Whadjagonnadue?

Gotta Just Love that Baby!

2011-05-20T22:31:00.000-07:00

My mother was right! It's great being a grandmother. So I'll just share a couple of pictures we took of our cutie pie while together last week in Utah and Nevada.

Graduation Hurray!

2011-05-14T22:24:00.000-07:00

So wonderful to attend Andrea's graduation at UNLV where she received her master's degree in education, emphasis in children's literature library science. She's been steadily working on this for three years while teaching first grade and then this last year starting over as the school librarian. Hats off to you, Andrea!!!

A Heart felt Prayer

2011-04-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

One thing I love about being in Primary is the honesty of the children. Pure and simple honesty. One nine year old boy closed primary with his heartfelt prayer: "Thank thee that we can hear some of the stories about Jesus in Primary today, but we look forward to being with you again so we can get more details. I have a lot of questions!"

Whew, I made it to the end of the internet

2011-04-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have not been keeping up with blogs or facebook for quite some time. Life is good but very busy. This Sunday afternoon I had some quiet time and decided to catch up on blog reading. What fun! I learned lots of new recipe ideas, caught up on nieces and nephews and their doings, learned great quotes and inspirational ideas as well as some funny ideas that didn't work so well (green food coloring in the toilet for a 3 year old was frightening on St. Patrick's day). So thank you everyone! But I am glad to be caught up with google reader (or whatever it's called) and reach the end of the internet (so it says).

Carmela Day 3

2011-01-03T21:21:00.001-08:00

At the request of family members, who don’t want to miss a minute of this little baby’s first days, and a Grandma who just can’t stop taking pictures, here are a few from Carmela’s third day after arriving home from the hospital.

Carmela

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Carmela Day 2

2011-01-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures we took at the hospital in Phoenix last night. Mike, Brent and I drove out Saturday evening and went straight to the hospital. Tamara was discharged Saturday morning and Carmela was discharged today (Sunday morning). Her breathing was much improved last night and gradual improvement in eating. Today she has been eating better! She sleeps alot - important for her to conserve energy for eating. She just feels SO wonderful to hold. Mike and Brent returned back home tonight. Glad they got a little cuddle time in. We love being grandparents!

Pearl Harbor Day

2010-12-09T22:52:00.000-08:00

When I walked into a nursing facility for work on Tuesday, December 7, I mentioned to a few residents sitting nearby that it was Pearl Harbor Day. Two men later came up and shared personal experiences they remembered on that day.

One of the men was a boy living with his family in Navy housing near Pearl Harbor. His dad left for work down at the harbor not suspecting anything unusual. When the sirens went off, this man (then a boy) and his mother went into an underground bomb shelter. When all was clear and they returned to their home, they found that one side of the house had bullet sprays all across from the living room through the kitchen including through the refrigerator and into a bedroom. His father was safe but lost some of his friends.

Another man, also a young boy at that time, told how during the week after the attack, his dad packed the whole family up and drove from San Diego up to Monterrey to enlist in the army. He was turned down because he had three children, so they returned back to San Diego. Many things were in short supply and couldn't be purchased, like shoes. His father would drive to Mexico and purchase huaraches (leather sandals) for his children. This little boy didn't have a pair of shoes other than the sandals until he was 7 or 8.

Both were grateful for their dad's example of service and patriotism to their country and the freedoms we enjoy. What a great reminder of the American spirit on a tragic day years ago.

Learning Curve

2010-10-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

Mike came home from a buisness trip to LA and wanted something light to eat for dinner (having eaten out for two days). He suggested Cream of Wheat. Since only the two of us were home for dinner, he asked if the 4 portion serving was good to make (yes, because it was dinner). So, he measured the water and put it on the burner. While it was heating up, we took care of getting the trash out to the street. When we came back, the water was boiling. I double checked with him that he had done the recipe for four. So I measured the cereal and poured it in as I stirred. It got very thick, very quickly. Then I realized what I had done. I am so used to doubling everything for the family, that by habit, I doubled the amount of cereal for the serving of 4! So Mike whipped while I poured in more hot water! It may take time to remember to cut back on the amount of food to fix for two! Maybe I'll have to call the kids and ask them how much to fix - they are used to cooking for 1 or 2!

Look! Our own little Pups!

2010-10-01T20:04:00.001-07:00

Yep, our own little pups! Earlier this summer, we replanted the sego palm Mother gave us several years ago. We took it out of the large plastic pot to replant inside a plastic trash can (with the bottom poked out to allow drainage). We popped off the trunk about 5-8 of the pups. They didn't have any fronds on them but I decided to plant them and see if they grew. Well, 3 of them did! So are we going to end up propagating lots of segos like Daddy??? Mother told us there are plenty more pups up at her house!

Oh, yesterday before our thunder and rainstorm, the large yellow epis blossomed - 3 blooms at once. They were beautiful in the morning and dead by the afternoon. So sad they are shortlived.

This Crop is for the Birds!

2010-09-25T19:54:00.001-07:00

Our apple tree has two crops each year, a crop ripe in July and then crabapples in December. However, this year, we have had an unseasonably mild summer with just a few heat waves in the 100s. Our apple tree started reblossoming in July before all the other apples were picked (or fell to the ground). The crabapples usually stay small, but this year they are bigger and are already ripe and have started to fall to the ground. We certainly are not going to pick and can these apples so we freely dedicate this crop to the birds - as if we have to give them permission!

Well, I tried three times to upload a little video I took of a house finch chowing down on an apple up in our tree, but with no success. So imagine you saw this video and it made a nice little blog entry. Ha!

LOL

2010-08-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night, we left our Nashville time share and stayed downtown Nashville in the Renaissance hotel. (Tamara's graduation was Friday night and the time share ended Friday morning.) Mother, Mike and I shared a room with two queen beds that night. At 3 am I woke up to go to the bathroom. I found it in the dark but wanted to find the toilet so I shut the door and turned on the light. When I left, I turned out the light before I opened the door so I wouldn't wake anyone up. I couldn't see a thing of course, as my eyes hadn't adjusted back to the darkness and so was groping around thinking there was a wall (where there wasn't). But all of a sudden I was startled and jumped and screamed! There was Mother standing all of sudden right in front of me. I told her, "I didn't see you there." She didn't say anything. I tried to move to one side to let her go into the bathroom but she moved the same way - several times. So, I reached out to hold her shoulders so I could step around her. But what I found was the closet door mirror! I had been seeing my own reflection in the dark. So I started laughing! And through all this, no one woke up.

Some kind of Blessing

2010-06-16T22:55:00.000-07:00

This morning, Mike asked me to sign my check from the church for Primary supplies. So, I turned it over, signed it and then decided to look at the amount. $532.00! Wow. They must have made a $500 mistake or there are more blessings to paying tithing and serving in the Primary than I realized! Mike took the check to look at "the mistake." The mistake was with me not putting on glasses! The 5 was really the $ sign! Oh well. I'll just count my many other blessings!

Can eating vegetables get better than this?

2010-05-19T20:37:00.001-07:00

Brent and I were hungry for lunch and discussed our options on our way home early this afternoon. Tired of grilled cheese sandwiches (his specialty) I suggested trying to dip potato bread in our leftover pumpkin pancake batter and frying on the griddle like French toast. It turned out delicious! And I say, doesn’t that count for two vegetable servings!

Going Stag

2010-05-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

Today I spent several hours working out in the front yard. It looks much better but there is still another full day’s work to finish it up. I cleared out the weeds in the front planter and had Brent dig some holes for me to plant some of our plants purchased almost two years ago for landscaping! Much better!

When I was finished for the day, I decided to take a few pictures. My favorite is of the staghorn fern. My dad originally obtained some staghorn fern plants from a friend of my mother's. He took the old containers apart and replanted the ferns into 4 or 5 large hanging baskets. Mother gave us one of the baskets in October 2003 and we hung it from a tree limb. It was heavy and not easy, but they did it!

Then we decided to take that tree out since it was so messy and had to move the fern to the front yard magnolia tree. While hanging there, the wire basket rusted through and the LARGE plant fell to the ground. It sat there for quite some time as it is too heavy for two men to move.

Mike and I decided last spring (2009) to make a macrame holder out of nylon rope for the staghorn to rehang it. After a botched attempt (wrong shape), Brent used his math skills to help us retie the knots in a way to fit the plant. Mike had our fence guy build a metal post and cement it deep in the ground to hang the staghorn on. It was not an easy thing to drag the staghorn across the yard (sliding it on boards) and then hoist it up onto the pole using Brent’s engineered rope pulley with Mike wrapped around the ropes pulling as he walked down the street! But up it went last spring.

The plant looked pretty sad after being shoved into a macrame net holder with leaves being squished here and there as well as the wear and tear of the original fall and then travel across the yard. I watered and cared for it, gently pulling leaves through the woven macrame. And voila! This spring it just took off and is full and beautiful!

There is Plenty Indeed for my two Hands to Do!

