Stout Family Reunion - Summer 2010

It was so wonderful to have our whole family together at a beautiful location in Logan Canyon. It was a wonderful family reunion that would not have taken place if not for the many efforts of Janna and others who contributed time and talents and money.

So Much Rain...

One of the new garden boxes got moved to the front yard and Kirt worked on the sprinkler system. With so much rain he actually had to bale water out of the holes around the sprinklers to work on them today.

CPDM

I am just finishing my first class of the CPDM- Certified Professional in Disability Management. The final is Monday, so I will be hitting the books all weekend!

Kirt goes to Long Beach

Kirt had to fly to Long Beach on Thursday - for a meeting Friday, then he flew home. The meeting was at the Chancellor's office o the California State Universities.
After he rents his car at the LB airport he drives to Placentia and stays over with his sister, Martha Okerlund.
Katie, newly engaged, gave up her bedroom for her uncle. She bunked in with little sister, Olivia.
Kirt said the meetings were very informational and he got important RM type information.

He returned home Friday night, I had some grilled steaks ready for him, and then we watched "Voyage of the Dawn Threader" from Narnia. It was our "dinner and a movie" Friday night date.

Stiff Neck- New Glasses

There seems to be a recurring theme with my new glasses- I had them taken back and they were supposed to get fixed- they had mistakenly been made on brown frames, not pewter. It took ages to get them back, then trying to get used to them again, then a whole week with a stiff neck, and even going to the chiropractor on Friday...I think I will need to take them aback again. They are just not working out... problem is that my old ones needed replacing last August, and I really need the improved vision.

E-Book!

Logan sent me an e-reader/e-book for Mother's Day. It is the Sharper Image "Literati"- it has 197 books loaded into it. He was able to load books he already had in his own e-book. So I have some Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson, Robin Cook, a bunch of classics and the Holy Bible, and the Book of Mormon.
I have been investigating all the buttons and capabilities, but am waiting for a few cords or somethings that he forgot to mail. He will then talk me through downloading books from other sources. The 8 mg reader card that he sent me a while ago for my camera will actually work in this and allow me 3000 books or so.
I originally thought I might like one for at church- my scriptures are heavy, and sometimes at church the pages are difficult to turn if my hands are cold.

Mother's Day

I planned a delicious dinner- roast in the crock-pot. Strawberry shortcake for dessert, then I started to think how much I liked a cake my mom used to make for me for my birthday. It is an angel food with a frosting/glaze made with orange juice instead of milk or water, and lots of orange zest. It gets poured over the top and sides of the cake. So I made it and we used that for the shortcake and so it was like having 2 desserts in one.

Kirt gave me a lovely card with a very special letter, and a box of chocolates - nuts and chews. Shaunika's family sent me a bunch of chocolate covered strawberries. YUM!

I guess this day will have to be one of my 20% where I eat too much or wrong stuff, knowing that tomorrow I will be "back on the wagon" and trying to eat well the other 80% of the time.

Best of the day was seeing all the posts on the grandma blog from the grand-kids, and phone calls I have received and cards that arrived yesterday and the day before. And I guess MD will continue as the gift that Logan is sending will arrive some time this seek.

Even with out gifts or any special recognition I know I am very blessed with such amazing children and a wonderful spouse.

Mormon Helping Hands

We were assigned the same park as last year- Beeman Park- surrounding the Senior Center on Sharkey. Lots of work involved and it was obvious that not much had been done since we were there last year. I would really take the entire ward to get it done, but our YM were assigned a project over at a school. As the morning went on another ward came to help us finish up.
Then we all met at EG Park for a BBQ Picnic.

Visiting Merika 2011

Happy Easter

For more fun Easter pictures, come see them on my blog!

Visiting Merika - 2008

A few years ago( 2008) I flew to Las Vegas, Merika picked me up and we went to St. George to a "Sister's Retreat" hosted by Janna. We were invited to bring out daughters. We had a great time, and then went back to Vegas. I got to go to school (Legacy HS) with her and see her teach, then after the school day was over she drove me back to the airport and I few home.

At that time she had finished her student teaching and was doing a long term sub for an English teacher. What was originally to be an 6-8 week position turned into the entire semester. She did a great job.

Kirt came home from work and said we needed to go see how high the creek was.... it is over by the blue house with the wrap around porch that Merika really likes on Porta Rosa in Elk Grove.

Then we stopped at the little shop and had Fish and Chips for supper.

