Life with the Carey Gang...

What do these two men have in common?

2012-01-20T21:23:00.000-08:00

I am talking about a former U.S. ambassador and state speaker of the house, David Wilkins, and Bob McDonnell, governor of the state of Virginia.

What do they have in common?

They both endorsed Mitt Romney today.

So why did we hear nothing about it on the news today?

While you are at it, go here and read this: http://conservativepatriothq.com/2011/12/02/what-is-behind-the-drop-in-the-unemployment-rate-to-8-6/

Have a good day!

I am Not a Ron Paul fan but....

2012-01-17T16:39:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine texted this photo to me.

I think it's pretty funny, don't you?

(That might just be an Obama look-alike, though. What do you think?)

You have to read this story....

2011-12-28T19:36:00.000-08:00

This year, our Christmas was a little something like this

Thank you.

Life, explained...

2011-12-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

TWO WOLVES

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle

that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between

two wolves inside us all.

"One is Evil -

It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies,
false pride, superiority, and ego.

"The other is Good -

It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth,
compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied,

"The one you feed."

(Merry Christmas!)

A Challenge, from Me to You!

2011-12-13T17:28:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been feeling like my life has been in the doldrums. I don't even know exactly what a doldrum is, or where it's located. Is it like a dumpster? Because that's more where life's been lately - The big ol' trash dumpster.

So one night nearly a month ago, I saw that a blog-friend of mine, M-Cat, had posted on FB

(don't you love it when your blog-friends transform into FB friends? I do!)

that she was doing the Ironman Challenge. Now, this Ironman differs from the three event, run a marathon, swim 2.4 miles, AND bike 112 miles All In One Day Event, in one way: you do it over a 2 week period of time.

This hit me in the head, struck a chord with me, and totally put me right there!

So, the Monday after Thanksgiving, I got busy with it. Since the idea is to do all of the events spread out a reasonable period of time, you could break down the events any way you want to. For me, the best way was, with with the running and the biking, was to alternate doing a lot of one and a little of the other each day, and throw in the swimming where I could.

The swimming is what I was most worried about. We have an awesome new rec center (relatively) near our home, so that wasn't an issue. It was that my techniques was terrible - pretty much a cross between a dog paddle and a side stroke, alternated with a backstroke so I could catch my breath without drowning. But I was pleasantly surprised - I ended up really enjoying the swim. And next time, I will try to do the bike ride on a real bike, instead of the stationary one that I am grateful that we have, but really bothers my butt!

So, to get to the point, I did it! And, if you are at all into fitness, I would completely recommend it. Although before doing this, I couldn't imagine how someone could do all of it in one day, and now, I really really don't know how a person can do it ALL IN ONE DAY! Do you? Have you or has anyone you know ever done it, and how did they train for it? Just curious....

I am planning to do this again sometime after Christmas. Who wants to join me? Last time I posted my progress on FB, but I could post it here, too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

One of our Thanksgiving traditions is to bake - and of course eat - lots and lot of pies.

Today we had:
Pumpkin
Banana Cream Cheese
Lemon Meringue
Chocolate Turtle
Mocha Chocolate
Apple
Blueberry...

.....and Blackberry!

I am thankful for my many friends - in real life and those that I have met here on the Blog. May you all receive many blessings!

They sent my Tax Return back! AGAIN!!!

2011-10-31T08:49:00.000-07:00

In response to the question:

"List all dependents"

I replied -

"20 million illegal immigrants;

"3 million crack heads,

"2 million people in over 243 prisons;

"Half of Mexico ; and

"535 fools in the U.S. House and Senate.”
PLUS
"1 inept jerk in the white house"

Apparently, this was NOT an acceptable answer.

(This didn't really happen to me. It was in an email somebody sent me.

But it's priceless, right?)

Cross Country!

2011-10-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

This fall, Tanner and Evalie decided they would participate in Cross Country sponsored by their grade school.

As a kindergardener, Evalie trained to run 1/4 of a mile. That's a Heck of a long way when you are only three feet tall!
(This photo is a re-inactment of the race....her mom missed her photo-finish) But she did a great job and finished the whole way!

Here is Tanner about to cross the 1/2 mile finsh line....in spite of his shoes falling off," like Eight Times!" he did a great job. And, epic mom-fail for not making sure his shoes wouldn't fall off. But they never had before. So, who knew?

Their after-party!

Four Generations

2011-10-25T18:04:00.000-07:00

When this adorable little girl in the middle was born, we had a photo taken of the four of us - great-grandma, grandma, daughter, and granddaughter. Six years later, here we are again!

And here's my adorable granddaughter with her adorable little brother! I am a lucky grandma!

Tanner's Baptized!

2011-10-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

Of all of my children, Tanner was the one I was most worried about, in terms of choosing the right, when he was a little tiny boy. He was the only one who threw and fit and fought me when it came time to go to church each Sunday. I thought, oh boy, he's going to break my heart....

But somewhere along the way, as he got bigger and learned about the Gospel, he stopped getting so mad each week. I know that his Primary teachers had a lot to do with it (and just learning to be able to sit still!)

So this last year or two he has really looked forward to being baptized!

With his Grandparents (thanks for coming, mom and dad - it means the world to us!)

The best little 8-year-old boy in the world!

Fishing is a 6th Grade Elective?

2011-10-20T20:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about homeschooling your kids?

We did, and we do.

It has yeilded some unexpected benefits.

Like when my husband has to take a road trip out of town, my son gets to go with him if he is ahead in his schoolwork.

So this trip they took some time to go fishing.

Pretty sure he caught the big fish if the day.

Here's the proof.

Great Father-Son bonding time, right?

OK....!

2011-09-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

Noelle and I were driving around Cd'A the other day and saw this guy:

Looks kinda fun!

Pretty sure this guy put this bike together himself.

Also - I didn't notice until I saw the enlarged cell phone photo on my computer, but he has a rag doll attached to the front. I wonder what the significance of that is?

Crazy. But kinda cool, too.

(The bike, not the doll)

What's up with the Mascots?

2011-09-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

Everywhere we go, every time Tanner sees any kind of mascot, he has to have his picture taken with them.

Here are a couple -

With Odie at Silverwood -

Tanner and my granddaughter, Evalie, at Cafe Chulo -

Not really a mascot, but a soda cooler shaped like the Star Wars character - all the same to him -

Love my Tanner-man!

Beautiful Lady...

2011-09-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

As I was going through my cellphone photos in my quest to update this blog, I found this photo of my daughter-in-law, Elena.

Isn't she beautiful? And she is just as beautiful on the inside.

My son is a lucky man, and I am a happy mother-in law.

Love you, Elena!

And here is a photo of their new child....

Their adorable kitty, Shadow.

It's Been A Long, Long Time

2011-09-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, quite a while since I posted anything. Not for the lack of having something to say, but just finding the time to squish in chronicling the events that I want to treasure and remember has been impossible. But it is important to me that I do it - so many years went by before The Blog, where a couple snapshots of those memories are all I have, and it's a shame.

So I will catch up. I will post what's been up here around the Carey household a 'lil bit at a time. I will try to do it in something that resembles chronological order, because that's how I am wired to do things. (I may even eventually change the dates that I post to reflect when it really happened, so don't get confused....

Can you tell that I am making a pledge to myself to get it done, and that if it's on paper for all (three of you who read my blog) to see, I WILL actually do it.

I hope.

In the meantime, a friend posted a link on FB to a blog post that had me crying my eyes out. Right now, I think all of us can relate to it, in one way or another.

Beginning Our Garden....Way Late!

2011-06-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are some photos of the garden that we have been working on this past month.

Furiously.

The weather had been too wet and cold to get started any sooner.

As I get older, I enjoy my garden more and more. I never thought this would be the case back when I would weed the family garden for what seemed like hours and hours every day. (Probably was, in reality, a whole lot less - right Mom and Dad?)

I am grateful to my parents who taught me how to weed, and more importantly, the value of hard work.

And the value of having a garden.

As an adult with my own garden, for years it had been more of a hobby than anything.

A place to escape to, where I knew my children would not follow....

For the past few years, the importance of having a garden has changed for me. I have always believed that we should learn to be self-sufficient, but putting that into action is quite a different story.

This year, I was hoping to have a really great garden. One where we could harvest the bounty and enjoy it for much of the winter.

Well, the weather certainly has NOT cooperated. Too cold. Or too wet. Or too wet and cold.
We are at least a month behind, as my photos will attest to.

Asparagus - have you ever had fresh asparagus, straight from the garden?
Even if you don't think you like asparagus, you will like it fresh.
Promise!

