Homemade Yogurt

I purchased a yogurt maker a couple of months ago and have been enjoying making my own yogurt. It is easy to do and the yogurt tastes so good!! Yogurt makers are hard to find in stores so I searched the web and ordered one online. The one I got is called Tribest YoLife and I found it on goorganics.com I chose this one because it has the versatility of making either a small or large batch. It came with 7 small glass jars and 2 covers for the top of the yogurt maker. The small cover is for the small jars and the tall cover is for larger jars such as pint or quart size canning jars for larger batches. Yogurt makers are basically incubators that keep your milk at an even temperature for about 8 hours. All you do is buy some plain (live cultures) yogurt to use as starter. Measure out the amount of milk you would need to fill the jars you will be using. I use 1 or 2% milk. Heat the milk on the stove to 180 degrees (use a candy thermometer) stirring it the whole time. Then let it cool to 120 degrees, add the plain yogurt to it (approx. 4 oz - 6 0z)
Mix it in well with a whisk and pour it into the jars that are placed in the incubator. Put the lid on, plug in and let sit for about 8 hours. If you are making a larger batch it may take a little longer. If you want thicker yogurt add some instant dry milk powder to the milk while you are heating it. I usually add about 1/3 cup for a small batch and 2/3 cup for a large batch.
When your yogurt is done, cover your jars and place in refrigerator. You can add whatever flavorings/fruit you want. I use fresh yogurt in fruit smoothies(my breakfast everyday) and in place of sour cream. Remember to save some of your yogurt to use as your starter for your next batch.
Gary has discovered that he can not tolerate sugar. The flavored yogurt you buy all have sugar. This yogurt is so much better for you and I believe the taste is far superior to what you can buy. You may need to experiment a little as my first couple of batches didn't turn out as well. Making your own also saves $$$ The yogurt makers are about $35.

Hyrum and Tiffany

Here are some fun pictures of their family. Tiffany had a wedding she wanted to go to in the bay area , so they stayed with us last weekend. Rachel and Emma were so cute. We just loved having them here!

GRANDPA'S LETTER TO MY DAD

This is a picture of my grandfather on the left, Earl Kemp Andrews. Next to him are 3 of his children. My Aunt Lois, my dad Joe and my uncle Ron on the right. The baby is Aunt Lois's granddaughter Nicole. This picture was probably taken in 1974.
Recently while rummaging through some old papers, I found a letter among many letters that my grandfather wrote to my dad. It brought back old memories and made me wish that we still wrote letters to each other. These letters that I have would make a good journal as well. Here is the letter that I'd like to share: It is dated July 10, 1961. We lived here in California and he lived some 800 miles away in Washington. I think he really missed us!!

Dear Joe and Family;

I have put off writing hoping to hear from your Uncle Earnest Andrews. As I told you He said that he was going to come out this summer. I wrote to him and he has not wrote back so I don't know what he intends to do. I really don't believe we should even think that he might come so you just come on up. So you folks just come on up anytime you are ready. I am so anxious to see you all. I don't think I ever wanted to see anybody as much as I do you folks.
Catherine's dad passed away and we, Catherine and I took him back to Wisconsin and he was buried along side of his mother. We went back with his body on the train and after the funeral we came back on an airplane. The government paid the expense of his funeral as he was a (Spanish?) American war veteran.
That is all over now and we are about back to normal there for a long time He was in the hospital at Walla Walla awful sick and we were up there every day. Also Catherine was staying there near him some of the time and then after such a long time he passed away and then all the anguish of him passing away Catherine is just now getting over all the strain. She and I had to arrange and tend to everything without any help from her folks but it is all over now and everything is going to be all right, so you folks just come on up now. I sure do want to see the children and there is so much that I want to talk with you about.
I am not going to write anymore for I am expecting to see you real soon. You just tell Eleanor and all the children to get in the car and you just start driving on up that road for old dad wants to see you and all them so bad. Don't wait just start right now.

Give our love to all,
Dad

KIDS IN A CAGE

For some reason when little kids come over to my house they like to get in the Sadie's crate.
Sadie doesn't mind and I guess the kids like the secure feeling of being locked up? Or maybe they just like exploring. The first 2 pics are my nephews and nieces, Kyle, JT, Hannah and Sarah. The last one is of my granddaughter Audrey.