Not checking out but...

The last two months of my grandmothers life she could not eat. At the tender age of 93 she developed a stomach issue and eating became a sad chore which she gave up on. I will say she had amazing legs before she checked out. "Great gams" as she showed me her legs, and, you know, she was right! The only food she said she fantacized about was bean soup. She thought that was just plain weird and I have to agree with her. Not chocolate but beans....get a life! But you know, she is right in many ways. Today I tried to think of what I wanted for dinner. Chocolate sounded good but impractical, so I went with the beans. I had canned up some white beans awhile back so I opened a pint of those beans. Added some chopped up ham and then a bit of cumin...my new love. Then added some parsley and chives at the last minute and ate same. It made a wonderful soup...and no, I am not dying! Just enjoying the change of a good soup. I am excited to think I might be able to live with my food storage next year. It has been 3 years now that I have not lived with my food storage and I miss it. I am not good at thinking of things too far ahead and most of the meals I like to prepare I can't because the food is in storage, but not where I am. So I just punt and that has not been always the wisest way of doing things. We will see how it all comes down, but I at least have the possibility of living in my own home again and that is really something that makes me happy. Camping is grand, but I need to go home sometimes too.

Time not invested

So much that I should be doing and so little interest in doing same, so I will write a few paragraphs and then I will get to task. I find it hard to start things when I know I cannot finish them, and what with my weird work schedule that is a constant companion. Should get used to it but I don't seem to be doing that. I just finished reading "The Lucky One". Checked it out from the library because I needed something and thought I might enjoy same....not. Makes me feel like I should go brush my teeth or something after reading it. I guess it is well written but so not my style. Needless to say I won't be investing in the movie right away, although I know movies rarely stick to the book. I usually prefer the book so knowing that I didn't care for the book only makes me more sure I won't like the movie. To each their own, and that is not my style. I am trying to find a day when I can navagate a move back south. There is something going on almost all days so it is not an easy thing. I figure to rent a small u-haul, the smallest, and then just do it. I am going to move most of my things into my shop for the time being, and then put me in the Connie P. I can live at the cabin while still having room for family at the cabin, and you know how much I enjoy the Connie P so that is no major punishment. The small shower, OK, that might not be working for a whole month but we will see. I think I can move everything alone, or with Linda, except the heavy sewing machine and that I will need muscle power to help me move. I thought I would contact the Baesler boys and ask for help, I know they will do it if they can. That will solve everything the easy way. But that is all in the first part of June I think, so why chew on it now! Back to reality....

Memories are such weird and strange things, triggered by who knows what. So when you find one that is triggered by something you recognize it is a satisfying thing. My kitchen floor was grabbing at my feet as I walked over it this morning, that “too many spills” kind of thing. So I cleaned the kitchen and then got to washing the floor. Mind you, I wish I had a mop but not enough to drop things and go get one and the only time I wish I had one was when I would be using same....hence I never remember to purchase one. And there is one at the cabin so time will take care of the problem. Anyway, I filled a pan half full of warm water and then put in the Mr. Clean, and there was the memory click. My mother only used Mr. Clean if she had the choice and therefore that smell is strongly connected to my mother. I knelt down on the floor and started rubbing the orange cloth over the floor and rinsing it in the solution to continue on. Now I am done and it is drying and I am writing, but in order to dump the cleaning solution I would have to walk over the wet floor, not an option when there is a much easier way...wait for it to dry! For many years I was responsible for my mothers kitchen and dinning room floors, and they were always cleaned with Mr. Clean. As my life became more and more crazy and Nancy needed income I asked my mom if she could just hire Nancy to do the job and she was more than pleased to do that “if she will do a good job”. She had her care givers do the floors but they never got them truly clean (they used the wrong products!) and she wanted my word that Nancy would get them truly clean. I gave her my word and Nancy went to work. She did all the cleaning chores on the main floor of the house (remember, this is a three story house so that is relevant!). One day Nancy was frantically busy and my mother was complaining that the floors desperately needing cleaning and that if Nancy was not going to do it I was do get it done. And then Mom and Dad left for breakfast at the Clover Patch as normal. Nancy and I arrived at the house ready to take aim, but time was so short. I reverted back to something I did as a young person. I swept and Nancy vacuumed, then we poured about a quarter cup of Mr. Clean into the laundry tray and did not rinse it out. It is an extremely old laundry tub so it would not totally drain, and we carefully poured it so that it didn't. Mom got home a time later and effervesced to me at what a good job Nancy had done on the floors, she could not have been more pleased. Truth be told, my mother looked for the marks on the carpet that the vacuuming cleaner made and she smelled the air for the Mr. Clean, she never looked at the floors! Yes, in her day that was not true, but as she aged it became true and I used that fact occasionally and so did Nancy. We maintained personal integrity and did that “smoke and mirrors” routine only rarely, but it still makes me smile. So today I am typing and smiling as I inhale that tell-tale smell as I sit here at the computer. The carpet is so poor here that you can not see the tracks of the vacuuming cleaner so it is only a half memory, but a satisfying one all the same. It all reminds me that we need to keep our values straight. If cleaning the kitchen floor is more important than the people we need to take a good look at priorities. Yes, it is important to be clean, but people are way more important than floors and all. I joke frequently that I clean people out of my place and not into my place, and it is true. If you come to see me you should be here to see me and not check out my floors etc. I try not to let that be an excuse to live in filth, but it is still something that I strongly believe. I feel better when things are clean so I clean for me, not to impress others and for that I can smile at my messes, at my clean smell and at this memory.

