Odds and Ends

This past week I have been up to my eyeballs in tulle.  Making witchy skirts for all the grands for our annual witchy days.  All done except for sewing the elastics.  Thankfully niece Mallorie and new hubby Sam and his brother all came for the weekend.  Mallorie helped me do skirts and truly, we had sparkles all over our faces, up our noses and even in our ears.  But the skirts are boo-tiful!

 

 

 

 

A little disturbing weather this past week.  Our first snowflakes of the season.  Even though I knew they weren't here to stay, it was enough to scare me.   I'm soooo not ready for winter.  Usually I love winter but last year it did a number on me.  I might need one of those sun lamps.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday night I hosted my Girl's Night Out group.  It was total a total repeat of my Bucket event but with mostly different people.  Everyone loved the apple butter and ham and cheese sandwiches (and everything else.)  I also made some caramel apple caramel corn so you might want to check that out on the cooking blog.  Or use your favorite caramel popcorn recipe (moist not baked) and add cut up apple rings (like dried apples but puffier.)

 

 

 

 

Since Mal and I were embedded in tulle, she mentioned a cute pumpkin she saw on Pinterest wrapped in tulle.  When I went to the grocery store, I picked her up a white pumpkin so she could try it out.  I think they're darling.  It needs a funkier bow but this is what we had on hand.

 

 

 

 

Friday I got to have a much needed lunch with my friend J., whom with I do not get enough time. Our conversation always fills me with much to think about and wonder.  David asked, "So when did you get so into sushi?"  Well, I'm a little addicted to California rolls...  but mostly to wonderful friends.

 

 

Saturday night was the General Relief Society broadcast.  It needs its own post.  Wonderful and filled my heart.  Afterwards, David and I went up to Olsen's and Kirk had made us all dinner- grilled salmon, roasted fingerling potatoes, corn on the cob perfect.  Hand and Foot followed.  I love our friends.

 

 

I saw this quote and it really has changed my daily prayers. 

 

 

 

 Just a few from last nights:

so love and  am grateful for my husband- all the little quirks and goodness and traditions that make up a marriage
 

so love and am grateful for each of my kids and kiddos- Sunday we traveled to two different Wards to see our kiddos in Primary programs.  I love their hugs and kisses.  I love my big kids- and love their spouses.  Yesterday was Tenillie's birthday....Brooke's is coming up....bought a gift this week I know Susie will love......had a joke with Marci with text that is endearing....love Doug in Brandi's life....we are so blessed!
 

My parents and my brother and his wife that serve them in ways I can't because of  distance.  At the first of the week my dad wasn't feeling too great but he was better towards the end.  When I called Friday night, I asked him if he was well enough to go to Friday night Poker and he said yes.  So I will put Poker on my list of thankfulness.  I'm glad my dad is THAT well!

 

My MIL.  While Mallorie was here, she posted on Facebook that she loved being here in our home and having Grandma sit and visit while we crafted...and knowing that Grandma loves her....even though she realizes she doesn't know who she is much of the time.  Mom always knows who I am (the hand that feeds her- ha!)  and David (although sometimes she thinks he is her husband) but gets pretty confused about everyone else.  But her spirit is spry and she gets sweeter all the time.  Dementia is a hard trick- both for the victim and for all those who love them.  Some days I'm tired of the same conversations over and over and over- all within the hour- but most days I  feel blessed to be able to have this sweet woman in our home.  It isn't something we planned for but it is certainly what we need to do.

 

I'm thankful for the gospel, that God hears and answers prayers, for scriptures, for miracles,  for our comfortable home and for our bed to sleep in and clean sheets and a wonderful neighborhood and friends galore who know my heart and my aches, for our Ward and the mountains and delicious food and for a healthy body (relatively speaking- ouch, ouch....) and for air to breath and cold water to drink and fun things to look forward to and cars that work.....

So much to be thankful for.  Amen.

