The Monson Family: July 2008

Sunday, July 27, 2008

342 (Year 2) Reunion

Kelli and Josh came into town and so we had a reunion with all my old roommates from before my mission. It was so good to see all of them! They all have good lives and happy marriages. I want to grow up to be just like them. :-)

L to R: Ashley, Saul, Peter, Lia, Me, KaRynn, Kelli, Josh

Pioneer Day Classic 5k

Georgia, Anne, and I ran another 5k. And we all improved our times. I ran this one in 30:57, almost two minutes faster than my last race (32:42). I was 8th out of 24 girls in my category (Girls Age 20-24). That's kind of cool. It was a hard run though-- hot and sunny--so my body overheated. But love the t-shirt!

All ready to go!

We did it!!

Okay, so this was before the race started. . .

Julianne (my roomate): She didn't register, but she beat us all!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Stuart Falls

Me and Stephanie

Lucas and Paige

Will and Elizabeth

Awesome sky

Timp

trail--nice and easy and so pretty

looking eastish

Bruce and Shea--in their natural environment

Steph--isn't she gorgeous?!

Best Bread

No Knead Bread
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/08mini.html

This bread takes some time, but not much work. And it is SOOO good. It is hard on the outside and soft and so tasty on the inside. It was such a hit today with the roommates and hometeachers.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Clarity at the End of Things

This painting titled, "Clarity at the End of Things," by Justin Taylor is at the Springville Art Museum right now. In an article about it, he said, "The concept deals with interpersonal relationships and how hindsight is 20/20."

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/265371/147/

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Farmington Festival 5K

I ran a 5k for the first time with Georgia, Anne, Kiersten, Olivia, Alvin, and Bailley. My goal was to finish and have fun-- and I did, in 33 minutes. After, Ben Bascom said I should write a poem so I did. Here it is:

5K Song

Arms pump, feet pound up pavement.
Lungs: in, in,
Out--
In, in,
Out.
And down, shins stress, elbows swing.
Lungs: in, in,
Out--
In, in,
Out.
Forward--knees kneading morning air.
Lungs: in, in,
Out--
In, in,
Out.
And then--chest opens, hips loosen, eyes brighten.
Lungs: in, in,
Out--
In, in,
Out.
Sing strenth.