Thanksgiving

This year I have really missed Mom. I've thought about Thanksgivings past and how she made everything look so good and so beautiful from the decoration on the bavarian to the matching fancy dishes. The food was wonderful, but to Mom, presentation was just as important.

I remember several days before, she would prepare the stuffing for the celery. Pimento, and cream cheese with ham and pineapple. For a long time she bought it in little glass containers that we would use as cups afterward. When those became more and more expensive she began experimenting with making her own. It was always a fun sign that Thanksgiving was near.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for Mom's dressing and roll recipes. They make Thanksgiving a little more like home. I am thankful for our Savior most of all. Thanks to Him, though she is gone for now, we will be able to enjoy her again.

Whole wheat molasses bread

At the same women's conference Julie refered to, Sister Julie B. Beck shared a story about her mother moving a long way away-- before email and such-- and how sad she was. She asked her mother at the time, "Who will be my mother?" Her mother answered, "Look to the Relief Society. They will be your mother." I loved this so much because in the 21 months that mom has been gone, I have had times that I have needed a mother, and a mothers unconditional love and understanding.

This past week, I had a moment that really allowed me to glimpse the principle Sister Beck shared in reality. I went visiting teaching and we got discussing the price of groceries. We were talking about how a decent loaf of bread with whole grains ranges from $2-$4 a loaf. This good sister said that she makes her own whole wheat bread and then offered to take time out of a two job very busy schedule to show me how. She ground my wheat and we spent the next 2 1/2 hours making the most delicious whole wheat bread.

I hope that I too can be the kind of person who sees the underlying need of a mother heart and will be there to provide it as this good sister did for me.

Whole wheat molasses bread

2 3/4 c warm water
2T yeast (SAF yeast only requires 1 T)
1/3 c oil
1/3 c honey
1/4 c molasses
1 1/2 t salt
8-10 c whole wheat flour

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Stir in the oil, honey, molasses, salt and 5 cups flour until well combined. Allow to rest 10 min. Then knead in enough flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is just barely not sticky. Knead for about 4 min. Put in a lightly oiled bowl, turn once to coat, and cover with a towel to let rise until double. (approx. 1 hour) Preheat oven to 375. Punch down and form into two loaves and place into greased bread pans. Allow to rise for ONLY 10-11 min. then bake for 32-35 min.

Flour tip: freshly ground wheat flour is fluffy and perfect for bread. When using store bought flour it tends to settle and may require less. To help keep the measurements more consistent, stir the flour around to fluff it up before you measure.

hot rolls and funerals

A lady in our ward died the other day. I got a call asking if I could help with a dinner. I said, "Sure, what do you need?" Originally they wanted me to do funeral potatoes. For a family that deals with lactose intollerance, we don't exactly keep stuff on hand for such a dish which makes it hard. The other thing they needed were rolls. "I can do that." I told the sister that I would bring 2 dozen. "Oh." she said in surprise. I asked if that would be enough or if she needed more. "Oh, no. That will be fine. It is just going to save me a phone call is all."

As I was preparing Mom's refigerator rolls, I thought about how many times I had watched her make them for just an event. In her own way she was serving again this week; she was just using someone elses hands.

Beauty

As you all may know I have had a hard time grieving for our mother. Her physical condition was such that when she passed away I had a great sense of relief. Mother no longer had the restrictions of her physical ailments. She was free from earthly sorrows and pain. Every now and again, I am given wonderful insights that have helped me appreciate our mother in an everlasting appreciation for the things she did. At the General Relief Society meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held on September 27, 2008, I was privileged to listen to President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. He talked a lot about how women often times put themselves down, apologize for things not being perfect, etc. Later, in his talk, he instructed us to start small and make everything around beautiful. By working to make things beautiful inside of us and all around us, we will better be able to feel our Savior's love and Spirit. It is a grand process! The next day as I reflected on his marvelous talk, I thought about Mom. She was very creative in ways I never thought of. Fruitcake came to mind. I remember Mom saving out the perfect walnut halves to decorate the top of the fruitcakes along with gumdrops cut to look like flowers. Small and simple things to please the eye. Mom and Dad's garden was always arranged so it was pleasing to the eye as well. Mom had a talent of tying bows and ribbons to look absolutely beautiful. I know these are simple things. But my bet is that you probably noticed others things that Mother did to make things beautiful in your life. I hope you will share them.
I love our Mother and feel more grateful each day because she was part of my life for 51 years.
I love each of you and am grateful that you are part of my life still. Julie

