Because I don't write in my journal . . .: Week of May 19, 2014

Last Sunday

There were so many pictures from our New York trip that I saved the ones from the Bronck House.

It was built in 1663 and was a one room house. It was continually added on to and much was still original beams and construction. They were having their open house, and we took the missionaries and the single mom & her two daughters that live in the branch.

Signing the Coxsackie constitution

They used everything. It was amazing how many things they got from corn.

They main requirement to fight in the Revolutionary War was good front teeth to rip open the paper with the powder in it. It was neat to watch him load and shoot the gun.

Elder James and Elder Rayne

It was a very big Sunday and after the Bronck house Dad had a meeting in Albany we needed to be at. On the way we passed someone with a flat tire. We stopped to help them and quickly saw we needed the Elders. So we called them and they came and got it taken care of. The people were very grateful.

There is something else you need to learn to prepare for you mission Spencer and Josh.

I took this picture to send to Rusty Cornwall. I couldn't believe all the hair. Not sure of what kind of cattle it is, but different from the ones on their ranch!

We had some extra time and the Elders wanted to learn how to make bread sticks. It was fun. Lacey's bread stick recipe has certainly traveled around!

The lilacs are beautiful. Many of them are more like trees than bushes because of the height.

So now we are to yesterday. Sunday, Brother Anastasio invited the Elders and us for lasagna. I have never seen or tasted anything like it. The pan of lasagna weighed at least 15 pounds. The pan itself was amazing. So for our first family party after we get home I will make it. Yes, I got the recipe, and he said he got the pan at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Bottled sauce he used. Well, about 4 of them

Elder James made the bread sticks. After cutting them, he tied them in a knot and then rolled them in the butter and baked them. They were very, very good; like a big roll. (Notice how tall the pan is behind it.

Dessert: Strawberries quartered but not all the way and filled with 1 pkg. cream cheese and 1 cup powdered sugar. That is the first part of the o'cream pie. It was very good. Yes, I was so full when we finished.

Memorial Day the Albany Stake had a picnic. It was really fun and lots of people. I think I heard they cooked 500 hamburgers and I'm sure several hundred hot dogs and then we brought sides, desserts and chips. Anyway, on the way to the park we saw a sign that said, "Lock 7" so we explored it.

We didn't know if it was actually in operation or if it was part of the old Erie Canal. It was in operation. It does go from Albany all the way over to Buffalo. They have bike routes along it. Some places are actually where the old Erie Canal was, but not this one. It is 70% done and will be the longest one in the country.

The girls are on the top and the gate is just under it. We were lucky enough to have a boat come by so we took pictures. The whole procedure was amazing. The Mohawk River the boat came up was a lot lower than where they needed to go. So the water is emptied from the lock so the boat can go in and then it is shut and the water fills back up again. Then they open the other end and let it out. It's like a water elevator. Here are pictures: