Beneath the Wraps

This morning I made a bacon and cheese pie - which I haven't had for decades.  You can find the recipe at this site   It is the first time either Roland or Jenna had it.   Roland wolfed his down.  Jenna, as usual, didn't care for it.   When my mom made it, it somehow tasted more delicious.  Next time I make it, I'll be doing at least 2 1/2 cups of cheese.  One cup get's lost.  My mind knew it was in there, but my mouth didn't.

            There are at least three kinds of loans offered to those who qualify to purchase a house.   The VA loan is offered to veterans.   The government will loan 100% of the funds needed for the house.   The house has to be up to code to meet all the approval of the inspector.   They are very strict.             An FHA will pay up to 96½%.   It is up to the buyer to come up with the remaining 3½%.   The house has to be up to code and meet the approval of the inspector.   They are not as strict as VA.             A conventional loan will pay up to 80% and the buyer has to come up with the remaining 20%.   Cash is also an option to those who actually have it.               The couple that purchased my...

          I vaguely remember reading about a situation of a girl who was struggling with maternal issues.  I don't know where I read it or how I had access, but evidently I commented on my own situation, trying to establish some kind of hope.  Two months later my family had moved from Kearns to West Valley.  I hadn't given my comment or the girl a second thought.           We lived in West Valley for five and a half years before we moved to Oregon.  We've been in Oregon for seven months now and out of the blue I get this picture message and then a facebook request from someone I don't even know.  Turns out to be the girl who had saved my message to her phone and has had it there for all this time.  Evidently my words had left an impact on her end and she sought me out.           I know I have done that myself.  Recently I sen...

I fell asleep on the couch Roland left me there 12:30 a m "Hi, Mom!" Jenna is standing across the  room She then plops herself on the couch next to me. "It's 12:30 in the morning!" I say not too nicely. "Sorry." She returns to her bed I think maybe I should get up turn down the heat I'm not really hot though I am glued to the chair I go back to sleep 1:30 a m cats in the yard they have woken me up before The neighbor's dog is barking Cats deserved to be barked at Why are they doing it in our yard anyway We certainly did not invite them I think maybe I should get up turn down the heat I'm not really hot though I am glued to the chair I go back to sleep 2:00 a m neighbor's dog continues to bark is there trouble outside perhaps he's just cold why do they have their dog outside anyway I don't remember ever having have heard him d...

            A facebook friend had been sitting in heavy traffic.  He must have been bored out of his mind.  He actually made a comment on one of my posts - which in itself was out of the ordinary.  But the post was over four years old.  That's what really threw me.             I had not even started my blog yet.  Jenna was taking a theatre class near my sister's house.  Our house was two hours north of the elementary school that Jenna attended, and Kayla's was two miles west.  On Wednesdays I would just drive to Kearns and park in my sister's driveway.  We would walk around the neighborhood and visit others until it was time to walk to the high school where she had her class.  But on that particular day, we had little time to spare before making our way to the high school.  Who knew that the heavy traffic between thre...

I belong to 8 different groups on facebook.  I think the first group I joined (or was invited to) was a neighborhood watch - which apparently is still on facebook - but with only 4 members.  I don't know if it's active or not.  I had actually thought the group had dissolved, but I haven't been in said neighborhood for several years now - nor am I currently living in the same state. Every ward that I have lived in has had a page and I really like that.  I especially like it when  organized members send out reminders of upcoming activities.  I was disappointed that there was no such page on facebook for this ward.  Thus after 6 months and 12+ friends, I decided to create my own page. Slowly the ball starts rolling. I have joined other groups that have either dissolved (due to changes on facebook or lack of interest)  or haven't gone according to the  group starters expectations.  I think the one I enjoy most is the one we ...

In 2012 I was introduced to Reverso poetry (created by Marilyn Singer) when Jenna and I checked out a book from the library.  The book is called  Mirror Mirror  by Marilyn Singer. (also beautiful illustrations by Josee Masse)  Here is another attempt I have made in creating my own reverso.  Read the left column from top to bottom before reading the right.  Enjoy. Without a coat                                              After so much rain to keep me warm,                                        through my windows, through clouds                                              sun is shining. the sun breaks.     ...

Last week Jenna and I watched a documentary called "Make Believe" a 2011 film from executive producers Ed Cunningham and Seth Gordon. "Make Believe" follows the growth of six teenagers who study tricks to become magicians.  I copied the following quotes from this website .  When asked about studying magic, Collider received the following answers. From Derek McKee: It’s hard for people to understand magicians because you can’t show them what you’ve been working on. They can’t relate to it. Most kids pick up magic for maybe two or three days and realize that it’s a lot of work, so they can’t really relate to working five hours a day on one trick and Bill KOCH (who now uses his professional name Bill Cook) :  Unless you’re into magic, you don’t understand it. The people that are into it for two weeks because they got a book from the library and bought a magic set, don’t realize that there’s theater involved, there’s scripting and there’s chor...

Salt will wake up the flavor  in an otherwise dreary dish.   Only a little bit is needed.   Most recipes call for salt -  but not a huge measurement.   It almost seems  irrelevant at times.  And yet  that small amount is  very much needed.    The smallest amount  of ingredient is  needed the most.   If salt is left out,    the quality is lost.   The taste is flat.   The tongue is dulled.   Salt uplifts.   Isn't that weird?                 We depend on salt to  melt ice on roads  and sidewalks . Surely  not the same salt that  we use at the table,  but perhaps the same salt  we use to make ice cream. ...

         One of the gifts that I opened on Christmas was the Chicken Soup for the Soul "Positive Thinking"   stories full of reminders not to give up and to do whatever it takes.         As I read I think of examples from my own life:         Karyn was agoraphobic.  Her son had gone to a mission in Brazil and had developed feelings for a certain young lady.  After he had gone back to visit, he announced that he and this girl would be getting married and living in Brazil for a while.  Knowing that he needed some support from the family, he wanted his parents there, of course. Karyn and her husband had enough money for only one plane ticket. And because of her fears of dealing with crowds, it was decided that her husband would go.         His job seemed to complicate the situation as far as the date was concerned.  It...