The Scarlet Letter

I also watched an interesting version of 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne today. it was the silent version made in 1926 with the famous movie star of the silent screen, Lillian Gish. She is so petite and sweet looking, she reminded me of Sarah. I must say movies have come a loooong way in the past 83 years.

They had extreme difficulty telling a complex story such as this with no speaking words and just simple narration to read. The actors and actresses had to emote so much with their faces and body language.

Simple as it was it held me entranced as the fire went out and I didn't even notice. I remember reading that novel in high school and Hester Prynne became a heroine to me. I remember wondering how I would handle what she went through if it happened to me in 1950. I decided I could not be so noble or brave as she was...

I had remembered she wore the A for Adultress on her forehead instead of her chest. I wonder where I got that...

Finally Finished!

I finally finished 'The Count of Monte Cristo'--only took me about a month to read 1462 pages!! Well worth it, though, I recommend it highly. I believe the message of the book was in the final words to dear Maximillan from the Count--among other things he wrote:

"There is neither happiness nor misery in this world there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness."

Hmm, where have we heard that message before. Sounds a lot like the scriptures.

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility. 2 Nephi 2:11

I Like A Rainy Day

My plan was to finish my book 'Count of Monte Cristo' today but TCM had such good movies I couldn't turn off the TV. It was either a Paris theme day or Broken Heart theme day because all the movies took place in Paris and all had sad endings. They were all from the 50's and 60's and none were familiar to me, even though they starred Deborah Kerr, Elizabeth Taylor, Van Johnson, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, David Niven, Ingrid Bergman, etc. So, very enjoyable, sad endings and all.

It always surprises me when I watch the old movies that there was still black and white in the 60's and that in the 30's to 60's era there was so much illicit love. I don't know if I just missed it or what, but it is a surprise--thought it came much later.

 

Bandido was a real wimp today. I put on our rain coats and had the big umbrella but I had to coax him to even go as far as the driveway. He is truly showing his age.

I I I kind of like having my geraniums in the house--will see how long they last.

Anyway the fire has been going all day and it has been a lovely, lovely rainy day.

Getting Ready for Winter

You can tell that winter is coming soon..

My neighbors on both sides of me and across from me have all been up this week and closed their homes for the winter. I caught Jeff before he left to help me get my umbrella off and put away for the winter. But I put up all my vent guards myself. And put away all garden decorations and trimmed down the perennials.

The leaves are changing colors--so pretty everywhere.

And the deer are hungrier than usual--you can tell by what they are eating. They knocked over the cage around a bush and completely devoured the leaves.

And some late blooming lillies were just ready to bloom--the deer have eaten all but one. I thought the cage around them was high enough--alas it was not. They will probably eat the other one tonight.

Even Bandido had to get in the act, he dug a nice deep hole he could snuggle up in.

But the geraniums look better than ever. Freezing nights have not affected them at all. So what to do with them, see if they can live inside or??????

And, of course, there is still plenty of sunshine and warm days, at least until tomorrow. There is supposed to be wind and rain here and snow in the higher elevations. Yes, winter is on the way but right now it is just a lovely fall day.

I love this time of year in Lake Almanor.

Pres. Goolsby's Barbeque Bash

Friday night we had a delicious barbeque at the home of John and Jane Goolsby in Chester. Their home sits right on the bank of the Feather River. I had no idea they were so close. The dog even drinks her water by standng on the rocks near the edge. I wish I had remembered my camera!

Jean sent me these pix and from right to left is Jane (John's wife), Margaret, Sue, and Mary Anne.

This is Sue again with me. Notice their kitchen has this lovely color of red just like I would like in my living room!!

The tri tip and chicken were delicious (that Ron supervised) and there were lots of wonderful salads. And it was delightful sitting on the patio even if fall has arrived!! Great party with our little Branch family!

Judy Garland

I just watched another biography of Judy Garland. This was a movie made from the book her daughter Lorna Luft wrote "Me and My Shadow". It was very well done.

She was one of my favorite movie stars and singers. Of course, she is the one that made "Over the Rainbow" (my favorite song) famous and was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

She also starred in "A Star Is Born" and I loved her singing in that. Wish I could have seen the full version before they butchered it. Still a great film though.

She started at MGM when she was 13 and even then they controlled her life with pills and too much work. She never really had a childhood. It is so sad the way the very talented are used and abused by those around them. Too often they end up without money, addicted to drugs and die at a young age.

I think she was only 48 when she died. It is amazing to me to see how someone so gifted can have so much doubt about their talent. And need so much love that they are crippled by their doubts and rely too much on other people. Sort of makes our doubts about ourselves seem very appropriate.

Watching films about these movie stars and singers that appear to have everything but a normal life makes you realize that not having any talents can be a blessing, too.

Family for the Weekend!

It was so great to have Maria up here for the weekend. I get lonely up here and it has been a long time since she has been here. I like her new car, too.

Then to have Matt and Mitch come up Sunday was icing on the cake. Of course, they did the usual chores of Mitch filling my wood bin on the deck and Matt cleaning the gutters and roof one more time for winter. Mitch spent most of the weekend with all his friends in Susanville and Matt came up from Tahoe City. Melissa stayed down in Chico with her friends so I didn't get to see her.

Maria has such a dramatic life, I like hearing of her adventures first hand. From one day to the next it was a puzzle to figure it all out. In the end, she found out for sure that the infamous T is apparently a pathological liar. Better to find out now than later, but it was all so unbelievable until actually proven. If you read her blog, you know what I mean. She better write a book is all I can say, it would be a best seller, I am sure. Or the perfect deception drama that Lifetime Movie Network loves to show about the frailities of the human species.

Movies You Must See

Somewhere I read this list of "Movies You Must See" and of course, they are oldies, so you either have to find them on TCM, FX or FMC, etc. or rent them from the video store. I have seen many of them in the past but thought I would attempt to see them all again and see what made them so excellent. Both of these came up today on TV.