Green Beans - just sprouting

Blackberries - a lot less hearty than last year...

Chives - The only thing that's doing great!

Green Peppers - starts from the Farmer's Market.

Red curly lettuce - close-out starts from the garden center

Rhubarb - So I lied - the rhubarb is doing great, too!

Tomatoes - Garden Center as well...

Zucchini - have you ever seen a more pathetic plant?

New rows of strawberries....

A cluster of berries, ready to pick from last year's rows.

OK. So call us optimists

(well, you can call my hubby an optimist, since he bought these plants from the garden center)

Do you know what kind of plant this is?

No?

This is a tomatilla plant.

I know....

OK, Got the New Background....

2011-06-23T13:55:00.001-07:00

...now I am off to do some work in the garden. And we are waaaay behind.

Will post photos soon!

. . . Where's Global Warming when you need it???

2011-06-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

So anyone who's ever looked at my blog with any regularity (and I appreciate all three of you!) will know that I often change my backgrounds. I like to match it to the season. Anyone else out there like to do that, or is it just me? Anyway, that's what I do. Except I haven't changed it to a summertime background, with bright flowers and maybe a blue-sky background. Why not, you ask?

BECAUSE THERE IS NO STINKIN' SUMMER HERE YET!

There.

I feel just a bit better now.

The only other thing that will cheer me up right now is some SUMMER SUNSHINE! With temps in the 70's and 80's, too, if you don't mind....

Yeah, I know the East Coast is experiencing record high temperatures.

Gives new meaning to the phrase "average temperature across the country", doesn't it?

(Is that really too much to ask for? I mean, I really do need my garden to grow, and so do all of my friends around me!!)

Chad and Elena's Wedding . . .

2011-05-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

The bride and groom.

ready to get their (formal) photos taken...

Outside of the Mesa, AZ temple:

The Bridal Shower, after the photos....

Luncheon, after the wedding.

My daughter Kayla, and my new daughter, Elena!

Reception in Idaho

Beautiful couple!

Goofy groom and his sis...

My girls - Kayla, Rachel, Noelle, and my granddaughter Evalie

Taking photos, too!

Cutting the cake...

All the little mini-princesses...

Opening gifts....

How to Make YoUr MoM HaPPy...

2011-05-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

ThiS iS How to make yoUr MoM haPPy. Frst, you maKe braakfaSt four yoUr MoM. Next, you clean The house. Then, you Make lunch foUr MoM.
Last you give MoM flowers.
That WaS How to Make your MoM haPPy.

(from Tanner, my first-grader. He and Isaac and Noelle are making breakfast for me right now....I'm betting the flowers will appear at dinnertime...I LOVE my kids!)

Card from Noelle:

I got all my good qualities from you, Mom.

Isn't is lucky you had

more than enough

for both of us? :-)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

<3 Love, Noelle

Card from Isaac (handmade, all of them!)

I Love You

with all my heart,

If I keep it in,

my heart can't take it

so I'm releasing it because I do

Really Love You.

-Zeek

(posts about wedding and receptions to follow....eventually...)

What's been going on???

2011-04-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

Lots of good things, for sure! I will post all about it when we get through it all. In the meantime, if you want a little sneak peek, you can go over to my daughter's blog - click here. She has some cute photos of what we have all been up to!

Shoe shopping....

2011-04-09T00:57:00.000-07:00

With an upcoming wedding, a little shoe-shopping was necessary.

I was looking for a pair of flat walking-around shoes, and then I found these:

I texted a photo to my daughter Rachel, and she called them "scandalous".

So of course I had to pass on them....wouldn't want to embarrass anyone (especially myself!)

Then I spotted these babies:

These are exactly what I was looking for, to go with my dress for the wedding.

More wedding photos to follow -

(and some crazy stories - like how my son Chad, the groom, called me Wednesday night and asked me if I had his birth certificate so he can get his marriage license - the following Monday in Arizona, and I am in Idaho, and to get a copy of his OREGON birth certificate, it's 3-5 days! So you can imagine my panic when I couldn't find it....but it turns out, he doesn't need it after all...I hope...)

Young Women's General Conference Session

2011-04-07T00:57:00.000-07:00

The weekend before last, through the miracle of great friends and their generosity, my daughter Noelle and I were able to go with a group of lovely ladies from our ward.

The mom's (plus a daughter or two...)

Our Young Women...

The view from the Garden Restaurant

After lunch dessert....so good!

Sitting back after our cereal run...did you know they have an escalator in the Salt Lake WalMart? Are you as amazed as we were? But maybe it could've been the late hour...

Temple Square shot

PJ Party...

What a wonderful experience! I hope that we can make a tradition of it!

My friend Missy and I also got to meet a lovely lady from the Salt Lake area, who we had both been friended by on Facebook, me through a friend of a friend, and Missy, because she thought that I knew her personally. I didn't, but now we do! Great to meet you Tammy! (I'm just so sad that we didn't get a photo together.....but I had to make a mention anyway!)

Good Luck Everyone!

2011-04-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

This is from an email that I received the other day:

This year we experienced and are going to experience four unusual dates  : 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11; that's  not all  ... take the last two digits of the year in which you were born;  now add the age you will be this year, and the result will be 111 for everyone!  For example - Harry was born in 1957, and 57 + 54 = 111

This is the year of Money!!!  This year October will have 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays and 5 Mondays.

This happens only every 823 years.

These particular years are known as 'Moneybags' - the proverb goes that if you send this to eight
good friends, money will appear in the next four days as is explained in Chinese feng-shui.

I was reading this email to my little smarty-pants Noelle, and she pointed out that the 111 idea happens every year, only last year the number was 110, (or 10 if you were born in 2000 or after) for everyone. And the year before that, 109, etc. It's just about the math. Of course!

And that got me to wondering about the rest of it, and so I looked back and saw that last year, October had 5 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. In fact, every month that has 31 days has 3 days of the week with 5 of them that month. Not going to take the time, but pretty sure that every year the same hold true.

Just sayin'.

Goes to show that anything that is written in a sensationalized way seems more, well, sensational that it really is! And so goes the news about anything, in general. So we all, (myself included!) need to look past the "wow!" of the story to see what it all really means.

It's NOT Hookey - it's a Field Trip!

2011-03-19T22:36:00.000-07:00

Since my husband Mark has been out of town so much in the last few month, he looks for opportunities to spend extra time with his little boys. (They ARE getting big - fast - but I call them the little boys as opposed to our BIG boys, who currently happen to be 22 and 27 years old . . . )

So, when some sort of Outdoorsman show happened to be in the area (wow, I don't pay attention to the details much do I?) he jumped at the chance to take them yesterday. Yes, on a school day. Let's call it a Field Trip, shall we? At least, that's what I told my friend that works in the office of their elementary school.

Yes, a Field Trip. Best one ever, I'd say!

Tanner - so proud of the fish he caught. And for the extra 3 bucks they were charged to catch it, the smile was worth every penny!

And what a great man/field trip-day is complete without a trip to their favorite buffet!?

A Funny Story About Our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson

2011-03-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

(I saw this online this morning and I just had to repost it....)

President Thomas Monson was returning to Salt Lake City after a speaking engagement and when his Plane arrived there was a limousine there to transport him to his home.

As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver. ‘You know’ he said, ‘I am getting pretty old and I have never driven alimousine. Would you mind if I drove it for a while?’

The driver said, ‘No problem. Have at it.’

President Monson gets into the driver’s seat and they head off down the highway. A short distance away sat a rookie Highway Patrolman operating his first speed trap.
The long black limo went by him doing 70 mph in a 55 mph zone.

The trooper pulled out and easily caught the limo and he got out of his patrol car to begin the procedure. The young trooper walked up to the driver’s door and when the glass was rolled down, he was surprised to see who was driving. He immediately excused himself and went back to his car and called his supervisor.

He told the supervisor, ‘I know we are supposed to enforce the law.. But I also know that important people are given certain courtesies. I need to know what I should do because I have stopped a very important person.’

The supervisor asked, ‘Is it the governor?’

The young trooper said, ‘No, he’s more important than that.’

The supervisor said, ‘Oh, so it’s the president…..’

The young trooper said, ‘No, he’s even more important than that.’

The supervisor finally asked, ‘Well then, who is it?’

The young trooper said, ‘I think it’s Jesus, because he’s got President Monson for a chauffeur!"

A Sneeze to Remember. . . and a Need for a Time Machine. . .

2011-03-09T19:24:00.000-08:00

This has been a, well, interesting day....

