All Under one Roof

There's Nothing Like

Having all Your Posterity
Under One Roof

It gives me a glimpse of what
Heaven will be like.

Off to ball game

It has taken me a half hour just to get the internet connecting here on the farm. We're headed to a ball game and then to pick up the rest of the crew. Here's one picture that represents the day. A major shopping excursion to Costco filled with a few minor problems. Let's just say that I keep throwing money away. Literally.

A Royal Welcome

We arrived safely to the kingdom of "Ashtonia"

(as named by our granddaughter, Lydia).
We were welcomed Royally with
Name Plates on the Doors

But the biggest surprise
was this Name Plate!

Wow!
The Kingdom is Growing!

Gett'n Comfy

Hey Kids,

after 2 days camping out with the Scouts,

Grandpa's practicing
gett'n comfy with you.

Can't Wait!

Rear Ender

We got a call from Natalie tonight while on our Friday night Costco run. She told us that on her way home from work that she was rear ended on the freeway. It was stop and go traffic, and she had stopped, but the person behind her didn't. We were relieved to hear she wasn't hurt, though she did bump her head on the steering wheel. I have a feeling she'll be sore tomorrow. Her car has just a slight dent right in the middle, mostly on the license plate. She said the other car was much worse.

When she called 911 to report it, they transferred her to highway patrol, who told her that if the cars are still operational and there are no injuries, that they do not come out. That's the first time I've heard that. I guess it makes sense, particularly in rush hour traffic. They told her to exchange all the insurance and contact information, which she did.

After any accident like that, there is first the sinking feeling in your stomach, and then relief that everyone is OK. Sometime I'll write the story about when Natalie ran into a house (yes a house) after she had only had her license for a week. It deserves a chapter all of its own.

I had my first accident when I was in high school. A woman ran a red light on Canyon Road down by the stadium. She hit me on the driver's side and pushed my car into the one in the next lane. The car was totaled, but my friend and I were just shaken up. I remember crying when I called Dad to tell him, but his only response was to ask if I was alright and to reassure me that that was the only thing that mattered. I've always remembered that reassuring response and try to remember to give the same type of response when I'm informed of a problem or accident.

So Natalie, we're just glad you are alright. And we're also glad you didn't run into another house.

Orange Lilies

During the summer of 1995, right after Misty and Dan got married, I was still very much a novice at gardening. Dan's sister, Cindy, had graduated in horticulture and loved and knew much about gardening. She offered to help me, so I gave her a budget and sent her out to buy some plants. She then went the extra mile and planted them, which was a great boost to me. Some of the flowers haven't survived my care, but many have, and this is one example.

I love the bright orange color (it always reminds me of Dad who loved orange). It gets bigger and and better every year and will be even prettier next week.

Speaking of the garden, I need to get out and do some weeding in the morning if it isn't raining.

I'm wondering . . .

What's happening in Goblin Valley right now.

URGENT PAJAMA PATTERN CORRECTION!

If anyone,
in their haste to have a pair of cowboy pajamas,
has already started sewing them

STOP NOW!

After consulting with Eileen,

(who is much less experienced

at messing up when sewing than I am),

I probably left out one important step.

You can go through step 3 of yesterday's instructions. However, Step 4 has changed. Instead of proceeding to follow the directions on the pattern, you should turn the sewn pieces upside down.Then, instead of sewing the crotch where it should be, you sew the the leg pieces for the crotch. At this point, you can now proceed with the rest of the pattern instructions.

I promise I wasn't deliberately trying to lead anyone astray

(like leaving an ingredient out of a recipe or anything).

It's just that sometimes "genius" is just hard to recreate,

even when you've done it twice.

Cowboy Pajamas

If anyone is interested in making the cowboy pajamas

modeled by Gary a week ago (shown below)

here are the instructions:

1. Cut out 2 front pieces and 2 back pieces as instructed.


2. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT follow the pattern instructions (pictured below).

3. Instead, stitch the two back pieces together on the inside leg edges.


3. Then stitch the two front pieces together on the inside leg edges.


4. After that, you can follow the directions on the pattern.

These are fail safe instructions
for making the cowboy pajamas.
I should know, I've done it twice (so far).

Husband,/Father/Grandpa is Loved

Cupcake "Finds"

Yes, the cupcakes in the first picture are piggy banks.
One for Savings, one for Tithing, and one for Spending.
(see, Gary, I know how to save)

Edgemont

The area in Provo where we live is known as Edgemont. When I lived in the "tree streets" on Cedar Avenue growing up, Edgemont seemed such a long way out that it was like a different town.

Ironically, when I was in high school, I had a friend who lived in the house just west of this home that we've lived in for 24 years. I have a recollection of being at her home and remember that it was the last one on this side of the block. Our house wasn't built until 1972 and my friend moved out of that house before that time. I've always found it interesting that the image of the vacant lot stayed in my mind, particularly because my memory of past events and details is just not that great. I like to think I must have had some sort of feeling in my heart about the land without knowing why.

