Lovely morning

When I woke up this morning at 6:30 (Larry was snoring so loud he woke me AND himself up!) there was a glorious vision in the southeast sky. It was the crescent moon and a brilliant Venus. I didn't take a picture, but I SHOULD have. It was just so beautiful. Maybe tomorrow morning.

Have a wonderful, happy, friends and family-filled new year!

Thank you for being there to read this. It means a lot.

Bless you all.

New Leaves

WELL.

I just decided something. You all get to hear it!

Blogs are supposed to be uplifting, right? Well at least not depressing.

So I've decided that I won't be complaining and whining any longer on this blog.

Lucky readers!!

Instead, I will be HAPPY! And CHEERFUL! And post HAPPY pictures!

Like THESE!

At Yankee Stadium with my cousin Joe. HAPPY!

I'm the flower girl. Happy!

And our Wedding! Happy! (scared too)

And this is the day I came home from Italy! Happy to be home, sad to not be in Italy any longer. Happy with our lilacs!

Backwards in the mirror. Happy at Time Out For Women

Eating pizza in Salerno. VERRRRY Happy!

Me on the left, my cousin Joe and my cousin Mary - 1969. Happy with my family.

On a cruise ship somewhere between Ketchikan Alaska and Vancouver BC. Most happily sailing on the sea.

Juneau Alaska, happily holding a sweet puppy.

This is Alaska, too. Doesn't it look FAKE? It wasn't. This was REALLY the sunset on that HAPPY, chilly, windy night!

As a doula. I really miss birth. But I think I have to retire. My energy is shot. But happy that day!

With the handsome eternal companion. Happy together forever!



And one of my favorites. This is 1959 and I am happy in my dad and mom's lap, with my cousins surrounding us.

So there you have it.

You have permission to yell at me if this gets depressing again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May God bless this year 2011.

And to All a Goodnight

So I was like 8 years old and my cousin was 6. That's my new Betsy Wetsy doll. Life was good.

Today, life was good as well. My mother and I spent our first Christmas together since 1995.

It's 5pm and I'm still in my toasty nightgown! That's our tradition Larry and I. We stay wrapped up, eat leftovers and watch videos. Today so far we have watched Julie and Julia and The Nannie Diaries. Now we'll read and then a little later watch another movie, and then make sure I am ready for my class tomorrow. It will be Sunday!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU WITH LOVE

Snow 'n Slush

Okay, so I live in Rochester, New York.

And it snows here.

It's not even officially WINTER yet and we have already had 48" of snow. People, that is FOUR FEET.

C'mon.

I must be getting old. If I can stay home and enjoy the prettiness of it from in the HOUSE, that is a happy day.

Anyway, Larry and I stayed up last night until past midnight talking about stress and stuff. It affects me big time.

I figured out that since my father died fifteen years ago and September 11 happened nearly ten years ago, my life and anxiety level changed. I am more fearful. Walking around with my brain would drive anyone out of their cotton pickin' minds. I drives ME out of my mind!

I've always been kind of a worrier but NOW, good grief, you'd think I was personally in charge of world peace and everyone's well-being.

Well to be fair, there has been a whole lot of sadness with friends and family in the past couple of years. For one, Larry lost his job. Two of my aunts died, my cousin died, four of my dearest friends lost their husband - three to death and one to divorce. And they were YOUNG. You kind of expect this when you are 80, but one of these guys was 30, with four little kids. Another dear friend is moving to Florida this weekend.

AND, I'm losing my hair. Hormones you know.

It goes on and on.

ENOUGH already! I told Larry that we need to get away from everything for a while. No phones. No Sunday school lessons. No trouble. No sadness. I want to walk in warm water on a secluded beach with white sand and did I say WARM water? It must be warm. Our cruise to the Bahamas is coming up in two months and maybe I can wait that long.

These last few posts have been miserable. To you dear friends who get to read this sorry blog, forgive me for dumping. This apparently is a journal of sorts.

But to make you laugh (and me too,) here are two pictures from the fifties. It's my cousin Mike and me with our grandparents. I'm the one wearing the funky overalls and saddle shoes.

It's Christmas time! I must remember to celebrate the birth of He who was born to help us deal with all this nonsense.

