Name that head

Hi loyal readers of Tastes Kinda Minty. There is a special prize to the first person that can name that head. Post your comments for your chance to win.

Captcha Heaven

Well no one commented on my recent serious post. Bummer. Oh well here are my most recent favorite Captcha's. See my post Word Verification (Feb. 08) if you missed my affinity for them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Please share your interpretive annunciations.

What is truth?

John Jaques (1803-89), born in Moraket Bosworth, Leicestershire, England, became a Latter-day Saint in 1845. He immigrated with his family to America in 1856 and crossed the plains with the fated Martin Handcart Company. His daughter was among those who died. He returned to England as a missionary (1869-71), and there, at Stratford-upon-Avon (of Shakespear fame), he penned the Mormon hymn, "O Say, What Is Truth." After his return from England he worked for the Deseret News and in the Church Historian's Office. (Mormon Literature and Sacred Arts)

I have sung this hymn many times in my life, at times with vigor and earnestness, but until today I had not really allowed it's robust message of truth to wash over me. I have included the full text for your review, with a few observations and hope you will ponder the verses carefully, and consider the importance of embracing truth in your respective lives.

Oh Say, What Is Truth?
John Jaques

Oh say, what is truth? 'Tis the fairest gem
That the riches of worlds can produce,
And priceless the value of truth will be when
The proud monarch's costliest diadem
Is counted but dross and refuse.

(The arrogant ruler with costly diadem or crown is discarded as worthless or useless.)

Yes, say, what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize
To which mortals or Gods can aspire;
Go search in the depths where it glittering lies
Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies.
'Tis an aim for the noblest desire.

(Truth indeed should be our most prized aspiration and no obstacle transcends it's worth.)

The sceptre may fall from the despot's grasp
When with winds of stern justice he copes,
But the pillar of truth will endure to the last,
And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast,
And the wreck of the fell tyrant's hopes.

(Truth is the bulwark or protection against external danger or injury. It outlasts tyranny or injustice.)

Then say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first,
For the limits of time it steps o'er.
Though the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst,
Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,
Eternal, unchanged, evermore.

( Truth the enduring principles ordained of God that he, and we are subject to, outlast the sands of time and eternity. To learn them and embrace them is indeed the brightest prize that Mortals or Gods aspire. Like two parallel lines our happiness and peace, not as the world giveth, is perfectly correlated to the degree to which we are aligned to truth.)

Random Race Photos by request from Dave

I discovered that it is politically correct at the Race for the cure for people to use other wise inappropriate nomenclature for the female mammary. If you want to know the one's I heard you'll have to ask me. That way in case they make me an apostle I won't have to worry about being quoted in print.

Some fun shots including the guy with the man-boobs, the ask me guy, the puppies "fee-fee" and "brutus", beauty queens stalking Brad and Monica Bruin our friend from the ward.

v

A beautiful spring day at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains

After the race we worked in the yard.  It is amazing how a little sun and water can make things more beautiful.  Here is a shot of the backyard and a few of the garden.  The master gardener is planting a few spinach seeds.  We peas, radishes, green bunching onions, sweet onions, red onions and various varieties of lettuce all sprouting.  Fun, fun, fun.

Race for the Cure Fun

The kids all ran at the race for the cure today.  Over 17,000 people participated.  Free Bananas and Great harvest bread awaited the runners.  Jake had a blast too.  Thanks everyone for a great time.

Heidi's Big Race

Two weeks ago was a great time for the family as we all enjoyed the festivities of the 2008 Salt Lake City Marathon. Heidi spent many weeks of rigorous training while meeting the demands of collegiate curriculum including a russian language and literature class.

None of us had been involved in a marathon before and the mood was electric.   Even as spectators the air was full of infectious enthusiasm and excitement.   We all got up early to share in the fruits of her labors.  

We were intrigued to discover that there were multiple races including Marathon, Half Marathon (Heidi's Featured Event) Bicycle event and 5K.  We discovered that over 16,000 people participated in some way.  There were 2,000 people running the full marathon and an additional 5,000 people in Heidi's event.  

The early morning air was chilly but it was arguably the most beautiful day of the year as we drank in the beauty of the Wasatch mountains.  A soulfull choir shouted infectious gospel tunes while gyrating above the Olympic Legacy Bridge atop the campus of the University of Utah. 

 The runners for the full and half marathon were called to their places together.  Soon Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Caroon shouted, пять, четыре, три, два, каждый, идет, and they were off.  There were so many people in this race that those in the front of the race were long gone while hundreds of runners waited in line for the porta-potty's.  

After Heidi passed us at the starting line, GPS sensor tag firmly secured to her running shoe, we navigated via trax train and auto to liberty park to observe the fray.  Heidi passed us there with confident stride and continued the final 3 mile leg.  Amy, David, Jake and Brad were dispersed near the finish line to join us in the excitement of watching her complete the race.  

We were all excited to learn that her average mile pace was faster than she had trained for at about 9:13.  It was exhilarating to see the frenzy of excitement of the crowd as thousands cheered their favorite contests to their individual victories.

Thanks Heidi for sharing your big day with us.

Our Almost Square Foot Garden

Enjoy some photos of our almost square foot garden. Our boxes in length are odd amounts and in width are within a few inches of a foot. But Becky loves the odd sizes, they remind her of me. We've got radishes and lettuce sprouting. It's amazing what can grow with a little sun and water. 

We did some minor terracing and installed stepping stones, and bark in the paths for esthetics. We used mule-tape for space dividers and also ran horizontal support lines, indented slightly,from the fence for snow-peas and such to run up. We're excited to watch our garden grow. We've had some great inspiration and guidance from Grandpa and siblings. As you can see we built our boxes in the same garden plot as we had before. We do think it looks a little more interesting and are confident we'll get a lot more yield in the same garden space.