A CHANGE TO CHAPEL HILL

Eleanor, Mary Deane & Ann

2012-01-29T13:19:00.002-05:00

Ann is a strong, powerful woman. She knows what she wants. She knows what is important. She is intelligent. Spiritual. Talented.
We were talking with her older sister, Ashley yesterday about Ann and how amazing she is in caring for Mary Deane and her Cystic Fibrosis. Ashley said,"I couldn't do what Ann is doing."
Happy Birthday Ann!
LOVE YOU LOTS!

Beloved

2012-01-25T08:56:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to my beloved! Rebecca is not only beloved by me, but by missionaries in Korea, by family, immediate and extended, and by friends from coast to coast and beyond. She loves people in a pure and selfless, Christ-like way. She blesses lives wherever she goes. And I'm blessed to get to go with her forever. She makes me a better man.
I love you birthday girl!

Man At Work

2012-01-14T08:13:00.004-05:00

Jacob is a hard worker. He is a smart worker. He is a creative worker.
An innovator too. Can't wait to see where these traits take you 5 years, 10 years, 25 years down the road.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE! I LOVE YOU!
-Dad

Jordan the Facilitator

2012-01-13T08:08:00.002-05:00

One of the Clark family rules from Rebecca's family that has been adopted by us and been past down to our kids is:

MAKE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN!

Jordan does that. Gathering family and friends for fun and food. It can be Christmas, or the 4th of July, or a date with no major holiday significance. She organizes, orchestrates and originates with aplomb. She's inventive, inclusive and instinctive in bringing people together to celebrate. She makes good things happen on a frequent basis!

Happy Birthday Jordan! I love you!

-Dad

A Dunes Addendum

2012-01-11T08:49:00.002-05:00

Brooke was our death-defying, daring driver. His Nissan 4WD with deflated tires was our vehicle of violence. We all thought we were going to die! (or at least roll it and be maimed for life)

The dunes flanked the Inland Sea of the Persian Gulf. Not much flora or fauna, but lots and lots of sand.

Mary Deane giggled a lot until he took the first big drop down a 50 story dune. One word: S C A R Y !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is bigger than it looks.

High tide.

Migrating flamingoes.

I asked Brooke (from Ethiopia) if he'd ever rolled his vehicle. "No, but I've seen a lot of Qatari's roll their vehicles".

Thanks to Brendon for making our last day in Qatar exhilarating. Both with the views and the velocity.

Those are Toyota Land Cruisers (not Matchbox cars).

Our pit stop for R&R (restroom and "refreshments")

Look! Camels! What a surprise.

We don't know whether the mask was to keep the flies out of his mouth and nostrils or to keep him from spitting and biting. We didn't unmask him.

First time camelestrians, Ann and Mary Deane.

Juda water in a Muslim country. hmmm.

Why Doha has dollars.

Once again, thank you Ann and Brendon for taking time off and showing us your amazing country!

Tail End of Our Trip

2012-01-10T16:37:00.002-05:00

Our Qatar time comes to a close. Good bye Ann, Brendon, Mary Deane and Clark. Good bye Doha and all the exotics! It was fun!

Full moon over Doha

Qatari Takes Mary Deane!...

2012-01-10T02:51:00.000-05:00

...on a donkey ride, but Gramma gives her ok. Gramma asked, "Mary Deane, do you want to ride the donkey?" Never dreaming in a million years that Mary Deane would give a big nod, "YES!" So for 10 Riyals (3.6 riyals equals US$1.) she was off two times around the rug market at the souq. She tried not to smile, but you could tell it was awfully thrilling. Now this is the girl that is afraid of a housefly, but there she was on a donkey being led by long-shirted man in a beard, bouncing along as the little decorated donkey trotted on the cobblestone road.

YOU GO GIRL!

Al Thaqab, Al Zubara and A Deserted Fishing Village

2012-01-09T04:15:00.001-05:00

On our way to Al Thaqab we found a deserted fishing village complete with a mosque. It was on the Western coast of Qatar with the Persian Gulf lapping at the sandy/rocky beach.

I climbed to the top of the minaret for a panoramic view.

My beloved with the Persian Gulf in the background.

Looking out the minaret's window.

Minaret's stairs.

Sea fauna plated with sand

The Al Thaqab Fort.

Clark and Grampa.

Ann documenting the site.

Brendon and the apple of his eye.

To get to our destinations today we off-roaded in the Joneses Honda Pilot. Punctured tires a possibility. Oh, but so worth it! Kudos to Brendon for finding these obscure bits of history (no signs, no roads, no directions)

The Al Zubara Fort is under restoration.

Black pigeon taking flight .

We Were Racing Alongside The Camels!

2012-01-07T12:49:00.005-05:00

Brendon and Ann took us to the camel races on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar. AND WE RACED RIGHT ALONG SIDE THEM! Look closely and on the backs of each camels is a tiny jockey robot. The cars (almost all, if not all Toyota Land Cruisers) that are driving alongside them contain the camels owners who each have a remote control that they use to have the tiny robots whip the camels to hurry their long legs along. Sounds cruel, but much better than the children they used to buy until 2005 to be the tiny jockeys.

Shot from our car as we were driving alongside the camels racing on the sandy race track.

Note the white, plastic whip attached to the robot on the back of this camel (who was dead last in the race). The cars are on both sides of the track.

After the race we got up close and personal with the camels and their trainers.

The race started at 2:00pm Saturday afternoon. And about 15 minutes later there was another race.

No this camel isn't drinking milk. They foam at the mouth and their lower lip flaps as they gallump along.

Ann tells me that a camel can kick in any direction. I kept my distance!

They rub the fur from their knees and stomach from sitting on the ground.

Moms and baby camels.

Qatar countryside.

Pastel Peeps

2012-01-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

This is the Doha Museum of Modern Art. It's housed in a a renovated school.

The entire museum was turned over to an exhibit of Cai Quo Qiang, a Chnese artist who usually uses gun powder as his medium.

Two Qatari boats and one boat from Cai's hometown in China.

Gun powder drawing that has been ignited.

Gun powder human images.

Neither the camel or the birds are real.

This spells "fragile" in Arabic. It too is gun powder that Cai sprinkled on to porcelain tiles and then ignited it.

Two details of the "Fragile" panel. The chrysanthemum is hand made porcelain.

99 Horses represents the 99 names of God in the Muslim faith and 99 represents eternity in Chinese culture.

Mary Deane getting up close with the film showing how they made the porcelain tiles.

Issey Miake designed the dress. Cia Quo Qiang burned it with gun powder.

Mosques are as ubiquitous in Doha as LDS chapels are in Provo.

A camel caravan via truck.

One alley way in the souq features feathers and fur.

No, they don't grow up to be pastel colored chickens.

Little baby bunnies.

Love the zig-zag skyscrapers.

A very fancy shopping center on a man made peninsula, called the Pearl.

Mountain of Curry

2012-01-03T13:39:00.001-05:00

The Qatari flag is graphically uber cool.

Cool sculpture that flames at night (used for the Asian Games and other assorted sports gatherings)

You've heard of little Lulu, well, this is big Lulu. Huge selection of produce including fresh lichee, pointed cabbage, dragonfruit, red guava, tamarind pods, fresh tumeric, and run of the mill greens as well.

Those are Arabic numerals with the translation below (also called Arabic numerals). The 9 and 1 look similar in both.

What will you Realize in 2012?

Building in Education City.

Shopping cart out in the parking lot of the Giant store. I'd hate to have this cart be a runaway and crash into my car.

Many places in Doha have canopies to cover the cars from the hot, hot, sun.

We all dressed without help (with the exception of Clark) and Mary Deane took the photo.

Ann and Clark down one of the many narrow alleys in a Souq near downtown Doha.

More of the Souq with the Faran (Islamic Cultural Center) in the background. You know you're not in North Carolina anymore when 3 men pass by dressed in white from head to toe and the man in the middle is carrying a shrouded falcon...

We're staying at this gated compound (looks deserted doesn't it?).

We could have gone here on our date for a special occasion...

Instead we came here.

BIG bowl of spices.

Mountain of curry.

We found some giant pita bread and we didn't eat it day of, so I snipped it up and split it in half and sprinkled it with olive oil, zatar (a mix of thyme, salt and other yummy spices) and they added our latest purchase--pink sumac powder. Then stuck it in Ann's convection oven for a few minutes to crisp them. SO GOOD!

The sumac powder.

Ann made a yummy vegetarian curry for dinner.

Dinner in Doha (Brendon is bathing the boy).

Art in The Qatar Museum of Islamic Art

2012-01-02T13:58:00.000-05:00

The human figure is rarely depicted in Islamic art. It is against the teachings of the Qur'an. Calligraphic designs are quite prevalent as are motifs of nature.

A gold falcon encrusted with rubies, diamonds and emeralds.

Life size armour for horse and soldier.

Ceramic tile.

Hand mirror.

Funerary headstone.

War mask.

Glass lantern.

Wooden doors created using a variety of woods.

Detail of door.

Tiny gold parfume container.

Ceramic vase.

Ceramic monkey.

Glazed ceramic tiles.

Both Rebecca and I were intrigued by the beautiful off white bowls with contrasting black arabic painted on the surface.

This glass tube was made for a....

The Building Housing The Art

2012-01-01T15:59:00.002-05:00

The Islamic Museum of Art in Doha has a beautifully designed building by architect I.M. Pei. He spent 6 months touring the Middle East before he began designing the museum. He was inspired by mosques and the geometry of their designs.

It sits on the edge of the Persian Gulf. There is even a boat dock on the lower level.

In the lobby looking up to a central skylight. The illuminated semi-circle is an Islamic inspired circular chandelier.

I love the little circular bubbles of water rising from the granite squares, which in turn form an eight point star.

Even the stacked napkins in the cafeteria repeat the black and white striped motif found in many parts of the museum.

the circular staircase and overhanging chandelier make for a wonderful repeating circle design.

Fourth floor shot of the lobby and cafeteria. The window overlooks the Persian Gulf and the skyscrapers of downtown Doha in the distance. (They need to extend the white leather couch to the ends of the window)

The inverted triangle adds tension to structure.

The exaggerated stair-step with the black and white striped stones behind it were just one of my favorite design features.

They matched the napkins.

I think this is most beautiful museum I have ever visited.

Brendon and Clark enjoying the outdoor pavillion facing the Gulf.

Qatar has only recently discovered oil. Doha used to be a sleepy pearl fishing village.

G and G with MD and C.

Next entry will be the Islamic art housed in this work of art.

23 Hours in Amsterdam

2011-12-31T12:52:00.000-05:00

We had a 23 hour layover in Amsterdam on our way to Doha, Qatar. We were greeted by fresh cut flowers in the train station. We picked up a bouquet of purple tulips, light blue Dutch Hyacinths, and indigo anemones for Ann.

The train station clock tower.

Best fries in Amsterdam according to Matt Tuttle who was a missionary here a few years back: Manneken Pis, named after the statue of a little boy urinating (which is in honor of finding the lost prince, and the king directing that a statue be erected where and what the boy was doing when found)

Mound-O-Fries in the background.

They were really good. Top with a mayo sauce. Double forked wooden pick was included. A civilized way to eat fries.

Now, this is Christmas decorating in the street, Euro-style.

Loved the architectural detail on many of the buildings.

Sneakin' a peak inside a house. Look at that steep stairway.

We went to the Van Gogh museum. 200 of his original paintings, plus numerous drawings, letters, etc. Also painting by Gauguin, Bonnard, Pissaro, and others. No photography of his paintings were allowed.

This is a mock-up of what they think Vincent's bedroom looked like.

A very cool carved mirror frame, not by Van Gogh, but by one of his contemporaries.

New things I learned about Van Gogh: He didn't cut his ear off, just his lobe. He painted for only 8 years. They think he had a form of epilepsy.
He shot himself in the chest and died two days later, with his brother Theo by his side.

Sunflowers anyone?

Katy, these three blouses are for you. (in a shop window down in the Museum District)

We loved walking along the canals. Next time we're going to rent bikes and tour like the Dutch do.

Really good Indonesian food at Srikandi. We got so excited when the food arrived that we didn't take any photos. The lemon grass beef was really good.

