Monday List

What is it about Mondays and lists? That is how every Monday begins. I sit at the computer and make lists. The correct way to make a good list to to put a couple of really easy things on it so you can check them off. That way you feel good about yourself which is REALLY important on a Monday morning.

Here's my today list:

~Finish alphabet books- talk to A. about finishing

~brush your teeth- check!
~get caramel wrappers from Valene
~take cd of one of my Santa's to Kinko’s for cards
~call Rochelle- about art and cards
~breath in, breath out- check!

~pick up frame from Reuell's
~make pan of caramels

~get more whipped cream and unsalted butter
~get number for Health equity and get reimbursed for prescription
~get out of your leopard jammies before noon- check!
~Call and schedule dumpster pickup Allied 801-972-4234
~ink for Inkjet- 74
~gifts for Bucket group
~turn on pumpkin spice candle light- check!
~Finish Jesus the Christ outline (I'm discussion leader tomorrow)
~order more Panaramas
~clean pantry
~answer the phone when it rings- check!
~RCI- deposited week?
~order cinnamon rolls for baptism
~arrangements with Pam for dinner and help with moving
~Clarks? Phillips?
~Birthday Dinner at 6:30/Lehi/Olive Garden for cousin Casey
~begin preparations for S.S. lesson
~call Cathy (when she gets up) and see about lunch! almost check!



One of the hardest things about the baby growing up and leaving home is that the house is empty. There are no more friends dropping by (draped on the furniture/eating etc.) I miss Tanner coming home and his friends hanging out. We were lucky for over a year, Cousin Casey lived with us part-time. He and Tanner were buddies. I adore this boy with a very sarcastic, deadpan sense of humor. For my birthday, I just want a weekend with Casey to watch all the seasons of The Office. He could easily fit right into the cast. But when Tanner got married, Cousin Casey didn't want to hang out with just us anymore. I can't believe Tanner is more fun but heh.....

Last week was Cousin Casey's birthday. Did I say I love the boy? I miss the boy? We are celebrating tonight but still.......

It's not the same as having your very own, live-in comedian.




If you have accomplished all that you have planned for yourself, you have not planned enough. Edward Hale

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Random people on the streets of New York are asked what they are thankful for. What are YOU thankful for?


In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Belated Thanksgiving Meme

I started this meme before Thanksgiving and now it is past ....so some of it is in future tense, some in past.....please try to keep up!


Do you cook all or part of the meal? I cook the main part of the meal, mainly because I just don’t "like" to cook....I "LOVE" to cook. I farm out something to everyone coming. Although we have our "standard" dishes, I LOVE new surprises! I do not insist on the same exact meal and no one does either. Desserts always change. The salads change. The rest stays the same.


How much do you spend buying groceries for the meal? You don’t even want to know. But our neighbors brought us a fresh turkey. And Grouchy Lady stopped by to drop off some Amish bread starter (I’ve only told her no 827 times! Who wants to babysit Amish bread this week???) (I actually like the bread....just not the week of squishing and adding.) They were headed to Costco and asked if I needed something picked up. I did! The prime rib! And they picked it up for me so I didn’t even need to go there! Happiness! I’ve been to the store every day for the past week so I’m pretty sure I could make a home mortgage payment with the $ I’ve spent.


Do you eat at home or go somewhere else? We are usually here. In the "olden" days, we would share Thanksgiving with David’s sister’s family and the Dahlquist's. It was awesome. And earlier than that, we would go to Idaho to David’s family.


Describe your perfect bite. I love the leftovers. The turkey, dressing and gravy mixed together bite. Or cold dressing. Mainly the turkey sandwich at the end of the day.


White meat or dark? Both. Both. Both.


Stuffing with giblets or without? Grew up on giblets. Then I found out what they were. They go right to the trash. They are the definition of ugly. The neck this year was about 7 1/2 feet long.


Anything you won’t eat at the Thanksgiving meal? Well, if I were at someone’s house and they served brussel sprouts, I wouldn’t eat them. I WANT to like them but they set off my gag reflex. It isn’t pretty. And I don’t eat green olives but black olives on fingers are delicious! I try not to eat the fingers.


Carve Mr. Gobble at the table or serve on a platter? Platter. We are not the formal family you see in the movies. We are a fly by the seat of our pants kind of family when it involves food. The food is all arranged on the kitchen island, not on the table.



Favorite pie? I'm really not a pie person although I do love pumpkin pie and pecan. And lemon meringue. And chocolate. I guess I am a pie person. I am not so much a fruit pie person. I don’t dislike fruit pies. I would just choose something else.



Formal table or Chinet? Sometimes pretty dishes. But lately I’ve been doing beautiful Thanksgiving paper plates. They have to be pretty. I do have a paper plate fetish, if you do remember. They have to be the perfect ones.....


Your menu:

I’m making sausage cream cheese stuffed mushrooms
and blue cheese stuffed mushrooms

Brandi’s makes a fabulous cranberry salsa served with chips.

And we had a queso dip.

Also a dip that involves cream cheese, toffee pieces and brown sugar with fresh apple slices.

Turkey

and Prime Rib


Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Heather’s Sweet Potatoes-Tenille made them this year. Yay!

Homemade Rolls

Dressing/Stuffing

Cranberry Sauce- forgot to put out, of course.


Spinach/greens salad with goodies. Swiss cheese. Bacon. Thanks Tenillie!!!


Fruit salad with mangoes and other fruit.-pomegranates and mangoes, oh yum. Marci made this and it was wonderful. I’ll share the recipe later. It has cabbabe in it.


Dessert-
Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding
Pumpkin Pie Squares
Apple Pie


Favorite leftover? Turkey for sandwiches. Dressing. I even love it cold.



