remember this?

 and this?

 and this?

 and (cruelly) this?

 and finally, THIS?

 Well, remember no more.

*

Today, I was busy doing some of this:

 and noticed that the giant pile of winter has been reduced to THIS:

Tomorrow just may be the day!

(hooray!)

conference and cat tails

they all sat so nicely for General Conference.
Then we went outside for a couple of hours to play.
Oh, and Hey!
See that pile of snow in the lower left corner of the picture?
It's going quickly! (again)
Don't forget to add your guess to the pile before the pile-o-snow has melted away!
*
some Saturday conference feast favorites:

My husband’s funny remark during Elder Ballard’s talk ("seek the gift of charity"): “Silage Saves!”

The beautiful poem recited by Richard L. Maynes called “The Echo” (I think?)

"… twas a sheep, not a lamb...

...and why for the sheep should we seek?… 

...they lead the lambs astray… 

...when the sheep are lost what a terrible cost the lambs will have to pay."

As a parent, that one hit home for me.

How about Elder Nelson’s comment on “the cafeteria approach” to obedience? made me laugh.

Hooray for Quentin L. Cook!! I wanted to pause the internet and run to find my CAPE (of womanhood). Huzzah!

Can’t wait for more…

Spring Give-Away!

Want some SNOW?

(I don't want it either)

HOWEVER.

I am so fired-up about this shrinking pile, that I am going to pile up some happy items that make me even more excited for warmer weather and warmer days ahead

Leave a comment on this post, and guess correctly the date that this pile of snow in our backyard will be completely gone.

You will then win a little box-o-spring from me.

(Think WARM thoughts!)

Congratulations!

YOU are the lucky winner of another trip to the pharmacy to pick up a jumbo bottle of antibiotics!

That's what I was waiting to hear when the doctor called this morning.  Even a simple "You were right, she does have strep" would have sufficed.  Instead, I was in the middle of baking the birthday treats for her class.  After keeping her home the obligatory 24 hours, I reluctantly sent her back to school today, because, without a fever what reason did I have to keep her from enjoying the parties going on at school on the last day before Christmas vacation?  Now I would be showing up with treats, and delivering the news that she wouldn't get to stay and enjoy them with her friends.  (See those cute festive fingernails all decked-out for the occasion?)  Twice now, I have insisted that I KNOW when my children have strep, and twice I have been turned away, only to be called back and told "we just looked at this little culture here and were very surprised to find that it had turned up positive for strep!"  Imagine that.  I am practicing patience and forgiveness.  And I am still grateful for antibiotics.

Oh!  And a real and heartfelt congratulations to #8, Alana, who wins the fantastic photo-cards!

It's my Blog-i-versary!

I happened to glance at the blogspot dashboard before hitting the "new post" button, and noticed that I was at 799 posts already.

Well howdy doo!

Today marks 800 posts.  Huzzah!

I think a celebration is in order.

And since a party is more festive with presents, I am going to GIVE-AWAY a fun and fantastic little gift!

More than I love blogging, I love writing.

One of my most favorite forms of writing is the old fashioned notecard or letter that you drop in the mail.

Remember those?

If you love these Christmas-y photos as much as I do,

you are going to LOVE what I have in store for the lucky winner: 

a set of five ep-photocards 

made by my amazing blogger friend Ellen, the photographer of these fun images.

Just leave a little comment--and tell me:

When was the last time that you received a hand-written message in the mail?

I'll pick a winner using a random-pick generator on Friday, December 17th.

Happy Blogging to me,

and Good Luck to YOU!

Thankful for A good book to read. (and a give-away!)

I loved this book.  I loved making time to read it.

The Help is set in 1960s Mississippi.  Kathryn Stockett explores the relationships between white women and their black maids.  The character development is delightful.  I cringed, laughed and clenched my fists in anger as the plot unfolded.  I do enjoy a book that engages a broad range of emotions. 

I felt a loyalty to the main characters.

I loved it so much that I want you to read it. 

I am excited to share my copy of The Help with you.

 

By leaving a comment under this post, I will enter your name into a random drawing to be held on Wednesday, November 25th.  Make sure I have your email address, so that I can notify you and get the book delivered to your door.  In the meantime, if there's more than one person commenting here, you should get to your library and reserve a copy to read!  It really was good.  Five Stars.

tie one on

Shirlgirl!
Because YOU are the lucky winner of the very stylish and tres chic Apron from everydaychicdesigns.com! My very best blogging supporter and I put all names on cards and plucked one at random. Ironically, I think you were the president of the frequent recipe submission club anyway. Thanks for all the delish summer dinner idea-ers. And when we get together to try out one of those recipes, let's be twinners in our muy fabuloso aprons, okay?

Happy Summer Give-away for YOU!

Summer is almost here! Father's Day too. It's another great celebration weekend. Love them. In honor of this happy weekend occasion, I would like to introduce you to a great little internet shop.Meet "Everyday Chic." Hop on over to THIS place and look at the gorgeously faboo APRONS.
I couldn't resist. I bought one. Actually, I bought TWO. One for me, one for YOU!
The proprietress of Everyday chic was GREAT to work with.
AND... If you can GUESS WHICH APRON I LIKED BEST? you win the twin!
also: along with your guess, leave a comment about your favorite summer dinner dish.

