Brynn

Brynn finds her toes, how cute is that?

Surfer Jacob

 A cool picture of Jacob with his surf board--looks like a Calfornia boy, for sure.

Richard in 1950

Jacob's Fifties party reminded me of how Richard looked at that time, before I knew him. Richard had the duck tail hair-do fashionable with the Las Vegas and California boys and notice the rolled up levis and black oxford shoes. They didn't have cute tennies, as I said before, at that time. Happy 80th Birthday to Richard, tomorrow!

Hardy Fifties Party




Jacob is #1



Jacob is #2



Jacob is on the right.

Jacob is #4

Camber said this was a young men's & young women's activity for 2 wards combined. and was really fun!  It was Jacob's first activity with the girls since becoming a deacon.  All the girls need are saddle shoes or flats to look like they were straight out of the 50s.  We didn't have cute tennies like that then.  Oh, and the boys, they were wearing penny loafers or lace up oxfords, good for dancing plus they didn't have cute tennies or deck shoes in those days for boys either.  The Las Vegas and California boys at BYU also rolled up their T Shirt sleeves a little...the Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho boys did not.  You could always tell the boys from California, they were the first to sometimes part their hair in the middle and wear sunglasses.  Oh, yes, and the California boys did roll up their levis a little so you could see their white sox, the other 'states' boys did not.  And the boys from the East and Arizona did not dress like this at all.  These are definitely cute California kids.  Now all they need to do is learn to dance the Salt Lake Drag and jitter bug and swing those skirts around.  Oh, and those hip levis are perfect.

Good Reads!

On my quick trip to Kelly's Wedding I listened to some great audios.

"The Fixer Upper" by Mary Kay Andrews was really fun.  This is how it is described:

A sassy, sexy, sometimes poignant look at small town Southern life, as only New York Times bestseller Mary Kay Andrews can tell it, The Fixer Upper is a must-read for fans of Fannie Flagg, Sophie Kinsella, the Ya-Yas, and the Sweet Potato Queens, and for every reader obsessed with decorating and home repair. It is a truly delectable story of a woman whose professional fall from grace lands her back in a hometown she never knew, amongst a gothic Southern family she’s never met, and saddled with a task she could never have imagined. 

The next book was "Etta"--a historical novel based on diaries, etc.  Etta was the girlfriend of The Sundance Kid and what a life she had.  You will love hearing (or reading) about it.

The last book was 'The Summons' by John Grisham.  I had to finish that when I arrived back home as each of the other books were 12-13 hrs long.  It was another great Grisham story as only he can  tell them and I liked the way it was read. 

I love it when I choose fun and interesting books.  We are so fortunate to have so many wonderful authors to choose to read.  Currently I am listening to "The Hunger Games" and every day I threaten to discontinue.  I doubt I will go on with the sequels.  I don't like science-fiction and I really don't like the violent theme of this book.  Why is it reported as being so great?  I don't get it.

Another book I just listened to--well, not all of it was Steven Tyler's autobiography.  I was curious after seeing him on American Idol.  He obviously has the musical talent but I just don't get the filthy language and sex and drugs.  Is that the only way they can write rock and roll?  I listened to 'Aerosmith' and certainly not my kind of music.  I am definitely from another culture and another generation.  I wonder if his father liked his music.  He told about being brought up playing under the grand piano hearing his father play as a concert pianist all the great music of the centuries.  Such a change to go to rock and roll.  He has survived all his rehabs and wives and girlfriends and made the money and is famous...that says it all, I suppose, what do I know.

Bandido Adapts

Since Bandido has been having an incontinent problem, I have banned him from the bedrooms.  He has been perplexed as to where to sleep.

Michael put the big doggy cushion (which Bandido would never lay on) by the corner bookcase and after I would go to bed and Bandido would fall asleep somewhere--Michael would move him to the doggy bed. 

So here he is in the middle of the day, sleeping there with no help from Michael!!  I guess he has adapted...

My Love for Geraniums

This is the first year I have not had red geraniums at my house.  I chose instead to have the peach in the backyard (go great with my chair covers) and pink on the front deck.  They are really lovely.

Janie Thompson, A Legend at BYU

Christmas 1952 in Glendive (home from BYU) I was very concerned about the state of my Dad's office at Anderson's store.  I had it in good order when I went to college but he had lost his secretary and all was behind.  I suggested I stay home and train my friend Lorraine who was not going back to college, as she was planning an August wedding to a local rancher.  This I did and then went back to college in the spring and stayed through summer and on in to my junior year.