Stake Sunday School Presidency & Wives

Last night we hosted Kirt's new presidency and their wives for dinner. I planned Hawaiian Haystacks and made pink salad, cooked carrots with parsley and ginger butter(melted). Also made a Chocolate cake with cherries and had vanilla ice cream.
One of the counselors called to beg off as their child was ill with a fever that was rising.
We had Linda and Jack Hale and Jacky Joe and Margaret Smith and Kirt and I. We had a great time and laughed and visited and got to know each other. The meal started at 6 and they were all still here at 9:30- then since we all had to spring our clocks forward we said good bye, loaded the dishwasher and went up to bed.- but had to do the article for the back page of the Provident Times newsletter... I had done the front earlier in the day.

Kirt had a very full day before any of this started. He had to speak for 1+ hours to a class at the university, fix Charlene's lawn mower, take Dot and her car for a 25 minute drive and then get it smog tested, mowed the front and back lawns and was supposed to clean at the church, but forgot.

New Job Duties

Even though I will still be a Risk Management Analyst in the Risk Management Department at the EGUSD when the REMS grant is over I will have completely different job duties. Kirt suggested that I find some course work to help position myself better for the new position. I started toward the profession designation of CPDM- Certified Professional in Disability Management. At a staff meeting when there was mention of they would have no one to do the Interactive Processes I was able to say that I had just done part of a webinar on the Interactive Process through CSAC-Excess. In the same staff meeting I was able to remark that I had started the CPDM. I think it gave me some credibility. Then the other analyst, Margaret, took a job in HR so I will be the only analyst for an indefinite time- cabinet will not allow the position to be posted due to the budget problems. Marlon was supposed to go to a Disability Conference Friday morning, but had triple booked himself so he asked me to go. It was just here in Sacramento and I had no problem driving to it. It was a good learning experience.
On the way home I stopped at Kaiser to have my BP checked- it was high, had a pedicure with Tracy at Judy's, and then picked up a Rx at the EG Kaiser. I think I left my ATM card there...will need to try to track it down.

Feeding the Missionaries - Cincinnati Chili

We had the opportunity to feed the missionaries on Thursday night. Had the bright idea to invite another couple as well. Metz and Carol were glad to come. I tried out a recipe that Birke suggested. It was for Cincinnati Chili - which is served on top of spaghetti. Since I had never made it, and since it might have been too spicy for me I also made a large casserole of funeral potatoes. Wednesday night as I was making most of the food I also made a cake and a large jello with fruit. A few weeks ago when we had the missionaries the on from Kansas, Elder Genteman really like the jello.
The chili was really hot- even with sour cream I couldn't take it, but all the men ate with a gusto. We had a different missionary who was on splits with Elder G. and he said it was his first time ever eating homemade jello- he had only had the little jello cups from the store.
After the missionaries left we visited with our friends and then sent some leftovers home with them- some funeral potatoes for her and some chili for him.
I may be related to Elder G. He has a Bradshaw in his family and when I said that my grandfather's name was Douglas Bradshaw Fowler - Elder G said he mother's maiden name was Fowler- that is too much of a coincidence... and her father was Clark. I have a cousin name Clark, but it would not be him.

To Church with Kirt

It was Fast Sunday today so there was no ward conferences scheduled so Kirt got to come to church with me. I think it was only the 2nd time this year.
A young lady, Jaime, who was baptized this past summer likes to sit with us on the back row. I have been going to the gospel essentials class with her when Kirt is not there. She is a real sweetheart. Last week after church she and I sat on the bench opposite the library and I showed her how to make a loom hat, today she had it done and Merry helped her finish it.

We had a nice meal to break the fast - BBQ ribs, rice and broccoli. Kirt took a plate over to Dot, the elderly lady (80's) who lives across the street.

Fixing the Yellow Truck

Shaunika's family(including Jason) has been sick this week with the flu so Kirt figured he wouldn't be able to go out to have Jason help him with the truck. Shaunika called early to say the Jason was feeling well enough to help Kirt.

I decided to go also (and we were crossing our fingers that we would make it). Kirt and Jason undid a few bolts off and lifted the cab off and fixed something about the thing where you put the gas in.

I made cookies with Samantha, the kids played with bubbles, and jumped on the trampoline. We fed the chickens the scraps.

Kirt primed the floor of what will be the new shed. Samantha had put on her Cinderella dress and wanted to use the paint roller- they didn't let her.

