Bet You Knew All This Already

I enjoy reading fun facts about you. I'm always glad when I've never been "tagged". Well it finally happened and by my own daughter!!! Please know you don't have to read any further. I'm just doing it for D-dear.

I've been tagged!
I've been tagged...Here are the rules:
1. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end, the player tags 5 others and posts their names. Then go to their blog and posts them a comment to let them know they've been tagged and asks them to read your blog to find out the details

1. What was I doing 10 years ago:
Just had 2 of the 6 kiddos at home to care for and run everywhere with delight. Working full-time and serving in the Young Women's program at church. I'm sure I was dieting since that is continual in my life.

2. Five things on my to-do list today:
Kirby to Dr. Greg for surgery - prayers welcomed
Type up agenda and prepare for Relief Society presidency meeting at my house tonight
Clean off patio, driveway and walks
Put away the front closet items after the big clean from the weevil infestation (be careful where and how long you store emergency food storage items that those pesty bugs love)
Itemize grocery store sales circulars for this weeks shopping, shop and make a good dinner

3. If I were a billionaire I would:
Take my extended family on thee most awesome, extravagant, long vacation imaginable. Give my family endless air travel so we could visit all the time. Too much money, too long a list. Boy, I'd have fun and be very generous.

4. Bad Habits:
Eat junk food too much
Watch too much TV

5 Five places I have lived:
Walla Walla, Washington
Nez Pierce, Idaho
Joseph, Oregon
Provo, Utah
Scottsdale, Arizona

6. 5 Jobs I have had:
Keypunch operator
Sales assoc. at a china store
Caterer
Office manager
MOTHER-saved the best for last

I tag: No I'm not going to tag. Sorry, don't be upset.

Bare Lemons Are . . .

. . . slippery little things. Wish I could share the smell in the kitchen as I juice the little lemons from my trees. It's so good. These babies are naked because I ran my micro planer over them to save the zest for future recipes.
This pile of gold is potent and a pinch will add such a strong kick to a wintry serving of lemon curd. I also give a shout out for micro planers that do such a great job at grating. D told me she even uses the micro planer on garlic.

Oh . . . and by-the-way, there is a shoe on my foot today, K and I went for a shorter, tester walk and things are looking up. Counting blessings. Smiling. Perhaps off to the store later. Delicious.

Blogging Blahs

Maybe my blogging blahs have something to do with my silly foot situation. I want this foot to be well and done with. I want to be out visiting my church sisters, serving, grocery shopping, playing and especially putting on my walking shoes and doing my daily 2 miler with Kirby. I do feel blessed and the foot is doing okay and I am in no pain so I shouldn't complain.

Here is my foot Sunday as I lounged on my bed so the foot was "up" watching an inspiring second day of church conference. I was watching the inspiring conference not my foot.
When I wasn't taking notes during conference I was crocheting around flannel baby blankets. I completed the burpee for the brown with aqua polka dots, completed the remaining 2/3 crocheting on the pink floral and the white "blessing" blanket from start to finish. Feeling good about these. I'm naming the white blanket the President Monson blanket.
Sorry I can't be more exciting but like I said, I've got the blogging blahs. 3

Lennon Sisters

Oh the memories of watching the Lawrence Welk Show on Saturday nights. The big draw for me were the Lennon Sisters. It was fun to grow-up along with them and fun to look back and see the clothing and hairstyle changes. I realize I will probably loose most readers now, or at least ones that comment due to the dated group. Undaunted, I carry on.

When the oldest sister married she dropped out of the group and now we had a trio. They were still really good. Now the big sister is back. I vividly remember when she just came back to the group and can't find a photo to depict that time. She did not fit in hairstyle-wise. She just wasn't "with it".

I also remember well a time when my hair was very unsatisfactory to me. Just not cool. I was talking to Cindy and told her I felt like the oldest Lennon sister when she came back to the group.

I'm feeling that way again. I need a haircut badly but don't want to go back to my same old style. I want something different but I don't know what. I've been experimenting with less "big hair" styles and I really don't think it's working for me.

D says that no matter how I get my hair cut I always style it the same. This is said somewhat politely but to get a message across also. She's right.

Aren't those gals looking good! Well, I'm off to fix my hair for the day. Wish me luck.

Views From My Patio

After a little over a week the hummers finally discovered the new feeder I put up. My hope is this year the ants won't find it and invade making me take it down. Didn't you love grand H's April Fools ant prank on Boo!

