It's time.

Time to check in.

This month I have been gardening.
We are growing green-beans, cilantro, basil, lemon-thyme, oregano, pineapple-sage, chives, peppers, squash, carrots, beets, radishes, strawberries, asparagus, artichokes, onions, eggplant,10+ types of tomatoes, cucumbers, and tomatillos.
The harvest has just begun, and I can hardly wait.
There is nothing better for me than picking dinner out of the backyard!



This month, I have been reading.
Mom loaned me her These is My Words series by Nancy E. Turner and I love them.
I just cried myself through the end of the 2nd book and can't wait to start #3 tonight!



This month, I have been worried about beds.
We have them, all we need.
We have even had extras to share while having 7 friends from afar come to spend a few wonderful days from North Carolina.
(I don't have 7 extra beds, we "all shove over" and make room)

But the reality is that some people don't have beds...
or cars...
or food...
or medical care...
or an education...
and they live close by, not in another country,
and it hurts my heart.

I think that is why sharing was invented.
Sharing a harvest from The Lord,
sharing a book from Mom,
sharing a bed when you have an extra.

Thank-you for sharing!

Today's Adventure

Potato bug races across the kitchen table.

We have been spending hours outside, in the garden. Citrus is mostly juiced and frozen, boysenberries pruned, peas climbing, tomatoes blossoming, rows sprouted and thriving, and pecans have been collected. We are trying a bigger variety of herbs this year, and added peas and beans and eggplant as well. The eggplant blossoms are the most gorgeous purple, they have definitely earned their keep!

For some reason, gardening, family, housework and church assignments seem to be all I can wrap my mind around, lately. But, that is enough. I have great job security :)

A little bit of this and a little bit of that...

This is one of the places I found T, yesterday.

See all the ingredients she so carefully got out of that upper cupboard?
She even closed it, again.

All my other "chefs" were dumpers at this age.
Not T.

She had gotten out that stainless steel bowl and carefully measured each ingredient.
A teaspoon of this...
A teaspoon of that...

She made us a lovely "dinner".

In the Leafy Tree-tops

Family Night

Monday night is family night.

We had our song, prayer, calendering, story about Jesus, story from The Friend, and lesson from Preach My Gospel. I left part way through, to bathe the "littles". They never last that long, but R and the boys have some really great discussions and take turns teaching each other.

If I hadn't been fast, I would have completely missed it.
If I had been faster, I could have made the camera work to video the trick.

I came into the room to find R, L, J, and L all in push-up position.

It was time for a contest.

Long story short... (you're welcome)

R won the contest by doing a push-up with L (153 lbs.) and J (100.3 lbs) balanced over his shoulders.

It was awesome.

What has been keeping me busy?

Doesn't she just look like trouble?

Let me tell you...

She is!

Here is a recent timeline:

Thursday dinner: she put a bean in her nose. We decided to go see our pediatrician on Fri. to retrieve it.

Friday morning: slipped and split her lip while we were in Phoenix. With the bean AND the lip, we just decided to go to Phx. Childrens' hospital. We love that place.

Here's the best picture I got that evening.

Sunday evening: slipped while we were visiting with friends. Almost split her eye. You can see the addition of the mark on her left eyelid, here:


Monday: I got a visit from my next door neighbor, "I've taken T off the top of the back wall twice, now. She keeps dangling her legs over into our yard, which we don't mind, but I am just afraid she will fall." Me, "thanks, she will. I'll put away the ladder and lock the chicken coop."

Tuesday evening: R, L, J, and I each had meetings, concerts,and karate, so Granny kept L, T and T for me. I didn't pick them up until 9. They were bathed and happy and watching Eloise on the couch with both of my parents. When I asked how the kids were, I was told they were "just as sweet as can be".

Wednesday: I called my sister to see if she could watch T while I went to the cannery. She said, "yes, but not if she's gonna pull a stunt like she did at mom's!" Then proceeded to explain how T had poured a jug of juice across the counter, into the drawers, and across the floor. At mom's. I told my sister I could bring T with a straight jacket if she wanted.

