Joanie's Balonie

Chambered Nautilus

2012-01-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is my 1000th post! Wow!

My very talented daughter-in-law has written a song, soon to be released on You Tube that tells about the chambered nautilus. How this little sea creature builds its shell one chamber at a time. As the nautilus grows it builds a new chamber and seals off the old chamber. Megan likened it to healing... closing off that difficult chamber of your life and moving on- growing, getting stronger until, finally, the creature is free.

I loved this analogy! As I've written my blog, one post at a time over the past few years, it has aided me in my journey of healing.

The Queen Monkey

2012-01-05T21:26:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week both Gordon and Stuart made a fairly thorough search of the freezer trying to find some orange juice. Then they asked me, the Queen Monkey, if we had any OJ. I was able to locate 2 cans but I also realized that part of the problem was that the freezer badly needed-

organizing
defrosting

So this afternoon I made that my project. It's funny how a task as simple as defrosting a freezer can dredge up so many memories! But this day they were oozing out of the freezer along with the melted ice!

Memory #1- Back in the day, before frost-less freezers this was a horrible job that we had to tackle on a regular basis. Mom found a cool *defroster* in some obscure catalog which amounted to a small heater that you placed in the freezer to hasten the defrosting. Before that it was pans of boiling water.

Memory #2- A bunch of years ago... sometime circa 1997 I decided that THE WAY to defrost the freezer was with the hose. The freezer lived in the garage at the time and it just seemed like the quick-fix! Quick-fix all right! It froze the controls in the ON position and I had to call the repairman.

Memory #3- With my Mom's defroster in mind and my pride still smarting from #2 above I rigged up a similar situation using a small person heater... I'm sure this is VERY safe... especially if the extension cord that the heater is plugged into is in the water on the floor! Yikes!

My nice defrosted and organized freezer...

Memory #4- Being a thorough kind of girl I decided I'd wipe down the outside of the freezer as well... there were finger-prints and something that looked suspiciously like blood on the side of the freezer (ick!) plus accumulated dust. That is when I looked- really looked- at this little sign that has lived on my freezer for at least 15 years! It reads-

Please close the door tightly and push the bottom corner with your knee or foot (NO KICKING) or it won't close! Don't forget! Signed- The Queen Monkey

Camille wrote the sign for me and attached it to the freezer. As you can see it is so faded that it is almost impossible to read!

My reward for my hard work? Not only a flood of happy memories but I found some Snickers ice cream bars I forgot were in there!

Life's a Picnic

2012-01-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

Technically this post should have happened last month, but I didn't want to spoil a surprise. Stuart is dating a very nice girl, Anna... (we like her a lot) and he wanted to do something special for her for Christmas. He found himself a *naked* basket and wanted to transform it into a picnic basket. He called to bounce some ideas off of me and asked if he could bring it down for me to *help* him. Usually *help* = mom-does-it-while-I-watch! But not this time. Stuart was a man with an idea and HE wanted to execute it. (My contribution was mostly instructional)

This is the finished product... I am so impressed! (The light green gathers in the center to cover the basket.)

The best idea of Stuart's vision are the leather straps that hold the picnic-ware in place. He went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a package of scrap leather and then went to town with my Crop-o-dile! What you can't see is the leather swatch on the outside of the basket that reinforces the attachment location. He envisioned these cool straps with the rawhide ties.

The cup strap threads through the handle of the mug and ties them in tight.

But I think the plate straps made him the happiest! He made them to accommodate different sized or more plates.

I sneaked this shot on the down-low... he wouldn't even let me do the sewing of the basket liner (and btw- he is the one who remembered he needed to compensate for the difference in size between the base and the rim of the basket.)

What a guy! (And Anna loved it!)

Nana's Flowers

2012-01-03T22:35:00.000-07:00

This-day I went to see my Desi for a much needed wax and trim (wow, that sound's like an ol-timey barbershop!) She'd just returned from a Christmas visit with her Daddy. She was unpacking and said, "Look at these wonderful flowers my Nana made! She is so much more creative than me!" I immediately fell in love with this off-white one and came home with it for my very own.

Speaking of crafty... I love my new iPhone camera and Snapseed app... EXCEPT... on that itty-bitty screen I can't see how much is too much when I edit a photo. So although I love my newest MPC (marsupial-pocket-camera) it will never replace my Rebel!

So here's you twenty-twelve version of good ol' jb!

In With The Old...

2011-12-31T19:43:00.001-07:00

Now most of you, especially my children, are shaking their heads and saying, "Mom! It's OUT with the old! Not IN with the old!" But I really do mean what I say... this time...

The new year frequently finds me reflecting back... call me silly, but there you are. I've spent many a January organizing my journals or working on photo albums. This year it is the latter. (I suppose it's been that for the last few years with my POTD projects)

Perhaps it is because I've hungered for many years for more details about my parent's lives. I wish I had THEIR journals (which as far as I know are non-existent) and I am grateful that my mom was a dedicated photographer with photos to look at and wonder about. I want there to be a tangible record of who I am for my family, and, yes, for me too.

The year we moved to Utah I felt a great need to connect with my roots... and to keep myself busy with Stuart off on his mission. That summer of 2005 I got all of my photo albums completed from (I'm embarrassed to say) 1988-2003 completed! Since then I've done different *spot* projects, focusing in on a particular event, I've made a couple of dozen digital pages, and even printed them... but as far as getting all of those little photo-ducks-in-a-row I've been very lax.

HA! but that's all changed. Yesterday I put up my extra table right here in my office, pulled out a fraction of my scrapbooking supplies, incomplete albums, printed photos and poured myself a nice cold Dr Pepper! Yes! now that's the life!

So far I've completed Stuart's soccer album, FINALLY! Caught up a few stray 2003 photos and have moved on, in earnest, to 2004! Yeah Little Joanie!

I'm in for a long winter scrap... visiting with my OLD friends!

Christmas Apples

2011-12-23T15:19:00.001-07:00

Back in the day... we always got an apple and an orange along with nuts in our Christmas stocking. (Random fact... it has nothing to do with this post, but I thought about it just now as I titled this post.)

Now for the real post-

I suppose phenomenon of apple-ornaments has occurred other years and I just haven't noticed it but this year I'm noticing all of the apples still hanging, just like festive ornaments, on the trees (which is interesting, since if I don't spray my apple tree I don't have ANY apples on it by the time they should be ripe... am I babbling?)

I think they look so beautiful...

Yesterday and today have been wonderful sunshiny days, for which I am very grateful after a couple of weeks of fog. I was able to capture these natural ornaments with a beautiful cerulean background.

The thing I want to know is this-

Why don't the birds eat these?
Are they fermented?
Are they frozen?
Just not tasty enough? (The birds always want to eat MY apples!)

This is a different tree... a crab apple. It lives across the street from the other apple trees.

These two trees are in my neighborhood, but I've seen these apple-ornaments on apple trees all over town. Do you have any apple-ornaments where you live?

Party Skirt

2011-12-22T20:30:00.000-07:00

(This is another one of those posts that I thought I'd already written. Oh well!)

Does anybody recognize this fabric? Oh yeah! I just happened to have some leftovers from Spencer and Deborah's quilt.

JOANIE'S SKIRT

Several months ago my friend Margee showed up at church in the cutest skirt I've ever seen! I NEEDED THAT SKIRT! She told me that her friend made it for her. We talked about me getting the pattern from her friend, but that never seemed to happen.

MARGEE'S SKIRT

When I became aware that I was going to have some leftover fabric in fabulous green and brown I knew just what I wanted to do with it. I asked Margee if I could borrow her skirt. She kindly delivered it... the other good news... we wear about the same size skirt! I tried hers on. HA! Just right! So I set to work making a pattern. It's not as hard as you would think, especially when you're dealing with small pieces like this. I traced the pieces and then added the seam allowances.

Margee told me they'd gotten the Chenille-It at Gracie Lou's (that is what I was looking for when we saw the Moose quilt!) Don't let that $14 price tag scare you... I got 40 yards in that package.

The directions on the Chenille-It suggested one line of stitching down the center but Margee's friend made two stitching lines a scant quarter inch apart... I like her method best. When I was finished all the sewing I just laundered the skirt and like magic I had chenille!

Now... look at this... I still have fabric leftovers... whatever shall I do??

S & D's Wedding Quilt

2011-12-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

* (I went looking for this post, and several others... omsh... apparently I never wrote them! At least I did blog about this project when it was in the construction phase... but come-on! The #1 purpose of my blog is for me. That's right ME, ME, ME! IT'S ALL ABOUT ME! OK... well, I got that out of my system!)

When Spencer and Deb were planning their wedding I asked *the questions*- what colors do you want in your quilt? what size? They wanted green and brown! Oh, dang, that will be torture! Green and brown just happens to be one of my current favorites.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself through the whole process: choose the fabric, cut the fabric, arrange on the design wall (which now lives permanently on sewing room wall, I was tired of taking it down), sew the block, rows, top and then one of my favorite things nowadays... the quilting. I decided to use that same wonderful paisley pattern I learned when I made Holly's quilt (but did I get any close-ups of S&D's quilt? No, not me! I'm sensing a problem here!)

I love being able to make these beautiful quilts for my loved ones... what a blessing.

Moose Fetish

2011-12-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

For as far back as I can remember Spencer has had a moose fetish... the good kind, mind you! When he was a teenager I made him his first moosey-quilt and one Christmas Auntie P made him a moosey-throw. He's been the recipient of moosey-gifts. Sadly, some of those have gotten away from him in his years of moving around... but I told him, "No matter, new life... new mooses!" That's the background...

When Gordon and I were at Gracie-Lou's looking for chenille bias for my skirt (see that post separately) we saw... well, let's let my Facebook Thanksgiving post tell it:

Thanksgiving post #3- Today I'm very grateful I took my husband with me to the quilt shop (Gracie Lou's)! He spotted a quilt I just HAD to make! That means I needed to buy more fabric... and fold it... and pet it... and lick it? (No! don't be silly! If I lick flannel it will get fuzz all over my tongue!)

I bought the *prescribed* amount of flannel on the quilt pattern but, come on, you know my rule: If it's worth making... MAKE IT BIG! (Hey, even Gordon agrees with me! "That quilt looks a little small, doesn't it need to be larger?")

So, of course, that meant another trip to another quilt shoppe, dang!! This time Corn Wagon where we found some wonderful MOOSE PRINTS! It was meant to be. I whipped up some more quilt-wiches and then played that game of cards I love so well- deal 'em out, shuffle 'em around (My friend Ann taught me that one), then sew them together (mixed them up even WITH the photo!).

Here is Spencer's (and Deborah's) newest moosey-quilt on the design wall.

Since this is a raggy quilt, all of the seams are on the front and then clipped. Ahh... what a blessing to have hands that work again! I took it easy but didn't have any of that old numbness I used to be plagued with before surgery.

A quick wash and not-so-quick-dry (I have to empty the lint trap numerous times with these raggy quilts), wrapped up and in the mail off to Spenny's house...

Do I have a photo of it finished? Are you kidding me? Again? Not to worry... Spencer is sending me a photo of the completed quilt... I'll update the post when I get it! Shesh... I truly have a problem here!

*As promised... moosey-cuteness!

Grammie (&Grampy) Christmas

2011-12-20T12:17:00.002-07:00

AGAIN-WITH-THE-SPOILER-ALERT!

IF YOU ARE ONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN-

DON'T SPOIL THE SURPRISE!

A bunch of years ago I became aware that I was out of touch with what our grandchildren would like for Christmas. So I decided to give the gift that fits everyone- cash, check or gift-card! I know I always liked receiving cash when I was a child (hmm... I still do)!

In past years I've done different versions of the cash, check or gift-card. Most recently I was caught up with the Target gift-card coins.

Christmas 2010 I made photo greeting cards using photos I'd taken throughout the year (you can see the gift coins stacked in the background)

Christmas 2009 I made these darling origami containers (dang, I sure do have fun!)

This year I thought about a more universal gift-card but I hadn't found exactly what I wanted when I ran into my neighbor... he had rolls of coins in his hand, but they didn't look quite right for quarters. When I asked him about them he told me they were $1 US President coins!

HA!!! That rang my bell!! I envisioned coin purses... a Google search turned up lots of free ideas and patterns (Have I mentioned how much I love the internet? What a wonderful wealth of information and sharing!)

My hands-down-favorite is this dumpling coin purse.

OMSH... were they ever fun to make! I dug around in my stash of old zippers, courtesy of Edna and DI and found some good ones to use.

But since we have more than one girl in some families, I had to use some variety. I found a great pattern using felted wool. Then I carefully got out MY mom's, the original Grammy, embroidery thread organizer, which I totally love, and did some embellishments. The round coin purse hails back to my childhood when I had a darling little turquoise round coin purse.

But now I needed some zipper pulls. I stopped at Hobby Lobby (love that store!) and found all I needed to put these zipper pulls together. I just love doing things like this. I love using my tiny tools. Several times since making these I've thought... hmm, wonder what else I could make! (Yep, it's an addiction!)

I was a little concerned about the grandsons... would they want a cutesy-grammie-made-coin-purse? But my worries were solved when I was wandering-aimlessly (one of my favorite things to do) at Wal-Mart and just happened to spot these darling rubber coin purses. (Do you remember the old simple rubber coin purses like this?) You can see that they are bulging with coins!

What a fun project... I'm all finished now... made the last two last night... the far-away grandchildren should have already received their Christmas packages... hmm, what shall I do next year?

texture info-
kk_annabelle- blending mode overlay @ 48%; duplicate layer- blending mode darken @ 48%

Paperwhites for Christmas

2011-12-19T19:35:00.001-07:00

About six weeks ago when I was shopping for a de-thatching blade for my lawnmower I saw some paperwhite bulbs (Narcissus papyraceus). They had various quantities, some even already planted in a glitzy-silver pot. But I'm not too much of a silver-pot-kind-of-girl so I opted to buy my own pot... a beautiful pearly black square pot that would look *just so* in my kitchen!

I brought the bag of 10 bulbs and new pot home, immediately read the directions and set about potting my bulbs. I've never *forced* a bulb before, but there were clear instructions about planting the bulb with the top showing and putting it in a cold place (under 50 degrees... hmmm wonder if I could find somewhere like that in November! HA! The garage! It's a second refrigerator in the winter) for two weeks and then bring it inside to a sunny spot (aforementioned kitchen window) and watch it grow.

Boy they weren't kidding! I could literally watch it grow! It sprouted up a couple of inches each day. Then last week the blossom heads started to appear. Now, just in time for Christmas, here they are in full bloom! What a beautiful treat!

I love their delicate fragrance. It tickles my nose each time I walk into the kitchen. They remind me so much of their cousins in the Narcissus family.

texture info-
kk_wonderfulmagic_scripted- blending mode screen 100% with selective reduction.

French Toast Heaven

2011-12-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

Last night was our neighborhood Christmas Party. Instead of the normal ham and funeral potatoes fare the organizers opted to do "breakfast for dinner". I happened to be one of the people who LOVE breakfast for dinner. (Probably because at breakfast time I only want oatmeal!)

The ward provided pan-cake-ree-uses, french toast sticks and the beverages. The we all brought a breakfast casserole: most of those were different forms of quiche but, BUT Carol Gadd brought the most heavenly-French-toast-casserole-stuffed-with-blueberries-and-cream-cheese AND fresh blueberry syrup! I could have eaten half of that ALL BY MYSELF... but I was considerate and only took a small corner. BUT I have been craving it ever since... guess what we will be having for Sunday dinner?

** as promised... the photo 12/18/11

I tracked Carol down for the recipe- which she told me right then and there! When I called back this morning after my trip to Wal-Mart to get the ingredients for said yummy stuffed French toast we got to talking about WHY I love French toast so much. I thought it would be fun to share those reminiscences here.

I was the baby of the family by 8 years so that meant lots of years with just Mom and I at home. I had the best, most dedicated mother! She was all about her children, even though she worked full-time and single was raising us alone. I didn't care for breakfast cereal, always an easy option for working moms, so my mom would get up early enough to make me french toast EVERY MORNING! Then she would put it on the Copper Kraft warming tray*, covered, and when I got up for school there would be my yummy, hot breakfast!

It is interesting how we only come to appreciate the depth of our parent's dedication to us only as we get older. I though everybody's mom was just like my mom! What a lucky girl I am!!

*(My mom loved cooper cookware. We had Revere Ware copper bottom pans that hung on the wall and always had to be cleaned with Twinkle copper cleaner to make them sparkle after each use. In the 1960s there was a company doing business as Copper K(c)raft that sold wonderful copper cooking items. Mom got this warming tray especially for this purpose. I realize now that this was an extravagant purchase to accommodate her little Joanie! This tray was made of corrugated copper and plugged into the wall similar to a grill... but only for warming-duh! A Google search didn't bring up anything like this, but I did find another company who sells copper cookware for anywhere from $298 to 1675! Yikes!! And those are the sale prices!)

