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How I Spent my Summer Vacation

With the lingering drama of the pandemic and most travel out of the question I was not anticipating much fun this summer.

My daughter had other ideas. About to celebrate a milestone birthday, she decided a trip to a lake cabin would be a special treat – and right she was!

My youngest son and I were invited to meet the fam at Flathead Lake in Montana. Hubby had to work and Mom spent a few quality days with my sister in St. George. Tim and I made a pact not to discuss anything political and we had a great drive.

The journey from our northern Utah home took us through Idaho, Falls that is. First stop THE BEES KNEES, a quaint little pub started by 2 sisters who wanted to serve “fancy food.” Oh my goodness. If you are anywhere near Idaho Falls you must make a beeline there.

The Bees Knees

We started our culinary adventure with a bacon-crusted baked Brie topped with a raspberry coulis, blackberries, strawberries, crushed honey comb, a Balsamic reduction and other delicacies. This would have been perfect all by itself but we persisted and were amply rewarded. Try it! https://www.beeskneespub.com/

I had never visited Yellowstone National Park, so that was our next stop. I am now a permanent fan of the US National Parks, it was an outstanding place; an unforgettable mixture of science and nature.

No, we didn’t try to pet the fluffy cow. Tim works in a zoo and has taught us to have a healthy respect for wild animals.
My first geyser.
The wildfires in the west made an otherworldly glow.

Next stop Flathead Lake.

The sunset over the lake was amazing every day. There was always something new to admire.

Flathead Lake is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. It’s crystal clear water was like a sparkling jewel.

We spent a lot of time in the pristine, clear water.

We saw a black bear!

We hiked at Glacier National Park in Montana, another national treasure.

More cookouts and a celebration of the birthday girl.

There’s nothing like a week at the lake to clear your head and heal your heart. Until next time!

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Pioneer Day 2020 – a Different Kind of Celebration

When all summer activities were cancelled because of Covid spread, it became apparent that another type of celebratory commemoration would be in order. I’ve always been fascinated by the pioneer history; I love family history and world history. Several of my ancestors were among the devoted who were driven from their homes because of cultural conflicts due to religious and social differences in the the Midwest. Kicked off his farm by lawless mobs in Illinois, English immigrant Christopher Layton was camped on the prairies of Iowa when the U.S. Government sent recruiters out to the displaced Saints. There was a war going on with Mexico over western lands. Washington wanted the westward-bound Mormons to show their loyalty to the US by marching a battalion of 500 men out to San Diego to fight for America. Ironic because these same men and their families had lost their properties to mobs of violent Missourians and Illinoisians. Chauncey Webb and his brothers had closed up their blacksmith shop in Nauvoo Illinois to flee to the west for safety as well. The state and federal governments were unable or unwilling to stand for their Constitutional rights of these religious refugees but they were asking the men to die for their agenda.

The reason I’m leading off with this, is that we are once again under siege. While religious services are cancelled or curtailed because of Covid, rioters are allowed in the streets of Salt Lake City damaging property and demanding cultural changes that include Marxist anti-family, anti-Christ doctrine. The world seems to have turned upside-down. We knew hardships and persecution were coming but the form was unknown. Lawlessness and violence once again fill the headlines as so-called “protesters,” criminal, looters and rioters commit crimes and atrocities in revenge for what they see as injustices against their interests. (If you’re keeping score – 9 unarmed black men were killed by police in 2019. 19 unarmed white men were and 89 police officers were killed. It looks like it is much more dangerous to be an officer of the law than a criminal, and yet protesters rage about inequity.) Law-abiding citizens are taking up arms as they choose not to be victimized for the troubles and a history that they had nothing to do with. And the circle continues.

On a happier note, 173 years ago, weary pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley with the hope of peace and religious freedom. Despite the deaths and losses they suffered on the trek across the plains, they were willing to continue to put everything on the altar for their religion and faith. We honor the memory of the pioneers of 1847 and those that followed, especially the modern pioneers.

Willliam Shakespeare was related to many of the pioneers. His aunt Margaret Arden was an ancestor of the Webb family.

With the popularity of the princess culture among children, I thought it would be fun to combine the western theme with a touch of royalty. In fact, among the pioneers there were and are people who are related to many of the rulers of Europe and Scandinavia. And Shakespeare; the Webbs referenced above were first cousins to William Shakespeare (many times removed; their ancestor Margaret Arden was the beloved sister of Shakespeare’s mother Mary Arden.)

As a child growing up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Southern California with no close Utah relatives, I knew nothing about the events that took place around Pioneer Day in Salt Lake City. We had a Primary activity where we dressed up in long skirts and paraded around the ward building; that was pretty heady stuff! We sang songs about pioneer children and covered wagons and listened to stories and donated pennies destined for the Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Later as a teacher and leader in the Primary, I participated in and then planned activities for our 100 + children that gave them interactive experiences replicating those of pioneer youth. Another year we planned an activity for the entire ward of about 350-400 including teens and adults. These activities can be incorporated into your own commemoration this year (and there are more that you can find with a quick internet search.) So for your enjoyment, here are Pioneer Day activities and games for your family celebration.

