Being Real

" What is REAL?" asked the rabbit one day when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender...'Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?''Real isn't how you are made', said the skin horse,'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become REAL.''Does it hurt?' asked the rabbit.'Sometimes, ' said the skin horse, for he was always truthful, 'When you are REAL you don't mind being hurt.''Does it happen all at once, like being wound up, ' he asked, 'or bit by bit?''It doesn't happen all at once, ' said the skin horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are REAL, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are REAL you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.'.....The rabbit sighed. He thought it would be a longtime before this magic called REAL happened to him. He longed to become REAL, to know what it felt like; and yet the idea of growing shabby and losing his eyes and whiskers was rather sad. He wished that he could become it without these uncomfortable things happening to him.



The Velveteen Rabbit-Margery Williams




I've been thinking about this process of "becoming real." It means to become vulnerable through love. It means your imperfections become targets, it means corralling behaviors which takes considerable self-control. Someone close to me, going through a horrendous experiences lamented with a broken heart- "How long until it no longer matters what other people say about me?" It's easy to console another until it happens to you. Which is why, last night, reading the lessons for our Tuesday Group- I was reminded about all the marvelous instruction in the way Christ's wants us to behave. (I seldom get to go to Tuesday class since Tuesdays I watch Addi but I had all the kids yesterday so today I have a "day off" and get to attend.) I LOVE the beatitudes, which I have mentioned here before. "The Savior's transcendent message in the Sermon on the Mount is of burning bush importance to all of us. " (James E. Faust) (which means it is something we should study and ponder...) One of the things that the Beatitudes do for us is to evaluate our behavior in the middle of the storm. Does that make sense? Thanks, J. for many, many months ago sharing this Velveteen quote with me. My daughter (who is my light) said to me years ago, when someone had been unkind- through her sobs- "I don't ever want to forget how this feels. I won't forget how this feels....so I never make anyone else feel this way."



Do unto other as you would have them do unto you. What beautiful advice.....


And because this is "real", I have to add a funny yesterday. I had lots of the kiddos and the weather....well, you know! Raining (even snowing!) off and on, off and on. Every time the sun would sneak out, the girls and I would run outside on the front lawns and play (practice....we really aren't playing the game) badminton. I'm trying to teach Hallee and Addi how to hit the birdie. Halle was undaunted but also not real successful in hitting. I told her to continue to practice, that I needed to run into the house and straighten up the kitchen. In a while, weather changing, the girls came in the house. I was on a program on the computer and Gracie asked what it was....then Hallee piped up, "She is SUPPOSE to be cleaning the kitchen!"


Busted.

I've loved this family weekend. We had Mickey Mouse pancakes, watched movies, swam, had a treasure hunt, drew and played. Parker and Nash. Rylee, Gracie, Halle and Addee.

Gru: It's like my heart is a tooth, and it's got a cavity that can only be filled with children.

(we watched "Despicable Me" while the kids were here. My first time. I cried.) (and of course, Gru didn't mention that after going to the dentist to be filled with children, he was exhausted. lol)

WeekEnd Madness

Saturday Heidi was in a Lehi children's production of Beauty and the Beast. The play was delightful and Heidi got to play several parts- little sausage girl, a wolf in the forest and a spoon. Before the play, Brandi and kiddos and I met with Ryan and Marci and the kiddos for lunch in Lehi at Barney and Ethel's or Henry and Hilda's or....I can't ever get it correct. I think maybe Emmett and Ethel's. Anyway, we had a fun, fun time! You did awesome, Heidi!

Sunday evening, we went to celebrate Boston's 6th birthday with a family party at T & T's. All of Tenille's siblings (except honeymooning Tiffany and hubbie) were there with kiddos, plus Tenille's folks, David and I and Grandma and Brandi and kiddos. That made for a whole lotta crazy fun.

Of course, cousins can't be together without wanting a sleepover. We had six last night. Whew!

Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life! ~Albert Einstein

Daily Chatter

Yesterday was an awesome day. I got to teach a Cooking Under Pressure class for BFF Valene and in my old neighborhood. Got to meet some nice new people (and old friends.) I just did three dishes- BBQ Chicken (10 minutes) Vegetable Soup (5 minutes) and Spanish Rice (10 minutes). (I know you're sick of hearing how many minutes these dishes take but it still amazes me!)Truly the prep works takes longer than it takes to cook the dishes. I think everyone had a good time.

