Swans In Dirt

Whenever I think of swans, I picture them in water.  Surrounded by beautiful trees, flowing water, swans should be in water.

But in Idaho, they aren't always in water.  I didn't really know this until recently.

We took a drive through the dry farm land with some dear friends.  We were going to see a potato cellar, full of potatoes.  That might sound weird to some of you, but for me, it sounds wonderful.  Especially, since farming potatoes is the backbone of this region in our country.  And the fact that I worked many years in the potato harvest.

But, today I want to tell you about the swans.

It is dry and dusty these days, as winter has forgotten to come and visit us this year.  With the temperature in the low 40's it seems more like March, but it is still January.  I looked at the calendar to be sure.

We were driving on the country gravel road.  Headed north to a potato cellar.  When we saw a flock of swans flying across the road.  I was stunned to see swans flying this time of year, and out in the farm land, the rural country side.  Where in the heck were those swans going?  We had to find out.

These magical, stately birds were wondering in a field.  I don't know what they were looking for.  It is well past harvest time, so the fields are bare.  The swans strutted about as if they owned the place.

I see these beauties on the Snake River.  They belong in the water in the Snake River.  They have a better food source there.  But, maybe the river is crowded these days with geese and ducks....I don't know. 

Maybe swans aren't very sociable and they don't want to be seen with the lower birds species, like geese and ducks.  Maybe the swans are a proud sort.  Too good for "those others".

Well, whatever their personalities are, they didn't mind me at all.  They didn't fly away.  They just sat there.  Doing whatever they were doing. 

I think they better go get a drink......as that meal looks dry and boring.

Oh, one last thing before I go.  I have to tell you about the gray looking swans.  That is last years goslings.  The babies from last year.  My, how they have grown.

OK, I can let you go now.  I just had to tell you about that, the gray thing, the babies, the little important facts that clutter my mind.

Love, Me

Family.....forever.

After living away from extended family for nearly 30 years, I vowed I would have a closer relationship with my loved ones, now that we live closer.  I cherish my in-laws.  They are the quietest, dearest people.  They have welcomed me into the family since the early days I was dating my, then soon to be, DH. 

So, DH and I have begun a new tradition.  We have a dinner party for his family, all the siblings and their partners during the Christmas season.  I find the first Monday of the month the best.  That makes me get my house decorated early, and there are fewer conflicts that early in the month.

I serve easy to fix, eat and clean up meals.  I could go all out and do the "hostess with the mostest" thing but I choose to sit back and relax and enjoy the company.  So I keep that night very simple.  That is because I don't have "expectations" from my dear in-laws.  We all just want to be together.

Things have changed over the past year, since our first dinner party.  My DH lost a brother.  There is a hole in our hearts since then.  He was a quiet man, quiet, tender, shy, and one of my favorite people in the world.   And everyone depended on him.  He was a mentor for my DH most of his life.  When we were first married Errol and Myrna would have us over for dinner.  Errol always took DH fishing, deer hunting, duck hunting, goose hunting, elk hunting, and even Christmas Tree hunting.

This year Myrna came, alone.  We all love her.  She is one of us.  Did I tell you how much we love her?  We do.  She is always happy, and jokes.  She tells the best stories, and pulls the funniest faces.  She is one of those people who always makes you feel better, just from being with her.

One year we went to the lava's to get our Christmas tree with Errol and Myrna.  We got a Cedar tree.  It was beautiful and fragrant.  We took it home and decorated it.  It was even more fragrant when we got the lights on the tree.  The heat from the lights made the scent stronger.  We only had one or two kids back then.  It was a very very very long time ago. 

We went to bed.....and my eyes were burning......I couldn't breathe........the tree smelled so good, so very good.  Then my eyes started to water, and I really couldn't breathe.........

My DH and I got out of bed and carried the fully decorated tree outside and sat it in the front yard.

I was allergic!