Extended family, friends, both or just the immediate family for dinner? This year is our "on" year which means we get all of our kids first. We’re hoping some of Tenille’s family are coming. We will have 26-30 people. Love that!


After dinner, do you go to the latest movie or watch football on TV or just a turkey induced snooze? Unfortunately, a football game on t.v. is always going. A kid’s movie for the 13 kidlets. Games include Aggravation, Boggle, Mexican Train dominoes.


Do you watch the Macy’s Parade? It is sometimes on in the background. Rylee was excited to announce the other day she "knows" who the secret guest is at the end of the parade!



Christmas decorations up before or after? After. But it wouldn’t matter to me either way. I would just love to have them be done.



Black Friday shopping or sleep in? SOOOOO not a crowd shopper. I love the Internet. I love sleeping. But Brandi went all night. Crazy!



Favorite thing about Thanksgiving? It’s such a casual day and usually surrounded by family and loved ones! I do most of the prep the day before. I try to get the stuffing, the mashed potatoes and rolls done the day before. I cook the turkey during the night. We spend the day playing, talking, relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. I LOVE THANKSGIVING!


(Okay, note. I wrote this BEFORE Thanksgiving. In reality the day was exhausting! Yes on the surrounded by loving family but, although I cooked much the day before, STILL I was exhausted by the time the meal came! I was ready for a nap! The relaxing was almost comatose. But thanks to Brandi, who "took over" the bringing us together. We did the gratitude game. Each person brought an item that represented something they were grateful for this year. The items were placed in a sack and then everyone had to guess who was thankful for that. It was awesome. The kids were hysterical. Wonderful feelings...)



Favorite Thanksgiving memory? I loved all the times we used to go to my parents or David’s parents. In Idaho, all the sisters-in-law would make a fun Christmas craft. I miss them all! (the sisters-in-law, not the craft!) I didn’t love the many times we almost got in a car accident coming home on icy roads (always Malad pass.) I loved when we rotated with the Jaggi’s and Dahlquists- even though Charles would make us sing the Twelve Days of Christmas with actions at the end every year. My favorite memory was watching David squirm through it all!

The Day After

I will never eat another thing in my entire life..........



Gluttony is never a good thing.

Jenny Says...

I'm cute. I'm stylin. I'm all pilgrimy.Woman, bring on the turkey!!!

Panarama

Guess what I got in the mail yesterday? Woo-hoo! Above is the original painting...below is how it turned out on the cover of the Utah State Poetry Society poetry journal. It is called "The Road Out of Circleville." A little further down this road is the ranch of our friends, the Barnson's.

Lion House Roll recipe

Lion House Rolls


2 T. yeast
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
2 tsp. salt
2/3 nonfat dry milk
1 egg
5-6 cups flour
melted butter



Mix yeast and water and let stand 5 minutes. (I do this right in my Bosch mixer bowl.) Add sugar, butter, salt, dry milk, egg and 2 cups of flour. Beat together until smooth. Gradually add remaining flour till soft dough is formed. Mix for several minutes. Place in greased bowl; cover and let rise till double in bulk. Punch down. Divide into thirds. Roll out one third of dough into circle; cut into 12 pie-shaped pieces. Starting at wide end, roll up each piece into crescent. Place on greased baking sheet with point on the bottom. Repeat with remainder of dough. Let rise till double. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Brush tops with melted butter. Serve warm. Makes 3 dozen rolls.


I wouldn't make rolls unless I had a mixer. Unless you have a lot of aggression to work out. Then knead it to death. Punch it around. Cheaper than therapy. Hope you feel better!

On My Mind

1- Yesterday BFF Cathy and I ran and saw New Moon. I know, I know. I can't be trusted to keep my word. I told myself I couldn't go until I got two more children's books done. I caved. The popcorn was calling my name...


Like the book, I didn't love the film as much as the first. I thought it was okay. Enjoyable but not fabulous. (as compared with "Enchanted" fabulous.) I wish I were Alice. She's always been my favorite character. Well, next to the book Edward. The screen Edward does nothing for me. Maybe the reason why I didn't love the show is at the first, when Bella is stressing about age, she says something like "You're not going to like looking at me when I'm a grandma." Or something like that.



Did I mention I have 13 kiddos???

There is a link that showed up on my computer last night called Edward Through the Ages. Since he's been around for a hundred plus years, he's seen some major events. For instance, did you know he was at Woodstock with Jimi Hendrix?
Or in this famous Life magazine picture of lunch break on the 64th floor of the GE building in Manhattan?

To check out more, go here:

http://movies.msn.com/superfans/twilight/edward-through-the-ages/?gt1=28153

2- Another article I read this morning was about working through the dynamics of family quirks through the holidays. They mentioned resurrected grudges, the family bragger, the annoying parents, the bickering, etc. The writer tells the story of a well-known social worker and family therapist who always asked new students to write an essay about a normal family. Inevitably, students would approach her privately and confide that they did not know a normal family. So she began simply asking students to raise their hands if they came from a normal family. No one did.

I don't remember stressful holiday gatherings. And I guess I was normal with "quirkie" since I grew up with my parents! (Are you laughing, Mom?) With my own children and kiddos, we don't have a lot of drama or upsets. Of course, Brandi and Tenille had to bring up, at our girl's super Saturday craft night, that at one gathering I called out "Okay, everyone, it is time for you to gather all your children up and go home!" It shocked the pants off everyone. I really don't know what got into me. I do remember the startled looks on everyone's faces. I'm laughing as I remember this. I need to think of something to do to top that. We need more quirky.





So, ultimately, like a good pumpkin pie (my analogy) we need to chill, then enjoy. Celebrate and be thankful. Life is good and filled with joy and basically we choose whether to be happy or not. Grateful or not.



I LOVE this holiday!






And, yes...to that controversial Thanksgiving question......



I DO use paper plates!!!!!












