places

when thinking about places i would most like to avoid this is right there at the top. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/eurostar/6844320/Eurostar-pledges-inquiry-into-hellish-ordeal-of-cold-weather-passengers.html . the article mentions that a number of people suffered from panic attacks - ya think! nothing like being trapped in a crowded train, in a very long tunnel, under a whole lot of water with no lights, blankets or drink.

on the other hand ....

this looks like a very nice place to visit. http://dc.about.com/od/christmasevents/a/WreathsAcrossAm.htm. kudos to worcester wreath company of maine for providing the wreaths and all the volunteers who place them. and thanks steve for the email telling of this event. i think when i die i will have a white grave stone marker just so i can have a wreath with a red ribbon placed on it!

and final random thoughts - who does aaron brown think he is telling me it's time i updated my blog!!!! people in glass houses should not throw stones.
(sorry if that sounded grumpy. i think i'm still trying to get over the thought of being stuck in a train on the bottom of the english channel! .... oh well .... happy holidays.

bright skies at night

it wasn't the end of the world but it looked like something out of "flash forward" or "lost". a brilliant flash of light exploded in the sky just after midnight.. i was sitting on the couch and watched it. i immediately went to the front door, opened it expecting to find ... i don't know what but something. instead the sky was clear and the stars were bright and all was at peace. sherry followed me to the door when i told her about the bright light flash. she said maybe it was a falling star. turns out it was a meteor http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=8714738 and/or http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13814412 .

happy birthday

you may have tangible wealth untold;

caskets of jewels and coffers of gold,

richer than i you can never be -

i had a mother who read to me.

strickland gillilan

in spite of failing eyesight, my mother still reads to me. it may just be the road sign or billboard we pass on our daily "outings" but mom is still the designated reader! she has a passion for good writing. she recalls her mother reciting poetry to her and she continued the tradition of reciting to her own children and grandchildren. all of my aunts have the gifted ability to quote prose and poetry befitting a particular situation we may find ourselves in. i went on my first "coon hunt" with old dan and little anne, (where the red fern grows), learned how to make acorn pancakes, (my side of the mountain) and cried when little carol bird drifted off with the angels, (the birds christmas carol) all while sitting comfortably at my mother's feet. she would sit in the old white rocker and we would gather round anxious to hear her expressive yet gentle voice. to this day i don't believe there is anything more comforting to me than the sound of my mother's voice. it can chase all demons away.

in the morning hours, when the grandkids would sleep over, she would greet their day with a "get in your place". they would crawl up in bed beside her. she would then instruct them to get the book out of the night stand and proceed to read or rather recite favorite poems from robert louis stevenson. (it is only fitting that they should share the same birthday). and when timo comes to visit he to remembers where "his place" is. $5.00 for every poem learned and a quarter each time it was recited. that's what she paid the kids. there is not one grandchild that cannot recite a poem and i dare say that each time they do, they think of their gram.

through the years she has answered to many names, teen, aunt teen, momma afton, momochaka, gram. i am lucky enough to call her mom.

and ...

just in case you were wondering.....this http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33225568/ns/us_news/ is why i don't sing in karaoke bars!

sold

curses - foiled again. lagoon bought three of the four lions for over $16,000. The first one sold for like $8000.00 to an independent bidder. i learned the lions names were patience, honor, integrity and fortitude. oh well. he would have looked nice in the yard but gram already has all those virtues anyway. we will just have to go to lagoon and see him. at least they will be in farmington.

things that make you go hmmmm.....

during the late 1930's and early 40's, a girl, living on a ranch outside of blackfoot idaho, didn't have much of a choice when it came to new fashions. but if she was creative and talented enough she could design and sew her own clothes. gram had what it took. she found some pretty red gingham material and designed a dress that fit tight on her slim torso, with a drop waist that then flared out into two ruffled layers. it had puff sleeves and was trimmed in white lace. her long black hair looked beautiful as it cascaded over her shoulders and the bright colored dress. red is best! she loved that dress and saved it through the years, even though her slim 27in waist grew larger with the birth of her 7 children. she let us play in it. we would pretend and dream that we were as pretty as she was. gram always smiles when that dress is mentioned. even to this day, nearly 70 years since she first made it.

