My husband did some male bonding recently and went hiking the other day with some friends. They hiked to the top of Mount Olympus. He packed water and food and bug spray and extra socks and bandages and moleskin and granola bars and power bars and jerky and sunscreen and probably more stuff I didn't see.

When he got home he could barely walk. He could barely talk. I asked him how it was. He said, "Steep." For every mile it's 1,000 incline. Steep would be the correct word.

The rest of the day he did some moaning and groaning and a lot of sitting and laying. That was Saturday. On Tuesday he had Ibuprofen for breakfast. By Wednesday he could finally go up and down our stairs without crying out in pain.

Rest assured, I didn't let all of this go unnoticed. I had plenty of fun at his expense. His birthday is coming up. I asked him if he wanted hiking equipment. His expression was priceless. We won't be hitting Cabelas to go shopping.

On the flip side, I am going to St. George in a few weeks with my oldest daughter. Apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks because we are going to get ZUMBA certified. This is a new fitness craze that is basically choreographed dancing to music, but is heavy into Latin dancing, as well as various other dance styles. I absolutely love it and recommend it. But I digress . . . While we are in St. George we are hooking up with my three sisters and two of my nieces to do some female bonding. We plan on having a "Girls Night." It will consists of food, shopping, fun, staying up late, talking, laughing, chocolate, more laughing and more fun. The next day we probably won't be able to walk because we will be so tired because we stayed up too late and ate way too much junk.

I'm so glad I'm a girl.

It's OK to Be a Big Baby Now and Then

I don't have any fishing stories to tell and my sister and I sadly haven't spoken for several months (something that needs to wear itself out) so instead I think I'd like to say a few words about being a baby. I don't claim to have any more experience being a baby than anyone else and I've spent many fewer hours, days, and months--years even--caring for babies than my blog-sisters and probably our blog readers as well. But for the past two weeks I've been carefully watching five little baby kittens at very close range and so I hope you'll indulge me as I ruminate aloud about babies.

All of my own cats are "fixed" but since I do as much animal rescue as my personal finances allow I usually end up caring for a litter every year or so. A few weeks ago a very pregnant mama cat was brought to me, and unfortunately that was right about the time the spay clinic I use had to cut back hours because of a change in staff. I tried to take Mama Kitty in the next day, a Friday, but the clinic was closed. In the past the clinic was open five days a week but now has had to cut its hours. Mama Kitty, instead of cooperatively waiting until Monday, had her babies on Saturday. (And for those who cringe at "aborting" kittens—there are millions of animals abandoned and euthanized every year. Always much better to avoid unwanted pregnancies than terminate life but also better to prevent additional unwanted, uncared for, and more unfixed animals.)

End of lecture. Well, of that particular lecture. This next part isn't really a lecture. I hope.

In my last Primary teacher calling, I often found myself planning my lessons as I worked in the garden. So many lessons about life from gardening! This past few weeks I found lessons about life from the baby kittens. Here are a few that come to mind (with apologies for the lack of photos--I'm just not experienced enough at this kind of thing):

1. Sometimes kittens get eye infections, possibly because their mother doesn't keep their eyes clean. So I've been carefully washing their eyes with warm water and a cotton pad (per instructions from a vet last time I cared for kittens--hopefully nothing's changed since then). As you might imagine, the kittens don't like it very well. (Boy they have big mouths when they cry!) Their eyes are just starting to open so they probably don't realize there's much of a difference between having their eyes closed and having them gummed shut, but a blind cat in nature is a very vulnerable cat, so what is causing them discomfort now is really very important for their survival down the road. Any similarities to us? You bet. In fact, a very old lesson about life. We don't always like what's good for us.

2. Baby growth is pretty amazing. These kittens have doubled in size from their birth two weeks ago. Even so, the largest kitten is twice the size of the smallest, the runty guy. But interestingly, it's the runty guy who was the first to climb out of the cardboard box. He's just so determined. The word "scrapper" comes to mind with him. He's little but he's tough. He may not have the advantage of size but he's got determination, and that’s what gets stuff done as much as size and strength any day.

