PURGE

purge:
Pronunciation:\ˈpərj\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s):
purged; purg·ing


1a: to clear of guilt

2a: to cause evacuation from

b(1): to make free of something unwanted
(2): to free of sediment or relieve

c(1): to rid by a purge
(2): to get rid of



Two weekends ago we had a garage sale. Let me explain a bit. A realtor in our area sponsors a garage sale twice a year (once in the spring and once in the fall). You simply call a number and leave the message that you'd like to participate with your address and viola! He puts up signs the night before, brings donuts the morning of, prints out a handy map for "shoppers," and sends around a charity truck in the afternoon to pick up any leftover items that you want to magically disappear!

So....in our house, we not only have Spring cleaning, we also have a Fall cleaning! This consists of going through every room, cupboard and closet in the entire house and removing things that are barely used to sell in the garage sale. This practice also tends to create new projects for me to undertake. One such project that stemmed from this recent purge.

Claiming a space of my own! The playroom closet became my project. I went to the hardware store and bought lumber, had it cut, found the studs, drilled holes and then screws into wood to make these 'oh so handy' shelves.

Now my many crafting addictions have a home to call their own! From beautiful papers to soft knitting yarns, it is a dream to have it all in order. Need a good carpenter? Ha.


A quick trip to IKEA and an allen wrench and screwdriver later and I have my own space in the kids playroom. This room is right at the front of our house and has a beautiful window that lets in an easy breeze. It is a wonderful space to be creative and be with the kiddies too. The boys have their projects and I have mine! Perfect.


I am ready for the season. Ready to create beautiful gifts to send to all my nears and dears. Ready to be creative (as a very influential and respected man recently encouraged us to be! Thank you General RS Meeting and President Uchtdorf!) Ready. You?

My Camera Appendage

Sophmore year of High School I had reconstructive knee surgery. Before the surgery I was a very active young lass and afterward, I was completely out of commission. I had a huge swollen, sore, heavy, bruised blob of a leg. It was disconcerting to say the least. But I bucked up and did my PT and got back what I had lost. I then proceeded to solemnly vow to never take for granted the ability to run...or even walk for that matter.

So, what's the point of this heartwarming story, you may wonder. I'll tell you.

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned my bad luck trifecta. I have replaced phone and just recently replaced my beloved camera. And now, I am SO thankful to have my dear, sweet camera back in my life. So deep is my gratitude that I am swearing up and down that I will not take for granted the fact that I can snap beautiful pics of my life on a whim. Like long ago when I regained the use of my much needed limb, I feel so happy to have a camera again. So dramatic.

Here are some of my first snapped pics with my new Canon ELPH (Costco.com had a great deal on this 8.0 megapixel digital camera if you are interested in snagging one for yourself!)

Whole Wheat Bread Recipe for Julie

6 cups hot water (as hot as the tap will put out)
2/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup honey
2 TBS salt
3 TBS Blue Ribbon Bakery Dough Enhancer
3 TBS SAF brand Yeast (they sell this at Smart & Final)
3 cups High Gluten Flour
10+ cups fresh ground whole wheat flour (I like the hard, white wheat over the red)

In Bosch mixer, add water, olive oil and honey. Turn to level 1 and add remaining ingredients in order. When enough flour is added to the dough for it to pull away from the sides of the mixer, let the Bosch run on "1" for 10 minutes (this is kneading the dough). Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 5 pans with PAM spray. Olive oil your countertop and hands and turn out the dough from mixer bowl onto oiled counter. Form into 5 even loaves and place in pans. Let rise for 20 minutes (cover with towel). Bake for 30 minutes and cool on wire rack in pans. Turn out of pans, bag, tag and enjoy!

Called To Serve

My good friend's son got his mission call to Santiago, Chile. This is my boy's special tribute to him! They were so excited about the whole thing and Blake left them a phone message right after he opened his papers! Hooray for missionaries!

It Comes In Threes

It seems to come in threes. Bad luck, that is. Let me explain. My first stroke of bad luck came when my dear, sweet son Quin, got a hold of my cell phone and pulled the button off the center. It still worked fine, but I have a real problem with MY stuff being "messed with" and broken. As a mom, there are precious few things that are actually YOURS and only yours. The cell phone is one of them. So, after being upset and taking his cell phone away from him, (Quin feels really bad about hurting/disappointing other people...he's a cancer...very sensitive) I gave him a big hug and told him it was only a "thing" and that it could be replaced. (Sidenote: I went and got a new, cool Samsung Blackjack, which I love). Second stroke of bad luck came while Tim and I were at the LACMA for our anniversary and I pulled out my beloved Cannon ELPH camera to snap a couple of candids, only to find that it is busted too. A big ugly crack is spread across the screen and it mysteriously shuts off when you try to snap a photo. Complete distress. I am such a photo junkie. Ahhh. Now, you're wondering, "what next?" I was seriously praying that it wouldn't be my computer. And God was compassionate with me and it wasn't my computer. However, on the first, wonderful day of school, I woke up squirrely early to make a big breakfast and set up our scriptures and such, and I wanted to play some fun music to go along with it. I push the button on my iPod, that was sitting happily on it's stand, nothing happens. Push again. Nothing. IPOD broken. Argh. Time to replace my ancient 20G iPod with one of the new nano video iPods I guess. Aww, too bad for me! (Yeah right!) Also, until I choose another camera, my blogs will be very wordy and lacking beautiful interesting photos. I have taken some with my super, hip new Blackjack phone, but I am pouting my way to another Cannon, so be patient. By the end of the month, I should be set. Now, in closing, my three strokes of bad electronic luck are over. I will have seven years of wonderful bliss. I am determined to make that happen. Cheers to a wonderful Tuesday!