This morning, Evan Thomas (my grandson) sneezed like no one has ever sneezed before:

(at least his sinuses are cleared!)

Poor little boy! Grandpa made him pose for this photo before he'd let me wipe his nose. . .

Then later, Tanner and Isaac decided to ride down the steps in a giant box.

Tanner went first.

Then Isaac.

He really, really wishes he had a Time Machine.

So he could go back in time to BEFORE this happened:

Unfortunately, this damage is way beyond any of my skills. I guess we will be needing a good contractor!

Chicken-Spinach Calzones - Yum!

2011-03-07T18:31:00.000-08:00

Yep, you know that post way back when, where I that said I would try any recipes that you left for me in a comment? Well, I finally remembered to make sure that I had all the ingredients to make this one - frozen spinach isn't something that I buy frequently, I am sorry to say.

This recipe was absolutely delicious, not that you'd know it by looking at THIS post. I completely forgot to take photos of the finished product before they all got devoured. And the only thing I would do differently is to make the dough that I always use for bread - mostly because I am lazy and I believe it would be more time-effective. My recipe makes two loaves, so I would only use half of it for the calzones, and the other half I would go ahead and bake into a loaf. Actually, biggest reason for this is that my 6 1/2 quart mixer is just too big for the small amount of dough that the recipe calls for. Or, you could just double the dough recipe and make a bigger batch, if you have the larger mixer like I do.

Here is a Googled photo of the recipe. I am amazed that they look soooo much like mine did . . . and I am sure these tasted much better than they look, like mine did, too!

Thank for for the recipe, Joey!

(Next recipe I will try is the Tuna Casserole from Cmom. Don't know when, but I hopefully I will remember to take my own photo....)

Wow - What a Slacker I've Been!

2011-02-10T19:39:00.000-08:00

...and it's been for no good reason, except that real life just got in the way! ;-)

I am going to make good on my promise and try these wonderful recipes that I requested in my last post! (And Valerie, believe it or not, I have already made your dish back from when you first posted it! And it was sooo Yummy!)

I have printed off the recipes, ready to do a search in my pantry for ingredients. Can't wait!

Now I Have a Craving For Spinach Dip -

2011-01-31T20:09:00.000-08:00

I am a Food Reality Show addict.

Give me

as well as

Cake Boss, Iron Chef, Ace of Cakes, Hungry Girl,
and

and I am a happy girl.
(On a side note, I used to babysit Kat -from WC in A - when I was a teenager).

I was introduced through those shows to a whole new world of food that I never knew existed, one that involves creativity and technique.

So why is it that I am now craving me some Spinach Dip, from a recipe that involves only 3 items:

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (one packet), one box of frozen spinach (thawed), and 16 ounces of sour cream?
I really need to be a little more adventurous.

So, here's my NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION #2:
try to make and bake new foods.

If you know my family, you know that my husband won't eat anything unless he really likes it. And if he won't eat it, he won't make the kids eat it either. And I was raised to clean your plate, no matter what. It's been a struggle to do any kind of experimenting at all

But I am determined. I can do it. I am tired of the same 12 recipes recycled over and over again. Really. Any recipes I have already shared here are from that lame repertoire. Don't get me wrong. They're pretty good dishes. It's just the sheer lack of quantity that's lame.

So, at the risk of being embarrassed by the lack of participation, here is my request::

If you have a link to a favorite recipe, leave it in a comment. If you know of any great recipe blogs, leave the link. Or, if you so feel inclined, leave the recipe itself.

And please take Note: My hubby's biggest food adversion is carrots (or is it are carrots? I don't know)

And when I make a dish from a recipe you leave or from the link you share, I will post about it and give you credit and link back to your blog.

Maybe that'll be a little extra motivation for me to be food-venturous.

Heaven knows I need all the motivation I can get!

(If you are reading this via Facebook, my blog address is: careysgang.blogspot.com. You can leave your recipe in a comment there. And leave your blog link there too, if you have one. Thanks!)

Whole Wheat Bread . . . . . and . . . . . What are YOUR New Year's Resolutions?

2011-01-14T13:57:00.000-08:00

I don't often make New Year's Resolutions. But this year, I have really embraced them. Why haven't I done this before? I am thinking it's because I have a fear of failure (of some things), and so sometimes I just don't try.

I think I was crazy for not doing it all these years. Or maybe, it's because the goals that I have set this year are just a little more realistic than the failed ones of the past.

Could be.

Goal #1 - Learn how to bake bread.

Two weeks ago, I didn't know how to make a decent loaf of bread. Then last Thursday a good friend taught me and my girls how to do it. Since then, we have baked about 14 perfect loaves of the whole wheat variety (12 of which have already been eaten!) Thanks, Laura, I owe ya big time!

(This, of course, is the First loaf that I have baked that has had a hole in the middle...of course. Just means I needed to knead it a bit more....)

So, if you are a beginner at baking bread, or have never even tried, try it, you can do it! That's what I did, and now I am able to use the whole wheat that has been sitting in barrels in my basement (yes, 50 gallon barrels, 3 of them) for years!

WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

Start with:

2 1/2 cups warm water
2 TBS sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 to 2 tsp salt
3/4 cup potato flakes (or pearls)
2 cups wheat flour
2 TBS shortening
1 egg
3 TBS gluten
1 TBS fast-rising yeast
I just mix everything together in my 6 1/2 quart Kitchen Aid, using the paddle attachment.

Add one more cup of flour, white or wheat.

Once everything is mixed well, I switch to the dough hook.

Then start adding whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup at a time, til you've added around 4-5 additional cups. Dough is complete when it's "cleaning" the bottom of the bowl while it's mixing, and the dough no longer sticks to your finger when you poke it.

(Also, you can experiment with the wheat/white mix to get it just how you like it. We like it to be mostly wheat, so I start with 2 cups of white flour at the beginning of the recipe, and use just whole wheat flour to finish it. It takes a little less flour when you use a higher percentage of wheat flour, so mix carefully!)

Turn out onto floured surface.

Put a little olive oil into the bottom of a large bowl and place dough in and swish around and flip it over so that the top is coated with oil to prevent your dough from crusting.

Set in a warm place and cover with towel. Let rise for about 90 minutes.

Once it has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto floured surface. Cut into two pieces.

Knead to get the air bubbles out, but don't over-knead. Form into loaves and place in oiled bread pan. Let rise just until the dough reaches the top of the pan, about 30 min. It will continue to rise while it bakes.

This one rose just a little bit too much...but it turned out ok anyway...)

Repeat previous step if you want. Another rising will make your bread taste a little less yeasty, which is how we like it.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

And ...what is the best bread baking tip that I learned ?
The best thing I learned was to only let the bread final rise in the pan to just the top. In the past, I would wait and wait until it rose to the size I thought the finished loaf should be....and then when I put it in the oven, it would just collapse because it had OVERrisen. (I was just LUCKY that this loaf didn't collapse!)
See, pretty basic, but well worth learning.

Thanks, Laura, for teaching me and letting me share your fantastic recipe.

New Year's Resolution #2?

What is it you ask?

I'm not going to give all the details yet, but I will tell you it also has to do with food. (And, for once, not necessarily anything to do with losing weight!)

What are your New Year's Resolutions?

Sledding Daze...

2011-01-08T17:20:00.000-08:00

This winter, a good friend of mine invited me and the kids up to a sledding hill that she had discovered. Sorry, Missy, but the hill is MINE now! haha

The first thing that you need to have to have a great sledding experience is a fire to stay warm by. The first time we went up, someone had already built a fire. The next time, I brought newspaper, kindling, and some of the logs that we burn in our wood stove.

I build fires regularly, so I wasn't worried about getting a rip-roaring blaze going, but have you ever built a fire in the snow? WHILE it is snowing? Not so easy, I tell you. The shot was taken just before all the flames fizzled and just about went out. Luckily, the people who had built the previous fire showed up (men, of course) and got it going really good. I didn't see it happen, but there was a plastic jug sitting nearby (but not too close) that I have a suspicion had gasoline or something similar in it.

Cheaters!

But don't get me wrong. We were grateful!

Another thing that is important to have with you when you go sledding is:

Kids!

They make it the most fun. And having friends with kids that are their friends there too, makes it all the better.

(Noelle, warming herself by the fire. She doesn't look too excited in this photo, but that was only because she doesn't like having her picture taken. NOT because she wasn't having fun - she was!)

There's nothing better than sledding in north Idaho. It's free, burns lots of calories, and I hope we can go again soon. Many more times!

