It's GREEN and STREET all one word

Protecting the Wild Wild West…

2011-04-10T16:32:00.001-07:00

The pioneer costume is starting to really take shape and the beard is…well…looking good too.

My Version of Date Night Dice

2011-02-23T17:06:00.001-08:00

Make a list of 12 things {at least} that you like doing on dates and then just roll the dice to choose which one to do. It might be a good idea to roll the dice a couple days ahead of time in case you need time to plan.

Remember regular date night is essential – so make time for it.

{these dice were made from 4x4 wood blocks, paint, ink, sand paper and 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 pieces of scrapbooking paper}

Last hours of the Cruise

2011-02-23T12:59:00.001-08:00

Sunday February 13, 2011

Since the Bahamas excursions were cancelled we ended up arriving in Miami much earlier than planned.

These final shots are pre dawn from our stateroom balcony. I just loved the city lights before the sun came up.

Good bye Pearl – that was fun!

Parasailing in the Bahamas–Fail.

2011-02-23T12:46:00.001-08:00

Today was supposed to be our parasailing adventure in the Bahamas. Due to the wind and wave conditions the Captain decided it would be too dangerous to tender ashore and instead remained at sea for the day.

This was our last full day cruising and it was somewhat dreary out so Tim and I played some cards, drank hot chocolate and walked about the ship.

We attended a “behind the scenes” impromptu interview/Q&A with Sharkbait in the Spinniker Lounge where we discovered the “bar beds” {who puts beds in bars?}

We caught a sunset off the back of the boat which was very nice too.

At tonight’s show we saved seats for the nice ladies from New York we met on the first night.

Back Out To Sea and Chocolate Heaven…

2011-02-23T08:23:00.001-08:00

Friday February 11, 2011

Back out to Sea

Chocoholics Buffet

The Five Love Languages

Jazz Brunch in the Bistro Cafe

and… oh yeah another sunrise!

Our Favorite breakfast spot.

Beef Tenderloin Grilled Shrimp and Crème Brulee for brunch?? Completely doable!

Prime Rib for Dinner? Ok if you twist my arm.

The Happy Napper.

Nothing But Blue Skies…

2011-02-23T07:52:00.001-08:00

Thursday February 10, 2011

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

This unbelievable place was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493.

Open safari buses take you on a twenty minute drive through Spanish Town to the Baths.

Seriously, nothing but white sand and blue skies.

That waving hand is my Tim way out in the deep blue.

Two amazing beaches are separated by a mammoth boulder sea cave that you literally crawl through at various points.

On the other side of the caves is a more spectacular beach – as if that’s possible.

Tim was in charge of the IKEA sack with the striped towel wrapped camera inside. A non-snorkeling fellow cruiser watched the bag and our camera while we went out for more under water exploration.

As I recall, Tim’s exact words here were – “Whaaat I’m on another beach baby!”

Well Said

2011-02-22T11:28:00.001-08:00

St Thomas US Virgin Island

2011-02-22T11:19:00.001-08:00

Wednesday February 9, 2011

St Thomas USVI

Good Morning US Virgin Islands – the view from deck 14 as the sun came up was spectacular.

The captain of the Pearl literally parallel parked the behemoth in between two other ships docked at St Thomas. There were no tugboats involved. I would have never believed it unless I saw it myself!

Our excursion to St John was later in the day so Tim and flagged a taxi and went into town. Four bucks for a taxi anywhere – kind of a deal wouldn’t you say?

If we got asked once, we got asked a dozen times if we wanted to buy jewelry. Really?? Do I look like a jewelry kind of girl?

We rode a gondola looking kind of thing up the side of a mountain which was really fun and a little scary. The view from the top was worth the slightly swinging car.

We had just enough time to go back to the ship for some lunch and change into our snorkeling attire before our boat ride to St John. I was too chicken to bring my camera since I wanted to snorkel so I left it on the boat. I could kick myself for that one.

We did buy a disposable underwater for fifteen bucks which captured the proof I was actually in the ocean at the same time as my husband – a first in our marriage.

Relax and Then Relax Some More

2011-02-22T06:18:00.001-08:00

Tuesday February 8, 2011

Today we put down anchor off the Dominican Republic (Samana). It was called a “Tender Port” meaning the boat doesn’t actually have a pier to dock from but instead transports passengers desiring to go ashore by loading them in small boats (emphasis on small) and ferries them to land.

