Category: pammcmurtry.com

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Prairie Princesses and Pioneers

I’m working on a 

Prairie Princess Pioneer Heritage 
party for the ladies at church. 
Many of our ancestors trekked to Utah on foot from Illinois after being forced from their homes and farms by lawless mobs. 
They packed up all of their belongings, their families and provisions and the hiked over a 1,000 miles to the middle of nowhere to build new lives, new homes; finding some joy and beauty in the journey. We will celebrate their lives and the vision of these great pioneers who brought civility and culture to the wilderness, making it “blossom as a rose.” 

One of the pioneers was my ancestor. Chauncey Griswold Webb owned a blacksmith shop in Ohio, then moved with the Latter-day Saints to Nauvoo, Illinois. The shop still stands in Nauvoo and we visited there a few years ago. 


He built the covered wagon that Brigham Young used to journey west and accompanied him into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Chauncey was related to William Shakespeare. You never know who you’ll run into in the Wild West. 

Happy Trails! 


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A Father’s Day Chat

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to our favorite hero! 

Here’s a questionnaire to find out a little bit more about 

Dad, his dreams and history. You might want to ask 

your grandpas 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 you 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

(Reposted from an earlier blog)
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Happy Father’s Day

Larry Karl Layton

This is a tribute is to my larger-than-life, very first hero; my handsome dad. He served his country as a soldier during the Korean War (he was a rocket scientist), served the children of Oceanside as an educator; and when he retired, served the students of China as an English teacher. 

To me, he stands for the right and is a strength and anchor. He is a patriarch. Although the trend in society is anti-patriarchal, I’ve always maintained that administered properly, a patriarchal society is protective and supportive of the well-being of women and children. 

Thank you Dad, my first and best super hero. 
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A D-Day Tribute

Thank you to the American soldiers and the Allied forces who sacrificed to push back the tide of evil at the shores of Normandy 70 years ago today.

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty-never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Winston Churchill
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Summer Catering

Welcome McClatchy News Readers!

And thank you to delightful Erin Davis for including my comments in your summer catering piece today in 20 newspapers in 12 states nationwide.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/06/05/6460100/ultimate-summer-catering-guide.html

It’s almost time!


Join host Kim Power Stilson and me for a patriotic program on BYU Sirius XM Radio 143

Wednesday, June 24 at 1:30 p.m. Mountain

 Planning ahead for Halloween fun this fall? 
Check out my 100 days to Halloween countdown:
http://www.pammcmurtry.com/2013/07/100-days-til-halloween.html 



http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Halloween-Handbook-Artisan-Series-ebook/dp/B009PA8ON6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401998112&sr=8-1&keywords=pam+mcmurtry

And please join my friends as followers on this website for recipes, fun and entertaining ideas. 

I’m so glad you are here!
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June 24th at 1:30 p.m.

Save the Date… 

 Wednesday, June 24th at 1:30 p.m.



Please join host 
Kim Power Stilson 
and me for a 

RED, WHITE and BLUE show

on Sirius XM BYU Radio 143
as we discuss the power of patriotism and 
fun ideas for your family’s Fourth.

June 24, the broadcast begins at 1, 
I’ll be on around 1:30
Be sure to tune in!

(Maybe I’ll make some cinnamon popcorn.)
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Traveling Time

If you are in Salt Lake City, Utah before July 6th, I’d like to invite you to visit the Marriott Library at the University of Utah. On the fourth floor, near the Book Arts Lab, there is a wonderful exhibit of artist books that includes my Traveling Time.

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Bon Appetit and Bon Voyage!

Come away, come away, come away with me! 
As summer breezes begin to blow, the temptation to embark on an adventure becomes irresistible (do you remember the Wind in the Willows?) Here is a menu to fuel the energy of your wanderlust and set you on a course for a wunderbar journey. (Approved by my Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetic Educator husband.) 

Healthy and happy foods make for good traveling companions. If you eat mostly healthy food, you’ll feel better and will probably consume fewer calories than if you eat a lot of junk food.
The cold things should be in a cooler and the rest can be packed in a cute container with compartments or in a basket that’s easy to get to. A friend always packs her veggies in mason jars with ice water.

Tip: My sister-in-law makes her husband stop once a day for a sit-down meal on long trips.

Here are some of our favorites:

Drinks:
Water and fruit-infused water in bottles (lemon, strawberry, cucumber)
Vernor’s ginger ale for motion sickness
Caffeinated soda for drowsiness, can be diluted half and half with water so it’s not so sweet, or the diet variety

Fruit juices and nectars and V8

Mixed nuts
String cheese

Whole grain crackers
Popcorn
Trail Mix: I don’t like raisins and sticky foods in the car, but we do have a great trail mix made with mixed nuts, M&Ms, whole grain cereal and candy corn (I know but I’m addicted).
Beef jerky
Olives

Fresh fruits: grapes, apples, melon and bananas for less-messy eaters (plus baby wipes)
Fresh veggies: carrots, jicama, cucumber, grape tomatoes, celery, broccoli, peppers

Sandwiches, wraps and pinwheels (tortilla rolls with cream cheese, meat, tomato slices and lettuce)
Whole grain bagels and cream cheese

Long trips: A loaf of whole wheat bread and a jar of peanut butter
Yogurt in tubes


Bar cookies are usually thicker and more stable than round ones

Homemade granola bars


My boys liked to take a Frisbee or football in the car to play with at rest stops. 

Bon appetit and bon voyage!