Christmas With Our Family. . . and Small Miracles

2010-12-27T18:20:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas this year started out with our Ward Christmas party. Lots of fun, food, love, and talents were shared with one another.

Tanner (who is the only one young enough to still sit on Santa's lap, telling Santa what he wanted for Christmas. . .

...Tanner, still giving Santa an earful....

Finally, after Noelle hollering at him repeatedly to smile for the camera....

...and now he is finishing giving Santa his 'list'.

We also got to go to Bonner's Ferry to the Carey family Christmas Eve-afternoon party. They did their traditional Pinata, with all of the kids 10 years old and under taking a turn smacking it. I wish I had some photos of everyone and all of the food that was there.

And special Christmas memories were shared with one another, and Rachel sang "Silent Night" for all of us.

CHRISTMAS MORNING

The traditional "top of the stairs" pose.

Isaac, checking out his new backpack. (I have a little story about that at the end of this post, after most of the photos!)

Noelle, with the bag that Rachel got her

Tanner, unwrapping his new blanket. We LOVE blankets around here...

Thanking his mom...

I don't remember what or why THIS happened...guess we were just having a really good time!

Me, with the gift basket that Rachel and Noelle got for me. They won this ginourmous gift basket FULL of brownie mixes, cake mixes, frostings, sprinkles, cookie cutters, etc etc that they won at the high school's Christmas Concert raffle. They were SO excited to give it to me, cuz they know how I love the Brownies!

Rachel, with the new Michael Jackson CD

...and the quilt I made for her...

This year has been especially hard for us, financially, as it has for a lot of you as well.

So several months before Christmas, I let the kids know that there wouldn't be a lot under the tree for them. They are good kids, and took it in stride.

So, here is a funny little crazy story -

My husband and I went to a friend's Christmas party, one that they traditionally have every year. And one of the traditions at this party is to have a white elephant gift exchange. You all know how it works: each person brings something crazy or fun or super cool or random, wrapped up as a gift. Everyone gets a number and chooses a gift in order. Or, the next person can "steal" a gift from someone who has already unwrapped a gift. And the third person to snag that gift gets to keep it.

So when a genuine Air Force backpack (complete with flight suit. jacket, sleeping pad and bag, and long johns) was unwrapped, my husband figured out a way so HE could be that third person to get that gift. Once he got it, he presented it to our host friend (who happens to be involved with the Explorer Scouts). He laughed and said, just keep it, we already have more than enough donated backpacks for the Scouts.

So, after discussing together whether it was tacky or not to give a white elephant gift to our son, as a real present, we decided that Isaac would think it was such a cool gift that it wouldn't matter.

Here was our dilemma - Isaac was getting this "big" gift, when we didn't really have the funds this year to do the same for the rest of the kids.

I took the girls aside (Tanner is still young enough not to care or notice) and let them know how and when we got this gift for Isaac. And that things might seem a big lopsided in the gift department.

They completely understood. Or so I hoped.

They understood more than I realized....

There is something I need to explain here so that you will realize why this is such a touching moment for me.

Over the years, I manage to do EVERYthing for the Christmas holiday - bake, shop, wrap gifts, send out the cards, everything, (Christmas Tree Nazi kinda covers it all) and not including the rest of the family like I should have been.

I realize that now.

But what warms my heart about this Christmas is how the kids all took time, thought and care about getting gifts for EACH OTHER. Santa's pockets were pretty empty by the time his sleigh landed on our roof, but the kids came through for each other and for their dad and I.

They truly saw what Christmas was all about, the Giving and not the GETTING.

And you know what? I think that they had the best Christmas ever!

( A couple of them may have told me that, so I know it's true!)

So, along with that Christmas Miracle, re-purposed items, and misc gift cards & store credits that I discovered in my wallet that I'd forgotten about,

(and a big splurge on my husband's behalf -for me- that he had planned for months)

we weren't lacking for anything at all this Christmas!

P.S. The only reason there isn't a photo of my husband in this post is because he took just about all of all the photos and I didn't realize it until now! Whoops!

There is Going to Be A New Member of our Family . . .

2010-12-23T09:45:00.000-08:00

....and no, I am not pregnant. Why is that what everyone always thinks of first when this type of announcement is made?

The Newest Member of our family will be Elena, the girl Chad brought home for Thanksgiving.

Were any of us surprised?

Uh, no, not at all.

She is a great girl who will bring lots of fun and joy to Chad's life.

The wedding will be next spring, sometime in April. And they are getting married in the Mesa temple, as is the tradition for most of her siblings (she has 7). Woo hoo! I love that girl! (And I love Arizona in the springtime!)

The ring.... congrats, Chad and Elena!

The START Treaty

2010-12-21T09:55:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons that I haven't been posting much lately is because a lot of what has been on my mind has been about politics. And since the mid-term elections, I had decided to not be so political here on my blog.

Well, I am a fail on that decision, since this one IS about politics. But it is also about more than that. It is about our national security. And no matter what your political leanings may be, I think that we all can agree on one thing: We want America to be a strong country.

That is why I am so concerned about the START treaty. It is too important of a subject matter to be pushed through during this lame-duck session. So many other bills and concerns have been the topic that it has been neglected from public notice, and now it looks like it will be ratified by the Senate today or tomorrow.

I have mentioned before that I am glad that I live in Idaho, a state that so represents the values and concerns of my husband and I. And and in an area that a visiting General Authority told us would be "a gathering place, and a safe haven".

Last week, I wrote my Senator and told him of my concerns. Here is his response:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Carey:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) signed by President Obama and Russian President Medvedev in April. I appreciate hearing from you.

After the treaty was signed, President Obama sent the treaty to the Senate for ratification. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, I have spent months reviewing the details of the treaty and have deep concerns with it.

It is unfortunate this treaty embraces an outdated 20th century Cold War style of arms control, while ignoring the flexibility needed for the threats America must confront now and in the future. Under this treaty, President Obama accepted limits on missile defense as well as conventional capabilities, while accepting weakened verification measures. Whereas Russia already is below the warhead and delivery vehicle limits set forth in this treaty, the U.S. is not and will need to make many difficult choices about our military in order to comply with the treaty's provisions. Despite repeated inquires, it is still unclear what concessions were made by Russia.

I am also deeply concerned by the fact that the minority was denied its requests to hear from witnesses it requested, access to documents was delayed and questions were rarely answered in a timely matter for thoughtful deliberation. A recent meeting of the Foreign Relations Committee to amend the treaty greatly improved the resolution of ratification and I was glad the committee accepted one of my amendments; however, several other key amendments were rejected. Even with my amendment, the treaty did not do enough to protect the United States and I subsequently voted against it in committee.

I really value your effort to get in touch with me to share your thoughts, as many Idahoans do. Pease do not hesitate to contact me in the future on this or other issues.

Very Truly Yours

James E. Risch

United States Senator

I really hope that something will happen in the Senate today that will stall this vote until after the new year, until Representatives who are going to be there for more than another few days can review it and negiotiate the necessary changes to it. Since there isn't sufficient time to do that, I hope and pray that the vote will wait. However, it looks like it could be voted on and passed today or tomorrow.

Do you think that ~~all~~ any of our sitting Representatives have our best interests and the interests of our country at heart?

My Hero!

2010-12-15T21:08:00.000-08:00

See this young man? He is amazing, in general, but the other day he did what no one else had been able to do:

He found my camera!

Stand by for a lot more posts than I have been doing lately, Complete With Photos! Yay!

Epic Road Trip! (Via Airplane, Even Better!)

2010-11-30T23:13:00.000-08:00

In 2003, when my oldest daughter, Kayla, was sixteen or seventeen,

we went on a road trip to the Edmonton Mall.

We had so much fun that I decided that I was going to do the same with my other two daughters.

Fast forward to 2010.

Finances were looking like there was no way! that Rachel and I could even think of doing a road trip together.

(Me and Rachel)

Then in early October, my mom and dad offered to fly us (courtesy of frequent flyer miles) down to Nashville TN, where they are currently serving a mission.

Of course, we jumped at the chance!

(me & my super mom)

(my adorable dad!)

While we were there, they treated us to some incredible adventures.

(we won't mention the not-so-great meal we had at the Cracker Barrel, a restaurant that we all had been wanting to try. Don't need to try it again....)

Here are some photos from some of the places we went:

These are photos Rachel took of the glass sculptures at Cheekwood gardens.

Amazing place.

Blown glass that mimics bamboo - incredible!

Went and had dinner at the famous Bluebird Cafe - super fun, with a live show.

