Mom Visits Chicago

It's great having Mom visit here at Scott and Ali's house. Of course the upstairs furnace would choose this week to stop working, and the weather would be unusually frigid, but she's wandering around the house lugging a space heater and wearing her rice baby. The highlight so far has been the morning she accidentally brushed her teeth with Noah's toenail fungus medication. Priceless.

You goat, girl!

Omi

We are pleased to announce the arrival at the Old Rock House Barnyard Annex of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. They were born to Comely and Rupert (?) on Friday, November 7, 2008, at 2:30 p.m.

The birth was announced, somewhat incoherently, by neighbor and fellow goat enthusiast Jared Thurston, who had observed the blessed event on his way through the alley after school.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Omi
Just taking a moment to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to the ones for whom I am most thankful. I thank Heavenly Father for you and pray for your happiness every day. Bless you all.

A plea for pictures

Omi
Since no one else has volunteered to do the family calendar this year, I am planning a very simple one (similar to Dad's last year) with just one picture at the top. I would like it to be a collage of all of the grandkids. Call it a "Cousins' Calendar." Could each of you please email me the latest good picture of your kids, either singly or in a group? The one Kimball posted below of Ellie will be fine for the purpose, for example. The latest school picture would do well, too. I will need a high resolution so I can get a good print. Please imagine that the head of each child will be printed at about three inches tall, and I need 150 dpi at that size. I am also making board-books of the pictures for Christmas presents for the youngest kids. Thanks so much. I love you all.

Overweening intellectualism foments familial dysfunction

Omi

This morning I read the following couple of paragraphs in Mormon Times, a supplement to the Deseret News:

A family oriented reality television show developed by Brigham Young University and broadcast by KBYU-TV and BYU TV -- what sounds like a contradiction is actually far from the combative, confrontational style of many so-called "reality shows" and the oft-portrayed dysfunctional family.

Instead, "Real Families, Real Answers" shows families dealing with issues such as strengthening marriages, dealing with family finances, managing emotions, and avoiding and overcoming pornography as well as interjecting scholarly commentary.

Is this a problem in your family, as it is in ours? Can you not resist the urge to interject scholarly commentary? As is well known from the works of Soren Kirkegaard, a tendency to overrate one's intellectual prowess can lead to hubris. I think we should all watch this program religiously to overcome our educational snobbery!

Isn't this the most beautiful girl ever?

Christmas Petition

I am petitioning that next year we choose one person/family to give to for Christmas. Although this has been a great run, and we all feel so kind to give things to each other, and it is nice to get lots of gifts on Christmas, I think it might be a good time to change. What do you think? We would have to figure something out for the calendars each year. Let's talk (or leave comments, etc....). I hope this isn't offensive. I am actually rather excited about what I am giving everybody this year. But, perhaps it is time.
From Beebs, the Utahn.

Our new animal accomodations

OMI


We have nearly finished the new area for the animals. We will be naming the chicken area, per Kyle's suggestion, the "C. Everett Koop Coop." The middle section, which is the living area for the goats, will be named after an 18th century German dramatist and the mother of German comedy, Luisa Adelgunde Gottsched. For the milking stand area we have chosen the designation "Johanna Spyri Molkerei" (named after the Swiss author of "Heidi").

The picture at the top of the post is the window cover for the Koop Coop. I painted it while watching the Lord of the Rings movies. I will never see them again without thinking of chickens.

Trick-or-treat

Trick-or-treat from the Browns and happy birthday to Omi

Happy Birthday/Halloween

Happy Birthday to Omi, the good Halloween witch! And to the parents of little trick-or-treaters, please post pics of your little ones! Also don't let them eat any gold chocolate coins, some of them come from China and may be tainted. In fact I recommend removing all chocolate from their loot and testing it yourself!

Book Club

Ali is hosting next month's book club, and the topic is "The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith. Have you all read it? It's great, funny and sweet with some interesting moral dilemmas. I'm planning on serving bush tea (yes, it's herbal) and maybe pumpkin cookies or pumpkin bread. If you have any thoughts about the book, questions I could ask, etc. that would be great. Especially as we can relate any of the points made in the book to the gospel (it's a church book club).

