Dotmother

2011-03-29T06:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent copying some genealogy for a friend and holding den meeting plus organizing scout stuff. Calvin was home from school sick, so I took him to Community care...he is one sick boy - coughing and congested. I went to the Chiropractor today. I know he's done a lot of good for my back, but I sure don't like him adjusting my back. I hate the sound of popping knuckles, so hearing my back pop makes me nauseous! I'm glad I don't have to go on a regular basis!
I'm back to reading my scriptures on a daily basis. But this time it's for 20 minutes - not just one chapter at a time. After reading that long, I feel like I've been infused with a peace and calmness that I can't even describe.

2011-03-27T17:11:00.001-07:00

I'm amazed at the lessons I can learn from my own children! Today Jenny called to tell me of an inspiration she received while she was fasting and praying for a totally different reason. We had talked earlier on the phone, and had shared some frustrations we had with other people in our lives. We weren't bashing them, but were genuinely concerned about how to handle different situations with other people.
I do this all the time - if I have an upset in my life, I try to instantly call someone so I can hopefully vent and cool down, or to get advice. But in doing so, I've never been comfortable that I'm sharing a negative about another person....to a person that really doesn't need to know about that negative. I just want someone to say "poor baby" to me. But in doing so, I'm most likely putting the "offender" in a bad light to those I confide in.
Anyway, her inspiration was that we should instantly turn to the Lord, for comfort and for advice. In doing that, we're not besmurching someone else. AND we're getting the RIGHT comfort and RIGHT counsel from someone who really knows what's going on.
Thanks Jenny -for receiving that inspiration and for sharing it with me! I'm really going to work on this one!!!

2011-03-26T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hoo-wee! I got a lot done today.....so why is my kitchen still as messy as ever?!?! I cleaned it first thing this morning, then upon cleaning other rooms, I ended up with piles on my counter and kitchen table of things that need to go somewhere else!
Luckily, Patti's kids came over for the night, so they dug in and helped me clean. The family room looks pretty darn good, and the back bedroom, which is a catch-all, looks pretty good, too.
I got the winter clothes put away, some stuff put in the garage, the food storage room somewhat organized again, the painting supplies sorted and organized, ready to be put in the garage. I even did some computer work - scanning slides and putting 3 records onto CDs.
Then to top it off, Jude REALLY wanted to do a 1000 piece puzzle. So the two of us got it ready to go on the little table in the family room.....then Jude decided he didn't want to do it anymore. So I worked on it for about an hour and had to force myself to quit to go to bed. I hate puzzles for that reason....I don't get anything else done because I want to keep working on them!
Time for some Ibuprofen for my back and to bed I go! No more puzzle tonight!

2011-03-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

The coo-coo clock is up and running. This was sent to my mom and dad by Grandma and Grandpa Grob in 1950 when I was born. I had it cleaned and fixed and it runs like a charm. Even the coo-coo sounds wonderful! It brings back many memories of my childhood! It hung in our living room in our home in Ashton, now it hangs in my living room.

It's terribly windy today. I want so much to get outside and rake the lawn (which looks like a quagmire of dog poo), but it's either raining, snowing or windy. Maybe it's a good thing I can't right now - so I can let my back get better. I go to the Chiropractor again today. My back feels a little better, except at night - it's pretty bad!

2011-03-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

No Ibuprofen today, but still some pain in the back.
I had a good day at the Family History Center - helping others with their genealogy, plus recruiting two more people for my Staff! I'm trying to get more people trained, so that when we are made a Regional Center later this summer, I'll have some top notch people on board.
I also went Visiting Teaching today. I love the women I meet with - we have such good conversation.
I'm trying to simmer down on the Cub Scouting program in our ward. I'm way too opinionated and negative about how it's handled in the Church. I love being a Den Leader, but I'm way too intolerant about the way people are called to serve in Scouting, when their heart isn't in it. I know I need to be patient, but I hate seeing the boys suffer from the politics of the whole thing. (Don't get me started!) I'm really trying to "let it work" without getting too ruffled!
Mychelle and Nita finished painting the bathroom today - now it's up to me to get the rest of it done. I've got to get on the ball and find someone to do the flooring.
Patti's kids are spending the night tonight - just for the heck of it. I do love having them around.

2011-03-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

I finally went to a chiropractor for the first time. The jury is still out on this one. I came back feeling worse, which some people say that is what happens. So I took some Ibuprofen and watched a movie while sitting with a heating pad on my back. I'm supposed to go back on friday - I guess time will tell.
It's snowing/raining today - my yard is dead grass, mud, and dog poop soup!!! The dogs like it, because I won't let them go out except for a quick potty break. So they're total house dogs now until things dry out.
I'm feeling a little melancholy today - combination of weather, achy back, and life in general. There's a lot of stress being felt over world events - countries in upheaval, Japan recovering from a tsunami, our country deep in debt with a dolt of a President.
I'm just grateful I know about God and his plan for us. I'm grateful to know that this earth life is a school of learning, so that we can grow and progress. I'm grateful to know that the bad things that happen to us, the bad decisions we make, the bad things in the world around us, are the classes we are taking, so that we can be stronger each day. I'm grateful to know that our strength comes from our relationship with God....our faith in God.....or trust in God. I'm grateful to know that through the Atonement of Christ, all will be well.
I'm grateful for my wonderful family. They all have trials, every one, yet they carry on, doing their best, learning from their experiences. I'm proud of every one of them!

2011-03-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

Karen and her father, Bud.

Oh my aching back! About nine days ago, I took a good friend of mine to Boise so she could surprise her father on his 95th birthday. She hadn't been to see him for about 3 years because she is confined to a wheelchair with MS. We did very well on the trip - her meeting with her father was bitter-sweet. He woke enough to recognize her, but he was so sleepy he couldn't really focus on her being there. She was glad she was able to see him again. We had planned on going back to see him again the next day, before we left Boise, but that morning, while I was helping her into her wheelchair, her legs gave out and she started to fall, with twisted legs! I reached out to catch her, but bent the wrong way and I heard a snap in my back. The pain was intense at first, but settled down enough for me to function again. We had someone at the hotel help us get her back into her wheelchair, then someone helped get her into my car. We weren't able to go back to see her dad because I couldn't lift her anymore. We made it home safe and she was so appreciative of having been able to see her dad one last time.
But now it's over a week later, and something is definitely still wrong with my back. I've made an appointment with a chiropractor for the first time in my life. I've always been a skeptic...but I'm willing to try one now.

2011-03-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

Mychelle reminded me how important it is to keep a journal, so I guess since this blogspot has been inactive for a long time, I can journal here.
Joe left for Basic Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma this morning (actually he's in Boise today and tomorrow and goes to Ft. Sill on the 22nd)
Mychelle and the boys spent the day here with us. I went to Church with Mychelle, but had such a bad sinus headache, we skipped out early and I went right to bed for a nice Sunday afternoon nap! The headache isn't altogether gone, but at least it's bearable now.
I'm suspicious that these "sinus headaches" aren't really sinus. I notice I get these headaches in the middle of the night, after I've eaten sugar before I go to bed. So today, I've eliminated any sugars from my diet - hope to keep on going. Sugar is so addictive to me and I notice a lot of adverse affects to my well being when I do indulge.

Jack just went Potty....he gets a candy for pooping in the toilet. He said he gets a big candy because he didn't just poop one...he pooped three!! He has me continually laughing!

2010-09-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

2010-07-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

Thursday: Laundry day - I had a lot of help from Joshua!

Friday: Trip to Monticello, Virginia - Thomas Jefferson's home. It was a wonderful trip, but I didn't get pictures of the home....duh! Here's a pic of the kids waiting to get in line - it was a hot day!

After the tour of Monticello - there was a hands on place where the kids learned how to write with quills and play with toys from that time period.

Kids watching TV - do you see Calvin, sitting in the doggie bed? Go figure!

2010-07-01T06:37:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's July 1st already!

I took Liz and Jon's kids back to them two days ago - it's just 3-4 hours from Jenny - they'll be close enough to each other now to see each other more often.
It's so good to see the Vance's have such a nice home - after starting out in a small one-bedroom stucco in Boise. Congratulations you guys!

