Happy 35th

birthday, to Tiffany! 

 Here she is at 6 weeks old!

She was beautiful then, and she's beautiful now

(in every possible way).

We love you, Tiff, and feel so blessed to be have you as our daughter.



There hasn't been

much time to blog this last week.  More and more I realize how fast and fragile life really is.  The funeral Friday was beautiful, with very fitting tributes given by Stephanie, Jenni, and Jared.    I was so proud of them, as I'm sure she was.  Friday afternoon, we took flowers to the cemetery for Memorial Day and then went to my niece (Leslie's) son's baptism.   

Gary had bought, at a baseball auction, an overnight stay at a courtyard Marriott, so we went to Salt Lake on Saturday.   It was a very nice get-a-way.  We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and shopped a little at the City Creek Center.  Then we went to "Men in Black 3."  (I figured that since Gary was patient with me shopping, that I would humor him and go to that movie).  It was actually pretty entertaining.

On Sunday morning we went to the Tabernacle Choir broadcast, had a late breakfast, and then came home.  Yesterday and today, in between a barbecue at the Roylances, a retirement open house for my friend, and a dinner date, I've put in a total of about 20 hours of work.  We are getting very close to getting the new website up, and there is a real time-crunch on getting all the products entered.  So the rest of this week will be much of the same.   

I've taken a few pictures of all the activities this last week, but I'll post those later.   It's time for bed.

Last night

we had Jean's family over for dinner, and as I told Tom on the phone, he should be very proud of his kids and grand kids.  They are wonderful people.    Here are a couple of cute pictures.  Two of Bree leading us all in "Itsy Bitsy Spider," and the other of Jared's boys with their take home treats.

It is so hard at times like this to do normal things, because life seems like it won't ever be normal again.  But, what I learned from Mom and Dad's passing, was how important it was to just keep going.  To do things you have always done.  In this case, we have always gathered together when family was in, reminisced, and enjoyed each other's company.  It was a blessing to us and Gary and Lynn to have the family over, because (besides pray for them) it is the most normal thing we can do. 

And, as I hugged the kids, I was giving them a hug for Jean, too.  I know she would do the same for me.

I am

feeling, very deeply, the loss of a very loyal and caring friend.   My friend, Jean, passed away Sunday morning.  It was very sudden, unexpected, and unexplained.   My heart is hurting for her family and for all of us who love her.  She was only 62,  She adored her children and grandchildren.  They were literally the light of her life.

Jean and I have been "partners in crime," so to speak, on countless projects, parties, and crafting classes through the years. In fact, I was last with her just two weeks ago when we went to a card making class.  I try to think back to all we talked about that night, and what I remember is very sweet.  It makes me realize how important it is to cherish each moment.   I have been so very blessed to have her as a part of my life for 40 years, and I will really miss her.

Jean was married to my brother, Tom.  Though they later divorced, we have all remained close.  We have shared the common bonds of love for my parents, of watching our children grow, and for the special relationships of the Anderson cousins.

Some people have expressed surprise when I have explained our relationship and the friendship and family ties that we have continued.  Truly, a great credit is due to Tom and his wife, Lynn (who is another very cherished friend), and to Jean and her husband, Ross.  They have been very gracious in wanting their children to feel the love that extended family ties bring.  They have done that in situations when, no doubt, it was not always comfortable.  I remember the love that was felt three years ago when we planned a family baby shower for their daughter, Stephanie.  Jean wanted to have it when Tom and Lynn were in town, so they could share in that time with Stephanie and Bryce.  Lynn and I had fun together as we decorated and made desserts, and then Jean brought in all the rest of the meal.        

My heart is with Ross, Jenni and Ryan, Jared and Sara, Stephanie and Bryce, and her adored grandchilren.  She loved you dearly.  Losing those we love, especially a parent, is so hard.  

I have no doubt that the spirit continues to live after the mortal body dies.  Frankly, I don't know how people make sense of life if they think that death ends it all.  But that knowledge doesn't stop us from feeling a great loss when our loved ones are no longer with us.   I guess that is what it is all about.   The more we feel the love, the greater we feel the loss. 

All it needs is

bunnies!

Tiff sent these pictures today with this message:

"This is what I've been working on the last week! We transformed our boring weed infested corner (I should have taken a before picture) to a little sitting/firepit area. The kids have had so much fun hanging out back there!  The nice thing is that by about 3 p.m. it is nice and shaded from the surrounding trees. Now we just need to get a few resin bunnies to make it like grandma's garden."

I am very impressed by her garden spot!  I have a feeling her rocks were not as hard earned as Misty's were last year's (see Ill Fated Creek Experience if you've forgotten that fun experience).  

 I was going to send Tiffany money for her birthday, but now I feel inspired to send her some bunnies.   But I will do one better than resin ones, I'll send the real thing!  Then it will be perfect.

I laughed to

myself when Tiffany commented about not disowning her for making her cupcakes from a mix. 

First of all, until I began my cupcake obsession, I never used anything but a mix when I made cakes.  I don't know why, but somehow in my old age, I am wanting to prove to myself that I can make things from "scratch."   I felt that way last year when I was doing my crock-pot challenge.  I really tried to avoid using cans of soup for the sauces.

