Thanksgiving

Taylor and Sadie choose their hats and decorated them, well done!

Rob and his family came, they brought Duncan. Ben and his family came. Luke and his girlfriend, Taylor came.
We went to the Christmas light parade on Friday and then the DIL and I went to a black light zumba party at the Maridel center.
We played miniature golf with the little ones and the big boys played laser tag. Luke then challenged his girlfriend, Taylor to a killer game of ping pong. the little ones played air hockey.
We had a delightful Thanksgiving feast.
Luke and Taylor made the smashed tators and brought a delightful cheesecake and sparkling cider.
Rob and Lindsey made a hot green bean casserole and a berry pie.
Ben and Lindsy made 2 kinds of yummy rolls, chocolate pecan rollos and a delicious pumpkin roll.
Duncan made a wonderful pie.
We made the turkey, cranberry juice, dressing, and Reese's Peanut butter  cups.

Boise Temple Cultural Event

Andrew is in the middle in a blue shirt. He is a wagon wheel.

Here Andrew is kneeling,.

The Boise temple cultural event had over 8,000 youth participating. They were in the Taco Bell arena part of Boise State University. They had a morning practice and them presented it to the prophet that evening. They had all kinds of dances, a slap dance, jitterbug, a human flag, a ballet and a march of Eagle Scouts and girls with their YW medallions. It was amazing to watch.

Halloween 2012

Cruella De Vil, I prefer this Disney villain. My red gloves were rented out already.

Andrew chooses his own costumes each year.

The Sheriff is in town.

Happiness Is

My Sunday School lesson is on repentance and happiness. I rewrote the lyrics from Charles Schultz.

it has the seminary answers in it, go figure. 

Happiness Is

Happiness is reading your scriptures,

Saying your prayers,

Getting the priesthood.

Happiness is paying your tithing,

Going to the temple for the very first time.

Happiness is going to church,

living the gospel,

visiting teachers.

Happiness is having a calling,

Sharing with neighbors

Family Home Evening.

For happiness is eternal and everlasting too

when you live true.

‘You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown’

High Fiber Diet Show

I have entered 2 art projects for the High Fiber  Show at Arts East. The first is a wall hanging called "Change of Heart". It has nine squares with a variation of heart or love, such as;  black heart, broken heart, purple heart, tough love, envious heart, chicken heart etc. Art is supposed to make you think. I thought it would sell for someone's cubicle.
The second art project is 'tie dye'. I used parts of silk ties on a pillow and put another plain cloth on top of it, rolled it up and boiled it in a pot for 20 minutes. The result was an echo image that I used for the backing of the pillow. I thought is was too muted to use for a front but I liked the effect. Art is also trying new techniques.Iwon't know until next week if they were chosen for the show or not. The website for the show is http://artseast.org on the right is listed the high fiber diet exhibit where you can find more info. I seem to have more time to finish the little projects.

Costumes, I am Drowning...

   Just received a generous donation from Imbler High School of their entire costume closet. My house is overflowing! Bruce came home from Scout camp at Phillips Reservoir to clothes hanging everywhere! I have piles to give a way, piles I gave away and more piles to be washed and some on hangers to be aired out. It is like living in a house of clothes. I will post an inventory on the costume blog.

What a busy week this week! On Monday I got a pedicure. Ta dah!  The local beauty college does a good job.

On Tuesday we took the dog to the vet for shots and found out about Greenies to help the dog get rid of plaque on her teeth. I worked at the Family History center for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Bruce went fishing, alas no fish.

On Wednesday Bruce and I helped serve coffee and tea at the local senior center. We get trays for the ones that have trouble walking. They had fried chicken, smashed taters with white gravy, nasty canned carrots, jello, delicious homemade rolls and butter, and a chocolate cake with chemicals, I means Cool Whip.

The church activity for the youth was canoeing at Morgan Lake. They went over safety rules and had races. They swamped a canoe and taught the youth how to upright the canoe. They had hot dogs and marshmallows for dinner. Andrew already knew how to do that so he went swimming and dunking each other in the lake.

Thursday I got my hair trimmed an inch and bangs shorter. I wanted to look nice for my sister’s visit. Our ward women’s group had a pot luck lunch at Riverside Park. I took a green salad with the greens from our garden. I added green onions, grape maters, sunflower seeds and grated motz cheese. It was a fun catching up and eating time.

Andrew had a soccer game with the local rec league. He likes playing. They have a good team with boys and girls mixed.

