs. If you dig a hole and let the waves swirl in, sometimes you can see sand crabs swimming around. Pick one up, they tickle!
Buckets, shovels, sieves and molds make building a blast!
Bring bags for shell collecting. The earlier in the morning you go, the better the selection. You probably don’t want to take home crabs and seaweed, they don’t live very long and get stinky. Some places, such as tide pools, have restrictions on taking things from nature. Just watch for signs and follow the rules. If you can’t find shells you like, there are often gift stores nearby that sell them as well as post cards to help you remember your summer fun.
Jellyfish – leave them alone. Most are not lethal, but if you do get stung, white vinegar applied to the site for 15 – 30 minutes quickly will neutralize the toxins and ease the pain. Remove tentacles and stingers, you can use a credit card to scrape them off. If the victim experiences difficulty breathing get medical help immediately.
A final word of advice, don’t shave before going in salt water – ouch!
Have a wonderful day the beach – God’s playground for children.
photo courtesy of
http://hd-wallpapers-widescreen.thundafunda.com/desktop-images/beach-backgrounds/coasta-holiday-sand-beach/
Mexican Chef Salad
My Mom introduced us to this fab recipe – it’s a warm weather treat we’ve enjoyed ever since!
Mom’s Mexican Chef Salad
Serves twelve
In a very large bowl, toss together:
2 heads lettuce, torn
4 tomatoes, coarsely chopped
2 avocados, peeled and cubed
½ of a 13 oz. bag nacho cheese tortilla chips, broken
1 lb. ground beef or turkey, browned and drained
1 medium onion, chopped
2 15 oz. can kidney or black beans, drained
1 6 oz. can black olives, drained and sliced
2 C. Cheddar cheese, grated
2 C. Thousand Island salad dressing (recipe on page 12)
Serve immediately.
Happy Father’s Day
HAPPY FATHER”S DAY to our favorite hero! Guys love to talk; here’s a questionnaire to share with Dad to find out a little bit more about him, his dreams and history. You might want to pass it along to grandpa and uncles too!
ALL ABOUT DAD
Some of your favorite things
What you loved to do with your Mom
…Your Dad
Your favorite relatives (and why)
Values your family instilled in you
Favorite childhood activities
Family trips
Books you loved
Who were your heroes?
Your dreams?
Your sisters and brothers
Your childhood home
Your grandparents
Memories of church
Your favorite teacher in elementary school (and why)
Your favorite holiday (and why)
Your favorite subjects in high school
Some popular songs
Did you play sports, act, write or….
What you did with friends
Your first job
Your first car
How you met my mother
Why they picked my name
About college
Your accomplishments
Service to God
Service in the community
Favorite vacations
People you’ve known
Your favorite president
Present dreams
Your favorite game
Your favorite scripture story
Things you wish you’d done differently
Your passions
Your hobbies
What you’d like to do
Life’s lessons you’d like to pass along to your family
Day One: To Infinity and Beyond; Andrew, Annie, Apollo, Guiness and Ruger
We locked up the house and changed the transmission fluid. You know, the things you do when you’re going to be gone a few days. The Thaxtons took Ink, our black kitty, and off we went on a 3255 mile odyssey that took us across the Midwest, dodging tornadoes, to the homes of family and friends, historic and sacred places and ultimately the wedding of Brianne and Dylan.
First stop: Andrew, Annie, Apollo, Guiness and Ruger
Andrew was on leave, preparing for his deployment to Afghanistan. As a Mom you hate to think of people who didn’t go to his little league games shooting at him. If they only knew what a great guy he is. His darling wife Annie will keep the home fires burning. They bought the cutest condo and have three little guys, a dachsy, scotty and a wolf of some kind.We wrestled with the dogs, Andrew wrestled with Tim. Andrew wrestles with everyone, even Danger Dean – he’s a club wrestler.
Day Two: More Andrew and Annie; Simone and the Killer Bunnies
Anyone who knows Newell knows how much he LOVES Thorlo socks. He’s pretty low key about most things, but is demanding about his socks. Andrew took us shopping for Thorlos, contributing to a very happy Newelly 🙂
We ate lunch out, then headed back to the house. Annie had invited her friend Simone to dinner. I asked Andrew what he wanted me to make for dessert. He replied won tons. yum. Spontaneously the menu changed and wontons became the entree. Simone, who is deploying to Afghanistan, was an enchanting lady, she changed my preconceived notion about female soldiers!