'My Darling Clementine' with Henry Fonda and Victor Mature. This is without a doubt the best Wyatt Earp film I have seen. Not so violent as the present day ones. Makes Wyatt Earp more believable as Henry Fonda played him.

Then I watched 'Che' which is the story of how Che Guavara helped Fidel Castro overthrow Batista in Cuba and what happed to Che when Castro took power. Very excellent also. That is two for two!!

Movies to Watch For or Rent:

• A Man Escaped
• Adams Rib
• All That Heaven Allows
• Ashes and Diamonds
• Beat the Heat
• Black Narcissus
• Breathless
• Brief Encounter
• Che
• Cleaner
• Deception
• Diary of a Country Priest
• Eyes W? a Face
• Gun Crazy
• Henry V
• His Girl Friday
• I Know Where I’m Going
• In a Lonely Place
• Ivan the Terrible, Part 2
• Kinds Hearts and Coronets
• Kiss Me Deadly
• Lady from Shanghai
• Lars and the Real Girls
• La Stroh
• Leatherheads
• Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
• Lola Montes
• Man Who Knew Too Much
• Marty
• Murder My Sweet
• My Darling Clementine
• Nights and Cabria
• Night and Fog
• Now Voyager
• Open City
• Out of the Past
• Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
• Paths of Glory
• Pickup on South Street
• Postman Always Rings Twice
• Rashomen
• Salt of the Earth
• Smart People
• Strangers on a Train
• Testament of Orpheus
• The Bandwagon
• The Bicycle Thief
• The Big Heat
• The Cranes are Flying
• The Day the Earth Stood Still
• The Palm Beach Story
• The Seventh Seal
• The Stranger
• Throne of Blood
• To Have and Have Not
• Tokyo Story
• Umberto D
• Unfaithfully Yours
• White Heat
• Wild Strawberries
• 21
• 88 Minutes

Fatigue Fighter

I have found a new way to amuse and humiliate myself. It was suggested in 'First for Women' magazine that there are 10 ways to get Energy on Demand and #7 is to Belt Out Your Favorite Melody.

Well, I have never been afraid to sing to myself but this takes it to a whole new dimension. On SingSnap.com you can sing to a karoke and record it! You can share it with everyone and get rated and even display your picture or....you can keep it private. Naturally, I keep it private. I was hoping I could come up with something that little Kelsi might appreciate but not yet. I sound like a wailing cat.

But, it does give you energy and lifts your spirits by making you laugh. And I have so much more appreciation for my favorite vocalists. I don't think I have ever heard myself sing before. Now I know why one of my kindergarten fathers was concerned that his son was being taught to sing flat.

Melissa, you have lots of time, you could have a lot of fun with this. You can also choose to listen to other people by choosing whose picture you like. I noticed one good looking guy had several 'views' so I listened to him. He was soulful...sounded so romantic.

And Mitch you can make music and share it with us! Check it out.

Remember Zach?

My niece Sherry and her son Zach lived with us for a time in La Jolla when Meagan was a toddler. I think Meagan was two years older than Zach. The things I remember about Zach was his love of playing 'baseball' with his Mom and the speed with which he could take off in the mall (if he had a mind to) and what a darling boy he was. And, wow, look at him now...what a handsome guy.

Meagan and Kristi, do you remember playing with Zach those many years ago??? Kristi was just a baby so doubt she does.

Zach is a Texan. Cute girlfriend is named Belaca and evidently it is serious. Zach works as a valet while finishing his classes at Auburn Community College and will be going to Texas State to complete his marketing degree. Sherry says he is very friendly and quite the salesman. I remember Marilyn telling me he has supported himself for a long time and is a very good worker and student. So nice to get acquainted with you again, Zach. Thanks for the pix, Sherry.

Summer is Officially Over...at least till the Weekend!

Big surprise. It is cold this morning!!! 28 Degrees. It doesn't feel that cold though. But I had my first cozy fire last night. The wood is so dry it is a huge, crackly, 'catch on fire fast' burn. Nice!

I am up to 700 pages (of 1400) on the 'Count of Monte Cristo'. I finally got smart and went to the internet and downloaded a list of all the characters. There are so many characters and so many sub plots, I couldn't keep track of them all. This is much easier. It must be easy to write school essays now when you can get all the answers on the internet.

It is so amazing to me all the inventions since I was a child. How did we live without tv, microwaves, ipods, computers, cell phones, jet planes, etc? And what will life be like when the grandchildren are in their 70's? No way to even imagine.

Santa Update!

While we are at it, here is an update on our very own hometown Santa! No fake whiskers on this Santa. Doing a great job, Bill. Keep up the good work.

Twins Update!

Calm looking Mom, Bethany. Twins look very mellow and content. Nice going, Mom! They are one month old on Sept 26 and Sept 27. Close up of Sage and Raina. Sage is larger than Raina, but Raina has the big eyes. Cute, cute. This will be fun to watch as they grow and develop their own personalities.

Fall is Here

I can't believe it! It's already time to get out the flannel pjs. It'll soon be time for the wood stove...I love it.

Another Nice Weekend

Friday I went to the Reno Temple with Mary Anne and Jean. Lovely day but ate too much at the Pizza Buffet on the way home. They have these wonderful cinnamon twists with frosting on them for dessert and I can't get enough of them. Reminds me of the cinnamon rolls my Mom made almost every week. I had it so much better in the food department than my children did. My Mom was a fantastic cook.

Saturday I surveyed the work the chipmunks did while I was gone. It is hilarious. They have these holes all over the yard (not in my iris bed anymore, though) and they have put these large green pine cones in them. Of course, they can't get them all the way down the holes so they sit on top, in plain sight. My dilemma--should I rake them away when I clean up the yard tomorrow or should I leave them, just in case they really do need them this winter. I don't know how a chipmunk thinks so is he going to be in the hole, coming in from another side and just eat off of the pine cone when he needs it, since it will be under the snow. I wish I knew. I really have sympathy for them, and the snow will cover them in a few months and no one really cares if my yard is messy looking except me...hmm, big decision.