Didn't have a Chocolade Explosie (but I did enjoy the name) for breakfast. Instead we had a chocolade croissant, a ciabatta bol and a muesli bol, plus fresh squeezed OJ.
23 hours in Amsterdam isn't sufficient.

December Newsletter

2011-12-02T13:30:00.001-05:00

Olivia designed this very cool newsletter for us. She does it all! design, copy, etc. Plus she makes very cute babies as well. Ben helps.

A Chair For The Drummer

2011-11-07T10:23:00.002-05:00

I carve a chair for each of our grand children.
This is for Drummer Zion Dill.

He was born September 10, 2011, at 12:0-something noon.

The dots between the month.day.year became the "o"'s on LOVES AND BOY on the back side. (They are drilled through so just a little beacon of light shines through.

His name is taken from the Christmas Carol, "The Little Drummer Boy" Who, according to the song has nothing to give to the new Christ Child. But he is told to play his drum the best he can, and so he does. He gives his best to the Savior. Just as this new little boy of Katy and Ryan's was blessed yesterday in Church, that he too, would give his best to the Savior.

Seedy

2011-11-06T13:12:00.003-05:00

These two were a part of our lunch a few days ago, and I was once again amazed at all the seeds they both contained. They're determined to multiply and replenish.

ASHLEY IS

2011-11-03T22:59:00.005-04:00

HIKER, BIKER, MOTHER, DAUGHTER, TRIATHLONER, TEACHER,      ARTIST-ER, WIFE-ER, CAMPER, KYAK-ER, GO-GETTER, ORGANIZER, BOSSY-ER, TREAT-EATER, FUN-LOVING-ER,             MANDARIN SPEAKER, WORLD TRAVELER, TEMPLE GO-ER,
          GOOD FOOD CREATOR, CALM-ER, KIND-ER, EXEMPLAR.

                 HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY! LOVE YOU LOTS!

2011-11-03T08:33:00.002-04:00

Olivia outdid herself in designing our latest newsletter!

A Long Affair

2011-10-30T10:47:00.000-04:00

Got a long history with state fairs. Back in high I took my friend Becky on a date to the state fair. Still taking her on dates to the state fair, but now we've added our kids and grandkids to the cotton candy, contented cows, corn on the cob, and cream cheese frosted funnel cakes.
Avery above, couldn't get enough of the tiny train and equally tiny town.

Hazel, Jordan, Avery, Rebecca, Ben, and Olivia (Cohen off camera).

Red Velvet Funnel Cake with cream cheese frosting. (We also sample the cinnamon sugar/powedered sugar regular funnel variety)

"Say Cheese!"

Falling for New York

2011-10-16T20:21:00.000-04:00

We went to New York the first week of October to meet up with our son, Jacob and his BFF, Krisanne. We had a few days with them and then a few with just the two of us. We walked past this marquee......

I love the Book of Mormon too. But I think we're talking about different
things here....

Our favorite eldest son and his BFF, and my BFF! in front of the our favorite bakery, Sullivan Street. I think we only ate there 3, maybe 4 times this trip.

Andy Warhol spilled his smoothie

ABC Cafe still life with an active kitchen life behind.

A table still life in Tiffany's. Yes! Those are real flowers!

Looking down on 5th Avenue from an upper floor of Tiffanys.

Nice place to rest your tired feet, courtesy of Tiffanys.

The boys at Nike Town

We are sad they have closed the American Folk Art Museum next to the MOMA. It was one of our favorite museums. Their annex is now their museum. It is next door to the LDS Temple on Broadway, across from Lincoln Center. They had a fun antique quilt exhibit.

While in NYC, Krisanne interviewed the Art Education people at 4 or 5 museums. She does the art education at BYU MOA.

We stayed at the Muirheads home. They were too kind to let us takeover their place. It's close to Columbus Circle, Central Park, and lots of other fun stuff.

Subway art behind glass. It's all ceramic tile.

Can you find my Little Cupcake?

A very small cemetary with a large population of squirrels in Manhattan.

We go to New York for the Food! (and the museums, and the visual stimulation, and the inspiration and the creative energy. These three were an afternoon snack at Donut Plant. From l. to r.- Creme Brulee, Raspberry (real raspberries from the farmer's market, and Pistachio. Two words: SO GOOD!

Donut Plant's window seat.

Hampton Curry is our latest favorite. An Indian fast food place that serve these incredible Dosas. Then you can choose a chutney to accompany your wrap. We got two cilantros and a peanut and a mango. MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Right next to the 9/11 Memorial was the Occupy Wall Street demonstration.

The new World Trade Center building going up.

Behind the small red and white crane in the foreground is the 9/11 Memorial with the water fall dropping down into the footprint of one of the Twin Towers. You had to have tickets to get close to it.

A Florist at work in the W Hotel across from the 9/11 site. It's a permanent vase configuration on a wall in the upper lobby.

The ceiling in the W Hotel.

We always see somebody famous walking the streets of New York. This trip was no exception. A block from the Muirheads there is a movie theatre and one night they were setting up to film there. I asked someone what they were filming. "30 Rock", she said. She had us cross the street because the crew was blocking the sidewalk. So we crossed, then crossed back to get to the Muirheads and Rebecca and Tina Fey had a close encounter on the sidewalk outside her trailer.

M I N T M U S E U M Charlotte, North Carolina

2011-09-23T21:23:00.001-04:00

These are for you, Katy...

An Observer

2011-09-22T23:34:00.002-04:00

This little man is just 11 days old, but he is already an observer and a listener. As I would talk to him, he would look at me and listen, intently. Good traits transferred from his parents, both good listeners and observers too.

Cohen is a Solid Kid

2011-09-20T19:47:00.001-04:00

Cohen has been promoted to solids. But Ben is his high chair.

BBD

2011-09-19T21:44:00.000-04:00

This cute boy is Master Dill. I call him BBD aka baby boy Dill. He is very welcome in a home of 5 sisters, but his father is still deliberating on the right name. His is already famous. There are two blogs that are wondering what his name will be and even go so far as suggesting names. You can read their suggestings at: http://nameberry.com/blog/the-nameberry-nine-blogbabies-and-more and even more particularly here:

http://www.youcantcallitit.com/2011/09/16/no-name-no-big-dill/
I'm sure the parents of this cute kid will let us know. All in good time, all in good time.

