Word

SLUMP! That's the word. Isn't it great. It sounds like what it means so I guess it's an onomatopoeia. We all get in slumps so we all relate with this word. It can be emotional, physical, creative, etc. I think I'm experiencing all of these. Have an unslumpful Day!

Ranting and Raving

Today was our primary program. It's a big deal for me cause I'm one of 2 choristers. This is our big day. It went well and the kids were darling. BUT! I can't get over the irreverence in church. I certainly do not wish for the loud kids to stay at home but whose responsibility is it to keep/teach kids quiet in church. The popular vote is NO ONE! Let these cute little spirits fly free. From umpteen hundred drinks and bathroom breaks during sacrament meeting to ballerina twirls in the isle or competitive eating during the sacrament.(47 packs of fruit snacks inbetween the passing of the bread and water holds the record) ARE THERE ANY PARENTS PAYING ATTENTION? I am an old fuddy-duddy. I believe that reverence is possible and should be expected. When I had young children I sat by a friend (single mother) with older children who required complete reverence until the sacrament was over. I learned a lot from her. Have a drink and a snack before if necessary and wait as long as possible to break out the necessary snacks. A "Felix the Cat" bag of tricks is not required to keep young ones quiet. After the sacrament and only then do I bring out the paper or mini coloring books. It's OK to say NO! It's also OK if it makes your little darling cry, mine certainly have. My kids are far from perfect and they have issues. We have even taught a girl with ADHD and attachment disorder to behave reverently. Our boys were also a real challenge. Lots of paper airplanes have been built. Some during church but usually as a reward for good behavior once we got home. We are in serious need of discipline but is isn't the popular thing anymore. OK, my soap box is beginning to crumble beneath me so I must go. I'm tempted to start a ward of non-families. Our single kids can't stand to come back after attending single wards and I understand it. So to my kids. Did I damage you in any way requiring good behavior? I love my kids and their good behavior. I can still snap my fingers and their heads snap in my direction. Oh what a cruel dictator!

Happy Halloween

Well with Halloween coming I decided since Daren and I don't get into Halloween much we would show our spirit by dressing up our picture. Here's me:
And here is my husband dressed up photo and all. haha

Yes, I just learned how to use my camera on my computer that I've had since April. Priorities!

Now check my facebook picture. It's even more festive!

Wednesdays Word

Well, I got together with my sister and daughter this weekend and we came up with something. I have to preface this with an old story. Back in the 80's (ahh, the 80's) there was a funny little book called "Sniglets" which are words that should be words that are not in the dictionary. Words like Barbicide meaning when the meat throws itself into the flames on a barbeque or excessive bunnerage - meaning having more buns than burgers or hot dogs. Another is aquadextrous-meaning, one who can turn the water on or off in the bathtub with either foot.
Now that that is over I have two words. The one we came up with this weekend which is COMPICTURE-meaning, a picture you have on your computer. The one Daren and I came up with years ago is SPLINK-which is the little scribble you do with your pen to see if it writes. You know you've seen these all over the paper in your junk drawer in the kitchen or your note pad with your to-do list or shopping list. Are there any you have come up with. I love these. Please leave a comment with your sniglets.

Albino Carrot

The last thing remaining in my garden was carrots so Friday I dug all the carrots out. I grated a bunch of them but found something odd.

This is a carrot I dug out of my garden.

It was the only one but it is a strange albino carrot. I peeled it and grated it and put it in my carrot cake.

Now our garden is tilled and ready for winter.

My Parents

These are my parents and have been for some 46 plus years. They have reared 7 children who have been successful at a number of things. Most importantly being responsible citizens that contribute to society. They have 24 grandchildren soon to be 25 and final count.

They were both born in the 30's and both lost their mothers at a young age and were raised by family members. They grew up with very little and taught us to be frugal. We grew up with home-made bread and garden produce. Due to the fact that Dad spent many years on a dairy we even had fresh milk from the big tank on the farm and beef from the cows on the farm.

We took camping trips and some fun vacation. We've lived most of our lives in the west but in various states so we've gotten to see a lot of the areas around us. We love to get together as a family and grew up playing board games and singing. We were raised at members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and all have remained faithful to that along with our spouses.

Today is my Dad's birthday so this is a day to honor my parents. Thanks Mom and Dad

Wednesdays Word

Well, I'm sure I wont be diligent about this but I want to do a word for Wednesdays. Todays word is CANTANKEROUS. Isn't it great!? It has such great meaning and so many letters. It means ill-tempered and quarrelsome or disagreeable. We have found that one certain member of our family tends to make the rest of us more "cantankerous". We want to fight back but there just isn't any intelligence to argue with. It's a case of wrestling with a pig. You both get dirty but the pig enjoys it. The guys I live with are less able to ignore the situation which makes it worse. Never-the-less. It's a great word!