I will share the recipe here with you. Thank you Carol for this wonderful trip down memory lane. I'll come back tomorrow and add the photo.

Baked Berry/Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast w/berry syrup

Casserole
12-14 slices white bread
2 8oz packages cream cheese, cut into cubes
12 eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 cups milk
1 cup berries- blueberries or berry mix (fresh or frozen)

Remove crusts from bread and cut into 1” cubes. Arrange half of the bread in a buttered 9 x 13 pan. Top with cream cheese cubes and half the berries. Add remaining bread cubes and berries.

Beat together eggs, milk and syrup. Pour over bread mixture. Cover with foil and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

Bake at 350° covered for 30 minutes then uncovered for another 30-40 minutes until golden brown and center is set.

Berry syrup
1 c sugar
2T corn syrup
1 c water
1 cup berries
1 T butter
Bring water, sugar and syrup to boil. Cook for 3 minutes. Add berries and simmer 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter.

Vein Repetition

2011-12-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

IF YOU ARE THE LEAST BIT SQUEAMISH YOU MIGHT WANT TO BYPASS THIS POST

(just sayin')

I guess that when I had my varicose veins stripped in 2004 I thought that would be the last I had to worry about them. Sadly, not true... having a hereditary predisposition for them means they will reoccur! (poo)

So ages ago (October) friend-Holly, who works for a fine doctor, told me about vein ablation- a less invasive treatment. I had my ultrasound screening (almost continuous reflux) and consult, then set up a surgery date... which was rescheduled not once, twice, thrice but quadice bwahahahaha!! (This doctor just moved to a new facility and equipment wasn't up and running, a conference in Chicago, the nurse wasn't there that day...)

Last Tuesday I had the right leg done (they can't do both legs at once) and yesterday I had the left leg done. I told the doctor, "I don't know why I came back- all you did was hurt me last time!"

The "procedure" begins with yet another ultrasound so the tech could mark up my legs. Looks like she's getting ready to play dot to dot!

The purple marker denotes the greater saphenous and lesser saphenous veins, which will be ablated. The black marks denote phlebectomies. If you have a really strong constitution go to YouTube and check those procedures out... I can't do it... I tried... it gives me the jibbles! (say- hee-bell-aas... you know, the Spanish pronunciations!)

Then tech-girl rubs on a lidocaine cream and wraps my leg with good-ol-Costco-plastic-wrap! That keeps the numbing meds in contact with the skin better (this is also why they can't do both legs the same day. It would be too much for the body to handle all that lidocaine.)

After consent forms I finally got into the "procedure" room with friend-Holly. I've known for ages that she works for this doctor. I had no idea she was the surgical assistant: gown, gloves, mask, cap, the whole bit. No wonder she is exhausted at the end of the day!! When the doctor came in he mildly scolded Holly for talking too much. We told him it was ok... we were best buds!

This is two days post procedure... I look like someone has beaten me with a rubber hose! Yikes! But at least this time I don't have staples-aka-Frankenstein legs! I get to wear "fashion hose" for the next three weeks. But this time I picked the right time of year. Last time I did it in July (what was I thinking?)

I'm looking forward to pain-free days after the healing and without bulging veins. But today... not so much with the pain-free!

Ickle-Firsties

2011-12-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

(What would I do without all of my Harry Potterisms?)

As tradition dictates it was time to go to Miss Camille's 1st grade class and help her ickle-firsties make their hand-print-snowman ornaments. Camille and I were trying to figure it out... how many years has it been? (A quick blog search revealed that the first year was 2008, Miss Camille's second year of teaching. Click on the 1st grade label if you want to read more about how we did this.)

This year the only day we could both work it into our schedules was Monday morning, EARLY. I arrived shortly after her early-birds and thought I'd gone to the library instead of her classroom... it was so quiet with each ickle-firsty staying on task. I pulled them out of their stations one by one to paint hands and have them grip the ornament just-so.

By the time I'd finished with the last of the early-bird's hand-prints the first ~~globes~~ (we always called them globes when I was a girl) ornaments were dry and ready to turn into five darling little snowmen.

I'd tell you who this darling firsty is... but, not only should I not divulge that infomation... I don't remember! Bwahahahahahahaha

It wasn't long before the later-gators arrived and things in Miss Camiile's classroom weren't quite so library-like but still very manageable!

Until... FLASH! FLASH! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!!!!!!!

FIRE DRILL!!

(Luckily Miss Camille had warned me this would be happening. But with that first flash I thought, "Who's taking a photo of me? bwahahahahaha). Just as well-taught ickle-firsties should, they lined up ready to exit the building. I sent a few of them back for coats, baby, it's cold outside! I'm always amazed at how orderly these drills are. Speedy-quick and we were back inside in the warm classroom. The principal announced that they'd set a new record at 3 minutes and 20 seconds.

I hand-printed the last of the later-gators and we finished up the ornaments with help from Miss Camille's aide. We were finished before 10:30. I love these times when I get to go back to 1st grade!

Won't this be a wonderful keepsake for all of these darling ickle-firsties?

TEXTURE INFO:
kk_annabelle- blending mode multiply 74%

Beatrix and Anita

2011-12-11T19:36:00.001-07:00

(Where to start the story?)

Beatrix is roomer than you'd think (I've camped in the back)
I have a tree that has been threatening to die for the last 3 years.
I've had a fake tree every year since 1990!
I've always wanted a live Christmas tree.

Hmmmm... maybe that last one is as good as any. The thought of buying a live tree for Christmas and then planting it afterwards has always appealed to me. And since I have a tree that is *mostly dead* (name that movie) I have a good reason to make this year be the year.

Friday was my day to run some errands which included a trip to Home Depot. A couple of weeks ago I'd seen a beautiful little Norfolk Pine that I thought would be wonderful in my yard... until I discovered that it wouldn't survive in my cold-winter climate. I headed outside and looked at the selection: some variety that would grow to 200 feet tall, hmm, maybe not! A Scotch pine, I never cared too much for them and since the recent wind storm that uprooted 1000+ pine trees, that was a definite NO. Then I spotted a Colorado spruce- Fat Albert- Picea pungens: hardiness -40F, mature size 10-15 feet, with the added feature of being deer resistant. But I've decided that this tree is not Albert... but Anita and she can be pleasingly-plump if she wants.

Now for the *how do I get Anita home?*... in Beatrix, of course! I pulled the front passenger seat all the way forward and then inclined the seat toward the dash to create a large space behind... just right for Anita to ride in the back seat (on the floor, of course).

A very nice young man loaded it for me, somewhat skeptical that Anita would fit behind the passenger seat. I will tell you that I thoroughly amused two ladies who were parked by me as we drove away! When I got home I was able to lever her out using my foot to lift the pot up over the door ledge... but now, ugg... Anita is a bit prickly! (Well, I never!) I ended up putting my jacket around the tree to protect myself, balanced half of the pot on my snow shovel and while holding onto the edge of the pot dragged it into the garage, for safe keeping. I won't bore you with how Gordon and I got her inside- suffice it to say it involved a large blanket and an old bath towel.

It wasn't until I started decorating that I realized just how long it's been since I've had a real tree for Christmas (the aforementioned 1990). I totally enjoyed decorating Anita in her holiday finery all by mine-self while singing Christmas hymns. I carefully unwrapped and sorted through the huge box of Christmas decorations from all those Christmases-past... most of them with a special memory attached. I was even brave enough to open an old beat up box that has lived in the bottom of the big box of ornaments that belonged to Tony and Amanda. I put a few of them on the tree... all without a single tear... what a blessing!

This precious little basket dates clear back to my grandmother, El (short for Elsie), she would put nuts or candy in these little baskets.

Although I have very few ornaments from my mom, Elsie, this is the one that I think of as HERS. She made this for me in the early 70s. It used to have a ribbon to hang it by, but the mice got into the ornament box some 25 years ago and ate it! (How rude!) I also have some precious little porcelain bells that used to hang on Mom's tree. I love to hear their tinkling song.

And then there is Rudolph... he's been MY ornament for as long as I can remember. You can see that he is much loved and only has two legs left. It is so nice to see him up and about again!

I'm looking forward to a peaceful Christmas AND years of joy with my new, somewhat prickly, friend Anita!

Snow-topped Thistle

2011-12-04T22:21:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we took a little jaunt down (or is it up) to Elk Ridge. A friend who lives there had tickets for a BYU Ballet Showcase that I was picking up (which was wonderful!).

We woke up to a sprinkling of snow here in Springville, but as we proceeded up the mountain to Elk Ridge I saw fields of darling little thistles wearing their festive little fluffy caps! There were acres of them!

Aren't they so cute? Yeah, and by the way... I took this with my new iPhone- my newest MPC! (I'm in love!)

texture layers-

kk_look up- blending mode-color burn 71%
kk_serious magic- blending mode- screen 96%

Converation with my Pocket!

2011-12-03T16:46:00.001-07:00

The other night Gordon and I were driving the short distance across town to have dinner at Lenny's (remember that commercial?) I could hear a beeping in my pocket where my iPhone was residing. I didn't recognize the particular alert sound it was making so I dug under the seat belt into my pants pocket, never an easy feat, and found that Siri had come alive in my pocket! What the chicken?

So I said, Siri, are you pocket dialing?
Siri: Joanie, I don't understand you.
Me: Are you trying to call some one?
Siri: Who would you like me to call?
Me: Are you on crack?
Siri: I'm sorry, Joanie. I'm afraid I can't answer that.
Me: Oh, go AWAY!
Siri: I was just trying to help.
Me: Bwahahahahaha!
Siri: Ha ha

By this time I was hysterically laughing... I can always use a good laugh...

Sad State of Affairs

2011-11-30T09:18:00.001-07:00

You know? It shouldn't be this hard!

Fret Not Thyself

2011-11-22T11:45:00.001-07:00

This is not the first time this image has been featured on my blog, nor the idea of Fret Not Thyself.

My original post was in the weeks before Camille's wedding when I needed to, well, Fret no MYself! I printed several of these images, with the good-parts-version of Psalms 37 (seen in this image) and have them in several rooms of my house. I seem to need that constant reminder to not worry and trust in the Lord.

I also have the text in a note on my old phone and it was one of the first things I transferred to my new iPhone!

I just shared it recently with the sisters that we visit teach. My thoughts came from Elder Richard G Scott's General Conference address about the scriptures.

Some of his words just resonate with my soul:

"Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high."

"They [the scriptures] can become stalwart friends... Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world."

"Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one’s ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior. They can accelerate physical healing."

So today when I wanted just that right image to rework for Texture Tuesday I knew this was the one. I hope that these *packets of light* will lift and heal you as well.
Hugs...

TT- stats
FRAME- Hof3_OrnateFrame3_RF (on a sad note House of 3 is no longer operating. But I did find Rhonna Farrer HERE. I've been a fan of her art for years!)
TEXTURES-
kk_autumnBurst- blending mode- soft light 55%
KK_seriousmagic- used as a vignette (applied a layer mask to select only the outside edge) blending mode- soft light 100%

Gratitude

2011-11-18T20:01:00.001-07:00

Crackin' It

2011-11-15T19:56:00.001-07:00

Or perhaps crack-in-it is more appropriate! But since I was playing the ~~pumbler~~ plumber I couldn't resist that title.

So let me tell you my plumber story. You know we just returned from Palmdale where we had fun family time and Spencer and Deborah's wedding. Thursday night about 11:30 I was sitting on the throne, with the lid down, using the counter to paint my nails. I heard CHA-PLINK and then drip, drip, drip... what in the heck? I looked down between the toilet and counter and couldn't see anything. As soon as I'd finished the last of my nails I looked on the other side... there was a steady drip, drip, drip coming out of a crack in the toilet tank!

Can you imagine if that had happened 10 hours later just after we'd left for Palmdale?

Oh! My! Stinkin! Heck!

We would have come home to a flooded house!

As it was I turned off the water, grabbed a bath towel to sop up the water and left town feeling confident I could replace the toilet when we got home.

So, were you expecting a long story now? Nope! I spent yesterday in the sunshine... I've learned never to let a sunny and warm November day escape me if I can help it. But today, which was cloudy, Gordon and I went to Home Cheap-O (as Kevin-son calls it) and bought a new ter-let! We brought it home and then Gordon watched me install it, since he'd never put in a toilet before! Funny role reversal at my house...

In Gordon's defense- he did all of the schlepping of toilet parts...

Isn't she beautiful?

Spencer and Deborah's Wedding

2011-11-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce the newest couple in our family... Spencer and Deborah! I sure love these two. They were married by Bishop Black at the Ave K Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lancaster, CA on November 12, 2011. What a happy and long awaited day.

There is only one problem with being the mother-of-the-broom (I did that a-porpoise)... I can't be behind the camera like I usually am. I didn't realize how few photos I got until I started editing them this evening. (Sad, sad story) But I'm grateful for the ones I do have.

We were grateful that little Riley could be with us on this happy day.

Deborah and her sisters did all the decorating and the cultural hall looked so pretty. Deb and Spencer did a good job planning what they wanted.

A mother and son dance... I'm so proud of my son (I almost said boy... but he's not a boy anymore. He calls me his little mama!)

Then it was time for Deborah to dance with her Papa. The song was I Loved Her First... let's just say THERE WASN'T A WOMAN IN THE ROOM WHO WASN'T CRYING! (And sweet Bek... I will save your cry-photo for our eyes alone!)

Deborah and her beloved Papa...

Now this is when we all really lost it!! Spencer came and cut in to take his bride!

Look at these sweet lovers...

I'm so happy for them... look at the love...

And who was controlling all of that beautiful, tear-provoking music? Our wonderful in-family DJ's... Kevin and Camille.

Deborah's sister made the wedding cake. This is such a classic pose.

I appreciate that both Deborah...

and Spencer were kind and careful with the cake.

And here at the tail end are some very sweet cousins getting acquainted.

BROCK, RILEY and CADEN

11-11-11 Fun

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

We told Spencer and Deborah we would take care of food at their reception. I suggested we serve chips and salsa (A friend in our ward did this and it was a wonderful success). When I talked to Auntie P about my idea she said, “I think we should make little taquitos! I’ll call Camille and ask her if she wants to have a taquitos-making night!” (Camille was always her able-bodied-assistant when we made taquitos for P’s annual Christmas party. So I ran the idea past Spencer and Deborah... they were thrilled!

We planned our trip down so we would arrive early enough to make taquitos. Stuart, Gordon and I went down in Gordon’s Buick. Camille and Kevin went down in her little Mazda. Silly side note... we left a full two hours before Camille and Kevin, but because of all of our potty stops, meal stops and picking up Spencer and El Pollo Loco for dinner (whew!) we all arrived at Auntie P’s house about the same time!

After dinner we were all there in the kitchen... the girls cooking, the boys chatting, and it felt just like all those other fun gatherings at Auntie P’s. I love that feel of tradition and connecting. Sonny came up for the day so I got to see her too! What a wonderful blessing.

I DO LOVE THESE FUN GIRLS!

We initiated Deborah in the arts of taquito making... showing her how to roll the meat in the softened shell and then secure it with a toothpick. Ah, we do love this girl. We are so glad she's in our family. (Can you guess which are the bride's hands? Hmm, not hard!)

Poor Kevin's back was hurting (9 hours in a car will do that to you!), but he didn't want to miss out on all of the conversations so Auntie P brought out her special quilt (that someone very nice made for her) and he laid on the floor.

After the taquito fry was completed I caught some pix of everyone.

SPENCER, UNCLE STEVE, GORDON, DEBORAH

I'd just turned around from taking this pix when I caught Stuey in the act of eating the last of the pollo! Yummy!

Before Sonny went back home that evening I gave her a haircut (have scissors will travel... that's my motto). I cut P's hair too, but since we both were busy no one got a photo.

What a wonderful, happy, fun-filled evening with our family!

Rodent Conga-line

2011-11-04T17:41:00.001-06:00

I was catching up on Facebook a few minutes ago when a friend posted how she should set up mousetraps! It is that time of year, you know? Ahhh... I had that same thought in the middle of the night (that's when I get all of my great thoughts!) but had forgotten it. So without letting anything else get in my way, to make me forget, again, I went right out to the garage, gathered up all the un-baited traps the pest-guys set (HA!), grabbed my peanut butter and set those puppies up!

Now you may think me a heartless middle-aged woman... but if you'd seen the rodent conga-line we had here last fall you would understand! Those little bounders must have sent out tweets to all of their little rodent friends that there was a par-TAY! in Joanie's dungeon. They moved in by the herd! (Is that what you call a bunch of mice? Inquiring minds want to know! So I inquired... it is a colony of mice! How appropriate!!) Those little furry-free-loaders would lay low all day, snacking on anything their little teeth could gnaw through but as soon as I went to bed they would bring in the dancing girls and entertain Gordon; who is a night-owls, skittering from the dungeon -- furnace room -- bedroom -- under the TV -- bathroom -- under *Stuart's* couch and back again. And would you like to guess what they left me as presents all along their conga-line... yeah, that's what I thought...