Transplanted

2011-08-29T14:51:00.000-04:00

Before Ann and Brendon and company were transplanted from Viriginia to Qatar, they had to give away their vegetable plants and flammables. We got Brendon's flares, WD-40 and rubbing alcohol, and Ann's tomato, cucumber, chives, and oregano plants. Thank you Joneses!

Need a Graphic Designer?

2011-08-12T17:06:00.000-04:00

Olivia Juarez Knudsen is the designer of this cool newsletter. She also does amazing announcements, both birth and wedding, letter press designs, tee-shirt designs and more.

Leavin' On A Jet Plane

2011-08-09T08:39:00.000-04:00

We had to come up and hug these two cuties before they head off to the Middle East with their parents for two years.

Nut Butter and Toadstools

2011-07-29T19:38:00.000-04:00

Nice graphics and it tastes good too. We bought it from the makers at the Carrborro Organic Farmers Market. They had this huge (4 foot) silver spoon sitting on their table.

Found this pale greenish yellow toadstool in amongst the lime green sweet potato vine. Does anyone among us know fungus?

Sit Up & Take Notice

2011-07-28T21:05:00.000-04:00

Cohen has learned to sit up. And he is ever noticing what is transpiring around him. He is quite the observer. Not surprised considering who offspringed him.

Dad and his new haircut with son.

Gramma tickling and being tickled pink to have Cohen visit.

The happy trio.

Katy Wears Rose Colored Glasses

2011-07-26T22:04:00.000-04:00

Happy 32nd Birthday Katy. I love your outlook on life! Very rose-y. You can make couture from scraps, and cuisine from fridge forgottens. AND you are almost the mother of 6. The biggest accomplishment of ALL!
LOVE YOU LOTS!
Dad

WELCOME HOME LUCY!

2011-07-26T11:43:00.003-04:00

Seth, Avery and Hazel along with the Tuttles and the Vanderwalkers made Lucy a Welcome Home sign last night at Family Home Evening.

The Happy Family at Home! (Craig took Hazel to her Kindergarten medical check-up).
Thank you for all your prayers and love!

Three Little Monkeys

2011-07-25T18:14:00.001-04:00

Sunday Morning on Gramma and Grampa's back porch eating pina colada pops, and waiting for Lucy and Mom and Dad to come home...

Look What My Honey Did!

2011-07-05T18:27:00.000-04:00

Honeydew and Lime Sorbet! So good!

2011-06-28T13:59:00.000-04:00

Olivia Juarez Knudsen, is our amazing graphic designer for the newsletters above. She also happens to be our amazing daughter-in-law, amazing wife of Ben and amazing mom of Cohen.
T H A N K Y O U O L I V I A !

Clark&Cohen Cousins Congregate

2011-06-22T19:13:00.000-04:00

Are these two cute or what?!

2011-06-20T16:44:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day 2011! We joined the Mangums and the Knudsens and had a delicious dinner prepared by Olivia, Rebecca and Jordan. It consisted of chilled spicy cucumber soup with blue crab meat (caught and shelled by Craig (it took him 3 hours to shell it!), battered cod with crispy frenchfried onions by Rebecca, Bowtie Pasta salad with pesto by Olivia,
Corn on the Cob by John Farmer who is in his 70s and has raised corn since age 11 (Raleigh Farmer's Market), Watermelon and Club soda beverage by Ben, Flatbread with oil and cheese by Rebecca, and for dessert Brownies with walnuts and dried cherries by Rebecca and Hot Fudge sundaes by Jordan. A good time was had by all. Love all you father's out there! And love all you who made us fathers too!

Don't Believe What You Read On The Side of a Bus...

2011-05-31T22:47:00.001-04:00

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

2011-05-30T08:21:00.000-04:00

Lucy spent the night last night with Grampa and Gramma. We had fun! This morning we're off to the Bishop's house for a Memorial Day Breakfast. Hope you have a great Memorial Day too!

Look who came out in the rain

2011-05-28T18:50:00.000-04:00

Size of a football. He just meandered onto our back patio and then continued on down the trail....

Happy Birthday Dr. Craig!

2011-05-24T10:25:00.000-04:00

Rebecca made these two beauties in cast iron skillets. No kneading, no less!

Craig opening his loot.

Sarah and Eli lounging after a delicious dinner of cold cucumber gazpacho with grated frozen cantalope, flounder and zukes cooked in parchment, fresh bread with fresh strawberry jam, and lemon curd and berry creampuffs washed down with Antartica Guarana (Craig's Brazilian fav)

Sarah modeling one of Rebecca's new star necklaces.

Jordan: ditto.

Avery Rapunzel letting her hair twine down (she's on the roof of the well pump)

Craig modeling his parent's Dickies overall gift and holding their new Moran Chicken that will lay olive colored eggs. (The amazing Mr. Fox got the other 6) Happy Birthday farmer Craig! This dude loves you!

Monday-Friday This is my Go-To Place

2011-05-22T11:12:00.000-04:00

The Franklin Street Post Office in Chapel Hill is on the National Historic Registry (my clerk told me they wouldn't even allow surveillance cameras to be installed). It closes at 4:00pm, doesn't have a self-serve machine and there is hardly ever a line. It is across from the UNC Campus. It takes about 5 minutes to drive there and 23 minutes to walk from our place. Not bad. I like the "Saturn" light fixtures with the little stars around the ring.

WHAT IS IT?

2011-05-21T16:14:00.000-04:00

Bad Gas

2011-05-17T22:06:00.000-04:00

Gas was under 2.00 a gallon when Obama took office... Gotta blame someone....

Pot Heads

2011-05-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

These 4 AREN'T potheads. They're just plain cute heads! We went up last week for a visit and had lots of fun with Ann, Brendon, Mary Deane and Clark.

They Grow Odd Pine Trees in Durham

2011-05-14T22:28:00.000-04:00

Saw this "tree" on our way to get really fresh, still hot corn tortillas in Durham. Does it fool you?

Avery Cumplio Tres Anos el Cinco de Mayo

2011-05-11T09:33:00.001-04:00

Roses for the birthday girl

Maybe just a bit too cold for swimming

Cohen enjoying the festivities.

Seth taking a break from the pool.

Hazel testing the waters.

