Adventures in Baking

I don't think this can be a proper sort of girl's blog unless I post something about baking, cooking, etc.

So here are some lessons I learned this week:

1. Salted butter does not fare well in sugar cookies. I might have made a couple dozen cookies a little salty.
2. It's a good idea to use a recipe when you're making something you haven't made in years. The apple pancakes could have been better if my memory was better OR if I had simply used a recipe.
3. Don't grab the handle on the frying pan containing said apple pancakes when it has just come out of the oven. My poor blistered ring and pinky fingers are suffering from this mistake.
4. If you have the option, use wheat flour. In my next attempt at gluten-free baking, I will try almond meal. But in the meantime, I'm going back to wheat. [I don't have any problem with consuming gluten; I am just experimenting]
5. Lastly, if you want to win a holiday dessert-making contest at work, put booze in it.  It will surely win the prize. Our cake decorated as a suitcase didn't even get an honorable mention.

beck

I Heard the Bells

This piece inspires me, so I had to share it. It is from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 2008 Christmas Concert.



And this interview is extremely pleasing because it features both featured performers from the concert: Edward Herrman and Brian Stokes Mitchell. I love it when Brian Stokes MItchell says "Music is one of those very few things, that I can think of, that go right to your soul. There are a lot of other things, stories sometimes, they have to go through your brain first. Music just goes right to your heart, right to your soul. I think there's the immediacy of music that touches people in a way like nothing else can." Yes, Brian, I think you're right



beck

This is going to sound dramatic

I need you to tell me everything is going to be alright.  Tell me that trials can be endured. That overwhelming feelings of sorrow from hardships can be deflated by joy and love.  The future looks bright and full of promise.  Tell me something good.

Sometimes I am an emotional girl.  I think it has something to do with how us girls are made--and I like to blame hormones.   I can't help but think of these lyrics from Bjork's song Joga:

Emotional landscapes,
They puzzle me,
Then the riddle gets solved,
And you push me up to this

State of emergency,
How beautiful to be,
State of emergency,Is where I want to be.

I warned you, didn't I? And now I will try to sleep.

beck

P.S. Maggie, Joga reminds me of a bonding moment we had in your car.  You are in my blog posts this week!

Spiritual and Religious Art

During my last few semesters at BYU I interned at the Springville Museum of Art (SMoA).  The museum comes to mind during the Christmas season because this is when it holds its Annual Spiritual and Religious Art of Utah show.

This show holds a special place in my heart, because it was how I was introduced to one of my favorite artists of all time: J. Kirk Richards.  Without a doubt I can say that he's my favorite religious artist.  I'd say that Brian Thomas Kershisnik comes as a close second.  Both usually submit a piece for the show, though, I don't remember paying attention to Kershisnik's work until I saw Nativity at the BYU Museum of Art.  Nativity was featured in an exhibit called "Beholding Salvation: Images of Christ."  It was displayed as one of the first pieces the viewer saw upon entering.  Its enormous size of 88" X 204" also made it very hard to miss.

Here are a few links to some pieces I enjoy and/or love.  I would include images in the post, but Kershisnik's copyright notice scared me.

J. Kirk Richards. Gethsemane
Brian Thomas Kershisnik. Descent from the Cross.  (Winner of the Director's Award at this year's SMoA Spiritual and Religious Show)

Brian Thomas Kershisnik. Nativity. 2006. 

Brian Thomas Kershisnik. They Dance. 2006

beck

Friends are sleeping.

It's 3:45 am in California and I am still awake while the rest of the house is sound asleep.  My plane leaves from Fresno in just a few short hours.  After a week of vacation, I'm headed back to work and life in DC.   

Like each trip home this year, as I'm leaving, I'm not sure when I'll return to Fresno.  But this time, I'm okay with that.  Fresno is not a vacation spot for me and this trip has been anything but relaxing.  Even sleeping has been a challenge for me this week--hence the 3:45 am blog post.  Don't worry: I already know I'll see my family again for our trip to Utah.

beck

NatPhilChorale 101

This professional chorale thing is a new experience for me in many ways. Tonight let me tell you about my new friends in the soprano section.

I sit next to Theresa and Polly.

Polly used to dance on Broadway and a few touring shows. This was back with Mary Martin, so Polly's up there in years. She missed our last concert because she took a fall and had to get a few stitches. Tonight Polly turned to ask me a question. I thought she was asking what page we were on when she wrote a couple of numbers on her music: 94, 95, 96, 97. But she was really asking which year it was.  :( So sad. Every week when I sit by her, I'm not sure if she'll remember me.

Theresa sits on my other side. She is so cool. She's like the cool mom that you always think you want growing up. One night one of the first soprano divas repeatedly made some snippy comments to our section. Theresa turned to me each time and gave a hushed "Kiss my a$$ response.' It was so out of context that I couldn't help but laugh each time. Theresa always make rehearsal fun.

And there you go.

beck

Utah!

I found out this week that my wonderful, beautiful, and younger (ahem) cousin Amy is getting married in February. Since his family is from the Salt Lake area, they've decided to get married in the Salt Lake temple. So I'm planning a trip to Utah. I wasn't sure when the day would come that I would plan to go back there, but here it comes.

The jury is still out on whether I'm more excited to attend the sealing or to be able to ski in Utah in February. Either way, there is much fun to be had. 

Amy and her newest young fan

Me and my Papa skiing in Utah on a beautiful and snowy day



Yeah, I looked pretty cool.


beck