I am at the airport. My Nebula weekend is over and I’m waiting for my flight home. Once I get there I’ll have to unpack my suitcases full of clothes and my brain full of thoughts. At this very moment ... [Link]
There's a post elsewhere that has comments that are making me itchy. So I'll do a little scratching here, although it likely won't be enough.There are plenty of horrible stories in the scriptures, especially in the Old Testament. I realized ... [Link]
My middle son really likes orange chicken, and so do I, but it can be a bit of a hassle to make. So we came up with a quick and easy way to make what he likes. I always serve ... [Link]
I have many thoughts about the things I saw during this day, so this post will only serve as a quick overview of the day as a whole. (Also I forgot to bring my camera cable, so I can only ... [Link]
Sure, everyone does hummus now. I'm posting a recipe for it anyway. It's possible to make this without a blender (and I have), but you've got to be pretty desperate for some hummus. Pound the garlic to a paste in ... [Link]
I've been busy lately (So busy! So busy! Impossible to even comprehend on any kind of human-to-human level how busy! Literally impossible to quantify! Infinitely busy!) I know, I get annoyed when people tell me they're too busy for something, ... [Link]
The other night my mom dropped by to see the kids. I was upstairs for the first few minutes of her visit, so when I walked into the family room I had no preparation for what I was about to ... [Link]
This is a Dungan red pepper paste. Lazy (лазы) rhymes with gauzy. I think that's the closest rhyme I can think of. There are lots of different versions. Some might have tomatoes, some are saucier than others. This is the ... [Link]
Fitness Helps Cancer PatientsReceiving a difficult diagnosis like cancer is a life-altering experience that can easily lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and even depression. Fortunately, there are things cancer patients can be doing on their own that counter those ... [Link]
I expected to make a mad dash through the Detroit airport. I only had an hour lay over. Instead I discovered that I’d landed at gate A74 and my departing flight was at A75. I mozied over and sat down. ... [Link]
I think we've already established the fact that Rose is a superbaby. The progress she's made in the last two months is so impressive, it won't be long before she's off and running, leaping tall buildings in a single bound. ... [Link]
Some 20 years ago I found myself helping to coordinate a Sub-for-Santa project for our local youth group. I had 24 girls in my own class, ages 12-14, but was also working with 5 other classes. In total there were, ... [Link]
It seems that Americans living in exotic-to-them places often miss Mexican food. That always seems weird to me because Mexican food is easy to make and it doesn't always require ingredients that are really strange. Sure, you might not get ... [Link]
We got out of Bishkek for a bit yesterday (more on that in another post) and there were many red-headed buntings around. This is the best photo I was able to get, but you can look here for more.They were ... [Link]
There is inevitably a point during pre-orders when Howard and I do the math to compare orders received vs. expected expenses then discover that it isn’t enough. We know that the pre-orders are barely begun, that we still have time, ... [Link]
Cabbage is one of those sadly ignored vegetables with a bad reputation. And with the way a lot of people cook it, it deserves it. But cabbage can also be really good, in addition to cheap, versatile, and easily available, ... [Link]
It is a newsy sort of day. First and most important. Pre-orders are open for Sharp End of the Stick. They opened yesterday morning which meant that yesterday was not a good day for clear thinking. You’d think we’d be ... [Link]
This is a basic laghman sauce. Serve it with these noodles. This shows the basic technique for making this sauce. You can use most any vegetables you like. I'm still limited on my vegetables, so I used carrots, jusay (garlic ... [Link]
When we lived in Bishkek before, we bought popcorn a few times and my husband made it in a pot. I never liked it much- it was always too oily and popcorn didn't pop very well. I assume it was ... [Link]
Note to teachers: If you assign a book that is historical fiction about the industrial revolution in which all of the protagonist’s friends die dramatically during a factory fire, please let me know the contents of the book so that ... [Link]
This one can be a little overpowering while it's cooking, but it's a delicious and simple sauce. It's good with various noodle and rice dishes, or as a dipping sauce for chicken.Rice vinegar is good with this. 4-5% vinegar is ... [Link]
