20 Sept 2015 - First of all, happy birthday to the greatest Dad ever!
This week has been a little bit out of the ordinary. This was the week of the County Fair and since we work for the county, we were both involved with that. I had a 2 day training in Tucson to start the week which was pretty good but very hot. I got back on Tuesday night. Scott was on fair finance duty all day on Wednesday and finally got home around 11:45pm. Thursday was a fairly normal day I think. Friday was busy running around doing errands and bottling tomatoes. And yesterday we spent the whole day working at the fair and finished the day and week attending the rodeo.
In all of his "spare" time Scott was also able to split some of the wood that we cut last Saturday. Oh, I didn't tell you about last Saturday so let's back up.....
We have 2 different types of wood permits this year. One is for hardwood and takes us about 30 minutes to get to the designated cutting area. The other is for softwood and it takes us about 2 hours to get to the cutting area. Scott's truck holds 3/4 of a cord. Since the only time that we really have to cut wood is on the weekends, we decided to try and get 2 loads of softwood in one day. Scott borrowed Uncle Dude's small trailer (holds 3/4 cord) and we decided to start early. Neither of us slept very soundly on Friday night so, since we were both up, we left around 4:30AM Saturday morning. Scott loaded the truck while I grabbed some snacks and water and made bagel sandwiches for breakfast. We ate on the go and were able to watch a pretty nice sunrise. We cut wood until we had filled up both the truck and the trailer. The area was really soggy due to lots of rain so we almost got stuck a few times getting in and out. We got back to the house with our first load about 1:00 I think. To speed up the unloading, we simply dumped the load and left it in a chaotic pile in the back yard. Scott returned the trailer while I threw a quick lunch together and we ate on the go again. This time we found a place with ground that wasn't quite so soggy. We had everything cut and loaded in a couple of hours and were headed back around 5:30. We arrived and once again just threw the wood on the pile in the back yard. I think we were in bed by 8:30 and slept VERY soundly.
If anyone wants a full body work out, we still have a couple of trips left!
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Hyde Park Happiness
I must agree that fall is a scrumptious time of year! The Best! It's a lot of work, but you won't find more satisfying work anywhere, any time. We've tilled the garden, picked apples, cleaned out the chicken coop, rearranged the storage room and it feels great! There is still much to do to get ready for the winter, but we're making progress little by little.
Going to Idaho to celebrate with Jack was delightful! What a great little boy. He had ordered salmon for lunch, which Elise cooked to perfection. We had a lot of laughs playing miniature golf (Alex likes to fish his ball out of the water... or the gravel...) and watching the boys enjoy the day. Thanks for the invitation, Jack! It was especially nice that Dad decided to go at the last minute!
Thanks to everyone for the very kind thoughts, phone calls, lovely singing - on the phone and in person, delicious dinner cooked entirely by Emma, visits, etc. I went to bed feeling grateful for such a wonderful family who doesn't remind me how old I'm getting, just how wonderful it is to be a mom and a grandma! Thanks for your kindness, patience and forgiveness and for letting me keep trying to get it right!
After reading/watching some great articles on the church website, I was especially grateful for my children who are wonderful spouses and parents. Thanks for being so good to each other! One of the articles I read was by a man trying to make Sundays easier for his wife. Very good. It caused me to think how important it is, with all of the focus on Sabbath observance right now, to make the Sabbath a delight not only for ourselves in our personal worship, but also for our families and for each other. Give it some thought!
https://www.lds.org/blog/the-sabbath-was-made-for-mom-not-mom-for-the-sabbath?lang=eng
Going to Idaho to celebrate with Jack was delightful! What a great little boy. He had ordered salmon for lunch, which Elise cooked to perfection. We had a lot of laughs playing miniature golf (Alex likes to fish his ball out of the water... or the gravel...) and watching the boys enjoy the day. Thanks for the invitation, Jack! It was especially nice that Dad decided to go at the last minute!
