I'm so

thankful for the wonders of modern-day travel.

Last night at 9:00 pm, I got on an airplane

and traveled hundreds of miles to Oregon.

I arrived at 10:10 pm (an hour's difference).

This is what I found waiting for me in my room.

the kids were asleep,

but I woke up at 6:30 to these wonderful faces.

Lucienne doesn't stick around long for pictures!

Eliza got started on her apron

and we finished Annie's watermelon apron.

We went to the crater museum.

Eliza and Justin went to a 50's Daddy Daughter party.

The rest of us went for pizza.

Then we came home and Ashton and I made

chocolate chip cookies.

He had pulled me into the garage

to tell me a secret earlier in the day. 

The secret was:

"Since this is your first day here,

could we make cookies together?" 

I think it had to be a secret because

if his Mom had heard she might have said "no."

 

And now it's time for bed.

Eliza's Fabric

Choices.

Which should I bring

for your apron?

                                                                                                                                 ***

Here we are

sitting in the University of Utah Press Box

looking out at the skyline of Salt Lake.

Pretty cool.

I'm here with Gary who is doing the stats

for the Timpview Football team.

I'm going to post pictures of fabric

for your Apron in the morning,

Eliza.

Be sure and look at it before

I leave tomorrow!

Time Lapsed

cookie pictures from last night.

9:15

9:17

9:18

1:02 am

Ok, I admit, I took a bite of each of them, too.

They were all delicious.

***

Brownie Pop Turkeys and Acorns

Remember these?

Brownie Pops

I'm going to a cookie exchange tonight for a Relief Society mini class.  Everyone is supposed to bring 2 dozen cookies and then we'll come home with 2 dozen other cookies.

I've decided that as much as I like chocolate, that I don't like working with melted chocolate.  You have to be patient.  You have to not be messy (an impossibility for me).

So, I would do the acorns again  -- so easy.  Just melt caramel and dip the ends in them then roll in nuts.

The turkeys were a pain and not so cute

Just use your imagination, please!

I love autumn colors.

I'll take pictures of the cookies I bring

home and post them tomorrow.

(PS: Tom, I'm really not trying to derail you in healthy eating, I just happen to be baking a lot right now.)

***

Apple Crisp

I've made apple crisp a lot more since I got the corer-peeler-slicer.  Making 3 pie plates of it for the meeting last night was a breeze. Gary and Natalie had fun coring the apples and I made the crumb topping.

The only problem was that I forgot to put the flour in the crumb mixture.  As I was putting the crumb mixture on top of the apples, I commented that usually there was more topping than this.  Fortunately, I hadn't put them in the oven when I thought to check the recipe again to see if I had left something out.  I then picked all the topping off the apples, mixed the flour in, and put it back on.   Fortunately, it did not impact the final result.

Here is the recipe I've used for many years.  I got it from one of my first cookbooks.

Apple Crisp

5 cups pared tart apples
     (I like golden delicious, sliced thin)
1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup margarine or butter

Arrange apples in buttered 9 inch pan or pie plate. Combine brown sugar, flour, oats, and cinnamon; cut in butter till crumbly. Press mixture over apples. Bake in moderate oven (350) for 45 to 50 minutes or until top is browned. Serve with ice cream or cool whip.

P.S. I didn't want to exercise tonight. But, because (in a weak moment) I committed to exercise 5 times a week, we went to the gym at 7 pm and walked on a treadmill. I guess it's good I made the commitment.

Primary

Today has been a very sweet day.

We were released as a Primary Presidency

and a new group of women were sustained.

We gave our last sharing time and were

able to connect with the children and share

our testimonies one last time.

We met here tonight with the new Presidency.

We explained the different programs

and responsiblilites 

and some of the things we have learned.

It is really very inspiring in the church to see

how smoothly there is a transition from one

set of leaders to another.

It is also inspiring to see how willingly

people accept the new responsibilities.

Even when it may feel overwhelming.

In addition to getting to know the children,

the thing I have enjoyed most about this calling

is my friendships with the
women in the Presidency.

I've gotten to know women I didn't know at all,

or knew only slightly, before that time.

Each has a different set of gifts and talents

and I've learned much from them.

We started with Helen as secretary,

and then Venise was secretary.

When they got called to other positions, 

Amy was called as secretary,

Pam and Elizabeth have been in the whole time.

They have all been wonderful.

I'm very grateful for these friends.

There is one thing I won't miss about this calling,

and that is being the president,
or the person in charge.

I'm really not comfortable being in charge.

Give me an assignment,

and I'll run with it.

But, I don't like to make 

final decisions or be responsible

for deciding things that impact other people.

So, tell me what to do,

and I'll do it.

Unless I don't want to.

(that was for Gary)