In the past I've only had to trap and release the mousey friends that Simba left alive after a fun play time. I soon realize now that Simba is in the *great litter-box-in-the-sky* that he probably wasn't bringing in all of his little friends BUT I AM SURE he brought in the birds... what a naught-kitty-boy!

But I digress... I've used the sticky traps, but they really upset me. What do I do now that I've caught the little furry-fiends? Leave them in their sticky plight? No! That is heartless! But how do I get the squeaking, squirming creature off the glue? My last experience with sticky trap release ended badly with me in tears and a *burial at sea* for the mouse. So... yes, I'm a mouse executioner with the old fashion snap-trap... fast and clean. All I have to do is pick it up, with gloved hands, and drop it in the wheelie-bin, trap and all! I've found I have to embed the peanut butter in the little snap-trap hole...

Oh, this whole subject upsets me... isn't there a way to put out an NO VACANCY sign and have them respect that? Hmmm, I guess not!

Confusion of the Seasons

2011-11-01T19:08:00.000-06:00

In northern Utah we frequently experience sudden drastic climatic changes. I can't even count the number of times we experience *the warm before the storm*! Yesterday was a lovely fall day- high almost 70! Beautiful weather for the little trick or treaters!

Today?... yeah, take a look...

This photo says it all. You see the petunias buried under a blanket of snow, leaves from my Japanese maple and snow on the pumpkin! Gordon went out about noon (the snow started here at 9:30 am) and knocked the very wet snow off of our trees. Good thing too, several of our neighbor's trees have broken limbs from wet snow on branches still in full foliage. The good news is that here we didn't lose power like the folks back east!

Texture Tuesday stats-
kk_and then some - blending mode darker color 82%
kk_stained linen- blending mode vivid light 28%

Fried Zucchini

2011-10-30T21:36:00.003-06:00

One of the difficult things about moving to a new location is that you miss what you've left behind: friends, places, the beach (sniff) and favorite eateries! A few of my SoCal favorites are- (in no particular order)

In 'n Out
Panera Bread
Steer n' Stein
Cielito Lindo (on Olvera St in LA... yummy taquitos)

The first one, In n' Out has finally appeared here in Utah and Salt Lake Valleys, but, sadly, I have to live without Panera Bread and Steer n' Stein. (I've got taquitos covered!) My favoritest thing about Steer n' Stein is their Fried Zucchini... ON MY YUM!! There are times I just crave it! But, sadly, I am out of luck. I've begged several local restaurants to serve it, but none of them have... sniff...

OK here's where the long part of the story comes in...
SO Tuesday I stripped all of my tomatoes off the vines since it was going to freeze. I have 3 BYU ice cream buckets (3 gallon size) full of green to somewhat-ripe tomatoes. Then on Thursday I thought I'd give Fried Green Tomatoes a try (since I've never had them and love the movie by the same name.) I went to my "go-to" resource- Google (BTW- what did we do before the internet?), found a recipe for said fried green tomatoes, made them, shared them and decided that they weren't my favorite.

But that got my little brain to thinking (duh, what took me so long??). Why don't I just make my own fried zucchini? (again with the DUH). I knew that the batter at Steer n' Stein was similar to a tempura batter, one of my favorites; as opposed to bread crumbs or cornmeal. I Googled my-little-Joanie-girl-self up a tempura batter recipe that looked right (I knew it needed to have cornstarch), bought some zuc's and decided to give it a try.

Oh! My! Stinkin'! Heck! (You'd think I live in Utah or something!) I think I've nailed it! Camille and Kevin, Stuart and Anna* were here to partake and all agree that I've succeeded in bringing Steer n' Stein to Utah Valley.

NOT THE GREATEST PHOTO... BUT, OH WELL... IT TASTED YUMMY

So I will share my secret with you. I hope you enjoy them.

FRIED ZUCCHINI

3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup cold water
1 egg, separated
1 cup flour, for dredging
salt and pepper to taste
3 1-inch diameter zucchinis
Parmesan Cheese (the shake-a-shake kind, not shredded)
BYU Creamery's Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (ok... I guess you don't HAVE to have it from BYU, but that is the best!)
cooking oil

DIRECTIONS

Wash zucchini. Cut in half lengthwise then cut each half into long spears, usually 4 per half, but you can make them smaller. Place 1 cup flour to a plastic bag (I just used the produce bag I had the zucchini in). Add salt and pepper to taste (I like the grindy-grindy kind). Dump in the zucchini spears and shake, set aside.

Tempura batter
Sift together 3/4 c flour, cornstarch, and baking soda. Beat together cold water and egg yolk. Stir into flour mixture. Beat egg white until smooth and frothy. Stir into batter.

Heat about 3/4" of cooking oil in a heavy pan (I love to use my enamel covered cast iron Dutch oven for frying, it has wonderful even heating and the high sides eliminate the spatter mess!) to 350 degrees.

When oil is hot give the bag of zucchini spears another shake, dip the floured zucchini in the tempura batter, carefully add to hot oil. Don't crowd your pan. (I can fit 6 in my 6.5 quart Dutch oven). Fry 3-4 minutes until golden brown, turning once. Remove to paper towels to drain. Place fried zucchini on serving plate, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Enjoy them plain or dipped liberally in Ranch dressing! It is a true taste treat.

* Bet you thought I forgot about my asterix! Anna is Stuart's Canadian girlfriend, here for a visit. We like her a lot. I'll keep you posted...

Virginia Creeper

2011-10-29T19:19:00.000-06:00

I know that there are some who consider Virginia creeper to be a weed. One to be stamped out, uprooted, and banished. But I don't happen to one of them. I love the happy leaves and purple berries. I love the way it enfolds a home, fence or chimney.

I grew up hearing my mom talk about Virginia creeper but I don't remember that we had any around our place. The first time I truly appreciated it was in the fall of 1974. We were living in Priest River, Idaho. There, on the west side of town, was a house that had an enormous fir tree growing in the front yard- you know the kind- it dwarfs the house in the yard it is so huge! That fall I saw the Virginia creeper, which had previously gone unnoticed, glowing in shades of vermillion and crimson, purple and scarlet! What a beautiful sight.

So when Virginia moved into my yard of her own accord I encouraged her. Frankly it's been a slow process. This is the third year since she appeared growing along the fence. I'm sure that having a new fence built (18 months ago) knocked her growth back a little. I finally feel like not only is she going to make it but she is thriving!

And, as you see, I've been rewarded with a beautiful fall display.

Last Day...

2011-10-26T18:52:00.000-06:00

(boo-hoo-hoo-hoo... sniff!)

The weather-guesser is predicting our first freeze for this evening... sniff, snuffle...

That means that my beautiful fall flowers are going to be a thing of the past. I just love what happens to my flowers in September and October! The heat of the summer is over and they rebound with an extra wave of color. I had no idea that these petunias and mums would make such a beautiful combination when I planted the petunias back in May!

So, sad, sad, SAD... tomorrow these will be all wilted and sorry... sniff...

kk_and then some- color burn 62%
kk_dream- darken 100%

Fall Projects

2011-10-24T19:19:00.001-06:00

You know that one of my favorite sayings is, "It's another job for another day!" The problem is that 'nother day has to come some day. So the last few weeks have found me tackling that 'nother day job! This is what my shed looks like THIS-day!

But back 4 weeks ago much of my shed looked like this...

And this too... (I know they look like the same kind of sprinkler-induced damage... good eye!) There was similar rot on the front of the shed, particularly the trim on the bottom of the shed and around the doors. I pulled that off with my crowbar... no sanding there! It makes me wish that I'd been more diligent in getting some before and during photos... sadly these are the only two I have.

I started with some scraping (yuck), but soon found out that I was facing a much bigger job than what a little bit of scraping would take care of. So one Monday morning we borrowed Kevin-son's truck and rented a power-washer. OhMyStinkinHeck!... did that ever blast! **

I got off much of the flaking paint with the power washer but, just as my research had predicted, I would still need to do more scraping and then sanding. Again with the "OMSH"... did that ever stress my poor hands and wrists (good thing I can get Ibuprofen in the giant-economy size at Sam's Club!) On one of my days in the pre-painting stage I decided it was time to clean out all of the junk: old wood, dead fruit (from my neighbor's trees) etc, that has been between the shed and fence since before we moved here. ICK! There was a whole wheelie-bin-full of rotten wood, and not-so-rotten fruit that had lived there for I-don't-know-how-many-years!

Kevin came one day with his know-how and circular-saw and replaced the two pieces on the side of the shed that were rotted. (Bet you can't even see the patches!) I got cedar this time to replace the trim pieces. I saved some of my big paint chips from the shed and took them with me to Home Depot to custom match the paint. I don't know if it is the same color that the shed was originally, but it is a perfect match to the color the shed is now! I am so pleased with the results.

And as if the whole shed wasn't enough of a 'nother day (try 'nother month!) job. I knew that our poor east-facing French doors on the house needed attention before the winter storms started to blow. I'm not sure what paint the previous painter used... all I know is that it wouldn't sand off (but somehow would peel off all on its own!) so I ended up having to resort to the chemical paint stripper! Again with the "OMSH"! I spent the better part of this last week stripping the paint on the doors and trim and then repainting and chalking.

Ah... but it all came to an end on Saturday! I put up the last pieces of trim on the shed doors, chalked a few places on both the shed and the doors, did some touch-up paint, mowed the lawn, washed my car, raked up more fallen fruit, did some basking AND THEN went to dinner with Gordon. Whew! That's all I have to say!

I'm always so grateful for my strong and healthy body! I can't work as fast... but I can still get the job done.

** OK Funny story- Ages ago when we still lived in Palmdale I borrowed Auntie P's home-sized power washer to clean my windows and siding. Ummm... I cleaned the bathroom screen so well it was non-existent when I was finished! Power-sprayer beware!

Search Engine for Blogger

2011-10-23T15:29:00.000-06:00

My friend Anke, asked how I got my search engine. I told her briefly what I'd done and she wrote back,

"Oh my goodness, I am so computer stupid. I don't even know what that means LOL. What do you type in there???? Yikes"

I remember asking those very same questions from others (especially my niece, Cindy) out there in the blog-o-sphere. I was always so grateful for a step by step tutorial... So I'm going to do the same here.

First off- Go HERE to let Google do the hard part for you- write the HTML code for the search engine. Follow the directions on that page and then leave the page open so you can refer back to it later on.
Now go to your blog (I will use my blog for the demonstration).
Click on the "Design" link at the top of the page (screen shot #1)

Click on the "layout" link (screen shot #2)

Click on the "Add a Gadget" link (screen shot #3)

This will open a new window. Scroll down until you find the "HTML/JavaScript" and (you guessed it!) click on it! (screen shot #4)

Now go back to the page from the beginning of the tutorial, where you created your custom Google search engine. Highlight and copy the HTML code (ctrl+C or Command+C on mac) (screen shot #5)

Now paste that *party* code back into the Configure HTML/JavaScript window. If you want to give it a title type that in the title box.
Get excited... we're almost finished!
Click "save".

Yay! Reload your blogger page and you will find the search engine there (and happy).

I hope all of this works for you. I was thrilled to get a search engine on my blog. I don't know if anyone else will use it but I USE IT! My blog has so much info that I like to refer to.

BTW you don't have to have tags for this to work.

Joanie's Pinto Purse

2011-10-20T14:24:00.001-06:00

I bought the cutest new purse online at Target (this one is not sold in stores)! They fished me right in with their "buy 1- get 1 50% off"! I actually went looking for this purse... but as soon as I saw THIS ONE I knew I had to have it too. (See how well that works out... buy 1 get 1?)

Look at the darling detail work!

Now I know that they say that this is a cow purse (which in never bad in my opinion) ... BUT it looks just like a pinto pony to me! So that's what it is!

I just want to go somewhere so I can carry my new purse... silly girl!

(On another funny note- when I was tagging this post I found that "shopping" is no where to be found in my tag cloud! I guess that's a good thing!)

There's Your Trouble!

2011-10-14T18:04:00.003-06:00

Recently I was looking for my recipe for Cowboy Salsa and couldn't find it. I knew I'd made it AND blogged about it... but I couldn't find where it was. I finally tracked it down by date because I knew that Debra and Jared served it at their wedding reception! OK... that was too much trouble!

SO... today I added a search feature to my blog. Yay! Hooray for little Joanie!

Now it you want to find something you have lots of options:

Search Engine (duh, that's the purpose of this post),
Click on any of the tags, it will pull up all the posts that tag is on,
OR have fun and just dig around...

Maybe you'd like to just use the new search engine.

Now we can all stay out of the thorn bushes (or in this case, Locust tree thorns)

TT- the Red eDition

2011-10-11T12:05:00.000-06:00

My niece, Cindy, got me hooked up with Kim Klassen (yeah, I've blogged about her before). Kim has a feature on her blog called Texture Tuesdays. This week I decided to play along as it was the Red eDition- your photo needs to have something red. I only had one problem! What "red" photo to choose as my subject. I thought about red gerbera daisies, my red Japanese maple, Beatrix (of course!), and even a red dahlia but what won out this day was...

RASPBERRIES!

I used so many fun things on this image.

first- DP Mom's Perfect Workflow action (I almost always start here!)
then I ran CoffeeShop's Grainy B&W action (and deleted the B&W conversion layer... I just wanted the graininess!)
added lots of texture layers
kk_autumn burst- color burn 39%
kk_and then some- color burn 91%

I love the results!

But, having worked on Beatrix, my friend of almost 12 years, I had to post her here too...

I'm not as happy with my results on this one, but this is what I did-

first- DP Mom's Perfect Workflow action
then I ran CoffeeShop's 2-Minute Miracle action
kk_autumn burst- hard light 40%
kk_and then some- overlay 49%
kk_stained linen- multiply 42%

You should go over and check it out...

Snow in October?

2011-10-06T22:16:00.000-06:00

I know that we have unpredictable weather here in Utah... but this snow storm took me by surprise. *Fritz* said the snow was only supposed to be down to 6000 ft... but he was wrong! We got it here at 4800 feet. I think I may have gotten a little discouraged except they are predicting temperatures back in the 70s next week.

I loved the heaped up snow on my potted plants.

I started to get worried about my trees, but by 2pm the snow let up...

But, BUT doesn't this look beautiful?

Alpine Loop

2011-10-04T22:22:00.000-06:00

I love traditions! This-day was the 7th Annual Alpine Loop Drive for Joanie and DeLoris! Yes, we've done this every fall since I moved here in 2005. One year I even "sprung" DeLoris from rehab (the broken hip kind, not the drug kind) so we could make our trip.

We always start in Provo Canyon and head north around the loop. But this year, at DeLoris' request, we started at the other end- American Fork Canyon. It's amazing, but it is a whole different drive. The AF side of the mountains are mostly conifers and aspen with a few maples thrown in. But as soon as you crest the summit it is aspen all the way!

DeLoris is an oil painter, she has such a good artist's eye. She pointed this shot out to me... the lone spot of color on the conifers.

I like this one lone naked aspen standing sentinel over all of his fully-clothed friends...

Another of my favorite sights is this one...

I love how the fern change color too and create this fern-colored-carpet under the aspen

Towards the end of the loop I caught the sun peeking out from behind the clouds. We live in such a beautiful world.

"Take A Picture..."

2011-09-27T22:09:00.001-06:00

"... it will last longer!!"

We all know that playground taunt when one is stared at. But today I have a very real need for that advice! I'm making another wedding quilt! Spencer and Deborah are getting married on November 12th!

I asked them for their color choices and received an answer that "I can live with"... BROWN & GREEN! Oh my, how I love that color combination. It may be hard to part with this lovely when I'm finished.

My problem comes in the fact that when I want to make a scrappy-looking quilt, you know the kind that looks totally random, I'm not able to just approach it in a random way. What would happen if two block of the same color got positioned together? No, NO, NO... that will never do for an OCD girl like me.

So out comes my design wall (read- a large flannel sheet tacked up on the wall) and hours of careful placement and arrangement. But when you are talking about 336 pieces of fabric do you know how easily that design wall plan ends up in a muddled mess... I speak from experience here... it happens with too much regularity to suit me. So after having a minor anxiety moment I devised a plan. Not a new plan, of course, I've used it before with great success.

TAKE A PICTURE... IT WILL LAST LONGER...

I took photos of the design wall, from left to right of the first half of the quilt (yes, it is king sized), then uploaded them to my computer. Luckily I have a laptop, so I brought it in, set it up on the end of the ironing board and referred to it for careful RE-placement of my design. (Notice that my design wall has to turn a corner... that's what happens when you ~~think~~ sew big!)