Thanks to everyone for the very kind thoughts, phone calls, lovely singing - on the phone and in person, delicious dinner cooked entirely by Emma, visits, etc. I went to bed feeling grateful for such a wonderful family who doesn't remind me how old I'm getting, just how wonderful it is to be a mom and a grandma! Thanks for your kindness, patience and forgiveness and for letting me keep trying to get it right!
After reading/watching some great articles on the church website, I was especially grateful for my children who are wonderful spouses and parents. Thanks for being so good to each other! One of the articles I read was by a man trying to make Sundays easier for his wife. Very good. It caused me to think how important it is, with all of the focus on Sabbath observance right now, to make the Sabbath a delight not only for ourselves in our personal worship, but also for our families and for each other. Give it some thought!
https://www.lds.org/blog/the-sabbath-was-made-for-mom-not-mom-for-the-sabbath?lang=eng
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Hart Happenings
Can I just say that I LOVE fall?! There is something about the onset of a new season that is invigorating and rejuvenating. And fall just happens to be my favorite. We've been up to our chins in harvest festivals, late night footballs games projected on the side of house, neighborhood block parties, canning, and starting school. It's been so great!
We celebrated Jack's birthday on Friday which was delightful. I think that everyone needs a 7 year-old boy around. They are good for the soul. Thanks to everyone for the birthday calls and wishes. I think he felt like a million bucks. A special thanks to Mom and Dad for coming all the way up here to spend a few hours celebrating with us. We all melted in the heat playing miniature golf per Jack's request but had a lot of fun. Mom schooled us all. It was so great to have them here!
Hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day weekend. We spent it in Yellowstone (we thought of the Mannings the whole day we were there) and had a really great time hiking around and enjoying one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Lastly, Happy Birthday to Mom! So glad she's the Mom of this clan and holds us all together. Her efforts matter more and more each year! Love you love you love you!
Nilsson News
Happy Birthday to the most incredible mother in the world! I knew our mom was pretty amazing when we were growing up, but I don't think the magnitude of what she did hit me until I became a wife and mother. I really took for granted how organized she was. How she managed to keep our home in immaculate condition even with all of us at home, I will never know. She always had/has the best meals served in nice dishes (not just the pan they were cooked in) with around five side options too. She was always studying the scriptures long before the sun or anyone else was up. She had skills when it came to carpooling our family with three cars (most of the time at least one was in the shop) around to the 20 different appointments we had. Her bread is the best on the planet even if her youngest daughter doesn't appreciate it now (she will once she moves out). Service is her middle name. Her laugh is contagious. No one could ever doubt her love for the Savior.
Addy says that her "grandma is always happy and always invites her to help." Emerson can't say enough about the gold coins that grandma gives him each birthday. Eliza loves to read books with grandma and make cookies.
In short, Mom you are the best of the best! I love you and when I grow up someday, I want to be just like you!
Addy says that her "grandma is always happy and always invites her to help." Emerson can't say enough about the gold coins that grandma gives him each birthday. Eliza loves to read books with grandma and make cookies.
In short, Mom you are the best of the best! I love you and when I grow up someday, I want to be just like you!
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Aunt Karen's Delicious Tomato Soup
8 quarts tomatoes, quartered
Cook tomatoes in a soup pot until soft. Put through sieve or strainer to separate out skins and seeds. Should make about 1 gallon tomato juice.
6 small onions
1 pepper (red or green)
1 small bunch celery
1 bay leaf
1 small clove garlic
Cook until soft.
Blend.
Put through sieve.
Add to tomato mixture.
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup salt
1 cup flour
Mix together
Cut in 1/2 cup butter (like for biscuits)
Add to tomato mix.
Watch carefully because it can scorch easily.
Cook until hot, not necessarily boiling. Aunt Karen says hers gets a little glossy.
Ladle into hot jars.
Water bath quarts 15 minutes and pints 10 minutes.
Aunt Karen says it is so much yummier before it is bottled!
Cook tomatoes in a soup pot until soft. Put through sieve or strainer to separate out skins and seeds. Should make about 1 gallon tomato juice.
