CHOCOMALLOW BROWNIES

This is a recipe Mom used to make for parties and other times when just plain Brownies weren't quite enough.

Cream together:

1/2 LB Margarine

2 C Sugar

1/3 C Cocoa

Add 4 eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each.

Mix in:

1 1/2 C flour

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp Vanilla

1-1 1/2 C Nuts (optional)

Spread on a greased jelly roll pan and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Spread entire package of Mini marshmallows on top of the hot brownies and return to the oven for 3-5 minutes.

Cool.

ICING:1/4 lb margarine

1/3C evaporated milk

1/3 C cocoa

2 C powdered sugar

Heat evaporated milk with melted margarine. Add remaining ingredients & spread over the marshmallows.

Let stand overnight before cutting & serving.

AMAZING SOFTBALL STORY

This one brought tears to my eyes

REGARDING E-MAILS

it's ABOUT TIME someone did this!

CLICK HERE

MONSOON SEASON

This is Monsoon Season. This week we have had heat and humidity

lightening


Wind

Thunder

haboobs

But only a few drops of rain.

A look at the Bureaucratic struture of Obamacare....

This is what the bureaucratic structure of Obamacare looks like. After looking at it.. Do you really want this much bureaucracy between you and your Doctor? And do you really think this is the answer to our Health System?

OBAMA'S "HEALTH-CARE" DEATH LISTS COMING YOUR WAY

By Joel TurtelJuly 18, 2009NewsWithViews.com

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive . . . . . those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - ;C. S. Lewis

President Obama said something at his White House health care event last week that should scare you out of your wits, especially if you are a senior citizen.He suggested that one way to save health-care costs is not to spend on procedures that "evidence shows [are] not necessarily going to improve care" for the sick and the dying. " Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller," the President said.

This is socialist Obama-talk, and let me translate. Under Obama's plan, some impersonal bureaucrat, based solely on cost to the government health-care system, will now decide whether you or your sick father or mother, die. Do you need a heart operation or expensive cancer therapy to give you a chance for life?

Under Obama's plan, a bureaucrat will "calculate" how much this care would cost the government.The bureaucrat will then do a "cost/benefit" analysis, the "benefit" being extending your life or treating your cancer or heart disease. If you're too old, forget about it. The bureaucrat will have to follow rules laid down by his superiors in a big book of "rationing" rules.

If, for example, you're over 65 years old, the bureaucrat can tell you, "Sorry, extending your life by 10 years with this expensive heart operation is not "worth it" to the government health-care program or "other taxpayers." So we won't pay for your heart operation. Or, "you'll have to wait nine months on our heart-operations list, and we'll 'reconsider' your application at that time. The government only has so much money for health care, so we can't spend it on people over 65 years old. Sorry. Next in line, please." And you will DIE waiting on their heart-operation death lists.

Also, as health-care costs explode in a socialized-medicine paradise, bureaucrats will have to keep lowering the cut-off age for your CAT scan, heart operation or cancer care. First the cut-off age might be 68, then it will go to 65, then to 60, then to 55. The more health-care costs explode, the lower the cut-off age will go. Soon you will be caught in the net, with your LIFE at stake.

Think this is a frightening fantasy, that it "can't happen here?" Think again. In England and Canada, where they've had a socialized-medicine paradise for the last thirty years, that's exactly what happens, every day. In England and Canada, they have health-care rationing. Government bureaucrats decide who lives and who dies, who gets the expensive cancer care or heart operation, and who doesn't. Who gets the CAT scan or heart operation quickly, and who waits on the health-care "death lists" for nine months for that CAT can or heart operation.

Every day, sick people who the bureaucrats decide are not "worth" the money, DIE on the death-lists in England and Canada. That is your health-care future in America, if socialist Obama gets his "heath-care" plan approved. I hope this scares the heck out of you, because it scares me.

ADULT FAMILY PARTY

Occasionally we need to get together without all of the kids. Saturday night was one of those occasions.

