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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Oh, remember, remember


I am doing the same job that I did 10 years ago. Every day I am reminded of things I did before that I had forgotten. I do learn a few new things, as we are doing some things differently this time around, but mostly it is a matter of remembering.
It makes me think about how often the scriptures ask us to remember, remember - usually repeated twice. When one stops going to church, or stops living the gospel as they know it, for whatever reason - they quickly begin to forget those things they knew or believed. Very quickly after choosing to ignore God and His ways we no longer remember what those ways were and it becomes easier to ignore more, which makes us forget more. Eventually we can drown out even the basic conscience that belongs to all men. God will do for us those things that we cannot do for ourselves, but we must do those things that we can, such as be good, be kind, follow the commandments, obey God's law. He that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, it is sin. That's a misquote but I'm not looking in my scriptures right now. I feel like I am seeing so much more immorality in the world than I used to. Those of us trying to follow the teachings of Christ must become better in order to keep the balance in the world.
I propose an experiment. Look up in the scriptures how many things we are told to remember. Maybe we can learn something we need from these things?

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Having a happy holiday

My daughter was able, at nearly the last minute, come with hubby and baby to visit us for Christmas. So brother from California and his girlfriend came to be sure to see the baby and the two boys in SLC made it down as well. They may be coming to see baby but I got to see them too!! We were rather snowed in, it has snowed many inches many times in the past few days, but we made a fire, shoveled snow and visited a lot. Drank a lot of hot chocolate. We should probably have played more games but talking seems to take up all our time. Watched a few movies, played with my grandpuppy and a grandkitty too. Mostly it was a quiet Christmas as I am toning down the santa stuff and putting up more nativities instead. We sang hymns and read scriptures and ate a lot. One son and his girlfriend made a huge snowman which then proceeded to tilt over the next few days till it finally hit the ground. Hilarious! It was a good time and the only thing that would have made it better would have been if my oldest son and his family could have come. Maybe next time?

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Over veg-ing

I am so out of practice at working full time! I get the work done fine, maybe even a little too much (my tendency is to fill out my time card and then later study something I need to, do e-mail to my boss, sort things for the next day. I swore I wouldn't 'give' time away this time but I do that just the same), However, I am having trouble keeping up with my housework. I am tired when I get home. I don't want to start a new cleaning project or renovating project. I will get better as I get used to work (I keep promising myself!), but right now I just want to sit and knit - crochet, and watch Christmas specials. At least I don't have to worry about doing any chores outside. It is too cold, too snowy and I did most of what I needed to in the yard before it became too cold and snowy. I would have liked to move some strawberry plants, but they will wait til next year. No, it is the renovating that needs my time and attention and is just not getting it. I WILL DO BETTER, I WILL DO BETTER. Think affirmations really work?

Saturday, December 6, 2008

My word is my bond!


I have gone back to work full time. I'm very torn between wanting to stay home and do all the work that I need to do around here, (I still have move in stuff to do, cleaning stuff to do, and renovating stuff to do) and wanting to work and get out of debt. Renovating was my idea, but my timing was awful. Now I worry every time I hear a new message about preparedness. We had a member of the stake presidency speak to us again last Sunday. I owe money and I want not to!
So, I am back working for the US Census Bureau. I'm recruiting for individuals to work on the 16 operations we will have leading up to and taking the decennial census. Anyone who is interested in temporary work, (some part time, some full time) please call 1-866-861-2010. They will tell you where to apply in your area.

Another reason that I am feeling especially the need to get out of debt is that I have just heard a story of the latest loss of integrity in the world. The newest thing is to buy a new house while you are still in the old one. Prices have fallen so you might find a bargain. Then, after having obtained the new house, you stop making payments on the old one. It is foreclosed upon, your credit is ruined, but you have a house already so you don't care. This is fraud! It is stealing! It is conspiracy to commit fraud! It is totally illegal and completely immoral, yet people are getting away with it. There are too many of these crimes for them to be prosecuted.
Guess who will end up paying for this crime? All of us who want to buy houses in the future. All of us whose hard earned money is going to bail out companies who borrowed their entire working capital. All of us who want to use a bank that used poor business sense and lent to people without checking to see if they would pay back.
Lack of integrity in the world affects all of us. Stealing effects us all. (Obviously I don't know which of those words is correct.) However, I, for one, will pay everything that I have contracted to pay! My integrity is more important to me than any loss of value. (Hey, if I thought it was worth what I paid for it why should what is going on in the market effect my belief?)

