Bucket Full of Sunshine

 I have missed so many things during Covid and one big one is getting to associate with my darling friends.  Our Bucket group has kept in touch by text- a few of us got together one month- but really, I miss this monthly support in my life.  

Friend Gail decided to host November...as a Zoom bucket!  How fun is that?  What Gail has that we don't have is a group of "body guards" that not only run security for her, but errands!  Wouldn't you all love to have a group of body guards at your beck and call?  During this dreary November, she sent us all a box of Sunshine.  Her body guards ran them all over the valley (Zella even got one in St. George)-

and inside was a delicious lunch.  While we all ate together, we each shared what has been going on in our lives.  

There was also a nifty Covid kit for us complete with hand sanitizer, gloves, wipes, lotion, a flashlight and toilet paper among other stuff.  

We also got a Jeffrey Holland book and journal.....so perfect.

And then a box of all things YELLOW!  To warm us up.  To make us smile.  To help us remember we are not alone.    We all have the ability to bring some sunshine into another's life...regardless of what is going on in ours.

Christmas Tea Party Bucket Style

Today was a perfect kickoff to December.   Gail M. hosted Bucket at her beautiful penthouse overlooking Temple Square.  It is always such a treat to be there.  This is the view out her North window.  Can you imagine looking at that every day when you woke up?

Also, one of Gail's beautiful trees!

Gail planned a perfect Tea Party for us all.  She had an Herbal Tea bar with all the fixings.  She also had a vintage tea cup for each of us- that was later wrapped and sent home with us. 

 I'm a hot cocoa girl and the chocolate bar was delish (I had salted caramel hot chocolate)- and look at these darling marshmallows! 

 


The Tea Party luncheon was divine- all sorts of colored sandwiches and fillings- a fruit salad and a divine green salad.  We filled our plates up thinking we couldn't possibly eat everything on them- and voila!  We did.  A marvelous trifle was for dessert.  Gail's trick is she whips the cream, then gently folds in a part at a time, lemon curd.  That then is layered with the angel food cake (she baked!) and the fresh fruit.  Perfect ending to the meal.

 

 

 

We always share little gifts at the end of Christmas Bucket.  Besides our Tea Cup, Gail also had a special treat, just off the presses.  Jason Wright, the New York Times Best Selling author,  co-wrote  Gail's book, "Courage To Be You". (He wrote "The Christmas Jars" which is also a movie.)   Now Jason has come out with a Christmas book, The Christmas Doll, which is actually a story Gail shared with him about when she was a little girl.  The book is wonderful and would be a wonderful addition to anyone's Christmas library!  And I love that it is about Gail- whom I adore!

This year I found Spiced Apple Cinnamon Vanilla Syrup at a fun boutique that Brandi and I and Pretty Patty Petty went to last week.  I had cousin Zella's daughter, Heather, make up the cute tags for me for my gift.

 

Chef Valene makes her famous Chocolate Turtles (that I have to hide from David.)  BFF Cathy made homemade hot fudge.  Funny Kathy gives us  a jar of honey from THEIR OWN BEEHIVES!  All the gifts were unique and given with love.

 

 

Love these friends of mine, that always edify, never degrade, always uplift.  Honored to be friends with them all!

 

 

 

 

When I go to something so wonderful, it makes me want to turn around and do something to make someone else feel so loved as I felt today.  Good thing I get to co-host with friend Elaine in a few weeks for Girl's Night Out!  Hope to play it forward!

More Summer Catch Up

Our new favorite dessert recipe- Hawaiian Coconut Bars (think crushed pineapple and cheesecake and toasted coconut....)  Recipe on the cooking blog!

Brooke and Tanner and kiddos spent a week in St. George family reunion-ing…..and I got to babysit Browser!  Oh man, talk about turtle love!  Really, I am completely gaga over turtles anyway and to think I have a Grand Turtle!  We had so much fun talking and me shredding veggies for him and taking him for walks outside (where he can bee-line to a flower bed like no other) and I'm so happy I didn't lose him or kill him dead.  He is mesmerizing!  I almost need one for myself....