You know how very much I wish I could share this with you. These blossoms are so heavenly. I finally harvested the Meyer lemons (12) and will juice them today, freeze in the ice cube trays and then pop them into freezer bags. The Lisbon lemons are next. Pretty good count for dwarf trees in pots. I was fortunate to find a good little electric juicer at a garage sale. Score!

No shame or pride at all letting you see this fat, old foot again but the blisters are really so outstanding. I am in no pain as long as nothing touches it and glad to have my aloe vera plant for medicinal comfort.

Ick, that above photo is a little too gross to part on so here's something better, the lemons and juicer. Have you scored any finds at the garage sales or thrift stores lately? Wishing you a happy day.

Farm Girl

Yes, I am a farm girl at heart now but have been a real farm girl when living in Oregon. I love it. I miss it. I envy Jody and her 5 acres, trees, garden, barn, berries, pond and critters-except the skunks. So I decided I'm still are farm girl . . . in the city now.

You know me, always with my apron on and though I'm not much of a seamstress you probably have an apron or two I've made you.

You know me, hanging my clean laundry out on the line a.k.a. my solar drier.

You've eaten or made with me jam, bread and assorted things that speak to me as farm girlish.

You know me, planting herbs and flowers-mostly in pots. Keeping busy dead-heading and fertilizing.

You remember last week I planted zucchini and yellow straight neck summer squash. I go out and water them twice daily to keep the top soil from hardening. Ta da, a few seedlings have pushed through the surface and I'm thrilled. I should have grabbed a few handfuls of the grass clippings last Saturday and spread over that area to keep it moist. Next mowing I'll do that.

Are you any sort of a farm girl? How do you show it if you are?

Many of you know my love of MaryJane's Farm anything. Here's a few things I'll share that may be fun for you; I know they are for me. Let me introduce you to Mary Jane Butters.

I dress like this a lot. I don't want to drive a pink car though!

Here's one of my favorites, a wall tent that I want to duplicate but not in my desert. This is where you stay if you go to her bed and breakfast at her farm in Idaho. FUN!
Info here: Mary Jane Farms

Look at how diverse a farm girl can be in a farm girl apron no less. I think I might make this apron in the future. I love how it covers all the areas I get dirty while cooking, baking and cleaning. Aren't you tired of staining your favorite white Gap t-shirts! I love the way the more expensive purchased aprons are made from heavy twill or perhaps canvas. They hang and look so nice. But I go for the light cotton fabric though since I want/need a cool apron. Another layer of clothing is adding a lot for me and my "flashing season".


and here is a free pattern for an apron. Have I convinced you of my love of aprons way before it became trendy.

Here's an article titled The Farm Girl In All Of Us.

This is the only thing Mary Jane I've purchased. It's a magazine and I ordered it online especially because it featured aprons and had free apron patterns.

Here's a really fun video (actually several videos to choose from). Check them out and you'll feel like you have taken a field trip to the farm today. http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/video-library.asp
Here's wishing you a beautiful day regardless of location, chores or weather. Yes, it's all attitude. Loves.

Average Day

Yesterday I finally put gas in my car. I paid $3.08 a gallon. Of course there are those .009 cents added so why don't we just round up and say $3.09. What are you paying in your locale?

I noticed one of my tires looked low. But since I was in a big hurry I didn't take care of that so today I need to go to the corner Circle K, pop coins in the air machine and pump up the tires. First I'll have to dig through the glove compartment or that nameless compartment between the two front seats and find the tire pressure gage. Then I'll have to squint and create more wrinkles on my face as I try to read that worn-off raised lettering on my tires to find the correct PPSI for my tires. I can do this and do it when necessary. I wonder if it's easier for guys. Maybe it's just me who seems forgetful of location of pressure gage and ppsi. If I did it more often would I remember better? If I didn't feel like such a Boy Scout and need to keep all sorts of preparedness items in my glove box would it be less cluttered and easier to find said pressure gage.

I'll be happy I've stored wipes in that center compartment because this act always leave my hands grimy and if I'm not careful I'll drag some of that grime on my clothes too. I'm starting to feel more of a spaz as this post develops.

Being able to do this is actually empowering. Extreme? Grasping for something to blog about sounding?

It's good to be able to do all sorts of things. . . whether I want to or not. Accomplishment.