It's been pretty quiet here - Jenny working on a bugga-bear class of Linguistics, the kids playing like crazy, and I'm spending most my time fixing meals and cleaning up - playing with grandkids - reading some excellent books, enjoying cooler weather. Hahahaha, which reminds me - it "cooled" off yesterday, down to lower 90's. I told the kids I would fill the swim pool and Emma said it was too cold to swim!!! I about chocked from laughing! It's been in the 100's for the last week, so low 90's is a sweet relief. (I DID fill the pool, and Emma DID swim!)

2010-06-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

JUNE 27th, 2010

10:00 A.M. Church Services - we had them all ready and had them practice the song they sang in Sacrament Meeting - and arrived at the Church EARLY!!!

Aren't they the cutest bunch of kids!

It's 108 degrees out there today - kids are playing and adults are laying around trying to get cooled off in the AC - thank you Lord for Air Conditioning!

2010-06-26T14:43:00.000-07:00

JUNE 26, 2010

SATURDAY NIGHT BATH - IS THIS WHAT BIG FAMILIES DO?

Actually, it's a redneck bath night compliments of two toddlers with poopy diapers. The two babies jumped into the pool before we could check their diapers. Upon checking them both, we found they had double contaminated the swimming pool. So we grabbed them, stripped them down, and put them in the tub.

Then we drained the pool, reloaded it with fresh water and half a bottle of bath wash - much to the delight of the contaminatees - they've been playing and having a ball as they wash the pool, their bodies, their swimsuits and their hair.

One of them said "We should let the poopy babies in the pool more often! Bleh!

2010-06-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

June 25th, 2010
Friday afternoon - what do 11 kids do in one house? This morning they swam in the kiddie pools, but it's way too hot out there right now.

I'm in the kitchen: Cookie, Riley, Emma, Jude, all playing Uno. There's a lot of laughter and yelling. At one point, Jude gets smacked with a bunch of cards....he tried to throw a sulky tantrum, but the girls shamed him into getting up off the floor and rejoining the game.

Now I've wandered into the Family room: Gabe, Calvin, Eve, and Hyrum are all building and playing the marble game. Calvin and Hyrum are racing their marbles....but Calvin is getting frustrated because Hyrum grabs his marble half-way down and quickly drops it into the finish line cup. I've had to threaten Hyrum with a 4 year old, 4 minute, Super Nanny time-out if he does it again.

G'Thunk has a small marble maze made for him and puts a marble in the top. When it hits the bottom, he does his victory yell while throwing his hand and arm up in the air.

Sarah is strumming on her guitar that she got for her birthday yesterday. She's already learned 4 chords and has a blister on her thumb, so she found a tiddly-wink type toy to strum with to save her thumb. She's got "Mary Had a Little Lamb" down real good now. Now she's working on "Baa Baa Black Sheep".

I've followed G'Thunk into the Dining Room where the piano begs to be pounded on. After doing his duty to the piano, he's gotten distracted by something else that begs to be pounded on - Sweet Pea, the dog. G'Thunk is now climbing under the coffee table in the Living Room, reaching for Sweet Pea, who is making evasive maneuvers.

Jenny is in the Living Room, with earphones on, trying to concentrate on a paper she has to have done and sent in by tonight.

Little Joshua is blissfully asleep upstairs...recharging!

WHO NEEDS A TV WITH ALL THIS ENTERTAINMENT?

2010-06-18T18:24:00.002-07:00

JUNE 18, 2010

Liz and I have spent the last two days cleaning and taking care of kids. We've gotten a lot done, but we're both getting pretty tired.

Liz said she wanted the two of us to go up to Saratoga tomorrow, spend the night, and go to church Sunday morning. I've been contemplating it on and off since I got here, but have shoved it aside. But when Liz said "we're going", I couldn't handle it. I burst out crying. It finally came to me - Saratoga is where I left my Tony. I brought a very sick man to Idaho. So Saratoga Springs means Tony to me, and I don't want to go there with him gone. It's hard to explain - I know if I went, I would cry, but deal with it okay. But I don't want to know Saratago without Tony - it would take him away somehow.

I feel the same about the Rigby house - I have the opportunity to go inside it (a friend's daughter now owns it), but I still have Tony in that house and don't want to know it any other way.
So, we're not going to Saratoga Springs - I think I just want to leave Tony there, in my "once upon a time" land.

2010-06-16T05:07:00.001-07:00

More pictures taken by Corinne:

Karen and Corinne

Liz, Annie, Brian, Jen and Joshua

2010-06-14T08:39:00.000-07:00

June 14, 2010

It's a cloudy, coolish day - very humid. The kids are having a ball playing with each other.

Yesterday we went to Liz's church, then came home and quieted the kids down. Then Corinne and Bill Zembrowski arrived, then Brian and Annie. It was so wonderful to see them again, and since the kids were doing "quiet time", we had some good quality visiting time while we waited for Jenny and her kids to arrive. All I can say is that the Zembrowski's have been our dear friends for 37 years, and they are still the most fantastic people I know!

Jenny got stuck in some thick Sunday traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and was arriving later than planned, so we went ahead and ate - feeding the kids first, then we adults were able to have a kid-free meal. The kids were slowly revving up as they anticipated Jenny's arrival. When Jenny drove in it became a madhouse! Kids, grandma, mothers, all yelling hello's and hugs and tears.

Corinne took some pictures that I'll post when she posts them on facebook. Liz cooked a fantastic Lasagne dinner and Corinne's family brought some exceptional desserts.

Today everyone is just playing, and Jenny and Liz will hopefully get a nap to get rested up for their trip to 6 Flags tomorrow.

2010-06-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

June 12, 2010

It's a misty, humid day here in New Fairfield, CT. Liz took Riley and Cookie on the train to New York City to see the sights - I wondered if Jude and Calvin would feel slighted, but they didn't mind at all. Jon mowed the lawn and is running errands, while I watch the grandkids and read.

I found the book"Auntie Mame" by Patrick Dennis - excited to read the book (which is good) after watching the movie, and assumed it was a real story by Mame's nephew Patrick Dennis. Looked him up on Wikipedia - found some interesting facts (one of which is that Mame is fictional...so sad"). So if you're interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Dennis

2010-06-12T06:24:00.000-07:00

JUNE 11, 2010

We arrived safely at 6:30 p.m. Today was a MUCH better day - got off that horrid Ohio Turnpike and onto some beautiful roads and scenery of northern PA! We went through rolling mountains of trees - with blue sky and white clouds above. The kids were pretty much plugged in all day to their game machines and DVD player, so I listened to "The Trial of Mary Lou", chuckling all through it, then some talk radio, then golden oldies. No demonic outbursts (even though I was really worried, because I had insomnia the night before, not getting to sleep until 3 a.m. Luckily Liz called me at 9:20 that morning and woke us all up, or we would have snoozed the morning away) But I felt rested and alert and did well.

When we crossed over into New York, I got SOOO homesick for Tony.....we spent 2 1/2 years in Connecticut, then 6 years in New York, so I was flooded with memories of our time together in these states. Lucille (theGPS) directed us through little backroads through small towns through New York and Connecticut to get to Liz's house. IT WAS AWESOME! As I wound around the narrow roads, with trees canopying the stretch of road, I felt like I'd come back home.

Enough of that sniffy stuff - - we pulled into Liz's and Jon's to a yard and driveway full of wonderful kids. It was sooooo good seeing Liz and Jon again, and all the little Vancies!! My, how they've grown! They've got a nice place here - quiet and trees all around - neighbors, but you have a lot of privacy because of the trees.

All in all, it was a very good trip - now we can't wait to see Jenny and kids, and Mary's daughter, Hannah - they'll be coming Sunday, as are Corrine and Bill Zembrowski, and their son, Brian and his girlfriend.

2010-06-10T20:13:00.001-07:00

JUNE 10, 2010

Day Four - random things from a very long day:

Riley's losing her purse full of her camera and mp3 stuff (luckily her mp3 player had fallen on the car floor) really got me down. Not so much that she left it there - easy mistake - but it was left in an LDS run establishment, and wasn't recovered.....sigh.....I really feel let down by our fellow man!

At the Nauvoo restaurant, Jude had made an ice cream cone, but when he'd licked it to a flat-top, he didn't want to eat the cone. He ended up shlurping up all the ice cream in the cone and swallowing it all. He got red in the face and said he was having a cold throat attack. As the ice cream went down, he clutched his chest and said he was having a cold heart attack. I think he'll think twice before swallowing that much ice cream at once.