3. As I look at the kittens now, Mama Kitty has fed them and has wandered off for a nap (definitely a lesson there), and the kittens are all piled on each other sleeping. Boy, the sight of a sleeping infant is amazing. I don't have the experience watching kids sleep but I can image there are times (late nights watching TV or sleepovers) when the kids snuggle together, or with parents as well. It's a tender scene. It just reminds me how much we need each other--for warmth and comfort, companionship. When the kittens are nursing, they can get pretty competitive and they're pretty serious about this feeding business--using their little skinny paws to pull their littermates away from the food source. But when their physical needs are met, then it's a different story.

I'm going to enjoy watching these little critters for the next several weeks but will happily "share the wealth" come Christmas when they'll be ready for new homes. So if you hear of anyone looking for a cute little kitten about then, you all know where to find us.

Sister Sister

Jeri's post on the upcoming women's conference made me think about sisters: my own two sisters, my great sisters-in-law, sisters in the gospel, and my daughter sister. Women I love dearly. I don't know what I'd do without these wondrous women who help me through this often crazy life.

My sisters Vicki and Teri are good women; they're hard working and caring. Growing up together in Lake Tahoe, California, we shared happy and sad times. We had times we bonded and times...well, that we didn't. As adults we have come to realize how much we mean to each other, and I know that my sisters would do anything for me. Besides which, they make me laugh.

My sister-in-laws came to me as a gift when I married. And they truly are gifts. They're gentle, talented, and giving. I enjoy my time with them, especially when they tell me stories and secrets about my husband when he was young. My sister-in-law, Nola, made me a breathtaking hand-stitched quilt for my birthday one year. It is a prized heirloom which I will bequeath to my daughter.

My sister friends in the gospel surround me with wings of comfort when I hurt, arms of caring when I'm down, and faces of joy when life hands me good things.

And finally to my daughter sister. I've kept this sister relationship for last, because, even though all the other sisterhoods are precious to me, this one is the most tender. I have learned so much about goodness, compassion, patience, and charity from this bright gem of a woman. Together we have struggled through hard things and learned much. We have laughed and cried, torn and mended, fallen and stood. She is my hero. How wondrous to go through eternity with her hand in mine.

Thank you to all the women who touch my life for good.

Sisters in Zion

With Woman’s Conference around the corner, I find myself reflecting on some of the amazing women who have had an influence on me. I can’t help but feel extremely blessed to have had some pretty outstanding women in my life. These women are those whom I have such a great love, admiration, and respect for. I am sure we all have women who have influenced us for good.

I was reading a past Woman’s Conference talk given by Sister Julie Beck from 2007 where she spoke of standing strong and being immovable. President Hinckley had said
(I’ll quote here): “I am convinced there is no other organization anywhere to match the Relief Society of this Church. It has a membership of more than five million women across the earth. If they will be united and speak with one voice, their strength will be incalculable. . . . It is so tremendously important that the women of the Church stand strong and immovable for that which is correct and proper under the plan of the Lord.”

Sister Beck went on to say that in order to stay strong and immovable under the Lord’s plan we can be so in our faith, our families, and in relief.

The things she said with all we can be and do for our families was beautiful.

Thinking that part of her talk over, I went downstairs to switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer. I had just washed my uniform with my son’s pants and needed to get them ready for work tomorrow morning.

I opened the washer and got a strong whiff of bubble gum. Though I don’t recall buying that flavor of detergent, I proceeded to pull my pants from the washer. That’s when it hit me. The pink gooey mess stringing all over my pants for work was the stuff that my son forgot to empty from his pockets just before I put them in the washer. Everything that Sister Beck said about the good I can be to my family momentarily vanished from my mind… once I got my wits about me again, I decided I am a work in progress.

As for relief: It never ceases to amaze me of the countless times I am having a rough time, or may need some uplift, that I will say a little prayer. Without fail, an email or phone call, or a visit will come through from out of the blue, and immediately I know without a doubt my prayers are answered in the form of a sister or friend.

It’s like the hymn says:
“The errand of angels are given to women and this is a gift that as sister’s we claim. To do whatsoever is gentle and human, to cheer and to bless in humanity’s name”
I have been on the receiving end of those angel’s errands more times than I can possibly count.

Women love to help others. It’s a gift we have. May we go on forever giving of ourselves. I know how much my life has been truly blessed through the service and sacrifices of others. I pray that I can somehow express my gratitude by trying to find ways to pay those blessings forward.

And then there is faith: Sister Beck said we should find ways to excel in living and sharing our testimonies. She went on to say, “ These are simple, indispensable practices that almost seem mundane when we talk about them. However, they are marks of discipleship…” I love that. It really got me thinking.

