Anyone who truly knows me, knows how much I love snakes or reptiles of any description. I have been fascinated by them as far back as I can remember.

Every year at school we'd have a man named Ram Chandra would bring his snakes and teach us about the deadly snakes that were around us and how to treat snake bites. I loved to see his show.

I learned that the biggest of all snakes was the anaconda. That REALLY got my attention. I have watched any documentary I can find that features snakes or the beautiful anaconda. 

Today I attended a fun 'Baby Animal Days' where you can see cute baby pigs and goats and bunnies and chicks etc. There were even reptiles on display. In the centre of the activities was an area where they would have demonstrations. When we arrived they were shearing sheep and up next there would be a reptile show. 

We watched a little of the sheep shearing. I had seen sheep being sheared many times growing up so I didn't need to see too much of it. Then we were off to ooo and ahhhh over the piglets, kids and calves.

We then headed over to the reptile tent to see what they had to offer. I wasn't disappointed.

The prettiest little snake I've ever seen. She looked like she was painted.

By this time the shearing was done and the reptile show would soon begin. I went and sat right up front. He brought out beautiful African land tortoise and iguanas. Then he brought out a small crocodile and a larger alligator.

....and a Nile monitor.

After each animal he'd go around the fence and allow the kids to touch the animals. I think I was the only adult reaching past the kids to get a touch of the animals I love so much.

Then it happened. He brought out a beautiful big snake. It was a GREEN ANACONDA!

 I was giddy! There it was right in front of me, the animal I have loved for...let's say 40 years! Sure enough at the end of talking about the snake he brought it around for us to feel. Yes I felt the tail of an alligator and the back of a croc but WOW....I was going to touch an anaconda. I handed the camera to my husband and said "TAKE A PHOTO OF ME TOUCHING THE ANACONDA!!"

This is the image recorded......

A little like Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc whenever he was photographed somewhere cool BUT It's ME and you can see a little of the beautiful anaconda. Next year you can bet I'll be there again. Only this time I'll try harder to get a better photo.

Not only do I love my job and love where I work but I also love that I get to see some great things everyday on my way to work. Here are just five of those things.

These are just some of the beautiful mountains I see every day. While living back in Australia, the mountains were one of the things I missed the most about Utah.

The state capitol building.  

This photo is from last spring but I pass by beautiful gardens soon to be filled with colour once again.

Beautiful artwork. This is one of my favourites. I am surrounded by beautiful paintings.

Every day I get to see this beautiful building. Regardless of one's beliefs, this is a beautiful piece of architecture. 

Years ago when my doctor would ask me if I wanted a flu shot, I would turn her down. I'd say "Seriously? It's the only time I get to spend three days in bed!"

For the last two years I've had a flu shot because I really don't want to get sick.

Today I am sick. It's the third day. I hate being sick. I'm bored with being sick. I don't want to be in bed.  I hate hurting when I breathe and cough.

You know what I hate most? I hate not being at work! I love my job. I love who I work with. I love who I work for. 

I better get well soon!

Tonight I'm doing a cooking demonstration for some friends. One of the recipes I'll be showing is my homemade chocolate. I remembered writing the recipe down somewhere so I did a search for it. HELLO...I shared the recipe with A String of Pearls.

Here's a link to the recipe I shared with ASOP back in 2011. Give it a whirl and tell me what you think. CHOCOLATE.

I'm 'window shopping' online and came across a number of FREE eBooks that I thought I'd share with you so you can enjoy them as well. 

Your Happily Ever After by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The Remarkable Soul of a Woman by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Forget Me Not by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Strong and Faithful...A Message for Women by Quentin L. Cook

One Drop at a Time by M. Russell Ballard

While we're on FREE let me throw in some FREE audio files from Brad Wilcox.

Brad is one of my favourite speakers. He is able to mix humour with sharing gospel principles. On his site he shares talks he's done in the past  that are no longer available for purchase and has permission to share them with us.

I love his 'The Prophet and the Plates' and 'To Be Like A Child ' and 'Changing The World One Lunch Period At A Time'.

His 'Sex Is Like An Apple' and 'Pornography: Satan's Counterfeit' are both something I think every parent and teenager should listen to.

It's unusual that I'm home alone and I have nowhere I need to be. But today I find myself in just that position. There are plenty of things on my 'To Do' list but there is not 'get up' in my 'go'. So I'm sitting here in front of my computer. I get up from time to time and do a little here and there but mostly I'm just enjoying the NOTHING of today.

