The Joy of Photos

I've said this before but my memory works like photographs; I have a whole library of mental images. I think that is one of the reasons I love photographs so much. They freeze a moment in time and when I look at them all of the emotions from that moment come back to me with clarity.

After finishing the 8 bridesmaid dresses the next item on my To-Do list was to scan photos of Stuart for a video presentation to be shown at the groom's dinner (aka rehearsal dinner) and the reception. I leafed through 21 years of photos and pulled out the ones I liked the best; the ones that captured Stuart for me.

Not many days later Stuart informed me that he looked goofy in all of the photos (and that's MY fault?) He looked through 15 years of photos, marked ones he wanted me to add to or replace. I sent them off to Liz and told her she would have to get with Stuart to pick the ones that don't look goofy!

This whole *search and scan exercise* got me infected with photo-phever again! I want to be able to share these wonderful memories with my kids... you know, the ones who made these wonderful memories.

Working in no particular order I started in 1993 and decided to scan every page and label them chronologically so they will *read* like the paper photo album. (I have about 6 years scanned)

It didn't take long before this photo jumped of the page at me! Look at these beautiful girls! Rebekah and Megan were room-mates at BYU before Rebekah got married. So when Megan and Erik got married two years later I captured these two friends, and now sisters. I just want to cry with love for these two beautiful girls who have matured into wonderful mothers and women.

August 23, 1994

Another of my favorites is this one of Rebekah and Spencer. Rebekah is wearing a cute little jumper I made for her to wear in the ward road show. Spencer is just 2 months old; the same age his little Annabelle!

March 3, 1984

And here are Camille and Stuart when they were only 7 months old... just about the age of little Fiona. How is this happening to me? This fast forward of 30 years?

May 1986

OK... and then there's this one of my babies with mustaches...

 DRAWN BY DADDY WITH A PERMANENT INK MARKER!

He said they liked it. What really happened was he liked to vex the mama because they wouldn't wash off! Can you see how unbelievable cute these babies are?

April 1987

And my beautiful Rebekah again. She is 13.5. When I was that age I looked like a boy (Stuart, in fact, and whereas it looked good on him at 13.5, it didn't work so well for me!)

May 1987

No list of favorite photos would be complete without this one! These precious little children! What a joy! We have two more re-enactments of this photo. Camille just commented that we need to do that again. Wouldn't that be fun with them and their spouses and kids?

August 1989

And here is that same cute group... 1st day of school 1995. Spencer is starting 6th grade and Camille and Stuart are starting 5th grade. Such happy siblings.

July 26, 1995

I'm so grateful for all of these happy photo and memories! What a blessed life I have!

Old Towel Gets New Life

You all know that I am a sap, a romantic, a head-in-the-clouds-kinda-girl, but I can't help it when I see things that make me happy, when I see history repeat itself.

About 28 years ago, when Camille was just a six-month old baby, my dear friend, Auntie P, gave me several pieces of terry cloth. I immediately fashioned a hooded bath towel from a wonderful 60s era floral print. (I'm pretty sure this was a find of Edna's at DI) Camille used that happy little towel for many years before she outgrew it.

At some point I put it in the basket of pool towels that lived outside the back door. And when we moved to Utah, hence no pool, it went to live in my rag-towel basket under the bathroom counter. Which is were I found it when baby-Fiona arrived. I KNEW she would need her Mama's cute little hooded bath towel.

Recently, while on Grammie-duties, baby-Fi had a blow out and needed a bath (oh no, poor Grammie!) so I got to do my favorite thing... give baby a sink bath. I did a quick pre-bath search and found this old-friend, happy to be needed again (just like Grammie!)

*Laundry-Fulfillment*

Years ago a dear friend had to go back to work, part of the *deal* was that the rest of the family would help out with the chores she normally did, because she really can't do it all!

Her husband accepted the job of doing the laundry. All went well for the first couple of weeks. He stayed on top of his chore. Week three he says, "Can you just move the clothes from the washer to the dryer for me?" (You can see where this is headed). Each week he would ask her to *help him out* with just one more *small part* of the laundry.

Finally she says, "Why am I doing most of the laundry again?"

To which he responded-

"Because I just don't get the same fulfillment out of doing the laundry as you do!"

Gordon has long queried, "How would you like to be the poor schmuck who said that?"

We just had to get a new washer and dryer... and you know what? It really HAS up the fulfillment factor for me! This is my very first front loader. I'm already reveling in the increased Downey smell on my towels that I always find at Rebekah's house!

And, don't you know, that an new white washer and dryer (replacing an old white washer and dryer) calls for a paint color change!! Camille tells me that I *did a Desi!*

When Stuart and I finished this downstairs bathroom just after he got home from his mission I painted the walls yellow (don't ask me why!) and it had brown and cream towels. Blah...

Every time I go visit my sister, Sue, and see her beautiful ocean themed bathroom I feel so happy and peaceful. So that was the look I was going for... sand, surf and sky! I told Gordon that it feels so nice in there I almost want to put a blow-up bed in there and have a kip!

Play-Date with Harley

This morning Fiona's daddy had a doctors appointment so I went early to watch her. And since silly-Grammie forgot her phone at home we came back to my house today.

Fiona fell asleep on the ride and somehow I managed to sneak in the house without Harley noticing that HIS baby was here! You should have heard the racket he made as soon as she stated making *I'm awake* sounds.

