I... have created....

ZUCCHINI!

Much like Tom Hanks created FIRE! in Castaway...

Grandma says I win the Green Thumb award for the year! Yea me for my first try!

A couple movie reviews

I'm a big fan of movies. And while Meg would probably tell you I'll watch anything, I'm actually pretty picky about what qualifies for good screen time. So with that in mind, I've seen 3 recent movies. Here's what I think about them. Ready- go!

First, Batman- The Dark Knight. Loved, loved, loved! This show! Ok- first of all, Bruce Wayne- Christian Bale- hello! Easy on the eyes! Heath Ledger- I was skeptical and was tired of hearing all the Oscar buzz just because he's dead. However, I recant my statements because he really was fantastic! I kept trying to take the makeup off him and see Heath Ledger but he was so good, I couldn't do it. As for the story line- its dark and creepy. They DO introduce Harvey Dent and make him Two Face, p.s. AND I can also say- I can see the theory about Heath Ledger getting mixed up in his last two movies rolls and that's what put him over the edge. He was creepily believable.

Next, Mama Mia! Such a fun show based on ABBA's music! It was cute and fun- don't expect too much by way of Oscar winning performances. Meryl Streep is the mom and I love her. She's awesome in just about everything. Pierce Brosnan, again, very easy on the eyes, was mediocre as a singer but hey- he wears linen pants on a Greek island- what can you expect?! The script has some sexual references they could have probably left out so watch for those, although they aren't major.


Finally, X-Files- I want to believe *sigh* I miss Moulder. Not gonna lie. I was late onto the scene of the tv series but LOVED getting freaked out by it! So I was excited for another movie! And while I wasn't disappointed, I wasn't overly enthused about it either. I was hoping for more of the creepy weirdness that defined the show, but the movie was heavier on the relationship between Moulder and Scully. Don't get me wrong! That needed to be seen- I was just looking forward to the good old scare of "what's out there?"


So there you have it! Fame's movie reviews for the month!

Macy's update

I went shopping at Macy's on July 3rd and had a less than outstanding shopping experience, thanks to a woman sales rep on the 2nd floor. She informed me that it IS the customer's fault and problem if something is misplaced and the price is incorrect- NOT Macy's problem- and they WON'T honor the price the sign says- even though the price it rang up didn't even match the price tag OR the price sign. Go figure- but that's the customer's problem, remember.
Anyway, I was so irritated (just ask my sisters) after the 4th that I wrote a letter to the store director- simply stating that I was disappointed in their less than stellar customer service and that while I'll more than likely keep shopping there, I'll just know not to expect the kind of service I receive at say, Nordstrom. :)
About a week later, I received a letter in the mail from Barry, the store director (who has very nice handwriting, I must say). He apologized for the incident and assured me that my next visit would be an "outstanding shopping experience!" (I can't wait, I love those!) and enclosed a gift card. So- Macy's has redeemed themselves somewhat in my eyes. I'll probably use that gift card at the SOUTH TOWNE store instead of the Cottonwood store where that woman is BUT, it was a nice gesture. Keep shopping there. You have my approval! lol

Is that Utah corn?

Did that come from the Tagge farms? Is this white or yellow? How can it be both? What is salt and pepper corn? Really- $4.50 a pint for raspberries? Cherries are HOW much?! You can't be serious- well I'll just go to Wal-mart. Is all of this local produce? Why are your watermelons so much? What do I do with raspberry and peach salsa? Do you still have strawberries? How did I miss strawberry season? You can't possibly have apricots already- MY tree is still blossoming. What are Rainier cherries? Do they really come from Mount Rainier? Why are tomatoes so late? Do you ever sell jalepenos because if you're going to sell that many tomatoes you should probably sell peppers so people can make salsa. Why would you sell salsa if people can make their own? California produce? What's wrong with Utah produce? Can't you support the local farmer? *sigh* Welcome to a day at the fruit stand! :)

The Lemonade recipe

My sister Meg posted a lemonade recipe she got from a friend on her blog and I finally got around to making it. Quite tasty I must say! I wasn't making a ton of it so I adjusted the recipe a bit and it turned out great. My only advice would be this: after letting the mint leaves set for about 24 hours, I'd take them out. Just a personal choice!

Da doo doo doo Da da da da...

Saturday night my friends Rachel, Maryanne and I went to see The Police in concert at the Usana Amphitheater! It was the "real" police, as my sister asked- complete with Sting.

I've seen Sting in concert before and he's fantastic. The whole band? Awesome! But the drunk team members around us??? Phenomenal dancers! Who would have known?

They sang just about everything except Synchronicity- which Maryanne was a little put out about- however, I was pleased with Every Breath You Take and Everything Little Thing She Does is Magic. As a side note, I learned from the avid Police fans I was among that evening, that Every Breath You Take is known as the "stalker" song because it was actually written by Sting as he was secretly watching some woman! Nice. Leave it to me to have one of my favorite songs be about stalking!

