Sunday, January 23, 2011

23 January 2011

Earlier in the week Becky ran errands with Gibson and Helen in our little car. The novelty was a big treat for them-- they almost always ride in the van.

On Saturday the temperature was in the 50s so we took a short hike through some nearby hills. 

Southern Oregon was the site of a gold rush in the 1850s. The early gold miners cleaned out all the easy gold on the surface and moved on to the next gold rush. Later, during the Depression, people dug down deeper to find the gold missed earlier. No one got rich in the 1930s, but they did find enough gold for groceries or a tank of gasoline. Our hike meandered between the "glory holes" left behind by the miners. 

We try to practice "leave no trace" hiking-- take only photographs, leave only footprints. Kids are natural collectors, so it's sometimes hard for them to not fill their pockets with treasures found on the trail. Here are the rocks Helen and Abe would have taken home if they could.

Sunday evening was pretty mellow here. We were listening to quiet music, working on a puzzle and having a bedtime snack when Brandan called about 7:15. He was at a missionary fireside where he had about 6 dozen cookies to serve 250 people. He asked if we could make something else to bring over for refreshments before the meeting ended. After determining that Brandan was seriously asking, Becky surveyed the kitchen. Our assets: 1 stick of butter, 2 eggs, Sophie, lots of chocolate chips and a convection oven. With Sophie and Becky working at top speed, we whipped up 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies and delivered them just as the closing song ended. Now, a fireside certainly does not require refreshments and all 16 dozen treats disappeared in about 10 minutes, but this evening has been a night of loaves and fishes.


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4 comments:

Kristi said...

Next time call me and I will help pump out cookies to the masses. I am always looking for an excuse to bake, even if they aren't for my consumption. Good teamwork though. You two are a cooking making machine.

Helmbunch said...

I love it how the Lord stretches our resources to fit with His plans. Sophie looks so lovely in her apron, holding the pan of cookies. I am quite envious of your ability to take a hike in January. Here we have too much snow and more importantly ice! Oh well, this Spring and Summer I will be more fit and able to hike. Something to look forward to.

Kari said...

Thank goodness for convection ovens! Something I wish I had! More importantly, how awesome that the fireside was so well attended!!

Anonymous said...

You're the best Becky. I love how you didn't even blink and just started cooking. It always looks almost romantic to me when I read about your weeks. I think you're children are very lucky.