The Beginning of Fun

Yesterday morning, high school friend Pam flew in from Prinville, Oregon (central Oregon.)  I was lucky to have a whole day with just her and me and tried to make a list of all  my favorite things to share with her.  Since her place got in early, we were able to:

go to Bruges- downtown Salt Lake- and have Belgium waffles with fruit and creme fraiche.  I insisted on pommes frites as well with andolouse dipping sauce...and told her we were pretending they were hashbrowns.  She loved everything!

Although stuffed, but since we were downtown, I headed to Les Madeleines to get some Koing-aman for takeout for later.  These are the french pastries that I had heard about on the Food Network...and although they never look like anything I would order, they are worth the $5.50 a piece they charge. 

From there, we headed south- and made a leisurely trip through Home Again in Midvale.  My favorite consignment shop.  I found a couple of amazing treasures for my girls....

Gardner Village was next on our tour and we spent hours going through the village which is already decorated for Witchie days.  Pam was blown away by all the decor and the weather was perfect for strolling.  Shop after shop after shop of fun and goodness.....and witchies were flying.  My witchie costumes for this year for my granddaughters are almost complete! (friend Fay from California kept texting us to quick having fun without her...she said she could hear us laughing all the way to Temecula.  We assured her we were NOT having one bit of fun without her.)

Time for an icy Sonic drink....and then, since it was way past lunch, headed back across town so she could experience my favorite Salt Lake sandwich at the Village Baker in South Jordon.  Melt in your mouth thick honey white sliced bread with turkey, cranberry and cream cheese.  It's an experience and Pam agreed.  We split one since they are huge.

We then waddled home...unloaded bags...relaxed for a few minutes...then went for massages and pedicures.  Extravagant yes (considering I just had both two weeks ago) but I thought this would be the perfect pre-trip activity.  Costa Vida pulled- pork salads afterwards to bring home.  Then home for me to finish packing (okay, laundry...which isn't easy...my dryer is going out) (and my dishwasher...grrrr)   Friend Debbie (my BFF from growing up) came about ten at night so then we rallied for more fun.

Whew!  A little warn out before the real fun begins.  We leave for the airport in an hour and every is bustling around here.  Except me.    I'll post from Myrtle if I can but I have difficulties posting from my Ipad for some reason.  I'm already missing David and getting homesick.  I'm such a little girl at heart......I just have to keep concentrating on sand between my toes, sand between my toes, sand between my toes.....

Whoooo is Having a Party?

 

One of my BFFs- Brendalyn was helping big-time with a family shower.  She wanted to do wraps and I suggested wrapping them in tissue (this particular tissue paper has a waxed paper lining- we found them at Gygi's- our favorite cooking store)  This picture is missing the ribbon tied on the bottom.  She also did 7 layer dip in a cup (found the cups and lids at Gygi's as well) and chips.  There was also a fruit and cookie  fountain. 

 

Someone in her family is into graphic design and did these darling invitations.  Printed on glossy heavy stock.  How clever is that?  It just got cuter on the back with the bride's color palate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were also water bottles with the owl motive, we removed labels from candles (at Walmart- about $1 a piece) in all the fall colors and put on new labels.  Also, she printed with the same motive, recipe cards that guests brought with their favorite recipe.  Someone was an over-achiever...

Brendalyn and I had a play date together before we went to Newport...and went to our Farmer's Market...and found these cute owl bags.  Perfect for shopping.  Since I knew Brendalyn also was responsible for one of the games, I suggested she fill the bag with all the makings for a spaghetti dinner.  She held up each of the items and the guests had to figure out the cost of the dinner.  The grocery filled bag also made a great gift.

Brendalyn and I laughed about having to think up a game.  She told me that our over-the-top-party planner Linda (who's daughters help her with every major event...they are the ones that recently did the Oscar party for Briann Duncan.)  Her daughters said to her recently, "Mom, we learned something really fun to do at showers....play games!"   Ha!  We USED to play games at showers way back when....then we got old and now just like to visit.