My Spanish dancers are blooming. Okay, they’re Irises, but every time I see them I think of the swirling skirts of Spanish dancers. Even holding still the petals seem full of motion. I also love the way that the petals ... [Link]
Title: DispiritedAuthor: Luisa PerkinsEnjoyment Rating: ***** Source: Kindle for iPadBooks I've read this year: 66When you're a senior in high school and your mother gets married and moves your family to a new house in a new town, you can ... [Link]
Another easy one. Are you seeing a pattern here? Ethnic food does not have to be difficult. This is red lentils and rice and obviously closely related to Indian dishes. I've made this at least once a month for more ... [Link]
I’ve been thinking about colors lately. Part of this is driven by the fact that I still have kids in elementary school. In the lower grades knowing your favorite color is of paramount importance. Every “about me” survey will ask ... [Link]
It's a birthday here today. Specifically, it's the birthday of our least adventurous eater, so I made fairly boring to me food. Here's the cake he requested: 1/3 cup butter, softened1 1/2 cups sugar3/4 cup cocoa1 cup hot water2 eggs1 ... [Link]
In the category of preparation: Preorders for Sharp End of the Stick open on Monday. Before that can happen I have work to do. I spent a portion of today setting up our online store. I also need to set ... [Link]
Another easy one, this time from Bhutan. I use paneer in this recipe, but you can also use feta and cut way back on the salt (you might not need any added salt at all). The real recipe uses a ... [Link]
When we got Rose's referral back in September, I noticed that the orphanage described her as being both "intense" and "easygoing." I wrote it off as a mistake, because aren't intense and easygoing sort of opposite personality characteristics? The first ... [Link]
“Link is a patient of mine, his diagnosis is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder…” The handwritten note continues with details of medication, but the words are blurred by the tears in my eyes. It is so small this piece of paper, ... [Link]
It's Victory Day in Kyrgyzstan, so we went down to Victory Square this morning. My favorite thing is to see the veterans. Most that you see here would have been in Afghanistan in the 80s, although there was one older ... [Link]
This is a very basic cheese. I call it paneer here, but Indians aren't the only people to make cheese like this. I use it in lots of different recipes. It's best with fresh, whole milk, but you can use ... [Link]
The following is a list of presentations that I love to give. Some of them I’ve already done several times in different forms. A couple are things I have not yet had the chance to do. If your organization would ... [Link]
“What was your favorite part?” Howard asked Patch. “Do I have to pick just one?” Patch answered with a concerned look on his face. No son, you do not. We spent a good hour this afternoon just talking about all ... [Link]
This is such a simple and delicious way to prepare cucumbers. It also doesn't need to be made ahead like some other salads do here. There are just a few ingredients, but you do need sesame oil and black rice ... [Link]
Title: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop TalkingAuthor: Susan CainEnjoyment Rating: *****Source: Ordered hardback from Amazon at my mother-in-law's insistenceBooks I've read this year: 65For years and years, I thought I was an extrovert. I ... [Link]
Title The Book of Madness and CuresAuthor: Regina O'MelvenyEnjoyment Rating: ****Source: Audible for iPhoneBooks I've read this year: 64I am a sucker for books about strong women, medical subjects, and minutiae, so it's no surprise that I really enjoyed The Book ... [Link]
I think it's likely that this is from Iraq, although I'm not sure, and if it is, I don't know which ethnic group it would be from. It's still good no matter where it's from.This should be cooked in something ... [Link]
This is an incredibly easy soup based on a Bai recipe from Yunnan. I used frozen shredded chicken because that's what works for me here, but it's also very good with fresh sliced chicken. I can't decide which way I ... [Link]
I know relatively little about Burma and this book was very interesting to read. The author has spent quite a bit of time in Burma writing anonymously and was able to go into Burma just after Nargis hit in 2008. ... [Link]
I make bulgur pilaf all the time so I'm glad there are a lot of Turks in Bishkek. I usually make two different kinds. I like the one with tomatoes and onion and my boys like the simpler one. I ... [Link]
Fragments of thoughts bounce around in my brain, but they are slippery – like fish. Just as I think I’ve got a grip on one that might be the beginning of a coherent blog post, my hands close on nothing ... [Link]
I'm over at TodaysMama sharing my All-American Summer Bucket List.We're going to do every single one of these OR BUST. [Link]
