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Lots of snow here lately, at least 2 feet in the latest storm. Luckily, John’s been home to hang out with the girls over the holiday break. There’s been lots of snowshoeing and ice skating.
Recitals
Ellis had her holiday piano recital. She and Addison recently switched piano teachers. Ellis, especially, has really been enjoying playing piano lately. She wanted to perform in the Christmas recital even though she’d only had a few lessons with her new teacher. She practiced her piece 50 times in one day!
Ellis also had her first band recital. 4th graders from several mountain schools joined together to perform. There were 33 trumpets. You can see Ellis on the right-hand side when the trumpets stand up. Of course, you may notice that Ellis seems to be one of the only students holding her instrument properly. We really enjoyed the concert. It was very good, especially considering that the students have only been playing for 2 months.
Thanksgiving 2011
Dec 26
This gallery contains 8 photos.
Stayed around home for Thanksgiving. Aunt Julia joined us for the feast and Cranberry Hoo-Hoos. (Cranberry juice, cranberry ice cubes, cranberry vodka & Sprite) Grandma drove out from Iowa. She and the girls broke out 2 machines and had a sewing bee. They loved it!
Halloween 2011
Ellis made this with the 'Zombie App'
Addison, on the left, is a 'dead partygoer'. Ellis, on the right, is apparently Mardi Gras Stevie Nicks.
Fun with filters
Addison made some homemade filters for her camera, using plastic and magic marker.
Trumpet Lady
Ellis has decided she wants to start band this year and that she wants to play trumpet. She originally asked to play trombone, but we talked her down to a trumpet.
We found a guy on Craig’s List… an ex-band director who refurbishes instruments. He has a little shop by my office. He shined up one of his used trumpets and when I stopped by to pick it up, he threw in a couple of CD’s of his New Age trumpet music… popular in Europe he says.
Ellis loves her trumpet and can’t wait to toot her horn when she wakes up and as soon as she gets home from school. People in the park might suspect it’s an elk bugling, but no… it’s Trumpet Lady.
Preeefessional deeeessert
I made this and it was easy and it looks preeefessional…. preeeefessionally delicious! It was in Sunday paper magazine USA Weekend. The cream cheese goo under the fruit is the best part. Restaurant quality!!!!
Pear/Blueberry Galette
Summer Fruit and Sweet Cream Cheese Galettes
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
3 Tbs. cornstarch, divided
1 whole egg, separated
2 Tbs. sugar, plus a little extra for sprinkling
1 tsp. vanilla extract or ¼ teaspoon almond extract
1 refrigerated pie crust from 14.1-ounce box
2 cups fruit (pick 1 or mix thinly sliced plums, peeled peaches and apricots; or mixed berries, such as blackberries, blueberries and raspberries)
Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix cream cheese, confectioner’ sugar, 2 tablespoons of the cornstarch, and the egg yolk in medium bowl. In a separate medium bowl mix fruit, 2 tablespoons of sugar, remaining tablespoon of cornstarch, and vanilla or almond extract.
Unfurl pie dough on a lightly floured surface and roll to about 13-inches in diameter. Slide onto a cookie sheet or pizza pan and spread evenly with cream cheese mixture, leaving a 2-inch border. Scatter fruit evenly over cream cheese mixture. Fold pastry border over the fruit. Brush dough perimeter with egg white and sprinkle with a little sugar.
Bake galette until golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Loosen with a metal spatula and slide onto a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm.
Yield:
6 servings made with mixed berries
Per serving:
372 calories, 40g carbohydrates, 5g protein, 23g (11g saturated), 76 mg cholesterol, 2g dietary fiber, 306 mg sodium.
Labor Day creek music
Some strange goings-on in the park on Labor Day. A band started playing while standing in the creek. John and Addison went down to investigate. After dinner, we all took a walk to enjoy the show.
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