125- Cascade

Today we went over to Camille's school on the west side of Utah Lake. The views from Saratoga Springs are just beautiful. You can look across the lake and see all the wonderful Wasatch Front Mountains: Maple Mountain, Provo Peak, Cascade, Timpanogos, and others that I don't know the names of yet.

Today Cascade caught my attention. The way the clouds were playing across it was just beautiful. As always, Gordon was good to stop while I tromped up the road for my photo-op. Cascade had been featured here on my blog before.

These mountains are just another one of the happy things about living here. I love the mountains (having been raised in the mountains). I love their rugged beauty; all craggy and cracked.

124- Dandelion Wishes

Remember when you were a child and used to pick the puffy dandelion heads, make a wish and then blow? Do you ever wish for those days again... when life wasn't so complicated? or hard? Yeah, me too...

Yesterday one of our little 12-year-old deacons got up to bear his testimony in church. He said, "Yes, I've had an interesting life. I've had lots of trials. People keep leaving (sister married, brother just left on mission) and people keep coming (he is one of 12 children)". Then he said something that was wise beyond his years. "When you have trials (sweet boy, doesn't know about real trial yet) you either learn how to help yourself or you learn how to help others."

Wish it was that easy!



FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerFrames, kimi inked edge, jb's red moss texture

123- Reaping Where They Sowed

All of my adult life I've moved into houses that would be referred to as a *fixer-upper*. Usually the yards were non-existent and the inside was in need of lots of help.

This house...



... what a blessing to move here and find that the previous owners had put much so love and hard work into it. I am reaping what they sowed!

I could just start enumerating the list of everything they did that I love and am so thankful for; but for today I will sing the praises of my Japanese Maple. It is planted in a nice ivy-covered flowerbed just outside my front window. I love the color red (almost as much as I love the color green!) This beautiful tree gives me a seasonal show of color and beauty. It starts in the spring with this bright, clear scarlet. It has little dancing fairies that play in the afternoon breeze... [can you see their little tutus?]



Through the summer it fades to an orange-y red and then a yellowish-mottled-green. In the fall it returns to a similarly beautiful scarlet that it displayed in the spring.

What a delight!

FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerFrames, CoffeeShop Texture 1, Selective vignette. I picked the selective vignette color from the leaves... I love the effect.

122- Viola

When I was growing up my mom always referred to these happy little flowers as violas. I wasn't surprised to find out that she was right or that they are related tot he violet and pansies. I've always loved these little cool weather plants. I love the way it looks as if an artist has taken a brush and painted whiskers on them.

121- Silliness!

I always enjoy the little things in life that make me laugh. Last year before our first session of BYU Womens' Conference I made up little goodie bags with snacks for us to munch on. Trying to get a time to eat is sometimes tricky when you are trying to get to the next class.

This year I gave Rebekah the assignment of finding trail mix since she was going to WalMart anyway. She and Camille couldn't find any good trail mix so they decided to make their own. They searched all over the ginormous store trying to find just the right ingredients for our trail mix. They'd scoured the store for about an hour looking for yogurt raisins when Camille found them; she lifted them in the air and let our an opera "aaaahhh" worthy of something I would do (yeah, it must be genetic!) They took all the ingredients home and make some *Totally Awesome Trail Mix*

So today I am munching away and.............



LOOK who was in my bag (Oh, OK, so I added the face!) It was all I could do to not laugh right out loud! Bek pulled out her camera and got a candid shot of our little friend (with his cranberry hat!).

120- You Make the Difference

Today was our first day of BYU Womens' Conference. What a wonderful experience. The theme this year is In the Strength of the Lord.



I think the one thing that sticks out most to me are comments made during the opening session by a Sister Webb. She told us about the hymn Now Let Us Rejoice. It was written by W W Phelps just after the Saints had been driven out of Jackson County Missouri in the dead of winter. Imagine... what a difficult time to rejoice!

After she'd talked about the hymn and told us how we were to sing it we did sing it. I was a mess before the first line was even finished! To think of the trials that we all go through and that we are to rejoice... In the Strength of the Lord all things can be met with joy!

Sister Webb told us "You make the difference!" And you know, she's right. With the strength of the Lord we can make the difference

119- Just Girls...

I love traditions... they seem to bring a closer bond to those fun times that we get to spend together! Rebekah flew in today from CA to be here for BYU Womens' Conference. (This is her second year).

Last year Rebekah stayed with Camille in her *big* room... and since Camille just moved to another big room they are repeating the *sleep-over*. I am so glad these girls have each other. Sisters are the best.



One of our favorite traditions is to have dinner (or lunch or whatever!!) at Cafe Rio. It is just the yummiest. It is funny when you have regional restaurants... when I go to CA I can hardly wait for In n Out and Panera Bread.



I'm looking forward to the next few days with Rebekah here. My sister Ann is also coming to join us. Maybe someday Camille will be able to join us for Womens' Conference... but until then we will just enjoy each other.

118- Creamcicle Tulip

Have I mentioned before what a wonderful neighborhood I live in? (Maybe only a dozen time times!) One of my nice neighbors told me that these tulips make her think of Creamcicles and she wants to lick them! (Apparently there are other tactile-licking-people out there! Wait, that didn't come out right... we don't want to lick tactile people... well... just weird I guess...)

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I've been working in the yard for the last several days (Thursday, Friday, Monday and today) I am always amazed at how fast my stamina comes back. I have the front yard all set for spring, except edging the lawn... that job is always good for arm cramps for the next few days... where do those muscles go?

I've planted Dahlias and Clementius. I am excited for them to grow! I love the wonderful colors. I also have some orange trumpet vines that volunteered in my backyard last year (shoots from the neighbor's plant). I've put them on the fence on the north side of my lot. I am finally getting things down to a science with where I want my plants and where they will work. Sometimes I laugh and think I should put zippers on my plants because I keep changing them!

Ah, spring... what a beautiful season!

117- Gerbera Daisies

I'm not sure if it is the bright electric colors, their happy faces or [and I just learned this] that they are perennials but I just LOVE Gerbera daisies. Although they come in yellow, orange, white, pink or red colors these two are my favorites; with yellow being a close second.



I got these at my favorite WalMart on Friday and [wisely] kept them inside to enjoy. I wish I'd done the same thing with my tomato plants which I left outside, it's been warm right? Yeah, 'til it snowed on Saturday. Gordon rescued them for me but they are looking a little cold shocked...

115- Horses

Not too far from my house on 4th South there is a smallish pasture right next door to a tiny house. For the last several years in spring this pasture has been inhabited by a mare and her foul.

I've always loved horses and I am always captivated by the sight of sweet little colt or foal.



In 2005 I got this photo of this pair on the way out to Eagle Mountain. You can't see it too well in this photo but this little colt has blue eyes (which always looks so odd to me!)



What a happy sign of spring.