starbucks and ministry

I wanted to introduce a good friend of mine, Amanda McCoy. Amanda is one of only 2 regular pioneers in my cong. Can i have a round of applause and cheering please! Seriouly she is amazing guys, the other pioneer is an older sister called Franny Adams, i think she is 101, ok im kidding! Franny is a great sister a real character, i will devote a blog just to franny and see if cant get some video footage, you have to experence her to really get her. But enough back to the amazing Amanda McCoy.
Amanda has her own blog http://heartsandtrees.blogspot.com/ check it out she is very talented. Amanda and i do early morning witnessing up to 3 times a week sometimes. 7.30am start and then straight to the group.
Here is Amanda in her car.


What i admire about this young lady is that at 23 she is a regular pioneer in an area were often there are no brothers to take the group, sometimes no one turns up at all during the week and she is the only young person in the cong out in the ministry on weekdays. I dont know what id do if it wasnt for Amanda she is such a encouragement and sweet as a cup cake lol...

Of course we had to stop for a Starbucks this morning. Its customary to chip in for gas as someone has to drive and it can be costly, but until i can get some work in stead of being able to chip in money i buy Starbucks for who ever is driving. Amanda's tipple is a Mocha Frapp and i asked for a Cappuccino. As a Brit we are used to accepting what is given to us when we are in a restaurant or coffee shop, complaining just isnt done. See the thing is the last time i ordered a Cappuccino the cup was so light that it felt like all that was in there was fresh air!! so this time i asked if they could put more in the cup. At first he (the cashier) looked a little confused and walked in circles, i took pity on him took the cup back and said dont worry its fine. I think this sparked life into him because he acted like it was his mission to get me another drink. Americans are so helpful one of the coffee making girls (im sure they have tec terms for this craft) had a good 5 min discussion about the difference between a latte and a Cappuccino. Basically a latte has more milk, both have a shot of Espresso but a Cappuccino has less milk and more froth. I like the froth but i want more liquid. So do i ask for 2 Cappuccino or a extra shot of Espresso? I need to know what to ask for when i go back next i cant just buy fresh air and i don't want hot milk aka latte! She decided that it was an extra shot of Espresso that i was after.. This could have gone on all day until i had found the exact blend i liked and could thereafter order at Starbucks, they are that helpful! "here we go try this see if you like the taste" was her response.. it was basically a cup of fresh air with an extra shot of Espresso!! sigh!! My kingdom for the perfect cup of coffee continues.
Below is a pic of Amanda and i with our Coffees and Amanda doing the "Bear Claw". Let me explain the Bear Claw, its a pastry with almonds and frosting. Its a favorite of mine, but because of my English accent sometimes i am not understood very well! i know!! rolls eyes! I have been given every pastry on the shelf before i pointed out the one i wanted. So i have to do the action and actually form a bear claw.. and growl at the staff. its a running joke now.
My brother in law works at Starbucks and has just solved the Cappuccino dilemma. i should ask for a Tall double Cappuccino, ill let you know if this fulfills my coffee dreams.

A right Kerfuffle, Ikea and a dose of culture

Yesterday was early start and can only mean one thing,Starbucks, you will notice how much starbucks features into the life of an average American. The pic underneath is our 6am start, it was still so dark outside the stars were numerous and the moon high and bright in the sky.




We headed out to Sacramento were i had a 8am appointment for a Biometric exam!! sounds scary! If anyone has ever been to the social or benefits office you know what to expect. Hence we set out early, to beat the rush hour traffic and to be first in the que. It takes just under an hour to get to Sacramento. We got to the offices an hour early, so much for the bad traffic, but it gave us the time to have breakfast.

When we arrived at the appointment i was second one inline, they checked my documents, i filled in a form, they called me to another desk were i was fingerprinted and my photo taken. Once again i managed to look like criminal.. ! all my official photos have the same look.. prison mate.. any one seen my passport photo. Its an exact match, i don know how i do it! its a talent!!
Well within 15mins im all done. Aaron took the day off work for this lol we have the whole day to fill.. and we are both tired already.!!