Then I hustled off to a birthday/Visiting Teaching lunch at the Nordstrom Bistro. We were celebrating Debbie Stowell's birthday. (Lynda R., Debbie S., Bertie W, and me) Ever since Brandi and Jenny took Valene and I there for pre-Mother's Day, I've been craving the Lime Shrimp Salad. I'm trying to duplicate the recipe to take to my friend, Elsa, who just had a knee replacement. Also, Bertie said the bread pudding was the best she had ever had so we had to sample that. Lynda and I were skeptical since we love Kneader's raspberry bread pudding but totally, the MOST amazing dessert ever. Bertie says she has the recipe to share so I'm anxious to share both recipes later on the cooking blog.

Besides Addi's pre-school graduation that I attended on Wed., last night was Annee's 4th grade program- a Rock Concert. What was so delightful about it was that it was all about rocks and mining. The songs were so clever and I couldn't believe these little kids could learn so much through music. (One song was about a guy named Rocky Mineral who hits Rock Bottom. lol) It took longer to drive to Lehi than the program was long. Awesome job, Annee!

Today (right now) the last of Tenille's siblings is getting married. I love Tiffany (she rocks at Lake Powell!) and am so happy for her. I'm watching the kiddos as we speak so Tenille and Travis can be at the temple. (Tiffany is one of the quadruplet siblings.) Sadie is starting to talk so well (she just turned two.) She can tell you exactly what she wants (chocolate milk, of course) and says "pretty" when pointing to her painted toenails and tells me "thank you" and calls me Grandma. Nash is the grandchild that doesn't usually give me the time of day ( because he's running a million miles an hour- I don't take it personally, he is too busy for most people) but we've had a great day today and I've even made him laugh. I only had Boston for a couple of hours since I had to take him to kindergarten. What fun kids.

We don't have any plans for the Memorial weekend. Just hope kids and kiddos will drop by to swim and play. Sometimes no plans are the best plans.

Lake Powell will be here before we know it. Already buying paper goods, food assignments are out, "thinking" about the joys of wiggling into a swimming suit. Summer- can't wait!

Last night on the news was a feature story about a group of war veterans, amputees and one that lost her eye, that just finished climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was so inspiring and I was touched by those whose daily lives are affected by their sacrifice for our freedoms. You can read more about it here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/columns/story?columnist=bruschi_tedy&id=6576629

I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did. – Benjamin Harrison

Cassie's Baby Shower

Ryan Campbell's niece, Cassie Williams, married BFF Valene's son Josh (they met for the first time at our house. I was a witness to that first "eye lock" and shooting stars, etc.) That was a couple of years ago. Last night we celebrated a baby shower. It was awesome and pink!

Miss Addi-tude's Pre-School Graduation

Addi's graduation was this morning. I can't believe she'll soon be going to kindergarten and we won't have our weekly sleepover (well, maybe she'll get afternoon kindergarten!) She is so smart. We play "I'm Going on a Trip to the Moon" almost every time we are in the car, and she can come up with every letter of the alphabet and unusual items. i.e.- Addi, balloons, Creamies, donuts, elephants etc.) Miss Karen and Miss Mercedes are really going to miss her! She constantly is asking "what does that mean?" I can't wait to see the things she will do!

Tuesday Things

I finally got to see Rylee dance in Mountain West Ballet's Sleeping Beauty last night. It was at the Sandy Ampitheater (which is lovely except it is outdoors. Have I mentioned it has been raining?!!!) She was in the last half so I got there just before intermission. Everyone was snuggled in rain gear and blankets. I'm so glad I got to see her dance. The dancers were freezing! I'm also glad I got there after it started so I didn't hear the "no pictures please" announcement... (that is Rylee in the first picture on the right, the second picture on the left with friend Olivia, who is like one of my kiddos as well.) (And I'm glad that Tenille's SIL, Laura, had snuck in at intermission as well so we got to sit by each other. (we didn't sneak. I bought a ticket...)

This weekend, this recipe rocked at the Eggstravaganza! It is a fresh grape salad but I'm taking it today for my neighbor meals as a dessert with cookies. It is THAT good! Recipe to die for on the cooking blog- constantgrowingamazementcooks@blogspot.com

Sunday I got to teach the Sunday School lesson "He Was Lost and Is Found." We studied the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, the Prodigal Son and finally, the Ten Lepers.

As we talked about the Prodigal Son, who sqandered his inheritance in riotious living, we find that when push came to shove, he longed to return home. I loved this quote:

Adversity came upon him, and proved to be a more effective minister for good than pleasure had been. Suffering had brought him to himself.

Aren't we all prodigals in some way? If we seek to fill up our lives with temporary pleasure, we will always, at some point, come up empty. Adversity can be a great teacher.

In the parable of the lost coin, the woman took out her broom and madly cleaned to find that which was lost. Sometimes when we lose something, we search all the dusty corners of our heart to find that which is missing. This soul searching can be good and it can be an unexpected gift.