(I'll print the recipe for the fabulous wraps on the cooking site...if I can get my bags packed for Myrtle Beach in time!)

"He respects Owl, because you can't help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn't spell it right."  A.A. Milne (don't ya just love Winnie the Pooh?)

Horsie Horsie

One song I always sang to my kids and now sing to my kiddos is "Horsie, Horsie."  It's a song I learned in Primary as a kid. It is a round which is always fun to sing.  I've been practicing for next week when I'll be with my high schoolie chums.....whom I've known and loved since we took naps on rugs in kindergarten and had graham cracker snacks.  We used to sing a lot together...and even won quartet festivals.  We'd sing in church....after we quit giggling and squirming around (and yes, I believe that still happened when we were in high school...) and getting the evil eyes from moms (not mine...she's not LDS)(We didn't sing "horsie, horsie" in church.)  For sure we will sing the horsie song.  I won't try and bounce my chums on my knees like I do the kiddos when we sing.

Horsie, horsie, on your way

We've been together for many a day

So let your tail go swish as the wheels go round

Giddy up!  We're homeward bound.

(the other round)

I'd like to take a horse and buggy

As we go traveling through the town.

I like to hear old Doblins clip-clock

I like to feel the wheels go round.

Actually, rather than feel the wheels go round, I'd rather feel my bum since I did go riding with David yesterday morning.  I felt inspired (wow!) after our last Bucket and talking about dates with our husbands...and I decided I'd better get off my duff and do some things David loves to do.

It was a beautiful morning in the gully.  The colors are changing....the dry grass is the color of Palominos' mane.  I actually had a good time....and as soon as I can walk, I might try it again.

Newport Beach

~just got back from a girlie trip to Newport Beach, California with BFF Cathy, funny Kathy, Brendalyn and for a day -Valene.  A heavenly 5 days.

~we've tripped so much together that it is comfortable, easy and crazy fun.

~we stayed at wonderful Marriott accommodations and close beach access.

~went to one of Kathy's favorite haunts....an area that is very 1940's with a fabulous restaurant that serves wonderfulness at breakfast (the only meal we ate there) like Crab Cake Florentine.  I loved the beach house pinks and blues and yellows...and the waves crashing on the shore.

~had a couple of things on my bucket list for the trip.  One was to develop somewhat of a taste for sushi (I don't like to eat things that taste like aquarium) and also find some Thai I love.  Happy Moon was the most amazing sushi place-delicious and cheap.  Can't believe they can do that. (There are a couple of Happy Moon Sushi- the one we went to was at 9965 Ellis ave. ste 1 in Fountain Valley, Calif. I had a California roll platter (8) with tempura- shrimp and vegetables....for $6.50!  Of course when I was told that you don't cut your rolls, but put them whole in your mouth, I immediately proceeded to cut all mine in half.  If there is a food rule, I'm sure it is meant to be broken....


The Thai was in a little shopping center that again was a great find. Called Mai Thai- 17938 Magnolia in Fountain Valley.  Great Pad Thai and tom yum soup in a hot pot.   Mosamun. (is that spelled right?)  Yellow curry dishes.

~truly the most remarkable experience was to go to EZ massage...for a foot massage that turned out to be a full massage....the best I've ever had....for $15 for a full hour!  Heaven.

~we rented beach cruiser bikes and biked the sidewalks along the beach....then took the ferry across to Balboa Island.  Always a good time when I don't crash into anyone or get hit by a car.  We chain our bikes to do window shopping.  The day was over-the-top beautiful with a slight breeze. It was a best day...

~my goal was to eat shrimp at least once a day.  I might add I was successful.  Pat myself on the back.

~besides laughing our guts out, we watched a movie, played Sudoku, I reread The Shell Seekers, funny Kathy listened to Alaska (by Michener) (it is like a million cds), Cathy started reading The Thirteenth Tale (that you guys recommended to me!)  We can be still together.

