My Great, Big Plans

Yesterday to took many photographs of what's blooming in the AZ heat- at least in my backyard. I didn't know what else to blog about.


I'm not trying new recipes.


I'm not doing much at all.


Wake up msk and get to doing something. Accomplish something.


Yes, keeping anything alive and blooming is July and August in Phoenix is an accomplishment...really.


And you would probably see all those pics if my computer weren't sooooooo slow.


Instead, my great, big plan is to organize the food storage "room". In this heat you cannot use the garage to store food due to...it's toooooo HOT. My "room" is the little cubby under the stairs. You may remember when Kathy helped me get it in order and she even built shelving for me. I was an assistant but she rocked the project. Well, I just got a hand-me-down shelf from her and I'm tucking it also in my food storage cubby today. I'm about half-way through the project. It's a good plan.


Then I'll go to the garage...we don't talk about the garage...for my next big plan and unload a tall bookshelf 1/2 full of "stuff" and get it over to MTN's for the grands to use in one of their rooms. Their move has gone so well and I just love being in their new home. A blessing!


I saw this music video of Mindy Gledhill on my blogfriend Theresa's blog recently. Love. It.
I'm really enjoying her blog. Maybe I'm a bit funny but as I read your blogs I feel that I've gained new friends. Do any of you feel that way?

Hope you take a moment and watch this. I'm now singing along with it.

P.S. I ask you, have you ever wanted to go out and chop your hair off very short?
Happy day, msk

Good Sabbath

Here's my story (at least today's story)

I have a rather average voice.

I may have just flattered myself with that statement.

Nothing special.

I can usually "carry" a tune.

I cannot read music but I can pick up my part fairly quickly

if I sing next to a strong singer.

You've never heard me sing a solo but I can help fill-out a choir.

What I lack in voice I hope I make up with my heart.

I do put my whole heart into my little choir part.

There was a time in my life when I was working full-time

(it was a need not a want) and had 4 or 5 of the 6 kiddos at home.

I felt stretched and that's putting it mildly.

Add on top of that Christmas was on the horizon and

the wonderful "busyness" that adds to a life.

I was not singing in our choir.

I had one of those aha moments that reminded me that I needed to be more

focused on what was more important.

I felt a "need" to join the ward Choir.

I felt a "need" to sing anthems to my Savior

to celebrate His birth. So I did-joined the choir

and sang in the Christmas services.

That was several years ago and I don't think I've missed a Sunday Christmas

service/performance since.

Oh there was that year that A2K, Dori and Linny came home for Christmas and

ta da....this is big....

...Andy and the girls showed up for the practice that Sunday morning

just before the program, practiced and sang in the program.

I had some creepy throat thing and no voice.

Could not sing.

I sat in the congregation with eyes constantly welling up

with love

joy

gratitude

and respect for my kids.

They were my voice too.

I think Jesse also did a similar last minute performance once too.

My children have inherited their father's gift in the music ability

but I like to think some of my love and passion is in them too.

Today was our wards Christmas program.

It just may have been thee very best.

Our director Alicann did it again with music.

There is nothing she can't sing, arrange or direct - her skills

and devotion are so magnificent.

David was masterful on the piano/organ, as usual.

Melissa with her soprano solos cannot be topped

(not even by professionals...oh wait, I think she is professional).

Did I mention a friend said she thought angels were singing.

( Was that Mom helping me out ;) no she sang alto and I was soprano).

SLK also sang. Always superb and so knowing of all music.

So did Forrest B. (not a member of our church but an awesome voice-

who also sings professionally-and joins in with us occasionally)

I had to mention Forrest aka "Butch" aka Mr. B. since so many of you kiddos sang under his tutelage in Mt. Sky Jr. High.

Did you feel inspired by a Christmas service today?

Did you sing Christmas hymns with your ward/congregation?

Are you singing in the

car

shower

with the radio?

Sending you love and wishes that you enjoy the Christmas message of His birth.

It's REAL.

And let's make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Happy day, msk

Confession Time:

I usually start listening to Christmas music sometime in October. I hear so many moan about that music on the radio or piped into stores too early. I've just never, ever, ever felt that way. I really could listen to some of it year-round. I love it.

Well, I'm not here promoting Christmas music (yet) but may I promote, say, Thanksgiving music???

I love this song.

Very old.

Written/lyrics by Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917

Music by Conrad Kocher, 1786-1872

That's music, lyrics with staying-power.

My guess is that many of you are followers of cjane's blog and may have seen the following. In case you missed it here it is and I'm thinking you will really like this version. Rather mellow and funky with bells, banjo etc. Oh, and cjane on tambourine.