I didn’t mean to turn this post into a Sunday School lesson. Only to say that I know how much room I have for improvement. I’m a constant work in progress. Today proved that when I sat reading a wonderful talk and two seconds later found bubble gum smeared from here to breakfast-- but at Conference time I always feel so encouraged and enlightened. I feel excited to set goals and try harder.

I am so very grateful for the women/sisters in my life that I have to look up to. In them I know I can find friendship, strength, and comfort. What a blessing they are to me!

Celebrating Sisterhood Signings

It's not my turn to post, but I want to let everyone know who will be signing where this Saturday for Celebrating Sisterhood. This is a fun event. Come visit us!

American Fork Seagull Matthew Brown - Pillar of Light 10-12 Stephanie Black – Methods of Madness 12:00-2:00 Michele Paige Holmes – All the Stars in Heaven & Counting Stars 12:00-2:00

Centerville Seagull Gales Sears – Christmas for a Dollar 10:00-12:00 Michele Bell – A Modest Proposal 12:00-2:00

Provo Eastbay Seagull Clair Poulson – Dead Wrong – 10:00-12:00 Donald Smurthwaite – Boxmaker’s Son – 12:00-2:00 Idaho Falls Seagull Gerald Hansen – Sacred Walls – 10:00-1:00

West Jordan Seagull Julie Wright – Eyes Like Mine – 10:00-12:00 Val Chadwick Bagley – Book of Mormon Bingo & Book of Mormon Art Kit – 12:30-2:00 Gary & Joy Lundberg – Love that Lasts – 12:30-2:00

Redwood Seagull Val Chadwick Bagley – Book of Mormon Bingo & Book of Mormon Art Kit – 10:00-12:00 Jennie Hansen – High Country & Wild Card (possibly Shudder if it comes in soon enough) – 10:00-12:00 Mary Jane Woodger – For Single Saints – 12:00-2:00 Hank Smith – Real Life – 12:00-2:00

Spanish Fork Seagull Deanna Buxton – Worldwide Ward Christmas Cookbook & Worldwide Ward Cookbook – 10:00-12:00 Clair Poulson – Dead Wrong – 12:30-2:00

My English Trifle, and a New York problem

by Anna Jones Buttimore

I've just finished reading English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack. It's a great book; the heroine is delightfully nutty, her daughter amusingly long suffering, the action starts right from the beginning, and, as though that weren't enough, there are recipes in it! The chicken tikka massala recipe is almost identical to mine, plus scones, trifle and even crumpets! (Although, as one character so rightly stated, no one makes crumpets any more. I buy them - 50p (about 75 cents) for six.)

A couple of weeks ago I was toying with the idea of producing a traditional British cookbook adapted for the American market. No longer. Sister Kilpack has not only beaten me to it, but thrown in a gripping murder mystery to boot. Darn it.

I do have to take issue with her trifle recipe, however - so here's mine:

• Put a layer of trifle sponges or sponge fingers, or even sponge cake, in the bottom of a glass casserole dish. Add the preferred fruit - strawberries are great, pineapple pieces, whatever you like best.


• Make up a pint of strawberry jelly (jello?) according to the instructions on the packet, and pour it over the sponge and fruit. Put it in the fridge to set. It seeps into the sponge - delicious!


• Once set, pour lots of cold thick custard over the top. I love Ambrosia Devon Custard. Josi Kilpack suggests that vanilla pudding is an acceptable substitute. Never having tasted vanilla pudding, I can't comment. I did look online for a recipe for custard, but they all started by asking for "100 grams of custard powder" and I'll bet you don't have that in America either.


• Add a layer of thick whipped cream. My husband tells me American cream comes with added sugar. Our cream here doesn't have sugar in it, it's just pure juice of cow.


• Finally, crumble a Cadbury's flake bar over the top or, if you don't have those either, grate some chocolate.

Apart from the trifle recipe, it was difficult reading a book set here in England without picking out the bits which seemed to be rather un-English. The pantry contained acorn squash and rutabagas, neither of which I have ever heard of, but perhaps things are different in Devonshire, or "Devon" as it's been called here for the last 200 years. (It drives me absolutely potty that NewFamilySearch.org lists the county of my ancestors as "Norfolkshire" when it has always been called "Norfolk.") Everyone in the book seemed to like to go on holiday or visit relatives for Guy Fawkes Day, whereas all our family has ever done is let off a few fireworks in the garden. But then, like 99.9% of the rest of the UK, we're neither nobility nor servants. Maybe those in higher circles are bigger on tradition.