In our last parable, that of the 10 lepers, we know that only one came back to give thanks to Christ. While still worshipping at his feet, Christ said, "Arise, go thy way thy faith hath made thee whole."

We talked about the difference between being healed and being made whole. Merrill J. Bateman said: "In becoming a whole person, the grateful leper was healed inside as well as on the outside. That day nine lepers were healed skin deep, but only one had the faith to be made whole."

My heart is full of gratitude this day. I didn't get an Addi sleepover last night since she has her early morning dental ordeal this morning. Her daddy is bringing her to me afterwards for some grandma love for the day. I'm so glad I can be such a big part of her life. And today is my dad's birthday. He's had some health scares this past week and I'm grateful that he's home from the hospital and up to jokes again. All of our big projects are over so my husband and I are introducing ourselves to each other again -lol, and truly, at some point, it must stop raining!

Eggstravaganza Over and Out!

It has been raining or snowing for two months. Yesterday it rained and stormed and thunder is grumbling with rain today (Monday.) But SATURDAY was absolutely gorgeous! It was 70 degree weather, perfectly balmy, perfectly delightful. Thank you to friends and family that helped. We had over 100 people. Kids and baskets, old friends, new friends, relatives and not. We usually have the hunt in the morning and many rush off to other Saturday festivities but we started this one at 4:30 so people stayed around and visited, some swam, kiddos rode horses and the barrel and we all just kept eating....

I love the celebration of spring with this tradition!

The menu was BBQ chicken sandwiches, hot dogs with all the trimmings, salads and chips galore. We had homemade rootbeer, cream soda, cookies. We could have fed another 100!

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

Today

Dad came home from the hospital today. Whew! We'll see how he does in the next few days. Thanks for thoughts of concern for him (and me!)


Creative Cooking yesterday was so fun. I think everyone loved the lettuce wraps and Debbie Walton did some amazing stir fry dishes and Allison Gibbons created some new Rice Krispie dishes- Caramel Marshmallows and Salted Peanut Chews.) I'll be posting recipes on the cooking blog during the coming week.

(Debbie's dishes were Orange Peanut Stir-Fry, Thai Fried Rice Noodles and a really delicious Toasted Almond-Cherry Ice Cream (which was non-dairy using coconut milk.)

Today was a HUGE workday. The rain poured down for hours and hours. I had yard help working through the downpour. It was crazy. But they perservered through the terrible weather (I told them to go home but they knew I had a party and just wouldn't quit!) The Father and Sons outing got rescheuled to the church which has a nice pavillion...but the rain eventually stopped and after the BBQ at the church and a speaker, everyone came back here for basketball and bull rides (David's newest invention) and swimming. As I write we have 6 scouts sleeping out in the cabin. Is that scary enough? (lol) Breakfast early in the morning and then they're off. This has been an exhausting but wonderful day. I had a couple of tender mercies today that carried me. Life is busy. Life is good.

Tomorrow is suppose to be beautiful weather. I couldn't be happier. It's the party I've been waiting for. (The sun will come out ....tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow....) Now we just have to get 3,000 eggs hidden.... (I'm thinking that the price of breakfast for the scouts might be hiding eggs...)

Ten Things

1. My dad is in the hospital with breathing difficulties and I'm pretty worried about him. Hopefully he'll be able to come home today or tomorrow. I hate being so far away from my parents and can't help when they need help. I'm so grateful that my brother is there for them.

2. Monday I got to take Parker to the hospital for tubes in his ears. It was a good thing we got in since one bone was starting to erode inside and could have meant hearing loss. Just one more thing for this boy. I'm glad we got to spend the day together. We stopped on the way home to get him a pizza (he practically ate the entire thing- he didn't like not getting to eat or drink before surgery) and at the Red Balloon to get more Star Wars legos. (just as a future note for Parker- today you were 5' 2 1/2 inches and about 94 pounds.) I met up with Brandi, after work to trade Parker for Addi

3. for Monday night sleepover. Poor Addi has been having toothaches forever and goes ballistic at the dentist. Next week she'll have to go under for several procedures. When it rains, it pours.

4. Speaking of pouring, I finally gave up and planted my geraniums in the rain yesterday. It just doesn't quit!

5. We have a father and sons activity here Friday night. It is hard to get the yard into shape what with (can I keep complaining) the SNOW and the RAIN! But David has been busy on projects. He's replaced both basketball standards, one tall, one short. Our kiddos will love to have them fixed. He's also making a barrel bouncing bull for the kids to ride. The pool is ready for swimming. Today it was 90 degrees. Nothing like swimming in a bathtub!