2010-05-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

This morning, we headed out to Lake Moreno to help clean up the campground as part of California’s Mormon Helping Hands day. The yucca were all in bloom, the hills still green and wildflowers spotted the landscape. We got our assignment and cleaned out a primitive campsite by shoveling out trash from the fire ring, sifting out broken glass and cleaning up the area. All went well until they fired up the wood chopper and began feeding in downed tree limbs, etc. and spewing it out like volcanic ash! My asthma pleaded for me to hide! We finished our one little area and then left as the boys had so much school work and projects and real work and lessons to prepare and …. But it was a lovely trip to the mountains.

A Nifty Little Trick – Maybe!

2010-05-02T22:01:00.001-07:00

This evening I discovered our first spring epi (epiphyllum) blossom in a pot tucked under our lemon tree. Since the blossoms don’t last long whether on the thorny plant or in a vase, I decided to cut the bloom to enjoy inside. By tomorrow night it will be limp and the beauty will be gone. So, carefully I reached under the tree and across the big pot (the blossom of course was on the farthest side, difficult to reach) to cut the blossom off. But, not careful enough, with my other hand trying to pull away the lemon branch, my thumb brushed along the epi plant producing a thorn now stuck in my thumb. The thorns are really a little spine that is clear and small and impossible to see –but definitely a bit painful. So, after placing the prized bloom in water, I went to relieve my pain.

There are two methods that I know of to remove this tiny thorn. 1. Use a roll of tape. 2. Spread a small amount of white glue across the area and after it dries, peel the thorn off with the dried glue. Well, I didn’t have any white glue (after Brent’s escapade years ago using liquid glue to make mousetraps all over the family room, I switched to glue sticks), so I tried two kinds of tape (scotch and packing) and neither worked. So, I searched through Chelsea’s desk drawer and found a bottle of white glue!!! But, as one might anticipate, the glue was no longer runny but was rubbery. After all, the price sticker states I bought it from Thrifty’s which has been closed for many years! I managed to wipe a damp spot of glue on my thumb and tried to wait until the glob dried. It was obnoxious and I pulled it off too soon with no thorn removed! Brent helped me try the glue one more time. So I’m trying to be patient in letting the glue glob really dry this time. Then hopefully rip and remove to a pain free thumb.

They got me!

2010-04-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

Tonight Mike told Brent, "Mom won't eat these leftovers tonight when she gets home." Brent said, "Well, there's nothing else, what will she eat?" Mike said, "the leftover chocolate cake!" I came home after they were done with their dinner and were studying for their test at school tonight. I opened the fridge and stared and decided I didn't want leftover crockpot scalloped potatoes with ham (it wasn't very good). Then I looked over at the counter and decided a slice of chocolate cake with a spoonful of peanut butter and a glass of milk would make a good dinner. They got me! MMMMmmmm good (ok not so healthy but very good).

Come and See!

2010-04-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

Chelsea, Grandma and I toured the newly remodeled and wonderfully updated Mormon Battalion Historic Site while Chelsea was home from school. The statue of the Battalion member is now out in front to greet you along with a cannon, a covered wagon to climb into and great rockers on the patio overlooking Old Town, San Diego. The story line is cute as you wender your way through different stops along the trail.

And we learned a little more about our Harmon relative from Nauvoo and Carthage. Ebenezer Harmon was in Company C. He reached San Diego and re-enlisted in Los Angeles. However, we find out at the Mormon Battalion Site that he was courtmartialed for stealing a cow. There was no record of his death date. From other information, it appears he probably joined his brother in the gold rush and wasn't heard from again.

March Flower Dilemma

2010-03-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

I love flowers! For the first year my calla lillies bloomed. I can see them while I'm at the kitchen sink. I have such a dilemma. Should I cut them and bring them inside to enjoy or leave them on the bush where they will last longer and I can enjoy them from the kitchen window? How many blooms will there be? Enough to cut and leave on the bush? I look through the bush and see there are more buds starting to form. Ok, I cut three and enjoy them in a tall vase!

The Sister Island to St. Kitts: Nevis

2010-02-03T18:09:00.000-08:00

Five-Mast Ship - AM
St Kitts and Nevis
Charlestown - Nevis



Primary School
Botanical Gardens








Montpelier Plantation



Golden Rock Nature Trail

Nevis Countryside
Tropical Ice Cream
Raising the Sails


Ferry

The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis constitute one country and share the same flag. "Nevis" is derived from a Spanish name Nuestra Señora de las Nieves which means Our Lady of the Snows. It is a reference to the story of a 4th century Catholic miracle: a snowfall on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. Presumably the white clouds which usually wreathe the top of Nevis Peak reminded someone of the story of a miraculous snowfall in a hot climate. (Source: Wikipedia) Nevis is just south of St. Kitts, a 45 minute ferry ride.

The capitol of Nevis (pronounced knee vus)is Charlestown. We arrived there in the morning and checked out the main street and a few buildings and picked up stamps at the post office. The buildings are built of stone and are very British colonial. We checked out the grocery store on the main road. The outside architecture was great. We went to a few souvenir stores and Carmela bought a Caribbean cookbook and I bought a batik tablecloth. After Mike "interviewed" taxi drivers, we climbed in the taxi for our island tour.

We drove through the small town of Charlestown and then headed out to the Botanical Gardens of Nevis. It was a surprise to see so many Asian statuaries throughout the garden. The orchids were beautiful as well as many other flowering plants.

We left the gardens for Montpelier Plantation where we ate lunch. All of the sugar plantations on Nevis were closed long before those in St. Kitts. The original plantation home was built of stone and was right near their windmill (none of the windmills function anymore, but the stone towers are still there). The verandah of the plantation had a lovely view looking out over the island and the Caribbean ocean.

Our next stop was one we had planned: a 30 minute nature hike at the Golden Rock Nature Trail near another plantation. It was up higher on the mountain into the rainforest so we thought we might see monkeys there. The hike was steep and the trail was rocky and the path not always clear. However, we had a trail map and there were markers for showing us different species of plants and trees. We were glad for the Tarzan like roots that we could hang onto to help us from slipping on the trail. It was a beautiful walk but we saw no monkeys! We thought we could hear their chatter in the distance.

We had hoped to stop at a heritage village but it was too late in the day. We completed our drive around the island and had great fun watching the monkeys playing in the field. Back to Charlestown, we stopped to get some ice cream: tangerine, strawberry and other tropical flavors. Yum. It is always warm in the Caribbean and ice cream sure hit the spot!

On the ferry trip back to St. Kitts, we saw in the distance a sailing cruise ship that started to unfurl their sails. There were 5 masts with 5-6 sails on each mast. They started unfurling at the lower end of the mast and worked up. It was beautiful to watch as the boat literally sailed off into the sunset!

A tour of St. Kitts

2010-01-31T20:36:00.000-08:00

Basseterre
National Museum
Catholic Cathedral
Court House at Independence Square
Slave Auction Block
Anglican Church
Fishing Villages

Nesting Egrets

Plantation Mill
Romney Manor/Caribelle Batik




Brimstone Hill Fortress





Rawlins Plantation




Mount Liamuiga
Caribbean meets the Atlantic


School Children

Our taxi and tour driver, Don, gave us a wonderful tour of the island of St. Kitts. The island's full name is St. Christopher, after Christopher Columbus who first landed on the island. The island's nickname is Sugar City as it once produced a lot of sugar. The cost of production became too high and 5 years ago the last sugar cane plantation was closed down. Many jobs were lost and the fields of sugar cane were left to grow wild. We drove by the vacant sugar cane plant in Basseterre and across the way were fields of sugar cane left to grow wild.

We started off in the capitol city, Basseterre(where the Carnival was). The green clock tower is considered the center of the city. Independence Square is now a park but once was where slaves were auctioned. The big homes around the square housed in their basements the slaves waiting to be auctioned. The slaves were given their freedom in 1834. There is also a beautiful Co-Cathedral on this square as well as the current courthouse. We also stopped at the Anglican church in town.

We stopped briefly at some other sights and views. One place was a memorial to the war between the British and the Carib indians where it was said the Carib blood flowed from the battle field. We also stopped to see the nesting egrets. There were juvenile egrets in the tree waiting for their parent to bring them back food. They lofted high in the tree so the mangoose wouldn't get them.

Our first stop was at the Romney Manor, orignially owned by Thomas Jefferson's ancestors. It first was once a busy sugar cane plantation. It fell into disrepair post emancipation but in 1974 was purchased and repairs began. It now houses the Caribelle Batik business. There were many beautiful batiks displayed and for purchase. The manor also has lovely botanical gardens which are at the edge of the rainforest with Mt. Lumiagua nearby. The white flowered bush is named, "Snow on the Mountain."

We then travelled on north to the Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO national park. It was built by the English and the African slaves using the volcanic stones from nearby Mt. Liamuiga. The fortress is on a prominent hill on the northwest end of the island. It has beautiful views of the towns below, the Caribbean Sea and the island of Saba. On a clear day you can also see the island of Eustatius. Due to the volcanic eruption on Montserrat, the island south of Nevis, there was ash in the sky and we couldn't see Eustatius or St. Marten on the eastern side of St. Kitts. The British and the French had many battles to occupy the island of St. Kitts. The French ran a blockade off the coast of Brimstone Fortress and starved the British who finally surrendered. However, the French occupied the fort high on the hill for only one year before giving it back to the British! The stone gate leading into the fort complex is on a steep hill and a sharp turn - very difficult to maneuver vans and busses through! Click the link above for more info.

