243- My Great Pleasure

Gordon uses a phrase, "It's my great pleasure." I like it. I like to be able to use it.

Today I took my friend, DeLoris, out to the last of $2 Tuesdays at Thanksgiving Point to see the gardens. It was my redemption for forgetting to take her a promise dinner on Sunday afternoon... yes, I know, I'm a sad sorry little girl with maximal brain-dysfunction!



As I was getting ready to leave Gordon reminded me that I must get a golf cart to tour the gardens. It is always the best decision to listen to him when he has a good idea.

On our way down the hill we met an older couple picnicking in the shade; she was in a wheelchair and he was the pusher! We had a short conversation about the wisdom of renting a golf cart.

One of our first stops was at the koi pond.



Are these just the biggest bunch of piggy-fish you've ever seen? Look at all those hungry-fat-begger-fish mouths. Eww, and they have whiskers!



We ran into our older couple again at the rose garden and he was looking very tired. We agreed that we'd meet them at the bottom of the up hill. After the rose garden we saw them again and he was lookin' so hang-dog. I told them to hop on the back and we would treat them to the rest of the tour.

After a foot tour of my favorite place, the Secret Garden, we motored the rest of the tour.



When we reached the top the our new friends were very appreciative and I got to tell them, "It was my very great pleasure!"

242- There Can Never Be Too Many...

... beautiful sunsets in my life!

Each one is special, awe inspiring, glowing and unique! I'm so glad I can see in color!



And do you like my texture on this photo! It's very unique... I took it through the screen! bwahahahaha

241- Hummingbird Dilemma

Thanksgiving Point gardens draw sweet little hummingbird. As we toured the gardens we saw several but they were always to fast for me. As we returned to the *club house* an adventurous little soul came right up to this big, sweet pot of blossoms and started sipping.



I had on my standard 18-55mm lens so I do have zoom capabilities, but I was surprised with how close she let me move in.



I also keep my camera set on burst mode so I was able to get lots of good shots of her selecting the sweetest nectar these beautiful flowers had to offer.



Then all of a sudden she jerked into hyper-reverse-lift... I wasn't approaching any more... what had spooked her?



I see her dilemma! And she was having NOTHING to do with this *ill tempered-rodent* wasp. Can't say that I blame her in the least.

240- Christian's Special Day

Today our sweet little grandson, Christian was baptized; what a special day! I am so glad that we are close enough for us to be with him today.

When Ashton was baptized I made her a special white baptism dress. As we anticipated Christian's baptism I asked him if there was anything he would like me to make for him: a vest or something. He wasn't sure so he said he'd get back to me. He called a few days later and exclaimed, "Grammie, I would like a pink tie please!" He was also given a suit by a kind neighbor. He looks stylin'!



Christian also asked me if I would lead the music for his baptism program. I gladly accepted! I was pretty sure that Ashton would be the pianist and she was. How many 10-year old girls (or boys, for that matter) can sit down and play anything in the Primary hymn book? She is awesome and was a lovely accompanist; which we all know is much harder than just playing the piano.

The minute Ashton started to play the opening song I started to cry. Sorry Jess. The Spirit was just so strong.



Namma and I share these wonderful children and grandchildren... what a blessing. But poor Namma is literally flat-on-her-back with deteriorating vertebrae and herniated disks. She's been in bed for the last 3 months. I just can't like that!



I got to hold baby-Sophie as we passed her around. She has got the fattest, squishiest thighs on the plant. Namma wants to know why that doesn't look so appealing on girls our age.



I couldn't resist capturing Christian's kickin' old-man eyebrows!



And this shot... it makes me cry. Doug (our little my-my-my-Dougie) broke both bones in his arm just above the wrist and needed his Daddy's assistance tying his tie.



What a wonderful blessing to be able to gather with our family and celebrate these special times.

239- Good-bye Sweet Willow

At just before 10 pm this day I walked into my workroom and heard one of the worst possible sounds... my beautiful willow tree creaking, cracking, splitting, splintering, falling... it just made me sick!

I fell in love with the Globe Willow years ago when we lived in Palmdale. We planted one at our house on Apollo and then again on Columbia. So when we moved here to Springville that first spring I planted 2 willows (one in front and one in back) and a Purple Robe Locust.

Here she is... just a baby-sapling on June 1, 2005. Her trunk couldn't have been more than 2.5" in diameter (about 6-7" in circumference). Today she'd grown considerably with a main trunk circumference of 51" and the 3 secondary trunks ranging from 25-29" in circumference. You see that skinny little sapling closest to the door? Yup, that's her.



What I love about the willow is that it is so fast growing. Compare the height in the above photo to this one. It is only 14 months later on August 11, 2006. (the middle tree)



This is the only photo I could find from 2007, again 14 months later. You can't see the height but you can see the increase in girth.



Still shooting up... this isn't a good angle but by 2008 I was getting good shade on my west windows. September 12, 2008



There! Do you see it? Yup, glorious, shady green-ness right on my workroom window! Ahh... I love to see it. May 18, 2009



I blogged about this photo last year on October 21st. She just emanated rich, golden light into my house. What a thing of beauty!



But last night after another severe thunder storm with cannon-fire thunder, heavy rain and severe wind gusts that whistle around my corner lot, sweet golden willow girl met her end! Each of the 3 secondary trunks went up about 8-10 feet and then split in a *Y*.



On August 4th this year the first of the three trunks split in that severe thunder storm. But this-day's storm just ratcheted the branches until they split right down each *Y*.



I just love my trees, particularly this one. I will miss her badly and, sadly, I won't be replacing her with another willow. I need to find a sturdier tree that can withstand the wind gust we have here.

