Bread, Glorious Bread

This week I have been on a bread binge because Holiday Market now stocks UDI'S frozen products.  This includes gluten free bagels, chocolate muffins, cinnamon rolls, white bread and wheat bread.  The texture is the wheat texture I am accustomed to and not the dense, shreddy bread I have found in the past for gluten free products.

I had discovered the UDI'S products in Park City and you can order them online as well. The price online is about the same price as at Holiday Market which I find interesting.

I did order some flour so I can try some of my favorites and see if they taste the same.  I do find the products tend to have more sugar and fat--boo, that is the downside.  Especially since I am trying very hard to live a heart happy life as well as a digestion happy life, too. 

Oh, yes, I am now walking about 1 1/2 mile a day, that is progress!

Fall is in the Air

Seems early but it is already cool in the morning and evening and my front tree is turning into fall colors--so late spring and early fall this year.

John's Birthday--50 Years, August 18th

This year I will share a few of the thoughts that John's friend Matt Recksieck wrote after John's death in April 2004:

 "...I knew John in several different contexts, but there was always a cool enthusiasm about him. He really loved his family. He showed pride over his brother and sisters like I think only a first born can--having seen each and everyone of them come home from the hospital as infants.

 I didn't meet John until a couple of weeks before his 13th birthday. I met and first knew him through surfing. Then school...then his home life...then through the forming of his own family. But it was always his passion and intellectual curiosity that drew me toward him. And like all friendships, it's hard to pin-point all the reasons why. To some surfing is simply a youthful outlet. In fact, I imagine that it is really boring for them--those not actually afflicted with the surfing disease--to listen to surfers talk about it. To me, however, one of the major afflictions associated with surfing is that it leads to a passion for style, self-discovery, and poetry. John Hardy was a surfer along with everything else he was. Surfing at its best leads to concentration in the moment. Poetry is nothing more than this. John was very good at picking up on this. It was something I admired about him. He blew my mind away at times. It's a love we shared. John's never ending quest to be inspired, stoked, or awed dominated his approach to life. He had the intelligence to be able to discipline himself in this regard. He also had the passion to be able to pull it off. John was a very successful poet...

John's brother Jimmy, at the memorial service, briefly mentioned John's first attempt to glass a surfboard in their backyard playroom shed. Jimmy made the comment that it wasn't very good by professional standards, but that the passion that was put into it was second to none. I concur, but there was another thing we use to laugh about in connection to this. John made a gesture of pointing out to us that there were parts of his glass job that were perfect. He took the thumb and forefinger of his hands, and joined them together to make a square. He placed the box created by his hands over a section of the glass job that was very clean, and said look, "perfection". This was an outlook of John's that I try to keep with me in my life perception today. There is perfection...you just have to look for it...you have to look away from peering directly at, that which isn't. Eventually things come into focus-even that which might not be perfect, can become perfect. This is the philosophical statement that epitomizes John's take on life to me.

At the memorial service, John's secret surf spot, Bathtub Rock, was mentioned several times. (I'll let out the secret completely out of the bag if you want to go: it's at the end of the beach trail of Torrey Pines State Park.) All John's surfing buddies knew it wasn't a very good surf spot, but did we believe it wasn't perfect: "no". John made it that way, and so we believed him. Feel free to go down there yourself (even if you don't surf...in fact, it's probably actually better if you don't). I think you can experience the place's beauty if you knew John. It's not the most beautiful stretch of beach you have ever seen either. But if you go down there and begin listening to the hype in John's voice 'concerting' (a verb I feel John could appreciate) the place, you may begin to believe yourself, that it is a beautiful secret spot--bordering on "perfection". That's the way John worked you into believing. There was no trick involved. It was only a treat to be experienced...

For what it's worth, John's memorial service truly was one of the first services I've ever been to where I believe that I celebrated a life more than I felt lousy at it."

Thanks Matt, for sharing so many beautiful thoughts about the John you knew. I will have to share more another time.

Hardys at Temple Square

The Hardys are evidently in Salt Lake City and sending great pictures by Iphone.  Thanks for remembering me, Hardy Family.

Great picture of James with sons Jimmy and Jacob.

Beautiful picture of Camber with Jacob, Lea, ?, Jimmy and Kelsi.

