THE NEXT 30 DAYS, PART 2. Day 13, 17 to go

Stranded

On my way home from glitter toes my friend KariAnn, who was in car with me, saw a minivan all alone in the parking light with its lights on and hood open. She, being a good samaritan, wondered if they needed some help. We decided to turn around and check. I have never offered road side assistance before. I lack any helpful skills in those kind of situations, not to mention I am a little scared to talk to strangers on the road!! I figured that since I wasn't completely alone and it was an innocent looking minivan - we should check it out. We made a quick U-turn and drove down into the parking lot. We approached cautiously and rolled the window down, with the car still moving in case we needed to make a quick getaway. There was one lone man standing by the hood of the van who appeared harmless. KariAnn asked if he needed help, and he said no, he had just turned on his lights because he needed to see his car better. I guess he was trying to fix it and had it under control. He assured us he was fine and we drove away and took a picture since this was something I have never done before and I immediately thought I is something I could add to my list.

I hope the man was OK and got away safely and I am glad we did too! I don't know if I will ever do this again, unless I am with someone I feel safe with. KariAnn is just the type of person who says "if there's a problem, yo I'll solve it". So, I figured we could try to be of some help together. Even though he didn't need our help, we tried! 

THE NEXT 30 DAYS PART 2. Day 12, 18 to go

Apple Bake

Today, I put my newly purchased apple slicer/corer/peeler to use. I have been craving apple bars for quite some time, and I thought it would be perfect to take them to glitter toes tomorrow. I got off to a bit of a late start since I didn't even get home until 7:30 due to 2 hours of piano lessons followed by grocery shopping. I got home, made some dough. It proved to be a bit of a challenge to roll it out to fit in the cookie sheet and to make it the right thickness. Finally, I got the pan lined with dough made from scratch. Then apple slicing, peeling, and coring all in one motion. I know I keep saying slicing, peeling, coring... but I love it!!
My favorite part was adding the butter and cinnamon sugar and butter on top of the apples. YUMMY!

It was 9:45 when these babies came out of the oven and I still needed to shower. Late night, but good treats. Can't wait to eat them tomorrow... I hope they turn out as good as I remember.  

THE NEXT 30 DAYS, PART 2. Day 11, 19 to go

On the farm
There is a somewhat famous place in Santaquin: The Big Red Barn. They sell what Santaquin is all about: apples. I have never been, but since this is the season, I wanted to stop by and get some beautiful red Samtaquin apples. My friend from work, KariAnn who carpools with me, came along for the ride. On the way, we kind of took a scenic route thinking would take us to the barn. Well, we ended up going for a short drive up Santaquin canyon. It was beautiful drive with the fall colors and sunshine with a friend. After a few minutes, we realized this was not the right way to go, so we turned around and headed for more familiar territory, the freeway. We shortly arrived at the barn. It was a great sight!





 We entered in search of apple-y goodness. We were in for even more delicious treats! They had really cute aprons, dishes, candy coated peanuts, orange colored hot chocolate, honey, apple crisp mix, etc. So much good stuff. Of course there were 2 larger than life pumpkins...

We walked into the freezer like room where the "money" is kept. The apples. I picked out a few as well as an apple peeler, corer and slicer. I have been wanting to make these delicious apple bars that my mom makes, but they involve a lot of thinly sliced apples. Now, with the easy turn of a handle, I can make them with ease!! Well, after picking out the healthy stuff, we found the ice cream, fudge, and caramel apple station. My friend and I bought a caramel apple and she also bought some fudge. Oh, it was sooo good.

Well, I am happy to have checked out the Big Red Barn, finally and to use my new apple slicer!!

THE NEXT 30 DAYS, PART 2 Day 10, 20 to go

Operation Socialite
Last week I was given a challenge. I was talking with a coworker and we somehow got on the subject of dating. She asked what I am doing to change that... We of course got on the subject of church, family home evening etc. She told me I needed to go to Family Home Evening today and she would ask for a report the next day. Well, going to family home evening is not one of my favorite things for many reasons. Particularly in a Mid Single Adults setting. I am not a super outgoing person. I am not shy, just not outgoing. So, to go to Mid Single Adults events where I don't know people is a bit hard and not something I enjoy. I have a hard time approaching people I don't know and initiating conversations and it seems like when I do go to things, no one seems to initiate conversations with me, so I don't feel it's a productive night. Anyway, this was somewhat of a challenge for me, not something I wanted to do. Well, my friend from work was kind enough to come with me. When we got there, we listened to a lesson and had cookies and some mingle time. I talked to a few people that I knew and a girl that I hadn't met before. No boys tonight - but that's an assignment for next week :)

THE NEXT 30 DAYS, PART 2. Day 9, 21 to go

Testimony.

