Daily Blessings

these things are FREE!

2012-01-27T08:46:00.000-05:00

(and make life better)

a smile
a friendly greeting
sharing a memory
a gentle touch
a heartfelt compliment
a good joke, followed by a good belly laugh
a kind thought
skipping
eye contact
saying thank you
holding a door open
courage
singing
turning a cartwheel
covering your cough/sneeze
allowing someone else to go first
a wink
prayer
taking a walk
breathing deeply
choosing not to speak
sharing ideas
listening
forgiveness

...what else?

little elephant

2012-01-25T12:25:00.000-05:00

My fingers might be getting smarter.

Over the weekend I resurrected my crocheting skills.

(By skills, I mean I learned how to crochet several sad-looking pot holders on a few consecutive Tuesday nights in the '70s at age 12.)

I was excited to finish this elephant--and a little worried in the process, as I wasn't sure he was going to come out quite so cute (the kids nicknamed him Hammer-head before I got his ears put on; he really did look like a soft gray mallet with eyes).

I used this book for the pattern.

The nameless little elephant just left

(via saltine box in the US Mail)

for New Hampshire to become my little nephew's

early adoption-day gift.

NEXT winter's wood just arrived.

2012-01-24T08:24:00.001-05:00

hooray for warmth!

most of the kids, when they came down the driveway from school yesterday weren't as happy as me to see that pile...

to them, it means a few summer days of splitting and stacking.

basketball with yellow #9

2012-01-21T21:13:00.000-05:00

this one I like to call "the blonde blur"

a good day for skating

2012-01-21T13:02:00.000-05:00

Sunderland, MA

2012-01-20T11:55:00.003-05:00

I really like this old barn.

what not to do on a first date

2012-01-19T15:24:00.000-05:00

I had a random memory pop into my head today.
I was a sophomore in High School, and newly 16. Which meant I could date.
A couple of boys at school had asked me to go out a few months before I turned 16, and I happily used the phrase "I can't date until I'm 16." So some of them, it turns out, were waiting for my birthday, and then re-asked. This was one of those guys. I sat next to him in history class.
(My daughter thinks this story makes me sound like I was so popular,,, don't be misled. I was not.)
I was happy about maybe one or two of those incidents, but mostly not so much.
Dating gave me heartburn. And hives.
I am still not very good at finding polite ways to say "NO" in all areas of my life, so it is not surprising that I had the same problem in my social life.
ANYWAY.
This guy asked me to go to a concert with him.
The Cars!
Of course I went.
We sat in the bleachers, and the music was SO loud, I couldn't hear what little conversation he was making with me. I just kind of politely nodded my head and smiled. After the concert, he was going to drive me home, and asked if I'd like to go to McDonald's. (Classy, I know.) I said "Sure!" because I was a woman of many words. We got to the parking lot, and I actually saw a few people that I knew (and was friends with) inside the restaurant, so I started to feel a little bit happy, because I'd be able to talk to some people. Then he whips the car around and we drive through the drive-thru lane and he orders a small fries and a coke at the window. He didn't think to ask me if I wanted anything. So I didn't offer. (it's just amazing to think back on what an awkward date this was) He then parked the car in the lot, and proceeded to eat his food. By this, I mean he probably was much more comfortable filling his mouth than using it to talk to me, because this had not been going so well. He picked up the little paper envelope that the fries came in, and munched the tops of the fries right off. Then, almost as an afterthought, he turned and looked at me, and held out the little paper thingy, and asked "Did you want some fries?"
Umm.... no. Thanks.
And we went home.
The end.

Pinewood Derby: A Million Dollar Day

2012-01-16T18:30:00.000-05:00

The big day!

Oh... the anticipation was BIGGER.

there were a lot of cars,

and LOTS of waiting.

(maybe some praying)

This little scout's whole heart was invested in the racing...

His face tells the story:

disbelief,

amazement

and a congratulatory pat on the back from his pal after his car took FIRST PLACE in the first heat!

He didn't win the derby,

but the day was a SUCCESS.

maybe I just give up...

2012-01-16T15:30:00.000-05:00

maybe Cub Scouts and rooster tails

just GO together.

pinewood prep

2012-01-16T15:14:00.000-05:00

these two spent some serious time getting ready for the big derby.

OH! (culture)

2012-01-15T23:27:00.000-05:00

something about January

and my craving for culture...

I talked Mr. Dub into an evening out, into which both of us waltzed, completely unaware of how saturated with culture this evening would be.

Months and months ago, we went on

a morning date to Clinton.

We happened to drive past a building that caught my eye, and I just knew we would have to go back.

The sign on the building read:

Museum of Russian Icons.

Honestly, I entered the building with a completely incorrect assumption of what we would find. A distinctive and emblematic part of Russian culture, icons trace their roots back to the year 988 when the pagan Rus’ were converted to Christianity. For over 1,000 years, Orthodox Christianity, the Greek branch of the Christian faith, informed and shaped the spiritual and cultural foundation of Russian society and directed the creative energies of craftsman and artists. Icon painting and the veneration of icons also originated in the Greek Orthodox tradition and were imported into Russia.

We couldn't have been more delighted!

the collection was impressive, interesting, and actually quite amazing. It included this oldest icon (above) in the museum collection of John the Baptist, dating back to the 15th century.