We went again a couple nights later for the open-mic night. Here is Rachel and my mom and dad waiting in line....we all had a good time chatting with everyone. People are super friendly and genuinely nice there!
Rachel was hoping to perform - we even brought her guitar with us on the plane - but luck was not on our side. We had a great time, anyway. Some of the performances were side-splittingly funny - some funny in a good way, and a couple of others, not so much....

This is the Carnton Plantation. It was used as a hospital during the Civil War, after 40,000 troops on both sides fought just 1/2 mile from this plantation, and 10,000 of them lost their lives.

Here is the place in Franklin where the battle took happened. The homeowners hid in their basement while the bullets flew above them.

(I have no idea why my parents are walking in different directions...?)

You can still see the bullet holes....

Another outbuilding. These two buildings are small, and so some of the bullets when in and all the way out the other side....

We also visited the Grand Ole Opry, but didn't get to see a show. Last May the Nashville area experienced torrential rain storms, and this area was under about 20 feet of water. The whole building had to be redone.

The ginormous guitar . . .

We also took a trip south of Nashville, to Amish country. But of course, we have no photos ;-)

Thanks, mom and dad, for a wonderful trip! We love you and had a great time spending time with you!

I Have Not Disappeared!

2010-11-18T23:26:00.000-08:00

. . . I just don't have a camera to take photos with right now. And how boring is a blog post without photos! (Like this one, right?!)

? ? ?

2010-11-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

What do this:

And this:

have in common?

I will tell you in my next post.

Right now, I just need to go to sleep.

(Maybe I will sleep just a little bit better tomight. I'm sure you know why . . . )

I Won't Forget . . .

2010-10-31T19:34:00.000-07:00

... and I hope you won't either. Go here to see what I'm talkin' about -

Excellent Home Remedies

2010-10-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

A sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (hmmmmmm..) ==========
Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to. I've done this for years, and years, and years!!
==========
For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. (wish I had known this for the last 40 years!)
==========
To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.
==========
Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!)..
==========
Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
==========
Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical. Now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get 'sharpened'' this way!
==========
Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! (Now, where to put the body?) LOL
==========
Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows.... This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
=========
Spray a bit of perfume on the (COOL) light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.
=========
Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.
=========
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
=========
To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!
=========
To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove top. (They say a dryer sheet works for this too)
===========
Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.
===========
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks. This works with cheese too, I do that one!
===========
When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness!
===========
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
===========
To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
===========
Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line.. So, get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
===========
Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
===========
When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
===========
Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer...... Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China

Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.

Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar.. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.

=====
Do your friends a favor. Pass this timely (and some not-so-timely) information on to a friend! I just did. Makes you wonder about ingesting Alka Seltzer, doesn't it?

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!

2010-10-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

Since MID-TERM election season is upon us, I thought that this email that a friend sent along to me would be of interest to some, and hopefully many, of you.

I can't think of a single reason to disagree with any of it. I am posting this in hopes that as many people as possible will see it - Conservatives, Liberals, and everybody in between. Even though we may disagree on a number of issues, I count all of you as friends. Post this on your own blog as well, if you'd like.

My friend wants to promote a "Congressional Reform Act of 2010." It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I know many of you will say "this is impossible." Let me remind you, right now, Congress has the lowest approval rating of any entity in government.   Now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress - the entity that represents us.
We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House.   These people will become American heroes!

**********************************

Congressional Reform Act of 2010
1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.

A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension.   A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.   All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.The American people did not make the current contracts with Congressmen. Congressmen made all those contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators who would serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE NOVEMBER 2!

I Love This!

2010-10-18T10:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a really interesting story about a businessman who is doing something to help people who are unemployed, and also helping many others at the same time! And you know what? I think that there are a lot of wealthy business people - who have been demonized by our current administration lately - that are doing things just like this!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_hire_just_one

Isn't She Cute?

2010-10-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

I have to tell you about this day.
It was my granddaughter Evalie's birthday, about a month ago.
Since she is so much like her mom, and her mom is so much like me, I knew that she would love a little shopping trip.
So, we headed out to the mall together, just the two of us.
Which is rare.
We went from store to store, looking at all the dresses
- she loves dresses -
and talked about which dress was the cutest.
This is the one that she picked out.
And, the dress was on sale, which in the Carey family's book, makes a purchase all the better.
But Evie didn't know that.
She just loves the dress!

Where's Waldo?

2010-09-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

Well - of course I'm not Waldo
(however, in the madhouse that is my life, sometimes I feel surrounded to the point of almost disappearing), but -

If any of the half-dozen or so people who read my blog have noticed a sharp decrease in my posting, well, there is a good reason.

Actually, it is a bad reason.

It is because I have misplaced, or maybe even accidentally threw my camera away. So, anything with a photo that I have posted since late August has been from my cell phone. And, there are more terrible cell phone shots on Facebook that my FB friends have all witnessed.

So, in the meantime, all my blogging time, such as it is, (in between taking care of kids, home, yard, church callings, chauffeuring, gardening, canning and freezing, etc) has been to just read other people's posts. And today I read a post that pretty much sums up just how I feel about what has been going on in this country.

If you are bored by political stuff, you may skip the rest of this post.

If you are frustrated by what is happening in this country that could erode our freedoms and compromise our way of life, please continue on.

Here is the link:

http://fuzislippers.blogspot.com/2010/09/american-dream.html

This article articulates what has been formulating and echoing around in my head for the past year and a half or so . . .

How do you feel about it?

Who Says Girls Don't Like to Camp?

2010-09-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

(I am trying to do a little catch-up posting here - just bear with me)

I mean, who can resist the beauty of this breathtaking lake?

There ALways should be a pie-eating contest. I mean, what's a little sticky when you are out in the middle of nowhere? (Well, this camp does have nice warm showers. Lucky girls. But really, is that real camping??)

Is this what they made at craft-time?

No, wait. This is the real craft . . .

Can girls shoot a bow and arrow? Of course!

A few Mardi-Gras beads to liven things up a bit. . .

. . . and a little sugar to keep them going . . .

As I said before, Lucky Girls!

Isaac's Great Adventure . . .

2010-09-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

This year, cub scout day camp was incredibly well organized, fun, and the boys all earned gobs of badges, belt loops, and pins. Which is the whole point of cub scout day camp, isn't it?

On the day that I took my turn to spend the day with the boys, I witnessed them -

Panning for "gold"

Doing the Barrel Roll . . .

Whooaa. . . .

Building a "Bug Box"

Testing out the "Cocoa Puff blow guns they just made, for sure the day's weapon of choice!

The day that I spent with the boys was one of the most fun I'd had in a very long time, and this was Isaac's last year . . . I wonder who's more excited to go to day camp in a couple of years, Tanner or me?

Lucky 13

2010-08-30T18:59:00.000-07:00

Today is my sweet daughter Noelle's birthday. She is a beautiful young lady with so many talents and so much potential. We love you, sweet Noelle!

1997 - 3 weeks old

1998

1999

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010 (last month!)

Cute cabin, Where are the Huckleberries? and My Grown-up Baby Boy . . .

2010-08-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

Last week while Rachel and Noelle were at Girl's Camp, we took the boys up near the Canadian border for a couple of nights camping.

This is the cabin we stayed in the first night - so comfy and cozy! Thank you Sam and Marla, for letting us stay there!

The next morning, we went out in search of the famous north Idaho Huckleberry. It is our tradition to go into the mountains every summer in search of this tiny tart blue-berry.

Not much luck this year. We looked high and low, and even drove down little used paths - I don't think they've been roads in a long while . . .I cringed for miles as branches scraped both sides of the truck, and prayed that there would be a spot wide enough to turn around.

Somewhere.

Eventually we found one.

And we found some berries, too.

But they were very tiny,

and we only managed to pick less than one gallon.

The next night we went to our favorite north Idaho campground, one that has a paved loop to ride bikes on. Isaac brought his brand-new bike (one that he bought with his own money - very proud of him!) and Tanner had his, too, complete with training wheels. And I was bound and determined that those 'lil wheels would be gone before we returned home to our long gravel driveway.
So Mark took them off.
After about 3 frustrating laps running alongside him, holding on to the back of his jacket, and tipping over time and again anyway, and constantly encouraging him to get back on and not give up, he finally figured out the balance thing!
(I wonder if telling him it would be embarrassing to have training wheels on during the Cub Scout bike rodeo did the trick? I think so...even if that's more than a year away!)

Too cool for . . .

baby training wheels! Ha!

The Best Kind of Cake . . .