Bruce had his last Bishop’s meeting. We are scheduled to get released in a couple of weeks. It has been 5 years.

Friday I went to a couple of yard sales and scored some costumes, vintage clothing and some beautiful scarves and shawls. I bought some to share with my sisters! Okay I know I splurged some cost 50 cents instead of a quarter…my sistahs are worth it! yeah living on the edge.

Friday we feed the missionaries. We had sub sandwiches, peas from the garden and cherries from our tree. One Elder is from Kansas and the other from Texas. They are fun to have around.

Friday evening my 3 sisters and mom arrived; my sister Robin, from Virginia, who has never visited us, Elaine from Roy, Utah, likewise, and Bonita, who sings for the Mormon tabernacle choir. We had salmon from the store, on sale, corn on the cob from our freezer, rice, green salad from our garden, peas from the garden, cherries from the backyard tree.

Saturday morning, Bruce made waffles with raspberries from our garden and I alas added chemicals to mine- cool whip.

My sister, Bonita, who sings for the Mo Tab did a choral review at our church. The choir sings a variety of new songs and she gives a running commentary on the music telling how Mack Wilberg or Ryan Murphy would lead the music. It was fun and there were beautiful pieces. One song gave me chills as we sang it.

The stores down town were doing Crazy Days sales so we had lots of side walk racks to go through and some fancy cars to look at in the closed off streets. We had our picture taken in front of a restored Lamborghini. My sister had those. (Will post later) It rained so we dodged the drops by going inside some of the stores; the perils of shopping.

Saturday evening Bonita gave a fireside on her experiences with the Mo Tab. They were in the inaugural parade, the songs they sang on 911 as they had a concert scheduled and the changes they made, singing for a young girl with cancer at a hospital, and being refused to sing in a Baptist church as they think we are not Christians; interesting. She did sing ‘Nearer My God to Thee’. She considers her voice non solo so we hummed with her. Apparently a lot of the singers in the choir are professional singers. As far as I am concerned she has a marvelous trained alto voice. She talked for an hour and as she didn’t see any yawns, she talked for another half hour. I am grateful she shared her stories with us. She talked about the power of music and the peaceful feeling it brings. She handed out free DVD’s to the 3 oldest people there and 2 to choir directors. I think I will order some for me to give as gifts. They are very soothing and calming.

Sunday morning we took some photos with my hats and the shawls. The fam left for Ut. It was quick visit for us. My sisters got to talk to each other the whole way here and back. I want to go to Virginia next summer with mom.

It is excellent to see family again. We didn’t even have any fights or hurt feelings! Bonus! The house is already feeling quiet and lonely.

Week End with brother Kevin and mom

    Spent the week with Dan and Heidie and then some time with my brother and mom.
My nephew Sawyer got married in the Rexburg, Id temple. It was great fun to see his family again. I haven't seen them in a long time.
   On Tuesday I went with Carma Bedard to Rexburg. I stayed with Dan & Heidie. Heidie made a warm, comforting chicken crock pot with dumplings. I read Dan's book and edited it for grammar. It is good. I didn't like the violence.
   On Wednesday Heidie took me to Jo Ann's (Yes) and Ross. I need more money.
We had chicken bb on buns and veggies. We went for a walk in the park.
   On Thursday went to IHop for breakfast. Dan had CINN-A-STACK® Pancakes A stack of 2 fluffy buttermilk pancakes layered with a luscious cinnamon roll filling, drizzled with rich cream cheese icing and topped with whipped topping. 
Heidie had Stuffed French Toast Combo^* Cinnamon raisin French toast with a sweet cream filling, crowned with   strawberry topping,  and whipped topping. Served with two eggs, hash browns& two pork sausage links. Dan ate a sausage link.
and I had Spinach & Mushroom Omelette Fresh spinach, mushrooms, onions & Swiss cheese rolled in a fluffy omelette. Topped with rich hollandaise and diced tomatoes.
It was most excellent! 
We went shopping to Big Lots & Ross.
Mom and Kevin picked me up for the ride to Rexburg. We missed the turn off and went a half an hour further. We were talking and laughing. Mom kept saying to look at the pretty clouds and Kevin couldn't see them as he was driving. I ate M & m's in the back seat and went into an m& m coma. It was delightful! Mom made us sandwiches too. Got to meet Sawyer' s bride to be, Whitney Seger from Kansas City. We stayed in the Marriott at a nice discount owing to relatives to Tiffany's husbands, sister that works for them. got that?
   On Friday we went to the temple for Whitney's endowments. I got to be in the prayer circle with my brother. We went to the pizza pie buffet afterwards. Mom and I stayed in our room, she was tired from traveling and just back from Virginia. 
Saturday was cloudy and grey and windy. We  had a beautiful session in the temple. The counsel from the sealer was when we pray at night to thank Heavenly Father for our spouse and to list 3-4  things why we married them. He says we should take turns doing that, the husband one night and the wife the next. he also said his wife hasn't caught on to that yet... He advised the young couple to return on their anniversary or close to it and do sealings for other couples to remind them of the covenants they made.
   We took family photos after that until it got too cold. We had an informal dinner with prime rib, taters, spinach salad, rolls, raspberry cheese cake squares, and a  German chocolate oatmeal brownie. It was delicious!
Next week adventure for me!