Several times, however, I thought Sister Kilpack hadn't done her homework, and proved to be wrong. The hero had his mother's number listed in his phone as "Mom's cell" when any English person would call it "Mum's mobile". But then I remembered that the hero's mother is American and he has lived there for several years. The Butler (I hope I'm not ruining the story for anyone here) was obliged to the Earl for paying for his wife's much needed medical treatment. Aha, thought I. Medical treatment is free here! But then it proved to be treatment for alcohol addiction, which isn't readily available on the NHS. So my apologies to Sister Kilpack, and well done, you did indeed do plenty of thorough research, and you've written a cracking book.

This brings me to another problem. The book I am currently writing includes an American character - a New York cop, no less - and I have a single chapter set in New York. I run a very real risk of having him say "a couple of things" instead of "a couple things", and "she's in hospital" instead of "she's in the hospital." Well, maybe not those examples exactly, but there a myriad of little differences which could make any American reader stumble and destroy the authenticity of the character I worked so hard to create. Are there any New York cops out there who would proofread it for me?

Upon Reflection

The picture above is one I snapped last week while on a fishing\camping adventure with my husband. We were both trying to catch catfish, which is easily one of my favorites. This tasty fish can be fixed in a variety of ways, making it an extremely versatile main course.

We had been informed that the catfish were biting at Alexander Reservoir, or should I say, what is left of Alexander Reservoir, near Soda Springs, Idaho. This usually large body of water has been drained for dam repair work. (No pun intended.) The only water left in the vicinity is the river that flows into this reservoir.

So we set up camp near the river, and began trying to catch the elusive catfish. We caught more than our share of small yellow perch, and Kennon caught a large freshwater sucker. Then it happened, I caught my first catfish. It put up a heck of a fight, but when I finally reeled it in, it was quite small, all things considered. It was only about 8-9 inches long, so we set it free, after I made Kennon take my picture with it to prove to our offspring that their mother had indeed caught the fish of choice.


I caught two more just like it. (And no, it wasn't the same fish. I suspected it was, but Kennon pointed out the second one was larger, and the 3rd one was smaller.) Sensing I was destined to catch one we could keep, I walked down the bank and cast out where I believed I would catch a big catfish. I had just settled down beside my pole, when it nearly flew into the river. I had to pounce on it to keep it from disappearing. As it was, I lost my bobber.

Kennon saw that I had a fight on my hands, and he hurried down to help. He offered all sorts of advice while my pole nearly bent in two. Now wouldn't you assume if someone was dressed like this, they would know what they were talking about?

Au contraire. I heeded every bit of advice, closing my eyes at one point during this adventure, certain my "antique" pole was doomed. (Important note: I've had this fishing pole since I was about 10 years old. It's my lucky pole, the one I used when my father and maternal grandfather taught me how to fish years ago. Never mind the fact that a few years ago we spotted one just like it in an antique store for $30.00. My siblings and children still make fun of me as a result, but I like my fishing pole. It possesses great sentimental value.)

I obediently kept the line taunt. Kennon adjusted the drag. (I have no idea what this means, but evidently it's important.) Still my pole continued to bend in half. Fearing for its life, I was about ready to cut my losses to save it when things went very still. The bad news was, the line was stuck. Kennon figured it was one of two things:

1) The silly catfish decided to sit on the bottom of the river to outwait me.
2) The silly catfish ran under the lava rocks that lined the river bank and I now had a nasty snag.

It turned out to be door number 2. Long story short, I lost my tackle, but saved my pole. (stupid catfish!) As I sat sulking, I saw that the sunset was beautiful. So I pulled my trusty camera out of its case and began snapping pictures. As I did so, an interesting pelican landed in the river nearby and swam quite close. I was able to get the picture you see above as a result. It's possibly one of the prettiest pictures I've taken all summer, and a shot I would've missed had I been busy catching catfish. ;)

Moral of the story: life very rarely turns out the way we envision. Sometimes the best laid plans go up in smoke, or in this case, under lava rock. Instead of pouting, it behooves us to look around and see what other opportunities lie in our midst. The beauty of what we may see will surprise us, filling us with hope, giving us a reason to smile.