What to do now.. hmmm coffee intake needed, so we drive off to find the nearest Starbucks! Of course we do not need to get out the car, everything has a drive through, even the banks and off licenses. Aaron orders a large dark roast, the voice in the box thanks us for our order and we are supposed to drive to the nxt window to get our order but the car in front hasn't moved.. so we sit there, the voice comes out over the box again.. hello welcome to Starbucks can i take ure order? we look at each other mischeive in our eyes.. i say "ask for a monkey" lol Aaron stops thinks and asks for a Carmel Frapp!! and drives off as the car behind pulls up to the window and continues to place an order.. We are in stitches.. at the very least the car behind us has a extra drink on their order and at the worst we have totally messed up the queuing system and there is a unclaimed drink that is gonna cause chaos.. what a Kerfuffle!!! Below is a pic of Aaron loving his evil deed of the day..


Off to the shops.. i didnt tell you that on the way to the appointment i spot IKEA!! it brought tears to my eyes i cant tell you how good it was to see the bright blue and yellow cube shining no glowing in the morning light. We headed thier right after aaron got to play in a huge electronic store for a bit.
Ahhh the familiarity that comes with international chain stores.. it was like a having coffee with an old friend. Everything was the same, EXCEPT!!! ok Lydia (my sister) you must sit down for this one! They serve the meatballs with mash potatoes here, and their is only one portion size, it think its regular size too. i had to request chips or fries as they are called over here. But it was good.. sooo good!.


Next we decide to have a bit of culture..a short drive to The Crocker Art Gallery http://www.crockerartmuseum.org/index.htm if your interested in seeing it i've added the link. It had pop art and its own private collection which the Crocker family began to assemble in 1869, over 700 painting 1400 drawing and contemporary Californian artist forming the states core of premier Californian art. The building in beautiful. here is a pic.



After that we collected grandma and headed to Aarons parents for a dinner of Elk, Ratatoue and couscous. Very nice. we headed home exhausted, i slept most of the way and crawled into bed.ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

X

Just another manic monday

Listening to the bangles "Manic Monday" it fits, although its Tuesday it was Aarons long weekend.. every other Monday he gets off work because of the hours he works so we have a long weekend together, but it means that Tuesdays become Mondays.

Aaron is alot better now he is still congested and i got all bunged up at the weekend so it was a long boring weekend at home being sick.

Although we did go to a friends home for dinner friday. Let me introduce you to two of our very close friends. Cody and Kristi Mollet. They were in our bridal party, here is a pic of them from the wedding

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Cody is a joker always playing the fool, he does impressions of Captain Jack Sparrow, Austin powers and anyone else that he can think of.. he is actually quite good, Cody also does a little break dancing, he used to be quite good so i hear.. imagine him at one of Limbo's party's, im sure he can give Ganinie a run for his money. Kristi is quieter than Cody but then so is every one lol.. Kristi works in a bank with loans and mortgages, etc.. Kristi is like a kindred out here the only person i have found that likes RnB and likes to party the way we do back home. I havnt had a chance to throw a party yet, one were there is dancing but i will soon with Kristi's help.. i know you guys would love her and Cody, he is a little like Limbo...

Were was i ah yes, we went round to their home and watched Iron Man, They cooked the most devine Salmon it had brown sugar on it.. i cant tell you how great food tastes over here.. Aushy once said that "that if it ant meat their eating their making it sweet" man she was right, we also had tri tip steak cooked to perfection!. We had a nice evening and chilled out... People like their drink out here and i don't mean in excess but they like their wine and cocktails, its the culture out here food and drink and they do it well.. When ever you go to someones home they almost always have a well stocked bar. Everything to make almost any cocktail you want. That evening i had a Strawberry Dackery blended and a glass of champagne.YUM!