If we had allowed ourselves the time, I know I could have spent at least an hour studying the very large and intricate icon portraying the final judgment (below).

The real reason for our visit was a concert.

"A Russian Souvenir with Maria Lyudko."

She came from Russia as part of a trio, including an accomplished pianist and a very talented clarinetist. WOW! It was a very intimate concert experience in a small room with less than three dozen in attendance. We sat in the front row, close enough to hold hands with the performers, and blown away by the beauty and clarity of the performance.

Georges, the clarinet player was a complete gentleman; he about blew the reed off his horn. Maria was a top notch performer; acclaimed in Russia, and charming in person. She even posed for a picture.

She spoke in Russian the entire evening, with her clarinet companion as her translator. Even though we didn't understand a lick of Russian, it was easy to become lost in the universal language that is music. I sat there wanting ALL of my friends and family to be part of that experience...

Lucky us.

The videos below aren't from our concert, but they might somewhat portray the quality of our night of culture.

a BIG win.

Oh! La-La... (hola!)

2012-01-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

I couldn't help but laugh as I watched Rooney sculpt a snow message to Yonder.

To her credit,

she has NOT taken Spanish (yet).

No matter what the language,

the message is clear:

she LOVES her brother in Panama.

today's snow

2012-01-12T08:55:00.000-05:00

makes me HAPPY!

tomato soup and the evolution of lunch

2012-01-11T12:56:00.000-05:00

Soup from a can.

Who knew lunch could get so interesting?

Mixed with some milk and cream of course, and accompanied by some crackers for dipping.

That was my lunch today.

With my lunch, I decided to catch up on some news.

I turned on the computer, and clicked on my internet browser...

(20 years ago I would have crinkled my eyebrows at that sentence and mumbled "huh?")

The first thing I saw was the Google doodle tribute to Nicolas Steno.

I had no idea.

Happy 374th birthday to a guy who unassumingly made a difference.

I'd like to think that many people do it his way... quietly pursuing the things that interest and motivate; along the way making improvements to knowledge and progression without fully realizing the impact.

Of course you can't read something on the L.A.Times blog page, and not get pulled into something equally unique and attention-grabbing--like:

the case of the confiscated cupcake.

Somehow, this cupcake caper just seemed so unjust.

Ironically, however, it also gave me more faith in our airport security friends.

And... have you ever heard of

the Doomsday Clock?

(Who comes up with this stuff?)

My biggest question after reading about how the hand on the clock has jumped around over the years

"Why is there no mention of nations turning away from God in all of this?"

Finally, and kind of funny, is that a respect for God and a desire to do His will has been making headlines in the world of sports.

Whether or not you're a Broncos fan, it's been hard to turn on a radio or TV without hearing the name of Tim Tebow. I wonder if the Tim Tebow fans will have enough impact globally, that we might be able to set the Doomsday Clock back a few more minutes?

And with that, lunch is over.

I have some napping to catch up on.

New Year's priorities, you know.

visiting the sick

2012-01-10T21:17:00.000-05:00

I woke up early this morning and baked some bread.

I hired myself a driver.

I called him "James."

I also recruited him as my companion, and an honorary member of the Relief Society.

We spent the morning in a flurry of happy visits.

today my mother-heart is hovering over Panama

2012-01-08T21:43:00.001-05:00

so I wrote a nice, LONG letter.

There's nothing like getting a nice newsy letter when you're far away from home. Actually, there's just something about getting a letter in the mail no matter where you are. When I was a missionary, receiving mail was like having Christmas morning whenever it happened. I still love mail--both sending it and receiving it.

If you would like to write a letter to my big boy, just leave a comment here or email me, and I'll pass along his address.

demolition

2012-01-06T12:26:00.000-05:00

The landscape at the old homestead is changing.

phase one:

old play fort

ballisters tapped out

phase two:

bridge and supports down

phase three:

structural support coming down

phase four:

pile of lumber, ready to be re-purposed

coming soon:

Mr. Dub's

Blacksmith Shop.

The little boys had their day.

Now it's time for the big boy to play!

almost done!

2012-01-06T08:35:00.000-05:00

a BIG thank you to Aunt Johann and Uncle Paul... we have ALL enjoyed spending time at the puzzle.

some accounting

2012-01-05T21:12:00.000-05:00

-Enrique and I spent the better part of the first half of our day visiting dad in Northboro.

-Mom is in Utah with Alana. She is due and pending... (hooray for new babies!)

-Dad is still sick. I told him if he were my child, I would haul him back to the doctor.

-We watched the movie Inception together. We liked it. It was intense. Onion-y.

(layers, baby.)

-All of that was way better than making a smoothie for breakfast that I had to throw out (because it had shards of plastic in it... have you ever accidentally thrown ice on top of your little clear plastic blender lid thingy and not noticed it was there in the bottom, waiting to be sliced to smithereens?), slipping on a hanger on the mudroom floor and falling HARD! on my knees (ouch) and finally getting to the store (after a desperate morning with frothy powdered milk as the cereal option) and FORGETTING the milk!

Someone save me.

-I did get to go ice skating with my little boy this afternoon, and THAT was grand.

the inaugural skate

2012-01-05T09:07:00.000-05:00

it was COLD yesterday!

and the day before that...