Live

Lightening Strikes

Yesterday I went visiting teaching to friend Diane E.  She shared with me that her friend's son and family were in the mall in Kenya that has been under siege and attack.  They had soccer games in the morning and the dad suggested they stop by their favorite burger place at the mall on the way home.  It had a underground parking garage where they parked.  When they got out, they were stopped by someone they knew and visited for about 8 minutes. The lady left and they started walking.  The dad could hear shots and it took awhile to figure out there was trouble.  A large group of people started running through the parking lot, then stopped and ran the other way, screaming and crying.  He glanced across the parking garage and saw a maintenance room.  He told his family to run for it.  On the way they gathered up a lone Kenyan woman and took her.  Inside the small room were already 3 construction workers.  The shots continued and they could hear the grenades going off.  As you can imagine, all were terrified.  They all were on their cell phones.  He talked to a friend at the Embassy, who had received reports that a bank robbery was going on.  Not so!  The Kenyon woman called her husband who assured her that he would find her.  They tried to barricade the maintenance room (more like a closet) and he also tried to make a barrier inside to hide his wife, 3 kids and the Kenyon woman.  They were in there for 4 hours!  Then, out of the blue, there was pounding on the door and yelling.  They didn't know if they were rescuers or the terrorists.  It turned out to be the Kenyon woman's husband, who "brought friends with guns"- and then they all had to make a run for it out of the garage.  Absolutely terrifying! 

8 minutes visiting with a random friend saved them from being in the food court (where the shootings began).  Also, their gathering up of the Kenyon woman on their run...ended up being their rescuer.  Tender mercies.

Our son, Travis, sent his dad an email.  Travis is an avid bow hunter and was in Idaho hunting deer.  The caption said, "I got my first deer."  Unfortunately, he hit it with his car....

Travis, our son, has had more "near misses" than about anyone I know.  I am reminded of the lines from Benjamin Button  for Diane's friends in Kenyon and our son:

Mr. Daws: Did I ever tell you I been struck by lightning seven times? Once when I was repairing a leak on the roof.
Mr. Daws: Once I was just crossing the road to get the mail.
Mr. Daws: Once, I was walking my dog down the road.
Mr. Daws: Blinded in one eye; can't hardly hear. I get twitches and shakes out of nowhere; always losing my line of thought. But you know what? God keeps reminding me I'm lucky to be alive.

On My Mind

 I forgot that I wanted to share this fabulous necklace I got at the Farmer's Market on Saturday.  One of my sons best friends (growing up) wife makes jewelry that is actually sold through the Sundance Catalog. (If you haven't seen Sundance, go online, they have amazing things.)  I love, love, love this necklace.  And yes, that beautiful LOUD gold yellow color is actually my wall color...through over half my house on the main floor.  What can I say, I love it.  Yellow is my signature color.

Can I just say that- although I'm glad, in a way, our trees are selling, it still makes me have a lump in my throat when I see this.  I feel like I should be granted visitation rights.....

 I did do some repainting on the bed.  Now I just need to get some shams.  (The ones that coordinate with it are too little.) Oh my gosh, listen to those waves crashing on the shore. Every night when I go to bed, I'll dream of fish tacos on the beach. Sand in my toes. Sigh.

Things on my mind:

this week I have Girl's Night Out at my house.  It is a once a year hosting.  Usually I get so excited to have an event to plan and look forward to, but since this is right on the heels of the Bucket group I recently hosted, I'm going with the same Apple theme.  That is so unlike me but I have a few other things on my mind-

I have Creative Cooking coming up soon and I'm not settled with it yet.  I loved this cartoon-

Also, my BFF from childhood Debbie and I are hosting the Charm Girls in October.  We are busy planning for a fun, fun time.

I'm getting all the supplies and then making 9 witch skirts for our annual Witchie day.

Family pictures (yeah!) are also coming up soon.


I've had amazing self control for a whole day.  I'm going to try for day two.  I can do it.  I can do it.  French fries are EVIL as I learned this past Sunday.

 

Thoughts

Motivation- Today is the tomorrow you said you'd get it together.....
Grrr....I am such a tomorrow person.  But it is a fresh new day.  I can do anything for a day.  Can't I?

“Many fine things can be done in a day if you don't always make that day tomorrow."

Oh brother!-  David came home roping Saturday with a doozie of cold or allergies.  He is sneezing and tissueing  and sneezing, oh my.  This morning I came into the kitchen and proceeded making each of us an EmergenC.  David said, "Are you using that prophylactically or are you coming down with something?"   Honestly?  Who doesn't use ordinary words.  David.  Too much lawyer/medical training.  But I didn't let him get away with it.  I rolled my eyes and said back to him in my best duck voice  "Pro-phyl-LAC- tic-ly!!!"  It's the start of a good day.  Let's hope I don't start sneezing.