Ali is also going to be a merit badge counselor for disability awareness. There's a lot of info online (meritbadge.org), but I'd also be interested in any ideas you'd like to share.

Thanks in advance for your insights . . .

Really?

So, there is this website that will tell you the reading level of your blog. I thought it was pretty right on (mine is Jr. High level... unfortunately, that is true), and findelmeyer is College, Post Grad. Sounds right, right? Well, I put in Cousins Chronicles, and found out maybe it doesn't really tell the truth. See for yourself; http://www.criticsrant.com/bb/reading_level.aspx
Hmmm....

A realllllly good clip on Protecting Marriage

BOOK GIVE-AWAY

blog
The Barkers have found that they have a number of duplicates in their library (some of them mine, I believe!) and want to know if anyone wants them. Here is a list:

Kim by Rudyard Kipling (library discard)
The Lord of the Rings set (not including Hobbit) paperback, pretty scruffy
Return of the King, also paperback, good condition
The Two Towers, also paperback, not as scruffy
Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea and Anne's House of Dreams, three in one volume
Anne of Avonlea, paperback, good condition
Where the Red Fern Grows, paperback, pretty good
Oliver Twist, paperback, scruffy
The House of the Seven Gables, paperback, scruffy
Goodbye, Mr. Chips, paperback, not too bad, but includes stupid pictures from a musical version (gag)
The Great Gatsby, paperback, good condition
Five Children and It, paperback, good
The Old Man and the Sea, paperback, scruffy
The Turn of the Screw and Daisy Miller, paperback, old
The Call of the Wild, paperback, old

If you want any of them, please let us know.

Article from Ensign

I thought this article from the Ensign was timely:

Abortion: an Assault on the Defenseless
by Elder Russell M. Nelson

As I begin, let me apologize to readers for the use of terms that are not pleasant. The nature of the war to which I’m referring requires such clarity of communication.
As sons and daughters of God, we cherish life as a gift from Him. His eternal plan provides opportunities for His children to obtain physical bodies, to gain earthly experiences, and to realize their divine destinies as heirs of eternal life.

Death Rates from Wars

With that understanding and reverence for life, we deplore the loss of life associated with warfare. The data are appalling. In World War I, more than 8 million military fatalities occurred. In World War II, more than 22 million servicemen and women died. Together, these two wars, covering portions of 14 years, cost the lives of at least 30 million soldiers worldwide. That figure does not include the millions of civilian casualties.

These data, however, are dwarfed by the toll of another war that claims more casualties annually than did World War I and World War II combined. Worldwide reports indicate that more than 40 million abortions are performed per year.

This war called abortion is a war on the defenseless and the voiceless. It is a war on the unborn. This war is being waged globally. Ironically, civilized societies that have generally placed safeguards on human life have now passed laws that sanction this practice.

Divine Doctrine

This matters greatly to us because the Lord has repeatedly declared this divine imperative: “Thou shalt not kill.” Then He added, “Nor do anything like unto it.” Even before the fulness of the gospel was restored, enlightened individuals understood the sanctity of human life. John Calvin, a sixteenth-century reformer, wrote, “If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field, … it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a fœtus in the womb before it has come to light.”

Man-made rules have now legalized that which has been forbidden by God from the dawn of time! Human reasoning has twisted and transformed absolute truth into sound-bite slogans that promote a practice that is consummately wrong.

Special Concerns

Concern for the health of the mother is a vital one. But circumstances in which the termination of pregnancy is necessary to save the life of the mother are very rare, particularly where modern medical care is available. Another concern applies to pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. This tragedy is compounded because an innocent woman’s freedom of choice was denied. In these circumstances, abortion is sometimes considered advisable to preserve the physical and mental health of the mother. Abortions for these reasons are also rare.

Some argue for abortion because of fear that a child may have a congenital malformation. Surely the harmful effects of certain infectious or toxic agents in the first trimester of pregnancy are real, but caution is needed in considering the termination of a pregnancy. Life has great value for all, including those born with disabilities. Furthermore, the outcome may not be as serious as postulated.