6. Saturday is the Eggstravaganza! Rain or snow or sunshine, the party goes on. I've been doing BBQ chicken in the pressure cooker. One bag of frozen chicken tenders cooks in 10 minutes! You can't beat that! We'll have BBQ chicken sandwiches, salads, chips and dip and cookies. I'm making homemade rootbeer and homemade cream soda. I've never made cream soda before but when I was in Ohio, at Lehman's, I found cream extract. I think it sounds yummy! Company coming. More sheet changing!

7. When I told Brandi that today is Creative Cooking, she laughed out loud. FINALLY I'm teaching the lettuce wraps. The lettuce wraps that I have been obsessing about for two months. I have made so many lettuce wraps, they are coming out of my ears. But I found the recipe I love. I'll be sharing it on the cooking blog. With other good stuff. But I think I'm done with lettuce wraps for awhile.....

8. I teach on Sunday- "He was Lost and is Found." We'll be talking about the parable of the lost sheep, the lost piece of silver. Also the prodigal son and the healing of the lepers. All are some of my favorite stories in the scriptures. I feel so lucky to get to study these lessons. It fills my heart and my soul.

9. May is our birthday month. Today is Nash's birthday, last week was Noah's. My two 3-year olds are now four! Also Josh turned 11 on Tuesday! I totally spaced my baby's birthday while I was gone which meant David spaced it as well. Tanner was just about the best baby anyone could ever have and he's always been my grown up joy boy. We were so blessed to get him for a child. What a joy he's been to me. My dad and Susie's birthdays are next week as well. That's a lot of cake.... (figuratively speaking.)

10. And tonight we are going to the Provo Temple, where Annee will be sealed to Tanner (he officially adopted her a few days after Peyton was born) and Brooke. We are excited! It should be an awesome and sacred experience for our family.

So much to be thankful for. I read today that "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." (Melody Beattie)

Grateful I am.

Last of Ohio

Just wanted to post a few last pictures of our Ohio trip. I know these don't matter to anyone but myself but this IS my journal. Someday my great-great-greats will truly said, "I can't believe G. G. G. Grandma made us look at her slide shows!"


This is Ross and Nikki's home. There are two different wreaths on the front door because robins built a nest in the winter wreath...and Nikki had to wait until the babies hatched and flew the coop before she'd change the wreaths. We were lucky to be there for the babies first flight. How do they even survive? Actually we came home from one day of touring to find a hurt bird on the back patio. I think it was too big to be one of the babies...maybe just a few days older. Ross carefully put it in the front nest, Nikki squished worms for it but alas, it didn't make it until morning. At least it knew that it was loved at the end of his/her/its life. We had a proper burial. Nikki requested I write a poem in tribute. It was tender. I'm pretty sure the neighbors thought we were crazy!





This is my room at Nikki's. Heaven!

Just a short little house tour...

And the last of my Amish pictures.

Penny and I flew home standby. It was an adventure. We flew from Cleveland to Chicago (where we got bumped 2 times- finally made the 3rd) and then to Denver then home. I was grateful the Blues Brothers were in Chicago to wish us farewell.

Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling. - Margaret B. Runbeck

Ohio Day 3 and 4

Friday of our trip was to Kirtland, Ohio...which plays a big part in the history of our church. Again, Ross and Nikki were the perfect hosts/hostess.







We had a lovely tour of the Kirtland Temple, now owned by the Community of Christ church.



Many historical events happened here and I loved re-learning the stories, imagining the trials and heartache and the confirming spirit of "all is well." We grow stronger from the trials we endure.






I loved all the grounds surrounding the temple and look forward to having them in my art files.


I am a new fan of the Newell K. Whitney family and the sacrifices they made for what they believed in. I was amazed at the colors that were used in the 1800's. I was amazed that Penny, Nikki and Ross continued to touch things when a sign explicitly said, "Do not touch." I certainly never would do that....

The ashery and sawmill were the sites of miracles and industry. We were intrigued by what an "ashery" was even before we toured there. Of course, we had to google which led us to amazing information. We found out how people brought and sold their ashes (from daily fires) to the ashery and it was processed to make lye, which then was used for a variety products from soap to china. But the information that blew us away was "body soap." Honestly, I am NOT making this up. We learned (not from the tour but from googling) that when water drips through a casket, and settles on a corpse, the corpse can actually turn into soap! There is a "soap mummy" in the collection of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. This person lived in Philadelphia during the 18th century. After he was buried, water leaked into his casket and converted his body fat to soap, specifically adipocere, known to the trade as "grave wax."

Next stop on our tour was the Johnson Farm in Ohio. This was a place of refuge for Joseph Smith during great persecution for the church. I was so surprised to see the "feather" painting on all of the woodwork throughout the Johnson home! And again, the colors!




We had such a wonderful day visiting church historical sites. So many things touched my heart and makes me wonder the courage of the early Saints, who gave up all they had and suffered persecution, even to death, for the convictions of their hearts.

