Bloggers Block

I have really had a hard time thinking of things to blog about. I know everyone likes to open their blog page and find a new blog entry from anyone and here my blog is still on Potato Salad! I have no excuse. I have a new assistant to help me at work, all of the Ward activities are over for a while, All of my big jobs at work are done for a while, I have some spare time, and . . . I've got nothin'! I have my suspicions why, #1 My brain could have gone on vacation without me. #2. There's not much going on so "no news is,. . . well, no news." #3 Ed and I are getting along and so I can't write about him. I could talk about how hot it is, thats bad news not funny news. Here's a one liner though, Its so hot even Mom has her air conditoner on! So with that I will just close and hope my Bloggers Block will be over soon and that Ed will do something to give me something to write about. He always does!

If I have to make one more Potato Salad. . . .

I know I'm always complaining about something but I have made enough potato salad this summer to feed a nation! The good thing about potato salad is that you always have the ingredients the bad thing about potato salad is the peeling, cutting, cooking, and the mess! Have you ever wondered who invented potato salad. Who in their right mind decided one day, I think I'll mix some potatoes and boiled eggs and put some mayonaise in it! And just for fun I'll add some mustard and dill pickles. It must have been a pregnant woman. Oh well, it is delicious. I am ashamed to admit that I never really made good potato salad until a couple of years ago. Until I made a few changes to it and come up with my "secret recipe." At work I have to serve lunch to visiting customers a few times a year. The first year I made my "secret recipe" potato salad and much to my suprise it got rave reviews. The next year it was requested and now is required for every lunch I do. I just hired Kylee Buck to work with me at Pure Line Seed and the first thing my boss asked me about her is "Can she make Potato Salad?" I know this is a stupid blog, but all I've done the last few months is make food and feed people. Lots of people. People I know and people I don't know. Even people from other countries. And they do love the "tator salad".

Lost & Found

I was really afraid I would be writing a eulogy soon for a close, almost, family member. Saturday Ed and I went to Spokane and we left Chessy home. She is always waiting for us on the front porch when we get home but Sat. night she was no where in sight. We called & called for her but nothing. Now I'm not as attached as Ed is to Chessy and I was also sick so I went to bed while Ed kept vigil over the front door. Chessy is not just any old dog. She is Ed's companion and best friend. (Ok I'll admit I'm a little jealous sometimes) Many of you know the story of Chessy - we have had her for 3 years and except for her constant barking at everyone that walks by even if its the same people that walk by everyday - she's a pretty good dog. But to me she is a dog - to Ed she is human. I learned that when he was talking to the police Sunday and telling him that one of our family members , Chessy Olson, was missing. They were all interested until they found out she was a dog and the conversation ended, "we'll call you if we see her" I'm sure their eyes were rolling as well. I needed to go to the walk in clinc on Sunday for my sickness and I thought Ed had stayed home from church to drive me but I know it was really because he was going to go searching for Chessy. He had to put it off until we got back from the clinic. Monday came and went and still no Chessy. This was not like her at all and we were sure she was gone for good. Monday nite was hard for Ed as we realize that she isn't coming back and wondering what the heck happened to her. Tuesday Morning Ed went out and was sitting on the Patio chair when he heard the jingle jangle of Chessy's collar he hollored "Chessy came home"! Yes she's home but she's not the Chessy we know and love. She's quiet and sad. Did someone take her and lock her up, did someone hurt her, did she just get lost? I think this might be the one and only time I wish dogs could talk. What would she tell us? I have to admit that I did miss her (maybe not as much as Ed did) Now maybe we can't get back to normal, well as soon as I get over my bronchitis that has turned into a raging cold & cough.

