Today Is A Holiday?

A U.S. national holiday since 1937, Columbus Day commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World on October 12, 1492. The Italian-born explorer had set sail two months earlier, backed by the Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. He intended to chart a western sea route to China, India and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia; instead, he landed in the Bahamas, becoming the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings set up colonies in Greenland and Newfoundland during the 10th century.
Later that month, Columbus sighted Cuba and believed it was mainland China; in December the expedition found Hispaniola, which he though might be Japan. There, he established Spain's first colony in the Americas with 39 of his men. In March 1493, the explorer returned to Spain in triumph, bearing gold, spices and "Indian" captives. He crossed the Atlantic several more times before his death in 1506; by his third journey, he realized that he hadn't reached Asia but instead had stumbled upon a continent previously unknown to Europeans. (http://www.history.com/topics/columbus-day)

Ok...BLAH BLAH BLAH

None of that answered my question...

There is a book out called "The Seven Miracles That Saved America" by Ted & Chris Stewart. YES, it comes on CD or I would not be telling you about it, anyway back to my book on CD:

The first of the seven events is on Christopher Columbus, who "against all odds" discovered the New World — when it could very well have been found by the Chinese.

("http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700009550/Saving-America-Utah-authors-examine-7-miracles-in-history-of-the-US.html?pg=1) 

And after hearing all the poor young boy went through it is no wonder he thought he had found India!

Ok Got That...

So, tell me again why Columbus Day is a national holiday??

I have tried to think of a reason and I could only come up with these three:

• Government & Bank workers can have an extra day off

 (you know it is not a real holiday if teachers and children are having to go to school)

• So little kidlets can make fun Columbus day crafts  at school like...

http://crafts.kaboose.com/egg-cup-ships.html

• So stores can "say" they are having sales

any other ideas???

and REALLY

how can it be a holiday if we don't have some special food that we eat that day.

I guess we could have potato "boats" with Nina,  Pinta and Santa Maria toppings.

yea, I better just stick to something simple like...

what did Columbus eat while floating on a Ocean for 2+ months

any ideas???

Where I Have Been

I have been a bit busy for the past week, but a very good kind of busy.

My sister, 'Lene and her family of  "Chaos" have came to spend their fall break with us.

So, between canning and grand babies, we have been trying to do some fun things like our regular trip to the Oregon Trail Ruts.

Grandma's Toy Box

While driving all around Utah on Wednesday, I had to make a stop at IKEA.

I found this great box.

I really needed a toy box for my "Grandma's Toys". The toys were starting to take over my front room.

I had a bunch of vinyl letters from another project I had done so I started to stick them on my blank box.

along with a couple of  important words...hum...Celes and Hazel

 and my favorite phrase in the world

"I am a Child of God"

I like how it turned out.

Wordless Wednesday... A day late

I did take the pictures on Wednesday, does that count?

While hanging out in Utah waiting for test results I went for a drive

up Parley's Canyon.

As I came around one of the bends I stated to notice little changes.

and oh my how beautiful the colors.

I wish the pictures could give just a little justice.



Tomatoes Ready For Home Canning

Just a couple of weeks ago I was wondering if we would get any tomatoes off of our vines this year.

I was talking to my sister in law, Pennie, and she told me to cut back the tops of the plants so that the energy goes to the fruits and not the blossoms still trying to grow.

I did it and what a difference it has made to my plants.

I am getting tomatoes...enough that I am starting to can!

I have said it before and I will say it again,

I love this web site...

PickYourOwn.org

http://www.pickyourown.org/canning_tomatoes.htm

It will show you how to can tomatoes

blanch

peel and chop

the way I have always done tomatoes until last year.

This is when I made my best canning investments ever...

`

no more blanching or peeling...

it does it all.

clean tomatoes go in

turn the handle

out come the peels and seeds and all that is left is the juice.

I bring my tomato juice to a light boil adding a couple of small cans of tomato paste and  let it cook down until it is the thickness I like.

I add salt and place in the jars.

I hot water bath for 30 mins. (pints)

(If I do not add paste I will put a little lemon juice)

I am doing the tomatoes as they ripen, so they are small batches.

and it goes so fast that I can get a batch done while Celes takes her nap :o)

You Are Not Forgotten

"Sisters, wherever you are, whatever the circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love."
—President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

September 24, 2011

LDS General Relief Society Meeting

picture from Sayda

Our New Roof

We had a beautiful tile roof... 20 years ago...

We have debated for a couple of years of if we were going to replace the tiles, put down an asphalt roof or a metal roof.

But, the time had came to quit talking and get the project done.

With a LOT of help from FAMILY and FRIENDS

the tiles came off.



Kirk



David and Josh

(note the color of the tree in the background)



Don and Kirk

Sergio and Josh

After the tile was off and new boards, insulation and tar paper was placed down,

we had to wait for our metal to arrive ( we had problems with our order)

and when it arrived we were grateful because a storm was to arrive in the next day.

It rained off and on in the morning...and then the storm moved away from our home.

(Kira and I went to town and it POURED on us.

I was sick to think that Kirk and Sergio were not being able to roof in all that rain and the damage that was being done to the material that was down.)

When we arrived at the house, there was very little sign of any rain falling on them. Kirk said it had sprinkled for about a minute and that was it.

Again with help from family and friends... and Kirk and Sergio spending 2 days none stop...

The roof  was done...

Well, almost...we are still missing the metal trim,

 but if it rains I don't have to worry about it raining inside the house too.

So, it looks like a metal roof, defiantly not an old world tile roof, but it is nice.

And the tiles...

We might sell them, but I think we will use them along the river to help with holding our bank in place.

It will be interesting to see how much of our river bank is gone after having flood level waters most of the Spring. The river will drop during the winter and will show us what work will need to be done.

What do you think?

Do you like metal roofs?