and so it goes...

My life certainly seems like a round trip. Lots of things just keep coming back again and again, does that mean I am not learning the lesson the first time around? I refuse to go there but there is a slight possibility that could be true. The flip side, however....the Gospel is true and there is no new route to the same place. Something about the straight and narrow. Anyway, I am back into primary. They finally found my records and they will read me in next Sunday and sustain me back into Primary...wahoo....I was hoping to stay a little loose so that I might be able to do a little going here to there to see family. The Bishop assures me there are good substitutes but I have always found that substitutes are good untio you ask them to take your class, and then they are absent. Oh well, I will deal with it. He was not too sure as to which class but he thought it would be the 10 year old kids...."a real handful" was his comment. Well at least it has the same job description as most of my callings.

This is not on topic, but I am watching the golden globes and older women should not wear clothes designed for younger women....Jessica Lang has a saggy back totally exposed for the world to look at. Yes, full coverage in front but not nearly enough fabric in back. Why are we, as women, always trying to pretend we are not who we are. There is beauty in all ages if we will just accept ourselves for what we are....mature and just fine.

That said, I will go run over some Mozart and see how it plays this evening. This morning it was not playing well....fingers were just not moving in the way my brain was asking them. Just because it is fast and tight, two of my least favorite things, it was pathetic. There is a Left hand section that is extremely close note wise with Right hand melody that moves chromatically down the keyboard, and I need to lead with LH 4 and I keep putting down 5...bummer! I can do this, it is just doing it at the right tempo with the right notes at the right time. This too shall pass

Another year, another performance

I have a whole 15 minutes before I need to be on the raod again...plenty of time to write an entry. Particularly if you come to the realization that most everything in my life is done in little time frames. It seems the world does not think I need bigger targets of time. It is a season, or so I keep telling myself!

I played for the seniors at the Bayview senior center this morning for an hour and now I am headed back to Freeland and Maple Ridge to do the same thing, different place however. I think playing for the seniors is one of the good things that I get to do. They seem to appreciate the effort and that is plenty of pay for me. I can not imagine having time to just hang out with friends and listen to the music of my interest. It is a good thing. And I take Carson with me so he entertains when I don't. He is so good with people and just smiles from the bottom of his soul if something moves him. He has always gone with me but I feared he would not co-operate as he got mobility, but he still tolerates being tied into the stroller so that I can keep track of him while I keep track of notes too. He is a pretty easy young man. He seems to enjoy the music, but twice in one day might be a high price for him. We will see how this all plays out.

The Lord gave me back my music when it should have been gone forever so I feel I need to hold up my end of the bargain. I said I would make my music available to anyone with no charge if he would allow me to keep playing....and great I am no longer, but I am good enough to make people enjoy the efforts. You always win when the Lord is on your side!