cori has immortalized it in her song "the red gingham dress". and there is still a "lilt" in her sway, although these days it must be expressed in her hands as her legs will no longer carry her. and the "spark in her eye" still catches the glance of any passing guy!

a cherished family photo is of gram, wearing her beloved dress, sitting on top of a 6 ton concrete lion located on the northeast side of the utah state capitol building.(circa 1940.)

this week i learned that those lions are up for sale on ebay. the renovation of the state capitol called for new replacements and they are selling the old, worn out, broken concrete lions. they only weigh 6 tons and are about 6 ft by 6 ft by oh say 12 feet long. a nice addition to the backyard don't you think?!

jordon can get a truck that will move it. our neighbor has access to a crane. gram's birthday is in november. hmmm.........

ebay link to auction site: http://cgi.ebay.com/HISTORIC-CONCRETE-LION-FROM-UTAH-STATE-CAPITOL-NE_W0QQitemZ140348950269QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20ad7306fd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

ta da!

i've never had granite counter tops. i tell my clients that they are a good investment in most homes, but never got around to making that investment myself. when we first moved into this house...4 1/2 years ago...can you believe it...anyway....when we first moved into this house i got a bid for granite and it was mucho monzola! the white corian was in good shape, looked nice and was just fine. well this past birthday, my big one, my sisters decided i needed new counter tops. i must have been talking about them too much. so for my present they presented me with money for new granite. with the slow down in the economy the price dropped by nearly half and i got a better grade of granite besides. so.....drum roll please....here's how they look.

i find myself keeping the kitchen just a little cleaner and often sit at the island bar area and just gaze at the beautiful stone. there is good energy from the rock and it is pretty besides.

i have the very best, most generous family in the world! thanks!!!!!!

out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.--- kahlil gibran

i am surrounded by people who's scars are beautiful!

hot summer's eve

gram, sherry and i are sitting on the front porch looking for meteors. clouds have moved in however and i believe will block our view. it's a bit early still, only 11pm. i think it would be best if we came back out around 3. i was going to do that last night, but somehow got caught up watching reruns of "cold case". i "googled", that the moon will be in waning gibbous phase anyway, which means that with luck we will only be able to see about 30 an hour instead of the usually 60. next year is suppose to be a banner year though. the moon will be dark all night. something to look forward to.

sherry wants me to stop typing now and visit with her. i told her i was busy blogging. rude huh! oh well. guess i'll quit typing. it's hot out here any way. maybe i'll just go inside and watch "ice road truckers" and cool down.

delicious peaches

pretty peaches. delicious peaches. it was quality not quantity this year but they were wonderful. johnny pruned our tree, thanks johnny, and told us we might not get as many peaches this year because of the pruning. but as a result we had peaches the size of softballs! ummmm they were good. we are lucky because we have early peaches. it is a hint of things to come later in the harvest. i love the summer fruits and veggies. cinny got the first tomato from our garden because she planted it. we have tons of zucchini and summer squash and the cukes are almost ready. we got a taste beets and carrots from johnny's and also jeff's gardens. yippee. i love good food!

let the sunshine in

it only took over 4 years, but i finally had all my windows cleaned. my goodness, i knew they were dirty, but i didn't realize they were that dirty!!!! well ok, maybe i did know they were that dirty, but i didn't realize how much better i would like my windows when they were clean. hmm, can you like a window? i think so. windows let you see out into the world. windows let the light, both day and night light, in. windows keep the bugs out. windows are good. clean windows are better!

goin' home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEZp_vvZyKE

dvorak visited america from 1892-1895. in 1893 he wrote his symphony no. 9. the second movement "largo" is among a family favorite. i have numerous renditions of it. all lovely. johnny sent me this link after my last post. i can't wait to show it to gram. it encompasses many things she loves. dvorak, andre rieu, sheep and johnny! she remembers that a version of this music was played at her mother's funeral. gram was but 15 years old. for all those who will still be alive - i want this played at my funeral too!

ps - watch the movie "paradise road". it's a tear jerker but has an inspiring rendition of the "largo". auntie mae first told me about it. if you can't find it, borrow mine.

50 is the new 30...