Galveston by Suzanne Morris

 The one upside to being alone is you can read as much as you want and no body cares. Read all night, read all day, no matter. I am always happy to find a new author. Usually I choose books to read by the author but I saw the thick book 'Galveston' on the shelf and couldn't resist. Glad I didn't. When I was in Galveston for a few months after Hurricane Katrina I was so curious about the city. Why wasn't it more prosperous than it was? This book, though a romantic novel, was also historically correct about Galveston at the turn of the century and I learned a lot about how Houston became the main port instead of Galveston and why.

Galveston Wall-wonder how it looks after last year's devastation.

It was a great book and now I know there are seven more of hers I can read, how great. I could visualize all the places she wrote about and how it might have looked in the late 1800's in Galveston. Great story, enjoyable reading with a little mystery.

Restored Victorian Home in Galveston-2005.

I also learned that my favorite Anita Shreve has another coming out this fall. She always has a little mystery in her books. I just read her first book 'Eden Close' for the second time. It wasn't intentional but when I discovered I had read it I couldn't stop reading it again, that is the kind of writer she is, hooks you in and you have to find out what is going to happen next. I marvel at these writers who have all these ideas in their mind. Interesting that both of these ladies started writing novels later in life--I guess you need a little life experience before you can write a really great novel.

Silver Gate, Yellowstone and Jackson Hole 2005

Steph asked us to add pictures to the Anderson Cabin Facebook page and it was then I

realized that the Silver Gate trip we took in 2005 were not in my published Blog book because I didn't start blogging until November 2005.  So here are some of the great pictures from that trip.

View from the Cabin window of the Amphitheater.

In Jackson Hole with Sarah, Linda and Tanner.

Beautiful view of the Amphitheater. Linda, Meagan, Mitch, Tanner and Sarah.

Mitch and Tanner try a little fishing.

Tanner in front of the Amphitheater.

Tanner, Linda, Mitch, Sarah, Meagan at the Canyon

Cafe where we eat our trout in Silvergate.

Waiting for Old Faithful.

It was a great trip!

Twins Go Hiking in Montana

The twins Raina and Sage looked pretty bored with that exquisite scenery. Mom, Bethany, and Dad, Jon, look pretty happy with it all though.  Great pix!

Childhelp

I was watching a true movie tonight. It was the founding of Childhelp 50 years ago.  Childhelp is especially for abused children.  They are taken from parents and raised in a rural type village with animals to love and caring teachers. Obviously it is a very affective organization but with child abuse being reported every 10 seconds there is no way they can save all the children.

I had to stop watching, I couldn't bear to watch the examples of parenting and abuse that they showed.  I only saw one instance of child abuse in my life when my neighbor took his belt to his daughter, but I never forgot that look on his face or the helpless look on her face.

When I see a child being yelled at or mistreated in a grocery store I walk over and stand nearby until they stop.  I remember when Johnny threw a tantrum in a grocery store and Richard just picked him up, yelling and screaming, and carried him out and walked with him till he settled down.  The cashier told me that was so refreshing instead of seeing the yelling at children she usually saw.  I am afraid I became impatient and yelled at the children, I am so sorry for that.  Richard only yelled once that I remember, when he was out of work and trying to do something in the little office he had set up in the playroom and the children were out of control.

Of course, the kind of abuse they were referring to in the movie was so much more than yelling.  It makes you sick to see defenseless children being so mistreated.  It appeared that so often the mother sides with the 'boyfriend' because she does not want to be alone and the child is not believed or taken care of.  So sad.

Johnny and Maria were both tantrum throwers and I did not know how to handle it well at all.  I've decided the most important classes they could give in high school are parenting, auto mechanics, meal planning and housekeeping, high finance (investing in stocks, etc) and money management instead of algebra and geometry and such,

I was one lucky child and so were my children, if you go to Childhelpusa.org and read the statistics you will know why I say that.

Good News--Maybe.

Saturday I was called by SBA and told my request to switch over to a Customer Service Rep from a Loan Officer has been completed and as of Aug 15 I am a Customer Service Rep under the Sacramento Office.

The chances of getting called out are increased but who knows, I am no spring chicken and they know it, so we will see what happens.  Of course, Customer Service Reps travel, no staying in one place too long.  The good part is the dress standard is our blue SBA shirts and jackets with jeans and slacks, so easy packing!! 

Also today President Meyers was doing Temple Recommends and he wanted to know where I lived and he said that was in the heavy duty snow area.  I was telling him about my no door from my garage and he made me promise to call him in three weeks.  He said he was going to be in my area and he would come by and see what he could figure out for me.  He has his own construction company so if he can't figure it out, no one can.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Girls Camp

We had a very spiritual Sacrament Meeting today.  Three of the girls and a leader bore their testimonies about Girls Camp.  Makes me realize I really did miss something by not being able to participate in such things when I was in high school.

