Did I hear that right?

Bluebell went to the shop two weeks ago to get an oil change, a new front left light, and to fix the noise in the front which I figured was an axel (I was right). Three hundred and twenty dollars later they gave her back to me and said the gas tank was "rotted" and may be four hundred or so dollars to repair and they wouldn't really know until they got in there (they sound like doctors!) AND I shouldn't wait too long to get it fixed. I mentioned the rotting gas tank to my brother and he said they replaced a tank once and it was twelve hundred dollars. I almost choked. I took Bluebell in yesterday morning and it did take the two days they anticipated to repair it. When I called at 5:00pm tonight they said my car was done and I asked how much it was. I thought he said "eight hundred and eighty three" (a happy medium between four hundred and twelve hundred, right?!) and when I asked him again he said, "eighty three dollars".

I'm the happiest gal on the block and I love my Bluebell. I really do want to drive her until she stops.

My morning view (this week)

Triple Treat is complete!!!

1. When I got to work this morning my quilt was under my desk (it arrived yesterday but I was on vacation)! Debbie in Iowa did a fantastic job on the machine quilting ("meander" is the pattern). Let me know if you want her contact info (her rates are reasonable and she's fast).













2. It took me about 2 hours tonight to finish the chocolate brown binding.













3. As soon as the binding was done I washed and dried the quilt and now it's all crinkly and on my bed! I love it! It is a Triple Treat!!!













Note: the pattern is called Triple Treat and is from the Happy Hour Quilt Book by Atkinson Designs

Paging Dr. Truscott

My friend Tadd defended his thesis today at MIT and he invited me to attend. I didn't understand one bit of it (fluid dynamics is not my thing) but he did an awesome job! He is energetic, charismatic, and bright as can be (obviously). I consider him a dear friend.

He and I rode the subway together his first day at MIT (Fall 2003). When the door opened up at Kendall Square he jumped up and said loudly, "I'm living my dream!" and he ran off the subway to his first day of graduate school.

The culmination of his dream will be on June 5th when he graduates with a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from MIT. I'll be there to cheer for him (and take a few photos). He recently landed a great job at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Rhode Island (I'm happy they will still live in New England!).

Way to go, DR. TRUSCOTT!!!

The latest hack

MIT is known for it's hacks (pranks). I took this picture today of the latest one.

Delicious dinner

Neighborly Neighbor made this dish often and she gave me the recipe recently. It's easy and delicious!

Farfalle alle erbe e panna rosa

1 pound Barilla Farfalle pasta
4 T butter
2 t fresh basil, finely chopped
1 t fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 t fresh sage, finely chopped
1/2 beef bouillon cube
2 pounds fresh ripe plum tomatoes
1 t salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 T salt (for cooking pasta)

Pour 4 quarts water into a large pot and place over high heat. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the herbs and bouillon cube and stir with a wooden spoon for 1 minute or until the cube has dissolved completely. Be careful not to let the butter burn. Peel, seed and cut the tomatoes into a 1/4-inch dice. Add the tomatoes. Season with salt and black pepper and cook approximately 5 to 10 minutes until the tomatoes have reduced and separated from the butter. Raise the heat to medium-high and pour in the cream. Cook, stirring frequently, until it has reduced by about half. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside. When the water for the pasta is boiling and the sauce is off the heat, add 1 tablespoon of salt to the boiling water and drop the pasta in all at once, stirring well. When the pasta is cooked al dente, drain it and toss it with the sauce. Serve at once. There is no substitute for the fresh herbs and fresh tomatoes. If in a hurry, use canned San Marzano plum tomatoes.

Cousins Club on the south shore

Last night I had dinner with some (distant) cousins. We have a pretty small extended family so we are close to some distantly related folks. Their great-grandmother and my grandmother were first cousins. We had a delicious dinner, lazy dessert (I brought ice cream), good conversation and we all enjoyed being entertained by little Jordan.

Girls Camp and EFY

I came across these two blog posts in the last week. I'm passing them along in case any of my blog readers (and stalkers) would like to make contributions so these east coast Mormon youth can attend Girls Camp and EFY.

Harlem Ward YW Girls Camp fundraiser

Philadelphia LDS Youth plan to attend EFY at BYU

I can't wait to get my recipe book!

I'm teaching at the Women's Conference today. Not this Women's Conference but the Cambridge Stake one. The title of my class is:

"LOVING BOSTON LIVING"

Winston Flowers are the best!