“It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them.” Agatha Christi

Heather's Sweet Potatoes

Some of you that read here.... came from Heather White's blog. This is Heather's recipe but it is really her Aunt Jan's recipe....but since I'm related to Heather on her mom's side, not her dad's side, I don't know Aunt Jan....so I just call these:





Heather's Sweet Potatoes

3 cups cooked sweet potatoes, mashed (can use canned)
1/4 c. sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup butter, melted
1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans (you know how I feel about walnuts....you can use them if I'm not eating with you!)
1/2 c. flour

Combine potatoes, sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, salt, eggs, 1/2 cup butter, milk and vanilla. Place in buttered 2-quart casserole pan. Combine remaining butter, brown sugar, nuts and flour. Spoon over potatoes. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. These are almost dessert!!!!!

Marbled Pumpkin Cake

Thanks Cindy T! I'm gonna try this yummy sounding cake as well!!! (I think the yield is 7. Gab and I will think that is funny.....)



Marbled Pumpkin Cake

Preheat oven to 375.

Grease a bundt or tube pan.

1 cup pumpkin (I used canned)

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 package yellow cake mix

4 eggs

3/4 cup sour cream

1/2 cup veg. oil (I use canola)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup water





Combine pumpkin and the cinnamon in medium bowl.


Combine cake mix, eggs, sour cream, sugar, oil and water in large mixing bowl. Beat on low speed until moistened. Beat on high speed for 2 minutes.


Stir about 2 1/2 cups batter into the pumpkin mixture...I usually just eyeball it. Alternately spoon plain and pumpkin batters in a greased 10 cup bundt or round tube pan.


Bake in a preheated 375 oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean.


Cool in pan for 20 minutes, remove to wire rack to cool completely.



Dust with powdered sugar before serving if desired. Makes 24 servings...not in our house!! I have made this in a 9x13 pan and baked it for about 35 to 40 minutes. I just leave it in the pan and it seems to do OK. I usually use the bundt pan. Now, everytime I make it, it falls but that is what my family expects now, so it isn't the tragedy I thought it was at first...hey, even fallen cakes taste good. I just made this the other night and made one to take to a neighbor. We love it for breakfast even and both of my kids want it for their birthday cakes. Hope you try it and enjoy it. (Cindy, I hope you don't mind I left your comments in! We're all human!)

Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding

I got this recipe from Southern Living. I laughed when I saw the yield. 11 servings? Really?





Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding
Yield: Makes 11 servings

BREAD PUDDING:
4 large eggs
2 (15-oz.) cans pumpkin
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (12-oz.) French bread loaf, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 10 cups)





CARAMEL-PECAN SAUCE:

1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation
1. Prepare Bread Pudding: Whisk together eggs and next 8 ingredients in a large bowl until well blended. Add bread pieces, stirring to thoroughly coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill 8 to 24 hours.


2. Preheat oven to 350°. Spoon bread mixture into 11 (6-oz.) lightly greased ramekins. (Ramekins will be completely full, and mixture will mound slightly.) Place on an aluminum foil-lined jelly-roll pan.(I'm doing mine in a 9 x 13 pan...bake it for one hour then)


3. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes, shielding with foil after 30 minutes.


4. During last 15 minutes of baking, prepare Caramel-Pecan Sauce: Heat pecans in a medium skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.


5. Cook brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and pecans.


6. Remove bread puddings from oven; drizzle with Caramel-Pecan Sauce. Bake 5 minutes or until sauce is thoroughly heated and begins to bubble.

Busy Week

I am not athletic so why do I feel like I've been running a marathon lately? My list each day gets longer than shorter. But I feel like this past week, although extremely busy, was also wonderful and nourishing. I tried to concentrate on service to a few different people in my life...my MIL for one. At 86, she is active in many ways, gets a little disoriented in others. Not everyone would enjoy their mother-in-law living with them and frankly, the idea had never crossed my mind that someday she would. I never thought my father-in-law would die first, and when he did, we were honestly in such a state of shock, we were just numb. Mom W. had lived and raised her family in Blackfoot, Idaho but dad sold their property there and moved her to St. George where he died. Without much discussion, David and I instantly knew that we needed to bring mom home with us. And I think what a blessing it has been for the past 1 1/2 years to have her with us. We get this time and it really matters. I'm lucky that if anything, she gets nicer every year. She's just a lovely woman. We actually have full facilities downstairs so it is like she has her own apartment...an apartment that gets invaded frequently. She likes to work at her desk, "doing her books" (not sure what that is) and you can find her there for hours or she's out trying to sweep the patio clean (fall and a million trees makes it a challenge) or walking out to the road for the mail. Her eyes are becoming very light sensitive so she wears these huge sunglasses that belonged to my father-in-law....and I laugh because she kind of looks like the greeting card character, Maxine, with her mismatched work clothes and hat. I love her dearly. She lives for someone to drop by or a phone call from family or a note in the mail or her visiting teacher to come. She's known as the ice cream grandma, the downstairs grandma, the "other" grandma. I was getting my hair cut this week and while talking to Johnna (I would call her my hairdresser but she's more like one of my kids. She used to babysit them when she was 11-18) she mentioned that she never knew her great-grandparents. I feel lucky, that out of 28 or so grandchildren and thirty plus great-grandchildren.....mine are the ones who get to have this sweet lady in their life. This week I was working in a storage room downstairs which is a disaster and I would come out occasionally and say to her, "I'm so disgusted with myself. I can't even believe you would let me marry your son!" and she'd just laugh and say, "Well, you're not so bad!"




As you know, I don't live near my mom and dad so it makes me happy when I know my brother's family is in and out of their daily life. It drives me crazy to not be closer since we love doing things together. Family really is everything......for ours I am most grateful!

