063- Deer Neighbors

So do you think that I just made a typo on the title? Nope I really do mean DEER- neighbors. I just love the fact that they are my neighbors (in spite of the fact that those swine-deer eat my tulips!!)

Yesterday Harley and I went for a walk in our beautiful 68 degree weather (I have to enjoy them when they come... today was cold and VERY windy. I thought I was back in Palmdale again). Anyway we were walking on the Hobble Creek trail that starts *in town*- 17th East and Canyon Rd- and continues all they way up the canyon to the golf course. But we weren't all the way up the canyon... we were right across from the Pizza Hut church (another whole story to follow) with houses and streets and everything. There is this garden area with some nice fruit trees and there was a whole herd of deer. Yup... I love it! There were 8 of them but this little guy was the cutest. I was no more than 30-40 feet from them. Most of them didn't even get up, they just kept lounging in the sun (just like me enjoying the sunny day).



OK... so here's the story about the Pizza Hut church. Living in Utah there are tons of churches (just like other parts of the country, but here most of them are LDS Churches) so people have nick-named them- there's the old white church in Mapleton or the Copper-top church, also in Mapleton.. you get the idea! When the properly named Canyon Chapel was first built there wasn't any steeple AND it had a red tile roof... hence the Pizza Hut Church. People all over the valley know that one! Yeah... and please don't tell President Jacobsen I told this story... he doesn't like it when people call it the Pizza Hut Church ;)

062- Meat Packing Assignment

We live very close to one of the very few meat packing plants owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (It supplies the US, Canada and Mexico). Every so often our ward is asked to volunteer for a 2.5 hour shift to help in the meat packing. This morning Gordon & I went along with other members from our ward. It is always a fun experience.


Our neighbor, Kevin and Gordon getting ready for work.

Today we were assigned to the Franks (aka hot dogs) packing room. We've both done this before so we kind of knew what we were doing. But today I got to learn more about the process. (I'm just like a little kid, I want so see and know everything and how it works.)

The head-frank-guy took the time to show me around and explain some of the specifics to me. They use only 100% beef. It starts as hamburger- 1/3 very lean bull meat and then 2/3 65-35% fat hamburger. It goes into an enormous mixer with blades moving at 3500 RPM (don't stick your hand in there!). They add the spices and some water to the very lean meat and somehow that makes a natural enzyme in the lean meat come out that then binds the whole lot together (so there are no added thickeners), then they add the higher fat meat and blend until it is the consistency of baby food. It is then packed in the *casings* or tubing and goes into the smoker/cooker (I still smell like a wienie roast even after going for a walk in the wind to blow-the-stick-off!). The franks are then cooled, removed from the casings and brought in huge red tubs to the packing line.

There were 4 men putting the 8-franks each into the bottom half of the packaging, it goes through a long machine that removes the air and seals the top part of the packaging...


Our friend and ward member Mike Hill with other workers.

THEN it was my turn to take these packages of the conveyor belt and pack them into boxes that held 27 packages (each roughly 1 pound each).



When the boxes were full Gordon would send them through a binding machine that put strapping around the box, added a label and loaded the boxes onto palettes. (Is all of this way too much information?)

Like I said... I'm just a little kid and love to know how things work and watch the machines do their job. Bless those engineers and designers who build them.

The head-frank-guy said that the demand is up 40% over last year. And that fact makes me so grateful for the fact that I am-

1. Not in need of Church assistance because of unemployment or illness.
2. Strong and healthy enough to go work to help others.
3. Part of a wonderful Church that has a system in place to help those who need it.
4. Live close enough to be part of this work.

It was a fun morning... I'm glad I could go.

061- Model A Cafe

Our dear friends opened a little cafe almost a year ago. It is called the Model A Cafe and is located in Mapleton, Utah. We try to go there often and this was one of our days. It is like stepping back in time; where you know your neighbors and the owner comes to chat with you during your dinner.

I love this little old rusted Model A. It sits right by the cute red building. In the summer there are beautiful flowers blooming in the now dead and empty pots. (I can see that I've just opened the door for a summer post about the Model A Cafe!)

It's always a pleasant dining experience... my recommendations? You can't go wrong with the french dip sandwich and Teresa makes a homemade apple cake with cream sauce that is to die for. Happy times.


FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerGrids-9, NRJ SANDED_PHOTO1

060- Lamb or Lion?

When I was a little girl I always liked to try to keep track of March and its Lamb and Lion reputation. The theory was that if it came in like a Lamb it would then go out like a Lion or visa-versa. My problem was that I usually couldn't remember at the end of the month what the weather was on the first of the month... so much for long term memory!

But this year I proclaim that in Springville it is a very lamb-like day. It is 62 degrees again... I could get used to this!