Anyway, back to the dinner party.....and the wonderful people we fed....
We laughed, we sighed, we reminisced, we ate, and laughed, and ate, and told stories of long ago.

This is Dennis.  He is the brother younger than DH.  He is quiet, tender, shy, and one of my favorite people in the world.  So is his wife, Freen. 

They have built a cabin, all by themselves, in Island Park.  They have paid for it as they built it!  It is one I covet.  The inside is all wood and they have done a remarkable job on their cabin!

This is Bowen.  He is the brother that is just older than my DH.  He is quiet, tender, shy, and one of my favorite people in the world.  So is his wife, Merlynn.

Bowen has been a bishop, TWICE.  I don't know why the camera didn't pick up his wings or his halo, because he has them.  He is very special to all of his siblings.  He had polio as a 2 year old.  He had to stay in an iron lung (they don't have them anymore).  He has always taken very good care of his body, kept his weight down, exercised, and eats properly.  He doesn't take for granted a healthy body.

He was still  pretty sick when my DH was born.  My mother in law had her hands full.....because they lived on a farm, and had a bunch of kids.  They ended up having 10 children....DH is number 6 of 10.

Bowen is married to Merlynn......the one who is always happy and laughs, and is a joy to be around.

Bowen and Merlynn got married 2 weeks before we did!  Can you imagine how hard that was on my in laws.  What were we thinking?????  Merlynn had broken her ankle just before they were married.  She was in a cast at their wedding.....  Sad huh!!!

They have 5 wonderful kids.  Their son Shilo came to stay with us for a week when we lived in Arizona.  I will always have fond memories of him coming to see us.

All through the dinner party I watched my DH.  He was in 7th Heaven.  He loves his siblings.  They all love each other.  There is never a cross word said between each other.  They don't judge, quarrel, compete, or anything like unto it.  They show respect, love, and concern at all times for each other.

DH doesn't have his beard anymore.  I like seeing it here.....because......now .... it is gone!

DH loves his siblings enough that he carved wooden spoons for each one of them for Christmas.  You have to be really high on his list to get a wooden spoon from him.  He saves them for his favorite people in the whole world.



Kaye is the oldest sister of the 10 children.  There is a brother, Terry, who was the first born, but he wasn't able to come to our party this year.  Kaye is always so quiet, tender, shy, and one of my favorite people in the world.  She and David lived in our neighborhood when we were married, and she would come over and help me with my new baby.  I remember when she came and tended me and my baby when I was suffering with a breast infection.  She was my angel!  Boy, did I need her help!

I wish I had a better picture of Kaye, on this fun night.  She is so happy all the time.  I have never heard her say an unkind word about someone.  What an example she is to me. 

My photographer was trying to be hidden and taking pictures when the subject didn't know they were in the cameras eye.  So some pictures are dark, or blurry, but they are priceless anyway, because of the person they show me/you.

Kaye lost her husband, David in 1999.  He had a fishing accident.  They had just retired.  He was 65 years young!  It wasn't supposed to be like that.  But, not many years later we lost the father of these 10 wonderful children, and we were glad then, that David was "up there" waiting for the rest of us.  He had gone ahead to prepare a place for each of us.  Since that time, 2 more members of the extended family have passed this life, as well as their brother.

DH has a sister, Rochelle.  She is older than Bowen.  Are you confused yet, as who is who, and where they all fit...me too.  It has taken a few years to get it straight.  Rochelle is married to Garth. Rochelle is quiet, tender, shy, and one of my favorite people in the world.  She is also one of the best cooks on this planet!  She has written a cookbook.  It is just for the family and not everyone got a copy of it.  She should have it published!  She would give The Pioneer Woman a run for her money.

I wish this photo wasn't so blurry.  Then you could see that she doesn't have any wrinkles.  I try to love her anyway.  She is a wonderful seamstress!  She makes quilts, and clothes and everything in between.  She even made each one of us a gift for Christmas and delivered them to us the night of our party. 