Luckily for me, Janie Thompson was at the Campus Dorm where I was the summer of 53 and there were continual impromptu sessions at the piano.  My roommate, Ellie, was a singer also and I was a supportive audience for all these entertainers.  Janie was something else, so talented, so outgoing, so friendly and inclusive of even the shy people like me.  The summer of 53 with only 1000 students on campus was a very, very fun time for me.

Today I watched a BYU show about Janie Thompson and her career.  Also appearing was Norm Nielson who worked with her.  He used to buy from me at the Dairy Freez and would stay on and talk and talk to me whenever business was slow--usually late at night.  He also was an entertainer.  The show answered some questions I always wondered about. 

Janie graduated from BYU in 1943 and then she entertained troops in the USO overseas.  She worked with Mickey Rooney, Tony Bennett, etc.  Here she is in 2000 being reunited with Tony Bennett.

She did fall in love with a non member--he specifically got out of the service in Germany so he could stay there and wait until her job was finished six months later.  She tried to convert him but it did not work.  She would not marry a nonmember.  She fell in love two more times, another was a nonmember so she did not marry.  The third was a returned missionary but the only thing they had in common was the church.  She decided she would have a full life without marriage.  She was in the Ike Carpenter band until she had a shadow on her lungs and had to stop singing.  She was called on a mission to Wales--in fact her Patriarch called across the street to her one day and said he had a blessing for her--did she want it?  She said that blessing was like the Lord talking directly to her and confirmed she should go on a mission.

She actually stayed in the same place and slept in the same bed her whole mission.  The first thing they asked her when she arrived was "Can you play the piano?"  Janie always accepted the fact that she had been given many talents and she was always determined to serve the Lord with them.  She had to overcome her shyness at being in front of people but she did.  After her mission she was passing through Las Vegas and saw Ike Carpenter was playing at the Flamingo, he asked her to join them.  However, President Wilkinson also called and asked her to return to BYU as the head of the Student Program Bureau.  She said she did not want to accept this call but she knew she should, and did.  She cried all the way to Provo.  This was in summer 1952.

In fall 1952 she wrote "A Y's Promise" for Homecoming--this was my first introduction to her. I looked and yes, I still have my copy -- very dog eared. That summer of 1953 we sang it many times at Campus Dorm.

A Y's Promise I'll make to you and to that Y's Promise I'll e're be true.

You'll find a Y's future is part of the scheme, every girl's dream, may with you come true at BYU.

The Y's spirit is in my heart, to me its so dear it can never depart

With eyes looking toward a future new, I'll give a Y's Y's Promise to you.                 

Here at the BYU, students are learning to build up a worth while future life. 

We're always studying to prepare for a career so fair, or just to be a loving wife.

We want to keep with honor our hopes burning high, here at the Y where we learn in youth of love and truth.

Coming from far and near students are welcome here. 

Friendly and happy be, At BYU, are the promises of lasting happiness And it will come to you and me.

So with eyes looking toward a future new, I'll give a Y's Y's Promise to You.

My dog eared copy of  "A Y's Promise"

The Student Program Bureau put on 2,463 shows within four years, and under Thompson's direction visited every high school in the state of Utah during the 1952-1953 school year. Shows consisted of anything from one solo to an hour and a half performance. These shows served not only as a recruiting tool but also a way to open the doors for missionaries through out the country. Thompson provided BYU shows for the U.S. Defense Department for the service men and women all over the world in order to boost morale. She also performed for the Department of State to provide good will between different countries.  They were the first into China and Viet Nam and performed in India when the church was first introduced to the country.  Mrs. Ghandi said they do more for friendship between the countries than all of the ambassadors.

After four years at BYU, (she said she was having a nervous breakdown she had worked so hard) Thompson moved to New York where she coached talent in a professional talent studio. There she worked with the Kane Sisters. In addition, Thompson had her own quartet that played in various places including Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Three years later, however, Thompson returned to BYU and the Program Bureau.

 By her retirement in 1984, Thompson had created six touring shows including Brigham Youngsters, Young Ambassadors, Lamanite Generation, Holiday in the U.S. and Curtain Time USA. Two of them -- the Young Ambassadors and Lamanite Generation (now Living Legends) still continue to tour, serving as ambassadors for the University.
Incidentally the 'Young' stands for Brigham Young, not youth...

