107- Shoe Tree

I'm sure there are some people that might find this an eye-sore... but the whole concept of a *SHOE TREE* just catches my imagination.


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Today Gordon and I went on a one-day-road-trip up to Park City, UT (can you say cold?) and right there by one of the very nice hotels was this shoe tree! Gordon is so very accommodating and drove around until I could finally get out, tromp (with permission) through a hotel lobby and get some shots of this tree.





The first time I ever remember seeing a shoe tree like this was on one of our yearly girl'-getaway trips to Big Bear City, CA. It always makes me laugh when I see one.



Finally in 2004 when just Auntie P and I were coming back together I stopped and got some wonderful photos of this shoe tree.



I was so glad that I did, because when we went the next fall all of the shoes had been removed from the tree (spoiled-sport!)

I've only seen one other shoe tree since then. It is on Hwy 89 between Springville and Fairview, UT. I didn't stop because I was in a hurry to be to a wedding (so I could wait for the hour I was early...) and on the way home there was a blizzard and I didn't even see the silly shoe tree.

Have you ever seen any shoe trees? If so, I'd like to know where... I think I'm on a quest (hey, that's a good idea for our next one-day-road-trip.

106- Spring Snow

It is a beautiful day today with lots of sun and bright, clean snow outside. It started snowing yesterday about 10:30 am and when it was finished we had 10" of new snow on our landscape!



The only down side to this snow storm is that all of my peach trees are in bloom. Two weeks ago we had the same thing happen to the apricot tree. Perhaps *Joanie's Bountiful Harvest* won't be so bountiful this season.



I was careful to make all my trips through the house so I didn't have to track through the snow in my clogs... this is my beautiful Japanese Maple that resides just outside my front window. I love how the sun is playing peek-a-boo through the snow. What a beautiful sight.

105- Elsie Louise

Today my Mom would be 96 years old... but she has been gone for way too many years now (32 to be exact).

As I contemplated this post for the last couple of days [since I had a minor emotional break-down in the post office parking lot because I saw a post office *Property of United States Government* pen... yeah, well, maybe you understand... maybe you don't] I'd considered using the photo of my mom taken when she was 27 and engaged to my Daddy... but then I thought, "No, I want to share the Momma I knew!"

I was born when mom was 39 [and Daddy was 55]. I've realized as I've gotten older what a burden I could have been to my family [sisters 10 and 8] but they never made me feel like I was anything less than the greatest thing that ever happened to our family... "They prayed for me!"

By the time I arrived Mom had raised her two younger brothers [her mother died when she was just 14] and then my sisters. I was definitely the beneficiary of all that experience. I was her #1 helper and companion. Whenever Mom got a calling in our little Branch it was always with the proviso that *little Joanie* would come along too.

I don't have many photos of Mom when I was little, but as I got older I was able to get her in front of the camera instead of always behind the camera.

This first photo was taken by me in our little front room about 1967. The beautiful curtains in the background were made by Mom and Sue (or maybe just Sue). I love how tanned Mom was... and her left arm was always more tanned than the right since she drove the rural mail route everyday [hence the break-down over a PO pen ;)]



In 1972 when our little Tony was born with severe complications and birth defects [see upcoming 4/21/09 post] Mom prayed, read Alma 32 on planting the seed of faith, jumped on a plane and came across the US to Portsmouth, VA be with us. Here she is, the proud Grammy [and what a wonderful Grammy she was] the first day Tony was out of the isolete, April 28, 1972.



Mom got the job of rural mail carrier in Greenville in 1962 and drove that 30 mile trip every Monday through Saturday for the next 15 years. That job was such a blessing in our lives. Mom was closer to home now that it was just she and I left at home. This is a snapshot taken by one of her coworkers outside the back door of the Greenville post office in 1972.



Mom was synonymous with playing the piano. She filled our home with music and happiness. I love the hours we spent singing around the piano. I can close my eyes and see my Momma's hands on the keyboard. This is a photo taken Christmas 1974 with little Rebekah helping her Grammy make beautiful music.



I've spent well over half my life without my Momma here. Yes, I've missed her and every year on her birthday I think how nice it would be to sit down with her and have one more piece of fresh strawberry pie with her and give her a wonderful, warm and loving birthday hug and kiss...



I love you , Momma...

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104- Wishing for Blue Skies

Are you wishing for blue skies? Are you experiencing a true April where you live? (You know, super changeable.) At this point I wish I'd just taken a photo of the sky every day at the same time this month. I think it would be a very interesting study.