Today we hit some pretty irritating places - at one gas station, the bathrooms didn't work, so we went to the Wendy's next door. I stood outside the bathroom, waiting for the 3 kids to come out (a one seater), when I heard Calvin yelling at the top of his lungs. I went in, and he and Jude were fighting over the hand dryer. Because there was a long line of women waiting for the bathroom, I shouted in a demonic whisper and told them if they didn't stop fighting I was going to chew my finger off and spit it into the trash can....WHERE IN THE HECK DID THAT COME FROM?!?!? I've been chuckling semi-hysterically about this one all day long.

We've named our GPS "Lucille". Sorry Patricia Lucille - it definitely was named because sometimes it just gets confused about where it is! hahahahahha

The last stretch of today was stop and go traffic in the middle of nowhere that lasted about an hour.....it was sooooo frustrating, because I had to pay $15.00 in tolls for that wonderful experience!

Now that the kids are done swimming and plugged into the Disney channel - I got to watch the Glee finale and am definitely relaxed - I'm ready for another day. I need to get us all to bed because WE GET TO SEE LIZ AND FAM TOMORROW - YAYAYAYAYAYAY - AND JENNY'S FAM SOON, WITH HANNAH YAYAYAYAYAYAY

2010-06-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

JUNE 9, 2010

Day three has gone wonderfully! We got up when we wanted to, then drove for 4 hours to Hannibal, Missouri. We didn't stay long - would have loved to have taken a riverboat ride, but not enough time.

Then on to Nauvoo, Illinois - what a BEAUTIFUL drive - first over the Mississippi River, then following it north on the Illinois side until we got to Nauvoo. We only spent a little over an hour there - got to see the General Story, Brigham Young's House, The Nauvoo Mansion, then to the park where the kids dressed like the 1800's and played with 1800's toys. They had great fun.

I told the kids that I just gave them a taste of Hannibal and Nauvoo - that when they're older, they can go there again and stay longer to enjoy more of it. I think that if we'd stayed any longer at either place, they would have gotten bored fast. It was hot and humid, so getting into an air-conditioned car was a great incentive to get on the road again.

The backroads of Illinois were a nice change from the Interstate travel we've done and will be doing again tomorrow.

Now we're in Montrose, Illinois -relaxing and swimming and getting rested for two straight days of travel.

Yesterday, I had a tough time with my orientation - although I was driving due East through South Dakota, I felt like I was driving North and North East. It was freaking me out. Today the compass in my head finally swung the right way, and I did fine.

Also, I feel like David Seville with very loose dentures - instead of yelling "Alvin" all the time, I'm yelling "Calvin" over and over. Not that he's doing anything wrong - he just focuses so hard on what he's doing, that it's hard to get his attention.

(More pictures from today will be posted tomorrow)

2010-06-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

JUNE 8, 2010

Whew, Loooong Day! But wonderful!

The kids loved Mount Rushmore - even wanted to go in the Museum and watch the video. They were so excited. What a contrast to a father and son that sat in our row at the movie. The kid walked in with so much boredom on his face, that his neck couldn't hold his head up, so his head bobbed limply to one side as he tried hard to convey to his dad that his being there was the pits!

And the kids were very good about not begging to go to all the other attractions in the area - except when we passed a waterslide park, Riley said: "I want to live in South Dakota and Mom be rich."

The tedium of crossing South Dakota was broken by stopping at Wall Drug - the kids loved it!

We got to our hotel here in Rockport, Missouri at 10:00 p.m. - popped popcorn in the microwave, so kids are watching some Disney channel and eating popcorn.

I'm ready for a shower and zzzz's.

2010-06-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

JUNE 7, 2010

"RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS WILL NOT GET ME DOWN"

"SWIMMING IN THE RAIN, JUST SWIMMING IN THE RAIN"

Can I just say that my GPS, gameboys, and diet Pepsi are my best friends!

We traveled for 12 hours, with only two breaks in the rain. We started out stopping in Ashton to give Grandpa Bainbridge hugs, then on up through my favorite drive - following the Gallatin River! It was awesome with the low-lying clouds. Even the kids were impressed. ( At this point Calvin asked, "Grandma, are you sure you know the right way?)

Then up into Montana and east then south down into Wyoming. I felt myself grousing because the roads were so wet I couldn't use my Cruise control - but remembered the pioneers and what they had to endure - having to travel at least a month to get as far as I got in one day. Shame on me!

The GPS is wonderful! The kids have been great - it wasn't until 6 p.m. before Jude and Calvin had an altercation about the gameboys - which were promptly put away for the rest of the day. Riley is a jewel - a lot of help!

Thanks Patti, for letting me take your kids.

And thanks Charley, for letting me take your gameboys.

And thanks Brad for the GPS and the money it takes for us to have this summer fun!

So, Riley - how was your 1st day on the road?

It was trying because we had to sit for a very long time and we only got three or four breaks (including bathroom and stopping by G-pa Bainbridge's house to give hugs), and (not including lunch and dinner breaks), we were traveling for 12 hours.... luckily we had some entertainment: a portable DVD player, little nintendo DS's, and a game boy. Calvin got a little annoying because every 5 to 10 minutes he would ask "How many more miles till we get to Devils Tower??" ( And yes... We got to see Devils Tower).......... "How many more miles till we get to the hotel"

Sadly when we finally got to our hotel, even though G-ma made sure all the hotels had pools and Internet, when we got there, the pool was an outdoor pool and we had no internet service. But get this, we got dinner, come back it wasn't raining..... we come back... still not raining... we get done eating in our swimsuits and it was raining AGAIN....... but we still go swimming, I just tried to stay under water as much as possible.

I got to touch the GPS!!!!!!!!! and the Nintendo DS's had touch screens!!!!!!!!

Calvin - how was your day?

I liked to go to devils tower on monday the seventh of june 2010.Right now i am in a hotel.THEY HAVE A T.V. HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!f

Jude, how was your day?

first we went to Grandpa Bainbrdge. After that we went to Devils Tower . Then we went to a hotel. WE WHER SWIMMING IN THE RAIN!

2010-06-07T04:36:00.000-07:00

WE'RE ON OUR WAY! WE'RE LEAVING AT 6 A.M. - HAHAHA PATTI, I THINK THIS IS THE FASTEST I'VE EVER SEEN THESE KIDS GET UP EARLY, EXCEPT FOR CHRISTMAS! IT'S A RAINY DAY, GLAD I DECIDED ON LONG PANTS FOR US ALL, SINCE WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH MONTANA AND WYOMING TODAY.

2010-06-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...."

We're excitedly getting last minutes things done for our trip:

* got my summer haircut

* got the kids "R WE THERE?" T-shirts

* got the car serviced

* got things lined up for the Family History Center and the Family Crisis Center, visiting teaching, piano playing for church.

* burned on CD "The Trial of Mary Lou" (never travel without it!)

* taught Brad how to water my plants (may they rest in peace!)

* defrosted the freezer and used up the meat so Brad can load it with his TV dinners (have you ever seen the movie "Adam"? Yeah, it's real!)

* moving Marina over to Patti's place so she can walk to campus.

* programmed my GSP for the trip.

Whew - what am I missing? S-C-A-R-Y!

2010-05-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

TRAVEL PLANS: Leave June 7th - taking 5 days to arrive in CT on friday night, June 11th. Then sometime down to Virginia.

2010-05-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

Long time no blog! But I've decided to start up again, to keep the fam posted on my trip back east. So I'm starting up today to get back in the groove (oh Mom, you're sooo 60's!)

Anyway, we're leaving on June 7th (all my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....NOT) But my trip has been mapped out, reservations made at Super 8's all across....

UPDATE: We're traveling straight across to Connecticut first, instead of going right to Virginia. It's a 5 day trip - arriving there friday night.

I haven't done this since 1990 - then I drove the whole way with 7 children - the Kracken was in his prime at the time, and Bug was potty training - (on the road again, can't wait to pee on the road again!) It was quite an adventure!

This time will be a breeze - driving across with 3 grandchildren, ages 13, 9, and 8. We'll actually stop and see things on the way (didn't do that with the 7 - toooooo scary!)

This will be my diary of the trip - so stay tuned for more!