I was thinking about that the other day when I was making scalloped potatoes for our neighbor, Jerry Fisher's, funeral.  Funeral potatoes made with frozen hashbrowns, cream of mushroom soup, and cheese, are a standard for funerals (around here, anyway).  I actually love them.  And they are so easy.   But I didn't want to make them.  I wanted to make authentic scalloped potatoes.

Once, many years ago, Garth Fisher (Jerry's husband) spoke to a group of us on Healthy eating and ways to cut calories in cooking.   Honestly, until then, I didn't even know there was a way to make a sauce without "cream of something" soup.  But someone asked him how to make a sauce more healthy than using canned soups, and he said to just make a little white sauce and season it how you like.  Very simple, but I had never really heard of that or done it.  I just thought you added creamed soup to anything you wanted to make a sauce with.  Anyway, I thought making scalloped potatoes with a white sauce was appropriate for Garth's wifes funeral

So, I have no guilt about using mixes, or cans, or prepackaged foods.  I've done it most my life.  I'm not a food snob at all.  In fact, anything that makes meal preparation easier is fine by me.   I think it is just kind of fun to challenge myself by making things from scratch. 

Unmotivated

I've felt very unmotivated to blog or write lately. The last few weeks I've been feeling very tired and kind of sick. I've had moments of inspiration and motivation (like when Gary took me out to get the flowers for the yard and turned the soil so I could plant them). That motivated me to get them planted.

But, I don't like to write when I don't have a happy attitude. I don't like to dwell on negative feelings or things that bring me or others sadness.   But, I've also been reflecting on that tendency.

 I went to hear my sister-in-law, Lynn, give a presentation at Women's conference.  She spoke on the importance of reaching out to each other as women and about what a difference we can make by the small things we do.  She did a wonderful job, and it was hard to contain the tears as she spoke of people who had reached out to her and her family. 

One point she made has really stayed with me.  She said to ask ourselves if we are able "to be real." She said that if we are able to "be real," and share with others our struggles, then they will know they are not alone when they deal with the same things.

I can easily share my faults and laugh at myself and the silly or dumb things I do.  But I am also very proud, and it is very hard for me to express things that really hurt or give me sadness.  I have friends that can be open about very painful things, and I marvel at and appreciate that ability. But really allowing yourself to feel pain, let alone share it, is very hard.  It makes me cry, and I don't like to cry.

But lately, when I haven't been feeling that well, everything makes me cry.  I think I just feel vulnerable or something.  Thinking make me cry. Seeing loss makes me cry.  Witnessing kindness makes me cry.  Feeling kindness makes me cry.  (Gary has been looking at me sideways with concern as I have been crying as I write this)   Which just makes me cry more because I can't explain why I'm crying.  So, please, while I am in this crying state,  do not be kind to me. It would just make me cry, and I hate to cry. 

Ok, enough of this.  I'm really uncomfortable being real. 

I love

this cookbook and website.  http://www.ourbestbites.com/

Misty and Tiffany love it, too. They've made more of the recipes than I have, but I'm always looking through it to try new things. 

Today I wanted to make some breads to our neighbor, and I tried this one.  It is a keeper.  I 3x the recipe and it made 10 dozen of these muffin sized loaves. They cooking time was about 18 minutes (for 1 ice-cream scoop of batter).

Almond Poppyseed Bread

3 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/8 c. canola oil
3 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk
2 tsp. poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. butter flavoring
1 1/2 tsp. almond flavoring

 GLAZE
3/4 c. white granulated sugar
1/4 c. orange juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. butter flavoring
1/2 tsp. almond flavoring


Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, oil, sugar, and flavorings and beat for 2 minutes. Alternate adding in flour mixture and milk and then mix until just combined. Add poppyseeds and mix until just combined. Pour into prepared pans (5 mini pans or 2 regular loaf pans) and bake (35-40 minutes for mini pans, 1 hour for large pans; keep an eye on them). When done, place on a cooling rack for 10 minutes.  and then remove from pans and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack. While cooling, prepare glaze by combining all glaze ingredients. Drizzle over loaves and allow to harden.

This project was seriously

so easy. 

I saw it (where else?) on "Studio 5."

This apron made from a 99 cent vinyl shopping bag,

and took about 15 minutes to make.

It makes a fun little favor or gift.

(modeled by my friend)

You can put the apron (and a treat)

in the matching shopping bag

for a fun little gift. 

Which is what I did.

So Fun and Easy!

Here are the link to instructions from the Studio 5

Shopping Bag Apron

Yesterday's

activities.

Dig a hole.

Dig a bigger hole. 

 Dig such a big hole that you can't get out of it.

 Go to Costco and have a picnic under a tree.

 Walk blindly behind the tree.

 Load the tree in the car.

Come home and plant the tree.

Keep repositioning the tree,

with the criteria being that it is

what you see when you walk  in the front door

instead of the chicken coop.

Well, it may take a few years.

Natalie's 28th Birthday

.

on April 25th

Isn't she beautiful?

We really enjoyed our dinner at Carrabas with Nat, Trent, Gary and Lynn, and us.  It seems appropriate to be celebrating with Gary and Lynn, as it was Gary who flew her in at 1 day old 28 years ago.  That was a truly blessed day in our lives, and she has blessed our lives every since.