Today, being Sunday, I felt that I should share my testimony to the virtual world. It's been a very long time since I have shared my testimony in church, so this was the least I could do. I had heard that on mormon.org you could share your testimony and create a profile. So, I now have a profile and my testimony is on the world wide web for the world to see. It was interesting to think about how to put my beliefs into words that anyone could read. In a few days, after my profile has been reviewed, it will be posted on mormon.org. My username is rockyage.

THE NEXT THIRTY DAYS, PART 2, Day 8, 22 to go

I had hoped for something a little more grand today than what it turned out to be. For the last month I had planned to host a BYU Footbal game party at my house. I checked the Cougar's schedule and found that today was the Homecoming game. Perfect!! I talked to some friends and was planning to have some good food and friends over to enjoy a great game. Well, things changed a bit. We found earlier in the week that the game was going to be broadcasted on ESPNU. This was a problem. I don't have this channel. Luckily a good friend of mine has the channel and we relocated to her place. I didn't get to host a game day party, but I still got to go to one. I don't think I have ever gone to someone's house for the sole purpose of watching a football game. Well, after a great dinner at the Pizza Factory and a stop to pick up some treats, we settled down to watch the BYU cougars vs. the San Jose Spartans. It was a great game! The cougars won 29 to 16. Way to go Riley Nelson!!! It was his first time playing this season (I believe) and was a great fill in for Jake Heaps. It was my friends Kariann and Sharra and I. Just a girls night, watching some football! I had a great time and was impressed with my friends' knowledge of the team and the game. A great group to watch the game with. Maybe we should make it a tradition...

THE NEXT 30 DAYS PART 2, Day 7, 23 to go

The laws of the land

When creating my list of things to do for the month, I really wanted to keep it fairly well rounded. I felt I should have some social, artistic, spiritual, things as well as become a bit more invovled in the community. I attended the city council meeting this week and I decided to learn a few laws of our great state and country as well. Be they random, unusual, meaningful, or downright ridiculous. Three of each, as a matter of fact. Here's what I found:

UTAH LAWS:

18-1-1. Liability of owners -- Scienter -- Dogs used in law enforcement.
(1) Every person owning or keeping a dog is liable in damages for injury committed by the dog, and it is not necessary in the action brought therefor to allege or prove that the dog was of a vicious or mischievous disposition or that the owner or keeper of the dog knew that it was vicious or mischievous.

The part of this law that was interesting to me was that it seems pretty clear cut. If you own a dog, you are responsible, whether you know it is a vicious dog beforehand or not. Also, you can't say that the dog has a vicous or mischievious disposition. Is that what that means? I had to read it a few times to make sure.

 20A-3-501. Polling place -- Prohibited activities.
Basically, this law says that it is ok to solicit votes or persuade voters as long as it occurs more than 150 feet from the polls, and  as long as is doesn't interfere with safety. Also, you cannot block the doors or entries to the polls. Remember this next month on election day!

And lastly, I thought I would post it in its entirety:
30-1-1. Incestuous marriages void.
1) The following marriages are incestuous and void from the beginning, whether the relationship is legitimate or illegitimate:
(a) marriages between parents and children;
(b) marriages between ancestors and descendants of every degree;
(c) marriages between brothers and sisters of the half as well as the whole blood;
(d) marriages between uncles and nieces or aunts and nephews;
(e) marriages between first cousins, except as provided in Subsection (2); or
(f) marriages between any persons related to each other within and not including the fifth degree of consanguinity computed according to the rules of the civil law, except as provided in Subsection (2).
(2) First cousins may marry under the following circumstances:
(a) both parties are 65 years of age or older; or
(b) if both parties are 55 years of age or older, upon a finding by the district court, located in the district in which either party resides, that either party is unable to reproduce.

So, it's OK to marry your first cousin as long as you are too old to reproduce

FEDERAL LAWS:

TITLE 20 > CHAPTER 48 > SUBCHAPTER I > § 3401
(3)parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children, and States, localities, and private institutions have the primary responsibility for supporting that parental role

Enough said. Parents truly are the most important teacher a child will have.

TITLE 25 > CHAPTER 5 > § 179, § 179. Driving stock to feed on Indian lands
Every person who drives or otherwise conveys any stock of horses, mules, or cattle, to range and feed on any land belonging to any Indian or Indian tribe, without the consent of such tribe, is liable to a penalty of $1 for each animal of such stock. This section shall not apply to Creek lands.

Hmm. guess I'll think twice about driving my cattle on those Indian lands. But then again, it is only $1

TITLE 21 > CHAPTER 15 > § 1037, § 1037. Prohibited acts

(c)No egg handler shall possess any eggs after the eggs have been packed into a container that is destined for the ultimate consumer unless the eggs are stored and transported under refrigeration at an ambient temperature of no greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit, as prescribed by rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary.

I've always wondered who can handle my eggs before I buy them from the store.

I hope you learned something about our great state and country. Be safe and obey the laws of the land.