Garden

I am finding that I really enjoy the garden we are growing.  The first tomatoes have ripened.  They have so much flavor compared to the ones in the grocery store.  I am now planning what will go in for the fall garden.  I am thinking about some squash and maybe some spinach.  There is something very rewarding about growing your own food.

Every evening when I come home from work I am able to go and just relax by checking the plants and watering them.  It is very relaxing and brings me such a feeling of joy.

I am very thankful for the instruction from the Prophets to be self reliant.  When following this admonition there is such a wonderful joy.

Maybe I will even get good enough at this to have a bumper crop.

Mothers Day

As many of you know I really dislike Mothers Day.  This year is no different but I want to take the time to tribute to my mother and other women who have had an impact on my life.

First my mom.  Through the good times and the bad she has been there.  I can always call her and know that she will listen.  I know that I was a difficult child and at one time she had 3 teenage daughters.  That in its self could send anyone to the loony farm but she loved and cared for us always.  Mom set a spiritual example also with her kindness and charity.  Mom lives what she believes.  I will always be grateful for all she has done for me over the years.  My mom is a wonderful woman with strength and love for all. 

Many of the people in my life know that I have a wonderful Aunt Naomi.  She has been like a grandmother to me and pillar of strength to our family.  Aunt Naomi is a strong woman with so much faith.  She has an incredible love of the gospel and life.  I am so thankful for the example she has set for me.  She is now approaching 90 years old and has faced the challenges of life with so much grace and dignity.  At times I have faced similar trials to her and found strength in the example that she set.

Of course I cannot forget my mother-in-law she is a wonderful woman with so much love.  I am so lucky to have a great mother-in-law who loves me and has never made me feel that "I am not good enough for her son" and supported us always.  My mother-in-law always shows me the love she feels.  She is a caring person and very nurturing.

There are so many other women who have influenced me and there is no way I can list them all here.  Everyday in my life I see the influence of Young Women leaders, friends moms, friends, coworkers, and Relief Society sisters.

For all the women in my life I hope Mothers Day is filled with love and joy.

Work

Well here in a week I will know if I am still employed by Maricopa County.  I do hope that I am.  I enjoy this job and feel like I am making a difference in the world.  I also am so close to be partially vested in my retirement. :)  But as this gets closer I realize that all I can do is pray for what The Lord knows to be best to happen and to have the strength to accept it if it is not what I thought was best.  I am so appreciative of all the prayers and thoughts that have been sent my way during these months of uncertainty. 

Grand Canyon

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have started a blog dedicated to my Grand Canyon Trip. This will have my progress in training and tips for those coming to know what is going on. Should be fun for all to watch whether you are going or not.

http://grandcanyonat40.blogspot.com/

Turning 40

I am planning a trip for my 40th birthday (in 2011). Who wants to come with me. Before you decide let me give you be start of the details. I am hiking the Grand Canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim. Doesn't that sound like fun. I am starting the planning and I need to know who may want to go so I can get some prices together and then make the reservations. Final commitments would need to be by August 2010 so I can get the reservations. I am planning to hike to the bottom on day 1. Stay at Phantom Ranch that night. Hike around and relax a little for day 2. Stay a 2nd night at Phantom Ranch. Then hike out on day 3. I am getting so excited. Training starts this weekend. More will be posted as I get the training plan and the costs. Some of that depends on how many people want to join the fun. Tentative date is September 2011.

SO who is with me...

DESMA

DESMA

Let me introduce you to DESMA. This stands for Delicious Eatable Smoked Meat Apparatus. Some of the things we have done with DESMA include pulled pork, fish, chicken, sausage, pork ribs, turkey breast and rib roast. All have been amazing. My favorite has been the pulled pork, it was so tender and juicy. This is followed by the rib roast. There is nothing like a smoked rib roast.

There have been several people that have requested information about how we built our own smoker. The story starts with a trip to Barbecues Galore. There we found that a ceramic smoker is around $700 (way out of our budget). We looked all over but could never find anything any significantly less. We were then watching FoodNetwork and saw one of the chefs build his own and though we can do that. If you want to see where we got our inspiration it is on the show "Good Eats" in the episode call "Q". The whole thing was built for about $70.

Then the quest to find the parts. Here is what you need to build your own: 1 electric hot plate, 1 metal pie pan (that will never bake a pie again), 1 round grill grate, 2 unglazed ceramic pots, 3 bricks, and 1 replacement grill thermometer.

Now the fun part putting it together.

When we shopped for ours we found it was best to start with the grate and the hot plate. These will determine the size of the pots you need.

When you have all your items here is the construction. Place the hot plate in the bottom of the larger pot with the cord coming out the drain hole. Then the pie tin on that. The pie tin should be a heavy metal if you want it to last more then one use. Then the grate place in the bottom pot. The grate needs to be the right size to sit about 8 - 10 inches above the pie tin. Then you will turn the 2nd pot upside down and seat in in the first to form the lid. The thermometer is then place in the drain hole of the top pot. This is the basic construction that you will find on the FoodNetwork and many other sites, but if you see the photo above you know that we have made changes after experimenting.

Here are the hints and tips that we have learned:
* Drill an extra hole in the top for the thermometer and leave the drain hole for air circulation. This will also give you a place for a kitchen thermometer to be inserted into the meat.
* Drill 3 or 4 holes in the bottom for air circulation.
* Wrap the pots in pipe insulation sealed with flashing tape to help it maintain a steady temperature.
* If you wrap it the apparatus then use some pipe nipples or something similar to keep the holes open and the insulation sealed.

DESMA has made some wonderful meals for us and brought a lot of fun into the cooking. I hope that if you build one it will bring you fun and delicious smoked meats.

This is the turkey breast. Doesn't it look yummy. This photo was taken about 1 hour before it was done. The carcass made the best turkey soup later.

Now that you have built one you just need to get some meat and some wood chips/chunks.

If you want more tips just let me know.

Have fun!!

Back from all the fun.

Well now we are back from our travels. It was wonderful to spend Thanksgiving with family. I loved seeing my nieces, nephews, and grand-nephews. I was so glad to see that my sisters and there families were doing well. Sometimes it is so hard to be far away and not see the kids grow up. My younger sister is well and her 2 children are beautiful. They are fun to be around and happy kids. My youngest sister and her family are happy and busy with a great new house. My little "coal" is fun to talk to and growing so fast. My brother is always fun and a funny character. I was glad to see that my parents are well and had a great time with all the family around. We also were there to celebrate there 40th wedding anniversary. I am so bless to have a great family.

We also spent some time with Charles. He is doing well with his schoolwork. We loved being able to be with him. He is a great blessing in our lives and we wish we could spend more time with him.

We also spent time with Kent's brothers family. It was good to see them and know that they are doing well. We saw 2 of their kids and the 3 grandsons. All are well and it was so delightful to hang out and have some fun. The boys are growing so fast and just love to see Kent. I think he is the favorite uncle.

After 10 days in Colorado we went to the "Happiest Place on Earth" More posting about that later.