334- Ice Encrusted

I saw this sweet little bush today. It was right under a roof-gutter and was totally ice encrusted. So pretty... so cold!

333- In Perfect Harmony

I'd be the first to tell you that I'm not *up* on architecture but I do know what I like and I do think I have a good eye for beauty.

As I was driving through Orem today I saw this naked tree in silhouette on the rather plain brick building. But the way the tree traced its way across the arched windows of the building just set off the *oh, that's just right* in me. I was stopped for a left turn from State Street on to Center Street and had enough time to pull out my mpc from my cavernous purse and capture two shots without any cars... a serendipitous moment.



Looking at this harmony just makes me happy!

P.S.  You can see Beatrix reflected in the window just to the left of the tree trunk! =)

332- Ashton's Birthday

I can hardly believe that our *little* Ashton is 11 years old. Not only is she 11, she's 5' 4.5"!

This is the little girl who since she was old enough to speak asked for fruit or fruit salad for her birthday *cake*. Tonight Jessica made some wonderful fruit pizza. The crust was a snicker-doodle and then there were raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. I normally love fruit, but tonight with 8 " of snow on the ground in Orem that fruit was just a piece of heaven.

Happy Birthday Sweet-Ashton!

331- The End of an Era

This afternoon was the last of the conference match-ups between the Cougars and the Utes... they will still play each other during the season, but won't be in the same conference.

It was an outstanding game- BYU Defense kept the Utes scoreless for the first half... but then a series of errors caused the game to unravel and ultimately lost by one point when the game winning field goal was successfully blocked by a small Ute player.  Way to go Utes!  But I was rooting for the Cougars, of course.

Wikipedia even has an extensive page on the match up between these rival teams.

330- Sophie Sweetness

This is our littlest and youngest grand-daughter... how cute is this baby?

329- Some Favorite Thanksgiving Things

In the forty years that I've been married I can count on the fingers of one hand, and still have fingers left over, how many times I HAVEN'T been the cook! I think we had Thanksgiving at my Gramma's house in 1972 when Tony was a baby. I also know that we had Thanksgiving with Auntie P in 1986.

My point is that I've cooked Thanksgiving dinner A LOT! But that isn't a complaint...  it is a statement of familiarity. So, as I was cooking, pretty much alone, (which I've also not done for several years) I decided to capture some of my favorite cooking-Thanksgiving-dinner-moments:

One of the special-dinner things I always make is orange rolls. And I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!! the smell of oranges! It is one of my favorite fragrances... I think heaven just might smell like oranges!

Here's a first! On Sunday Stuart had a Fakesgiving with some of his friends and I asked him if he wanted to make orange rolls. He was a very quick study so he made them again today!

This is usually my *first smell* of Thanksgiving. I love the smell of onions, celery and carrots sauteing! How could any thing that starts with these simple, wholesome ingredients not be yummy?

I've never been one who wants anything except Turkey on Thanksgiving. (No ham thank you!) How can you go wrong with a beautiful bird like this? Years ago I learned about the Reynolds browning bag. I get a yummy, moist bird every time and in half the cooking time.

Anyway... these smells made me very happy on this busy and tiring Thanksgiving day.

328-Fizzled Blizzard

Yesterday we had a forecasted blizzard, they closed many businesses early, encouraged people to complete their travel before the blizzard was due to hit. People listened, traveled early, and avoided disaster. I would much rather have them err on the side of caution than be caught unawares and unprepared.

KSL Weather-guessers define a blizzard as:

• Wind gusts 35 mph+
• Considerable blowing and drifting snow
• Visibilities less than 1/4 mile
• Lasts 3 hours or more
• Very cold temperatures

He told us tonight that our blizzard only lasted 1 hour 47 minutes so technically it wasn't a blizzard.  But it's plenty cold!  It was 5 degrees this morning at 8 am and it a balmy 9 degrees at 7pm.

