HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR WONDERFUL MISSIONARY, ARIA

A great way to spend your 22nd birthday.

 Many happy returns of the day, Aria.

  

WOMAN CANNOT LIVE BY ONLY PACKING

Most my days (nowadays) are spent going through "things", tossing, keeping, packing. It's been a good time to weed out a lot of "stuff" and save my kids the trouble of doing it later! Therapeutic, freeing, melancholy, sad, happy, - well you get the idea. A whole gamut of feelings.

While living in Hawaii, I found a muu-muu factory where you could go and buy a shopping bag of scraps for 50 cents. I bought about 4 bags and some of the scraps were large enough to make little Julie several outfits.


Then I made January, who was heading off to college, a scrap quilt of 4" squares and "tied" it (no time to really quilt in those days) to remind her of her Hawaiian days while she attended BYU. 

The scraps were like Topsy. They just kept "growing". No matter what I made, there were still bags of scraps. I couldn't bear to throw them away knowing that someday I would do something else with them. So, 45 years later, I decided that I needed a diversion from the joys of packing.

The pile on the ironing board are ready to press,
the ones on the little table have been pressed
and the scraps on the floor (front) are
waiting in line.

I retrieved the bin with the scraps, (from the garage), pressed them and tossed out the ones too small to use 

The "didn't make its" are
piling up on the floor.

Too small

Then it was into the kitchen where I started cutting the 4" x 8" rectangles. 

Those scraps went on the kitchen floor.

The pile got bigger.

Finally I had my stack of blocks.

 ((Note: there is still a 1/2 bag - at least- of scraps remaining!)

 It was time to audition them on the design wall. I plan to have them set with a 1" strip in between the blocks, hence the spacing on the wall.

Then I got to thinking, hummmmm, maybe black would be a good contrast so I laid them out on the floor on a piece of black material.

What do you think?

THE BIG APPLE AND THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL

Ken had work in NYC. He and Steven and Nathan took the red eye to NY and arrived about 4a. Since he had a couple of days before he started to work, he rented a car and they drove down to Washington D.C. to tour our Nation's capital.

 Halo shot!

Selfies

Then it was back to the Big Apple and to work...

 while Steven and Nathan explored the city.

Newsies. (I guess they got to see the play?)

A DOUBLE

Introducing a new Great-Granddaughter: Robert writes:

Announcing the birth of Faith Chloe Sanders. Born 

yesterday (my birthday). 6 lbs 3 oz, 19 inches long. A little 

bit of light hair. Melissa and Faith are both doing well. 

Thank you for all your support and prayers. 

Happy birthday, Robert. That's quite a special birthday gift.

CLIMBING THE "y"

I don't know how many of our family have climbed the "Y" in Provo, but I hear it is quite a hike. I also heard - and I'm not sure it's true, that the painted "Y" for Brigham Young University was the first school to do that. 

Ken and some of the kids, including Sophie and JP made that trek a few days ago and here are the pictures to prove it!

 Panorama view.

Enlarged.

I did it! 

 Beautiful sunset.

That's not snow, but the white paint on the "Y". They are mimicking the "Y" perfectly! 

Bumble Bee

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Grave Marker completed

In case you haven't read Rhiannon and Ashlee's blog, (which is just wonderful - - check it out to the right of this blog), I borrowed a couple of pictures taken on Father's Day. 

 Eddy with his five children on Father's Day, 2014

Quinton had finished the surround of the marker, and added two vases. Isn't it wonderful. The Germaines and the Carltons visited the grave on Father's Day. Thanks to them for all the good work in getting this memorial completed for our Dad.

The line, "You were all the sweet things rolled up in one" is from a song in Dad's favorite movie, "Singing in the Rain".

OH WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SUMMERTIME . . .