Anyway, beautiful girls and beautiful leader--and we are all the benefactors by having them in our small Branch. 

The Branch President told us his daughter was 11 when her mother died.  He said Girls Camp helped her to cement her resolve to marry in the Temple.   He said she had not been successful in meeting the one who could take her to the Temple but she waited, and waited and this year at age 25 (old by LDS standards) she met the one and seven weeks later became engaged and they are going through the Temple December 18th.

A visitor bore his testimony as to the fact he would probably not have met his wife if not for Girls Camp.  She was a visitor at one many years ago and was so impressed it led to her baptism and eventually he met and married her. 

Presient Meyers bore his testimony to the fact these leaders of the girls are prayerfully called and pore their hearts into providing a spiritual and enjoyable experience for the girls.  The girls had told us about the Devotional Hall which resembled a quiet cave far away from the present world.  The girls would go in there as a small group and talk and pray together.  President Meyers said it was actually transformed from a tool shed but appeared inside like a cave with a warm fire of light (christmas tree lights in tissue) which reflected light and warmth on the 'cave' wall.  The girls really were impressed with their lone time there with just the girls from their own branch or ward. 

Anyway very inspirational meetings as the girls testified of their love for one another and the Gospel.  Unify the youth and you unify a ward, that is for sure.

Oh, Deer, NO...

Last night I had a feeling the deer might come for my lilies so I sprayed deer repellent on them--I hope I missed this one.  Some deer had a grandiose breakfast and I would hate to think the repellent didn't work.

This is all that was left this morning... 

Seven Deadly Sins

Saturday I watched a four hour movie on the Seven Deadly Sins in a modern high school setting.   It was taken from some books written by an author I was not familiar with and so have forgotten the name.  However, it was extremely well done but certainly could not have been made in the 40's or 50's when I was in high school.  I don't believe we had so much evil and mischief in our hearts.  Or the writer was just exaggerating all the weaknesses of the youth today as the writers exaggerate all the weaknesses of men and women in Desperate Housewives.

Anyway it made me curious to look up the history of the Seven Deadly Sins and the one that surprised me was Acedia/discouragement.  This is "neglect to take care of something that one should do."  It is translated to apathetic listlessness, depression without joy.  It is similar to melancholy.  In early Christian thought, the lack of joy was regarded as a wilful refusal to enjoy the goodness of God and the world God created..."

"Despair is the precipitating cause of suicide.  Feelings of hopelessness, despondency, and impending doom...Since sadness often results in acedia, Pope Gregory's revision of the list subsumed Despair into Acedia."

 "Sloth --Gradually the focus came to be on the consequences of acedia, rather than the cause, and so by the 17th century the exact deadly sin referred to was believed to be the failure to utilize one's talents and gifts.  In practice, it came to be closer to sloth.  The modern view goes further, regarding laziness and indifference as the sin at the heart of the matter...more a sin of omission than of commission." (Wikepedia)

In other words we need to avoid Acedia and follow the admonition of Paul:

"We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.  If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after those things." (13th Article of Faith)

We need to be "UP in a DOWN WORLD.".

or as Charlie Chaplin wrote in his song called SMILE:

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking.

When there are clouds in the sky

you'll get by.

If you smile through your pain and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun shining through

For you.

Light up your face with gladness,

Hide every trace of sadness.

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying.

You'll find that life is still worthwhile-

If you just smile.

"We don't smile because we are happy, we are happy because we smile."

My Beautiful Lilies and a Lesson from St Matthew

"And why take ye thought of raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, niether do they spin:  And yet I say unto  you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?


Therefore take no thought, saying What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.


But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Maria's Blog

I was just reading Maria's Blog of her trip.  I didn't think she was going to have access to a computer so I had not even checked it all weekend. 

What an inspiring and uplifting experience she is having, very interesting to see the place and hear about the activities.  Sounds like what I need to lift me out of these doldrums--except I have no inspiration or imagination for writing--so wrong place for me.

But yea for Maria--another interesting experience this year of her reaching out for joy and fulfillment.

Another Project Bites the Dust

Some time ago I decided to 'save' my granny afghan.  I have had it since forever but can't remembe who did the crocheting and giving it to me.

