Cove Fort

This post is for Jenny, so she can decide if it's worth the stop to visit Cove Fort. 

See how I take care of my friends? Speaking of friends...

These are some of Bud's swimming friends.

This is Frank. He holds more records than you can shake a stick at, and Bud's rival (that is to say, he's the guy that always gives Bud the closest race. Sometimes Bud wins, sometimes Frank wins). Right now they are in different age groups, so they can't compete with each other. Next year, Bud will be back in Frank's group. 

 So here's Cove Fort. 

This is the original tree that was planted when the fort was built. It's dying though. 

The telegraph office

The kitchen (I bet you had a hard time guessing that).

The post office

The Hinckley's bedroom (Gordon B's grandparents)

The farm- they use this for veggies in the summer. 

They'd just harvested everything from it the week before we arrived. 

So, Jenny...there you have it. Cove Fort. 

And just for fun, here's a picture I took of the Salt Lake Temple last Sunday when Bud and I had a missionary meeting at the Tabernacle. I love taking pictures of this temple. 

Bueller? No, Just Ferris!

During the summer I got to have Agnes for a couple of day, all by herself. 

We went to Scheel's and rode the Ferris Wheel. 

Anticipation (sing the Carly Simon song now)

Look at Agnes' excited face! 

Up, up, up we go!

Agnes and her nana

She's still doing pretty good...

and then she started freaking out!

Maybe if she closes her eyes it will all go away!

She hated any rocking of the bucket whatsoever. 

She liked it more than she let on, but she didn't want a second ride! 

The view from the very top. Gorgeous Utah mountains!

We survived!

Once we were off the Ferris Wheel, we took some faux wilderness pictures of Agnes.

Four wheelin'!

Which is scarier? The Wheel...

or the bear,

Or Abe? 

Do you know who this is supposed to depict? Did you know he died on July 4th? How fitting. 

Smelly skunks (not really)

"May I take my new pet home with me?"

It was a lot of fun having Agnes with us. I'm looking forward to our next adventure! 

Pumpkin Cream Pie

My sister says pumpkin recipes are only allowable during October and November, but I've already fudged on that rule. I wanted to give you lots of time to get your pumpkin recipes into your menu planning before it is banished again until next fall! And what better place to start than with dessert?

Pumpkin Cream Pie 
Crust:
1 pkg. graham crackers (not 1 box, 1 package or sleeve)
1/2 pkg. Biscoff cookies
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 stick butter, melted
Filling:
1 (3.4 ounce) pkg. instant pumpkin spice pudding (if it's unavailable, use instant vanilla pudding, but it is really better with the pumpkin pudding)
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream, divided
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
2 T brown sugar
Preheat oven to 300°F. In a food processor (if you have one- or a Ziplock baggie and a rolling pin if you don't), grind graham crackers and Biscoff cookies until finely crushed (or if it suits your fancy, use ginger snaps instead of the Biscoff cookies). Add the powdered sugar and melted butter and process until combined. Reserve about 1/4 cup of crumbs. Press remaining mixture into bottom and up the sides of your pie plate. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. If you're feeling lazy, use a pre-made graham cracker pie crust.
Mix together the pudding, milk and 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Whisk until smooth. Fold in pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Whip 1/2 cup heavy cream and the brown sugar together until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into pumpkin mixture. Pour mixture into pie crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
If you're calorie conscious, substitute 1 cup of Cool Whip for the 1/2 cup of whipping cream, omitting the brown sugar for the last step before pouring mixture into the crust. However, if you're going to eat pie, just eat the pie and maybe work out a little longer tomorrow.
This recipe was majorly adapted from one I looked at on the Pioneer Woman's website. It ended up being changed so much that it was basically a new pie, but I will give her credit for the idea.