Craig showing off his battle wounds.

That was a close shave (photo courtesy of Ben).

Pink Mousse "cake" for the birthday girl.

Cool Cohen.

Jordan shooting the Knudsens.

Will this one be the perfect shot for the birth announcement?

Trying out all of Avery's birthday gifts.

Her favorite was the "Rapunzel scarf"

Ben's B-day Bash

2011-05-10T16:28:00.000-04:00

Jordan's purple table topper (all from her garden).

Cohen is well-nourished!

The Carolina contingent celebrating Ben's 26th birthday.

Ben requested curry with cashews and litchee nuts. His wish was his mom's command.

Brother-in-law Craig outdid himself with the "B" berry tart. Home made!

Flame on Benjamin!

I'M HAPPY BEN'S BEEN BORN!

2011-04-27T10:59:00.000-04:00

HAPPY 26TH BEN! It's been a beautiful 26 years because of you.
Glad I get to be your dad. Love you lots!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-25T10:55:00.001-04:00

Hope your Easter was as happy as ours. Church was wonderful. Reminding us why we really celebrate. One speaker suggested we read the "Easter story" each year, the way we read the "Christmas story", to remind us and the kids that it's about the resurrection and atonement of the Savior and not about candy, bunnies and such.
Russ and Vhari Sterwart McBeth and their two cute daughters joined us along with Ben, Olivia and Cohen. Then Jordan, Craig and kids made a surprise visit on their way home from the Smokies. It was great to gather, visit and eat: Honey glazed ham with Rebecca's tender and light as a cloud homemade rolls with cherry preserves. Accompanied by strawberries, asparagus and beets from the farmer's market.
Ben and Olivia brought yummy rice noodles with cukes, ginger, soy sauce and jalapenos. I made blueberry ice cream in my favorite new tool, a Vita-mix. Just add frozen wild blueberries (from Costco), a can of frozen coconut milk, and a little sugar and turn it on. Instant soft-serve with none of the nasty additives. (I would recommend putting the coconut milk in a zip lock bag before freezing. That way it'll be easier to blend.)

When we moved in to our townhouse, there weren't any flowers in the yard. I'm working to rectify that travesty. Here's what's blooming now. (Nothing like instant blooms courtesy of the local big box stores.

I lied. The azalea bushes were here...

My favorites are the star-gazer-type lilies. Not only are the blooms glorious, but the scent is sent from heaven. You can smell them from the street. Ahhhhh.

Today I'm planting our tomatoes, flat-leaved parsley and some day lilies that I picked up at the annual Raleigh Garden Club sale.

Raleigh Farmer's Market

2011-04-24T12:27:00.002-04:00

Look who we met at the farmer's market!

Yes! These strawberries and those flowers are grown locally in North Carolina! And free samples of the strawberries. Plus they come in these cool wooden baskets. We also got baby bokchoy, beets, asparagus, tomato plants and hot house tomatoes. Ben and Olivia got a jasmine plant, strawberries and lobelia plants. Then Ben and Olivia treated us to lunch at Dos Taquitos Centro and had their Columbian Brunch. !Arriba!
PS Cohen just keeps getting cuter and cuter...

Our Nest Is Blessed

2011-04-22T14:10:00.000-04:00

Walking to Chapel Hill

2011-04-17T23:11:00.000-04:00

We walked to downtown Chapel Hill and stopped in at Sugarland. Gelato- Passion Fruit for me, Blood Orange for Karla. We shared a Grasshopper cupcake (chocolate and mint). A good stop. A bad stop. Then we continued down the street to UNC where we found this black marble table hoisted up by small people. It was the last of our excursions. I took Karla and Kris to the airport at 4:30am Saturday morning. And hugged them goodbye. That afternoon tornadoes struck North Carolina. It destroyed homes and businesses. 22 killed and counting. The most destructive since 1984. We are fine as are Jordan and Craig and family and Ben and Olivia and Cohen. The tornado came within 4 miles of Ben and Olivia's place.

Duke Gardens and Chapel

2011-04-16T23:19:00.000-04:00

Duke Gardens is AMAZING! The azaleas, tulips and Chinese Peonies were all shouting "LOOK AT ME!" The Duke Chapel is inspiring. We happened to be there at noon so we could hear the daily organ recital.

North Carolina Museum of Art

2011-04-14T14:46:00.001-04:00

Getting behind in our sightseeing

Rounding up the family.

Rodin.

Mona in thread.

Kris & Karla Come to Carolina

2011-04-13T21:26:00.001-04:00

On the trail at the North Carolina Botanical Garden

Gated entrance to the "Poison Plants" section.

Wild Columbine.

Bloodroot

Moss in bloom.

A gorgeous azalea.

We're having fun with my sisters Kris and Karla who are spending the week with us. Food and flowers are the focus. We're enjoying lots of both.

Pizza, Pickups and Packaging

2011-04-10T19:25:00.000-04:00

Rebecca made this yummy pesto asparagus pepperoni pizza and used the other half to make olive oil flatbread sprinkled with parmesan.

There are lots of bumper stickers in North Carolina. A lot of pro Obama. Yesterday we saw this really big bumper sticker...

This is where I package up our stars.

A couple of new stars using hand silk screened Japanese paper.

More stars and a beautiful tulip bouquet courtesy of Jordan & Craig.

Conference Weekend

2011-04-06T09:31:00.001-04:00

The cousins coloring on the lower level of our work table.

Jordan with two two year old cousins, Mary Deane & Avery.

Dogwood branches courtesy of Ben and Olivia.

Gramma and Clark .

Happy Cohen and Clark.

Mommas Ann and Olivia with Boy One and Boy Two.

The Joneses drove down for a visit this past weekend. We got internet just in time for General Conference. We had the Mangums and the Knudsens over as well. We had FUN!

Aubergine Ah!

2011-03-28T11:11:00.000-04:00

We got out our Vitamix and put in a handful of wild blueberries and two handfuls of spinach leaves, a little Tupelo honey and some Almond milk, turned it on high and voila'! The darkest smoothie I have ever seen.
Wild blueberries are off the chart for antioxidants. It was delicious!

2011-03-26T21:37:00.001-04:00

Rebecca creating away in our new abode.

