Experiments

 

I am trying to make Bokeh pictures; that is lights in the background pretty much out of focus-larger dot type things.  I'm not there yet.

 

 

 Our NCC theme this month is curves and lines; so I am working on that too. This is a reflection on the side of the Rio, taken at night.

Well, back to the tedious process of present wrapping. Not my thing at all and I've had to piece in a few pieces of paper as I've cut a couple too short.

the zucchini crust pizza.

I do like to try new recipes. Since my ballooning body has given me so much grief, I’ve concentrated on collecting vegetable recipes. I say collecting, because I am not home often enough to catch up with mail, laundry and bathrooms and then have the desire to stand and cook.

Well, today I tried out the zucchini pizza recipe. I spiralized my zucchini, then using a large knife, diced it a bit.

The following recipe is not very clear on the cooking time. So this is what I did:

Mixed eggs, zucchini, and cheese ( I whimped out and purchased an Italian blend-finely shredded low moisture part-skim mozzarella, smoke flavored provolone, romano, parmesan, fontina & asiago cheeses-8 ounce.). Okay it was cheaper than straight parmesan; and it tasted wonderful!

 

I spread this out on my silpat sheet ( I think a glass baking dish would do just fine); and smoothed all the edges.

 I put in 400degree oven for about 9 minutes.

In the meantime I sautéed the very thinly sliced mushrooms, thinly sliced red onion, and diced green peppers.

Taking the “pizza” out of the oven, I spread on purchased pizza sauce, my vegetables, olives and what was left in the package of the cheese mixture.

I put it back into the 400 degree oven for 15 minutes more.

It does not come out with a solid base-I used a spatula and dished it out in small portions.

 

We added very small pieces of fresh basil after it was out of oven. Yummy!http://recipevan.com/recipe/zucchini-crust-pizza/

Your dad and I really loved it. Not sure if you could get away with this with the kids or not. There is no zucchini flavor, a great pizza flavor and no fattening crust. ( just cheese).

 

This is the recipe I used from Pinterest

 http://recipevan.com/recipe/zucchini-crust-pizza/

Ely, Nevada

We stayed in Ely for a couple of nights. It was interesting. They mine gold, silver, lead and copper in a nearby town called Ruth. 
These are replicas of charcoal ovens; charcoal was made to use in the mines.

Several of the down town Ely buildings had painted murals. This one depicted the original charcoal ovens.

 

 

In a nearby area we visited the Ward cemetery. There were a few graves there(originally 43), and only one guarded with an intricate metal enclosure. The rest had either the same small enclosure only with  wood or no guards left at all.

Miles north of Ely is a place called Cherry Creek. It had no services. It did have oodles of abandoned
vehicles of all sorts. The houses were deteriorated with a few houses that looked like someone lived in them.

Ah, frosty crystals on large cow pie!

 

We had totally yummy-to die for- hash brown potatoes at the Nevada Hotel. They were listed as "thosepotatoes" and were fried just right with tons of green peppers, onions and other veggies in them. Delicious.

It was an interesting trip. We saw wild horses, lots of antelope, jack rabbits, some deer, but no elk.

Sunrise and the beginning of another day.

 

 

Visiting relatives

A couple of the grandkids visited for a week while their parents went on a cruise (anniversary).
They were very good, played together and were fun to have staying with us.

Making a card for mom and dad ( and a Halloween one for Natalie).

Both Natalie and Juliana put on exaggerated poses when I take their photos.  Lucas loves his sister and either repeats her words or copies her actions. Thus the tilted head. I could NOT get him to put his head up straight when trying to take his photo!

Lucas loves grandpa and "helping" him. (he also loves the rides around the fenced in back yard in the Razor. He hasn't learned that you are supposed to get an ice cream after each ride.)

Ben was blessed and looked handsome in his white outfit.

Natalie has several cute Halloween outfits. She is getting taller and prettier.

Well, I am not able to add more photos. So may start another blog.

 

The new temple in Phoenix. We went thru on a tour. Natalie liked the bus ride really well.

No, he does not have red hair.

Things are somewhat better.

It's been awhile. I've had hip surgery and feel much better now. I still can't place my right knee above my hip; it is difficult to put on my right sock and tie my right shoe ( so Michael still does that for me).
But all in all, life is better. Now for the energy to get up and do things again!
We had the pleasure of Lucas and Juliana for a week while their parents went on their first cruise. Luckily they did not have the passenger that had Ebola, thus their ship returned to Los Angeles and is not still at sea.

We've had some pretty cloudy days and colorful sunsets lately.

 

The blue ladle submitted for NCC. Outed for first place by someone else. I really don't appreciate the red (second place) ribbon as much as I could.

 

 

Not a blue ribbon here either. Some of the judges did like it though. Oh well. There is always next time.

Finally a 27 point photo! That means three judges gave the top points (9) each. What a cutie!

Summer visitors

We spent a good part of July with Nannette, Joe and our four Frost grandchildren; Clell, Lana and their two came up for a weekend also.

While visiting Salt Lake City, we went to the newest Conference Center, and we were given a tour of the building. The man in red seems to be wondering if Nate has to touch everything. (Yes man in red, he does have to touch everything!)

This is on the top floor above a fountain on the first floor of the building.

Me taking a photo of the sandblasted rock of ancestors and special people.

We had a wonderful tour guide and he is having everyone feel the effects of the sandblasting.

Again inside the Conference Center. One of the original Arnold Friberg paintings.

We also went to the This is The Place Park and had ice-cream.

The kids had ice-cream each day on the road trip from Houston, and almost every day the rest of their vacation while at the lake.  They didn't seem to get tired of it.

Nate panning for gold at This is the Place Park.

Native American dancer.

The whole group of dancers and singers with Ellie and Nate.

At Welfare Square in Salt Lake City.

 

 

Adam teasing Michael-go back in the cold water and get your shoe, if you want it. Panguitch Lake.

Grandpa discovered that Lucas loves to ride the ATV and that he loves to sing while he is riding. Cutie.

Here's proof that Nannette can walk on water.

Ben at the cabin in June. He has a really endearing smile, but I didn't manage to catch it.

Ice-cream time!

Juliana got back on her horse after being bucked off. She decided not to ride around them though, but hopefully will ride next time she gets the chance.

 

Natalie and her dad returning from their ride.

This is what happens when you forget to take the hook of your boat and it takes off into the lake, with your car.

 

Some of the people we ATV with.