Friday, November 28, 2008

Some basic respect, please, for other people and their things.

Spent the day at my husband's place of working doing lunch for them. I saw a lovely rusty orange microfiber sofa that I would love to have, or give to one of my children. It was contemporary, very pretty and warm feeling.
Just happened to notice while I was there that one of the customers had taken off her children's shoes and was letting them jump on the mattresses! These are mattresses that belong to the retail establishment in which she is shopping. Same customer had earlier been letting her children push strollers around into furniture and appliances.
I read an article years ago called "Those Poor People and Their Poor Ways". I'm sure I have bored people to death with discussing parts of that article, but really, how can a person treat anyones property that way? How would you like to be the person who bought a mattress that someone else's children had been playing on? How can you justify treating your own property so poorly that you break it down as soon as you have it?
My church used to have a maxim: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." In spite of some recent evidence to the contrary, I do agree with that maxim. We have too many products that cannot be repaired if they break down. We have too many poorly made things. And we treat our property with such casual disregard that things have to be replaced much too often.
I love the clearance store because I love a bargain and can't help but love the idea of buying a leather couch that is brand new for 1/2 off because someone didn't like a little scratch in it. It was going to get a scratch within minutes of being in the house anyway.
However, it wasn't going to get the scratch from the way I treat it. I take care of my things. (and I vow here and now to take better care of my things in the future.)

Monday, November 24, 2008

Family History work

We had a follow up fireside last night regarding the regional conference and temple week we had in September. Some amazing promises were made to us by our Stake President and we heard reports of some of the experiences members of our stake had in trying to follow the word of our priesthood leader. Too sacred to tell, but just let me say, when you are told to do something, and you follow through, fabulous things happen.
Get out of debt. Get food and other emergency storage. Get a financial storage (ie: save money!!!!) and most of all, attend the temple. Be spiritually prepared for the things that may come in the future. Do as the Lord says and trust in Him, and things will be ok.

Time in the woods.

Last week some friends invited us to spend the weekend with them at their cabin near Bear Lake in Idaho. We have a wonderful, relaxing time hiking, playing games, watching movies and of course, visiting with our friends. We have a lot of fun when we travel with friends.
Unfortunately, in this case we met up with a bad traffic accident wherein a propane truck dumped on the freeway. We were stuck in traffic for a good three hours.
Their cabin is very nice. I didn't take the best pictures, lighting was either too bright because of the sunshine or too dark without. Still, I thought I would show you a few. This is the living room.
This is a shot of the exterior.
This is the bedroom we stayed in.
This is a shot of the kitchen.
Here are the stairs up to the loft.
Look how cute the doors to the bathroom cabinets are.
This is the bed in the master bedroom. It is bigger than it looks. I couldn't fit the whole thing onto my screen.
This is a view of the lake from the main floor deck. Views were beautiful even in the late fall. We did wake to find a skiff of snow on this deck Sunday morning.
This is the wrap around seating on the lower deck.
This is a rather poor shot of the lower level bonus room. The cabin has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a large bonus room, a two car garage, kitchen with dining area and living room area, and three decks - the main deck wrapping around three sides. The Idea of a cabin at the lake is a wonderful one. I'd love to own such a thing. However, these cabins are more homes, with furnaces and electricity, water, sewer, and propane gas. Also they cost as much as a home in town. I couldn't justify that for a recreational property. Still, we had a great time. Their cabin is for sale if anyone is interested. E-mail me and I'll pass on your interest.

