Flakes Around the World

We called Uncle Joel and he said they didn't operate. They are watching him hoping that his brain doesn't swell. He has a fractured skull. Joel said it is weird to see his head open. He broke his back also. Three vertebrae but Joel says it will be okay. The doctors are guarded because they don't know what the brain will do. They said it could take 6 months or a year to actually see the ramifications. They are waiting to see if they need to do surgery. He is drugged up so not too responsive. Joel said they were at a breakfast at Joel Jr.s house and then three boys hopped in the back of a kids truck. The driver said he hit some soft sand on the road from Joel Jr.s house and the truck fell down the hill into a stream. Dillon was the only boy thrown out and his head hit some rocks and he was in the creek. The driver bulled him out of the stream and made him stand up which was a bad thing to do. Then they called 911 and they life flighted him to the hospital. The three other boys in the pickup managed to stay in the back of the truck so Dillon was the only one hurt. It could be very serious but it is hard to say. Pray hard. Love Mom

Wow nice car likon! Oh how the righteous fall under the temptation of BMW. by the way we found an AMAZING belguim waffle place on Oxford Street in London - we took the tube throught there three times to get some - it is just like brussles.

Ally

 
 
 
 

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1140817/30/36/index.htm

Shelley and JaLayne - here is my granola recipe. I am about to make a ton of it for Levin (he pays me for it) so I thought I would put it out there for you all.

3 1/2 cups oats (I like Old Fashioned better)
1/3 cup coconut (optional)
flaxseed, sunflower seeds, nuts as desired to equal one cup (or increase oats)
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 cup oil
3 T honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon

(if you want it sugar free, I put in 1 1/2 tsp stevia and 3 T agave )

Mix the sugar, oil, vanilla, honey and cinnamon in a bowl Add in dry ingredients and coat well (use your hands, it's the only way).

Spread out on cookie sheet and bake 20 stirring every 5 minutes at 350. As soon as you take it out of the oven remove from cookie sheet. When cooled add 1/2 c raisins.

Oliver, I'm hoping to have your wheat report ready by the end of the week. You were right I was way off with my protein estimation. I'm planning on meeting with, John Hammel, he is the Dean over the agricultural department at University Idaho, tomorrow at 2. I told him about your position and how important it is for me to get this information to you as soon as possible, he may be contacting you personally it sounds like.

Highlights of the Trip:

We hiked to this waterfall and our "guide" always hires a local guide - part of the give back to the locals non-profit tourism. The local guide has a machete (because there was absolutely no trail), flip flops, & MATERNITY pants on. Yep, that's right. I almost bought them from him. He scampered up and down the rain forest so fast. The waterfall was great, but we chickened out of going down the cliff. Oh, and he was paid with a little money and a huge bottle of whiskey. The bottle of whiskey he had to take to the chief.



The Catholic Church (pictured in earlier post) was high up on this mountain and had a beautiful view of the town Limbe below and the beautiful ocean. It was cool mountain air up there and was awesome! This was our last day so our legs were so sore so the other perk was we could DRIVE up there, not hike.



Black Sand Beach - was very cool. The tide was coming in though and there wasn't much "beach" before the trees/swamp so we had to be quick walking to get to the trail to the light house. We walked out a different way through banana & papaya trees & pineapple plants - very nice. This local guide helped me up and down the rocks so much that I was actually faster than Levin & Diana. AND when we finally hit the street again he RAN and got our driver so I could sit on a stump.



A Mandrill (or was it a Drill) at the animal sanctuary was getting VERY upset at the guide who was getting too close to the cage his baby was in. The drill kept grunting and getting angry and finally picked up a rock and chucked it at him - thank goodness it hit the fence instead of him.



Hotels - were actually quite nice although they only provide hand towels and the shower is always just a spout in the bathroom and water gets everywhere. But those are small complaints.



LOW LIGHTS -

Day 1: Melissa leaves the rain coats in the car accidentally - Day 2: Driver comes with a DIFFERENT car & no rain coats. We are in one of the top rainiest places on earth (http://www.1iverating.com/top/1150/) and had to kiss our rain coats goodbye - forever! Luckily Diana brought a poncho as well, but Levin had to hike in the rainforest in a torrential downpour with no raingear.