~we named our GPS Gidget since we were at the beach but she totally sounded more like drill sergeant Gretchen.  We mocked her every time she grumbled "re-calculating....."

~read a good article in Real Simple.  It was under "life lessons" and a writer recalled her early love with art....elementary school...when we all dream of doing incredible things...only to find many a disconnect between head and hand.  I thought I was talented in art although I never could take it in high school (had other electives).  My first art class in college was my last art class.  Everything in class was compared to the professor's son- Del Parsons (if you have LDS art, you probably have one of his pictures hanging in your home).  Who did I think I was kidding?  So I put my brushes away for 25 years. I'm glad I found my way home.  When I go to the beach, I just want to paint.  It is so inspiring.  Instead I take zillions of pictures for my art files.  Being creative, making "anything".....spurs my juices.  The beach spurs my juices.  As the author of the article said, "and to my surprise, the more I made art, the more equanimity and freedom I found in the rest of my life.  My ratio of tra-la-la to ay-yi-yi shifted noticeably."

~this trip was an ay-yi-yi.  sigh.....

Dimple Dell

Friend J. is a hiker and she recently hiked to the other side of the gully (the Dimple Dell equestrian park) and while she was up there, she took a picture for me.  Our property is to the right.....just above the second big bush.  There is a very large rectangle to the left of our property... then you can see David's brown roping area.  You can see our colors are changing on our mountain....it beautiful but not as spectacular when we have enough rain.  I just got off the phone with my dad in the Vancouver, WA./Portland area...and he said they still didn't have any rain.  This is in a area that rains almost every day.  I think they've only had a few days of rain all summer.....  Scary and sad.


~I wanted to post pictures of our fun time Saturday night but my battery pack immediately died so Ben ended up taking pictures and he hasn't sent me any yet. 

The day started out frustrating....Brendalyn called me up and wanted me to run errands (i.e. play) with her.  I told her we needed to hit Salt Lake's farmer's market (my favorite thing)....but when I made a purchase, I gave the artisan my Visa card....then she gave me a better deal if I paid cash.  Between our chattering and digging through my purse for cash, I walked off without my card.  I didn't realize it until we were long gone from the farmer's market....

Which means I had to cancell it....and then re-doing all my automatic billings.  Grrrr.  I drive myself crazy.

Brandi and her friendaboy had a frustrating evening the night before, with car problems up at the Sundance Resort and not getting home until about 3 in the morning...then her kiddos had 4 games before 10- plus she had to put in about 5 hours at work....so I could tell she was "beyond" ready to go out for another good time so they had to cancel.  But Ben and Susie, Travis and Tenillie and David and I had a great time at the Miller Sports Park.....far, far away .... where we did fast-karts on a big raceway and also a zipline.  Everything that could possibly go wrong did which just made the evening memorable and funny. (i.e.  we didn't know they switched to their fall hours which meant they closed earlier.  I also didn't know you had to wear closed-toed shoes so I had to rent some to drive the cars.  They had small women's sizes or jumped to men's big sizes so I wore some men's shoes that made me look like Bozo the clown.)  I actually got the  first checkered flag (meaning take your last lap...) but that was just because I was about a full lap behind everyone else....

But it was still dang fun.  We ate dinner in what we thought was a little dive....the Stockton Miner's Cafe.....but the food turned out fabulous!  David ordered stuffed pork chops (stuffed with cranberries, dressing, etc.) topped with a apple cider glaze....that I'm still craving.   I'm thinking we need to drive there again. Truly, put it on your Bucket List.


~last night was GNO- funny Kathy hosting.  We're still hearing about Loretta's daughter's wedding...which was Hollywood over the top.  Can't wait to see the wedding video.  It is always so fun getting caught up on every one's lives.

~ David went bow hunting with Travis on Monday and they still haven't returned.  I keep hoping that prayers will be answered and they won't get an elk.    Really, those two just like being together.  Father and son.  Travis has just been bow hunting for a couple of years now and he talked David into it this year.  Like David NEEDED another hobby! They took the horses up so either way they'll be having a good time.