So, what did you think?

Happy day, msk

Surprise

I think it is soooooo silly when someone says something like this....
I never watch...(insert afternoon talk show)...
and then tells you about watching that show and what happened.

WELL,
yesterday  I was watching just such a show that I go months without watching (but watched almost two shows this week) and was introduced to

THE CANADIAN TENORS.

This music was incredible and the surprise was that Celine Dion surprised them and sang along.  The looks on the tenors faces were priceless.  I'm going to have to look into this group.

Here they  are singing Hallelujah.  I hope you watch and let me know what you think of them.

It's a Good Day

Short on time as the home front has gotten a tad out of control and I'm trying to complete some "surface" tidying. Staying home and organizing and cleaning would be worthy and good but it's not going to happen. I'm off for a day of fun with Skippie. It's so funny that we go to certain places that some might not think of as a "fun day" place. We are clear on our destinations of IRCA (hotel furniture liquidations) and Furniture Affair (model home furniture resale).

It's a pretty day, chilly for Kirby and my morning walk and putting on a sweater was good.

I'm also counting my blessings and offering prayers of gratitude. I thought you might like the lines in this hymn.

"O'er-rule mine acts to serve thine ends.

Change frowning foes to smiling friends."

- Orson F. Whitney (Hymn 112 Savior, Redeemer of My Soul)

A New Christmas Song!!!!

The College of Fine Arts and Communications of Brigham Young University is giving the gift of music this Christmas, offering a new song and music video to download or share for free at http://www.joytoeveryone.com/.

The song, “Joy to Everyone This Christmas” was written and produced by Stephen Jones, dean of the college, in collaboration with Emmy-award winning composer and producer Sam Cardon and vocalists Jenny Jordan Frogley and David Osmond. The music video features images from university photographer Mark Philbrick.

I love sharing this with you and thank Jody for introducing it to me.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Your Special Song

Hey, you want to do something fun??? Go to this neat site, choose any date, maybe the day you were born, when you graduated from school or a wedding date, and then you will hear the #1 song on that day.

http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/SelectMonth.htm

Beatles Rule

Back in the days. . . Jody and I were enjoying Beatles music in high school. A lot. Jody had the Rubber Soul album and I almost coveted, almost! This group was such a huge, huge success beginning in the 60's and they have staying power. I can listen to their music anytime and enjoy it and all the "stages" they went through. One very fun memory is when Cindy moved up to Oregon and she and I went to a showing of a Beatles movie, Magical Mystery Tour. It was in a funky, semi-scary building on or just off Burnside in the late 60's. That was not a good part of town then, I'm not sure about now. It wasn't a movie theater but a large room with a few chairs, a few "hippies" and Cindy and I, oh and a dog. Here's a fun site if you want to delve into this or other of their movies more http://www.thebeatlesfilms.com/ I recall being disappointed in the movie-not much of a plot- but loving the music.

Here's a video of The Beatles singing Day Tripper-not from Magical Mystery Tour. You know, I wonder in my naivety if I ever did or will understand the underlying messages of music . This is an okay song but the real reason I wanted to highlight it is because there are Go Go Dancers in the beginning. Remember those!! And these gals are so hilarious. I wonder if anyone ever admitted they were the choreographer. It's wild. Check it out.

I'm glad that we introduced you kids to some of that fun music. I think we had alot of fun watching repeatedly the movie HELP!!! Now that was/is great fun. I can still hear you boys quoting Paul "I'm all sticky". Did I say fun too much? Loved, loved, loved when you boys started quoting. Hope you have a magical day.

Whole Wheat Bread & John Tesh

Today I'm making delicious, nutritious, freshly milled white winter wheat bread; 100% WW and in my bread machine. CARPENTER'S. I've been working on a recipe for some time that can be made in the machine and is on the light side. I don't have a powerful bread machine that has a WW cycle. Most of my early attempts came out wholesome but heavy. I turned to making 50/50 bread for the lightness but my heart was sad. I wanted the 100% goodness and I think I'm there. JOHNNY MATHIS. I've learned a few tricks along the way that I'll share. CARLY SIMON. First, here is the basic recipe. I say basic since you can substitute oil with butter or shortening, honey with sugars. HENRY MANCINI. And you need to remember that flours, especially freshly ground WW can differ in moisture content so you may need to add more or less flour to get the consistency desired.