The Christmas Rose

I grew up with Larry Nelson on KOMO radio. I listened to him from childhood through adult life. Basically from when he started broadcasting to when he retired. He actually went to school with Don Bruneau which added a little more interest to my listening. He loved poetry and would frequently share poems and thoughts he had on the radio in the mornings. One of the poems he sited had to do with the Christmas Rose. I don't remember much about the poem, other than it has given me a special feeling for a flower that can hold on until Christmas. And that is what I have this season. In back of my apartment there are several old roses that have seen little to no care in years, I am sure. But there are two roses that have just opened. One is probably white while the other is a watery yellow, but both are entering full bloom as Christmas also enters full bloom. There is a song "Lo How a Rose Er Blooming" by someone that refers to Christ as that rare rose. I understand that because it is so special and so of notes.

I am glad Christmas is upon us for a myriad of reasons, high on the list is I just enjoy the holiday. But equally as high is the reality that we all invest a lot of time and energy into making it happen, it is nice to play it to fruition. I have had a great deal of fun getting things together this year. It has been a difficult season of my life and I have been hanging on to the beautify and reality of Christmas maybe a little more than a normal year. Though my life has been insane there are good things that are a constant, and Christmas is one of those wonderful constants. Ready or not it is upon us and I celebrate that.

So like my valiant roses we all need to just persevere to the end, enduring so that we might grow to perfection and enjoying the process. Merry Christmas, one and all, know that I celebrate it this day and every day.

Those dang sea gulls

I have spent the last three years of my life watching sea gulls and have arrived at some conclusions as far as they are concerned. I have heard them described as rats with wings, but such nice looking rats they are! At the beach they were out harvesting the tide flats in the morning, picking up clams or whatever to take into the air and drop. They harvested what was there and they fit in their environment perfectly. They were everywhere all winter but were represented by only a few in the summer by comparison. Procreation took precedence over harvest I might observe.

Now I live next to the football field and watch those same birds go through a really different ritual. In the morning I get up to watch them march down the football field to turn around and march back the other way. Where is the gull dignity in this? Gulls were meant for sea food not angle worms or whatever. Robins eat worms, crows eat worms but what is this with the sea gulls?

I will give them a vote for entertainment. It is rather like a slow motion game of football minus the ball and the tackles. I have seen many a high school football game with just about as much organization. But the food is more typical to the species...french fries and the likes...no worms!

In the grand scheme of things the life of a sea gull does not matter much, but they certainly do entertain me!

simplicity

I have been finding myself with a little more time on my hands than I really have desire to fill. And that has caused me to do some looking around for things that make me happy. First of all is conversation, but it is hard to have a conversation alone so that one has to be put on hold until I can cultivate some locals that think and love to talk about thinking. Anyway, it has come to me that I really just prefer simple things.

I have been playing the piano maybe 2 or 3 hours a day. Everyone has heard my harangue on playing vs. practicing. Let it be known I have been playing. I have touched several hundred pieces, some are revisiting things Ihave loved in the past and some are totally new to me. Either way, I have had a lot of fun doing that. It is how I have been spending my evenings. I have Even sat down and mostly worked out a Rachmaninoff Prelude that I have loved for years. It is not performance worthy in any rights, but it is fun and something I have not played ever to performance, but that I have always enjoyed. had even thought about doing some writing but I have not gotten that tired of myself yet. I love to compose and am moderately OK at it, but it is just such a slow process when you do it by hand....haven't gone there.

I thought I would be spending way more time on the sewing machine. I have made a couple of household things I needed. But the big machine probably sounds like a thrashing machine from down stairs so I limit the use of it to small amounts and to the middle of the day. It is so strong and powerful that it vibrates the floor. I will invest time in Christmas things, noise or no, but not there yet. I did yard home a quilt that needs finishing so I think that will be my afternoon entertainment today, after Linda picks up James and Logan and after church. It is donation quilt but it is a particularly nice one with high loft batting, my favorite! Hurts my hands to tie it but I am trying...long live pliers...now if I can find a pair here.