We had pizza

and munchies, junk food, amazingly no fruit or vegetables

We visited

Swapped fish stories

and talked about politics

We relaxed

Some of us really relaxed

more pictures

WICKED

After 2 years of trying I was finally able to get tickets to see Wicked.
Dad, Leanne & I went yesterday afternoon.

It was a wonderful show, I understand the Wicked Witch of the West so much better now. She wasn't really wicked, she was just misunderstood, because we all know "Its not easy being green."

I am looking forward to seeing it again someday.

Scotlyn, Knightess of the Dragon"

A beautiful young woman in 12th century England desires to serve her country by becoming a knight long before the days of equal rights.

Scotlyn, Knightess of the Dragon is a fantasy adventure of a young woman in the final years of 12th century England.

Scotlyn's story, woven against a historical backdrop, takes her from a child to womanhood. Scotlyn desires to serve her country by becoming a knight long before the days of equal rights. She overcomes many adversaries with the aid of her friends, Ruburt, a dwarf, and Cassi, a pixie. Amidst the political turmoil of this time, Ireland's Prince John takes control of England and calls for, "Knights to arms!" Disguised as a man, Scotlyn answers that call. John, impressed with whom he thinks is a man, takes Scotlyn into his confidence.

Although he later discovers her true identity, she is granted her well-earned title of "Lady Knight." Scotlyn's hopes of a happily-ever-after are shattered when she encounters a demon force from the underworld working to destroy mankind and those plotting a political conspiracy against the kingdom. Through her adventures Scotlyn discovers she has several guardians, Woldor the Wise, a kind old dragon and a handsome mysterious archer with unearthly gifts and talents. Scotlyn must rely on a higher power to overcome fear, discouragement and temptation.

I read this book in a raw form about 2 years ago, and enjoyed it. Since then with the help of some well known published authors she has made some changes that makes it even better. I am looking forward to reading the new and improved version.

Deirdra is the author of 4 books Scotlyn is her first. She is offering it free on http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=10253 just click read book. She is asking if you would to add her book to your bookshelf.

To quote Deirdra:

" The more times my book is placed on someone’s “bookshelf” the better chance I have of getting picked up by an agency or publisher.

Last night when I went to bed “Scotlyn, Knightess of the Dragon” was in the top 5000 books this morning when I woke up I was number 1987 this afternoon I am at 1545 . The competition gets harder from here because there are so many wonderful books out there. I’m hoping to knock all the books about sex, drugs and homosexuality off the shelves. I would really like to be in the top 100 books and feel that if I have the support from friends and family in spreading the word I will be able to reach this goal."

This video shows some of the art work Deirdra did for this book.

click here for Deirdra's website.

JULY BIRTHDAY PARTY

Its not often we have a family birthday party that puts everyone in danger of smoke inhalation.

We celebrated 4 birthdays all over 60 years old. Alicia made a new fake cake to use for candles, and it got well christened by wax.
Rich was the baby of the party, I borrowed this picture from Chanelle's blog. Mine didn't turn out, Rich is very fast at blowing out candles. Does that mean he's still full of hot air?
Next was Aunt Dolores, again, I was not standing in a place where I could get a good picture of her with the cake. Aunt Dolores is visiting from Utah, and her birthday is in October, but she won't be there then.
Uncle Max is older than Aunt Dolores by a few months so he was next. He had the added challenge of keeping his beard out of the flames.
Aunt Ella Mae is also visiting from Utah, so we celebrated her birthday. She was 82 in April. With the help of Caralie & Logan, she was able to blow out all of her candles.
As with all parties we had cake & ice cream

Uncle David enjoying chocolate cake

Chanelle & Caralie made these cute cupcakes (thanks again to Chanelle, I borrowed this picture from here too). I didn't get to taste the cupcakes, but I hear they were great.
I brought a chocolate cake, I ended up having to buy it, since the one I baked met with disaster.

Chad made friends with Lyndi, who usually only wants Mommy & Daddy.

