Our Life: the end of June

Hot week huh?
Confession. Mr. wood and I have been reading To Kill a Mockingbird for over a year and have not yet finished. I love the book, but we can only read it together, which requires subtle southern accents and good weather. This is why it takes so long. See? So we did that this week, at a lovely park in Orem. I don’t know what it is called, but it has a wierdo hill in the middle. We also took the time to eat saltines and frozen go-gurts.

Last Thursday we had a mini celebration for Stephanie’s birthday (that we missed ‘cause of vacations). Kiers and I made pizzas and sodas and we ate them outside under our land-ladies big oak tree that she planted on her 50th wedding anniversary. It kept us cool from the hot sun, and filtered a little bit of the ash from the rampant fires happening right now in Utah.

Basically it was a mini party. Um the food was delicious though. To avoid buying an $8 bottle of flavored syrup I made my own for the sodas. One out of blackberry jam and one out of mint and ginger. Add some half and half, and a load of ice, and you’ve got my favorite summer drink. No, the minty one wasn't minty, but just tastes like a less sweet version of creme soda. But more delicious. I’ll post a recipe/how-to maybe some time?

Mr. Wood and I were home for the weekend for the first time in months. It was fantastic. We woke up early to a hearty helping of oat pancakes, nectarines and plain yogurt, then we were off to yard sales in search of a type writer. We didn’t find the right one, but we did get other wonderful deals! Like an Ice cream maker for $1! I’m so excited to start whipping up creamy frozen creams! Grab a bag of ice and come over, we will make you some!

We also stopped at the Farmers market. Though it is still small, I love going and talking to all the friendly community people. We saw everything from baby bows to papusas. The food there smelled divine. It was officially summer for me.
Saturday evening we went to a reception and got tickets for Beach house on the 6th for the Twilight concert. Who is going? Want to have a picnic with us? But more importantly we saw the sky.

Shannon

What a Good Day is Like

Dear current friends and future posterity. This is what I did today.

After sending Mr. Wood off to work with a belly full of egg sandwich, I was struck by the freshness of the morning and was compelled to go on a jog in my luna’s “running sandals”. On my little outing I met the Mr. Wood and I in the future. I was wearing a bright earthy outfit and had a dog, Mr. .Wood walked behind me wearing black Luna's and commented to Present-Me “I like your shoes”.

I then spent a good part of the morning working on job applications, which is always hopeful, but rarely enjoyable.

I watered the pots and pulled approximately 8 weeds.

Then I had some leftover chili and a baked potato for lunch, which was quite a feat considering since birth I’ve had an aversion to left over chili's, soups and stews. But this chili was very good. So I had to give it a chance.

Then I ate what I really wanted to eat all morning. Two peanut-butter-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies and milk. I have the opposite of an aversion to leftover cookies.

Then I caught the daily afternoon house rainbow.

Then I got to work taking pictures of little friends. Woah. Sneak Peek boys and girls.

 

Then I reached into my sewing basket and worked on some tent sized men shirt reconstruction (another sneaky peak) and mending Lovely Mr. Wood’s tattered, but handsome, shorts. While listening to some quality Indie-girl rock.

Now I wait for the best part of the day. When Mr. Wood comes home and we eat mushroom mac and cheese ,and snuggle, or read books, or weed, or whatever.

 

Shannon

I love Packages

Even when I’m just sending them out. It makes me happy to think of someone opening up a tiny lovingly made package I sent to them.

Shannon

A little bit of music

Shannon

Our life: Roadtrip

Last week Mr. Wood and I joined the Wood family on a trip to Wyoming.

Goodness gracious. No one told me that Wyoming looked like this!

I practically cried driving into Jackson Sunday night. I haven’t seen this many trees in years.

It was lovely. The air was so sweet, the land was filled with life. We spent the week sight seeing our brains out, birding till our pupils were sore and cooking delicious foods for the family. Did you know how many birds there were in real forests? I’ll tell you, practically all of them. I think we added 20 something birds to our co-birding list in just a few days!

Monday we set off for Jenny Lake. The weather was gorgeously misty and cool, perfect for hikes up big mountain sides. This was my favorite day, Rain + pine trees + cool air + beautiful rivers + wonderful people = the favorite day.

We finished the night with dinner at The Q in Jackson. It was wonderful barbeque meals. The plates were the size of four of my stomachs. The food was all local, from the buns to the pork—beautiful.

Tuesday was cool, so we went to some hot springs some where in the mountains. IT is actually a hot spring that pours into a huge pool built back in the 30s. I don’t have pictures. Just know that Ravens were clever enough to take half our lunch, and hot spring water and cool mountain air healed us of our sorrows.

Next day we were off to Yellowstone to see everything we could. We missed old faithful by a quarter mile, so we got it coming out of my head instead. Thanks Mr. Wood….

Did you know that at Yellowstone they have colorful holes in the ground filled with nearly boiling hot water?

The prismatic pool looks like it is filled with melted cheddar cheese. But it is living organisms!

We ended the day at Tower falls (sort of, there were plenty of buffalo between tower falls and Jackson) and Mr. Wood was a dream boat as usual.

Thursday was filled with good food. Mr. Wood and I treated the family to burgers and homemade pizza. Delicious. We also went touristing in Jackson. Good thing too, because we saw a cliff swallow, a Gadwall duck couple dancing in a pond and a lonely Wilson’s Phalarope.

We also chanced upon the sweetest shop: Work Shop filled with perfectly aesthetically pleasing items. Honestly, way better things and more variety than posted on their website.

This was our souvenir: old fashioned candies. The ginger hard candies were the best, just simple fiery little herbal drops.