Last great read....2 Nephi 11:5. What a positive thought and how amazing it is offered for free to all of us.

Gossip

Life has allowed me to come to a further understanding that gossip, no matter the circumstance, is always wrong and hurtful. There are no exceptions to that rule. And for the righteous that justify their gossip by saying they need to know so that they can be kind, or help or whatever, one comment....step forward and plant your feet on solid ground rather than quick sand. If you need to know, and does anyone really need to know, then ask the person in question to their face. They will either tell you the information or tell you to move on and stop nosing into things that you have no need to know.

In researching for a talk I read a great story. A Bishop was aware of one particular woman that had the strong need to know things that were of no concern to her. He pulled her into the office and gave her a bag of feathers and asked her to take them to various houses (those that they knew she had gossiped about or with) and deposit several on each porch step until they were gone and then return to the office. She obediently did as instructed, placing the inconsequential feathers on various porches. Upon returned she was asked to go back and collect all the feathers. The woman quickly pointed out that collecting feathers, all the feathers, would be impossible. The wind would have broadcast them and they no longer could be collected. He pointed out that gossip was like those feathers, nothing and no one can undo the damage done by simple gossip. I know I need to be sure to remember that all the time. It is always interesting to know things and sometimes knowing is not the kindest help. Sometimes I drop feathers and then realize I have done so and try to gather them back to know that words can never be taken back.

I thought that was an interesting story and something that applies to all of us, no matter how much we pretend that we never participate in anything as wrong as gossip. I think we all do to various degrees and we all need to remember those feathers.

That said, I am marching slowly towards tomorrow. Tough road right now but I am moving in a direction that I want to go and I know that I can weather the storms. I just get tired of doing so! And my body is telling me this is not a good season with all sorts of not so subtle comments. Stupid body...get on board and help me out here!

royal watching

Prince Charles and his sister (Princess Ann, almost my name if you notice) are pretty much the same age as my brother and I, a fact which my mother commented on occasionally in my growing up year. As I read here and there about the royal wedding coming up I reflect back on my little girl dream that Prince Charles would somehow manage to find me tucked away on the Island. I think it was my mother always commenting on the similarities between her children and the British royal children. All I know is that I harbored a very real dream that somehow fate would find me and I would forever live in grand style, happily ever after. OK, first of all, a title does not a man make as life played out for poor Prince Charles. We each have to make our own little bit of royalty and believe in it for ourselves. I think I lost that vision along the way and substituted something way too common. Life without dreams is barely living and sometimes I think I have walked away from too many dreams. Not dreams that actually can or should become reality, but dreams in the more wonderful grand sense. Dreams make the dull times pass a little more friendly to the soul and dreams do not have to be grounded in reality. That is the wonderful part of dreams. My sweet friend Fred is helping me with one dream....a boat that runs. OK, I did the boat last summer but I didn't do so good on the running part of the equation. Hopefully with his help I did better. Working on this project is almost like working with Lawrence, they are really similar in my mind....with a few years in between. There is so much boy left in Fred and in Lawrence and that is back to the dream thing. They have managed to keep the dream nurtured and alive even when the world has tried to put it out. It is my plan to put them on the boat and send them out to terrorize the salmon population of the Sound. This is the year that the Humpies should be running as they certainly weren't last year! And now I must focus ever so more on the Pita bread I am baking. It takes a lot of fussing to make it turn out right. I have been making humus and pita chips, and making my own pita makes it pretty reasonable in price, it is a fun experiment and I find myself in need of fun these days. Life has gotten way too serious and way to predictable and both are not good for the dreams I am fighting to maintain. If I can't have conversation I can have dreams, and both satisfy the same part of my life.

Blessings

Any time I think things are not going so well all I have to do is look at what I have. I get to watch Carson 5 days a week and we have become very good friends. And on Monday's I have an assistant in Amy who does whatever is needed to help with her little cousin. She is such a little mother. She will fuss over him and do what is needed to make his life more pleasant. And, for the most part, he appreciates her efforts. Sometimes he would just rather see older, more experienced hands, but most of the time he is pleased with her 4 year old hands helping him out. Always makes me wonder if they will have a special bond later in life because of this shared beginning, Sometimes it works that way.

