Fourth of July Baby--Not!

I am remembering that two years after a traumatic birth with my first baby, John, I was scheduled for a ceasarean birth on July 5th. However, Linda chose to come on June 28 and would not wait until they could do the ceasarean. I remember the panic in that delivery room as the nurses and doctor were discussing the evolving event. But because Linda came au natural, the doctors said I could have two more babies instead of one and thus there was room for James to add to our family. We called him our bonus baby, but Linda made it possible. Interesting that Jimmy's birthday is June 27 and Linda's is June 28. Happy Birthday Linda and thanks for sharing your birthday trip with me in Salt Lake City--it was lovely.

Promotion!!

James, my son, turned 41 today and was also promoted to Field Vice Chairman in the company he has been with for the past 15 years, World Financial Group. This is a big deal--only one step from the top --SVC-- and he has had to climb up five steps from a Marketing Director. What is involved is being right near the top of a worldwide organization with thousands of agents. Congratulations and Happy Birthday, James!

More Beautiful Flowers

I made these pix big so you could get an idea of these lush flowers all over--lots of pink to red, blue to lavender hues, like large jewels all around.

The flowers in back of Linda are all very tall--all the flowers are growing in this Utahlite mixture--high mounded growing areas--I put my fingers in the mixture and it is very, very light--

We attended some excellent classes today on computer filing, putting your history in books, PAF and merging files and learned lots more new tips. Everyone is so very helpful, printing is only 5 cents a copy, the desks and computers first class and very comfy chairs. Enjoying the whole experience.

Temple Square

Linda and I just ate our lunch at Temple Square. I wanted to show the flowers which are just gorgeous all over the whole area. We worked at the Family History Library today and the lady who was sitting helping us turned out to be one of my roommates when I was a freshman in Allen Hall at BYU. I never recognized her but she said she used to live in Fallon, Nev--and I said, "Oh, I had a roommate at college from Fallon, what's your name?" And it was her. I never realize how old I am until I see someone my own age. I still think of myself at around 40 something with kids that are 20 something...Ha. Anyway she is invaluable. She knows it all and loves to help so that is wonderful.

We also were able to tour the top of the Conference Center. They have an immense plains "prairie" garden as well as many, many trees and bushes and the Christmas Trees are the most beautiful I have ever seen. They grow them in a special product developed for growing on the roof. It is called Utelite and is 50% peat and 50% something else. Regular dirt would be too heavy. The trees are all in pots so the roots cannot go down too far. There is also a large fountain which is directly above the pulpit and has large directions lanes going east, west, north and south and is symbolic of the fulfillment of the D & C scripture that says "Gospel will be preached to all nations, kindred and tongue and is symbolic of the Prophet's words flowing forth to all the world. There is a picture lasered in the granite wall of people from different countries and the scripture. By next conference the gospel will be preached in every language! Anyway very interesting--since 911 you cannot wander up there without a guide. It is also quite a story about the building of the huge auditorium with no beams...

I Assume It Was the Raccoons?

This morning I saw a half eaten raisen bag in front and my garage door wide open. Some critters had unzipped my emergency back pack, strewn flashlight and batteries around, chewed through the plastic food bags and chewed open the raisens and nuts bags and had a party. The thing that boggled my mind is they unzipped two compartments all the way open!! And the middle compartment went all around the bag. Reminded me of when we were camping on Catalina Island and the hogs made a huge mess of our backpacks and food supplies and left snout smear all over everything--at least the raccoons were very tidy. I wonder when I will tire of this wilderness and seek out a condo in the city...Not.

It's For the Birds

Nothing like frustrating the birds. I keep two crocks of water out in my garden for the birds and they love to drink it and bathe in it. Today I took the crocks away in preparation for my trip and it was so funny to watch this bird looking for the water. He flys right down to the spot where the one had been and looked all over and then hopped over to where the other one had been and looked and looked and cocked his head, "I knew it was here yesterday, wha happened???" I had to laugh, he looked so cute. Reminded me of when my friend Berta Mae and I tried to save a bird's life who had fallen from a nest. I think we drowned him trying to get him to drink water. (We were in grade school).

Father's Day, 2007

I had a wonderful father, I wish my children could have known him. He was always a leader, a teacher and yet such a gentle man, so full of love for everyone. 