Cohen enjoying the change as much as we do.

Gramma K has the charm.

Cohen getting ready to walk.

Ben figured out our fireplace, so we had our first fire tonight. We listened to Harry Nilsson on my new birthday sound system, courtesy of the kids.
And we sat and watched Cohen most of the time.

HAPPY NATAL DAY OLIVIA!

2011-03-25T14:54:00.001-04:00

Olivia knows her stuff! Cool Stuff. This photo is from when she came and visited us in Korea. With stuff she found in Seoul. She is a Designer with a capital D. She not only knows her stuff, but she makes stuff with her stuff. It's fun to to call you our own! Happy Natal Day. Hope you get some more cool stuff today.
Love you lots!
Kurt

Memories of Sri Lanka

2011-03-22T22:01:00.000-04:00

We really couldn't afford it. We were newly married, sort of, (we already had Ashley and Jordan) but we went to see Rebecca's parents who were missionaries in Sri Lanka, the land of serendipity. We loved touring the country with them: the open markets, the tea and cinnamon plantations,
the gemstone dealers, and the artisans. Guni was their cook. Mary Deane let her do the shopping because she didn't want to see the sides of beef hanging in the open air with shrouds of flies covering them.
They got the church officially recognized, and got some brochures translated into Tamil and Sinhalese. Harold Glen joined the Rotary club and charmed the business men of Colombo, the capital.

Rebecca has created these Moonstone stars memorializing our Sri Lankan visit.
You can purchase them here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70553281/moon-stone

It's Spring Baby 1 & It's Spring Baby 2

2011-03-21T14:15:00.000-04:00

Jordan and Craig's hard work this Fall is evident with glorious blooms from the bulbs they planted 6 months ago.

Spring baby number 2 is Olivia! She has a birthday March 25, but we celebrated our births together.

Craig, Hazel and Lucy at meal's end. Craig, what is that thing sticking out of your arm?

Avery, Jordan and Seth are seeing stars.

Cohen, Rebecca and Spring baby number one. Rebecca fixed a marvelous meal of mustard crusted wild salmon, oven roasted shrimp, nigella seeded rolls and cinnamon rolls, fresh blueberries, raspberries, black berries, pineapple and grapes. butter lettuce and endive salad with yellow beets, 5 varieties of olives, bitter lemon cake with raspberry sauce and cherry crostata. Jordan made tomato caper sauce for the shrimp and homemade green goddess dressing for the salad. Olivia and I both got to request items for the menu. Everything was delicious!
After dinner each person said nice things about the 2 Spring birth-ers.

Pull top lid on a bottle!

2011-03-19T16:11:00.001-04:00

Coconut water beverage with coconut meat floaties. Quite tasty. But the real charm is the flip top lid.

Art at the Dills

2011-03-17T09:27:00.001-04:00

2 Churches

2011-03-16T22:07:00.000-04:00

Two beautiful church buildings: Saint Paul's Greek Orthodox and the First African Baptist. In Savannah, a charming city.

Havana in Savannah

2011-03-15T00:01:00.001-04:00

What is this?

What is THIS?!

Sol Fusion was closed on Monday, so we had Cuban.

It was housed in an old house. This is our server and the "door" to the kitchen. He really wants to open a car painting business. He has a "candy orange" car.

Olivia got the fried tilapia.

I got the shrimp with rice and fried sweet plantains.

2011-03-13T23:07:00.000-04:00

Pearl Estella was baptized today. Her parents have taught her well.

Pearl and Bishop Fowler.

Pearl and her two favorite grammas.

Pearl and the family. Ben was missing due to being really sick.

Olivia created the beautiful programs.

Daylight Savings

2011-03-13T09:16:00.000-04:00

8:09 am Eastern Daylight Savings Time

Dill Ishus

2011-03-12T11:08:00.001-05:00

Real baby Faux baby

Deep fried Mac 'n Cheese, and Pizza at Picasso's.

Museum in Mandarin, where Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin had a home.

Photographing the photographer photographing the ophspring.

Picture of a pitcher with Katy framed beyond.

This is where the manatees (aka sea cows) hang out

Divine told us the history of Spanish Moss and then demonstrated what the old man that was chasing the girl up the tree looked like before his body rotted away and only left his grey beard.

Ryan, Cohen and counterfeit kid.

2011-03-11T10:39:00.000-05:00

Claudette and Cohen cuddling

Bad name. Good food.

Clover's cottage

Beachy Keen

2011-03-10T14:08:00.000-05:00

Claudette is the hostess with the mostest. A condo facing the beach. She rocked Cohen while we took a stroll on the sand.

He was there first.

It rained last night and the waves were bigger than usual so the shell seekers found shells the color of Rebecca's linen. She is working on a home series using a beautiful linen woven in Lithuania that is about the color of wet sand along this stretch of beach. She is making some beautiful linen aprons with a natural seashell sewn on the front.

Is this a Seagull?!

What is this?! It was soft and hollow.

Once we reached Ocean One, a beachfront hotel, we decided we better head back. The clouds were dark and ominous. These rock cairns were actually strung on a rope.

The flowers on this 8 foot bush look like foxglove flowers. Anybody know what they are?

Smilin' in Savannah

2011-03-08T23:56:00.002-05:00

We stopped by to get some Tupelo honey and see if they wanted to sell our "bee stars" here.

Loved the look of this chair, but it hurt to sit in it.

We all loved "Paris Market and Borcante". The saleswoman was even from Aix en Provence! She thought Rebecca was from France too. Oui! mon ami. (Most of these photos are courtesy of Ben and Olivia.

Two Ladys and Sons (note Paula Deen's restaurant sign in background)

The Bubbly couple and fountain off Bull Street in Savannah.

Ben thought he was getting dinner. Our favorite was the lavender cookie with vanilla cream frosting. The cupcake was excellent as well.

On The Road with Cohen

2011-03-07T22:31:00.001-05:00

"Not Fancy-Just Good" that describes The Sea Shack in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Rachel Ray recommended it and she was right. There was a line out the door and the owner let in only about 4 at a time.

I ordered the blackened shrimp and tilapia with collard greens and sour cream mashed potatoes with a few hush puppies.

Olivia got the shrimp burger with sweet potato corn bread. All was delicious.

