Gravel Roads and Rock Chips

One day Matt was driving onto a road that had been covered in gravel for many weeks. Just after he turned a truck pasted him and threw up one of those little pieces of gravel.



Thank you beautiful city that we live in for leaving that busy road covered in gravel and unpaved for so long. Thank you for not taking responsibility for your thriftiness. I would just like to say, beautiful city, that I would rather pay more taxes than have this EVER happen again.

Saving the World

I love all of my wedding gifts, and all of our wonderful friends and family who were so thoughtful. I especially love this one, because I didn't think any one would actually get them for me, even though I registered for them. But I was way wrong. One of my roommates came though for me and I have to say that I was the most excited girl on earth when we opened them!!

Now, most of you are probably thinking that 100 cookie cutters in letters, numbers, and other random shapes are the last thing a newly wed couple needs, but I have to say, that those large heart shaped biscuits are more delicious than the regular round ones. Even the round frilly ones taste a little better.

And best of all, according to Matt, I now "have enough cookie cutters to save the world." Now that's really something. Thanks Cass!!!

Autumn News

We had a beautiful Summer in Idaho, but Fall will always be my favorite. The air is clear and misty, the wheat fields turn the perfect color of gold. AND I get to learn new things.

During one of his fishing trips Matt took this beautiful picture of a wheat field and pines in front of the Teton Mountains for me.

This year is my first real year to learn about Football. I knew football season was coming because of the commercials on TV and all the Jr. High and High School kids riding their bikes decked out for practice. But it had never occurred to me that College Football had a definite starting date. I never realized that Labor Day Weekend, although one of my favorites, was even more special to all those college football fans out there.

Well, my husband being one of those said fans, I'm learning to love one more thing about my favorite season. Yesterday, we ate breakfast, threw in some laundry, went to the craft store, then came home and settled in for a afternoon of knitting and football. Then we went over to our friend's house for a BBQ and the first BYU game of the season. What an exciting night!!! Go teams!

Matt's Favorite, and one for my boys in Provo: BYU beat Oklahoma 14-13 (that was a close one)

For my Red Raiders in Lubbock: Texas Tech beat North Dakota 38-13 (a smash)

And this is for you Luke: Baylor beat Wake Forest 24-21 (hope they hold strong this year)

And Mary, per your request, I thought this might be the perfect time to send a few pictures of our new player. She's growing big and strong. Doesn't she kind of look like a football?

Happy Autumn Every one!!

Garden Update

I know! It's way past time for an update. I was telling Mom about the things we were making from the garden, and she said, "We need to see pictures of your produce." So here you go!

For a birthday surprise, some of the Utah Svedins came to visit us. This is a pic of me and my sis-in-law Julia, and two of her girls in the tomatoes and squash. I wish I had thought to trim back that squash because now it's practically taken over the place.

A few weeks later, they cut the wheat field behind us. So I did a little gleening and came up with this lovely fall center piece.
Those are two of the acorn squash from the garden. If anyone knows how to make acorn squash soup without it tasting dry, please let me know. It's such an odd feeling to eat "dry" soup.

And this is for you Mom. The Produce! We have lots of bell peppers. They are all meant to be red and yellow, but most haven't turned color because it hasn't been sunny enough. I'm excited that we have such beautiful egg plants! I love egg plant (it's something about the spicy seeds). And then there are cherry tomatoes (and regular ones that got eaten before they were pictured) and that artichoke in the middle. I didn't know you could grow your own artichoke. I thought they just blossomed on the shelved of the supermarket. boy was I wrong.

Not Pictured:

We also have beautiful carrots that look perfectly long and round, big white onions, corn on the cob, spighetti squash out our ears, butter-nut squash, peas and beans, and potatoes like (about 150 lbs, at least). Oh, and brussle sprouts, swish chared, callard greens, and beats. It's been an amazing year. And a fun one too.

Pumping Iron

When I called my mom to tell her I was anemic, she wasn't surprised. Apparently this particular genetic trait has been with me since birth. Who knew. I never felt all that sluggish before.

When I asked the pharmacist how exactly to take extra Iron without feeling quite so icky, he said, "Iron is one of those things that will teach you how to take it." Thanks Doc.

So after a day off from work to recuperate from a growling weekend of training, I finally learned how Iron and I could be friends.

Now, Iron and an orange a day later, I'm actually feeling pretty good. So good, in fact, that I cleaned out a whole craft closet at work yesterday afternoon. Oh, but that's a different pregnancy symptom all together. More on that later.