I take one row at a time and stack the pieces on my ironing board, still arranged in my carefully placed blocks. I chain piece the three sub-segments together. This is an offset block it goes together in two steps. When I get to the second step where I sew segments A & B together I pin their companion segment C to them to avoid more confusion!

Now you may wonder why I'm writing all of this out so carefully. Yes, I love to share good ideas... but mostly it is because next time I get into that minor anxiety moment and I'm thinking "I sure wish I could remember how I solved this problem last time" I will have the answer right here on my blog.

C & K Wedding Album

2011-09-25T21:49:00.000-06:00

Last week I got an email from one of the companies where I've published my books. They offered me a 40% off discount if I'd get my act together and finished an existing book. Well... how can a girl pass up a deal like that?

I started working on Camille and Kevin's wedding album a couple of months ago when we finally got the photos they had taken (deep sigh!). This was the impetus I needed to get serious. This is one of my favorite pages.

And here is another one...

If you'd like to look at the whole album click here.

(I had fun with more textures from Kim Klassen! I talked about her when I was working on this photo of Camille for the album.)

Jessica's Poppy

2011-09-17T12:29:00.002-06:00

Several years ago I was at Jessica's house and saw the MOST BEAUTIFUL poppies ever! They were tall, huge and PINK! I knew I needed some of those.

Funny thing about poppies, they come with their own little pepper-shaker-seed-dispenser! So Jess kindly gave me a couple. I brought them home, put them in my kitchen drawer and then forgot about the until this spring.

Mine aren't tall, their stems are all disfigured like an osteoarthritic old woman but when you look at their happy little faces you see that they are trying to gladden just one corner of my garden. Maybe next year I need to find a sunnier place for these beautiful flowers.

Healing & Bugs

2011-09-14T22:38:00.001-06:00

Healing is one of the most wonderful things that we have been blessed with. We know that there are so many different kinds of healing: physical, emotional, mental, social... I've been the recipient of so much healing but the one I want to address today is the physical healing.

Three months ago today I had my hands *surgered* (carpel tunnel release). I couldn't have guessed how that would effect me. I didn't realize how much I used my hands until they were out of commission!

Yesterday, I had my first *I'm finally getting back to normal* day. It was wonderful! I made baby Chloe a raggy-row quilt (and didn't take a pix... what's up with that?). Those raggy quilts take lots and lots and LOTS of clipping. I'd given up making them because my hand would go numb after about 2 rows of clipping. I was smart (how's that for a change?) and took two days to clip this one but never did my hands hurt or get numb. I CAN LIKE THIS!

But as if that wasn't enough THEN I went outside to do some yard work. I picked peaches, did a little weeding AND mowed the lawn! My hands never hurt once! What a wonderful blessing. I thank my Heavenly Father daily for my recovery.

What does all of this have to do with bugs? Umm... nothing!

But I love this feisty little fellow and his long shadow!

Beautiful Camille

2011-09-13T21:03:00.000-06:00

I'm working on Camille and Kevin's wedding album presently! I've had lots of fun using some wonderful templates from Simply Sarah. (Sadly, she doesn't have the link active any longer for these.)

But today, TODAY! I decided to try my hand at some new textures from Kim Klassen (my niece, Cindy, turned me on to her blog and fabulous textures!!) Today is TT (Texture Tuesday) and since I worked like a happy-dog in the yard (my hands DON'T HURT... my back DOESN'T HURT!) I decided I could use a little creative time playing with one of my favorite shots from Camille's wedding. PLUS- Rita, over at CoffeeShop has out a new action that is fabulous!

What do you think? I just love it. I can see that I have a whole new creative outlet goin' on here!

TEXTURES- kk_dream, kk_autumnBurst (These are free textures when you are signed up for her Texture Lovin' List)

ACTION- CoffeeShop 2 Minute Miracle (Rita is so wonderfully generous as well. You can go to her blog to get the 2 minute miracle and read her tutorial!)

Mutant Grape Tomatoes!

2011-09-08T20:48:00.001-06:00

Sing it with me!

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Teenaged-Mutant-Ninja-Tomatoes ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

... that is what comes to my mind every time I go pick my grape tomatoes. Are you all familiar with the yummy, small, sweet grape tomato? I thought I was too, until this year! But this... THIS is what I found the first time I went out to pick... (and frankly these are smaller this time since the weather has cooled off a little).

Now I ask you... doesn't this look like a small Roma instead?

They are tasty, but not as tasty as the small ones. Do you see this heaped bowl?

I've picked this amount, or more, several times this summer (let's all hear it for the water walls!). You know that means I've been on several *Drive-by Fruitings*. I even used them to paid-in-kind when I got Beatrix serviced last. (OK, so I paid the bill and gave Elisha some tomatoes... let's not get technical!)

I'd be interested to know if anyone else ended up with any mutant fruit or vegetables this summer.

Pink Clouds

2011-09-07T21:21:00.001-06:00

Tonight the phone rang at 7:13pm and shortly thereafter my timer went off reminding me that I needed to move the sprinkler. I walked out the front door and this is what greeted me.

"Bobbie... run outside right now and look at the big pink cloud!" Can you believe this? She was in a room without a west facing window, the door closed, and on a CORDED phone! She couldn't go look. Me? I would have said, "Hang on! I gotta go see this!"

Is it just me? Or am I strange? (Don't answer that!)

I will never get tired of beautiful sunsets, beautiful clouds, beautiful... anything! And I will run rabbit-fast to see it!

Golden Sunset

2011-08-29T21:05:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite things is a that rich, golden light that we sometimes get at sunset! It turns the whole world that same vibrant colour!

These are the mountains just north of my house.

But here is the western sky...

I am so lucky that my office window looks to the west.

Double Rainbow

2011-08-25T20:55:00.001-06:00

Fancy Meeting You Here!

2011-08-25T20:46:00.001-06:00

August brings thunderstorms, hot weather and $2 Tuesdays at Thanksgiving Point. I went for the first time several years ago with my friend Diane but it didn't take long before this became another Joanie and DeLoris tradition. (If you want to read about prior escapades click on the DeLoris tag.)

I'm always pleasantly surprised at how different the gardens are from year to year. This year the theme seemed to be lots of hot orange and hot pink! Always a hot combination for me (see the last photo in the post). But this beauty is what stole my heart this trip. I've never seen a more beautiful yellow rose! Proflowers says the meaning of yellow roses is joy and friendship; which is very appropriate since this describes my time with DeLoris.

But here's the funny part... we'd just parked the car when up pulls Jessica and the kids! "I was just thinking we might see Grammie here today!" They needed to park but we both met up at the front desk. They were ready to be off and discovering while DeLoris and I waited for a golf cart to become available. I walked out with the family to get this sweet shot of my fam.

Roxie- "Mom, can I roll down the hill?"
Jess- "Sure."
Grammie- "Christian can you move to one side so I can get a photo?" At which point the previously uninterested roller (Christian) joined his sister for the photo op! bwahahahahaha.

DeLoris and I had to wait about 15 minutes for a cart to become available. But soon we too were off and exploring. We'd been cruising for about half an hour when we worked our way up to the top of the Acropolis when I hear, "Grammie, Grammie!" There, toiling bravely in the heat, is my little family from Lewis Zoo.

I grabbed the camera to get that shot and when I turned around who do I see? Heather and her parents! We had a little visit way up on top and then were off in search of some weary travelers!

Let me tell you! They were happy to see the Grammie with her golf cart! What you can't see is Roxie and DeLoris hiding on the front seat. Jess sat on the back and dragged the stroller... they were pooped and flushed! We ferried them past the waterfalls and up the steep hill one has to climb to get back to the parking lot.

After sweet goodbyes from my family DeLoris and I took another turn around the gardens. This time around I saw these beautiful purple flowers. I thought they might be ranuculus but upon further investigation I don't think they are. Does anyone know what this beautiful plant is called? (Sheri tells me these are LISIANTHUS!)

It was a lovely day made more wonderful by meeting friends and family unexpectedly. And you know what? There is still one more Tuesday in August!

Slow Learner...

2011-08-18T14:04:00.000-06:00

Do you ever find that your mind wanders? As a dyslexic/ADD girl I've always been a day-dreamer. Yesterday I was in one of those day-dreaming modes while massaging a sore knuckle and all of a sudden a whole blog post popped into my mind!

I've decided that I must be a slow learner or learning-impaired or simply head-strong. Take your pick!

Growing up and through my 20's we lived rurally and heated our house with wood. At an early age I learned to chop kindling with a hatchet; then in my 20's I learned how to use a spitting maul. It was a wonderful outlet for frustrations I was going through at the time. I could make the wood fly!

Hmmm... but that was in my 20's and now I'm, well, not in my twenties! (Sneezing sound= fffffffifty-nine!) But I still have said spitting maul and I use it from time to time, usually as a sledge-hammer.

So back to the sore knuckle... why was it sore you may ask? Because the last time I tried to use my spitting maul to hammer some stakes into the ground around my tomato plants I whacked that knuckle good and hard; skinning it and bruising the bone!

Now let's think... last August, when Stuart and I were putting in the paw-th I tried to cut a piece of rock with said-maul and ended up just about chopping off the end of the same finger. It took months for that one to heal! And go back to January 2010 when I whacked my thumb good and hard trying to build a temporary fence to keep Harley in the yard after the wind storm blew down our fence!

MAYBE... just maybe, it's time to stop using said splitting maul! What do you think?

But you know my favorite part about this photo? Notice the 3 ibuprofen tablets in the background? Yeah, I need that quite a bit! bwahahahahahaha

Helper Harley

2011-08-16T12:01:00.000-06:00

So *lasterday* after taking lunch to Miss Camille we decided to do a Costco shop since we haven't been there forever. One of the main reasons for going there was to get Harley more dog food. (He seems to prefer the Kirkland brand best.) Like everything Costco it comes in ginormous one ton bags. And, ya know, my hands are still healing from surgery so I knew I couldn't lift and pour. So I carefully cut open a corner of the bag, used a forklift to get the bag onto the kitchen counter and then poured it into the 5-gallon bucket... bwahahahahahaha...

Sweet Helper Harley, he isn't a begger! He's a cleaner-upper! He was right on the job going to help Mama clean up her mess!

I'm not sure I could have made a bigger mess if I'd tried. And you know... all I did was laugh and laugh!

Room 4

2011-08-15T18:43:00.000-06:00

I blogged two months ago about moving Miss Camille's out of her old classroom at Saratoga Springs, then last month I talked about the process! But somehow neither Camille or I got any *before*, *during*, or what we refer to as *BOMB* PHOTOS! (I think I should be drummed out of the blogging community for this infraction!)

So, first, do you want to know what a *BOMB* photo is? It is when you have to make a giant mess, taking everything out of the cupboards, so that you can get it put away in an organized manner. We were amazed at how many times a BOMB went off in Room 4!

Here is what it looks like today- all ready for the ickle-firsties to come in for reading tests. (Kevin visited Miss Camille's classroom today for the first time since he helped move in boxes. His comment- "It looks just like what you and your Mom would do. I'm not surprised!")

This is what it looked like on July 26 when Camille was stapling up her bulletin board background.

Horton has a new home above the circa 1950 student cubbies. Can you see all the October birthday eggs? We've found that this is a trend.

And, lastly, my Miss Camille! I sure love this girl! But now I have to go through Camille-withdrawals after spending lots of time with her in her room. =o(

OK... I lied! That wasn't the last! I took Miss Camille lunch today (simply an excuse to see my girl again today.) As I was leaving I overheard two moms talking, "I can't believe my youngest is in 2nd grade!" "I can't believe my youngest is in 4th grade!"
So I just had to tell them...

Ladies, my youngest is down the hall teaching first grade!
(Frankly, they didn't like being one-upped!) bwahahahahaha

Robust Mortal Experience

2011-08-11T00:34:00.000-06:00

Last September we had a Regional Conference Broadcast to 139 Stakes in Utah County and parts of Wasatch County plus 17 BYU Stakes; a possible audience half a million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the speakers was Julie B Beck, General Relief Society President. She said something that resonated with me. I wrote it down and have applied its words many times in the last year. She said that we are "having a Robust Mortal Experience!" I love that! It acknowledges that life is not easy nor was it meant to be. BUT when we have faith in Jesus Christ we are able to meet those robust experiences with courage, faith and a knowledge that the Lord will not leave us alone in our struggles.

This truth is also testified to by Helaman speaking to his sons; Nephi and Lehi.

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. Helaman 5:12

These last two weeks have been a Robust Mortal Experience for our family! It was two weeks ago this morning that our little Chloe was born 4 weeks early and within 90 minutes we found out that our little Dylan's heartbeat had stopped in utero; he was delivered, stillborn, 36 hours later. We made a fast trip to the AV for Dylan's graveside service on August 4th- the 30th anniversary of Amanda's death. Then this last Sunday Camille had a miscarriage.

Why do I share these happenings that many people would refer to as tragedies? Because I am here as a witness that the Lord will hold us firmly in His loving arms, rooted on His sure Foundation; "a foundation whereon if [we] build [we] cannot fall!"

Have we been sad? Yes, of course. Have we cried for our losses and rejoiced in the triumph of little Chloe? Yes.

But in spite of, or perhaps, because of, our Robust Mortal Experience we know of the Lord's love and caring for us and we know that He will never leave us alone in the storm.

Families Are What It's All About

2011-08-08T21:05:00.000-06:00

While we were in Palmdale for Dylan's graveside service we also got to see our little Riley! It was such a treat. He is one of the sweetest children I know... and I know a lot of them! He is a darling boy and such a little-Spenny clone. He sat patiently for dinner at Steer 'n' Stein while all the oldsters visited. (I remember being the only child with all the adults. I hope I was as good as he is!)

Before dinner we visited at our hotel room and here are some of our Lewis men. Gordon made the point that this represents 3-generations.

DOUG, GORDON, RILEY, SPENCER

And lest anyone think Doug is standing on a box... I show you Exhibit A...

Look at the length of this boy's pahnts!

It was such a blessing to be able to get together and visit.

Dylan Ross Lewis

2011-08-04T19:26:00.001-06:00

Thursday, August 4, 2011, we laid little Dylan to rest at Desert Lawn Cemetery. He is under a wonderful, shady fruitless mulberry tree in the Innocence Garden, or as I prefer to call it the Baby Lawn. It is a beautiful little corner in the otherwise dry and barren Mojave Desert.

Spencer and Deborah only wanted family to come to the graveside service. It couldn’t have been a better morning. There was a lovely cool desert breeze that tinkled a sweet little wind chime hung in the tree. We shared our faith in eternal families, hope in a glorious resurrection and gratitude for the Atonement made by our loving older brother, Jesus Christ. Again, what would we do without this hope?

Thumbnail Moon Sunset

2011-08-01T22:16:00.000-06:00

I have the very great blessing of west facing windows... I know Jane Austen wouldn't agree and think west-facing windows very incommodious. (Think all of that with a strong English accent!) What I like is that I rarely miss a beautiful view of the sunsets if I am in my office.

I glanced up from my work tonight and saw the most deep, beautiful, soft sunset; it only got better when I pulled up the blinds to shoot through the screen (again) and saw my very favorite *thumbnail moon*. This first sliver of a new moon always reminds me of my thumbnail. (Guess that lets you know how long my nails don't grow!)

It was beautiful and soothing... exactly what I needed this evening.

We Heart Tiny Baby Dylan

2011-07-30T11:38:00.000-06:00

I love this photo taken of Spencer and Deborah holding tiny Dylan's feet. Their hands suggest a heart centered around their sweet little stillborn son.

I am so grateful for the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope of a glorious resurrection. I'm grateful for eternal families. How could a parent go on without these principle of hope?

Celestial Child

2011-07-29T16:52:00.000-06:00

Wednesday was a very eventful day; early in the day the words from Job came into my mind.

"...The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21

Shortly after little Chloe's birth I got a text from Spencer telling me that he and Deborah had gone in for a routine 33-week prenatal appointment and they couldn't detect a heartbeat! It is every parents nightmare! An emergency ultrasound confirmed that, in fact, baby Dylan was gone. Having lost two children myself I know the heartache but now I ache because my dear Spenny and Deb are having the same experience.

The process of bringing about the birth process of a stillborn child is a slow one. Last night (about 36 hours after first discovery) at about 9 pm little Dylan was delivered. He weighs 2 pounds 4 ounces and is a beautiful, perfect little boy.

The AV hospital staff have been marvelous. They gave Spencer and Deborah all the time they needed to be with their tiny son. Auntie P and Deborah's two sisters arrived after his birth and took photos.

This one tears my heart... he is lying on an afghan made by his great-gramma Edna.