Breathe......nice and easy........

Love you!

Mother in Training

I believe God is teaching me how mothers feel. I can't begin to tell you how much of my mental energy both my mother and Larry's mother use up. Not to mention physical energy. My mother has 8 doctor appointments this month. Eight. So it's like when I am actually home, I want to be alone. Just give me a book and leave me alone. I don't know what's going on in the news, don't watch television hardly at all, rarely talk on the phone.

Then one of my very dear friends fell and broke her hip and she is young, not elderly. They have needed visits and meals 'cause she's going out of her mind sitting all day long.

Another close friend has oral cancer for the second time. She had surgery Monday to remove part of her jaw and another 1/3 of her tongue. Her husband died a couple of years ago at 55 and she is raising her granddaughter. All of us friends are pitching in to stay with her at the hospital now.

Is this how moms feel when they are struggling to keep their sanity?

And Larry and I are both looking for work!

So all you moms out there - consider yourself hugged.

Thanksgiving Review

Before the chaos of 5 children, 11 adults and 1 cat - not all at once though....

.....including the mother who is anxiously awaiting turkey.

The platter above, which is holding the turkey, actually DID hold a real live turkey bird a very long time ago - ME!

See, the year after I was born, which was the week before Thanksgiving she placed me on the turkey platter and brought me to the table! Apparently my grandfather had a fit, claiming she was going to drop me.

She didn't.

I survived.

And now the story is legend. I do love the platter and the plates. My parents bought the set for my grandparents 25th wedding anniversary in 1953. I have them now. They really are beautiful.

Now continuing....

I lost the wishbone war.

We had a wonderful day. It was LOUD.

This was our menu:

Turkey of course

Dressing

Mashed potatoes

Gravy

Butternut squash (from our garden!)

Cranberry sauce from our family recipe

Cranberry chutney from P. Allen Smith's recipe

My cousin's cranberry pear dish

Olives

KayLee's homemade rolls

FOUR pies - 2 pumpkin, an apple and a grape

Real whipped cream

Chestnuts

Clementines

There was nothing green. Oh wait, anise. You know the celery that tastes like licorice.

Family, friends, good food, good conversation, singing children and my sweet husband who cleaned up the WHOLE MESS. The kitchen was spotless when we went to bed.

He really should teach husband classes.

Excuse me while I go decorate the tree.

Catching up a bit

Well if this isn't the yummiest hamburger you ever saw......

And guess what? It's made of glass!

Yep, and it's at the Corning Museum of Glass. Larry and I took our young friend Erik down to Corning for the day (no school) and we all had the best time! The boys are standing in front of this glorious glass mural.

It's a marvelous place with lots of exhibits, things to do and awesome demonstrations.

Erik was chosen to help out with this cool glass breaking demonstration. We learned how different kinds of glass are designed to break, or not to break and he got to do it!

Then Erik got to make glass himself! He made a beautiful glass pendant with colors he chose himself. He actually got to work with the glass and flame to fashion his treasure.

I don't have a picture of the pendant because after he made it, it had to cool for a day. Then they sent it to him in the mail. Rumor has it he wears it all the time! Maybe today he will wear it to our house and I can get a picture of it.

I helped Erik's mom give birth to him over ten years ago. It still amazes me that they grow so quickly.

Then a few days later, we celebrated my birthday. Larry is a good lighter of candles.

I had help blowing them out from Robbie, our young four year old friend!

And here is a picture I never thought would happen. It's my mother and Larry and me on my birthday at our house. She made me a cake, which was just the yummiest cake ever and put the candles on it. It truly is a miracle.

Robbie is one of my doula "babies" from four years ago. His mom Lisa and I became close very quickly. It was one of those connections that don't happen often. She is a sweetheart and I love her.

So Robbie and his parents came over to celebrate. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I helped these kiddos come into the world.
And here is Robbie signing the guest book.

Well today is Thanksgiving, one of my favorite days of the year. It's 5:30 in the morning and I have been up since 3:23am. I couldn't go back to sleep, one of those things. But I want to get the turkey in the oven by 8:00, so I don't think going back to bed is in my future.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Larry is MINE! All MINE!

That man I married.

Ya know. Larry?