2010-08-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?' Here is a wonderful explanation . . .

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says,

'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.'

'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers.

'Yuck' says her daughter.

'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!'

'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?'

'Mom, those are all yucky!'

To which the mother replies: 'Yes , all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! '

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

Boy, He Loves that Chicken . . . (But I Love that Boy More!)

2010-08-02T20:27:00.000-07:00

This is Tom-Tom, our little grandson.

I love these photos because they totally define this little dude: he is intense, especially when it comes to his food!

And, don't disturb him while he's eating.

Adorable?

Totally.

A Pioneer Day Service Project . . . and a really fun SURPRISE! Birthday Party

2010-07-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Pioneer Day, and boy, was it a busy one! Our stake and the Coeur 'd Alene Stake did a joint service project at the park located in our ward boundaries, Farragut State Park.

A reporter from the Coeur d'Alene press was on hand to record the work that was done. They published this story on the front page of the Sunday edition . . . felt good to be a part of making the park we play in so much a better place to play for everyone!

There were about 10 different projects within the park that day, and me and my family and some friends were at the Brig, painting and excavating the cracks in the pavement.

Here I am sweeping up some dirt....and Conner was digging a big boulder out a hole in the pavement. (Sorry about the photo, Conner - it seems that all the photos of you were of your backside. Means you were working hard, right?)
If those big rocks are not removed before resurfacing, the cold weather heaves will push it through the new pavement. (At least, that's what happens in my garden. Every spring there are new rocks to remove. . . )

Noelle and Madi doing a little excavating....

A group of people digging, and more people painting the walls of the old Brig, which now houses the Museum of the park's history

Tanner going to town with the paintbrush. Who knew he had such skills?

So since July 24 is my husband's birthday,

And it always gets overlooked because we are always busy with

Pioneer Day events of some sort or another.

And because he Always makes my birthday special,

like this and like this...

(I wasn't kidding!)

I thought it was about time to throw him a Surprise Party.

Thank goodness for texting,

and great friends who like a good surprise party.

I started letting people know about it about a week before.

No one let it slip. They all snuck over after our Sunday dinner.

We totally had him fooled.

SURPRISE!

Our granddaughters Hannah and Evalie enjoying some cake

Rachel and baby Brooke

Conner giving Shawn a man-hug

(Shawn hates man-hugs

- that's why it's so fun! hee hee)

Silly Evan Thomas

Mark opening his gag-gifts....he got some pretty good ones

What's this?

So what's in the Redneck Survival Kit?

The tag says:

"This is a Redneck Yardstick.

I know this because I found it in my yard.

You can do so many things with this Yardstick...

You can check to see how deep a mud puddle is...

You can see how much gas in in the lawn mower...

You and your dog can play catch with it...

You can even use it to start a fire...

You can use it for whatever you wish...

Just DON'T put it back in my yard!

Redneck Switchblade

...Before you pinch the clothespin...

and After...

The tag says...

The Weather Rock

This rock is the 100% perfect weather indicator.

It never fails and is even more accurate than your local weather person.

This is how it works:

A dry rock means fair weather

A wet rock means it's raining

A dusty rock means a dust storm

A swaying rock means it's windy

A shadow under the rock means it's sunny

A white rock means it's snowing

If the rock is jumping up and down, an earthquake is upon us

If the bottom of the rock is under water, there's a flood.

Too funny...

The only problem with this gag gift - Mark wants to hang it in the family room and leave it there for good! (Thanks a lot Missy! ha!)

Love you Honey!

Hope you had a great birthday!

This & That . . .

2010-07-18T23:03:00.000-07:00

A little bonding time here . . .
riding the tractor is his favorite thing to do!

(Hey mom and dad-I don't do hair and makeup before I do my chores anymore!)

Noelle - opening her first bank account

She's growing up so fast

Conner. . . striking a pose at the park

(aren't they cute?)

The Incredible Mouthful of Missing Teeth . . .

2010-07-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken before his first top front tooth fell out . . . hangin' there all ready to go.

And this is after . . . after a looooong day in the hot sun, he was tired and not cooperating . . .

That's better . . . what a cutie is this toothless wonder . . .

Our Independence Day

2010-07-08T21:23:00.000-07:00

Bonfire . . .

with family and friends . . .

Then fireworks with everyone, on our front lawn.

It's great to live so near a theme park, and neighbors that have great fireworks, and a pizza place in our little town who gave Silverwood a run for their money.

We had a fireworks show from almost every direction!
Oh, and did I mention the lightning storm that was a distant backdrop for it all . . . pretty cool . . . (too distant to get a good photo, though)

I LOVE MY COUNTRY!
Yay, USA!

My Boys Love to Fish!

2010-07-02T22:57:00.000-07:00

Last week, my two youngest boys went with their dad on an epic fishing trip. It's always fun for my hubby to take our boys to the same campground that he loved to go to as a kid, in beautiful north Idaho. No other place can possibly be more beautiful. . . and we are not biased in any way about it. . . .

A new friend of Mark's and his son came up to join them. I think they will become great friends....

And they all caught some good sized fish. (OK, so it's a small lake - how big can the fish get?)

They don't mind what the weather is like. . . as we speak, there is thunder and lightning going on here at home. And 80 miles away, in the mountains, they are back at they favorite fishing spot.

Hopefully, the storm will pass them right on by. . . but it not, they are tough guys. They will stick it out, because tomorrow is supposed to be a beautiful day!

Have fun, guys!

LIving Off the Land . . .

2010-06-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

This has to have been the coldest, wettest,
(with short, unexplained bursts of really warm days, just to tease and torture us)
longest spring that I have ever had the pleasure of living through (not!)
I guess our not-too terribly cold, hardly any snow winter had to have a downside, right?
Just when I was thinking the mild winter this year was a pleasant bonus earned by the two or three preceding winters of massive amounts of snow, starting in early November and not all gone til, say, April?
Uh, no.

But anyway, now that I've gotten all my gripes about the weather out,

I am ready to celebrate the beauty that spring in north Idaho brings (finally)

I have a row of lilac and snowball bushes that separates my garden from my yard, and they are all in bloom!
(It's been a long time coming, because last year, we got a really cold snap just as the blossoms were about to burst, and it wiped out all of the blooms)

But who knew, 11 years ago when we planted them, that they'd be over 10 feet tall!

Yesterday, my hubby and I discovered that the lilac were completely full of:

Honey bees!

I mean, every lilac bloom/bunch had probably half a dozen on each.

Here you can see only two for sure,

but they were thick on each and every bunch.

And on each 10' bush - we have three of them - they were just as thick . . .

So, we got to thinking . . . we have 5 acres.

We live in an area with lots of wide open fields where bees can collect pollen.

We have been trying to eat more natural and unprocessed foods,

and we think it's a good idea to actually use the land

for more than to just separate ourselves from our neighbors

(Not that we'd want to!)

As a child, my dad had several beehives and harvested the honey himself.

I can still recall the scent of the honey being cut off the comb

and the delicious flavor of it slathered on my mom's homemade whole wheat bread

Oh, what memories.

Thanks, Mom and Dad!

So this is what we are thinking of:

Getting our own hives and harvesting the honey

for our food use/storage and maybe a lil' extra to sell.

This is really not a huge stretch for us.

We garden, we have beef cattle, calves, and chickens.

We are "living off the land" already, at least for these few basic things,

so this is just another step in the progression.

Never really thought I'd be a country girl.

But now that we're here

and it's all happening,

I wouldn't have it any other way.

So, thanks again, Mom and Dad,

for raising me (with my brothers) the way you did.

It made me the person that I am,

and I know that living this way makes my hubby happy.

It's all a win-win situation.

all photos (other than the ones I obviously took) were found on Google Images....Thanks!

A Tribute to My Dad...

2010-06-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.
A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.
A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail...
- Unknown

The greatest thing a FATHER can do to his children, is to love their mother.
- Anjaneth Garcia Untalan

(My love for gardening came from my dad...)

I've loved one person unconditionally. He's the most caring, and generous, and charming and flat out the funniest guy I'll ever know...he's my father.
- NL

Goodbye, Kindergarten

2010-06-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my youngest son graduated from Kindergarten

My baby

His teacher is also retiring this year

She has taught almost every one of our seven children

Tanner has more energy in his little body

than all of my other energetic children,

all put together

I wonder if that had anything to do with her retiring so young?

She can't be much older than I am

No, wait

I am kinda getting old

His best buddy, Tate

For some reason, this photo is almost like looking into the future about 12 years.