HELLO 8 degrees Fahrenheit;

you make puffy winter coats seem threadbare.

the good news:

the ice was frozen

and the rink was READY for skating.

HOORAY for winter!

(thank you, budding photographer Mesquite-the-Magnificent)

made (with love) in Panama

2012-01-04T20:15:00.000-05:00

worn(with love)in Massachusetts

the boys next door

2012-01-04T13:08:00.000-05:00

we moved into our house in the summer of 1999. the family next door had two little boys, ages seven and ten. they used to come over several times everyday and ask if they could swim.

now they're all grown up and I hardly ever see them. the boys never come over to ask if they can swim. over the Christmas break, their mother asked if I would come over and take some family pictures. one of them did make an appearance at our New Year's Eve party, which made me very happy. here is a picture of the boys next door.

little boys

2012-01-03T21:56:00.000-05:00

with messy faces

(i love them so)

It's Tuesday!

2012-01-03T09:31:00.002-05:00

Vacation's O-VER.
The kids are all back at school
(except the college student, he's still asleep)
Dub's off to the west coast...
and me?
I've had my breakfast dessert
(last night's FHE treat leftover brownies)
and now I'm GOING.BACK.TO.BED.

photo booth fun

2012-01-02T20:26:00.000-05:00

New Year's 'Stache Bash 2012

2012-01-01T22:13:00.000-05:00

New Year's Eve is always a party.

This year we pumped up the volume:

a THEME party.

mustache cookies

and

some sweet facial hair accoutrements

eventually everyone caught on... wear it, then EAT it! The mustachioed rolls were fresh out of the oven

I was complemented several times on how natural my 'stache looked on me.

(Is that good?!?)

no face was left clean shaven.

the whipped cream mustaches were a little tastier than their furry counterparts

if you weren't with us this year, we're going to make you an offer you can't refuse:

JOIN US FOR New Year's 2013!

Happy Happy 2012!!

2012-01-01T19:34:00.001-05:00

bare feet, chaos and all...

(much more to come)

2011-12-29T14:49:00.000-05:00

2011-12-29T14:45:00.000-05:00

home made Christmas

2011-12-29T14:14:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things about Christmas is getting a home made gift.

I love the thought that goes behind a gift made with love.

We have a Christmas Eve tradition in our family.

We draw names at Thanksgiving, and everyone makes a home made gift

to be opened after dinner on Christmas Eve.

This year there were handcrafted pajama pants, a beautiful picture frame, a name plaque, a desk blotter, a lovely skirt and a sock monkey. The stand-out, however, was the nerd garden

(made with love) by Enrique:

a nerd garden?

She LOVES it.

Also, under the tree this year were not one, but TWO surprises for me:

a hand pieced quilt from my piano student Louise

and

embroidered pillowcases from Lynn,

my friend Heather's mom who lives in upstate NY.

Christmas love.

2011-12-28T13:11:00.002-05:00

LoOk!

my Christmas Cactus bloomed for Christmas.

(things I love)

BEST Christmas Gift 2011:

2011-12-27T14:31:00.000-05:00

talking with our missionary in Panama!

the HAPPY DANCE was in order.

Merry Christmas to all...

2011-12-24T12:01:00.000-05:00

some gingerbread boys aren't made of gingerbread

2011-12-23T22:41:00.000-05:00

one of Santa's elves

2011-12-23T14:59:00.001-05:00

Dub's been busy setting up the ice rink...

Now's the time we start praying for c-c-cold weather.

Happy Winter!

Peace.

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

The program at our Ward Christmas Party this year was small and simple.

This was my favorite part.

Isaiah 9:6

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall becalled Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace."

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” (Rom. 14:19.)

the cow and donkey were pretty great, too.

she's got the music

2011-12-21T19:16:00.000-05:00

and she has to lug it to school twice a week!

the step-sister's back

2011-12-21T11:48:00.000-05:00

she's feisty

and charming

but she's NOT getting table scraps.

Look who's ELEVEN!

2011-12-20T06:28:00.000-05:00

my BEST Christmas present EVER.

over heard over the weekend

2011-12-19T09:22:00.000-05:00

"Whitcombs don't go the extra mile"
-after a certain little boy of mine was asked by his grandfather why he wouldn't tuck in his Sunday shirt

"We now refer to Dub as Uncle Hallmark. Whenever you're around him, you feel good."
-after a group hug with Uncle Aaron

A back story before the next quote. At dinner on Friday night, I served up some rolls that were a little on the crusty side--they had endured some extra baking time in the oven.
Morning Boy asked me "Mom, are these that kind of pirate bread that wouldn't spoil after a long time on the ship?"
I looked at him for a few seconds until I realized what he was talking about, and said "Oh, you mean hard tack?"
He said yes, and then we had a blessing on the food. After the chorus of AMENs, he asked

"Anyone want a heart attack?"

jiggity jig

2011-12-17T16:46:00.000-05:00

Friday I drove to Amherst to collect Enrique from his 16th floor dorm room at UMass.

One semester under his belt,

and already there are winds of change...

he has decided to change his living arrangements for next semester,

so it all came home.

we LIKE having him around the house again!

