Tree Goiter

A goiter - GOY'-der (AmE) (Latin gutteria, struma), also called a bronchocele, is a swelling in the thyroid gland, which can lead to a swelling of the neck or larynx.

One Sunday dinner we were talking and the subject randomly turned to goiters. (Don't ask how...I couldn't tell you if I remembered....) I had never heard of a goiter before but found the word facinating. Try saying it over and over and it becomes really funny.

Maybe it's just me.

While we were riding horses last week, Scott made this discovery.

A tree goiter.
I was sad to hear that before we put iodine in salt, many people had to live their lives with great big goiters protruding from their neck.

Certain people I know remember people who had goiters.
Just thought I would share some random thoughts about goiters.

Toilet Talk

Maybe it's because I cleaned 3 of our 4 bathrooms today that toilets are on my mind tonight.

I used to use "clorox" drop-ins in all of the toilets and loved how clean they stayed. But my toilets were always clogging up and all of my big boys were gone.....

So....I had to find out why. I had a plummer (plumber?) come and take a look. He pulled out a chunk of the drop-in. It was keeping other "drop-ins" from going all the way down - if you know what I mean.

So no more of those. It has been over a year now and as I cleaned this morning, I wondered why I had to clean so often. Then I remembered it was because I no longer used this great product.

I am determined to find something to replace the c d i's. And I can't abide blue water.

Any suggestions?

Riding Away

On Thursday we went for a ride on the horses - Gordon, Myself, Scott & Jess. It was a beautiful sunny day and we had a spectacular time.
We were trying to wring the last bit of fun and family togetherness out of the summer we have had with Scott.

He left for BYU today. I won't talk about how empty the house seems tonight. It was a wonderful, wonderful summer.

Happy Trails to you, Scott.

August Magic

I love being at the lake with my family, for the obvious reasons, especially when it's hot and dry. But more than that, in August I notice an extra green in the water that seems to be highlighted by the sun. The sun not only dances on the water, it seems to dance into the water.

My theory is that it is where the sun is in relation to the earth that makes it different than any other time in the summer. But whatever causes it, it is so soothing to me. I look forward to it every year and am never disappointed.

The picture doesn't capture all of it, but some of the sparkle. I love it.
I love this special place because of all the memories we create there. Last Friday night we boat camped and got a great spot at the Robie Creek beach. We carry everything in on the boat and get totally away from civilation. Rich organized this trip and already had the boat up there and the camping spot ready. He and Jo fixed chicken & rice in the dutch oven; we skied, tubed and then settled in for a campfire. After s'mores, the boys fell into bed; they love sleeping in their little family's tent.

We laughed and joked about everything from our tent being on the "cliffs of insanity" to my mistaking the Mason's religion with the Shriners. "I don't know why wearing a funny hat and riding around in parades in go-carts constitutes a religion!" There are so many things I don't know....

About 10:30 we noticed the Sherrif's boat down the channel with it's lights flashing. After about 1/2 hour, we really got curious about what was going on. All of a sudden, a helicopter appeared shining a spotlight over the water; it made four or so rounds, looking at the shore and banks too.

For the better part of 2 hours we were sure that their was either a dead body in the lake or an escaped convict they were looking for. Jess was sure she spotted the convict frozen in action when the spotlight shone across the lake from us. After things settled down a bit, we finally climbed the "cliffs of insanity" and turned in for the night. It was a fun adventure, even though it turned out to be a routine exercise we were told the next morning.

After a breakfast of dutch oven quiche fixed by Gordon, we enjoyed more swimming, tubing and just laying in the sun.

Oh, and watching the magic of the August water.

The Hydrangea Moment

Jessica had her Senior pictures taken on Tuesday, August 18th, my Mother's birthday. She would have been the big 70 if she were still with us. I continue to live for the both of us and get all of the joy out of the big and little moments that happen; grandchildren, children graduating and becoming adults and everything in between. We had one of those moments last week.....

Jess had a great session and we loved our photographer, Amy. For some of the pictures, we went down by the river in Eagle. There are so many good photo-ops there and we were taking advantage of them. It was fairly busy, as it was almost 100 degrees that day; there were people all over taking advantage of the water.

Just as she was getting ready for another picture, I turned and here comes this handsome young man in a swim suit carrying a pink hydrangea. His two friends were in the background, smiling anxiously. As I moved over for him to get to Jessica, he said, "We thought you should have this."

What a moment. Three cute guys! They had been watching most of the shoot. As they walked away, I said to the photographer, "picture!" and she hurriedly got one of them as they walked away. Jess then posed with the flower and they cheered from a distance.

It was a moment that every Senior girl should have.

Jess is kicking herself for not finding out their names and what school they go to.

I am kicking myself for not telling them, "Thank you for appreciating a modest daughter of God and making her day."

Uncle Scott

The boys love playing with Uncle Scott. And he loves playing with them. It's hard to tell who is having the most fun.

When does old happen?

Yesterday we went to the lake. It was a beautiful day with nary a cloud in the sky. The temperature topped at about 90. Gordon took us girls; Laura, Jess, Meghan and myself. Laura skied better than I've ever seen. I thought of the first time she got up on a slolom ski just three years ago. She has really mastered it and was throwing up quite a spray with her turns.

Meghan wakeboarded and skied, Jess skied and they both rode the red tube for a wild and funny ride. Gordon had an evil smile on his face the whole time and had way too much fun. At one point, Jess went flying off the tube in the sitting position and skipped backwards 5 times across the water. Another time, they both went flying with their arms up like Superman. Oh, how I wish I'd had my camera with me!