So what sort of day is it in your neck of the woods?

059- Use It Up...

... Wear it out... Make it do... Or do without!

I learned that fun little poem years ago from my friend Nancy Lenker. I've always liked it since it typified how I was raised.

Last weekend a DS called and asked if I could repair some of his jeans prior to him going out of town. (Funny aside his brother had been here a few days before with a *new* pair of jeans that were all patched and frayed looking! I told him MY patch work wouldn't show like that! LOL)

He arrived with the two pair he wanted patched and then what he termed a pair of *sacrificial jeans*. I experienced more than a little bit of anxiety because he wanted me to use white thread and go for the look his brother had. (I normally use a thread that matches the pants and you don't notice the patched area.) He was delighted with the results and took off early the next morning with 2 stylin' pair of jeans!

But then I just had this pair of now-sacrificed jeans that kept calling to me... you know what I mean? So last night in a fit of creativity I attacked what was left of them and made-it-up-as-I-went. I dug into my fabric stash and pulled out some fabric (green, of course) that was left over from making Camille some throw pillows, my old embroidery thread roll (that I inherited from my Mom... I just love the memories attached to it) and a lime green zipper that I've had around for I-don't-know-how-long... (but the price was 40 cents, so that should give you some idea) and a different black zipper. By bed time I had the purse all finished except for the embroidery. The funny part is that I spent as much time this morning adding the embroidery as I did last night constructing the purse.

058- Cloud Shadows

One of my favorite things is to watch the cloud shadows scuttle across the landscape. I was able to catch this photo of one of *my* mountains right at the end or our cul-de-sac. Such a beautiful sight. (I ran a Lomo Action to make the colors really pop!)


FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerGrids-9, (A2D)_Lomo Action

057- Pussy-willow

Oh Spring, lovely spring! I'll tell you that spring is my favorite season (but when it gets to be summer, fall or winter... I will tell you the same thing! Funny girl!) I suppose what I love is the changing seasons... I am always ready to see the longer/shorter days or cooler/warmer temperatures. I love the constant ebb and flow of nature.

This time of year I watch for those subtle changes that announce that spring is near and I am delighted when I find them... and disappointed when I find out that the flash of pink isn't a hyacinth but just a plant-pot-poker left over from last year :o(

I actually think that this sweet, fuzzy, soft little bud was on an aspen and not a willow, but all of these fuzzy-buds will always be pussy-willows to me.


FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerGrids-9, CoffeeShop Vivid Action

056- Sunsets

I am such a sucker for sunsets! I just love them. When we lived in Palmdale we got many wonderful multi-hued sunsets. We don't get as many here in Springville, but I love them anyway. Sadly some of them can't be captured with a camera. I read that a camera doesn't *see* as much light variation as the human eye.

055- So Soon?

When I posted yesterday and stated that Spring is Coming I didn't expect to wake up today and find out that it had arrived!!

I looked at my thermometer about 11am and it said 59, WHAT??? I know that this is an accurate thermometer as it lives in the shade on the north side of my house. After soaking my aching back in a hot bath I harnessed up the doggies (ok, only one dog... and I only put on a collar and leash!) I took the most wonderful spring day walk. When I arrived home this is what I found on my trusty thermometer! I could hardly believe my eyes.


FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerGrids-9, KPertiet_FreshlyWornPhotoBrushes-1

Now I'm not so naive as to think that spring truly is here for good... BUT... WOW... I will take a day like this anytime! We may get more snow and it may last... but to have a day like this in February in Springville... that's heaven!

The other big news is I spent all day yesterday cleaning and organizing my workroom. Boy, what a mess and what a job. I realized that I'd neglected this for way too long when I was looking for something under my table and the dust bunnies attacked me (foul-tempered-rodent!). I still need to take everything out of my closet and adjust the shelves so I can fit my two big purple paper totes in there. Then I'll only have the big red scrapper that lives under my cutting table.

054- Spring is Coming!

I am enjoying my Project 365 so much! I love the opportunity to create and journal something everyday. It is a very positive thing for me. AND I've learned a very important lesson as I've been on this journey- make hay while the sun shines! Yeah, I know that isn't a new idea but it really applies here and particularly this time of year. We will have lots of those wonderful grey days in a row; and while I love these kinds of days, they aren't so photogenic. So I make use of the beautiful days with glorious light to stock up on wonderful photos.

When I arrived home on Friday I glanced at my flower bed and could see these little shoots coming out of the ground. Yea, spring is on its way! In the fall I planted 50 daffodil bulbs (which, by the way, are deer-proof). I can hardly wait to see all of their happy little faces.


FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerGrids-9, CoffeeShop_Vivid Action, NRJ SANDED_PHOTO1