120- Spiritually Fed

BYU Women's Conference was yesterday and today. This is my 4th year attending. I always come away so wonderfully fed and spiritually uplifted.

Beautiful tulips on the BYU campus with the Wasatch Mountain range in the background.

I was so impressed with my experience that I emailed my family and told them about the rebroadcast of some of the classes so they wouldn't miss out on all of the wonderfulness. (This year they will be rebroadcast on Thursday, 5/13, 1pm and Friday, 5/14, 1pm)

Then two years ago we started a new tradition; Ann and Rebekah joined me for Women's Conference. It was another wonderful feast, but even more importantly we were able to connect as strong *Caraway* women.

Last year Bek and Ann joined me again... sadly, Camille works (what's up with that?) but we did pull her in for Cafe Rio dinner. To somewhat *make up* for the fact that Camille is left out of Women's Conference-party Rebekah stayed with her in her big apartment those first two years.

We've instituted a few traditions that are a must for our successful WC experience. Towards the top of the list is trail mix (must have munchies to keep up our strength as we trek all over campus.) The first year I provided goodie bags; including trail mix, water bottles, notebooks and snacks.

Last year Rebekah made some *Totally Awesome Trail Mix* with humorous results. Ann took the assignment this year, with delicious results, and look who decided to join us again... my nutty little friend. (Since Rebekah was in a different class I took this photo and texted it to her so she could laugh with us.)



This year we had one little change to the WC tradition, Bek came with a whole SUV-full of her friends from Coarsegold so they all stayed in a local motel but we were able to hook up for some of the classes. (How did I NOT get a photo with her in it?)



We all came together for the closing address which always proves to be the Creme Brulee of the feast. This day was no exception. We always sing several hymns as a 15,000+ sisters choir in preparation for these opening and closing addresses in the Marriot Center. It adds so much to the spirit.

I quote from my journal-

"Elsie is here!
I am sitting between Bek and Ann singing Choose The Right reveling in the beauty of our blended voices and feeling the closeness of family. I thought, "I wish Mom was here!" Immediately I felt that she was there with us. I wrote the above and showed it to Ann and Bek, then none of us could sing! There is an empty chair to Ann's right!"

Interestingly enough during the opening address on Thursday Ann wrote, "What is the mission of the daughters of Elsie Caraway?" I'm so grateful she would come and join us as strong Caraway women!

119- Ruffled Cherry Blossoms

One of my friends here in the neighborhood lives down by the pond at the end of our cul-de-sac. The back of her house is a wall of windows that looks out onto the beauties of nature. But some prior gardener add to the beauty by planting this lovely tree right outside one of the windows.



This evening just before dark Jeanie called me and shook me from my Women's Conference induced catatonic stupor and said, "Joanie, you need to come see my tree!" I grabbed my camera and Ann and I took a trot around the corner to take advantage of this photo-op.

I love where I live.

118- The Demise of Lake Lewis

Two weeks ago when the city-works guys came with their ginormous vacuum truck... I knew this was going to be the demise of lovely Lake Lewis. What I didn't know is that it was going to be a *slow-motion* process!

April 14, 9:31 AM


It was another 5 days before I saw them again. I was hopeful they might have forgotten about my lovely Lake Lewis. But, alas, they returned with their dreaded cutting machine. They cut out this big shape and then, you guessed it... they disappeared again.

April 19, 4:19 PM


I heard them working up one street, but it took them almost 2 weeks from their first trip to get back to my corner.

Yesterday morning I could hear this scraping... what the chicken? I peeked out and here is this backhoe-guy grinding his tines across the asphalt. It was as bad as fingernails on a chalkboard.

April 27, 8:31 AM


He stayed at it until he finally popped up the edge and then it was easy to scrape up the *much too thin* asphalt. Hmmm, I wonder why this section sunk? But they only removed half of the cut out area...

