Onion Farms!

I'm a little late sharing this picture, but we are surrounded by onion farms! Each row is lined with 50 lb bags of onions! This is just one small field, looking towards Yerington from the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area. There are tons of onion farms! Early October the higway is full of huge trucks full of onions. They're easy to spot because of the onion skins flying out of the back of the truck!

Each bag is loaded by hand and you can see lots of people in the fields picking onions and throwing them in the bags. Then the truck comes along, loads the onions and takes them to a dehydration facility at the Nightengale Hot Springs. The energy from the hot springs is used to freeze-dry the onions (or so I've heard). I also didn't know that onions are dehydrated before they reach the store to help keep them fresh. The few outer layers that you have to peel off are fresh when they get picked!

Jelly Belly Factory

About a month ago, Dave and I went over to Sacramento to get tires on his truck. We decided to go a little further and visit the Jelly Belly factory! I LOVE Jelly Belly Jelly Beans so I was more than a little excited. We weren't allowed to take pictures during the tour but we could take pictures in the main part of the building.

Their address...

Mr. Jelly Belly greeting visitors!

Yes, I am easily entertained...Dave didn't want to wear the hat. I wonder why?

Spreading the Ashes

September 12, 2011 the family finally all got together to spread my dad's ashes. We met in Glenwood, CO in the morning then headed out on dirt roads to a small lake under Mount Sopris, where my dad had wanted his ashes spread. I think we were supposed to hike up the mountain and do it there but not everyone was able to hike, so we met at the base of the mountain instead.

My dad had died on Sept. 11, 1995 so we were a little late in getting this done, but it was great to have the whole family together, minus our mom and my brother Paul.

So...we kinda have a large family! My dad was married before my mom and had four kids with her (Ruth, not present). Those are Bobby, Jimmy, Rose and Carolyn. I hadn't seen Bobby since my dad's funeral so it was great to see him. My niece and nephew were there along with their kids (I'm a great-aunt already!) Melissa (Caroln's daughter) and her kids: Dion and Kaylee. Then Jeremy (Rose's son) with Alorah. Then my mom (Laura, also not present) had four kids: Paul, John, me and Jen. Jen and I are on the far left. John's wife Debbie came and my sister brought her two kids.

Jen's daughters: Brianna and Emily. Aren't they cute!

My brother John playing with a dead snake.....

After the official "Spreading of the Ashes," we all just kind of went our separate ways. I went back to Moab, Judy and Norm (step-parents) headed to Vernal to stay a few days visiting Jen, and the Colorado group went back to Denver.



Peanut Butter Blossoms

These have always been my favorite cookies. I remember my grandma making them when we were little and I don't make them very often now but this year for Christmas I decided it was time!

Take peanut butter cookie dough, roll it into 1-inch balls, roll them in sugar and bake. I baked them most of the way, then added the Hershey's kisses. We used to add the chocolate kisses before we baked them, but most recipes I read said to add them after they were out of the oven...so I added them halfway through and it seems to be working. The chocolate melts but holds its shape and stays softer than the original candy.

Next recipe I'm trying is a peppermint pinwheel. I'll post pictures of those when/if it works!

Merry Christmas!