Thursday: I kept T buckled in a car seat while we ran errands, and then let her play in the yard at Mom's while I apologized. She let herself out of the yard to visit a neighbor...

Friday morning: When I picked up T from my sister's house and asked how things had gone, she showed me the dresser that had been knocked over. I guess using the drawers as a ladder was the quickest way onto the top bunk.

This girl just moves from one adventure to another.
This week I have found her sitting on the counter, in the fridge (relax, the door can't close when she's in there), under the utility sink, in the dryer, in my shower, and behind her brother's drum set.

She loves hotdogs, her kids (which ever bunch of stuffed toys or plastic characters she happens to be toting around), her sister, our back yard neighbors, juice boxes, each brother, and even me.
Mostly, she loves her dad.
She melts for him and he melts for her.

She is a mini tornado these days as she leaves a trail wherever she goes. It's fine with me when it's just stufties and tea-lights and not blood and tears.

Her nicknames are Sister, Suzy, Suzy Kabloozie, and Bruiser.

I have found her perched here, 6 times in the last 3 days.

Maybe she is looking for a way to get over, or on.

But then again, it could be a distraction to hide the fact that she started a tunnel.

She is her sister and 4 brothers all rolled into 1 cute person.

And I will be glad when she is a little more predictable.

My dear blog,

I am so sorry to neglect you. I have much to show and tell, but alas, it is not high on my list of priorities right now. We had a lovely Valentine's day. We did a little re-arranging. We are all sharing 1 bathroom as the other 2 are out of order. And, that little T is really giving me a run for the money. She's turning me grey... er, or more grey, more quickly. I shall return when budget meeting is prepared, taxes are ready, and T is asleep or buckled into a straight-jacket. Or, when all my ducks are in a row...

Love, Jen

Teaching and Learning

Sunday, I had the chance to teach a lesson in Relief Society.

I heard this talk in September and loved it. Here is an excerpt and the way I opened my lesson.

A young couple, Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash.

“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”

John looked on but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments.

A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John—she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.”

John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”

Tonight I’d like to share with you a few thoughts concerning how we view each other. Are we looking through a window which needs cleaning? Are we making judgments when we don’t have all the facts? What do we see when we look at others? What judgments do we make about them?

Said the Savior, “Judge not.” ¹ He continued, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” ² Or, to paraphrase, why beholdest thou what you think is dirty laundry at your neighbor’s house but considerest not the soiled window in your own house?

None of us is perfect. I know of no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions or inactions.

There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: “Judge not.”

I know my windows need cleaning. And I love that none of you worry about that. I love that I can click and scroll and find out what is going on in the lives of other women who have lives similar to mine and whom I admire. They remind me to notice blessings and beauty and add humor to my perspective.

As I prepared to teach, I decided that I can be kinder and more forgiving. I can remember that most people really are doing the best that they can. Most need encouragement and smiles, not scowls and criticism.

Love One Another.

I can do that. So can you.

I am linking tonight. It's late in the day, but this is when I finally have time to think.

Jen, at the Denton Sanatorium posted this challenge:

We as women are bombarded with images of what perfection should look like. And, if you're anything like me, it doesn't appear when looking in the mirror.
I spent a good ten minutes staring in the mirror, trying to look past all the flaws and imperfections and issues I wrestle with every day. I wanted to really SEE myself. It took me close to five minutes to decide on one facial feature that I consider quite beautiful.

Straight after a shower or after you've washed your face, take some time to really look at that woman in the mirror. What do you see that's beautiful? Ignore or re-evaluate those things that have always bugged or challenged you. What is your singular, personal element of beauty? Is it skin, ears, hair? Is it wisdom or humor or understanding in your eyes? We all have one thing that not only makes us individuals. That one thing makes us beautiful. What is yours and why?

I grew up with a dad who always told me I was beautiful. I believed him.
And since he still tells me, I still do.
Thanks, Dad.

This post took a little tricky camera work.
It had been a while since I really sat and stared.
I tried the mirror, and then turning the camera backwards.

How did you get those pictures, Jen?
Finally, I called in my camera savvy 4 year old, T. He thought I was silly.
And then I realized I was.