It was a great weekend with friends and I am thankful to them for inviting us along.
The futon in the loft.
A too early in the morning view of the lake.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Barack


I gotta say, I am rather excited about the idea of our first 'black' president. I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it on my own. I am not the type to vote for, or not vote for a person based on their 'race', or 'color'. However, after watching how very excited the black population is about this whole thing, I think we do need to have a person of color as president, finally.
I guess I don't understand the whole feeling picked on because of race thing. I once saw an interview with Brian Gumball (?is that the name?) and the interviewer asked how he would feel if a waitress slammed his plate down in front of him. He said he would think she didn't like blacks. I thought then, and I think now, that it would be much more likely that she was having a bad day, or that she was just rude. There is, after all, plain meanness. I live among a people who love all races and my church teaches that we are all children of God, so, most of us don't notice color except for interest sake.
On the other hand, I am the type of person who votes for someone because I agree with their ideals. I am a fiscal conservative who has voted independently all of my life. I was very unhappy about all of our choices because the history of democrats is to spend our money for programs and lately the republicans have put us miles deeper into debt.
Government is not your daddy. When you receive money from any government program it is being paid for by the guy next door. No problem if there is true need. As in; truly unable to work. But way too many of those monies go to the simply lazy. Everyone in this country has the opportunity to receive a high school education for 'free'. The rest of us should not spend our lives trying to pay for the choices of those who couldn't be bothered to get at least a high school education. We should not spend our lives paying for the needs of those who would rather get high, play around, or do a million other things rather than take care of their own responsibilities.
So, my hope is that our new president will think of all the citizens of this and not just switch to a lot of new programs. I am very concerned about the taxes and expenditures he may implement. But. . . . . I would so like to see him be a great president. We so need a great president!
So, good luck and may God bless Barack Obama.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Investment tips for our time (cheerfully stolen from someone else)

With all the turmoil in the market today and the collapse of Lehman Bros and Acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America this might be some good advice. For all of you with any money left, be aware of the next expected mergers so that you can get in on the ground floor and make some BIG bucks.

Watch for these consolidations in the near future:

1.) Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and WR Grace Co. will merge and become: Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.

2.) Polygram Records, Warner Bros., and Zesta Crackers join forces and become:
Poly, Warner, Cracker.

3.) 3M will merge with Goodyear and become: MMMGood

4.) Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge and become: ZipAudiDoDa.

5.) FedEx is expected to join its competitor, UPS, and become: FEDUP

6.) Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become:
Fairwell Honeychild.

7.)Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become: PouponPants.

8.) Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become: KnottNOW.

and finally. . . . .

9.) Victoria's Secret and Smith & Wesson will merge under the new name: TittyTittyBangBang.

(sorry about that last one but it was funny, if crass. We all need a laugh.)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Finding Joy


Quote: "This is our one and only chance at mortal life - here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey - now."
This was the quote read to me today by my VT's. My first thought was of my daughters mission, where they often used the line "Got Joy?' to lift each other up. They even had 'joy wands' so they could bestow joy upon one another.
I really have up days and down days and pain gets in the way more than it should sometimes, but I must say, I really do love working in the yard, planting flowers and watching them grow, planting vegetables and weeding them (notice I didn't say in harvesting them), raking leaves and feeding the soil with them, knitting and giving what I have knit to someone. I even enJOY washing the dishes. Sometimes, the things that I don't like are only un-fun because I am alone. Yesterday my son and I were mudding sheetrock, sanding, and painting. Ok, I always like painting, but I am really bad with sheetrock. I can do anything else in regards to building better that I can mud. But, because my son was working there in the same room it was fun.
Enjoy your journey today, whatever it may be.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Crazy 8s

8 TV shows I like:
1. CSI
2. Gilmore Girls (I still see them in reruns)
3. Ghost Whisperer
4. House
5. Fringe
6. Pushing Daisies
7. Numbers
8. Blog Cabin (DIY)

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Cafe Rio
2. Market Street Grill
3. Sages
4. Lemon Tree
5. Chilis
6. Wingers
7. Sweet Tomatoes
8. Garden Cafe (at Thanksgiving Point)