As a child I remember him taking us on picnics, fishing, to Silvergate, Yellowstone. He was never a selfish man though he loved hunting, fishing, golfing and could have just gone off with the guys. Most everything he did involved some or all of the family. 

He was a very hard worker and was looked up to in the community as an honest, wise, and fair person. He was head of the Chamber of Commerce, head of the Elks, leader of the Church, on the School Board. He always lived exactly who he was as far as I know. 

My friends all loved him, too. He would take us girls to as many out-of-town football and basketball games as time and money would allow. He was always in the audience strongly cheering "our" high school heroes. He was generous with his time and what little he had. 

One of the first things he taught me as I began to seek jobs in junior high was to "always be worth more than what you are paid". He loved my Mom and it showed--as I have mentioned elsewhere, one of my fondest memories of him is his dancing Mom around the kitchen and then giving her a big kiss before he went to work after our noon meal. 

In high school we found some of his love letters to Mom and we read them out loud and he just grinned. He was quite the romantic. He occasionally raised his voice, but not often and he never took a hand to anyone though he raised six children, six children who pretty much stayed in line all the time. 

My aunt once cautioned us--"Be careful what you ask for, your Dad will want to give it to you." He was a good listener but didn't try to preach at you, just let you know he was there for you. He somehow saw that we all had money to go to college but here again I remember his advice to always have a job. And I did, most of the time even while I was in college. 

He was a good, good man. And I remember he most always had a smile on his face. Happy Father's Day, Dad, you were the best!

Men Can Do Some Things Better!

Now that I am not working, I am in to washing my own car, and let's face it, it will never look as good as when a man does it or Tanner. Wow, when I go to El Cajon to visit the grandchildren, Tanner makes my car shiny and clean. Thanks Tanner, I really appreciate that. One misfortune yesterday I decided the uphostery needed a little cleaning so I sprayed some Resolve on it. Unfortunately, it was the Resolve bottle I had put Liquid Fence into last year. Liquid Fence is to keep the deer away and is the most horrible smell in the world and it stays on forever! Needless to say I have been using Faberge to try and get rid of it. I think I will be driving with my windows down for awhile and my big trip to Utah, Idaho, Montana begins next week--yikes!

Flossie

Meet Flossie, a handcrafted porcelain doll I loved the moment I saw her. The local gift shop was closing out on carrying dolls and she was half price. I have seen dolls like her for as much as $350 and that was over 10 years ago. Anyway to make a long story short, I thought about her all day, and then went back and bought her. I reasoned that I have never regretted a purchase of something I truly loved and that brought me such joy and I am sure she was being sold for less than wholesale. Richard and John both had a love for the brownfaced people and she reminded me somewhat of the pictures John took of brownfaced children from Peru and ladies from Nepal. She has a lovely expression on her face and is supposedly representative of the Columbian people.

Eight Random Facts About Myself

Well, I guess the only ones who are going to read this already know the rules. Meagan tagged me to write 8 random facts about myself and then choose 8 others to do the same. Isn't it strange that we know very few people who blog. Meagan started it and then Maria taught me how and then Linda. etc but no friends blog...What are they doing with their life? So here goes but no rules and no other people chosen to blog...

• Random Fact #1 as I said in Meagan's blog is I hate being tagged for anything or chosen for anything or responsible for anything or anybody. Because I am a responsible person I will do it but I am out of my comfort zone. I never wanted to be “in charge” or “the boss” or “the leader:” or “the teacher”. I am a good audience, though and appreciate almost anything other people do to perform but I do not have ambitions to be up there on the stage except I always wanted to be a blues singer in a small intimate café. I am a terrible singer, however, it is not fair.
• Fact #2 I have an addictive personality so it is good I never got into drink or smoke or drugs. I also think it is hereditary and other relatives who have gotten into drink have had a hard time so beware if you are related to me. I order the same foods over and over again at the restaurant, I eat the same things at home over and over and I can’t have certain foods around or I will just keep eating them until they are gone or I am very sick. Unfortunately, because I have an addictive personality I still do occasionally have certain things around the house that I eat and eat and very much enjoy eating.
• Fact #3 The thing I love most about my wood floors is that they are so great for dancing. I love to turn the lights off, turn on my Ipod and dance around the floor. If I am feeling especially festive I even don my red nightgown ( how is that for a picture with my white sox)—now all I need is some floaty scarfs flying around, ha. I think I gained weight this winter because my Ipod was broken. Thank you Linda for putting dance back into my life with a new Ipod.
• Fact #4 I like being alone rather than in a crowd. I have always wanted “time” and that is what I love most about growing old. However, it is also very lonely at times. It is a conundrum. After Richard died I started collecting music and musicals, etc. and I now have over 3000 songs and music to listen to or watch whenever I want. I also write to Richard quite often. I never have to worry about what I say. It is even better than a blog.
• Fact #5. I especially enjoy just one person at a time, one grandchild to go someplace with, one person to chat with, etc. I just never made it in the party scene. Though a teacher once told me I always looked like I was having fun and she would only see me in a crowd. But my best memories are of being with just one other person at a time.
• Fact #6. I always wanted “someone to take care of me”. That is what I was attracted to about Richard. And he did for a long time. Eventually I had to learn to take care of myself and I can do it, however…
• Fact #7. I am also a hopeless romantic who is still waiting for that silverhaired knight on white charger to come and escape with me to a mountaintop—oops I’m already on the mountain top. Oh well, at least I have my romantic music.
• Fact #8 I really love my little home and where I live. I love the peace and quiet and no traffic and very simple life. I just wish I wasn’t getting older and tireder and had no aches or pains and had more stamina for traveling back and forth to So Cal and Susanville cuz I do love to be around the family, too. I really do…