~I'm about ready to start packing for our girl's trip.  This one is to Newport Beach, Calif.  I got my blue and yellow scarf, my toenails painted, a new pair of capris, a few good books to read.  5 days of heaven.  Can't wait!  Then Myrtle Beach at the end of the month....

“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.”  --Robert Henri

Status

This past week was awesome.  So many fun things, worthwhile things, busy things.

Monday is always hectic with my neighbor meals.  On Wed., I also got to take my widow friend to her weekly hair appointment, then run errands afterwards.  I went from there to Cheesecake Factory with my visiting teaching group.  Love these wonderful women that I am so close to...

Tuesday was bucket group at funny Kathy's.  (I have had several people ask me if funny Kathy minds when I call her funny Kathy or if it bugs her that I call the other Cathy BFF.  I've always been a nicknamer.......but truly, Kathy is funny.....and although Cathy is my BFF, I have lots of BFF's.  I'm a lucky ducky.)

It is so wonderful to have Kathy home from the Congo...and to hear some of her adventures there and her great love of the Congolese people.  Kathy is a master gardener...and so it was a delight to sit out on her large balcony, filled with glorious pots and overlooking her gardens.  Her table cloths were fabrics that were given to her from a Congolese friend.  These pictures don't really do them justice.... but they are a treasure.(opps, I just lost my main picture but it is too late to try and post it again...)  Kathy asked us to notice the selvages on the fabric (the striped selvages.)  Apparently leaving selvages on is sort of a status symbol. To show you can buy nice fabric.  Interesting....

 

Kathy served a "healthy" lunch....I just wanted to point out the talapia...which she bought at Costco with the marinade packets.  Talk about easy.  (could be in the fresh deli section by the shrimp....)  We all loved it- she served it over quinoa.

 

 

 

Kathy asked each of us to come prepared to share dating ideas that we enjoy with our husbands.  (It was fun to quiz friend Gail, who just remarried after losing her husband almost two years ago.  I don't know if I mentioned it here, but Gail married one of David's former law partners.  Kim (her husband) used to tell me he'd give me 20 bucks for each good word I said about him to her.  At a delightful engagement party, I reminded him he owed me money...and said, "I think you owe me $200-" to which Gail replied, "Oh Marilyn, I told him it was $2000!"    Love them both....)

 

Lots of  the date ideas included trail rides (oh brother!....just kidding...) and picnics. 

also:
hikes to Albion basin and Red Pine Lake, Silver Lake, and Solitude Lake
huge ice cream cones at Maceys
meet for lunch with our hubby
monster truck rally
Snowbird mystery parties
organ loft concert
attend every temple in Utah - read the dedicatory prayer before each temple
Spring City over Memorial Day to see the pioneer houses and art festival
Bicknell film festival - worst movies
cowboy poetry - Labor Day weekend
sheep dogs at Soldier Hollow
movie night at home (several watch series together like
    North and South (BBC) and   
    Wonder Years
   
bike ride along the Jordan River Parkway
spontaneous drives - Alta - even Yosemite
computer (phone) "words with friends" - played with your husband
Daughters of Pioneer Museum - open till 8 on Wednesdays
tour of family homestead and the areas where our husband loved to frequent

dinner - guests bring a unique item that describes something about themselves
walks in the park
Cisco Park - Milford observatory
cemeteries - historical
Apple store classes for computers
tubing and cross country skiing
cabin or camping with just spouse - no kids
sled dog races - Uintahs - Feb.
picnics in the canyon
lunch in quaint restaurants
free concert in the Brigham Young park uptown
capitol remodel tour
carry a canoe and go to Silver Lake
sheep camp cook outs
dancing - esp. in the kitchen or Thanksgiving Point. Also - weekly at the Murray Art Center
fishing
Sego Lily Garden - surprise picnic on the one picnic table
favorite games
Honor husband by showcasing his talent - i.e. art show for George
Dinner cruise on Great Salt Lake
Hot air balloon ride
spontaneous canyon dinner
Pioneer Park - farmers market on Sat. morning
Park City - watching the ski jumpers at the ski jump venue
Park City - zip line - next to Mountainside Marriott
Park City - climbing wall at the horse therapy facility
teaching keyboarding classes together

