Friday's Favorites Fare

READING:

   Undaunted Courage:  Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen E. Ambrose.  I know, I was on my way to steamships and canals and got sidetracked by building the transcontinental railroad, figuring the steamships and canals would come after, unlike actual history where they obviously came before.

      However, while reading this author's book on the building of the railroad, I enjoyed his style of writing so much, that I have sidetracked once again (yes, a railroad term), and am now reading his book on the Lewis and Clark adventure.  Steamships and canals will wait.  A very good book...a very good read.

LISTENING TO:   Well, it's April, and Art usually comes to town in April, so it's an Art and Paul kind of day.  Don't despair...Axl is on his way soon.

COOKING THROUGH:  Le Cordon Bleu at Home(Le Cordon Bleu School of Cooking), this week's assignment is Mouclade (Mussels with Wine and Cream Sauce) pages 39-40; Baking:  From My Home to Yours (Dorie Greenspan), this week's recipe is Four Star Chocolate Bread Pudding, and can be found on pages 410-411.  You can cook/bake along, too!

FAV NEW FIND:  I feel like we have the old Alex back...before what we attributed was all the teenage angst, etc.  We are very fortunate to have a doctor who diagnosed an imbalance and found a way to correct it.  Our fingers are crossed, and our thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, and support, while it was all being sorted out.  We feel very encouraged.

FAV THING TODAY:  Matt received five Top Ten swimming awards for last year's USA swimming (2007-2008).  To be recognized as one of the Top Ten swimmers in an event for your state in your age group that year is an honor the swimmers all look forward to receiving.  Matt was very happy with one for the short course season (100 Backstroke - 9th place in the state) and four for the long course season (50 Freestyle - 4th place in the state; 100 Freestyle - 5th place in the state; 200 Freestyle - 9th place in the state; and 100 Backstroke -- 6th place in the state).   It's fun to see the times listed as we head into long course season now and know that he has better times than those listed...but then so do all the other swimmers placing in the Top Ten, so it will be fun to see where he comes out at the end of this year's long course season.  The rankings usually come out sooner than certificates, but it is nice to see the times in an actual printed page for the scrapbook!

GOING TO:  Spring clean, advancing to the last floor:  the upstairs!  Various gigs and things going on for everyone this weekend...including the CSC triathlon on Sunday.  I think our family is responsible for part of the bike route.  Matt has choir rehearsal during that time, so I guess I better figure out soon what it is that I am supposed to be doing!

PRAYING FOR:  The recovery of our economy, feeling so badly for those near and dear who have lost very lucrative employment that they never thought they would ever lose, etc., please join me.