Take scorpions for example. I know I/we'd rather not!! Can I tell you how much I hate them. From what the news reports, their sting is like a bad wasp sting which doesn't scare me as much. The news is also reporting to expect higher counts of bugs, scorpions and black widows due to our lovely, abundant winter rains. Just hearing that on the news sent chills through me. We've lived in this house for about 21 years and only in the past 2-3 have we started seeing scorpions. . . unlike our Moon Mountain friends who've battled them for years. I was afraid if I talked about this problem you kids would stop coming to visit. Most of the scorpions found in our house have been when SLK is not home. Do you expect the big guy in the family to take care of issues like that? Well, I have to step up and take care of this issue. I can't just tell the scorpion to stay put until the man of the house gets home at night. I've learned how hard they are to kill. I do it anyway. My heart starts racing and I'm sure my blood pressure sky rockets. . . for quite some time. I killed one yesterday and I think my heart is still pounding. Please don't stop coming, especially this week-end. Please warn my darling grands and be on the look out with me for alls safety. I'm so sorry. I really hate this.

I spent my quarters in the vacuum machine yesterday when I went to the car wash to clean the car. That most lovely creature Kirby has been going on so many trips with me that the back seat was getting rather furry. Do you expect the man in your life to keep your car clean?

Off to find quarters so I can inflate my tires. I'm feeling overwhelmed. Not for tires, car washing, cluttered glove compartment or grime. I'm worried what you'll be talking about with your spouses regarding trips to Grammy's and the scorpions. Here's wishing us all a day free of the nasty type of critters, healthy heart poundings, quarters and accomplishments. 3

P.S. I will definately not post a picture of a scorpion to freak you out!

Take Time For . . .

. . a very little art history.

Edgar Degas - portrait

Degas - Dancer's in Pink (known for paintings of dancers)

and The Dance Class

Claude Monet

Monet's Springtime

and Madame Monet and Her Son

Eugene Boudin (known as the master of the sky)

Boudin's Trouville

I know you are too, too busy but perchance you find some downtime click on these artists name to get a little history and their beautiful works of art. Google searches of each are amazing. You can also find wonderful prints online - one source is Art.com .

And here is my homage to Claude Monet in my living room- Woman With A Parasol. I found this at Tuesday Morning years ago. You can find all sorts of great things at TM.




Thanks for letting me share. Hope you have a beautiful, colorful, invigorating and yet soothing day. 3

Van Gogh or Monet

Sunflowers by Van Gogh

Sunflowers by Monet

It's always Monet for me. I do love the the impressionists greatly. Or maybe I should say I love the impressionist art style. Something soothing about looking upon that art. That's not to say I don't like or appreciate other styles for I do.

And speaking of sunflowers, the birds love the sunflower seeds and then they accidently spill them on the ground out of the feeder. Those tough shelled seeds take hold and sprout and then you have this wonderful mass of sunflowers. I speak from past experience. Two years ago I had a sunflower forest! Really. I didn't put the feeder up this year and it's a little too late to plant seeds so I'm passing this along to my cool climate dears to think about. The kids would love a sunflower forest and then it's so fun to watch the birds eat the seeds out of the sunflowers when they are mature. I'll you don't have some sunflower bird seed around just buy a package of seeds. Sprinkle with forthought or randomly. 3

Making A Good Day

I got my three tomato plants planted along with a mound each of zucchini and yellow straight neck squash. I'm so excited that it just might be a bit silly. Some of my 2 year old Bell pepper plants are looking bedraggled but a little new growth is showing and there is plenty of hope. I can't say my gardening is pretty but if it's productive I'm satisfied.

I am so very grateful to MTN for sharing her citrus with us. What a yummy treat and blessing. My friend Margareta also gave me two bags of oranges. SLK and I just eat them up so quickly.

Getting a bit artsy here. Or trying. Isn't the inside just beautiful. What a creation!

And for those of you blessed with just picked off the tree citrus, you know it isn't anything like the store bought kind. Just like your garden tomatoes vs. store bought. Ooh these were so good and sweet.


SLK was kind and put up the solar screens this past week-end thinking it was getting too hot. Well, we are back into the 70's for a few days and the sun isn't getting through to warm up the house. Oh well, guess I'll just go outside to eat lunch and read my scriptures and soak up a little vitamin D. Tough life isn't it. Yes, I am counting my blessings. But if it were cold or rainy I'd just bundle up and still count my blessings for a warm blanket or sweater. 3