A Tribute

2009-07-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

P.S. I am sooooo proud of mom for making this ALL by herself without ANY instruction from me. You rock Momma Geek

sleeping grandsons

2009-03-12T10:11:00.001-07:00

SLEEPING GRANDSONS:

Indie fell asleep at my house sunday night - so Ben mummified him and strapped him in to take him home. He sleeps as soundly as Ben did when he was a kid.

Jack is at my house today - this was a quick morning nap with one of his favorite buddies.

cold and cough recipe

2009-02-23T11:43:00.000-08:00

MOM'S HOMEMADE COLD "I WANT TO FEEL BETTER" RECIPE

(I can't call it a remedy - all I know is that it makes you feel better, in spite of a cold or a cough. Patti can attest to it - and Indie and Calvin guzzled it when they had bad coughs.)

Buy a GINGER ROOT in the produce section of the store. Cut it up into 2 inch chunks. (Freeze the chunks, except the one you're just going to use. You can peel the chunks before you freeze them, or can peel them later while they're still frozen - a little more difficult)
Peel the one chunk, then grate it into a pan - add about 2 quarts of water and boil the gratings for 20 minutes. Let steep for another 10 minutes, then strain into a pitcher.
Add 1/2 to 1 cup of HONEY and stir. Add 4 capfuls for CIDER VINEGAR. Add a can of ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE and the three cans of water.

THIS IS EXCELLENT WARMED UP OR COLD, DEPENDING WHAT YOU'RE IN THE MOOD FOR.

gas prices 1973

2009-02-19T16:28:00.001-08:00

I'm scanning pictures like crazy - couldn't resist scanning this one. Look at the gas prices (anywhere from 39 cents to 46 cents). Tony, of course, had to record a most important "first" in our new red VW bug.

harried mother in the 80's

2009-02-12T20:54:00.000-08:00

I've decided to post one of my Journal entries. I've been doing some major cleaning (finally threw out all the empty DVD cases for my movies, since I've put all my movies in a DVD wallet), but I haven't been taking pictures.
You young mothers might get a kick out of this - I really wanted to be a good mother and wife, and lose weight, etc......well, you'll see.......

June 9, 1982
This has been my 2nd day of Rick’s College Education Week - tomorrow's the last day. What a spiritual boost!!! I’ve been so muddled lately - not setting goals - not keeping any commitments I’d made in the past. The lectures I’ve heard these last 2 days have been such an inspiration to me. I want to apply everything I’ve learned all at once. But I realize thats unrealistic. Even tonight - I planned to come home & really communicate with my family - I did fine with the girls, but I can’t understand what happened between Tony & me. We’ve been sweet as pie, but NOT communicating! 1) I walk in the house - he’s stacking dishes so he can wash them - he does some, then walks away. So I take over to finish up. 2) He mentions he should go thru his business papers on the cupboard, then drifts off to read the newspaper. 3) He heads to the basement to watch TV saying, and I quote: "Come watch TV & we’ll fold the wash" I say, "I can’t, I need to finish dishes - please take your business papers downstairs." He says, "I will, on a commercial." 4) I go downstairs & he’s watching TV. I start folding laundry, he clears his chair & part of the floor of laundry, then sits back & watches TV. I finally got disgusted doing it alone & came upstairs, laundry not done. His business papers not removed from counter - - OK - teacher - so what did I do wrong?!?!
June 13, 1982
Those classes really helped me to look at myself & make goals to become a better person - just in the incident of the above "misunderstanding". I could have sulked all night or I could have screamed at him & berated him. Instead I wrote it in my journal, then I prayed a lot. When he came upstairs I was calm - asked him what went wrong tonight - pointing out the above incidences. He said, "I’m sorry - I guess I feel flumfy tonight." I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT!! There was nothing to forgive & our relationship was fine. The 3rd day of lectures was just as excellent as the 1st two.
Friday and Saturday I decided to take girls up to West Piney to the Rigby 4th Ward campout. The housework was really backed up because I’d been gone all week, so I made a maze map of how to get to West Piney & put it on the fridge. With a magnet, we followed the road to West Piney, overcoming each obstacle on the way - namely housework. The girls did real well helping get all the work done. We invited Cortney Hymas & Michelle Simon along. We got up there, set up the tent & bedding, then the girls played on the slide A LOT. Tony joined us up there later, but had to come back because its National Guard weekend. He took Anna & Elizabeth on a hike - what a special time. I was able to stay on my diet the whole time, but blew it the rest of Saturday. We had a real good chicken dinner Friday nite (I had my Cambridge drink) & then a program of skits and a melodrama by the young adults. It was 11:30 by the time we went to bed. Our special guest speaker was Pres. Garth Hall. He told of a boy named Bob who saved his brothers’ and sisters from a fire, but died in doing so. Memorial day was a special day for that family as they talked about Bob & honored him. Thats how it should be for Jesus, our eldest brother, who died for us. Each Sunday is a memorial day in which we remember him & talk of him. When we got to our tent, we played "old time movie shows" with the flash light, but it was TOO COLD to do much else, so went to bed. Had a good breakfast (me, Cambridge drink) the next day & the girls played all morning while I broke camp. Michelle was a big help to me. She watched Anna, a lot too.

Then back home to plant tomatoes & get cleaned up. The girls built tent houses on the clothes line until the wind blew them down. I’d planned on Tony & I having a date & very unselfishly gave it up when the Sheriff’s reserve asked him to help on a Beer Kegger Party bust. My commitment to be more positive is a struggle, but its helped the feelings of the whole house tremendously.
Todays Sunday - back on my diet. I have 10 more pounds to lose. Hope to do it by August. Today I’m going over all my lecture notes & set goals for myself. Tony’s at Guard today.

TONY AND THE GIRLS OUTSIDE "WRASSLING" & PLAYING. DADDY PLAYS A QUIZ GAME:
Daddy: Whats the longest river? Patti: The Pacific Ocean! Jenny: The Nile River
Daddy: What ocean is next to California? Patti: The Pacific Ocean
Daddy: What country does the Nile River end in? Patti: K-Mart. Jenny: Sudan (after a few hints) Egypt.
Daddy: Whats the capital city of the State of Idaho? Patti: "R". Jenny: Boise

Tony came home from National Guard not too soon. Church was a hassle because Anna acted up & Elizabeth was weepy. After dinner he ran a soothing oil-bubble bath for me & I soaked & read a book & calmed down while he played with the girls. He’s been put on a diet by the National Guard, to lose 36 lbs. in a year. So I need to work out menus for him. We made some commitments, will work them all out on
Monday. Becky came over to work on a Spanish song - The Menan Stake has formed a Spanish speaking Branch & Becky has been called as a Primary 1st Councelor. She said they need more help - the wish of my hearts is to become involved in this - what a challenge & spiritual mission!! Well, to bed - I have a big day tomorrow.

2009-02-02T13:55:00.000-08:00

JUST FOR A WEEK:

I'm going to deep clean an area in my house every day. I've been working on this for awhile, but slacked off the last two weeks. My sister came to visit and got me motivated to get with it again. (See below blog).

Today, I cleaned my sewing "wall" and closet. Whew, after Moe took all that stuff, I was able to organize what I decided to keep. Because it's such a big job, it will carry over into tomorrow. I'll post before and after pictures tomorrow.

2009-02-01T19:51:00.000-08:00

THE ULTIMATE CLEANOUT! I'M GOING TO BE TRANSLATED FOR SURE!

Maureen came to visit and mentioned she needed some material for the Humanitarian projects her ward is doing. I thought, "I could give her a few of the flannel sheets I have...." I ended up emptying drawers, closet shelves, more drawers, more closet shelves....You name it, I emptied it. We ended up with two boxes and eight bags of material and scraps for Humanitarian projects. WHA-HOOOO! I feel cleansed - I feel light - I feel pretty!

Now I can gut that bedroom and redo it. Not!

2009-01-22T16:38:00.000-08:00

My daughter has asked me to post my Grandmother's School work, to demonstrate how the schools used to teach their students to practice good penmanship.
Grandma was 13 & 14 years old when she wrote in this book.
I picked some of her writings that were personal.

You can double-click on each image to make it bigger. ENJOY!

2009-01-14T07:29:00.000-08:00

Cleaning goal accomplished: See pictures below for comparisons!