Apricot Jam

I made apricot jam Wednesday and thought of Mom. I remember the bottles upon bottles of fruit she put up each summer. Now that I am canning for myself I feel a little guilty that I didn't help more as a kid. We were more likely to complain at stirring bottles and then run off to play in the yard than to help. I admit, my kids were better helpers than I ever was. It is an adventure to them and they were very proud of the bottles of jam and knowing that they helped fill them.

As I made the jam this week,I happened to have some marachino cherries in the fridge that I threw in. I remember how she made everything look as good as it tasted. She was good at asthetics. Everything was pretty and nutritious.

My thanks to Matthew for the apricots off the old tree. Really they were an answer to prayer. We were pretty much out of jam.

So for all you that want to try Mom's apricot jam recipe, here it is:

2 qts fruit puree
1 qt fruit chopped
1 can crushed pineapple with juice

boil fruit 10 minutes stirring frequently

add
31/2 cups sugar and
1 pkg orange or lemon jello

bring to boil and cook for 5 more minutes stirring constantly

can in jars.

This is nice because it comes together quickly after preparing the fruit.

Enjoy and think of Mom.

Happy Anniversary

Today is June 28, 2008. This day would have been Mom and Dad's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple by Joseph Fielding Smith. There is a great story that goes along with this special day. Both Mom and Dad lived in the Provo area. There was no Provo Temple in 1948 and there wasn't a freeway. The closest temple was in Salt Lake City, which was 50 miles away. The day finally arrived and in the excitement of the day, they left their marriage license home, at Mom's house, where it would not get lost. They were in the temple when the problem was realized. The temple worker took the problem to President Smith. He instructed them to go forward with their endowments then if they could get back by 4:00 pm with their license he would personally marry them. That is just what happened.
Now I don't know what kind of car Dad drove, but I sure it didn't go as fast as cars today. There was no freeway, but there again I don't believe there was nearly as much traffic either. I know they were blessed that day!
I remember how pleased Mom was on their 50th wedding anniversary. I'm sure Mom is celebrating her anniversary today, being grateful for temple ordinances and covenants made in the Lord's holy house.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! We are grateful for this special day and the example you set for each of us. We love you!

A Legacy of Service

Your mother, Deane, did an act of service that forever earned her a place in my heart though I'm not so sure she realized it at the time.

When Tyler, our first child was born, neither Kris or I had much of a clue what we were doing. I had grown up in a family of just two children and it had been years since there was a baby in my family. The morning we brought Tyler home from the hospital Kris asked me to change his diaper. I was so green behind the gills as they say, having never changed a diaper in my life I had to sheepishly ask Kris to show me how. Being the sweetheart that Kris is she was very patient and showed me how to change the diaper.

None the less, we still had much to learn. My parents were all goo goo ga ga over Tyler, being he was their first grand child. However, as I mentioned, it had been years since they had had a baby in their home and had little assistance to render. They would come to visit and after a while it would be "ooh he poops too, well bye see ya later."

After a few very sleepless nights Deane came to the rescue. She sat down with Tyler and snuggled up like she loved to do with all of her grandbabies. She told Kris and I to get some sleep, which we did.

After several hours of some of the best sleep we had had in days I awoke to the smell of something burning. The previous Christmas some of our friends had given us some tin trays to put over and protect the heating elements on our electric stove when it wasn't in use. Deane had gotten up and put a pot of water on to boil. However, not being familier with our stove she turned the heat on to the wrong element, one of which she had not removed the tin tray. With in a matter of a few minitues the stove heated up and burned the paint right off of it. At the time she felt terrible about what had happened. I'm sure she felt like she had come to help and made things worse. She had no idea at the time that I was so grateful for the sleep that I came very close to pulling the last $20.00 I had out of my wallet and telling her to go buy another set of trays and to burn them too and to keep the change.