The excursions in Samana didn’t overly excite us after reading the description “Samana is like the Caribbean of forty years ago” and “horseback riding” in the same sentence.

We decided on the Summer Palace for breakfast since Eggs Benedict sounded like such a delicious treat. It did require again a collared shirt and combed hair.

After breakfast, Tim opted to swim in the pool, read, check out the observation deck, and thoroughly relax the morning away while I made an appointment at the 12th deck spa for a somewhat overpriced yet heavenly relaxing two hour pampering session.

While everyone else was eco-hiking and horseback riding old Samana, we took advantage of a leisurely stroll top deck and ocean breeze afternoon nap.

Challenging me to a late afternoon shuffleboard game seemed like a good idea at the time . . .

and Tim looked legit playing it

Unfortunately he got his butt whooped by a girl.

Think he asked for a rematch like twenty times??

Why yes he did!

Think I might just get another cruise just to get his rematch??

Why yes I just might.

Tonight's shipboard entertainment was a completely crazy hour with a juggling act called “Sharkbait”

As the sun set over the ocean we went back top deck to figure out the camera’s manual settings and catch some non flash photos.

Out to Sea

2011-02-21T19:18:00.001-08:00

Monday February 7, 2011

Me and half dozen others waited on deck 14 in the early darkness for the sunrise. Nothing ordinary about it.

After breakfast with bacon we spent the morning with a group of other couples listening to Laura Brotherson speak about Loving our Spouses – a perfect topic for a honeymoon cruise.

Waiting in our stateroom was the first of many animals dressed in towel clothing. Someone cleans my bathroom, picks up after me and makes the bed TWICE a day?? Now that’s a vacation!

We spent the day at sea on the way to the Dominican Republic.

The Honeymoon Cruise Begins

2011-02-21T19:04:00.001-08:00

Sunday February 6, 2011

The Norwegian Pearl officially welcomes passengers at noon on Sunday

Several hours later if computers are uncooperative.

I’d never seen such a boat and it’s hard to describe just how big it was.

From this view you can see our starboard stateroom one deck above the life boats mid ship.

Shoving off is so much easier to capture from a starboard balcony.

What is the first thing you do when you get on the boat?? Take pictures of yourself in the mirror of course.

We made reservation right away at the Cagney’s Steakhouse (as if we had not consumed enough meat already) which is why Tim is wearing a collared shirt and my hair is combed.

The Steakhouse was one of the “cover charge” restaurants on the ship and the only place to get lobster tails.

After dinner looking off our balcony we caught the first of many sunsets over the ocean.

Meat Meat and More Brazilian BBQ

2011-02-21T18:10:00.001-08:00

Saturday February 5, 2011

Dinner

Texas de Brazil Churrascaria

11401 NW 12th Street

Miami, Florida 33172

Located on the outskirts of the ginormous Dolphin Mall in Doral the restaurant sits next to the live music stage – palm trees everywhere.

There is the most amazing delicious salad bar just inside the door at Texas de Brazil – More delectable than I’ve probably ever seen.

Our waiter told us upfront -

Although tempting, don’t eat too much there.

And then he explained what turning your round table card to green meant.

A small set of silver tongs allows you to hold the slices of meat as they come off the skewer right to your plate.

When you need a breather – return the card to red for a bit. You can always flip it green again.

Notice the obvious absence of vegetables and the smiley face of a meat lover.

Meat Selections Available

* – our personal favorites

Brazilian Sausage *

Picanha *

Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast *

Crispy Parmesan Drummettes

Parmesan Crusted Pork Loin *

Flank Steak *

Herb Marinated Pork Loin *

Garlic Marinated Picanha

Rack of Lamb *

Pork Ribs *

Braised Beef Ribs

Filet Mignon *

Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon *

Tim was a fantastic sport posing for my new camera.

By the time dinner ended the sun was setting making the palm tree through the window even more spectacular.

Sand in Our Matching Tevas

2011-02-21T17:28:00.001-08:00

Saturday February 5, 2011

We’re in Miami beach

Walking on Miami beach

Not looking to the left or the right

because people don’t like to dress

much in Miami Beach

Costco then Lunch at Joe’s

2011-02-21T16:50:00.001-08:00

Saturday February 5, 2011

Costco address programmed into the GPS – check.

