WHERE'S RACHEL?

Rachel? Rachel!! Where are you?

Hey guys (Mom) anyone seen Rachel around these parts? She used to come hang out sometimes, but I haven't seen her around in quite a while. I miss her! Then at least it wasn't just me and you, Mom. Not that I don't enjoy your company, but it was a lot more fun with Rae rae around!

Sigh. I'll keep looking.

A Quote to Live By

"The key to success is to raise your own energy; when you do, people will naturally be attracted to you. And when they show up, bill 'em!"
-Stuart Wilde

I thought this quote was appropriate in light of the economic downturn, and it's always good to have fresh ideas about saving money!

Oeufs a la Fermiere (Farmer's Eggs)

The Galli Family's Traditional Easter Recipe, taken from The Eastern Junior League Cookbook. This recipe was submitted by The Junior League of Greater Utica, New York. Don't mind the calories, now. . . .I usually wind up doubling this. Also, I mix the egg-stuffing ingredients in the food processor. Very easy. If you want the entire mix not to get greenish, add the chopped herbs afterwards. If you like green eggs and ham, keep the herbs in there from the beginning! Also, a tip: to avoid difficult egg peeling, buy your eggs a week or two beforehand. It's those fresh eggs that are hard to peel!

Ingredients:
9 eggs
3 T heavy cream
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
3 T chopped chives
2 T chopped fresh parsley
1/2 t salt
1/4 t white pepper
dash nutmeg

SAUCE
1/2 c butter
1/4 c flour
1 1/2 c hot milk
1/2 t salt
1/4 t white pepper
2 T heavy cream

Directions:
Put eggs in cold water, bring to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes (better to time according to your altitude for hard boiled eggs). Plunge (I like that) into cold water and cool. Peel eggs, slice lengthwise, and remove yolks. Arrange whites in a buttered bake-and-serve dish.
Mash yolks with cream, cheese, herbs, and spices. Mix thoroughly and stuff eggs. Any extra filling may be mixed into the sauce.
For Sauce: Melt butter, stir in flour, and cook for 3-4 minutes, being careful not to brown the flour. Add milk all at once, stirring constantly. Cook 3 minutes to thoroughly cook flour. Add salt and pepper, then stir in the heavy cream.
Pour sauce over eggs and bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

6 Servings

A little Thought

A little thought has been traveling in my mind today. I read it in Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth quite a while ago, and it has stuck: "Whenever you feel superior or inferior to anyone, that's the ego in you." We could substitute "pride" fairly well for ego, I think. What do you think?

General Conference

I love conference! What was everyone's favorite part?

Earth Hour Redux

Girls, Dadda is at it again. He's working hard on a new environmental article, and was one of only two people he could see documenting this important gesture by the Church. Following is the quote he sent out with his beautiful pictures:

On Saturday, March 28, 2008, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined with millions of churches, local governments, businesses, and private residences to participate in “Earth Hour,” a program sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund to encourage a billion people around the world to turn off lights from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm to heighten awareness of global climate change. Church spokesman Scott Trotter explained the symbolism behind turning off the exterior lights on the Salt Lake Temple at the designated hour: “Prudent stewardship and wise use of resources are principles that church leaders have emphasized throughout the history of the church. The church encourages its members to join with their fellow citizens in supporting worthy programs that will make their communities better places to live and raise their families.”
Scott Taylor, “Some Buildings in Salt Lake to Dim for Earth Hour,” Deseret News (Mar. 27, 2009).

Georgia fun (in Georgia font)

We acknowledge that we've been pretty negligent about this blogging business.  But we've been out of town and are now writing this blog to prove it.  We spent a few days in the greater Atlanta area with Grandma Galli, Uncle Reed, Aunt Mary Ann, Stacey, and a surprise appearance by Uncle Steve, Nick, and Aunt Laura.  Micah attended the American String Teachers Association National Conference while Rachel had the opportuntiy to spend  quality time with the Gallis and Gondas.

I (Micah) went to Atlanta and met Andy Dabzcinski and Monte Belknap who both teach at BYU at the ASTA conference.  It's good to know that members of the church are representing us well to the string world.  Brother Belknap, while discussing shifting on the violin during his lecture at the conference, said, "We have to know where we've been, where we are, and where we're going.  Does that sounds like a Mormon missioinary question?  It is; think about it.  By the way, I served my mission in Argentina, and my son just got his call to Louisiana."  During a presentation about the new editions of their books, Brother Dabzcinski and Bob Philips, who's not a member of the church and plays the bass, were poking fun at each other.  After Bro Dab made a joke about the intellect of bass players, Bob Philips said, "Wait a second; you have no room to talk.  You're Polish and you play the viola!"  Bro Dab. replied, "That's not all; I'm also a Mormon," gesturing toward the audience with his hands in a bring it on kind of way, "so lay it on me!"  I spoke with both of them and made some new friends in the Utah ASTA chapter.  

Back at the ranch, I (Rachel) enjoyed spending time with Grandma and the cousins (between correcting tests).  We made some lovely Easter eggs, as you can see, and I went to the acquarium with Uncle Steve and Nicolas.  We watched a cheesy 3D musical on a guy who works at an acquarium who is turned into a fish and learns about how to take care of the environment.  Our favorite part was the world's biggest tank, where they have huge sharks and sting rays.  You can go through a tunnel in the middle of the tank and watch the sharks and fish swim over your head.  In front of the big tank, one of the museum workers handed us a list of commonly eaten fish that you should and shouldn't eat because they're becoming scarse.  Micah and I have tried to avoid much shrimp since then.  Don't eat Atlantic salmon, but eat the Alaska wild salmon.  I went on a very long walk with Nick and the Galli's excitable dog Indy (just like you, Bub!), and was surprised to find out what a good sense of architecture Nick has.  Micah came back very late from his conference most nights.  One night, he and Uncle Reed returned together because Uncle Reed had a late meeting.  They came home at about 1 am.  I hear they had a nice talk on the long trip, instigated by Uncle Reed about the virtues of moving to Georgia and the evils of living in Utah.  He almost had us convinced, but I wouldn't be able to handle the humidity and lack of mountains :).  Grandma's doing well; we had fun playing games and sharing pictures with her.  Micah brought his violin so we could play the song for her that we played at our wedding.  We look forward to see the Gallis again soon when I go to Atlanta for training for the Institute of Reading Development.  By the way, Micah finally got an interview with them after it seemed that they had completed their hiring, so we'll see what happens with that.  He'll take Meredith's studio in any case, but he might be busier this summer than we'd anticipated.