Christmas Remembrances

Christmas is the time of memories for those of us who have experienced many decades of celebrating the birth of our Savior.  Usually our Christmases at home as I was growing up were separated into two distinct occasions - the Christmas celebration with special Christmas music and stories at Church, and the celebration at home that consisted of carefully spending our meagre savings on little gifts for the other five siblings and our parents.  Christmas cards were a rarity - I remember receiving Great-aunt Rose's handmade cards, but I don't remember too many others.  In later years, Mother and Daddy made a few veneer cards out in the shop, which were given to a favored few.  The tree was usually purchased very close to Christmas, and then set up on Christmas Eve after Daddy spent a frustrating time constructing a wooden stand and nailing the tree to the bottom.  We decorated with the few electric lights, homemade decorations, a few store-bought unbreakable things, and the tinsel, placed one strand at a time on the boughs so that the tree glittered when the lights were turned on.  (The lights weren't the tiny ones we have today - they had large oblong bulbs in various colors.)  Our gifts to each other were privately wrapped, using the paper and perhaps a bow saved from the years before.  We left our biggest stockings on the couch with a carefully worded letter to Santa Clause, and then went to bed in bedrooms warmed a bit from the fire in the living room, hoping for miracles in the morning.  It was always a wonder on Christmas morning that there were more gifts under the tree, and our stockings were full of ribbon candy, chocolate drops, nuts still in the shell, and perhaps an apple or an orange.  There was also a letter from Santa Claus.  So, we believed in Santa Claus, but we also knew the real Christmas story, and the significance in our lives.  The Nativity and the gifts from Santa Claus dovetailed nicely in our innocent childhood.  We don't have a real tree any more, but daughters sent us some real greens with other beautiful flowers, so that we could remember the smell of Christmas.  Nostalgia figures strongly in our Christmas memories.

Woodturning

I've often put pictures of quilts on the blog, but have neglected one of Ron's hobbies, which is turning wood on the lathe.  He just finished this nice piece - a nutcracker with a nautical theme, made out of bamboo.  I think it is beautiful!

Great-grandchildren

Arilla gave birth to our eighth great-grandchild, Aleah,  on 12/12/12.  Isn't she lovely? Mom had to have a C-section, so there will be more recuperation time than usual.  Everyone is doing fine, even grandma Sonja.  There will be aunts and uncles home from college this weekend to welcome her home.

Sunrise in Preston

Cold winter mornings with cloudy skies sometimes brings us these gorgeous sunrises - some beauty to warm to rather dark, drab days when the weather can't decide whether to snow or just be cold.  Although the beauty is fleeting, it is worth getting up to see this stunning color.

Addendum

It's magic!  Seth opened the cupboard, set the timer on the camera, set it on some glasses, and we all said cheese at the same time.  I am dressed the best, but that doesn't matter.  We are so fortunate to have these grandchildren, and we wish the best for them.

Thanksgiving, 2012

Our Thanksgiving visitors were so welcome!  I didn't think to take pictures until the morning they were leaving!  However, Wendy took many pictures of our day, and you can find out all about our Thanksgiving on her Facebook page.  (This was her first Thanksgiving.)  Bethany has her warmest hat on  - ready to brave the cold.  We really enjoyed Thanksgiving this year - everyone pitched in and helped, and we have much to be thankful for.  For now, it's back to Laramie for Seth and Wendy, and back to the windblown plains of Rexburg for Bethany.  We are thankful for all of our grandchildren - they are very special.

Thanksgivng Flowers

Our children know that we love flowers in the house - it seems like they take turns sending flowers without consulting each other.  These special autumn flowers from Julie and Mike came in time for us to enjoy them before the special day, along with our Thanksgiving company (Seth, Wendy, and Bethany).  May everyone in the family have an enjoyable Thanksgiving - we give thanks for all of our children and their families.

Thanksgiving

I can't believe that it is truly Thanksgiving time!  We've had the first snows, which have mostly melted on the flat, but there is still some frosting on the mountains.  This is a good time.  Seth, Wendy, and Bethany are here, and we will enjoy the weekend.  Wendy is going to make her first American pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, but we're fudging, and using some pre-prepared pie crusts and the pumpkin pie mix in the can.  A slow introduction should be successful.  We are counting our blessings, since my pacemaker is working better now, and everything all around is brighter.

The Last Holdout!