Over the year some of the yarn has worn thin and there are holes.  I intended to find matching yarn and mend or recrochet all the holes.

I did find matching yarn but tonight when I started working on it, I thought, why?  Is this really how I want to spend my time?  And who would want it anyway?

So off to the Thrift Store I will go with it tomorrow.  Someone might want to use the yarn.  I even started a little afghan because I had the yarn to use.   But I don't like the yarn colors or textures so why spend all that time making something I (nor anyone else) would want?

In fact, I am questioning a lot of my time lately.  Watching a time consuming tv show I am bored with?  I just run ahead to see the ending and then zap it.  Started a book that doesn't keep me interested?  Give it away, let someone else read it.

Today I had the hardest time sitting in Sacrament Meeting.  I was as restless as a teen ager with other things on my mind.  But I didn't have other things on my mind, I was just bored with the talk being given and had to strain too hard to hear the quiet voice giving it.  It took all my discipline to not get up and go home.

Home for dinner but no interest in creating anything the least bit interesting so I just eat what is my fridge.

What is wrong with me?  How can I get enthusiasm for doing something?  Anything?

At least the lillies are blooming, they interest me.  I will take their picture tomorrow, and work on my muscles but what else????   Hmmm, see the movies I have been missing in Susanville?  Would they hold my interest?  Get a much needed pedicure?  Can I sit still that long and do I want to travel to get it-in the heat???

And how can I get to sleep tonight.  Even all my old songs sound boring and I have listened for an hour trying to get them to put me to sleep.  What now?  Hmmm....

Physical Therapy for Strength

I just came from my neighbor Barbara's home with a list of physical therapy exercises to do for muscle atrophy.  It will take me about 45 minutes a day and I am anxious to get started.  My legs are just not doing their job after being off of them for so long with this metatarsal problem.  This should get them going again, I hope.  Thanks, Barbara!

Are We Having Fun?

I was talking to my daughter Maria about our family being so task oriented that we don't know how to do 'fun' very well.  I know I used to know how to do fun because one of my teachers in high school told me I looked like I was always having fun...I think I was.

I decided to google 'fun' and see what it was and what 'fun' there was around here.

Guess what came up!  The place I live with a description of what it is is listed under FUN!  Here it is:

The Lake Almanor Country Club (LACC) consists of 1832 large single-family residential lots. This beautiful community is located in a natural forest setting of mature pine and fir trees on the peninsula of Lake Almanor in the Cascade/Sierra Nevada Mountains of northeast California. Lake Almanor’s elevation is 4500 feet and has a water storage capacity of over 1 million acre feet. It is a beautiful drive around the 52 miles of lake shore with views of Mt. Lassen to the west and Dyer Mountain to the east.

Rich with amenities, the common areas include a nine-hole golf course, seven tennis courts, three boat launches, two recreation areas with barbeques and picnic tables, a bandshell for performing arts programs, twenty-five miles of private patrolled roads with staffed, gated entrances, a clubhouse, administration building, and maintenance yards. There are approximately 400 lots that do not contain residences. Summer is our busy time, especially from Memorial Day through Labor Day with member “snowbirds” returning and the many vacationers who have discovered Lake Almanor and its many water accesses for fishing, boating, and skiing.

So how many of these 'fun' things am I doing??? 

Our main fun in our marriage was going to the movies. (When not taking the children on outings.) We would often stop at the Hilton and go dancing and then go home and make love.  That was our fun, entertainment, relaxation, etc.  Date night was always honored in our marriage, no matter how crunchy work was.

Hmm, now my fun is checking to see what is blooming, watching the birds bathe, watching one of my favorite tv shows or movies, crocheting, reading, walking, dancing--anything you can do alone.  Forget the golfing, swimming in the lake, sunbathing, boating, skiing, etc., all in the past.  Am I still having fun????

Blessed "Bandito"

If you spell Bandido with a d it means Bandit in Spanish and with a t it means Blessed. Today he was Bandito with a t. We had not had our morning walk because I had to go in for an early morning blood test. After we came back I hurried out to do some watering before the "no watering time" and I left the screen door open. Bandito took the opportunity to walk around the house and across the street to do his business. He likes to do it in the empty lot with lots of weeds on it.

I heard this piercing scream but thought it couldn't be him as he was in the house. I ran around to the front just as a green truck slowed down and then I saw Bandido in the middle of the road. My worst fears had been realized. The green truck man told me the dog had run out and he couldn't avoid the hit but he thought he was just nicked. What a nice man to come back and check on him! Bandido immediately got up and hobbled away as we approached him and the man said that was a good sign and told me to go get my leash. Nice to have a man in charge.

