Because We All Need To Throw a Tantrum Every Now and Then...

I try to keep all things positive (or at least funny) on this little blog of mine, but for the love!, can I take a moment to talk about something that I dislike?

It's called "student loans". More specifically, the repayment of them.

Because there are so many other things I would rather spend the money on. Like...I don't know...a second car, preschool, retirement...clothes! But that's all I have to say about that.

Anyway...Last night we found last month's payment on our kitchen counter. Apparantly I forgot to mail it out. Once the check goes through there will be significantly less $$ in our account than I thought. I guess this is where faith comes into play...or at least our savings account.

Curse you student loans!!!

Waaaaahhh!

P.S. I have since repented for crying over such trivial things. I just learned that a young mother and family friend lost her battle with cancer yesterday.

Such heartbreaking news sometimes slaps you across the face. Count your blessings, Dana. Enjoy every moment. Live in the present.

My prayers are with your family, Heather.

Orangina at Trader Joe's!

Thought you ought to know...(Maggie)

Living Death Valley by Ryan C.

Before pushing play: Scroll to almost the bottom of the screen to pause the music player. Otherwise the video will sound all messed up. Thanks!

Adam's cousin, Ryan, is what you might call an outdoors man. A nature enthusiast. A Yosemite Park Ranger.

Once he hiked the Pacific Rim Crest Trail (from the Mexican border to the Canadian border) and documented it with photos and video set to music. I have a copy and it is fantastic!

Ryan's new undertaking is USC film school. Check out this trailer for his most recent video. It is his first professional film! It is being played in the Death Valley Visitor Center in the auditorium. I've seen parts of the film and it is really good.

Do you love Death Valley? Purchase the DVD here: www.bristleconemedia.com/store.

Ryan's also working on a documentary for the Discovery Channel, or National Geographic, or something like that. I can't wait to see it!

Diet and Exercise

Exercise:

One of Katelyn's favorite things to do is run. We can get her to eat almost any vegetable by assuring her that it will help her run faster. (We can get her to eat all the rest by telling her pink sparkles will trail behind her as she runs.) She wants to be the fastest. Much faster than daddy! Maybe someday she will beat him, but I don't know--he's pretty fast. So in the meantime she eats her veggies and dreams of the day that she will run, trailing pink sparkles, right past her daddy and off into the distance. She's such an interesting and funny girl.

Diet:

My sister, Maggie, was in town visiting last week and we made her a special dinner the Sunday before she left. It turned out so good, I want to share the recipes again...plus I'm tired of digging into my archives to find them. So here are the recipes I love for a baked salmon and a peach cobbler. They're both quick and easy, and even my kids love to eat it. Doesn't get much better than that.

Baked Salmon
Serves 2

Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 tablespoons light olive oil
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
2 (6 ounce) salmon fillets

Directions
1. In a medium glass bowl, prepare marinade by mixing garlic, light olive oil, basil, salt, pepper, lemon juice and parsley.
2. Place salmon fillets in a medium glass baking dish, and cover with the marinade.
3. Marinate in the refrigerator about 1 hour, turning occasionally.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
5. Place fillets in aluminum foil, cover with marinade, and seal.
6. Place sealed salmon in the glass dish, and bake 35 to 45 minutes, until easily flaked with a fork.

Peach Cobbler

I like to use more peaches...three of the small cans instead of two. And you can also use less sugar if you like. This recipe is from the Salt Lick restaurant in Texas.

12 Servings (but we ate the whole thing in a day!)

Batter:
1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup room temperature milk
1 room temperature egg

Filling:
1 (28 ounce) can sliced peaches, drained
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter in a 9 x 13 inch pan.
2. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder & salt. Stir in milk & egg. Pour evenly over melted butter.
3. Combine peaches, sugar & spices and spread over batter-DO NOT STIR! Bake 35-45 minutes until batter comes to the top and is golden brown.
4. Serve warm with ice cream.

P.S. Did you have a favorite summer movie this year? Ours was Ponyo. Six thumbs up! (Me, Kate, and Zach).

Ballet Summer