And just in case you think all the beautiful sun sets play themselves out in the summer months I took a picture to prove you wrong. We have some of the most beautiful sun sets in the colder months., Maybe it is because we have more clouds, a reality of life, or maybe because we are more in need of the beauty they provide as compared to the rain they bring. Love rain but I love sun sets even more. I loved the variety of colors in this particular sun set, all the way from yellow to deep reds and purples were there. And then the beautiful reflections in the water to add more depth to things....yah, it was a really good day to be watching my front yard from the warmth of the house.

I loved general conference with the theme of gratitude. I think many of the talks reflected on our expression, or lack of expression, of gratitude. It is like the sun sets, absolutely free, and equally as beautiful. If it is so easy and so beautiful why is it that we do not show more gratitude? Interesting question that reflects so much on our society. I hope I am not one that fails to say thanks and fails to appreciate all that we do have. Yes, there are things I don't have and some of those things are really big, but nothing is as big as the sunset and as big as the things that I do have. Life is as good as we will allow it to be!

Every once in awhile I get to step back a bit and look at my world in a different way. I think that comes when you learn how to look through someone Else's eyes, and this past week I have been allowed to do that. My Cousin Jim and wife Lauri from Nebish are here for a few days. They are staying in Freeland but they are stopping down here a bit too. They are a wonderful couple and he has always been one of my favorites from the beginning. Life always put us together as a team, and I feel much more rich because of that. And his finding Laurie was a true gift, she is remarkable and seems to bring so much pleasure to those around here.

Last night I invited my brother's family down for dinner at the beach. I try to do that several times a year. It isn't much, but it is trying. We all had a good time, or so it seemed. It has never been an easy task to keep them all together with no effort on their side. In the 30 plus years I have been back on Island I have been invited to their place exactly once! When I think about that my 3 or 4 times a year seems like a lot, and it certainly does not hurt me in the least.

Now I will say that Nephew Robert and his family is a totally different deal. We get together frequently and I find them such a fun family. They work when the work is do be done (and sometimes in place of family time, sad to say) and they play equally as hard. Their boys are easy to deal with a I love conversations with them. It is just a wonderful thing to have them close by.

Family takes time and investment, but the pay off is massive. I really enjoy my family, those close genetically and those a little further away too. Heck, I even enjoy those that don't enjoy me all that much!

Carson has arrived.....

Linda certainly hangs on to her pregnancies as long as is prudent, and then a little longer. But when she decides she is done, well....believe, she is done! She had a terribly elongated labor, maybe 45 minutes and then we had a handsome young Carson Lawrence Kincaid. He was just shy of 8 pounds and almost 22 inches in length. He is not a tiny boy, more favoring Logan than James I would say. He came out hungry and got right to task, took a nap and went right back to the eating routine. If his beginning is any precursor to his personality he will be a very easy to please and happy kind of kid. Needless to say, Linda is doing great, she will get more rest in the hospital than she has in months I suspect. They are talking about keeping Carson 48 hours and will keep Linda there too (and hopefully not in a chair like they did to Nancy).

Emily took Linda up this morning at 7:00 a.m. for check-in and stayed to assist and entertain. It is a pretty powerful experience to do that, I know, I have had several opportunities to do same. Both Mother and Aunt fared well this day, but I think both are kind of tired. Emily presently has Logan and James for dinner. Larry was watching James but he was at her house so James is blended in with her kids. Logan has been my side kick most of the day but ended up in Emily's care too. Larry will bring the boys to the cabin after dinner for some play, and then they head off to their own beds where he has offered to spend the night with them. Tomorrow the boys will be mine for the most part, and James will be able to meet his new little brother. Logan had that opportunity today and was almost pleasant. Children do not comprehend hospitals and are pretty Leary of interaction.

Here's Hank....