He is just a tiny little Celestial Child gone on before his loving parents...

to await their arrival.

Celestial Child by Becky Osmond Close

For one brief moment in the span of time
You stepped across the veil and became a child of mine.
Sweet Celestial Light, sleeping in the night,
Angels came to take you home again.

This earthly test was not for you-
But, oh, for me!
As yearning grows within to hold you tenderly
But I can feel your love, reaching from above,
Through the veil and deep within my soul,

And Oh, what comfort is given me
To know that you are mine forever
Now seeing through my tears,
As my sorrow disappears
A vision of Eternity together!

For one brief moment in the span of time
You stepped across the veil and became a child of mine.
Sweet Celestial light,
Glowing pure and bright
Save within your Heavenly Home above.

Precious Tiny Pork-chop

2011-07-28T14:24:00.000-06:00

Yesterday at 8:50 AM little Chloe couldn't wait any longer to be born and came 4 weeks early. She weighs 6 lbs and is 17 inches long. She had a little trouble breathing on her own at first but after several hours in NICU she was able to join her Mommy, Suzi, in their room.

Not wanting to rush too much we waited until she was a whole 11 hours old before we went to meet our newest little darling! She is an angel straight from Heaven!

Momma and baby are doing fine...

Grammie and Grandpa are happy to have her here; and healthy, especially after the initial scare.

She sleep the whole time we were there and she squeaks! I told her she does baby-Darth-Vader breathing... just like Grandpa!

And speaking of Grandpa... whose chubby face it this? This is where the *pork-chop* part comes in! Look at those chubby little cheeks! And because she is proportioned she is a tiny pork-chop... and Grammie loves it!

I always marvel at the beauty of a tiny newborn; so perfect, so miniature, so delicate... what a miracle!

She has a beautiful head of hair and a nicely shaped head...

But this??? THIS... is one of the sweetest parts of a new baby...

These tiny feet will
Grow and learn,
Run and play,
And follow in the Savior's way.

Too Many Cooks

2011-07-22T11:53:00.000-06:00

Camille and I drove down to Palmdale on Monday for Andrea’s funeral. It was a beautiful funeral with the necessary mix of tears and laughter, memories and hopes of a glorious resurrection. I’m grateful we could be there.

Later that day after an obligatory Wal-Mart run we came back to Auntie P’s with the making for a fun bbq. Apparently we must have been hungry when we went shopping because we all came back with our idea of a fun dessert. Spencer, Deborah and Riley came over to Auntie P’s to join us.

I’d found some yummy peaches that just begged to be made into a fresh peach tart (you know my favorite tart this summer with fruit d’jour?). The only problem is I decided to plug in the hand mixer before I put in the beaters! This is a somewhat authentic reenactment of the original incident... no Grammie’s were hurt in the process!

Ah, but Sonny... she’d found some ginormous *muush-mallow* and wanted to make s’mores. After ~~roasting~~ burning the marshmallows over the gas range she realized it wasn’t hot enough to melt the chocolate... soooo she microwaved the whole mess! Mess is right!

I think this is the *mush-mallow* that ate Cleveland!

Camille wanted to try the same thing...

(I love Sonny behind her! Bwahahahaha)

It was so nice to have an evening to visit with family...

CAMILLE, DEBORAH AND JOANIE

And be with little Riley again... he is such a sweet boy!

The part I love about family is that when you get together it is like no time has passed. I suppose that is what happens when you’ve known each other for a good portion of your life. Here is Camille and Sonny cheesing it up together... they’ve known each other since Camille was a toddler but now they interact as peers! I love it!

And now today, Thursday, Mams and Mum are motoring it back home to Utah!

(Thank you to Auntie P for these wonderful photos... my camera made the trip but hardly came out!)

"It's All Fun and Games 'Til Somebody Gets Hurt!"

2011-07-20T15:14:00.000-06:00

I love our tradition of 3rd Sunday Grammie Dinner. Most of the local children and grandchildren come for a yummy dinner and an evening of fun and visiting. But this week Unca Stuey was in fine form. He took off his tie (on Sunday!!) and went outside with his adoring fan club.

I became aware of the frivolities, grabbed my camera and got outside just in time to see him *airplaning* Kaia around.

But Unca Stuey is always looking for the next fun feat! He got both little girls; Elise and Roxie, each by one leg and started to spin...

Go faster... (At this point mama-Jessica had to look away! Look out of the way!)

Ahhhhh... too fast... Yeah, it's all fun and games 'til somebody gets hurt, or in this case, scare-scare! (But look at Roxie's face! She is totally diverted!)

But that's ok. Unca Stuey can make it all better.

Christian wasn't into the spinning, but he loved the *throw up in the air* routine.

And where is Sophie all this time? Staying safely away from her rowdy Unca Stuey! Showing us the pretty flowers. This little 16-month-old can sure talk! What's up with that?

This little lovely has eyes that are the same color as denim. Uncle Spenny's eyes are like that too. I love it.

Ashton is growing so fast! She is almost as tall as her Mama... she passed up her Grammie years ago! What a lovely girl.

It is one of my greatest joys to be here in Utah with so many of our grandchildren and family. I just wish the rest of them were closer.

Happy time!

Holly's Cowboy Quilt

2011-07-18T20:48:00.000-06:00

Last fall we all had a girls-weekend at Holly's new house in Idaho. It was a wonderful time rekindling our long-time friendship. Traditionally these girls-weekend trips were all about *what are we going to craft!* (But that is a whole different post). And even though we didn't have any crafts in tow this time Holly did have a project for me. She wanted me to make her a table runner quilt. That sparked an idea in my little girl mind. I told her I would like to make her a house-warming quilt. So we went fabric shopping at her local drug-store-that-carries-fabric! (As opposed to the Ace Hardware-that-sells-fabric in Cedar City!) Poor Holly got her first taste of quilter's sticker shock when they rang up her total.

OK... so now fast forward- the top is completed AND I have my wonderful Handi-quilter Sweet 16! This is the first quilt since I got my HQ16 where I really got to color outside the lines. I knew I wanted to use a paisley quilting pattern. I ferreted the net for some ideas, printed out a couple and then started. When I tell you I color outside the lines I literally mean that... I don't do well when I have to stay right on the line when quilting. I find that I do the best by learning the pattern and then I do it all freehand aka free-motion quilting.

Holly was in love with this Alexander Henry cowboy print so that was my base. Because we were shopping without a pattern in mind we got some good companion prints. When I found this fun pattern in one of my quilting magazines and knew that this was *just the ticket* for Holly's cowboy quilt. So when it came time to start cutting I went *shopping* in my stash.

I had the quilting finished before my hand surgery but I still needed to bind the quilt. Since I knew I would be seeing Holly in Palmdale I got the binding on and made my delivery. Now I can hardly wait to see it on Holly's cowboy bed.

Busy Hands take a Vacation

2011-07-15T18:44:00.000-06:00

It was a month yesterday since I had my bilateral carpal tunnel release. It seems like so much longer! As I type that short span of time I am able to be more patient with myself. I guess I didn't realize how busy my hands are or how much of an impact having them *surgered* would make.

The scars are still very hard (I say they feel like a pork-chop bone. My body always does this with scars. They will soften with time) and my hands are tender. I can't do much that requires palm strength and especially not pushing! Yikes. I've become adept at knuckling my way around (hmm, like a chimp?) instead of using my palm. It's amazing what we don't realize when we have a normal healthy body!

I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the continued healing! And I'm grateful to I know that 6 to 12 months from now I will have my hands back, strong and healthy without the tingling, pain and numbness from pre-surgery days.

But for now... these two ~~little~~ not-quite-so-little hands are taking a vacation. (Thank you Stuart for taking over the lawn mowing!)

Saying Good-bye

2011-07-14T22:43:00.000-06:00

In the early hours this morning my sweet friend, Andrea, went home to her Heavenly Father after a long and valiant fight against cancer. She was such an example of enduring to the end.

The first time I remember interacting with Andrea was when our little girls, Camille and Desi, were in kindergarten together. The girls became best, and live-long, friends. You know how that draws moms together too. We both hosted countless sleep-overs and other fun activities for our little girls. But I really came to appreciate Andrea as MY friend when we served together as the Young Women Presidency in the Palmdale 2nd ward. I could always count on her for good ideas, enthusiasm, and *keeping presidency meeting under an hour*!

Andrea and I shared many things: a girls getaway weekend in Big Bear where she had the most wonderful photos from their years in Japan to scrapbook, our woes and trials as mothers, our love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ AND she has kindly shared her grandchildren with me as well.

Andrea was such a good example of unconditional love, persistence, generosity, creativity, spirituality and so many more that I can't list.

I'm grateful to know that we will share our friendship through eternity. I know she will be busy using all her wonderful talents while she waits for the rest of us to catch up.

Love you sweetie-girl!

Golden Sunset

2011-07-09T20:46:00.000-06:00

Laster-evening during an intermission from a Harry-Pot-a-thon with Auntie P I went upstairs just in time to see the whole sky filled with that wonderful golden light that I just love! I whipped up the blinds, opened the window and shot right through the screen to capture this beauty. We live in such a beautiful world!

Old School

2011-07-08T20:24:00.000-06:00

My hands are finally healing enough that I can get out and do things! (Boy this has been torture!) Several days this week I've gone up to Miss Camille's new school to help put things in order... and boy-howdy, does that room ever need some order!

For the last four years this room; Room 4, Mrs Maynard's new school home, has been inhabited by a different first-year-teacher! This last teacher; pregnant and moving across the country, literally picked up her purse and walked out of the room. Every single cupboard was stuffed with junk including: thank you notes, bakery cupcake from who-knows-when, old bulletin-board things, etc. So can you guess what Miss Camille has been doing? Yup, lots of cleaning and de-junking.

I felt like I'd stepped back in time as I walked down the hallway! This little school looks like it was built in the 1940s! It looks exactly like the school I went to right down to the cubbies where students hang their coats and signs on the bathroom doors...

The floors are waxed to a deep shine (yeah... and this photo was taken before the custodian stripped and re-waxed the floors today!)

And, AND... there is a vintage wooden teacher's desk and chair plus an equally old chest of drawers! They look like they've been tortured by little hands for the more years than I've been around! Miss Camille got permission to paint them and now they have a new lease on life.

Before we left yesterday afternoon (after another torrential thunderstorm) we finally got to the point where we had started putting Miss Camille's teaching aides put away in clean and empty cupboards, the desk and chest of drawers newly lined and re-assembled, and the first bulletin board fabric up! Yup, it's coming right along.

Gordon's Gal-Pal-Sal

2011-06-30T17:47:00.000-06:00

The other night we took a drive up Left Fork (Hobble Creek Canyon) I came prepared with my super-zoom lens and I wasn't disappointed! Usually that means I found some wildlife; but this time it was the domesticate variety that caught my attention.

We stopped to see several herds of horses. There are always a few brave creatures who come over to the fence to get a scratch... but I've never seen this before with a stranger...

"Look at this! This horse is licking me!"

Sure enough this pretty palomino mare was giving Gordon a good cat-bath!

Does she have a male owner? Does he smell/taste like Gordon? (She wasn't interested in the way I smelled!)

I pointed out another horse to Gordon and while his attention was distracted Gal-Pal-Sal checked out his pockets. (Let's just say those pants went to the laundry when we got home!)

Gordon became so attached to her that he named her Pal, the palomino. Then later in the evening he changed it to his pal, Sal. (We laughed about the non-originality of the names!)

Lastly, a beautiful canyon sunset! It doesn't get much better than this!

Totally Dominated!

2011-06-27T12:22:00.000-06:00

Growing up Stuart and Camille were always the best of friends, but that didn't prevent a little friendly competition! When they were about 8-years-old Stuart started soccer and Camille started competition cheerleading. I have a friend who always remarked on my little children how sturdily built they were (hmm, sorry guys!)

It didn't take long before Camille was recognized as a great base! She routinely lifted the flyers above her head, and as the name implies, pitched them into the air and caught them again. This kind of exercise builds incredible arm strength!

Now, enter their dad, ever ready to pair people up in an arm wrestling match**. Much to Stuart's dismay Camille could beat him arm wrestling until they were 13!

Don't ask me what started this last night, but for some reason Camille and Stuart decided to give it a try again... 13 years later!

Let's put it this way... she was totally dominated!

** OK so now for the back stories on arm wrestling. When Gordon and I first met and then married he was impressed with my arm strength. I'd lived rurally all my life, rode horses, picked bales of hay, and, most importantly, had spent the last few years taking out my frustrations on the wood pile (AKA splitting wood with a heavy splitting maul).

The first contest he orchestrated was between me and some poor whimpy unsuspecting missionary that lived with him before we were married. I wasted the poor guy and I've felt bad about it ever since.

The second one was much more satisfying... we were in Hawai'i visiting Gordon's children. Erik, his oldest, was 13.5; the setting- Pizza Hut. Gordon told Erik he thought Mom could beat him and Erik, being taller than me, thought he had it made-in-the-shade! The whole dining area erupted in applause when I beat him. I told Erik he'd never get a rematch; I knew it would be all downhill for me from there.

Red, White & Blueberry

2011-06-27T11:59:00.000-06:00

About a month ago I posted about a wonderful Strawberry tart I made. Yesterday I was hankering for it again but this time I had three different kinds of berries to grace the top...

Doesn't this look so patriotically yummy?

I did cheat on the filling (my hands just weren't up to making lemon curd yet) I used this old standby, which was good... but not as good as the lemon curd/cream cheese filling!

Fastest Cheescake
• 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated)
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 1 9" graham cracker or chocolate cookie pie crust (** I used the baked crust from the original strawberry-lemon tart post)
Preparation:
In medium bowl beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add the sweetened condensed milk, beating constantly. When half of the milk has been added, add the lemon juice and beat until smooth. Add remaining sweetened condensed milk until mixture is smooth. Pour into graham cracker crust and chill at least one hour. 8 servings

Poor Babies!

2011-06-25T07:40:00.006-06:00

Do you ever surprise yourself with your lack of thinking things through? I sure did this time!

For some reason I had it in my little-girl-mind that today, when the bandages came off, my hands would be all better and ready to go!

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

I'VE HAD SURGERIES BEFORE!

I KNOW IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY!

Look at these poor babies!

I have some numb spots- I knew that would happen.
My wrists are sore and emaciated- I should have known that would happen after 10 days in boxing gloves!
The incisions are sore and hard- my scars always go through that stage.
My bruises hurt- now this one I don't get! If I had *damage* to my forearms: IE got hit by something I would expect bruises to hurt, but this is just pooled blood from the wrist. What does THAT hurt? I don't know!
My incisions itch like crazy- normal- thank goodness for Vitamin E and Topricin.
I still have weak hands and have to be very careful how I use them- I SHOULD have know that would be true.

Ah, well... I came home from getting the stitches out, laid down on my bed to read and ended up sleeping for 3 hours! That's what the trauma of disappointment will do!

Miss Camille Moves 1st Grade

2011-06-24T19:36:00.000-06:00

When I took the baby SD card out of my MPC-phone I discovered that I had some very fun photos from 11 days ago (the day before my surgery) that I'd completely forgotten about. What a happy find!

Camille's been teaching 1st grade out in Saratoga Springs for the last four years and whereas she loved the people she worked with (you know who you are) she was not wild about the commute, especially since the onset of the I-15 corridor construction! (It already cost her a tire.)

Each year Camille has put in for a transfer to other schools, within the district, which would be closer for her. This year was her lucky year! Her previous school was going through a significant downsize: from 8- 1st grade classes in '09-'10 to only 4 in '11-'12! (There were only 7 last year!) It is a wonderful blessing that Camille was able to transfer to a school right in Orem, 2.1 miles from her house, right across the street from Desi's! Hooray!

ANY-way, on June 13th Miss Camille and I trekked bravely out to her old school with Kevin's (Camille's-kind-of-Kevin) cargo van. Our quest was to remove 4 years worth of planning and working, playing and teaching from her old room there. There were so many fun memories for both of us. Camille has let me come help her prepare for each school year: putting up bulletin boards, original artwork (Horton the elephant in his tree, and other trees) and tons of fun visuals for those ickle-firsties!

Our main concern was could we fit the kiva into the van? LIKE A GLOVE! I just love the laws of physics: leverage, wheels, balance, a little muscle-power. We leveraged the kiva onto one of the rolly-carts, wheeled it out the very uncooperative double set of doors, tipped it into the back of the van and...

P-U-S-H-E-D!

Go little Camillie!

The second section of the kiva just needed to spoon on top of the first. But we didn't realize we had it backwards until we got outside. We flipped it around, again with the tip and push! Yay for girl power! We laughed and had a good time with all of our silliness.

With impending thunderstorms threatening us I neglected to get a photo of the van fully loaded... right up to the roof! We stopped at Carl's Jr for a much-deserved milkshake on the way home.