Today for my birthday he gave me a gift certificate for FIVE, count 'em FIVE massages.

There is this wonderful massage therapist named Kristen Pata and I love her and now I get to go to her FIVE times!!!

He also gave me the biography of Thomas S. Monson. I am thrilled beyond words.

AND, he took my mother and me out to dinner. I had my first ever bouillabaisse at Bernard's Grove House. He had prime rib. He was so happy he couldn't even talk. Mom had the most beautiful lamb chops.

The whole thing was wonderful.

AND my mother made me a birthday cake. Imagine.

More coming, and with pictures.

Remember Calgon?

There was this great commercial MANY years ago where the stressed woman cried, "Calgon, take me away!"

She would then sink into a tub, full of luxurious, sweet-smelling bubbles and soak away her woes.

That is what I need .

Someone!! Take me away!!

Better

The weeks haven't been quite so bad as that last post, whew!

It's really cold here this morning, frost is everywhere. It's like 28 degrees.

And the time change messes me up so badly. It's much easier for me to lose the hour than to gain it. Go figure.

I put a pot roast in the slow cooker this morning and now I have to go study a little more for my lesson. Teaching Isaiah has actually been pretty cool.

Later........

Thanks for visiting!

Baaaaad Week

This week was so bad I needed a day to recover.

So Thursday was that day. I did NOTHING.

Friday Larry and I went to the TEMPLE and received some much needed peace.

Saturday I stayed home all day and did stuff.

Yesterday my Sunday School lesson was awful. I was confused, the lesson was disjointed and the class seemed like they were asleep. Miserable.

AND, not to mention that THE YANKEES blew their chance to be in the World Series. They played absolutely terribly in the playoffs and did not deserve to win. I don't know what happened to the team with the best record for most of the year, but boy did they stink against the Texas Rangers.

BUT, here are pictures of some of my favorite little people in our big, luscious, comfy new leather chair and the sofa. THEY make me happy!

Enough already

You are probably as tired as me - of seeing my face on this blog. Man.

So what else?

Well, this video is hilarious. Maybe you need to be Italian to appreciate it, I don't know.

But just so you know, my grandmother's were not like this. I never heard either of them EVER say, "freakin!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQB9X1n-BF8

HEPPY HALLOWEENA - eh! (Yep...heppy.)

Oh, Katrina

Whenever you come back east, (as opposed to up north, down south and out west) you want to hook up with ME??? Really?

I am grinning profusely.

See???!!!

AND......

......if I come out west, like maybe to Herriman, can I hook up with YOU???

Kitty and a Keg (WHAT?)

It's 6:18am. I've been up since 5am. WAAAAY too early but that's what happened.

For your viewing pleasure, here is the cat curled up in my clothes basket. It's a first for her. I had finished folding clothes and left the basket on the bed. When I went back in the bedroom, lo and behold, there she was looking adorable.

and a closer shot

Wednesday night was the Census reunion. Larry thought it would be fun to take my picture by the keg of beer. I was oblivious. I have a paper clip chain around my neck that one of the guys made and then of course I am holding the duck. One of the Census operations was called "Questionnaire Assistance Center" or "QAC and Be Counted." Someone had brought in the duck for QAC (quack.) The poor duck was shot and killed daily by rubber band weapons.

The Yankees are 2 and 0 against the Minnesota Twins in the playoffs. Whew.

Oh and P.S. for those of you who want to know where we are going on the cruise, well it is Port Canaveral AND, ta da..... the Bahamas!!

Guest Book etc...

Dear Carol and Anya,

Thank you for the great suggestions on children's books! Amazon was the ticket. We now have in our library :

Bat Jamboree

Rhyming Dust Bunnies

Trouble at the Dinosaur Cafe

Corgiville Fair

and coming soon to a mailbox near me:

A Giraffe and a Half

Not a Box

I picked up a cute notebook at Michaels and then, instead of sweet treats for the treat basket, bought fun little toys.

Last week I had my first customers. Two darling little boys from down the road came to the door selling candy for Cub Scouts. Their dad was with them. I had them sign the guest book (and man, were they excited!) and then pick out a treat from the basket.

They didn't have time to stop in for a story and I thought the dad might freak if I asked to take their picture, but I did invite them back.