And, finally, on Saturday we hit a few local sites that were fabulous. Ross had a flight that day so Nikki , being the perfect flight attendant, pulled out her list of "must sees" and we hit them all.
We loved the Smuckers building, REALLY loved Lehman's....which is a store that has everything you could imagine....from candy to garden to kitchen to all things permissible to the Amish, to tools to food to gifts. We also visited Shisler's Cheese house....where we could sample easily a hundred cheeses. You name it, they had it. Incredible!

At the advice of several people, we then headed across the street to P.A.W.S, where the working ladies whipped up our first fried bologna sandwich (it tasted like a grilled hotdog on a hamburger bun) and other delicacies that were recommended to us.

Then finally, we were in the middle of Amish country. And my camera battery ran out. I was able to to snap just a few pictures before the end came. I do have to wait until Nikki sends me all the pictures I took with her camera of the buggies, the farms, the laundry hanging on lines but the memory is engraven on my heart. I loved the spirit of a community that loves the Lord.

Day One and Two of Ohio

Day One and Two-

~We flew in to Cleveland, drove to Medina (Ma-dine-a) for dinner, then headed back to Cleveland for my first professional baseball game. Cleveland Indians against the Tampa Rays. I can't believe I've lived my life without knowing that Shin-Soo Choo and Shelley Duncan and Matt LaPorta (among others) existed. More importantly I learned that Mr. Ketchup, Miss Mustard and Ms. Onion were alive and well in Cleveland. They were my favorite players.

~Nikki bought us the very worst snow cones we've ever tasted. Terrible things bring great laughs.

~Baseball games are LLLLLLOOOONNNNNGGGGGG! I made it through the first 3 innings great, the next three innings I thought I was going to eat nails, then whew! the last 3 innings sailed. Would totally go again. Even though the home team lost.

~got settled in at Ross and Nikki's home. It was....oh, what can I say? Amazing! It deserves its own post.

~woke up the next morning and packed the car to head out to Lake Erie and Put-In-Bay (South Bass Island.) Again, never knew it existed. We took the ferry across to the island and rented a 4- seater golf cart to tour the island.

~visited the Heineman winery and Crystal Caves. First, the crystal caves. The original Heineman was from Baden-Baden Germany and immigrated to Put-In-Bay in the late 1800's to start a winery. While expanding the winery, he dug down about 30 feet and found himself in the middle of the world's largest geode. The celestine crystals are amazing...although the tour was very funny. We climbed down this steep staircase, saw you were in the middle of a geode....the tour guide (sniffing and hacking) explained what I just explained to you....and that was it. The area was the size of a small bedroom. We hung out for a few minutes and then I asked Nikki if she was ready to go. She said, "Heck no, I'm going to walk around it 4 more times to get my monies worth!" I would pay just for the funny memory.

~But then, for part of our ticket, we also got to tour the winery! Just what I've ALWAYS wanted to do. The whole process was intriguing (Ross, who isn't LDS was blown over by the bottling and labeling machine. We laughed and said, "Obviously, you've never been to an LDS cannery....where we bottle and can everything under the sun for humanitarian service.") At the end of the tour, the guide was excited (in dead-pan) to tell us we get to finish the tour with a glass of wine. For us that would have been 4 glasses of grape juice (very good!) (at least they didn't serve it to us in kiddie glasses!).

Afterwards we hopped into our golf cart and headed out again.

~we went out to one end of the island to see "Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial" that honors those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie, during the War of 1812. The memorial is 352 feet tall. It is also a HUGE recipient of millions of dollars of stimulus money. I mean MILLIONS! Really? When there are so many people in need. Ross is even more of a googling info techie than me, and we were astounded to find out how much money is being spent on this, and how many workers benefited. Don't even go there, it will make you crazy....

~Commodore Oliver Perry also coined the phrase "We have met the enemy and they are ours..." Well, today the economy is the enemy and we are losing the battle.

~ We HAD to see the lighthouse. Ross insisted. When we got there, we went "Wow. That tall,huh?" Truly the shortest lighthouse I've ever seen! But cute. We had to jump up and down just for Ross.

~we spent time in the graveyard. It had fabulous crypts and stones. We were curious about the people in the crypts and found houses where they lived (Daisy Dollar was my favorite. Her family had a winery as well.) It was kind of New Orleans- graveyardie. (My mom will love that word....)

~We had lunch at a fun little pub. It was decorated like Mardi Gras. They celebrate every holiday during the summer on this island so there are always parades and decorations (which include Christmas, I think, in August.) Crazy, crazy!

~all of the pictures of the flying field had special meaning for Ross. He is a pilot and as a youngster (he's still a youngster) he flew small planes in and out of this island all the time. He had some great stories (we loved that the wind sock from the airport hanger said "Dairy Air.") to tell.