I think he might like it, too.

the stockings are hung by the chimney with care

2011-12-15T09:40:00.000-05:00

here's the 411 on holiday prep

now that the days-until-Christmas has reached single digits:

-Christmas tree: UP

-Ornaments: ON

-Train under tree: CHECK

-Lights on bushes: YES

-Wreaths and greens festooning the property: CHECK

-Christmas cards: TRICKLING OUT

-Shopping: SLOWING

-Wrapping: NOT MY FAVORITE TASK

-Gingerbread men: BAKED, FROSTED and EATEN

-Remembering the goal is not about checking off boxes: (OH..., right)

I hope you're doing most of the following (I'm trying to make these my top priorities):

-Sitting by a fire

-Reading a good book

-Thinking about loved ones

-Sharing a good memory

-Choosing not to go to every party/function

-relaxing and simplifying your December.

Carry on!

It's Monday: step away from the fig bars

2011-12-12T14:22:00.002-05:00

I am a cosmopolitan woman, busy with lists of things to get done each day in my little world of kids and culture. I like to start the day thinking I have it all under control. At 4:45am, Dub and I were working out with Tony Horton in the basement. It's not my happy hour, but Mr. Dub's understanding, and doesn't expect me to answer back or smile at that time of day. When I packed the kids' lunches, I cut extra carrot sticks and pepper strips to put in baggies for my run-around car snacking. I know myself. If I didn't do this, I might find myself desperately emptying the glove box in search of old gum or chewing on bits of stale granola bar pieces the kids dropped in the back seat, and a wad of grocery bag; because let's face it: isn't there something almost desirable about the smell of a paper bag from the grocery store?
I digress.
After my visit to the home of a talented friend (she is a whiz at cabinetry, remodeling projects, mouse extermination, basement flooding trouble-shooting and plumbing) I ran off to accomplish many tasks, feeling like I needed to at least walk down the aisles of Home Depot so I could make myself feel more competent. Instead, I excelled at using coupons to finish up some Christmas shopping. When I burst through the door a few hours later, parcels in hand, I went down my mental list of things to get done at home before the kids started trickling home from school and piano students knock on the door:
-put wood on the fire
-put groceries away
-put wet wash in the dryer
-hide Christmas gifts I just bought
-return borrowed items to the neighbor before she heads off to work
-listen to phone messages
-check email
Before I knew it, I was famished, and needed lunch STAT. My choice? A can of diet cherry Dr. Pepper, a bag of ripple potato chips and some ranch dip. With a chaser of Daddy Ray's low fat fig bars. I feel like I just went from respectable member of society to desperate college student during finals week needing a food intervention. Who even buys Daddy Ray's low fat fig bars, anyway? Sick.
I have until dinner time to redeem myself.

warning.

2011-12-09T10:58:00.001-05:00

Hard things ahead.

My assignment is to speak about this on Sunday.
I've been thinking about this task for almost a month now.
(why does this seem so hard?)
I sat at the bedside of a lovely *young* woman who is dying of brain cancer on Wednesday.
I also got punched in the gut. Hard.
My hard stuff I will own.
It's not as hard as what others are dealing with.
Focusing on the difficult stuff in life is overwhelming.
I much prefer to view things from the good stuff lens.
We all head face first into real life. It throws awful things.
Lean into the wind. Put your game face on.
I'm going to spend my weekend thinking strategy.
Godspeed with yours!

happy things

2011-12-08T06:39:00.001-05:00

making Christmas cookies

drinking smoothies for breakfast

a clever arrangement

of the refrigerator nativity

kids who love each other

a spontaneous flower delivery from Dub-of-my-heart

homework

2011-12-06T16:30:00.000-05:00

* with a side of scrabble *

2011-12-06T09:51:00.001-05:00

I re-read this lovely little book again.

Loved it even more this time.

A visit to Guernsey is on my bucket list.

There are movie plans in the works!

Delightful.

Cabin Fever

2011-12-05T09:25:00.001-05:00

Day Eight

(thanks Aunt Rachael and cousins for new reading material and a lovely visit!)

2011-12-01T12:15:00.001-05:00

fever

2011-12-01T12:11:00.001-05:00

day five

poor dear.

there's a monkey on his back

2011-11-30T08:37:00.001-05:00

we're nothing, if not entertainment for the felines

2011-11-28T08:29:00.001-05:00

So here we are, in the backyard yesterday after church trying to get a family picture for the annual Christmas card.

The cats sat mesmerized by it all.

First there was the outfit debate: stay in church clothes or change into what's comfortable?

I figured if they were willing to gather for pictures, let them wear what they want.

Then there was the daughter with a 102 degree fever, who had to be dragged from her sick bed.

Also, the daughter who changed clothes three times, and ran out at the last minute in bare feet because we were all waiting.

And the college student, on the cusp of being returned to his dorm, who couldn't resist the opportunity to pester and tease his sisters throughout the photo shoot. Most likely as his parting gift to us all. Nothing says love like badgering your siblings at a photo shoot.

And me. Fighting the timer so that I could jump in the shots.

(Dear Santa: I wouldn't mind a remote in my stocking)

I'm telling you. It was a challenge.

HERE are the fruits of our labors:

You like this one?

Can you get past the knee-biting?

Well how about the fact that at the last second, Enrique pushed his sister completely out of the frame?