I'm looking forward to another day of working in Miss Camille's new classroom when my hands are strong enough for the work.

Red Gerbera

2011-06-20T23:11:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite summer flowers is the happy little gerbera daisy! These live on my front steps.

AND... an update on my hands- they are healing slowly. You wouldn't think that having your hands operated on would be such a big deal, but apparently it is. I didn't think it would take this much out of me... but, again, apparently it does. The Doctor's instructions were- use your hands but don't do anything that hurts. I found out trying to tuck in my shirt wasn't a good idea. And who knew that opening car doors would be a problem? Bathing, fortunately, has been fairly easy... after discovering that I wouldn't be able to find any rubber or latex gloves large enough to fit over my already-large and bandaged hands I found that a produce bag and rubber band work just fine.

One more thing... our sweet daughter-in-law, Jessica, hosted 3rd Sunday *Grammie* dinner and it was delicious. We are so lucky to have so much of our family here with us.

CTR

2011-06-15T12:12:00.000-06:00

Hey! I have the most exciting news! I just had CTR surgery yesterday and now I can always-

Choose The Right!

Boy-oh-boy! Don't we wish it was that easy?

This kind of CTR stands for Carpal Tunnel Release... and if I'd know how easy it would be I would have done it years ago! Compared to-

Tonsilectomy
Tubal pregnancies (plural)
Appendectomy
Varicose vein stripping

...this is a stinkin' piece of cake!

I will be so nice to have my hands back for-

hand sewing
painting
hand writing
gardening
lawn mowing
~~nose picking~~

The only downside is I have to wear my *boxing gloves* for the next 10 days and keep them clean and dry! (I'll have to give you a shower/hair washing update!)

Bryce Canyon

2011-06-12T18:16:00.000-06:00

Last weekend on our fun explore to southern Utah we decided to come home via Bryce Canyon. I'd never been there before and have always wanted to see it. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!

This is a composite panorama made from seven photos using this cool panorama feature in PSE7.

Our first happy thing was when we drove up to the park entry shack. I told Gordon I thought he was eligible for the Golden Pass. As it turns out it is really called the America the Beautiful Senior pass. But the bottom line is this: $10 purchases a lifetime pass to all National Parks for seniors! OhMyHeck! I can hardly wait until I'm old enough to get my very own!

Our first stop was at Sunrise Point. A short walk took us to the *scenic overlook*. Wow!

On the outermost point was this very weathered tree.

We ate lunch at the Bryce Canyon Lodge and contemplated a horseback ride (maybe next time). Then we trekked back to the car and drove over to Bryce Point. This one took my breath away.

It was apparent that I was not the only one effected that way. There was an unusual reverent feeling from all of the viewers. There was no loud talking... just a group of awestruck people.

The grottos appear all in a row in the same layer of pale sandstone. Following that layer northward (right), the alcoves become windows through a narrow, jutting ridge. The Wall of Windows may have begun as grottos, though the rock behind them has long since weathered away.

Returning [to this scenic point] in different weather, at other times of the day, or in low-angled sunlight the grottos and windows stand out in sharp relief; on an overcast day they virtually disappear.

Apparently we arrived at one of the primo-viewing times!

This is the largest of the arches/windows and, hands-down, my favorite. When Gordon pointed it out he described it by saying, "You see those four men?" As I looked at this photo today it made me think of the Nativity. Can't you just see the wisemen, the shepherds, sheep, donkey, cow, and, of course, the Holy Family. Is it just me?

Now this little fellow... I just love *chick-munks*! They were native to my the Indian Valley, where I grew up. Did you know that you can attract them by clicking your fingernails? True story! I've done it. But when one got up on my knee when I was 5-years-old I jumped up startled and scared him away! What does one DO when they've attracted this little rodent?

I found this phenomenon interesting. It looks like someone poured a large load of cement on the top of these hoodoos.

For the moment, harder caprock prevents the arch from collapsing. Lighter-colored caprock is visible all around this viewpoint, temporarily preserving the hoodoos.

I'm just amazed at what time, wind, rain and snow can do!

OK... now you see that little trail that winds around down there amid all the hoodoos? It is called Peekaboo Loop and on my next trip to Bryce Canyon I will come prepared with hiking boots or perhaps riding boots (as in ride a horse) but I'm going down there. It just calls to me!

Hole-in-the-Rock: Flora and Fauna

2011-06-10T18:58:00.000-06:00

I realized that I had so many photos from our trip down to southern Utah that I would need to break it up into several posts. And anyone who knows me and my photographic habits recognizes that I can rarely pass up a photo of flora or fauna... they just make me happy!

This is Dance Hall Rock (about 35 miles along our trail) were the pioneers camped for a LONG TIME while scouts went out to decide what route would work best. They had nightly dances to break up the time. You have to admire their tenacity.

This is also where I viewed the illusive, and sometimes violent, rock monkey. These treacherous primates often masquerade as human-adolescent males... but don't let their appearance fool you. As soon as they return to their native habitat (large rock formations, the higher the better) rock monkeys become wildly daring and refuse to listen to their trainers. YOUTH LEADERS- BE WARNED!

LOOK OUT OF THE WAY!

Observe the rock monkey's propensity to play right on the edge of the precipice! (Stupid monkeys!)

I was also able to capture the shadow of the long-legged rock gazelle, but this mammal is invisible to dSLR's powers.

Now... these little creatures! HA! They had no chance against my superior powers! I could have squished them like an ant. I love his little antie (or is that auntie?) foot-prints in the sand.

And look at this little worker's shadow! I see he hasn't learned magic powers yet. Whew!

OK... this is more my speed! That is the nice thing about fauna... usually it isn't moving away from you at a high rate of speed. I love the deep orange/red color of this delicate desert wildflower.

I'm not familiar with southern Utah wildflowers so I don't know the name of either one of these pretty little flowers.

And speaking of tenacity! Look at this sweet little buttercup growing up from a crack in the slickrock! (Is this where I burst into song? My little buttercup- has the sweetest smile!)

On the ride out (did I mention that it was 55.5 miles of dirt, wash-boarded, bumpy road?) I saw cacti on the side of the road, so I was pretty happy to find one when we reached Hole-in-the-Rock.

But I was even more excited when I found this little lovely, still in bloom!

You know, it makes all the bumps worth it when there are beautiful vista, dangerous fauna and delicate flora at the journey's end.

Hole-in-the-Rock

2011-06-09T12:57:00.000-06:00

On Friday-last a group of us from the ward took an explore. The men had been talking it up for sometime. It was decided that we would go down to Southern Utah, near Escalante and see the historic Hole-in-the-Rock. We caravaned down in the morning taking the scenic route. What a beautiful drive! After checking into our motel rooms and lunch in Escalante we started the trek out to Hole-in-the-Rock. We rode with friends in their very nice 4-wheel drive truck. I wouldn't want to take a sedan, or Beatrix, down that wash-boarded dirt road!

There is a new Heritage Center on the outskirts of Escalante telling about the Hole-in-the-Rock trail and expedition.

"The outdoor plaza contains information and two large murals depicting the struggles of a band of Mormon settlers who spent six months in 1879 and 1880 chiseling, digging and blasting a crude, steep road down a cliff to the banks of the Colorado River. That road became know as Hole-in-the-Rock." (Salt Lake Tribune May 29, 2011)

There is a replica wagon there and I was amazed at how small it is! Can you imagine taking off for destinations unknown with all your earthly goods in this?

This is the *caravan* group. Others went separately and we saw them on the trail.

ANN and JOE LARSON, JOANIE and GORDON, DAVID and ELAINE HULLINGER, SHARI and BLAINE PALMER, SHERRY and MIKE LYMAN

There are two murals painted by Escalante artist Lynn Griffin depicting the descent.

I've heard the story of Belle Smith and her family but I was sobered again at her pluck! She's my kind of gal.

"On January 26, 1880, Joseph Stanford Smith worked hard along the precipitous Hole-in-the-Rock trail,guiding wagons to the river. Toward day's end, he received word that all 40 wagons from the encampment at the top of the Hole were safely down. But Smith couldn't find his own wagon among those gathered at the river. He climbed back up to the top, where he found his wagon and family waiting, seemingly overlooked.

No other men remained on top to help brake the wagon's descent. Over Smith's objections, his wife, Belle, insisted that she and their horse, Nig, could restrain the wagon. She settled their three children- including a three-year-old and an infant- on a quilt and told them to stay put until their father returned.
Together the young couple began driving the loaded wagon down the Hole. In the first steep cut, Nig fell, dragging behind the wagon. Bell soon fell as well, and was dragged a hundred fee, deeply gashing her leg before the wagon came to a stop.

After treating Belle's wound, Smith climbed back to the top. He found the children waiting just where Belle had left them. "God stayed with us," said Ada, the eldest. The worst of the trail behind them, the family completed the rough descent together. They arrived at the river just as a group of men, noting their absence, were starting up to help them."

This gives you a scope to see just how narrow this *hole* is. I can't even imagine taking a horse and wagon down this!

Much of the rubble or fill has eroded away in the last 130 years, but even still!

I wanted very badly to hike down to now-Lake Powell but I knew that-

I didn't want to impose my dawdling on the others
I saw the first 6' drop and decided that even if I could let myself safely down...
HOW WOULD I GET MY 5'3" FRAME BACK UP AGAIN?

I settled instead on hiking up the slickrock* to the left of the hole and tried to get a view down that way into the abyss. Sadly, I was foiled again! I suppose it is a good thing I know my limitations and don't do anything stupid like FALL INTO THE ABYSS!
(*Slickrock is the term the pioneers used for these large sandstone formations. They aren't actually slick.)

LOOKING BACK TOWARD THE SLIT THAT IS HOLE-IN-THE-ROCK FROM MY PERCH

I went as far as this fun little cave, emphasis on small, and had a lovely view to reward me for my labors.

Lake Powell looking beautiful and serene.

I gained an interesting perspective from this visit to Hole-in-the-Rock.

Why did these pioneers go? I quote from one of the signs at the Heritage Center-

"In the autumn of 1879, some 250 men, women and children undertook on of the most challenging and dramatic pioneering expeditions in American history. Their mission? To establish a settlement along the San Juan river in the southeast corner of Utah. Their plan? To blaze a direct transportation route through 200 miles of remote and breathtakingly rugged country that stretches southeast of Escalante. An expedition they expected to last six weeks became an epic six-month journey demanding scarcely imaginable endurance, determination, faith and grit.

Why did these people leave their homes, families and friends to embark on such a difficult and risk-filled journey? Nearly all were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which was working at the time to establish Mormon communities throughout Utah. To settle new areas, the church "called" members to join a colonizing mission. Members called to the San Juan (Hole-in-the-Rock) Mission were not obliged to accept, but most considered it an opportunity to serve their church."

Grannie Annie's Birthday

2011-06-07T19:11:00.052-06:00

(Have you ever noticed that it is easier to give advice than take it? Yep, me too. But this time I'm taking my own advice- I'm going to blog about the most recent fun event and then go back and catch up with last weekend! My, that feels so good!)

Today is a special day! Not only is it my sister, Grannie Annie's, birthday, we have two grandchildren who share this day with their great-auntie: Elise, 5, and Riley, 4. What a wonderful coincidence!

My sweet sister Ann aka Grannie Annie is 10 years and 2 months older than me... she was gone from home before I was hardly grown. I've found a great amount of satisfaction in getting to know her better over the years BUT the real blessing came when we moved to Utah just over 6 years ago and now Grannie Annie's house is only a short 2 hour trip. We've been blessed with frequent visits.

I just knew I wanted to spend her special day with her! Our mom did such a marvelous job of making the *birthday girl* feel so special! But we all know that when we get to be moms ourselves sometimes birthdays are anything but special!

We arrived about noon and found that Cody and Jake had decorated the house for Grannie Annie's special day. We visited, Ann showed me her birthday gifts including her ~~birthday suit~~, ahh, dress, we played a couple of hands of Contract and then we were off to go bowling.

That was when Cody whipped out the *birthday-girl* hat!

Cody just kept chortling about Annie's hat! ~~Yeah, yuck it up little girl! Your time will come.~~

Now, THIS is what I call... well, I'm not sure what to call it! Nice hat, Jake!

After a rousing and energetic game of bowling, Wayne coming out the winner, we headed off to dinner out at Little Wonder Cafe in Richfield. It was a homey little place that served their $5.99 dinner special with more food than I could eat and it was tasty too.

Another birthday girl? Good grief!

I brought down Pig-Pickin' Cake...

Wayne ~~torched it~~ lit the candles...

We sang to the birthday girl and let her eat cake!

What a lovely birthday-day with my sister Annie!

Summer Food

2011-05-31T19:11:00.000-06:00

Even though we had unusually cold weather on Memorial Day I just NEEDED some summer food- you know the kind: salads; crispy, tangy salads!

One of my favorite salads is the Strawberry Spinach salad but I didn't have spinach (and Gordon doesn't care for spinach). So I decided to improvise- I love that way of cooking. There is always an element of serendipity in improv!

What I DID have was strawberries (yum!), iceberg lettuce, an aging avocado (how the heck did that happen) candied pecans left over from the last time I made SS salad and, to make it more acceptable to my carnivore husband, a grilled chicken breast. I made up some of the fresh strawberry vinaigrette dressing that I love and threw it all together in an aesthetically pleasing manner...

Now I have another favorite *summer food*!

More Happiness

2011-05-31T12:47:00.001-06:00

Several years ago I became aware of this faux stained glass window film at Home Depot and wanted it! I love the Clematis design. At the time I was planning on doing all three half circle windows on my house and decided it was just too cost prohibitive.

Ah, but now I have my *happy room*! And it just begged for this beautiful window to go in my happy new blue office.

It wouldn't be difficult to apply if I WEREN'T DYSLEXIC! I thought I had the first piece right, put it up... nope, couldn't make the second piece match. Took down the first piece, fooled around with it on the table and FINALLY figured out I was right the first time... but for some reason couldn't make the pattern match (reference the dyslexic comment above! Welcome to my life!) Anyway, I was able to eek out the 60" x 30" half circle window using only two rolls.

I love it! It makes my happy nest even happier!

Let's Hear it for Purple!

2011-05-30T12:40:00.000-06:00

"Purple? PUR-ple! PURRRR-PLE! That's a stupid name! Why don't they just call it BOINK!?!" 14-year old Stuart.

We've laughed about that conversation for years!

But you know? ~~Purple~~ Boink just makes me happy!

What caught my attention this morning was one of my beautiful, late-blooming, *black* tulips. How can you NOT love this color?

Now don't get me wrong... this wasn't an epiphany this morning, I've known I love purple for a long time... but take a look at the rest of my garden.

There are my happy little spotty-dotty violets (they grow like weeds! Lucky me!)...

Purple salvia, mud splattered from all the spring rain (a lovely perennial)...

Ooh, ooh, and one of my favorites- ruffled petunias (I found these a couple of weeks ago at Carpenter's Nursery in South Provo with DeLoris)...

Regular purple petunias (these are from Home Depot's nursery)...

My purple bearded iris on the *island* with purple salvia in the background...

And purple snow clouds, WAIT A MINUTE!! WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND?

Hmmm, welcome to life in the mountains... reminds me of Greenville.

Tender Mercies

2011-05-19T20:00:00.000-06:00

In April 2005, just 6 months after Elder David A Bednar was sustained as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, he gave a beautifully moving conference address, The Tender Mercies of the Lord. I wept through his talk because I have been the recipient of just those tender mercies from the Lord!

"The Lord’s tender mercies do not occur randomly

or merely by coincidence."

The ancient prophet Nephi states, "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." 1 Nephi 1:20

This day, Amanda's 35th birthday, I was the recipient, once again, of a tender mercy from the Lord. I love to see Him work through those who love Him and are receptive to His promptings. My sweet friend, Maureen, appeared today with this beautiful mum to brighten my day. She had no idea it was Amanda's birthday. Yes, a tender mercy from the Lord.

Strawberry Lemon Tart

2011-05-16T11:49:00.000-06:00

Several weeks ago my friend, Sheri, post a photo of a luscious dessert she'd made for her family! It was a strawberry mango tart! Oh My YUM! Did I ever want some!! Being an old hand in the kitchen, it was something she'd just whipped up on a whim. I ~~hounded~~, ~~begged~~, asked her for her recipe, which she kindly shared. BUT COULD I FIND IT? Umm, no...

So also being an old hand in the kitchen (and having the ability to Google recipes) I give you my offering of Strawberry Lemon Tart-

Strawberry-Lemon Tart
1 Easy Tart Crust Recipe (below)
1/2 Lemon Curd Recipe (below)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 pint strawberries, sliced

Roll out pastry dough in a large circle (slightly larger than your tart pan. I have a 11" pan). Carefully transfer the pastry dough into your pan. Pat it into the pan and then pinch of the extra on the fluted edge. Prick dough with a fork at about 1/2" intervals. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove pan to rack and cool.