Whew! this was just day one and two of a fabulous trip. We made great memories on this trip. One tidbit, when we were getting ready to go, Nikki said, "Rossie, are you ready to go?" I thought she called him Frosty. So I called him Frosty the rest of the trip. What was even funnier was that everywhere we went we saw Frosty signs. (some are in the collages above.) Go figure! It was almost freakie.

~ We had decent weather on the island. We'd snuggle up with blankets but it wasn't raining. But when we got home, not more than a mile from their home, this is what we saw. We were heartsick for all the homes that were hit with flash flooding. You could have canoed around these homes.

Guess What's Coming!!!

I can't wait to journal about my trip to Ohio but first I wanted to post this! Rain or snow or shine, oh, heart be still!

Flies

Summertime is almost here....and there are few things I hate worse than flies. Well, snakes for sure but I don't have a lot of them in the house. Just when we have weddings.... We have so many kiddos running in and out during the summer...leaving doors open, etc.

So, when I read the following, I was intrigued. Is there some "old" fly-free tricks that you do? (besides keep the doors closed?) (And did anyone besides me read the book "The Fly?" It was so frightening. The movies never quite captured it.)


Zip Lock Bags

I have never heard of this..but I am curious to try it...


We went with friends to Sweety Pies on Sunday for breakfast and sat in the patio section beside the house. We happened to notice zip lock baggies pinned to a post and a wall. The bags were half filled with water, each contained 4 pennies, and they were zipped shut. Naturally we were curious! Ms. Sweety told us that these baggies kept the flies away! So naturally we were even more curious! We actually watched some flies come in the open window, stand around on the window sill, and then fly out again. And there were no flies in the eating area! This morning I checked this out on Google. Below are comments on this fly control idea. I'm now a believer!

Zip-lock water bags

Ann Says: I tried the ziplock bag and pennies this weekend. I have a horse trailer. The flies were bad while I was camping. I put the baggie with pennies above the door of the LQ. NOT ONE FLY came in the trailer. The horse trailer park had many. Not sure why it works but it does!

Danielle Martin Says: Fill a ziplock bag with water and 5 or 6 pennies and hang it in the problem area. In my case it was a particular window in my home. It had a slight passage way for insects. Ever since I have done that, it has kept flies and wasps away. Some say that wasps and flies mistake the bag for some other insect nest and are threatened.

Maggie Says: I swear by the plastic bag of water trick. I have them on porch and basement. We saw these in Northeast Mo. at an Amish grocery store & have used them since. They say it works because a fly sees a reflection & won't come around.

DJ Says: Regarding the science behind zip log bags of water? My research found that the millions of molecules of water presents its own prism effect and given that flies have a lot of eyes, to them it's like a zillion disco balls reflecting light, colors and movement in a dizzying manner. When you figure that flies are prey for many other bugs, animals, birds, etc., they simply won't take the risk of being around that much perceived action. I moved to a rural area and thought these "hillbillies" were just yanking my city boy chain but I tried it and it worked immediately! We went from hundreds of flies to seeing the occasional one, but he didn't hang around long.

More Funner than you....

Remember when you were little and you turned on the hose to play with water when you were not suppose to....and your mom immediately "sensed" the water was on (ha!) and caught you every time. Big time trouble.

Well, I KNEW I was going to get called on it. Funner. As soon as I typed it in the last post, I knew someone would call me out. And of course it would be my mom.

My mom was the one who unpicked every zipper I haphazardly sewed in. She's the one who would French seam all my formals (which, I DID sew....) She IS the one whose (who's? laughing) eyebrows would raise each time she would use one of my dull kitchen knives. You know how moms are.


Well, score one for the kids on the block. I AM having funner fun than some. Here's what I found:

The editors of Merriam Webster’s 10th edition choose to recognize the word “funner” as a lesser used inflected form of the adjective fun. They do this because they choose to regard English pragmatically, taking into account colloquial and dialectical usage when they make their editions. I would make the argument to a student that the -er, -est construction on an adjective is permissible. With no clear abstract rule to determine which adjectives are to take the “more + adjective” or the -er, -est construction, the “rule” becomes arbitrary. The “rule” I would argue falls more into the area of convention and accepted usage than grammar. The person choosing to use this construction should be careful when and where they use such a colloquial construction as those familiar with the “rule” may take it as a sign of ignorance.


Heaven forbid that I would show signs of ignorance. Just don't get me going on lie or lay. I don't know if I'm taking a nap, telling a fib or laying an egg.


But thanks,mom. You ARE the funnerst mom I've ever hadder.

Cleveland or Bust!