And then here?

She leans over for retribution and he ducks out of view.

Here's the one we just may send out.

It captures the family spirit PERFECTLY.

Oh, the fantastic perks of big families.

feeding the multitude

2011-11-26T19:20:00.001-05:00

while everyone else was filling their plates

2011-11-26T19:11:00.001-05:00

Grampy was making a deposit in the bank of FUN

(as seen through a kitchen window)

cousins that hug

2011-11-26T18:54:00.001-05:00

On Thanksgiving

people kept coming, and the love did too.

Unabashed hugs make me happy.

especially yummy on holidays

2011-11-26T18:50:00.001-05:00

a COUSIN sandwich!

meeting his newest cousin

2011-11-26T18:34:00.001-05:00

they became fast friends

Mashed Potatoes for Fifty

2011-11-25T21:08:00.001-05:00

My assignment this Thanksgiving was to bring the mashed potatoes. There were 46 of us dining together.

The potatoes were Red Bliss fresh from western Mass.

They traveled two hours south to Connecticut.

It was a job too big for foil, so we used the next best thing:

our emergency blanket.

They stayed warm!

They were enjoyed by many.

There were leftovers.

The dishes stayed right where they were until Friday morning.

perspective

2011-11-24T07:46:00.000-05:00

On Thanksgiving,

I am GRATEFUL for perspective.

I was visiting a friend in the hospital last week.

While she was downstairs having a procedure, I visited with her very nice roommate Rosemarie from Connecticut who was in the hospital for a debilitating muscular condition.

Hard.

Rosemarie admitted to me that she was feeling discouraged to the point that she was having what she called a personal pity party. Then she met her new neighbor, (my friend) who had been moved down from the ICU that day. Rosemarie observed all of the comings and goings, and learned her roomie's story.

It's harder.

WAY harder.

Rosemarie told me she did an about face and instantly felt grateful for her hard challenge.

She didn't like the hand that had been dealt to her, but she couldn't change it.

What she could change, though, was the way she looked at the cards.

Amazing what a little perspective can do.

Mary Engelbreight said

If you don’t like something change it;

if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.

After my hospital visit, I stopped by my parents' house.

I found my dad asleep on the couch.

It was after lunch time, and I was surprised to see him in his pajamas.

Turns out he had been up a good part of the night with some discomfort.

I felt bad.

Him?

He felt good about being able to nap in his PJs in the middle of the afternoon.

Perspective.

Finally, I am thankful for this thought on perspective:

"In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him. If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life’s sweetest experiences."

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

When I finished making my key lime pie yesterday, it looked more like a whole pile of ranch dip in a graham cracker crust. Not yummy. I'm sure it will taste much better. If no one chooses it today at the big feast? More for me to take home. Breakfast dessert! Perspective.

There are many, many small successes in my life.

They bring me great joy when I stop to recognize them.

My Thanksgiving challenge to you:

Count Your Blessings.

(and if you have time, read this fantastic article)

Happy, HAPPY Thanksgiving!

Give thanks.

Do some giving.

this afternoon i'll be in the kitchen...

2011-11-23T08:32:00.000-05:00

baking PIES!

today i am thankful for access to the ingredients of my choice

pumpkin

key lime

apple

(will you be making pies?)

Happy Day-Before-Thanksgiving!

behind the scenes

2011-11-22T07:59:00.001-05:00

it takes a village

to make a 50th anniversary party

come together...

so... good thing our family alone constitutes what could be the population of a small village.

I love the fun that happens when

family unites.

F-U-N!

there's even some magic in the OCDness

(YES, it's a word)

of vegetable cutting and arranging when women spend many hours in the kitchen together.

and the girls!

the hair!

the dancing!

the whole crew banded together

and jobs got done.

speaking of jobs, next time you need white lights strung in a warehouse-sized hall,

let me know.

I know just who to call.

with the ambiance set

it was time to train the waitstaff.

they were attentive and eager to help.

Luckily the Ohio contingency pulled in just before the instructions.

They even brought a bag of spare shoes.

the salads were placed

on the counters with care

in hopes that the entrees soon would be there

Not only were the waiters and waitresses

in top form,

they were also entertaining!

(dinner AND a show)

I will admit to honestly being worried

about a cake that looked this good.

Would it taste good, too?

It DID.

Not a crumb was left when the evening was done.

Today I am grateful to be part of such a fun and loving village.

Hooray for the family that PARTIES together!

A Surprise Golden Anniversary

2011-11-21T09:20:00.000-05:00

It really was a surprise, and they really ARE golden.

Happy 50th Mom and Dad!

On my honor

2011-11-17T20:59:00.000-05:00

I promise

to do my duty
to be a better scout mom
(to comb down that rooster tail)

Third time's a CHARM(er)!

use it up, wear it out...

2011-11-16T21:13:00.000-05:00

I love this coat.

It was my mom's.

She bought it in 1961.

It's 50 years old... and still keeping out the cold.

2011-11-15T21:07:00.000-05:00

Friendship

multiplies the good in life

yellow

2011-11-13T21:31:00.000-05:00

Newport, RI

(it's my favorite color--it calls out to me)

11 11 11

2011-11-12T20:28:00.000-05:00

We were married on 11-11.

This year we marked 22 years together.

