What I Have Been Doing at Home

I hate to start out with, "I cannot believe how long it has been since I posted", mostly because I do not want to point out that it has been a very long time. So not only has it been a long time, I am pointing it out.

Oops.

This is what I have been doing:

It is called trigonometry. I have a vague idea of what it's purpose is. For me it is mostly pages and pages of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing not only numbers and letters, but words, too. I like the math where you add words. I would like to add a word to the numbers in my bank account. Like million. That is a good word. If I add a million to each side of the equation, it should work out. That is a rule, right?

Notice the page at the top of this picture. It says "MEMORIZE". It is craziness.

I did memorize it. I may have forgotten it though. Along with everything else I learned in trig.

Please forget that I can be a slacker blogger.

Thanks.

Friend

Some days are just filled with task after task. I use a planner and write myself notes, and I tend to keep a running list in my head of what I need to be doing next and after that and during and later. I can stay focused on what I need to make happen so much, that I may not consider the other people in my house and what they might need from me.

Not my best moments.

I get a lot accomplished, but I miss out on other things. I may check things off my list, but I might not always check on my kids. I can be efficient with my time, but I may not be slowing down enough to hug Hero.

Hmmmm. New plan inspired by this new friend.

She does not have a name, but she has a history.

Lauren made this little pin cushion for me years ago for a Christmas gift. Our friend Terry helped her out. She was so pleased to give me something that she had made that would be useful and loved by me. And she has been well used. She lives in my little sewing dish (used to be a sewing basket, but she moved up), ready to work when I am. She never complains about being poked, either, which is good, since that is her specialty. She always has just the pin or needle that I need.

Recently she got a little makeover.

By Liam.

One of the ones that I sometimes am too busy to talk to. (Ouch. That does not feel good to admit that.)

Liam has always been great at keeping himself occupied, playing for hours by himself, and happy to just be in the same room with someone.

The other day, he came across this little gal, and rearranged her features. Now she has lovely dark eyes with long eyelashes, a pert little nose and a big, colorful smile. And if you look closely, you can see her long ponytail (sticking out underneath her). She looks fabulous!

One small problem though.

I love the way she looks. I do not want to disturb her.

Now that she is not working like she used to, she has time to smile at everyone. She has little tiny pin ears to listen. She is taking the time to be aware of what is going on around her.

What a good example.

And a good friend.

Just like my family.

I will try to follow all their good examples.

NY

Our family went on a whirlwind trip to upstate New York this summer. Right off the bat, things were exciting, because it was an opportunity for Brenden, our new driver, to get some serious expressway experience. Too bad the GPS (Nava-girl) was set on "scenic" - But we did see some lovely small towns along the old highway routes.

The big reason for our trip was to see our church's annual Hill Cumorrah Pageant in Palmyra, a very small town where the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took place. The pageant portrays many of the significant events in The Book of Mormon. There were a few things that surprised us about this event (in no particular order):

First, the number of people. There were so many, (And we actually found our good friends in the huge crowd!) all coming to feel the spirit and share this amazing experience with family and friends.

Second, the special effects of the performance - WOW!

Third, the people who were trying very hard to tell us that Latter-day Saints are wrong.

Fourth, the number of very friendly volunteers in the parking lot.

Fifth, the size of the parking lots (and the organized way we were able to get in and out of them).

Sixth, the spirit we could feel as soon as we stepped on to the church property.

We had a great experience. So glad we finally made it.

Before the pageant, we took the opportunity to go to the Sacred Grove, the place where Joseph Smith first kneeled to pray about which church to join. It is a beautiful forest that has been preserved and is filled with the Spirit of God. Feels good in there.

We talked about the similarities that Joseph Smith faced and what we were going to face when we left the grove. There were in Joseph's time, as in ours, those who do not believe what we know to be true, and try so hard to make us forget the witness we have had. The difference is that Joseph was alone for a time, while we have each other, and almost 14 million other members of the church. We felt secure in the knowledge of the restored gospel, just as Joseph felt strengthened and secure after his experience there.

We camped at a KOA that we stayed at a few years back. There were lots of church members - We camped next door to a cute little family from Pennsylvania who knew the Murrays. Small world. We had our traditional dutch over Monkey Bread with breakfast, and everyone was so helpful in getting packed up.

On to Niagra Falls!