I can totally see him rolling up his diploma

and using it for a horn, even then

That is so his personality

I completely adore this boy

Our youngest. Our baby. Where has the time gone?

When your kids are first born,

you can never imagine how quickly this day will come

You'd think I'd be used to it by now

After all, I've already had 3 children graduate from high school

One is off to college this fall

The other two have kids of their own

To all the young mothers of children -

Treasure each day they are little

Find something special about each day, for each child

One day soon, they will be leaving "the nest"

Sometimes you are so ready for that to happen

Other times, not ready at all

On better days, you dread that day

On stressful days, you think you are ready to see them go!

But that's sad - it's a wasted day

Because, you never really will be ready

That day - it always comes too soon

Backtracking a Little Here . . .

2010-06-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

. . . to Prom night - Rachel and Conner . . .

(Don't let the hair scare you. He is an awesome kid - with a great sense of humor about his hair!)
Wrestling match between my son Tanner (6 1/2 ) & my grandson Dillon (5)
I think these were taken on Mother's Day . . .

Not, this was not Halloween. The kids all got out my big tubs of costumes, and this dinosaur costume is one that his daddy (Jake) wore back when he was Dillon's age. Oh, memories!

(Dillon LOVES that tail!)

This is Dillon's little sister, Hannah

A couple random cute photos of Tanner and Noelle . . . from a couple of months ago. When we had that heat wave in February. . .

Silly girl!

Hangin' out at Tanner's bus stop . . .

Mom Fail, my version . . .

2010-05-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, a blog-friend of mine posted a story where she mentioned the "Fail Blog" . Some funny stuff, on that there blog.

She went on to post about how there are some things in life where she feels like she's failed.
(Who hasn't felt like that, once in a while -or more often- like I do almost every day...)

And I started to leave a comment . . .
but it got so long that it inspired a post of my own.

I started thinking about a Major Fail I recently had as a mom.

My boys. Isaac and Tanner, participated this spring in our grade school's cross-country program (which happened to be organized and coached by two good friends of mine)

Each Tuesday and Thursday they looked forward to going to practice, especially my kindergartner, Tanner.

Every day he'd ask,
"Mom, do I get to go to Cross-Country today?"

Then at the end of the season, about a half-dozen of the local grade schools got together to give the kids a chance to compete.

The Big Cross-Country meet!

Kindergartners at the starting line...

Tanner was so excited. He had done well on his time trials with his kindergarten classmates, and now he'd get to run with a whole bunch of kids his age! He got a name tag pinned to his shirt that the official at the finish line could grab and write his finish results on.

This is where I Mom-Failed.

This tag was on the front of his shirt, and since he kept messing with it, I thought it would be a good idea to put it on his back. Out of sight out of mind, right?

The problem with what I did was exactly where I pinned it on his back. As he ran around the field, the wind was at his back, and the tag kept blowing up and hitting him in the ear. He kept batting it away, and was getting really mad at it, all the while doing really well in the race, in a cluster of 3 kids or so at the front of the pack.

The really bad thing was, that while he was batting it away and being distracted and running really fast, this half-mile track was unfamiliar and had trees in one section. Add to that the fact that he's nearly blind in one eye.

Anyway, as he was batting and getting mad and running, he didn't see what was in the way, and ran BAM SMACK into a dang tree.

And he was so upset that it took a couple people to convince him to get going again...and he finished. But later, when he found out that only the kids who placed got a ribbon, and not everyone like he thought, he said "all that practicing and running, all of that was just for NOTHING!"

My heart just br-o-ke. (who knew how important that little ribbon was to him?)

Because I had pinned the tag on his back.

And I wanted him to love to run, because he loves sports and that is one that he really could be successful at, given his peripheral-vision challenge and all.

Mom Fail.

But, as a lot of things that we've failed at on one day, by the next, they can be forgotten, and we can move on.

Because the next day, I heard the much-repeated phrase from my little guy.

"Mom, do I get to go to Cross-Country today?"

Isaac - almost at the finish line....

The New Arizona Immigration Law

2010-05-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

(a) Every law enforcement agency in California shall fully cooperate with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding any person who is arrested if he or she is suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.

Wait - did you think that I somehow accidentally copied and pasted the wrong state's name in the statute above?

No. . .

Because this really IS the first paragraph of the California Illegal Immigration law, California Penal Code 834B.

So, not only have California officials NOT fully read the new AZ Ilegal Immigration law, but they are shamefully and completely ignorant of their own law!

Am I crazy, or is this totally hypocritical and beyond ridiculous? Boycotting a state because of a law that is remarkably close to their own?

I wonder if they will back off with their boycotts now???

*******************************************

P.S. - Further investigation that I failed to do previous to posting the article above found that CA Penal Code 834B was rendered unenforceable by the judiciary process. This penal code was a provision attached to Prop 187, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1994. A restraining order was issued by Fed Judge Matthew Byrne only days after it was passed, and Judge Marianna Pfaelzer later made the injuction permanent.

So much for the will of the people, right?

Today's My Birthday - Shout HOOO-Ray!!!

2010-05-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

Update Alert!
Scroll to the bottom . . .

I was thinking about my upcoming birthday, and how as I have gotten older, that the gifts aren't really what I look forward to.
Instead, I like to set goals to reach before my upcoming birthday, and last year the goal in the fitness category that I set was to run nine miles.
Well, I did that, and more.
(Go here if you want to read what I mean about the "more").

This year, due to a pulled muscle last fall that set me back training time and instantly added 10 pounds, I knew that even reaching that goal, much less exceeding it as I would like to this year, was a real long shot. If I could just run 10 miles again, I would feel successful for my birthday fitness goal.

So Tuesday night, I posted on Facebook my outlook about it all:

I ran 8 miles yesterday...I thought I was gonna die. I was hoping to do 10 miles on Thursday to celebrate my birthday. Can I do It? Should I try? Or am I risking my early death!?

Here are some of the awesome comments that I got: (I removed last names to protect the innocent - and not-so-innocent, haha!)

Tuesday at 10:37pm

Rebecca - early death. most definitely. are you running away from something? hmmm? because what if ten is just too much...and it catches you. you'll be too tired to get away from whatever animal is that scary.

Tuesday at 10:43pm · .Jenni - go loralee go!!!

i miss running...

Tuesday at 11:24pm · .
Jenny - go....go....go....go....go....go....go.... :)

Tuesday at 11:48pm · .Jennifer -Take a running buddy the miles will fly by!

Yesterday at 6:12am · .Melissa-You can do it!

Yesterday at 6:57am · .Hillevi -YOU ROCK!!!

Yesterday at 7:07am · .Missy -DO IT! You know you can!

Yesterday at 8:41am · .Kristina -DO IT!

Yesterday at 9:18am · .Chad Carey ill do it with ya if you need support.

Yesterday at 9:20am · .Missy -if it weren't pouring down rain tomorrow I'd do it with ya...

Yesterday at 9:22am · .Tammy -Build up to it. You CAN do it though! Go Loralee! ♥

Yesterday at 9:52am · .Wes -"women are more likely to die in the week following their birthdays than in any other week of the year." - Dr. David Phillips, professor of sociology at the UC San Diego. Maybe related to running 10 miles on their birthday? ;-)

Yesterday at 10:04am · .Tammy -NO more b-days for me then! ♥

Yesterday at 10:08am · .Janice -Just get in the car and drive...!!!

Yesterday at 3:57pm · .Loralee -My dilemma is that I am STILL sore from my 8 mile on Tues...don't bounce back like I used to. Might put it off til Friday...

Yesterday at 6:29pm · .Janice :)) Drive :))

Yesterday at 8:45pm · .Michelle -You're crazy! I'd rather ride a bike than run - too many things jiggle - but if that's what floats your boat - go for it!

Yesterday at 9:26pm · .Heather -go u i think u can:}

Yesterday at 9:38pm · .Mary -You're such a funny guy, Wes.

So, thanks to all of you who provided such great encouragement, how could I not try? It seemed like if I didn't do it, I would be letting you all down, as well as myself. And that was exactly the type of encouragement that I needed. I still wasn't even sure this morning when I got up if I was really going to do it, but I made a plan, got my head together
(ANY runner - I mean jogger....you can even call me a wogger - will tell you that it's about 80% mental)
and went for it!
So, thank you, everyone!

Pretty slow time, but here it is:
10.2 miles, 1 hour, 47 minutes, 51 seconds

Yes, I exceeded my goal of 10 miles - by two-tenths of a mile.
Hey, every little bit, ya know?

And what a great feeling.