See that ear... it comes from a long line of similarly large-eared ancestors.

The freckles that are melding into ages spots... I have always loved them, but I am not sure which side of my family they come from.

My eyes... along with my hair, were so dark when I was born that my Muttie (Mom's mom) called me Carmelita for the longest time cause I was born in Tucson and she joked that I might have come from south of the border.

I think my smile is my favorite feature. I used to take it for granted. Then, for a while, I was so heart broken that I couldn't find it. Now, it comes easy, as if it is "in my pocket", just as I learned in the song in brownies.
I have always loved that when I smile, people say, "You are Dottie's daughter!"
I love that, and that smiles feel the best when I am with the people I love!

So, even though I never have nor ever will win a beauty contest, it's ok.
Maybe, because I believe my dad, I do win.
Thanks, Dad!

This NEVER Happens!

Well, here's the story of my 2nd adventure within the week.

Just a few days after arriving home from CA, I headed off to Utah.

No Mom this time... she was previously engaged, dang-it!

My fellow adventurers were T and T (cause everyone at home had school and work), J and A (our 2 Australian friends that I fetched in CA), and K (a friend who needed a get-away and stayed with her cousin in Orem).

We left home early on Saturday and headed through Flagstaff and stopped at
the GRAND Canyon.
I had been once, as a child, and was amazed at how it certainly is grand.
We walked about a 1/4 mile in freezing wind to our first lookout point.
The 2nd lookout we stopped at was much more convenient.
Basically, the parking-lot sat at the edge of the edge :)

We arrived in Provo.
The cold air was a little shocking to us all!
Our sweet K had a great dinner ready in her dorm.
The girls all got cleaned up and dressed and went to a dance which ended up being a dud.
In the meantime, however, I was able to deliver a box of citrus to a friend's daughter and buy groceries.
It felt really great when I had everyone tucked into their beds that night.



Sunday, was a nice day of rest.
We slept in.
We went to the student ward for church.
I cooked dinner in the dorm.
We stayed for ward prayer and sang with the ward choir that K leads.

Monday had another slow start.
(Ordinarily, that would bother me on vacation, but on this one, it was just right)
We ate lunch on BYU's campus.
We listened to K rehearse with her choir.
We viewed the Carl Bloch exhibit in the Museum of Fine Arts.
We explored the Bean Museum.
(We decided it must be this animal that provides both of their hair extensions!)

(T loves suckers. J and A found this kind at the museum's gift shop and T just sat and stared. She finally licked it once, but decided the bug inside wasn't worth the worry!)

We called it a night early and ate pizza at "home".

Early Tuesday, I took K to work and the snow started falling.
Within a couple of hours, the world was covered in a fresh powdery blanket.
It was the first time J and A had seen snow falling... there's just not much of it in Australia!
T loved the snow flakes in her hair and mine.


T loved to tromp around and make trails with his boots on, but did NOT want his picture taken!

Since I had taken K to work, she had a sweater and not a coat, but still had to walk home in the "blizzard". Don't worry... she survived!
We spent the afternoon at the University Mall, having fun, boosting the economy and actually finding some great sales!
K, J and A kept the babes that night and I went to dinner with my friend M, whose home we stayed in. We ate at the Blue Lemon. The food was delicious and beautiful!

Wednesday, we picked up our friend K at 4:30 am and started our trip back home.
We ventured through Las Vegas to add in another adventure.
When we arrived, we found the Stratosphere and headed to the top...
well, some entertained T and T while J and A headed to the top.
A had to talk J into riding the rides, but then J loved it and A didn't.
We laughed and laughed at the pictures they bought.
The horror on their faces is all I needed to see to know... that adventure is not for me!

I don't remember ever driving the Las Vegas route before.
The scenery was beautiful.
I loved winding along the I-15 from St. George, UT to Mesquite, NV , seeing the Joshua trees and there was just something interesting about Wickenburg, AZ.

All in all, a great day with great travelers.
No,
A great 5 days with great travelers!

Now, it really will be nice to be settled for a while!