New Gorgeous Quote

I found a new quote . . .

If quotes can be gorgeous, this one surely is.

Our book group recently reviewed the book "Abigail & John: Portrait of a Marriage". Sadly, I did not get the book read, but I was certainly impacted and touched by a quote from the book and the life of Abigail Adams.

Just a little background would make this quote more meaningful - Abigail Adams was wife of John Adams, second president of the United States and the mother of John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States. A very peculiar situation, shared only by Barbara Bush, being the wife of one president and mother of another. By today's standard, she certainly led a challenging life, one full of difficulty and sacrifice. Her husband was away most of the time, leaving her to run their farm, take care of finances, and raise their children singlehandedly during the revolutionary war time period and it's particularly primitive, dangerous and trying challenges.

I love this quote she directed toward her young son, who later became the sixth president, encouraging him to be engaged in the times and make the best of them.

"These are the times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. Great necessities call out great virtues."

Love it! Now going on the blog sidebar quote section . . .

And you saw it here first:)

The UN to-do LIST

This post inspired by:

Jia, of Untypically Jia over at Untypically Jia and her "been there done that list"

Just today alone, not counting yesterday, last week or this whole month - I've been so overwhelmed by my to-do list. It simply is endless. I just keep adding to it each day, I try to prioritize I really do. Just the urgent ones are enough to fill a page. Then the just vitally important ones seem to spill right on over to the second page.

I know I'm busy everyday - and the days just seem to fly by with me trying to get SOMETHING done everyday.

But after being inspired by Jia, I'm starting a whole new list system.

The UN to-do list.

As I go along I keep a tally of all the things I've done but not been able to check off of any list. So for today the list would look something like this:

Got out of bed

(it sounds mundane I know but is not a small task with the arthritis I'm experiencing in my back lately:)

Read 20 pages in my book "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

(I'll have to blog about this one soon as I AM in love!)

Spent two hours searching for a stubborn virus, removing said virus and restoring my husbands computer to it's previous "unviral" state (I think it had H1N1) so he could get out the door and go to work!

Walked / hiked four miles through the wooded hills above Alpine with friends and dogs.

(Killed two birds with that one)

Left messages with like 8 different parties

(Why oh why doesn't anyone call me back?)

Searched for cheap airfares to get my son here in January for the other sons wedding.

Made the bed

Did the dishes

Read my scriptures

Said my prayers

(Pretty much in that order unfortunately)

Let me see, what else can I add:

Ate 6 chocolate chip cookies

Drank two cans of diet coke

(I thought about making something healthy for lunch, but I don't think it counts as an official list item as I didn't spend enough time thinking about it to actually create anything)

Assisted daughter number two in creating an updated resume and cover letter so she can find a medical assistant job in Rexburg for next semester.

Made a decision about where to host sons wedding luncheon.

Fed the cats once, the dogs twice

And now finally; created this blog post!

Whew! I am exhausted, no one has still called me back, and now I'm heading on over to the URGENT to-do list and see if I can get anything DONE today:)

A Soup for the Season - Apple Butternut Squash

When I hear snow in the forecast it always makes me long for lazy days inside and hot soup and bread. They are my comfort foods against the blustery weather outside. This is one of my very favorites.

So far this month I've made this yummy soup twice. It is unexpectedly delicious!

Until a few years ago I hadn't tried Butternut Squash Soup, when I was introduced to it by my good friend Gail Jones. She shared this super recipe with me and now we are hooked! Even my husband who otherwise is not a squash eater enjoys this mild, slightly sweet Autumn soup.

I've seen other recipes that are difficult to prepare, this one is SOOOOO easy! You do have to plan in advance as the squash does take about 1 1/2 hours to bake, but the actual preparation is very simple.

Autumn Butternut and Granny Smith Apple Soup

3-4 pounds of Butternut Squash (usually one large)

3-4 Granny Smith apples

fresh thyme

2-15 oz cans chicken stock

1 can evaporated skim milk

1 1/2 t garlic powder

salt

pepper

garnishes / toppings: pine nuts and sour cream

Quarter the butternut squash and place on a cookie sheet to roast. Spray lightly with Pam cooking spray. Roughly chop a couple tablespoons of thyme and sprinkle onto the squash. Roast in a 350 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours or until tender. Midway through baking the squash, peel and core the apples, add to the cookie sheet - sprinkle apples and squash with salt and pepper and 1 t. garlic powder. Continue roasting for another 30-40 minutes until apples are soft also.

Scrape meat of the squash off the skins into a blender, discarding about 1/2 the thyme. Place roasted apples also into the blender. Add one can of chicken stock and puree apples and squash until mostly smooth. Transfer puree to a soup pot, continue adding the rest of the chicken stock and the can of evaporated skim milk, whisking in the liquids until smooth and the right thickness that you prefer. You can thin with additional water or regular milk to your preference. Add additional salt, pepper or garlic salt to taste. (I don't usually add any more).

Serve heated through with garnishes of sour cream and pine nuts.

Enjoy!

This is making me crave it again, guess I better stop at the store for more butternut squash . . .

Three Cups of Tea - Book Review

I'm just completing the best selling book by Greg MOrtenson entitled "Three Cups of Tea". It was the book of the month for our book club for October. I initially had a hard time getting into the book but the author, Greg Mortenson was coming to speak at the devotional at BYU and I wanted to finish the book by the time I had the opportunity to hear him speak.

I didn't finish the book in time, but still enjoyed his message so much. The more I read the more I appreciate the book, and the more meaningful it became in my life. Especially now I think, as the holidays are drawing near, and the season always lends me to ponder upon my many blessings and the fact that there are so many without all the blessings I enjoy in my life.

It is a true story about how ONE person can make a difference in the world. Not just the author, but each one of us. Each one of us can have an impact for good and in some way, however small leave our impact upon the world around us.

The book also shares an important message about education and peace. The author believes and has documented through his experience and travels how educating the people (particularly the women) has led to increased peace in the world. He believes (and it is my belief also) that it is through education that we can make the greatest strides in decreasing the terrorist activities and other intolerances of the world today. An additional theme would be finding value and appreciating each individual without reference to culture or religion.

I found the book to be an excellent example of how to "eat an elephant", just one bite at a time. For me it was not an easy read, but it did become a real page turner. It's full of adventure, history, geography, romance and suspense. I was inspired and encouraged to aspire to higher things and I'm sure you will be too if you take the time to read this book.