304- All Hallow's Eve

As I was looking through my photos from this year I ran across this one that just begged to be the potd for All Hallow's Eve. I love all the fun things that I can do in photoshop.


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I remember with great fondness all my childhood years of trick or treating. We would knock doors all over town (population 1500) with NO parental supervision. It was such a different world back then. My first unhappy Halloween memory came the year that *someone* smashed my carved pumpkin!! I couldn't believe that anyone would do that!

As a mommie I made costumes for my little children each year (so some are 35+ years old). Then Gordon & I went to several Halloween parties. I've saved all of these costumes and they reside in my Halloween box in the dungeon.

I think my happiest Halloween memories are of the years that Bek and the boys would come to my house for Halloween. We'd drag out the box from the rafters (no dungeon-basement in So Cal!!) and we'd have a costume parade! Stuart's favorite thing to do was mix up the costumes. My favorite was the year he put on the kitty hood, pirate patch and turtle body and then chased the little trick or treaters down the path!

Stuart, Caden and Bek 2001

303- October Sunset

Earlier this evening I was sitting here in my *playroom* and saw that wonderful pink light!!! I grabbed my camera and was out the front door in a flash. I stood on the front porch and walk for about 10 minutes as I watched (and snapped) the sky brighten and then fade. What a beautiful sight! I never get tired of sunset shots. Here are a couple to share...

Japanese Maple with bokeh sunset background

October sunset

302- Snow on Alpine Loop

301- Pumpkin Glow

More of that wonderful golden evening light that I just love. I took some great shots this morning of snow on my pumpkin... but this one beats it out! But I'll show you both anyway!



Just to show the difference that light makes both of these photos are SOOC!

300- My Irish Eyes

Since today is Day 300 I thought you ought to get a look at your trusty photographer! I can hardly believe that I have photo-blogged my way through most of 2009; only 65 days left! What will I do with all of my spare time then? I'm sure I'll think of something.



In keeping with my post title I wanted to include the lyric to the song (who knew all the verses, not me!) And I'll claim my happy, smiling Irish eyes.

When Irish Eyes are Smiling
words and music Chauncey Olcott & George Graff, Jr.

There's a tear in your eye, And I'm wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such pow'r in your smile, Sure a stone you'd beguile,
So there's never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter's Like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;
You should laugh all the while And all other times smile,
And now, smile a smile for me.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

For your smile is a part Of the love in your heart,
And it makes even sunshine more bright.
Like the linnet's sweet song, Crooning all the day long,
Comes your laughter and light.
For the springtime of life Is the sweetest of all
There is ne'er a real care or regret;
And while springtime is ours Throughout all of youth's hours,
Let us smile each chance we get.

PS my hair isn't short, but long enough to pin-up in a cute twisty style!

299- Fall Berries

My Bradford pear (aka flowering pear) tree... what more can I say?

298- Golden Light

I absolutely love this soft golden light! The only thing I like better is the soft pink light! Today has been a beautiful day. We had rain yesterday and this morning dawned clean, clear and cold. I feel like I could just reach out and touch those trees way up on *my* mountain. I just love the view from my playroom!

297- Just Can't Make Up Its Mind!

I was out wandering in my garden and found this funny petunia. When I bought and planted it back in May it was definitely a purple ruffled petunia with touches of white on the outside edges...

BUT LOOK WHAT ITS DONE...


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This is the same plant, but now it is a white ruffled petunia with tiny touches of purple in the center. I've wondered if the cooler temperatures and shorter days have caused this. I wish there was some way I could save her through the winter. Maybe I will experiment and dig her up and bring her inside for the winter. Wouldn't that be a treat to have a blooming petunia inside in December?

296- Home Canning Beef

I'd never thought much about home canning meat until my friend commented how easy it was. Well, it got me to thinking! My family LOVES homemade taquitos but the store-bought canned roast beef is so expensive... if you can even find it! Yesterday Gordon and I stopped at our Super Wal-mart and they had those ginormous bags of beef roasts on sale for $1.88 a pound! That was all I needed to light the match! I was going to make my own *bottled* roast beef!

As it turns out there isn't as much information on the internet as I thought there would be about canning meat specific to my elevation (we live at 4800'). So I called friend-Vicki to ask for the particulars. She wasn't kidding... It is SO EASY! (Note: I just went looking for one of the sites I'd looked at yesterday and found this one that might be helpful.)