All along the route were small little villages. Some were fishing villages on the coast. We also saw goats everywhere! The goats go meandering off during the day to forage for food but know when to return home every evening. The villagers eat goat meat as a staple along with breadfruit, fruit (pineapple, papaya, mango, bananas) and garden vegetables. There are two schools in each village - the primary school for children to age 12 and then the secondary school from 12 to 18. The students in each school wear a school uniform. They looked very sharp! We enjoyed seeing the children walking home from school for lunch and after school.

We ate lunch at Rawlins Plantation on the northeast end of the island. It also had been a sugar plantation. We were the only ones there for lunch (we were late since we took longer to explore the fortress) and ate on the verranda. We ate a buffet of wonderful authentic Caribbean food: jerked chicken, curried chicken, johnny cakes,rice, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, tropical fruit, mango sauce...

We took two of the waitresses to their little villages after our lunch. At one village we could look out and see where the Caribbean Ocean met the Atlantic ocean. What a view.

What a wonderful day. Warm and humid, tropical and breezy, sunny and cloudy and full of great people and interesting sites!

Caribbean Chocolate

2010-01-31T12:15:00.000-08:00

When we went to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia on Jan. 14, 2010, we (I) really wanted to visit the Fond Doux Working Cocoa Plantation. I had, of course, read about it on the internet before our trip. But what I hadn’t read was that even though the distance wasn’t far from the port, the roads were very windy, two lane only and very slow! The trip was a good hour or more through the mountains and tropical rainforest and

past banana plantations and

small villages

with a beautiful overlook of the Grand Pitons peaks and into

the fishing town of Soufriere.

After checking out the volcano and sulphur springs, we headed in our van tour to the Fond Doux estate.

Whoever wrote the grand review for this estate, plantation and tour, ought to visit again!

But we still got to see two cocoa trees with the cocoa pods growing from newly green to ripe red. The other trees on the plantation are planted under the tree canopy to protect them – so the trees are just scattered here and there, not planted in rows.

The pods are collected, split open where the seeds (or cocoa beans) are covered in a milky film. The seeds are removed and washed and dried.

They showed us the washed and drying cocoa beans on large wooden trays. That was the tour!

Then off to the side, Mike discovered an employee who was grinding the beans. First grind broke the beans into smaller pieces and the second grind into a paste like dough. This was then rolled by hand into small logs. We each tasted the cocoa paste and it was bitter and chocolaty. I bought one of the logs she made with a recipe book. The St. Lucians like to drink Cocoa tea with grated cocoa from these logs. Still haven’t tried it out! Maybe today being a cool rainy day and I’m home with a cold would be a good time to give it a try!

Most of their chocolate is sold to Hershey’s in Pennsylvania.

Here is an album of our day in St. Lucia:

View Full Album

How was the Caribbean Food?

2010-01-30T20:37:00.000-08:00

St Kitts Fisherman
Sidewalk Market


Frozen Meats at Grocery

Coconut Tree
Banana Tree
Caribbean Buffet
Yams and Sweet Potatoes

Caribbean Pumpkins
Nevis Bakery
Shipwreck Cafe - Ting
Conch Fritters
Puerto Rican Appetizer
Dominica
Emerald Pools
Star Fruit
Coconut Water
Bananas

Sugar Cane
St Lucia Market


Bread Fruit Tree
Used to make Drink
Root Vegetables
Cinnamon

We loved the Caribbean food we had. Our first night in St. Kitts we ate at the Marriott's Calypso Restaurant which features local fruits, vegetables and fish. We enjoyed their buffet with pumpkin, fish and chicken dishes, and seafood soups.

On Saturday morning, we found one grocery store open (all were closed for the holiday as Jan 2 is the last day of Carnival). Look at the frozen meat section pictures: ox tail, bull foot, pig foot, etc. The frozen beef and chicken didn't look like what we'd want to eat so we bought a ham to boil. We ate that ham almost every night that week.

We enjoyed a very authentic Caribbean buffet meal at the Rawlins Plantation on St. Kitts. We ate jerked chicken, fish, curry chicken, fritters, johnny-cakes, rice, salads, pumpkin, tropical fruit, and more. We ate sitting on the verrandah overlooking the plantation gardens, pool and smokestack.

Our guide told us that no one should ever have to go hungry on the island because food grows all year round. Many have breadfruit trees but these trees were pretty well picked by this time on St. Kitts (never saw one here with breadfruit). Breadfruit is a common food that they roast, boil and cook with stew (goat meat stews). Most every home has a small vegetable garden and many sell their vegetables at roadside stands. Also bananas grow well on the island. There are many coconut trees but apparently Kittitians don't use much coconut in their cooking (more so on other islands).

There are many fishing villages and the fishermen come back to the shore with their catch and sell it right on the roadsides. After seeing these "cutting" tables, I was ok not buying any fish to cook!

We tried conch fritters and Ting at the Shipwreck Cafe at So. Friar's Bay (where the monkeys were fed). The fritters were great and Ting is the island made grapefruit soft drink - it tasted good too. In Nevis we stopped at a bakery and bought a spice bun, a piece of chocolate cake (rather bread like), a cinnamon roll and something else. They were good, but not as sweet as we eat in the states. Bakeries were very small businesses with not much variety. They did sell pumpkin and sweet potato pies.

A great treat when we were hungry (well we were never hungry really) after our little rainforest hike on Dominica, was the ripe bananas, candied coconut, chopped coconut pieces, sugar cane and plantain chips! They were also selling coconuts chopped tops of with a machete and with a straw to drink the coconut liquid. (We all had tried that in Hawaii and none of us liked it then).

On our cruise port day back at St. Kitt's we went to see the Farmer's market but it was a Friday and not many were selling their fruits, vegetables or meats. I took lots of pictures on almost every island of the produce stands. The colors and sights were so intriguing. There were tiny green and red bell peppers (our driver said they were delicious), avocados the size of the small pineapples,ginger root, bananas, green onion bunches, actual yams as well as sweet potatoes, green pumpkins (insides were orange and pretty much tasted like pumpkin), onions, cauliflower, cabbages, and a green vegetable (can't remember the name).

One disappointment was that the cruise ship didn't have a special meal based on traditional Caribbean foods. We would have preferred that over the Mexican buffet served late one night. I should have added that to our comment card! However, I am anxious for Carmela to share a favorite recipe from her little cookbook from Nevis and I found a great sounding Jamaican ginger cake recipe I'll have to try!

You're A Monkey's Uncle

2010-01-30T11:29:00.000-08:00

We kept on the lookout throughout our travels in St. Kitts to see the Green or Vervet monkeys. They were brought to the island by the French in the 1600's from South Africa. The monkeys have no natural predators on the island and are now said to outnumber the Kittitians by 3:1. One report said there are 36,000 people on the island - that would make over 100,000 monkeys - and we didn't see any!

Until...

We took the ferry over to the island of Nevis (a 45 min. ride) on Wed, Jan 6. We took a tour of the island and stopped to take a nature trail hike in the rainforest- hoping to see the monkeys. We think we heard them, we saw empty banana peels and busted coconuts - but no monkeys.

But, later on our island tour, our taxi driver quickly pulled off the side of the road near a big field with some trees where he spotted monkeys. Sure enough! There were lots of them frolicking in the trees and in the high grassy fields. They were far away, but we managed one or two pictures. Pretty cool - nature in action! (Click on this picture to see the two monkeys- one is in the tree).

The concierge at the Marriott told us about a place on St. Kitts where the monkeys are fed at noon. So off, we went to So. Friar's bay to a little beach shack called the Shipwreck Bar & Grill. The restaurant cooks take their leftovers out to a spot on the nearby hill and leave it for the monkeys. We saw the monkeys start coming down from the hill before she brought out the food. They were very engaging to watch. One little monkey, who spent his time at the restaurant tables, was not accepted by the other monkeys. When they felt he was taking their food they would hiss and charge at him. He would squat down flat to make himself look like a mongoose! We did see three different mongeese come to eat as well. FUN!

Church on the Islands

2010-01-24T16:17:00.000-08:00

There are many Christian churches on all of the islands we visited. The taxi drivers pointed out the churches and were proud that everyone goes to church on Sunday. Most of our taxi drivers knew about the white shirted LDS missionaries and if there was an LDS church (Mormon church) on their island.

We had our LDS building address in Basseterre, St. Kitts with us and fortunately a phone no. as well. LDS.org had listed the worship service at 10:20 and church at 9:00. So Mike decided to call the phone no. listed to be sure it was Sacrament Meeting first. The phone is answered by a child. Mike asks. "Do you know what time church starts tomorrow? " Answer: "No." "Do you know if Sacrament Meeting is first?" Answer: "No." "Are you LDS, Mormon?" Answer: "Yes." "Is your mother or father there?" Answer: "Yes." Eventually Mike did find our answer - Sacrament Meeting started at 9AM.

