OMELET

I have to admit that I've never made an omelet. Embarrassing? I don't know. When you're raising seven children, what're they going to do with an omelet? A mom would have to make seven omelets, and by then it would be time for lunch.

On our mission, however, I've learned how to make an omelet. Since I've never read an omelet recipe, I'm not certain if I'm doing it "correctly," but they're fairly easy, and good. Omelets are a good and healthy breakfast. A great way to start the New Year.

Since I didn't read a recipe, mine is not fully organized. It's a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, type of recipe. Here goes:

1 small, non-stick fry pan.

1 tsp of butter
3 eggs is best. 2 will work
approximately 2 TBSP milk
vegetables such as:
onion - 1/4 of a small one sliced and diced fine
fresh mushroom - 1 or 2
1 slice of ham, diced - optional
approximately 1/3 C. shredded cheese

Whisk together the eggs and milk in a small bowl, then set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan and cook the vegies and ham over med - med hi heat until just done and not over cooked. If you are not using ham, salt the vegies a little.
Put this mixture on a plate or in a bowl, and set aside. Add another tsp of butter to the pan, melt it, and add the egg mixture. Salt to taste. Cook over med-low heat, covered, until the top is nearly set.


Notice how the top of this still looks a little liquid. You don't want the omelet too dry.

Sprinkle the cheese across the middle. Add the cooked vegies.

Fold the egg over the top. Hold it still with a pancake spatula for a few seconds until it sets.

Slip it onto a plate and enjoy. My husband and I share this, but a hungry person might be able to finish it him/herself. Yum!

DONNY & MARIE OSMOND - LIVE!

 Not to give away my age, but as a teen, Donnie & Marie were big news. Their songs dominated the radio, and Marie's song, Paper Roses, was one my lovesick teenaged heart had memorized. Figuratively, of course.

Imagine my delight, when at one of the wards we visited, they passed out flyers saying that Donnie & Marie had invited the LDS community of St. Louis to attend their concert for free!!!!

We went!

 

Here we are, eagerly anticipating the concert. Don't mind that my glasses are halfway down my nose. They never seem to be in the right place in pictures, that's why I usually take them off.

 

 

The screens were great for those, like us, who sat in the back. These two are in their 50's and perform like they're in their 30's, at least.

 

Marie did sing Paper Roses, and they both sang popular numbers from their past, with pictures of them growing up, and/or as they sang the song originally. They performed Country, or rather Marie did. Donny sang Rock & Roll, and some R&B Soul.

 

They've both had extensive careers on Broadway as well, and performed many of their favorites while pictures of them in the play flashed on the screens.

 

 

One of the many highlights of the evening is when this man came on stage. Getting to meet Marie up close and personal was the highlight of his life. He seemed willing to do nearly anything she asked, and he had a quick wit.

 

One of the other highlights, to me, is when Marie sang an opera song. It kind of makes me mad that I can't remember the name of it because it is well-known. But she proved her vocal talent easily with that one.

 

 

Donnie had his moments as well. There were several times when they both went down into the audience. The last time Donnie went, just before this number, I thought security would need to come save him. He was mobbed. A woman in the bleachers came rushing down, and he actually went up to her and gave her a rose. A couple of women latched on to him and wouldn't let him go. When he got back on stage, he said one woman had given him a Christmas goose.

 

It was a Christmas concert and they did sing Christmas songs as well. They paid homage to the men in the military, and had everyone who had served our Country stand up.

 

Getting to see Donnie & Marie in concert is only one of the many blessings we've received by being here in St. Louis. There is something to be said about being in the right place at the right time.

 

 

 

MISSION TOUR - Historic St. Louis Library

The one great thing – or rather, one great thing about St. Louis is the history. Many of the buildings date back to the 1800’s. A couple of buildings date back farther than that. I love the beautiful old buildings. Because of a substantial gift from Andrew Carnegie, the main library was built in the early 1900's. The architect copied designs from places like the Parthenon, and is beautiful.

Luckily for us, it recently re-opened after a two year renovation and remodeling. Below are some pictures.


 
Nothing says Christmastime like a tree made of books.
 
 



The area used to be glass floors with book stacks. Now, it's very open and modern looking.

 

 

If you go on a senior mission and are told the activity is casual and jeans are okay, don't be surprised like I was that no one else got the memo - either that or they chose to ignore the memo.

 

 

There are several glass display cases to show off priceless or delicate items.

 

The two ceilings here look like they're made of wood, but they're sculptured plaster that's been hand painted.

 

 

 

 

This one has goat skulls at each point. Apparently the goat is revered because anciently they used goat hide to write on. This is also sculpted plaster.

 

 

This door goes into a private, appointment-only room full of priceless books on architecture.

 

 

"Speak low, tread softly through these halls, here genius lives enshrined, here reign in silent majesty, the monarchs of the mind."

 

 

No library I've ever seen has stained glass windows. This library has two at the top of opposite stairways, and one on a ceiling.

 

This table is also original and made of solid wood.

I hope you enjoy the photos. I feel it an honor and a privilege to get to tour a beautiful building like this one. 

 

 

 

THE CANDY BOMBER

This shows the power of one person in doing good. The video doesn't tell the first of the story. He went into Berlin to take pictures, and saw the children. He decided to give them the two sticks of gum in his pocket so he broke each piece into pieces and passed it through the barbed wire fence. The children hadn't had gum or candy for years, and those who didn't get a piece of the gum, were handed a piece of the wrapper. They took it and smelled it and were so grateful for the wrapper that it touched Colonel Halverson. He told them he would be back and he'd bring them more candy and gum and drop it from the plane. So they would know it was his plane, he wiggled the wings. The effort grew from there with candy factories in the USA shipping candy for the children. He could have been court-martialed and put in jail, instead he ended up being an ambassador for goodwill. Let's all make an effort to spread good will this coming year. One person does make a difference.