CREATE YOUR OWN PIONEER COSTUME

A trip to the fabric store or your own fabulous stash can yield the materials needed for your very own pioneer-style outfit. Look for costume patterns sales and coupons to save $. I used a pattern for a bonnet but improvised for the apron and skirt. To add some fun, I quickly knitted a little purse, something a pioneer might have used.

A bit of scrap yarn and a couple of hours yield this cute little knitted purse.
I am not afraid to admit that I shamelessly continue to use vintage Americana as decor for Pioneer Day. After all, the US was only about 60 years old when the Latter-day Saints moved west.

CREATE YOUR OWN PIONEER DECOR

A trip to Hobby Lobby, a favorite thrift store or other retailer yields vintage treasures that can be adapted for Pioneer Day decor. This aged sifter was fitted with florist foam to hold faux wildflowers, a scrapbook paper medallion, pinwheels, flags and a wooden heart. Other ideas include tattered banners, anything beehive themed, old flour sacks, burlap and other natural materials.

My husband and our youngest son took blacksmith classes and built themselves each a Thor hammer. How cool is that? The blacksmith genes apparently never left our bloodline.

Pastoral, agrarian images take us back to simpler times. In a watercolor class at the University of Utah, we were assigned to make a painting after the style of a favorite artist. I LOVE French artist WIlliam Bouguereau and tried my hand at this shepherdess. If you can learn to create it, you can have anything you want.

Old quilts, anything western, Native American, canvas and country can be used for decor. Enamel camp dishes, cast iron, wooden crates all add to the vintage pioneer look. Even Early American works – think, wooden, handmade and natural.

A quilt book from a thrift store and some repurposed wedding announcements yielded these note cards. Replace the ribbon with twine for a more rustic look.

FUN AND GAMES, CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

Thrifty pioneers used everything and wasted nothing. Clothes worn out? Make rags – rugs, cleaning supplies, even dolls and toys. today if you have old books or cards, you can make note cards, recipe cards, invitations, etc. with the pictures.

This Pioneer Scavenger Hunt teaches children about the lives of pioneer children. You can collect and make all of the items and hide them, having the children find them, Or create stations where they actually perform the tasks.

Pictographs enabled Native Americans from different tribes to communicate when there were language barriers. This set of 72 symbols can be used to tell a story or just learn about the Natives that lived in the west. The file can be purchased here and downloaded. I printed them on cardstock and laminated them so they can be reused multiple times.

Delicious beehive bread makes a yummy breakfast or treat

BEEHIVE BREAD

Here’s a yummy treat for breakfast or any time.

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a William Sonoma beehive baking pan with pan release spray that contains flour, or use a 9” x 5” loaf pan, sprayed and lined with parchment.

Stir together

1 C bread flour
3/4 C whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2  tsp nutmeg
            Set aside the flour mixture. Cream together

1/2 C butter, softened
1 C granulated sugar

                  Add

6 oz. Neufchatel cheese, softened (low-fat cream cheese)
1 tsp vanilla extract
zest of 1 lemon
                       
            Beat in one at a time
4 eggs

Gently fold in flour mixture, blend well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 37 – 40 minutes in the beehive pan (or at 325 degrees for 85-95 minutes in the loaf pan).  Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack. Serve warm with butter.

If the bread is too pale you can place it on a cookie sheet and pop it back in the oven for a few minutes.

This all I have time for today, I’ll come back before July 24th and add a few great recipes and fun for your celebration. In the meantime, here are fun images to inspire your imagination.

HAPPY PIONEER DAY!

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Parties Ideas

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Integer nec gravida dolor. Nam metus erat, tempor sit amet ante vel, congue condimentum magna. Ut semper eleifend nisl, pulvinar ornare arcu feugiat vitae. Donec rhoncus ultricies quam in imperdiet. Sed pharetra porttitor justo ut facilisis. Quisque eu aliquet magna. Quisque id accumsan massa. Ut sed ipsum et dolor condimentum ullamcorper at non lacus. Phasellus vitae diam mi. Nulla facilisi. Quisque eu tristique sem. Donec et sollicitudin est.

Aliquam in leo elit. Etiam quis massa maximus turpis pretium scelerisque non sed justo. Nullam placerat lorem id consequat consequat. Fusce posuere lobortis nunc quis finibus. Donec nulla est, eleifend sit amet fringilla a, pharetra non justo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris facilisis dapibus aliquet. Praesent tempus sapien nec lectus gravida, et porta magna cursus. Duis egestas malesuada est, in sagittis eros vehicula quis. Praesent non nisi orci. Vivamus molestie commodo ligula sit amet pulvinar. Vivamus dapibus magna vitae risus fermentum, nec pharetra enim laoreet. Nullam pellentesque, felis hendrerit tempus varius, ipsum tortor placerat elit, eu scelerisque enim massa in enim. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.