When I wear high heels I have a great vocabulary and I speak in paragraphs. I'm more eloquent. I plan to wear them more often.
Meg Ryan

Melancholy- I've been taking my last widow (Kay) Sunday meals instead of Monday meals since it is easier for me and she's just happy for a meal any day.  Yesterday when I went I saw all sorts of packing boxes.  I asked her what was going on and found out she's made (or daughters made?) the decision for her to move to an assisted living.  Ohhhhh.  It really is the best thing for her and I've tried to encourage her over the years to make the move....but yesterday her pain really hit me.  To leave her home- filled with the treasures and memories of her life.  Instead of hurrying home, I sat and visited while she ate.  We talked and cried.  She shared with me some journal pages of the days surrounding her husbands death.  It was beautiful and heartfelt and heartbreaking.  It is so hard for her to leave her home because Rick is there.   I love this sweet lady I've been able to serve for so many years.  Thankfully she is moving close and I'm sure she'll have a steady stream of visitors because she is so loved.  When I started Monday Meals, I had 4 people I took meals to, then 6,  but Kay is the last one. 

No matter how badly your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.


Wow- last night on the Emmy's- they awarded an Emmy for the first time to best choreography.  Those nominated also choreographed the show.  One of my former roommates daughter was nominated (Allison Holker with Derek Hough)  Derek actually won for another number but what an accomplishment for Allison!  I normally wouldn't watch the Emmy's since I am pretty clueless what goes on television.  Homeland?  Newsroom?  Breaking Bad?  Boardwalk Empire?  Scandal?  House of Cards?  Veep?  The Big Bang Theory?  Louie?  even 30 Rock?  Clueless.... 

Still Laughing- yesterday with our rowdies in Primary, the lesson was on showing Heavenly Father we love him by keeping his commandments.  I printed a bingo game where each square had something to do with showing your love to God.  Things like being kind to family members, serving other people, reading the scriptures, keeping the commandments, etc.    I would hold up a picture of whatever it was so they could find a matching picture on their bingo card.  Rowdy C. blurted out, "French fries!  French fries are evil and are bad for your body!"  Unrowdy Macy peered at the picture and said, "That's a cigarette, not a French fry!" (the picture was really about taking care of our bodies.) We all laughed and laughed.  Actually, French fries are my addiction so they are as bad for my body as something else to another. 

But since today is yesterdays tomorrow, that is my new mantra.  "French fries are evil!!!!"

Catching Up

When we were coming home from California Thursday night, at our baggage pickup we saw these girls- a sister's reunion- and we had to have a picture!  It is the first time they've been together in years and the one in the stripes is getting married (look at all the hunk pictures hanging from her parasol)....I'm telling you, these girls know how to have fun.  (Reminds me of the Charm Girls!)

 

Got home Thursday night and had Peyton (Chubba but I'm trying to break the habit of calling him that) for most of the day and night on Friday.  Annee came in the evening so the parents could have an evening out.  This little boy brings us so much joy.  I have a basketball hoop hanging off the closet door just for him...and he can shoot for hours.  I chant, "Peyton, Peyton, Peyton!" while he shoots and when I quit, he runs around the house chanting, "Peyton, Peyton, Peyton!"  And he loves riding the Polaris down to the barn with David to feed the "na-na's."  Annee was in great spirits.  Her meds sometimes dull her personality but she was happy and laughing.  I love that.

 Saturday David was at a roping all day and I got to spend the day with friend Penny.  It was her birthday on Friday so I took her to some of my favorite places.  First stop was to Straws- a funny little drive-in with all sorts of "loaded" drinks (they don't call them Dirty Cokes there- Diet Coke and coconut syrup and lime- they called them "loaded.")  Penny had a Dirty Loaded coke and I had a pomegranate Dr. Pepper. 

 

 The girl helping us so was cute when she found out it was a birthday celebration and brought us cookies.  The blue and the red are a part of the big college football rivalry game Sat. night (BYU blue and U of U-red.) 

(Saturday night David and I went to Brandi and Doug's to watch the big game.  Travis and a couple of the kids came as well.  Doug was the only one in the room cheering red...and he ended up rewarded for his efforts (and abuse.)  You can tell Gracie and Rylee were loving the game....)