I remember well a couple who endured such an experience. The woman was only 21 years old at the time—a beautiful and devoted wife. In her first trimester, she contracted German measles. Abortion was advised because the developing baby would almost surely be damaged. Some members of her family, out of loving concern, applied additional pressure for an abortion. Devotedly, the couple consulted their bishop. He referred them to their stake president, who, after listening to their concern, counseled them not to terminate the life of this baby, even though the child would likely have a problem. He quoted this scripture:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
They chose to follow that counsel and allowed their child to be born—a beautiful little girl, normal in every respect, except for total hearing loss. After their daughter’s evaluation at a school for the deaf, the parents were advised that this child had the intellect of a genius. She attended a major university on a scholarship. Now some 40 years later, she enjoys a wonderful life.
To deny life to an individual because of a possible handicap is a very serious matter. Policy consistent with that logic would dictate that those already living with such deficiencies should likewise be terminated. One more step in that tragic train of thought would lead to the conclusion that those who are either infirm or inconvenient should also be eliminated. Such irreverence for life would be totally unthinkable!

Abortion on Demand

Relatively few abortions are performed for the special circumstances to which I have referred. Most abortions are performed on demand to deal with unwanted pregnancies. These abortions are simply a form of birth control.

Elective abortion has been legalized in many countries on the premise that a woman is free to choose what she does with her own body. To an extent this is true for each of us, male or female. We are free to think. We are free to plan. And we are free to do. But once an action has been taken, we are never free from its consequences.

To understand this concept more clearly, we can learn from the astronaut. Anytime during selection or preparation, he or she is free to withdraw from the program. But once the spacecraft has lifted off, the astronaut is bound to the consequences of the previous choice to make the journey.

So it is with people who choose to embark on a journey that leads to parenthood. They have freedom of choice—to begin or not to begin that course. When conception does occur, that choice has already been made.

Yes, a woman is free to choose what she will do with her body. Whether her choice leads to an astronaut’s mission or to a baby, her choice to begin the journey binds her to the consequences of that choice. She cannot “unchoose.”

When the controversies about abortion are debated, “individual right of choice” is invoked as though it were the one supreme virtue. That could only be true if but one person were involved. The rights of any one individual do not allow the rights of another individual to be abused. In or out of marriage, abortion is not solely an individual matter. Terminating the life of a developing baby involves two individuals with separate bodies, brains, and hearts. A woman’s choice for her own body does not include the right to deprive her baby of life—and a lifetime of choices that her child would make.

As Latter-day Saints, we should stand up for choice—the right choice—not simply for choice as a method.

Nearly all legislation pertaining to abortion considers the duration of gestation. The human mind has presumed to determine when “meaningful life” begins. In the course of my studies as a medical doctor, I learned that a new life begins when two special cells unite to become one cell, bringing together 23 chromosomes from the father and 23 from the mother. These chromosomes contain thousands of genes. In a marvelous process involving a combination of genetic coding by which all the basic human characteristics of the unborn person are established, a new DNA complex is formed. A continuum of growth results in a new human being. Approximately 22 days after the two cells have united, a little heart begins to beat. At 26 days the circulation of blood begins. To legislate when a developing life is considered “meaningful” is presumptive and quite arbitrary, in my opinion.

Abortion has been legalized by governing entities without regard for God and His commandments. Scriptures state repeatedly that people will prosper only if they obey the commandments of God. Individuals will prosper only when they walk in faith and obedience to God, who said:
“I, the Lord, … built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.
“And it is my purpose to provide. …
“But it must needs be done in mine own way. …
“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has consistently opposed the practice of abortion. More than a century ago, the First Presidency wrote, “We again take this opportunity of warning the Latter-day Saints against those … practices of foeticide and infanticide.”
Early in his presidency President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) said: “We have repeatedly affirmed the position of the Church in unalterably opposing all abortions, except in two rare instances: When conception is the result of forcible rape and when competent medical counsel indicates that a mother’s health would otherwise be seriously jeopardized.” Current policy now includes two other exceptions—incest and if the baby cannot survive beyond birth, as determined by competent medical counsel. Even these exceptions do not justify abortion automatically. It “should be considered only after the persons responsible have consulted with their bishops and received divine confirmation through prayer.”

Adoption

Why destroy a life that could bring great joy to others? There are better ways of dealing with an unwanted pregnancy. When a life is created by sinful behavior, the best way to begin personal repentance is to preserve the life of that child. To add another serious sin to a serious sin already committed only compounds the grief. Adoption is a wonderful alternative to abortion. Both the baby and the adoptive parents can be greatly blessed by the adoption of that baby into a home where the child will be lovingly nurtured and where the blessings of the gospel will be available.

