Farmers' Market ...Salt Lake style....

Today (Saturday) I went with my daughter Michelle to the Salt Lake City Farmers' Market located down town at Pioneer Park. 

(She had to drag me there-I had so much to do at home- but I'm glad she did.)

We had a great time!

(Click, then click again to enlarge)

We enjoyed the whole atmosphere of the market, including the crazy assortment of people, the colorful displays of nature's harvest, the aromas of fresh bakery items and roasting meats, and lots of creative crafts. 

Our big splurge was a $4.00 freshly squeezed lime/mint drink.

Yes, we could have had four large drinks for the same price, but it was so refreshing and cold!

We also shared a Caribbean style chicken kabob which was heavenly!

It is a nice market and I'm sure the local vendors appreciate the support of the community.

If you live near by, go and check it out.

(Saturdays and Tuesday evenings)

Learn more here.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Here is Julie's salad recipe.
 

Julie's Lime Scented Mango-Strawberry Salad

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons grated lime zest

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

3 cups trimmed, sliced strawberries (2 lb.)

3 cups peeled, diced mangoes

(Bananas or pineapple are also good in the salad.)

Combine sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat stirring occasionally.  Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sugar has dissolved (about 3 minutes).  Remove from heat and let cool.  Stir in lime zest and juice.  Let cool to room temperature.  Mix strawberries with mangoes in a large bowl.  Add syrup and gently stir until well mixed.  Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. 

It was a tasty salad (and so pretty), but we decided that we would like to try pineapple in it, too!

♥
JoAnn

I'm joining Mary's Mosaic Monday over at Little Red House.  

Bountiful blessings....

Last week I missed getting my Bountiful Basket.

(We were out of town.)

I missed it.

(Photo from Google.com.  Sorry- I'm feeling lazy and didn't want to take any pictures!)

Here's to healthy eating:

7 sweet potatoes

1 pint champagne grapes

1 quart pole beans

13 plums

6 oranges

6 bananas

2 stalks celery

5 tomatoes

7 nectarines

3 mangos

3 bunches broccoli

1 head Romain lettuce

Now I can try my sister Julie's Mango-Strawberry Salad.

She promises that it is delicious!  

Come back tomorrow for the recipe.

(Here's hoping that I don't ruin it.)

♥

JoAnn

P.S.  I survived week one of school and I LOVE my class!  

Idaho Falls.....

We spent the weekend in this pretty little town.

We went to a farmers' market located right by the beautiful falls.

We enjoyed juicy watermelon,

all you can eat pizza,

being with cousins,

spending  time with our favorite grandkids,

and hanging out with our family.

It was a good "farewell to summer"!

♥

JoAnn

School bells and birthday candles.....

Ready or not these bells will soon be ringing!

School starts on Monday!

(picture from Google.com)

Some Parents are celebrating.

Some Teachers are apprehensive.

I've worked hard getting my classroom ready- but what have I forgotten?

Besides, it is always an adjustment getting back on a regular schedule.

I have 29 students on my class list and several with special needs.

I'll be honest- I'm a little nervous.

(And a little excited, too.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

H A P P Y    B I R T H D A Y, 

MADDIE!

She's holding up 3 fingers.

We had a fun day celebrating.

We LOVE you!

(Thanks for the picture, Liz.  Thanks for the beds, Mitchells.)

♥

JoAnn

One more thought about the last post.....

I

We just put our pictures on the computer, so I wanted to add more to the last post.  

Above is my husband's family.

Below are the "love birds"!

Ken's sisters put this wonderful quilt together.

All the pictures are connected to some experience or memory over the last 70 years.

On the back is a family tree with the name of every single offspring and some time lines for the family.

The map on the bottom shows a star at all the different locations where they have lived.

(You can't really tell from the picture, but some of the places included Arlington, Virginia;  Englewood, Colorado; Spokane, Washington;  Vancouver, Washington; Iron Mountain, Michigan;  Newington, Connecticut; Seattle, Washington; and Salt Lake City, Utah.)

Marcia did the sewing and Connie embroidered this temple.  Carolyn helped with the hemming.

NICE JOB!!!

 Here's one more view of the quilt.

How nice to snuggle up with your most pleasant remembrances!

♥

JoAnn

70 years and still going strong....

Last night we got to honor my husband's parents.

They have been married for SEVENTY years!

We had a wonderful evening at The Roof restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City, along with his parents, siblings, and their spouses.  (Click on their site and take a virtual tour.)  The restaurant is located on the tenth  floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and has a bird's eye view of the temple, Capitol Building, and the gardens below. 

The view is incredible.

(The food is amazing, too!)

 (Photo from the link above)
Afterwards, the grandchildren met up with us at their home for cake and ice cream.

There aren't too many people who get to spend that many years together, 

and we are so proud to call them our parents!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

♥

JoAnn

The "After" without the "Before"...for a great lady

Our family has a great (meaning wonderful) aunt who has blessed our lives for many years.

She rocked us as babies.
She turned the jump rope for hours as we practiced our steps.
She played "Annie-I-Over" with us around the old "shanty".
She ran up and down the road holding our bicycles steady until we learned to balance.
She drove us to Logan to roller skate almost every Friday night.
We had sleepovers at her house (which was conveniently right next door).
She rocked our babies.

She baby sat our babies.
She shared her wonderful vegetables from her garden with us.
She went along on our girls'-trips. 
She rocked our babies' babies.
She baby sat our babies' babies.
She kept us together and grounded when our parents died.

Aunt Mardene is a young 86 years old now.
Her kitchen needed some updating.
It had old kitchen carpet which she HATED.

Katie, our daughter, had a great idea that we should get all of the family to help redo her floors.
Andrew found a good deal on the flooring and
 the whole extended family pitched in to help buy it.  (Thanks, everyone!)
Liz used her paint store experience to help choose a paint color (Coronado Cream by Benjamin Moore).
Ken shared his carpentry skills.
Katie and Michelle painted.
Everyone cheered.

Especially Mardene!

Don't you think it looks great?
(The curtains, rug, and accessories came from Walmart.)

I know, there isn't a before picture.  I guess we were too eager to get started.
(Does anyone out there have an old picture?)

♥
JoAnn