... at least that's what johnny says. i like it. i think i will adopt the saying. oh well, enough on that subject!

last night gram, sherry, annie and i went to the andre rieu concert. the mullens bought tickets for us. it was a combination birthday for me and treat for mom. we were the ones that were treated! mom/gram had been so excited to go to the concert. she enjoys wathing his dvd's until the wee hours of the morning. when we loaded up in the car to leave for the concert she said - "i hope i'm not disappointed." she wasn't.

how i wish all those who love gram could have been there to see her eyes light up. she smiled, she sang along, she clapped. it was an absolutely delightful evening spent under the stars at the usana amphitheatre, being entertained by a talented and beautiful orchestra, and gram! (in the picture below gram is holding what has become her signature sees lollipop. she tells me i give the to her just to keep her quiet! :) )

annie took a great little video of gram. i'll get a copy if i can and post it. she was listening to the music and then turned to annie, nodded her head and said in her very own gram style, "it's good".

thanks am and mike!

chuck e cheese

a good place to party. not a good place to eat!

happy bday anna and timo - what a night.

cindy gardner updates

for those who want to follow progress updates on cindy and what's happening to her will be posted on her blog http://gardnerscompost.blogspot.com/.

thanks for the care and concern.

thoughts

If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell. ~Lance Armstrong If you're going through hell, keep going. Never, never, never give up ~Winston Churchill Cancer is a word, not a sentence. ~John Diamond

hallowed grounds

(statue to youth rising from the waves - normandy american cemetery)

d-day 1944, a 5000 vessel armada left the british shores, crossed the english channel and over 150,000 men from the allied forces landed of the beaches of france. six parachute regiments - over 13,000 men - were flown in 800 plus planes and dropped behind enemy lines. by nightfall over 9000 allied soldiers were dead or wounded, but the rest made it to shore. the average age of the men was 22. in colleville-sur-mer, normandy is the normandy american cemetery and memorial. in it are 9387 crosses or stars of david, marking graves of american soldiers who died on this day or shortly after. all facing west towards home. the names of 1557 americans who lost their lives in the conflict but could not be located and/or identified are inscribed on walls within the memorial. a father and son were laid side by side as well as 33 pairs of brothers. well over 56 million people, military and civilian, lost their lives as a result of world war II.

mom and i watched a pbs special on the american cemeteries in europe. french and belgian citizens visit these memorials often, giving thanks and homage to those who sacrificed for their and all of our freedom. it is on my bucket list to visit these hallowed grounds. i wish to see the poppies grow and walk among the crosses row on row.

i am told that many of these graves are merely markers. the us government has brought home any soldier who's family wanted them near. sue and steve watched "taking chance" this past memorial day and has urged us all to watch it. it is the story of a young soldier's journey as he accompanies another soldier's body home. i think i will rent it for tomorrow night.

in the meantime i shall continue to love history. i shall continue to love my country. i shall continue to honor those who gave and those who are now giving so much in order to preserve freedoms.

large lovely "charming" ladies

last year for cori's big bday all those close to her bought her a charm for her charm bracelet that was also bought. it took nearly a year for us then to get around to taking it into the jeweler to have the charms soldered onto the bracelet, then another 3-4 months for us to get around to going back into the jeweler to pick it up. and then....curses....the bracelet was not to be found at the store! the store owner looked high and look under all the "c" for connors files. he could not find the bracelet. he told her she needed her receipt because he could find nothing and the store kept two copies of all transactions and both of those were missing! hmm. finding the receipt was not an easy task because well, it was 3-4 months ago and cori changed purses and cleaned her car out many times and it just wasn't to be found. a few days ago i went back to the store with cori, without her receipt, just to see if they had found the charmer! nope, no record or anything close to it under connors or cori files. the owner asked if we remembered who helped us. we described the clerk - his regular and though she was not working that day he called her up and asked if she recalled the transaction. she didn't. as he was about to hang up i asked him to tell her that it was two "big" ladies (we like to think of ourselves as large, lovely ladies) that brought it in and we had a younger girl with us - annie. he laughed and said "you don't want me to say that". cori and i emphatically said "yes we do" and cori added "yeah and it was for my 50th birthday so we are old too!" he repeated our comments and lo and behold she remembered us. and just as she was telling the manager where the bracelet was filed, i simultaneously said "pineapple enterprises"! (that's the name of one of cori's business). sure enough the bracelet was safely filed away, waiting to be picked up. yeah! she wore it all day.