Today we had a wonderful chili and cornbread dinner after Sacrament Meeting. Because on the third week of the month a visiting High Councilman and his speaking partners come from quite a distance to our chapel, we prepare a nice dinner for them and invite the whole ward to stay. We all contribute, of course. I took brownies and my raisen bars. I really thought the raisen bars would be left but every one was eaten and Pres. Struve said he loved them, so did Bishop Martin and Jean said she was taking a couple home. Older generation treat, I think.

I taught the lesson in Relief Society and it was on being a good friend. I don't know how great the lesson was but I surely enjoyed remembering all the really great friends I have had the privilege of having in my life over the years. Too numerous to count, too many to name but I really appreciate all the friends I have and have had--some since childhood. There is really nothing more precious in life than our friends, of which I mean family members as well. After all, we get along in life...but only with a little help from our friends.

I have really been enjoying reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" and that surprises me very much. I only have about another 1000 pages to go but it is really a page turner, honestly. It went along with my lesson when Dante realizes that the friendship he has had with Faria in prison is far more precious than his dream of escape. There were beautiful paragraphs on the value of friendship in our life. And Dumas, the author, makes you realize what the mind is really capable of. However, Faria admitted he would not have been able to develop it so intrically if he had been free, but being imprisoned he forced himself to recall and remember and continually develop his memory to perfection. Could you write word for word whole books you have read? I remember many stories from WWII of how prisoners survived by forcing their minds to recall and continually develop to a higher plane rather than succumb to their surroundings.

I wonder what exciting events await Dante tonight--I read in bed.

Les Miserables

Today was 'Les Miserables' day. I watched the old black and white version with Fredic March and a very young Charles Laughton. Both actors were great and it is a terrific interpretation of the book. And then I play the musical version and it really stirs my soul.

I must admit I had to stop watching the movie for awhile, I get very upset by the inequities in life, the unfairness of it all, but the remorse on Charles Laughton's (Javert's) face before he drowns himself made up for all the rest...

I don't understand how I got all through school without having to read 'Les Miserables' or even see the movie. I wasn't aware of it at all until the new musical version came out and our Church did a performance of it. Anyway the music always gives me a great lift...so grateful for the talents of others.

Time for Santa...almost

Hard to believe I am old enough to have gone to grade school with Santa but there he is--same age as me and went to Washington Grade School and Dawson High . Looking good, Bill, you are a very authentic looking Santa!

Happy Birthday Weekend in Sacramento

Here is Michael in front of his apartment. I enjoyed Mike's Birthday weekend in Sacramento.

I noticed when we were at Olive Garden we had very good service and then I realized we had a girl waitress.

Same thing happened last fall at the Outback and other restaurants. Mike ignores it all and doesn't appear to notice.

Anyway I had a lovely weekend and hope he did, too.

He chose a Strawberry Cheesecake for his birthday cake...

While doing our Art Studio walk we

came across this interesting store

window with a huge cat sleeping in

it. Mike let me take his picture in

front of it. Turned out kind of interesting. Gorgeous flowers.

I had a hard time walking because I couldn't breathe very well cuz of my allergies so we didn't get to see many art studios but it was interesting talking to the artists we saw. Mike patiently walked slow with me.

Mike enjoyed his favorite Chicken

Fajitas at Chevys Fresh Mex on the

bank of the American River. I had my favorite Flautas. Love them.

I love the way the river winds through Sacramento. Mike says the

young people have inexpensive and

noisy parties just by parking 2 or 3 boats together.

A visit to the State Capital is always

worthwhile just to see the trees and

flowers. There is usually some

wedding party there taking pictures.

There is supposedly a tree planted

there for every kind in Sacramento

and supposedly Sacramento has more

variety of trees than any other city.

That is why it is called "The City of

Trees."

Regardless of the allergies from the trees and things, it was a great weekend. Thanks, Mike, for spending time with your Grandma.

Sacramento for the Weekend

So Bandido is off to the kennel tomorrow and I am off to Sacramento to celebrate grandson Mike's birthday!! The critters can take over the yard and I can forget about ACORN and Health Care and all the bad news I hear everyday. Should be a lovely change...

The Critters Are Gone--For Now!

This morning I flooded 9 holes of the chipmunks--they were nowhere in sight. A short time later one of them came and inspected his burrows. Immediately he ran over to the neighbors yard and up a tree where he started chattering loudly to another chipmunk(She?) One of them started chasing the other and they jumped to one of my trees and pursued the chase until one of them (He?) ran off to the front yard and then I saw him chasing all over the very back of my lot about 5 minutes later.

My Take: I think he was making the nesting burrows and when they were flooded she scolded him for choosing such a bad place until he ran off to pursue a better habitat. At least I haven't seen or heard anything of them since! We'll see...

Reading the Classics

Yesterday I started on another one of the Classics. That is on my list of 25 Things To Do Before I Die, to read all the Classics. I carry in my car a notebook with lists of booktitles. One Meagan sent me which was a College Bound Reading List. One is The 400 Best Books Ever Written by Melissa Field and one is Read The Classics from Target.com and one is Explore Banned Books from Google (many of which have been made in to movies and most adults have read). So I have a lot of books to choose from when I go to the library and believe it or not I have read a good many of them. (I check them off also, so I don't read them twice, otherwise I would never know).

Yesterday I found a new edition of "The Count of Monte Cristo" and am thoroughly enjoying it. Only 1400 pages to go. Yes, I have seen the movie but as all readers know, that is not the same and I hate it when CD books are abridged. I won't listen to an abridged book. If I just want the story I can read that on the internet, if it is worth listening to or reading it is worth hearing it all, I think.

