Craft giveaway website

Just an FYI: check out http://www.vanillajoy.com/ - they are giving away prizes every day this week!

Chick decides to "fly the coop"!

Yes, the chick has decided to go off with "her" rooster and set up a new coop! I thought I would post these pictures of when Spencer asked Emily to marry him. Supposedly they were going on a hike in American Fork canyon with Spencer's parents. However, Spencer took Emily to a picnic area in the canyon and there was this table all set up in a little alcove.



Emily was reluctant to go up to the table and told Spencer, "Oh that is so sweet, someone is going to get engaged." (Not realizing it was her). Spencer says it took Emily a while to figure out that she was the one being proposed to. They read the cute little book and then Spencer got down on one knee and asked Em to marry him. And. . . of course she said "yes"!




The wedding is planned for November 1 and right now my chick is floating around on cloud 9! Her "Rooster" has come!!

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2007 has come and gone. The celebration this year was very low-key compared to years past. There were only 4 of us in attendance - Emily, Blake, Britney and me, but we managed to have a delightful few days together. The highlight for me was all the game playing we did. Most games require at least 4 players - the chick and I only constitute 2 - so we don't get to play games until someone comes to visit. Blake and Brit indulged us and we spent most of our time together competing, eating and just enjoying each other's company.


I'm sure one of reasons the game playing was such fun this year is because I actually won - more than once. I won at Blocus and twice at Settlers of Catan. Wow!
I was not so lucky at Ticket to Ride. Fun, fun games! Thanks Blake & Britney.


Now on to another subject. On Saturday Emily and I went to the beauty shop to get all gussied up for the New Year. The chick has come to believe that blondes do not have more fun, so she opted for a much darker hair color this time. Really changes her looks and makes her eyes much bluer - don't you think? I am now more strawberry blonde. . . sometimes change is good and you can always grow it out and change the color next time! :)

Christmas Baking

I came home from work on Friday and this is the sight that greeted me. Lots and lots and lots of cookies!! The chick's last final was on Thursday. Friday was her first day of vacation from books, papers, tests, etc... and she spent the whole day in the kitchen making cookies! She made sugar cookie angels, stars, hollys, trees. . . chocolate chip cookies, Martha Stewart chocolate marshmellow cookies, chocolate and caramel wrapped pretzels and chocolate toasted coconut candy. Friday evening we prepared about 15 "goodie" plates and some "goodie" bags. What fun it was to go around delivering our Christmas bounty all weekend. My little chick is quite incredible!! I thank Heavenly Father every day for the blessing of a sweet, loving, talented daughter!


Here is the recipe for the Martha Stewart cookies - they are yummy!


Martha Stewart Chocolate Marshmellow Cookies

1. Cream together 1 stick of butter and 1 cup of sugar

2. Wisk together 1 3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Then add to the creamed mixture.

3. Add 1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk

Drop by ice cream scoop on baking pan and bake at 375 for 10-12 min. (Just until cookies are firm to the touch) Cut a large marshmello in half. Put the sticky side down on the cookie and put back in the over for 2 minutes. When cookies are cooled frost and enjoy!

Frosting

2 cups powdered sugaar
4 Tb. meltes butter (cooled)
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla

Christmas is coming and the old hen is back!

I'm back online - Yeah! My computer crashed! It was devasting around here for a while! Hooray!! I have a computer again just in time for Christmas blogging! I am posting some pictures of how my home looks this year. The chick and I have had a lot of fun setting everything up and trying out some new decorations this year. We quite like it! It really makes a difference when the home you live in is really yours and not someone elses. Which leads me to think of all the blessings I have received this year. It was about this time last year that the purchase of my townhome was finalized. It needed lots of work and updating. I must admit I was quite intimidated at the thought of supervising home remodeling projects. But . . . with determination all has worked out quite well and I love the looks of my little "nest" now!




Now on to family news - First, a big congratulations to Blake who is now a CPA (you can read about this at http://www.blakeandbrit.blogspot.com). Tyson's family will be moving to Rockford, Illinois in January - they also have a blog: http://www.tyanderin.blogspot.com.

Now I have a computer again I will be sharing news of the chick and I more frequently. . . so check back soon.. Love, THE OLD HEN

Witches, Shopping & Repairs

Every once in a while my "chick" and I decide to have a "shop like you are visiting Utah" day. When I lived in Idaho I looked forward to a vacation in Utah. Emily and I would spend all day (and often into the evening) shopping when we came here. We both talk about those days with fond memories. Now. . . since we live here in Utah, the shopping is not so intense - except for maybe once or twice a year when we declare it a "shop like you are visiting Utah" day. And that is just what Saturday was.

The first place we visited was Gardner Village. All the witches were out and we could not resist taking a few pictures. There were witches in the trees, on top of the shops, playing baseball, quilting and even fishing in the pond. What fun!!
Emily noticed a real, live black cat checking out one of the witches and snapped this picture.
After we left the witches, we ventured over to Nordstrom Rack looking for bargains. We also hit several other stores. During our adventure we discovered a new Discount Disney Store. Emily was able to find a couple of darling hoodies there. During our excursion she also found "the perfect pair of pants" - in her eyes that alone made the shopping marathon worthwhile.

Now on to another subject - a wheel fell off the track on the garage door thus preventing the door from opening. So - all week I have had to park outside and with winter coming I was considering hiring a handyman to come fix the door. Well . . . my little "chick" decided she could do anything a man could do and went out to the garage this morning and used her ingenuity (and some tools) and fixed the door. Hooray!! I am so blessed to have my little "handy chick" still living with me!

Lemon Bars & Conference

I spent most of this weekend being lifted and inspired by General Conference. There was a new apostle - Quentin Cook (I don't think he is related) and Elder Eyring was sustained as 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency. Conference weekend is truly one of my favorite weekends of the year. I am always sad when it is over. So much good advice and counsel to think about and digest. And. . . speaking of digest, Emily made her yummy lemon bars during the afternoon session yesterday. Her lemon bars are better than any I have ever tasted. Here is the recipe:

Frosty Lemon Bars

Crust:
2 1/4 sups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened

Mix together and press into a 9 x 13 pan.
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Filling:
4 eggs
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder

Beat eggs, add lemon juice and mix well.
Add dry ingredients and beat thorougally.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Cool and
sprinkle top with powdered sugar.