Prepare Lemon Curd using the recipe below.

In a bowl whip cream cheese and powdered sugar until fluffy. Stir in 1/2 Lemon Curd recipe into the cream cheese mixture. Pour into cooled tart shell. Refrigerate for an hour or two until set. Just before serving arrange sliced strawberries on filling. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

(This was a big hit with all the epicureans at my house last night. "It's crazy good!")

Easy Tart Crust
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) chilled butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 tablespoons (or more) ice water
2 tablespoons chilled whipping cream

Blend flour and salt in processor. Add butter; using on/off turns, cut in until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and cream. Process just until moist clumps form, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill 1 hour. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)

(I used my food processor, but just turned it on high and waited for it to resemble coarse meal. I didn't wait to roll it out and it was just fine.)

Lemon Curd (Also from Sheri!)
7 large egg yolks
2 large eggs
1 cup plus 2 Tbs granulated sugar
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh grated lemon zest (micro-plane)
4 Tbs butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (unsalted but sometimes I don't have it)
3 Tbs heavy cream

Whisk the yolks, whole eggs, and sugar til combined. Whisk in juice, zest and salt in a medium nonreactive saucepan. Add butter and cook over med/low heat stirring constantly til curd thickens to a thin, sauce-like consistency, about 5 min...but I usually go to about 170 degrees.

Strain through fine mesh strainer into non-reactive bowl and stir in the cream.

This is so yummy on toasted English muffins... or just about anything. Sheri says she loves it more than chocolate!

Iris for Elsie

2011-05-08T16:37:00.000-06:00

Today is one of those bittersweet days that come around too often at my house. We all know that it is Mother's Day. The sweet part, and I hate to break it to the rest of you- I have the very best mom in the world! The not-so-sweet part is that she's been gone for 34 Mother's Days now! I can't like that part too much!

But as my sweet-niece-Cindy reminds me, "The veil is only as thick as you make it!" So when I look at these beautiful purple iris that grace my garden I remember my Mama!

But Elsie, my Mom, didn't just have the purple iris like these. Oh no! She had such an array of bearded iris as anyone would love to behold: cream, peach, bi-colored, blue, fragile Dutch iris... it makes my heart happy to think of them.

She loved flowers so much. Our funny little yard in Greenville was thick with flowers: daffodils, iris, gladiolas, violets, lilacs; those lovely perennials!

And petunias... don't forget the petunias! That was my standard Mother's Day gift. I would go to Hunter's Hardware down on Main Street and buy Mom a flat of petunias (usually with her money) and then I would help her plant them.

So this year I valiantly remember the happy, sweet memories of my wonderful, loving mother who sacrificed her life and desires to raise her girls! And I try not too let too many tears fall with missing her!

Smells Like Heaven

2011-05-07T13:43:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite things about spring (oh, let me count the ways!) is my lilacs blooming. I think heaven must smell like that!

I've always enjoyed spring, but I think it is an even happier time this year because it has been so slow in coming. My sweet lilacs stayed in the bud stage for the better part of April!

This lilac lives just outside my back door and is ruffled. I've blogged about it before it is called My Favorite Lilac (which is so true!)

I also have the un-ruffled variety like we had in Greenville when I was growing up.

When we moved here 6 years ago I added the three lilac bushes that are along the back of the house. Imagine my surprise when I found that there were 4 other lilac bushes in my little 1/4 acre of heaven! The ones not pictured here are a variety I'd ever seen before. They are very frail... that's the only word I can think of that describes them. They still are in the very beginning of bud stage.

The other beauty that caught my eye when I was out on my photographic explore was my back door neighbor's pear tree... just beautiful. (I can already taste their luscious, juicy fruit.)

Women's Conference Tradition!

2011-05-01T16:58:00.000-06:00

2007 was the first year I attended the BYU Women's Conference. I decided at the last minute to go and loved it so much that now it has become a tradition! (If you'd like to read about prior year's escapades click on the Women's Conference tag at the bottom of the post.)

This year only Ann was able to join me, Rebekah's boys were off on spring break and she couldn't leave them to trek back to Provo to join us =(. We always enjoy these wonderful times of being together.

2008 Ann and Rebekah joined me for the spiritual feast. If you know me, you know that I love trail mix and think that it is just about the perfect snack for most places... not just the trail. That year I made a wonderful goodie bag for each of us including: trail mix (duh), nut bars, water, other miscellaneous snacks and a cute notebook and pen for notes. But the trail mix seems to be the one that takes center stage. Ann and I were discussing how many times we've been and she figured it out by who provided the trail mix each year!! We've had quite the fun with our *personality trail mix*. How can fruit and nuts have a personality? I'm not sure, but they do!

But this year disaster struck! (dun, dun, dun!) I thought I'd closed my trail mix bag after getting out the first handful and found that I hadn't shaken it up to mix it... hmmmm, apparently not. I grabbed hold of the bottom of the bag to give it a good shake... umm, dumped it straight into my WC backpack!! I just sat there and laughed! How could I not? Ann held my zip-lock bag while I scooped it back in. We were just grateful I hadn't dumped it on the floor of the Marriot Center.

On Thursday evening there are always service projects to participate in. There were numerous stations where literally thousands of sisters worked on various projects. This year we wanted to do the newborn humanitarian kits.

Each newborn kit contains:

* a fleece or flannel receiving blanket
* 4 diapers
* a cotton-knit layette
* 2 bars of soap
* 1 pair of booties or socks
* 1 knit cap
* 4 diaper pins

Can you imagine only having that to clothe your baby? But this is a definite step up from wrapping you baby in newspaper!

We worked in assembly line fashion to put these kits together. Ann and I worked on the end with the blankets, diapers, layette and then stuffing that portion into a large zip-lock bag. I stayed as far away as possible from the soap... it always makes me sneeze! The next sisters added the remaining items and closed up the zip-lock bag.

Our station completed 720 of the 34,315 humanitarian newborn, hygiene and school kits completed that night! What a blessing of many helping hands!

(CAN YOU SEE THAT MY POOR HAIR MELTED IN A SERIES OF HOT-FLASHES DOING OUR ASSEMBLY LINE?)

We came home exhausted, but happy. We were back up the next morning for the second day of wonderful talks and classes that help us grow and become more like our Savior. I'm already looking forward to next year!

Who's The King?

2011-04-30T08:06:00.000-06:00

~~Stuey's a little princess!~~
(Bek used to give Stuart this answer! bwahahahaha!)

I'll tell you who the king is! S-T-U-A-R-T! He is one of the hardest working guys I know. Stuart has been my co-partner in ~~crime~~ DYI work for years! But about the time he turned 16 there was a subtle shift from ME being the boss and Stuart being the helper, to Stuart taking the lead and me delegating more and more of the actual work. Bless his sweet-hard-working-stump-diggin'-heart!

Ms STUMPY TRYIN'TA HITCH A RIDE TO THE GREEN-WASTE SITE!

When I told Stuart about my plan to burn the stumps out he wouldn't hear of it, "You'll ruin your lawn, Mom!" So a week ago Friday he started and for the next week, come rain or shine, cold or warm Stuart worked like a ~~house~~ garden-elf!

That ~~boy~~ MAN DUG...

BACK YARD WILLOW STUMP

Used his impressive man-strength to SWING...

CHOP... look at the chips fly! ka-WHAM!

LEVERAGE...

SAW...

FRONT YARD WILLOW- WILL YOU LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THOSE ROOTS?

And REPEAT FOR DAYS! Actually he got the backyard willow, which was comparatively quite small, out in one evening.

But the front yard willow, well, she'd had such a happy life she wasn't planning on being uprooted easily! He worked on that bad girl for a couple of nights! On Thursday evening Uncle Wayne and several neighbors came over to help him get her out. I was at Women's Conference, hence no photos of the gaping hole that must have been left in the front yard! It took all of them to leverage that bad-girl out of the hole and roll it onto the sidewalk! (Where it now waits patiently for a ride to the green-waste dump!

AGAIN I SAY- LOOK AT THE ROOTS ON THIS BAD GIRL... IT'S ALMOST 3 FEET OF ROOTS

Stuart lovingly and carefully planted both new trees. We decided to go with a flowering pear for a couple of reasons: there are several in the neighborhood that survive our severe weather quite well and they were $40 each at Costco!

BACK YARD FLOWERING PEAR

FRONT YARD FLOWERING PEAR

I can't even begin to express how thankful I am for my Stuart. We've planted trees together since he was small, not to mention all of the other DYI projects!

What's this mama going to do when he takes off for med school this summer... I just don't know!

Fledgings

2011-04-24T20:40:00.000-06:00

This morning before church I was taking the trash out, as I traipsed down the path I caught a flash of yellow movement out of the corner of my eye- it was a tiny, little fledgling bird. He alighted on the little rock border that follows my path. I was quite close so I *talked very gently* to him and told him there was nothing to worry about, I wouldn't hurt him.

I'd talked to him for a few minutes before I realized I really did want a photo of him (duh!) So I came in, got my 70-300mm lens and came quietly out the back door again, telling Harley he just needed to ~~step away from the birdie~~ stay were he was on the deck.

I came fairly close again, even though I had my super zoom lens and could see his little breast heaving... poor little baby bird!

It seemed more than coincidence to me that I would see this sweet little helpless bird on Easter morning. I reflected on how we are so much like this helpless little creature. We don't know how to fly on our own and we need our loving parent to help us learn... and protect us when we fall out of the nest.

I want to bear strong and fervent testimony that Jesus is the Christ. He came to earth, born a helpless infant. He lived and taught, healed and loved. He was crucified on Calvary. He accepted all our sins in Gethsemane. He was laid in a borrowed tomb and on the third day took up His body in the act of Resurrection. He lives! Because of His willing, loving sacrifice, we, too can live again with Him. He is the only way! I am so grateful for this abiding testimony!

Toas-Tite Nostalgia

2011-04-22T15:38:00.001-06:00

Today was ~~our first~~ one of our first sunny warm days this month (I think we many have had one other day)! I knew I needed to get out and do yard work. Work is good for my soul this time of year**!

I was nearly finished with my work and was thinking how hungry and thinking *Hmmm, what to eat?* All of a sudden it popped into my mind... Mom's sandwich maker that lives on the top shelf of my pantry, which I'd just seen on Sunday when I was putting things away after family dinner.

So, I have to know, how many of you know what a Toas-Tite is, or have one? A quick Google search found this cool old ad.

Now, for those of you who don't know what a Toas-Tite is I will show and tell right now. Here's mine-
I inherited it when my Mom died 34 years ago.

You start by buttering one side of two pieces of bread(when I was a girl we used to do both sides, but I'm trying to cut back!), add your filling- mine is leftover ham from Sunday dinner and cheese. Scootch the filling towards the middle so it stays in the samich.

Close the Toas-Tite and trim off the excess bread.

Scoop it all together and if you are really nice...

Put it into Harley's bowl for a nice puppy treat.

Then put it on the stove. Gas works so much better than electric.

Turn it several times, making sure to keep the flame low so it doesn't burn.

Tip it out onto your plate, pour yourself a cold drink and get ready to enjoy!

(NOW IF I WAS PIONEER WOMAN I WOULD GIVE YOU A CHINA CHECK RIGHT NOW... SO HERE IT IS-
KID'S PLASTIC-WARE FROM IKEA! bwahahahahahaha)

Enjoy the yummy meltiness of this samich and remember a happy time 50-some years ago when your Mommy used to make it for you.

Happy samich... happy day.

** Tony's birthday was yesterday, feeling sad this day.

My New Nest

2011-04-16T07:26:00.039-06:00

Two weeks ago my new quilting machine was delivered and literally turned my life upside-down! But all in good ways! My previous workroom/playroom/sewing room is in the larger of the two upstairs front bedrooms but now I would need that extra space for my new and LARGER quilting machine. That meant there wasn't going to be room for much of any thing else that wasn't sewing! I would have to do a major change up in my creative suite (yes, there it is... I really am spoiled; I have all three upstairs rooms for my use! But I'm a nice spoiled girl and share the master bedroom with my #1 fan and enabler!)

Ahhh, I got to build a new nest! Yay for little Joanie! I knew I wanted a very HAPPY COLOR for my new OFFICE. My inspiration came from two different ~~quarters~~, umm, ~~halves~~, umm, I know! sources! First, I'd found 3 (count them, only three) pieces of scrapbook paper in my stash that I was fell in love with. Second, I'd just returned from visiting Bek and she has some wonderfully happy colors at her house. So what do you think? Did I hit that happy color? I think so!

I had to wait until I had several projects out of the way before I could start the painting. I sent off P's quilt, bought my happy-paint, and sequestered myself to paint (with lots of plastic to protect the new carpet!) Late that evening, when I was finished, I told Gordon how happy it was. The next morning this is what I found permanently poster-taped to the closed door. I LOVE IT!

So let's talk about those 3- 12 x 12" pieces of scrap paper! How in the world can I make that work? I had my mental image of this wonderful valance; which turned out just the way I wanted it to. (I decoupaged the paper to 1/4" foam board and taped it to the blind valance).

But what about my plastic Sterilite drawers? Now they were totally visible, obvious, ugly and cluttered looking from the door.

OOO-ooo-ooo, ME, pick ME! I know! I scanned the scrapbook paper and then printed it on card stock! I cut it to fit the front of the drawers then used my tape-runner to stick it on the inside of the drawer.

Now I can reveal in the beautiful Velvet Morning and Watermelon colors that grace my new nest!

See? I told you! Happy, very happy new nest!

Narcissus for Mom

2011-04-15T19:25:00.000-06:00

Today my Momma would be 98 if she were still alive! (Sadly she's been gone for 34 years.) But as I've looked out at my happy-daff-o-dillies this spring it has reminded me of her.

Narcissus were one of the *perennial* flowers that lived in Mom's yard. (I'm using the term perennial loosely here, I know that narcissus are bulbs. They were a constant.) I love them with all their varieties. Growing up I thought only the all yellow ones were daffodils and the multicolored ones were narcissus. But last year I learned from Wikipedia that they are all narcissus, that is their botanical name.

This happy specimen is like the ones Mom used to have in the planter bed between the house and driveway. They were always my favorite.

How can you not love these three happy little maids?

And here is a nice daffodil, not the honking kind like Professor Sprout has!

Remember, Remember...

2011-04-13T09:26:00.000-06:00

(MY WHITE *DE-LOR-EE-US* TULIP- SHE GAVE ME THESE BULBS LAST YEAR)

I’ve been waking up early- 7:30 to 8 and appreciate having these hours to think, work and be obedient to the injunction, “Arise early that your mind and body might be invigorated”. I know that when I sleep in I wake up tired, not the least of which is from stupid dreams, and stupid-headed.

Yesterday morning while I was mowing the lawn and was being assailed by negative thoughts. I hate that! Then I recalled to mind one of my favorite scriptures which I have memorized and stored away like nuggets of gold. As the words of Helaman 5:12 passed through my mind I could feel the power of the adversary with “all his hail and mighty winds” being blown away and replaced with sweet peace. I AM built upon the Rock of my Redeemer! Satan will NOT drag me down to that gulf of misery and endless who!

How grateful I am for the scriptures and the sweet peace they bring into my life.

I'm Not Spoiled...

2011-04-06T22:26:00.000-06:00

...just well taken care of!

Look what my sweet husband bought me! An HQ 16!

I've wanted one of these beauties for years!

I started machine quilting 16 years ago on my old Kenmore sewing machine, you know, sitting down and manipulating the quilt under the presser foot. Then I got a Husqvarna Rose, which I literally used up and wore out! Most recently I had my second-hand Little Grace Frames and a Juki machine.

Ahh, but this one... yup, it's a Cadillac of quilting machines! I put on two big pieces of fabric so I could practice before I started on a *for real* quilt!

And here is the funny part... when Stuart came over after the Priesthood session of General conference he wanted to try it out. Gotta love that boy!

(I've already finished the second quilt. It was a beautiful quilt that Auntie P made for her son Matt's wedding.)

Cowboy Salsa

2011-04-03T20:49:00.001-06:00

I love clever ideas! Debra and Jared had light refreshments at their reception: chips & salsa, cupcakes, grapes and a yummy lemony punch!

But the one that stole the show for me was the Cowboy Salsa!

I was there early to take photos of the family between the ceremony and reception. I tried one little taste and was hooked! I fantasized about it until I finally broke down on Saturday afternoon and went to Ream's and bought the ingredients to make this yummy salsa!

