#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