I don't even know where this came from. This in-between state of things. This week was filled with projects concerning my grandchildren (the books are slowly taking shape but they are each so much work! I haven't even made a dent yet which is why I'm not blogging) to a date night with Rylee (shopping at Justice For Girls....the girl's favorite place to shop...except for Annee, who hates to shop) to back-to-back birthday parties yesterday for Brandi's girls. Whew! Here are random pictures of Gracie and Hallee to show what they looked like their birthday week. I have madly been taking pictures/collecting pictures of all my kiddos holding a letter of the alphabet for the alphabet books I'm making. Here's Gracie.

Gracie had a piggy party, in honor of the un-swine flu (she had it.) Brandi made cake pops (like a sucker only with a little decorated cake on the end) (I borrowed a picture off the Internet of a similar one since mine didn't turn out so well) of a pig as part of the invitation. She also made piggie cups for the table, and we had breakfast of piggies in a blanket, bacon and chocolate waffles with ice cream and toppings. We painted "piggies" and jeweled them up and then played piggie games.

Halle Babe's party was a Spa party. We painted fingernails (instead of piggies) and they made necklaces and also had a hair station....where they got their hair into an "up-do." Here is Hallee before- (while doing alphabet letters...sorry!) then after her "up-do." All the little girls went home looking like princesses!

This week I'm thankful for:

-the Relief Society activity Tuesday night. I can't say what we made (Christmas!) but it was one that required sooo much work for the presidency to pull off, on our behalf. I appreciate that. I really do. We have a "most awesome" presidency. (and Michelle and Lisa....I'm not saying that just for you! I MEAN it!)

-lunch at a new place - The Pinion- with delightful friends

- visiting teachers. Lynda and Birdie and I laughed...we were sitting here all complaining about our feet! How crazy is that? We said, "When other people used to talk about aging and complaining about their health, we just didn't get it." It is one of those things that you don't think is ever going to happen to you...that you'll be young forever. And then it happens! Well, at least it is happening with friends! But until it happens, you just are clueless.

-little girls in my life. In between parties on Saturday, I took 4 of the kiddos to McDonalds for lunch so Brandi could re-coup in between and redecorate for the next party. WOW! I would match sound levels with any of you! I could match sounds with a space shuttle liftoff. And can I say, I MUCH prefer Taylor Swift to Miley when 4 girls are screaming the lyrics of "Let's Get Crazy." And I thought my feet were the things identifying me as aging..... Rylee informed me that "Miley is so much crazier than Hannah." Really? I thought they were the same person...... But then again, I named my hand held Yahtzee game Carl and I talk to Jenny the dog (and apparently scream at her! Thanks, Peggy!)

-art. I know I say that a lot but it refreshes me. It allows me to breath when my life is crazy inside. I'm painting two different pictures right now. One is a little late for Thanksgiving but it is a picture full of gourds and pumpkins. The other is a wild rooster. For my Red Rooster wall. I need to get my book jacket framed.....

- my church calling. I love teaching Gospel Doctrine but more than that, I love all the studying that it requires. My life is so enriched by the scriptures and examples of courage and fortitude.

I'm excited about this week. You know me and cooking. I DREAM about menus and what variations I am going to do. I thinking for dessert, I'm going to make a Caramel Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding (with a caramel pecan sauce.) I'll post the recipe tomorrow.

Which reminds me....yesterday I picked up at the store some Apple Pie ice cream. I thought it sounded a little funky and since my husband LOVES apple stuff, I thought it would be perfect for Sunday dessert with warm caramel sauce on top. It was delish with little bits of crust throughout. Give it a try!

Homeward Bound

Dear Marilyn,
How I have appreciated your help with our troubled Jennie. She told me all about the heart-to-heart conversation the two of you had. Whatever you said touched deep inside her soul, I believe she is a changed canine. She also said she let you know this would be a perfect opportunity for you & David to finance her college career. With all the fine universities in SLC she could have "the pick of the litter" and get her Bachelor's or even her Master's degree! I'm speechless, Marilyn, to think you and David would be so generous with your home and MONEY to assist our little Jennie!!!! Thank you, you truly are a faithful friend.



However, Jennie mentioned during this discussion about living SEVERAL years with you, there was something about chewed-up shoes & damaged carpet (oops, she does have a weak bladder) your face, Marilyn, got very red & your voice got loud & high pitched. Now most people can't hear that high squeaky pitch but Jennie can and you hurt her ears. I know this wasn't intentional but I hope you'll be more careful in the future. You were red faced, high pitched, LOUD, shouting "how much MONEY, how many YEARS!?!" Jennie said your right eye kept twitching over and over again and your whole body was trembling. I don't know what the rest of your conversation was about but you CONNECTED with her. You INSPIRED her to run right out of her house & come home. That's right, not on the bus, but she RAN all 395 miles back home! You're a wonder Marilyn! She's been a changed girl (a very tired panting girl ) but a new resolved Jennie ever since she got home.



Jennie & I have come to an agreement. She'll help out more cleaning the house - but she still won't do windows - she likes to lick them. My part is I will let her take her learner's permit driving test. Ha ha, I think I've got the best of her here,... there's no way she can pass that test! She can't hold a pencil - no opposable thumbs!! Wait.... what's that you say!?!...She can take the test on the computer!?! Oh well, I guess I can share driving my car again. On the bright side we'll have an extra driver on trips.



I'm in your debt....we have our Jennie back. Oh oh.....is that her scratching at the door? I just let her out!!!.... What am I, her slave????
Peggy

P.S. Jennie says hi. Also she borrowed one of your expensive red shoes...it tasted delicious.

(note from Marilyn- I can't BELIEVE she brought up my twitching eye! You KNOW how sensitive I am about that!)