Rochelle is a nurse.  She was smart and went to school in her youth.  It came in very handy for her as she raised her children.  Rochelle and Garth have 5 children.  Unfortunately, 2 of them were born with Cystic Fibrosis.  Rochelle used her nursing knowledge and skills and cared for her sick children and gave a good life to them.  They both lived much longer than the doctors ever said they would.

Perrin, the son, came to see us in Arizona.  He took our daughter Kattie to a football game at ASU.  Perrin had connections to the players, and one in particular.  That great big football player took care of Perrin and Kattie and they had a wonderful time.  That is a special memory for all of us who saw Perrin then.  He was quiet, tender, shy, and one of my favorite people in the world.  He is missed.

So is his sister, Becky.  She was a "spit fire".  She had so much energy and determination.  Every time we came back to Idaho, Becky made sure we saw her.  We generally went to lunch at her favorite, and our favorite Mexican restaurant.  She was sometimes on oxygen, and sometimes she didn't feel very good, but she wouldn't miss out date.  Every time we eat there now, we feel her with us.

Becky did cross stitch.  We have one of her framed pieces.  It is priceless to us.

The dinner party was a relaxed and wonderful evening for us.  We don't get to spend very much time together, as we all have grown children and our own busy lives, but we sure enjoyed being together. 

We may not look like we were having fun all the time, but we were.

We ate Hors oeuvre's and then two kinds of soup, salad, rolls, and wonderful desserts.  The menu was good, but it isn't always about the food.  It isn't always about the paper bowls that I used for dessert, because I was out of clean glass bowls.  It is about the love we partook of.  It wasn't about the rolls, that weren't the prettiest I have ever made.  It was about the unconditional love in this family.  It was about the "missing" those who weren't able to make it this year.  We missed three younger sisters who live too far away to come.  We missed an older brother who couldn't make it.  We missed a brother in law who was away with his work, and couldn't make it back in time.  It was about the family.  The memories.  The way they are so different, but so much a like.  The way each one has carried burdens, and do today, and how we all support one another through the hard times.  How we all cherish our time together.  It is all about being a family.  They are quiet, tender, shy, and some of my favorite people in the world. 

I have to say, "Thank you to this wonderful family.  They love me.  They accept me.  They have influenced my life in so many good and wonderful ways.  I will love them forever.  Thank you for letting me share in your lives.  Thank you for sharing your brother with me.  I love him with all my heart.  He is my Darling Husband everyday, because of the family he came from.  Thank You!"

A family forever.  That is what it is all about.

January Means: Clean It Out

Sorry, I have been gone a little bit lately.  I have found a few things that scream for my attention.

#1.  I can't seem to get better at "cleaning out my nose."
I have been sick for 2 weeks.  I feel good for a day and then I over do and then I am sick again for 3 days.  I have not had a voice for days, (DH is missing me, I am sure). I am not really really sick, just kind'a sick.  Like, I have no energy, a stuffy and runny nose, coughing until I think I am going to spew a lung out, incredible thirst, stuffy nose, can't breathe at night, coughing, heaviness in my chest, stuffy nose, runny nose, drippy nose, coughing, etc.  Everyday I manage to take a nap on the sofa.  Then I can't sleep at night.  So, while I am up wiping my runny nose, I play Solitaire on my phone, or Words With Friends, and "Clean Out My Nose".

I won't post any pictures of me during this time.  It isn't pretty.  It isn't pretty at all!

#2.  We "Cleaned Out Our Garage"!
First, I have to tell you that we have incredibly anal neighbors.  The kind who have spotless garages.   They even paint the garage floor.  They have dinners in their garages in the summer time.  Yep, they are totally anal.  They don't have clutter.  They don't have drying onions, camping gear, 34 boxes of Christmas decorations, 6 coolers, some of their children's belongs, 3 mops, 2 brooms, a snow shovel, 6 card table chairs, 2 banquet tables, one picnic table with attached seating, cast iron pots, dog food in a 50 lb. sack, .....well.....I better stop there.  Because, I do have all those things.  But now it is all organized and in see through plastic totes and are labeled!  They are tidy.  They are off the floor.  And DH and I did it when it was 27 degrees outside.  (That could be why I can't seem to get better!)