Next, we had more Yellowstone. My favorite part of Friday was seeing “the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone” Lame name, but beautiful spot. Once you see it, you finally realize why it’s called Yellowstone.

Now we are back. To real life.

Shannon

Our Life

It is time to update this memory holder with our weekly happy things in our life.

On Monday Mr. Wood and I got tattoos.

It took me three days to get mine off..

We went on a hike up in American fork: Battle Creek Falls. And it was lovely. It is a nice little leisurely hike, but a bit steep in parts.

It was gorgeous.

Among other feats: Mr. Wood trimmed my hair. It took like 3 minutes.

We spent another super weekend up in salt lake. The craziness was enhanced by the fact that I declared it no eating out month… So I had to back food for 2 meals plus snacks, without a cooler. So with frozen water bottles, tons of fruit, carrots and homemade bread we made it through. We went to the salt lake temple. Then to Red-Butte gardens. It was gorgeous! I was literally skipping through. We saw a flock of cedar waxwings right up close! They are beautifully silky birds with bright red and yellow accents. Then it was off to a wedding in Layton. We did it! and had fun! Right after I post this we are off to another super adventure in Salt lake, then tomorrow a whole week in yellowstone! Nobody told me though that in yellow stone it is cold. So I have to rethink my wardrobe.

Also, we baked this pie together. Thanks to cherries from the neighbor.

To beautiful days!

Shannon

Normal Pizza Dough

I’m whipping up a batch of this as I write.
Normal? Why would I want to share with your normal pizza dough? Basically because this one is so easy and always turns out good. Fancy pants pizza dough may be amazing, but may just be frustrating and annoying. We only want good feelings in the kitchen when making pizza.
Obviously.
But really, nothing fancy, no silly artisan steps, just pizza dough. One that I make every week (and you can come over some Friday and eat it with us so you see why I'm not embarrassed by that statement). Mr. Wood even makes it. It comes from the kitchen-aid mini cookbook. So if you don’t have a kitchen aid adjust methods appropriately.
As for the toppings, you are on your own. Let me just say that Winco’s bulk pizza seasoning has been a staple in my cupboard for 10 years.

Pizza Dough:
Yield: 1 thick 14” crust, or 2 thinner 12”-ish crusts (which we always do.)

1 scant tbsp of active dry yeast (or 1 package)

1 Cup warm water (105-115 degrees)

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsps olive oil

2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups Flour (all purpose) *feel free to sub 1/2-1 cups of whole  wheat and still have great results.

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water in a warm mixer bowl. Let it sit for 5 min.
2. Add salt,oil and 2 1/2 cups flour. Mix on speed 2 with dough hook for 1 minute
3. Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time and mix until it clings to the hook and cleans the sides of the bowl—about 2 minutes. Knead on speed 2 about 2 minutes longer.
4. Grease up that bowl and dough, cover it, and let it rise till doubled in bulk.
5. Oil your pizza pans and press dough into desired size (you can roll it out if you hate pressing). Add toppings.
6. Bake at 450 degrees for 15ish minutes, or until golden brown on top and bottom.

Happy Weekend!

Shannon

Birds

Are so odd.
Did you know that robins can hear worms squirming around in the ground?
listen to this to learn more.
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/06/14/life-as-a-bird

Shannon

I Can make That Pretty

In the long list of cute and fun recyclable crafts, this one is probably already on there a hundred times, but maybe you would like to see what I’ve made.

I had a hot chocolate can sitting around. It seemed sturdy so I decided to keep it to store buttons in (because it comes with a lid!). But, no one wants to store their buttons in their craft room in something that advertises hazelnut hot chocolate, that would be unhealthily tacky. So I decided to cover it.

I don’t know if you can technically call me a crafter, because I never have modge podge lying around, or pretty paper. But I do have fabric and various and assorted adhesives. My choices this day were tacky glue, a glue stick or super glue. Obviously I went tacky.

I also had this vintage upholstery sample piece that needed to be seen. Often you can go to furniture shops and they will give you their outdated fabric swatches for free—at least they did for an awkward teenager several years ago. It is nice to have around because it is sturdy and funky.

I also had yellow fruit, baby's breath and natural sunlight on my table, which just screams blog photo.

K guys, super easy.

I know. I say that too much.

Step 1: Cut a rectangle: exactly as tall as your can, and can wrap all the way around plus 1”

Step 2: Glue it on, being sure to over lap the end so it looks nice. I used tacky glue and painted it on with an old brush. Just glue part of it at a time, then rub the fabric down, then glue some more, that way the glue doesn’t dry up.

Step 3: Sit back, look at your can, and feel crafty.

 

Shannon

Mountains and Clouds and A dress

Some things I love always. Like clouds.

Several years ago. When my family was moving to Toquerville and I was there helping, I discovered that my Sweet Grandma Brimhall had these sets of gloriously 70s sheets. One a desert landscape, and one a cool mountainous one. She let me have them and I immediately made the desert set into a cotton summery dress. That was huge. But I still wear it to this day because it is so comfy, and I’m boho enough I can pull it off comfortably I guess.

This spring I was itching for new summer clothes and comfy day dresses that weren’t circus tents. So, ready with a sloper pattern (one that already fit all my oddities) I made a simple cotton dress pattern for the mountain scene.

It took me a couple days to work it out, because I ran into a lot of snafus. Does that every happen to you when you are doing something that should be completely easy? But turns out to be unusually hard? In the end though, it was comfy enough to not be mad at it.  It’s elastic waist—so no silly zippers! Although, I can’t say it was any easier to put in.

yay! summer is coming!

Shannon