First you cut your meat into manageable chunks (I want you to know that I cleaned up my cutting board just for you Jessica!!) and pack as many chunks into the jar as possible while still leaving 1" head room.



Next add 1 heaping teaspoon of my favorite Better than Bouillon (you can also use cubes, granulated or just plain salt). That's it... you don't add any water or broth, it will make its own. Wipe the tops of your jars. Place the lid and ring on each jar and tighten.



Now, here is the hard part... put your filled jars into your pressure canner (you MUST use a pressure canner, not the boiling water canner you use for fruit). Add enough water to bring the water level about 3" up the jars (or follow the directions specific to your pressure canner).

DIAL GAUGE CANNER (notice the stylish 1970s Avocado Green!)

Place the lid on canner and turn on the heat (don't add the weight yet!). Soon the water will begin to boil and steam will come out of the spout. Set the timer and let the steam vent for 12 minutes. Then place the weight on the spout.

As soon as the pressure gauge reaches the desired pressure (13 lbs. for 4800' elevation) start your timer; 75 minutes for pints, 90 minutes for quarts. When the desired pressure is reached you will need to adjust the heat to keep it at that constant pressure. (Yeah, good luck... you think you should be able to set the flame and be done... nope! You have to babysit this pot checking it every 10 minutes or so to make sure it stays on target!)

At the end of the 90 minutes (I did quarts) turn off the heat and remove canner from heat source. DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO HASTEN THIS NEXT STEP!! The pressure will gradually reduce until the safety valve opens (see your book for specific instructions), Then, and only then, carefully remove the lid and using a jar lifter transfer the jars from the canner to a clean folded towel to cool.

The next day I like to remove the rings, wash & dry jars and rings. Replace rings, label the jars. (Only do this after jars are totally cooled)

Wow, look at all that wonderful precooked meat just waiting for taquitos or one of my other favorite recipe! (Each quart yeilds about 2-3 cups of shredded meat)

So, you may ask...

What did I do while I was babysitting my pressure canner for 14 quarts worth of processing? I put my time to good use by bottling 14 quarts of apple pie filling. (Except at my house it will be a miracle if any of this apple pie filling ever gets into a pie!! I love to put a heaping tablespoon in my morning oatmeal! YUMMY!!)

I have to say, "I just love making a home!"

295- Lamb's Ear

I love this time of year! It is summer's last hurrah! The flowers love the cooler weather and thus reward us with additional blossoms. They are thick, fragrant and beautiful. I found that my lamb's ear had bloomed again. This has got to be one of my favorite perennials! I love to feel them. They are soft and furry just like Harley's ears!

I first became acquainted with this plant when I lived in Palmdale and a sweet sister taught a gardening class. I could never find them when I lived there. But here they were, living happily at my Springville house. Just another one of those blessed and happy things...

294- Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Gordon and I have been enjoying the baseball playoff games... tonight Gordon says, "We need to have a *ball park* experience! Shall I go get hot dogs?" I replied... "go to Ream's and get those dogs with the cheese in 'em!"

Just in time for the first pitch we were happily ensconce on the couch with the big screen. I turned off the bright lights cuz' it's a night game you know!

293- 3-year Quilt

So, I have to ask... does anyone else have projects like this? I found this fabric 3 years ago. I was shopping at my favorite local quilt shop Corn Wagon Quilt Company that is only 2.2 miles from my house!! I went in to find some cute pink and brown fabric to make Desi a diaper bag similar to a purse I'd just made. I walked into the second little room and there was this whole line of Moda Christmas fabric in reds and browns and so delicious! Well, $100 later I left with a 1/2 yard every thing from the line except the large paisley, I had to have enough of that for outside borders (because, of course, I didn't know what I was going to make but I had to have it). I always fold my fabric in a special way and pet it and place it carefully in the clear bags they use at Corn Wagon and it lived that way for the next year.

In the meantime, I made a different quilt for our Bishop who'd just been released using a pattern I just loved. So when the next Christmas season was approaching I thought, "Ah, this would be a great pattern for that delicious Moda fabric!" I found I didn't have enough of the red or cream so I went back to Corn Wagon and had to find other fabric that worked with the quilt (because of course they don't still have that wonderful fabric from a year ago!) I cut out the quilt, pieced all the blocks, got the blocks chain piece together in one direction and then put it away for another year!