Meet the newest Campbell...this is Hank, one bonenified Russian Terrier puppy. He isn't new to the family but a new Campbell. Curtis purchased hank when he was a couple of months old, but his life style didn't work out for the long run and he gave Hank to Emily and James. I think he is something like 7 months old and definitely still growing. He has beautiful black curls but has been clipped short as his hair was totally matted. He is handsome young lad but all puppy, all very big puppy. Daisy says we should send him back to where ever he came from, but she tolerates him kind of. He can not make sense of the snipped little white dust-mop on the floor but is so curious that he puts his gentle nose down and Daisy snaps at him. He bows to her geriatric demands and all is well for a time, and then he forgets and tries again!

And while meeting the newest Campbell we are also hoping to meet the newest Kincaid. Little Carson is way past due and Linda has an appointment today to see what is next, we are thinking induction is next and, believe me, Linda is more than on board with that thought!

So life is complicated but it sure is good too. And we might even have a sunny day to thaw out my cold little Daisy. I don't think building a fire is called for when you know the cabin will heat up with solar energy eventually....and it isn't all that cold really. I think the cabin is 62 degrees at present, the day is in the low 50 range, but it is still early and the sun is already out there doing what it does.

What a cute set of cousins we do have in our family. How similar and how different. Amy has those amazing turquoise eyes and Logan has green. Both very unique in coloring and neither showing well in the picture but I know they are amazing even if the picture does not confirm the fact! Amy loves to look out after Logan and he is not so sure he wants to deal with his older cousin as a care-giver. They are just so cute when they interact.

The rewards....

My friend Gloria came over for a short lesson this afternoon. You know, there is a reason that I do what I do. It is hearing someone like Gloria play that makes all of it worthwhile. You spend so many hours with children that do not have adequate support to succeed, adequate interest to suceed and many others area that fall short. But in life there are those that come along with all their ducks in a row and they are the reason we teachers do what we do. Gloria sat down and played the 1st Excursion for Piano by Samuel Barber. What an experience to listen to her play that. I have played it and it was a pivotal piece in my life, it taught me there was music that didn't follow the rules established by Bach but that was still wonderful music. What a joy to hear her play and to know that I had a real part in this journey. I listen to her today for free but there is a day coming all too soon when I will not be able to afford the tickets to hear this young lady. She plays my recital on the 4Th of June and Benaroya on the 5Th for big money. Yah, this one is going places and I will enjoy every step of the way knowing that she will succeed because she has family support and willingness to invest her considerable talent.

And the other side of the recital, we have lots and lots of beginners playing this year. It is always good to have beginners and most are from Emily. She does a great job with introducing students to the piano and I think the recital will show that. And the other positive side.....having the recital done means I have yet one more chunk of time open up for summer kind of things. Yah, it is a good thing.

Not the way it was planned

I invested my afternoon into food preparations, and some mighty fine soccer play by Peter. Let's see, I started out with making a chocolate pudding to use up some milk that was getting kind of close to the pull date. Then I cooked some potatoes to make twice bakes for dinner tomorrow night. I had J-bers for a couple of hours so he helped me empty out the skins so that I could refill them. He was great about putting the mashed potatoes back into the skins and I think he will take great pride in serving them tomorrow evening. Then I cooked up 3 whole chickens so that I could pressure cook them and get them into jars to cook tomorrow evening. And fixed dinner of spiced mashed potatoes, Meat Loaf and Carrots with the pudding for dessert. And how have my efforts been received....not at all. My one and only is certainly not one that you can depend on and I know that, but I thought he might at least make an appearance, I was wrong.

And why do I do what I do? Heck if I know, I guess it is just a habit that is hard to break. But I did have some wonderful mashed spuds and meat loaf for my dinner alone. And I am well on top of the family dinner for tomorrow.

Joyce made comments about eating alone and how sometimes she goes to D.Q. just so there will be people around when she eats and conversations in the area. I get it, fact is I really get it. Unlike Joyce I have been doing this alone stuff for many, many years so it is not as devastating for me as it seems to be for her. In my pretend world I would fix healthy nutritious meals and my family would enjoy them with me, then sit down afterwards (and during sometimes) for good conversation about all sorts of topics. Boy did I miss the boat on that one! It worked while I had kids at home but the minute Nancy left for school it all crashed. But as I said, I enjoy my own company so it is not all that bad and most of the time I really don't care all that much.