We stayed on the American side as not all of us have proper id to go to Canada. But that is my favorite side anyway.

As soon as we walked out of the parking structure, we ran into our friends, the Zimmermans. Love that we found them twice in New York!

We had a great time! It was very windy and wet, which made for good hair, but also cooled us off. I wonder how many pictures there are in the world of families taken in this same spot?

We went up to the islands at the top of the falls and explored, and tried not to think about what would happen if one of us fell in to the rushing water.

A great trip with some great memories made.

The drive home gave Brenden that much needed experience on the freeway - two hours worth. I was ready to take over driving just before Cincinnati when we stopped for ice cream, and even though B felt confident, I insisted. So grateful I did! We ended up driving through terrible rain. It would have been difficult for us to change drivers safely, and terrifying for everyone if Brenden were driving.

That prompting from the Holy Ghost saved us a lot of grief. That is the Spirit that confirms to us that Heavenly Father is aware of us, watches out for us and gives us the opportunity to listen, or not.

I love that I know that.

On Board

Everyone should have a hero.

I have the best kind of hero. One that goes garage saling with me on chilly Saturday mornings in Old Village Plymouth. One that actually likes to go garage saling with me (some of our best dates are garage saling!)

He also is on board with many of my schemes - sometimes right away, sometimes after he "sees" the wisdom in going along for the ride.

So this is how this particular Saturday morning went: We were walking up and down Mill St in a very light drizzle, finding all kinds of treasures (and for great prices, too!) when I spotted this beauty. Alas, Hero was not feeling this one. I inspected it inside and out (a very sound piece) and the price was just ten dollars. But, we walked on without it. On a side trip to Starbucks for hot chocolate and hot cider, I did my best sales talk and convinced Hero of the serious potential of the trunk in question. I could not drive back fast enough (25 mph limit) to see that our new treasure was right where we left it. A few minutes later, it was in the back of our truck!

Good solid piece, with no water damage, and bandana handles!

Part of the deal in purchasing the future side table was selling our perfectly good, matching tables that we have had for about four years. As soon as we got home, I had those babies cleaned up and ready for their photo shoot for Craig's List.

A lovely woman who is setting up her new home after a divorce fell in love and picked them up a few days later. We now had the budget for the new tables!

My children were not quite sure why I was selling these tables. A few of them really resist change. They got it eventually.

I found a fabulous blog called knock-offwood that has some amazing furniture plans that are even better than name brands (like Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, etc), because they are better quality and MUCH cheaper. Hero and I choose two plans, purchased the supplies and got to work.

Starting to look like a sofa table to me!

Isn't it awesome? I mixed some leftover paints together, filled the gaps and nail holes, even waited a few days after painting it to fill it up and here it is! Just what I had in mind.

New home for our scriptures and magazines. I want to get little metal label holders for the front of each cubbie.

The new coffee table is a much better size for our great room, with room for baskets (of games) on the lower shelf, and a lift up lid for other goodies. This one got a distressed paint job, so a foot on the top or a watermark will not be a big deal. We love it!

With the new tables, I got creative with the pillow covers, too. The whole room looks much fresher!

Oh, and that trunk? It got a facelift, too. Painted the whole thing white, antiqued it and sanded it, moved some drop cloth slip covered chairs in, and it is gorgeous! Lots of storage inside, too. Thinking about putting some emergency supplies inside - handy, but out of view.

That is a project for another day.

No bandanas anymore! Might get a belt from the thrift store to make new handles.

This is what happens when Hero gets on board. Together we make great stuff, and an even greater home.

I love when I do not miss something.

I am sure I miss lots of things, things that would make me wiser, kinder or stronger. Things like instructions on how to choose the correct paint brush from the friendly paint helper at Lowe's. Or, seeing someone step up to help another in need. Or, even an opportunity to bear my testimony. I know that I get a little unfocused when I am out in the world and may not be paying attention to small things all around me. But today I did not miss one of those things.

Have you ever heard of crowder beans? Me either. But I saw them at Randazzo's today. I was not really interested in the beans, but I have to look at all the signs because they have some unusual produce at Randazzo's, and I am curious as to what they are. Produce like Santa Claus melons, cactus pears and daikon. I see people inspecting these interesting things and stocking up on them. I have tried one or two myself - casaba melon is pretty good.