At the back of the book I was impressed to read about the Modern Library Editorial Board with impressive authors on the list. Evidently the Modern Library has been "providing readers with affordable hardbound editions of important works of literature and thought" since 1917. This book was just reprinted in 1996 so it is very nice and easy to read. Thanks to all the people out there who provide us with good books to read and libraries in every town.

Incidentally I have never read a 'Classic' I didn't like and that surprised me, though it shouldn't or why would it be called a classic...

Critters Drive Me Crazy

Some little critters that look suspiciously like this chipmunk are driving me crazy. They are digging holes in my potted plants and raised garden beds. There is almost a half acre of dirt but they only dig holes in my gardening areas. When I chase them with a hose or a noise making branch they run up a tree and get about 100 feet up and then look down on me and taunt me with a "chi, chi, chi, chi...". Bandido likes to chase them but he is no match for tree climbers.

There have always been squirrel holes around the yard but I don't remember any making all these big holes in my soft garden dirt. Yes, it is the fall and they are preparing for winter but....there is plenty of room for them elsewhere. What to do, what to do???? They will just have to move from the Garden Apartments to the Hillside Apartments, plenty of room for them there.

Happiness

Natasha in “War and Peace” was making a list of all the things that bring happiness. I have been making sure I put things into my life that make me happy. In no particular order they are:

1-Reading a very enjoyable book, that I can’t put down till I finish it. Last night I did that. It was 11 o’ clock, I wasn’t tired, I started a book and could not put it down until it was finished at 4:38 in the morning. HAPPY

2-Taking a nap under my favorite comforter with total silence surrounding me. That happened today. Being totally tired after reading all night, I took my nap immediately after coming home from Church and slept till 4:30 pm. HAPPY

3-Listening to other people share their testimonies of what makes them happy, why they love the gospel, their family, etc. Today we had many visitors in Church because of the Labor Day weekend. There were many visitors and many beautiful testimonies of love and faith. One of our favorite friends Mona was visiting and there were some distant cousins of Richards that I met. Their last name was Earl, they had to be related and they were second cousins. HAPPY

4-Talking to my children or getting emails, blogs, etc. from them. This week I had calls from Camber, Linda, Jimmy and emails and blogs from Maria, Mike, Meagan ,,, That is an easy way to make a Mom, Grandmom, HAPPY

5-Getting messages on Facebook from relatives, friends, family—What an easy way to get happy, just a little one liner will do it. There were lots this week. HAPPY

6-Having good conversations with friends or family—This week I enjoyed long conversations with Carole, Linda, Myrna, Marjorie HAPPY

7-Working in the yard—yes, that has always been an enjoyable task for me. I have a fond memory of Richard calling out from our upstairs window to me. “Janet, come in, your babies need you.”. He did not enjoy yard work. I loved it. This week I had lots of opportunities to water and mulch while listening to my favorite music on the ipod. HAPPY

Well, that is enough of a list for today. It is time to listen to my favorite music and go to sleep again under my favorite comforter…HAPPY

Bandido is half Lahasa Apso so I took this test.

Who is in charge? Quiz for Apso Owners

1. Does your dog fail to get up and out of your way when you are on a collision course with him? yes

2. Does your dog try to go through the door first - ahead of you? yes

3. Does your dog resist giving up objects when you try to take them? yes

4. Does your dog pull you when he is on a leash? Sometimes

5. Does your dog ever growl at you?

6. Does your dog resist grooming or nail cutting? yes

7. Does your dog sleep in your bed? yes

8. Does your dog ignore you when you ask him to come? yes, tries to

9. Does your dog guard food dish or toys against you.

10. Does your dog snap at treats or try to take them away from you? yes

If you answered yes to more than three of these, you are not in charge, HE IS. You have to get control before you have a real problem on your hands. (Too late, he is 13 years old.) Dogs, especially Apsos respond to a power vacuum by asserting their own dominance. If you fail to teach the dog his place in society, he will assume control and teach you yours. (My neighbor told me this when I first moved here, because Bandido did not mind me.)

OK, I admit, Bandido runs this house.

But I will say this, he is very protective of me and follows me from room to room, even getting up in the middle of the night and dragging his tail to wherever I may be, computer room, kitchen, couch, etc. When I bathe, he sits as close to the tub as he can and when I am out of sight, he finds me.

Overall, I would say he is a great companion dog with an independent spirit. Goes well with mine.

Rod Stewart

Talk about being thankful for other people's talents, I am a real fan of Rod Stewart. Actually I was not even aware of him or his music until 2000 or so whenever he started singing the classics. This was actually the start of his fourth or more decade of singing. Maria bought the cd and told me I would like it because it was all the songs of my youth and indeed it was. And then he went on to do three or four more classic song cds. I was still in my collecting music phase and so have all of them, of course. And I came to love some of his rock songs when I bought one of his concerts on DVD. He does a fantastic concert. Marvelous entertainer.

Yesterday I watched his biography and how he started out with the wild life in the sixties, (but he did have a solid family foundation) had nothing but success with music and women, fathered 7 children or more, became fantasticly wealthy and enjoys his family life now and his children and ex-wives even say nice things about him.

One of my favorite songs he wrote after one of his long legged, beautiful blonde wives left him. This was a first for him. No one ever left him and broke his heart but out of it came the tender song, " I Don't Want To Talk About It."

Anyway wicked lifestyle or not in the beginning, he has certainly made a success of his career and family life and I am thankful for his great talent. He even had cancer of the thyroid and his voice came back better than ever. How blessed can you get? Some people are indeed blessed all their life with everything, it seems. Hmmm.