Repentance Is Possible

Is there any hope for the person who has participated in the act of abortion? Is there any hope for those who have so sinned and who now suffer heartbreak? The answer is yes! “As far as has been revealed, a person may repent and be forgiven for the sin of abortion.” We know the Lord will help all who are truly repentant.

Life is precious! No one can cuddle an innocent infant, look into those beautiful eyes, feel the little fingers, and kiss that baby’s cheek without a deepening reverence for life and for our Creator. Life comes from life. It is no accident. It is a gift from God. Innocent life is not sent by Him to be destroyed. It is given by Him and is naturally to be taken by Him alone. I testify that life is eternal as He is eternal.

Adoption—A Loving Decision That Blesses the Child

“We … express our support of unwed parents who place their children for adoption in stable homes with a mother and a father. We also express our support of the married mothers and fathers who adopt these children.
“Children are entitled to the blessing of being reared in a stable family environment where father and mother honor marital vows. Having a secure, nurturing, and consistent relationship with both a father and a mother is essential to a child’s well-being. When choosing adoption, unwed parents grant their children this most important blessing. Adoption is an unselfish, loving decision that blesses the child, birth parents, and adoptive parents in this life and throughout the eternities. We commend all those who strengthen children and families by promoting adoption.”

Silly Laws

As Christmastime approaches . . .

000
I like to give grandkids books for Christmas, but don't want to duplicate some that you already have. Would you like to make inventories of your kid-books so I can choose something new? Or actually, old, since I want the kids to have all of our old favorites available to them.

Thanks. Omi

Roman Holiday

When Omi and I heard the announcement of the temple in Rome, we sent up a collective cheer with the rest of you. The we had a fantastic idea. Let's all go over to Rome for the open house and dedication of the temple. No, I'm not kidding. Here are some ideas flying fast and thick at TORH:

• Design a 2-3 week vacation in Italy and surrounding areas
  
• Rent a villa or something close to the area
• Invite the Banchis to join us (Ali and Scott G, don't you have some Italian friends? Maybe they could come, too.)
• Ethan and Beanie would be old enough to go to the dedication (don't you have to be 12?)
  
• Start brushing up on our Italian
• Start saving money
• Start saving up vacation time
• Think of a Beebs-like person (a nanny, like what Beebs did for that one family) we could take with us to watch the kids while the adults go have fun
  
• Get into shape so we won't faint by the wayside or allow our feeble knees to slow us down
• Do many other exciting and educational activities

Well, what do you think? Let me know. We have enough time to really plan this and make it fun.

Halloween help, ASAP

Hey, I am in charge of Westons class Halloween party. In one section, they read a story. Any ideas of good Halloween stories? Also, they need to learn a chant, or something. All I remember of one when I was a kid is "Stirring and Stirring the brew, boo!" Anybody remember the rest? Other chants that are fun?

And, any idea other than donut on a string, for the donut eating area?

Happy BIrthday Scott Garner!

Hope you had a great day!!! Enjoy your new year that you have before you!

Have you read these?

The Big Read is a NEA program designed to encourage community reading initiatives and of their top 100 books, they estimate the average adult has read only six. So, knowing this family, this should make you feel good. (I on the other hand, will probably lose this game...)

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespear
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Aidan and eyes

Just FYI, Aidan goes in tomorrow (Wednesday) for his MRI and EEG. We would appreciate prayers that they will be able to find the problem (or find NO problem). I will let you know how things go a few days after when I talk with the doctors about results.

Other news, I go in for eye surgery on Thursday. Yippee. I would also appreciate prayers that there are no complications....

Thanks wonderful family. I am so glad we have you all!

Happy Birthday Val!

Happy birthday to Valentina, I hope it was great!

Kyle's birtday was great

See a few pictures of the occasion:

Kyle's Birthday 2008

Happy Birthday Kyle!

This is just a quick happy birthday to Kyle, who is now 26 years young. I hope it was great!