327- Stormy Sunset

We have a blizzard moving in. It hit cities north of us a couple of hours ago and has just in our neighborhood. This is what I was treated to earlier. I could see the sky going into its sunset beauty mode so I jumped in Beatrix and drove the half mile to my favorite sunset op spot.

Can you see why?


LOOKING SOUTH ACROSS UTAH LAKE AT WEST MOUNTAIN


LOOKING SOUTH TO SPANISH FORK RANGE AND NEBO PEEKING OUT FROM BEHIND


LOOKING EAST TO MAPLE MOUNTAIN... another one of my eastern sunsets!


LOOKING SOUTH WEST at wonderful God's Rays of Light... one of my favorites

326- DYI Grapevine Wreaths

Over the years I've thought several times about how fun it would be to make my own grapevine wreaths, but just never got around to it. So Thursday, as I was hauling vines to the truck, I pulled out some *promising* ones just for that purpose.

Saturday after cleaning the last few beds, trimming raspberries, winterizing the yard and garden hoses I dragged the saved vines over to the deck to have a try at making wreaths. I thought I would need a bucket (note the orange Home Depot bucket on the ground) to use as a form but I found that I had better luck just muscling the vines into circular wreaths. The base vine got wired with my some of my 20-year old roll of wire that never runs out (we used some of it decorating for Camille's wedding) but the subsequent vines just got twined and twisted around the base. It was a very fun experience!



But you know why I like this photo? It shows so much of who I am and where I live. Here I am in my zany-Ron-Weasley-hat (Shirley made it for me and I LOVE IT!) just being my little square-self. I can see the grapevines neatly trimmed and secured to the fence, my tomato patch *put to bed for the winter*, my currant bushes along the garden shed, there's a peek at the path that Stuart and I laid in August and running along the fence behind me some of the newly trimmed raspberries.

I used raffia on one of my wreaths but didn't like it so much.  It started to rain a little after Gordon took this photo for me so I move all the wreaths onto the kitchen table where they are still waiting for me tonight.  That's the nice thing about wreaths... they just wait patiently for me to come back and decide how I will embellish them.  Happy wreaths!

325- The Last Leaf

Just as predicted the snow moved in about midnight last night. We have a blanket of about 1-2" of snow on the ground with slop on the roads (Fritz said it would be like this!)

From my bedroom window I can see all of the trees in my neighbor's orchard. He has several pear trees right along the fence that are just beautiful in the fall (they have been feature here before and, by the way, grow yummy pears that hang over the fence for me to pick and enjoy!) I was walking through my bedroom earlier and a flash of red caught my eye! What? A robin? Out in this weather? I did a double take and saw that it was just one of the flaming red leaves on the pear tree.



I couldn't help remembering the story The Last Leaf  by O Henry and how it has always moved me.

What a wonderful analogy of the Savior's love for us and the power of the atonement. All we have to do is keep believing and working towards that Heavenly goal...

324- Maple Mountain Sunset

Last evening I'd just stepped out of the theatre from seeing the latest Harry Potter movie, the clouds in the western sky look almost Apocryphal... fittingly, very Harry Potter Voldemort! As I was digging my mpc out of my purse I glance east and there was Maple Mountain glowing in her evening beauty. I literally ran jogged over to the edge of the parking lot to capture this shot. I knew if I didn't it would be gone.



As I was driving home I was treated to a glorious sunset ALL IN THE EASTERN SKY (I just love how that happens here so much, all reflected light)! Timpanogos looked just like a painting: snow covered, clouds behind, pink sky, almost glowing! I wanted to stop right on the freeway and get another photo! (But seeing as how the I-15 corridor is under construction in Utah County that wouldn't be a wise move!!)

323- Harry Potter Theme at BYU Bell-tower!

Several months I saw a group on Facebook saying that the Harry Potter Theme would be played today, 11/19/10, the opening day of the 1st part of the Last Harry Potter movie. You know how these things sometimes go... a lot of wishful thinking.