Just when I thought life couldn't be funner, I'm off for another adventure. BFF Penny and I are headed to Ohio. Penny's daughter, Nikki (remember her from her wedding reception at our home when the steers got out and the snakes came. THAT reception???) lives in Medina,Ohio. Nikki is a flight attendant and husband Ross a pilot so they sent us their buddy passes to come and visit! How cool and generous is that? We were going to leisurely fly out tomorrow but then, being the hostess with the mostest/over-achiever in the fun department that she is, Nikki insisted that we catch THE EARLIEST flight so we can be there in time for a pro-baseball game! Penny and I might sleep through it and have hotdog mustard dribbling from our chins but we plan to be there! (lol) Today has been a "running our heads off" day for both Penny and I so we've already agreed that we can go to sleep before the plane leaves the tarmac (my usual mode of operation regardless) which doesn't mean we're not fun people, it just means that we are getting our sleep so that we can hit the ground running in Ohio!

While there, besides hanging out at the ballpark, we're visiting some Amish country with Nikki, Penny and I are doing some historical LDS sites in Kirtland, Ohio and....whatever else we want to do. I just Googled Cleveland and saw they have a lingerie football team. WHAT????? Okay, maybe we won't do that but we're game for most things. (Definitely not the lingerie thing since that is a sore spot for Penny. I would bring it up but you almost had to "be" there...when a Relief Society fashion show that was suppose to be funny went awry. Think Victoria Secret. Penny was the president and therefore "in charge." She didn't show her face in public for months but I bring it up whenever I can....)


Penny is like my sister only we don't have cat fights or do much name calling. I do regularly bring up her most embarrassing moments and she'd bring up mine...if she weren't so forgetful. (See what I mean? I'm the mean "younger" sister....)

Love girlfriends. Love random trips. Excited to make more "Gwilliam" memories!

Mother/Daughter Weekend

A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. ~Author Unknown



We had the best Mother/Daughter weekend. After Brandi's work on Thursday (she's a Physical Therapist), her BFF Jenny and her mom, my BFF Valene headed out for a fun weekend. We got pedicures on the way out of town, then headed up to Park City. It was a gorgeous weekend (which meant balmy weather instead of snow.) We stayed at the beautiful Mountainside Marriott with adjoining rooms- shopped, ate and ate, put together marshmallow guns for Jenny's kids' school fair, got a stack of videos (Brandi had never seen Penelope before), hot tubbed. Laughed. Out. Loud.



When I went to Bucket last week and we talked about mother's- I mentioned that I had a very close relationship with my mom probably because I was the only daughter....that I couldn't imagine not having that same relationship with my own daughter (my only daughter.) Thankfully, Brandi and I have always had that and love to be together. Although Valene and I knew of each other before the girls were in college, we actually became fast friends when we went together to Mother's Week at Rick's College, where the girls were roommates. It is funny how Brandi and I have become entwined in thoughts and actions. For instance, we went shopping and ran into Michael's Craft store. Brandi and Jenny were on one side of the store and Valene and I were on the other when I spotted some striped ice cream cups on the party display. I freaked. I gathered the 4 packages up and told Valene "because" they were cute enough to throw a party around. When we were walking to the next store, Valene looked down at the bag and said, "You're a party waiting to happen" which made Brandi look down at my bag as well, then I heard this "Are you kidding me?!!!" She had seen just one of the packages of the ice cream cups in the store (I missed it) and said to Jenny, "My mom would freak over these!" but there was only one package left. She got it to put with my Mother's Day gift (a cookbook that I started to buy when we were together until she looked at me sternly and said, "DO NOT BUY any gifts before Mother's Day!" I got the message that she had already bought it....) which was why she was getting the ice cream cups....as a surprise. Our minds just work the same way.





We thought our time was over when we headed back down the mountain on Saturday but then the girl's took us to the restaurant at Nordstrom's for a fabulous lunch (think Lime Cilantro Shrimp salad....now I have to figure out how to make it)- a dash to Costco to get food for all our Mother's Day meals. We dropped off stuff at my house, then headed to the movies and saw "Soul Surfer." Cried through the whole thing. Amazing story.




Mother's Day was wonderful. It was my week to teach in Sunday School (the guy that I team teach with said since it was Mother's Day, he would be happy to teach for me but preparing the lessons and studying and teaching is "my" gift. It fills me up.)- we are on "Christ is the Light of the World" and I got to teach about how Christ is the Light, the Healer and the Good Shepherd- all wonderful stories in the New Testament. Wonderful edifying day at church. Afterwards all the kids and kiddos were able to come. Our whole family. We BBQ ed hamburgers, made sweet potato and regular fries, had good desserts coming out our ears. Luckily Ben and Susie got home from canoeing and hiking in the desert down south. Even Aunt Pat and Cousin Casey came. Baby Peyton looks like he is 3 months old instead of 1...he's so cute, we play "pass the baby." Wonderful, wonderful weekend. I love being a mom.