I might miss hot-wiring my truck, but it's worth it

Virginia is not like Idaho. In Virginia, cars must pass both a safety inspection and an emissions test annually in order to be legally registered. (Whereas in Idaho, the car owner must only give his word of honor that the car has at least three wheels and that any dead wildlife in the back was actually shot in season). This means that at least annually (not to mention any service actually needed) I have to take my car to a service station and pay money to have a monkey with a wrench tell me why I need to pay him more money for a service that I don't really need. One mechanic actually told me that my Flux Capacitor had completely stopped fluxing. (Joke.) Seriously, Last year I spent over a thousand dollars to have a mechanic fix my starter and fix my brakes, neither of which got fixed correctly--I have had to hotwire my truck for the past two years.

Ever since I moved away from Idaho (and since Lorin Hales retired) I have never felt comfortable about any place I have taken my vehicle for service. After being ripped off enough times--either intentionally or by sheer incompetence--I have resorted to taking my car to McDonalds -- the service is about the same, but at least I can play in FunLand.

My decade-long agony is finally over -- I have found an honest mechanic! Last week, my air conditioner stopped working. On the recommendation of a ward member, I took my truck to Patton's Garage, outside Fredericksburg. I was skeptical. I brought along my "Common Phrases in Redneck" pocket reference and approached the garage, hand on wallet. What to my surprise, when I was greeted in English (with a slight Virginian tone) by a friendly man with a firm (clean) handshake. Long story short: my air-conditioner is fixed AND my starter is fixed AND I have a new friend. The damage: $83.

Hooray for an honest mechanic!

Gerbie

Today Scott cooked himself a steak. I had been at the store, and as I walked into the house, the smell smacked me in the face and memories of Gerbie flooded my mind. Does that smell remind anyone else of Gerbie??? I remember her cooking her tiny steaks on that tiny stove and giving us grizzle (is that what it is?). Shout out to her and all the great memories she provides for us: Christmas in July, Handy Candy, letting me put curlers in her hair, feeding the birds bread and popcorn, and buying ice cream from us when we somehow pumped it out our upside down bikes.

Free Fruit Dryer

Omi
There are currently three fruit dryers residing at the ORH. We only need two. If you would like a really nice fruit dryer, let us know.

I was in Albertsons the other day and saw a great sale on bananas--a huge box, maybe 20 pounds (or more) for $5. I bought it, brought it home, and Omi and Opa made tons of frozen bananas (for smoothies) and bags and bags of banana chips in the fruit dryer. The kids love to help with that--they use the egg slicer to make perfectly even banana chips. Tallis is an especial fan. Maybe we'll do apple chips this fall.
Omi

A Mess and a Recipe

First the mess: I got up this morning and made blueberry muffins. As I was putting the batter into the pans I noticed a strange smell coming from the pre-heating oven. When I opened the door I saw why - - Noah had put a pair of scissors in there. The handles had completely melted and the plastic smell was terrible. I turned off the oven and opened all the windows and doors, but I still got a terrible headache from the fumes. New rule: always check oven before turning it on!
Now the recipe. Inspired by Mom and Dad we recently bought an ice cream maker. Ethan and I wanted to make lime sherbet but there was no limeade concentrate at the store, so we settled for frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate. We mixed about 3/4 of a can of that with 3 cups of whole milk, 1/4 cup sugar, a couple of drops of red food coloring and about 15 fresh raspberries. We mixed it in the ice cream maker, then let it freeze for a while. Served with a few raspberries on the side. It was delicious, and so refreshing!

Delicious Dinner

Hey folks, I made an amazing dinner tonight. It was very messy and took some time, but so worth it. The link to the recipe is here. (If you want to link something, look at the icons above the composition box--there is a small green ball with a paperclipy looking thing on it. Highlight the word --in my case, "here", and then click the icon, and paste in the address. Just FYI)

Along with the Chicken Pot Pie, we are having Jumbleberry Pie. Again, delicious!

Mom, your pie crust recipe is the BEST!!!!!!!!!! I am very full, and a few pounds heavier, but with a smile on my face!