Last fall I dragged it out again, finished the top, put on the borders and even got it onto my big quilting machine... where it lived for months. I finally had to finish quilting it to do another quilt. I took it off and folded and hung it, quilted, but not bound, on my quilt rack.

Whew... are we tired yet? So about a month ago I decided to get the binding on so I could FINALLY enjoy this delicious quilt. Need I say more... four weeks later it is FINALLY on my bed! I can hardly believe it!



The sad part to this whole quilt cycle is that I have other projects just like this one in various stages of completion. The happy part is that all those wonderful project just wait patiently for me to return and turn them into a finish, friendly quilt!

292- Happy Birthday Camille and Stuart

Twenty-four years ago I got an extra special bonus... Camille and Stuart were born. I was never anyone who thought I would have twins, but twins I did have. I was so pleased and thankful that they arrived healthy, strong and without a c-sections in spite of Stuart being breech. From the very first I knew that they were my extra blessing, shaken together, pressed down, shaken together, overflowing.



It is no mistake that the Lord sent me two children, together, eternally connected.

I love you... Happy 24th Birthday!

291- Bingham Copper Mine

So *lasterday* we had our fun trip to the Bingham Copper Mine. It is the largest open pit mine in the world... a giant whole in the ground! What made our trip more fun and personal is that Wayne's granddad Boucher drove a haul train at the mine until he was 74 years old and two of Gordon's uncles were born there in the little, now defunct, town of Bingham Canyon.

This is one of the tires from the trucks they now use to haul the ore. Sam, the tall man closest to the tire is a good 6' and he is dwarfed by this 12' 5" tire. Each tire cost $25,000! Makes replacing tires on your car sound quite reasonable, doesn't it?

Gordon, Andy, Laurel, Lizzy, Sam, Harlan, Sammy, Kade, Sarah

I know you may think this is one of the *edited* photos... nope! That is one of the ginormous haul truck compared to a full-sized crew cab pickup!



So how does one fill one of these ginormous trucks? Silly, with a ginormous scooper! You notice that that same full-sized pickup would fit in the scoop (two or three times).



They told us that each of these ginormous truck can hold between 260-325 TONS of ore in a load... that's a lot of rock. I love how the driver is just a tiny dot on the top right of the truck. And see the ladder that the driver has to climb to get to his cat walk! Yikes!

290- Monkey Girls

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my family? Well, I do! Today we met up with Ann's family (aka the Boucher clan) and went to the Bingham Copper mine. What a fun day we had. But I will tell you more about the mine in tomorrow's post.

We all met up at Andy and Becky's house before going to the mine. We hung out, visited, watched Becky cut up fruit, visited some more and finally I needed to go sit on the stoup and cool off (too many bodies=too much heat). Sarah and Ann sat down beside me and I thought, "Oh, oh... monkeys! WAIT, WAIT! I need my camera!



Jake was our appointed photographer and after the first shot he said, "OK, now do the reverse..." So we obliged him.



I love getting together with family, it validates who I am and why I am the way I am. Family is such a blessing.

Come back tomorrow for some REALLY BIG THINGS!!

289- Squirrel's Delight

288- Sentence Commuted

Springville, UT
10/15/09

At 9:15 a.m. today, the sentence of Simba Q. Catt was officially commuted when a call went out from the Home Office to the site of the intended execution, notifying officials there that the sentence had been permanently injuncted. On condition of anonymity, sources close to the Home Office report that the decision was actually made yesterday afternoon, in a closed conference between the leading officers of the Right to Life Committee. Security surrounding the decision, we are told, was intentionally leaked in order to alleviate any further anxiety among the public.

Unnamed sources within the Home Office report that the reaction from Simba Q. was to demand that all future meals be "of the same high quality as that associated with the proverbial 'last meal' ", since his true last meal would now be indeterminable in any advance of the fact.

AP Wireless


PAPER- CherieMask_2ps_ThrillingOctober_paper1, FRAME- KPertiet_VintageStorybdFrames-1, BRUSHES- Hof3 Sample Kit, FONT- Papyrus, CK_Ali's hand

Post Script
Although Simba Q's sentence was commuted today, sources close to the case indicate that his health is in severe decline.

287- Holly Berry Tree part II

As promised, I'm back today with more photos of the holly berry tree. I just loved this majestic specimen. I love the way the bark corkscrews up the tree. I love the texture (I took several close-ups to use as texture overlays). I love its stateliness as it stands watch over "Mother" Elizabeth C Baxter's grave.