I walked right by the crowder beans though. I knew what they were by the sign. And they kind of look like green beans, but are brown and speckly, like the green beans went wrong somehow. But as I walked on by, I saw two women stopped to inspect them. One, who clearly was as knowledgeable about them as I was, stood there trying to figure them out. The second one is the one I am glad I saw. She knew what those babies were. And I knew she loved them. She saw the perplexed look on the other woman's face and instantly smiled. It was a, "I can see you are unsure, but I can help you. And I am going to help you. You can count on me" smile. She popped one of those beans open to reveal the treasure inside, how to get them out and what to do with them. And the smile stayed the whole time. I found myself wishing I had not walked by the crowder beans.

But at least I did not miss something. I was a witness to this sweet little act of charity.

Down to the Wire

(What a funny expression that is.)

For the last several months, we have been in the wedding preparations mode. Since David asked Lauren to marry him last summer, we have been thinking, planning, brainstorming, budgeting, cutting coupons, watching for deals and sales, stocking up on supplies, making invitations, corsages and boutineers, flowers, favors, centerpieces and other decorations, finding the perfect gown and getting it fitted, reminding the groom of his duties, coordinating with the groom's family, purchasing all kinds of things, finding (finally) a dress for me and a suit for Darren, and all around getting things under control for this event, that is now less than two weeks away.

Horray!

I have loved planning and working on this and I would not trade one moment of the joy I have felt doing this for Lauren and David. Now it is the winding down time. Whenever I have had free time lately, I double checked the 'to do' list, and do something productive for the wedding. I love seeing those items crossed off my list that are complete, and the ever growing pile of things to take for the reception. And I have tried (pretty successfully) not to get to crazy obsessed about things. It has been great fun and I really love this kind of stuff.

What am I going to do with myself after June 20th?

Actually, lots.

I have ideas in my head, to put down on a list, and then all the thinking, planning, brainstorming, budgeting, cutting coupons, watching for deals and sales, stocking up on supplies, painting, sorting, organizing, cleaning, reworking and all around getting things done that is going to happen. So exciting!

Bread, and Other Food

When I was a child, I was a little bit picky about the things I ate. It is not like I did not eat anything - I loved peanut butter and scrambled eggs and dill pickles. And what child could not subsist on those things?
Something else that I loved was homemade bread. My one source of this was my Grandad Snelling. He was so talented in bread making. One of his specialties was egg bread. I do not know if this is really what it was called, but that is how we knew it. It had a yellow tint to it (I am guessing from the egg yolk) and was super delicious with butter. I could eat several slices of it, although one time I think it gave me a tummy ache. I seem to remember eating almost 10 slices - Unheard of for me to eat that much of anything.
I fear my mom blames herself that I did not eat. When I was growing up, it was common practice to make your child eat everything on their plate. It was a battle of wills most evenings for me to eat dinner, with many nights ending with me going straight to bed from the table. I would sit at the table for hours until my mom gave up and sent me to "go get washed and brushed". I would put a bite of food in my mouth, immediately shove it over to my cheek, put my fork down and sit. I could hold it in my mouth not tasting it for 10 or 20 minutes.
I had several tricks to get rid of my meals. We had a dog, but she was soon banned from the table when I ended up sitting alone. I used the "I need to use the bathroom" occasionally, but not too often (it was obvious). My best trick was spitting my food into my napkin and stuffing it in my chair cushion (which had a tear), then the dog would come by later and have a snack!
I have grown to love many foods as an adult. There are a few leftovers from my early days, like corned beef and liver, that I have not had to eat since I was a teenager, but I eat a pretty good variety of foods now. I do eat peanut butter every single day still - it is my number one comfort food.
Another thing that I still love to eat is homemade bread. I have learned to make and bake many good foods, but the most rewarding thing for me to make is bread. I cannot make it without thinking about Grandad. I use a mixer to get the dough started, but I knead it myself, and I love the way the dough feels. I have a pretty good rhythm, and having to take the time to knead it well gives me a chance every time to reminisce about spending time at my grandparents home in Algonac. (Sometimes Grandad would spend a weekend with us, too - Good times.) Always loved spending time with them.
The first best way to eat homemade bread is fresh out of the oven with butter. The second best way to eat homemade bread is toasted with butter.
But the very best way to eat homemade bread is toasted with peanut butter, open-faced, so the peanut butter is all melty and gets stuck on all your teeth. Oh, yum.