After dinner, we played several rounds of Killer Bunnies. Tim was familiar with the card game. I’d never heard of it, it was crazy and a lot of fun.
Day Three: The McMurtry’s Holly, Santa Fe Trail and Auntie Em (and Tim) in Kansas
Newell’s first home was in Holly CO. The population of around 1,000 goes up and down a bit, but hasn’t changed much in many decades. He’s sporting a Colorado cap given him by a nice lady at the hospitality center and his Virginia Tech polo shirt (…later)
This is the location of his Grandma’s house which was destroyed by a tornado after Newell and Tim’s last visit to Holly a few years ago. The McMurtrys had a cattle ranch a few miles out of town. Grandma Mac and family lived in town; she taught business at the high school.
We stopped to pay our respects at the local cemetery. Newell’s grandfather and others were buried together in the family plot. Since Newell had always wanted to be buried near his family in Holly, we were fortunate on the day we were there, to meet the cemetery superintendent. Of the five graveyards he manages, he happened to be on the property that day, Newell spoke with him and reserved the plot adjacent to his grandfather.
The Santa Fe trail abuts the Holly Cemetery. Ruts from wagon wheels are still visible.
The McMurtry Building in downtown Holly. Built from locally hewn sandstone, it still stands in the center of town. Originally it was a bank, then land office. It is currently used as the town recreation center.
After dodging tornadoes, we arrived safely at the home of (Auntie) Em and Tim. They were very gracious hosts and it was wonderful to spend time with the newlyweds. They were married on our anniversary in February 🙂 Tim is in the U.S. Army and Ems is working on her teaching credential – she wants to teach Kindergarten – lucky kids!
Day Four: Misery and Illinois
Sorry, that’s Missouri; Andrew renamed it after going through army basic training there. I LOVED Missouri. I really LOVED IT!
We visited Jackson County Mo, where modern revelation has pinpointed the location of the Garden of Eden. This site in Independence, MO is where the temple of New Jerusalem will be built. The scriptures say the glory of the Lord will be there and it will be a place of gathering; a place of peace, refuge and safety.
Liberty Jail, where Joseph Smith and friends endured much misery; but in the end grew stronger and more capable. The amazing revelations found in the Doctrine and Covenants 121 – 123 were received in this lowly, holy place.
Adam Ondi Ahman, the place where God and man connected. After leaving Eden, Adam and Eve traveled here to live and start their family, making it the literal cradle of civilization. Before Christ’s second coming, He will meet with Adam, the prophets and priesthood holders here for a report of their stewardshiips. It is a beautiful, peaceful valley.
The mighty Mississippi viewed from Nauvoo. The Latter-day Saints bought property here, drained the swamp and built Nauvoo “Beautiful Place” into the second largest city in Illinois in its day.
We visited the Red Brick Store where the first Relief Society was organized. It had been demolished and reconstructed, but the original feeling of good still lingered…
Here’s Tim who is actually too cool to spend this many days with his parents, but he was a good sport!
Day Five: The Wedding Rehearsal Dinner, Exploring Nauvoo and a gift
Our great… great grandfather Chauncey Gilbert Webb lived in this house near his family’s blacksmith shop.
C. G. and his brothers operated one of 38 blacksmith shops in Nauvoo in the 1830s – 40s. Their shop was on Parley Street; the route the Saints took as they left Nauvoo to cross the frozen Mississippi River when they were driven from the city on a cold February day.
The Webbs also built many of the covered wagons the Mormons used for their relocation to Utah. According to one account; Chauncey was with Brigham Young’s group that entered the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847. He also helped rescue the Martin Handcart Company when they became stranded on the plains.
Grandma and Grandpa Chesnut look over a wagon.
Our other great…great grandfather Christopher Layton had a farm near this location. He marched from Iowa to San Diego with the Mormon Battalion to fight the war with Mexico, brought Saints from England and settled Utah and Arizona. He’s buried with our great…great grandmother Caroline Cooper about a mile from our home in Utah.
Back to the present to enjoy a riverfront dinner and chance to visit with Brianne’s charming family.
A turquoise pot (Brianne’s wedding color) filled with goodies for the newlyweds’ new home.
Karl brought over an unbelievable assortment of Japanese snack foods: including KitKats in flavors I’d never heard of – wasabi? It was good…