I won't post any pictures of the garage because I don't have a before or after.

#3.  I have found a new hobby.
Besides sleeping on the sofa and wiping my nose, I have gone to the Internet and have been seeking help with organization.  I need to Clean Out My Hall Closet.  It has table linen, computer stuff, frames, easels, baby toys, vacuum, gifts to give, booster seats, wrapping paper, lots of linen napkins, more table linen, pillow cases, dish towels, and some other stuff in it.  So, I have gone on line and found this wonderful place called PINTEREST.  It is a viral infection sweeping the country.  There is no known cure for this infection.  But, I don't want any of you to be left out and not get it so this is what you have to do..........
www.pinterest.com
You will be asked a question like....."do you need an invite?"  Why they ask that is beyond any common reason I can think of....but you have to be invited.....I know it is dumb.....but do it!  You will be a member of the Pinterest Community before you know it.  Then your life will never again be the same.  You will have a dirty hall closet just like mine.  You will have folders and files galore of wonderful ideas to help you "Clean Out" the hall closet, but you won't get off your buttocks and go do it.... Because you will continue to look at ideas....and then you will check out the blogger who posted the idea, and then that will lead you to learn how to build a vacuum and that will lead you to know how to make your own pottery and then you will sew new upholstery for you boat that you are going to buy with all the money you saved from building vacuums and hair clips and ............... well,

I will just show you some of the things.  Hang on to your seat.  You are going to love the ride!

If you were planning a wedding and need ideas:


If you want to redecorate and need some ideas:

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard to organize and share the things you love.

You can steal ideas from someone and save it on your own board.

Do want to see a new way to set the table...
and will only need 42 sets of dishes to do it.......

Or do you need help in doing your hair?.......
Are you getting the idea of what can be found there? 

You can even leave notes for your siblings....I found one today.....From Ty to Kattie
 The note was below this picture......and Ty is right.

I have a board of quotes....you can find the best, funniest, inspirational stuff...


 I happen to love this!

And then you are going to want to make so much stuff!  The ideas are endless:






And you will see some incredible photography!
Incredible I tell you.


so..... Now you know where I have been....and you know I have cleaned out the garage, and I still need to clean out the hall closet.....

And then I can Clean Out some files of crafts and recipes I have and will convert myself into a Pinterest girl.

Love, Me

Happy New Year

New Year......2012.

Some people I love are calling it  "Twenty Dozen".

Other people are doom and gloom and waiting for December of 2012 to bring the end of the world.

But me, I am grateful for so many things, and have so many plans for the new year, and have started new projects that I don't have time to rename the year, or worry about it ending.

DH and I have been issued a most exciting challenge.  We have been given the opportunity to serve in the Idaho Falls Temple as Ordinance Workers.  Last week, on Thursday was our first time.  It was a very spiritual, challenging, and thrilling time for us.

The Idaho Falls Temple is along the Snake River. 

Last fall we spent many hours near this area.  The fall colors were beautiful, the water level was very high, and we had family in town that we took to the river to feed geese and see the colors.





So, at the beginning of this new year, my resolution is to be more worthy to serve here.

I hope my loved ones will join me as we strive to improve our lives and be worthy of our blessings.

Love, Me

Christmas Specials Fill The Air Waves

I am so grateful for DVR!

DH and I have spent every evening in the month of December watching at least one Christmas special and sometimes we stay up late and watch more than one. 

Hallmark Channel is full of cheesy, gooey, sappy, wonderful Christmas Specials. So, I recorded about 4 dozen of them and we are watching them. When our day is finished and we finally settle down in front of the fire with a cup of cocoa, and have a couple of dogs curled up next to us is now a tradition.  Even if we get company, we just invite them to get comfortable because that is what we are doing. 