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Season Colors

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Sed id nisi convallis, imperdiet lorem a, placerat ex. Sed sodales nisl tellus, ut laoreet risus vestibulum nec. Vivamus maximus, ligula in imperdiet maximus, sapien quam ultricies diam, vitae tempus urna ligula id est. In vulputate neque ut enim vestibulum tempor. Morbi convallis ullamcorper quam, et tristique felis vehicula eu. Nulla eget tincidunt nisl. Etiam malesuada libero quis velit sagittis pulvinar. Donec vitae varius nunc. Nulla facilisi. Proin nisl nulla, auctor eu nisi sit amet, pulvinar vestibulum magna. Donec sit amet ante arcu. Nullam a turpis massa. Vestibulum in auctor libero, in efficitur tellus.

In pellentesque tempus tellus, et auctor purus tincidunt ut. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Aenean fringilla sapien magna, ac vehicula sapien aliquet non. Aenean sem enim, auctor vitae accumsan ut, scelerisque et nisi. Mauris ultrices gravida aliquet. Donec ut risus vulputate, mollis lorem eget, tincidunt dolor. Praesent ornare consectetur commodo. Sed sed justo nibh. Pellentesque consequat volutpat magna nec consectetur. Suspendisse commodo efficitur odio, eu placerat tellus. Nunc maximus, enim quis aliquet semper, lorem erat semper sem, eget accumsan dolor quam vitae felis. Aenean quis nibh semper, accumsan sapien sit amet, cursus nisl. Aenean dignissim lobortis mauris, a tristique lectus sollicitudin quis. Nulla eu laoreet nunc.

Aliquam semper pulvinar sapien, vel cursus dolor auctor vitae. Aliquam tortor nulla, fringilla eu sapien eget, aliquet porta sapien. Quisque efficitur semper justo, a efficitur elit ultricies ut. Quisque sagittis porttitor risus, ut congue nunc mollis ut. In malesuada est vel augue blandit interdum. Curabitur eget orci fringilla, volutpat tortor sit amet, lacinia eros. Nunc et posuere nisi, eget ullamcorper sem. Quisque scelerisque finibus nibh. Nulla sit amet aliquam justo, vel malesuada odio. Nulla odio neque, vulputate bibendum viverra tincidunt, ullamcorper vitae purus. Duis sollicitudin faucibus risus sit amet sollicitudin. Suspendisse sed leo velit.

Donec malesuada, magna vel pretium viverra, turpis tellus vestibulum urna, ac dignissim nulla est et dui. Integer ornare lacus ut lacus lobortis, at ultrices ipsum volutpat. Integer consectetur vel nunc id pharetra. Donec tempus, mi elementum dictum pretium, eros augue aliquet urna, hendrerit dignissim est ex euismod nisl. Phasellus at nulla bibendum, mattis nibh et, pharetra nisl. Morbi laoreet venenatis urna. Praesent sollicitudin sem quis metus sodales efficitur. Curabitur rutrum magna sit amet sapien posuere ullamcorper. Maecenas turpis libero, lacinia sed vestibulum et, molestie vel urna. Etiam at urna ullamcorper, vestibulum lectus at, sagittis lacus.

Integer lectus arcu, venenatis vel molestie in, facilisis in nulla. Donec lobortis tortor eget purus facilisis mattis. Vivamus in nisl porttitor, dignissim magna eget, blandit felis. Integer diam justo, tincidunt sit amet feugiat et, tempor vel justo. Cras sem ligula, convallis a nibh a, vestibulum tempor metus. Etiam velit ligula, dapibus quis sodales et, fringilla quis purus. Donec vel erat at mauris ornare consectetur. Nam gravida ullamcorper ipsum, a maximus mi imperdiet ut. Ut sagittis sem vel hendrerit ullamcorper. Sed id facilisis augue.

Integer nec gravida dolor. Nam metus erat, tempor sit amet ante vel, congue condimentum magna. Ut semper eleifend nisl, pulvinar ornare arcu feugiat vitae. Donec rhoncus ultricies quam in imperdiet. Sed pharetra porttitor justo ut facilisis. Quisque eu aliquet magna. Quisque id accumsan massa. Ut sed ipsum et dolor condimentum ullamcorper at non lacus. Phasellus vitae diam mi. Nulla facilisi. Quisque eu tristique sem. Donec et sollicitudin est.

Aliquam in leo elit. Etiam quis massa maximus turpis pretium scelerisque non sed justo. Nullam placerat lorem id consequat consequat. Fusce posuere lobortis nunc quis finibus. Donec nulla est, eleifend sit amet fringilla a, pharetra non justo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris facilisis dapibus aliquet. Praesent tempus sapien nec lectus gravida, et porta magna cursus. Duis egestas malesuada est, in sagittis eros vehicula quis. Praesent non nisi orci. Vivamus molestie commodo ligula sit amet pulvinar. Vivamus dapibus magna vitae risus fermentum, nec pharetra enim laoreet. Nullam pellentesque, felis hendrerit tempus varius, ipsum tortor placerat elit, eu scelerisque enim massa in enim. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.