The rest of the week included:

going to the temple with our Ward and Cathy Tuesday night, watching Chubba and helping Brandi on Thursday (Chubba and I took lots of stroller walks in Brandi's neighborhood.  He's such a good little guy.), temple Friday night with Valene and Kathy and our husbands...followed by the most amazing raucaltte dinner at the Cooks.  We love hanging out with our friends.  Saturday afternoon and night we had a group date with some of our kiddos.  Adults.  So fun but I'll tell you about it tomorrow.  A couple more things crossed off my bucket list! 

Oucha!

~Tenillie's sister Natalie had her first baby yesterday and so Travis and T. ran to the hospital while Sadie was in pre-school and before the other kids came home from school to see the new babycakes.

As they were driving into their neighborhood, they could see that a small crowd had formed....around their son, Boston, who had crashed riding his scooter home from school.  Thankfully there were adults around to help.....but this little guy really did a number on his face (and head.)  Mild concussion.  Broken molar.  30 stitches all the way to the bone in multiple layers on his chin.

I guess he was pretty loopy, both laying on the road and with the doctor.  He didn't want a shot...and said, "Why do I even need a chin.  I've already had stitches in my chin and I don't even want my chin anymore.  What good is a chin?"

He was a trooper and, I hear, VERY brave and entertaining.  It looks so painful and he's going to miss his sports for a week or so.  It could have been worse so we're feeling blessed.

  T. sent me the kid's schedules for the next month and it took 2 pages.  Crazy.  Crazy.  Crazy.  The poor kid (kids!) need a rest! I was exhausted just looking at it....


A friend posted this yesterday and it made it laugh out loud.

Teacher: Can anyone tell me what this is?
Kindergartner: It's a 'fricken elephant!
Teacher: African Elephant. Not "A Frican Elephant"

Lost and Found Thoughts- Shiny Tools

I have been cleaning out my closet (which is no small task indeed...it might take a year....) when I came across an old journal.  Cute as can be on the outside (it actually  had bees and honeypots on the cover...you know how I feel about bees....)  but inside was mostly blank.  Do you have a lot of empty journals that you start, then never finish?  There were just a few entries....here are two.

May 2- got my nails done.  The nail gal Christine, said that she told some friends about me.  She told them, "I have a client that is crazy about her husband after 30 years."  She said it gave her hope.

May 4-  Went to BYU's Women's Conference in Provo with Cathy Olsen, Kathy Wilson and Loretta Duncan.  We went for (friend) Elaine Christensen's talk.  She did wonderful.  She always says how much my talk last year influenced her.  That made me feel good.  (I then went on to tell a sacred experience that Elaine shared in her talk...it was miraculous but I won't share here.)  Hearing it made me realize how miraculous God's voice has been in my life.  How thankful I am for spiritual gifts.  Rosie Neider spoke of her husband praying "to be a shiny tool."  I love that image and want to remember the analogy.  Rosie said how she found her garden tools scattered, discarded and rusted.  How much better, more efficient to have shiny tools.


I want to be a shiny tool......

Writing Friendie Lunch

Thursday was my little writing group (that meets about 3 times a year.)  I got to host and we just had the best time! Got to use my bee dishes.  Love them.  And you know me with yellow and blue!  Time with writing friends Linda and Carolyn is always fun.  We always have a writing topic....but since we haven't been together in months and months and months...a little gets lost in translation.  Carolyn thought we were writing about shoes.  I thought we were writing about movies.  Linda thought we were writing about food.  We're all getting close to 100......

 

 

 

 

Lunch was

Ham and Cheese sliders

pommes frites with andoulouse dipping sauce

crunchy corn salad

 

and caramel apple cheesecake bars for dessert.

 

Delish!  As always, recipes on the cooking blog.