The picture at the top of my blog was taken earlier in the summer, when this begonia plant was blooming profusely, giving us beautiful blossoms to welcome visitors with.  The frost has blighted every other plant in the yard, but this plant, hiding in the corner by the front door continues to deliver.  We've never had another plant last so long in this place.  As you can see by the top picture, all the flower beds have been prepared for winter, including planing tulip and hyacinth bulbs, by the three families who live in our cul-de-sac.  Thank goodness for such sharing and caring people.  We have seen much goodness and sharing in the last months!

Halloween - Is it Over?

Halloween is never one of my favorite holidays, but this year was a little different.  We live next door to a wonderful family, mom, dad, two boys, and a little girl.  The boys come to visit on occasion, carrying on almost adult conversations.  This year, their garden yielded some large pumpkins - the largest being the oldest boy's Jack-o-lantern, the next in size going to the next son, and then came our surprise - they came to our house, excitedly bearing this Jack-o-lantern, complete with flickering light inside that could be turned off and on.  We felt honored, and after the traditional Trunk or Treat in our neighborhood, they came to see us to show off the costumes.  Halloween can be fun.
I do need to explain my own frustrations with Halloween.  My children always wanted costumes, and, since extra money was nonexistant,  weren't very amenable to my suggestions of either going as a ghost (old sheets with holes cut in appropriate places), or a hobo, which definitely hit a brick wall as a suggestion.  Candy was expensive, and not as conveniently packaged as our choices today.  One Halloween that we did enjoy was one when we lived in the old family home in the early 70's.  Our neighbors invited the children over for doughnuts and cider - that was much easier and healthier than the town trick or treating that they did later.  Besides my own children eating too much candy, I also remember when I was teaching in the primary grades (1, 2), when we literally had to scrape children off of the ceiling because of the candy high.  I never planned on doing too much at school if the day after Halloween came on a school day.
     Halloween never got much attention when we were children.  Some boys would go around trying to tip over outhouses, but since our FHA special had a concrete base, it was too daunting.  My first year of teaching school in Riverton gave me the experience of having to organize a Halloween party at school (yes, we did lots of school parties in those days), and then having the second graders join in the school's parade in full costume downtown on a sunny, golden afternoon.  There are advantages to being in a retirement mode!  Our only role now is answering the doorbell with a bowl full of Snickers.  Little kids early, older kids later, and we're done!  The Jack o-lantern is preserved in my picture files, and life goes on.

The Wedding Quilt - Waves of Love

 Detail of the quilt, showing the half-square triangles up close.  I used six different purples in making this quilt.  (Wendy asked for purple and pink - there are a few pinks in there.)

 My design wall is not big enough to show the whole quilt, but this gives you an idea of what it looks like.  Can't wait to get it quilted to subdue the motion of the triangles.  Be sure to enlarge these pictures.

It's a Halellujia day for me - I've worked on this quilt all summer, with health issues slowing me down tremendously.  The "Square in a Square" book named this quilt "Waves of Love", but I think it needs another name.  Can anyone come up with one?  If I were mathematically inclined, I would have counted the half-square triangles in the quilt, but, take my word for it, there were too many!  My next quilt will be simpler by half!  Nevertheless, this quilt was a labor of love, and should get to the newlyweds by Christmas.  (Winter in Laramie deserves very warm quilts.)

The Newest Newlyweds

Taking a page out of my sister's book, I purloined these pictures of Seth and Wendy from FB, dressed in everyday and wedding attire.  The San Diego temple in the background of the first picture is so striking and emblamatic.  Ron was there; I was not, but my heart and good wishes were.  Now, they are happily at home in Laramie, doing that university thing which is essential to Seth's plan of life.  We do with them the best in the future, and know that Wendy's happy outlook on life will help Seth along his path.

Five Days After the Fact

I could never equal Judy, but let it be said that I keel over more carefully than she does.  Falling flat on one's face while wearing glasses that are so tough they survive protects part of your face.  Ron says that this picture doesn't do my nose justice, but you know how it is with the camera on the computer - Sorry I can't look for dramatic.  I do think there is a difference between falling on carpeting and falling in the kitchen, right, Judy?  Still makes me wince to think about Judy's fall and the resulting trauma to her!  We won't do that anymore, right?  Today, it's onward and upward.

Get well posies from Sara and Frank

A huge sunflower to cheer me up, plus some other wonderful flowers in this bouquet.  The ladies at the local florists were not going to make these bouquets up until they knew we were home.  There are advantages to living in a small town.  Flowers may be a universal language and it really helps to have something loverly to look at when you're feeling a bit under the weather.  Thanks, kids!  Love you, Mother

Riding the Range

Tony had quite a trip - from Las Vegas through California and Oregon to Olympia. and then across to Helena, Montana, through Yellowstone, and down to Preston.  He says the red bike is evidence of a mid-life crisis - the kind where you wonder what you want to be when you grow up.  (Where do the years go?)  We were glad to see him, and had a good visit.  You can tell from the pictures that he doesn't like to pose for pictures - Ron has better results than I do.  He left from here and went straight to Las Vegas - no wonder his back ached.  Life experiences!