 

 

 

Pretty Patty Petty has been with me (us) on and off since they are homeless until their home is completed in Ivans.  I worked hard to get her room ready (Tom's room as well) (and Max, the dog)- and thought it was a good excuse to update one of my guest baths downstairs.  I love the fun, fun colors!

 

Patty and I love being together- we binge watched Endeavor and a few other BBC dramas.  (She does a great imitation of the music for Midsomers Murders- which is rather frightening...)  We also make David play marbles with us (really Aggravation) and he usually creams us.  We also binge puzzle making:  I love White Mountain puzzles because they are so nostalgic.  Patty is preserving them and hanging all her puzzles in her new garage!

 

 

 

 

 

Bucket this past month was at Diana's.  She loves all things Chinese (served a mission there)- and is recently working on publishing an article about Pre-Buddhism in China- which is very Christian.  It was fascinating to hear her share how ancient and much of the current symbols of Chinese represent the creation story, the Garden and expulsion, the tower of Babel, the flood, etc.  Diana is such a Brainiac and we love that she can simplify for us- Ancient Chinese Symbols for Dummies.  I love our varied experiences at Bucket where we learn things outside of our comfort zone and love the friendship of these dear women (and the food they cook!)

 

 

“In the end, only three things matter: How much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.”.  Buddhist quote

July Bucket

We've been looking forward to July Bucket hosting by my cousin Zella and her husband Charles at their cabin by Kamas. Charles and Zella now live there in the summer and St. George in the winter because of Zella's ongoing health.  We were so bummed when we got to the cabin, that Zella wasn't there!  She had gotten really sick and Charles had to take her back to St. George.  She has fibromyalgia and is really affected by cold and damp weather.  But Charles has Type A superpowers (he served as a mission president in Germany, then as the Young Men's General President of the church, then as National Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America.) and their daughter Jill and husband Derek Wright (Jill lived with us the summer before they got married because Charles and Zella were in Germany) jumped in and we had an over-the-top BBQ- ribs two different ways, salmon, shrimp, potato salad, fruit, rolls and "big as your head fritters" that are the rage in a Kamas Chevron station (written up in food magazines!)

  

 

 

After the wonderful dinner, they had water bottles and treats for us as we headed to the Oakley rodeo- which is kind of a big deal in Utah.  Of course we loved that!  And to be with friends (and Gail and Kim and their body guards- lol)- just having fun.  We are blessed!

Too Much Wonderfulness

 On Tuesday I had two wonderful events- both Bucket and Girl's Night Out!  They usually aren't on the same day- but because of a mix-up, they were

 Bucket was at Erica's home.  I love going there because it is so peaceful.  Erica is peaceful.  I admire her so much!

Our numbers were small- everyone traveling or on assignments- but the 7 of us enjoyed our intimate time together.  Gail was there and so we got to hear the latest on fan trouble at the Jazz games and also Salt Lake's homeless situation.  Libby was there- and we grieve along with her- her journey with dementia.  She said that just being with us at Bucket gave her normalacy.  Diana got home from her 1 1/2 year mission with her hubby in Long Beach and it was awesome to catch up.  It was wonderful to be with dear friends Karlin and Cathy as well.

Erica served us the most beautiful (and delicious) pot pie for lunch.  Look for the recipe on the cooking blog.  Her theme was our wonderful world- and she had hand pressed lots of flowers and plants for us to make a small picture to bring the world inside to our homes.  Here's mine below (with my cloche I made with my grands.)

Brendalyn had Taco Tuesday for Girl's Night Out.  I helped out by making Chili's Queso Dip and also Cilantro Lime Rice.


Brendalyn had every kind of simmered meats and street tacos and hard tacos and on and on and on.  I especially loved the Key Lime Pie she made for dessert and friend Linda's recipe for Corn Pudding with a butter sauce on top.  Both of them are MUST makes!!!!