Remedy

I learned something new and it was very timely. For the last year or so I quite often wake up with pain in my hips. Daren spent Friday with his parents and his mother told him that her physical therapist told her that because women have wider hips (there's a news flash for ya) when we sleep on our sides especially it puts more stress on our hips so he suggested sleeping with a pillow between our knees. I decided to try that so I grabbed the throw pillow off my bed. It's a little big and bulky and kind of got in the way but lo and behold I woke up painless for three mornings in a row. I decided the pillow had to change though. I found an old pillow form that had gone through the washer and was lumpy and unfit to be called a pillow. It should have been thrown away years ago. It was a little too big still so I cut it open, removed one third of the matted, twisted stuffing and folded the spare fabric over to tighten what was still in there and stitched it back up. Now it's just right for putting under my knees to relieve back stress or between my legs when I'm on my side. It takes a little getting used to but for a night of no tossing and turning and waking up pain free it is great! Now I just have to make a nice cover for it so it can go on top of my bed during the day. Live and Learn!

Fabulous Friday

So Friday is MY day. It's 9:00 AM and I'm not even showered yet cause I DON'T HAVE TO! I do have a lot to do but most of it I can do in whatever condition I'm in. Daren works every-other Friday. Today would be his day to work but an aunt he doesn't even remember died and he had to take his parents to the funeral. (His Mom is from a very large family and it's an uncles wife that he hasn't seen in years) Later we have to do the neuro-feedback therapy that doesn't seem to be making any difference in our lives.
Anyway I have so much to do but sit here on the computer in my filth nevertheless. I really didn't excercise very vigorously so maybe I'll do more cause I can. But to the week. The only important thing I did this week was got to Parent Teacher conference for my 9th grader. He never has gotten school or why some kids stress about getting stupid assignments done. He would rather burn them in large stacks in his window well. (Now that's fire safety for a 10-year-old) Now it's high school and he still doesn't get it. He still is seeing what he can get away with not doing. Of course I stress but he has no idea how this will affect his future. He is failing his remedial math class!!! He just wont take notes and that's about a third of his grade. To redo this term he will have to stay till 6:00 pm and we will have to pick him up. 10 miles away. That's 30 minutes out of our lives every day, plus gas. Uugghh! The frustration of it all. I have discussed many times how all our children are opposites and it doesn't seem to matter how many you have, they are still opposite. My older three were all on the Honor Roll. If there were a Dishonor Roll Cory would be at the top of the list. He is however doing very well in gym, guitar and ceramics. When I sat down and told the teachers I was Cory's Mom they all said: "Im glad you came" At least they know I'm doing my part.

Cinnamon Roll Sunday

Yes, we accomplished another Cinnamon Roll Sunday.

This is a tradition that my family looks forward to every six months. I even manage to get my adult children home for the occaision.

Every General Conference Sunday for the last 10 or more years I have made cinnamon rolls. One year Daren and I had an opportunity to go to conference at the conference center and Risa was home from college and she made them for the younger three. What a darling domestic goddess she learned to be.

This year we tried to do our lunch cooking at the same time and there was just too much going on so they got slightly overcooked but deffinately not ruined. Most of us just like them slightly on the gooey side. Braden loves this tradition. I can't wait till he is home enjoying cinnamon rolls with us again. Just eight months away!

Time Together

Every other Friday Daren is off work and we usually do something together. That is our temple time and shopping time. This week we have been feverishly canning to keep up with our garden and trees but I'm missing fall so we took a quick little drive around Trappers Loop and down Ogden Canyon. The colors aren't very brilliant because of our hot dry summer. (what other kind is there? We live in Utah) Never-the-less we had a great time driving around and had lunch at The Oaks in the canyon. Our table was outside and in the back right next to the river.

This was taken sitting in our seats at the restaurant.

What a view!

The rest of the day was busy with "have tos".

This weekend I watched PS I Love You and just cried and cried. I had two hours alone. It was great but it made me think of what I would do without Daren. He does everything!

Saturday we got up early and made salsa. Daren did most of that too. It turned out great.

Enough Peaches!!!

OK, anyone reading this is tired of hearing about peaches and I'm certainly tired of peeling. For the record we got 84 Quarts bottled 24 Quarts frozen, the dehydrator full twice and 32 pints of jam. Anyone want to come over for peach dessert? I even pureed some and put it in the freezer. While we were peeling last night we made peach shakes and smoothies on Saturday. I have a dozen or so left and I'm debating throwing them out but they do so well in the dehydrator I could finish them off tonight.

Now about dehydrators:
A couple of years ago we got a cheap dehydrator that heated more in some spots which left us with very spotty and usually burned chunks of browned fruits and vegetables. Last year we had a plethora of tomatoes and peppers so we borrowed a friends dehydrator and filled them both. The tomatoes done in her machine were so much better we decided ours was just too cheap so this year we got a new one. It cost 4 times as much as the old one and has a knob to adjust heat. We have done carrots, chillies and peaches. All have turned out wonderfully! It is definately worth the investment to get good equipment. Daren and I seem to be very middle of the road. There are nicer tools than what we have but much more is a waste. We have found that it usually doesn't pay to get the cheapest.

So tomorrow begins the Salsa....