TGIF

Thank Goodness Its Friday!!!! I can't believe its been a week since our 4th of July Breakfast. I finally got my kitchen floor mopped now if I could find someone to do the rest of the house. I do have more exciting news than this to talk about. Skyla has chosen a tentitive date for her wedding. September 26th in the Rexburg Temple. We are so happy for Skyla and want her to know that we will do anything we can to help her. I have also heard that she will have a reception there in one of her friends yards if the weather is good. We might have to talk her into coming back here and having an open house for anyone who couldn't make it to Rexburg. Congratulations Skyla. On a more somber note our Cox flag football teams season is over. On a happier note they were all able to walk off of the field last night. This was their championship game and I thought they did really well for their age. Although Austin was the real star and Ben has to be given kudos for playing with a broken, healing ankle, the old guys weren't too bad. I didn't know they could still run that fast, and Brent blew me away with his one arm catches and touch downs. We look forward to more at the Cox/Martinez Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl.

Gangsters & Mormons

Hey, that sounds like a great movie. Well it almost was. We had our annual ward 4th of July breakfast at the Warden City Park Saturday morning. Wouldn't you think this would be the safest time to have an outing in Warden. As we were enjoying our Pancakes, eggs, and ham, the "Red Gang" strolled passed our picnic area. We looked at them and they looked at us. I wondered if we should invite them over for breakfast but quickly dimissed the thought. I'm all for fellowshipping but I also had a red T shirt on and didn't want to confuse anyone who might think I was part of their gang. We continued on with our breakfast and had started the clean up when several of the "red gang" members came running back passed us with the police in pursuit. Emma received a phone call from Jodi telling us the blue gang and the red gang had fought and the police were after the red gang. They were hiding in the restrooms and a house across from the park. We witnessed the police take down one and handcuff him right in front of us and then several other police rushed on the scene and took the rest of them into custody. I never planned on our entertainment being a scene fromm "Cops" But it was a little patiotic watching Warden's finest in action. That will be a 4th of July our family will never forget. Especially Chad and Jaycie's kids. AS our family was the one's left doing the clean up. Brian was at Pure Line working and he had watched a bunch of police come flying into town with their lights and sirens going and he called me to see if people were fighting over the pancakes or something. He was suprised to find out we were in the middle of it though. Sorry Erin, I hope this doesn't scare you. My kids will tell you that I am always sticking up for Warden and telling them I'm not afraid. Well maybe now I'm a little afraid. But I think every town has their gangs- well maybe not Lind, and I'm not moving there. I love Warden - but maybe we will have our activities at the church from now on. I would like to say that I couldn't do this Activities job without out Lyn, and Chad & Jaycie. We have had some real exciting experiences but I never thought we might have to start carrying guns. I'll have to talk to the Bishop about that!

Is it July already?????

Can you believe Christmas is only 6 months away? And the way time is flying Santa will soon be to. Now to get back to July, how are you all spending the holiday? I remember the good ole' days when I was growing up and mom and dad always had a big BBQ with lots of people. One year the canal flooded and our BBQ was cut short with a raging river running thru it. But always a big family event. For the last several years we have had the (joy) of going to demo derbys in Othello. The guys are thrilled but I miss the family BBQ's. We're lucky if we get back in time to watch fireworks. To the guys its a thrilling, exciting, tremendous, exhilirating, fantastic experience. To us (the spectators - meaning me) its a hot, sweltering, exhausting, gas fuming, dusty, dirt throwing, LOUD, event. A long time ago I gave up the idea of vacations on the beaches or holiday cruises, as long as there is a demo derby and a family member racing in it, thats where Ed will be. I realized Ed's obession of Demo Derby's 29 years ago when Mount St. Helen blew and covered his beloved yellow derby car. I pleaded with him to not work on it in the ash, but there he was - mask and all trying to work on his car - for a derby I knew would be canceled. And it was. But right then I knew this was more than a fleeting hobby. And now he has sons who love it as well. Although their wives have a little more control than I have had. I guess I was always afraid of the answer to the question, "the car or me"? So I never asked. Whats a woman to do? So I would like to wish you all a wonderful 4th of July. No matter where you are - or what you are doing - CELEBRATE!