moral - it helps to have a memorable physique!

hello again

annie said i need to blog again. cori tells me it is time for me to blog again. (look who's talking) so here it is half past midnight, the lights are turned low, the back door is held open by a ceramic pig while the front door is propped open with an old shoe form. the screens are shut to hold back the bugs. a gentle breeze is flowing. the air is fresh, i'm watching a rerun of cold case and life in general is good!

i'm sure more words will come later, for a more interesting blog, but for now I am content. i will close this computer, curl up with a soft blankie and drift off to sleep. ( in about an hour or two that is, but the drift will be delightful.)

surrounded by angels

the highest of distinctions is service to others. ~ king george VI
this past saturday my family and friends spent a day in the driving rain serving gram and me. and to quote the words of another king - king benjamin - while they were serving us they were also serving their God. i am lucky to be surrounded by such angels.

please excuse the blurry photos...it was really raining hard! on this day weed barrier was laid on my back berm and front lower planter area, tons, literally tons of bark was laid. the garden was tilled, the weeds were pulled and pavers were installed under the back deck allowing for a very nice storage area. many of us had to change clothes three times and those who didn't have extra clothes just stayed wet or tried drying and warming themselves in front of the fire. lunch was eaten standing up outside because everyone was too dirty and wouldn't stop. probably for fear that if they did their bodies would rebel and not allow them to go out again. when dinner time arrived the parkers / murdocks brought excellent eats. we did take time out to sing happy birthday to our wonderful 3 year old buddy parker, ate cake out of a dump truck, very appropriate thank you parker, and then headed back outside. when we were done messing in my yard there was still bark to be moved, so tired as they were, christer, jordon, nate, reed, george, dave, cori and i laid bark at the connors. while johnny and cinny worked on my garden and much to every one's pleasure it finally got too dark to continue working.

thanks gardners, connors, connors, mullens, merrills, hansens, hansens, baileys, harpers and anyone and everyone else who helped out. you are indeed the very best!

my brother john

children of the same family, the same blood with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power which no subsequent connections can supply. - jane austin

happy birthday john! i love you.

earth week

i do not believe we are to take trees down during earth week. aren't we to plant instead?! my heart has been a bit sad these past few days because i made the decision to take a tree down. my lovely redbuds that line my front stairs, offering a canopy of pink in may and glorious shade in august have been struggling. last year dave, johnny and reedo trimmed them for me so that the branches had more room to breathe. i thought by doing this they would not struggle so hard. but last fall the leaves wilted much too early and turned brown long before the cold frost air arrived. i watched and hoped all winter long that the branches that appeared dead or dying were simply in winter hibernation. frodshoms sprayed them for me. last summer and early this spring. and i hoped that just maybe the blossoms were late in arriving because after all it snows every other weekend even though it is the end of april.

of the four trees i have, two were in trouble. i choose the sacrifice one for now. maybe by loosing one the other will be saved. cinny tells me i need to have faith. i don't think i have the faith she does - though i wish i did. instead all i feel right now is sadness. i realize it is only a tree but it is a tree i loved.

here's keeping fingers crossed that the other tree will make it.

it fascinates me -

that an almost 3 year old boy and an 85 year old gram sound exactly alike when saying "iono" and "yup".
.
that I delay getting into the shower just because I don't want to dry off when I'm done. (I love the shower I just don't like drying off...maybe because there is so much of me to dry? hmmm...)
.
that I love having robins, finches, wrens, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, etc in my yard but I chase the poor magpies away! (I'm not really sure why I do this other than the fact I think they are obnoxious but it is just a bird for goodness sakes. poor magpies!)
.
that 12 oz of chocolate equals 5 lbs of weight gain.
.
that 10 years ago i was still thirtysomething. i was also thirtysomething pounds lighter! (soon enough it will have been fortysomething - both years and pounds - oh my).

.
that anyone would consider using anything else but good butter. i grew up and out eating "land o lakes". i knew we were all (connors, connors, murdock, parker, gardner and anyone who likes good food out there) kindred spirits tatiana!