Rod Stewart

Talk about being thankful for other people's talents, I am a real fan of Rod Stewart. Actually I was not even aware of him or his music until 2000 or so whenever he started singing the classics. This was actually the start of his fourth or more decade of singing. Maria bought the cd and told me I would like it because it was all the songs of my youth and indeed it was. And then he went on to do three or four more classic song cds. I was still in my collecting music phase and so have all of them, of course. And I came to love some of his rock songs when I bought one of his concerts on DVD. He does a fantastic concert. Marvelous entertainer.

Yesterday I watched his biography and how he started out with the wild life in the sixties, (but he did have a solid family foundation) had nothing but success with music and women, fathered 7 children or more, became fantasticly wealthy and enjoys his family life now and his children and ex-wives even say nice things about him.

One of my favorite songs he wrote after one of his long legged, beautiful blonde wives left him. This was a first for him. No one ever left him and broke his heart but out of it came the tender song, " I Don't Want To Talk About It."

Anyway wicked lifestyle or not in the beginning, he has certainly made a success of his career and family life and I am thankful for his great talent. He even had cancer of the thyroid and his voice came back better than ever. How blessed can you get? Some people are indeed blessed all their life with everything, it seems. Hmmm.

13 To Go!

I just reviewed the list I made in 1997 of 25 Things I Want To Do Before I Die and amazingly I only have 13 left to accomplish. Four of those involve physical fitness and shape and since I am going more the other directon as far as energy and stamina are concerned they may not ever be accomplished.

Four of them involve literary and spiritual fitness--all a possibility, if the eyes and determination remain strong.

And lastly four of them involve trips and fiscal fitness so depending on my abilities and desire to make them happen, they may or may not occur. At least the trips are all within the US.

So I am amazed at all I have accomplished. It really does work to write things down I guess. Interestingly none of the things I wrote down involved other people originally but, of course, involved other people in the final outcome.

So before the clock winds down I need to rev up the body and spirit and carpe diem!

Now We Know Why!

While I was working on my photo books this week I noticed a comment made about our 2005 trip to the Anderson family cabin at Silvergate, Montana. It was observed that the mosquitoes liked Meagan and Sarah the best and left me entirely alone. I just read this article and now we know why they left me alone. I had too much stress in my life!

FINDING SMELLS THAT REPEL

By SHIRLEY S. WANG

If you're one of those people whom mosquitoes tend to favor, maybe it's because you aren't sufficiently stressed-out.

(Picture by Michael C Witte)

Insects have very keen powers of smell that direct them to their targets. But for researchers trying to figure out what attracts or repels the pests, sorting through the 300 to 400 distinct chemical odors that the human body produces has proved daunting.

Now scientists at Rothamsted Research in the U.K. have been making headway at understanding why some people can end up with dozens of bites after a backyard barbecue, while others remain unscathed. The researchers have identified a handful of the body's chemical odors—some of which may be related to stress—that are present in significantly larger concentrations in people that the bugs are happier to leave alone. If efforts to synthesize these particular chemicals are successful, the result could be an all-natural mosquito repellent that is more effective and safer than products currently available.

Who knew? Go stress yourself out before a trip to the mountain streams and be mosquitoe free!

More of Sage and Raina

Aren't they just darling!

Grandma Carole reports they have already been out and about. I think we stayed in for weeks before venturing out into the world after our babies were born--and that was after spending a week in the hospital!! It is a whole new world.

TWINS

I think this is a first in our family--twins. My nephew Jon and his wife Bethany had twin girls-one before midnight on August 26 and one after midnight on August 27--different birthdays, is that cool or what. Their names are Sage and Raina. The family lives in beautiful Bozeman, MT.

They are fraternal twins and the report is that one looks like Jon and one looks like Bethany. Sage is on the left and Raina is on the right in Jon's arms so which looks like which??

Congratulations to the proud parents, they don't even look frazzled or tired--wow! This will be fun to watch. From the pictures I think Sage looks like Jon and Raina looks like Bethany--I wonder what the parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles all think...

Here is the official message from Grandma Carole:

"Jon and Bethany welcomed their twin baby girls, Sage and Raina at 11:46 pm and 12:14 am Aug. 26 and 27th. Nicely Done! Aimie, Bethany's nurse sister was at her side and we Fuquas and Dieides were cheering from the windows. Even with all the modern convieniences of today, childbirth has some uncomfortable situations but Bethany is a true trooper and in the words of their OB-GYN is a "rock star". Sage came first a little taller and 10 oz bigger at 5#13 oz and Raina, not far behind, at 5# 3oz. They are darling!!!! Father Jon doing very well and noticed the babies are held football style most of the time so no problem. Most of the Fuquas have had to go home but Grandpa Randy is coming today. We sure thank Bethany and Jon for this wonderful addition and continued best of wishes for the coming days."

Proud Grandma, Carole

Happy Birthday, Richard.

Today Richard would have turned 78 years old. I so appreciate that his Mom saved so many of his letters. I was just noticing today that when I was graduating from BYU, he was embarking on his mission to the Spanish-American Mission. We did not know each other, though he dated a girl in the same building I lived in.

He had graduated from Las Vegas High in 1949 and entered BYU and was active in the Brigadier Social Unit. He enjoyed the social part of college very much and his social unit won the winning float in the Homecoming Parade and Richard was in the Brigadier singing group in the 1950 Songfest. Richard's Dad died when Ruchard was only 11 and it is very obvious from his letters that money was a real problem in Richard's life. He finally left college in 1951 and joined the Navy and then came back to college in January 1954 under the G I Bill and then left for his mission to San Antonio, Texas in June 1955.

Evidently at that time they went directly to the mission field and so he had to learn to speak Spanish while on his mission and not before. I am just going to write a few things that gave me a smile or a laugh from his letters from Texas. Nothing serious today, just some laughs.