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Locations

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Curabitur vel augue eget diam dictum ultrices. Duis congue diam a est facilisis, at rutrum ex rhoncus. Vestibulum et feugiat augue. Fusce consectetur rhoncus tempus. Phasellus justo odio, imperdiet eget metus at, pretium cursus nisi. Sed placerat at enim sit amet bibendum. Praesent metus enim, sodales ac velit vel, scelerisque cursus ipsum. Nulla tristique sagittis massa, ut luctus velit interdum eget.

Nunc eget pretium lectus. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc interdum dictum quam, vitae ultricies ligula. Nunc vel porta nulla. Vivamus sed tortor nisi. Quisque nec tempor ante. Suspendisse malesuada, dolor id congue lobortis, tellus felis congue metus, sit amet condimentum urna velit ac nulla. Vestibulum vitae ex varius, malesuada velit non, rhoncus nulla. Integer quis dapibus lectus, semper facilisis ante. Donec eu malesuada lectus, sit amet suscipit magna. Aliquam erat volutpat. Quisque pulvinar elit lorem, vitae ullamcorper felis accumsan et. In accumsan urna a neque finibus, ut hendrerit mi egestas. Nunc ornare nisi a viverra efficitur. Praesent in tempor velit, elementum bibendum dui.

Nunc imperdiet pharetra nisi et pellentesque. Nunc vulputate, tellus eu scelerisque fringilla, elit magna hendrerit nunc, id malesuada massa metus in turpis. Nunc lectus risus, semper vitae rutrum at, blandit ac nisl. Suspendisse ut auctor nulla. Vestibulum aliquam gravida dolor, vel bibendum augue congue eu. Duis a consequat ante. Donec facilisis augue lorem, at egestas enim tempor vitae. Phasellus ornare posuere sapien, sit amet aliquet leo accumsan quis. Pellentesque id justo odio. Suspendisse finibus placerat euismod. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Nullam cursus vestibulum volutpat. Maecenas lorem est, laoreet at massa vitae, eleifend tristique lectus. Etiam venenatis leo ante, euismod ornare risus consequat sit amet. Etiam aliquam lectus massa, non ornare tellus faucibus eget.

Mauris suscipit, justo quis lacinia facilisis, nisl odio tincidunt magna, nec interdum ipsum leo vel quam. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse faucibus porttitor porta. Duis imperdiet tempus varius. Vestibulum dignissim rutrum velit, vel gravida arcu iaculis in. Fusce at felis ut enim tristique ullamcorper. Phasellus rutrum lectus tellus, dictum commodo odio suscipit ut. Integer ullamcorper, ligula vestibulum malesuada aliquam, velit turpis pharetra felis, ut ornare odio nunc eget justo. Vivamus fermentum ac turpis eget ullamcorper. Morbi mauris sem, aliquam a ipsum id, cursus rutrum tortor. Donec sit amet dapibus massa. Aliquam eu urna odio. Sed eleifend neque ut lectus sollicitudin imperdiet. Aenean et sem varius velit varius iaculis consectetur sit amet dolor. Etiam luctus felis ac diam consectetur, ut aliquam lacus consectetur.

Aenean vitae auctor mauris. Duis condimentum porttitor tortor sed tristique. Morbi hendrerit vel nisl at sodales. Fusce congue nunc eu tempus sagittis. Sed ultrices sollicitudin ipsum, at suscipit ipsum sollicitudin sit amet. Curabitur dictum eleifend ante, nec interdum ex viverra nec. Nullam pretium lobortis purus, sit amet vulputate nisi suscipit eu. Aenean cursus molestie diam ac fringilla. Donec nec commodo massa.

Fusce mollis enim ut scelerisque auctor. Pellentesque a erat elit. Suspendisse et urna in metus facilisis tristique non ornare eros. Phasellus nisl orci, blandit vel aliquam a, accumsan rutrum ex. Etiam elementum enim eu sapien mattis, ut pellentesque arcu auctor. Suspendisse vitae orci velit. Maecenas egestas a sem quis pulvinar. Aliquam aliquet sem vel scelerisque egestas. Nam volutpat vehicula erat, ac congue augue gravida quis. In ut est enim. Quisque finibus lectus ac turpis ornare, eu venenatis turpis convallis. Phasellus varius augue id dui eleifend pretium.

Pellentesque consequat libero neque, id mattis nibh porttitor ac. Proin maximus lectus in nisi cursus, a placerat orci mollis. Praesent dolor risus, vulputate eu facilisis in, pellentesque nec diam. Maecenas rhoncus bibendum sem, accumsan pulvinar libero ornare vitae. Phasellus id purus lorem. Nulla malesuada odio mi, sed tincidunt leo placerat at. Nunc molestie mauris laoreet tortor sodales, ac lobortis leo volutpat. Nam viverra bibendum maximus. Nam nec porttitor mi, non hendrerit lectus. Nunc dictum massa dictum nisl faucibus, ac ultrices lectus rhoncus. In nec lorem id urna finibus aliquam. Morbi rhoncus purus vitae congue viverra. Morbi finibus, diam aliquet tincidunt ultrices, libero risus sodales lacus, nec rhoncus eros nulla at arcu. Vestibulum vel quam nec justo congue rhoncus.