Just so happens we celebrated our anniversary in style on the trifecta of elevens.

We started in Boston and ended up in Newport, Rhode Island.

I'm married to one cool dude.

22 Years went swiftly by...

2011-11-11T11:11:00.003-05:00

I know now that the years still ahead will race on in the same unrepentant way.
I'm grateful for a good man.
He makes me laugh and loves me so.
This week a friend asked our ten year old how we met.
She couldn't remember.
This post is dedicated to her.

On June 9th of 1988, I returned, a bit shell-shocked, to the United States through customs at the Miami airport, from a mission in Colombia. It had been a simple life, regimented by a structured daily missionary schedule, spent among people who mostly struggled to get to the next meal. Television and technology were not a part of my eighteen months in service. Winding paths through hillside neighborhoods, one room houses, dirt floors and tin roofs were the standard. It was a hard adjustment at a time in my life where the focus went from serving others, to suddenly being all about me: What was next? What about finishing school? How would I pay for it? Where would I work? Would I date?... it all sounds logical and simple, but the reality was that it was overwhelming and confusing.
I managed to secure a job right away for a temporary employment agency, and they sent me off to my first assignment at Raytheon as an administrative assistant. My leftover mission skirts and dresses became my work wardrobe. That much I felt comfortable with. (I laugh now, as I remember Dub confessing to me that at the time he didn't think I even owned any pants.) The building was full of engineers. Mostly single young men, not too far out of college themselves. The only other females in the facility were two women over 50 who worked for the manager of the group. I worked there for two weeks, and had more than a few invitations to lunch and dinner. I accepted a few, but was mostly eager to finish my assignment and get back to my senior year at BYU. There was one looming problem, and that was how I was going to pay for college. One afternoon I sat down near Gladys, one of my secretary co-horts, and asked her if she knew anything about applying for a college loan. At that very moment (ta-dah!) Mr. Dub happened through the area to make a few inaccurate snips with the paper cutter that was adjacent to my desk. (He admits that he had no business at the paper cutter; he was just trying to get up the courage to start a conversation with me. Thank goodness Gladys was there to intervene; he may have lost a finger before he came up with something on his own!) Gladys seized the moment, seized that young engineer, and introduced us, feeling confident that someone so freshly graduated from college himself (less than a year) might surely have some advice about college loans. Of course there is more to the story--MUCH more. But that's the start of it. The How-we-met of it.
Meet me at the paper cutter, Mr. Dub.
We have some celebrating to take care of.
Happy Anniversary!
XO

pumpkin power

2011-11-10T09:16:00.000-05:00

small as an elephant

2011-11-09T12:03:00.000-05:00

Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I LOVED this book... and the truth is, I never would have picked it up if my 10 year old hadn't read it first and BEGGED me to read it. I have known and been friends with several people who suffer with bipolar disease, which made my connectivity to this book more meaningful. Heartbreaking, touching and redeeming. I REALLY liked it. We've had to double up on our library renewals because now my 15 year old can't put it down.
The facts I learned about elephants were also both enlightening and sweet. Again, I REALLY enjoyed it.

View all my reviews

Jello stars

2011-11-09T10:32:00.000-05:00

make them.

eat them.

love them.

one not-so-good and a whole bunch of really good stuff

2011-11-08T20:49:00.000-05:00

Having lunch with Enrique was my favorite part of today.

Antionio's in downtown Amherst serves up really awesome pizza--so good that it was hard to pick a slice. E. settled on bacon mushroom, and I chose black bean and avocado with feta cheese. Woah. That won't be my last trip to Antonio's.

Some other favorites were listening to about three hours of General Conference addresses from 2001 while I spent most of my day driving. Mmmm. Inspiring speakers, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, blue skies, a 70 degree day and Fall foliage everywhere I looked... it was my birthday all over again.

Originally, I was invited to lunch with my favorite college boy via text message in honor of my birthday. I was honored! Then came the late-night text message about needing to see a dentist, because playing tackle football with a bunch of guys on the lawn means getting kicked in the teeth.

SO we added a side trip to the dentist to our a-Jen-da.

Not so fun was discovering that the tooth had cracked. All the way through. Enrique will now be getting his very first crown.

Other highlights?

Talking about college majors and making decisions.

Finding his bike, unharmed, in the same spot he locked it up at before the football game last Saturday.

Giving him a trim in the football stadium parking lot.

Reminding him to say his prayers before I stole another hug and waved good-bye

XO.

A Birthday Dance

2011-11-07T10:57:00.000-05:00

I love this man!

He patiently complied with my birthday wish for a spin around the family room to the rich serenade that was Michael Buble's new Christmas album, which made an appearance in a birthday bag yesterday.

By the way--don't ever be fooled into thinking that having a birthday in your late 40s is getting old.

We're just getting started!

(as an aside--I love that I am affectionately called MOMA (pronounced MO-ma) around here--it's like being a permanent exhibit in the family museum of modern art)

Coming Soon

2011-11-06T22:20:00.000-05:00

A blog post about Halloween.
But also, maybe not.
I haven't decided.
HALLOWEEN on November 6th? Who even cares about Halloween by now? Hello, our town does, apparently, because tonight was our trick-or-treating night.
Secretly I sort of wish they had just pulled the plug on the whole ordeal after that October snow event and the no power thing...;
after the third day we were all just hoping to be able to do laundry and take showers again... certainly NOT worried about when we'd be escorting our children around the snowbanks in the pitch black darkness (way to wait until after Daylight Savings ENDED to reschedule!) to collect candy.
So.
There you have it.
Trick? or Treat?

the anvil

2011-11-05T09:45:00.000-04:00

Back in September, I went to Brimfield with my friend.