If only I could accomplish my other goals. . . but I still have the rest of the day!

Update:

So later, after my birthday nap and extra blog and FB time, (courtesy of my wonderful hubby who works from home and spoils me whenever he can)

. . . .all of a sudden my good friend and neighbor suddenly just walks in the door!

and right behind her were a bunch of my other good friends.

She had arranged via my wonderful hubby (again!) to kidnapp me.

Where did we go?

Where else, the place that for any special occasion you can get the absolute best desserts in the world, but Gooey's at Dockside, in Coeur d'Alene.

These are some of the desserts that we ate:

And these are the greatest friends in the world! (My daughter and daughter-in-law included, of course)

Thanks, guys. Because of you all, it was the perfect ending to a really great day!

WHY GOD MADE MOMS (better late than never!)

2010-05-10T16:30:00.000-07:00

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world, and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1.. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them..

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter.. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

all photos courtesy of GoogleImages

THE NEXT "SURVIVOR" SERIES . . .

2010-05-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

Six married men will be dropped on an island

with one car
and 3 kids each
for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports
and take either music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must
take care of his 3 kids;
keep his assigned house clean,
correct all homework,
complete science projects,
cook,

do laundry,
and pay a list of 'pretend' bills
with not enough money.

In addition,
each man
will have to budget enough money
for groceries each week.

Each man
must remember the birthdays
of all their friends and relatives,
and send cards out on time--no emailing.

Each man must also take each child
to a doctor's appointment,
a dentist appointment
and a haircut appointment.

He must make one unscheduled and
inconvenient visit per child to the Emergency Room.

He must also make cookies or cupcakes
for a school function.

Each man will be responsible for
decorating his own assigned house,
planting flowers outside, and keeping it
presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television
when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

The men must shave their legs,
wear makeup daily,

adorn themselves with jewelry,
wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes,
keep fingernails polished,
and eyebrows groomed

During one of the six weeks,
the men will have to endure severe
abdominal cramps, backaches, headaches,
have extreme, unexplained mood swings
but never once complain or slow down
from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings

and find time at least once to spend

the afternoon at the park
or a similar setting.
They will need to read a book to the kids each night
and in the morning,
feed them,
dress them,
brush their teeth and
comb their hair
by 7:30 am.

A test will be given
at the end of the six weeks,
and each father will be required to know
all of the following information:
each child's
birthday,
height, weight,
shoe size, clothes size,
doctor's name,
the child's weight at birth,
length, time of birth,
and length of labor,
each child's favorite color,
middle name,

favorite snack,
favorite song,
favorite drink,
favorite toy,
biggest fear,
and what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.

The last man wins only if...
he still
has enough energy
to be intimate with his spouse
at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win,
he can play the game over and over and over
again for the next 18-25 years,
eventually earning the right
to be called -
Mother!

pictures courtesy of google images/unknown author

Let's Thank Obama . . !

2010-05-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

(all pictures courtesy of Google Images)
In an observation of Obama making light of the Tea Party's Tax-Day efforts and saying that we should actually thank him for everything he has done http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=981056 to for this country so far, I decided to point out there IS something that we really should thank him for.

Our country has been sliding away from freedom and liberty for quite a few years now, slowly but surely. Right under our noses. It has been happening so gradually that the average person busy with a full life didn't really notice. I was raised as a conservative, and the first President I ever voted for was Ronald Reagan. Little did I know that he would be the president that would bring about such great events, not the least of which were the falling of the Wall, and prosperity beyond what we'd ever seen before. I think too many of us were quite complacent. I didn't have the awareness that I have now. I know now that I took it all for granted.

And I have Obama to thank for it.

Why, you ask? It should be fairly clear, especially to my fellow conservative friends.

Because he has accelerated the pace that this county has been going away from it's roots exponentially, and if that isn't a SLAP in the face, and a wake-up call, I don't know what is. Really, besides the mainstream media, who hasn't noticed?

If this doesn't wake up people who are on the fence or are simply apathetic to take a stand for Liberty and all that our Constitution stands for, I don't know what it will take.

Do we as Americans know what we really want for our country, the still-great United States of America? Does everyone -every Citizen- know that it takes Involvement and Commitment to their ideals to keep this country Strong and Free, and that we must speak up whenever possible and appropriate?

I just hope that more and more people will be motivated to research the facts of what has been happening to our country these past 15+ months, and go do something about it a the polls in November. Even better, find a candidate in your state that supports your ideals, who will really make a real change for the better for this country - one that will put it on the road to returning it to it's Constitutional roots. Put your time and efforts, and if you can, your donations towards those good candidates.

Do what the designers of the Constitution intended for our country - government Of the People, By the People, and For the People.

Thank You

. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
The Gettyburg Address, November 19, 1863
given during the Civil war, by Abraham Lincoln

Your Thoughts and Mine.... and a couple memories, all thrown into one....

2010-04-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

Are my thoughts like your thoughts, sometimes? Full of the good, the bad, and the silly? It's a good thing that we usually don't act on all of our bad ones. And it's too bad that we don't act on enough of the good thoughts that we do have.

********************

Have you ever driven by the neighborhood where you grew up and found that your childhood home had been torn down?
I have... the childhood home that I spent ages 4-11 in, and had a little barn that my dad built from from materials from a little old church that he helped tear down... and a big yard with a wooden walkway thru the yard and garden to the barn, because my dad was a neat freak
(and still is - and now I love it)
. . . .it's all gone.
Replaced by cookie cutter-San Francisco-style attached homes and apartments.

Gone are the trees I used to climb.

The sandbox I used to play in.
The creek that my brothers and I used to catch crawdads in (well, my brothers did that, not me!)
Lots of memories, just erased.

And while I realize that room needed to be made for homes for many families on the nearly one acre lot that we used to play on, it's still a little devastating...

Has that ever happened to you?

************************

When I was a tot, like other little kids, I watched the typical children's shows.

(Until I was 6, when my younger brother turned the TV off and on and off and on and off and on until it blew the picture tube. Didn't have a TV again 'til I was 13)

They were educational, both of them: Electric Company and Sesame Street. I was too young to remember if they did this back then - I doubt it - but I hate it when children's shows - and I am particularly talking about shows geared for pre-school kids - promote the latest controversial fashion or social trend.

Not their place.
Whatever happened to just teaching the tots their ABC's?

Where Is Hell?

2010-04-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

For decades pundits have been saying that the New Orleans Saints were so bad at playing football that Hell would freeze over if the Saints ever won The Super Bowl.

On Sunday, February 7, 2010 the Saints won the Super Bowl.

On that same Sunday Washington D.C. was paralyzed under several feet of snow and the Government was shut down.

Do you think this indicates the actual location of Hell?

And another somewhat related thought here....

To Pee or Not to Pee ...

Words of wisdom from an unknown person. . .

Like most folks in this country, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes & the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit.

In order to get that paycheck, in my case, I am required to pass a random urine test (with which I have no problem).

What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.

So, here is my question: Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?

Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their BUTT----doing drugs while I work.

Can you imagine how much money each state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

I guess we could call the program "URINE OR YOU'RE OUT"!

Something has to change in this country - AND SOON!

P.S. Just a thought - all politicians should have to pass a urine test too!

Enjoying a Beautiful Day!

2010-04-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

On Monday, we had some beautiful weather

(Tanner did NOT need his coat!)

so I took a few of the kids & grandkids to the park....

Yes, even my teen-age girls. We had a blast, and the weather was great!

And it was a good thing that we went when we did. Today was a wet yucky day out, just perfect for naps --

--and just hanging out with grandma!

Airport Scanners . . .

2010-04-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a solution to all the controversy over full-body scanners at the airports.

Have a booth that you can step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you. It would be a win-win for everyone, and there would be none of this crap about profiling. This method would eliminate a long and expensive trial. Justice would be quick and swift. Case closed! This is so simple that it's brilliant. I can see it now: you're in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter an announcement comes over the PA system: "Attention standby passengers we now have a seat available on flight number..."

(or perhaps: "Clean up on aisle 12?)

. . . and just for the record, this is just a joke! I saw another one of these emailed jokes being reported on the news as though the sender was totally serious about it . . . you've seen it, the one where "Michael Jackson was their favorite singer, and Farrah Fawcett was their favorite actress, and by the way, Obama is my favorite President."

Reasonable people know this is just a joke...

I don't really think we should blow up people in the airport. (Think of all the children that might be around. Too traumatizing). It's just that what we are doing is so benign and backwards, it makes people crazy, as in, if we don't laugh about it, we will cry ourselves to sleep . . .