286- Holly Berry Tree

I'm not sure if this is a holly berry tree or not. But that is what it looks like to me.

First I saw the leaves and berries on the grass... they just looks so picturesque. I had to capture them.



Then I turned around and there was the tree! Wow, what a beauty.



I will be back tomorrow with more photos of this wonderful tree.

Trees
by Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)*
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

285- Salt Lake City Cemetery

Today Gordon and I made another explore up to the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Many of his relatives are buried there. Today we went in quest of his great-great grandfather William Lewis and his wife Martha. As with many of the graves from that long ago they are not marked in any way. All there is to see is a blank expanse of grass where the map says they are buried.



I've always loved the peace that I feel in a cemetery. The Greenville Cemetery was one of my favorite place to go when I was growing up. When I'm in the dentist's chair and *need to go to my happy place* it is always the little Greenville Cemetery. Odd, but there you are!

284- Severe Tire Damnation!

I have a very funny nephew, (actually several of them) Josh. He loves to tell stories, use accents, be funny, raging, and make us laugh. During one of our visits he got going on the sign Severe Tire Damnation using an East Indian accent. He had all of us rolling. Now whenever I see one of these signs... I laugh, quote Josh, and laugh some more.


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But, you know, I'm struggling with the mental version of Severe Tire Damnation (I had an educator friend who used to refer to is as Minimal Brain Dysfunction... yeah, well, I'm having some maximal brain dysfunction!!) I've always struggled with my dyslexia but when I am under emotional stress (like after my children died) it gets really bad.

I've been struggling with some emotional issues lately, you know the kind, you have no control over the situation because it's not your choices that are causing the stress. I think I'm handling it pretty well, using my mantra of "It's ok! Because it has to be ok!", until I try to do something like: typing (my fingers won't type correctly), singing (I can't read the word and the music and make LOTS of mistakes), express myself to a group (say the wrong words, forget what I'm saying, etc) and then I realize that, no, I'm not dealing so well with the stress. I suppose that it is an emotional barometer that lets me know that subconsciously I'm not coping with the stress.

The good news is that I have an understanding family, I can laugh at my mistakes without thinking that I'm as stupid as I sound, and, yes, have a good cry... what else can I do?

283- Marcy and Warren

I just love my *non-biological* family (and it goes without saying that I love my biological family too). The Millers are one of those families that are *our* family. I've watched their children grow up, go through trials, triumph over said trials, get married, have babies and I love every one of them!

Today Marcy, yes, little Marcy, married a wonderful guy named Warren in the Draper Utah Temple. I've known Marcy since before she was born! How can she be getting married already? The wonderful thing about a Miller wedding is that all the siblings come to support their sib. That might not seem unusual but there are 14 Miller children! I count it a privilege to be counted part of this loving fun family.


BRUSHES- Hof3 Sample Kit, FONT- Papyrus ACTION- DPMoms Perfect Workflow TEXTURE- Warm & Toasty

I love to watch the Miller girls interact... these girls (nine of them) know how to have fun! And that love and companionship spans the generations and now all the nieces join in. What a wonderfully fun family... I sure do love them!

282- Ethan

We had grandparent duty the last 2 days while Mama and Daddy went away to celebrate Daddy's 30th birthday.



Ethan is such a little clone of his daddy.

281- Bridal Veil Falls

So how many Bridal Veil Falls do you think there are in the United States? A quick Google search brought up: Utah, Colorado, Yosemite (CA), North Carolina, and Oregon... and that was just the suggested searches... I didn't even look at any of the 255,ooo hits!



But this is Utah's Bridal Veil Falls. Since we've had early rain and snow the falls are flowing quite fast for October! I felt the water and it was icy cold. You know, I always want to drink water like that! Giardia be dammed (get that pun? giardia comes from beavers! bwahahahaha) But seeing as how I have had Giardia... I do heed the warning not to drink stream water... but it always makes me so sad. I can just taste it: cold, sweet, bubbly, refreshing... oh how I miss that.

280- Which One?

I can't remember which Disney movie it is... perhaps Emperor's New Grove... but the quote is, "Which one, which one!"

So that is my question to you today. Which one? I took a bunch of photos last Thursday of the autumn colors in Provo canyon. Which photo do you like the best?

