Cooking Disasters

I have burned many pans in my life, but never one beyond repair. Usually a little soak with baking soda and a good scrubbing will take care of the problem. However, this pan was way beyond repair. Steel wool didn't even touch it! I left the rice on way too long and went to do something--probably computer related. Did you ever notice how the computer sucks up your time? You sit down for 5 minutes and 2 years later you look up to find that you've missed your child's graduation. Anyway, after 3 days of soaking and 10 minutes of massive scrubbing, this is what the pan looked like.

Shortly after I killed the pan, this marvelous contraption caught my eye at Costco. A rice cooker. I always believed they were a waste of money. Why did anyone need a whole separate appliance just to cook rice? But this one could steam veggies AND cook the ever difficult brown rice. With visions of healthiness, I bought it. I have yet to steam veggies or cook brown rice, but we no longer live in fear of the aroma of burned white rice permeating through the house. I love that I can turn the thing on and the food cooks without any more help from me. If only someone could invent a garden that grew that way. Just plant the seeds, walk away, come back and eat.

This just proves my theory that all problems can be solved at Costco.

Alaska-Part 4

In the ranger station in Talkeetna they had a display of climbing boots used to climb Denali. We were on the plane with a lady who was going to climb the mountain this season. Her boots looked a lot different than these older versions.

We happened to catch the mountain at a time when we could see the top. However, our cameras had a hard time capturing it. I adjusted this picture as much a possible to show it. If the clouds hadn't moved in, I think my dad and Curt would have hopped on a plane for a tour of the summit.

How's this for 10:30 at night? I kept wondering why the roads weren't crowded. I had to keep reminding myself of how late it was.

Alaska-Part 3

In Skagway we rented a car and drove 70 miles into the Yukon. Pictures don't do it justice. How the gold rushers ever made it up carrying their 1 ton of supplies is amazing.

Emerald Lake...that is the true color (and my real hair).

We took a dirt road over to the bay next to Skagway near the townsite of Dyea...a town as big as Skagway during the gold rush.

Glacier Bay. I love, love, the color of Glacier blue. I tried to find something to match it to take home as a souvenir. The closest I could come was blue topaz earrings in the ship's gift shop. I have furniture that cost less than those earrings, so they stayed on the ship.

Alaska-Part 2

Ketchikan was fun. Curt and I took a tour of Dolly's House while my mom posed outside. Dolly was a "business woman" there for several years. When she died her house and belongings were sold intact. So it ended up being a tour of an antique house...right up my alley!

See nothing provocative here.

Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.

That beautiful blue sky was typical of our trip. Amazing!

Alaskan Cruise--part I

Well, I finally made it out of the country! I've traveled many places within the U.S., but Vancouver is the first time I've been in a "foreign" country. Though, I have to say a place where everyone speaks English and takes U.S. dollars doesn't seem too foreign. Vancouver is a beautiful city and the starting point of our Alaskan Cruise.

Stanley Park was close to our hotel and made for a nice walk. The totem poles were a highlight.

Well, this sounds tasty doesn't it?

My mom and dad celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary the day we got on the ship.

We soon found the perfect viewing area. Skywalker's Lounge jutted out over the side and provided picture window views of the ocean and scenery. Being up there was like flying and sailing at the same time.

Rachel's Baptism

Rachel was baptized today. She looked so cute and there was such a good spirit throughout the whole meeting. It is quite the milestone to have all of your children baptized. Thanks to all of the family who came. We want to especially thank Grandpa Graf who drove all the way up and back from Cedar in one day just for Rachel.

Time Change!

Rachel is 8! Her baptism will be Saturday, May 9th at 1:00. This is a change in time from what I originally posted. Hope to see you all there!