Summer Arrives!

I wanted to record how my yard looked at the beginning of summer--last year the deer devoured everything even the plants on the deck and the beautiful crabapple tree you can't see was completed topped off. This year I am using ribbons to deter them plus the Liquid Fence spray I evidently didn't use enough of. And every morning I see them walk across the back of my yard but they will not come into it!!! Yea, it's working, we will see how long this lasts.

Yesterday I cleaned out the wood shed and guess who lives there? I found numerous squirrel condos with lots of tree droppings dragged in as well as all the lint from my dryer plus somebody's carpet pieces and even pieces of the walls of the shed. Good thing they have all summer to relocate! No wonder one of the squirrels was scolding me the whole time. I almost feared he would jump me...

The Flowers that Keep on Giving

Each morning a new flower has opened up on my bouquet from James and it just keeps getting more gorgeous. When I think how difficult it is to get one little flower to bloom in my dirt garden, I really marvel at what professional gardeners can do. Really beautiful. I love having fresh flowers.

Mother's Day

What is it about Mother's Day? I think it is complicated--as much as being a Mother is complicated. Yes, it is vitally important and wonderful to get those cards and phone calls and even flowers from James, Linda, Maria, and Meagan. It is a special time to hear from your beloved sons and daughters and even grandchildren so you can feel close to them and appreciate what remarkable, wonderful people they are. It is also a day of reflection on your own dear mother--I spent half the day just reading her memoirs, studying pictures from the past and reading the letters she received when her husband passed away. It is good to remember and appreciate. She was a very beloved Mom. It was my intention (while playing my favorite DVDs) to go through my own and my sons and my husbands memory books as well but time ran out on me what with phone calls and all. But it was a good day, even down to the favorite Lemon Coconut Cake I made to celebrate and share with Marjorie and her son and Mom.

However, even before my first baby and son passed away at 43 years of age, Mother's Day has always been hard for me. I didn't like to go to Church and hear all those talks about how wonderful mothers are. I guess because I would reflect on all my faults as a Mom, rather than the good things, though I never reflected on any faults my own Mom might have had, just me. Probably a very destructive and selfish reflection. My husband never understood it. He would say, "You're such a good Mom, why do you feel sad?" I couldn't explain it but I have a very dear memory of my husband one Mother's Day when he said, "We don't have to go to Church, we can just go to Seaport Village and walk around." (Our children were all grown)." And so we did and it was a lovely morning of love and caring and viewing the ocean and enjoying the sunshine (and not hearing those Mother Day talks) and then we came home to have dinner and enjoy the children. I so appreciated his having compassion on my feelings, even though he never understood.

I find now especially, in my old age and being alone, I choose where I will go and where I will spend my time. I know what will make me feel lonely and what will give me cheer whether it is visiting or calling on another, just listening to great music, enjoying one of my many memory books or taking a drive or a walk with a friend. Mother's Day is fragile, I treat it carefully.