Whole Wheat Bread (for machine)

Place in bread machine-stir, cover with clean kitchen towel and let "work or proof" 5 - 8 min:

1 1/3 c. warm water

2 T. honey

2 t. yeast

Add:

2 T. oil

1 1/2 t. salt

3 c. WW flour

2 t. dough enhancer

2 T. milk powder

3 T. gluten powder

Select "dough cycle". When time is up check and make sure dough has risen all the way to the top of pan. KENNY ROGERS Mine always takes a lot longer to get that high and it's important to give it that time to completely rise.

Remove from pan and shape on floured or greased surface into desired size loaf. This will make one very large loaf or two small. I often like to just shape into rounds and place on a baking sheet but you can use pans. Be sure to grease bread pans well.

Cover and let rise until doubled in size. LOUIS ARMSTRONG It usually takes 45 minutes but can depend on warmth of your kitchen. Again, give it as long as needed to double in size.

Bake in preheated 325* oven approximately RUBY AND THE ROMANTICS 25 minutes; again, this depends on size of loaf or loaves (two smalls bake faster than one large).

I'll post this on KITK with more step by step photos.

Here is the grain mill by BlendTec that I use and love. My only complaint is ED AMES that I can't "crack" wheat for cereal but the flour is so fine for bread and I'll keep my old Magic Mill that can crack grains coarsely.

Did you guess that I'm listening to a fun radio station DAVID SOUL that plays oldies and goodies? I enjoy doing my housework to good music. I could say it makes the work fun. John Tesh has an afternoon program that I enjoy. Let me know if you try this recipe and your results. Call with any questions and do not be discouraged if it takes a few times making it to master it. Here's to healthy eating! Frank Sinatra

On Top of the World

Congratulations darling Ben on your winter graduation from Brigham Young University. I am soooo proud of you - a wonderful accomplishment and you have every right to be please. . . and relieved. Job well done. Ben was an outstanding keeper on the BYU soccer team and I look forward to seeing what he puts his mind to next. Now after a safe drive home today, I'm sure you and the family will have a wonderful Christmas and are feeling . . . on top of the world.

Hard to top the Carpenters. This one is for you & Ed Jody!

Music Monday - Out of Africa!!!

If you're in a rush, pass up this post.
If you're rattled, pass up this post.
If you can't stand beautiful, relaxing & soothing orcestral music, pass up this post.
If you don't appreciate expansive scenery, pass up this post.
If you think beauty only comes with a perfectly straight, petite nose, pass up this post.
If you don't care for great period costuming, pass up this post.
If you can't stand the romantic, pass up this post.

Oh hi, you're still here-I'm so glad. I think you will enjoy this. I do.


And Flight Over Africa, I have a "thing" for bi-planes...wonder why. This has thee most romantic hand-holding scene in film.

Performance

Take a look at this face!!! Do you see any resemblance between her and I?

ME NEITHER!!! But I was kinda acting like her yesterday - blush. I'll explain. I made a trip to Mesa yesterday - attended the temple and made a stop at Karen's delightful place. . . more on that later. As some of you know I have a problem just singing along to music as I drive. One of my precious children has told me on more than one occasion to not sing so loudly and could I eliminate that vibrato, another told me I just don't sing I perform. All I can say on this matter is guilty. So is it any surprise I actually enjoy driving by myself, singing at the top of my lungs if desired, moving my head & shoulders and taking great delight in music. Yesterday Vanessa and I were singing a duet. She makes me sound so much better and I have more fun than you can imagine. . . okay some of you can imagine all of this. "Our song" is her wonderful Christmas song Do You Hear What I Hear. It's on the Christmas CD many of you got from me last year. The arrangement is Christmas carole meets Broadway's Lion King. I hope this doesn't sound irreverent - I don't think it is. Great song to listen to and please feel free to join right in. We can make it a trio, quartet etc. I'm sure Vanessa will agree as readily as I.

Now tell me - do you perform? If so, and I hope you do since it is so fun and therapeutic, what do you perform. Music. Drama. Sports. I don't actually need to know anyone else in the world does this-I will continue and just hope you aren't behind my car watching this. Oh dear....this just brings to mind yesterday while driving, and not performing, I got a call from kms who was behind me in her car. We went to her new home and saw all the loverly decorating things she's doing. Fun and pretty kms. You inspire me.

I want to share something about Karen and her wonderful business that I've frequented often and you have been recipients of. Her business is Heirloom Hemstitching. She hemstitches my flannel baby blankets that I then crochet the edges and does a wonderful job. I took photo's of her at her machine this summer and was going to blog about her but accidentally deleted those and other precious photos I'm still mourning. Sorry Karen. But please check out her website. I went out this week to get Skippie's flannel stitched for her next upcoming grand. It is so fun to me that you other dears are also doing the crocheting of baby blankets and we can get excited together. Wish I would have kept a photo journal of blankets that now cuddle with those adorable grands. Found some photos of grands with a peek of blanket in the background.