Yesterday was beautiful, sunny, lots of high standing lenticular clouds ** spread out across the sky and temperatures in the low sixties. Yeah, I can like that.

Today I woke up to grey skies and rain showers. And even though I know we need the rain - *this* day I would have appreciated some more blue sky. But I remind myself that all too soon I will have blue skies everyday with all of its accompanying work: lawns to mow and water, tomatoes to plant and harvest (now I CAN like that!), and all the other fun summer activities I love.

But for now... it was an inside day and I spent most of it fooling around on the computer creating my handwritten font... just think of all the things I could have written in the same amount of time! LOL


These are NOT lenticular clouds but cumulous

** Years ago when we still lived in Palmdale I saw a standing lenticular cloud that was ginormous... it covered the whole width of the sky west to east! I've never seen one that big before or since!

103- Sunrise

This morning I had the opportunity to be up before the sun. Camille's spring break is this week and she's on vacation in CA to see her friends. When she scheduled this flight several weeks ago she was only thinking, "Get to CA at 9am! Yay!!" But yesterday at dinner she realized that meant she'd have to get up at *dark-thirty* ON HER VACATION!

But it was ok... we got treated to a beautiful Salt Lake City sunrise for our troubles. So this photo is courtesy of Camille with the Momma's camera! We make a good team. (But have you ever tried to get a beautiful sunrise photo while you are buzzing down the freeway? Yeah, we have lots of photos of a stupid van! LOL)



The other funny was yesterday... we became aware that our son was out of town so Gordon called Suzi to see if she and baby wanted to come to dinner. When he talked to her she said sure, but Kevin was getting home at 2 pm [Yeah, leave him home... just bring the baby! ;)]



Suzi is the cutest little girl! She showed up in these darling bright pink shoes... WITH TOES TO MATCH! How cute is she?

102- The True Vine

And then at that day will they not rejoice and give praise unto their everlasting God, their rock and their salvation? Yea, at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine? Yea, will they not come unto the true fold of God? 1 Nephi 15: 15

Never Alone...

I add my testimony to that of our Apostle, Jeffrey Holland... we will never be alone. Hosanna...

101- Little Purple Pansies...

I can never see a pansy without the Primary song starting in by head (just thinks... it's been in there for over half a century!!!)

Little purple pansies touched in yellow gold,
Growing in one corner of my garden old;
We are very tiny but must try, try, try,
Just one spot to gladden, you and I.

In whatever corner we may chance to grow,
Whether cold or warm the wind may ever blow;
Dark the day or sunny, we must try, try, try,
Just one spot to gladden, you and I.
LDS Children's Songbook pg 244; Words: Anon, Music: Joseph Ballantyne



I found this beautiful display of pansies yesterday, in of all places, planted on one of those horrid traffic circles in Orem [4th W & 12th S]. They were so happy and beautiful I parked my car [probably illegally on permit parking only 4th W ] and braved my way through the traffic buzzing around this busy traffic circle, laid down on my belly in the damp grass and got up-close-and-personal with these happy little flowers.

I haven't seen a display of pansies like this all spring. Hope you enjoy this breath of spring!

100/365... HAPPY HUNDREDS DAY

This is HAPPY HUNDREDS DAY!

The 100th day of the year!

But more importantly, it is Gordon's birthday (how cool to be born on the 100th day of the year!)

I thought it might be fun to take a little trip down memory lane with the birthday boy...







And here we are now... many years later... celebrating a happy, happy birthday with our two youngest kids. What a good day.

099- Rain, Glorious Rain

Have you ever tried to get a photo of rain? Yeah, it is even harder than snow!

I was out in the street... IN THE RAIN [in my pajamas] trying to get just that right photo... but no luck this time. The closest I could get was the rain falling in the ginormous puddle in front of my house... but even that isn't what I wanted.



I just love the rain. I suppose if I had to work out in it, I might not like it, but I don't so I do!! ;)

I love the sound of the rain pattering [or hammering] down on the roof and windows. I love the clean, fresh smell that comes with a good rain [particularly a summer rain] storm. I am so grateful for the needed moisture [too many drought years for this girl]. I love the wonderful grey skies that come with rain.



I ventured out again after the rain abated and got some shots of the rain drops still clinging to the flowers and trees [but I have to be quick with the wind blowing they won't stay for long!]



I love to remember the little rhyme from primary grades at school, April showers bring May flowers. I can hardly wait for next part of that rhyme.