My New Friend's

I cannot believe I cut the head off this gorgeous bird...photographically speaking. I've caught glimpes of this macaw in a neighborhood backyard for years during my morning walks. Usually I just HEAR it. HELLO, HELLO. Today I heard it first and then saw it on top of a car in the front of it's owner's home. With a very rambuncous Kirby I approached to take a cell phone picture just for you. Her name is Makeeta and her owner was glad to share. I think the fact that my left hand was trying to keep a very interested Kirby in check and gloves on my hands are to blame for the unsteady picture. Sorry. It was really fun to visit. She next went to her mailbox. She likes to go inside and talk to hear her echo. This is so understandable, I talk to myself too. Do you? Do your kids catch you talking to yourself? Mine did. Just smile at them.
I'm also smiling because of these-now that I look at this photo it looks rather trashy doesn't it. My recycle trash can and some leaves don't add beauty. But the real beauty is this year I WON or really the African daisies won. I love African daisies and plant them often. My problem is I forget to tell SLK and he grabs his jug of Round-Up and wipes the little seedlings out thinking they are weeds - the good and the bad of a roto-tiller and Round-up in SLK's hands. This year I actually remembered to tell him where not to spray and last years seeds are up and going to bloom. I'm feeling it. I will have blooms. Can flowers be friends. Yes. And they don't giggle when they hear you talking to yourself.

Found these next 2 pics on the internet. A single plant - they bloom yellow, orange and apricot. My favorites are the apricots.


Photo of a mass planting of A.daisies. If I continue to be fortunate, my few plants will reseed yearly and I may have a large patch eventually. Shall I admit that I picked several seedheads from plants during my morning walks last year, came home and "planted" them. I did it. I tried to get the seeds from the apricot flowers but we'll see what I get.

I remember buying my first package of African daisy seeds when I was just a girl and planting them all around the house on Mitchell Dr. or St. I wasn't even informed enough to know to plant in sun but many still came up. It was such a fun feeling to see something I wanted and planted bloom. I'm enjoying my blooms now and will enjoy your blooms when I come to visit. Happy day.

Monkeying Around

Drats!!! Monkeying around on my blog and lost all the pretty's Trevlyn set up for me. Help Trevlyn, I need the pretty blog back. I don't even know what I did, well kind of but didn't think I'd delete the much liked and appreciated blog you set up for me. White is clean and crisp. That's my story until the pretty blog is back. Don't I feel silly (I really wanted to say "stupid" but that is harsh).

Beloved Church President . . .

Gordon B. Hinckley has passed yesterday at the age of 97. He was a man who loved God and Jesus Christ and was a true servant. What a privilege that he performed our marriage ordinance in the Salt Lake Temple and with such kindness. I pray for his family to be comforted but also rejoice in the Heavenly reunions I'm sure he is experiencing with his beloved Marjorie and others. I will try hard to honor his memory through my own service in a Christlike manner and striving to be a much better follower of my Savior. For more news and info go to this very good site. Feel free to browse while there.

Saturday Views

Here's what I baked today. I made up a new recipe by combining a few others I enjoy. These are good enough to post at KITK so go there for the recipe if you like. I chose to roll the dough in balls instead of dropping by spoonfuls. I like the uniform look. Kids would have fun doing the rolling part. Since you are sooo kind I know you won't even think anything about my old, "seasoned" cookie sheet. Trust me, it's clean and sanitary.

Lovely to look at and better to eat, fresh citrus in a pretty Ross find...I'm trying to break away from so much blue but sometimes I just can't help myself.

My several years old hanging bud vase in copper coil with copper ivy. Cindy, Jody and I have matching ones and MTN has a similar one purchased at a favorite Saturday Market stall in Portland. So fun to have a sweet little winter bouquet at eye level while doing the dishes. Included are roses, geranium and lavender.

Loving the tardy, late bloomers!!!! I planted my Narcissus too late to bloom for Christmas and now think I will always do that. There is just so much "stuff" going on visually at Christmas and it is more fun to enjoy the look and aroma of these in January. I have them inside and out.

Displayed on the funky soda parlor chair from Trevlyn. I love it.

Another pot below and the cutie Smith and Hawkin's ducks I found on clearance at the Target in Wilsonville this past summer and then another one down here. Love those clearance items.

Last week in UT. Trevlyn, Tessa and I made a quick trip to Tei Pan Trading and look what followed me home...this little hedgehog. Now the ducks have more company.

Loads of beautiful pyracantha along a block fence on my walk this morning. Cell phone pics just aren't as good but you get the idea.
Big noise!!! Hector had a crew in and cut down all his gigantic trees surrounding his front yard. Looks so stark after all these years with those big trees across the street.

The only thing that would make all these views better would be if all you were here to see them with me. If you were here, would you play You Blew It with me? Love and miss you all. 3