Books again

How interesting that you posted that Ali, cause I have been wanting to post this for a few days: I am looking for old books. I can't remember all the names, and some I just want to know if any of you have. Please, if you can help me, let me know:
1. A kids book about some kids (I think brother and sister) who go through a cabin that is a museum thingy, and they go out the back door and have been transported back in time.
2. A book about a girl who is a witch. All I remember is that she would swing upside down on her swingset, and her cat, too.
3. Bunjee Venture (is that spelled right?)
4. A book about some kids (family I think) who have a coin that transports them in time (I think). Not much to go on, that's all I remember. Though for some reason them going to the beach sounds familiar.
5. The Golden Bowl

Thanks!

Books and Such

I wanted to let you all know about a fun website, Shelfari.com. It's free, and you can sign in and create your own bookshelf - - it looks like an actual shelf, and there are images of the actual books you've read. Ethan has a shelf, and it is very exciting for him to see all of the big books (60!) that he's read. It's also a great way to let people know what you're reading or have read, or books you recommend. Interesting to note that the Book of Mormon is in the top 2 of books read. Anyway I thought you'd like to check it out!

Comprehensive Food Additive List

Omi
Opa gets a newsletter called "Nutrition Action" which has interesting, balanced information about nutrition and health. A few months ago they published a guide to food additives. I thought I'd post a list here of the additives they suggest avoiding because they are unsafe or very poorly tested and not worth any risk:

Acesulfame potassium (artificial sweetener)
Artificial colorings (Blue 1 and 2, Green and Red 3, and Yellow 6)
Aspartame (NutraSweet)
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Olestra (Olean)
Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil
Potassium bromate
Propyl gallate
Saccharine
Sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite
Stevia

Next month I will post a list of additives that certain people should avoid (allergy risk) and additives that should be used with caution. Enjoy!
Omi

Grammar

Omi
Although I don't have the greatest grammar (like the rest of ya'll), I do try and teach my children correctly. At the same time, when they "post" on the Cousins Chronicles, I put what they say--bad grammar and all. So, when you read Weston's post about stitches, please don't cringe at his "me and my mom", etc... I know you want to...
Omi

The European Connection

omi is a goofball
After seeing the Barkers off on their trip to San Diego, I thought we would have a quiet evening at home. But Opa called from his bus trip and asked me to have a Book of Mormon and pass-along card ready for him to give to some folks from Poland that he was bringing through from West Yellowstone. Well, we gave them the stuff, then it turned out that they had to wait until midnight for their next bus, so we took them out to dinner (Wendy's), on a drive around the campus and temple, and home to have a shower and some goat-milk pudding. Delightful people--a young man and woman. She had been an au pair in Houston for the past year and spoke very good English. He had just been in the USA for a couple of weeks, but still could communicate well. We had a great visit.

I hope you all get to see the LDS Profiles program where Heidi was interviewed by Brian Howard (our former bishop) about One Heart Bulgaria. She had a fifteen minute segment of the 1/2 hour program devoted to those who help orphans. The other interviewee was Dr. Rex Head, who oversees a program for orphanages in Equador. As I told Ali, Heidi brought gloire enorme to the family and the organization. Check with the BYU channel to find out when it repeats in your area.
omi is a goofball

Cuckicle Recipe

Omi is a goofball
Kimball has asked for the recipe for cuckickles. Here it is from Jess' own mouth:
Peel and slice (1/8 to 1/4 inch thick) one or two cucumbers and about a quarter of an onion. Put it all in a quart jar. Add about a half teaspoon of salt and some pepper. Fill the jar with a mixture of 50% apple cider vinegar and 50% water. Put the lid on the bottle. Refrigerate and serve when chilled. If you like this, thank Grandmother Brown, who got it from her father-in-law, Archie Lee Brown of "Death does not end our usefulness" fame.
Omi is a goofball

A political cartoon we can all enjoy

Omi is a goofball
You all will certainly enjoy the following jibjab video. I don't know how to make it a link, so just copy and paste. ENJOY!

http://sendables.jibjab.com/sendables/1191/time_for_some_campaignin#/teaser/1191
Omi is a goofball

A Modest Proposal

Omi is a serious goofball.
We at the Old Rock House propose that this be a blog for the family in general and that all family members be invited to post thereon. It is suggested that any posts on your own blogs that would be of interest to the family in particular also be posted at this site. It is rated G and BAD GRAMMAR will not be tolerated. Please call home to learn the password, etc, so that you can participate.

We hope to read many monographs on it.
Good grief.