I finally saw a wagtail in Bishkek last week and even had the camera with me at the time. They're obviously not city birds since they're not hard to find outside Bishkek, even in a place like Tokmok. I guess ... [Link]
I like to make these on days like Beltane since my great-grandmother was Welsh. And they're simple and yummy.You'll need:1 1/2 cups flour (whole wheat is always good, plus a little more for rolling 3/4 cup unsalted butter1/3 cup sugar1/4 ... [Link]
When we moved to Tokmok and it was so cheap and easy to get fresh milk, I started making paneer much more often. Here's one of my favorite recipes I made up that uses paneer.This version uses za'atar which my ... [Link]
Made powerpoint slides, picked up Mom from airport, mailed packages, tended kids, and went out to dinner with a friend. In all, a pretty good day. Hopefully I’ll have more brain cells to wax eloquent tomorrow. Comments are open on ... [Link]
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there was a lot of enjoying these hills.read about it here. [Link]
i'm letting it all hang out at segullah... [Link]
A fortuitous thing happened when we were in Guangzhou. I've been trying to grow out a super-short pixie cut for the last year and the in-between stage has been driving me crazy. On the day we went to the Safari ... [Link]
Title: PersuasionAuthor: Jane AustenEnjoyment Rating: ****Source: Dover Thrift Edition ordered from AmazonBooks I've read this year: 63After finishing the books for the Whitney Awards, I decided to go back to basics and read a little Jane Austen before delving back ... [Link]
From November: 2009. Lily: three years old. Scene: We're at Burger King, watching President Obama pardon the turkey. Neither of my children are wearing shoes and the smell of boiling fat permeates the air. BTW, Burger King is where we ... [Link]
My beloved little bazaar where I've shopped nearly every day since moving to Bishkek is gone. They've cleared everyone out and are doing some sort of major renovation in there. But the vegetable man I buy from had what I ... [Link]
In my opinion, there's nothing that says "Central Asia food!" as quickly as this salad does. Yes, plov is certainly more traditional, but there's something about this salad that just seems to capture Central Asia in a lot of ways. ... [Link]
Title: Hope's JourneyAuthor: Stephanie WorltonEnjoyment Rating: ***Source: PDF supplied by authorBooks I've read this year: 62Stephanie Worlton's novel Hope's Journey, follows the story of Alex and Sydney, high school seniors living in the Salt Lake valley. Sydney is trying to ... [Link]
I think this one is Bengal and it's by far my favorite thing to put on rice. Or just eat with a spoon.My recipes have always been flexible, but I've had to be even more flexible here. You'll needOil (1-4 ... [Link]
Title: Imagine: How Creativity WorksAuthor: Jonah LehrerEnjoyment Rating: ****Source: Audible for iPhoneBooks I've read this year: 61When I was in college, my roommate Leslie and I had a plan. We would graduate, get jobs, get married, and then somehow convince ... [Link]
One of my March projects was pulling together a sampler book of blog entries. I’ve now got my advance copies and can be reasonably confident that what I’ve got is ready to sell. If you want to pre-order your copy ... [Link]
So the destination thing was fun this month. But there are still at least two months of places I want to live, so maybe I'll do that again someday.The plan for May is to post a recipe a day, with ... [Link]
There are lots of places I'd love to live in the Middle East, but Halab is way up there (although Istanbul has much cooler summers). Good food and an interesting history always make a place worth checking into. [Link]
May this week contain a full measure of mental calmness to go with the long to do list. May the lilacs keep blooming and scenting the air with loveliness. May my presentations be inspired enough to be useful to those ... [Link]
Title: Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood-- the Good, the Bad, and the ScaryAuthor: Jill SmoklerEnjoyment Rating: **Source: Ordered new from AmazonBooks I've read this year: 60I'm not sure where I came across this ... [Link]
Overall, I loved this book. It's the story of an assimilated Jew who spends a year traveling to various, often isolated, Jewish communities around the world, from Arkansas to Burma. He is conflicted in the right ways and certain in ... [Link]
The photos are from Cardiff, but I'd be happy to live anywhere in Wales. I know people say Scotland is better, but my great-grandmother was Welsh, so I'm partial to that part of the world. [Link]
Strange, strange shadows this evening: sharp and long and very dark, slicing the brightly lit outside in zigzags. The bigger birds and one squirrel didn’t care but the finches, titmice, ... [Link]