It was very fun.

OCTOBER!

My favorite month..........

Today is a simply gorgeous COOL fall day. Sunshine, clouds, blue sky and a cool breeze, cool enough for long sleeves. I love it.

Tomorrow is our 29th anniversary. 29 years!!! I think we are going out to breakfast.

Tomorrow and Sunday is also General Conference weekend! So happy for two special days coming up. Learn about it here.

Sending hugs to all of you :-)

Boy, Were We Tired (The End)

One last thing of so many I could write is from Marrilee Boyack -

She said, "EVERYTHING that occurs in our life is to bless us."

I believe that. I must.

Okay girlfriends in Rochester, sit down.

TIME OUT FOR WOMEN

is coming to Rochester next October!!!!!!! Look HERE!!!!

After the conference was over Saturday afternoon, we drove down to New Haven to go this famous place called Louis' Lunch. It's been around since the 1890's and claim to have invented hamburgers. I don't know if they did really, but I do know that it was the BEST hamburger I ever ate! Some famous chef even said that on the Food Network!

And then as we were driving around downtown New Haven, we found the campus of YALE UNIVERSITY. The most glorious buildings, tree-lined streets, picturesque campus ever. And as we drove through, the carillon rang at 5pm. I was enchanted. I had tears welling up. My little cousin Clare graduated from there.

So on the way home, we stopped in Syracuse to see our good friend Susie and her family.

Susie, yours truly, Gail and Linda

AMEN.

Boy, Were We Tired (Part Three)

One outstanding, inspirational (although I hate that word,) beautiful, tear producing, laughter inducing speaker after another.............

Emily Watts, speaking about working on a miracle said, "Don't ever stop trying because things could be happening that you don't know about."

She also reminded us that when we ask for our "daily bread," help will come. God doesn't give us stones when we ask for bread.

S. Michael Wilcox told us of the time they gave their four year old daughter a little pink Princess phone. One day she was involved in a very serious conversation. Her dad asked her who she was talking to.

She said, "Jesus."

He asked her what Jesus was telling her.

"He says to get married in the TEMPLE."

Boy, Were We Tired (Part Two)

Virginia Hinckley Pearce talked about living a successful life.

She said, "Get out of the business of comparison." Someone is always better than you and someone else is always worse, so what's the point?!

The ONLY one to compare yourself to is your true potential self.

She said, "Comparison between yourself and others is the fast track to being miserable."

Sister Pearce also said to look out for false measures of success, like your callings, or how many children you have, or if you are married or not, or how much money you have. She told of how people are all so excited to hear how many grandchildren she has. She made it clear that the number of her grandchildren doesn't mean she is successful! It was so funny how she said, "I had NOTHING to do with how many grandchildren I have!"

And then to follow up, she said that it is NOT a good measure of success if someone else's agency is involved.

We were spiritually fed every day.

Boy, Were We Tired

What I learned at our Time Out For Women conference in Hartford, Connecticut.

FRIENDS!! are so vital to my life. I can do anything with a friend by my side.

Listening is a gift in itself.

The hotel mirror shot. I was trying to cover the flash because I couldn't remember how to turn it off. But then I did.

Why is it that I look better backwards in a mirror?

The purses and bags lining our feet at the conference. You would have thought we were going on a mission what with all the stuff we brought.

Our beautiful African sister Mariama telling us her heart wrenching story of escaping Sierra Leone and finding the church.

My brain couldn't make up it's mind whether I wanted to laugh or cry. So I did both, almost simultaneously sometimes.

Sherry Dew couldn't make it. Very sad. But she video taped an incredible talk for us and then Virginia Hinckley Pearce came to the conference instead! Very happy.

Jenny Oaks Baker played the violin. Holy mackerel. I had no idea that I liked violin so much. I bought TWO of her CD's. The woman went to Juilliard. She can PLAY.

I will write over the next several posts some things I learned at our conference in Hartford.

For instance:

Someone asked Pres. Hinckley's wife Marjorie what her secret to a successful marriage was. She answered, "Lower your expectations." HA HA! I love it! She was married to Gordon B. Hinckley. I'm married to Larry. Maybe it's a good idea......Hmmmmm...