Happy Mother's Day!

   Bruce got me 10 years worth of roses in one fell swoop. He bought me a climbing rose! He planted it under the dining room window so when the weather is warm (like today) and the roses are blooming, we will be able to smell them while we eat.
   Andrew made taters for dinner and kiss.
   I heard from all the children away from home. Everyone is safe and happy.
What more could a mother want?
                Happy Mother's Day!
   I even called my mother. She is visiting my sister in Virginia.

60th Birthday

Bruce had his 50 plus ten birthday, 6 decades, or 3 score birthday on Saturday. We had church family over for cake. He put up pictures in our bedroom, He has been sheet rocking and painting. It is looking good. Kevin rogers came over and helped him rewire the electrical as some of the out lets did not have boxes for the plug ins. scary

We were Shamrocked!

We were shamrocked on Thursday afternoon. The young girls from our church age 8- 11 stuck shamrocks on our door and left beautiful green choc chop cookies and white shortcake cookies. It was a delightful surprise!

The cookies dinna last long at our house, lassies.

Redoing the Bedroom

Bruce has slowly been remodeling the house. He is working on the bedroom. He & Duncan removed the popcorn ceiling & the thin paneling covering the walls. Of course we found 1 x 12's. Bruce is putting up sheet rock & insulating the outside wall.

I love the circle swirls on the ceiling.

Contra Dancing

I love to dance! We went to the old library last night to learn how to contra dance. It is fun!

There were about 12 of us there. There were 3 couples and we traded partners all night as we needed to learn how to dance.

Here is their web site:http://www.neofs.us

We did:

do si do

crossovers

al la mand left

swing your partner

figure 8's

forward and back

It was a lot like square dancing. We danced with people that knew how to dance and so sometimes our corner partner was with each other.

I was sweating by the end of the night and next time we will take a water bottle.

They meet every Tuesday. It was $2 a person to help pay for electricity and renting the building.

Some of the ladies had black dancing shoes that they brought with them.

Uncle Chris was there taking photos so we might end up in the paper... I 'll post those if that happens or maybe Chris will email us a copy. We did invite him to dance, twice and he said it wasn't in his contract to dance with us.

Heart Garland

I found this heart garland on line and loved the happy colors.

You could make it in rainbow colors

or YW colors - white, blue, red, green, orange, yellow, purple, gold

or all pastels

or red, black 7 creams

or muted rainbow colors

Have fun! I did!

Vintage Valentine's Decorating

After I changed the kitchen shelves I asked Bruce if he liked it. He said he was sorry but he didn't even notice a change.

I like the red, it cheers the place after all that blue from last month.

The wedding pics are from Crys wedding & they look better on the wall than in a box. I put our children's wedding photos on the roll top desk. They look good.

I made a wreath using a grape vine wreath, a red velvet Christmas bow, (1/2 off) & some small rosebud roses from the dollar store with a gold heart pin on the bow.

I will make a felt heart garland and that will conclude the decorating for this year.

Book of Mormon Quilt

The first block is Lehi's Dream. It puckered when I added the iron rod so I will have to change that. I wanted the colors to portray a dream like quality.

The second block is the Liahona. Yes, it does look like a Christmas ornament. sigh. I wanted to use the Aztec fabric to look South American. I will write or embroider I will since that was the 'attention getter' for the lesson. I use them in my Gospel Doctrine class. I think it will make a nice wall hanging when I am finished with the class. Or maybe I will enter it in the Church's international Art competition.

Anniversary

We had our 34th anniversary.

We went to see the movie "We bought a Zoo!" a very fun love story.

We ate dinner at 10 Depot. We had the special; prime rib gravy over noodles and a green salad. We each had dessert; I had blueberry cheesecake and Bruce had a chocolate, raspberry tart.