Shaunika and I took Jacob and went to Michael's- she was getting a gift card for a friend. I bought KFC to take home to feed everyone. We threw the scraps to the chickens.

New Glasses & a Stiff Neck

It seems like every time my glasses change prescription I have to get used to looking through no-line trifocals all over again. What that actually means is I have to look up and down repeatedly to find the actual small space I can see through for that distance- depending on what I am looking at.
By Thursday night my neck was absolutely killing me, and my whole head and neck hurt. Icepacks, and rice bags and NSAIDs will hopefully solve the problems.

I actually got the glasses prescription last summer, but was plagued with dry eyes and had the doctors say my eyeballs looked like they had been sandblasted- I told them it felt like that also.

The option of having my tear ducts cauterized didn't sound too appealing. Eventually, I saw a specialist who diagnosed that the lubricating glands under my upper eyelids were clogged and he put me on an antibiotic- similar to one that teenagers would need if they had acne.

That medicine and 2 fish oil capsules a day seem to be solving the problem, so I finally felt confident enough in how my eyes felt to get the glasses.

Unlock the Goodness of Whole Grains

Yesterday, we had an activity at RS- the humanitarian portion was making loom hats for the homeless- our ward is trying to do 100.

The other part of the evening was about whole grains and how to sprout them - there was lots of different foods to try.
In preparation I had signed up and made spelt muffins and oatmeal pancakes. Both recipes I would make again.

I Miss Birke

He is in Georgia right now, helping at Logan's house by tending the kids a few days a week while Noelette is finishing her degree. He also works at Publix- a high end grocery store. His schedule is weird so I never know when to call or text or email him. I love him and miss him, he is such a good boy.

President's Day at the Sacramento LDS Temple

For a few years now our stake has made arrangements with the temple to be open on the Monday of President's Day. The temple is usually closed on Mondays. Our stake staffs the temple and keep it busy the entire day with all ordinances. It is totally cool to be there and know everyone. Kirt and I went in the morning and did sealings and then a session.

Then we came home and changed clothes- he then drove the truck to Shaunika's house where he and Jason worked on the problem so that it will pass smog. They had to order a part and he will return next week to fix it and help Jason build a shed.

I hauled boxes and stuff out of the garage - from the area near the washing machine. I took some stuff upstairs and have some stuff that I need to go through and also got some stuff ready for DI. I was able to make a bit of sense to some of my PC stuff that is in the garage.

Ward Conferences

Kirt is the Stake Sunday School President of the Elk Grove, CA Stake. Since the first of the year- except on Fast Sundays he has been involved in Ward Conferences. He has gone to other ward meetings and also had meetings with his presidency and the SS President of the ward they visit. Only one Sunday did they have to do two wards on one day. (They fed them a quick meal between the meetings). I have to go to church alone and usually I sit with a single sister (Jean), or a newly reactivated sister (Edith) or a new convert(Jamie). Jamie only has her kids with her every other weekend.
It was hard for Kirt to be released as the Gospel Doctrine SS teacher- he had been doing it for 3+ years and was looking forward to having taught 4 years and all the lessons.
I love being married to a worthy Priesthood holder who is always willing to serve the Lord where ever he is called.

A New Kitchen - A New Perspective

A family in our ward is moving. I overheard them talking to someone in a ward about the details of the day. I offered some extra boxes (I have been keeping the ones that the PC product comes in and they would be good for some big items). She told me they would still be in the ward and told me where they were moving.
The next week I asked her if they were going to a bigger house or a smaller house. They have a married daughter, a single daughter with a Masters Degree who lives elsewhere and comes to visit, and a son who is a senior in HS and will go on a mission next year. I thought I heard a few years ago that he was getting close to retirement.
I was surprised and saddened when she told me the house they were going to was a rental home because they had "lost their home". This is common phrase these days as home values drop and houses become "upside down"- that means they owe more than it is worth and also that they may be unable to make those larger payments.
Then she shared that she felt it was a combination of "the kitchen remodel" and "furlough days" that were their undoing.
My small, boring kitchen looked ever so good after that. We, too had been hit with furlough days and a loss of income because of it.

Kirt is pruning the pear tree. Our pear tree gives 3 different kinds of pears. Yum!

