What Were You Afraid Of?

I don't know what you were afraid of when you were little but I was afraid of wasps. And I know why I was afraid of wasps. 

When I was very little I stayed with my Nana and Papa King in a rental apartment just off of Alhambra Blvd. in Sacramento. It was over a restaurant and at night the owners would play the accordion and sing. Very fun. One day Nana was coming in the back door from off of the back porch like thing where she had hung some clothes and a wasp stung her on the arm. Yikes!! She had been stung about ten times she said. I took a look at those wasps and they were crazy funny looking things and I decided that they were from Hell, not that I knew what hell was at that age but they were very phobically frightening to me and I decided that one would never, never, ever touch me. 

A few years later I was the little girl that caught honey bees in my bare hands without a quiver. But wasps... say the word and I would freakkkkk Outtttttttt!!! In fact one day my little brother and I were coming home from somewhere. I was driving and just as I turned the corner from Fair Oaks Blvd. onto New York Avenue in Fair Oaks, CA Kenny said "there is a wasp on your leg." I screamed and let go of the steering wheel and jumped to the passenger side of the car. Well the car didn't know what to do on it's own so it hit a telephone pole but the good news is that I didn't get stung by that WASP!

One good thing about these creatures is that they eat the maggot larvae in cow and horse poop so the fly problem is taken care of if you live in the country. 

I got stung a couple of years ago about five times under my arm and it hurt like heck. By then I had grown up and out of my phobia and I handled it very calmly. I Googled "wasp sting remedy" and found a great cure. The article said to take the inside of a banana peel, the sticky part and put it on the sting. I did and wahlaaaa, the sting immediately went away. HONEST, it worked. So next time you or yours gets stung by a wasp from Hell get out the banana peel and band aid the wet side onto the sting and see for yourself. 

So, tell me what were you afraid of when you were little?

Love,
Grammy T. 

But For Today I Weep

Mistie

My heart cried all day 

yesterday. 

My eyes also cried 

at the funeral and last night 

when I was asked to say 

the family prayer. 

I put my hands over my face and said 

”Heavenly Father this has been such a sad day.” 

And I cried and cried.  

Finally Danny said 

”Do you want me to say it?” 

Yes, I nodded. 

After the prayer he told me all of the 

wonderful news of the Gospel, 

that Mistie was in a wonderful place 

and her family would be 

with her again.

"Families Can Be Together Forever"

 “I know, I know” 

The first time I hugged Mistie we seemed to know each other heart to heart. And so we hugged a very long time. I had cancer twice and I told her that. There is something about being a Cancer Sister that I can’t explain. I told her that my best friend Carol also had breast cancer that was in her lymph’s too and then later in her bones and liver but that she was able to live for 15 years when they had only given her a few months.

And I told her of a dear friend in California that had brain cancer and the doctors had suggested two months but that a year and a half or so later he is still here and had given a talk in church last month, and it was a miracle.

I told her she must have hope and never give up that she could have a miracle too. Russ told me last week that the cancer was in her spine and on each vertebrae and was causing the most excruciating pain.

After the funeral yesterday I realized that 

her life was the miracle. 

She was the age of my seventh baby 

and youngest daughter 

Jessie 

but she was very much 

like my sixth baby, 

Amy. 

 “Why Mistie?" 

There is a reason, 

I know there is. 

And I know my heart will grasp 

it one of these days but 

'For today I weep.' 

No-Knead Bread

Picture and recipe from
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/The-Science-Behind-Dutch-Oven-Bread.aspx

Watch the Video is here.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Easy-No-Knead-Bread-Video.aspx

I found this bread that
I know your 4 year old could make.

I am making some now to go
with dinner tomorrow. 

Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery
Time: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising

No-Knead Bread

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt

Flour, cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.  Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

Let me know how you like it. :)

Love,
Grammy T.

Sweet 'n Spicy Veggie Couscous ~ Yummmm

This is seriously delicious and so easy to make.

