Pocket Post

Dear Blog,

You are so sad that I haven't written on you in a while. Unfortunately, I have no guarantees that I will be a more faithful writer in the future. Life is just busy. Mostly a good busy.

Dear Persimmon Floral,

19 weddings! In one year! That's a lot! Makes me tired.

Dear Pears & Nectarines from Costco,

You have been so delicious and lovely to have around the house to snack on. My new favorite breakfast is a sliced pear, laughing cow lite cheese, and pita chips. A little sweet, a little savory, a lot awesome!

Dear Zumba,

You make me very aware of my "whiteness", but also make working out soooooooo much fun! And sexy (if I don't look at myself in the mirror).

Dear Mom,

Thanks for being so nice and caring. You helped me out with my lesson, came and cleaned behind my fridge, looked for new sheets for me, and always show how much you love me. I love you!

Dear Raspberry Cream Pie, 

Mmmmmmmm. You were good and gone in about two seconds. We liked your tartness and crumble topping. I'd try you again!

Love,

Megs

Oh. It's going to be one of those posts

You know, the posts where you are like "Hey, we haven't dropped off the face of the planet" or "Let us tell you about all the fun we've been up to" or "We're going to be better bloggers we promise". Yeah, it will probably be like that.

So, turns out The Dunfords are still around. Feeling pretty good overall. We are working. Working out. Eating. Sleeping. Tripping (like we go on trips, not falling down). Starting new bidnesses. Eating. Redecorating the living room. Pinning things on Pinterest like champs. Doing wedding shows and teaching classes at conferences. Researching new ways to build aquariums. Churching. Watching movies. Listening to books on tape. Cabining. Building stuff.

So we're busy. And happy. And a little sleepy. But good.

Tom had a birthday. Megan made him go to IKEA, but also let him go fishing, so she seems like a pretty great wife.

This is her smiling because she loves those plants sooooooo much.

We went to the Cabin for the first time this season and smoked meat and pizza. And were so happy.

This is on the way to the cabin. Oh, those aspens will get you every time!

We went to California to visit family and see a brand new baby that never cries and visit new soda stores and get crazy with envy because we don't have our own soda store and to go to the temple and to visit the Getty and stock up on delicious treats from Trader Joe's and play Settlers of Catan and eat tacos in East LA and go to the beach.

I had two horchatas and was in heaven.

Rows and rows of any soda you could imagine.

At the Getty. Posing awkwardly. 

Added a life lister at the beach (Black Turnstone).

Cute family. Lovely temple. 

We started a new business this year. It's called Dunford's Sweet Cream Soda Pop. We think it's great. We're biased. We hope other people think it's great. We may just have a soda cart now. Who knows? You gotta try things. That's our motto. When we're feeling adventurous.

The cart that Tom built with help from Doug. Oh and I painted the pink parts.

I taught a flower class at a blogging conference and it was really fun!

Love those colors!

There's probably more to share, but there's a lot of house to clean. So, bye!

The Gospel & Birds

Perfect combo in our opinion.

http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#rescued-by-christ

The Big 3-0

has come and will be gone in 1 hour and 7 minutes. I had a lovely day thanks to Tom, Lexy, Mom, and all my other friends and family wishing me well. Thirty feels pretty great. I have finished most of my 30x30 goals and will be updating the blog soon. I have really enjoyed doing them and hope to finish up the ones I'm half way done with shortly. I think Tom and I might do a joint 40x40, although right now that seems crazy ridiculous. But anyway, it was a lovely day and now I'm super sleepy. I guess that's what happens when you are an old lady like me.

Oh and make that 1 hour and 3 minutes now...better go eat more pie before it all ends.

#22 - Make a garland

Being the overachiever that I am, I ended up making three garlands. And made a video tutorial for each of them. Check it out here. I haven't finished the ruffly one yet, but plan to...after I'm done with my list!

#23 - Serve at the church bakery or cannery or other assignment.

I had the opportunity to serve two places this year so far. Our Young Women group served at the Bishop's Storehouse in January and it was such a great opportunity. I had not served there since my Young Woman days and it was amazing to see all of the good work going on there. We stocked shelves and it was great. I enjoyed serving with the girls and just doing good.

I also volunteered to help clean the Salt Lake Temple this month. Tom and I went after hours to the Temple and vacuumed. It was also a fun experience, although I have to admit, the vacuuming is very unrewarding :) It is so clean in there! There is hardly a thing to vacuum up. Oh well, I guess that is another reason the temple is such a lovely place to be. I suppose I could strive for the same cleanliness in my house. Probably not going to happen though.

Salt Lake Temple, 2011
Photo by Tom

#14 - Cook one dish out of every cookbook I own

This week I chose to cook herb-crusted pork tenderloin from Robin Miller's Quick Fix Meals. Check out some of her videos here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/quick-fix-meals-with-robin-miller/index.html

What I love about this cookbook is that she takes the first recipe (pork tenderloin) and then morphs it into three more recipes. So this week we will have pork and swiss quesadillas, pork with apples, and pork medallions. I'm excited! I've got six more recipes to try after this.

#7 - Listen to Lord of the Rings

I have finished the first book! Fellowship of the Ring.

Nay, say rather that I have completed an epic journey. A journey fraught with peril and magical lore. I will now delve into books two and thrice in order to become a full member of the fellowship of the fair LOTR fan club. I hope that I will be worthy of  the honor and become known as Megan of the Avenues! Or, as the elves might say, Inwe Surion. The hobbits will most likely call me Esmerelde Bracegirdle of Hardbottle.

Yes, I just translated my name into Elvish and Hobbit. You can too, if you click on this handy link.
http://www.chriswetherell.com/elf/

Tom, I know you want to know yours. I took the liberty of doing it for you. You're welcome.

Elvish: Orodreth Surion
Hobbit: Moro Bracegirdle of Hardbottle

I hope the nerdiness doesn't last. But I have to say that I am enjoying the books very much so far and would go as far as recommending them.

A letter from my friend Brandon

Friends -

As many/most of you know, about a year and a half ago I lost my right index finger in a fight with a table saw. It was rather unfortunate, but I haven't stopped playing music. There will be a benefit concert for me to raise money for a prosthetic on February 11th, 2012 at the University of Utah Post Theater in Fort Douglas. I would like to invite you all to come and hear my band, Fictionist, and some of my other talented musical friends. Admission is free and donations are greatly appreciated (excess donations will go to fund prosthetic research). You can read more about it, find concert info, donate online, and help to "give me the finger" at this blog:

http://www.givebrandonthefinger.wordpress.com

Thank you all so very much! If you know of anyone that would be interested, please pass this link along to them.

Cheers,

Brandon

Orange you glad?

I think it's great that God made winter (often a gloomy season) oranges' (such a sunny, happy fruit) peak season. Just something that occurred to me last night. Thought I'd share.

Source

Look alike?

Does anyone else see the resemblance? I think it is kind of crazy. Anyway, just thought I'd share.

Joshua Jackson - Source

Thomas Dunford

Cecil Lily

I have to post this, so I can pin it. Long story. Enjoy the lily. Here's where I got it.