Friday night is date night

A few years ago, I overheard that our Stake President Jack Williams and his wife, Lisa, have a Friday night date consisting of dinner and a movie.
Kirt and I talked about it and decided that we would also do that for our date night. So, usually one of the other of us swings by and checks out a "Red Box" movie for $1.00, and then for dinner we sometimes use a coupon or go to another local fast-food venue, or sometimes I fix something special and wonderful, or sometimes we have something simple like a grilled cheese sandwich. It doesn't really matter what or where we eat, it is the time we spend together. I love my husband so much, he is so wonderful.

Tonight, we watched the movie "Secretariat" about a race horse, and had some scrambled eggs and ham on open faced cheese sandwiches on dutch crunch rolls.

Valentine's Day

On Sunday I looked around the Relief Society room and saw the many single sisters- widows, and divorced. I thought that Valentine's Day must be difficult for them so why not invite them to dinner on Monday night. I asked 7 sisters, and 6 were available to come. I told them we were having a red meal and they could bring something red if they wanted to add to the meal.
When I went home from church I started to set the table.
Kirt was in Ward conferences all day so I was alone and didn't need to fix any meals. (or so I thought, but I still fed him supper)
I put the red and white gingham table cloth (I made it when we lived in Germany) on the table, and got out the nice silverware, the china and the goblets. I wanted to have the table look very festive- like a party - but was determined to not go to the store for anything. Luckily, I found some Lindt truffle balls - wrapped in red foil - in the cupboard so was able to put one on each plate. I had bought them for a recipe for upside down molten chocolate cupcakes, I still have enough left as it was a large bag. When Kirt came home he had picked up a small heart shaped box of chocolates for each sister.

I cooked a ham- but put a glaze on it that was a mixture of cranberry sauce and orange juice. I made up a loaf of pink bread. I used one package of the Pampered Chef Beer Batter Bread Mix. It said you can use any beverage- so I used red soda- it was yummy. We had water as the main beverage but in the juice goblets we served a mixture of orange juice and fruit punch- so it was mostly red. One sister brought a red jello, and two others brought different variations of pasta with tomato sauce. For dessert there was red velvet cake and cherry cheesecake. It was a feast and we all visited and laughed for hours. We were glad that no one brought beets- but was surprised that no one brought tomatoes.

Inviting a Friend to Dinner

I went to Food Source and bought 2 large pork roasts - I also have to send food with Kirt tomorrow for his contribution to a Mexican feast- for Janie's birthday.
I did this on my lunch hour- had to make a rub with brown sugar and I used PC chipotle rub and rubbed it into the roast, put them in a pan and seared them for 15 minutes at 525 degrees.
Then I poured some orange soda over the whole roasts and turned the heat down and cooked them for a really long time. A really, really long time. It is done when you stick a fork in and the meat just shreds off.

Serve with flour tortillas, sour cream, cheese and salsa.

Invited G. M. to dinner tomorrow night. He and J. recently split up. I wanted to make something pretty tasty because he is such a chef and is always cooking for ward functions. I asked my co-worker Vanessa how to make carnitas. (she has made them and brought them in to work a few times - yum!)

Jury Duty

I was totally excited to get a jury summons for February 7th. I had to defer the last time I got called so knew I couldn't this time

Owning a Home is a Lifestyle Choice

Today we went out to have a late lunch at the home of Mike and Susan C. Six months ago the bought a house (just a little way off Grantline Road) with some land. The house is really lovely inside, but the 5 acres is a great deal of work. They have an orchard, a pond, a barn, just for starters. They have ordered 25 chicks and will soon have a chicken coop with lots of laying hens. They want to be a self-sufficient as possible.
The house had sat empty for over a year and so the overgrown landscape has been over whelming, but I think they had to chop away with a huge machete. Actually they had to get a huge ride on lawnmower type of thing- sort of what the school landscaping guys ride on to mow the lawns.
In the barn Kellie has room for her steer that she is raising for her Ag class. and Whitney P. has her 2 pigs there also and comes out each day to take care of them. Also in the barn they have 2 barn cats (feral) who actually earned their keep yesterday for the first time by catching and killing a vole.

Refinancing our Home

Interest rates are down, and we are in the process of refinancing with a lower interest rate- a 5 year loan. Our goal is still to have the house paid off when Kirt hits 65 so we can retire and go on a mission.


Our friends, John and Donna B. just left for a Perpetual Education Fund Mission in the Philippines.

Check out their blog- link is at top of this page on the right hand side.

Christmas 2010

This year our Christmas was a little strange.

Check it out on the Christmas Together Blog.


I went to Twin Falls, and dad went to Las Vegas!
I do believe that Dad had a much funner time.