*yummy ideas wanted for our summer menu*

If more than one of you happens to guess correctly, we're taking a family vote on the recipe. So make it delish! (You won't be sorry... the apron is darling!)

Since we're desperately seeking change in our meal repertoire, let's give it a week. Winner to be selected Thursday June 25th. Announcement Friday the 26th.

GOOD LUCK!

discovering

your savvy--

I finished my book choice for the month of May.

You can learn more about it HERE.

It was a delightful romp through Kansas and Nebraska, fondly referred to by the author as Kansaska and Nebransas. I met a lively cast of characters, and enjoyed this extraordinary adventure. I recommend it. Heartily.

...and discovering your voice:
May I also recommend this blog. It is created and managed by a brilliant woman who took a sabbatical from Wall Street to encourage and help others discover and pursue their dreams.

A quote from her latest post:

"One of the best ways for us to 'find our voice' is to listen to those who have found theirs."

Take a minute to hop on over and check it out.
She's also sponsoring a Spa Give-Away that you might find enticing.

GIVE-AWAY WINNER!

And the lucky winner is:

Sherry!

I have to admit, I don't know her...

but thanks for playing!

She apparently lives in Dunedin, New Zealand.

(how exciting and exotic)

Here's M with 'the hat.'

And now, let me tell you a little bit more about what Sherry won:

I wanted to include a copy of this book. Two of my VERY favorite things in the world are reading, and writing letters.

I don't know if Sherry already has a copy, or if she's ever read it, so here's where the choosing comes in. I'll send you this book, or if you own it or have already read it, you can have the Barnes and Noble gift card you see in the pile below, instead. ALSO, I've included a very cute picture book. Another of my favorite things is reading stories to children. This one happens to be a good one for the upcoming season of love. To go with it? A new journal (another of my loves--I actually like journaling for my children more than for me), some nice smooth-y pens for writing, and some tres chic notes. (I also had a stand-by 'male' version in case the winner was not of the feminine variety.) The B&N gift card is in there, and last but not least, a cute little wooden sign that reads "Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends." And THAT is what I hope Sherry has done on my blog. This was fun!

And I wish I could have picked EVERY name...

THANK YOU for playing.

we'll have to do this again.

How to 'BE' Saturday.

This is the ultimate weekender.

He has Saturday down to an art form

Here are the rules:

1. Start early. Enjoy Saturday while it's still REALLY late on Friday night. Watch a movie, play a game, read a book. Doesn't matter--just do it until you realize that it's no longer Friday night. Then retire.
2. Sleep late. To do this effectively, there are a separate subset of rules:
*protect your sleep. (wear earplugs, a mask for sleeping, have white noise on)
*make sure the people who share your abode are aware of your desire to sleep-in (signs on bedroom doors threatening those who interrupt your sleep are at least comical, if not effective)
3. Enjoy a breafast you like at your leisure. It might even be lunch time before you're putting breakfast in your mouth!
4. Wear comfortable PJs well into the afternoon. Maybe even all day.
5. Defend against bed-head: wear a hat with character.
6. Above all, BE Saturday. No week-day rush, stress or worries.

*
*

It's a beautiful thing.

enjoy!

*
*
*

OH. Here's the big P.S.--don't forget that tomorrow night is the deadline to enter the first-ever Daily Blessings Give-Away! and good luck!!!

Wednesday: WAHOO! It's GIVE-AWAY day!!

I'm actually kind of excited about today.
It's fun to give.
I want to share some of my favorite things (with YOU!).
I will be putting together a package of things that I love,
and things representative of some of the things that I love
and I promise it won't be lame.
I will tell you this:
I've been gathering. (and it's fun!)
And there will be a couple of little strings attached.
*There will be the promise that if you win this give-away, you will write a letter to someone.
Not an email, but a letter.
I'll even throw in the postage.
Also, I'd like you to:
*Tell me who you would most like to receive a letter from.
Just leave me a comment.
You know, the good old-fashioned kind of letter that hardly shows up in the mailbox anymore. You can tell me why if you want, but you don't have to.
On Sunday, January 18th at 8:30 p.m. I will randomly pick a name (out of a hat, of course) and then send you along this bundle of fun!

Good Luck!

Give-Away!

One Blonde child! (You pick--just look at that picture above.)

(just kidding--but only sometimes)

Actually, maybe you'd like a 7 1/2 foot cat-mangled Christmas tree? (in original box!) or

a spinach-laden half-missing vegetable steamer? I've got some GOOD stuff here...

BUT. I do want to participate in this fabulous cultural tradition of bloggers.

So this will be the week that I announce the FIRST-EVER Daily Blessings give-away.

Stay-tuned.

*

*

*

*

*

Oh. and P.S. Some of you know that I've been thinking about the jeans question. You must read this post. (you won't be sorry)