Loved all our conversation with my GNO friends. We love each other's families and know our past and present.  Nothing like dear friends.  Filling food and more importantly, filling conversation.

Love to Serve

 This is how it started.  The date....

Then Funny Kathy, of all people, pointed out that I had put the wrong date on the invite!  Duh!  It was one of those moments when I was making the invitations that Logic said, "Look up the date before you print them" and my brain said, "Oh man, I know what date it is."  You know how that goes....


Yesterday was Bucket.  It has been so fun to have something to plan for- over plan for- all month long.  I love Valentine's Day/Month and have hosted many a time during February so I needed a different twist.

I found these darling aprons at Seagull Book.  I love their aprons. I bought one for each guest and wore mine to the party.  My theme was "Love To Serve."

Myrna was here to help me (gimpy me still)- and we folded the aprons and I had made Valentine's wrappers (something else for me to do with my time- lol) and covered Hershey bars with them and tucked them into the bundle and tied them with tulle.   I also found this darling soap dispenser. 

 

 

I thought my table turned out pretty.  Springy although it was a snowy day.  I heard a quote that said, "Happiness is the first sign of spring"- and I was happy to pamper my guests so I guess spring is in the air in addition to the Love Bug.

 

 (note: I was just re-reading this and noticed the spoon on the left.  I did a demo for Myrna- who is Filipino.  Fork on the left then knife and spoon on the right.  I think what threw her off was I said, "Goblets on the top right."  Goblets?  Glasslets?  We had a good laugh over that.  I love her to pieces!)

I was so proud of myself for preparing most of the food the night before.  Thankfully I didn't have a "churro" experience like last week- when I prepared everything ahead of the game and then it bombed.

I made:

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomatoes with Cheese Stuffed Ravioli.  (made in less than 1/2 hour)  Friend Sophia's recipe with variations

I baked Chicken Tenders in dry Italian dressing and julienned them to add to the Ravioli plus toasted pinenuts.

Old Fashioned Seven Layer salad  (I have been craving it all month.  I haven't had it for at least 15 years!)

Grilled Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese

Artisan Rolls.    Just sayin'- I MADE them!  Easy Peesy.  The best Bocci rolls ever.  Truly!

For dessert, I went to Sweet Tooth Fairy (winner one season of Cupcake Wars) and bought an assortment of cake balls- Red Velvet, Coconut, White Raspberry Chocolate and Funfetti.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Recipes on the cooking blog.  Well, except for the cake bites....

Several people couldn't come because their busy lives just get in way of the fun.  Gail M. had flown someone in to either speak with her family or corporation - and that was the only day he could come. (what a life-lol),  Annette and her husband are VIP Church escorts when someone flies in to SLC, they get to escort them all around.  Cousin Zella spends the winters in St. George, Diana is still on her mission in Long Beach for another month and BFF Cathy had to be a grammie and help her DIL who just had her tonsils out.  But the rest of us had a great time!

I made a conversation game that we rolled dice and answered questions about service- and it was so fun to hear everyone's responses. 

Valene and Erica had almost the same responses to a sweet service their husband does for them.  Valene's husband makes the bed every day.  Erica's makes theirs every Sunday.  But both men do funny things with the pillows.  George (Valene's husband) gets pillows from other rooms and "mixes it up" (to be funny- you know men and pillows-lol)  Sometimes he'll dramatically drape a blanket in funny places.  Erica's husband likes to make pillow sculptures.  At Christmas, he put all the pillows in the middle of the bedspread and then brought up the corners of the quilt and tied it with a big bow!

I'm so blessed to have such a variety of really, really good women to associate with.  My Bucket Group. My GNO Group.  My Visiting Teaching Group.  My Besties. The Charm Girls.  My daughter and DIL's.  My best friends from different times in my life- that we move away from each other and still have a wonderful, deep connection,  I didn't have sisters growing up- and so friends were very important to me.  I'm a lucky ducky.  And yesterday I was blessed to be able to serve a few of them.  (Friends, not Duckies.)