This is an easy quick recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1 large carrot, shredded

2 1/2 cups Progresso® Chicken Broth (from 32-oz. carton)

1 (11-oz.) can Green Giant® Mexicorn® Whole Kernel Corn, Red and Green 

Peppers, drained

1 (9-oz.) pkg. Green Giant® frozen baby sweet peas

2 tablespoons golden raisins

1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 1/2 cups uncooked couscous

2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted*

Fresh basil leaves, if desired

1. Heat oil in Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add onion and carrot; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until tender.

• 2. Increase heat to medium-high. Add all remaining ingredients except couscous, almonds and basil; mix well. Bring to a boil. Stir in couscous. Cover; remove from heat. Let stand 5 to 7 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
• 3. To serve, fluff couscous with fork. Garnish with slivered almonds and basil.

* To toast almonds, spread on cookie sheet; bake at 350°F. for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Or, spread almonds in thin layer in microwave-safe pie pan. Microwave on HIGH for 4 to 7 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently.

You can find more of these great recipes here at Pillsbury.

Love,
Grammy T.

“And if we die before our journey’s through.. all is well”

That is surely a depressing title and I know I owe you an explanation.

I have loved reading The Hole In The Ceiling Blog  this last little while. In fact I printed the whole story out so that I could read it at night before I went to bed. Jane's husband died of Cancer and left her with two young boys. She talks of what a horrible experience it was and her feelings have given me a better insight into saying the proper things to someone who has lost something so important to them whether the death of a spouse or a job and a home.

I have been praying for a sweet young mother that I go to church with that has battled Cancer for a while now. She also has an adorable young husband that cherishes her and two young boys. What a coincidence...well maybe not.

I thought that hope was one of the best things that I could give her besides prayer. But the hope turned into reality for us all this week and she is dying. I still pray for her, her boys and her husband that the angels will be with them to buoy them up in the times of their sorrow. Her pain is in her back because the Cancer has attacked her spine. The medicine has taken most or some of the pain away.

Last evening I took dinner to an older lady that I go to church with that is honestly one of the cutest little things I have ever met. She leads the music and what a treat that has been to watch her. She has been down with horrible pain in her back. Her spine is very disjointed. Thankfully she has been rescued from most of the fierce pain with medication. We all have been praying for her that her pain could be alleviated.

Today after I had been up awhile my back starting killing me. It has hurt me the last few days but today it was horrible. I have had seven babies and I can tell you that this pain was as bad if not worse than I've ever had.  I don't know why but I do know that tonight I have true empathy for my sweet friends that have had pain so much worse than mine.

The Lord hold you in the hallow of His Hands, my dear friends. xoxoxo

Love,
Grammy T.

A Cherokee Legend - Will Good or Evil Win?

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. 

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. 

"It is a terrible fight and it is between 

two wolves." 

One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, 

greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, 

inferiority, lies, false pride, 

superiority, and ego."

He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, 

hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, 

empathy, generosity, truth, 

compassion, and faith." 

The same fight is going on inside you - 

and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and 

then asked his grandfather, 

"Which wolf will win?"   

    

The old Cherokee simply replied, 

"The one you feed." 

And this is so true.
Love,
Grammy T.

To Pooped To Pop And I Ain't Lyin'

Photo by Veer
A little deer eating flowers

I just planted viola's and snapdragons

and now I am too pooped to pop 
and I ain't lyin'!

Are the little deer going to eat my 
pretty new flowers?

Please tell me 
NO.

Love,

Grammy T.

Why Am I Going To Hell She Asked

I have said before and I'll say it again

I love our missionaries. 

One thing that I learned while serving with them at the

 University of Florida, was that they all had a special purpose 

for being at a certain place 

when they were there 

and 

while they were there.  

There was a campus ministers group of other young people

that would be on campus while our missionaries were there 

and they always yelled at our missionaries and 

told them they were going to Hell. 