I have a few favorites.

"The Christmas Card".  The story comes to life as a daughter of a wood mill sends letters and Christmas cards to soldiers for Christmas.  Of course, one card falls into the hands of a handsome, single, and lonely guy who finds the girl who wrote the letter.  Yes, it is sappy.  But the wood lodge (house) they live in is beautiful.  The snow scenes are spectacular.  The love of a family is charming. 

"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is one we liked.  I mostly liked it because the male star in the movie is the most handsome dude EVER!  I don't think I will delete this movie, EVER.  He is one that has the twinkle in his eyes, messy hair, and a great sense of humor and adventure.  He isn't afraid to 'bend' a few laws to impress the girl.  I loved it!  I loved all of it's sappiness, gooeyness and him!

This guy reminds me of dentist I used to work with.  His name is Nate Yetter.  He is 'this kind of handsome'.  He has the same twinkle in his eyes, and smiles and teases and is a great dentist.  He is married to a beautiful gal, and they have a ton of the cutest kids in the world.  Watching this movie brought back some good memories of when Nat worked at Arrowhead Lakes Dentistry.  He brightened each day, gave us all nick names..... I was "Sist'a T".  He nailed that one.  I knew, and he knew, what the "Sist'a" stood for. 

So, you need to set your DVR for "The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year" and watch Henry Winkler play a conniving uncle who helps this handsome guy meet his niece and help them fall in love.  It is a cute show.

And Christmas would be complete until we watch "The Miracle on 34th Street".  I love it! 



This heart warming favorite has been around since 1947.  That was before I was born, sheesh!  But, back then  love meant something.  It was tender and strong.  Today, the soap operas have ruined what the true meaning of love is.  (Cheating and lying and being unfaithful in many ways isn't love.  It is trash.  Now you know how I feel about the time wasting, mind polluting, twisted family values of soap operas.)

Doris Walker and Fred Gailey will always be a favorite love story.  They are the reason I shop at Macy's!

And then there is "Charlie Brown Christmas".  My favorite childhood Christmas Special.  I remember when it would come on once a year, on a Sunday night.  We would schedule our family around this special.  I still love the original voices.  The original music.

 And best of all I love the Christmas message.  The real Christmas message.  The message that includes Christ.  We see signs that say "the reason for the season" and still that doesn't include what it should.  Children know the reason.  Children teach us.  They know it means more than a Christmas tree.  It means more than Santa coming down the chimney.  They know.......Luke 2:1-20.

  

My children have grown up listening to the account of the birth of Jesus Christ.  They hear it read by their father every Christmas Eve.  I suppose most families do the exact same thing. That is when we quit worrying about the trees, and the commercial side of Christmas. 

 Charlie Brown teaches us in such a simple way, the true meaning of Christmas.

With just a few pictures of that timeless show, you can hear the voices of the children.  You can hear the singing of the choir.

You can fill the love of the True Meaning of Christmas. 

This is what I believe!

May you enjoy the wonderful Christmas Specials on TV.  But, I pray each of us will find to read in

Luke 2: 1-20 the account of the birth of Jesus Christ.  Read it throughout the Christmas season, several times. We might try to read it every day between now and Christmas Eve. Ponder the importance of this scriptural record.  Because IT tells The Reason For The Season.  We have 12 days......12 days to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Merry Christmas.

Love, Me

Festival of Trees

One crisp morning I said to DH, "I would love to go to the Festival of Trees".

He said, "OK".

And we went.

I saw some very wonderful, imaginative, gorgeous trees.

You see, the reason we went is so I could get some ideas to do the top of our tree.  I couldn't bring myself to place an angel on top of the tree one more year.  It isn't that I don't like angels, because I do.  But, I am tired of our angel.  Instead, she is a decoration on the counter in our powder room.  She lights up, and is a great night light.  That is where she is staying this year.