After the Toil, Comes the Harvest

This tomato plant is growing in my Earth Box on the patio.  We have been eating cherry tomatoes for a few weeks, and the plant promises to keep on giving until heavy frost.  The plant is over 6 feet tall; it grew up the spiral, and then kept on going.  We are always thankful for gardening success - there are plenty of the opposite results, but this keeps us going.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

For the past couple of weeks, we've awakened to an eerie, brass-colored sky, and then gone through the day without seeing much of a mountain at all, except for an occasional faint outline.  We've been told that forest fires in Idaho, Utah, and Nevada (are there many forests in Nevada?) have created a big smoke screen for Cache Valley.  Then yesterday morning, a poor farmer in Benson (just a little north and west of Logan) had 1,500 tons of hay burn.  The pollution outside is tremendous, and the smoke has intensified.  The sun doesn't shine much through the haze, and the smell is not a happy one.  (When  part of my teacher education for secondary school included the smell of marijuana burning, I thought it smelled a little like burning hay.)  I'm glad my friend, Kitty, is in North Carolina on the Outer Banks on vacation, because she has asthma, and this is very hard on those who do.  I suppose that when these less than perfect conditions come, they do serve to remind us of how blessed we are when we usually have bright sunny days, with an outdoors that is very enjoyable.  No lunch on the patio today, thank you.

To Bee or not to Bee

Honey bees love morning glories.  Last year I planted some morning glories in a couple of strategic places (a pot or two, by the rain spout, etc.) and this year, I find myself pulling all sorts of little volunteers in the cracks in the concrete.  However, some did come back up in the proper places.  Enlarge the pictures above.  I waited patiently for a shot of the bee, and in the top, you see what they mostly do - scoot into the middle of the flower, scattering pollen all over the place.  In the bottom picture, you can see the actual bee - he sat there for just a nano-second.  Bees work hard and all the time for their food.  They're programmed to do that, unlike the human race.  I have a tendency to pick and choose what I will accomplish for the day, and there are often carryovers into the next day.  Progress being defined in my world as taking steps forward, still allows me to pause to enjoy certain aspects of life, and yet remain facing in the right direction to my goal.  It just takes a little longer.  (No backsliding, please.)

Very Unexpected Visitors from the Northwest

It was a shock to have Judy call Saturday afternoon, to say that she was at Stokes' Marketplace (the only grocery store in town).  We enjoyed this impromptu visit (how can a visit be impromptu when it is 836 miles to Olympia?).  Short visits require fast talk and no time wasted.  It was so much fun to be able to sit down and visit.  The wonderful thing about family is that, no matter the time lapse in seeing each other, the bond exists and threads are quickly picked up.  I think that Judy and Bob scattered sunshine all the way down to Provo, with important stops along the way.

Visitors from Afar

Cousin Gail (Sorensen) and her husband, Richard Hamilton visited for a while this afternoon, on their way to Star Valley after blessing a new grandson in Utah,  attending a family reunion, and visiting friends in Logan.  The years seem to be very kind to Gail and Dick; they keep very busy, and are hoping to go on a mission next year.  We spent a couple of hours catching up, and then they went on their way.  Very pleasant to touch bases remembering the past in our extended family and thinking about the future.  We are grateful for those shared memories, which help make up the fabric of our lives.

Time for Lilies to Bloom

Aren't they lovely?  These lilies have an especially good fragrance - between the petunias blooming and the lilies, the front gardens are very pleasant to be around these warmer than usual July days.

Ruining the Robbing Robin's Raids on the Raspberries

 There are many, many robins who live in the trees that are around our house to the north, northeast, and south.  They are usually very busy on the lawn, hopping around, listening for worms, and "harvesting" them.  However, they must get tired of the wormy diet, because robins love raspberries.  They exhibit great subterfuge, running almost hidden under the branches, and jumping up to bite the succulent berries.  Time for action.
So...Ron's first step was to hang shiny strips of special glittering foil from the wires defining the row
 That helped, but we could still walk out by the raspberries and surprise one or two robins not minding their business as we'd like.  So the bogus owl, mounted on a pole, with wings that flap in the breeze was the second attempt to discourage the robin robbers.