Our dependable taxi driver picked us up at 8 AM and dropped us off at the building (it was the building I had spotted the day before!) and then took Carmela to the Catholic church in town.
We were quite early and so enjoyed walking through the neighborhood. The senior missionaries arrived at 8:55 and unlocked the gates and doors. First thing is to turn on the AC and the fans! Slowly people began to arrive (it's called "island time"). We sat in folding chairs in a room just larger than our RS rooms and enjoyed the testimony meeting.

We met a young couple with two small children who had arrived the same day we did. He was going to start at the medical school there. One of the missionaries might have been a son of Mike's former missionary companion. No time to check. We weren't able to visit much as our taxi driver had another committment and we had to leave by 10:15. We were afraid, since we were there on island time, that we would have to walk out before the meeting was over. The problem was, they locked the door we came in so everyone late (later than late) would come in through another back door. But all went well.

The church in the upper right corner is the LDS building in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We were so thankful Mike knew Spanish to help ask directions from the taxi driver and people on the street as we drove along! We finally found the building and the taxi driver dropped us off and would come pick us up in 1 1/2 hours. We knew that the meeting would all be in Spanish (English is spoken in St. Kitts). We waited by the locked gate and no one ever showed up! It must have been stake conference day! We just waited over at the transit station across the way until our taxi driver returned!

It's a Hair Thing Part 1

2010-01-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

I was captivated by hair styles in St. Kitts. The Kittitians have very thick hair. One Kittitian told us that their hair is like wool. Many of them will braid their hair in tiny cornrows and patterns, I imagine it is a lot cooler, too! (It was very warm and humid even in this their cool season). Many of the young girls will have lots of ribbons, clips, and other hair things holding the ends of their many parted and braided hair.

It's a Hair Thing Part 2

2010-01-23T04:45:00.000-08:00

A daily craft fair was set up at the Mariott by Kittitians selling their wares. We all dropped by to see their displays (same jewelry and souvenir items as they sold downtown but no clothing items as that would compete with the upscale stores upstairs). I lingered longer than the rest in our group and mentioned to one Kittitian how much I liked how she wore her hair tied in a scarf. It was a colorful piece of cloth (lavendar) wrapped around her head and then tied into a flower on the side. I mentioned that I had seen lots of Kittitians with beautiful tied scarves in their hair and wondered how they ever did it. Her friend at the table said, "Come! Come sit down, and we'll show you!" She pulled off her friend's scarf and started wrapping my head! Now my head is an odd shape - scarves don't like to stay on! I mentioned that to the Kittitian and she laughed, "Your head isn't odd, we'll get it on!" But it did take work. Another lady handed me a hand mirror so I could learn and watch! They did several styles on my hair and it was fun to chat and watch. But, it still looked much prettier on my Kittitian friend!

It's a Hair Thing Part 3

2010-01-23T04:30:00.000-08:00

In St. Kitts we would often see men with very long hair. They often would pile it all up inside a colorful crocheted cap. These caps were everywhere -same colors, same design. A Kittitian lady told us that many on the island are Rastafarians and believe that their hair should not be cut. However, these caps were also worn by men with short hair. (I quickly dismissed the idea that Brent might like to wear one of these caps in order to not to have to "do" his hair.)

"Las Lap"

2010-01-22T05:21:00.000-08:00

"Las Lap" meaning the Last Lap of Carnival in St. Kitts, is held on January 2. It is the last day of Carnival and groups of people from all over the island and Nevis come together for one last parade. We were able to go downtown in Basseterre to watch some of the carnival festivities. It was supposed to start at noon, but our driver, Don, said it hadn't started yet at two. We looked around for awhile and then heard the very LOUD music and saw fancy costumes and headed over to "The Circus" which is considered the center of downtown (a large, green clock tower is in the center of a turnabout and is called "the circus"). The four of us would walk up and down the streets alongside the crowds and just enjoyed being part of the festivities. The people were very kind and friendly everywhere we went!

It appeared that groups would gather somewhere and then march in on a side street and join the parade. It seemed that as the afternoon went on, more groups would join in. The parade route was just a circle - go around the same blocks again and again.

The costumes are colorful! Women gather in groups in matching colors (not matching costumes) but often skimpy outfits.

There are stilt walkers called Moko-Jumbies (info from Wikipedia) who dance around and collectively march in the parade. There are also clowns that wear wire masks.

Don, our wonderful taxi driver for the week, suggested that we only stay for a couple of hours as we were not young folk - leave the Las Lap for the young people. The Carnival would last late into the night. He was right! The music being sung on a truck was extremely loud. And, there were not very many "older" people watching the parade - mostly young people! It looked to me like the young men wore their best new shirts (often striped polos) and the young girls were dressed up to be noticed!

Happy 50th!

2009-12-11T19:36:00.001-08:00

This evening, Chelsea and I attended our elementary school's 50th anniversary celebration! It was fun to hear about the different decades and see some of the principals and teachers. Brent and Chelsea's first grade teacher started teaching there in 1969 when it first opened. One teacher said that the oak trees provided a thick canopy over the road leading across the "river" and hiding the school that was nestled by the mountain(before homes and mobile home parks were built) . One of the first PTA presidents shared that for an important meeting, she asked that each room mother (2 per classroom) bring 2 dozen cupcakes for the event. But what was heard and carried out by the room mothers was to have each child's mother bring 2 dozen cupcakes! They ended up with between 9,000-10,000 cupcakes! They were everywhere, in every crook and cranny and classroom. She collected them up at the end of the night and took them to a nearby little grocery store. The grocers graciously put them in their freezer and every day for about two weeks, this PTA president would bring from the freezer many dozen cupcakes for the children. Finally she told the grocer to give the rest away! We had children there from January1985 to June 2003. What a lot of memories are there for our family. Happy Birthday, Rios Elementary!

My Question to You

2009-11-22T19:47:00.000-08:00

I need help. (That's not unusual!) But what I need help with is advice on a travel bag. I am going on an international trip (ie Caribbean) and I want to have a bag to take on the plane (carry on) that will also be great for shopping and sight seeing trips. I like it to be organized so I can quickly locate pens, paper, travel itinerary, and my inhaler (in case I need it quickly). In the past I have always used a backpack, but I am looking for something a little different. Oh and of course it should look terrific and stylish! What should I check into getting for toting things? Share your ideas!

Who else?

2009-10-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I got up while it was still dark to go get my shopping done before it got hot. I spent an hour at wal-mart and chatted with the clerk as I checked out. Then off to VONS to pick up groceries so I could make a salad and dessert for Smith get-to-gether on Sunday at Mother's. I chatted with the clerk there as well. A couple of hours later, after all the groceries were put away and I sat down for a second, I looked down at my shirt. And what did I find? My shirt was inside out! No one at home mentioned it, no one at the store, no one! I couldn't believe it - but I really could!

I do have a problem wearing clothes properly! As a teenager, a certain sister noticed on our walk home from the bus that through my white blouse she could see I had put my slip on backwards after PE. And one Sunday during Sacrament Meeting, when Chelsea was still a baby, I opened my eyes during the prayer -checking on 5 kids, and discovered a metallic thread down the middle seam of my dress. I thought (after the prayer, of course)that that was odd. I didn't have any dresses with a seam down the front and what was metallic? Then I realized, I had put my dress on backwards! Thankfully the dress had a jacket!!!

Hopefully I'll remember these experiences and improve in proper dressing now that I'm middle aged!

Alternate Routes II

2009-09-05T19:22:00.000-07:00

On my way home from the stake baptism last night, I pulled up to the stop light behind a car with a bumper sticker; "Don't follow me. You won't get there." I laughed to myself because I live with people like that. But then I saw a hand posted sign on a telephone pole right by that car which read, "Jesus is the WAY, the truth, the life." There are alternate routes and direct routes. And when we take alternate routes, we can still get there - somehow!

Inspiration

2009-08-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

Brent and I enjoyed going to the movies after doing some errands this last week. We watched the movie, "Julie and Julia," about Julie who in the early 2000's decided to create a blog about her experiences cooking each of the recipes in Julia Child's cookbook, "The Art of French Cooking,"all in one year. It was a humerous and fun movie and provided me with inspiration! Maybe I should do something similar - only using all chocolate recipes instead of French cooking! I have friends who think this is a wonderful idea and would love to read a blog about new chocolate recipes. I'm sure there are enough chocolate recipes for me to make something different every day of the year...but alas, not a practical way to promote weight loss and my wonderful, patient husband is not that fond of chocolate. It was just a thought. Here's wishing you something warm and chocolaty for dessert tomorrow!

Alternate Routes

2009-08-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

I have a thing about alternate routes. That's what we call it when someone (generally Mike) takes a wrong turn and has to find another way to get where we are going. I always get uptight when we have to take an alternate route! Really uptight! Why???

Well, I think it started as a teenager just having gotten my driver's license and being set loose to drive on my own in Marin county. I only wanted to drive directly to my destination and I did not want to get lost! I remember the first time I passed my freeway turnoff, I pulled over to the side of the freeway and starting panicking! What was I going to do?? After calming down I realized (what most people would just automatically do) I could most likely get off at the next exit and just get back on the freeway going the other direction! It worked! This time.