Aunt Dolores got a big hug from Carson.

There was a lot of visiting, eating , talking and candle smoke, and it was as always a fun evening. We will repeat it all again next Saturday minus the children and the birthday candles.

click here for more pictures of the party

HEROES

Hero is defined as a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his/her brave deeds and noble qualities.
Alot has been said in the last couple of weeks about Michael Jackson and what a hero he was to so many people. There are people who are devastated by his death. While I feel for his family and his children, I was not personally affected by his death.
That got me thinking about heroes and who some of mine are.

They are NOT Hollywood icons, performers or sports figures. I enjoy watching those people do their jobs, which is entertaining me, but they are not my heroes.

Some of the people I think of when I think of heroes are my ancestors, that gave up everything to join the Mormons and cross the plains in covered wagons.


One example, of the many I could list is Rebecca Willard Turner Workman. As a young girl she traveled from Maine to Nauvoo with her parents and brothers. She lost her parents within weeks of arriving. When it came time to move on she had to leave her beloved older brother behind, because he was handicapped and couldn't walk far enough to travel with the wagon train. Rebecca walked every step of the way from Nauvoo to the Salt Lake Valley. She became the 3rd wife of Jacob Lindsay Workman and had 16 children. Rebecca raised good children despite the hardships she faced and the challenges of living in Utah's Dixie.
Another hero would be my Parents

Mom and Dad always gave me room to grow and explore life. They let me make mistakes, and tried to teach me from them. They loved each other and their children, and sacrificed much of what they wanted so we could have college educations and Richard & Leanne could serve missions. Mom always served to her fullest ability when given a calling for church and Dad even though he is not a member fully supported her and us. I've never heard anyone say they didn't like Mom & Dad

Grandpa Donohoo would fit into the category of Hero. After he was in the mine accident he went to school to learn to support his family again. Even though they never had a lot he always provided for the family. He loved his family and after Grandma died young leaving him with a 19 month old baby, he worked hard to keep the family together, never giving in to the suggestions of others to give his youngest children up for adoption.

I have heroes outside of my family too.

One example would be Ralph Dunbar. He was the clerk in the Worcester Branch when I was a little girl. I was very shy and never talked to anyone. Every week he would shake my hand and ask how I was. He would not accept just any handshake, it had to be a firm handshake. He may not have been a hero by the world's standards, but he was to me.
Another hero was Sister Felt. She was an elderly sister in the Worcester Branch. She loved people and needed to be needed. She was my Primary Teacher when I was 9 years old, she really didn't understand which scriptures we needed to memorize and had us memorize the Begats from the New Testament. Despite that she loved us .

Heroes can also be church leaders like Joseph Smith, Thomas S Monson (and the other modern prophets), the Patriots who built the country, and still fight for our freedoms today. And the Men & Women that sacrifice to defend our country, and the families that have to live without them while they are deployed.

"If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report we seek after these things."

Who are you heroes?

WAKE UP CALL

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were.. A certain Lieutenant Colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall.

When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit.

The complaint: 'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:
Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special?
Any response would be appreciated.

The response:
Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 am, a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.
At 9 am on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured..
A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.
The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning air show? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.
Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.
USAF

Happy 4th of July

SPICY MANGO FRUIT CHUTNEY

1 mango
1 plum
1 gala apple
1 nectarine
1 peach
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 tsp ginger (Ground or crystallized)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper or regular black pepper
1/2 tsp cider vinegar
Peel all fruit and cut into medium sized chunks. Mix together in a bowl and set aside. In a medium sauce pan, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Saute Jalapeno pepper ( if you want more spice you may need to add the whole pepper and the seeds) garlic and ginger for 2 minutes. Add the fruit to the pan, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the fruit starts to break down, about 15 to 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove chutney from heat. Stir in the vinegar. Serve with Zucchini Chicken Curry.
makes about 1-1/2 cups.
Another serving suggestion: Richard says fruit chutney is really good on toast, like a jam.