8 Things I did yesterday
1. sanded sheetrock mud
2. primed the wall
3. got my bike brakes fixed
4. exercised at the pool (I don't really swim, I do pool aerobics)
5. painted the wall
6. finished a hat for Adopt a Stocking
7. swept, swept, swept the garage
8. exercised a lot

8 Things I'm looking forward to:
1. Christmas
2. finishing my house renovations
3. finishing my handmade Christmas items
4. losing some weight
5. getting in better shape (I am working on the last two, but boy is it slow)
6. tilling leaves into the garden
7. redesigning my garden pool
8. putting my sewing room back together so I can sew! (it is the staging area for all other renovation work)

8 Things I love about this fall:
1. How long it stayed warm!
2. Actually harvesting all the grapes
3. Getting most of the fall yard work done (with youngest son's help)
4. Watching all the leaves turn color
5. Nearly two months worth of PERFECT days
6. No need for furnace yet!
7. Feeling better than the last two years (maybe I am finally getting over it all)
8. Walking outside

8 Things on my wish list
1. Other than wishing to be skinny and rich, (don't we all?) I don't really need much except some very sacred things I'd rather not say in public.

I tag Chrys, Jennifer B, Lily, AJ, and Shannie Liz

Sunday, November 2, 2008

For the good of the Nation

I've tried to say very little about the election. I can get way too caught up in politics and I am trying to become a kinder, gentler, more spiritual person so . . . . . Talk about being of two minds. I am so torn. I really don't believe either of our choices for president is good for the country. In fact, I don't think either party is good for the country. Politics has become so much about power - their personal power and party power, and so little about the good of the nation. No one in power really cares about the American people. Mostly, I think ethics, personal and political, have gone by the way side. I think we really, really need a return to the Constitution and to real values, such as honesty and integrity. To doing things for the greater good. We really need to stop the constant spending, spending spending without the funds to back it. We are so terribly in debt and no one seems to think about putting the brakes on. It is all so very depressing.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Conflicting desires.


My old boss called me to say they are testing for the first wave of a new job. I haven't worked since Reno, (where I worked 3 part time jobs - usually around 12 hours a day) and I am very torn. I've spent everything I made the last time I was working and with the economy the way it is and what with (my) insisting on coming back to Utah, sweet C's income is down by at least a third. We could certainly use the money. Plus, I seem to accomplish more with a schedule that I have to keep to. I really want to go to work.
On the other hand, in Reno we lived in a condo where there is no yard work. It was in unusually good shape so I had little house work to do. Here, I have 1/2 acre of vegetable garden, fruit trees, bushes, flowers, lawn and misc. ground to care for. I moved out in to the yard to work when the weather warmed up and I still haven't finished my inside the house sorting, putting away and renovations. And this is a much bigger house to clean. I really want to stay home and work here.

Sweet C has lost a lot of weight. He has worked really, really hard to do so, getting up very early to exercise and changing his diet completely. He looks younger, and prettier. I really want to lose weight to keep up with him - can't have him looking so good some other woman takes him away from me!
On the other hand, I have changed my diet a lot also, but truly don't want to give up sweets altogether (which he has done). I am always tired and don't want to give up much more sleep to exercise a lot more and I am always hungry. I don't know if he is always hungry but if he is he doesn't complain about it the way I do. I really want to keep eating cookies - they are my comfort food.

I could tell you about some more serious conflicts of interest, but you would just tell me to make up my mind and do what needs to be done. If I could make up my mind to just be good - I would be a much better person all around wouldn't I?

Saturday, October 25, 2008

rubys


I have spent a large part of the last 3 days finishing the beets. I bottled most, dried a few. Beets take me a long time. Digging, cleaning, trimming, boiling, skinning, cutting then bottling. I really like beets but wheew! I only a have a few more apples then I will be done with the harvest. I have a lot more trimming, and all the bulbs to plant still in the yard, and the weather has been perfect but I have been inside putting up the harvest! I hope I can get the yard all put together for the winter. I bought 20 dozen bulbs at the Thanksgiving Point bulb sale in the summer. Hope the spring is worth the work I need to do!