 That seemed not to be enough, so the next step was to use a motion-sensor rattlesnake along the path that the robins like to frequent.  Helped, but not efficient, in that we would need a half dozen to police this side of the patch.  Now, there is another owl, waiting to be mounted -how much pretend can we do?

However, the raspberries are beginning to come on quite well - Ron picked this morning, and our tiny patch gave about 1-1/2 quarts.  And they are just starting.  Perhaps there will be enough for the freezer, and an occasional robin, too?  If they dare, that is.

The Flag is Passing By

Yesterday was quite an event, in a sad way, for a family from Preston.  Their son was the first from Preston to be killed in the Iraq-Afghan war - he was in Afghanistan.  His body was brought home in a small airplane via Logan, Utah, and then a cavalcade that included a motorcycle brigade, formed for the 30 miles into Preston.  We understand the people were along the streets in Richmond, Utah, half-way home, and Franklin,  just 6 miles south of Preston, had many flags planted along the way, with people holding more, and giving their respects to this young man and his family.
Two of our neighbors took their children to participate in this procession.  Last night, about 8:00, the doorbell rang, and our favorite neighborhood children, two boys, one newly turned 5, one 2, and two girls, around five were there to tell about their day.  They each had a flag, and proceeded to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  They then presented Ron with a "letter" about their day, which consisted of the word "To", and many wavy lines.  The explanation was that when they could write, we would be able to read their message better.  All of the children, even those who were too old to tell us about it, must have benefitted from the day, when a young hero, who chose to join the military, and do as his country asked, was honored for doing so.  We are grateful that these young men, both those who come back, and those who lose their lives, are being honored for the sacrifices they have made.

Red Flowers

Red is the color of the day.  The top picture is a miniature rose bush that has pushed all of its growth buttons, and is blooming profusely.  The bottom picture - volunteer poppies.  The wind does blow gifts in strange places in the yard.  These came up in the bark underneath the burning bush plant.  Be glad for gifts. (except parslane)

Weed or Food?

The plant shown above in my scientific photographs is a nasty, obnoxious, take-over-the-garden plant called purslane.  Research shows us that this weed can be eaten; that it's particularly good in salads, and has several vitamins and good ingredients.  Unfortunately, my raised vegetable garden beds came equipped this spring with so much purslane that it looked like carpets, and I've had to slowly weed through to find the beets, carrots, tomatoes, etc.  I may be done by next week, and then I'll have to start all over again, because that's the nature of the beast.  If a small bit of root, or a small cutting of the plant is left on/in the soil, it grows.  I don't know if this gift came via the wind, the compost from the open compost pile, or just from heaven.  The plant is so hardy, it will grow anywhere.  I read where people in the Mediterranean areas plant it for food.  They must plant the more cultivated seeds, because I can't imagine anyone planting this weed on purpose.  We spent a couple of hours watching the early English history on PBS last night - as pertaining to ordinary people in an ordinary village.  It was so interesting; one of the things I learned was that the kitchen garden was planned so that at the back, certain weeds were allowed to grow, because they could be counted on for nutrition during times when food was scant.  I just cannot imagine eating this nasty weed, but I guess that if I were starving, I might look more kindly upon it.  In the meantime, it's war in my garden!

Summer Posies

 The pots are beginning to respond, and are looking better every day.  (A little Miracle Grow doesn't hurt.)  In this 90+ weather, I have to be constant about watering at least once a day.  I would love a drip system, but the pots are far apart  in the beds and on the porch.  I always have great decisions to make at the greenhouse in the spring to choose the plants that will look good in each pot (I only planted 12 this year.)  Sometimes I win, sometimes I flop.  This one is going to do well.  The white and purple pansy is a volunteer from last year.  Enlarge this one to enjoy the posies.

Gorgeous flaming red, with ruffled green leaves, and interesting buds that bend over with the weight, and then produce these feathery, fragile flowers.  Love the poppies.  One summer, long ago, some poppy seed got mixed in with the sugar beet seed, and as we thinned (with short handled hoes), we left some - maybe unintentionally.  But there were spots of red in the field where they grew to remind us of beauty in our lives.

The Quilt Show Continues

 Hearts and Gizzards - Louise has always wanted to make this one - lots of hand applique in this one.  Very striking!

 And, below, the Wedding Ring quilt done in pinks and white.

 This beauty was done at a retreat - Looks pretty difficult to me!

 And, this is Cheryl's gorgeous sampler quilt.  Enlarge below so that you can see the batik on the border.  Absolutely beautiful quilt.

You can see why we were so busy talking quilts.  Lots of material here.  (No pun intended.)  What a fun day!