All of this reminiscing tonight came about because of a conversation I just had with two friends in the ward. Our Cub Scout troop is hosting a garage sale tomorrow and I told Gary it would be a good time for him to clean out his closet. He did a great job of it, too -- two very heavy garbage bags full, in fact. Don't you just feel lighter already, dear?

So while delivering the goods to her house, another neighbor, Lynn (a wonderful blogger friend) came by and we chatted for a while. Donna, the scout leader, said that she loved this Edgemont area and that it is much slower paced than the "tree streets" where they had lived before. We all agreed that we do love the area and our neighbors.

In the process of our conversations, Lynn commented that she probably wouldn't blog tonight as she was too tired. I said that I had to, but it would probably be a one-liner (HA). She suggested that if I even have a picture on my camera that I could just post that. She knows bloggers that have "Wordless Wednesdays," every week and they just post a picture with no words. I like that idea.

So what is all this leading up to? Well, the picture that I have on my camera that I took earlier this month with the idea of telling about it is this:

If you can't read the bottom line on the back, it says
c. 1924 The G&G Co.

Mom and Dad's home teaching couple,
who lived by them in the "tree streets,"
were in an antique store in San Francisco
years ago and bought this cracker tin for me
because they knew I lived in Edgemont.
Wasn't that so thoughtful of them?

I love the tin because it represents where we live,
it's green (my favorite color),
and it reminds me of friendship and thoughtfulness.

Now, obviously, this is not a Wordless Wednesday,
but rather rather a Full Factual Friday.
I'll do better next time at the wordless stuff.

Good Food, Good Company

at Bohemian Grill in Salt Lake tonight,
and at Union Pacific Station in Ogden

on Wednesday night.

I had Gary snap this picture of me in front
of a train display at Union Station.

There was a reason for wanting the picture. Dad was a yardmaster at Geneva Steel in Orem for more than 30 years and worked around trains every day. I can see in my mind a black and white picture of Dad standing by a train similar to this one. I did a little looking for that picture tonight so I could post it, too. But, you guessed it, I couldn't find it.

I keep thinking I'll run out of things to write about daily on this blog. But, if I just follow up on all the pictures I can't seem to find, I'll be posting for many more years to come!

I will get those pictures
scanned, digitized, and organized.
Then I vow that I will remember where they are
scanned, digitized, and organized!

Chill'n

After eating a delicious,
but very calorie ridden,
meal at "Famous Dave's" last night,
we sat on the small balcony and "chilled" for a while.

What can't you live without?

I won't be able to attend our Enrichment activity tonight because I'm going to a conference with Gary. It sounds like it will be very fun. The theme is very intriguing.

"What can't you live without?"

Each person is supposed bring it (or something representing it) in a paper bag . Then they'll have 30 seconds to explain it. Excluded are your family and your scriptures.

I was thinking of maybe chocolate, or cake, or bread, or reading. But then I realized that the thing I would miss the very most, and that would have a big impact on my life if I didn't have them, are my hearing aids.

I would live in a very very quiet world without them. My hearing loss is very profound and without them I hear very very little. All the family knows to touch me and then mouth the words very loudly to me when I don't have them in. Even with them in I don't catch a lot of what people are saying, particularly if I'm not looking at them and reading their lips. Whispers just don't work for me. I can't really understand what is being said on TV, even with the volume really loud. Closed captioning has made a world of difference in that way.

I think what I would miss the most without my hearing aids is hearing the little voices of my grandchildren and just being able to connect with people. I'm very, very grateful that I live in a time when there is the technology that makes hearing possible for me.

So, have you been thinking?

What can't you live without?

Our Princess Annie Pie

Annie was less than two months old when they moved here to Provo for 2 years while Justin got his MBA. So, for those two years, we got to see her as much as we wanted (and that was a lot).

She grew from being this little princess

Shown here with her older brother and sister

to this 3 years old princess
shown here with her cousin, Lydia

to this 4 year old living doll.
(I love the following sequence of 4 pictures.
They show her personality to a tee.)

From the time she could start reaching for things
her number one target was always my necklaces.
(Oh, how I love that!)

No, that is probably the number 2 target.
Her number one target has always been her blanket
(Or the smaller traveling version of it)

Here she is with her cousin, Harrison,
who is just a few months older.
They get to play together again very soon!

She started flipping pancakes with Grandpa
at a very early age.

And, if you're wonder why we call her
Annie Pie,
it is because she is so SWEET!
We love you, Annie!

I can hardly take the pictures

I'm laughing so hard.

and Natalie is literally rolling on the floor.

I don't know what I did wrong.
I think I must have put the back and the front
pieces together backwards or something like that.


Why, oh why?

This time I bought every size of every pattern
so I wouldn't be guessing on sizing.
(the patterns were on a great sell for 99 cents each)
And yet I'm still having issues.
Sometimes I really wonder about myself.

(By the way, Tiff, these are women's medium
and are supposed to be yours.)