Cohen is the quintessential traveler. No complaints, no whining. An easy smile. He slept through dinner. Back at the hotel, he woke up and Gramma got to play with him.

2011-03-07T18:23:00.000-05:00

This looks like a peony, but it's a Camelia in the front yard of Ben and Olivia's.

On our way to Florida for Pearl's baptism, we stopped off in this little rural cemetery outside of Florence, South Carolina so Cohen could have a snack. I love these old headstones.

2 Grammas & 2 Grandsons

2011-03-02T17:06:00.000-05:00

Gramma K and Cohen

Gramma J and Mary Deane

Gramma K and Clark

Dad Ben and Cohen, Gramma K and Clark

Cohen was THE traveler. (Here seen in the Toyota pulling his tassles). No crying going to or from Virginia for his cousin's naming and blessing.

ON THE WAY WE WAFFLED

2011-03-01T17:22:00.000-05:00

On the way to VA. we stopped for breakfast at W A F F L E H O U S E.
Olivia and I wanted to, Ben and Rebecca weren't as excited. Cohen didn't care. It was a cultural experience. They didn't come around to our table they stayed in the "kitchen" and served us over the divider.
WAFFLE
HOUSE started in 1948. They got their secret for fluffy omelets from some other house. The secret? Use a milkshake machine to whip the eggs!
Note their waffles have tinier divots spaced much closer together.
The 70+year old Waffle House worker woman encouraged Olivia to nurse right at the table and flip a blanket over. That's how she did it...a long time ago.

Clark & Cohen, Knudsen Cousins

2011-02-27T23:15:00.000-05:00

Clark Vaughn Jones and Cohen Juarez Knudsen are the newest cousins.

They got along great! There is a 7 week age span. Big difference now, but miniscule in the long run.

Clark was given a name and a father's blessing today in Church in Virginia. An amazing blessing.

Brendon, Ann, Mary Deane and Clark Jones, Sunday afternoon.

The siblings, the spouses, the sister and the little suckers.

87 Year Old Love Birds

2011-02-26T06:56:00.000-05:00

Rebecca and I spent the better part of February with Bobette and Glendon
Johnson, Rebecca's Aunt and Uncle. It was an honor to be with them and witness the love they have for each other and others--after all these years.

Pawit's Royal Thai Cuisine

2011-02-22T12:30:00.003-05:00

Yes, those are real Autumn leaves. No they are fake green leaves in the urinal. The food was really good though. But when he asks if you want mild medium or hot, order mild. The medium was too hot even for our spicy palate. 1968 Murray Holladay Road,SLC,UT. Thanks Jacob and Krisanne!

Sunday Evening At the Bakers

2011-02-21T12:01:00.001-05:00

The Bakers invited us down for spicy carrot soup, homemade ricotta cheese with crackers, fruity green salad, pistachio cardamom shortbread and Australian yogurt. Ivy and Eli entertained us before, during and after a game of S C R A B B L E. Brian won by a landslide. Both Brian and Rebecca used ALL their tiles on their first turn.

Model Temple

2011-02-18T16:53:00.000-05:00

We went to the Temple Square Visitor's Center today to see the Salt Lake Temple model.

A cutaway view of the Garden Room below and the Celestial Room above

The Baptismal Font sitting on 12 oxen

This depicts the top floor of the temple. When I was a young missionary preparing to go to the Tongan Islands, all the missionaries in the Missionary Training Center met with President Harold B. Lee, the prophet, iin this room, where he spoke to us and answered our questions.

Detail on the exterior of the temple model.

One of the doorknobs from the Salt Lake Temple.

A table that used to be in the temple.

A chair that was part of the temple furnishings

Truman O. Angel, the Salt Lake Temple Architect

A replica of Truman O. Angel's desk

A wax figure of President Brigham Young, who saw in vision where the temple should be built

An amazing example of a hand-carved chair that was part of the temple furnishings

A smaller version of the statue of Angel Moroni that is on the spire of the temple

Photograph of the actual temple taken from the visitor's center, next to the model of the temple

A February (snow)Fall

2011-02-17T14:04:00.001-05:00

I drove home from the Mt Timpanogos Temple last night in a BLIZZARD!
There was a semi jack-knifed at the point of the mountain with a SUV that had crashed into it. It was blocking 3 lanes of traffic so all cars had to get into the HOV lane to get around it. The snow was coming down so fast and furious that there were times the only way I could know I was still on the freeway was the white lines on the road. It was a white knuckler all the way.
I met up with my sisters Karla, Kris and Karen as well as Gary and Newt. It was an appropriate place to meet on the eve of our parents wedding anniversary.

Lion in Winter

2011-02-16T13:31:00.001-05:00

Rebecca has been helping Bobette and Glendon the past few weeks. Here are some photos of their beautiful home. Above, Rebecca in their kitchen with her rug of Gramma Lou on the wall.

Oil painting in Glendon's study

Portrait of Glendon as a young man by Ghouri Hanov Rinov, 1949

Four foot painting also by Rinov circa 1955

Photo of Bobette during her modeling career

Plaque by yours truly

Detail of Beehive chest of drawers

Oil painting by LeConte Stewart

Bobette's and Glendon's children Shad and Tawny who died when they were young

Sandstone Lion flanking their drive

Checkerboard tiles in the garage.

An embroidered horse that their son Shad made when he was in grade school.

A Mexican carving.

One of Glendon's saddles

Downstairs fireplace

Indian art and a painting by Gray Bartlett

Bronze by Edward Fraughton

Spur and other Western mementoes

Beehive plaque on the patio

Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood by Trevor Southey

Living room.

Rug by Rebecca Knudsen

Beehive chest by Verner

Utah Girls

2011-02-15T20:21:00.000-05:00

Would ja look at those eyes!

He Plays with Dolls

2011-02-07T09:45:00.000-05:00

Actually I make them. This one is a commission for Lark. It is a double portrait of two of her grand daughters. One is a dark haired beauty and the other is ivory skinned and blonde. It is a contemporary folk art soft sculpture version of the old fashioned topsy turvy dolls--two dolls in one. It measures 36 inches from head to head and 56 inches from hands to hands(feet). It is all sewn by hand. The body is ramie, a natural cloth made from the stems of thistle plants. The faces are embroidered with silk thread and also painted with water color pencils. With the exception of the skirts, the fabric are all samples from Dongdaemun, South Korea. Lark also collaborated with two tatting samples that are sewn on each torso.

