The Time of Frost is Here!

As the rising sun peeks at the world from behind the shrubs and the garden shed onto the frosty lawn, we are reminded that we are about to embark on another season of cold. In view of all the turmoil that is taking place in our world, I thought of a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien that I have saved: "Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule." The other quote that I saved: "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." Just a couple of thoughts for you to consider today.

Comments

Oh, yes, and please don't be shy about adding your comments to the postings by clicking on the word "comment" at the bottom of each blog entry, and filling in the blanks in the page that comes up. :-)

The Blog

I am happy to see all the names of those of who who accepted the invitation to be a part of this family blog. I will be happier when more of you put postings on, so that we can keep up a little bit better on this far-flung family. Pictures and news are so very welcome!

Hilda, the Dreadful Witch

For twenty years, Hilda has come out of her box and into the world to grace us with her presence. Her biggest claim to fame is her knobby knees, which are discreetly hiding in this photo. I made Hilda for our home, but she soon went to the dental office during the Halloween season. I have wonderful pictures of Suzanne holding her, but the album with all of those pictures seems to have disappeared, no doubt being used by The Borrowers (as in Mary Norton's books), but it should come to light sooner or later. Anyway, for someone who dislikes Halloween, (think costumes and too much candy), I really think some of the decorations are fun. We did not observe Halloween when I was a young 'un (think "the olden days"). Living in the country, as we did, where most farmers families had outdoor plumbing, Halloween could be a time of "tipping over the outdoor facilities" by mischievous older boys. Fortunately, our FHA-sponsored, concrete-based outhouse was safe from the vandals - too heavy, by far. The year I was in 8th grade, I got to stay in town with a friend and go trick-or-treating. She had a party, with stuff that was supposed to be scary, and then out into the dark night we went. I was not impressed - it all seemed spooky and stupid. However, my kids all wanted the experience, so during the years we lived in town, trick-or-treating, with the ensuing stomach aches from over-indigence was the order of the day. I was not good at helping with costumes. Some years, they were the cheapies from the dime store, and sometimes they were just old bed sheets with holes cut in them. Not wonderful at all! Now, we're glad to just stay home, and answer the occasional doorbell. It's always fun to see the cute little neighbor kids, who have already done their thing at the trunk or treat being held in the next cul-de-sac, but we don't appreciate older boys who come with their big bags, ready for loot, quite as much. And, I quit growing pumpkins in the garden to put on the front porch, because they inevitably got trashed or taken. Not worth the trouble. We can all breathe a sigh of relief when the 31st of October is all over, and we work into the most peaceful holiday of the winter - Thanksgiving!

Sunset

The sunset last night was reflected in the bay window in the living room, making the stained glass Japanese cranes have a whole different look.

Then, when you faced west, this was the vivid picture! "Red at night, sailor's delight, red in the morning, sailor take warning!" This morning dawned clear and frosty, but it will be a gorgeous day. Must be time to play football.

Glitch

I'm still trying to figure out what happened to the ability to put comments after each posting. I compared my settings to Judy's at Amsbaugh Gardens, and don't see anything different. If one of you "readers" has the answer, please let me know. Otherwise, it's a beautiful day in Preston.

The Quilt Show

Our annual quilt show for our quilt guild, The Preston Piecers, is over - we had 73 quilts this year! My Jackson Hole quilt placed first in its division, leaving the watercolor quilt, now named "There's a Gecko in My Garden" without an award (you can only place once in each division). The watercolor quilt ended up with a little hole in the middle of a 2" block, so I had to cover it with something! (The purple gecko.) The detail of the broderie perse (flower) shows the fun I had sprinkling crystals around the quilt. And, Louise, the Dresden Plate quilt, which is not a good photo because I couldn't get a straight-on picture, was such a triumph to finish, after beginning it at your house in the summer of 1993. Making quilts is so satisfying, that I can't imagine why anyone would not want to do it! That means all of my siblings!

