Favorite New Toy

Meet the kids favorite new part-time toy/friend.

I LOVE

This ruffled cake stand makes me want to bake a cake - and it's on sale!

A New Craft

I needed a birthday gift for my ex-overachieving neighbor and since I had to listen to a very dry two hour audio presentation on the computer, I decided to try my hand at using my wool felt flower clips to make a funky necklace. I kind of love it - and it's reversible!

Bag Happy

Found: cute purse at a yard sale last week
Cost: $1.00
Additions: two of my wool-felt clip tops
Result: Fabulous!

Oh the heebie jeebies!

I will not check the sprinkler box - ever. Last year, we were having a problem with the sprinklers and I decided to investigate. When I lifted the cover off the box buried in the yard, a vole rushed out at me - or maybe it was a mouse. I am not clear on the type of rodent, but none the less, it lunged, I screamed, nearly passed out from the heebie jeebies and vowed never to look in that cursed box ever again.

Fast forward to last week. We are having issues with zone 12 which is clearly possessed, and Bryan decided to go out an investigate. A few minutes later he comes walking into the house from the garage with this little fellow he found in the sprinkler box.

Admit it, he's giving you the heebie jeebies. Sophie loved him and wanted to keep him forever. She is so not my daughter.

Views from my window - Projects

Last week it was sunny and warm. Last week I painted the front door. It used to be barn door red and now it is chartreuse. Actually, the color is much more yellow than green and I'm not sure I like it on the door.


However, I also used it to paint these two old chairs I bought at a yard sale for $5.00 total. I LOVE the color on the chairs. We do not have matching kitchen chairs, just a mish-mash of wooden chairs collected from various yard sales. They are now being painted either chartreuse, black or white - and maybe some red ones too.


M

I Can't Find the Fridge

Every once in a while we take the art work down from the fridge, snap some photos to remember the masterpieces and then recycle!!! Here are some of Sophie's latest and greatest.

Where I Would Live

If for some reason, we ever had to relocate to Utah, I would live in Daybreak. Not only because it we would be neighbors to my sister and friend, but because it is one of the best planned communities I have ever seen. Heather actually told us about it years ago and we told Leta which is how she ended up buying a home there.

We took a walk around the lake (3 miles) on Sunday morning. The houses are colorful and energy efficient, there are sidewalks everywhere, the lake is a big loop, filled with fish and they have free canoes, kayaks and paddle boats for residents to use. There are community garden plots, splash pools, tons of parks and retail within walking distance. There are schools and a temple in the community and you can choose to live on a green court or have your own small yard. Lovely spot.

Family and Flowers

While in Salt Lake for a very short weekend, I was able to spend some time with my family. I stayed with my sister Heather . . .


. . . her husband Ross and Fat Baby Soren. The last time I saw Soren, he looked like this:


There's Fat Baby Soren with his auntie Koo and cousin Sophie who is inexplicably biting her hand.


Soren is no longer a fat baby, he is a BIG kid! Soren is not quite two, but he's rocking size 3 clothes and can sing a repertoire of about 20 songs. He is on repeat at all times. Soren has great cheeks.


My parent also came down from Idaho (Dad accompanied Gail and I on the piano for the funeral) and at one point we ran over to the gardens in South Jordan where Heather used to work - gorgeous!


Heather and I both need a teeth whitening treatment - anyone have a relative with an connection on cheap white teeth?


Last weekend was also the temple dedication for the new temple in Daybreak. We were not able to get tickets to the dedication, but it was nice to be able to see it lit up at night as we were returning to the house.

Katelynn's Brief Life on Earth

I have been putting off writing this post because I have found it so difficult to put my feelings into words. This last Friday, I flew to Utah to be with my dear friend Leta as she laid to rest her baby girl, Katelynn Faith. She died on Sunday evening, passing peacefully from the arms of her earthly Mother to the protective arms of her Heavenly Father.

Leta and I met in New Hampshire while both of our husbands were in law school. We quickly bonded over yard sales, dumpster diving and a shared love of apple orchards. We have stayed in touch through long phone conversations and quick visits whenever we are out West.

I am so grateful to have been able to attend Katelynn's funeral and to sing with another wonderful friend from law school, (but now living in Nevada) Gail. The spirit was strong, and it was a privilege to see the way Leta and her husband Nathan came together to bury their daughter with love and grace. This wonderful talk helped me to better understand not only their grief, but their knowledge that they will be together with Katelynn someday. I love this family.


Releasing a balloon for every day of Katelynn's life on earth.


Leta and Nathan


Their older children, Nathanial and his sister Ailsa.

Learn more about our beliefs on the salvation of little children here and here.