Monday, October 20, 2008

To bless and sanctify

I have thought a lot lately about Christ and his role in my life. I have studied the scriptures with more purpose, and listened more carefully to what others say about Him.
One of the things I have noticed is how my thoughts about Christ are affected by the young men blessing the sacrament. When they speak clearly, enunciate well, and seem as though they themselves are paying attention to what they are saying - I find it easier and more productive to think about the life and sacrifices of Jesus. When they mumble and stumble over words and pay no attention to the reading I find myself thinking more about them and how well they read or how they live their lives, than about Jesus.
Yesterday a young man in our ward spoke clearly, distinctly and with power as he gave the sacrament prayer. I have noticed this young man in his personal life is neat and clean, hardworking and productive and truly going somewhere with his life. The young men who mumble often are also sloppy in their dress and grooming, and pay little attention to schoolwork or outside work. It seems to be all part of a pattern. . . . . .
Making me think that I need to pay more attention to the way I dress for church and temple, my own grooming and the attention I pay to other parts of my life. Have I let myself become too sloppy in all the parts of my life?

Monday, October 13, 2008

Bailout stupidity

Ok, so I haven't actually spoken to anyone who thinks the bailout was/is a good idea. One of my sons says he has. (spoken to someone who thinks it is, he doesn't!) I am NOT good at explaining myself so I suggest you go read Kip's blog, because he is.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Weathering the weather

We woke to this in the backyard this morning,
And this in the front yard.
We knew cold weather was coming, for a few days, so we picked all the apples, plums, most of the grapes, and all the red tomatoes. We spent Friday and Saturday bottling and drying the plums and grapes. Still need to do the apples. We made a lot of grape juice from what are actually table grapes. We just mixed the varieties as they are on the arbor, so the juice turned out to be a lovely rose color.

Weathering the weather

We visited my in-laws in Florida this past week and while there we went to Homassassas State Park. Our favorite thing at the park were the alligators.
While there we visited some birds, including waterfowl,
fish, ( I know this is a terrible picture but I took it through the thick glass wall of an underwater tank. There are tiny little fish swimming upside down along with the big fish)
Manatees, (He is feeding them and there are two or three gathered around but I couldn't get a great picture since they went back below so quickly!)
this is another try at catching a manatee on film.
other species native to Florida.
We also visited the beach, and our very favorite at Homassasas State Park


The baby alligator. In Florida it was warm, 85-90 degrees, and the humidity was quite high. I would come home from a simple morning walk covered in sweat. What a difference!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Between a rock and a hard place

I spent the day yesterday trying to bail my son out of one of those terrible positions society sometimes puts young people into. His car had been impounded for expired registration. He was pulled over literally around the corner from his house, and even though he actually begged the police officer not to impound, just to ticket and let him go home and fix it, the officer swore at him, called him names and took the car. He had committed no moving violations, wasn't guilty of any other crime, and certainly wasn't DUI, so he called the officer's superior, and was told that he was correct, it shouldn't have been impounded but he still had to pay the fees etc.
The problem was never that he wouldn't register it, he would have been happy to, the problem was that he couldn''t, because he couldn't get the rotor off to replace the brake pad, it was rusted on. Therefore the car wouldn't pass safety even though the brakes were working fine. He had spent a full day off here at my house trying to remove the rotor, and just ended up with a broken bolt for his trouble - you know, the ones that hold the wheel on. Now he needed the bolt drilled out and replaced too. He had called a brake shop but was told that he could never bring it in after work, even though he is sometimes off as early as 3pm, he needed to bring it in early in the day and leave it all day. But he couldn't do that, he needs it to work and he can't afford to miss a day. And he really couldn't afford to pay to have the work done.
He has searched, this boy, and been unable to find any place he can rent for less than $600 a month. (and that gets him a tiny, crumby little apartment he can barely move around in with no off street parking.) At barely over minimum wage he cannot live without a roommate, and even with, food has nearly doubled in the last few months and gas, well we all know about gas. He uses his car to work (cleans carpets for a living but the employer doesn't provide transportation) so he has to have a car, and regardless he would have to get to work.
I've seen it before. They need to register a car, but can't afford to, or can't afford to do the work on the car needed to register. So they are driving, or parking with an expired registration. They don't want to break the law, they just can't afford to comply. So the state, in it's infinate wisdom, tickets them, and if they don't pay the ticket in a certain amount of time, because they simply can't afford to, the fine doubles, then triples and keeps going up from there. They can never get out from under without help!
So, I helped. We paid the registration fee, and a late fee, and an impound fee and a towing fee, and a storage fee and then the necessary repairs to make it pass inspection. All this on a little old car that ran pretty well before. Registration alone would have cost $86. Altogether it cost over $1000 to make a car worth not more than $500 "road worthy" in the eyes of the state. Yet we couldn't let it just sit there, the fees will still keep piling up. Even if you give the car to the state you have to pay the towing and storage and impound fees. (And then you don't have any car!)
My son will be working for me for every day off for months trying to pay me back. Don't you just love government?