It was the only time she came to help with one of our new babies. But, at the time being our first child, it came as a huge blessing one that she may never know how much Kris and I appreciated.

Aunt Mary's Biography of Grandma Deane

The preceding was the biography of Grandma Deane handed out at the family reunion.Click a page to enlarge it.

Piccalilli

It is interesting that Tyler would remember Mom's piccalilli. It is really good and worth remembering.

When John and Paul and I were little, next to making deadly nightshade potions for the Wicked Witch (to destroy her of course), Mom's piccalilli was one of our most daring quests. We would have to sneak the key to the basement without getting caught and questioned and then locate the latest batch--giving it sufficient time for potency. Then we would go out on the North side of the house with a fork, also pilfered from the kitchen, and share the entire bottle. The adventure made it taste all the better. Mom was probably aware of what we were doing when the empty bottles and forks showed up in her kitchen, but it always amazed her how quickly the stuff disappeared.

We enjoyed piccalilli for Thanksgiving for several years after we made it with Mom. I'm glad we have the recipe since Tyler is wanting to make it again. I will always savor the memories as we eat it that take me back to a time of quests and co-conspirators.

Grandma Deanes Piccalilli

Once, my family made this piccalilli with Grandma Deane:

Grandma Deane's Piccalilli Mix

2 bunches of celery
2 pkg. carrots
3 heads cauliflower
2 Lbs. pickeling onions
1 gallon small sliced cucumbers
20 hot peppers

Wash and prepare vegetables pack into hot jars. Cover with boiling brine and seal.
(Boil plays well.)

Brine

Add 2 cups white vinegar to 6 cups water and 1/2 cup softner salt.

Summer reading programs

Mom had the right idea when it came to getting children into the summer reading programs at the library. Not only did it make us smarter, preserving all our hard work from the previous school year, it gave her some down time to do one of her favorite things...read...which in turn showed us the example of enjoying a good book.

She often would read along with me and we would have great discussions about ideas and concepts presented in the book. These conversations often were jumping off points for Gospel related topics and an exploration of values and principles. Not only could she have been a doctor, Julie, she would have made a marvelous English teacher. There is no doubt she was a marvelous teacher to us.

When I married Lyn, he hated to read. It was a laborious chore, drudge work, homework, and not interesting. How could this be? I grew up with a love of the printed page. Little by little, I have introduced him to good literature and he has caught the vision of reading. He told me just last night, looking forward to relishing reading the next good book together that he can now sit down and read to relax and for pleasure.

Tyler also has learned a love for reading through summer reading programs. Thanks to how well our first summer reading program took, it has become a tradition to read a 100 books the summer after kindergarten for a trip to Lagoon.

Well, I could go on and on about how Mom probably read 9/10ths of the Springville Public Library in her lifetime, but I need to be off to the library.

Doctor Wanabe

Our mother could have had a great career in the medical field. She really enjoyed learning about the way the body works and what to do when it didn't. James had a lot of medical challenges from the time he was just little. Things like, ear infections, heart problems, and a tumor to name a few. Mom read and studied about each one so she could help him cope in this big world. Infections were never much of a problem, Mom knew just what to do. I know Mom watched Mary get her tonsils out and probably the exploratory surgery when they concluded that it was her appendix causing the problem. I know I always called Mom first for help when my children had any kind of rash or ailment. When Adam was almost two, his lung collapsed. I knew something was wrong, but Mom took us straight to the Emergency Room.
She took Kelly for stitches after falling into the rose bush. Chicken pox, diaper rash, stitches, bumps or bruises, Mom was the greatest resource. She knew how to talked to doctors and explain complaints and get answers. I miss having her to talk to about things of a medical nature. Thankfully, she passed a lot of her knowledge on to my sisters. They are pretty good to talk to about medical concerns.