April 28, 8:45 AM


The city-works guys did this all knowingly; or they should have known! There was a big cold front and storm moving in. So they hurried in this morning with their hot asphalt to slap down half a coat to fill up part of the hole... in the rain!

April 28, 9:44 AM


Oh boys, why didn't you wait until you could do the whole job in one week and do it right (I can just hear my Daddy asking that questions!) So here it is, steaming in the rain.



And you know what? They still aren't finished.

117- Pink Tulip

116- One Down...

and only 6+ more dresses to go!

I finally finished MOB dress... aaahhh! Lately I just don't like making dresses for myself. Skirts seem to turn out OK, but the dresses... not so much. (Of course that has nothing whatsoever to do with my stout build!)

Rather than bore you with my sad tale of woe about sewing I will tell you instead about Jean's hanger.



Jean was Auntie P's mother-in-law. After her husband died, she couldn't continue to live alone because of her Alzheimer. I went with Auntie P to help clean out their *coach* (mobile home) so they could sell it.

Jean was one of those ladies that saved EVERYTHING! Short pieces of string rolled into one ball, the pull-thingy off of orange juice cans, the orange juice can lids, twist ties, used and cleaned take-out containers... yeah... everything! (We encountered the same thing when we cleaned out my mother-in-law's apartment after she passed away.)

As a reward for this work Auntie P let me take a few things that would be special to me, a remembrance of Jean. One of the things I chose were some of these decorated hangers. The workmanship is superb. The largest of the little felt circles is only 1/2 inch wide. I can just imagine all the love that went into the making of these beautiful hangers.

Only *special* things get hung on these hangers so I suppose my MOB dress will get to live there for a while.

115- Ode to the Apple Blossom

Whenever I see an apple tree in blossom it takes me back to the old apple tree that lived on *the lot* (a large grassy area across the dirt driveway from our tiny house). It was a glorious tree when in bloom. Mom would set up the picnic table under the apple tree and a couple of years we had a hammock! But it usually never produced anything but wormy apples. As I've become more apple tree savvy I've learned that if you want apples you need to spray! Sad, but true.



Since moving to our home here in Utah we've been blessed with a marvelous apple tree... IF IT IS SPRAYED; if it isn't sprayed all the apples drop before they ever get ripe. The fruit is large, crisp and sweet. I can hardly wait for apple harvest in October!

But for this-day I will enjoy the loveliness of the evening sun shining through the apple blossoms.

114- Spotty Violet

In my backyard tucked in a shady little corner is a patch of beautiful little violets. They come back every year right on the edge of the lawn. But today I noticed this lovely little spotty violet. Did it just mutate on its own? Most of the others are the normal purple. Happy chance.



Two weeks ago I mowed my front lawn for the first time. It was very patchy and not so green. The next day a traveling-aerator-guy came and made my lawns look like a pack of wild dingos had been there. The next day I fertilized with my new *secret mixture* (Scott's Turf Builder and Ironite). Then I let it snow and rain for much of the next two weeks. I know there are those who wouldn't like my version of getting to where I am today but I have a June lawn in APRIL!! I was grateful that today it dried out enough for me to mow. Look at that verdant green... I just love it!



And lastly, can you believe this riotous display of tulips? They have just gone crazy this year. I'm wondering if my *deer repellent* is also a wonder fertilizer.

113- Sassy

For several weeks I've been feeling like I had *tired hair*! I've let it grow for almost 3 years. I liked the versatility of longer hair I could pull it up into a pony or bun, but then I'd look at photos and I looked so *OLD*! Yes, I can hear what you are saying, "You're not 30 anymore!" Yeah, but...

So I went to see my favorite Desi and asked her for sassy hair. And for me... this is about as sassy as I will get. (Love that Desi-girl!)


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112- Angel

I got up this morning to 2" of new snow on the ground. I opened the curtains and crawled back into be *to snuggle with Harley* and woke up 2 hours later by then most of the snow was gone! Do you suppose I could have that happen in January? That's what Mama-Bear does... she climbs into bed and wakes up when the snow is nearly gone.