Pellentesque et lorem vulputate dolor ultrices ultricies. Donec quis turpis nisl. Donec non ipsum ullamcorper, elementum mauris in, blandit turpis. Nam imperdiet felis purus, ac placerat ipsum molestie at. Nunc a elit risus. Sed semper lectus ut quam vulputate bibendum. Integer accumsan volutpat enim, vitae venenatis nunc semper bibendum. Donec tempus nulla sit amet neque consectetur, vel feugiat urna rutrum. Curabitur aliquam nisl orci, non molestie lectus vestibulum eu.

Praesent vitae tristique augue. Ut semper feugiat elementum. Nunc tristique in velit vitae porta. Duis sed mattis urna. Nam eget sollicitudin enim. Mauris tellus nulla, venenatis ac sapien et, ornare finibus orci. Quisque in tempus justo, et porttitor ipsum. Cras vitae sagittis odio.

Donec at eros turpis. Curabitur id aliquet mauris. Mauris vitae risus semper, pulvinar eros sit amet, interdum lectus. Suspendisse dolor lectus, feugiat et ultricies a, posuere vulputate lacus. Nunc luctus blandit arcu quis lobortis. Etiam nibh est, fermentum id massa nec, placerat convallis enim. Nunc purus magna, pellentesque consequat dui sed, interdum ullamcorper ante. Donec eleifend nisi ac nisl interdum, sit amet feugiat turpis tincidunt. Donec semper felis eu augue suscipit ultricies. Phasellus facilisis, lorem vel molestie molestie, elit ipsum rhoncus risus, ac fermentum turpis massa quis nulla.

Morbi aliquam bibendum sapien, vitae fringilla nunc. Duis enim leo, elementum in sapien at, pretium bibendum dui. Cras posuere ullamcorper diam, malesuada mattis mauris mattis ut. Quisque ut nulla feugiat, hendrerit ex sed, elementum mi. Praesent ultrices diam eget blandit placerat. Quisque vel lacus laoreet, blandit elit vitae, mattis neque. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Sed volutpat nibh eu posuere condimentum. In a feugiat neque. Quisque ullamcorper tristique est, id malesuada erat malesuada accumsan. Vivamus tempus libero quis felis lacinia suscipit a nec orci.

Nullam nec ornare ligula. Morbi sit amet felis diam. Vivamus tincidunt lectus tellus, sit amet iaculis purus eleifend id. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Sed tristique vitae ante pharetra ultricies. Etiam tempor porta quam sed hendrerit. Maecenas imperdiet id sapien eget tincidunt. Phasellus in erat quis risus sagittis convallis. Maecenas quis tincidunt sapien. Curabitur tincidunt pulvinar massa, vitae molestie elit auctor vitae. Nullam eu metus in ipsum euismod feugiat. Duis sed rutrum quam. Proin tristique lobortis metus ut dignissim. Duis at tincidunt turpis, nec varius leo. Mauris semper justo dolor, quis mollis mauris efficitur in. Praesent pulvinar nulla eget condimentum semper.

Phasellus id facilisis eros, id lacinia turpis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Vestibulum eleifend nunc tortor. Nulla egestas sem at gravida consectetur. Cras turpis justo, volutpat vel laoreet a, pretium ut ante. Fusce in elit sagittis, pellentesque elit sed, venenatis velit. Aliquam erat volutpat. Nulla et porta elit, vel finibus enim. Integer commodo arcu non sodales maximus. Nulla venenatis pellentesque justo nec egestas. Duis vel commodo arcu. Suspendisse dui ligula, fringilla eu velit at, tempor dignissim sapien. Donec viverra ut lacus nec consectetur. Mauris nec nunc fermentum tellus malesuada maximus.

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We Love Passion

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec imperdiet pellentesque mauris. Aenean ante lacus, egestas sed lorem vel, gravida sodales ipsum. Fusce finibus nunc quis lacus tristique, sed malesuada nisl aliquam. Nullam ligula purus, sodales sed ipsum in, vestibulum vehicula odio. Maecenas tortor nunc, semper at gravida ut, consequat in sapien. Proin convallis a diam ut varius. Nunc vehicula sem vel metus iaculis dapibus. Integer scelerisque erat sed tincidunt euismod. Sed neque leo, porttitor sit amet leo et, faucibus bibendum tortor. Nunc in eleifend sapien. Curabitur dictum accumsan eleifend. Maecenas sed augue ut nunc dignissim vestibulum id sit amet eros. Nulla facilisi. Fusce sem ipsum, vehicula a vulputate venenatis, dapibus id tortor. Sed lobortis hendrerit interdum.

Vestibulum vestibulum id ante sit amet dapibus. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. Maecenas sit amet nibh id erat vestibulum iaculis sed ac est. Praesent quis pharetra velit. Phasellus scelerisque placerat nisl pulvinar maximus. Aenean auctor convallis lorem, at tincidunt mauris posuere vitae. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Quisque mauris sapien, maximus quis velit fermentum, pulvinar lacinia dui. Pellentesque venenatis mollis massa, eu bibendum augue.