Hope you have a day worth performing. 3

Music Week - Diamond Girl & Summer Breeze

P.S. I just have to tell you today I started listening to Christmas music. I can usually hold out until October but I've jumped-the-gun. Couldn't help it. So grand, so inspiring, so comforting, so wonderful, so fun. Just thought I'd put this "bug" in your ear; why should we only enjoy this music in December! What think ye?
Presenting. . . Seals and Crofts! So much music I'm stacking the blogs to get it all in.

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Jimmy Seals and Dash Crofts . Not the best video (above) but will do so you can hear Diamond Girl. I always thought this was a favorite of Andy. What are your recollections when you listen to this? Was this your first "hippie" group you listened to kids? The following video is historical in the beginning but hang in there and hear a great redition of Summer Breeze. These guys are wonderful musicians.

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Music Week - HELP!

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I think our family may have been viewed as a little weird due to our passion for this movie and music-maybe passion is too strong a word? Sorry the movie is a bit fuzzy but the music steals the show anyway. It was especially fun when you kids got into the music from your dad and my generation. Still rates right up there with me. What about you, still loving this? I can't recall how many times I heard one of your quoting the movie "I'm all sticky". You were good at quoting alot of movies and I so loved that.

Music Week -Send Me on My Way & Graceland +

Click this song for a move fest . . . Send Me On My Way!!!! Linny introduced Rusted Root and this song to me on a road trip to Vegas to be with my dad. Can't, just can't hold still when I hear this music; thanks Linz. I can't tell from the video if this is aboriginal or native American. I think it looks like the video could have been filmed in northern AZ. Sounds delightful either way.

Another soulful song became a favorite when Jesse, Dori, Linny and I were travelling to Las Vegas then Carlsbad, CA then home on a camping trip - Paul Simon's Graceland.

Singing and listening to music is a very favorite part of a road trip to me.

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And that song just leads us to another favorite group . . .
Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
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Music Week - Durham Town & The Last Farewell

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Roger Whittaker, or rather Bob Whittaker...sweet, young Jesse as a child could never remember the correct name though he so enjoyed this music and called him Bob on most occasions. Don't mother's love those stories. You have to understand when I put these music blogs together I go absolutely bonkers searching all those oldie artists songs and I want to share all of them. So typical of me to go over the limit with my enthusiasm. Mondays James Taylor really needed several additonal songs and a duet with Carly Simon singing Mockingbird, totally cool. Well, if you want a double fix of Roger/Bob Whittaker, you got it!! I wonder how many of your peers like this dude and his music. I still love it. Enjoy and tell me any memories it invokes. Loves.
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Music Week - All the Gold In California & Elvira

I'm so happy to bring you the music of Larry Gaitlin and the Gaitlin Brothers!! Yeah!!
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We became a little bit country not just by moving to rural Beavercreek, Oregon but by starting to listen to some country music. I was never drawn to country music before and I don't know why I became interested at this time but I did and maybe it rubbed off on you. Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers was one of the favorites along with . . .
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The Oak Ridge Boys singing Elvira. I hope I'm not the only one singing along to these tunes. Even so, I'm having a grand time. . . . oom papa mou-mou! I'm wild about the close harmony of both these groups.

FLASH....I've just found this video-talking at first then the group sings a song I'm not familiar with - God Will Take Care of You - but it shows the group as I think they look currently...how do you think they are aging?

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Music Week - Pass the Dutchie

Another blast from our past. Do you remember dancing in the family room in the Beavercreek home to this....wait, was I the only one dancing. Andy, did you dance? Just me? How embarrassing. I still dance to it which is even more embarrassing. Love it. I don't see how anyone can listen to this and not move. What liberties I take here asking and answering the questions. Age? Comments. Loves.


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Music Week - Jelly Man Kelly

Welcome to Music Week. I enjoyed last week and the increase in classical and inspirational music in my life. It was a good exercise and I will continue to broaden my musical taste/horizon/playlist. But this week will be a week of oldies that I associate with you kids. Love those memories and thank you for them.

Is it just me or are you kids as wild as I think you might be about this song? You may not be able to visualize just how involved I get sitting at this desk, singing along with Sweet Baby James...yucka yucka yucka yucka etc. This blows my socks off the fun meter.

Does this blow your socks off too? Send in requests - though I have a week worth of music-we can make this as long as we want. I love you tons!!! P.S. I'd just love it if you put the little grands on your laps and gathered the bigger ones around and shared this with them. I know, silly Grammy.

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Good Sabbath - Mary Did You Know

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