As a mother of 5 children, I was always doing things right up until it was a little past time to leave to take someone somewhere. So, I always needed to know the quickest and/or the most direct route - no dillydallying driving around. And if I was going somewhere I didn't know well, a wrong turn meant being late! Some in the family may not know this, but I don't like being late(I know, but not enough to plan on leaving much earlier). So, it became a necessity in my life to not take alternate routes.

Last night, Mike, Brent and I took the trolley from EC downtown to SD to go to dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. I got turned around going into town and was so sure that a more direct walking route could be taken. Mike reassured me that he knew the downtown area (after all he's been working there over a decade) and took me against my will the wrong way! But he turned out to be right this time (almost had to buy a map to prove me wrong!).

You'd think I'd learn from Mike's vast experiences of taking alternate routes (generally happens if he's caught up in a conversation or thought and I'm not directing him which road to take) but I haven't. And what about Elder Wirthlin's last general conference talk on Come What May and Love It! Here's his quote:

"...learn to laugh.

I remember loading up our children in a station wagon and driving to Los Angeles. There were at least nine of us in the car, and we would invariably get lost. Instead of getting angry, we laughed. Every time we made a wrong turn, we laughed harder.

Getting lost was not an unusual occurrence for us. Once while heading south to Cedar City, Utah, we took a wrong turn and didn’t realize it until two hours later when we saw the “Welcome to Nevada” signs. We didn’t get angry. We laughed, and as a result, anger and resentment rarely resulted. Our laughter created cherished memories for us." Ensign, Nov 2008

So if you see me laughing (probably hysterically) down the road - you'll know I'm lost or someone else driving is LOST!

This one was HUGE!

2009-08-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

Look at this epi (epiphyllum)! It was a HUGE bloom like I've never seen on an epi. I had put one of Daddy's epi pots at the base of the pineapple quava tree to keep it shaded until I could plant it better (the dirt was mostly washed out of the plastic container). But it thrived there with just a little watering. It has grown up into the tree and is shooting out branches (if that's what they are called) and over the fence. I've been watching this bud develop for several days and then boom! a great huge blossom - for one day! Glad I went back to take a picture before I left for work yesterday. Fun to enjoy and think of how much Daddy loved his garden.

Whoops!

2009-08-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

At the store the other day, I remembered that I needed to buy three cards. I remembered that I needed to get two get well cards and I couldn't remember what the third card was for. It just seemed like I was supposed to get a sympathy card but I couldn't think of who it was for! But I chose the three cards believing it would come to me later why I needed the sympathy card. Well, a day or so later, it did come to me. I didn't need a sympathy card - I needed an anniversary card to wish Jack and Tamara a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Lost and Found Times Two

2009-08-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Mike found his wedding band missing. He always takes it off at night and leaves it on his nightstand and it wasn't there. He spent a lot of time searching for it and could not find it anywhere. Of course this was upsetting to him! A day or so later, he was closing his window and had to pick up the lamp on his nightstand to open the shutters. And lo and behold, there was his wedding band! During the night that it disappeared, he had opened the window and set the lamp on top of his wedding band - and made it disappear!

The next weekend I was washing my hands and found that my diamond was missing from my wedding ring! My turn to be upset!! We had just gotten home from Murietta, so what were the chances I could ever find it. I thought I could at least retrace my steps in the house and back to the car. And lo and behold! I found it on the kitchen floor! My ring is now being repaired with a replacement white gold prong.

Guess we are just meant to be together!

Temporary Empty Nest - Getting us Prepared

2009-08-02T22:53:00.000-07:00

I don't think it has hit me until today how quiet it is with just two of us home! Not as much dinner conversation, not as much food to prepare, no one to help take out the trash (ha, ha), not enough people to give Mina, our cat, all the feline attention she requires, no one to remind to pick up their rooms or move their laundry along.... But the positive side is the phone calls, emails, twitters, blog posts, etc. from these young adults showing us that life is going well, or struggles will be overcome. Mike shared Friday night with me some empty nest questions for thought he found online. I don't know that it made me feel better but good things to think about for the future when we are really empty nesters. Life will be great, just different. On to our next adventures!

Temple Trip

2009-08-02T22:35:00.001-07:00

The Primary theme this month is "Temple blessings unite families." I was so delighted to be able to share a picture I took last week at the Rexburg Temple and the Oquirrh Mountain temple with the children. I looked through our digital pictures and printed up some of our vacation trip temple pictures. The children loved the story of all the lizards all over the Orlando Florida temple and of Brent trying to catch a lizard. I shared the story of Brent all dressed up in his Sunday best as a three year old to attend the San Diego Temple Open House. They loved hearing how this wiggly little boy was so touched by the spirit in the temple that he was reverent and awed and how he peeked over the beautiful wooden circular staircase below. Then he accidentally dropped his temple brochure and looked so devastated to lose this valued brochure, but a gentle breeze blew the brochure back through the stair slats and it landed at his feet. I'll never forget the look in his eyes as he realized the gift given back - his own little temple miracle. I shared how Chelsea who was only 18 months, would point only at the pictures in the temple with Jesus in them and say His name. And I shared about the wonderful sealing ordinances that take place in the temple and of Grandpa's conversion story. What a reverent and delightful time to share the spirit with these Primary children!

A Gesture of Appreciation

2009-07-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

Look what arrived this afternoon for me! It came with a note of appreciation for my work at a SNF I've been consulting for over the last 9 years. It is beautiful, delicious and too much fruit for just the two of us home. Wish everyone were here to enjoy it with us!!! We'll have to share it with friends and family.

The facility has just recently hired a full time R.D. to take my place as well as the diet tech's full time job in an effort to save money. Business is business, but I'm sad to leave a great group of nurses, CNA's, speech therapists, occupational therapists, dietary staff and food service director as well as other terrific employees. I will continue on for a few more weeks in training and helping out. Their gift of appreciation is a generous and kind gesture.

Out the Door

2009-07-29T23:06:00.000-07:00

I always feel better when I see where it is my children are living. Somehow, knowing their home layout just helps me picture them there. So, it was good to see Chelsea settled into her new dorm apartment in Rexburg. Great roommates, empty but beautiful campus buildings, college life, classes, student ward, 2008 Rexburg temple, grocery shopping, new friends...all lead to a new adventure for her. Have a great summer term Chelsea!

Use a Cement Mixer

2009-06-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Several of us really enjoyed the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake on the cruise. So I googled the recipe and found several "Official" recipes. Here's a good one:

Recipe from Carnival Cruiseship Legend (August 2007)

Melting Chocolate Cake
Portions: 1000
Ingredients:
70 lb semisweet chocolate
70 lb butter
700 eggs
18 lb sugar
25 lb flour

Method:
Melt chocolate and butter. Mix half egg and sugar, add flour, add remainder egg. Mix egg mixture with chocolate mixture. Pour into ramekins. Bake 15-20 min at 200 Celcius. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Someone reviewed this recipe and suggested using a cement mixer to mix the ingredients! Can you imagine cracking 700 eggs! I'll post on the recipe blog the version for serving 10 after I try out a few of the "official recipes."

Cruising

2009-06-13T04:52:00.000-07:00

What fun we had on our cruise to Avalon, Catalina Island and to Ensenada, Mexico this week! We actually got tired of eating! We ate each night in the dining room with elegant appetizers (one favorite was strawberry bisque), entrees (lobster and prime rib...) and desserts (mmm, chocolate melting cake). (Mother's and Eileen's picture didn't turn out because of backlight from sunny window!) And a few of us made it up late one night for the Mexican buffet.

Some of us enjoyed workouts in the gym or running/jogging around the track (burn up a few of the 1000s of kcals consumed). While I was on the treadmill at the bow of the ship, I was treated to the leaping and swimming of many dolphins.

We enjoyed a "high tea" onboard with finger sandwiches and yummy little desserts and herbal tea.

Some of us were more adept at towel folding (like Chelsea), but we had fun making a dog, an elephant and a bunny.

We watched a crew member carve an ice carving. He was fast! I guess you have to work fast when you are on deck and not in a walk in refrigerator!

And of course we had lots of fun visiting and playing games (5 crowns). Oh yes, and doing some napping too!

Anniversary

2009-06-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

Today is our anniversary. Aren't these beautiful flowers! Mike brought them home for me last week and they are still fresh and fragrant. The stargazers have opened and are huge and beautiful. The carnations smell so good! The flowers have brightened up our home!

We both took the day off from work and started out with a leisurely breakfast at Mimi's. Then it turned quickly into a work day of shopping and cleaning and getting ready for Chelsea's graduation on Friday. By 9 pm we had finished our list of "have to do" and felt it was just too late to go out for dinner. So we settled for a hot fudge sundae at a local restaurant and reminisced about other anniversaries. Like the one right before Andrea was born and they almost refused to serve us at Black Angus-they were afraid I'd go into labor in the restaurant! And the anniversary we splurged for a trip to Catalina Island and I took dramamine to prevent sea sickness. I slept all the way over, and slept at every bench we sat down on, and during the tours (I can remember the glass bottom boat however), and then took another tablet to go back to Long Beach. I slept the entire day! Then there was the anniversary we celebrated during the middle of the High School choir and band concert. We heard Tamara's choir and then snuck out for dinner and returned after the band performance in time to hear the last choir numbers. We've also enjoyed anniversaries in San Diego, La Jolla and Hawaii. Mike works hard to make each anniversary special for us, no matter the agenda and each anniversary sings to me our favorite song, "Perhaps Love," recorded by Placido Domingo and John Denver.