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Singing my heart out

So, my choir experience is over. What a fabulous time we had! Friendships made, jokes told, but mostly the most incredible spiritual experience. A lot of it was all the fabulous people we heard speak over the weeks of rehearsal. A lot of it was the wonderful director, who has such a bright, light spirit and shares it with all. Most of it was the introspection that we all went through in our attempt to be ready to sing our testimonies out to the world. We grew to love the women all over the world. We thought long and hard about what we believe and why. We spent much of the day at the conference center, rehearsing, doing lighting and camera checks, and visiting. The actual conference seemed to fly by in no more than 5 minutes and then, it was all over. Rather sad to break us up as we had such a great time. I just want to say that now, more than ever, I believe in God. I believe in Jesus Christ and his Atonement. I am finally beginning to understand the Atonement. How gracious, kind and good to us Jesus is! I believe in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I feel so privileged to belong to this church, and to this most active, serving, loving and spiritual group of women, the Relief Society! We are the largest group of women on earth, and the ones who do the most. (We aren't the loudest, but we do the most to serve others and change lives.) Thanks for listening to us all, we had fun.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Incredible Honor!


A few weeks ago a member of the bishopric approached me to ask if I would be interested in singing in the choir for the upcoming General Women's Conference. I wondered why they would ask me; I sing tenor normally and my voice has been very hoarse over the last couple of years. (Though it is better with a change in medication.) I know I cannot really sing well enough to do this but what an honor to be asked! And the opportunity to be near the prophet and other general authorities, too cool to pass up. Of course I said I would love to!
The rehearsals have been an incredible experience. We have met and heard a short encouraging "speech" by all three members of the General Relief Society Presidency, a number of members of the general music committee, our local musical representative, other members of the Relief Society General Board and the stake president for some of the other stake's involved in this. Our stake is the contact stake. At the first rehearsal our Stake President gave the entire choir a wonderful speech and a communal blessing, a rare and very lovely occurrence. we have essentially been told that this is more about showing our testimony than about singing. We have actually spent more time hearing encouraging words than singing. We are expected to practice singing at home on our own.
So, considering my voice and core tendency towards self-doubt, would I be asking too much to ask all of you to pray for me? Thank you! I hope not to be caught by the camera, I can just imagine me scratching my cheek just as the camera scanned my face, but as far as testimony goes, I believe in God, and this church, I love Jesus Christ, and hope that my testimony does show when people see me. Please, encourage everyone you know, member and non-member alike, to watch this conference. That is the point of this meeting.