I will share my version of-

COWBOY SALSA

2 tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, chopped
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 can black beans, drained
1 1/2 c frozen corn
1 pkg Western Family Italian Seasoning mix (dry) [it's WF's version of Good Seasons]
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 8oz can tomato sauce
lime juice to taste (I gave a healthy squirt from my plastic lime, maybe 1 tsp.)

Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until serving. Makes about 5-6 cups.

April Fools!

2011-04-03T13:41:00.000-06:00

Lasterday and the day before that (the real April Fool's Day) were beautiful, sunny, warm, temperatures in the high 60s and even creeping into the low 70s...

BUT LOOK WHAT I WOKE UP TO THIS MORNING!!!

8" OF FRESH HEAVY SNOW... what the chicken?

I just mowed the lawn yesterday!

And, apparently, I am doomed where my globe willow trees are concerned. You will remember that last August thunderstorms took my front yard willow.

Lasternight it was heavy snow on the backyard willow... sad, so sad...

Happy Wedding Day

2011-04-01T23:41:00.014-06:00

What a great couple who know that the right way to start their lives together to get married on April Fool's Day. These two sweethearts know how to find the joy and humor in life. I just makes me happy to look at them.

Meet Mr and Mrs Jared Munn

This has got to be one of my favorites of the pix I took of them. I love the expression on Jared's face.

This one is special too. I identify with Michaela who is so happy for her brother and Debra.

And these sweet little girls? How can I not love them?

What a glorious day... thanks for letting me capture the moments.

Flying Llamas

2011-03-26T22:02:00.000-06:00

This afternoon Gordon and I needed to run an errand to Spanish Fork JoAnn's and I just needed a Teriyaki Chicken sandwich at Carl's. As we drove past Sonic's I saw on their marquee Festival of Colors. I'm glad I saw that because if I hadn't I would have been totally unprepared for what I saw inside.

The first person I asked turned out to be a Japanese speaker who didn't understand the question,

"What is the festival of colors?"

Her response, "Orange, pink, red." Accompanied by fluttery fingers.

So I tried the girls pictured above. They told me that it was a celebration at the Hindu temple (actually, it is Krishna) where bags of chalk in a myriad of colors are thrown at each other then on the hour there is a gigantic explosion of chalk shot into the air.

Gordon says, "Color fest at the same place as the llama fest?"

At which point another customer piped up and said, "Yeah, that's when they shoot llamas in the air!"

We all busted up!

Just One Star

2011-03-26T14:14:00.000-06:00

I'd like to share something that I did today. Maybe you would like to play too!

Just One Star * can comfort a soldier

This is the note that I sent along with the blocks.

Hi Ladies-
     I discovered your flier in one of my favorite quilt shops, Cotton Shop in Provo, UT. I was so excited to see the project you are planning. I came right home, pulled fabric from my special Americana stash and made these blocks. I may end up sending more.
     Now, lest you think I am confused and don’t know who I am OR where I live I’ll tell you about my signatures on the blocks.
     • I started life as Joanie Caraway (living in a tiny town in Plumas County, in way-north California). I learned to sew at age 8. I had a wonderful 4-H teacher, Mary Griener, who was so picky I thought I would die. But as my sewing life has progressed I’ve blessed Mary’s name many times because she taught me the right way to do things!
     • Fast forward 21 years... Now I am Joanie Lewis. I moved to So Cal where, in 1995, one of my friends *infected* me with the quilting virus. I love it! I’d always sewed clothes for my 6 children, but by now they are too cool for Mom-wear... but nobody is too cool for a quilt!
     • Then, 6 years ago, my husband retired and we moved to Northern Utah where we have 9.5 of our 20 + two-on-the-way grandchildren and I spend part of my time trying to sew up all the fabric in my stash... problem is- I KEEP BUYING MORE!

     I‘ve put this info on my blog so I am hoping to drum up more blocks for this wonderful cause.

Still in stitches...

Joanie

(IF YOU CLICK ON THIS PHOTO IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE PHOTOBUCKET LINK WHERE YOU CAN VIEW IS LARGER. YOU CAN ALSO RIGHT CLICK, COPY IMAGE AND THEN PASTE IT SO YOU CAN PRINT.)

Send untrimmed blocks to:

United Notions/Moda Fabrics

Attn: Just One Star Project

13800 Hutton

Dallas, TX 75234

"Oh Honey, My Cup Runneth Over!"

2011-03-25T21:44:00.000-06:00

With our children spread out across the United States it isn't often that I can say that I've seen all of them [read grandkids!] in a short period of time. The last time I accomplished that was in the fall of 2007.

This month is a close second. I've seen all of them in the last month except Kristi and Jim's family in West Virginia.

I arrived home from seeing my California grandsons on Monday. Imagine my surprise when Erik called on Tuesday and said they were in Cedar City and would like to visit with us when they got into town. We visited with them that evening. Grampy provided a wonderful dessert of hot chocolate chip cookies and root beer floats.

They have so much family in Utah that we have to share but when they arrived for dinner Friday Bryan was thrilled to see that there was snow in Grammie's front yard! The minute they pulled up he dove into the *trunk* of the van and got out his jacket and gloves. He was a boy with a mission.

Even though there was only a few inches he managed to build a snow tower taller than himself! (And no wonder! Look at his freakishly large hands! Oh, wait, those are just his dad's gloves. bwahahahaha) The other kids weren't so enamored with the snow.

When it was time for them to leave I gave hugs all around but little Bryan gives the best hugs, you know the kind. They melt a Grammie's heart. That's when I said, "Oh Honey, my cup runneth over!" [name that movie]

Another funny aside- Later that evening a friend came over and said, "It looks like you've had kids playing in your front yard!" Lucky yard. Lucky Grammie...

Dead Fish

2011-03-21T22:26:00.008-06:00

My dad use to have a saying... Company is like fish; after 3 days they stink! Whereas this is not always true I have found that I would rather have a visit end with all of us saying, “This visit was too short!” as opposed to “Oh, schmack, I wish I’d left yesterday!!” My visits this trip falls into the previous category. It just wasn’t long enough.

[THIS PIC HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS POST EXCEPT IT IS A POT OF TINY BULBS BY BEK'S FRONT DOOR. THE DAFFODILS ARE NO LARGER THAN MY FINGERNAILS!]

I had a lovely week with the Flynn family and on Friday they all got a big treat! Uncle Stuey flew into Fresno to surprise them when they all got home from school. Those boys just idolize their *St'rt*.

And speaking of dead fish... Curt and Bek treated Stuart and I to an excellent sushi dinner on Friday night (the boys decided they’d pass on that one!) We sat right at the bar and watched Wan prepare all of our sushi rolls and sushi. I’ve decided that eel is a new favorite. Wan is a master at the art of sushi.

Saturday we drove back to Palmdale where Stuart dropped me off at Auntie P’s then hot-footed it down to Brea to visit a friend. He stayed there to hear her speak in church on Sunday.

I went to church with P in the Palmdale 4th ward (sniff, no more Palmdale 2nd ward!). I got to see old friends, some of whom I haven’t seen for years since they were split into 4th ward years before we moved from Palmdale. P told me that Glenn Tong was now on the High Counsel so when I saw him I told him I’d love to hear him speak someday. My wish is his command! By coincidence he was speaking in the Littlerock 1st Ward which meets right after 4th ward. I ditched out of 4th ward’s Relief Society and sneaked into the back of the chapel. Imagine my surprise to find more old friends!

We ended up sitting in the chapel for nearly another hour after sacrament meeting was over visiting! The happiest news is that both Ann Keelan and Pauline realized they were quilters and now we have a new quilting friendship. Happy times.

So today, Monday, finds us winging (fly little Beatrix, fly) our way home with another perk... I have Stuart to share the driving. (FYI- the trip took 8.5 hours! It usually takes me 9.5-10.)

No Worms Were Hurt... Opps!

2011-03-20T16:16:00.003-06:00

It started raining Saturday evening and pretty much didn't let up for the next 36 hours. You know how that is. It was my last night in CA at Uncle Steve and Auntie P's house, we were getting ready for bed when Steve called from the bedroom,"Hey, come look at this!"

We dutifully came and this is what we found!

In unison both P and I exclaimed, "Hold on! I need to get my camera!"

We all know that heavy rain will drive worms out of the ground and then they drown on the sidewalk. Ah, but this little adventurer had a different idea. He was going to get out of the rain. Can you believe this? He slithered under Steve's office door, through his office at least 15 feet into the bedroom all across the carpet!

HYPOTHETICAL WORM ROUTE

I'd like to say that no worms were hurt filming this incident... but, sadly, that is not the case.

"Treacle Tart, Hermione?"

2011-03-17T20:12:00.006-06:00

Since forever ago we've had a leprechaun feast every St Patrick's Day. That's just what we DO! But for the first time in 20 years I got to have that feast with my leprechaun-Bek.

Bek and I tend to be Harry Potter fans; we're known to quote it to each other (well, and sometimes to perfect strangers!). This year Bek wanted to try making some Treacle Tart.

"Treacle tart, Hermione!” said Ron, deliberately wafting its smell toward her. “Spotted dick, look! Chocolate gateau!”

She'd found several recipes, all in metric, of course, that looked promising so we collected the ingredients with care and looked forward to some treacle tart.

Oh My Stinkin' Heck! What a lot of work! The crust had to be made way in advance so it could be very cold for rolling out, we needed brown bread for the filling (which Bek made the day before), tons of butter (this is not a bad thing!), eggs, cream, lemon juice and zest... but hardest to find was treacle syrup. One recipe suggested substituting golden syrup for the treacle syrup.

The recipe called for a tart pan (which just happened to be living in my dungeon in Springville, but too bad for us, we were in YLP!) I told Bek that using a mesh-bottomed pizza pan would do. My mom used mesh-bottomed pie pans all the time. What we didn't reckon with was the metric conversion (which we got wrong), the ratio of butter to flour was too high. As the crust baked (remember in a mesh-bottomed pan) the butter melted in great waves that coated the bottom of Bek's new oven!

Isn't this so pretty? It is the crust oozing out of the holes. This is one of those *puddings* that requires two baking times: one for the crust alone and one with the filling. So can you guess what we got to clean up twice? Somehow I didn't get a photo of the finished treacle tart but I found a reasonably good facsimile here. The saddest part about treacle tart? It tasted so much like lemon bars, which we'd just made earlier in the week, that it was a disappointment.

But here is something that didn't disappoint! I love a good ol' traditional boiled dinner. Yummy!

Alexander the Great Grape

2011-03-16T22:14:00.000-06:00

Several years ago when I was at Bek’s house on Grammie duties I just happened to catch Tadhg as Sir Isaac [Fig] Newton at the Rivergold’s History/Wax Museum night. So as I was planning my trip this time and found out that Caden would be participating in the same event I knew I would have to be there to see him as Alexander the Grape!

The students each choose a mythical, fictional or historical character they want to represent. Then study to learn about their character and write themselves a little script. The parents get to help them make a dandy costume. The students memorize their little schpiel and they are all set for the big performance.

Usually the characters are frozen in one of the many outside quads, but this year rain moved them into the classrooms. The idea is that they stand frozen until a spectator comes and taps them; they awaken and give their informational speech and them freeze again. I’m always amazed at how clever they are.

Caden was just slightly nervous when Grammie came, in all her state, to hear him. But he managed to make his way through his speech.

Being an all powerful conqueror he knew that he needed to get his rest before the big battle.

We wandered in the several classrooms to see the rest of the wax museum. Some of my favorites were-

The goddess- whose daughter ate 6 pomegranate seeds and was taken by Hades, God of the Underworld, for 6 months of the year. This little girl was so animated she was a joy to watch.

Moses- who was wearing his father’s jamaka and prayer robes.

A sea goddess- who somehow got on the wrong side of King Tritan.

This little girl, who I don’t remember what she was, with beautiful amber eyes.

I saw Indiana Jones wandering around outside after the wax museum was finished, I ran up to him, gave him a tap and he accommodated me. He even showed me how he could use his whip with a big crack!

I asked Caden if I could carry his shield and spear (to avert another world conquest right there on the Rivergold campus). As Bek snapped this pic Brock informed me I was not Grammie the Great... but I told him he was mistaken... I definitely AM GRAMMIE THE GREAT!

Life in the 'Park

2011-03-16T19:16:00.001-06:00

Almost 11 years ago Rebekah and Curtis moved to Yosemite Lakes Park AKA YLP. Caden was just a baby who we put in ~~baby jail~~ his playpen so we could do all the fix-up, painting, etc that needed to be done on their little repo home. If Caden wasn't in ~~baby jail~~ he would eat anything that moved! Ick! YLP has a wonderful rural lifestyle that suits their family just fine.

Over the years they've done all sorts of improvements including adding an in-ground pool (watch out for all the ginormous granite rocks when digging!), a garage conversion, pulling up carpeting and replacing it with laminate or bamboo flooring, removing the popcorn ceilings and replacing it with pine planks. I love visiting here.

When the *little* boys; Caden, almost 12, and Brock, 9.5, got home they were *hot* (yes, it was all of 75°) and they wanted to go swimming. Bek told them that if they wanted to clean all the pine needle debris out of the pool they could swim. "You want to swim... you do the work!" I like that kind of mothering!

Tadhg is in high school now and gets home an hour and a half after his brothers. He's all about skateboards right now and wasn't interested in pool maintenance.

Since we were outside on this *too hot* day (notice she has on a sweater?) Bek pulled out her rake and started cleaning up the flowerbeds inside the pool area... can you say PINE NEEDLES?

This is Super-Girl the bestest cat around! She's only four years old; which is old for a hill-billy cat. Sadly, cats don't have a very long life span here. There are too many predators/dangers here. But they fulfill a very useful purpose... just what kitties do best: keeping the rodent/snake/bird population in check!

"Come here, Sup!" says Brock.

OK- so here is the saddest part about this happy post. I took my whole camera outside to take these pix... I didn't know which lens I would want to use. When did I remember when I'd left it out there? Yep, that would be this morning after it had started raining. Fortunately I was able to dry things off and they are still working properly!

BTW-- THIS IS MY 900th BLOG POST!

San Joaquin Snow

2011-03-16T12:18:00.000-06:00

Saturday afternoon I drove from Palmdale up the San Joaquin Valley (pronounced /ˌsæn hwɑːˈkiːn/ bwahahahahaha... AKA san wha-keen) to Coarsegold to visit with Rebekah and family. I've always loved the drive up Hwy 99 with the ginormous *freeway-bushes* that are bigger than houses growing in the median strip. In August the oleanders are a riot of blossom in all the hues from lightest pink to deepest fuchsia.

But I digress...

Now, in March, most of the orchards look as if a blizzard has just swept through the area. But it isn't really-for-real-destructive-snow just tons of blossom petals from the acres upon acres of fruit and nut trees.

THIS PARTICULAR *SNOW-STORM* IS AN ALMOND ORCHARD

Joanie's Balonie

Chambered Nautilus

The Queen Monkey

Life's a Picnic

Nana's Flowers

In With The Old...

Christmas Apples

Party Skirt

S & D's Wedding Quilt

Moose Fetish

Grammie (&Grampy) Christmas

Paperwhites for Christmas

French Toast Heaven

Vein Repetition

Ickle-Firsties

Beatrix and Anita

Snow-topped Thistle

Converation with my Pocket!

Sad State of Affairs

Fret Not Thyself

Gratitude

Crackin' It

Spencer and Deborah's Wedding

11-11-11 Fun

Rodent Conga-line

Confusion of the Seasons

Fried Zucchini

Virginia Creeper

Last Day...

Fall Projects

Search Engine for Blogger

Joanie's Pinto Purse

There's Your Trouble!

TT- the Red eDition

Snow in October?

Alpine Loop

"Take A Picture..."

C & K Wedding Album

Jessica's Poppy

Healing & Bugs

Beautiful Camille

Mutant Grape Tomatoes!

Pink Clouds

Golden Sunset

Double Rainbow

Fancy Meeting You Here!

Slow Learner...

Helper Harley

Room 4

Robust Mortal Experience

Families Are What It's All About

Dylan Ross Lewis

Thumbnail Moon Sunset

We Heart Tiny Baby Dylan

Celestial Child

Precious Tiny *Pork-chop*

Too Many Cooks

"It's All Fun and Games 'Til Somebody Gets Hurt!"

Holly's Cowboy Quilt

Busy Hands take a Vacation

Saying Good-bye

Golden Sunset

Old School

Gordon's Gal-Pal-Sal

Totally Dominated!

Red, White & Blueberry

Poor Babies!

Miss Camille Moves 1st Grade

Red Gerbera

CTR

Bryce Canyon

Hole-in-the-Rock: Flora and Fauna

Hole-in-the-Rock

*Grannie Annie's* Birthday

Summer Food

More Happiness

Let's Hear it for Purple!

Tender Mercies

Strawberry Lemon Tart

Iris for Elsie

Precious Tiny Pork-chop

Grannie Annie's Birthday