Monday, September 26, 2011

My Fascination with Boxes



I just counted the boxes in the office.  I have 14!!  I love boxes, and I like them covered with some kind of design.  Lately my covering them with pictures from calendars and magazines continues.  I did have all my jewelry (that I seldom wear) in labeled boxes.  Boring!  More fun to have designed boxes with no specific purpose known to anyone but me.  I have pictures, sewing projects, materials, chargers, plugs, etc, etc, etc. I have all kinds of things and nothing stored in my boxes.  If anyone comes by my house and finds an empty one they like, they can have it!  I need more empty boxes to cover…it is a great pastime.

I especially like these last two I covered with a $1 calendar from the dollar store about angels.  The paper is so thin I did not think it would work, but it did!  The difference between the store bought boxes and mine is that mine have wrinkles, bumps, and many other imperfections but are originals, just like us people.

Below are some I did last week.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Matt and Emily

Matt and Emily from Tahoe City came by last night and we breakfasted this morning after they fished. Then they were off again back to Tahoe. They said they were stopping to see Mitch on the way. While they were here I showed them the boxes I had been making and Matt chose one to keep and Emily wanted to know how to do them. They would be cute little gift boxes for her feather jewelry business. Anyway it was fun to see them and chat with them about their life. Matt gathered up some of his 'winter' stuff to take back with him.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Carl Larsson Box

It  is very relaxing for me when I am tired of working to cover boxes with calendars.  So here is another one from my Carl Larsson calendar.

I will soon be out of boxes and calendars!


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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

More Boxes!

You know what the say, "Idle hands are the devils tools--or something like that--so I keep my hands busy."

Besides it is more fun than work, and it was too cold to work on the car or deck this morning.  So I cleaned the floors and made boxes.

I Didn't Want to Do It!

I totally formatted my computer and reloaded it and am now ready to restore the files again and hopefully this time there will not be so many problems.  The final straw was when they couldn't even look at my files because of problems.  It was just so messed up.  Hope I can keep it clean and happy this time.

Mike's Birthday

Very Special Pizza with from Buffalo Chips Mike made for his birthday.  It will last him for days!

This is a Caramel Macchiato Cheesecake with Heath and Skor Bars on top.  You finish it off with whipped cream, caramel sauce and a maraschino cherry.  Mike made it for his birthday.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

A Diversion from Computer Problems


Greece

I gave this one to Michael for his birthday for his papers, receipts, etc.  He had said it was a nice looking box so I thought he might like  it.

Outer Space

I use this one for all my chargers, plug, etc. etc. and it matches the wooden calendar holder it is under.
  I love making these storage boxes from the grandchildren's tennis shoe boxes and calendars.  I make a mess and they are not very well done but I like them!

Friday, September 09, 2011

So Precious!

Meagan just posted a picture on Facebook of Keira looking so grown up in shoes and
sox and such a pretty dress with a big smile.  She must be about 7 months old.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

It's Always Something!

Since Wednesday I have been dealing with a computer recovery after a virus.   An expert told me it is the mob that causes the virus and then says they can recover it for a fee.  What they want is your credit card!!  I didn't fall for it but they hid all my files and even though I have Carbonite there is still so much to do to get back to where I was...if I ever can. I  have some things functioning ok but others are still a mess, mostly the pictures.

Then last night when I was watering I walked between the lilac bush and the deck and the wire cage around the bush was too close and the raw edge of the cage had uncovered sharp, rusty projections and one dug deep into my right arm. I didn't realize what did it but after I had tended to it I came back outside and did the same thing in the other arm!  Mike, Maria and the internet convinced me I needed a Tetanus shot and the Urgent Care this morning agreed.  In fact, the nurse who gave the shot, said if you work in the garden you should keep up your shots because it is in the dirt!  You don't even need a rusty nail to have the threat!!!  She gave me all kinds of bad news about the after affects but so far so good, will probably hit in the morning.

Mike is enjoying his work and becoming the expert in all areas.  Today he bought the most delicious pizza I have ever had on our way home from Wal Mart.  It was from Buffalo Chips, of course.  So good.  He was looking forward to buying a new game that was supposed to be out today and Wal Mart didn't have it!!!  He may never shop at Wal Mart again. 

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

It Happened!

In the morning all was fine, late afternoon my computer had been seized.  Some program wanted to fix all the damage at a price.  Mike said this was who had given me the virus in the first place.  What did I open that I shouldn't?  I have a vague recollection of giving permission to something I shouldn't have when I was checking out glutenfree recipes.  I should not have said ok, when Webroot was warning me it was not a safe site.  That is what I pay them for, isn't it?  Dumb, dumb me, not thinking.  My Webroot Security was still working though and they quickly found the two virus and quarantined them.  Hopefully nothing is still lurking.  I had to reinstall all my files from Carbonite and then they began the task of restoring all my files.  It will take two days.

I am so glad that Mary Anne and Jean told me about Carbonite last year, this is the second time I have saved my data.  Last year it was the computer that broke and I bought a new one and Carbonite put everything on the new computer they had been storing.  Now this, never thought it would happen to me but paying for security and backup is worth it.

I did find two interesting sites yesterday as I was exploring.  Hope they are not the ones that did me damage.  One was Luminosity.  The thing I chose to do was have them give me certain exercises to improve my skills of focus and memory.  It is like playing games.  The other interesting site was StumbleUpon which are all kinds of interesting sites and pictures.

The other interesting thing that was sent to me yesterday is an article on FEMA and lack of funds for disasters.  The present administration does not want to ask for more funds as it is an election year.  Thus projects that have been started have been put on hold and response to disasters is thwarted.  This, of course, affects my job also.  That being said, I must admit, that like all government programs, I have seen a lot of mismanagement and waste of the funds being received and the funds not getting used where they are needed.  We all need to be better prepared to take care of ourselves is the one answer and the second is to try and monitor this necessary beast called government.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Birthday Girls!

Mary Anne went all out with a plant, balloon and poster for Margaret--86 years young.
Mary Anne and Margaret shared Birthday honors at Burger Depot on Monday at 1 PM.
Sue, Jean, Mary Anne and Margaret and joined by me...
Kathy added in...
Jeannette added in... It was a fun day!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

Lost in Austen



I had just finished watching "Lost in Austen" which was a fun miniseries.  A young woman who lived all her frustrations out by reading "Pride and Prejudice" and knew the book intimately was visited by Elizabeth Bennett (from the book) in her bathroom.  Amanda (the modern girl) goes back into time and lives at Elizabeth's house for a time.  She tries to get all the characters to follow the book and messes things up royally.  It was very enjoyable.

Earlier in the day I raked and watered the front and side yards and then collapsed back into bed and slept until 2 in the afternoon.  

Mike brought some pizza to try when he came back from work around 10--it was chicken barbeque and we decided the one he makes at home is even better, but it was very good.  I just had a little, I do not want another gluten revenge!  I think MIke is doing a very good job at work as the boss was complimenting him today on all he has learned and how well he does.
Since I came back from Tennessee in May I finished my book of 204 plus Suduko and am on # 140 of another book that Maria gave me a few years ago.  I am still on EASY but getting faster.  Hope to avoid Altheimers, ha.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

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.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

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.

Monday, August 22, 2011

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).

Thursday, August 18, 2011

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

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Grandmother and Granddaughter



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

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

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...

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

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!


Monday, August 08, 2011

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...

Sunday, August 07, 2011

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!!!

John Hardy Memorial Hike 2015

My Life So Far