Bucket May 2011

If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been. ~Robert Brault


Tuesday was our Bucket Activity at Annette Burgess' home. She said we could invite our mothers to come, since we were honoring them, but my mom lives a LITTLE FAR AWAY! Actually, only two brought their mothers since many of the others have passed. Only 4 of the 12 of us having living mothers. That's sad, isn't it? Only two of us have both our parents alive.....

Annette presented a nostalgic table. Little tea cups that were part of the centerpiece belonged to her grandmother. Her grandmother always sent her a 5 dollar bill for birthdays and Annette always put hers in the bank. When she got married, she had saved enough to buy 12 Waterford crystal goblets. What a treasure to her, and reminder of her grandmother.

One story from Sheron Fitch, that I loved. Her father died shortly after (correct me, Sheron) (a few months) his sister-in-law. Sheron's mom was visiting one day with her brother-in-law and said, "Well, I guess it is time to be going." She started to leave and her brother-in-law pulled her to him and kissed her. She was so stunned she didn't know what to do. They had all been best friends for years. She hopped in her car....and drove and drove. Finally she stopped. She turned around and drove back to his house. She knocked on the door and when he came, she said, "Could I have another one of those?"

Wow! That must have been some kiss! Something out of the movie "The Notebook."

And they lived happily ever after!

Annette served Spinach, Chicken and Pasta Salad that is easy and so good. She also made a recipe from her mother of little tarts. It was the perfect tea party! Recipes on the cooking blog.

Product Reviews

I wanted to share a few items I've purchased lately and ways I've used them. The first is the Edible Bowl Maker by Cooks Choice. Below is a promo picture but my pan actually has 6 holes. They are like a muffin tin with a raised portion in the middle so you can add fillings.

You could make muffins or cornbread and fill them with chili or soup or dips. You could make mini meatloaves and fill them with mashed potatoes. How about biscuits and gravy!

You could make brownies filled with ice cream (the below picture is from Let Them Eat Cake) or make cake and fill them with strawberries and cream.

I put lemons in the cups and water and froze it and had shrimp cups. Fill the indenture with cocktail sauce and arrange shrimp around the bowl.

Price for the Edible Bowl Maker- about $15. I ordered mine online (and got one for Valene as well so when we make them, we can make 12 at a time) but you can find them in some cooking stores and, of all places, Bass Pro Shop!


The second product I found at Pier One. It is a drink decanter and comes with a package of chalk.

On the front of the bottle is a black chalkboard type space where you write (and can erase) what drink you are serving. This is what I served our fresh orangeade in for our Bon Appetit dinner. It would make a cute shower gift.

Price for Chalk Glassware at Pier One- $10

And lastly, a story. Last Wednesday night was our Relief Society party for which I volunteered to make a double batch of Bratten's Clam Chowder. I had a VERY busy day and didn't want to get stressed so I made the soup the night before. It made a large crock pot full plus another large pan almost full. I turned the crock pot on during the day on Wed. so I would not scorch the soup, which is always a possibility (think my potato soup for Brooke's baby shower. Grrrrr!) and was VERY careful with the other pan, stirring constantly so it wouldn't scorch as well. I needed to get the soup to the church early and everything was going great. I carefully carried the large pan out and put it on the floor of my car's backseat. Then I carefully carried the large crock pot out. Just as I was about the set the crock pot down.... the entire handle of the crock BROKE OFF which made me dump the entire crock pot of chowder, half in my car and half on the garage floor! !#*%$!%!%#*%!%!#%#!@

Okay, when relaying this story at the party, my friends/neighbors laughed and wanted to know "Did you swear?" I said no... but I wanted to... when it happened, I just screamed at the top of my lungs until I felt better.You could probably hear it at your place. Can you imagine your car carpet smothered in clam chowder?

Friend/neighbor Sue showed up on my doorstep with this yesterday. Her brother had recently sent it to her. It's pretty funny.

We had a good laugh about it. Since I am NOT a swearer (my feeling is if you don't like it coming from a 4 year-old or a 12 year-old or your 16 year-old, you shouldn't be saying it.)......Sue and I had a few good laughs trying to think of appropriate words I could yell during the next disaster. Words like Cricket just don't carry a punch. (Wouldn't you know a Mormon would come up with the word Cricket?!!) We finally decided on "Donut!" You can really say it aggressively and get out hostilities.....and make people laugh around you instead of cringe.

Try it. Thanks, S. for the laugh!

Cost for laughter with a friend: Priceless!

Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward. ~Kurt Vonnegut