"What's his name?" Ahhhh yes, the classic question that is asked as soon as the news of a new baby has been delivered. Everyone is dying to know who, what, ... [Link]
I've been working at my new job for two weeks and I've been meaning to write about it for at least a week. The truth is, I've had the time, ... [Link]
My youngest is five. Her birthday is Monday. Her first "friend party" was Saturday. We always tell our kids they can have a friend party or a family party. In ... [Link]
i haven’t been able to write for a few weeks. not a single word. not even a grocery list. it’s like sitting in a pool of ennui. i annoy myself ... [Link]
Enjoy a summary of the LDS Regional Conference for Davis County Utah - including special speakers Elder Bowen, Sister Burton, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Continue ... [Link]
Lesson 18 [Link]
(Previous installment) Thursday, November 1, 1900 The weather was quite cold so we did not get out to our work very soon. At 9 a.m. we began our labor visiting ... [Link]
Prisoners, 1-2 [Link]
Nie asks on BlogHer:What do you use to freshen up your home?I always decorate with fresh flowers.Tell me here. [Link]
Finally, I've come to a stop. Friday morning (was that only yesterday?) I got going around 8:30 am. I did stop for about 6 hours of sleep somewhere in the ... [Link]
How much of a duty do we have to inform our religious brothers and sisters about the mistakes of others before said mistakes have a major impact on their lives? ... [Link]
My girls are performing and it's AWESOME. You should go. [Link]
Jenny's changing it up for our Saturday Centus today with a picture prompt in lieu of words. I always like it when she throws a curve ball! Today, we're supposed ... [Link]
By all outward measurements, I am not a super religious person. Religiosity requires discipline, something I have yet to master. The whole read your scriptures, pray morning and night and ... [Link]
Funny Bones, 1924 [Link]
I sit back and watch as my little Hazel plays with the markers or whatever toy is keeping her interest. She'll be totally engaged one minute then stop and run. ... [Link]
When Dillon and I were running errands this afternoon we parked next to a car where the Dad was unloading several kids. I waited to start my car and drive ... [Link]
This is our good-looking son, Todd, the over-worked med student who is jumping into his thirties today. Can't believe the Andersons are fresh out of twenty-somethings. Kinda scary!Todd is taking ... [Link]
Polly [Link]
Ventors 11 [Link]
It was a busy week around here. I don't even know what day it is. All I know is we made 32 containers of scented playdough for Ben's market day, ... [Link]
We had just a couple of hiccups with the pool opening this week.First... blowing it up. Holy cow. I forgot that I can't manually fill that pool with my own ... [Link]
Social Unit [Link]
Yay! It's the blessed weekend!This is also going to be the last weekend until school is out.I can't believe school is coming to an end.Next year Claire will be in ... [Link]
What’s your favorite color, I asked her a few weeks ago. Red, she answered, looking at me… Went to the bridal shower for my friend Marguerite’s daughter tonight. (Quietly rejoicing ... [Link]
About a year and ten days and some minutes ago I opened a vintage decor store called, what else?, Dunhaven Place. It's kept me pretty busy. Thank goodness my roses ... [Link]
I’ve been on a kind of mission to provide a more varied menu for my family. Why? Because I’ve learned a lot about eating this year, and one important aspect ... [Link]
Someone was a little distracted with an Anniversary, a Birth, Mother's Day, 3 Birthdays in a row, and upcoming baptism that she forgot to renew her blog domain.Whoops!If you had ... [Link]
I've never seen my kids so excited! They couldn't wait to come meet their brother...Let's just say the kisses weren't lacking. Baby Finn was definitely shown the love. [Link]
The wonderfully talented Alex Boyé and former American Idol Carmen Rasmusen have teamed up to create a fun new take on a favorite Mormon hymn Continue reading » [Link]
I didn't hear the conversation leading up to this--I just heard this: 3 year old cousin: "My buttocks" Kizzy: "You're butt talks????" [Link]
If I Were You By Grace McKinstry Aunt Mabel says, “If I were you, This is the way that I would do.” But if she could be, wouldn’t she Be ... [Link]
Ventors 10 [Link]
Paul Gauguin, The Meal Zada: (def.) "The Lucky One"©2012 Susan Noyes AndersonZada was woman, "the lucky one."She fed them from her rich, round bowl---the milk of human kindness, poi of ... [Link]
Last night Dillon and I were sitting on the couch when someone knocked on the door using the door knocker; two distinct raps and Lizzie was all in a tizzy ... [Link]
Let me just start off by saying this: Where She Went by Gayle Forman, is a sequel. This I didn't know at first, and was rightly thrown off a little, ... [Link]