2009-01-12T16:22:00.000-08:00

WHY IT TOOK ME 6 HOURS TO CLEAN MY KITCHEN COUNTER:
1. First I had to empty my dishwasher.
2. Then I loaded my dishwasher.
3. In putting my cleaned knives away, I saw that the knife holder was disgusting, so I took it down and scrubbed it. In scrubbing it, I scrubbed off the varnish, so I set it aside to dry.
4. In taking the knife holder off the wall, I saw the cobwebs around the dirty curtains.
(LET ME JUST SAY, THAT WHEN I TAKE ON A CLEANING PROJECT, I NOTICE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED - AND THESE DIRTY AREAS JUST SCREAM AT ME!)
5. I put grandson, Jack, down for a nap.
6. I took down the curtain.
7. I had to rotate the laundry that was sitting in my dryer and washer, so I could wash my curtains.
8. I washed the windows (I AVOIDED TAKING THE DOUBLE LAYER WINDOWS APART AND DOING A GOOD JOB - INSTEAD, I JUST WASHED THE SPATTERED WINDOWS FACING THE SINK).
9. I washed the ceiling above the sink, where something brownish/red had splashed, maybe years ago....who knows. (I AVOIDED TAKING THE LIGHT ABOVE THE SINK APART AND CLEANING IT THOROUGHLY).
10. Calvin and Jude came in from school; I fixed them hot chocolate.
11. I'M NOW JUST STARTING TO CLEAN THE COUNTER.
12. I cleaned the scuzzy scrubber holder - yuck, it was bad.
13. I had to reorganize my herbal tea bag box, so all the herb teas I'd bought and had sitting on the counter could be put away.
14. I had to clean out the power supply holder (my wicker goose), because cords were hanging out from it - I found 4 power supplies we no longer used.
15. I cleaned off my breadboard that holds my counter stuff: salt, pepper, oil and vinager, utensils, tea, etc. That needed to be scrubbed good and everything washed off.
16. I had to refill my salt and pepper shakers.
17. Rotated the laundry again, so I could dry my curtains.
18. I had to sweep my bathroom floor, because I spilled granulated laundry soap.
19. I could now finish putting stuff into the crockpot for my dinner soup.
20. Riley arrived from school, so now it's help the kids get their homework done.
21. Jack wakes up.
22. Time to fix an after school snack.
23. I finish cleaning the counter!!!!
24. I varnished my knife holder.
25. I rehung the curtain. WHEW! I'm done!

I'M HOPING TO CLEAN OFF TWO SURFACES TOMORROW: THE TOP OF A BOOKCASE IN MY FAMILY ROOM AND THE TOP OF MY KITCHEN HUTCH: WISH ME LUCK!

organizing

2009-01-12T12:30:00.000-08:00

I've just had a meltdown - I've been laughing hysterically, because I spent the morning looking through books on organizing http://www.houseoforder.com/ at the local book store, only to return home and realize the time would have been better spent just cleaning off my kitchen counter! When I went to plug in my crockpot, I couldn't even reach the electrical outlet, my counter is in such shambles.

MY SEVEN DAY PLAN IS TO CLEAN OFF A SURFACE EVERY DAY! COULD YOU GUESS THAT MY KITCHEN IS TODAY'S GOAL?!?!?!

By the way, my experience with last week's goal was humbling and very rewarding! I was able to reach out to someone every day AND I'M SO GLAD I DID! One woman, who was diagnosed with pre-leukemia, was in the hospital. I went to visit her on friday, and found out it was full-blown leukemia and she was being sent to the University of Utah hospital. I was able to sit with her, talk about the Plan of Salvation, kiss her and tell her how much I loved her. She died yesterday! I'm so glad I had set that goal, or I would have lived with a huge regret!

2009-01-07T07:12:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU MY DARLING CHILDREN, FOR MY BEAUTIFUL HOPE CHEST. ALTHOUGH I CALL IT MY GRANDMA CHEST. I'VE PUT IN IT THE SPECIAL QUILTS AND BLANKETS THAT I'VE KEPT IN THOSE PLASTIC BLANKET BAGS IN THE TOP OF A CLOSET ALL THESE YEARS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

2009-01-05T20:04:00.000-08:00

JUST FOR ONE WEEK: I'm taking icecreamdiary's challenge http://icecreamdiary.blogspot.com/ and setting a weekly goal. I LIKE THIS because I think I can do it!

This week I will reach out to someone each day. Today I went to a ladie's house to help her with her genealogy. She'll never be able to figure it out - it's just too hard for her, but she just needs someone to talk to, and I can work on her genealogy as she gabs to me. Tomorrow I will visit someone who's daughter died last month. Wednesday I am taking a meal to someone who had surgery. Thursday I am going to lunch with someone who went through a stupid and bad divorce. Friday I am going to the Temple. Saturday...I'll have to figure something out. I CAN DO THIS!

2009-01-02T08:27:00.001-08:00

I just put another story on my website: http://www.karensarchives.com/17.html

2009-01-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Everyone you meet knows something you don't know but need to know. Learn from them.

THROWOUT OF THE DAY (To DI): This is a small throwout, but significant. These extra stuffed toys I've collected through the years, and have been jammed into this small basket. Of course, the basket throws up on a continual basis, so I highgraded my stuffed toys. The ones in the basket in the picture are the ones I'm keeping. The other's will be given to charity. "One small step for man, one large leap for a packrat!"

2008-12-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

TIS THE SEASON.......

TO BE JOLLY.....

FA-LA-LA-LA........

2008-12-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone for a very delightful birthday! I have such a wonderful family!

2008-12-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

Things are progressing well with Nita. Her mother came late Sunday night and has sat with her all these last 2 days, patiently and diligently giving her spoonfulls to eat. I guess Nita's mom had a REAL BAD first pregnancy - like this - and she and her husband learned how to work through it food-wise. It's doing the trick - Nita goes longer between wretchings and they're not a violent. We're going to try taking her off the nutrient IV's today (having those hooked into you is sickening enough!) Thank you for all of your prayers. It's been a rough week and a half, but I think this was the worst of it.

As for me - I'm realizing how important it is to have morning scripture study. I have done nightly scripture study with Brad, so I justified not having my morning personal scripture study. I've really missed it! So I have decided that since I'm in a HUGE habit of getting up, turning on the computer and checking everything out before I do anything in the morning, I'm going to add onto that HUGE habit by not being able to turn on my computer until AFTER I have read my scriptures. It worked great this morning - I was such a nervous wreck not having the computer on, that I promptly sat down and had a wonderful session in the scriptures! Ahhhh, they are so wonderful!!!!!
So because of this, Margo's poem bears repeating:

BREAK OF DAY

The serenity of the break of day

gives time to ponder, pause and pray.

The dawn renews resolves to endure

the Savior atoned, man can be pure.

Evidence each morn of weaknesses to face

With a promise, the humble qualify for grace.

Our thanks dear Lord for days on earth

To perfect, purify, and acknowledge our worth.

2008-11-27T09:19:00.000-08:00

WHY I BELIEVE IN GUARDIAN ANGELS

They must have flew, fluttered and zoomed back and forth, calling in all the troops they could find when I jiggled any car keys. A guardian angel’s job was not an easy one in the 1970’s when there were no seat belt laws, and actually, no seat belts that worked worth a darn!

Our first brand-new car was our pride and joy. We traded Tony’s gas-guzzling bachelor car in for a brand-new shiny red 1973 VW Bug. In those days, we didn’t worry about seat belts. The ones in our Bug broke within the first year. I don’t think there was anything like car seats for babies back then. If there were, we were ignorant of them.

When our first baby was born, we put the baby in a small basket in the back seat with no straps in the back to secure it. When baby number two came, she was in the basket and child number one either sat next to the basket or in my lap.

Help! I need more guardian angels! This one is getting tough!

Baby number three got tricky. No more room for the basket. By then, we knew about child car seats, and purchased one. So child number two went into the car seat, and child one held baby on her lap.

Baby number four was put in a car seat next to child one, while child two and three sat in the little alcove that we called the “way-back” behind the back bench seat. We called them the “tadpoles” because they hadn’t sprouted longer legs yet, and could fit scrunched up in the way-back.

Baby number five meant no more car seat, so child one or two held the baby while they sat on the bench seat and tadpoles three and four sat in the way-back, as we called it.

Reinforcements! Reinforcements! This could be a potential funeral for seven!