Good-bye sweet friend! It looks so bare outside my workroom window.

238- The Diaper Nazi

This evening was the Diapers for Haiti Humanitarian Project; what a wonderful turn out and success! At one point I counted 17 sisters and there were another half dozen who had come and gone or weren't there yet! What happy sounds there were in that room: sewing machines humming, scissors slicing, laughter, lots of pinning, giggles, happy conversation... and yes, even a few labels applied (see title)!

All of this is Marie's fault!! She's the one who gave the RS lesson that grabbed me by the heart back on 8/1! By the next Sunday I had almost a dozen diapers finished, had purchased enough Touchtape for 300 diapers and challenged the sisters of our ward to make 300 diapers for Marie to take to Haiti on October 1st. (Funny story... Marie bought a new sewing machine for this project!)



Marsha was one of the first to arrive when she asked me what to do I told her, "You grab these bad-boys here..." It tickled her that I called the soaker pads *bad-boys*. I showed her what to do and we were off and running.

We got to talking about our own bad-boys (she is the mother of 5 boys) and the boy theorem which is: When you need a job done by boys- if you have one boy you have a boy, if you have two boys, you have half a boy and if you have three boys... you have no boys at all!!



She was a quick study.



Here's Denise... what a fun girl! I just have to smile every time I see her.



Our fearless leader-Relief Society President, Deborah (right) and Ann one of our Humanitarian committee ladies who came even though she was sick.



Holly and Diane... what happy sewers!



Look at these darling sisters, Carol and Joy. They cut and cut then pinned and pinned!



Now this girl, Shelly! She caught the vision! She made 2 dozen diapers at home since she couldn't stay for very long. She takes care of her elderly father-in-law. Marie was thrilled!



These are some of my favorite girls here! Margie (say Mar-Gee with a hard *G*) and her niece, Sarah. They are always up to something crafty. Sarah was our champion turner! (and labeled me the diaper-nazi) And that's another Carol hiding behind Margie. She cut all the corners off the Touchtape.



It just made me happy to see so many willing workers. There was a job for everyone.



Candy had more than her share of frustration with her sewing machine... but hung in there to the bitter end.



We will be back again on September 8th to complete the diapers. BTW - Deborah counted and we have 224 diapers in various stages of completion! You know, I think we'll make our goal!

Ladies... thank you so much!

237- Miserly

I find myself feeling miserly this last couple of weeks with my photos. I don't want to just throw them all up there on one day... or perhaps not at all.

For example, I haven't shared with you the photo of my finger after I tried to clump it off with the splitting maul last Tuesday or the *now it's healing photo*. You will all probably thank me for that one.

Yesterday Gordon and I went to $2 Tuesday at Thanksgiving Point to see the gardens. It was a perfect day weather wise... a high of 82. We've yet to see 100 degrees here in Springville and Salt Lake City has only had 2 100+ degree days this summer. And living where we do in the Wasatch Range we won't be getting any more 100 degree days this year, thank goodness.

So today I share a beautiful coleus. It is one of my favorite plants whether inside or out. So pretty, so vibrant... and this one? with zebra stripes... perhaps my favorite yet.


FONT- Albemarle Swash, ACTION- DPMoms Perfect Workflow,(A2D)_LomoV2, BRUSH- RhonnaFarrer_2ps_SnapShot_Horizontal6, FRAME- (made from brushes) RhonnaFarrer_2ps_SnapShotOVERLAY- Sun Shower (right)

Come back tomorrow and I will show you some more garden photos.

236- Summer's End

I captured this little girl unawares today. She lay so motionless, as only a child can do. Was she mourning the loss of her carefree summer days?



I don't know... I didn't disturb her. But it is back-to-school here in Utah...

235- Canna

A couple of weeks ago I went to *wander aimlessly at Home Depot* Does anyone else like to do that? I don't restrict myself just to Home Depot; Target, Wal-mart or Costco will do as well. I find the neatest things that way. I normally don't buy much... I suppose it is my version of *Retail-Therapy*!

I commented to the cute little garden check-out girl that I didn't like August at Home Depot because all the plants were gone. She asked me if I'd seen the clearance plants and I said yes thinking I HAD seen clearance tropical house plants. She told me they were outside.

I moseyed out there and saw 1 quart pots with huge perennial plants in them: lavender, white cone flowers (that smell so delicious), a yellow blossomed fern-y plant whose name I don't remember, some random bushes and these cannas! I fell in love with the beautiful striped foliage. It wasn't until I got home and started sticking them in the ground that I noticed the label saying it had bright orange blossoms.



Oh, my, what a treat! This will be a garden favorite for years to come.

234- Let's Tour the States

OK... most of you already know that I slightly cracked! But if you didn't, today will remove all doubt. Sorry...

As a child I loved to lie in the grass and watch the clouds float by picking out shapes and designs as they went.

Last Tuesday, when Stuart and I were building the pawth I started referring to the rocks by shapes, "Stu, hand me Idaho!" "OK now the Ohio!"

Later in the week I was adding my Hobble Creek *home-grown* river rock border and saw even more states... so I thought I'd share my tour of the states down my *Pawth of Life*.

We'll start with the one that first caught my attention...

OHIO-



then IDAHO-



And in no particular order...

TEXAS- squint... you'll be able to see it!



UTAH-



GEORGIA-



MONTANA-



INDIANA-



WYOMING-



COLORADO- now don't get these two confused! Yeah, yeah, I know!



WASHINGTON



& OREGON complete with Crater Lake!



NEW HAMPSHIRE-



NEBRASKA



PENNSYLVANIA-



SOUTH DAKOTA



KANSAS



WISCONSIN



and last, but not least, HAWAI'I bwahahahaha!