Here's what I've found on the computer today that has made me smile, laugh and even cry. I have to share.

This is an obituary that is worth reading. It made me pause and wonder what my children would write about me. She was quite the woman. God bless her!

What a woman!


14 reasons you need to have kids...

Today is the day after my birthday. It's quiet. One child has left for work, the other has gone skiing  and my husband is catching up on lost sleep. I'm sitting at the computer catching up on Pinterest and Facebook when the doorbell rings. 

Who on earth would it be at my door at 8am on a Saturday?

No one is at the door but there is a package. It's a small but heavy package weighing about 5lbs I'd say. It's addressed to me. I can't think what I have ordered recently. Nothing comes to mind.

I quickly open it to see what it is.  As soon as I open it I laugh out loud. I most certainly didn't order this. I look to see who could have possibly sent it to me. I have my suspicions. There is no other name on the paper except for mine so I have to ask around.

A few months ago I shared some hilarious reviews with someone (who shall remain nameless). They thought it very funny and suggested it would make a good birthday gift for me. I laughed and thought nothing more of it.......until the package arrived at my door this very day.

Well played.

Gummy Bear Reviews (not for the faint of heart)

Utah Valley posted an article "The 100 coolest LDS women alive today". I looked through the list thinking they had some interesting choices. 

So many incredible LDS women have come to my mind. One who is incredible AND cool would be Naomi Ellis. Naomi is a mother of seven and blogs about it. You can read her blog here: Sevencherubs.com

I would choose Belva Kent. Who is Belva? Only one of the coolest, most enduring people I know. Listen to her story here: Enduring it Well

Who would you add to the list...and why?

When my babies were little I'd make my own baby wipes using paper towels and baby bath. I have since discovered how to use paper towels to make glass cleaning wipes.

I kid you not. These work great, are super easy to make and are super cheap.

Glass Cleaning Wipes

Ingredients
• 2 cups water
• ½ cup rubbing alcohol
• ½ cup vinegar
• Paper towel roll (I use Bounty)

Directions
Cut the roll of paper towels in half.

Mix water, vinegar and rubbing alcohol together. Pour mixture over the paper towels. Allow to sit for about 20 minutes in order for the liquid to be absorbed by the paper towels. Now remove the cardboard centre. It should come out easily now that it's wet. 

To use the wipes just pull from the centre.

NOTES:  Use a roll that has about 80 sheets on it. I only had the 48 sheet rolls at home and needed to use both halves to absorb all the liquid. 


The hardest part about this recipe is finding a container to store your wipes in. Look for one that has about a 10 cup capacity. You can even use a gallon size Ziploc bag.


These guys get hardcore and drill a hole in the top of their container so you don't even have to lift the lid. I probably wouldn't recommend that because the wipes would dry out a lot faster.

Here's the recipe for the Baby Wipes I use to make...and LOVE.

BABY WIPES

2 cups warm water
2 TBL Baby bath (I always used Baby Magic because I loved the smell of it but any brand would work)

I have now seen recipes that use 1 TBL Baby oil as well. I have never tried it with the oil but it seems like a good add. 

A dream for a group of adults with special needs is just a click away.

A grant is up for grabs for the 'dream' with the most votes. Laura Rae's dream is to help some adults with special needs go on a holiday.

While a vacation might not be a 'necessity' in life, it is a treat that most of us enjoy at one time or another. But many people with intellectual impairment are too vulnerable to travel on their own. And to travel with a support person is too expensive.

Laura's Dream is to organize a cost-effective and safe holiday for people with special needs to go on vacation with their friends. This grant would help make it possible.

As a post-school learning environment for adults with special needs, The Tertiary Place is always learning about other places and cultures. Friends of theirs who travel send back photos of fun places they've been. (Check out some of the fun places HERE.) 

This dream would not be sending this group of friends to places like Africa or Austria but it would get them to experience a plane and enjoy a vacation together.

Here's what will help that dream come true.
Could you please:

1. Click on the link (http://sunsuperdreams.com.au/dream/view/holiday-of-a-life-time)
2. Vote 
3. Share this message with your social network.

I'll leave you with a video of these friends performing (one of their favourite things to do.) at a basketball game.

Let's help to make this dream come true!