Refilling the space

So, we are filling the empty bottles with whole grains and legumes, which play a much larger part in our diets nowadays. I know the parlor seems a funny place to stage such a thing, especially since I have always had a rule about 'no stuff' in the parlor, but it seemed the only place to gather that many filled bottles. We need 100 jars in order to use the oxegen packets, which come in packages of 100 and begin to work as soon as you open the packet. In case you cannot tell, there is no wheat or rice in the mix there. That is because when we did our inventory we found that we had plenty of white rice and wheat. We are getting there.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Amazing!

Would you believe it took me the better part of two days to wash all the bottles I emptied? Of course, when my back got to hurting too much I sat to knit a row, but what I am knitting is a baby sweater and I am on the sleeve, so short sit. Now we will fill them all with grains, beans and a few bottled fruits and veggies.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Bringing joy into life

I Thought it was time to put something of my garden here to bring joy into others lives, as they bring joy into mine.

Here is my very tiny Hydrangea. If you know my daughter and have seen the giant blue hydrangeas on her blog you will know how alkaline my soil is in comparison to Wales.


This is the largest of my dahlias.
This little flower is one you see all the time, unfortunately I cannot at the moment remember the name though it is one of my favorite. It comes in a orange and yellow version, and a pink and yellow version. The sun was too bright, this is the pink and yellow.

The Matter of Thought

This is the poem by Henry Van Dyke that I mentioned earlier:

I hold it true that thoughts are things;
They're endowed with bodies, breath and wings;
And that we send them forth to fill
The world with good results, or ill.

That which we call our secret thought
Speeds forth to earth's remotest spot,
Leaving its blessing or its woes
Like tracks behind it as it goes.

We build our future, thought by thought,
For good or ill, yet know it not.
Yet so the universe was wrought.

Someone I have seen much of lately, Merilee Webb, talks a lot about the fruit that we produce. How often, when we think bad thoughts, or negative thoughts, or even just less than nice thoughts, we send those thoughts forth to sicken others with our 'bad fruit'. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to any and everyone I have sickened with my 'bad fruit' and to promise that I am trying very hard not to do that anymore.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Preparation



Sweet C has, for some time, been concerned with our food storage. He has wanted to inventory, throw out old things and replace with things we are eating now. More whole grains for one thing.
This past weekend was our regional conference. The Saturday night meeting was all about preparation. Not emergency preparation but simply being prepared for what ever may come in our lives. They spoke about the economy, and getting out of debt. They spoke about not turning our wants into needs. They spoke a lot about food storage, and challenged us to get a three month supply as soon as possible, even if it is by buying 3 extra cans of food per week. They also spoke about getting together a store of money. Start with making sure we have a one month supply of savings, then build it up to three, then six, until we all have a years financial needs set aside (Huge goal!!!)
Sunday meeting were more on the theme of spiritual preparation. We had two general authorities so it was really, really good, but many people were more impressed by the Saturday night meeting.
I had been cleaning out our storage room three or four bottles at a time. This week C began to help me. Yeah! He can carry much more than I can. He carried out a couple of hundred bottles. So I have been emptying the bottles into trenches in the largest garden bed. (Hard on the back.) I know it looks really silly, but it does feed the soil and gets all the old fruit out of the storage room so I can put in new and fresh. I'm a little torn. All those bottles represent a lot of work. In the old days when the kids were little we would put up 4 or 5 batches of everything, every year. My kids, little or big, were very good hard workers, and helped a ton. We never ate it all, so I had bottles that were very old and discolored. I won't be bottling so much in the way of fruit and vegetables now - with only two of us we will never eat as much as we used to bottle. I emptied a huge variety of stuff, but I think I feel the worst about the salsa and the black raspberry syrup. Those two were the most work, and taste the best. I doubt I will get much more bottled this year though. Still to much cleaning and sorting to do. Wish me luck.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

State Fair






















The state fair is going on in Utah and we went the very first day. (It's cheaper that way.) I wanted to share a few pictures with you. I took waaaaayyyyy too many, but you can get an idea, and if you are in Utah you should go, it's a good fair. You see here some displays from the home arts building, the agricultural building, a tiger show, the art building, the floral display, photography, creative arts and the 4-H building. I forgot to take pictures in the fruit and vegetable display area.