And here are today's blossoms

Sidewalk photography

Today I went to the emeritus professors lunch (it's one of my work perks). I take care of ordering invitations, tracking the RSVP's, choosing the menu, making name badges, greeting the professors when they arrive and eating a delicious lunch at the Faculty Club. I took my "big camera" to work today because I wanted to take photos of blossoms along Memorial Drive as I walked to the lunch. I got to the building a few minutes early, sat on a ledge and quickly called my sister-in-law (to tell her a double small-world story). I looked down and noticed one of the emeritus professors and his wife, slowly walking up the steps to the lunch; he was holding his wife's hand and her hand bag. Very sweet. A great street photography moment.

From the newest series

Title: Blossoms outside the work bathroom window
Date: April 22, 2009
Photographer: EP

PATTON'S ARMY

I just registered our team, PATTON'S ARMY, for the Ride for Research. Look at the top banner -- my nieces are famous!

Perfect ending to Patriots Day

A chilly drizzly night at Kimballs with 84 friends and my strawberry kiwi sorbet kiddie cone!

Boston's Best Day---113th Boston Marathon

Patriots Day Weekend

17 Again

Worst movie ever and no, I don't ever want to be 17 again.












Note: Yes, that is my senior picture. Yes, I realize that you aren't supposed to get a sunburn the day before your senior picture is taken (hey -- this was before sunscreen really hit the shelves). And, yes maybe Sister Tyerman was right when she screamed one day at church, "Redheads shouldn't wear RED!"

My first Guest Blogger gig

Today I am guest blogging on Segullah. What will I do next?!

No such thing as a free lunch?

But there is such a thing as free ice cream! Two weeks ago there was a coupon on the front page of my Boston Globe for some FREE Green Monster Mint ice cream. So what that it was Hood and only 6 ounces and would have cost only a dollar and I had to go to three stores to find it and I pay $35.16/month to get the newspaper delivered.

To me it was free.

Boston Marathon countdown

The Boston Marathon is next Monday!! I'm working on my flyer with all the details. See you at Mile 19!

Note: I am an enthusiastic spectator, not a runner (unless I'm being chased).

This is what I'm waiting for

photo taken in 05/07

Easter memories

Easter morning we would wake up to find a clue taped to our headboard and then we were on a hunt for our Easter basket. Ten clues each sending us under the kitchen sink, to the front seat of the car, in a dresser drawer, etc. We always got a book. Usually a Caldecott or Newbery winner. And candy and toys and stuffed animals. And some years I got a new Easter dress.

I was touched today (yep, tears) as the choir and congregation sang "He Is Risen!" I was reminded of the Savior's resurrection and that because of his sacrifice and the atonement we can have eternal life.

Enjoy Easter!

Cambridge Stake Youth Easter Concert

Click here to watch a bit of the concert from last night. It was excellent.

Oh Bernina what you do to me

I test drove these today...and I'd love to get one. Someday. Maybe.

Easter through the ages

Where's Chuck?!?

When life gives you lemons...

...make Kelly McCaleb's lemon bars.

Cambridge pizza shop

Bless this food

After work I went to see my friend Mat who is in the hospital recovering from surgery. His dinner arrived while I was there and he whispered, "I'm going to bless my food". He bowed his head and offered a simple and humble prayer to bless his macaroni and cheese, tomato soup, salad, and tapioca pudding.

It was a sweet reminder for me to pray always.

Look what I found in New England!

Today was a beautiful day...

...it's time to put the ice scraper away!

I visited a friend at Mass General tonight. Nobody wants to be in the hospital but this view isn't so bad.

Drivers Training

I dropped by to visit my friend Becky the other night and her oldest, Elsa, answered the door. I asked her how things were going and she said, "Great; today is my half birthday." "Ahhhh" I said. "I know what that means! Did you get your driver's permit?!" And that reminded me of a story. I was in no hurry to get my drivers license because a) Robert was 13 months older than me and he had his license and b) we had one car and I knew the chances of me driving it (and leaving 5 family members stranded at home) were slim. Before Robert left for college John (19 months younger than me) and I got our permits. My mom planned a big trip so we could get lots of practice driving. Robert was driving to BYU with his roommate and Nan, John and I went in the Chevy Citation and met up with Robert in Utah and then we went on to Idaho (so I could check out Ricks College--now BYU-Ideeeeho), and visit some National Parks. We were probably gone a week or so and we went to Yellowstone, The Tetons, and the Grand Canyon (where this photo was taken). Nan didn't drive a single mile! "The Reds" (as she calls us) did ALL the driving. Being on the open road was great driving experience for us!















When we returned Nan was telling a police friend, Jerry Shaw, about us driving her all around the western United States and Jerry said, "Nancy, their permits are only valid in California." Oops!

Note: This may have been the trip when we stopped in St. George to visit the Dixie College bookstore (to add some college t-shirts to our collection) and someone told us it was only open on Mondays. I knew then Dixie wasn't for me. And I decided on this trip that Ricks College wasn't for me either and I wanted to go to BYU. I couldn't see myself going from L.A. to Rexburg.