Marti Skold's Blog

What Matters to Marti....A Recipe and Remembering the Troops

2007-09-12T01:12:00Z

Today on Good Things Utah, my dear friend and incredible cook, Angel Shannon showed us a great viewer's recipe called Peanut Blossoms. They are fabulous cookies that have a piece of candy, a chocolate kiss or an M&M in the middle. The cookies were part of our cooking segment for 9-11. It was for cookies to send to the troops and how to go about doing that the best way so the cookies don't crumble or break and can get to our troops just like they came out of the oven. If you go to our Good Things Utah website, there are directions on how to best send the cookies to our hard working men and women serving our country, along with the cookie recipe. So, bake some and send some, sometime getting a little taste of home is welcome for those who are far away.

I loved the Peanut Blossom recipe, because it was one my Grandma Sally used to make in her North Dakota kitchen. My Aunt Colleen and my mom also make those cookies, so it was a taste that brought back memories for me. I think those recipes that we share in our families are treasures. My Grandma Sally was a true treasure to me and I miss her everyday. If there was ever anyone that I would have liked to have seen how my career went, it would have been my Grandma Sally. She was beautiful into her eighties and she is truly missed. So a simple recipe in the Good Things kitchen was a Good Thing for me today, full of memories.

What Matters To Marti...Dancing for a Good Cause

2007-08-01T02:23:00Z

Last night the Good Things Ladies and I had a chance to Dance with the Utah Stars at Thanksgiving Point to benefit the American Heart Association. The night was magical and the turnout was amazing. Nicea, Reagan, Angie and I had all been paired last fall for our first attempt at ballroom dancing just like the show Dancing with the Stars. We each had professional partners work with us and we discovered how much work it really is to dance and how much of a great work out it can be. We danced on the show in November and had a wonderful time. And a few weeks ago, we were put back into action rehearsing for a charity event.

I have never been to a dance class in my life, so I was a little afraid of putting on those dancing shoes and learning something so foreign to me. But, I had a great partner and teacher who was very patient with me. So after countless hours of practice and sore feet, we danced the night away for a good cause last night. And in the end, I learned something about myself, it's good to go outside your comfort level to try something new, who knows, you may end up having a great time like I did. Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!

What Matters To Marti.... Exclusive Doppler 4 X 4

2007-07-26T01:49:00Z

Storms were brewing across the state today (Tuesday) and it seemed like the skies just opened up and dropped heavy rain in a number of places. Grantsville where the Kimball fire was raging just a day ago got the rain, but they got too much, and now there is flooding and debris. The weather can change in a heartbeat and today we saw just that, from sunshine to storms, flooding, hail and plenty of lightning all in an afternoon.

Here at ABC 4 we have technology that can pinpoint storms statewide and even track them into neighborhoods. It is called our Exclusive 4 X 4 Doppler Radar and we can scan the skies from 4 different locations that allows us to zero in on storms everywhere in the region. Our locations are Salt Lake City, Grand Junction, Colorado, Cedar City and Elko, Nevada. We are covered from north to south and from east to west. So even if a storm tries to hide behind a mountain range, our 4 radar scans can find that individual storm cell. It's our way of tracking storms and letting you know how to prepare if one is heading your way.

What Matters To Marti....Home Again and Back to Work

2007-07-21T02:56:00Z

My family and I just spent 7 fabulous days in Scotland. We went to my niece's wedding that took place in a castle in the Scottish countryside. It was a fairytale like wedding. About 90% of the men wore kilts and the women came in incredible hats and hair decorations called fascinators. It was fascinating!!!

While it is fun to go on vacation, it is always so nice to come home to your own house and sleep in your own bed. It is also great to be back to work. I was driving to my first work assignment today and I thought to myself while I was driving down the interstate...I LOVE going to work. I feel fortunate to have a job that I love with people I love to work with everyday.

So, it's nice to be back in Utah, to be home and to be back to work again.

What Matters to Marti.......A Block Party!!!!

2007-07-05T01:37:00Z

It's something brand new to ABC 4 and I'm excited to be a part of it. It's called Marti's Block Party and starting this week we will take the weather on the road to a neighborhood and along with live weather there will be some free food and fun. And good food too, Kentucky Fried Chicken is coming along to join in the party and serve up some great chicken and fixings. It's easy for you to get involved. Go to the Marti's Block Party link on our website and enter your name and your neighborhood and who knows....we could be talking temperatures and eating some good food together soon.

