Snapshot #186: University Mall

December 16, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  I finished my Christmas shopping today.  Woo-Hoo! 

Recipe Diaries: Snapshot #185: Homemade Noodles

December 15, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  I have fond memories of Mother's Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, so I thought I would try some of my own for dinner tonight.  Thanks for the recipe Mom!

Snapshot #184: Recruiting for Jordan

December 14, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Today I went with Dave to his final class in Third World Development.  His group did a presentation on their project for Jordan.  We are now looking for recruits.  Any one interested in journeying to Jordan in the Spring and be a part of the creation of a Non-Governmental Organization that will truly make a difference?  NGOs are defined by the World Bank as "private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development". Yes...very cool.

Snapshot #183: King Builders

December 13, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  I have been attempting to work with my brother and his company on a local project...but it looks like the funding for the project won't be coming through until April.  In the meantime...you should check out his website at www.kingbuilders.blogspot.com.  He's the best in the business if you're looking for someone to either build you a new home or do work, paint, finish carpentry on an existing home.

Snapshot #182: A Christmas Serenade

December 12, 2010.  South Jordan, Utah.  This evening we enjoyed a Christmas exchange with Dave's father and his wife and also with Grandma Mari Lou.  The evening could not have been more perfect.  A fabulous dinner, homemade raspberry cheesecake for dessert, a little Christmas caroling, and of course the exchange of gifts.  The highlight of the night, however, was when Dave's father pulled out his guitar and serenaded us all.  Acoustical guitar just might be my most favorite sound in all the world.

Snapshot #181: Meat Pie Tradition

December 11, 2010.  South Jordan, Utah.  One of the benefits of living in Utah is the Wood Family Christmas Meat Pie Tradition; a savory recipe handed down from Dave's grandmother's mother.  The pie is made from pork, potatoes, onion, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.  It will be served for breakfast on Christmas morning with fresh cranberries.  I am excited to pass the tradition on down the Wood Family line.  

Snapshot #180: Dinner Rolls

December 10, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  It takes me several days to make these whole wheat rolls using the delayed fermentation method.  Still trying to decide if it's worth it!?  These are for Sunday dinner.

Snapshot #179: Utah Style

December 9, 2010.  Salt Lake City, UT.  I met today for the first time with a representative of the Utah Style & Design Magazine, working to get Lela's home published.  

Snapshot #178: Provo Temple Nativity

December 8, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  I visited the Provo temple today and on my way out was captured by this thoughtful nativity.

Snapshot #177: 32 Years on Earth

 December 7, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  In commemoration of completing my 32nd year on planet earth, my mother and I pampered ourselves with manicures.  Woo-Hoo!  Can you believe that it was her first?!

Snapshot #176: Christmas with Utah Chamber Artists

December 6, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  Tonight Dave and I accompanied his parents to a Christmas Concert with the Utah Chamber Artists in the Libby Gardner Concert Hall.  The performance, directed by Barlow Bradford, was divine.

Snapshot #175: Russell Stover

December 5, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  That my friends is a semi-truck full of Russell Stover Chocolates.  Ahhh...the holidays have arrived.

Snapshot #174: Christmas Star

December 4, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Dave and I had fun today running all around town finding gifts for everyone on our list.  And...we bought a tree! 

Snapshot #173: Hair On Hide

December 3, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  I suppose it's acceptable if you don't get as excited as I did about finding this fabulous "Hair On Hide" leather at a great price.  Can't wait to turn it into two extraordinary upholstered benches. 

Snapshot #172: Planning for Jordan

December 2, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Dave is planning a trip to Jordan in the spring.  No, not South Jordan, not to see Michael Jordan...but to visit Jordan, the country in the Middle East bordering Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel & Syria.  It will be part of an international business effort aimed at Third World Development.  Yes, very cool.  And there just may be a chance that I can go too.  

Snapshot #171: Dave and Dave

December 1, 2010.  South Jordan, Utah.  Organizing the new computer...filing photos, etc.  Found this great one from a month or so back.  I love this picture of Dave and his dad.  