So tomorrow we will have a family dinner, wilted lettuce salad, twice bakes, barbecued chicken and conversation....sounds perfect to me! Might even make cup cakes! I love having the next two generations well represented and close, I miss those not close but I celebrate those that are close.

The purpose of TV

I have come to the realization that there actually is a purpose for television. Allow me to explain. I got up and cleaned the bathroom, did four loads of laundry (I know, everyone else did more but there are only two of us!), folded, swept and all those things a woman does on the average Monday morning. Then I picked up my stuff and headed off to teach lessons in Oak Harbor.

I worked with 8 young people, some perfectly fine individuals but not stimulating students, and a couple that are just fun to work with (that would be Cara and Taylor). Did the wal-mart run to purchase some window cleaner on a stick, so to speak, for the front windows, which, after a winter of salt water spray are looking pretty opaque!

Drove home, took care of the things I purchased, picked up the dirty dishes that seem to appear while I am out of the house and looked around for something to fill the last hour of the day before I try to get a good nights sleep....rare recently. I could sew but I hate starting a project with no potential of finishing it. I could read a good book but I don't have one on hand right now. I could read the scriptures and will after this but I want entertainment, brain dead stuff and the scriptures are not that! Hence TV...it is what one does when one arrives at the end of the day with nothing left to shuffle into thought or productivity and still some time to fill.

Ah the challenges I do face....OK, not much, but they are mine and real to me. Guess life is pretty good.

9 and counting....

Monday the 26th Nancy and Jace had their son Easton Ray in St. George, Utah. He is a perfectly average little guy with an amazing head of dark brown hair. I flew down to help them manage but had little to nothing to do. At least I was able to do some cooking, something that I enjoy doing and they seemed to enjoy having. And you will be pleased to know the grand state of Utah offered up a varied plate of weather, from 5 inches of snow on Tuesday evening, flurries on Wednesday and cool sunshine on Saturday. This does not feel much like spring to me, but this is what is happening. Makes me wish I had packed a few more warm articles of clothing, but I am managing without chilling myself too much.

Easton Ray had to go back into the hospital in Cedar for a day under the Billi light when his jaundice levels got too high, that was an unpleasant experience. They care for the babies well but the mom has a chair on which to live. We took turns staying in the hospital so that Nancy could get back to their house and get a nap. My insomnia pays off sometimes and this was one of those times I think. He came home the second time on Thursday morning and has remained at home since then. He will have to go back a couple of times to have blood work done to check his levels but there is no reason to believe things are not just fine.

He is a pleasant young man, rarely fusses and just accepts things as they come. I hope he keeps up this style because he will be an easy baby if he is able to maintain what he has started.


The 9 and counting refers to grandchildren...3 girls and 6 boys will soon be 7 boys with the birth of Linda's little one here in 4 weeks. Just thought I had better explain that comment as there is nothing in the writing that refers to that!

April Fools Day

I was thinking back on April Fools days in my past. My father used to prepare us "Special pancakes" on this particular day. Mind you, he fixed pancakes most mornings for breakfast so that was not unusual....but trying to cut the special ones was always a treat. He would pour the pancake batter on the griddle, then gently place a well cut piece of cotton sheeting on top of the pancake, covering it with more batter. It made a perfectly acceptable pancake but it was impossible to cut and eat. He really had us all going the first time he pulled that prank, but after that the fun part was watching him crack himself up. My father was always the little boy when it came to many things, and his pancake pranks tickled his sense of humor greatly. We all knew what was coming but no one ever gave it away because it was just so darn much fun watching dad try to maintain a straight face as he presented his rigged pancakes to each of us.

I have always admired people that can maintain that sense of innocence into their adult, responsible years. That is what it is all about when it gets down to the bottom line. We are to nurture that child within each of us, that innocence and that wonder, while we go about our lives in a very managed, adult like way. It is the balance that makes it all worth the effort. So am I going to celebrate this day of fools....no, probably not. I am going to take the few empty hours that I am offered and finish a project that is on hold, put the beach that is living in my house back outside where it belongs and then head off to lessons and rehearsals. A good day to be the fool and enjoy life, but no pranks coming from my place in this world.