Canning Again

Angela has been very busy this fall with canning. She canned some pear jam and pears today! She has canned peach, apricot, pluot, and now pear jams this fall along with bottling pears and peaches! We now have 45 jars of jam in storage! And yesterday she spent at Emily's house helping her with her canning!

Thanks Mom! We love your jams!

Photo taken: September 30, 2008

NFL - Week 4 Results

What happened??? What happened is Angela got the better of me this week. I went 7-6 this week while Angela posted an 8-5. So for this week Angela has the bragging rights!

I Love Them Boy's

Preston, Dad, Spencer

Photo takaen: September 29, 2008 By: Angela

Homecoming

Preston and Spencer have been bugging me for some time to take them to a football game. Last night was homecoming and the game started at 4:00, so it was the perfect time. The weather was great, 65 degrees, sunny and calm!

Left to Right Unknown SV fan, Ruby, Preston, Spencer, Me, and Angela

Star Valley in Maroon vs. Marsh Valley

Cheerleaders at Halftime

The Braves Win! In OT!

Photos taken: September 26, 2008

Bridal Veil Falls

On our return trip from Las Vegas we stopped for a break at Bridal Veil Falls. The falls are located about 4 miles up Provo Canyon. We took Provo Canyon to Heber and Park City so we could avoid driving through Salt Lake City and Parley's Canyon.

Angela

Craig

Photos taken: September 24, 2008

Photo of me taken by: Angela

Vegas - The Family

Monday night we spent at Peter and Patty's house. Patty is Angela's cousin. Several of Angela's cousins came by and we barbequed up some beef and chicken and made taco's. Patty made some great salsa's and guacamoli. It was an awesome feed.

I must apologize in advance. The last time Angela and I spent time with her cousins was when the boys were babies. There have been many additions to the family since then, and I am horrible at remembering names.

Angela, Patty, Tony, and Tony's Wife

Cousins Susie and Char

Marcus with Tony's Kids

(They are arguing about who is going to hold the dart board)!

Tony Works the Grill

Patty With Her Granddaughter, Cousin Roberta in the Background

Photos taken: September 22, 2008

NFL Picks - Week 4

Angela and I picked 6 of the 13 games on the slate this week, differently. This maybe her week to catch up. A lot of those games could go either way.

Vegas - The Hotels

Angela and I spent 3 nights in Las Vegas this past week. JR Simplot sent me to the MineExpo that was held there. I thought it would be nice to take Angela along. We stayed on the 20th floor of the Bellagio for one night, and 2 nights in the Luxor Hotel on the 10th floor.

The highlight of the trip was visiting family. Angela has several cousins that live in Las Vegas. My next post will be about them.

We also had the opportunity to see David Copperfield preform. It was an outstanding show.

Angela in the Bellagio

View From Our Room at the Bellagio

The Excalibur Hotel as Viewed From Our Room at the Luxor Hotel

Photos taken: September 21st and 22nd, 2008

NFL - Week 3 Results

Week 3 is over and I continue to extend my lead over Angela. In all fairness Angela isn't doing that bad, its just I am doing extremely good! I have 35 games correct after only 3 weeks. Compare that to ESPN's group of experts! I am beating their eight experts, their accuscore game forecast and their Pigskin Pickem. I doubt I will be able to keep that kind of record up all season, but I guess you never know!

Pluot Jam

Angela spent a good part of the day making pluot jam. What is a pluot you ask? It is a cross hybrid of a plum and an apricot, being 3/4 plum and 1/4 apricot. You can read all about it here, if your so inclined. They are very delicious. We have never tried pluot jam before, but if licking the spoon is any indication of how good the finished product is going to be, it will be a hit with our family. We used a recipe that I found online. Check it out here. Ruby helped by pulling off all the stems and washing the fruit.

Ruby Washes the Fruit

Angela Chops it Up

Cooking It

Poured Into Pint Jars

Pulling it From the Hot Water Bath

Here Those Lids Pop!

I will let you know how good it is in a day or two!

Photos taken: September 20, 2008

NFL Picks - Week 3

Picks for week 3 are in! And this week, lucky you, I am going to analyze the games a bit. Give you my take on them.

We both pick Atlanta over Kansas City. KC could easily win this one. Atlanta is at home and KC just hasn't shown much. Atlanta has had major issues since the Micheal Vick scandall, but KC is looking like cellar dwellers also.

We both picked Buffalo over Oakland. No suprise there. Buffalo has started out hot and could be headed to a division championship. Oakland could be in contention for the worse team in the NFL, along with a couple all ready mentioned teams.

Angela liked Tampa, and I went with Chicago. I gave the edge to Chicago because they are at home, but it could go either way.

We both put a check by Tennessee. With all the problems with Vince Young, Houston may struggle for awhile.

We both took Minnisota over Carolina. Me, becuase, well they're 'my team'. Angela, I am not sure why. If the Vikes were not 'my team' I would have had a hard time picking them.