"Chuck, Eleanor, Marion, Aunt Winona, Uncle Will and Aunt Lois came down to see me off from the SL airport. They gave me some cash ($6.00) and a nice lunch." ($6.00 went a long way in 1955) "Well, things are pretty dull around here and I feel like a prisoner. I can't go anywhere or do anything. All I am supposed to do is study, 6 AM to 10:30 PM, all I can do is read and eat." (From the mission home in San Antonio)

"I'm picking up a few Spanish words and I've memorized a blessing on the food. I also lead the singing in Spanish and I don't even know what they are singing." "I went to the branch meeting on Sunday and I didn't understand one word that was said."

"We have just finished a three day missionary conference. It was very expiring (yes, that is what he said). I sat in one meeting eight hours--the longest time I have been in one meeting. I don't think I'll worry about two hour sacrament meetings again."

"Since I have been here (in the mission home) the number of people eating here has varied from eight to ninety-three!"

"The people are all grateful to us, some are grateful when we come to see them and some are grateful when we don't come." (from Houston, Texas 1 1/2 months into his mission)

"How's my car holding up? The District Presidents have so much responsibility and get so many calls to settle family arguments, I've decided it would be better riding my bicycle than being a D.P. with a car. You better keep the car around in case I ever get a chance to use it some place though."

"I bought a bicycle from the missionary that I replaced for $25.00. I will probably be able to sell it to the next one here for about the same amount." (from Laredo, Texas)

"Too bad you upset yourself by opening my mail, but really, I can't think of a better time to have my license suspended. Believe it or not it was a surprise, and if you didn't tell them I was habitually negligent in my driving practices, I can't imagine how they found out. I was keeping it a secret from everyone but you."

"My Spanish is coming along slowly, I can talk quite a little, but I can't understand a word the people say. When I give a lesson, I have to have my companion interpret for me."

"A lot of the people around here think we are the police (detectives) and when we go to the doors where teen age boys live, sometimes their mother will tell us they are not there before we have a chance to state our business."

"My pocket watch is holding up fine, but I am getting so I don't like to carry anything in my pockets. It bulges them and collects the perspiration, until before long I feel like I am wearing a wet sack."

"It sure is hard to keep in the mood to have people slam doors in your face."

"When one of the sons of our investigator went to school last week, the teacher asked him what religion he was and he told her Methodist and Mormon. After class a bunch of the Catholic boys beat the scrud out of him for saying he was a Mormon."

"We have been helping an old woman fix up her house this week so I've had to learn a little of what I tried hard not to learn at home."

"That leaking seal couldn't have been the one that screws up tight on the drive shaft could it? You are supposed to look under the car once in awhile and tighten a few of those things. By the way, the Chevrolet is one of those new-fangled kind that has to have the oil changed now and then. Don't get me wrong, it is your car now, but I hate to see the poor thing blamed for everything. If it was worth only $50, it would still be the best car in the world". (To his brother Scott, who bought the Chevrolet he left home)

Anyway, children and grandchildren, just a little mission and 50's humor from your Dad and granddad, courtesy of a loving mother who saved all his letters. Happy Birthday, Richard, we love and miss you.

From Sixth Grade to Miss America Pageant

My first date was a double date in sixth grade in Glendive, Montana. I went with my neighbor George and my girlfriend Berta Mae (Carla) went with Bill. Years later when Bill was in the service he learned about Berta Mae running for Miss America. This is the story he sent me today.

Hey, Janet,

I've enjoyed your blog about your Sweden trip and the time you and your girls spent in Copenhagen. It reminded me of the time I made the same trip. It is beautiful and enchanting. Of course, my trip was some time ago while I was in the Service.

I had spent Christmas in Bergen, Norway, and was on my way back to Germany. I decided to stop and spend a week or two with friends in Copenhagen. We shared a small apartment. Quite often, we would go to the public baths as they had a very large swimming pool (I love to swim). On the way back one day my friend suggested we stop by the newspaper building so she could practice her English. She said they put out American newspapers and they're fun to read.

The papers were full of stories, about the 1956, "Miss America Pageant". My friend knew I was from Montana, and right away looked up Miss Montana. Then the question came, "Did you know her?"

"Of course I knew her, I used to date her in grade school."

"Oh!! Bill, you're so funny, I just knew you were going to say something like that."

AND.., that's how I found out that Berta Mae (Carla), was in the Miss America Pageant. I knew it was true I had dated her, and never felt it had to be proved.

Two weeks later I was in Tripoli North Africa chasing guided missiles in the Saharah desert. I never really thought about it again, until you started blogging things.

Thanks, Bill H

Anyway, that is his story and he is sticking to it and so will I.

A Great Weekend in Lake Almanor and Beyond

What a great weekend I have just had. It started with a trip on Friday with Mary Anne and Jean to the Reno Temple. There were not too many of us there but it was a very spiritual experience and I am so glad I joined them on their monthly trek.

I was reminded of when Richard and I were called to serve at the San Diego Temple a few years before he passed away. We were both working full time, he as the head of the private loan side of our mortgage business and me as the head of the

brokering side of Choice Mortgage. We were both working over 60 hours a week and wondered how we could possibly have the time. We accepted the calling though, of course, and were assigned from 6 am to 12 noon on Wednesdays. How could we possibly do that, we wondered, we had hoped for Saturdays. We had to leave our Rancho Bernardo home before sunup to be at the Temple in La Jolla at 6 and then straight to the office after lunch at the Temple. There were always umpteen calls to make and frustrated employees and clients wanting our time and we always had to stay very late taking care of business.

But that call to serve was a. great, great blessing in our busy, busy life. Those six hours on Wednesday mornings became an oasis in the hectic, often frustrating work week. I also think those last years of Richard's were his most spiritual and perhaps some of the happiest of our married life and I know it was all because of our service to the Lord in the San Diego Temple.