I am fortunate to be married to my best friend and my sweetheart!

Verse Two

2009-05-10T14:17:00.001-07:00

I was serenaded with this on the way home from church today: "Peace and quiet, love and adoration, Happy Mother's Day!" Time and circumstances have changed.

A Special Song in Tribute to Mother's Day

2009-05-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

Today in Primary, as in all Primaries where Mother's Day is celebrated, we practiced songs to sing for our mothers and grandmothers next Sunday in Sacrament meeting. While the children were singing so sweetly, I remembered the song (?) that Mike would sing after just a few minutes in the car with 5 children on the way home from church after honoring mothers on Mother's Day: "Bicker, bicker, fight,fight,fight,fight; Happy Mother's Day! (He of course had lovely music he sang it to.) You know, I didn't know it then, but I look back at that as a happy memory and we've had a lot of laughs about in on subsequent Mother's days. How blessed to have 5 healthy, normal (of course, they were really all above normal - they're my children), opionated, outspoken, precocious children practicing social skills they would need throughout life!

Footprints

2009-04-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

Tamara was surprised last month to find out that I'm currently serving as a counselor in our Ward Primary. I was surprised I hadn't told her. She wondered if anyone else knew. So, I'm back in Primary since last October and enjoy working with the children. It is a lot more comfortable for me than teaching seminary, sorry to say.

I'm responsible for Cub Scouts and have been pretty busy with helping them do monthly pack meetings. Last week our pack had decided to have the theme, "Leave no trace," or "Leave nothing but Footprints." So I cut out foot cookies, decorated them with a light cocoa royal icing and put white toenails on. They looked fun and the kids thought they were cool (don't know if they understood that it tied in with the theme though). One 8 year old came up to me and said, "I sure don't like the bread on this but I like the frosting!" I got a kick out of that - who doesn't like sugar cookies and who likes to eat royal icing?

Cape May, New Jersey

2009-04-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

What a great place to visit! We spent a day in Cape May, New Jersey and loved walking on Huges and Decatur streets to take a look at many of the old Victorian homes! Most of them are now B&B places. They are kept up so beautifully! We enjoyed a little shopping, a little eating (at Lucky Bones for cod sandwiches and crabcakes), and finding our own Cape May diamonds at Sunset Beach. They are little smooth and flat quartz pebbles that wash up on the beach. When polished by a gemsmith, they become clear like diamonds. You'll always wonder now if I am wearing my actual diamond earrings or my Cape May diamonds! (big price difference!) We just missed going into the Cape May lighthouse (closed 10 mins. earlier)! We went into the lobby of the Angel of the Sea B&B to view the Victorian theme. We drove by the Emlen Physick estate-big and beautiful. So many daffodils and flowering trees were in bloom that we didn't mind the cold breezes by the sea!

Jersey Coast Lighthouses

2009-04-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

I had a great idea for our family vacation - go to 7 lighthouses on the Jersey coast. Everyone loves to see and explore inside lighthouses! I read about lighthouses on the coast and scheduled a visit to each on a day they would be opened (not all are opened everyday or have restricted hours...). After all of that, we were only able to go inside one lighthouse and that on a very rainy day! I found the internet and even the AAA book weren't always correct on times/days open. But that's ok. I think we all had fun taking a peek (or at least several pictures) of the 6 lighthouses we went to. My favorite?? Hmm. Here are some pictures - which is your favorite?

Absecon	Sea Girt
Barnegat	Tucker
Cape May	Hereford

Monopoly in Atlantic City!

2009-04-06T16:24:00.001-07:00

One of Mike's favorite childhood boardgames was Monopoly. So we braved a very rainy morning and drove into Atlantic City to drive those famous streets: Atlantic Ave., Pacific Ave., St. James Place, Park Place....So, of course, when we returned we had to play a game of Monopoly in celebration of being here. We had hoped to find a great spot to buy a souvenir set in Atlantic City but weren't successful. Maybe on a drier day we will return and walk the Boardwalk and find our souvenir game!

PS: Right now Grandma is actually in JAIL - isn't she dressed appropriately? And the real life banker is the one with the most cash right now! We'll have to see how this game turns out!

I am a Patriot

2009-04-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

The Liberty Bell by H.R.H. Moore

Ring out that hallowed Bell!
Ring it long, ring it long;
Through the wide world let it tell
That Freedom's strong.

When I Pledge the Allegiance, when I hear Lee Greenwood sing, "I'm Proud to be an American," when I see the Liberty Bell, when I hear stories of the founding fathers and patriots, when I go through Independence Hall and the National Archives and see the flag fly in a parade...I become very emotional. I am so grateful to be an American and I love my country. I love reading in the Book of Mormon how this land is chosen for freedom and the restoration of the gospel. What great men under the guidance of God, established this nation for us. Thank you!

2009-04-04T16:22:00.000-07:00

3 Days and 2 Nights!

2009-03-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

We did enjoy a 3 day, 2 night delightful stay in Phoenix last weekend. We even went to two different locations within Phoenix and the cost was right! Mike, Brent, and I drove out to Phoenix and helped to finish packing up Tamara and Jack's apartment for their move Sat. into their home. They have been working like crazy to have an electrician replace lights and fixtures, wiring, drywalling and repairing holes in walls, gutting out the kitchen in both the house and the guest house, painting the entire inside and getting engineered flooring in. Today the tiler comes and in two weeks the cabinets and counters in the kitchen will be installed. I guess I should let Tamara and Jack tell you all this - but I am so excited for them to have a home! It will be exciting to see pictures when it's all done! Congratulations Jack and Tamara!

A Mind Tickle

2009-03-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

I loved the quote I heard decades ago about memories are paintings on the walls of your mind. Fill your mind museum walls with uplifting memories. When I travel I try to soak up everything I see and do to paint great memories in my mind. Andrea came home for a few days with an ambitious project for the two of us. In three days we scrapbooked our week vacation last March in Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. My job was to go through the thousands of pictures from all of our digital photos on my computer and pick out just the highlights for each day's activities. It was a huge challenge - how do you select only a few of such great sights and activities? But we did it! We had the book totally completed by the time Andrea left last night (23 two page layouts). It was so fun to relive those great times. But sadly I have to admit - some of those great paintings on the walls of my mind must have fallen to the floor (old age, you say?) Good to have the pictures to tickle my mind.

Organizing

2009-03-01T23:19:00.000-08:00

Last week, the ward organist, asked me to fill in for her today. She is such a GREAT musician that I am in awe of her ability and talent. Though I am a poor substitute, I am willing to serve the Lord, giving what I have. I played the hymns at home a few times in preparation and then this morning I went to church early to practice and it went well. I made just a few mistakes (I am intolerant of my mistakes but whadjagonnadue?) in the opening song. But today, there was no cranking up the volume right after the hymn introduction and over shooting the volume and then hurriedly cranking it back down too low, then back up - can you get the picture (you'd feel seasick by the time the first verse was done). This time I just got it right (just leave it up before the intro).

So, time for the Sacrament hymn. I never feel cocky when I play - it is still pretty stressful and I am pretty humble and prayerful. But today, I knew the Sacrament hymn well, had practiced it smoothly on the organ and I was grateful to be able to play it well. So, I start the introduction feeling confident and good when I realize I hadn't skipped to the end of the intro at the bracket and so then abruptly did so. So much for getting things right. But I am sure there will be a next time. Maybe I'll get organized and get over to the church to practice and get so I can do the pedals too.

Fond of Fondue Chapter 2

2009-02-21T21:43:00.001-08:00

Tamara and Jack drove out Friday night for a quick weekend and Jocelyn came down as well. What fun to have so many of us together! While grocery shopping yesterday, I thought how much fun it would be to have a fondue dinner with everyone on Sat. So while in the store, I called Tamara to see if she could bring out her electric fondue pot (Brent and Chelsea gave me a great electric fondue pot for Christmas).

So I'm shopping for dips and sauces, shrimp, beef, chix, breads, vegetables, fruit, chocolate...and cheese for the fondues. I asked the "cheese" lady at VONS for the best cheeses to use for a nonalcoholic fondue. She had lots of opinions and advice on how to make cheese fondue. I took the cheeses she had selected for me and listened to her advice. I think she was concerned about my ability (rightly so) and her last suggestion was to look up a recipe on foodnetwork.com! Well, I didn't look up a recipe but tried to follow her advice for the cheese fondue. It was a little thick and then clumpy - but it still was very tasty.

Everyone was given something to cut or chop for our fondue dinner. How wonderful to have a lot of counter space so that everyone could help! It was fun to cook slowly one bite at a time, eat and visit. We were glad Grandma could come down and join us too!