We walked around for a few hours looking at antiques. We met some people we knew, and met some new friends. We came home with some cool stuff.This anvil was my find of the day.

Mister Dub has wanted his own blacksmith shop for almost our entire marriage, but kept putting it on hold for things like raising a family, getting a higher education and serving at church. When I saw this, I knew I had to get it. My patient friend walked back to the booth where the anvil was being sold at least four times during the day so I could make up my mind.

My friend calls this picture "praying over the anvil."

The guy who sold it probably thought we were crazy, as he helped us load that VERY heavy thing in the trunk of her car. Two women and an anvil. Dub was thrilled.

The Blacksmith seed has been planted.

November 2nd

2011-11-05T09:12:00.001-04:00

We celebrate Mr. Dub!

He's one year more resourceful and brilliant.

Happy Birthday to our happy and helpful guy.

(who still gets fig cake on his birthday from his Mom EVERY year)

Before it got serious, we were calling it FWINTER

2011-11-04T07:36:00.002-04:00

I went for a walk last week, and got all excited about the beauty of a little winter mixed up with the remaining fall. Then winter got serious and, well, got in the way, frankly. Still, I cannot deny the exquisiteness that a little mixing it up begat:

Snow-vember

2011-11-01T11:03:00.001-04:00

(actually, it started in October)

and then there was no power

for three days.

no school.

and no trick-or-treating.

LOTS of broken trees

lots of pushing WET, HEAVY snow around;

we got 14" in our town.

just about every tree that wasn't an evergreen and still had leaves on

was bent over or broken.

Reminiscent of the ice storm.

we were bent over, too.

(but not broken)

snow is FUN!

there are still MANY in New England without power. We are grateful to have ours back.

Maybe we'll go back to school tomorrow. It's day-to-day. Trick or treating has been rescheduled for November 4th.
11/1 5pm Update: No school (for the third day in a row) tomorrow. Twenty percent of our town is still without power. The middle school is being used as a shelter. Roads are still unsafe for school bus travel. Most local businesses and restaurants are still without power. We have seen power crews from as far away as Michigan and West Virginia. THANK YOU!! We are not suffering. We enjoy spending the extra time together. We have enjoyed hosting neighbors and friends. Power OUT means people IN. Life is good.

Papaya for breakfast

2011-11-01T10:31:00.000-04:00

While we're trying to stay warm and wishing for power, Yonder's picking papaya from the tree in his back yard and wishing for a little snow.

...the grass IS always greener...

And Then There Were None

2011-10-28T09:42:00.000-04:00

Just in time for Halloween, I finally read my first Agatha Christie novel. It was clever, although I will admit to having a hard time keeping all the characters straight for the first 80 pages or so. Aside from the ten house guests getting killed off one by one, the creepiest part of the book was that they kept pulling canned tongue from the pantry and ate it for just about every meal.

Tongue, anyone?

Dear Winter,

2011-10-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

Cute, winter... really cute.
And now this?

Your Severe Weather Watches and Warnings

LUNENBURG, MA

Your Radar | Current Conditions | 15-Day Forecast

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
400 AM EDT FRI OCT 28 2011

..A STRONG AND EARLY SEASON WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT MUCH OF
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS WEEKEND...

STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE JUST SOUTH AND EAST OF SOUTHERN NEW
ENGLAND FROM LATE SATURDAY INTO EARLY SUNDAY AND MOVE INTO THE
CANADIAN MARITIMES SUNDAY.

Relax, winter... Fall isn't quite done showing off.

Which came first?

2011-10-25T13:34:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning with a sore throat and feeling rather bleary-eyed. I had a list of things-to-do, a few places to go and some things I wanted to accomplish besides. When I went into my closet looking for something to wear, the options seemed especially lackluster: faded jeans, some shapeless brown corduroys, a passel of t-shirts, a sweatshirt? My daily uniform. Boring. I decided that my commonplace routine, though a bit dull, merited some lively clothing nevertheless, so I put on some tights, a skirt and some heels, and accessorized with a red bracelet and my shell of confidence. Off I went to teach a piano lesson, cash some checks and do some shopping. When you look good, you feel good. But is that the way it really works? Or do you have to feel good to decide to look good? I will tell you this: I felt better about my appearance than if the faded jeans and t-shirt would have lent themselves to my aura. There was a kick in my step that my sore throat and bleary eyes might not have produced if it weren't for a little mixing-it-up with the wardrobe.

I wore my church clothes, and I didn't even go to church. It made me think about my friend Leslie, and her amazing domestic art series.

Who says you need sneakers to mop the floor?

If your mood says heels, go for it.

spotting Enrique

2011-10-24T09:54:00.001-04:00

Finding Enrique at Gillette

was like playing a live game of Where's Waldo?

I found him from up above,

in the big mix and on the big screen.

weekend update:

2011-10-23T21:38:00.000-04:00

Progress was underway on the tree fort.

