Monday, November 26, 2007

Things you should try:

1. These pie recipes. (But make sure you use my crust, from the Lemon Meringue post). This will take you to Caramel Apple. And This will take you to Chocolate Silk (and make sure you beat the eggs as long as it says!).


2. These books.


Dream when you're feeling blue. It was predictable, kind of, but had really fleshed out characters, lots of interesting history, and was super clean.
















I hadn't read John Grisham in a while and just thought this was lots of fun.







My favorite of the last month. Not quite as amazing as Kite Runner, but really really good. And really gratitude inspiring.




















Oh my gosh. Best children's book ever. Please check it out, or buy it and read it and laugh.








3. This act of service.


Upon driving into our garage (after the 15 hour drive home) we noticed that my sister in law, Heather, who lives 2 miles away from us, and all of her fabulous kids, had left us a laundry basket filled with food on our doorstep. She knew we would arrive late Saturday, wouldn't want to shop that night and couldn't on Sunday and thought of some essentials we'd want on hand: eggs, milk, bread, muffin, cereal, OJ and hot chocolate. She also included an invite to Sunday dinner, which was yummy and fun. How thoughtful was that? WE LOVE THE DAINES.

20 comments:

Kirbell said...

What's better than books, pie and nice people?

Carie said...

I promise to try your chocolate pie as soon as possible.

I just put those books on hold at the library (update: I am finally in next in line for water for elephants.)

I love the Daines too. (not from personal experience, but just because they sound so fantastic). You deserve such amazing people.

Oh and I forgot to say before: I would love to attend a blogging conference sometime, possibly future date when I am visiting my in-laws in No. cal?

Ilene said...

So that is who left that huge basket of food. I had brought my own basket for your family but since you already had a basket of food, I kindly gave my basket to another family in need.

I just finished reading "The Twentieth Wife" and loved it. Have you read it? If not, read it. If so, let's discuss.

Audry said...

That was so nice them to do that. I've The Broker great book, I'll have to give the others a try.

D-dawg said...

So sweet of your sister in law!!! How great to have family like that near by. Thanks for the book info. I always love to find great children's books. I will go check that one out.

Hollyween said...

I've decided you live by great people. Between your card parties and your friends who bring food (who does that? NO one by me, that's for sure) I want to move and be your next door neighbor.

Oh and the pies. I'm going to try them just as soon as I decide to have a "blow off WW" weekend.

Jessica said...

Holly, I've lived in lots of wards and places since I've been married and truly the Spokane Valley, WA area is one of a kind. There's this huge percentage of amazing men and women and I just sit here and soak it all in.

Celia Fae said...

Jessica, you are one of the most amazing women and I bet you leave baskets of food wherever you go. I'm glad you had such a warm homecoming and you've been reading so much. I think I'll check out book number one.

Tell Carie we will confer with her ANYTIME. We love parties.

Hollyween said...

How far away are you from Kennewick? My Dad lives there and we're visiting in the Spring. And I think we're going to Seattle too. It would be fun to meet you in real life...

Hollyween said...

Oh and one more thing... there's this girl in my ward that used to live in Seattle and ALL she talks about is washington this and washington that and washington's water is better than utah's and in washington we don't do that and in washington... you get my drift. I'm always annoyed.

Celia Fae said...

Holly, tell her she lives in Utah now so she should get over it.

Jessica, great post. Not at all braggy.

Jake said...

thanks for the booklist and recipes! what comes around goes around...i'm sure you've done nice things for your family and they're happy to return the favor!

Linsey said...

Hooray, so excited for these recipes and the book recommendations.

Could you do a post dedicated to the best kids books you've encountered? It's hard to remember what I read as a child and with no book stores to browse sometimes Amazon.com isn't the most helpful.

Christie said...

That is the coolest, most thoughtful idea I've ever heard of. I will so be trying it out and then feel smug and clever when they think I came up with it.

Cami said...

Oh that is one nice sister in law!

Mrs. Little Gray House said...

Thanks for the book review - But when do you have time to read that many books? I am going to try your pie next week.

Paige said...

Jessica, those are great recs. I would like to be related to the daines too. We need to have a bookclub on the Thousand Suns book b/c I liked it more than Kite Runner. The others I am getting.

Lorena said...

So sweet...but if you lived in Arizona I would leave you baskets of food, too...except they would go bad in the heat...so maybe I wouldn't...stay in Spokane.

Adrianne said...

The Daines are great. My MIL is like that. I need to follow her example more.

Anisa said...

wow!!! Sometimes I think about doing nice things like that, but never get around to it. I'm going to try a little harder next time.