October - Birthday Month and Halloween

I really missed the boat this month. We passed Sara's (Ernst's) birthday on the 12th - the REAL Columbus Day, and also Jennifer Consoliver Campbell's birthday on the 17th. Happy belated birthday to both of you! In the meantime, although Halloween isn't my favorite holiday (ask any former school teacher of little kids what all that sugar does to a whole week of school), I do like some of the decorations that go along with it. Grandkids used to come and play with the nesting witch, scarecrow, ghost, jack-o-lantern, and black cat, and put them back together. I painted those, as well as the jack-o-lanterns. The quilt is in progress. I had hoped to have it finished to be draped over the stair banister when the day came, but it's still got the binding clips on. Maybe I'll make it and maybe not. In the meantime, happy fall to all of you. It's my favorite time of the year - when the outdoor work is all done. We cleaned out the garden and yard yesterday and today, and all that's left to do is to plant the phlox when the plants come in the mail next week. Now, we can concentrate on the indoors. In the meantime, some unripened tomatoes sit on a shelf in the basement storage room to ripen in their own good time, the hubbard and spaghetti squash are stored in the far reaches of the storage room, the jars of fruit are on the shelf, so it must be about time to batten down the hatches and declare the growing season over!

Denton is loving his mission!

Denton is having some great experiences on his mission. He is in the Lansing Michigan Mission. Currently he is in Greenville, MI. Saturday, October 4th, he and his companion were involved in the baptism of Robert and Ellesha Brown. This is a couple they have been teaching. Denton said that teaching them has been a wonderful experience. The Brown's have been very willing to do what it takes to become members of the Church. Here is a portion of Denton's testimony which he recently sent in an email: I'm so excited for General Conference! It's almost like Christmas for us. I want to leave you guys with my testimony. I do know that this church is true, and that Joseph Smith did see God the Father and Jesus Christ; it's so wonderful to know -- I'm starting to realize that more and more as I am out here. So many churches are lost and confused. People following behind them. It's sure a neat thing to know. I'm thankful for the witness that I have had, and the witness that I am.

Lauren, the Artist

I understand from Sara that her daughter, Lauren, has developed into an outstanding artist. Lauren made this wonderful drawing when she was around five, when the family was living in Tucson. It is so completely delightful - and even though the spelling is original, it is quite advanced for a kindergartener, and I'm sure that you can interpret each part as you admire this clever drawing.

Grandkids visit Albuquerque

Mandy, Dallin and Mia are visiting us (Dorothy & Ken) from their home in Tucson, AZ this week. Ken took the family to visit the Tent Rocks today. They climbed through the canyon and up a tree before picnicing in the sand where Dallin tried to bury Babe. Grandpa brought banana cookies, banana chips and bananas... was there a theme?

Great-grandchildren Steal the Show!

We recently had fun here in Preston, with visitors including daughter Julia, granddaughter Suzanne and her husband, Jonathan, and most important, great-grandson Blake. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit, and are amazed at the incredible energy that an 18-month-old child can generate. With five adults around, it is fun to watch the antics of a very busy little boy.

Tony's Family comes to Preston

Tony brought Brianna and Justin for a short visit in August when they were on their way to stay in with Tony in his new digs in Las Vegas for a few weeks. Brianna is posing with Grandpa Gage. She reminded us of a butterfly, she is so bright. She also has the book, "Meerkeet Manor" memorized. Hope she can become a naturalist - she is very interested and knowledgeable. Thanks, Tony, for coming our way.

Spring in Washington, by Mandy and Sara

In 1989, while Ken was getting situated at Clark Air Force Base in The Philippines, Dorothy, Mandy, and Sara came to live with us on Tumwater hill in Tumwater, Washington, while Dorothy did her student teaching at North Thurston High School. We only had about three and a half months with them there before they, too, went to The Philippines, but it was a time that was good for lots of memories. Mandy made this little booklet for us, recruiting Sara for a couple of the pages. She was in second grade at the time; Sara was in kindergarten. There were several eventful things recorded in this little book - our kayak rides in Capitol Lake, and the river just below our house, the fun playing in the over-grown rhodies at Grandpa's dental office, and the excitement (?) of Ron's accident with the chain saw. Please click on each page so that you can read each one. I loved it that Mandy included a rainbow - we have always had rainbow-producing crystals hanging in the kitchen windows. Anyway, this book is a treasure, and I wanted to share it with all of you. So, Mandy, who is very grown up with three-year-old Dallin, new baby Mia Lilly, husband John, and a responsible job was quite an author-artist very early in life.