Pellentesque ac turpis sit amet nisl vehicula vehicula. Suspendisse quam ex, elementum quis pulvinar sed, tincidunt non augue. Sed eu turpis varius, luctus mi vitae, blandit est. Sed iaculis neque eu ante aliquet hendrerit. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Aliquam ultrices, dui vel rhoncus lobortis, ligula nisl semper massa, sit amet vestibulum nulla ipsum vel dolor. Mauris elementum pellentesque quam. Fusce ac eros iaculis lorem volutpat ultrices. Vivamus libero mauris, congue at vulputate in, blandit eget ante. Donec sollicitudin diam ut arcu porta pharetra. Integer rutrum, mauris non elementum sollicitudin, nulla leo mattis ipsum, porta mattis leo dui sit amet velit.

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Flower Design

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec imperdiet pellentesque mauris. Aenean ante lacus, egestas sed lorem vel, gravida sodales ipsum. Fusce finibus nunc quis lacus tristique, sed malesuada nisl aliquam. Nullam ligula purus, sodales sed ipsum in, vestibulum vehicula odio. Maecenas tortor nunc, semper at gravida ut, consequat in sapien. Proin convallis a diam ut varius. Nunc vehicula sem vel metus iaculis dapibus. Integer scelerisque erat sed tincidunt euismod. Sed neque leo, porttitor sit amet leo et, faucibus bibendum tortor. Nunc in eleifend sapien. Curabitur dictum accumsan eleifend. Maecenas sed augue ut nunc dignissim vestibulum id sit amet eros. Nulla facilisi. Fusce sem ipsum, vehicula a vulputate venenatis, dapibus id tortor. Sed lobortis hendrerit interdum.

Vestibulum vestibulum id ante sit amet dapibus. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. Maecenas sit amet nibh id erat vestibulum iaculis sed ac est. Praesent quis pharetra velit. Phasellus scelerisque placerat nisl pulvinar maximus. Aenean auctor convallis lorem, at tincidunt mauris posuere vitae. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Quisque mauris sapien, maximus quis velit fermentum, pulvinar lacinia dui. Pellentesque venenatis mollis massa, eu bibendum augue.

Pellentesque ac turpis sit amet nisl vehicula vehicula. Suspendisse quam ex, elementum quis pulvinar sed, tincidunt non augue. Sed eu turpis varius, luctus mi vitae, blandit est. Sed iaculis neque eu ante aliquet hendrerit. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Aliquam ultrices, dui vel rhoncus lobortis, ligula nisl semper massa, sit amet vestibulum nulla ipsum vel dolor. Mauris elementum pellentesque quam. Fusce ac eros iaculis lorem volutpat ultrices. Vivamus libero mauris, congue at vulputate in, blandit eget ante. Donec sollicitudin diam ut arcu porta pharetra. Integer rutrum, mauris non elementum sollicitudin, nulla leo mattis ipsum, porta mattis leo dui sit amet velit.

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Happy Independence Day

We’re feeling a little sad on this Independence Day. No fireworks, no parades, none of the usual activities that we enjoy to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Our families have been counseled not to gather and many of us have been home-bound since March. We’ve worried about the Chinese virus and watched as our nation shut down economically, socially, and physically. We’ve been told that this isolation is the new normal. And as President Trump and our leaders were battling heroically to get us back on track, another massive disaster hit. A part of the United States population decided they had been marginalized and unfairly treated for too long began to burn down the cities, destroy the memorials and sculptures that contain our history and heritage. Our law enforcement officers were targeted, abused, dismissed and even as they tried to protect and serve, they were attacked and injured and killed.

Earlier the Democrats, enraged that their corrupt and morally bankrupt leader presumptive wasn’t awarded the presidency, have plotted, lied and worked against our culture and our country and especially the duly-elected president, reaching a horrific crescendo with a failed coup which they dressed in sheep’s clothing and called an impeachment. Our weary hearts and minds may conclude that the Bard was correct when he stated:

How can we help our country? What can we do? For my part I have been involved in a political campaign as a volunteer coordinator. My mayor and friend decided last year to run for U.S. Congress. The election was this past week.

Even though she put up a great fight with her message of freedom over fear; sadly she did not prevail. But I was so proud of her courage and tenacity trying to restore our dwindling freedoms.

Happy July 4th ~ Patriotic Child ~
the-essence-of-joy.tumblr.com

Parents, what can you do? As a “retired” parent, teacher and grandparent, I recommend that you teach your children the truth about America, teach them self-reliance, self-control and that their actions determine their futures. Teach them tolerance and respect and that they can be the positive change that our country needs. Teach them that “wickedness never was happiness.”

On a brighter note and in the spirit of celebration, lets hold in remembrance all of those who fought for our freedoms, who maintain our safe communities and enrich our homes. We at McMurtry Creative Media would like to thank you and recognize your service and sacrifice. God bless you as you bless America!