I went to the Temple this morning and got out just in time to boog-it down to the Bell-tower with mpc in hand. I found a parking place RIGHT THERE.; And at noon guess what happened??



You betcha! HP Theme! Yay!

322- A Stolen Day

That's what I had today... a day stolen from cold, wind, rain or snow! It was one of those unseasonably warm November days.  Don't get me wrong... it was still only in the high 50s today but when I am working that is just about right for me. Interestingly enough I had just such a day last year and probably wouldn't have remembered about it except I blogged about it. We get these wonderful days just ahead of cold storms... but I'm not complaining!

I did a funny wardrobe change about 4 times! No kidding! I started with long pants and a sweatshirt, then I changed to a long sleeved shirt, still too warm! I put on my cut-offs and gardening T-shirt, ah! much better... but then I had to make one more change to a collared shirt to keep from getting my back and neck burned... funny girl.

THIS DAY was the day to prune my grapes. I know that they usually should to be trimmed in the spring but the year I did that the vines bled! Not real blood, of course, but whatever grape blood is! Wait, I have it! Grape juice! Seriously, it bothered me. Today the vines were already dormant from our cold and the trimming was juice-free!



I love this kind of work:  seeing what needs to be removed, securing the vines on their new course,  feeling the sun on my back... a day sent from Heaven.  Gordon helped rake up all the leaves and vines and load them into the back of Kevin-son's truck.  We hauled all of the vines, leaves and grass clippings to the green-waste recycle place.  Boy were they hopping!  There must have been a dozen other people doing just what we were... getting ready for snow and winter.

3-2-1- Blast off!... or Beatrix' Twin

I needed to send back a package this morning on my way to the Temple. Imagine my surprise when I pulled into the parking lot and there was Beatrix' much redder and younger twin. I whipped out my mpc and clicked an image to save this day. I talked to the owner of the other red New Beetle and sang Beatrix' charms. I hope that the she enjoys her Beetle as much as I have Beatrix.



We just celebrated 11 years together! It's nice to have an old, dependable friend in Beatrix!

320- Juventa's Bollo Jug

In 1950 Gordon's family moved to post-war Germany, his dad was a Foreign Service Officer there. While they were there his mom, Juventa, took advantage of the opportunity to purchase some of those beautiful uniquely-German items. When she passed away almost 8 years ago we were lucky enough to inherit her Bollo Jug.



I've loved this beautiful set from the very first day but in Palmdale we didn't have anywhere to display it... it hid in the depths of our corner cupboard. When we moved here I knew the perfect place for it! On top of our cabinets. It is the perfect display area with our 11 foot ceilings.  Sadly not too long after that Gordon surprised me by putting up crown molding around top of the cabinets... the only problem is that now the Bollo Jug was hiding again!

I got the bee in my bonnet late this afternoon to rearrange my dishes in the cupboards. You know how these kinds of jobs just morph out of hand? It wasn't long before I was standing on the counter with the vacuum (also on the counter) vacuuming off the top of the cabinets... can you say G-R-O-S-S?

Well, as long as I was there I might as well remedy the problem of the hiding Bollo Jug. I cut up a half sheet of plywood to create a raised shelf up there. Gordon helped me lovingly and carefully wash up the Bollo Jug set. As I was replacing them, all clean and shiny, I could feel that Juventa close by and know that she was very pleased with her beautiful 60 year old purchase.



I decided that the other set of cabinets also needed some decorations, I'd unearthed some treasures that I thought might be fun to have out. I moved the two red pieces from the top of the fridge (another eww, g-r-o-s-s! Hey I'm only 5'3" on a good day... I just don't think to haul a step stool upstairs to take a gander on top of things. I was talking to Ann while I was doing this and she said I could see the top of a toddler's head. bwahahahahaha), an old tiered-cake plate that belonged to my great-aunt, a wonderful wooden box from a sweet and thoughtful friend, Mama's bean jug, one of her serving dishes, and my apple skin from last fall. I love it!