What Matters to Marti...Summer Nights

2007-06-28T00:31:00Z

It has been interesting to see the sky the last few nights. It seems like I have plenty of time to see the sky at night, because I am STUCK IN TRAFFIC!!!!!!!!! I leave ABC 4 each night after our 10pm news and attempt to travel home on the I-15. Our road crews have to work long hours making our roads smooth and safe. But I have been in this TRAFFIC so many nights with SO many unfriendly other drivers who are also hitting these closures and detours. I ask....how hard is it to let someone in to your lane when their lane is closed?!!!!! If someone is trying to get in ahead of my car....no problem.....not others.....many drivers are not so nice. There are nights when I wish I had a flashing sign in my car to let other drivers know they are not sharing the road, not being nice and to please let people in while lanes are being closed off. Okay, enough of my traffic woes (maybe I should blame all of this on Mike McKay our traffic guy!!!!)

Now to our gorgeous night time skies. There will be a celestial showcase the next few nights as Venus and Saturn will be converging. The will actually be the closest on the 30th of June. So, when you look in the sky tonight, the brightest object is Venus and look right next to it, you will see a beautiful yellow light and that is Saturn.

What Matters to Marti....The Summer Solstice

2007-06-21T00:29:00Z

The heat has been with us for weeks, but summer officially arrives tomorrow (Thursday) at 12:06pm. It is the day of the year when we have the longest day and the shortest night. In contrast, the winter solstice which occurs on December 21st is the shortest day of the year and the longest night. More daylight tomorrow than any other day of the year.

There is alot of history and alot of folklore that revolves around the summer solstice. In England where there is plenty of lore surrounding Stonehenge, it is said, if you stand in the center of the rock formation and turn to the north east, the Heel stone appears where the bright orange sun rises in that spot during the solstice. Each year thousands still gather at Stonehenge to celebrate. Around the world in Ancient Eygyt, a beam of light would light up the temple of Amen-Ra during the summer solstice. There are even mid-summer celebrations in many places around the United States.

So tomorrow as we welcome summer, just know that after the solstice the days start to get shorter and fall starts to creep closer.

What Matters To Marti...Pets

2007-06-16T03:01:00Z

I LOVE my dog Radar. He has the greatest personality and he is quite an amusing animal. Radar is a soft coated wheaten terrier who turned 12 years old last weekend. His favorite snack is Lucky Charms, although I take the marshmellows out, so he just eats the cereal out of his special breakfast cereal bowl.

Radar and I have not always been on good terms. He was really high strung when we got him, most terriers are that way. I had been bitten by a dog when I was four, which required a trip to the emergency room and stitches, so I have always had a fear of dogs, any size, any breed. Radar stayed by my side after I had surgery a few years ago, and I think that was the point that he became my little buddy, and now because I spoil him, I am his favorite friend.

This month is Adopt a Cat month. There are so many cats and kittens that need good families and good homes. We had a sweet kitten on Good Things Utah this week named Creamsicle. He was orange and white and had the sweetest blue eyes. The shelters are also full of dogs and puppies that would add so much joy to your life. With all of the extra time that your kids are home over the summer months, now is the perfect time to bond with a friend they will cherish for the rest of their lives.

What Matters to Marti...Here Comes the Heat

2007-06-13T02:08:00Z

Just last week we had snow in our mountains, heavy rain and highs in the 50's. Now we are heading to highs in the triple digits by the weekend. It seems like we go from one season to another in a heartbeat. We will see a high of 100 by Saturday in Salt Lake City and highs in St. George will climb to 106. Summer officially arrives on June 21st but it will without a doubt feel like it this weekend. Don't forget our furry friends that live outdoors, make sure to put out extra water for your pets.

Keep an eye on our website for future updates for shuttle sightings. We will have a good chance of seeing it next Wednesday around 10pm. I'll make sure to keep all of you updated on the times and locations. If you live in Northern Utah or Southern Idaho, you will have a clear view.

What Matters to Marti....Another Chapter in Life

2007-06-08T01:32:00Z

Do you remember when you got your driver's license when you turned 16? It brought freedom and a way to get around without having to ask for a ride. Soon after I got my driver's license, I backed my dad's big white Oldsmobile out of the garage and took a huge chunk out of the side of the garage. Yes, my driving skills needed perfecting.

Tomorrow, my baby, my son, turns 16. He is the youngest in our family, so this event is like turning another chapter in our lives. Now there is no need to drive him to school or his golf tournaments or the mall or the movies. But with the driver's license and the car, comes added jittery nerves for me... mom. I will worry each time he leaves the house and wait for that call to know he gets to where he is going. My daughter has been driving for 4 years and I still have those unsettled feelings each time she gets behind the wheel.