Fond of Fondue

2009-02-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

For one of our anniversaries years ago, Mike arranged a weekend getaway in La Jolla. We stayed at the Grand Colonial hotel with an ocean view and ocean breezes! And, we enjoyed a fantastic fondue dinner at a nearby restaurant! It was so fun. We took Mother, Daddy, and Eileen there another time and we swore next time we would bring a rubber spatula to clean out the chocolate fondue pot!

So, my sweetheart made reservations for us at the same restaurant for Valentine's Day this year. And it was great! We had a Caesar salad followed by yummy cheese fondue (non alcoholic which took some talking the waitress into doing) and various meats and vegetables finishing with once again, our favorite dark chocolate fondue. It was chilly in the evening but it was fun walking past the stores along the main street. When we got to the parking lot, I discovered a walkway that had a beautiful view of the sunset over the ocean with lots of palm trees. Soooooo romantic!

(This isn't such a great picture - it was taken at dusk using a cell phone, but it is a reminder of a beautiful Pacific sunset on Valentine's Day!)

So even though I am very fond of fondue, I am even more fond of my sweetheart. Thanks, Mike for a great Valentine's Day!

Sakura

2009-02-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

Jocelyn looked up this great layout for my blog. I really like it. What attracted me to it was the distressed looked - seems fitting. Also like the asian twist. I loved the sakura blossoms in the artwork in Japan. We had a Japanese student once who taught us the song about sakura (cherry blossom) but I can't remember it anymore!

Something to Crow About

2009-02-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

There were three crows sitting on the stone wall at one pullout at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. They were not intimidated by people at all! They were right by our car and as I opened the door they just stared at me! After a little bit, one starting to sing (or crow). I'm glad it was a big, black crow we saw and not a rattler!

Oh Deer, Oh Deer, Oh Deer

2009-02-08T12:46:00.000-08:00

Signs are posted all along the road of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon declaring in LARGE print that "It is ILLEGAL to approach or feed wildlife." No problem until we made it to the last viewpoint parking lot in the Grand Canyon Village area (west end). We just pull in to the area and there is a deer standing on the side grazing. I ask Mike to back up so I can get a picture but he thought he should pull forward so I took a blurry picture from the car window.

Then we parked and walked towards the viewpoint and lo and behold there was another deer- no two! I stayed right on the sidewalk and I didn't even call, "Here kitty" and watched the two grazing so close to the sidewalk. They started walking away so I followed them (on the sidewalk) and they led me to a little fawn! Wow! I just took tons of really bad pictures because of the light and the trees and the deer moving around. Oh deer - I think I was still legal."

Jerome - An Old Mining Town

2009-02-05T21:00:00.000-08:00

We took a walk-about tour today in the old mining town of Jerome nestled in the top of the Black Mountains not far from Sedona. They mined copper, silver and gold. It is no longer a mining town. It was taken over by hippies who are now the realtors! There are acres of slag down in Clarkdale near the old smelter. Someone took a core sample and found that you can still get 1/4 oz of gold from a ton of slag making that slag pile worth alot!

The pink house is for sale for $165,000 but has to be restored to the way it was - the foundation is cracked and the house looks like it might slide down the hill like the town jail did!

We ate lunch at the Grand Hotel at the top of the town. The hotel used to be a hospital and the restaurant is called The Assylum as the room used to be the hospital assylum. It had a great view looking over the town of Jerome and the valley out to the Mogollon Rim. This restaurant is famous for it's butternut soup, so of course we had to try it. It had a lot of cinnamon and some jalapeno in it - very different but delicious. Doesn't it look fancy!

"I'm a Traveling Man"

2009-02-03T22:00:00.000-08:00

Mike and I got up early to drive up north of Flagstaff to visit the Wupatki Ruins and drive by Sunset Crater and then head up to the Grand Canyon via the east entrance.

We saw 7 ruins at Wupatki and they were very interesting. The largest ruin is the wupatki ruin. It had a kiva and a ball court and a blowhole (a whole into the earth that blows out air or sucks it in depending on the atmospheric pressure). Typical of me, I took enough pictures of the ruins and all the signs that if anyone needs to do a 4th grade report on Native Americans, I have lots of material!!!

Sunset Crater was covered with lava and all the nearby mountains were also covered with lava flow. We decided to take a labeled hike at the base of Sunset crater. All of a sudden we found ourselves in snow and it was difficult to know where the trail was! But we had a nice hike and enjoyed learning about the crater.

The Grand Canyon was exactly that -GRAND! We enjoyed pulling off at all the viewpoints and were in awe of God's creations. We got there in the mid afternoon and enjoyed the sun setting on the North Rim as we looked from the South Rim. We had a lovely dinner at the famed El Tovar Hotel there in the Grand Canyon Park. After dinner we discovered 7 deer grazing on the grass in front of the hotel. On our way back to Sedona, in the dark and snow covered mountainsides (the road was clear), we stopped just short of hitting what we think was a big old male elk. A great day.

Red Rocks in Sedona

2009-02-02T19:46:00.000-08:00

Mike and I are here in Sedona on vacation! Today we went out to Palatki Ruin. We drove on a dirt road for 7 miles (bump, bump, bump) to get there. It was a short hike up the hillside to the ruins on the cliff. Wow! We were able to go in the rooms and get a good view of what it was like. You'd have to be pretty short (shorter than me) to stand up in any of the rooms. We could see where the poles had come out of the walls for the second floor. Small rooms and short. We also saw a lot of petroglyphs nearby. That was great! And we drove by lots of brilliant colored rock buttes and formations. I'll include a couple of pictures here. By the way, the weather is great. A little chilly in the am and pm but great hiking weather during the day.

She'll be coming around the mountain

2009-02-01T20:10:00.000-08:00

The chapel in Sedona is located on a road named, Mormon Hill. It is a nice little chapel (not full size) and the people were very friendly. They announced that visitors were welcomed to share their testimonies as we made up 70% of the attendance. The funny thing was that a couple we know from El Cajon Stake, came and sat down right by us, and they are staying in the same time share. They gave us a heads up on what to see since they come here often. After church we drove up Oak Creek Canyon and saw beautiful country. At the upper elevation there was snow on the ground. We stopped at a lookout where there was snow and ice and a cold, chilly wind! We drove on into Flagstaff and visited with a former roommate I haven't seen in decades. Check out the license plate on this truck we pulled behind in Flagstaff. Dad recognized the initials right off and then I noted the correct year! On the way back into Sedona we pulled over at some view points and awed at the beautiful scenery. Here are a couple of pictures from today.

Baby, It's cold outside

2009-01-27T01:30:00.001-08:00

I just read Mary's blog about it being cold, very cold. And I think how glad I am that we have such mild weather here! And here is a first! Driving home from celebrating Chinese New Year at a local restaurant (thanks Mother!), Mike was shivering and turned up the heater. I was talking with Jack and Tamara on the cell when all of a sudden I was burning up! Mike had the heater on full blast. I don't think I've ever before asked him to turn down the car heater! I'm the one who's always waiting til he's not looking while he's driving to turn it up higher. And the low's are in the 40s. Mild winters! Hurrah.

Creative solutions

2009-01-04T19:48:00.000-08:00

We live in a family where everyone has a great idea for creative solutions to problems. So, this evening, I've been sitting in my favorite (new since the flood) Lazy Boy recliner with my feet up and my laptop (computer) on my laptop catching up on blog reading (I am way behind since Thanksgiving). The laptop was getting my lap hotter and hotter and hotter (which is not unusual). So, Mike, sitting in his matching (but larger) lazy boy next to me, came up with a great creative solution to my hot lap. He reached over and grabbed the empty arhu (Chinese instrument I bought on our China trip - never played) box and placed it across the two arms of the lazy boy. Voila! The laptop is well supported up high and my lap is staying cool. Only a new dilemma - the cat won't jump up on the chair arms with the box there - she actually jumped up on Mike's chair and he's low on her pecking order. Oh well: cool lap or cool cat!

Down at the WAP

2008-12-30T21:30:00.000-08:00

This is the Wild Animal Park's last Christmas for "Festival of Lights." We didn't want to miss it (since we have missed it for who knows how many years, but we used to go every year)! So we met Jocelyn there for an afternoon and evening of park delights. I love the lion camp. Currently they have 8 lion cubs (at age 13 months) lounging, leaping, licking, frolicking, boxing all over their open enclosure. The cheetahs appear at dusk so we enjoyed them as well. After our safari tour around the back enclosures, we enjoyed wandering around looking at the lights. A good time with family.

Dilemma

2008-11-09T23:08:00.000-08:00

Here is my dilemma. Jocelyn set up my blog listing the 5 siblings under the heading of "My Little Ducklings" in reference to the finger play and the great Mother's day card the siblings put together last May! But, where do I put Jack? I don't want him to feel like he's a "little duckling" but I don't like separating him out into "Family blogs." Whadjagonnadue? I'm taking suggestions. By the way, I think this is great - this is the biggest dilemma going on in my life right now!