Here are some of my favorite photos of the best of this inspired experiment we call America.

distinguishedcompany.tumblr.com

The Liberty Stamp by magicmurals.com
Starspangledflags.com
Painting by Arnold Friberg
john wayne quotes | John Wayne: Sure I Wave the American Flag - Do you know a better flag ...
Happy 4th of July to all my dear US friends that are following...
God Bless America
trainingupmyboys.wordpress.com
20 Best July 4th Porch decor ideas to spread the Patriotic Splurge in your front porch - Hike n Dip
hikendip.com
denim-and-chocolate: “ #Americana ”
lavender-and-myrrh.tumblr.com

Flickr. mealisab 
Happy 4th of July! (to any Americans)
Joseph F. Smith
fourth of july wreaths | Americana Wreath, Patriotic, Boston, Williamsburg, Fourth of July, Tea ...
framedart.com
American flag and fireworks
nestofposies-blog.com

Even though our celebration was different this year; we did enjoy delicious meal. Our son Tim who has become an accomplished chef in his own right, treated us to a Southern-style feast. Tim lived in Alabama for 2 years, teaching about Christ and serving the people there. He learned a lot about the Southern culinary culture and loves to highlight their cuisine.

Tim’s 4th of July Menu

Grilled racks of pork ribs

Macaroni with 4 cheeses

Baked bourbon and brown sugar beans

Grilled corn on the cob

Ice cold watermelon

Fresh lemonade

Banana pudding with whipped cream

Cherry-berry cheesecake pie (cheesecake on the 4th has become a new tradition that we enjoy!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA – THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE!

https://www.pinterest.com/pammcmurtry/america/

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Happy Mother’s Day

Every spring, we pause for a minute to give tribute to our mothers. I did the math one time to try to imagine how many meals are fed to a growing child, how many pieces of clothing are purchased or made, worn, washed, folded, put away, worn, washed, folded, put away, worn, washed, folded, put away… how many prayers are uttered, toys picked up, prom dresses made, holidays celebrated, games and concerts attended and so forth. The numbers are staggering and almost every mother you ask, says motherhood was the best and hardest thing she has ever done.

This year we are sheltering my aged mother as she lives through the final seasons of her life on earth. Living with a person with dementia can be frustrating and some of the moments and days are crazy-making but so far we are all mostly intact. I owe her.

So happy Mother’s Day to all of the women who make the world a better place. Here is a poem I composed as a thank you and a tribute to the invisible work of being a mother. To honor those long nights during teething, the tears known only to God and the triumphs and joys as well as the sorrows and regrets. As I tell my family, you do what you can and Jesus’ atonement takes care of the rest. Happy Mother’s Day Mom.

A TRIBUTE TO WOMEN

By Pamela Layton McMurtry

To Mother,

Grandmother,

Aunt,

Sister, friend and

 precious women

Who give life,

nurture

and give joy.

Who bled

and fed

and hid Easter eggs,

and wrapped gifts

and dyed Halloween costumes.

Who took me to the zoo

and Disneyland,

and grew pumpkins,

and taught me to play chess

and feed my babies.

Who taught me to write thank you notes

And have good manners

and remember birthdays

and ancestors

(and love them).

And gave me crayons

and dolls

and retainers

and fishnet nylons

and a radio to take to the beach.

Who took me to visit my grandparents

and on road trips

and swimming

and had a barbecue.

Who taught me to pray

and love

and find joy

and set a beautiful table.

And to watch out for little ones,

and spell correctly,

 and feed stray kittens,

and read books.

And to try,

and fail,

and try again.

Who found our great grandfathers were kings

and great grandmothers were queens. 

Who took pictures,

and listened as I learned to read,

and filled a piñata.

And eat Thanksgiving at the beach like Pilgrims,

and go on bike rides,

and read Luke on Christmas Eve,

and sing carols,

and find treats in my stocking.

To share with those in need,

and love art and beauty,

and wear bows in my hair

and shoes that fit,

and remember God and go to church.

Who sewed clothes,

and prayed for soldiers,

and firemen,

and missionaries,

and me. 

Who baked cakes

and arranged flowers,

and made 20,000 meals,

and made me brush my teeth.

And bought sugar sticks,

and made drawings,

and bread,

and Beef Stroganoff.

And soothed wounded hearts,

and took us to movies,

and to the woods,

and the sea.

And played

and prayed

and gave time

and love

and life.

Thank you.

Thank you to Blog Feedspot for including McMurtry Creative Media in their top Christmas blogs! http://blog.feedspot.com/top-20-christmas-blogs-to-read/

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Get ready!

I am a prepper. Not hardcore, but somewhere I learned to plan for the best and prepare for the worst.

Here’s an article I wrote sometime back for FamilyShare: I will update it in a few but there are some basics to consider right now.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is little+piggy.jpeg
Beatrix Potter illustration

How prepared are you to face an emergency?