As we had driven through Susanville Friday morning, Mary Anne said she was going to see 'Julie and Julia' on Saturday and I told her I wanted to go with her. Marjorie had said she would not go--was not a fan of Julia Child. Jean decided to come, too and Saturday was a fun day of a great movie and good mexican food after.

Julia Child died in 2004 and the movie was about this other girl, Julie, who in 2003 had taken a year to cook all of Julia Child's French recipes and write a blog about it. She later wrote the book and it was published after the death of Julia Child and then the movie was made this year. Nora Ephron wrote the screen play and was a producer. I have noticed so many of the movies I love like "Sleepless in Seattle" are Nora Ephron films and they are always wonderful. Love the talents of other people to bring joy into my life!

Saturday night Marjorie and I went to the Liberty

Quartet concert at the Lake Almanor Community

Church. They are a Southern Gospel quartet out

of Boise, Idaho and they are really good. They

have been around for 14 years and been coming

here for 7. My brother David had told me at

Jeanne's birthday party to be sure and see them

and then even called to remind me. I am glad he

did. We really enjoyed the concert. Here again, so glad for the talents of other people to bring so much joy into my life!

Anyway it was a great weekend, topped off by my staying up till 2 am on Saturday night to read a new book Jean had lent me, and then good messages at church on Sunday morning and home for a long, long nap. Life is good.

Bette Davis Eyes

Bette Davis is considered one of the top ten female movie stars of all time. I do not know who the others are but this I do know--You will never be disappointed in a Bette Davis movie. There were a lot of silly movies made in the black and white era. But none of them were Bette Davis movies. She is amazing.

Today I watched two of them--thank heaven for TCM and my recorder. I watch movies while doing my house work, while dressing, while working on my photo books. So much better to watch a good movie than the network shows. Anyway I saw "The Old Maid" and "Old Acquaintances". Both were wonderful even if they were made over 70 years ago. Here's to Bette and her beautiful eyes and exemplary acting skills.

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends, August 2009

Last week Matt filled my log raised bed with good dirt and on Sunday I asked if anyone had some Iris they would be dividing this year. Mary Anne said, "Come on over any afternoon."

So yesterday I drove to her home in Chester and she dug up bunches of Iris from her yard (although it was a very small area of her big yard-she has lots!) and by the time I had divided and planted there were 75 new Iris in my yard! I had too many for my little teardrop plot so put some in the front yard as well.

Ah, sweet mystery of life, we will see how many thrive and show their glory next year. Isn't life just fun, fun, fun.

Update:Unfortunately those Iris did not do well and soon disappeared.  The Deer?, my Care?, what.  Years later I saw thriving beautiful Iris down the street and wondered again...where did I go wrong?
 

 

War and Peace

I watched the 1956 version of "War and Peace" this week and enjoyed it very much. I understand there is a Russian made 1969 version with subtitles which is longer and with much more depth. Think I will check it out sometime. I should just read the whole book. Someday. The thing I like most about Tolstoy is his ability to make you think about what you want out of life. At least he does me.

I liked the beginning when Natasha was telling Pierre she was listing all the things that brought happiness in life and he added a couple of things to it. I like focusing on what brings happiness and contentment and making sure they are a part of my life.

When I had my 68th birthday the Valko family gave me a card in which I had to list 68 things (or people) to be thankful for. It was not hard. I should reread the list and see if I have any to add to the list (or take away) in the last 8 years.

I liked the quote "The most difficult thing, but an essential one, is to to love Life, to love it even while one suffers because Life is all, Life is God and to love Life means to love God."

War and Peace

I watched the 1956 version of "War and Peace" this week and enjoyed it very much. I understand there is a Russian made 1969 version with subtitles which is longer and with much more depth. Think I will check it out sometime. I should just read the whole book. Someday. The thing I like most about Tolstoy is his ability to make you think about what you want out of life. At least he does me.

I liked the beginning when Natasha was telling Pierre she was listing all the things that brought happiness in life and he added a couple of things to it. I like focusing on what brings happiness and contentment and making sure they are a part of my life.

When I had my 68th birthday the Valko family gave me a card in which I had to list 68 things (or people) to be thankful for. It was not hard. I should reread the list and see if I have any to add to the list (or take away) in the last 8 years.

I liked the quote "The most difficult thing, but an essential one, is to to love Life, to love it even while one suffers because Life is all, Life is God and to love Life means to love God."

Happy Birthday, John!

This is one of my favorite pictures that John took on his trip to Peru. The little children liked to get down on their tummies and peek in to the tents of the hikers. He liked to photograph their curiosity.

We love and miss you, John.

Why Women Need Chocolate

Linda and I at the Chocolate Store in Gamla Stan.

Interesting to me in this book I find I have the 'Food Race Roar'. This probably comes from growing up with five other siblings during the depression and then WWII. We had plenty to eat, but you better be there when it was served or hot out of the oven because there was not going to be any leftovers. So even now it is a food race with myself. If there is a food I crave around, I get the urge to "eat it all now as fast as you can while you have the chance--because you may not be presented with this opportunity again."

When I am living at the Pulsipher's I love to eat all their left overs. There can be steak and potatoes left from Sunday that I can live on for three days!! And then there is always the goodies in the cupboard. I am not always sure whose they are but if they are there, they are to eat, right?

I also found that the way I used to eat was the right way to eat. I ate all the foods I enjoyed including bread and muffins and butter and if I wanted a sweet I didn't deprive myself. Before I was married I remember my helicopter friend saying he liked to take me out to dinner because I enjoyed eating so much--he also called me "queen of the goodies racket". Now if I have the urge to eat that cookie I will try and convince myself it is bad for me and eat something good for me like cottage cheese, and then an apple, and then some celery, etc. before finally giving in and eating the cookie. In the meantime I have added another 600 calories to my food intake. Much better to listen to your body and just not eat so much.

So when did I start this diet syndrome? It was after I had one of the babies. I realized I had gained 12 lbs since I had married and I went to Weight Watchers. When they weighed me in at 129 they said the program was not really designed for me. But I felt so fat!