But, I wanted to do something, well, out of the ordinary.  Something with ribbon, sparkles, maybe silk flowers.  I just needed some inspiration.  Feathers seemed like a good idea.  You know what I mean?

I hadn't thought of using a lantern.  Hummmmmm!

My tree isn't flocked, but some of the ones I saw makes me want to get one.  But where would I put it?  I have several trees, and manage to put up several every year......but I don't think I am going to buy another one.  Although, I have a bunch of brown and gold ornaments, that don't show well on green trees.....Oh, maybe I will get another one after all..... DON'T TELL DH!

There was one tree that was completely Dr. Seuss.  I loved it!

A nursery would love this.  A Preschool.  A Daycare.  Me.
I would love to have it downstairs in the family room.  It wouldn't match anything, but wouldn't the little kids love to play around and with it!  Oh, I would if I were a small child.  That is one tree that a mama could say...."Yes, go ahead and touch!".



And the little ones could rearrange the stuff at the bottom and think they had the best grandma in the whole world.  Well, they do, so I guess I don't need to give them the tree (this year) after all.




 And there were lots of ideas for doors, and wreaths, and oh, so much to see.

And the ideas to decorate the mantel were spectacular.  Nearly everyone in my new town has a fireplace, whether it is wood burning or gas, the mantels need some attention at Christmas time.  There were so many beautiful ones. 

So, we got in the Christmas spirit and got our house decorated.  I have enjoyed every minute of it.

Now, I will confess, we had the Festival of Trees in November.  And yes, I had my house completely decorated for Thanksgiving, in Christmas decorations.  I felt a little guilty about doing it so early.  I felt just a tiny bit guilty not decorating for Fall, or Thanksgiving, but I AM SO GLAD NOW THAT I DID IT. We have been able to invite friends and family to our home, and it looks so nice and cozy.  We have watched a Christmas special nearly every night in December and with the Christmas decorations all around us, it has been magical.  Romantic.  Spiritual.  Comforting.  Peaceful.  I have felt the spirit of Christmas, the real meaning of Christmas more this year then I have in many years.  I love having the decorations done early.

I hope you get inspired to change a few of your decorations, and feel the spirit of Christmas in doing so.

Merry Christmas....Happy Holidays......

Love, Me

Lemon Pie, Idaho Style

I love playing and playing and playing and searching and searching and ..
on the computer.  And I will give credit where credit is due.

Today, I found a new recipe: It came from Meridian Healthy Living Examiner.



Sour cream lemon pie offers a creamy alternative to traditional lemon pie recipes. For those busy Idaho cooks who aren't fond of, or would rather not fuss with meringues, just spoon this filling into a baked pastry shell and chill. It's a fast, easy, and delicious dessert!
Sour Cream Lemon Pie

• 1 ½ C sugar
• 3 Tbs cornstarch
• 3 Tbs flour
• Dash of salt
• 1 ½ C water
• 3 egg yolks – slightly beaten
• 2 Tbs butter or margarine
• 1/3 C lemon juice
• 1 C sour cream
• 1 baked pastry shell

Combine sugar, cornstarch, flour, and salt. Gradually stir in water. Cook in saucepan over medium heat until thick and bubbly. Reduce heat and cook two more minutes – stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir about one cup of hot mixture into beaten yolks. Combine this with mixture in saucepan and return to a gentle boil. Cook and stir for two more minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Gradually stir in lemon juice. Divide filling and pour one half into pastry shell. Allow remaining filling to cool for a few minutes. Then add the sour cream and beat until combined and smooth. Spread sour cream mixture over bottom layer of filling. Allow to cool and then chill in refrigerator prior to serving.


Continue reading on Examiner.com Lemon pie with sour cream Idaho style - Meridian healthy living | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/healthy-living-in-meridian/lemon-pie-with-sour-cream-idaho-style#ixzz1fthMqALq

Love, Me