Tomorrow i have to go to Sacramento for a medical in line with my visa application. Im kinda nervous.. These things always make you feel like you have done something wrong, even though you haven't. I mean people say dont give them any information they haven't asked for, but then i feel like i have something to hide.. so i feel like im gonna go, OK!! you got me i give up.. When i was 4 i had a cold and when i was 5 i banged my head,. then there was the time when i was 7 i faked a tummy ache so i didn't have to go to school sob sob sob! Ever seen the Goonies.. were chunk is caught by the family and they want to know everything and he starts confessing stuff he had done at school LOLOL that's how im gonna feel!!

Well guys im totally stalling, i should be doing housework so i had better get on with it, ill document our day trip tomorrow and get photos of our day.. we should me meeting up with Aarons parents so ill get that tooo.. have a good day everyone .. lots of loveXX

Man flu and the wedding reception

Aaron is ill, so ive been playing nurse maid.. he isnt a bad patient in fact he is better then most men i know. so i went to the store and brought $40 worth of flu comforters. Halls throat soothers 2 kinds of flavors as i know hell get through those like fresh air. Day nurse and night nurse here its called Nytol and DayQuil, but its the same thing. I brought vicks vapor rub (which i smothered over his chest before bed..ill stop there LOL) and one of those things you stick up your nose and inhale., and plain old asprin but here its called Aleve.


Here are some pics of my home. First is the living room with our huge tv.. we only watch film on it but its great for that its like having our own cinema in the house.. its taken a while for me to get used to it.. but everyone has one almost the same size so its not unusal here!!
the second is our bed room its a mess and aaron is napping as he is ill. i took it sneekly.. tootsie is napping with him lol the third is our bathroom he bath/shower is behind the door its a tiny bathroom but its enough.




Today i also went to see the Barn that we will be having the reception in.. its a double reception with another couple. The other bride is a good friend of ours but we didnt get to go to the wedding as it was a distance away and her fiance/husband didnt get to come to ours, as well as alot of the brothers and sister of our cong so we decided to throw this.. the funny thing is that we dont really get to have a say about it all.. i think its how its done here..Debs mum is organizing it, she didnt get to organize her daughters wedding as the home cong were her husband is and now her did it all, so i think this is her baby. But i got to go see it and im going to help with the invites tomorrow.. i took some pics of the inside for you all. Its needs a clean up so we will be doing that and decorating it. we have a live band lined up.. Scott aarons best bud plays in the band and aaron was at one time.. so thats cool... in the pics are Jude Debs mum (short blonde hair leg crossed on the stage) the other pic is a spanish sister i met today with Aunite Shar, i went camping with her, she is so warm and friendly and such a blast. The lady sitting to the far left is the sister that owns the barn , really nice cant remember her name.





















well this is a sort one its late and i want to post some pics today.. night all


OH DO ME A FAVOR LEAVE ME A COMMENT IF YOU READ THE BLOG SO IN KNOW WHO IS READING IT AND IF I SHOULD CONTINUE.. ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR QUESTIONS FOR ME TO ANSWER IN THE BLOGS ...?? LET ME KNOW IF YOUR ENJOYING IT AND I SHOULD CONTINUE
xxx

The weekend and clouds

Another week stretches ahead of me.. today started as most days do now. Alarm goes off at 5am and i fumble around in the darkness for my phone, locate it while knocking random objects off my bedside table and turn it off. 5.30 alarm goes off again, repeat fumbling and general disaster as i moan and groan within and swing my legs out of bed and tip toe over the rubble that now litters my floor. Eyes still shut i feel my way around the bed (usually stubbing a toes or banging an elbow followed by quiet mutterings)