Snapshot #170: Home Sweet Apartment

November 30, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Nice to return home, out of the cold, after a long day running around Salt Lake lining up contractors for Lela's house.

Snapshot #169: Snow Paws

November 29, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  It did end up snowing in Orem while we were gone.  I let the cat out on the patio to play, while I spent the day on the computer job hunting.  I'm realizing that job hunting is a full-time job.

Snapshot #168: Road Closure

November 28, 2010.  Idaho-Utah.  I-84 and Sweetzer Pass was closed today so we couldn't take the normal route from Idaho back to Utah.  Instead we took the long way around, through Pocatello.   As you can see from the picture above, we couldn't exactly see the interstate; the roads were quite treacherous.  Thankfully we made it home safely after more than 6 hours on the road.

Snapshot #167: Around the Hearth

November 27, 2010.  Wendell, Idaho.  Mom was feeling sufficiently well last night to come home from the hospital.  It's always agreeable to spend a day at Home, surrounded by Family, next to the Hearth.  I made an uncharacteristically fabulous dinner of Brined Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, and Stuffing.

Snapshot #166: Pre-Ops

November 26, 2010.  Twin Falls, Idaho.  Dismal day for Mom.  This morning she underwent a scheduled surgery...hopefully the last in this series of her fight against cancer.  It's a day at the hospital for us.  We Love You Mom!!  

Snapshot #165: Thanksgiving Day Drive

November 25, 2010.  Utah-Idaho.  Drove for many hours today...to and from destinations.  The recent snow fall made for a slightly tense, yet beautiful drive.   

Snapshot #164: The Blizzard that Wasn't

November 24, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  All day yesterday was spent in anticipation for the blizzard...announced to be the biggest storm of the decade.   It had already slammed Seattle, Boise, Wendell.  We got all the errands run before 3:00, made some delicious hot chocolate, opened the curtains, and waited.  3:00 then 5:00 then 7:00 then 9:00.  Nothing more than some wind.  At 9:00 we turned on the News to see eleven inches of snow in Salt Lake...the pictures were gorgeous.  But in Orem, we still have green grass; some how the storm skipped us.

Snapshot #163: myMac is an iMac

November 23, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  After 6 months without a computer, I finally collected enough pay checks to justify a new computer for my business.  I should be able to blog more consistently now :)  Oh yeah, and keep up with my clients.

Snapshot #162: My Brother's Keeper

November 22, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Dave is taking a Third-World Development class that is inciting all kinds of ingenious ideas and dialogues for our lives.  I am working on reconciling many of these ideas with the principles expressed in the above quote by Abraham Lincoln.  There must be a way to provide equal opportunity for all...without enslaving a population...and embracing the reality that the diversity of the results will not reflect identical circumstances for all.

Snapshot #161: Celebrate Mari Lou

November 21, 2010.  Holladay, Utah.  Dave's Aunt hosted a dinner party tonight for his grandmother, Mari Lou.  Eight + Nine Candles = 89.  An incredible woman who greatly blesses our lives!  We Love You Mari Lou!!

Snapshot #160: Cold Cougars

November 20, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Dave says he wasn't cold.  But it took me an hour before I could feel my toes again.  All to demonstrate our screaming support at the last home game for the BYU Cougar Football Team. 

Snapshot #159: Nectar of the Gods

November 19, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Today I discovered Zoi.  Greek Yogurt.  Wow!  The Honey Flavor is to die for.   This could quickly become the new bane of my existence.  It's like yogurt cream...and has the fat content to prove it. 

Snapshot #158: God Speaks

November 18, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Today Dave talked me into going to his Ethics class with him on campus.  We had the great privilege to hear guest speaker, Robert Gay.  Seldom in my life have I been as personally touched by a message as I was by his today.  His message for me was:  

I must never forget that I am in the hands of God.  Nothing I have in this world is mine.  I was chosen and prepared before the foundations of this world for my specific mission.  If I am faithful to my covenants, maintain a balance in life, and keep myself from coveting,  I will always live according to the voice that guides within.  There is a voice that speaks.  I have to follow that voice.     