On one of the days while our Elders and Sisters 

were visiting with some interested 

students about the Gospel. 

The ministers came a yellin' 

"You are going to HELL!" 

As they were walking away 

our Sister H. said;

 “Hey come back here! 

Why are we going to hell?” 

The young man turned and looked at her and said, 

“I don’t know, we were told that you were 

so I thought you were.”

She told him that was not a good enough reason, 

in her own special way of telling him,

and to not do it again. 

When they told me that story I laughed and thought 

only Sister H. could have done 

such a good job with that.

Only sister H. 

I love you Sister H. 

Love,
Grammy T.

Good News Minute ~ A Special Story

McKenna
as
Miss Fancy Nancy

Dear Readers, 

My Good News Minute today is about 

a story that changed my life.  

In the 70's we lived in Idaho in a 

small farming community.

Every time that I felt defeated, 

I'd get out this story and hold my head up high 

and bake my bread and make yummy food 

with the bulk items I had on hand.  

It was a very difficult time for my husband 

and me financially. 

My fifth baby was only six weeks old when I decided to babysit two extra
little boys to help out a little with the budget. 

They were the age of my oldest boy so I thought it was a fabulous idea 

until my stomach screamed that it was not. 

The doctor gave me medicine and said that I needed to take away some of my stress. 

Well I couldn't take away the bills and I couldn't take away our other concerns 

so the only thing I could think to take away were 

those two little boys that I baby sat. 

One of the little boys would stand at the window and stare with a broken heart 

because of his parents were getting a divorce. 

It was too much for me. 

My husband asked permission from his boss to work at 

a potato plant on a shift that started at

four in the afternoon. 

So he taught Seminary until three thirty and then loaded box cars with frozen spuds 

of all kinds until 12:30 in the morning. 

He would bring me home frozen hash browns that went so good with the 

home made bread toast, bacon and eggs that I fixed for him to eat at 

1:00 o'clock in the morning.

I would put my little one's to bed all comfy cozy and I'd keep my house spotless 

so that when he walked in the door at 1:00 o'clock he could feel at peace 

and comfortable and was better able to get up at 

6:00 o'clock the next morning and 

start all over again. 

He did this for four months until we could get on our feet again. 

As I look back on those times I realize that if I would have gone to work 

and been gone all day we would have had a dirty messy house with a 

mad husband and sad little children. 

Because of
"When Queens Ride By" 

it turned out just right. 

So read the story young mommy's 

and see if it might help you get through 

a little better too. 

Love,
Grammy T.

Coconut and Lingonberry Friands In

From a wonderful cook and baker Nami-Nami

Coconut and Lingonberry Friands
(Pohla-kookosefriandid)
Makes 8 regular-sized friands

100 g unsalted butter, melted
125 g icing sugar/confectioner's sugar
30 g plain flour/all-purpose flour (50 ml or 3 Tbsp + 1 tsp)
50 g finely ground almonds
50 g grated/desiccated coconut
3 medium-sized egg whites
a very generous handful of lingonberries

Preheat the oven to 200C. Generously butter eight non-stick friand or muffin tins.
Sift the icing sugar and flour into a bowl, add the almonds and mix.
Whisk the egg whites in another bowl until they form a light, floppy foam.
Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, pour in the egg whites, then lightly stir in the butter to form a soft batter.
Divide the batter among the tins. Sprinkle some berries (I used about a tablespoon for each) and flaked coconut over each cake.
Bake in the middle of a pre-heated 200 C oven for about 20 minutes, until just firm to the touch and golden brown on top.
Cool in the tins for 5 minutes, then turn out and cool on a wire rack. To serve, sprinkle with more coconut

Enjoy.

Love,

Grammy T.

Fireworks And The Peeping Tom

When I was little like Caitlin I lived on 2nd Avenue in Sacramento California.

My house was a cute little white house with two bedrooms, one bath, 

a single car garage, pink azaleas and a huge tree in the backyard. 