Who knew there were still "swimming holes"? Apparently the little town of Mona has one, and Sashy and friends had a great summer activity. Sashy writes:

Yes! I went to the Mona rope swing with a group of friends. Mona is located about 25 minutes south of Springville and around the Mona lake are a couple free rope swings! It was a lot of fun except for the first time I did it, I got really scared and hesitated to jump off and ended up falling off the tree! Last minute though I grabbed onto the rope as well so I was able to fall into the water otherwise it could have been sudden death! Immediately after I went again so as to 'get back on that horse' and I did it successfully. 

 Buddies.

Looks really high to me!

 oops! 

Hair ribbon still in tact. Whew!

 Ta-da!

And then for Father's Day . . . 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

To the guy who made this all possible . . .

CLIMBING THE MT. HOOD SUMMIT IN OREGON

Robert, along with two friends scored another conquest. Climbing to the summit of Mr. Hood. Congratulations on a great accomplishment.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEREK

Derek celebrates his 31st birthday today. Many happy returns of the day, Derek.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

In preparing for this next phase of my life, I have been sorting through things, tossing some and keeping others. I decided to toss our yearbooks, but I tore out a couple of pages, and photocopied the book. Here goes. . . 

I attended North Phoenix High School. At the end of the year, we got our Yearbooks (which I think they still do today). Our school mascot was the Mustang (horse). Our rival high school would taunt us at sports games by singing the song, The Old Grey Mare She Ain't What She Used To Be. Rather insulting for our magnificent stallion horse, but actually kind of clever.Our Yearbook was called Hoofbeats. 

 This was my yearbook picture. (and I thought you'd enjoy seeing some girls practicing a dance. We dressed a bit differently back then, didn't we?

Of course you had to have your friends sign your yearbook, but I "reserved" a page just for my sweetheart. You'll notice he spelled my name J A Y N E. For a time, being tired of just 'plain' JANE, I decided to be more flamboyant and change the spelling. It didn't last long.

To save your eyes, I have re-typed what Dad wrote below. It's very sweet and endearing.

Dearest Jayne,

In this your last full year of school at North Phoenix, you have spent a great deal of time with me. I know, too, that I kept you a lot of times from studying to make higher marks that you are capable of, but I would still do it over again for the genuine pleasure of your companionship and love. The last school year of 9 months has seen: our first date, and dating, my asking, and our going steady, dozens of wonderful days and evenings spent with you, our fights and making up; my asking to marry you, your answer, yes; our asking my folks and then your wonderful parents; the engagement ring; and the plans of an event that will be most singular event of our life, our marriage.

               As I pause to think of the many weeks, months, years and yes, even eternity before us, my heart swells with love and joy, and I thank God for his kindness in our lives being fused together as one. This last school year of your will always bring back the happiest of memories to me. I hope that you will feel the same way as I.

               My heart is filled with more love for you than I ever thought could exist in one man’s being and soul.

You presence along my side throughout all eternity is a blessing I don’t deserve, but if this is to be mine, then I will be the happiest most in love person in the world. I wish I could write something like Edgar Allen Poe, How I love Thee” to you. (I think he was thinking of E.B. Browning and Songs from the Portuguese, How Do I Love Thee . . but isn’t it sweet that he thought of EA Poe! cja) For my word, action and deeds I know sadly fall below my thought and intentions, but I love you more for the way you over look my many faults.

               May you have and know more love, joy, happiness and contentment in all your lifetime; may you have it with me is what I constantly pray for all my waking hours.

               I now sign off with all my love, devotion and happiness I give to you.

               I love you very much.

Your loving husband-to-be.

ox Dennis xo

IT'S SPRING- TRA-LA!

When Spring finally arrives, it's time to do some work around the house and garden. The Mapleton house got a fresh tune-up. Very nice.

I

 I guess the color depends on how the light hits it.

 Note the new kick plate on the door. 

 "Poster" boy!

Ken is on a 100 day quest to become fitter. He is 20 days into the project. Way to go Ken. Here he is enjoying a new sport, rappelling.