The good news about today's snow is that it didn't drop below freezing so I think the fruit trees are ok. (And just how can that be? Not freezing, but snow?)

After dragging my lazy bones out of bed and eating my morning oatmeal I knew I needed to get going on my *MOB dress. I cut it out yesterday and spent this-day at the sewing machine. It is all finished except the hems. Tomorrow... the jacket!

And what does all this have to do with a darling angel? Not a thing... I just had this photo left over from the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers and wanted to share it.


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*MOB = mother of the bride. Which is better than FOB... fat old broad!

111- Rainy Day Tulips

It is a typical spring day: raining one minute and sunny the next. I sneaked out just before enormous drops started pelting down (I got one splat right on top of my head) and captured my tulip island!

The deer have left my tulips alone since I put on the milk/egg/dish soap/oil/cayenne pepper mixture (imagine that?) but you can still see the gnawed off ends on some of the leaves. Tomorrow, after the rain stops, I will go dose them again and hope my *deer* neighbors will leave them alone.

110- Peach Blossom Time

It seems that spring arrived. The blossoms are popping out on every bush and every tree! And I love them. These are my early peach blossoms. Couldn't you just curl up inside that blossom for a fragrant nap?


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I went on a little spring explore in the backyard today and look what else I saw! These might look like dead blossoms, but if you look closely you will see tiny little apricot starts. Thank you... my prayers have been answered. I do believe I will have apricots this year.

109- Narcissus

Narcissus is what my mama would have called this beautiful little flower. We always referred to these as narcissus and the all yellow flowers as daffodils. I bought a bag of *mixed daffodils* at Costco in the fall of 2008.

This is my second spring to be rewarded with these beauties. I've been so pleased with these happy spring bulbs. I don't know if this spring is really nicer than the normal spring but I am feeling it more this year.


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108- *Lasterday*

So, lasterday Ryan and Nikki came over to stain the fence. *The men* decided that they would rent a professional grade paint sprayer from Ace Rents in Spanish Fork (as opposed to buying one). I think it took them longer to go pick up and drop off the sprayer than it did to do the job! Gordon says Ryan finished the spraying in about an hour!



Can I just say again how grateful I am for our sons? They are so good to us in doing the little (or not-so-little) jobs that need to be done.

This fence is an excellent example; I am no part of the work force. I just go look and say, "Wow, that looks great!" and then go back inside or go shopping or... whatever! It is amazingly wonderful. For years I was the driving force, the team captain, the go-to-mom (oh wait, they only told me were to go if they were angry... not really- bwahahahahaha). I am so grateful that our boys will just pitch in and do this for us. What a marvelous blessing! And, let me tell you, this *old* mom is very thankful!!



Isn't this a beautiful sight?

107- Dyslexics of the World UNTIE!

Can I just have myself a little rant here? Good, 'cuz I need one! I'll tell you that being dyslexic doesn't help my situation ONE BIT!

Holy-Stinkin'-Cow! What is wrong with me? Do I think I'm wonder woman or something? Apparently almost 58 years of experience with my *minimal brain dysfunction* hasn't taught me to, duh!... measure twice, cut once!

All of that being said; I have two words: SAMPLE BLOCK



IF I'd made a sample block first I would have realized that my two of my measurements were wrong even though the graphic illustration on my pattern was correct. I should know better! So last night I cut all of the burgundy and burnt orange rectangles 1" too small! Now I get to order more fabric. Bah!!!

OK, rant over... return to your previous activity of choice!

On a happy note-

I went to JoAnn's Fabric Daffodil Dash sale today and got all the fabric for the bridesmaid dresses and my dress at super discount prices. My crowning glory was *my* fabric: Baby Silk- Caviar (aka black) regularly $9.99/yard clearanced and then on sale $2.50/yard! I bought 10 yards! What a crackhead!