My street was close to the old fair grounds so during the state fair I had huge fireworks every night right up in my same sky.

I got in a lot of trouble in those days and often found myself playing 

in my backyard alone. 

I was always given the same instructions: 

don't climb on the fence and don't pick the neighbors cherries. 

So as soon as I found myself bored silly the best thing I could think of to do 

was to climb that fence and pick the neighbors cherries.

One night during the fireworks my Papa King came off of the front porch 

where the grownups had been sitting and told me to come in the house. 

"Why Papa, the fireworks aren't done?" 

"Because there is a bad man hiding behind the telephone pole." He explained.

I came in the house. 

Papa followed the man and made a citizens arrest over by the County Hospital. 

My Papa was awesome, he was a California Highway Patrol Officer 

and he knew his stuff.

I guess Papa had arrested the same man that had been peeking in my window at night. 

Papa called that man a "Peeping Tom."

I could smell Toms cigarette and see the glow of it in the dark. 

I kept telling my daddy about Tom but when he would come in my room 

he said he couldn't see or smell anything. 

My window was always open to let fresh air in but I think that because my daddy smoked he couldn't smell as good as me.

I sure am glad my Papa caught Tom.

Papa never bawled me out for being naughty. 

I think it was because he was just like me.

Love,

Grammy T.

"Open Your Door" He Said

Jenna and Papa T.

I am having a really hard time writing funny little blog posts what with the sadness in Japan and all the crazy Middle East Drama so I decided to tell you another story about the still small voice that helps me out at very important times.  Remember the story of when I didn't listen to the still small voice and I got hit by a car? 

A friend of mine was a Podiatrist in Reno, NV. I worked for him on a part time basis for awhile. One day when I got to work he asked me to go down to pay a bill for him before I started cleaning instruments and making surgical packs. I took the envelope with the check in it and went out and got in my van. It was a big conversion van with lots of doors. As I sat down in my seat and little voice said “Lock your doors” and being the obedient person I was learning to be I said “Yes Sir” and when I was done locking all of those doors I started the van and was on my way.  

As I pulled into a parking spot in front of my destination I saw a blonde man walking to the right of the van and then I didn’t see him again so I just sat there and waited to see if I could see where he had gone. In just a bit he popped up at my window and said “Open your door” and as I looked at him I could see a very child like look in his eyes. He grabbed the door and tried to get it open. Now because I was a full time mom with 7 kids and I also did day care for many more I was used to working with little children so I said “No I am not going to open the door and you need to go away right now, you are being very naughty.” And I pointed to the sidewalk. In a bit he turned around and walked down the street and turned the corner. 

Whew!!!!

My legs were like noodles but I hopped out of the van, locked the door, and as fast as I could I ran into the office, paid the bill, called the police and told them about my experience and asked them to look for that young man. You see this office was right across the street from the mental hospital and I think they might have had an escape artist on the loose. 

Whew!!!  

Love,
Grammy T. 

Good News Minute~Amazing Americans

Quilts for Japan

I had my day of silence on my blog 

for Japan on Saturday. 

I just found out that everyone else had their 

day of silence on Friday. 

So let's go into our 

Good News Minute for today 

shall we?

Let's see,.......Japans devastation, 

no, that's bad news.

 Libya......we are now going to war with the hopes of helping

 in another Middle Eastern Crisis

......no, that's bad news.

I think my good news for today would be that 

I am grateful to live in a country with amazing Americans 

that give and give and then give some more 

to help others less fortunate.

 Yep, that's it. 

My good news is: 

In spite of it all, our hearts, prayers and means 

go out to the whole world and it's people 

to try to make a difference in the lives of those 

that have been wounded.

Yep, that's my good news. 

Love,
Grammy T. 

Places you can help:

Quilts for Japan

Red Cross for Japan and others 

Donations for LDS Humanitarian Aid in Japan