.

that i can spend so many hours blog stalking and just ignore the rest of the world!

Grateful for this day

These past few days are I believe the most significant days in history. What happened over 2000 years ago was planned for and anticipated since the beginning of time and the events changed our world forever. Yet I find that all too often I let the days pass from year to year with only a slight acknowledgement. It has been Holy Week. So many miracles were performed, so many lessons taught. Christ raised Lazarus from the dead and then proceeded towards his own. Maundy Thursday, the day the sacrament was introduced to us and lessons were taught by Him who loves us more than anyone else. I often dream of being in the upper chamber of that home where Christ with a bowl of water and soft towels taught his disciples that love was what it was really all about. With the passion of Peter I wish to declare my commitment. Unfortunately, like Peter, I find myself too often hiding in the shadows. It is not that I do not know or believe, it is perhaps that I am just a bit afraid and unsure of what to do.
Gethsemane. I do not need to physically go there to know or feel the significance of this place of crushing. It is the first cold press, symbolic of the First Born, which produces the sweetest oil. The bitter taste of the olive is removed and turned to fragrant, sweet tasting oil but only after extreme pressure is applied. It is not unfitting that He would intercede for us in such a place as this. But like others that love and follow Him I find myself dozing off instead of keeping watch. When I wake from this earthly life I do not want to be greeted by the disappointing question, could I not keep watch?

When I think about these events it reminds me to be grateful of my womanhood. It was to a women Christ first declared himself as the Messiah. It was the faith of Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus, that prompted His compassion to raise the dead. A women, who was about my same age right now, watched as her son was offered up, not without suffering. She did not turn away but stood steadfast in her vigil of love. And in the quiet morning of the third day He appeared once again to a women and, as the Resurrected Christ, instructed her to declare His coming.

I long to be like the sisters of Bethany and the widow of Zarephath or the young Abish who ran through the streets declaring her faith. I need to reach out towards others, offering help and love and in so doing I will touch His robe. For these few days I wish I could set away all worldly chores. It is with family and loved ones that desire to be. I yearn to be inspired to do good things and then follow through with action. "For my soul delighteth in His Words" and they sing out "How great Thou art". Blessed be the Lord God. Happy Easter!

thank you cori

the following is taken from "music and the spoken word" it is one of my favorite entries and as this holy week ends and this season of lent comes to a close i wish to thank cori for her gift of words to us all.

The Power of the Written Word

We have long known the power of the written word. Through their writings, historians preserve the events that shape the destiny of nations. Poets write words that blissfully lift us above the mundane business of life into thoughtful reverie. Novelists, with the magic of their words, transport us into paths of excitement and intrigue. Philosophers and statesmen motivate millions to nobler actions with their written words. Most significantly, words recorded in sacred scriptural writings open our view to the purpose of life and how to live it to the fullest. There is indeed great power in the written word.
Consider the power of our own written words. Some may respond to that idea with the statement, “I’m not a writer!” There are words within each of us that have the power to bless the lives of others. Writing them becomes the gift we give—the legacy we leave. ... Phone calls are nice, but they cannot be reread, bringing joy over and over again.
If we could look into the secret places where people keep their most treasured items, we would find written words from loved ones—words they could not bear to throw away.

It was Shakespeare who wrote, “Go to your bosom; knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know.”1 There is great power in the written word. Writing down what is in our hearts can make a difference in someone’s life now—and perhaps for generations to come.

1"Measure for Measure,” in David St. Leger, ed., A Treasury of Wisdom and Inspiration (New York: New American Library of World Literature, Inc., Signet Key Books, 1954), 91.

ooops

hmmm...i wonder who's blog i commented on? i was reading cori's wotd, "word of the day" posted on her blog. the word yesterday or maybe today was peculiar. you'll have to read her blog . anyway...i made the comment that i wasn't sure how peculiar she was but i thought she was just plain weird! i did place the disclaimer that i knew it was in our genes. well - i verified the post was published and then tonight as cori was reading her blog and comments i asked her if she liked the comment i left. she said "what comment, there is no comment from you". what, but i double checked. hmmmm i wonder who's blog i commented on. well if anyone reads this and i happened to have commented on your blog that i thought you were weird, please excuse me it was meant only for my sister!

