Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Ask and you shall receive...

...or at least be put in a new situation!

Okay, I was grouching/posting/thinking about my present situation and how I didn't feel very social, but maybe I needed to be more....well...I got a new calling at Church. I am now over the Ward (Church) activities/parties. I start with a Christmas party, then plan something about 2-4 months as I feel we need to get everyone together. Yeah, I am going to have to be social now!

The last three years, our Ward Christmas party has been dinner (ham, potatoes, salads, roll and dessert) plus a program. Unfortunately, when you get 200-250 people, ages newborn thru about 80 years in the same gym, it gets a little noisy and crazy. Some people come only for the dinner, then leave before the program. I always feel bad for those who put time and energy into a nice program. I have the option to do three different things:

1.Have the same kind of dinner and program

2.Have a program with just dessert

3.Have a breakfast and a program

My friends Ward switched to the Saturday breakfast and program a few years ago, and said it has been wonderful. People have so many plans at night between school, family and company parties, but early morning usually is not planned out. I am leaning towards the breakfast plan. I am waiting for a call back from the building scheduler to see what building we can find to fit 250 people for dinner (our local building is too small-150 people max and very squishy in our gym)
UPDATE:Brother Porter called back....out of three buildings, during the month of December, only one was available.....so.....it's a Saturday morning breakfast, and I think we are going to skip the program and just let folks casually visit and take a breather from their crazy holiday schedule!

Switching to grandchildren. Our granddaughters are have a combined costume birthday party next week. I am still sewing gifts. I am also going to try and get as much Christmas done for them too, so it can go back in the car to Idaho. Some winters we have a hard time getting thru the snowy canyons to our family. Tayge cut two teeth this week...one at my house and the other in the middle of the night with his parents. He is a much happier baby now that those teeth are thru the gums.

In Closing: Halloween....like it, hate it, or could care less? I love making costumes, but don't especially enjoy Halloween. How about your best costume? Me....I was a skunk with a perfume bottle that I sprayed folks with (water!) Share, please.....

Friday, October 24, 2008

My adventure all alone

I am a mom...and a grandma....and the youngest kid in my sibling family....and I am never alone! Most of the time, this does not bother me. I do not like big crowds, but hanging out with those I love is usually a treat.

Until this week....I needed a break. I tried to get daughter V to go see the movie "The Secret Life of Bees" with me-I liked the book. She didn't want to go, so I figured I would just wait until it comes out on DVD and rent it. So, I found my self alone on a Wednesday....what to do? First I went to my local Ben Franklin's with their 40% off coupon. I have been wanting to decorate my kitchen in reds and yellows with a honeybee and bee hive theme. Of course I haven't found anything I like...everything bee related has a bear too. I found a display of a stitchery kit for Utah with a beehive and other symbols I like. The store is out of kits! Okay, so next, I decide I am hungry......
....so I go to a restaurant called Souper! Salad! I had hear it was pretty good. No, it wasn't. A long salad bar with about 10 things you could put on your lettuce, some cut up fruit, about 3 types of bread to choose from....that's it. I have that kind of stuff at home! I do like to people watch, so I found it interesting to sit and wonder what some of my fellow luncheoners were really like. There were multi older couples who sat and ate, but didn't speak to one another. There were two ladies that were easily my age (mid 40's) who were dressed like high schoolers....not a good look. There were four ladies celebrating one of their birthdays (they had balloons) that sounded like they were having a fantastic time. Oh well.....next, onto JoAnn's fabric with....

....my fist full of coupons. I need thin batting and a couple yards of white ribbon for a couple of Christmas gifts. The problem....I can't get to the store....construction! I know it is an old joke about Utah being the land of orange traffic cones and construction signs, but I am beginning to think it isn't a joke. I give up!



I have realized the last few months that I am not completely happy with where I am in my life. I have a couple of close friends, but one lives far away (we haven't seen each other face-to-face in 18 years) and the other has her house up for sale. I need to be more social and develop some friendships closer to home. I think I am a pretty good person and I use to social at one time in my life.
In Closing: I have been told that we develop relationships usually for one of three reasons-(1)for a reason, (2)for a season or (3)for forever....what do you think?


Sunday, October 19, 2008

Do you know....

....where these folks are?

Normally, I do not watch daytime television. After 4 months babysitting Tayge, occasionally I need to listen to another adult voice. I've gotten in the habit of watching the noon news and then a daytime talk show. The host is Bonnie Hunt (pictured below)

Hence, the Bonnie Hunt show!
I wasn't quite sure who she was, until I realized I had seen her as the Mom in the remake of the movie "Cheaper by the Dozen" a few years ago. I've enjoyed watching her daytime show, though I usually only make it thru the opening talk and have only seen her gardening part of the show a couple of times.

During one of her opening talks, she was telling stories about growing up in a big family with great parents, especially her Mom. She told a story about an old boyfriends of her Moms. That led to a e-mail from someone who knew him and she talked to him....50 years after he dated her mom. She also talked about how she and her sisters would try to be outside hanging laundry so they could check out the cute garbage men. One of the garbage men then contacted her on the phone on her show.

So, I got thinking about folks from my past that I had lost track of. A couple I have found thru the mail or Internet and have had contact with...mostly because I wanted to apology to them for something in the past. The one was very nice and said there was no hurt feelings....the other never contacted me back (which is probably a good thing)

I want to find a few others, so I am going to put it out there. I am not posting photos, for their privacy sake.