106- I Got Mail!

Look what came in the mail today! I was so pleased with my choices; the thumbnails online accurately depicted the colors. The shipping was fast and the prices good. WOW! I will be shopping at BatiksPlus.com again! AND... I got two batik fat quarters as a thank you. Cookie knows how to keep her quilters happy.



After I got the A-OK from the bride I was off and cutting. I threw The Master Quilter in my CD player (a quilting novel by Jennifer Chiaverini... appropriate huh? But I just want you to know that I want Jim Dale to read this to me and not this lame-o-narrator!)

I found a few cutting omissions in my pattern. (That's why the big magazines always have a quilt tester... I guess I have to be my own quilt tester! Luckily I ordered extra fabric.) By 10:30 tonight this is what I had... yup... big pieces cut into little pieces...

105- Spring Cleaning

Today was one of those days that we live for and thoroughly enjoy here in the Rocky Mountains. It was sunny and 70! How can you argue with that?

After mowing and edging the lawn I decided that the *job-of-the-day* was to rearrange my garden shed. It was on the property when we moved here; the previous owner had built several nice shelves and then this *cockeyed* boxy thing in one front corner that was good for nothing and only took up valuable space.

Ah-ha! DE-MO-LI-TION!! I got out my cordless drill to get out the big screw (where I could... some were badly stripped), my big sledge hammer and went to town! This is the demo debris and leftovers from my new beautiful fence (photos still to come after it is stained).



I dragged out all of the junk, hauled the wheelie-bin over and started sorting and cleaning. Luckily, I'm not someone who tolerates clutter so it wasn't too bad. What it needed mostly was organization. (Notice the plum tree in bloom over the fence? I love it!)



I had several unsuccessful attempts to get all of the dirt and dust out of there.

First I tried the house broom; too slow.

Then I tried the push broom; too dirty! and the handle broke again (Notice it in the photo above? Bye, bye broom!).

Next up was the grass blower! BIG MISTAKE... all I did was create a giant dirt cloud that settled all over me and everything else in the shed. I'm surprised I can still breath.

Finally I brought in the hose... that should work. Right? Nope, the slab wasn't poured level or with a proper slope so all the water wanted to drain to the left side... I got my big garage squeegee and splashed and squeegeed until it was finally somewhat acceptable! Whew!

After a couple of hours I started putting things back in. My daddy taught me that if things have a place, and you KEEP them in that place, then you can find them when you want them! Novel concept! I had fun screwing in screws to hang tools from. I moved my big tool corral to the left side of the door where the silly box thingy was.



Ta-da! All finished! The tools and ladder are off the floor, a place to park all the machines and carts, everything is nice and organized! Yay, little Joanie!



What shall I do tomorrow?

104- Happy Spring

103- Through My Window

I spend much of my time here in my *play-room*. I love the fact that I can watch what is going on outside: deer running down the street, children playing in the neighborhood, the sun dancing with the clouds, MY mountains. I love it all!

I awakened to grey skies and rain but after I'd been working here for a couple of hours I saw the sun break through the clouds and dance across my mountain. What a beautiful sight.

102- Patches

Patches... have you ever thought about them? Some of them are decorative; remember the leather patches on the elbows of men's coats? How about the *new* jeans that are sold nowadays that look worn out and patched when you buy them?

The one thing that I felt worthy of and/or could be published as my potd today is this patch.



I could put one more non-revealing photo of Camille's wedding dress which I finished altering today. I don't think you wanted to see the photo of the sty in my eye (I haven't had one of those since I was a little girl) Ditto for my sciatica pain or my sore thumb joint.

Wait... didn't I start by asking about patches? Got any ideas one how I can patch up my old body this day?

101- Spring Flowers

As I arrived home from church today I saw that my spring bulbs are just starting to bloom. I love these happy spring flowers. My mom always had lots of flower bulbs in her gardens. I love the way they *take turns* showing off their wares!