not necessarily the breakfast of champions

yogurt and coke. that is what i gave my mom for breakfast this morning. i suppose it is a good thing i never had kids of my own for they would have grown up most likely pouring coke on their cereal, eating cookies and left over steak for breakfast, well actually for lunch because i don't think i would have gotten up in time to make them breakfast, and yummy pancakes for dinner. you want ice cream at midnight, no problem. and i have been known to cook shrimp at 2am, wearing rubber gloves mind you because i am highly allergic to shell fish but mom really likes it. last summer i was really improving on my nutrition skills. i was fixing cheese omelets and toast for breakfast. fresh veggies, fish and fruit for dinner. don't know what happened to me. lately i've been making comfort food like big pots of creamed peas, chicken wings - where it is mostly skin, fat and gristle and not so much meat accompanied with libs ribs sauce of course, filet's with plenty of bleu cheese and delicious dryers lemonade bars that melissa saynor introduced me to. but ... warm weather is coming and i'll have to try and fit into my summer skirts instead of my sweat pants so....after Easter i will try to be better. :).

- - -

ps - besides mom always says "red is best".

pps - can anyone else down a whole roll of thin mints in one sitting?

ppps - and for those who can - walgreens has the best antacids on the market!

hijacked by a worm

a worm hijacked my computer! the nasty creature took over my browsers and had a hey day redirecting my searches. he was very good at his deception because he made some things work while others did not. just enough truth was kept to keep me unaware of the full extent of his hold upon me. (sounds like someone else i know) i thought it was a problem with my server. the damn computer repair guy - yes that's the name of his company, was able to clean some things off my computer and speed it up a bit but didn't find any viruses. after all of his efforts i was still having browser redirect issues and well most tragically i was unable to access anything google including blog post and comments! i felt alone and stranded and was resigned to just having to get serious and do my taxes. but a bit cautious of this because i wasn't quite sure if the nasty worm was really do more damage than just web browser redirects and didn't want him to have all my tax data information. i tried running a number of anti virus program...he hid from them. and then last night, after most guest has had gone home from little libby lu's first birthday party, i begged my nephew nate to take a look. well to end a long week - he found the worm and fixed my computer. what a good boy he is! thanks nate. now i can blog to my hearts content. and even do my taxes in peace.

beware

first it was friday the 13th and now....the ides of march is upon us. after reading kate's experience on the 13th perhaps there is credence to some superstitions. the old soothsayer warned caesar to be cautious on this day but alas his pride and arrogance got the best of him and oh well...another one bits the dust. i feel a change coming in my life, actually i know of a change coming tomorrow i'm just not suppose to talk about it yet, any way...change is coming. so i suppose i should heed the sage advise to beware the ides of march and be quick on my toes. i don't believe anyone is plotting to do me in, other than my own self doubt that is, so i shall go forward with confidence and just a bit of caution. i can't wait until it is tuesday and then all this superstitious days will be over and i shall just sit and eat corn beef and cabbage. ymmmm!

---

for anyone who reads this and is the least bit curious...nothing devastating happened, really. i was just released from teaching the mia maids. i love the yw and am deeply saddened that i won't teach them every week. - but i am happy to be with the primary kids.

who's messing with my clock

i believe in the power of good ideas. without them we would not have almost everything in life that makes it fun and convenient. the idea of the wheel was a good one. fire was also ingenious. the printing press educated humanity. i personally am glad someone came up with the thought to have indoor plumbing. and the incandescent light bulb has changed our world. but when william willett conceived the idea of daylight saving time why was that a good idea? there is a long history to dst. all my life i was told that we change times so that farmers would have more daylight to farm, then i read that most farmers hate the idea and then i learned that the need or the premise for dst most recently has been funded by commercial entities such as clorox, 7-11 and both idaho senators, because more french fries are sold during dst i had to scratch my head and say hmmm... i hate changing times. why should the fact that sale of french fries and slurpees be more important than my own physical well being? it is worse than jet lag and when time changes it takes me nearly 4 months to adjust and then it changes again and i am all mixed up. i don't like people messing with my time.