(note to readers who don't understand about Jenny. Well, as Ben would say (kindergarten) ....it is just too long to explain. But isn't she amazingly adorable? I dreamt when she came, I forgot to feed her for 3 days. I was horrified. That is probably why she ran home. And I was wondering where my other red shoe went! )

Books, Books and More Books

I don't know how I get these ideas in my head but when I think something will be fun, I'm all over it.....then it becomes pressure! But I decided this year to do books for each of my kiddos for Christmas instead of toys. Since I have 13......the job is daunting!



For each age group, the book will be different. This is an example of the Funny Face books I'm designing for my two two-year-olds. (Note: I went to Zuchers and bought a whole bunch of funny hats and hair and noses to take pictures for these books.)

The preceding page will be a blank page with "Who's this?" written on it.

The next page will be "Rylee!"

The next set will be "Who's this?"

Baby Sadi!

I'm keeping the embellishments simple on these books since they are both for boys. Since they will be picture books, I purposely want a simpler look. But I've had fun working on the girl's books....you can gob them up with girlie things.

I love this season of giving gifts. And finding a gift to do that says "love" from me is even better. 13 kiddos! I'm grateful!

"Grandchildren don't stay young forever, which is good because Grandfathers have only so many horsey rides in them."

Auditioning

When I was preparing last week for poetry at Bucket group, I found a poem that I had forgotten I had written. It is about my father-in-law....who I miss terribly since his death 1 1/2 years ago. I never imagined him dying, much less so quickly. He was a man who waterskied at 82- pulled his hamstring and still skied again. He was one of the most athletic men I've ever known. I thought of the trick horseback riding he did when he was younger..... and as I did, I realized that each of us on earth are here auditioning for our next role, the next life. (and I'm pretty sure he was MORE than good enough!)




THE AUDITION
(Boyd E. Williams)

He knew full well Abe Hatch,
promoter for the county rodeo,
drove his Ford pickup
on Stockman’s road
each Tuesday morning
on his way to auction.
He knew he would
be mesmerized by the sight
of a young man galloping alongside
the canal bank, trick riding
swinging his legs from side
to side to side
on a blazing black horse.
He knew Abe Hatch
would practically drive
his Ford pickup off Stockman’s road
and into the canal
when he saw that young man,
plant his hands firmly on the
horse's saddle,
then straighten in a full extension
head stand atop that galloping horse.
He learned long before
that you didn’t dream
about things you weren’t
willing to work for.





He dozes in his chair,
body now crimped
from the effects of time and age,
thinking about earth and heaven.
There is no one left to impress.
His wife, his kids, know exactly
who he is. What he was.
But there was always the question
that lingered. Was he good enough?


He dreamt of when Abe Hatch braked
that Ford into a dirt swirling fury.
He watched as Abe snatched
his handkerchief from a back pocket
and wiped his damp, dazed face.
He knew that even before Abe
extended his hand, tipped his hat,
that he was in.





Marilyn Darley Williams

Happy Birthday Shout Out!

Happy Birthday Gracie Rae of Sunshine! We LOVE you!!! Turning eight is so important....we look forward to your baptism in a few weeks. We love you for your kindness and good nature. You are a most amazing girl! Hugs and Kisses!

Summary

Time just flies. I can't believe that November is halfway over. This past week was busy

- with David traveling so I looked forward to evening phone calls

- lunch with Maniac Rose and Cathy at Porcupine

- getting to share poetry with people I love (I usually have to pay people to read my stuff!)...and our wonderful association in Bucket group.

-Valene's darling DIL, April (who IS that girl? Inside joke!)....came over one morning and helped set up Memory Mixers for me.....a wonderful program to digital scrap (I'm making books) and journal and all sorts of fun stuff.

-Wed. Brendalyn and I spent the day...making our Thanksgiving favors.

-Thursday Sophia came and we had a ball. Friday Sophia left......

-then called later in the day that her car broke down, uptown! It was now snowing.....and car problems are never fun. I was happy that she wasn't in the canyon or somewhere. She got towed to a place in Sandy....and I retrieved her.....worrying all the way that she was in a tow truck with who-knows-who.....being taken who-knows-where? And I imagined all those germs (she's phobic, remember?) besides all the frustration she must be feeling. We laughed because the next day we realized that we didn't even know the name of where her car was dropped off. Her husband suggested it could be halfway to the border for all we knew. Clueless, that's us. So, what started as an overnighter....ended up being a 3-nighter since her car wasn't fixed until later on Saturday and I insisted she couldn't drive home in the dark, in a snowstorm. She left yesterday morning early and was glad, after seeing the conditions in the canyon, that she had waited. We really did have a fun time. And she got home safely.




-And lucky, she got to be here for our family girl's super-Saturday! We started at 4:30 and went late. We made a ton of fun things but I can't really share them here...I promised I wouldn't until Dec. 15th ....since we made neighbor gifties. But we had so much fun, laughing and talking, and dinner at Porcupine Grill. I love my daughter and daughters-in-law and I love this tradition that we do together. Marci mentioned that it will be fun someday when the kiddo girls start joining us. I hope we can do it forever!


-And then Jenny. The Dog. Still laughing....



Thank goodness for Sundays....a revamping of spirits. And happy day....my friend Marilyn Bawden is back (with Dean) from their mission in Central America. I can't wait to catch up....she truly is a light in my life.

I must confess I have been thinking about eyeballs.


-Did you know that your eyeballs are the same size as when you were born (thanks, mom)....they don't grow like noses (yikes!) and ears. Since I've been having a few eye issues (there is new meaning to the word "flashers") (and my eyes are really settling down. I think.) I have thought about the gift of sight.

-I love the sights around me.....the mountains, the deer, the faces of my family.