The hyacinths have such a strong heady fragrance! I love the way it hangs in the air.



As a funny aside- do you see my poor cropped off tulips? I used the homemade deer repellent and it seems to be doing the trick. The commercial brand I got a couple of years ago only seems to attract them more!

100- Sophie's Day

Today was Sophie's blessing day. (In our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our children receive a name and a blessing as infants; baptism doesn't come until they have reached the age of accountability, 8-years old.) Doug and Jessica decided to have this wonderful family gathering at their house (which I totally love!) Here's our sweet baby-girl.



I got permission from their Bishop to take this photo before the actual blessing. (I can see that I need to get a wide angle lens. I couldn't get the other priesthood holders.) Look how proud and happy the daddy and grand-daddies are!



Jessica asked if I would make Sophie her blessing dress. I've made them for all our grand-daughters. When I delivered the dress earlier this week I told Jess that I hadn't made a slip so she could put Sophie in a onesie or she could use the slip from Ashton's dress. Ashton grabbed that idea and the decision was made.

I borrowed a pleating machine from a friend and did the smocked yoke. This was a first for me but I am very pleased with the results.



What a wonderful family! I'm so grateful that we are here close, can see them on a regular basis and share these special days.


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099- Virtual Shopping

Have you ever noticed that when you want something... you usually can't find it? Yes, well that has been my experience today. I've been to Orem twice and Spanish Fork once and all I bought was some Cold Stone ice cream to drown my sorrows! (I also made a stop at P F Chang's to see the wall hanging with my own two eyes. The colors just don't read the same as photos.)

Where are all the batiks? That's what I want to know. I feel like I used to see big bunches of them... but not now. Oh, fooey!

So I came home and looked online again. I may have found what I need in these 1895 Bali Handpaints at Batiks Plus I can see that this isn't going to be nearly as easy as I thought!

098- Quilt Design

So do you ever get to the end of the day and say, "What the heck have I done all day?" Well, I can tell you that I've been sequestered in my play-room all day long ciphering!

I've made quilts for each of my kids when they got married. (That is since I started to quilt in the mid 90's so my first three got short changed on that deal. Maybe sometime I will have to rectify that!) So with the upcoming nuptials I knew I needed to get busy.

This isn't the first quilt I've made for Camille (in fact I've lost count!) She's always had more input in the design process than the others. She tried to describe what she wanted and finally said, "You know, like the decor at P F Chang's!" Well, I didn't know! So on Tuesday she stopped by and took this photo for me.



I pulled that baby into PhotoShop and started, well, shoppin'! I just love graphic design with PhotoShop! I monkeyed and played and ciphered until my cipherer was very tired... time to take a break or two or three.

Usually when I design a quilt I just pull out the graph paper and start sketching away and scribble my notes on the side. But I knew that this one was going to be a little more complicated AND I am going to be much more distracted (boy, ya' think!), so I knew I wanted to have some pretty iron clad instructions.

So I've spent the day creating a step-by-step pattern for *Camille & Kevin's Chang Quilt*. (I could take that puppy downtown!)



I'm thinking batiks. Now that I have all my yardage ciphered I can go shopping! Yea, fabric petting (no licking in the shoppe). I love to go to the quilt shoppe, or two or three! I'll be back tomorrow with fabric samples if I am successful!

097- Thank You Dinner

Nothing says *thank you* like a nice dinner out! Here we are with our *fence-builder-boys*! I'm so glad we have them close and they are willing to help.

Funny thing though... Ryan and Kevin arrived separately but they both asked, "So did your fence blow down yet?" Let me tell you! It will be along time before that fence blows over!



We also have our daughter-in-law, Megan, here for the BYU Ballroom Dance 50 year Reunion. It was so nice to eat and visit with them all.

