Snow...finally!

With more on the way!  I'm wearing my boots tomorrow!

Bake somebody happy

The dough is chilling in the fridge (it says chill for 3 hours but I don't think I can wait that long).  These cookies are good.  And what about that 18 megapixelish picture...

Great quote

After emailing my brother Chuck and talking about how great my (broken) Canon 10d was and asking for advice about a new camera, he wrote this back to me:

Great cameras don't have 6.3 megapixels.

Dinner guest

She loves science and ballet and was kind of shy about me taking her picture.

New

Old

I bought this camera in '04 and it's been a great camera.  The last time I had it repaired I told myself I wasn't going to put anymore money into it.  I started having trouble with it (error 99) while I was in LA and shot a lot of my vacation pictures with my small Canon PowerShot (which has more megapixels than this big dog).  I took it into the shop and it was going to cost nearly $300 to have it cleaned and repaired.  I emailed my brother Chuck for advice and he wrote this back:  Photography is your oxygen.  You need it to live.  

Favorite photo from LA trip

Copying Burgerville

The Burgerville menu says their chocolate banana shakes are made with chocolate ice cream, bananas and apple juice.  Yum!

Waiting for snow

Turn OFF

Tonight SOMEONE turned my oven off before I baked the spaghetti and  then again before I baked a chocolate cake.

Baked spaghetti

This recipe was highly recommended by my friend Diana.  It's baking in the oven.  Right. now.

Here's a link to the recipe.  I think you're going to want to try it.

DIY

A few weeks ago I made my own pencil cup.  With an empty soup can and some paper.  I'm going all DIY.

Burgers in Burlington

This better be opening soon.

Dinner guests

My best hours

I've often said that my best/most productive hours are between 9pm and 2am.  One night this week I stayed up really late (until 2:30am) to make this really cute quilt for a really cool new kid.

Good Saturday

I was downtown mid-day so continued south to Castle Island (one of my very favorite places).  I walked all around the island (35 minutes).  It's clear and not too cold--is it really winter?!?

Movies seen this week: Fantastic and Funny

Belmont v. Lexington JV basketball

I went to my friend Ben's basketball game tonight.  I wish I had captured the baskets he made on video but I didn't (I think he scored 2 baskets).  He's #20.

The ref needed glasses.  :)

Favorite places

My friend asked me what some of my favorite places were around Boston and then I got this in the mail (it's an 18"x18" canvas).

I. love. it.

I bought myself a Valentine gift

I've read two interesting reviews about this book and am anxious to read it.

My first Chucks

Still unpacking...

Blue skies

I noticed there's less smog in LA; at least from when we were kids. Back in the 70's there were many super smoggy school days when we weren't allowed to go outside for Recess/PE.  It seems like the car regulations have made a difference.

Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see.

D-land fries

I have some new friends here that are senior missionaries.  They're potato farmers from Washington state and their potatoes are french fries at Disneyland (that's pretty cool, right?!?).  Of course I found some fries at Disneyland (in Tomorrowland near the Jedi training site)--and they were good!

The Hirschis

I visited the Hirschis the day I was roaming around the valley--just rang their doorbell and surprised them.  Ruth was my Merrie Miss teacher and is the one who taught me how to make bretzelis (she's Swiss).  Their house looks just the same inside and out.  Their yard is beautiful.  They gave me a few delicious oranges from their tree in the back yard.

Click here to read a funny story about the Hirschis.

Baby Emily

This is Emily.  And her mom (Jaime) and her grandma (Elaine).  Elaine was my YW president growing up.  I babysat Jaime's brothers.  And Jaime's great-grandmother was my piano teacher (and who I got my mint brownie recipe from).  Elaine and Jaime visited Boston years ago and I showed them 7 states in 6 days.  Emily is who I made this quilt for.  Us girls went to dinner one night in California and it was really fun.

Gracie

I met Grace for the first time on my trip.  Her mom Mindy and I were Van Nuys Stake seminary and girls' camp buddies.  Mindy is one of my favorite friends from my teenage years (and she married one of my brother John's friends).  When Grace was born I made a smock for her and she wore it to Famous Daves BBQ!

Being single's not that bad

California Adventure -- my first time

Erika and I also went to California Adventure.  We started out at Soarin' over California, had lunch, and saw the Aladdin show (it was really good).  Then Erika had to leave.  I went over to Screamin' California and decided there was no time like the present to go on a wild roller coaster--so I did!  It was really REALLY fun!!!

A day at Disneyland

I got to spend the day at Disneyland with my friend Erika who I met in the Arlington Ward about 22 years ago.  We had a fun day going on rides and sharing stories.  Neither of us had been on Splash Mountain and she said her kids would be shocked that she went on that ride!  Thanks for a memorable day, Erika!