The temp has dropped considerably so i throw on a hoodie pull the hood up and shuffle into the kitchen. Tootise energetically scampers at my heels and follows me were ever i go, in the hope i start shedding bacon or some other yummy food product. I put the kettle on (stove kettle with a whistle, very retro but takes forever to boil) grind our coffee beans. ok i have to pause here to explain why i am not drinking tea.!! The reason is tea here is crap.. total pants.. i have to use 2 tea bags to even get any flavor.. so i gave up !! OK prime example.. i was in a restaurant yesterday and i thought ooh ill have tea, so i ordered tea.. be aware that when you order tea in the states you will be given a tall clear glass with a handle like a fancy hot chocolate glass at starbucks. within the glass is hot water.. Note its not boiling water!! on the side of the glass or on the side plate the glass comes on is a slice of lemon.. Ugh i know!! sooooooo anyway,.. you are given a little container with several different teas in them from fruit tea to green tea and of course breakfast tea, aka black tea.. aka PG tips. Now unless you ask for milk, suger and a spoon you wont get them.. so by the time you get the ESSENTIALS for making tea your hot water is now luke warm, then add cold milk and you have what the Americans so lovingly call ice tea.. but they dont add milk!! if you do order tea in the USA remember ask for milk and sugar with your order and ask for hot milk.. it makes all the difference!!

Were was i?.... ah making coffee.. so i grind the beans in our cool little bean grinder thingy that makes a bean crushing sound !! like a whirring and crushing!! then i put the ground coffee into the french press, prepare breakfast while the coffee is brewing. We are bagel people.. today i made bacon and cheese bagels with a mixed fruit salad bowl to finish.. containing oranges, nectarines and strawberry's. Im glowing with pride as i write this!! lol
now its time to wake the sleeping man himself.... 6am and time for BK, days text and bible reading.. Love it!!

Aarons has left for work and today is my BIG house work day. once a week i do a deep clean of the house so the rest of the week i can maintain it.. but as usual im torn between sneaking back to bed for a few more hours shut eye and starting house work later lol oh the struggles of a house wife..!! i feel bad as aaron is at work and i should be too... but my feet are cold and..... well my feet are cold..!!!

Before i go let me tell you about Saturday! its perfect! the weather had cooled down and it was drizzling.. perfect London weather and i could finally legitimately wear a hoody and pashmina. We had a slow start to the day and slept in and till 9am woo hoo and by lunch we were ready to head out... We decided to drive to Folsom about 20-30 mins drive down out of the mountains, were the weather here is warmer!! to warm for hoodies!!! on the way down the hill, im greeted with the most spectacular view. The air is crisp and the day so clear you can see all the way to Sacremento, its skyscrapers a tiny metropolis against the horizon. Between the city and me the biggest, fluffiest whites clouds i had ever seen... it was like a mountain range of clouds.. every one had a flat base and huge white fluffy peaks. Stretching as far as the eye could see like a heavenly army.. they were so low it felt you could reach out and touch them.. there was a brilliant blue expanse above them that made the heavens seem so vast and made you feel so tiny.. i was awe struck..!!

Folsom is the nearest big shopping place with a mall and other shops.. We had lunch at Macaroni Grill a upscale Italian eatery, the food is so good and of course the portion way to much. By the time i had gotten through the bread, olive oil and my rather fruity cocktail called a leaning Ballini!!so yum.. i had 2 bites of my lunch and i was full.. so they box it up for you and hey presto,!! dinner... lol im not cooking tonight!

Well after 2 long island ice teas aaron is in the mood to spend money on me!! dont you just love cocktails... We headed to the mall..Our first stop.. shoes!! IM in dire need of shoes.. Aaorn HATES my brown boots from clarks.. granted they now look like shoes a vagrant would wear, all beaten up and soft brown leather. I personally like the look but aaron doesn't, mind you no holes as yet so as far as im concerned they have life left in them yet.. We looked for a while and aaron found some trainers/plimsoles he really liked for me. I didnt like them so much, they are just not what i usally wear.. more jake style like vans but not...anyway we ummed and arred for about 15 mins and i finally tried on his suggestion and actually really loved them so we brought them plus a pair for the ministry . they are sending them via mail as they didnt have my size in store..
Aaron threw my boots away there and then.. i was quite distraught at trowing away a pair of perfectly good boots..but Aaron was insistent. But its all about give and take isnt it .. he buys me shoes etc and i allow him to throw away my old boots.. sounds fair to me!!