096- Quilt Therapy

One of my favorite things to do is quilting. It fills up in me a need to create. It is an opportunity to take beautiful fabrics and fashion them into a new beautiful whole.

(My friend, Pauline, says, "Joanie, I don't get quilting! You take big pieces of fabric, cut then into little pieces and then sew them back into a big piece!")

My favorite quilt shoppe, Corn Wagon, is only 2.2 miles from my house. I went there today in need of therapy (and true to form burst into tears as I told the ladies I was there to look for fabric for a wedding quilt for my *baby*! Oh, sad, sad lady!)

But life is not without humor... this sign is on their front door! I love it!

095- Happy Faces

I just love happy spring faces! These happened to be Primroses that live outside the Provo Temple. They just make me smile every time I look at them. It makes our changeable spring weather more bearable because it reminds me that, yes, early spring snow storms will subside and give way to those late spring days with all the flowering trees, bushes, flowers and shrubs that fill the air with their heady fragrance.


And I just had to add the watercolor filter again.







When I was looking for information on the Primulaceae I found this darling piece of art by Cecily Mary Baker. I just love the whimsy of it. It reminds me so much of the lovely illustrations hung in our rooms as children by Jessie Willcox Smith.

094- Near Disaster

I've blogged about our General Conference cinnamon rolls before... but today is a little different.

This would be the first time that Camille was making cinnamon rolls *for Kevin*. Yes, we took him some back on Christmas Eve, (when, by the way, he ended up in the hospital! No, it wasn't the cinnamon rolls!) but they are engaged now and it was Camille's day to shine.

While Camille used her *master-baker* skills I cut up some fruit so we would be all ready for a delicious breakfast while we watched the morning session of conference. The plan is to have the cinnamon rolls ready just before conference starts. I was *helping* Camille, who'd gone upstairs for something, the oven was hot, it was time to put the nice, light, fluffy cinnamon rolls into bake. I picked up the pan, opened the oven door, reached to set them on the rack of the oven and...

and...


AND...

the pan slipped from my hand (this has NEVER happened before) and fell, plop! onto the partially opened oven door. Do ya' know what happens to light fluffy dough if you drop it? Yup... it knocks all the air out of it. There was a mass of gooey, cinnamon roll dough all jammed down at one end of the pan. BA-STINKIN'-LONIE!! No, I didn't!?

Sadly, yes!

What to do? Well, first, I had to get Stuart to stop attacking the dough (using the voice of the French Chef, Louie, from Little Mermaid). Since the dough wasn't dirty, just flat, I re-rolled the dough, added more butter, sugar and cinnamon and set them to rise a second time. Here they are getting ready to bake THE SECOND TIME. I turned on the oven... but I let Camille go put them in when the oven was hot!!



Fortunately, we have a DVR so our conference started about 10:30 this morning instead of 10 o'clock like everyone else!

They turned out yummy and now we have one more story to add to our repertoire of *Joanie Stories*. It's hard being me!

(FYI- this one still doesn't top the shopping at Walmart for slippers with Auntie P story and falls slightly behind the flaming garlic toast!)

093- Girls' Night

Years ago we started the tradition of Girls' Night on the Saturday of General Conference. The men head off to the Priesthood session and the girls head out for fun.

Tonight we had an object to our mission... pick up Miss Camille's wedding dress. I knew that we would need to include Desi, Camille's sister-by-choice (I am so grateful for family, regardless of how we get them!) As it turned out we also brought Emmalie along and baby Blake went to Priesthood with his daddy and grandpa.

Miss Emmalie Camille loves her Auntie Camille. What a precious pair!



Little girls just come hard-wired to love weddings. I captured Miss Emmie doing what little girls do best! (this is NOT Camille's dress!)



Here there are... my girls! We've often discussed how much Desi and I are alike and how much Camille and Andrea are alike. Like I said... I love my family!



I have to admit... as I took this photo there were tears in my eyes. Somehow the last 24 years have just gone way too fast.