I usually only ski when it is the "trifecta"; a perfect blend of smooth water, high temperatures and something else I can't remember right now:). I battled in my mind wanting to/not wanting to. The temperature had dipped somewhat but as we sat and ate, the water got perfectly still and so, against my better judgement, I went for it.

First, when I got in the water (it felt a little chillier than usual - even with a wetsuit), I banged my left ankle on the ski and it HURT. I got ready, though and gave the go ahead. The rope jerked from my hands so suddenly that I hardly knew what happened. Gone was my streak of perfect starts for the summer. Gone was my streak of only one start from the water.

"What did you do", I asked Gordon when he brought the rope around.

"Nothing different".

On the second try, I got up but it seemed laborious to me. That is the only word for it. And then, gone was the calm water - a boat was coming our way.

"I can get a couple of turns in before his wake hits", I thought and went for it. The second turn landed me right on my face in the water, head first. Gone was my other streak of skiing and not getting my hair wet.

I had to try again. By this time, the water was full of boat wake and it was a tough ski. It felt strangely weird and out of control. When I'd finally had enough, I chucked the rope, Scott style, and slid into the water.

When the boat came around for me, everyone was laughing hysterically. Apparently, after my fall, my head had gathered all of my hair from the side/back and deposited it up on my head like a Borg or something. It took a while to fix.

Back in the boat, I was telling Laura, "Look at this welt on my ankle, the water was so cold, the water was so rough, I'm freezing...."

Wah, wah wah.....I realized I was making excuses. That's when I said to Laura, "Maybe I got old since my last ski." Maybe the turning point happened sometime during the last three weeks.

Apparently, the third thing in the trifecta is a factor that I can't ignore. What was it? I think it could be the key to my ski.

One thing is for sure; I can't get back out there and try soon enough.

She's come a long way, baby!

Jessica started to slalom about 3 years ago. It's obvious from this picture that she has come a long, long way. She's sking on the new "girl ski", the Siren.
Tortuga! (That's the name on her wetsuit and every time she gets ready to ski, we shout it).
It's been ages since we had the wakeboard out, but James & Suzane took care of that. They both took a turn and boarded like they do it all the time. It was fun to watch them.

James gettin' some air.

This was a week ago, BEFORE the weather turned on us. We have had continuous rain and temperatures in the 60's!

Summer, come back!

Sugar and Spice....

And everything nice;
That's what little girls are made of.

If you read Jo's blog, you know that we're getting one of our very own.

Yes, the second girl to join the Bird family is coming to Rich and Jo.

I was there when Jo told Cam & Eli the news. Their reaction was priceless; they are so excited.

So are we.

Daymare

I get the "word-a-day" on my google home page and love some of the words that appear. This was today's word:

daymare
\DAY-mair\
noun
: a nightmarish fantasy experienced while awake

It made me chuckle, like most of the words do. Everyone should chuckle at least 3 times a day.

On a brighter note, this weekend I tasted the most fantastic rolls. I thought I had that recipe, but apparently not.

As previously mentioned, we had a luncheon at our home Saturday for our niece Melanie's wedding. There were somewhere around 80 people in and out of the house for the afternoon. It went very well and I attribute it to the great people that were in attendance.

My sister in law Janie's sister Carol brought these rolls. After I had snarfed down my share, I asked her for the recipe. In her good natured way, she not only shared it with me, but gave me some of the tips that she uses, and we all know that what really makes recipes shine is in the small details.

Light Rolls (It just sounds like you have permission to eat them:)

1 C. Hot Water
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 T. shortening
1/4 c Sugar
1 yeast cake (in a little warm/hot water) or 1 T. yeast
1 egg, well beaten
3 1/2 to 4 C flour

Combine hot water, shortening, sugar and salt. Let cool, then add yeast, egg and enough flour to beat well. Add flour to handle well; let rise. Make parker house rolls (folded over), rise again and bake. (Can keep a week in refrigerator. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature before using, though)

Bake at 350 for 12-16 minutes. Yield: about 2 dozen

Tips: She uses butter flavored Crisco and you couldn't even taste it. Before, when I have had something made with it, I can taste it.

She puts the bowl the dough is going to raise in into hot water beforehand. This cuts down the first raising to 1/2 hour.

Blog Slug

I know I have been remiss in blogging the events of the past two weeks. Life has been a whirlwind; a great, full and busy whirlwind.

For many months now (roughly 24), I have been looking forward to having all of the kids when we have our fast Sunday dinners. Since we began doing them, there has always been someone away at school or gone on a mission.

Not today. Today everyone was here and it was wonderful. Not in any big huge way but wonderful in the simplicity of just laughing and talking together. One of the paydays a mother receives is the out of the blue awareness that her children love to be around one another. It is so rewarding to watch; so much so that I find myself being uncharacteristically quiet, in observance.

Since it is so hot, we set up long tables and ate in the basement with paper plates. Ben barbequed some chicken and we had leftovers from the luncheon we hosted for cousin Melanie's wedding on Saturday. It was easy but oh, so yummy.

Scott leaves in three weeks for BYU, once again putting a minus in FSD's. But that is where he's supposed to be right now, so it's all good.

You can bet that we're going to make the most of the next three weeks, though. And I promise no slug blogging. Really.