6 small onions
1 pepper (red or green)
1 small bunch celery
1 bay leaf
1 small clove garlic
Cook until soft.
Blend.
Put through sieve.
Add to tomato mixture.
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup salt
1 cup flour
Mix together
Cut in 1/2 cup butter (like for biscuits)
Add to tomato mix.
Watch carefully because it can scorch easily.
Cook until hot, not necessarily boiling. Aunt Karen says hers gets a little glossy.
Ladle into hot jars.
Water bath quarts 15 minutes and pints 10 minutes.
Aunt Karen says it is so much yummier before it is bottled!
Nilsson News
Happy Fall to everyone! I don't about everyone else, but I can definitely feel fall in the air. It honestly happened over night. It has been really windy the past several days and it blew the cooler temps in for sure. Usually when I wake up in the morning, it is around 75 degrees and this morning it was 69 degrees folks! I'm already envisioning pumpkins, corn mazes, sweaters and beautiful colors. As a type 3 this is my season!
I would have to agree with Mom and the amazingness of our recent canning adventure. I just have to add that mom is incredible to deal with all the mess of canning and grandkids. What a saint! We were glad to see Emma home earlier on Friday. Her football game was cancelled due to lightning and you could tell she was not the least bit disappointed. I think sometime we need to have an Emma weekend. She is always so good to help with the kids and puts up with the dullness of adulthood whenever we come to just visit. We need to have some dedicated time for games and fun and not do it as an after thought or when we're all too tired from canning. Emma, you are terrific!
As an update: Eliza is doing well with her potty training and we are lessening the amount of accidents each day. Henry is sitting up pretty well and is starting to scoot like a caterpillar. Mobility is right around the corner! Addy is eating up the school thing and is doing great with her new piano teacher (do you all remember my friend Anarie White?). Emerson is starting to show that he loves math and chemistry. He is going to be more of the analytical kind, for which I'm very grateful but I'm not going to be able to help him out much in that area - it takes a good brain. Garrett is still doing the bishop thing and the D.I. thing. he is again considering the option of school, but we'll see what pans out.
Today in Relief Society I learned that I need to be a chocolate chip. When the going gets tough and there's a lot of heat, don't melt under the pressure. Remain firm and stand out. Be the best part of the cookie. It was a great lesson! Happy Labor Day!
I would have to agree with Mom and the amazingness of our recent canning adventure. I just have to add that mom is incredible to deal with all the mess of canning and grandkids. What a saint! We were glad to see Emma home earlier on Friday. Her football game was cancelled due to lightning and you could tell she was not the least bit disappointed. I think sometime we need to have an Emma weekend. She is always so good to help with the kids and puts up with the dullness of adulthood whenever we come to just visit. We need to have some dedicated time for games and fun and not do it as an after thought or when we're all too tired from canning. Emma, you are terrific!
As an update: Eliza is doing well with her potty training and we are lessening the amount of accidents each day. Henry is sitting up pretty well and is starting to scoot like a caterpillar. Mobility is right around the corner! Addy is eating up the school thing and is doing great with her new piano teacher (do you all remember my friend Anarie White?). Emerson is starting to show that he loves math and chemistry. He is going to be more of the analytical kind, for which I'm very grateful but I'm not going to be able to help him out much in that area - it takes a good brain. Garrett is still doing the bishop thing and the D.I. thing. he is again considering the option of school, but we'll see what pans out.
Today in Relief Society I learned that I need to be a chocolate chip. When the going gets tough and there's a lot of heat, don't melt under the pressure. Remain firm and stand out. Be the best part of the cookie. It was a great lesson! Happy Labor Day!
Hyde Park Happiness
Can I just tell you that there is nothing better than working together for a desired objective?! Last year, I made salsa by myself because the tomatoes were ready just when everyone else was too busy to help. It took me all day long! But, Ruth and her family came up this weekend and brought their tomatoes, peppers and onions and we (with Lauren's help) got the whole batch made in 1 hour and 15 minutes!! Of course it had to boil down for a couple of hours - but we made lunch, Ruth renewed my feet, and we played a game while that happened. Then we processed the 30+ pints, cleaned up the whole mess and went for a walk. And they were on their way home by 5:30 or so. I was still in a mess and doing salsa at that time last year...