CJ Week 1

2011-02-06T22:56:00.001-05:00

He is the antithesis of his onesy. Sleeps for 5 hours at a stretch. He eats well too. When he's hungry or uncomfortable, his dad says he mumbles. Ben said he heard him cry for the first time in 3 days today at the end of his bath. (He doesn't like to be cold). Olivia is doing well too. She was helping her mom make a quilt when I left tonight. Ben fixed us an asparagus fontina cheese puff pastry tart, herbed pasta with bacon, arugula salad with cherry tomatoes and minted pineapple. Everything was delicious. Especially getting to hold Cohen. Life is good at the Knudsen's.
Thank you!

Cohen Juarez Knudsen & His Parents

2011-02-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

Is this a cute family or what?!

Cohen Day 3

2011-02-02T20:45:00.001-05:00

Cohen is home. And Olivia's milk has come in. All is well. All is well.

Lucy The Artist in Residence

2011-02-01T22:39:00.000-05:00

Lucille Fae, age 5, takes a blank calendar, and really knows how to fill it up.

COHEN JUAREZ KNUDSEN!

2011-01-31T22:13:00.000-05:00

Cohen Juarez Knudsen.

I like it. Jewish Guatemalan Norwegian. CJ. His Social Security card will arrive in 8 to 12 weeks. Olivia,Ben and Cohen will leave the hospital tomorrow. He was born Sunday, January 30, 2011, at 2:56am.
Weighing 8lb. 12oz. and is 21inches tall. He is one cute baby.
Gramma K says he looks like an Hispanic Ben. Very handsome.

Congratulations you two. Well done. Olivia labored and delivered with grace, calm, and strength. No medication, no loud outbursts. Ben was the perfect support and coach. Gramma Knudsen and Gramma Juarez were great assistants. Welcome Cohen. Glad you arrived safely.

Profile in Courage

2011-01-29T10:55:00.001-05:00

I didn't know Ann was courageous until she got married. No, Brendon wasn't a scary person, just the opposite. He is perfect for Ann. And before that she was brave to serve a mission in Ecuador with rabid dogs, mean pigs, and not the best of living conditions. But her courage became really evident when she had children. She has become a "mama grizzley" in the very best sense of the term. She knows her children. Knows them better than the professional doctors that at first just brushed off her concerns about Mary Deane. She knew to keep going to different physicians until one took her seriously. Until Mary Deane was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Then, Ann's courage was taken to the next level in dealing with this life altering condition. It's a terminal disease. Ann and Brendon will outlive their daughter. Unless there is a cure discovered. That takes Courage! Courage to not wallow in pity. Courage to spend hours every day in the medical procedures to facilitate MaryDeane's well-being. And then Ann and Brendon had courage to have another child, knowing full well he could have CF as well. He doesn't, but they didn't know that, but determined to have another child regardless of the health of the child.
So Ann, my courageous daughter, H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y!
I love you! I love your faith! I love your COURAGE!

Becky's Birthday Bash

2011-01-27T22:44:00.001-05:00

We missed you who weren't present, but we enjoyed having Cherie, Olivia's mom who is here for a birth day of another sort (very soon we hope!) We celebrated Rebecca and her birth. Green salad with homemade mayonaise mint parsley dressing, Silky Cauliflower soup topped with fresh parmesan cheese and kale leaf chips. Jordan made sweet potatoes with goat cheese, pecans and dried cherries and Craig provided Guglhuph pretzel rolls and a fresh fruit tart.
Then we gave gifts and said nice things about the birthday girl (an easy thing to do) Happy B-day Rebecca. May you have many more!

EVERYBODY LOVES HER!

2011-01-25T17:34:00.000-05:00

Korean babies love her

Missionaries love her AND her cooking

The members love her

The Sister Missionaries love her

Investigators and new converts love her

Her family love her

Her grand children love her

And

I LOVE HER!

I don't know what I did in the pre-mortal life to get the very best woman, but I count it as my biggest blessing. Rebecca is loved by any who know her. She is loved because she loves first. I watched in awe and learned as I watched while on our mission. It doesn't matter the language, the culture, the situation, she knows how to love. And I love that about her. Always have, and always will. Happy Birthday Rebecca. I love you lots!

Todd & Jen Get Married

2011-01-20T22:40:00.000-05:00

Milli, Doug's mother, Rebecca and Reed Callister, aka Dick

Lark and her favorite in-law

Doug & Lynn

Gail and Ross, recently returned from their mission

Angela, Paul and Elise

Lark at the wedding dinner

Rebecca representing her mother

Joe & Mariliee's kids

Lynn and Don

Waiting

The newly wed couple

Mr and Mrs Todd Cheesman, married in the Mesa Arizona Temple

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !

KNUDSEN FAMILY CHRISTMAS 2010

2011-01-19T21:53:00.000-05:00

Clark Vaughn Jones newest member of the extended family (two weeks old!)

Olivia selected and hand stamped the scripture theme for the Christmas Eve dinner.

Ivy and Gramma Rebecca

Our two color-full cousins- Azure and Hazel

Seth and Divine--two of the oldest cousins.

Krisanne, Clover, Claudette and Clark in close quarters

Call them Farolitas or Luminarias. A Knudsen tradition since Albuquerque.

Party hats for all from the poppers just popped.

The Kid's table is always much more fun--and messy!

Live Nativity with Pearl as Mary

Lucy and Olive are Wise Women

Mary and her baby Jesus played by Clark

Congregational singing

Ryan documenting Ann directing

Adoration of the new born

Avery and Hazel twirling

Lucy and Seth singing

Pearl Singing, Gramma playing, Olive dancing

Seth the magician with his beautiful assistant, Craig

Divine playing the recorder with her nose AND a broken arm!

Olivia pregnant performing puppetry

New Jammies for Gramma and Grampa and all the grandkids!

WORN OUT! A big thanks to the Mangums for hosting and Rebecca for planning, programming, preparing and perpetuating the people of the Knudsen Family Christmas 2010! Thank you one and all for your efforts in being here and being part of it all!