Before I add on any more children (which I will do shortly) I must tell of the decline of our beloved VW. Not only did the seat belts quit working early on, but the heater also quit working around this time. Tony’s shoulders were way too wide for a VW Bug so he drove with his window down summer and winter so he could sit comfortably as he drove. We probably wore the poor heater out trying to keep us warm when he had his window down. Now the winter months necessitated us having blankets in the car and a window scraper for each of us. We would bundle in the car, then as soon as the doors were shut, the windows would quickly ice over on the inside because of condensation from all of our breathing. (We tried to convince the children not to breath, but they wouldn’t comply.) So everyone would scrape away at all the windows, which caused a delightful snow storm inside the car as we drove down the road.
But now comes baby number six. We already had three children on the bench seat and two in the way-back, so number six sat on my lap in the front. This worked pretty good until I was big-pregnant with baby number seven, so then a child had to hold number six in the back.

I NEED THE ROYAL NATIONAL GUARDIANS! AT LEAST 50 TROOPS: NOW!!!!

At this point, we finally purchased a new VW Van.

Now, the worst confession of all: If Tony was not there and I was driving with all the children in the car, I would have a daughter sitting in the front seat with the baby on her lap. If the baby cried, I would take the baby, WHILE I WAS DRIVING, and nurse it.

GUARDIAN ANGELS? YOU BET!!! It’s a miracle that we never had an accident that would surely have killed some, if not all, of us. I now look back and envision thousands of guardian angels protecting us from our stupidity!

2008-11-19T21:02:00.000-08:00

THOUGHT FROM MY OLD SCRIPTURES:
A poem written by my dear friend, Margo Myler.

BREAK OF DAY
The serenity of the break of day
gives time to ponder, pause and pray.

The dawn renews resolves to endure
the Savior atoned, man can be pure.

Evidence each morn of weaknesses to face
With a promise, the humble qualify for grace.

Our thanks dear Lord for days on earth
To perfect, purify, and acknowledge our worth.

THROW OUTS FOR THE DAY: Welllll, Not exactly throwouts yet.
When my husband died, my 7 year old son insisted he had to sleep with me. I knew this could end up a permanent thing, so I let him sleep in my bed for about three nights, then I told him he had to gradually move back into his own bed. So for two nights, he slept on the floor near my bed, then the next few nights he slept on the floor, each night getting closer and closer to my door. Finally, he was sleeping in the hall outside my open door. After about a week of creepy-crawling him further away, he was finally in the next door bedroom in his own bed.
Well, that's how I am with my blanket pile. I put the quilts I want to keep back into my closet. And the stack of blankets I was discarding stayed in the corner of the hallway next to the closet door. I couldn't move them any further than that for a whole day.
This morning I moved them down the hall to the entrance of the hall, putting them in my discard hamper - but not putting the hamper out in my car to take to Deseret Industries. I couldn't move them any further than that today. Tomorrow, my goal is to get the hamper to the side of the front door. That's kinda scary.

This stack of top sheets wasn't hard to discard - but the beige twin bedspread isn't going to be able to go. It was a bedspread from my husband's submarine that he "lifted" when we were first married. (To go along with the two paper thin twin mattresses that he also "lifted" in order to provide us with our first bed. Luckily those were thrown out when we got our first real bed). I don't know what I'll ever use it for, but I just can't get rid of it. Someone will have to do that when I die!

VUA-LA!!! The linen closet is as empty as it's going to get in my lifetime! But I was able to put quilts in it that have been stuffed at the top of bedroom closets.

Am I done with my "linens"? Not by a long shot. I still have two drawers of old white sheets, that I have saved for sewing projects (you never know when you might need some plain white sheeting!) I also have 5 chenille bedspreads that I collected for sewing projects. (What was I going to make with them? I DON'T KNOW! but they may come in handy some day - SHEESH!)

AND I have about 15 flannel sheets - for backing all those levi quilts I'm going to make some day (I have 6 boxes of old levis for those someday quilts!)

Maybe just listing these will give me the courage to get them out of here. I know I'll never make that many levi quilts, let alone possibly one!!!!

2008-11-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

THOUGHT FROM MY OLD SCRIPTURES:
Happiness is a habit. "...for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." Phillipians 4:11

THROWOUT FOR THE DAY: Jennilyn, I DID IT! I cleaned out the "Linen" closet, or should I say "Pillowcase closet". I haven't thrown out a pillow case my whole married life! This is a stack of 39 (COUNT EM - 39!!!!) extra pillow cases that I've amassed all these years. AND THIS ISN'T COUNTING THE PILLOW CASES THAT ARE PRESENTLY ON MY PILLOWS!!! I narrowed my pillowcase stash to 10 extra pillow cases, and hopefully I can narrow that down a little further when I have more "moxy" to do so. Whew, this was a hard one!!!!!
Wait until you see my blanket stash! I can't do it today - - - I just can't. Maybe tomorrow.........

SCANS FOR THE DAY:

1991

2008-11-17T04:51:00.001-08:00

SCANS FOR THE DAY:

2008-11-17T04:39:00.000-08:00

Look at the lines the artist used to draw this picture of Christ. It is of scenes from Christ's life. I have not seen anything like this and wanted you to see it too.

THOUGHT FROM MY SCRIPTURES: This was on a piece of paper stuck in my old scriptures:
THE QUIET SERMON
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.
The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then it’s fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”
We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.

2008-11-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

THOUGHTS FROM MY SCRIPTURES:
GOD DOESN'T
ASK ABOUT
OUR ABILITY,
JUST OUT
AVAILABILITY,
AND THEN
AS WE PROVE
OUR DEPENDABILITY,
HE WILL
INCREASE
OUR CAPABILITY.

SCANS FOR THE DAY:

Fall 1988

2008-11-13T08:31:00.000-08:00

THOUGHTS FROM MY SCRIPTURES:
Sometimes when you give your kids the things you didn't get when you were a child - you end up not giving them the things you had!

By serving in the Church, we become sanctified as we leave our comfort zones, live outside ourselves, and come to unfold our true natures by living our lives for the Lord's sake.

1988

SCANS OF THE DAY: Since I quit cleaning for awhile (a person can deal with the emotional trama of purging "stuff" only so long), I am now scanning pictures like crazy. So, I will be posting "scans of the day" instead for awhile.

2008-11-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: People are very open-minded about new things - as long as they're exactly like the old.

THROWOUT FOR THE DAY: Okay, I don't think it'll ever be a throw out, but I am (sniff, sniff) going to have to (sob, sob) replace my scriptures (WAAAAAAAAA). They are so very old (bought in 1989) and have even been chewed on by a dog (may he rest in peace!) No, I won't throw them away, but they are being shelved for a newer set. This was not done willingly and probably wouldn't have been done at all, except that at work (Deseret Books), I was trained to put engraving on scriptures, and I messed up on a Quad. I felt so bad, I bought the Quad (30% off) and am engraving my name over the mess up. I didn't have to buy the Quad, but I realized this was a good time to replace my old set.

So my THOUGHT FOR THE DAYs are going to be some of the quotes and poems I've lovingly written in my scriptures - share them with those I love, then shelve them with my Quad that Tony bought me many, many more years ago.