In 2009, the film Janie Thompson: Performance of Faith premiered at the LDS Film Festival in Orem, Utah, which honored Thompson for all of her contributions to BYU. It continues to show periodically on BYU TV.

(This film was very inspiring to me).

Happy Birthday John!

From his trip to Peru.

It would be 51 years today!  These were given to him on his first birthday by his Uncle Dave--they were a Ferrell's store sample (Idaho Falls) from the boot company and they fit!

Alpamayo in Peru

Grandmother and Granddaughter

Caught with similar pose!  I thought this was interesting with my granddaughter Meagan.

Lilies Indoors

The stocks were too heavy to stand up so they come inside.  Alas I am leaving for San Diego today so I will not be able to enjoy them---thus all the pictures for my annual book.  I love lilies, what can I say...

Coming Home

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the two episode British version of "Coming Home" by Rosamond Pilcher.  Of course, I had read it, I read all her books and it did seem a little familiar but not enough so that I would quit watching.  Very good.  It is always fun to watch people with money, being nice, and sharing their wealth and good times with others.  Would be fun to know someone like that.  I think the reason I do not recognize a book I read is that I picture the characters in my mind and the actors they choose do not always fit the version in my head.  I think I need to read it again.  Too bad I gave away all my Pilcher books to the library.

Synopsis:
Against the backdrop of an elegant Cornwall mansion before World War II and a vast continent-spanning canvas during the turbulent war years, this involving story tells of an extraordinary young woman's coming of age, coming to grips with love and sadness, and in every sense of the term, coming home...


In 1935, Judith Dunbar is left behind at a British boarding school when her mother and baby sister go off to join her father in Singapore. At Saint Ursula's, her friendship with Loveday Carey-Lewis sweeps her into the privileged, madcap world of the British aristocracy, teaching her about values, friendship, and wealth. But it will be the drama of war, as it wrenches Judith from those she cares about most, that will teach her about courage...and about love.

 Teeming with marvelous, memorable characters in a novel that is a true masterpiece, Coming Home is a book to be savored, reread, and cherished forever.

It seems the biggest problem we have in our relationships is speaking up and expressing what we are thinking...and asking the hard questions.  Instead we just assume and stay quiet. "Never assume" is a good rule to live by in life as well as the mortgage business.

I am so mad at myself.  They had the book sale at the Chester library on Sunday.  I had wanted to buy the book about the Chester library cat who died.  My neighbor here in Lake Almanor had written and printed the book and was donating all her sales to the library.  I am so forgetful...  I had just told her on Friday I would be there!

Full Service in 2011????

Today I had full service at Jackson's Gas Station in Susanville.  They filled my tank, added oil, washed the windows--all at the same gas price as the the lowest in town.  Why would I go anyplace else??? 

My first thought when a cute young guy asked what I needed was that I was back in high school and cute high school boys were servicing my car and it was 1949.  Very refreshing indeed!

Short Life

It is a good thing I captured the beautiful yellow in picture. Some maurauding deer liked the yellow, too.   He (or she) ate the blooms and all the buds of the yellow lilies for breakfast this morning...

Yellow, Yellow, Glorious Yellow

I think I like the yellow lily best of all.

Here I am taking pictures of the lilies and I should have taken pictures of Matt, Mitch and Mike, all here together.  Matt came up from Tahoe just for the night and then Mitch moved out to his new room, the purple room, in Susanville.  Then Matt left and it was all quiet again.  Last night I made some ice cream for the boys, Cafe Rio Chicken and today we had baked pork chops.  I haven't done so much cooking in a long time. Anyway it was fun having all the boys together.  Last night we played "You Don't Know Jack" and Mike won, as usual, and Matt fell asleep.  I knew about three answers for sure...

 Mike says since he is working he won't be cooking so much.  However, we watched a video on CHOW of how to make nachos correctly and then he bought all the stuff for nachos and we both made our own batch.  I am glad to know how to do it right.  I am not losing weight for the wedding, woe is me.  My skirt will not fit!!!

Buffalo Chips

These are pictures taken 7 years ago at Buffalo Chips, where Mike is now working. It is the one consistent thing in Westwood, a small (formerly logging) town 21 miles from my home in Lake Almanor. It has been in business for 32 years and does have exceptional pizza plus other interesting sandwiches, etc.