I also appreciated getting a Mother's Day call from three of my SBA friends who had been called to Kansas. Mary, Gwenda, and Beverly are there trying to help those whose homes were destroyed. Living conditions are not the best but they all have that SBA "happy to be of help" attitude as they worked on Sunday, Mother's Day, and took time out to call and say hello and ask me how much I was enjoying being home this year, instead of out in the field driving alot and living in rather spartan conditions with them. Well, I am so happy I can be home but I know what good they are doing and hope they had a happy Mother's Day, too, as they called on victims to offer help.

Lake Almanor

Snow Again!!

A few days of spring and then snow again--the flakes were as big as dimes today--of course, that must be many flakes stuck together but it looked like big pieces of lace floating down--beautiful.

On the other hand my dollhouse for the Seven Dwarfs is looking good (if you don't look too close).

I only have the roof and the yard left to finish(besides furniture). I have two sets of seven dwarfs--one too large, and one too small so if anyone sees any out there that are about 3 inches high, tell me where.

If I Could Be A Flower

I would choose to be a daffodil--they are so "hardy"--pardon the pun. But these daffodils started to bloom over a week ago and then they went through a week of freezing nights and totally bent to the will of the wind and snow and look at them now...

A New Project

It's just a beginning and a continual mess to clean up but look what I am up to now.

For over 10 years I have had a doll house kit taking up space in my garage. Voila!! I am getting busy on it. I am no artist and my eyesight will miss a lot but it is fun... I am thinking it should be a house for my favorite Seven Dwarfs--if I can find some miniature dolls with Snow White, of course.

Matt's Birthday!

Alison and Mitch-- Melissa, Maria, Mark and Michael-- My daughter invited me to the Happy Garden in Susanville to celebrate Matt's 20th birthday. As a birthday present they are fixing his car which he brought home from North Star.

Looking good, Matt!

TIME OUT for Women

Saturday we spent at the Convention Center in Reno at Time Out for Women. Michael McLean and Cherie Call were the singers with their stories to tell and I have several CDs of Michael McClean but Cherie was new to me. I felt extravagant as I bought her CDs to add to my 225 (e) collection but this morning as I listened to her I thought what a great way to start the day. She writes meaningful stories with terrific lyrics. What insight for such a young woman. Maria with the pretty curly hair brought her friend Connie with the pretty straight hair and Marjorie came with me. It was a lovely day with good speakers, good food, and good talk.

We stayed at a new Hampton Inn and used some of my Hilton points mostly earned when I stayed at a Hampton in Beaumont, Texas during Hurricane Rita.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

My neighbors back yard shows the beautiful heavy laden trees and see the icicles out my front door. The snow is very heavy on the roof -- we had about 54 inches in February and we had a lot of power outs. Next time I will have better plans of what to do for several hours of darkness in the candlelight! I was able to watch one movie on the laptop before the charger went out and then I did lots of dancing to my singing...

Farewell to Mona!

Saturday night the ward gathered to say farewell to Mona Lyddon. She is moving to Phoenix to be near her children and we will miss her so. She has such a big heart and loving spirit. She was the backbone of Seneca Hospice for many years and also a nurse at the hospital. Marjorie and I had a dinner date with her so just brought her over to the church and she was surprised!!

Lots of good food to share--In fact there was so much it was decided to eat again after Church the next day--unfortunately some of us were snowed in and didn't make it...

Valentine's Day

I had just come back from a walk with Marjorie where I had remarked we had no one to give us a Valentine and I came home to find my grandson Mitch and his girlfriend Allie with a Valentine bouquet and a box of chocolates for me!! Thank heaven for grandchildren (and their girlfriends). I wish I had taken their picture to show--they are so cute.

Maui!

I spent the last week with James, Camber, Jimmy, Kelsi, Jacob and Lea in Maui. I was mostly babysitting but loved the air as I did in Guam. Wish I could bottle it and take it to the mountains. It was an "Escape to Paradise" award trip for some of the WFG people. Some of the activities for the families were snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, etc. while I mostly walked and window shopped.

The man in the middle caught this marlin but looks impressive, right? Pretty Camber and Baby Kelsi enjoying a walk on the beach. James and kids in the kiddy pool. James and Lea snorkeling. Everywhere I go, I take a sunset picture and this is it from Maui--not quite as spectacular as the Phillipine Sea from Guam, but beautiful. This was the sand culture made exclusively for the pleasure of the WFG attendees. The creator has been doing this for 18 years--really magnificent.

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency--great food, beautiful grounds, lovely rooms--a great trip.