319- Cloud Choices

I tend to go through periods where my trusty Rebel XS is my close companion... there are so many things to capture that day.  I end up with way too many to post on one day.

Then there are stretches of long, grey days where there just isn't anything that photo-worthy. It is on those days (such as this day) when I start digging through my files and see what I've missed on one of those *high-photo-days*.

This cloud shot caught my eye; immediately I could hear Joni Mitchell's song (Both Sides Now) in my head.



When I *Googled-up* the lyrics I found something that spoke to my beautiful-cloud/grey-cloud dilemma!

Rows and flows of angel hair,
And ice cream castles in the air,
And feather canyons everywhere,
I've looked at clouds that way.

But now they only block the Sun,
They rain and snow on everyone.
So many things I would have done,
But clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow,
It's cloud illusions I recall,
I really don't know clouds, at all.

As I've sat here and pondered all of this I realized how much life is like my photo-ops.  Some days are bursting with positive energy; some days, well, not so much.

I'm grateful that I have looked at clouds from both side... the black, threatening ones, the silver-lining variety and my personal favorite, pink tinged.  I'm also grateful that I've learned NOT to let those black, threatening clouds get in my way!

I always have the option to go dig around in my mental photo-stash and find those happy, pink cloud days.  Happy thought!  So even on gloomy-grey days I CHOOSE to see those pink edged clouds... It's always my choice!

318- Thankful

Thankful... that is how I feel today.

We've segued to winter weather even though the calendar still tells us it is fall.  We've had cold days, colder nights, rain and snow storms and gusty winds.

But you know what?  I've barely felt the inconvenience of this cold weather.  I live in a very comfortable house with with central heat, good insulation and draft free windows.

As I've watched today's storm move in (Fritz said it would be like this) I've been so thankful that I live now instead of in this drafty little cabin.

317- Autumn in Reflection

Why is it that autumn colors are more than doubled when they are reflected? I don't know... but I love it.


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316- $114... My Eye

A couple of weeks ago I turned on my kitchen faucet, it ran normally for a few seconds and then clunk! it slowed to a trickle! We have hard water here in Springville so I suspected I might have some sediment in the aerator. I cleaned it out, but got almost no improvement.

Great! Now what? Gordon said to call a plummer. *Ahh, you're killin' me, Smalls!*

So I called... $114! Are you kidding me?

BEFORE

I didn't know where I put the booklet that came with the faucet (I found it later) so I looked under the sink:

• got the serial number
• looked up the repair booklet at Price Pfister
• read the cleaning instructions
• didn't quite understand how to remove the divertor
• called customer service
• had a VERY good experience with knowledgeable and helpful tech
•  found a chunk of hard water deposit
• removed it with long nosed pliers
• reassembled the faucet
• stated, correctly, I ROCK!
• called Gordon and told him he owed me $114

AFTER

EDIT- I repaired this again on 12/3/12... gotta get another water softener.

315- Quakies

When they first built our tract of homes nearly 20 years ago one of the popular landscape trees was the Quaking Aspen... sadly at our low-4800 feet elevation (do you catch the sarcasm there?) the quakies don't do well, get diseased or insect infested and have to be removed. (It seems silly that 4800 feet isn't high enough, but, there you are, it's not!)

Most of the homeowners have had to remove their dead and dying quakies; we did back in 2006... all 8 of them!

BUT... my friend down on the corner, who happens to love quakies, just planted some a couple of years ago. What a treat to see these beauties. I took a little explore in the 20 minutes that the sun decided to peak out this afternoon and captured them.



Winter is trying very hard to move in... but I'm still enjoying the glorious fall colors.

314- Temple Poppy

I mentioned about 6 weeks ago that it was only a matter of time before they gardeners at the Temple pulled up all the beautiful summer flowers to plant for next spring. It always kills me. Sure enough the next week they'd been replaced.