2008-11-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

This is one of the funniest date stories I've heard:

First Date
If you didn't see this on the Tonight show, I hope you're sitting down when you read it. This is probably the funniest date story ever, first date or not!!! Many of us have had bad dates, but this takes the cake.
Jay Leno went into the audience to find the most embarrassing first date that a woman ever had. The winner described her worst first date experience. There was absolutely no question as to why her tale took the prize!
She said it was midwinter... snowing and quite cold...and the guy had taken her skiing in the mountains outside Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a day trip (no overnight). They were strangers, after all, and truly had never met before. The outing was fun, the skiing great, the coffee hot. The day was uneventful until they were headed home late that afternoon.They were driving back down the mountain, when she gradually began to realize that she should not have had that extra latte.
They were about an hour away from anywhere with a rest room and, to top it off, they were in the middle of nowhere! Her companion recognized her discomfort, and suggested she try to hold it, which she did for a while. Unfortunately, because of the heavy snow and slow going, there came a point where she told him that he had better stop and let her go beside the road, or it would be the front seat of his car.
They stopped and she quickly crawled out beside the car, yanked her pants down and started. In the deep snow she didn't have good footing, so she let her butt rest against the rear fender to steady herself. Her companion stood on the side of the car watching for traffic and indeed was a real gentleman and refrained from peeking. All she could think about was the relief she felt despite the rather embarrassing nature of the situation.
Upon finishing however, she soon became aware of another sensation. As she bent to pull up her pants, the young lady discovered her buttocks were firmly glued against the car's fender!Thoughts of tongues frozen to poles immediately came to mind as she attempted to disengage her flesh from the icy metal. It was quickly apparent that she had a brand new problem due to the extreme cold. Horrified by her plight and yet aware of the humor of the moment, she answered her date's concerns about 'what is taking so long' with a reply that indeed, she was 'freezing her butt off' and in need of some assistance!
He came around the car as she tried to cover herself with her sweater and then, as she looked imploringly into his eyes, he burst out laughing. She too, got the giggles and when they finally managed to compose themselves, they assessed her dilemma.
Obviously, as hysterical as the situation was, they also were faced with a real problem. Both agreed it would take something hot to free her chilly cheeks from the grip of the icy metal!Thinking about what had gotten her into the predicament in the first place, both quickly realized that there was only one way to get her free.
So, as she looked the other way, her first-time date proceeded to unzip his pants and pee her bottom off the fender. As the audience screamed in laughter, she took the Tonight Show prize hands down. Or perhaps that should be 'pants down.'
'Did you ever see the young man again?' asked Mr. Leno.
'I married him,' was the reply. 'He's sitting right here next to me.'

2008-11-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

i

I forgot to show you the levi diaper bags - still in the closet.

Also, I found this backpack that dates back to my college days. It's so old, held together with paper clips, safety pins, and bread ties. I didn't save it.

By the way, I can now fit my vacuum cleaner into the closet! YAYAYAYAYAYAY!

2008-11-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "I hope I will always be tolerant of those who sin differently from me." Henry Eyring (this was one of Tony's favorite quotes)

THROW OUT FOR THE DAY: Whew, I finally got through the back hall closet. First I collected all the bags - it was disgustingly revealing how I love bags - picking them up at Yard Sales and DI and the discards of my kids.

I got rid of this many bags, keeping only 2, plus the two diaper bags I couldn't make myself get rid of. Someone else will have to throw those out when I die. They have too many memories. I made them because Tony wouldn't be seen with a flowery diaper bag, which was all that you could buy at the time. So I made him the plain levi one, then I made the red levi one for me.

So if you want any of these, they will be taken to DI on Friday.

I also have a thing for 3 ring binders, and found these nice cloth covered ones that I've never used. I kept the 3 to the right and am giving away the four to the left (I can't go cold turkey!!!)

These are very revealing: Old carbon paper, typing paper, and a Rick's college folder. Those are tucked nicely back into the closet, just for the sake of antiquity.

AND HOW DO I GET RID OF "DADDY'S NOSES" - GO AHEAD, LET YOUR HARD HEARTS CONVINCE ME OF CHUCKING THESE!!! HAHAHAHAH

In the Christmas wrap section, I had all these gift boxes - I NEVER USE!! To make it more interesting; the four brown ones aren't gift boxes at all - I was recycling these from when you get stuff from a bakery - so old I don't know what bakery! Maybe New York! Yiy, I'm bad!

TA-DA - THE FINISHED CLOSET - DON'T IT LOOK SOOOO NICE!

2008-11-03T09:55:00.000-08:00

THIS WEEK'S PROJECT: The dreaded hall closet. What the heck is all that stuff?
The top shelf has a package of old doilies and tablecloths, inherited from my Mom. It also has backpacks and misc. bags - way too many!
Second shelf has 3 ring binders, notebooks, dividers, etc. With a few more bags and backpacks
Third shelf is jigsaw puzzles, Krap, and more binders, notebooks, etc - topped off with MORE bags!!! (notice the one on the left - it's the levi diaper bag I made when Jenny was a baby!!! Amazing!)
Fourth shelf: I DON'T KNOW - YOU CAN'T TELL BECAUSE OF THE BINDERS AND BAGS!!
Floor - the big blue thing is an organizer for gift wrap and ribbon. Behind it - - - all the gift wrap and boxes and ribbon that I never put into the organizer.

FROM THE BAG LADY OF THE YEAR: I've pulled out all the bags to begin with - there were 4 soft suitcases, 4 backpacks, 3 body bag suitcases, 2 sports bags, a soft briefcase, 12 large bags, and the two levi diaper bags I made in 1974 (I didn't even know I had the second one still!!) Stay tuned tomorrow for pictures and what I got rid of.

2008-11-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

THROW OUT FOR THE DAY: Whew, I took the games and coats to Deseret Industries today. IT WAS SOOOO HARD TO DO! But I did it.
Also, Saturday, I cleaned a corner of my Family Room - getting rid of old posters, etc. that were stuffed behind a bookshelf.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Enjoy the

season you're in - it may never come again.

Pictures taken out my backyard, evening time.

2008-10-31T13:11:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN: VISIT MY FACEBOOK SITE FOR EATON HALLOWEEN AND DRESS-UPS PICTURES!
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=750075458

2008-10-30T12:46:00.000-07:00

I have the best sister in the world! Since I've been off sugar for about 5 days, this was the best treat ever! I'm not even sharing them with my grandsons who are coveting them!!!

This especially came at a critical time for me. I have some peanut butter fudge pie in my fridge from Nita, and I made a pumpkin walnut dessert for the people I visit teach. I haven't touched either, but they do talk to me a lot: "eat me, you know you want me!"

Now I have my own dessert - - - - -

THANKS MOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

THROW OUT FOR THE DAY: Mattress covers. I've had these in my garage through all my married years - using them now and then, but not using them most of the time. I'm not actually throwing them away, but will put them in the dog house for the winter, then throw them away in the spring. That's putting them to good use and getting them out of my garage.
Neatness comes one step at a time, I guess.

2008-10-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee.

THROWOUT FOR THE DAY: The game closet and coat closet has been cleaned. I've gotten rid of a lot of coats (mostly military type - they will be in the garage for 3 days before I take them to DI, if you boys think some might be yours.....)

Games I'm keeping: Scrabble, Cranium, Candyland, Yatzee, Backgammon, Pit, Uno, SkipBo, Water Works, Mill Borne, Perquackey, and Hokey 6.

Left over games: Which ones should I keep here for you to play when you visit? Which ones to you want? Let me know:
Compatability, Split Second, Touche, Stop Theif, Clue, Parcheese, Risk, Castle Risk, Trivial Pursuit, Simpsons, Balderdash, Scattergories, a second Rummicub, a second Backgammon, a second Mill Borne, a second Pit.
GAMES TO KEEP? GAMES FOR YOU? GAMES TO GO?

CLOSET: BEFORE

2008-10-26T18:39:00.000-07:00

STAY TUNED FOR THE CLEANING OF THE COAT AND GAME CLOSET. I'M GOING TO GET RUTHLESS (WHAT - NO MORE RUTH?!?!?!?) I WILL POST THE GAMES I'M GETTING RID OF BEFORE I RID THEM....SO IF THERE ARE ANY DIBS; FIRST CLAIMED, FIRST SERVED.

2008-10-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, for these are the things Jesus taught.

THROWOUT FOR THE DAY: There's nothing like losing something very small that makes you clean even harder. Brad's ID chip is missing and this is serious business. It will effect his status at work and could have some ramifications. So we've been cleaning fast and furious trying to find it. I worked all day yesterday at the book store, then came home and helped pull furniture out from the walls and clean out the toy boxes, and shelves, etc. I was so tired when I went to bed last night, I slept for almost 12 hours!!!
Still nothing, but boy, did we find "little things". Behind furniture, in furniture, in the toy boxes, etc. And we've only cleaned the kitchen and family room. We still have a lot to do, but will keep on going. We've thrown out alot because of it. So that's my report for this week.

2008-10-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Almost all of our unhappiness is the result of comparing ourselves to others.

THROWOUT FOR THE DAY: This first one is by default. I left my bag of odds and ends tupperware lids and containers, and butter containers, etc. out on my front stoop, hoping to sort and match them up - Jennilyn came to visit and brought munch-mouth doggie, who had an absolute ball shredding what was out there. So that was an easy throwaway!