Dr. Bob. the Vet, confirmed nothing was broken but a couple of his sores had bled and Dr. Bob discovered he had eye infection and his mouth was bleeding. He was training a young man to be a Vet so was giving instruction while he treated him. He said he would probably be very sore tomorrow and that he was one lucky dog.

Lucky, Blessed, whatever, that was Bandido's day today. As you can see, he does not look too happy. For the examination, two kinds of pills, eye cream and a disinfectant. It only cost $74 which wasn't too bad considering the alternative. Too bad dogs don't get Medicare.

Decluttering My Home

Since I saw all the packing and cleaning going on at Marjorie's house, I have been inspired to clear out, clean out, and simplify.  I love it but it has taken me three days and I still have my closet and bathroom to finish and the garage.

It reminded me of when Richard and I would get into a cleaning out mood.  I would put a whole lot of things in the garage from the house and he would put a whole lot of things in the house from the garage.  I just throw those kinds of things away or take them to the Thrift store now.  I have three piles--Garbage, Garage, and Thrift. 

I have unearthed umpteen projects to work on and thought of some new ones so I do not plan to be bored any time soon!

For some reason I have ended up with so many more quilts and blankets than I will ever need in my lifetime.  Question is: Gargage, Garage, or Thrift?  Can't decide so they stay piled on shelves and floor of closet, hmmm.

Anyone know what happened to my small fan which I used in my office.  Did I lend it, or give it to someone or??????

Marching Ants

I have been around ants and anthills all my life but I have never seen what I saw two days ago.  I didn't have time to take a picture as I was too busy trying to destroy them.

It was marching red ants--the column was tight and moving extremely fast.  The column was about 13 inches wide and about 8 yards long!!!  I am not kidding.  I do not know where they were headed or why but I did not want them marching in my home and since I was watering I put the strongest spray on and started squirting them hard.  Then I got the Ant Raid and sprayed the tree stump they appeared to have come from and all stumps in the surrounding area and any stray ants I could see.

They were not out there today but I will keep checking.  I could not find anything  specific about marching ants like that  on the internet but it was in the evening and it appears that if ants move their colony it will be at night.  Anyone know about ants??? 

Meagan

I finally got a picture of Meagan in my backyard to prove she was here!!! Yea.  She almost made it to a two week trip which is a real milestone.  I really enjoyed having her here and hope she can bring Matt some day.

Farewell to Marjorie!

Farewell to Marjorie and Bear.  Marjorie moved here one year after I did.  She was a widower who had lived in the Bay area for about 43 years.  A few years ago she bought a home near her daughter's home in Vancouver, WA and that is where she is going now.  Just in time.  She may have to have some medical work on her back so it will be good to be near good medical facilities and her daughter.

It was a few years after Marjorie moved here that we were talking about her conversion while treadmilling at the local gym.  What a small world--Richard's cousin Joanna Wells was one of the lady missionaries instrumental in her baptism into the Church!

Her son John is currently living in Corning and taking care of Marjorie's Mom who is now 102 years old.  John will drive the truck up to Vancouver and Marjorie will drive her car with Bear and her cats.

Bandido and I will miss Marjorie.

What's New at Lake Almanor in 2010

Yesterday while eating at the Frosties we saw a Flag which would go well in my yard.  'The Right Stuff" store had one left--except for dipping a little low, it is perfect.  I am sure Matt can move it up when he comes back someday.  My mountain one was torn beyond belief that last two seasons.

It is now more comfortable to sit and read on the deck.

 

The round table bit the dust so Matt brought up my work table and it works just fine as a place to eat, computer, or do my decopage.

Matt made a couple of little benches out of the fallen cedar tree from my neighbor's yard.

Another hammock ( the last two were destroyed by the squirrels) and it is a Mayan.  It is very comfy as it encloses you snuggly.  My only problem is that it is so low I have a hard time getting out.  Solution--hold on to Bandido's dog run rope and pull myself up and out!

 

Wireless Working!

I need to get a good picture of Meagan before she leaves but one thing she accomplished is to get my wireless connection working again.  So she is 'working' from the table and surfing from the couch.

First Lily of Summer 2010

The first lily of the summer bloomed today! There are lots more ready to pop out if the deer don't discover them first.