This year they planted mostly primroses; whereas previously they've planted mostly pansies. What I didn't know until they started poking up their happy little faces is there are also Icelandic Poppies! What a wonderful treat. Because of our temperate fall they've been tricked... and I love it.

I pulled out my mpc as I was leaving today and captured this beauty. It wasn't until I got home, uploaded and looked that I saw the words that I love so much. Holiness to the LORD The House of the LORD.

313- Hunger Games

It is a sickness... that's all I have to say!

Well, maybe not.

The fact is that I love to read, and as with many folks, when I read it tends to take over my life. I'm not so bad that I take it with me when I go out to dinner and read it under the table (I got that off the back of the jacket cover) but I do find myself drawn to my big comfy chair, or better yet, my bed to curl up and read for hours on end.

There is also a definite advantage to jumping on the band-wagon late... I didn't have to wait for years for each of the two successive books to come out. I've burned through them in about a week.



So how do I rate the story? It's a bit violent but seems to be well written and, a big plus, there is NO PROFANITY! What a refreshing change to read an author who doesn't feel compelled to fill her stories with unnecessary profanity.  I've deserted several author for that reason.

I still haven't finished Mockingjay, so until then I will hold off on my final opinion.

312- Raindrops

I was a perfect, grey, rainy day... and I love it!

311- Radiant Tree

This tree lives in South Provo not too far from Home Depot. I just had to stop yesterday as I was driving past and capture it. I love its radiant beauty.

310- Wild Sunflower

I think I'm in love!

I finished my minimal edit on this image and I just want to keep staring at it.

I call these sweet, happy, little flowers wild sunflowers, but I'm not sure they are sunflowers at all. They grow in the ditch banks and roadsides all over. I've seen them grow as tall at 12-15 feet (I'm not kidding!)

But this on had had to eek our its existence in a dry inhospitable field... but still it does its part to delight the eye and gladden the heart.


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309- Sweets Ballroom

My sister, Sue, shared a photo with me that I will now share with you. She says-

"I thought you would appreciate this vintage picture of Sweets Ballroom in Oakland, where Mom and Daddy first met. Back then it hosted Big Bands. The ballroom still exists today and is still called Sweets Ballroom, but of course the place has been modernized and hosts some unusual entertainment. A quick Google search will give you a taste."

I can't help but think of the words to Brad Paisley's song Two People Fell in Love-

There ain't nothin' not affected
When two hearts get connected
All that is, will be, or ever was
Every single choice we make
Every breath we get to take
Is all because two people fell in love

You know, to me it's all so clear
Every one of us is here
All because two people fell in love

If you'd like to see pics of my folks click on the *Mom and Daddy* tag below.

308- Japanese Maple Sky

This time of year I feel like the sun has somehow been encased is is gleaming out of brilliantly colored leaves still cling to the trees.

It is so hard to catch that in a photograph... but this one comes close.

307- That's My Boy!

For many of my *soccer mom* years that's the phrase you'd hear from me anytime Stuart scored a goal or made a particularly good play. It got to be such a well know phrase that his team-mates would join in with my *That's My Boy!*. It always made me laugh.

Early this Fall Stuart told me he was coaching a youth soccer team. I told him with a great amount of love, *That's My Boy!*... but I was informed that I COULD NOT attend his games.

This is a photo of his team. I yoinked it off of the South Franklin Community Center's facebook page.

306- Wearing Out...

So am I talking about this late autumn zinnia that's been frost bitten? Yes...

But I'm also talking about me. I've posted a photo-of-the-day/365 for the last 23 months! And yes, I'm wearing out.



I'm going to complete my project Twenty-Ten and then I think it will be time to move on.

I will still post when something catches my fancy... you can't get rid of me that easily! But, yes, it's time for change.

BTW... I will never get tired of the magic created by late evening sun.

305- Sad Sophie

This is our little Sophie.

She is so sad...

Why?

She's getting four (count them, F-O-U-R!) new teeth all at once!

(But have you ever seen such a cute sad face?)


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