Due to popular demand, I've opened the sacred Engsign cupboard out in my garage, exposing the holy magazines - they are (sob) to be thrown out (gasp) today. This one is definitely a hard one to do - I've been saving these puppies for 36 years. But I've gotten a lot of moral support from you kids, and I'm feeling brave today...sooo YOU'RE OUT!!!!!

2008-10-23T11:11:00.001-07:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Your religion is what you do when the sermon is over.

THROWOUT FOR THE DAY: Uh, do you know those bags that sheets and quilts come in from the store. You know, the nice ones with zippers and snaps? Yeah, I've held onto these for gillions of years, and never used one of them....YOU'RE OUT!!!!!!! OH, AND THE MAGAZINES IN THE BACKGROUND GOT THROWN OUT TODAY - EVEN THE EXTRA ONES PILING UP IN MY BASKET OF MAGAZINES. But I can't throw out the Ensigns - talk to me, people, talk to me. I've got a shelf full of them in the garage (back to 1972!!!!)

2008-10-22T15:01:00.001-07:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.

THROWAWAY FOR THE DAY: These are VERY, VERY old cans of leather protectors that we got when Tony bought new shoes - I'm talking over 20 years old. These are not hard to throw away - I forgot I was even hanging on to them.
I've never felt a need to use them on my yard sale shoes!!!

2008-10-21T14:16:00.001-07:00

THE FATES ARE WORKING AGAINST ME! Just when I decide to start throwing things out - there's a reason to hang on to everything..JUST IN CASE!! I've been "contemplating" throwing out an old bucket of dry red beans - circa 1979 - that have sat out in my garage all these years. Also, I collect old canning rings (and I should), but also, old used canning lids that cannot be reused. Hmm - I really should throw out the lids. Then there is the craft drawer of handmade pig heads and pig butts that I made when we lived in New York (about 15 years ago!). They were a novelty I made back then to sell around Christmas time, to make some Christmas money. But I haven't made them since then. I actually thought about throwing it all out 3 DAYS AGO, when I started cleaning my sewing machine drawers. But I didn't get around to it. THANK HEAVENS! Jude and Calvin came home from school today saying that they "HAD TO" have an item for the "Old Fashioned Bazaar" at their annual Fall Carnival - in 3 days!! Of course, the pressure in on because "your child will receive a special treat" if you contribute to the bazaar. So I whipped out my drawer of pigs, my tin of canning rings and lids, and my bucket of old beans from the garage, and Jude and Calvin and I put these together in no time. SEE! I'VE GOT TO HANG ONTO ALL MY STUFF - I MAY NEED IT SOMEDAY!!!!

2008-10-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

By: Robert Armstrong, M.D.

I work part-time as a teacher of family doctors. The program provides training on psychiatric disorders and emphasizes the importance of emotional support. The new doctors are given plenty of time in clinic to visit with their patients and learn about their challenges.

One of our interns, who has never lived in Utah and knows nothing about Mormons, is still struggling to understand the cultural climate here.

Last week he was interviewing a new patient and stumbled on what he thought was a raging psychosis.

Doctor: "Well, Mrs. Olsen, we've talked about your high bloodpressure and your medications. Are you experiencing any particularstress in your life?"

Patient: "Oh, yes! It's the Sunbeams. They're driving me crazy."

Doctor: (very surprised) "The sun beams?"

Patient: "Yes. I've never had trouble with them before, but this group won't sit still. They bounce all over the room, and run out the door and down the hall."

Doctor: (reaching for a pen) "Have you told anyone about this?"

Patient: "Of course, I told the president."

Doctor: "Really! What did the president tell you?"

Patient: "She said Sunbeams are like that. I'm just going to have to learn to deal with them."

Doctor: (concerned that he may be missing something) "I know people who are sensitive to sun beams. Do they cause you a rash or anything?"

Patient: (confused) " A rash? No."

Doctor: "What's the biggest problem they're creating?"

Patient: "It's the noise. They just won't quit talking."

Doctor: (astonished) "The sun beams are talking to you?"

Patient: "Well, yes. But mostly they talk to each other."

Doctor: (scribbling furiously in the chart) "I see. Can anyone else hear them talking?"

Patient: (after a moment of stunned silence) "You're not LDS, are you?"

2008-10-21T07:06:00.001-07:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The straight and narrow path would not be so narrow if more people would walk on it.

THROWOUT FOR THE DAY: These are blank cassettes and empty cassette cases....."I might need them someday"....sad, huh! Who uses cassette tapes anymore?!?!?! These did make it into the trash.

What's really sad, is that I have three drawers full of cassette tapes of music and talks. AND I have three more drawers full of books on tapes. what to do, what to do.

2008-10-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

I knew it, I knew it, I knew it - as soon as I decide to throw something away, it's needed. I had a stack of magazines that I had held onto for two years, ready to throw away. In fact, they were to the side of the front door, ready to be taken outside to the trash can. Granddaughter came over after school and was working on a collage for her diary book and asked if I had any magazines she could cut up.

Luckily, they hadn't been thrown out and she had fun cutting them up.

Oh, woa is me, what is a packrat to do....is it a sign? Am I being too hasty? I'm definitely loosing my nerve....

2008-10-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Why isn't "phonetic" spelled the way it sounds?

THROW AWAY FOR THE DAY: This is a disgusting skunk that I received as a gift about 6 years ago - the kids and the dogs have drug it outside more than it's been inside - it has even spent winters out in the snow banks. But because it was a gift, I kept hanging onto it - NO MORE BABY! YOU'RE OUT, BECAUSE I'M BRAVE TODAY!

2008-10-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

Take Three....

2008-10-19T10:36:00.001-07:00

AHHHH - I Can't Do It!! Come on kids, a little help here!!!

2008-10-19T10:28:00.001-07:00

Sooo, where's the storm video - I'm obviously not doing it right - Here's the 2nd try.....

2008-10-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

I love that we can share pictures and videos on these new-fangled blogs. (Yeah, yeah, I know blogging has been out there for a long time, but I'm pretty darn slow - it took me 10 years to get a "new-fangled" microwave; when bottled spagetti sauce was introduced into the stores, I scoffed and said it'd never be as good as my mother's recipe, which I made from scratch for 6 years before I caved and bought some Ragu; I used cloth diapers (like an idiot) through 4 kids, before they finally all rotted and I skeptically bought disposable diapers-----yeah, I'm SLOW)
I want to try linking to my daughter's blog so you can view a summer storm video she put together. Here goes.......

2008-10-18T06:47:00.000-07:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: There is always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.

THROWOUT FOR THE DAY: Play-Do Fuzzy Pumper and fuzzy people.

Awwwwwww Mom, why are you throwing that away - that's our memories, that's our childhood......

I'M THROWING IT AWAY BECAUSE IT BROKE FIVE YEARS AGO! AND I COULDN'T MAKE MYSELF THROW IT AWAY UNTIL NOW ("maybe someday I'll fix it....") Well, someday never came and I got brave.

2008-10-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

I'm seeing a vision - a purpose to my life and this blog....
1. I LOVE TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH OR FEEL WARM FUZZIES.
2. I WANT TO CLEAN THE INSANELY STUPID CLUTTER FROM MY LIFE.

So my plans are to share what makes me laugh and feel good. And to show you what I am finally ridding my life of - this will be VERY revealing!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you grow old.

THROWOUT FOR THE DAY: Modeling Clay. So why is that so insanely stupid - BECAUSE I'VE HAD IT IN THIS BENT UP TIN FOR OVER 20 YEARS!!! It was my children's modeling clay, and I'm just now getting it thrown out. Notice the broken toothpick stuck in the top? D-I-S-G-U-S-T-I-N-G!

2008-10-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why I am starting this blogspot - - - just one more technological thing to learn and to neglect! But I'm doing it to keep up with my children. Most of them have their own blogspots and I love going to their blogspots and seeing their pictures and reading of their lives. I think the immigrants and emigrants of yesteryear would be in awe of the way we keep in touch. Back then, when a young family left home for new lands, they rarely ever got to see their loved ones again. Their new children were never appreciated by the grandparents, because the distances were so vast. Now, at the touch of a computer mouse, I can see my new grandbaby in Seattle, and hear his delightful gurgles and coos.
I don't know what I'll be posting here - but hopefully (and with the help of my kids) I'll get creative and make it worth your while to check in now and then.

So, why "Dotmother" - explanation to follow.....