Tom Brady is out, but Miami is... well Miami. They are a cellar dweller.

Ocho who ever......Cincinnatti has lots of ego, and they do have talent. They just don't use together!

Indy almost started 0-2. I think it will be 1-2 after week three. They are banged up big time!

Watch out.....Here comes Dallas. They could take it all this year!

San Diego 0-2. WOW. And what heart breaking losses in the final seconds for both of them. Don't count them out for long. They could be meating Dallas in the Super Bowl.

There you have it. I have done it. I am predicting an 0-2 San Diego will go to the Super Bowl, and they will play the Boys.

Anyway it could happen that way, we will see!

Amazing Produce

A couple of Wyoming Beefsteak tomato's after a full season of Wyoming sunshine!

A friend gave us a bag of tomato's that she had grown. Pictured here are a couple of the bigger ones. I swear those are NOT Cherri tomatoes, they are actually Roma tomato's and were grown in a greenhouse. If not for the greenhouse, they would have never ripened!

Photo taken: September 19, 2008

Angela is ...umm....Another Year Older!

Happy Birthday Angela! The kids made Angela an awesome yellow cake with lime green frosting! Yummm. You might notice they didn't frost one end of it. They were thinking of Dad, I think putting frosting on a cake is the quickest way to ruin it!

Make a Wish

Yummy!

Photos taken: September 17, 2008

George's Deer

George Jackson and His 4 X 4

Our neighbor, George Jackson, shot this nice deer yesterday. He took it on the South End.

Nice deer George!

Photo taken: September 17, 2008

NFL - Week 2 Results

Week two is in the books and I have opened up an eight point lead! I am off to a very good start. It is going to be hard for Angela to catch up.

Soccer 2008 - Ruby

This years soccer picture for Ruby's team. I am not sure who took the photo. If I find out I will edit this post and add the credit.

End of Season Soccer Tourney

Ruby's soccer season is over. A single elimination tournament for championship was held today. Ruby's team was dominated in their first game. I am not sure of the final score, but Ruby's team scored one goal and the other team, I would estimate, scored around 10.

It was a good learning experience this season for Ruby. She has played on some very good teams. Her softball team won the championship this year. But her soccer team only won one game all season long.

Ruby Practicing Before the Game

Ruby Playing Some Good Defense

Team Photo

Photos taken: September 13, 2008

Team photo By: Angela

NFL Picks - Week 2

Here are our picks for week 2.

Yellowstone Bear Word II

As promised, I have posted a few more pictures from Spencer and Preston's field trip.

A rare Albino Elk

Mountain Goats

A Bull Moose Behind Spencer and Preston

Notice in the last picture Preston doesn't look to happy. Mom says he just got in a little trouble, and she couldn't get him to smile.

Photos taken: September 12, 2008 By: Angela

Yellowstone Bear World

The boys had a big adventure today. Their class went on a field trip. Not just any field trip! They went all the way to Rigby Idaho to Yellowstone Bear World. Mom went along. They left Afton at 8:00am this morning and didn't get home until 4:00pm this afternoon.





Spencer was excited! He couldn't wait to go. When he came home he couldn't contain his enthusiasm. He had to tell me all about the trip. All I could get out of Preston was..."Dad we spent 5 hours on a BUS"!

One of the many black bears they saw in the park. They also saw 3 grizzly bears! They also watched some baby black bears being fed.

3 Little Pigs! Preston and Spencer found a true friend to play with.

A class photo. Mrs Booth on the far right is their teacher this year.

I'll have to post a few more pictures of this adventure later.

Photos taken: September 12, 2008 By: Angela

NFL Picks -Week 1 Results

Week 1 is over I have jumped out to a big lead over Angela. She is going to have to do some serious catching up! We'll see how next week goes. It may all change, you never know.

Shumway Dairy

Shumway Dairy Milk

Star Valley has some very successful and unique businesses for such a small place. There is Star Valley Chocolate that I have already posted about, and there are a few others I plan to post about soon. Today's post is about Shumway Dairy. They sell farm fresh milk in glass bottles from their local dairy. The cost is about the same as in the supermarket, but the quality of Shumway's Star Valley Milk is far Superior. And their chocolate milk (which they also sell in glass if you prefer) is incredibly thick and rich.

If you ever travel through the valley, be sure to stop in at Gardner's (Sinclair Station) just south of Afton and try some of the best milk anywhere!


Photo taken: September 7, 2008

Soccer 2008

Ruby and the Green Gators

Ruby Dribbles Down the Field

Ruby Kicks it Through the Huddle

Spencer and the Black Ninja's

Spencer gets in the Action!

Spencer Takes it Around the Edge

Preston and the Black Ninja's

Preston Takes Control

Preston Puts it in Play

Photos taken: September 1st, 2nd, and 4th 2008

Pictures of Ruby taken by: Craig

Pictures of Spencer and Preston taken by: Angela