1.Sherry Feibish/Fiebish-she lived on our street in Manhattan Beach, California. She was an amazing clothes designer...sweaters, mostly. I was very influenced by her, since she was the first woman I had known who was single, lived on her own, and worked a fabulous job. I know she sold her business at the LA Mart sometime in the 1980's and moved (I think) to Arizona or Nevada. She was original from back East. A very creative person!

2.Jane Orchard-she graduated with me from Mira Costa High in California in 1980. I think I read somewhere during my Internet search that she is married with a couple of kids and still lives in the beach area (Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo) She was a good friend in HS...not judgemental or superior in any way.

3.Heather Nuttall-she was one of my 7 roommates at Snow College (Utah) in 1980-1981. She was a military kids who graduated HS in Utah, but had lived in Hawaii. I dearly loved my relationship with her at a very important time in my life. She took me home to spend a school break and I felt very welcomed by her family. She taught me how to drive a car! I know she got married in a Utah LDS Temple sometime in the Summer/Fall of 1981.

So....do you know any of these folks? Let me know...

In Closing: I am giving you any open invite to post one person you are looking for from your past. Maybe I know them, or my child works with them, or some other connection. Please share in the comment section.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The cookies are gone

Quilting first, then, the cookie story....
I have signed up for the Utah Quilt Guild round robin 2009. It starts in January and ends with Annual Fest in September. I am going to be in a group of 8 quilters for piecing blocks. I have too many ideas, so I want your thoughts:
1.8 different star blocks that will be part of an orphan scrappy star quilt I have been gathering blocks for for quite a while.

2.T Block-these blocks would go into a quilt for my daughter


3.Tree blocks-I love trees, but I am not sure I can find enough different blocks to make me happy with a entire quilt


4.I have the book "A Quilter's Ark" by Margaret Rolfe of paper pieced bird patterns

Think about it....and now the cookie story!

We love cookies at our house. If I make (or buy) a pie or cake, the majority of the treat will go to waste because no one will eat it all. Not cookies! My hubby makes really yummy cookies-chocolate chip, sugar, peanut butter, snickerdoodles....you name it, he can make it!

Then one day, we tried macaroon (coconut) cookies from the Mother's baking company. Yummie! Then my daughter E married B, who loves Mother's brand circus animal cookies (shown below)....equally yummie! We really like our homemade baked items better, but these two cookies are good. But, alas, all good things must come to an end. Mother's baking company declared bankruptcy this month...no more cookies! We went to our local grocery store, and the remaining Mothers cookies were being discounted. We managed to get the last macaroon package, plus a package of circus cookies for B. Such a sad day!
I've been busy sewing, but no photos, so you'll have to trust me. I've been working on Christmas gifts for my granddaughters. I don't know if my son's family reads this blog, so I'll just keep it a secret for a little longer.
In Closing:What theme do you think I should choose for the round robin?

Share your ideas, please....

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Snow!!!!!

Last week it was abnormally warm....in the 70's. This morning....38 degrees!
Below-Deer Valley Ski Resort
Thank goodness I put the heavy comforter and flannel sheets on the bed this weekend
I bet the Bison herd out on Antelope Island are loving the colder weather....not so many humans bothering them. They use their head like a snow plow when searching for food

I think the photographer of this photo got a little too close for comfort!


In Closing: What caption would you give this photo?

"Who are you looking at?"

"Do I have something on my face?"

What do you think....share your caption!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Finally...a photo!

Man can walk on the moon, we can talk to a screen and see the person on the other side of the World, but it takes me an entire 2 weeks to get one photo posted! I must be the most computer challenged person on this Planet! Thank you to daughter V who finally got this photo on her phone, which she sent to my e-mail, that I saved to My Pictures.

This is my September Journal Quilt for the theme of "How do I view Nature". It is my version of a photo of Antelope Island, which is about 7 miles from here. I hand dyed the fabrics for the the Island, as well as the Borders. I tried to play with some thread painting to bring out the beach grasses along the path. My October Journal...my view of nature thru a season....is done too. Maybe if I tempt V with some chocolate, she can take a photo of that quilt too.

On to other things quilted related: I got a call from a lady named Rachel here in Utah. She runs a service group called Quilters Without Borders. It is a inter-faith group that meets in the Salt Lake area once a month to tie quilts for those in need. Each month, a different church sponsors the meeting at their church building. So far, the LDS/Mormons, Methodist, Jewish, and Zionist churches have had a turn. She is looking for someone to organize a similar group here in my area. I am debating about being that organizer. I would enjoy tying quilts with others each month, but I'm not sure if I am up to being the Head Girl. I'll have to give it some more thought..... My quilt group is also having their elections for next years board-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the planning committee. I may have a place on the Board again this year. Can I do both? Do I want to do both?

In Closing:I am going to steal the subject from my brother's blog....what's you favorite ice cream?Me....Baskin Robins 31 flavors chocolate and peanut butter. How about you?

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

September Journal Quilt

The results are in!!!!At least for some of us. I finished my quilt a week ago, but, as usual, having posting problems with my photo. Daughter V thought she had it all figured out, but no photo. I am visiting family tonight who are photo/computer experts, so I will get this photo posted tonight!

Kris, Ann and Wil have posted to their blogs, so read them from my blog....right side under "Check out the journals" . Lorraine and Gina will be posting soon. Ann had quite a adventure with her quilt....and Wil has already passed us all and finished and posted her November quilt...busy girl!

October challenge (anyone want to join us?)is Nature-your favorite season. I am going to quilt one of the Fall blocks I fabric painted at Fest.

In Closing:How did you get into blogging? Me....family was doing it, and I didn't want to be left behind. Beside, a place where I can just ramble on and on without anyone stopping or correcting me....Heaven! Share, please....