 

 I took Penny downtown to Bruges, my favorite Salt Lake eatery for European waffles and pommes frites.  She was totally impressed.  Then we spent some time at the Farmer's Market and got chair massages and bought fresh peaches.  It was a great birthday celebration!

 

   I asked Penny if she minded if we stopped by a Target on the way home...just in case.  I knew they wouldn't have the bedspread I was coveting.....

but then again, miracles happen!!!!  Happy dance!  Happy dance!

 
  I just have to have shams made and repaint a few of the headboard slates.  Now I'll get to think of the beach every. single. day.

(those are sunshine spots on the wall...) (maybe I'll do a white wash over all the colored slats so it is really beachie...)  (I love ...  in case you couldn't tell.)

My beach friends were so happy for me...especially since I had come "this close" to stealing.  Not really, just borrowing.  Not really but then again.....


“Stealing, of course, is a crime, and a very impolite thing to do. But like most impolite things, it is excusable under certain circumstances. Stealing is not excusable if, for instance, you are in a museum and you decide that a certain painting would look better in your house, and you simply grab the painting and take it there. But if you were very, very hungry, and you had no way of obtaining money, it would be excusable to grab the painting, take it to your house, and eat it.”
― Lemony Snicket, The Wide Window

Beach Reality

 You know how some things you look forward to just don't turn out like you think they are going to?
Like Pinterest gone wrong.

Pinterest inspiration-

My reality-

(and of course, now that I am home, I can see how I was trying to do this upside down...  the story of my life.)

But this girlfriend trip to the beach (although I said it was Newport, it was actually Oceanside...sometimes it helps to have a clue where you are going...)- was so perfect it could have been on Pinterest.

We had a GREAT GREAT time.  A full week of wonderful and refreshing and laughing and sharing and pondering.

and of course, sand in our toes.  Heaven.


Here's what we did:

stayed at condos in Oceanside right on the beach.

Long beach walks

drive to Balboa Park- eat at Prado (one of funny Kathy's favorites and now ours as well)

time spent at the San Diego temple (always on our list of "to-do's")  (our GPS Bridgette sent us on a terrible, round-about-get-lost-several times journey to the temple.  I said I thought I heard her snickering "Heh,heh, heh, I'm Catholic....")

fabulous pedis- sigh

watched movies- Matilda, Now You See Me, The Constant Gardener (edited) and several episodes of some funky Canadian series called Gas Store or something. (and will never think of Pilate's the same...) (actually the series is called Corner Gas.  I'm going to order it on Amazon.)  We laughed and laughed. (Well, not at Now You See Me or The Constant Gardener)

played Hand and Foot

to-die-for salmon dinner (thank you Chef Valene)

Street Fair with fun foods from all countries and the best strawberries and candied nuts ever

trips to See's (Cathy's addiction)

trips to Costco (Valene's addiction)

Did I say Beach Time?  Well, beach, beach, beach.  Time.

Rubio's on the Pier.  Slowest, most incompetent waiter in the world.  Which just makes a funny story.

Fish tacos on the beach

bicycles  (funny Kathy missed out)

mussels and starfish and anemones, oh my!

whale and dolphin watching on a charter

ocean waves crashing (to everyone else that is calming but to me it is like listening to classical music or hearing the wind in our trees during a storm.  It is so powerful and full of energy, it doesn't lull me.  I like it (love it) but it also exhausts me.)

Church at a delightful ward in Mission Viejo.



Actually touring the working "Mission Viejo"- and seeing a beautiful rustic chapel (Catholic) (to make GPS Bridgette happy)- pepper trees and experiencing a Mexican celebration going on with music and food

 

 









 
 
 
 






 
fun shops-

 
 
 









Our favorite posing pelican-

chili rellanos at Olemendes-yum

 

Did I mention good food?

 

 

 

Beach Messages to our hubbies...and those that didn't quite cut it....

 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 


The hours spent coveting this quilt.  I want it.  I want it.  I almost stole it right off the bed.  It has "me" written all over it. (I actually think it from Target but I don't know how long ago it was purchased.)

     The key to a perfect trip is to go with people you love. 

(Oceanside friendie trip-2013- Cathy O., Brendalyn B., Valene C. and funny Kathy W. and Marilyn Me-  one of the funniest moments of the trip was when funny K.-  confessed that the friends she was meeting at the beach after us were a little intimidating because they were classier than us.....)  (we love her anyway...)

 

 

“I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.”

-- T. S. Eliot