There are many options for obtaining and storing emergency food rations. My family uses some of our tax refund to purchase food to help us avoid pinching the budget. Others give food storage and survival items as gifts or use money from a vacation budget and enjoy a staycation. Another way to make your dollar stretch is to check the clearance aisle at the grocery store and buy day-old bread which freezes well.

Please don’t expect to be fed by government or charitable agencies, their resources will be stretched to the limit. Wouldn’t your family prefer foods they are accustomed to anyway? If you choose to utilize your resources and invest in preparedness, you do not need to worry or feel like you are taking away from others; actually your self-reliance reduces the burden on other groups. In a time of need, you will be in more of a position to help relieve the suffering of others, starting with those you value most. Remember, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.”

Let’s consider the wisdom of a centuries-old nursery rhyme as we learn about being prepared.

“This little piggy went to market”

One expert likes freeze-dried foods for the quality and shelf life. Many of us eat predominantly fresh foods such as produce, which doesn’t store well long term. Freeze-dried foods provide a reasonably similar option, are light weight and portable if you need to relocate. Many manufacturers offer selections of hundreds of servings of produce, meats, dairy and basic foods.

Some families choose military-style MREs (meals ready to eat) because they keep for a long time, are convenient, lightweight, nutritious and portable. Others use bulk food purchases to keep costs low. You can discover hacks like easily sprouting seeds for fresh vegetables and using dried fruits on the website below and social media sites. And let’s not forget adequate water; at least two gallons per person per day to stay alive and somewhat clean.

“This little piggy stayed home”

Did you know that you can freeze-dry foods yourself? Also, vacuum pouching foods for long-term storage is a good alternative. Chocolate chips will supposedly last for 11 years, unfortunately none of ours have stayed around long enough to test that. We found that shipped vacuum-pouched chocolate chip cookies and homemade treats arrived fresh and delicious for deployed soldier and missionary sons. During difficult times, it is nice to have some of the comforts you are accustomed to.

And what if fuel supplies are cut off? My son experienced the aftermath of tornadoes in the south. Natural gas lines were severed and other power was unavailable. We had hurricane-force winds knock out our power one December. On the drive to work the next day, we passed 16 overturned semis on the freeway. I have never been so cold in my life. We were not as prepared as our neighbors who had emergency generators to run heating systems. We did have lanterns and candles to provide light at night and were able to enjoy hot meals using our camp stove until the power was restored several days later.

“This little piggy had roast beef”

One of our neighbors is a canning expert. When she finds special prices on meats, she buys them in bulk and cans them in a pressure canner. She says that meats are one of the easiest foods to process and when purchased on sale, not terribly expensive. We don’t eat a lot of meat, but it will be nice to have a little bit now and then as an ingredient in soups and casserole-type dishes. She also cans butter in a water bath process and maintains that after three years, hers is still fresh and tasty. Of course you would need butter for those chocolate chip cookies.

“This little piggy had none”

You CAN go from zero to hero with preparation. One friend shared a method of planning 10 dinners, breakfasts and lunches that her family likes. She multiplied the ingredients by 10, then purchased and stored each meal in a bag with cooking instructions. Voila – three months’ worth of complete meals! She knows she has the necessary ingredients, spices and everything to feed her family for 100 days with her food storage and fuel. This is also good if you experience unemployment, have a sick child or get stranded and can’t get to the market for some reason. You will need to use and rotate these meals every so often to maintain freshness, but they are things your family likes, so it shouldn’t be too hard.

Another hack I like, is making and freezing homemade soups and casseroles. You can double or triple a recipe (or more) and make a lot of food at once for about the same amount of time and only one mess. This is a good idea for singles, small families, empty-nesters and busy people who don’t want to cook every day but still want variety.

“And this little piggy cried “wee, wee, wee all the way home.”

Don’t cry. There are lots of things you can do to be prepared. Check your local government website for other important instructions, including 72-hour kits, survival supplies and collecting important papers and documents. My husband works in a hospital that is telling their employees to have 96-hour survival supplies and a first aid kit at home and in the car. Here is another source for intelligent planning and preparedness.

The more you can do for yourself, the less you will have to worry about facing long lines, food and supply shortages, hunger and distress. And you may just be able to be a hero to others who are not so fortunate. Remember, when Noah built the ark it wasn’t raining.

Preparedness and Living Happily Ever After

If you are ready to start with the basics, here’s a guide:

Here are links for more ideas for preparedness, camping and family reunion ideas, enjoy! 
http://www.pinterest.com/pammcmurtry/camping-reunions-and-preparedness/

Everything Under the Sun by Wendy Dewitt gives tons of valuable advice for emergency prep – thanks for sharing Wendy!
http://www.sunoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/EverythingUnderTheSun.pdf

https://www.withthewave.com/products/23-in-1-ultimate-survival-tool?pp=0&epik=dj0yJnU9bUx4S0xXMDF4N2ZzakdRSWtoNFFIamFIdFU3ckN0SXYmbj1DcG9RYXFVRWsxVS1OMHJTWUt2Szl3JnQ9QUFBQUFGNm5SclE