I'd never been to a concert at Usana before and it was pretty nice. I liked the outdoors however, parking was a nightmare! So if you're headed that way.... And who knew crazy Dr. Jack Taylor was actually the drummer for The Police??!! lol

The Tagge Fruit Stands

My latest endeavor this summer is working for the Tagge family at their fruit stands. I started last week and its been a riot so far! I can pick my hours and days and read when its slow. It kind of reminds me of catering for Marsh in that there's this big rush to load the cars and then unload once you get there and then reload and go home to unload again! haha But the great part is that I get all the fruit I want! I think I made myself sick on cherries and blackberries the other day. They were so good! So I bought some today and I'm going to try making homemade vanilla ice cream with blackberries and raspberries. They also make salsa and homemade jam.
I'm around the valley so while I'd love to tell you which stand to visit, I can't! It changes daily. But if you call me in the morning, I can tell you where to find me and the yummy fruit!

The Gathering of the Goddesses

I have this poem around my house in various spots. My fridge, my mirror, my scriptures. I've used it in lessons and newsletter before. But its still one of my favorite poems to share. So here it is for my blog. Its by a woman named Suzy Toronto and I first found her at Gardener Village in the Just Us Girls shop. She has some cute stuff with intense colors. Not everyone is a fan of such saturated art but I like her work. Anyway, here it is- The Gathering of the Goddesses :)


It is a known fact that goddesses attract other goddesses. But the really cool thing is that quite often they flock together long before they reach their true, lofty status of "Goddess". By the time they become goddesses, they've been gathering together for so long, giving, sharing, loving and caring, that they know intimate details about each other's lives, making their bond unbreakable. Whether shopping, going out to lunch, lounging over a pedicure or sitting on the beach, the gathering of goddesses can't be missed. Just listen for the buzz of friendship, the tears of shared sorrows and the fits of irrepressible laughter. You'll know in a second, you're in the presence of greatness.

The 4th, the fun and the food!

A delayed post, perhaps, but Happy 4th of July, nonetheless! After moving and shifting and shaking things up a bit, we got down

to serious business at my sister's house!
Her honey does a pretty mean BBQ when we have 'clean out the freezer' fests so you knew the food was going to be worth it. Most my nieces and nephews were there, minus Nancy and Molly (?). I put a question mark there because I never remember what I'm really supposed to call her. Anyway, they were with King Arthur- already in CT. So, for some unknown reason, I promised the rest of the kids that I would run through the sprinkles after we were done with the serious work. I haven't run through the sprinkles in ages.... (wahoo!). It felt so great as the water was ice cold and the heat of the day was gross on me.

I was winning the water fight, until Herc decided the boys needed some help. Then we got into the good old fashioned water fight moments. The kids were having a great time sliding down the slide with just the water.
BUT! Leave it to dh to find a way to make it even better! Sure enough! Our own redneck waterslide! Pretty soon Herc AND dh were going down. You can watch the video- its pretty good humor!

My sis made some kabobs- amazing! The meat was fantastic- as always- with a little help from Cabela's whiskey seasoning. Yes, I'd have to say that I'm grateful for Indepedence day for so many reasons but mostly because I had the time with my family.

My little garden

As you know, I've been trying to get my vast acreage to produce something! After digging up a small area of my yard (along with finding 2x4's, insulation and pepsi bottles in the clay/dirt), I planted some flowers, a zucchini, a cucumber, a yellow pear tomato and a red tomato.

So far, this is how things are going! If you look closely by the flowers, you can see my dead tree, which I found out froze after it started budding and is now dead.
Apparently in addition to my vegetable garden next year, I'll be planting a new tree! If things go well this year, I hope to expand it along the entire back fence, not just half of it!

Just trying this out...

So I wanted to see if this video would work. This is one of my old students, Michael Lloyd. He was my aid and would help with the groceries. He invented something called the grocery dance- which he did every time the groceries were delivered. It made me laugh every time. He's a senior now and I keep it as blackmail! Yes- I know its sideways but that's how I video-ed it, unfortunately. And I just wanted to try out something new on the blog.


Oh! And the safety goggles he's wearing? Necessary apparently! :)

Small correction

In my hasty Wimbledon post I mentioned Nadal and Hewitt would be playing... my ears heard that part but the truth was, the man-woman, Mary Carillo, was talking about them meeting up IF Hewitt should beat Fed.... he didn't and so they won't. :)
Also- side note- Mary Carillo is called the man-woman because, as her name states, she IS a female, however, she is mistaken for a man when she calls matches on tv because she SOUNDS like one.
For example- this exchange between me and my father. We were watching a match and I say- "My gosh, what is Patrick's deal today?" (referring to my tennis crush, Patrick McEnroe) and dad says "ummm Fame- that's Mary Carillo." lol. True Story. Happens alot with her.