sisters

"for there is no friend like a sister,
in calm or stormy weather,

to cheer one on the tedious way,

to fetch one if one goes astray,

to lift one if one totters down,

to strengthen whilst one stands."

christina rossetti wrote these words as part of her epic poem the goblin market. it is the story of two sisters. it is the story of one sister's heroic, self-sacrificing love given to save the other. it is the story which tells us that love can be used to save another. i have a sister such as this!

she is my best friend, she is my confidant, she is my sounding board, and at times she has been my frustration. (would she be a true sister without this?) but she has never left me nor betrayed me. by her side i learned how to pretend and how to believe. we took space ships rides together while nestled in the branches of the crab apple tree, and sent secret notes of hopes and dreams out into the world from high a top the mighty oak and spent playtime in the basement with lima beans, chalk boards, the red gingham dress and wooden banister horses. countless adventures experienced. pretend soon lead to reality as true love was found and declared, babies came and were cuddled and real life adventures were taken to places throughout the world. she has shared her life with me. where mine was lacking she filled it in. i do not have the words she has to describe my love for her. i only can echo the refrain, "there were flowers on her pillow, that matched ones on mine. madame alexander dolls and traded valentines....she knew my best, she knew my worst and everything in between ... some dreams have come and some dreams are gone and some remain just dreams ... sisters". thank you sister for all you have given me. happy birthday cori!

could it be ...

... this morning i awoke to the sound of a lovely songbird. it wasn't just a chirp here or there, nor that of a bird just in search of food. it was a high and light hearted full blown song and he sat on the branch of the tree out back until he was finished.

was it a song of spring?

yesterday i saw a yellow crocus popping out of the dull brown earth. (i love the color of dirt but this was unturned earth, packed down by heavy snows and not really pretty). a basket of lovely primroses help to brighten our kitchen table and it probably won't be long before the daffodils and tulips start growing as well.

i know that more snows will come, and this warm weather is just a teaser. but for now, i shall enjoy the lovely gift of the hint of spring.

epilogue: winter must have stalked my blog for she has decided to show her power and has snowed this very evening. but not to worry - the sturdy crocus can last through a storm or two...i suppose i can too! fie on you winter, spring will be here soon.

magical elves

my neighborhood is full of good little elves. after a winter storm, when the snow is heavy and covers our walk and driveway, i think to myself - "oh i must go and shovel all that heavy snow off of my driveway." you see if you don't shovel snow and then drive over it, ice develops. and i have a fear of ice. ie broken ankle 2004! anyway back to my story ... "self, you must go shovel". but before i have a chance to don my snow boots and shovel, i look out and the man elves of the hood, aka hornes, hones, connors, baileys or gardners have already been to my driveway and completed the job. lucky me! but the last two snow storms have been during the daylight hours when most of the good neighbor elf men are off to work. so...i decided to don my snow boots (i still own a pair of moon boots) and shovel, (the nifty yellow handled powerless shovel, not unlike tatiana's, given to me for christmas by reedo) and clear my own driveway for once. this was not necessary however, for the good woman elf ferguson, dressed in yellow, black and brown parka with bright blue and red hat, complete with ear tassels and large ball on top was already pushing her snow blowing machine and clearing the way. i joined her and soon neighbor linda saw us hard at work. (actually suzanne was working, i laughed and took pictures). not wanting to "miss out on the fun" linda hopped onto her trusty fourwheeler, equipped with shovel on the front and joined us. she created a tidal wave of snow and slush as she cleared the road and gutter. good elf karen, yet another neighbor, then came with her large magic driveway ice pick and removed what ice had built up when i drove over the snow before removing it. i continued to laugh and take pictures and shout a mighty thanks that i am blessed to live among such great people. elves truly are magical!

