MaeLyn's Musings

Besides Thanksgiving and Daniel's wedding, life continues for the Hiatt family.  Earlier this month, Hannah was part of an orchestra concert, with about seven other schools. Her favorite song to perform was called "Sahara Crossing" and sounded kind of like the "Arabian Nights" song from Aladdin. Peter is really into arts & crafts lately. In honor of Thanksgiving, Peter created a turkey, almost life sized: Josh has been having fun climbing the walls. I mentioned a few weeks ago that we hadn't unpacked the boxes of books yet. The children decided they made great toys and set up a store/library with them. (Most of them have since been either unpacked or covered with Christmas decorations.) In case anyone was wondering, Steven is still job hunting. Hopefully he will find something by the end of the year. :)

The past week or so has been wonderful! I have so much to be grateful for. Here are just a few of the many blessings which I have enjoyed this week. We had our Primary Program on Sunday (the 18th) and it went really well. (That was a huge load taken off my shoulders.) On Tuesday, I was able to travel to Utah with my sister's family. (Thanks Heather!!!) I was able to visit with my parents and siblings and have fun with them. (I'll never think of "reverse evolution" again without thinking about a certain game of Pictionary played with April and Heather.) I was able to attend a bridal shower for my new sister-in-law. (I'll have to practice making bridal bouquets out of newspaper, crepe paper, doilies, and rubber bands...)  In spite of the many people staying at my parent's house, I had a very quiet place to sleep - in the basement on Amber and Scott's remarkably comfortable sofa. (Thanks Amber and Scott!) I was able to have fun playing with my nieces ...

Last night I was feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and frustrated. I had been trying to set up visiting teaching appointments only to realize I had lost the paper with the phone numbers for both my companion and one of the sisters we visit. (I had phone numbers elsewhere for the other two sisters we visit). One of the sisters had set up an appointment only to text me back a few hours later to say that wouldn't work after all, and she wouldn't be available again for two weeks... I had also been trying to contact my Primary secretary about picking up the pizzas for our primary program practice on Saturday, and she hadn't answered her phone, and she hadn't been at home when I'd stopped by there, and she had told me previously that she doesn't have time to check email anymore... I needed to talk to a friend in the ward about Thanksgiving dinner, because we were planning on having it with them, but we needed to figure out what we needed to bring. I was wondering what ou...

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that Steven really wasn't enjoying his job. He was working as an inventory clerk, something that it seemed like anyone could do, and all the advanced skills he had developed in the past were going to waste. The technology at the company was ancient (blue screen, DOS based programs), and frustrating to work with. Steven is used to knowing what he is supposed to be doing and being able to take charge and get it done. In this job he was being micro-managed, and occasionally being asked if he had yet done something that he'd had no idea he was supposed to do, or how to do it. In the past, Steven has always been very good at separating work and family - and not letting work cut into family time. He was frustrated when he received work related texts and emails in the evenings and weekends. Not happy with the situation, when he was approached about interviewing for another job, he agreed. This other job would involve being in charge of a new technology...

We've come a long way since the first time we ever cooked a turkey. See here for Steven's account of that. In spite of that discouraging beginning, we persisted in trying. A couple years ago, we came across an article in the Denver Post (Shaw, Tucker. "Get it Perfect." Denver Post [Denver] November 17, 2010, Features, D-01) that gave us a lot of good ideas. Searches online gave us some more ideas of how to do it. ( Unfortunately I don't have the references for those anymore. You can do your own search. ) The last couple years we have still had our hang ups, but once the turkey was cooked, it tasted wonderful! So here's what we do: 1. Saturday before Thanksgiving: Remove turkey from freezer, place in refrigerator so it can start thawing. 2. Tuesday morning: In a clean ice chest just large enough to fit turkey, mix 1 gallon cold water with 1 cup salt, 1/2 cup sugar, and some thyme, pepper, garlic and bay leaves. Unwrap turkey, remove any giblets from n...

In the last couple days since Halloween, I've noticed something. People eat candy in different ways. Some people save their candy, and ration it out at a rate of one a day. Some people eat it slowly, savoring each piece. Some gobble it down as fast as they can, hardly waiting until the taste from one has diminished before popping the next in their mouths. And then there are my kids. They like to play with it before they eat it. Here are a few of the creations I've seen in the last couple days.

Twas the night 'fore November and all through the house  every creature was stirring - except the dead mouse     (which the cats had dragged in.)  The children were dressed in costumes with care,  and expectations of sugar plums filled the air.  Pumpkins had been carved with smiles and grins From the tips of their stems to the base of their chins A good friend arrived to join in the fun No one can wait for the set of the sun. At last it is dark a nd the fun can begin They grab up their sacks to put the loot in. Away to the neighbors' they fly like a flash Hoping for candy, or maybe some cash They give the door a knock or a ring "Trick or treat" in unison they sing.  From house to house they walk, hop or race They set themselves a furious pace For this is the night that comes once a year When they can beg for candy without any fear The streets are filled with tot, youth and teen For this is the night we call Halloween! ...