He certainly loves his babies! The hardest thing for him is *NO LICKING*! I gathered some *Grammie-toys* (read- Grammie didn't look carefully enough in the diaper bag for the toys so we improvised!) so Fiona could play in my sewing room. Harley was right there to keep her company.

Fiona loves Harley's soft fur.

OK... this cracks me up. This busy little girl doesn't want to lay down. She will hold up her head and feet. Gramma Lewis would call this exercise!

But this was the funniest of the Grammie-toys; my silicone pastry brush. She didn't like the way it felt in her mouth and would make a little shivering-gag each time she put it in. After twice (hey, I had to get the photo!) Grammie took it away!

We even took a little walkie: Grammie, Fiona and Harley. I love this happy view.

Shrunken Apples

This phenomenon frequently puzzles me!

• Why do these apples stay on the tree through the winter?
• Why don't the birds eat them?
• What happens to them when the new blossoms pop out? (I never see them on the ground)

By this time of year they've got to be pretty *ripe*, if you know what I mean.

Olympic Cutting

I moved my small tv into my sewing room, something I frequently do with a large project (Annabelle's quilt took all 8 Harry Potter movies plus!) my goal this week was to get most of the dresses cut out... WHILE IMWATCHED THE OLYMPICS.

I still have two more to cut out but it's time to call it a day. 

Sweet Hour of Prayer

Three years ago we got new carpet. It has worn quite well considering we have a dirty-little-dustmop-dog at our house.

We have the usual *wear* spots at the top and bottom of the stairs (no carpet on my stairs) but the wear spot that amuses me the most is right beside my bed.

I've always been a prayerful person. Over the years my prayers have matured from *if this isn't right, let something happen* to *what should I do* to *help me accept thy will* to *I am so grateful for thy love, guidance and healing*.

So when I noticed this last summer, and again today when I was vacuuming, it made me happy to find a spot in my *new* carpet that is worn and matted from my Sweet Hour of Prayer.

Blind Hem

Ever since I used up my Husqvarna sewing machine several years ago I haven't been happy with my blind hems I've been getting with my Elna. Since I'm staring down the barrel of 8 full skirts I knew I had to figure it out.

I cut and serged several pieces of the fabric I'm using and went to town. Once I'd figured it out I wrote it all down... cuz y'know, I'm not 30 any more! Then the thought occurred to me that a photo or two might help.

I usually use a large needle- a #16 or #18- but this needed a very dainty little #12 needle. I needed to adjust the guide to push the folded part so I only catch a few threads. (I also reduced the width of the zig-zag)

I want to show some the rejects too. This is what happens when I used a large needle and the blind hem stitch was too wide. Yikes! I love the puckered hem!

I got this photo quite by accident... I never want this! See how the guide is riding up over the edge? Nee-Nine! Don't do this!

And You Mix It...

Fiona just turned 5-months old lasterday. What a fun age. She is coming into her own cute little personality. We had an extended Grammie day today. Yes, I do love this time.

After visiting with Mama, for lunch, and Auntie Desi, for a trim and wax, we headed back to baby-Fi's house. She took a little cat nap and woke up ready for a bottle and some play time.

We had some fun interaction time. First Fiona played in her little exersaucer for a few minutes but that was clear across the kitchen from where Grammie was doing dishes.

I pulled out the bumpo (boy, I love this little seat). It puts Fiona right up with the action. She was so cute trying to grab the dish soap. I'm guessing she wouldn't have thought it was too fun if she could have gotten it to her mouth. Fortunately, she isn't strong enough to do that yet!

I never trust even a bumpo out of arms reach, so when I came time to put dishes away she moved over to the other counter and played mix-it-up with a whip and big bowl. I'm always amazed at how much babies like kitchen gadgets... just like Grammie.

She vocalizes, blows raspberries and jabbers *mama*. She understands peek-a-boo and laughs. We play *hootie-owl* (We put our noses right together and hoot. It's a game my sisters used to play with me.)

Since I was gone for two weeks in CA I've really seen the change in her. It has reminded me of Tony at this age. We had just moved back home when Tony was 5 months old. My mom, the original Grammy, just delighted in that darling baby boy.  She was almost my age.

I'm so grateful for the wonderful example my dear Mama set for me on how to be a good Grammie.  She would delight in this new little baby girl... just like me.

The Windows of Heaven

Much of the west has been in a drought for the last several years. Last Sunday, Fast Sunday, many Stakes in California (and other western states) participated in a special fast for rain. Since I was there I, too, participated in that fast.

I attended church with Rebekah and family. The adult Sunday school (Gospel Doctrine) teacher, Bro. Veater, told us a story that I shared in Primary sharing time today. One of his coworkers is a very devout Baptist and they frequently discuss religion.  Around Wednesday, prior to Fast Sunday this Baptist coworker asked Bro Veater if is he was going to participate in the special fast for rain. For a minute Bro Veater was confused and then said , "Yes! (But how did you know?)" As they talked about the special fast for rain it came out that many congregations, of various denominations, were joining in the fast.

Thankfully, it started raining Sunday morning and we've been treated to the *Pineapple Express* ever since.

This is a wonderful testimony to me that our Heavenly Father loves ALL OF HIS CHILDREN and he will answer their righteous petition.