-I love spiritual eyes. I realize that it is easy to be blinded by worldly desires or distractions. -“First, I mention the gift of discernment, embodying the power to discriminate … between right and wrong. I believe that this gift when highly developed arises largely out of an acute sensitivity to impressions—spiritual impressions, if you will—to read under the surface as it were, to detect hidden evil, and more importantly to find the good that may be concealed. The highest type of discernment is that which perceives in others and uncovers for them their better natures, the good inherent within them. … (David Bednar, Quick to Observe- http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=266b49f833f3f010VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

-I've had a few conversations with people recently about seeing only from our perspective. We only look at evidence that will support our case. This happens a lot in personal interaction and offense. David has always reminded me that there are always two sides to a story. And both can totally believe they are right.

-I've had some insight into my own heart recently. In some instances realizing that I'm not as "good as I sometimes think I am." That's unsettling.

-I've had real longing for my FIL. I miss him. I'm glad I can see him and hear him so vividly in my mind. But I wish he were here to "see."

-I've also had some insight into some other's behavior and realize that I need guidance in relationships.

-I realize that sometimes when I concentrate on what is happening now too intensely, I don't "see" the full picture.

- I know that sometimes I wish I could go back to childhood or wish my kids were back to childhood when everything was much simpler.

-or prefer to stick my head in the sand to not see at all.

I don't want to see flat surfaces. This week as part of my gratitude, I will pay more attention to my everyday joys. The joyful hiccups. I will realize that growth comes from challenges. That some relationships are complex. That I need insight further than my own. There is a Wayne Dyer quote that says, "Judgements prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances."

And where in the heck did all this come from? A note from my mom that mentioned eyeballs. Just don't get me started on noses......

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.- William James

What Part of No Did She Not Understand?

Dear Marilyn,
Thought I'd send a picture so you could see how excited Jennie was last night as we were leaving for the big send off at the bus depot. We would have let her fly but she has no patience with security at the airport. That whole taking off your shoes and having only three ounces of perfume in your carryon baggage really irritates her - she tends to get all snappish. We've had some ugly scenes. She's quite thrilled about her new life, running and jumping for joy! Though, as you see, she has a mind of her own as far as her clothes go. I TOLD her it's wintertime in Utah but Nooooooo, she packed only light clothes. Well, she'll just have to find for herself how cold it can get there, I'm sure you won't mind letting her borrow from you, (she's hard on necklaces, too much like a leash) but loves ruffles and anything frilly.
I hope you can show her the sights - very into "Dear Lizzie" (might be expensive though what with breakage and all), Thanksgiving Point is high on her list, IKEA, Temple Square, and of course Cafe Rio.
I hope you can keep a tight rein on her dating...she's a small town girl and I'm afraid she might get her head turned by some of those Big City guys. She falls for a deep loud bark and slow wag of a tail. She's not great at telling the difference between a "Player" and a guy with honorable intentions.
It was hard saying goodbye, but as we've found with our other five children, every little bird has to leave the nest. It's Jennie's turn test her wings...I'm at peace knowing you'll be there for her during all her ups and downs. She's not so great cleaning up after herself, honestly, sometimes she just acts like an animal! Heaven knows I've tried, but she'll pushes the limits. She doesn't think curfews apply to her and will take off at the first scent of a bird or buck. I have every confidence in you that you'll keep her under control (her life in the hereafter depends on your standards).
I'll be sure to come visit her, though with the holidays and all, it might be several months. Christmas will be fun, she really has fun jumping up on the Christmas tree trying to grab those brightly colored ornaments!
Thanks again Marilyn. You've had so many guests stay with you through the years I knew you wouldn't mind one more.
Love,
Peggy

(Note from Marilyn- I'm laughing my head off. Okay can you tell why my BFFFC-Peggy and I hit it off as BFFFC (Best Forever Friends From College)

What We Did

Went to Cheesecake Factory for lunch and non-stop talking, then Children's Place for Christmas jammies. I had already ordered Christmas jammies for the kiddos, thinking I was so on top of things....but I haven't been jumping up and down about them since they arrived. They were just okay. I wanted jumping up and down. I found them jumping up and down.

While at Pebbles in My Pocket, we die cut tags for the girl's super-Saturday tomorrow. Brooke's darling aunt works there so we visited. and talked dogs. Brooke and Annee's dog, Bella in particular. I loved dogs growing up. I wanted a dog when the kids were little. David is so not a dog person. I knew it would be an issue. Now that I am closer to 100 than one, I prefer the "non-dog" smell. That is why I laughed when BFFFC Peggy(Best Forever Friend From College) sent me this email (see previous post) in desperation. I'm a good friend but I'm not THAT good! Even though she gave up an invitation to date David first...and I got him by default.

I STILL don't want her dog! Even though she surprised me by sending me the new "Pioneer Woman Cookbook" in the mail, I STILL do not want her dog. The only dogs I want are hot dogs. With sauerkraut. And mustard. (Thanks, Peggy, for the surprise! I can't WAIT to devour this cookbook!)

Since we had a big lunch, we thought we'd just pick up something light at The Store. The Store is full of funky, incredible, even artsy kind of food. We bought a menagerie of goods....crab salad and crackers, giant purple grapes, two kinds of salsa (Sophia "doesn't do" beans...) and chips. Lemon bars for dessert. Not to mention 1/2 dozen kinds of candy to fill my Thanksgiving favors. We thought we weren't hungry when we bought everything. We had it scarfed within two hours of getting back to the house. Oh, and pomegranate 7-Up that Sophia loves and I have never tasted. Apparently they only make it during the holidays. Yumo.

We watched two movies last night. The first one is a 2003 movie starring Kimberly Williams (wife of Brad Paisley) and McDreamy. Sophia had never seen it and it is a perfect chick flick. (You can buy this at Shopko for $9)

Then "Miss Potter" (thank you Sharon F.!) It truly is such a beautiful movie. I never tire of watching it. It is the story of Beatrix Potter. If you haven't seen, buy it!