Snapshot #157: Recovery

November 17, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  I didn't "work" today.  I took a soul-searching recovery day instead.  Still, I had to go to the mall and return the clothing that I had bought for my supposed final interview with the church. 

Snapshot #156: Heartbroken

November 16, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  The long-awaited phone call from the Temple Interior Design Department came today.  Two candidates left.  One job.  They have decided to go with the other candidate.  Out of hundreds of applicants, I came in at the Number Two slot.  I am trying desperately to be grateful.

Snapshot #155: Utah Lake Sunset

 

November 15, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  I drive to Salt Lake City nearly every day to do my work as a freelance designer.  This evening on the drive home, I captured this beautiful image of the sunset over Utah Lake.

Snapshot #154: Making Friends

November 14, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  The Allreds invited us over for dinner tonight.  Great Couple!  Good food too.  They also introduced us to the game Blockus.    

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!

Snapshot #153: Errands

November 13, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Post Office, Bank, Oil Change, Hair Cut, Bert Murdock Music, Home Movie, Family Budget, Practice Piano...a few of today's delights. 

Snapshot #152: Food for Thought

November 12, 2010.  Draper, Utah.  I had lunch today with Lela at Food for Thought.  What a treat!

Snapshot #151: Llangefni

November 11, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Above is a picture of Llangefni, Wales; the home of my sister Jana and her family.  Today Jana left Idaho at the completion of her one month visit, and flew back to Wales with her two youngest.  I'm sure she's glad to be home with her husband and her two oldest.  We miss you Jana, Ashley, and Freya.

Snapshot #150: August Rush

November 10, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  This evening I curled into a ball, watched August Rush, and cried.

Snapshot #149: Playtime

November 9, 2010.  South Jordan, Utah.  Tonight I attended a seminar taught by my remarkable mother-in-law.  She has a private Wellness Coaching, Counseling & Consulting practice; and tonight spoke on the complexities of relationships.  To read some of her work click here;  find the article on page 30 titled "Playtime".    

Snapshot #148: I Own a Pony

November 8, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  His name is Lightning.  And like I was in third grade again, he made my day.  Silly adult.  Wells Fargo sure has figured out "Rewards." 

Snapshot #147: Paperwork

November 6, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Today Dave went to the BYU vs. UNLV football game while I stayed home and did paperwork for my project with Lela.  Lots and lots of paperwork.

Snapshot #146: Lugano Restaurant

November 5, 2010.  Holladay, Utah.  Tonight we had a fabulous celebratory dinner at Lugano Restaurant with Dave's family.  The occasion was in honor of Dave and his acceptance of the Cisco offer.  Looks like we're headed to San Jose to live, starting August 2011.

Snapshot #145: Behind the Scenes of Morning Market Call

November 4, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Tonight was the National Advisory Council (NAC) Conference with the Marriott School Students.  Dave had a very busy night interviewing top executives from around the world for Morning Market Call.  I got some great shots from behind-the-scenes.  To see Dave's interview with Tagg Romney (Mitt Romney's son) click here.    

Snapshot #144: Cash In Fist

November 3, 2010.  Riverton, Utah.  Today I closed the deal.  I have CIF along with approvals AND EXCITEMENT to start ordering the furnishings for Lela's Sitting Room.  At this point the fun turns into a lot of work...paperwork to be specific.  

Snapshot #143: Silver State Supply

November 2, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  I spend a lot of my time these days visiting two textile warehouses:  The Showroom and Silver State Textiles.  Time goes by way too fast inside these warehouses...there is just SO much to shift through trying to find what I'm looking for.  Before I know it two days have gone by and I have done little else.  (Yes, Dave is being neglected...good thing he knows how to prepare dinner!)

Snapshot #142: Textiles

November 1, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  The whole of today was spent in an attempt to finalize fabric selections for Lela's Library and Living Room.