Spoken

2008-11-09T22:14:00.001-08:00

Today I spoke in Sacrament Meeting. I chose two of my favorite general conference talks: Elder David A. Bednar's April 2005 talk on The Tender Mercies of the Lord and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's October 2008 talk on The Ministering of Angels. What gratitude I have for these two talks that spoke on things that have encouraged and uplifted me during trials and challenges. And how thankful I am for experiences of the Lord's tender mercies and the presence and attendance of angels both heavenly and earthly at times needed in my life. I started a list of these experiences but realized some were too personal to share or the list would get too long. But I think it would be a good thing to journal and read when I'm in need of a tender mercy! However, I don't know why I don't choose a topic for speaking in church that is not quite so dear to my heart so I could just give a talk for once in my life without tearing up! Next talk will be on the importance of giving service cleaning the ward building!

"Robertson, Party of Four"

2008-11-04T08:09:00.000-08:00

Our Halloween celebration was very different than usual! No one came over (because we were sick) and no one went trick or treating (we're just too old) and no one carved a pumpkin (dad would have if I could have found a pumpkin)! But I really wanted us to have the fun of Halloween so I tried to make it a party. I couldn't find any pumpkins to carve on Halloween day (the only day I had time and any energy from being sick to look for a pumpkin) but ended up buying a "Cinderella" pumpkin to use as fall decoration and then the fake plug in and light up Wal-mart pumpkin (which I put outside - soooo nice to have electrical outlets outside). I bought doughnuts, favorite snack foods and some Halloween candy (not much good stuff left) and put some fall mums on the table. Brent set up the fog machine outside the front door. Chelsea dressed up in her Halloween costume she wore to school (and to the Renaissance fair the next day - borrowed from Lyn) and she and Brent answered the door for the trick-or-treaters. Between door knocks, we all played Mancala (two boards). It's great to play this game with mom and dad when they are too sick to think! So, even though it was just a party of four, we celebrated Halloween!

From blog to book

2008-10-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

I was reading my Creating Keepsakes magazine on the plane and came across a great idea that I thought I'd share (or know where to find again). You can turn your blog into a bound book at http://www.blurb.com/. Here are some blog template sites they suggested as well: http://www.bloggerboutique.com/; http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/; and http://www.simplyfabulousbloggertemplates.com/.

Orlando, Florida Temple

2008-10-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, October 12, we headed on out to church for 1 PM Sacrament Meeting. I had printed up the address at home and a map with directions. It wasn't very far away, however, when we tried to find the address all we found was a shopping center. Looking more closely at my printout I realized that this address was for a YA ward! But, also was listed another ward further down the road (miles). So hurrying down the road not to be late, we looked up to see the white temple looming ahead! We were surprised. We had forgotten there was a temple in Orlando. The church was across the street so afterwards we went over to enjoy the Orlando temple grounds. It was a very warm, humid day and hundreds of little lizards were scurrying all around. I should have taken a video of Brent trying to quietly sneak up on one and catch it - they were way too fast. I have never seen so many lizards! The temple grounds are beautiful and peaceful.

I took dozens of pictures. Wish I could format them better on this blog. And fortunately, I won't put all the pictures here! It makes me want to start a new family temple book - remember the one we made when Tamara and Jocelyn were little? We kept adding pictures of our family at temples we visited. Unfortunately it was in a magnetic album, so it is time to start over!

The Sound of Music

2008-09-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

Last night, Brent introduced me to his imeem playlist. I enjoyed listening to the music he enjoys but wanted to set up my own playlist with music I especially enjoy. So, this morning, after Chelsea left for Seminary, Brent helped me with my own playlist set up. He got me going searching and saving different songs to my playlist . He really wanted me to put on some of his favorite songs as well. So, after he and Dad left for work, it was my turn to search and set up songs I like. It was so much fun! Just the songs I like!!! I have about 40 minutes of songs and I just sat down for the first time in YEARS and just listened to music--music I like!!!! I felt like a new me just discovering the joy of music. Wow, technology is so great to allow us to do this! I must go finish preparing my RS lesson for Sunday and today is the day to finish up my scrapbooking mess (find some place to store it all in an organized fashion - yes, in labeled photo boxes as well as giving up and storing American Technology packing boxes). But if I hurry and get everything done, maybe I can add more to my playlist. Ready, set, go!

Thinking outside the box

2008-09-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Well, it is good to see so many of our belongings that we are going to keep, out of the boxes they were stored in for the last year. And it is very good to see so many of our belongings repacked into other boxes and delivered to the Deseret Industries truck to bless the lives of others (??). And it is great to see junk thrown into trashcans!! But how painful it was for me to throw out Primary files!!! I told Mike that it was the only thing really organized in my life since we've been married and now I'm throwing out my only piece of organization. Guess I'll just have to replace that project with a new piece of organization (ok, like my scrapbooking supplies - no wonder Tamara wants to go digital). My scrapbooking supplies are in boxes stacked in towers by my side of the bed, spilling over onto Mike's side and filling up all the shelves in our closet). So, I went to Michael's and bought 12 photo (crafting) boxes to organize some of the supplies (I almost called it "stuff'). I found the boxes in the back of the store and was very disappointed with their selection - but I wanted them on sale so I bought them anyway. They now have poles on the ends of their Michaels shopping carts so you can't take them out of the store. So, a nice clerk was helping me with my large bags of photo boxes, when I turned around and there by the door were lots of cute photo boxes! So, she encouraged me to exchange the ones I had and even helped me take them out, choose cute ones and rebag (after carefully counting again to 12) all of them! So, here I am - back to boxes!

Shuffle, Shuffle

2008-09-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

A good friend from church wants to encourage Chelsea in her leadership development and has blessed all of us with great talks on CD or DVD! While still in the apartment during summer, Chelsea and I were home alone after church and decided to listen to one of the talks. She put it on Dad's computer and we got comfortable and began listening. Of course, on a Sunday afternoon, I became a little too comfortable and after listening to most of the talk, I dozed off. Chelsea and I later were talking about what a good talk it was and she went to get it out of the computer. While there, she found out that we had listened to the whole talk in shuffle mode!!! And it was still a great talk!

A neighborhood walk

2008-09-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

Instead of rushing off to work this morning, I thought I would take a little time to cool down after my two mile walk. It feels sooooo good to get back into the habit of early morning walks. I can feel the stress and tension drain away as I hurry along. I enjoy studying how neighbors have or have not landscaped their front yards and I get some ideas on how to fix ours up. I enjoy the fresh air and this morning, a very nice cool breeze - the first of fall! Hurrah! I feel so good after two and a half weeks of walking that I feel like I could extend my walk and even go walking again in the evening (which never seems to happen). I'll keep it at two miles this week and then I'll challenge myself next week. Ahhh, maybe fall is really around the corner.

Ahhh, Family

2008-08-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

After a long and busy past few weeks of moving back into the house and preparing final touches for Tamara and Jack's wedding reception, I took a very long afternoon nap! Almost went into hibernation (well, it is a warm August day and the AC was so wonderful I could just sleep and sleep). After sharing vanilla ice cream covered with hot chocolate pudding with the family, we watched wedding pictures by Esther and the slide show from the reception that Carl made (somehow I missed seeing those during the reception!). Such a great event! And now, I just read Tamara's, Jack's and Jocelyn's blogs. I wanted to comment on their blogs, but only sappy things would come out about how wonderful they are and how happy I am for my children. And the feelings became more intense and almost teary. So I decided not to comment on their blogs and just leave a little note on my own blog how grateful I am for each of my 5 plus 1! What terrific kids (ok grown-ups!). Thanks for sharing your pictures and stories - I love it!

What are you going to do?

2008-08-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

Whadjagonnadue seems an appropriate title for my blogspot. Whadduhyathink? I guess I had the Andrew Lloyd Webber tune in my head and I thought, that is what I think alot when dilemmas in life arise. Maybe you have some other ideas (like Jocelyn did) for my blog - this is an open forum! And now that Chelsea has taught me how to edit my title, I can do it often (or not).

Now and Then...

2008-07-31T07:45:00.000-07:00

Our new kitchen is coming along beautifully! So I thought I would add a before picture (actually it is right after the flood and things are pulled out, cupboards hanging open - not a normal neat and tidy kitchen like I ALWAYS have) and a now picture (realizing it still isn't done). The new Kitchen Aid appliances are great! The refrigerator has a digital reading for temps for both fridge and freezer. We're waiting for the plumber to connect the water line to the fridge as well as to install the dishwasher. The house is coming along. Our expected return date is Aug 6 -moved back one day. The final inspection will be on Tues Aug 5. It is expected to take as many days to have our belongings brought back in to the house and put away as it did to take them out. But we only have 3 days for them (not the 5 they took). I have had some friends and mother volunteer to help put things away or whatever is needed, so maybe we can speed it up as well as leave some boxes to go through later.

And now, would you like to see pictures of the front of the house with it's new makeover? A new garage door, trim around the old family room (now master bedroom) window, new entry way and new front window (chimney is gone!)?

Setting an example

2008-07-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the help of my loving and talented daughter, Jocelyn, I have started blogging. Since I want all my children to share about their lives, I thought I better join in, too.