Moral: only do canning when there is company, conversation and fun to be had! It goes faster, is much more pleasant, and feels better when it's all done. I don't think I've had such a satisfying day in a very long time! Thanks to Ruth and Lauren, for the kitchen companionship - and to Dad for being our heavy lifter and for setting things up, and to Garrett and Emma for taking care of the kiddos while we were in the kitchen! I hope you all had as great a day as I did. And by the way, in Lauren's words, "The salsa is to die for!" Oh, and I forgot to mention the bushel of peaches we bottled for Ruth on Friday night. They got here, unloaded, and we started on the peaches - finished them and cleaned up in about 2 hours! Amazing.
Dad's tooth trouble has finally been resolved. He had his root canal after a week long effort to get rid of the excess infection, then got his filling replaced because most of it had fallen out. Glad to have that done and hope to not have any further teeth issues. He did have a funny chicken situation recently that I told some of you about. One morning, Dad went out to feed the chickens and heard one of them quacking!! I even heard it inside the house and wondered if one of our neighbors had recently acquired ducks. Anyway, when he went to find the quacking chicken, he found an injured duck in our hen house! We have no idea how it got there, but it was limping and in distress, poor thing. Dad put on some gloves and brought it up to the house. We decided it should probably have some water, so I drove down to the canal while Dad held the duck on his lap. It settled down when we started driving and seemed to like being in the truck. When we got to the canal, Dad set it in the water and it took off like a shot! It couldn't walk while on land, but sure knew what to do when it hit the water! I wish I had thought to take some pictures...
I didn't know Elise had responded to my FHE invitation/request, but the Harts are willing to try out the long distance FHE with us some time! We'll let you know how it goes and if it's worth making a tradition of. This week we are going to Springville for FHE with Grandpa and Christi. He is wanting to have more frequent connections with family. Please remember them in your prayers.
Have a great week, one and all! Remember to call if you want help canning.....
Moral: only do canning when there is company, conversation and fun to be had! It goes faster, is much more pleasant, and feels better when it's all done. I don't think I've had such a satisfying day in a very long time! Thanks to Ruth and Lauren, for the kitchen companionship - and to Dad for being our heavy lifter and for setting things up, and to Garrett and Emma for taking care of the kiddos while we were in the kitchen! I hope you all had as great a day as I did. And by the way, in Lauren's words, "The salsa is to die for!" Oh, and I forgot to mention the bushel of peaches we bottled for Ruth on Friday night. They got here, unloaded, and we started on the peaches - finished them and cleaned up in about 2 hours! Amazing.
Dad's tooth trouble has finally been resolved. He had his root canal after a week long effort to get rid of the excess infection, then got his filling replaced because most of it had fallen out. Glad to have that done and hope to not have any further teeth issues. He did have a funny chicken situation recently that I told some of you about. One morning, Dad went out to feed the chickens and heard one of them quacking!! I even heard it inside the house and wondered if one of our neighbors had recently acquired ducks. Anyway, when he went to find the quacking chicken, he found an injured duck in our hen house! We have no idea how it got there, but it was limping and in distress, poor thing. Dad put on some gloves and brought it up to the house. We decided it should probably have some water, so I drove down to the canal while Dad held the duck on his lap. It settled down when we started driving and seemed to like being in the truck. When we got to the canal, Dad set it in the water and it took off like a shot! It couldn't walk while on land, but sure knew what to do when it hit the water! I wish I had thought to take some pictures...
I didn't know Elise had responded to my FHE invitation/request, but the Harts are willing to try out the long distance FHE with us some time! We'll let you know how it goes and if it's worth making a tradition of. This week we are going to Springville for FHE with Grandpa and Christi. He is wanting to have more frequent connections with family. Please remember them in your prayers.
Have a great week, one and all! Remember to call if you want help canning.....
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