Who Says I Never Win?

Lyla Lou's Giveaway WINNER!

The winner is lucky number 19, Elizabeth, who said:

"I love the Yellow Trixie Headband, for my granddaughter, Jane. Thanks for the heads up on the cute site."

Congrats, Elizabeth! Please email me at flowerchain@gmail.com to claim your prize.

Sabbath Day University

Today in Sunday School, I felt like I was attending a university level gospel doctrine class. I am definitely the consummate nerd, with my notebook, colored pen, scriptures, and my study guide. I can't help it, when I have a really great teacher, it is the best feeling in the world to have gospel doctrine opened up to you with scholarly supporting information, the kind that you usually don't get to hear unless you are a scholar yourself and you dig it up through your own reading. I love to read, but I am not able or willing to work that hard (apparently), so when it falls out of heaven like that, through a really effective teacher (and we do have very capable teachers) I am a teachable, willing recipient. I am truly grateful for the time and effort of these wonderful teachers in my ward.

Bubble Blowing Skirt and Top GIVEAWAY!!!!

Bubble Blowing Skirt and Top GIVEAWAY!!!!

This one is for Jane:-)

Perfect Love

Perfect Love

Who would be loved, let him possess

A true beloved like mine,

And share in secret blessedness

Love's mystery divine:

Lovers like us none else, I guess,

Are found in earth's confine.

'Soul of the world' - such was the name

My idol gave to me;

While I do live, her I proclaim

Soul of my world to be,

And none I know doth own the same

Dear loyalty as she.

Behold me now - take not as heard,

But ask, and all will say

That this is sooth: this was her word:

'I shall be thine for aye'

Truly she is, as she averred,

And I am hers alway.

A.J. Arberry

Taken from Persian Poems An Anthology of Verse Translations

Food

Here's another EASY yummy recipe, cuz I just can't stop myself. This is so good and easy:

Boil fusilli in salted water for 6 min.

While pasta is cooking, saute garlic in olive oil, then here you can either add just halved cherry tomatoes, or as an alternate, you can add cooked shrimp, or cooked chicken, whatever, and then the halved cherry tomatoes. Heat through. While this is cooking, dice fresh mozzarella (the soft kind) into a pasta bowl, and throw in rolled and thin sliced fresh basil leaves. Now take the drained pasta and toss in the pan with the garlic, and tomatoes (and perhaps shrimp or chicken though not needed!). Pour over the mozza and basil in the bowl, and toss. The whole thing takes 6 minutes, and YUM!

You could wilt either arugula or spinach in this pasta dish too, just throw it in with the tomatoes.

As you can tell, I like food FAST & FRESH!

Halibut Yum

YUM. Tonight I made, in about 5 minutes flat, the best halibut steak. This is what you do:

Heat 1 t. butter & 1 t. olive oil in a saute pan, til bubbling, drop in the dredged halibut (in flour with salt and pepper) into the hot pan, and cook on one side 2-3 minutes. While cooking, zest a lemon right over the fish. Salt and pepper, lightly. Now juice 1/2 lemon right over the fish while it is cooking. Turn the fish over, and repeat on the other side. Done in about 5-6 min. Serve with green beans, or spinach salad, or sliced tomato or whatever...something fresh:-)

I nearly took a picture it looked so good!

Milk Weed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Milk Weed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sarra, I'm trying to win it for you:-)

Geese

We have two goose 'couples' that return every year to have their children...they hatch their eggs (anywhere between 1-4), then tend to their goslings all summer long...it is really inspiring and we look forward to seeing them. One of the families arrived on May 2. and it really made our souls happy (that's how you know that you are getting older...you love birds and trees) - it means that Spring is really here. I can't wait to see how many babies they will have this year.

What makes the geese so inspiring is the way that they are devoted to one another and to their little families. The 'children' are always positioned in between the mom and the dad..and the parent's truly do stand guard over these goslings all summer, right up to the point that they are really all the same size, and it's time to fly south. It's fun to see this divine like quality in nature.

Sweetness

I started to cry when I saw these photos in my email this afternoon. I miss these little wonders. Jane is wearing a dress that Sarra sewed for her this week - she is so cute in it. Wonderful job Sarra - I love the colors! The next photo is of Scarlet, who has grown way too much! She is wearing the little felted booties I gave her for Christmas; she wasn't there to receive them, but she has them on now:-) Then, the last photo is just the sweetest picture of Charlie having a little snuggle, and then a snooze with Scarlet...he is nuzzled right up to her. Charlie has a heart of gold, for sure.

A Night at the Opera

I was given tickets to La Traviata by Verdi for Christmas, by Mark and Eli...a lovely gift, and I enjoyed it so much! It was wonderful. The music was beautiful, and the story and sets were enchanting (a popular word right now thanks the the right press:-). I took Jared with me, as he is our musical aficionado. We went out for dinner afterwards, to OPM. I love to spend time with my family - and Jared is such good company. I am planning to go to the library tomorrow to pick up the music for a second listen. Thanks to Mark and Eli!