the written word is powerful

tonight as i was busy grazing on the left over food set out on the kitchen counter, while doing the dishes, after already having eaten a large dinner ... i glanced over to see if mom, aka gram, was ok. she had been sitting very quiet for a little while so it caught my attention. (quite often she is singing a little song she has just made up or is watching the news or something) but tonight she was quiet. when i looked over i saw that she had picked up a little book that i had sitting on the end table next to her. it was a book on the wisdom of abraham lincoln. she had picked up this book and instead of just looking at the cover and setting it aside, she opened it up and was reading! now this is really not unusual for the mom i grew up with, but the last few years have taken a toll on her. her eyes are sore and weak and her mind will often wander. she use to be an insatiable reader and still is when we go on our daily "outing" for she will read out load to me nearly every billboard sign and advertisement on passing trucks. but it has been a long time since she has read a book. my sister sherry and i quickly finished the dishes. i then moved over to the family room, sat on the couch and watched my mother read. it was glorious, wonderful quiet. i wish that all who love her could be here to witness this little bit of heaven. will she pick up a book again tomorrow night? perhaps. perhaps not. all i know is that for tonight, for these few moments there is a peace in our home that i will cherish! thank you gram. thank you God!

what a deal

when the economy is slow and the real estate market is, to say the least slow as well, what's a girl to do with all her time and a sincere desire to boost the economy? my advise shop the dillards january sale. i got these cute and comfy boots for 70% off and then an additional 30% off that! i also scored on a great pair of pants, not at $90 but a great $11. i love a bargain.

ps happy chinese new year kate!

a blessed nation

"the time has come to set aside childish things" said pres. obama. "everywhere we look, there is work to be done. starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America."

we live in a blessed nation. a nation of hope. a nation of change. we are a blessed people. may we live to be worthy of the blessings. may we work hard. and to follow the words of another great leader, gordon b hinckley - let us try a little harder, to be a little kinder, do a little better, to stand a little taller! i am proud, honored and humbled to be an american.

warning

"warning. warning. danger will robinson! warning. ... that does not compute."

alas the flailing armed robot has died. or at least the guy who played him. bob may, who got the job because the suit fit, and then went on to be the best and most beloved robot in history passed away today. it is the end of an era!

my first tag

I am only doing this because haley, whom I love, tagged me!

8 tv shows I love…(hmm big word, better change it to like!)
1. ncis
2. amazing race
3. missing – or what others call without a trace
4. cold case – especially reruns on tnt until 4 am
5. lost
6. cnn headline news
7. ice road truckers
8. infomercials

8 fav restaurants
1. connors
2. gardners
3. madson’s
4. nicholi’s (although I have never eaten there I am sure I would love it because I am craving erica’s meatballs right now and she learned to make them from her mama and papa)
5. luzzato’s (in milano or here – either place as long as Christine is cooking)
6. In all modesty – libsribs

I prefer eating in. I can eat more that way, but if I do go out, which is not often here are a few fav’s
7. wingers for sticky finger salad
8. applebees oriental chicken salad

8 things I did yesterday
1. laundry
2. started a market analysis for a listing I’m not sure I want
3. showed houses
4. did not sell a house
5. went to yw and was obnoxious
6. ate too many fruit loops
7. grilled wings
8. was tired and yes a bit grumpy because I was too tired

8 things I look forward to
1. a thinner me
2. climbing the great wall of china
3. a chocolate truffle when I finish this post
4. farmington public works removing the snow and ice pile near my driveway which will release the damn of water or shall I dare say damn water building up in my driveway!
5. spring
6. french toast for breakfast – as soon as I go to the store and buy bread
7. selling a house
8. Reading everyone’s blogs!!!!

8 things I like about this season
1. a full moon on a quiet winter night just after a fresh snowfall
2. down blankets, soft pillows, a comfy couch and a remote
3. hibernation
4. after Christmas sales
5. the smell of bbq chicken on a cold winter night
6. good neighbors – no incredible neighbors who keep my walk and driveway cleared
7. soup
8. not having to shave my legs everyday

8 things on my wish list
1. that I’d sell a house
2. that houston, kc and calif and idaho were not so far away
3. for a wii fit so I too can become fit
4. katie’s pain would go away
5. gram’s pain would go away
6. that I could give pi some of my weight
7. a bit of kimball’s persistent nature
8. that I’d sell a house

8 people I tag
1. katie (once the pain subsides enough to blog)
2. annie
3. madie
4. miss emily
5. aaron
6. joseph
7. cara
8.laura

ps - cori, aren't you glad i didn't tag you....but it would be nice to have an updated post now and again!