#1


#2


#3


Let the voting begin!

279- Dear Friends

Is there anything happier than meeting with old friends? It can be a month, a year, or many years; but as soon as you are reunited there is that instant feeling of comradeship that was present *years ago*!

Sheri and Joanie... today!

Today I had one of those meetings. Sheri and I were friends ages ago when they moved to Palmdale. It didn't take long for us to form a bond of friendship... how many people do you know that have 3 preschoolers?... that is willing to trade babysitting?? Our children were very close in age. Spencer and Justin went to kindergarten together and we carpooled. Sheri watched my kids while I was involved in the CHI foreign student visiting program. She listened to my woes and I listened to hers. We had picnics, family dinners (complete with me cutting my finger and needing stitches!), and lots of fun.

Then the *unthinkable* happened Sheri was pregnant and commented to me that she was twice as tired and sick as with her other children. I said jokingly, "Maybe you're having twins!" (bwahahahahaha) Guess what? She did! We laughed and cried about our mutual predicament of having lots of babies (of course, now Sheri was going from 3 to 5!) It drew our friendship closer.

Then (sniff!) Sheri and her family moved to *far-a-way* Utah. We've visited a few times since then... but today Sheri took the bull by the horns and came down here to see me! What fun! I told her I would repay the visit... SOON!

Our sweet sets of twins
Camille and Aubrey - - - Stuart and Larissa
November 1990

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278- Alpine Loop... Again

I love the yearly tradition that my friend, De-LOR-ee-us, and I have of driving the Alpine Loop each fall. This is our 5th year! When I first moved here I was assigned as a visiting teacher to DeLoris and two other elderly ladies. As we all know, there are always changes in visiting teaching assignments so I don't *visit* her anymore but that hasn't changed the friendship that DeLoris and I have. (I've written about DeLoris before you can go here or click on the DeLoris label to read more.)

Last year I had to spring DeLoris from rehab to make this trip! We decided today that it never looks the same. Each drive is new and unique in the vistas that are offered. We were quite surprised to find that yesterday's rain here brought snow to the mountains (again, we had snow in the mountains last Wed.) Since fall blew in, literally over night last week, most of the aspen tree are still green but now have snow on them. The good news is that there wasn't enough snow to cause damage to the trees.

277- Utah Valley

I love the view of Utah Valley (& Utah Lake) from the mountains. What a beautiful sight... add some beautiful fall colors... Mmmmm... it doesn't get much better than this.

276- UT or VT?

I don't thing that Vermont has anything on Utah this year by way of beautiful colors...

275- The Birds and the Bees

Whoa! Look out of the way! No, wait... come back... it's not that talk!

We harvested the last of our fruit for the season. Our poor apple tree didn't get sprayed enough this year so our yield wasn't as good as I'd hoped. We only got 6 scant boxes as compared to last years 14 boxes!

I was amused as I was picking to see that my little friends have been enjoying *Joanie's Bountiful Harvest* as well. A clever bird ate his fill on this apple. I wonder if he did it all in one sitting; if so, how could he fly away! He ate all the way down to the skin and only left one little slice behind the core... clever bird!



I've never minded sharing the plenty of my yard with my little feather and/or winged friends. But I have to tell you that this one surprised me! Doesn't this look like a shark has taken a bite out of this pear? But, sorry, no land sharks in Springville this year. It is only bees gorging themselves on this soft, ripe pear. Who would have thought it!

274- *H.O.T.Y.

*H.O.T.Y. = Happy October to You... compliments of Gordon.

Yesterday one of my friends at the Temple commented that the view in Provo Canyon was SPECTACULAR! She wasn't kidding.

Gordon and I took a little road-trip explore. First we headed up to the Squaw Peak trail head... so many photo ops! Then we headed up Provo Canyon... but let's be clear on this point... the really spectacular view is headed down Provo Canyon! Oh my, I have fodder for a whole week's worth of posts!

Today we get to see Cascade Mountain with her party dress on! (Don't you just love her flouncy skirt?)


BRUSHES- Hof3 Sample Kit, FONT- Papyrus ACTION- (A2D)_Lomo V_2

** So... are you still wondering about yesterday's title (probably not! bwahahahaha)?

Camille, of course, knew the answer... 273-6864 was our phone number in Palmdale. I had that phone number longer than any other in my life. I STILL have to think several seconds to come up with my current phone number. ;)