This morning I have been making treats for tomorrow. Treats and treats and more treats. Remaking treats. I'm treated out. They are for gifties. I never want to make treats again. Until next Christmas...

Sophia and I had a great time. Last night I cut up the 6 names of people who had posted on the service blog. Only 6! Talk about good odds! I had Sophia draw the name for the winner of the contest. Guess who's name she drew? She was embarrassed. She didn't even know why she was drawing names. She didn't want the prize. But she won fair and square! Laughing. Next week, another drawing! Keep doing good works.

So, Sophia is on her way back to Cache Valley and David's on his way home from Texas! Yahoo! I'm missed him in the middle of all this fun.

Wed. Brendalyn had the day off since it was Veteran's Day. We had Thanksgiving favors on the mind. I don't know why we do this. For all the money we spent, we could have had foil boxes of See's chocolates by each plate. But we love the process. We love doing projects together. We're a team, from way back when, when we served in a Stake YW's presidency forever.

We made the boxes from a template for the Big Shot (Stampin'UP) The little boxes have a peek-a-boo window (I used shrinky dink clear sheets) that shows the candy treats inside.

I'm taking bets the boxes will be empty before Thanksgiving....

Dog Gone

Marilyn,

Jennie longs for the mountains on Dimple Dell Road. Hunting pheasants & driving me crazy is boring for her. Can she be an exchange student in Sandy? I'll take your obnoxious Saint Bernard in exchange....oh wait, you don't have a dog, you say?....I'll take some caramels or your first born...that sounds fair, doesn't it? Please meet Jennie tonight at 11:42 at the Greyhound Bus Depot. She's very excited about her new life, she's right now practicing her annoying door scratch but very humorous "I want out of the house but when you come I'll run away to my dog bed trick then do it all over again in 2 minutes." She'll have you chuckling all day at her antics!". She's really looking forward to her new life in Utah! Don't forget 11:42 pm....she's nothing if not prompt.Thank you so much....I really appreciate it because I know how much you value our very long and extremely close friendship, and how you've always felt you OWED me ever since I didn't go on that date with David but asked you if you were free. Not that I keep track of life-altering favors. Thanks again, you'll soon find out why Jennie & I were Dog Obedience School dropouts. The other owners felt we were an unsavory influence on their precious well behaved MUTTS, but I digress...enjoy your new child! With love and a big sigh of relief and looking forward to my life without dog nose prints on my glass doors and doggie smell on my carpets. Peggy

Short and Sweet

David is still out of town. This week he has flown to Boston, to Tampa, to Charleston and today to Galveston and he hits one more place in Texas before coming home tomorrow. Whew! The other attorneys he is with have restaurants in every city they have visited that are their all -time favorites and "must go"'s. David said he has never eaten so much in his life, restaurant hopping in between depositions. Last night when he called, before saying hello, I said "I just want you to know that I had oatmeal for dinner so I'm not in the mood to hear what YOU had at a fabulous restaurant!" He laughed and asked, "Did your oatmeal have bananas and creme brulee on it?" Grrr....he knows that is my favorite.....and he had THAT for breakfast in addition to fabulous dinners!


I miss him. He works so hard.


Enough about food and true love.

Sophia is coming today. You know going out to eat won't be a priority here. Just like Dr. Suess, my mind is clicking through ALL of the wonderful places we could go....


Also on our agenda is a trip to Xpedx.....the most marvelous paper store in the world. Well, in the city. Need cello bags for Christmas goodies and caramel apples.


Stop by Gygi's....the most marvelous cooking store in the world/city. Need a huge block of caramel. I'm going to make Sophia help me with my service project.


I have a list of things I need to pick up for our "Girl's Super Saturday." Each year, I have a mini-Super Saturday with my daughter and DIL's....and we whip together everyone's neighborhood Christmas treats. We will be making tons of tags for the particular treats on Sat. but I have a treat for them to make for themselves.....and a few other tricks up my sleeve. Then we do dinner out together. Love it!


Okay, I had better get to work. Sophia leaves her house in 15 minutes so I have a deadline of 15 minutes of cleaning in each room until she gets here. We are going to have such a fun two days. Come and join us for old movies tonight and help us work on a fun stamping tile project! In jammies with good treats!



It's almost as good as being in Texas with my sweetie......

Bling Bling

So I was on Amazon yesterday. They are always so thoughtful about letting me know, from my prior purchases, what similiar items I might be interested in as well. Since my last purchases from Amazon include multiple boxes of C-line self-laminating sheets and the Scoobie Doo Mystery Machine, "they" thought I might be interested in this ring.

I must say, I was totally tempted.

Not.

I am the person that thinks that newly weds should get a diamond zirconia when they get engaged. Several people I know (I won't mention names) lost their engagement or wedding rings in the first few years. To me,it is a huge pressure and expensive way to begin marriage.

Just my thoughts. But that doesn't mean my way is your way.

I'm just not a bling-bling....as in the real thing "bling-bling" person.

I was even more relieved when I saw the stats on this little baby.

Platinum Radiant Cut Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring (3.23 ct, E Color, VVS2 Clarity), Size 7




List Price:
$140,230.00
Price:
$87,200.00 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
You Save:
$53,030.00 (38%)
Usually ships within 3 to 5 days.Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Really? I could save $53,030.00 if I buy this today. With FREE shipping! Woohoo!

Thank you, Amazon, for being so on target as my own personal shopper!

(do you now how many boxes of laminating sheets I could order for $87, 200.00?)

So, what in the world does this have to do with anything? It brought to my mind (since service is on it)a topic I have mentioned before- the difference between window deeds and mirror deeds. When we do service, do we do things that are a reflection of ourselves and our desires or do we try to look through to the needs of others? I'm reminded of a friend who fixed a romantic candlelight dinner for her husband's birthday....and he flipped on the lights and the t.v. to watch the game. What she wanted for him was a reflection of what "she" wanted.

