Water Babies

Last weekend we took a beautiful drive through the Pass to Bruce and Gail's.  We had such a wonderful visit with cinnamon rolls (Gail totally spoils Steve), Chicken "Divin" and incredible company.  One thing you can always count on with Bruce and Gail:  where they are, their Grandchildren will not be far behind.  Enjoying pool time with Gibson and Madison was awesome!  I thought these shots were irresistible!

Who is having more fun??  Uncle Bryce Rocks.

Gibson jumping to Uncle Doug

Please note the water level in the goggles.

I've Made a Terrible Mistake

Sure.  Facebook seems like a good idea.  

Every one is talking about it: 

•  "You can get back in touch with really old friends", [with the implicit advantage of choosing only images of yourself that hide your wrinkles and those lb's that you've gained since you've last seen these old friends ]
•  "You can keep in touch with younger and hipper co-workers and nieces and nephews..."  
• And the surveys?  Heaven!  What's not to love? 

Well, an hour and a half in and I already have serious buyers remorse.

No one tells you the dark side:  getting 45 emails in seven minutes and being unable  to understand how to respond to the people who haven't bothered to contact you via a visit, phone call, or blog comment (you know who you are).

All of the sudden I am in the middle of 27 "conversations" most of whom are between people that I DON'T KNOW.  I can't keep up.  I'm confused. I now understand what it is like to be Doug Beagley at a family reunion.

I just want my blog....   I can take a week and a half to complete my entry if I choose.  No one interrupts me.  It's peaceful here.

Ahhhh.  I feel better already.

p.s.  and beware to all my younger and hipper family and friends:  if I'm on Facebook, it can no longer be cool.  Sell Facebook. 

Red, Whitish & Blue

NOTHING says  Patriotism more than Cherry, Lemon and Berry Blast Jello!  

I'm proud to say that this recipe is a Rowley Fourth of July tradition.  They may have taken our sparkler bombs and mortars with the recent fireworks ban, but they will not separate us from the tackiest dessert known to man.  It doesn't look good (as you can see), it doesn't taste good (as our guests can attest), but it screams America!  Sure Maine and the Great Northwest invariably slip off the plate and this year, we had a real problem with Texas drooping before Berry Blast was set, causing a tidal wave of blue sugar water on my freshly mopped floors.  But it was worth all the blood, sweat and three tiers to see this baby pop out of the mold and hear the ooh's and ahh's (or were those gasps?) of our fortunate guests.  Invariably there are turf wars (kind of like those in the game of Risk or between the Jets and the Sharks?) over who gets New York or California... standing rule is that you must have lived in a state to claim it as your own.  BTW, Cudo's to the rookie Tyler for taking it to Veteran Attendee Kory and staking claim to Florida.  Impressive.  Most Impressive. 

It's Manifest Destiny all over again.  I know that by this point you are unconsciously humming "I'm Proud to be an American"... and that's okay..  I understand.

If you are lucky enough to be invited to this social event of the summer next year, you may have the opportunity of savoring these bursts of flavor and celebrating the birth of our nation in the only way it was meant to be celebrated...  With J-E-L-L-O.  It will be worth the 365 days of anticipation.  But, if in the meantime you can't wait for your favorite shimmering dessert, you can pop down to Utah where it is always plentiful... the Jello may be green, but there will be lovely shredded carrots in it... and you can get it every day of the year.

God Bless the USA.

Whenever I Think About Pioneers

This month in church, we will be teaching the children of our ward about Mormon Pioneers and their trek across country to Utah. I love pioneer stories and have ever since I was a child. I love stories of their bravery, their humor and their quirks. While I don't believe I have any ancestors who crossed the plains, I feel like these incredible individuals are my heritage too.

I love that Steve comes from good ole' Pioneer Stock on both sides of his family. I chose an excerpt from a journal of a member of the Abraham Smoot Company. Steve's Great Great (I've lost track of the number of "Greats" to insert) Grandpa Ralph Nephi Rowley traveled in this same company. (Ralph loved Nephi so much he changed his middle name to honor him upon joining the church).

I love imagining little Levi and his mother bumping into the Rowley clan on a daily basis on that long dusty trail...
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Trail Excerpt:

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868
Source:
Wolstenholme, Levi, Life Sketch of Levi Wolstenholme Sr. 2.

The saints finally started for Utah. Mother, now a tiny woman weighing no more than 98 pounds was a widow with we three children to care for. I was the youngest. Just three years old and I had grown to be a fat huskey youngster. We came to Salt Lake in Abram Smoot's company. My parents had joined what was known as the ten pound company while in England therefore our transportation was paid. Nevertheless my mother had to walk a great portion of the way and also carried me. I have often heard my sister Lavinia and brother Daniel tell of how mother would pick up cloths on her way and when night came would sit down, and take off her worn shoes. She then would wash her bleeding feet and wrap them up again in the cloths she had picked up. We finally arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1852.

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Kind of puts things into perspective, huh? I'll try not to whine if the bus is crowded on the commute home today... Even though I reallllllly miss my parking pass.