We peruse a few more shops and aaron is still in the shopping mood. we find a shop that is like DP back home so i go in and aaron says he will sit in the comfy arm chairs outside and finish his cinnamon twirls!! so i happly trundle in .. remember now i came to the states with one suitcase full of clothes and have been here 4 months now.. so i badly need a top up.. ( ok so the suitcase did actually fit my entire wardrobe in but lets not dwell on that im shopping)
About 30 mins later aaron wonders in.. !! i was aware of the time but the ladies are so helpful and they have these jeans that are made to measure so i get measure and then the lady tells me that the jeans they have a special. let me explain..they serviced 1000 women and made 4 types of jeans..all cut slightly differently according to your body type.. coool hey!! so im a yellow but i have a butt, she is a professional so she knows.. but i had to try a bunch of jeans on to find the perfect ones.. and by the time aaron wondered in i had only done the jean thing.. i hadent even looked at other clothes!! i dont think he got it!!
we spent another hour in the store and i didnt even touch the extensive underwear section. By this time aaron had totally sobered up, esp as he handed over his card for payment.. He was tired too.. as was i shopping is hard work as i know most of you reading this will know.
we headed off back up the hill.. but before we did we swung the truck round jumped out at boarders bookstore.. had a coffee listened to live music and spent a good hour browsing books and music.. ahhh bliss..
The light fading outside we headed for home.. each in our own little blissful head space..broken only by a warm smile or a lingering look of affection.. the low tones of "james" filling the truck, we drove off into the sunset. The end to a perfect saturday.

The First Rain

So i decided to write Every week at least and if the mood takes me on a daily basis. Ill try not to make this either a dear diary or today i got up and had breakfast blog, but rather a collection or summery of the highlights and maybe some lowlights!!

I wish i had started this a while ago.,it might be fun to one day look back on the adventure that is now everyday life!!!

so for those that dont quite know were i am, im in Plaverville, North California. Go check it on a map.... NOw!!! lol
Its mountain territory and as west as your gonna get.. when they talk about the wild west, well that's were i am. Except that men ride steel horses now.. better known as Harley s

Today i started my ministry at 7.30, i do this a few times a week with some of the younger sisters. A pioneer called Amanda McCoy in her early twenties and Tiffany a sister in the Spanish cong, she nsnt Spanish she joined the cong as she took the Spanish lessons the society set up. . So we did the car parks, laundry mats and bus stops. On Wednesday i found a guy called Steve in his truck in the car lot for some offices and i placed mags with him. He was reading from the book of Mormon.. Now for those of you that know me really well you will know that i have had a thing for Patrick Stewart aka Captain Jean Luke Picard of the USS Enterprise since i was 1. well imagine a tanned version of him in casuals. (Swoon) So i bumped into him again today!!!... same place, same time!! I really didnt recognize his car.. so we had a nice chat, he still had the mags they i left him and we talked for awhile about religion i had a ton of questions for him, esp about the space ship thing .. lol ill make him a RV i think, same time nxt week LOL

OOh did i tell you i have my own maps!!! i have 2 and they are in walking distance of my home. i got to chose them, one is business and one is residential territory! well havent i caused a Hullabaloo in the ministry groups..!! I had to almost force the sisters to try business min...its all medical offices so basically all we can do is ask for permission to leave mags for patients or if the office staff would like them in the staff room.. easy right!?? .......nope,. one sister refused to talk and it was really hard to get them out of the car, after about half an hour they all decided to do RV's lolol they thanked me after for forcing them to try something they hadnt done before, so im plugging on..its the same with street work and sometimes walking territory, if its out of their comfort zone its like pulling teeth!!! But they are a great bunch ill get some pics of the early morning lot and us on the ministry, maybe at our reg starbucks stop.

Well today was the first rain...ive been waiting for this for 3 months..and i missed it!!@@!! i was in the bedroom making the bed.. the dog comes in smelling of water and im like.. NOOOOO ... i run out and the streets wet but no rain..i missed it.. im so gutted!!!

ill put some pics of the the house and were we live when i do ill add the link in here
You have a nice day now!