What are "you" thinking about doing for another today? I was planning on taking caramel apples to a new family that just moved into our neighborhood. But I'm feeling a little guilty since I'm the one that loves caramel apples? What if they would rather have tofu and soy snacks? I wonder if they would love something laminated.......

“A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.”
Winnie the Pooh

Post Your Service

I hope you are remembering to make this a month of service and gratitude. Don't be worn out...just be attentive. You can share on this posting your comments and a drawing will be held on Friday this week.


Yesterday I finally got my Halloween things put away. That is always such a job. Today is a full day- Tuesday always are. Cleaning with my friend (she's going to Cancun tonight for a week! I want to go!!!) then my class, then Bucket Group. My BFF Cathy is hosting but we are doing it at Libby Greer's home since she recently had surgery and isn't as mobile. Cathy asked me several months ago to do a poetry reading of my work (okay, okay, I can hear some of you grating your nails on a blackboard!) I'm so honored and hopefully it will be fun for them as well.


Tomorrow Sophia is coming....we are finally going to do some projects that we have put off since our last get-together was cancelled. David's out of town ALL week, flying all over the country doing depositions- so this is a good time to play. Well, not just play but get some things done together for the holidays.


Here are three eye-candy pictures. I especially love the children's Thanksgiving table set with a paper tablecloth with the place mats drawn on. ...and crayons for the kiddos to draw while waiting. My kiddos wouldn't/couldn't sit still that long. They would be on and over and under the table.....they are wild little Indians. But it "looks" like a great idea!

The last picture made me laugh. I think it is a fabulous idea and TOTALLY impractical. Can you imagine taking a picture of EVERYONE coming to Thanksgiving dinner and taking in advance their picture in the correct pose, laminating (love that word) it to foam board and then CUTTING IT OUT and attaching it to something (in this case, the perfect pear) as place cards at the table. I may be nuts but I'm not THAT nuts!

Happy Face. Funny Face.

Outside my window: 5 deer are munching around the grapple trees in the playground area. They just look at me and continue to graze. Our three babies are almost as big as the mommas now. I love that they are all looking strong for the winter and that they have survived the coyotes. They are such a gift to me and are my meditation.




This past weekend: The weekend started early with my picking up Elaine, Loretta and Valene and we headed to Trax (our rail system) and went uptown to meet Brendalyn for an art show. Zions Bank, a large local bank, yearly puts on a holiday show showcasing art from their depositors. It is about 10 floors of exquisite art and incredible food. Many of the biggest names in art in Utah were featured there. Two new favorites (to me, they certainly aren't new artists) are Kimball Warren and David Dean. Their work is fabulous.


Friday morning was art class here. I'm working on a canvas of gourds, inspired by one of the paintings I saw the other night. I would love to be in art class all day long....




I also had 4 of my kiddos all day on Friday. It was perfect since I'm trying to do books (printed online) for all my kiddos for Christmas. I always get Christmas jammies for the kiddos for Christmas eve and then a gift for Christmas...and it just gets crazy. I've decided that I'm going to try and do books for them every year for the gift. I have one down, 12 to go! And already I'm slightly pulling my hair out. Here is my idea:



Sadi: she's only about 5 months old so her book is going to be "Who Loves Baby Sadi?"


the 2 year olds are getting : Happy Face. Funny Face.


the 3 and 4 year olds are getting alphabet books


the 5 and 6 year olds are getting "I Love...." books


the 5 older kids (7-11) are having a date with grandma where I will interview them, and run them around to take pictures of their friends and them doing their favorite things.



Here are some examples of pictures in the Happy Face. Funny Face. books I'm doing:



Happy Face-

Funny Face!

Happy Face-
Funny Face!

Happy face (well, almost)

Funny face!

(Grandmas can almost be cruel,don't you think? Sorry, Baby Sadi....I love you!)

Be a Stonecutter

I taught the Sunday School lesson on hardships of the early pioneers a few weeks ago. When my high school girlie friends came this summer, we visited temple square in downtown Salt Lake City and I tried to tell them this story.....and didn't do a very good job of it.

John Moyle is actually Libby Greer's (who is in my Bucket group) great-great-something great grandfather.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of John Rowe Moyle. John was a convert to the Church who left his home in England and traveled to the Salt Lake Valley as part of a handcart company. He built a home for his family in a small town a valley away from Salt Lake City. John was an accomplished stonecutter and, because of this skill, was asked to work on the Salt Lake Temple.

Every Monday John left home at two o’clock in the morning and walked six hours in order to be at his post on time. On Friday he would leave his work at five o’clock in the evening and walk almost until midnight before arriving home. He did this year after year.

One day, while he was doing his chores at home, a cow kicked him in the leg, causing a compound fracture. With limited medical resources, the only option was to amputate the broken leg. So John’s family and friends strapped him onto a door and, with a bucksaw, cut off his leg a few inches from the knee.

In spite of the crude surgery, the leg started to heal. Once John could sit up in bed, he began carving a wooden leg with an ingenious joint that served as an ankle to an artificial foot. Walking on this device was extremely painful, but John did not give up, building up his endurance until he could make the 22-mile (35-km) journey to the Salt Lake Temple each week, where he continued his work.

His hands carved the words “Holiness to the Lord” that stand today as a golden marker to all who visit the Salt Lake Temple.

Since I've been thinking about and doing service, this story came to mind. It is easy for me to do service when it is something I normally like to do. Back in college, I loved reading Khalil Gibran and he said, "Speak to me of giving. You give of little when you give of your possessions, but when you give of yourself, you truly give." This week, although I will take dinners and treats (something easy for me)....I will try harder to find service that requires "more" of me.