Last Saturday was one of those days. I didn't have any specific plans, and it turned out to be the BEST THING EVER.On Friday, Nikki and I took the girls ... [Link]
My email mostly falls into two categories. Emails asking about my gastric bypass surgery, and emails asking about a post I wrote on another blog - a post I am ... [Link]
British LDS Images, 1957 [Link]
I wrote this two years ago and just happened to come across it today. My senior year at BYU was pretty darn lame. But, you know, it was only lame ... [Link]
Anderson Cooper is a gentleman.He is kind and genuine.I was honored to be a guest on his show.He took such good care of my family and I met his mother,THE ... [Link]
At ten o’clock tonight, I realized Abby has the annual Kindergarten Campout tomorrow. That means her entire kindergarten is heading to an overnight at the state park just over in ... [Link]
(The Short Version)(12:00 Noon)Inducing Labor The DripReady to settle in and get some reading done...or so I thought!Didn't even open the book. (1:10)Water has been broken and here come the ... [Link]
I'm on the "try at home" plan from Warby Parker. (Thanks for telling me about it, Carina.) I have five days to decide. I need you now. The first pair ... [Link]
We spent the better part of the morning at Liberty Park letting the kids run around and play and get wet. Luckily for Wyatt, the splash pad was somehow clogged ... [Link]
Sometimes, they say, the only way to go through trials is just to plow ahead. Just keep your head down and walking with a purpose. Don't look to the Left ... [Link]
Sometimes I think I’ve dropped the ball on some of the most basic things most mom’s do with their kids. Like this, for example. Until yesterday, we had never had ... [Link]
Does anyone know someone who owns one of these? And do they like it? I'm considering this instead of the minivan. Let me know. [Link]
On Saturday I gathered up the family and we planted our garden! . . . The Children’s Song “Faith” came to mind, which says: "Faith is like a little seed. ... [Link]
Martha 8 [Link]
Ventors 9 [Link]
When colors lose their lusterand your well is running dry...just find a nook, pick up a book,and let your spirit fly!©2012 Susan Noyes AndersonI have indulged myself recently in a ... [Link]
He's nine months old. And will still happily de-stuff the kid's stuffed animals.Or dig up a newly planted garden bed.Or chew and destroy various household items.BUT, do you see what ... [Link]
Several weeks ago in our bishopric meeting, the topic of Mother’s Day came up and what we should have as topics for the Sacrament talks. A counsellor recommended the usual ... [Link]
Aspen's closest little buddies are moving this summer. Not very far, but when friends go from around the corner to anywhere else, it's far enough.We got to have them over ... [Link]
We love the pool. Looooooooooove the pool. I know people think of Utah as a snowy place but it gets freaking HOT in the summertime. All of my family in ... [Link]
So, it seems that when it starts to get warm at night and I get a little too warm or the room feels stuffy while I'm sleeping, I reach up ... [Link]
Accidental Creative had a piece on morning rituals and when I thought about one of them, I found that I was having trouble answering the three questions they recommend as ... [Link]
Jane Simpson Bleakley [Link]
{she needs me most, and just me.}I feel like I have been on the go go go a lot lately.I have been distracted and unavailable for what I love most.I ... [Link]
…and sing, and sing….you get the idea!! I have been doing a LOT of singing lately! And, I’m going to be doing a lot more. This little primary children’s song ... [Link]
Comet [Link]
Ugh. I think I have a post Mother's Day laziness hangover. Yesterday was truly painful, what with having to re-enter the real world and actually DO stuff again (like, er, ... [Link]
On Mother's Day afternoon we decided to try hiking to Lisa Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon. (We picked this one because it was fairly close, but there are lots of ... [Link]
A family walk through nature isa metaphor for living.Such time, when spent with those we love,is reason for thanksgiving.There is no trail too treacherous,no rock too steep to climb,no stony ... [Link]
Read previous posts on this subject here.The night my mom told me we were moving across the country in a few short months, I cried nonstop. I cried while brushing ... [Link]
Romney's Polygamous Heritage [Link]
{me and natalie, ya we are pretty much besties}My first interview took me to the TODAY show studios whereI was warmly, warmly greeted by Natalie Morales, Al Roker, and Ann ... [Link]
So it’s been pointed out that I need to celebrate this shindig, and that it’s altogether fitting and proper (and expected even!?) to send out announcements. But… help! Yes, I’m ... [Link]
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