The other reason for wrong eating that applies to me is 'The Emotional Outcry'. "The heart is crying out to be nurtured, but we may literally try to stuff the sadness or anger back down with food." quoting Debra Waterhouse. Been there, done that. So I can see the trick will be deciphering when the body is asking for food and when my heart is...

Yes, this is a book to learn from... I can see the exercise part is coming soon, yuk. My latest form of exercise is bending over and picking up all the fallen branches each morning. Good for getting rid of my 'muffin top', right? And also dancing around occasionally while watching a good show on tv. (Besides the yard work, that is, and walking Bandido).

Why Women Need Chocolate

I found an interesting book at the Library Book Sale entitled, 'Why Women Need Chocolate'. Now what real woman could pass up that book? Tonight I am going to read it but first I found this article about it and am more excited than ever. Honestly, I have been trying to diet but it is just a more enjoyable life when you are eating things you crave. And guess what, the subtitle to the book title is 'Eat What you Crave to Look and Feel Great'. Yippee, I can hardly wait!

Here is an article written by Catherine Ann Rauch (WebMD):

" Debra Waterhouse, a registered dietitian and the author of the 1999 book "Why Women Need Chocolate," thinks both culture and chemicals come into play. Chemicals in chocolate affect levels of the body's mood-affecting chemicals, including serotonin, endorphins and phenylethylamine, which the body releases in response to romance, Waterhouse says.

A comprehensive review of chocolate research, published in the October 1999 Journal of the American Dietetic Association, came to the same conclusion. Two nutritionists at the University of Arizona in Tucson examined almost 75 research papers published over the past two decades on the craving for chocolate -- and decided emotions, social values, sensory qualities, chemicals and the hormonal cycles of women all play a role. "It's the whole package," says co-author and nutrition professor Doug Taren, Ph.D.

Of course, the swirl of clinical opinions matters little when it comes to pleasing your sweetheart. "The bottom line is that chocolate does make women feel good," Waterhouse says. "If the message -- loud and clear -- is chocolate, trust your body, let go of the guilt."

Sounds good to me!!

The first page says, "men are 4 times more likely to feel good when they deny their food cravings and 2 times more likely to follow a very low fat and sugar diet and 5 times more likely to 'dislike' chocolate." I suspected that.

And "women are 2 times more likely to feel good when they fulfill their food cravings, and 2 times more likely to binge on their craved foods, and 2 times more likely to feel fatigued and depressed and 22 times more likely to eat chocolate to feel better." I knew that!

Mystery Solved!

I don't think the Security people would ever have gotten to the bottom of it at all but the Sheriff's office was very swift to come and swift to solve the mystery. Evidently a logger was cutting trees at a house across from me and the usual access to the backyard was closed due to construction so he cut a path through about 6 neighbors back yards and evidently had to trim two stumps on my property to get through. (How would we know it was stumps and not trees--it is not like I have my trees photographed in my mind).

Actually if they had asked me I could have shown them a shorter access and with no need to cut anything. They split a log at my neighbors as well. It was my neighbor who followed the truck tracks in and out and figured it out actually and the sheriff just finished it up. Nice to know we have a great sheriff's department with not a whole lot to do. But I am sure the neighbors have me labeled as that 'ditsy old lady'. But as my little granddaughter once said, "If you have grey (or white) hair, you can do anything you want.

And it is nice to know I live in a safe place just as I thought I did, though they were supposed to get permission to trespass. I guess the loggers do so much work in here they get to feeling free to do what they know they can without asking anyone.

Tree Thieves!

I feel violated! Someone cut and carried off two of my cedar trees! Who and why (well, for money I guess) and when. I raked my branches up on Monday because Ron was coming to pick up all my yard waste. They were there then. On Tuesday I was in town for a couple of hours and Wednesday I cleaned house all day and never noticed anyone out there. There were some guys walking through on Tuesday but one was a neighbor so doubt it would be them.

Of course, there was the loggers I made clean up their mess. Could this be a revenge steal? The lady security guard said she thought that would be too obvious.

A real mystery in my own back yard which can probably never be solved. I hate days like this.

The Perfect Cookie

Cookies are a really good thing in this life. As a child I had lots of cookies. My Mom was a great cookie maker. It was always fun to come home from school and find fresh baked cookies. One of my favorites was a raisin filled cookie. She would roll the dough out and cut large circles with a glass and then put a scrumptious raisin filling on one circle and top with another and then bake. They were wonderful. I probably only made them once in my life--too time consuming. My children got raisin oatmeal drop cookies which were flattened with a glass covered in sugar, but still a great cookie.

But about 20 years ago or whenever Deer Valley Ski Resort opened I was there with my husband. We didn't always ski there as you had to make a reservation and it was very expensive. However, they had the best food buffet of any of the ski resorts and my husband loved to eat lunch there--just he and I, while everyone else was skiing.

It was there I discovered the large sugar cookie with soft raisins in it. I loved it. Reminiscent of childhood--maybe. But I started a crusade to figure out the recipe for that cookie. And I finally did. Kids of today would prefer chocolate chips in it but I love the raisins. I seldom make cookies anymore. I have no one to feed them, too. And besides even the children of today don't eat the goodies the way we did when we were young and running all the calories off instead of sitting at computers.

Anyway Tuesday I made a batch of that perfect raisin cookie and I have so enjoyed sitting down and dunking my cookie in milk (soy milk, but still good). There is something about the texture of a well made cookie with just the perfect crunch and chew that is very, very satisfying. It can keep you happy for a long, long time. Not every cookie has it and we all discover our favorite. I had my favorite packaged cookies, too, but I never buy them now. Too dangerous. I would eat the whole package in one sitting! So here's to the cookie, long may it live and may the search never end for the perfect cookie.