Couches

We have couches. New ones. Brown, shiny ones. No more stained futon with a rash of broken slats that made people feel like their prodigious, unwieldy weight had caused a drastic sinking in the flesh of the futon. I keep walking by them feeling how adult an apartment with couches must be...I keep walking by them to check if they are still there, peeping around the corner to make sure they are not plotting escape in our absence. We can't stop sitting on them, for seconds only, then standing, then sitting, each time declaring "not bad...not bad..."

Easing the hours...upon hours...upon hours

Given that I sit in front of a computer for 8 hours every day without stirring (people don't even know if I'm alive or dead back here), I've had to find something other than my work to keep me conscious.

May I recommend:

www.thislife.org (Streaming of This American Life programs with Ira Glass. I've listened to every episode. All 10+ years worth...)

www.radiodiaries.com (This was a great find. The stories produced by this program are both international and national and are quite raw and honest and I'm in love with them.)

www.gutenberg.org (These are books that are now part of the public domain that have been recorded by volunteers. You can listen to them all day long for free. So far I've listend to Lady Susan (an Austen before unknown to me), J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, which had me weeping for having grown up, and now I'm listening to Tristan and Iseult, of which I've heard better versions/translations, but I like the reader.)

Stuffed Peppers

Mike and I made these for dinner last night (using green peppers rather than red) and they were delicious. We also had sautéed green beans tossed with minced garlic, olive oil and lemon zest and they were a nice, tart compliment to the savory sausage in the pepper stuffing. I have been obsessed with finding recipes on epicurious.com and have enjoyed everything I've made from the site.

Stuffed Peppers Servings: Serves 8.
Bon Appétit May 1999
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds sweet Italian sausages, casings removed
1 1/2 cups coarsely grated zucchini (about 1 large)
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
1/4 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
1 large egg
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
4 medium-size red bell peppers (each about 4 to 6 ounces), halved lengthwise, seeded Fresh rosemary sprigs
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix first 9 ingredients in large bowl until well blended. Fill pepper halves with sausage mixture, dividing equally and mounding slightly. Arrange in 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.) Bake peppers uncovered until tops are browned and thermometer inserted into filling registers 165°F., about 1 hour. Transfer peppers to platter. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and serve.

Storm

Last night I thought the storm would burst in through our bedroom window. In my semi-conscious state I heard its howlings push through the long sloping glass crack, leaving us starring into the gnashing maw of God's fury. In my dreams I saw a sky full of revolting stars throwing themselves streaming through a black sky--trails of soft screams--and a lightening glow growing in the east. The earth's tortured death throes. I tossed and turned all night hoping to wake M, to feel his wrapping arms promise safety. But he didn't stir. This morning he said he didn't even hear the storm.

The Boy with the Squeaky Shoes

Vanessa and Jed visited a few weeks ago, and Mike and I were shocked to find that Jed had become a little man since we'd last seen him. He's walking now, squeaking with every step (He has these rad red shoes that squeak--Grandpa Taylor wanted to know how he got little mice in there), and his face is more mature. He talks a little (I trained him diligently to say Auntie Em, no luck yet) and he clearly understands much of what is going on. We miss Michael, Vanessa and Jed! We want them back!

Uncle Mike and Jed--a sweet pat on the cheeks

Grandma Taylor, Jed and Nessa


Mike took this one and it is my fav.

General Conference 2008

We had a picnic after the Sunday afternoon session and it was lovely. Of course, Clark brought enough apples and oranges to feed a nation, but at least we avoided all forms of scurvy.

Just a few more...

These are from the same trip to St. George mentioned below. I am completely in love with Elise's little munchkins. If you could see Claire, you would see she is the perfect cabbage patch doll. And Grace, who, bless her soul, came running into my arms when we arrived...I couldn't resist putting this one in. She had been playing in this little community water park and after she got out we wrapped her into a Grace burrito. She argued that she wasn't for eating, but a few nibbles to the fingers proved otherwise...