What we've been doing ...

Wow ... I really am bad at updating our blog. Obviously nothing too exciting going on up here in Cache Valley. One of the reasons why I love summer is because of all the fresh fruits & veggies! Nothing beats fresh produce! My parents are kind enough to have a big garden and fruit trees so my siblings and I can use whatever we'd like. On Saturday my mom and I canned apricots & green beans, then we all went to see Harry Potter. The movie is almost three hours long, but it was over fast! I loved the movie! It had a lighter feel to it - for the most part. A definite must see!
My mom had a ton of cucumbers in her garden (total of 9 I think), so I decided to make some pickles. They're pretty simple, but my stove is VERY slow at boiling water. To process them in the end, you have to submerge the jars in boiling water. It took my stove two and a half hours to heat enough water so I could submerge my jars! Oh what a pain! The entire canning process took three and a half hours. My feet are very tired!

Joe and I have a very small garden growing. We just picked our first bell peppers, had quite a few tomatoes, but the jalapenos have been growing like crazy - we've probably picked close to 10.

I recently discovered a book series that I love. The series is called Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. It is set in modern time, with mythology still alive - Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, etc. The kids are demi-gods, with special abilities. It's a really fun & light read!

Walkin' in Memphis

Last week Joe & I were able to fly back to Arkansas/Tennessee, where Joe served his mission. I got to meet some of the people Joe knew, and we also got to visit some pretty incredible places. The first place we went to was Graceland - home of Elvis Presley. Here is the actual house -


They displayed so many outfits - ones that he wore singing, and ones he wore in the movies. Some were pretty crazy outfits!!
Elvis apparently loved racquetball (who knew?) and had one built behind the house. After he died they converted part of it into a display -



Next - the Peabody Hotel. This hotel is very famous, because of its ducks. It all began as a prank, when some guys (I think it may have even been the owner, or manager) got drunk and after hunting they decided to leave their live ducks in the hotel fountain. When the woke up, they ducks were still in the fountain and everyone was watching them. So it turned into a tradition that ducks would 'live' in the hotel. Between 11-5 they are in the fountain in the hotel, and the rest of the time they have a 'room' on the top of the hotel.


They spread out red carpet, and as soon as the elevator door opens, the run down the carpet into the fountain.
There is a Duckmaster that takes care of the ducks. He'll ride the elevator up, get them, bring them down the elevator, etc. Joe was lucky enough to get a shot of all five ducks! It was amazing how many people were there to watch the show.



Anyone heard of Lorraine Motel? If not, you just failed history! This is where Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot. It was very sad, but ... profound at the same time.




The trip was very hot & humid, but fun! I will post more later ...

A Long Overdue Post

The slacker Chambers have decided to post at last! I am sorry for all of those faithful readers who check in and have found nothing the past while. The reason for a lack of posts is partly due to the fact that we moved to Smithfield and just got internet a week and a half ago. So ... that's my story and I'm sticking to it (song anyone?)! As some of you may know, Joe & I broke down and bought a townhouse in April. Hoorah! We were very sad to leave all our friends behind, but Smithfield really isn't that far away! Many have asked for pictures of our new place, so here they are. And just for fun, I'll post some pictures of our old place:

The old kitchen was nice. I liked the appliances, but no dishwasher.

I love my new kitchen. The island is huge! And yes, there is a dishwasher.

We called (affectionately) our basement the cave, which I think is a fair description. Don't you just LOVE the colors? It was nice & big and we had lots of good times!

Living area right of the kitchen, the floors are super nice and we love our new furniture.

This is the painting that 'came' with the furniture. The painting looks different each time I really look at it.

Ahh...the bathroom. I went a long time with no bathtub. Now I have two! Pink counters, pink shower, and ...

yes, a pink toilet. I think it's a sweet toilet.

Guest bathroom, practically identical to master bathroom. Check out the door - not the standard door, which I like.

Well, there's a simple tour of our new place. We're loving it! Other new things - we planted a garden which I really enjoy watching it grow. I'm sure many of you have been experiencing crazy weather. We've had a lot of hail, and one Tuesday it felt like we were experiencing a monsoon. The grass was covered with hail, and the streets were like rivers. Here is a picture Joe took of some lightening.

Well, Joe & I are off to Arkansas and Tennessee so stay tuned ...