Everywhere I drove (I mean EVERY where!) the foliage took my breath away. Seriously.

Mr. Dub and I had a fun date at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro (home of the New England Patriots)

where we enjoyed cushioned club seating, a disappointing but still entertaining match between UMass and UNH (UMass lost 21-27) and a stellar performance by the UMass Marching Band.

Hooray for the weekend!

Welcome Crisp Autumn Air

2011-10-23T21:08:00.000-04:00

Our first fire of the season!

It took the chill off so nicely.

We enjoyed a relaxing and restful afternoon together in front of the fireplace today.

Sisters

2011-10-22T10:57:00.000-04:00

rock.

Ahhhh..... Friday.

2011-10-21T08:29:00.000-04:00

-gel insoles for my sneakers
-kids who want cold cereal for breakfast
-an amazing sunrise
-laundry and vacuuming done before 8:00am
-a bagel with peanut butter
-having at least one morning person in the house when most of us are NOT
-garbage day (take it away!)

-and-

-meeting my sister in New Hampshire for lunch and to hold her sweet new baby!

I hope your Friday brings you JOY~

I should have obeyed my alarm the first time

2011-10-19T09:06:00.000-04:00

Then I would not have gone back to sleep and dreamed that I miraculously gave birth to a green-eyed little boy with a full head of sandy brown hair who was about four years old (by myself, with no assistance even though I was in the hospital). I managed to get him fully dressed before I realized I forgot to record the birth weight. Next thing I knew, I was bringing him home to my dilapidated VERY old 70s-decorated farm house with a dirty orange-blend shag carpet going up the treacherously steep stairs (with no handrail); as I ascended the stairs, they caved in. My feet had just touched down on the second level, so I thought we were safe. Then the entire second floor collapsed to the lower level, so I climbed into a bed on the first floor cradling my very large newborn toddler. My mom came to visit me. She sat across the bed in the place where I wanted my legs to go. I really wanted to get comfortable, but I didn't want her to leave or to make her feel bad, so I just made the best of a cramped situation. Then I woke up panicked about missing a morning deadline. Ack. Dreaming.

out the back door

2011-10-18T09:01:00.000-04:00

GOOD MORNING!

Good Fall.

Seen on a drive through Cambridge Friday afternoon

2011-10-16T01:37:00.001-04:00

Happy Fall Church-going!

Four boys and a jaunt to Boston

2011-10-15T23:06:00.000-04:00

Unceasing Energy and Perpetual Motion!

A Memorable Visit (MOOOOve over!)

2011-10-14T09:09:00.000-04:00

Last night I was out paying some Relief Society visits. It was a fun night; dashing through several towns to see many amazing women before it got too late. At one house, the family members jumped up to rearrange the seating a bit to accommodate extra bodies (despite our insistence that we wouldn't stay). It reminded me of a visit I made as a missionary, in the city of Palmira in Colombia many years ago.
(Early 1987) We were making visits in an area I had never been to before when my companion remembered a family in the neighborhood that she had visited several times prior to my arrival. It was approaching dinner time, but we decided to pay them a quick visit. We were received warmly by several young women, their mother and a young boy. They offered us a seat and something to drink and we proceeded to enjoy some casual conversation. I can say at this point that I will admit to not completely following every bit of the discussion as my Spanish language skills were still emerging. I do remember the conversation coming in my direction, and felt it was obviously my turn to speak when suddenly and in a shockingly abrupt turn of events, everyone (except me) jumped up and out of their seats and started rearranging the furniture. I think I was too stunned to move. The distinct feeling of having missed some nonverbal cue settled over me like ill-timed drizzle on a good hairdo. I remember hearing a shrill whistle from the street, and the boy ran to the door and opened it wide, sort of standing at attention with the door knob in his hand. Next thing I knew, there was a herd of cows (followed by the boy's father) making their way through the living room and into the back part of the house, where they eventually went out the back door and settled in the small back patio area for the evening. I have never had that experience again, and will never forget when my living room chat was interrupted by cattle.

Wonder Twins ACTIVATE!!

2011-10-13T10:07:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday BeckyBen!

You guys totally ROCK.

Arrived yesterday

2011-10-12T11:59:00.001-04:00

I have such great friends!!

swinging at the park

2011-10-12T11:58:00.001-04:00

Saturday Night Football

2011-10-11T21:44:00.001-04:00

Where there was

college football

and winning,

but mostly it was about the entertainment

going on all around the game.

Enrique

was dancing in the aisles

as he sold Band Day programs...

Mesquite was out there too,

but it took us a while to spot her.

UMass Band Day:2011

Seen at the UMass Game

2011-10-11T11:13:00.001-04:00

Birthday Report:

2011-10-11T08:07:00.000-04:00

it was GOO-ooooD.

Big Noise!!

2011-10-08T11:14:00.000-04:00

Just a little preview of the BIG noise we're going to be hearing at the field show at TONIGHT's UMass Football game!

(Enrique's in there somewhere--can you see him? Silver trumpet and maroon/white uniform... this was from their roadtrip performance in NJ a couple of weeks ago)

SO so fun!

home again, home again

2011-10-08T09:06:00.000-04:00

jiggety-jig!