And I thought sending them off to kindergarten was hard,!!!! I cried the first two weeks I stepped inside the school to drop them off or pick them up. I hyperventilated for 4 hours on the drive home after dropping my daughter off at college. So, now here is another page turning in a chapter of our family life. .

What Matters To Marti...Big Weather Changes are Blowing In

2007-06-05T02:29:00Z

It's Monday night when I am blogging and it's the calm before the storm. We have a high wind watch for tomorrow and at this time tomorrow night the winds will be howling and that is just the beginning. We are forecasting a high of 92 for tomorrow with a high of ONLY 58 on Wednesday. We are going from one season to another and back in a heartbeat. I can tell you with the winds that are about to blow in that I will head home tonight and put my tomato plants that are in large pots, along with my patio furniture inside. Yes, things will definately move around in the wind Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night. Keep watching for weather updates and I keep watching the Doppler and the winds and let you know what is on the way.

What Matters to Marti.....My New Friend and Weather Watcher, Garen

2007-06-01T02:43:00Z

As of today, I have a new friend, although I think he has been a fan of weather for a long time.

Several weeks ago I received an e-mail telling me about a young autistic boy who loves watching my weather, his family even TIVO's it, and after watching the weather he makes charts and weather symbols of his own. So, I invited this young man to come in to the TV station and see our weather center and watch one of our newscasts.

Today my new friend Garen ,who is 11 years old ,came to visit ABC 4 with his aunt and grandmother. He was so excited to see the station. I showed him how we put our maps together in the forecast center then I put my headphones on him and sat him in front of the big microphone where I do my radio weathercasts each afternoon. His aunt took some great pictures of him around the station. It was then on to the studio to see a live show. I think Garen liked seeing how I do the weather in front of a giant green chroma key wall.

When he left with an ABC 4 hat on his head and a smile on his face, I knew I had a new friend who is a very special young man.

What Matters To Marti....The Hot Summer Sun

2007-05-29T23:36:00Z

Here come the hot temperatures! I was just looking at our weekend outlook and we will see our highs soar into the mid 90's. Our normal high temperature this time of year is 75 so we will be well above average. The nice thing is community pools are now open around the state, so the kids can find a way to cool down and have some fun. Last week I did the weather live from the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center Pools. The water park is amazing and we got a chance to watch the team practice. The kids were great and the place is fabulous. Sounds like a great summer cool down spot to me, you should try it.

What Matters to Marti...Summer Memories

2007-05-25T01:59:00Z

Memorial Day weekend is usually considered the first hurrah of summer. While the calendar says that summer officially arrives on June 21, the day of the summer solstice, for most of us, when Memorial Day weekend arrives, that is the unofficial start to summer.

I remember when I was young we would always finish school before Memorial Day and that is when it felt like summer had arrived. Most of my summers were spent at the Concordia Language Villages Norwegian camp. I started going there as a camper when I was 10 years old. I became a counselor in training at 16 and then a counselor thru high school and part of college. I have great memories of summer camp, swimming in an ice cold lake in Northern Minnesota, singing Norwegian songs, learning to speak the language, building campfires and making life long friends.

Now as an adult and parent, summers have a whole new meaning. It's nice to have the kids out of school, my daughter is home from college and my son will have the summer off of school, but defintately not off of golf. It's also a chance to reconnect as a family, having everyone in one state for a few months, going on summer trips and enjoying the great outdoors.

So as Memorial Day weekend comes and goes, here comes summer! I hope it is a good for you!

What Matters To Marti...A Monday Thought or two

2007-05-22T01:40:00Z

Alot of people complain about Monday's, the back to work, back to school routine. And believe me, there are Monday's where we all feel like Friday can't come too soon. For me, Monday has always been a fresh start, a new week of not knowing what lies ahead in the news or weather world. And today was a prime example. We were forecasting temperatures in the nineties last week and today we are talking snow in the highest elevations and we have seen a 40 degree drop in 24 hours!!!! That is why I like doing the weather, it is a different set of circumstances each day and that keeps what I am doing exciting year around.

This weekend I had the chance to emcee a fashion show and luncheon with my Good Things Co-host and dear friend Angie Larson. It was for the Youth Village and these kids and their program had a profound affect on me. These are kids who are either wards of the state or kids who have had problems where they are out of their homes and away from their families. The luncheon was a fundraiser, but it was also an eye opener to this great program that is right here in Utah. The kids who are in these group homes are getting an incredible amount of love and support and are turning their lives around. Each of the kids got a chance to model a new outfit from Dillard's and they looked SO proud going down the runway and I was SO proud of each of them for working to change their lives. What a great program and what a great group of kids. I feel lucky to have had the chance to meet them and be a part of their program. Best wishes to all of those kids.