Montana Beauty

This is Brooke, daughter of Eric, my nephew.  He took this picture somewhere near Silver Gate, Montana and I think it is such a beautiful picture of a pretty girl on a mountain bike with the green grasses, yellow flowers, lovely mountains and then the blue sky behind.  Pretty girl, Brooke! And Montana is such a magnificent place in the summer...

News from the Stewart Camp

After Ryan's near tragic swimming pool experience, swimming lessons become an important part of his life and he passes with flying colors!!

Brynn is looking very wise and grown up for a three monther.  What a doll!

Serious Artists at Work in Silver Gate



The twinnies Raina and Sage Fuqua at Silver Gate Anderson Cabin.



Raina

Mom Bethany helps.

Sage is happy with her picture.

Sage adds her footprint to the masterpiece.

Crazy Thoughts!

I love to watch these tv dramas with several episodes.  Today it was "He Knew He Was Right".  Like "Anna Karenina" He, the husband, thought things that were not true.  He was so sure his wife was unfaithful he could not accept the truth.  Both He and Anna were driven almost mad by their obesessive wrong thoughts.

Why do we get certain ideas that are false and drive ourselves nutty with imaginings that are not true?  How do you best clear your head of these wrong thoughts.  One prayer I have every night is "Help me to think clearly and correctly"--  I think it helps.

Maryanne and I were discussing obessive dreams we had as children.  They were both awful happenings to ourselves that we dreamed over and over--why???

If I had answers to all my whys, I would be very wise indeed.

Both Mitch and Mike have new jobs, so they are off celebrating tonight, whatever that means!

More Lilies!

Finally!

Wow, we finally have good internet reception.  I should have changed years ago.  A man climbed a 135 foot tree to put a dish right on top!!  It is Digitalpath and he said we are receiving 4 megs where with Frontier we were barely getting 1 meg.

Now Mike can play games and I can watch ROKU at the same time!

Daniel Deronda

This week I watched the George Eliot novel "Daniel Deronda" as pressented by Masterpiece Theater in 2004.  It was excellent.  I should read the book, many ideas to ponder.

I thought a lot about the selfish Gwendolyn when her sister asked.  "How come she always gets what she wants?"  And Gwendolyn said, "Because I won't settle for anything else."  It does seem that some people are able to get what they want for just that reason.  We give it to them, because they insist. 

At least in the novel she does get her come uppance for her selfish ways and eventually changes.  Daniel is the kind of person we would all like to have as a friend, a very caring friend.

Cutie Updated Pix of Keira!

Something healthy but so good!

I love this with her Auntie.

I like this, too, Mom.

The following pictures are from Matt and Meagan's trip to visit the Massey family in Humboldt.

My laughing face.

My serious face with my Dad.

My curious face with my Dad again.

This is amazing, I wonder what it is???

Life is good with my Mom.

Here I am with my Massey family,

Thoughts on Lincoln, BYU and Righteous Living

I just finished the Lincoln Series on PBS.  It was so excellent and I learned so much.  Poor Mary Todd.  I did not realize she had such a hard time emotionally.  I loved  listening to Abraham Lincoln's speeches.  He worked so hard on the words but it was the heart and spirit of them that was so profound.  How wonderful it would be now to be led by men in government who had a deep faith in God and sought inspiration in their law making.  I am so disgusted with our government leaders. 

Sunday I spoke in church with Kaylene.  She is off to BYU this year and it is 60 years since I attended.  I was remembering all those good things about going to college, and how much I loved my time there.  Kaylene said she was more excited than ever after hearing my comments.  She is so talented and has such confidence, she will do well.

The subject I spoke on was Elder L. Tom Perry's address on "The Tradition of  a Balanced, Righteous Life" which he had given at Utah Valley University.  I also put in a few thoughts from his life story and his fireside speech at BYU in March.  He has lived a very righteous life of success in the business world and then as a General Authority.  We are so fortunate to have his caliber of men to lead and teach us in the church, if only our government leaders could be half so competent and righteous.

I think this message was especially intended for me.  I have such a hard time living a balanced life.  When I am stressed out (which has been nonstop for the last 30 years I think) I eat badly and gain weight and then I try to lose weight and it is a vicious circle.  When I read, I read nonstop and then I won't read for a long time.  I can't seem to just lived a balanced, even life with no stress, no indulgence, no sadness, the right foods, consistent exercise, daily scriptures, etc.   How do people do that?  It can't be just that they have money and I don't, because a lot of people with money live very crazy lives.  I know exactly what to do, I just don't do it...Why?