D&D Update -- Stories and Spicy Foods

Oct 23, 2009

Hey Family and Friends,

It's been a while since we've written one of these, so you'd think there'd be lots of catch up on...hmmm...maybe this just goes to show how interesting our lives are. :) We had a wonderfully relaxing Conference weekend a few weeks back. Danielle's dad found a little bed and breakfast-type place in Fountain Green and we went up there with the whole Taylor clan. It's a sleepy little town, with the nearest Wal-Mart more than 30 miles away. It was fun to just relax and eat and spend time with family, and eat, and see some of the wildlife out there and eat. 

I was able to get my story "Trains" published in the October issue of Knowonder Magazine. It's the first story (page 12) and can be found online here: http://www.knowonder.com/magazine/october/. You can vote for stories, and the winner gets $300. Normally this is the part where I'd ask you to go vote for me, but I wouldn't do something like that... :) The company is interested in publishing my story "Houseflies and Neckties" as a fully-illustrated children's book. :)

Danielle and I both got callings recently in our new ward. Danielle is the Visiting Teaching Coordinator and I'm the Executive Secretary. We feel very welcome in this ward, and we're really liking our new neighborhood. 

For those of you non-Westra's on our email list, I wanted to share my brother Shane's art talent with you. Shane is somewhat of an artist and he recently finished the art project attached below. It’s a portrait of Abraham Lincoln made entirely from pennies. 2009 is the 100th anniversary of the modern penny and the 200thanniversary of Lincoln’s birth. There is at least one penny from each year (1909-2009). If you squint and back away from your screen a bit, you can see how it becomes a more clear image of Lincoln. Danielle and I went and saw it at their house and I can't believe how incredible it looks in person -- I thinks its Metropolitan Museum of Art quality! We are not nearly as good of artists so we stick with the Jackson Pollack style paintings that require no talent. :) (see photo below).

For those of you non-Taylors on our email list, we recently competed in another Chopped Culinary Competition at Danielle's parents' house. I can't believe the caliber of food that these cooks can come up with in 30-40 minutes -- incorporating the three "secret" ingredients. Ingredients this time around were: Appetizers: Ritz crackers, sausage and mushrooms, Main Course: Steak, green beans and Pomegranate, and Dessert: Ecuadorian chocolate, cream cheese and a Jelepeno Pepper. That's right...a Jalepeno Pepper. Wow. It all turned out amazing. 

Danielle's bother David and his wife Katie and their three kids just got accepted to Med School, so they're moving first to Miami, and then on to a savage island in the Carribean, called Dominica. (We think that maybe if we convince them that the island is full of savages, Dave will decide to become a cook and stay in Utah.) We're happy for them but we're going to miss them and their cute little kidlings.

I think that's all for us for now. :) We hope you're all doing well! Talk to you soon!

Love,

D&D&Rox