Sore muscles - Sometimes I felt like I could barely walk anymore and it still hurts to walk down stairs. But I did impress our friend because I kept up with everyone and I'm a fat pregnant woman.



Cars - 1st vehicle - only one seatbelworks. 2nd vehicle - no seat belts work & passenger side window won't roll up (did I mention thist is one of the rainiest places on earth). Neither car had A/C and all 3 of us had to squish in the back seat. 2nd vehicle - burns oil like it's nobody's business and all the fumes seem to go inside the car. We literally put in 1 liter of oil at the beginning of each day. BUMPY Roads - I mean really bumpy.



Green Mamba - One of the most deadly snakes ever! While we were walking in the Gorrila sanctuary we noticed what looked like a green garden snake on the tree next to us. Well when the guides saw it they got really worried - it was a very posionous green mamaba thats bite is fatal.



Our guide in the Botanical Garden - for one thing during his tour we were all attacked by terrible biting ants that crawled up our legs. It was horrible. And then the guide explained how trees such as Bananas, Cocoa and crops like Cassava were actually all from Africa originially, but that when people from Asia/Latin America discovered them they lied and said they originated from their own country. He also mentioned that AIDS was invented by a Polish Guy in a U.S. laboratory and then infected into Africans.



Mud & Dirt & Slime & this is Africa so you pack your own toilet paper/hand sanitizer, etc. If we ever go on another vacation while I'm this pregnant it will be a cruise.

I have loved the pictures you have all sent. Amber - the pictures of the school were so great and your sweet children with the dog. Oh, what wonderful experiences you are providing for your children. It will be life-changing for them. Allyson and Moema, thanks for the great pictures of your trip. Hopefully you are over the jet-lag. And those photos from Africa are wonderful. It was great to see you Melissa and have evidence you are having a baby! We want to get some pictures from Toronto - Taylor, take some pictures of your house, pool, children etc and blog! Thank goodness for the Blog. Love Mom

Taking rickshaw in the rain



Taj, Agra Fort, Amritsar!

This one is of our Lone Peak climb several weeks ago.












JaLayne,
Could you please e-mail these six pictures to Forrest (forrest_flake@byu.edu) ? Thanks, DAD

Forrest and I had a great climb today of Deseret Peak (11,027 ft.) near Grantsville. He didn't even have to rescue me this time. It was really fun and relatively easy - three hours up and two down. Oliver, Justin and I did it four or five years ago.








We loved Amber's photos and narritive. I sure am getting excited for my visit there and to Lincoln and Siobhan's in a few weeks. Allyson and Moema, blog some pictures of your trip. DAD

Pictures of the school, women of the slum where the school is, and some of the kids during a "puppy playdate" we had with Oliver's counselor's kids and their dog.

The guy by the gate is our wonderful driver, standing as a protector, as usual, and the lady counting money had just changed a 10 dollar bill with me for all that Indian money. I am always amazed by how lovely the women are, young and old, even though they work so hard. The young lady washing clothes is always there in the same place working on various tasks. I love the picture of the lady and her baby. She looks so proud of him. He must be one of the only things she has.

Today at the school, it was weird because we were all outside the whole time. Quite a crowd gathered from the village. As I was coming into the school, one of the children touched my feet and then kissed his hand, which I hope is a gesture of respect. I am starting to really recognize the kids. Since there are so many, this is a nice thing! They seem to realize that we will keep coming. It will be really hard to make our last visit when it is time to leave India.

I brought along the McIllece family from out branch (Americans). Dave, the dad, speaks Hindi. He is going to try to figure out the electricity issue with the government agency who is supposed to supply the power to the school. The school has been without power for months. This means no lights, no fans, no nothing. The littlest kids sit in the dark for hours in a windowless room. I hope Dave can get it figured out. He was a real asset to have around as usual. I am not sorry that I haven't devoted a ton of time to language here, but I do wish I knew a little more than I do.