Excercise,Books,&Piano

Some of my fond memories of mom: excercising with Jack Lalane, on TV. Mom bought the dreaded Glamour Stretcher, with which we were all delighted. Julie remembers a time that we used it to tie up Steven to make baby sitting easier. We got in trouble for that one.
Another is that mom always read books to us. I saw her loosening the tubes in our old TV so that it woulodn't work. She read us the whole series of Laura Ingall's Wilder's Little House on the Prairie. She would get to a very exciting part and then close the book and make us wait until the next day to hear what happened.After that, Steven started signing his school papers "Alfonso Wilder."
One last thing was the piano lessons. Mom and dad retrieved Grandma Mary's old upright piano from the deserted farmhouse in Vinyard. It was full of dead birds, feathers and mice droppings. Bless her heart for cleaning it out. (She really shuddered through the task. Mom had a massive phobia of dead birds.) and getting Golden Hansen to tune it as well as he could. He had to tune it a half tone low because the strings were so old. Anyway James and I got piano lessons from Sam Henry. Mom paid Sam $5 per month for those lessons and she was determined to get her money's worth. We were strictly required to practice 30 hours per month. If we missed a day we had to make it up on the next day. I remember bawling because the practice took so long, but mom sat with me for about a year to make sure I did it. Wow, thanks mom. You might know by now how many pianists have come from that amazing effort. Love, Mary

Enchiladas

Enchiladas were a staple for big family celebrations. I can remember Mom making pans and pans of enchiladas to celebrate birthdays especially. She put a lot of work into them frying the hamburger and dipping each tortilla into oil to soften them.

Here is a simpler, healthier way to make them and they taste just as good.

Brown a pound of ground turkey (Or enough meat for as many as you want to make. A pound usually will make close to 2 dozen for me.) adding chopped onion and green peppers as desired.
Add a taco seasoning packet to the mix.

Microwave the corn tortillas in their bag for a minute or two to soften. Flour tortillas are also yummy and don't require softening.

In a bowl pour a couple of cans of tomato sauce and add a dash of hot sauce or salsa as desired (the more the spicier your enchiladas will be).

On your casserole dish or cookie sheet (depending how many you want to make) put a little sauce to keep the enchiladas from sticking. On each tortilla put a little sauce, a little of the meat mixture and roll.

Once all the tortillas are rolled, pour the remaining sauce over the top of the enchiladas. You can also add any remaining meat mixture if you have any on top. Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake at 350 until the cheese is melted and gooy.

Enjoy over a bed of lettuce and don't forget the fruit cocktail on the side. At least that is the way Mom always garnished them. So celebrate!

Enchiladas

I made enchildas for dinner yesterday. Funny how such a simple thing triggers memories. I remembered that whenever we had enchildas at home mom always served fruit cocktail. Something cool with the spicy, she would say. I always knew which dish was mine because I didn't like the cherries in fruit cocktail and made sure mine didn't have one. Silly, but true.

The Fourth Child

Being the fourth child is the best! The parents have practiced on the older children and have chilled out considerably. Then when the younger children came I finally got to do the big sister thing. Plus, being in the middle I was in a position to know each sibling really well. I feel very blessed to be where I am and to have such a good family.

I went by Mom's grave this morning and put some home cut flowers there. Because I walk with a group of ladies, one of which is a widow, we began talking about ways to remember the dead other than placing flowers on their graves once a year. I personally liked some of the ideas that came up because I remember too many years spent in graveyards on my birthday.

Some of the ideas were: keep the flowers and enjoy them at home while thinking of your loved one, make a blog and share memories of that loved one, remember the little things daily that you loved and enjoyed with that person, visit some of your mutual favorite spots.

I am really pleased to be able to sit down and share memories about Mom. If she is lucky, she'll get a flower on her grave now and again but never on my birthday.

Welcome to the family site

Welcome all - thanks for checking out the new family website - a place to post memories before we all forget! LOL :)