If the cost of a new suitcase is less than 70 dollars…

Did we just spend forty dollars to save thirty?

Sure enough we did.

Lunch

Joe’s Stone Crab

11 Washington Avenue

Miami Beach, Florida 33139

Joe’s has three places you can dine.

Take out, outside or inside.

We chose outside because duh

where else would you choose?

Lush tropical blooming foliage and palm trees shaded the outdoor dining room.

Heading to the Silver Honeymoon

2011-02-21T15:59:00.000-08:00

Friday February 4, 2011

Pasco to Denver

Our one (1) checked bag weighed seven (7) pounds over the fifty (50) limit which cost us one hundred (100) US dollars ($).

A second checked bag would have cost thirty (30)

By Denver…we are starving.

Thankfully there are delicious sandwiches available at the Paradise Bakery.

{cookie included}

Denver to Charlotte

Could I pretty please have the WHOLE can of Coke?

Charlotte to Miami

The one hundred dollar bag arrived safely.

My Favorite Veterans

2010-11-16T06:56:00.001-08:00

Jack L. Wilder - US Navy

Michael B. Greenstreet, Sr. - US Navy

Kenneth M. Greenstreet - US Air Force

Michael B. Greenstreet - US Navy

Putting Pasta By...

2010-07-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know that if you vacuum seal pasta into canning jars they last a LOT longer than if kept in their original boxes??

Why yes...yes they do!

In fact, this little trick works on nuts, crackers, oatmeal, popcorn, sugar, and cake mix too. If it's in a box or a bag and it's dry, it qualifies as "dry pack canning".

Cake mixes are the best because they fit perfectly into a quart size jar. I simply remove the bag from the box, cut a small hole in the top to let out the air, stuff the entire bag into the jar and seal it.

The box with all the instructions gets opened flat, trimmed to 6" x 12", and taped on the open side into a tube that then fits perfectly around the jar.

BTW...a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese fits perfectly into a pint size jar.

One benefit of using glass canning jars is that... they are re-usable. Your initial investment is the jars themselves which can be procured used at Yard Sales and Thrift Shops. Wal Mart has dozens of these see-thru goodies seasonally for sale at a fairly low price. For my local friends -- Check out Griggs in Pasco for nice values on jars.

I personally do not re-use the lids, but I know others who do. When I'm ready to "can" I buy the "lids only" which costs much less than the "lids and the rings".

There are vacuum sealers available for home use that pay for themselves in a relatively short period of time. The two I know about are the Food Saver and the Seal a Meal.

I purchased a Food Saver from Costco quite a number of years ago. Besides sealing in bags large quantities of cheese and ribs, it also has an attachment with a jar sealer. Genius really.

Some contend "dry pack" canning is really... not canning... and to them I politely reply..."Okay then... try serving your lovely green beans as a birthday cake."

Office/Creative Haven Remodel 2010

2010-07-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Jensen!

2010-06-24T18:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Regan...

2010-06-14T05:28:00.001-07:00

I got linked...

2010-06-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

A local coupon expert Karrie linked one of my blog posts to her website http://www.fistfulofcoupons.com/index.php/2010/06/03/organizing-your-pantry/

The link is at the very bottom where it says:

Another Fistful of Coupons reader, Brenda, made her own Can-Rotating system. You can see it at her blog here..its AMAZING!

Karrie asked me to send her the link to my blog like nine months ago but I completely forgot to do it. After I eventually sent it -- I didn't know she had linked me until a friend Tiffany told me.

That's kinda fun.

Grad Announcement Unmasked...

2010-06-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

McKay's graduation announcements were mailed last Saturday.

Thanks for all the kind words about how they turned out. Obviously McKay was a fabulous model contributing significantly to the success of the project. Even so, there were several Photoshop techniques and other tricks I used in designing the layout which I will share here below.

The photo was one of over 250 taken in our living room on November 18, 2009 using our Canon Rebel XTI and a 50mm Canon fixed focal length lens. I opened the aperture to 1.8 giving me a very short depth of field which blurred everything behind her and gave nice "bokeh ". She was sitting about 10 feet off the background on a metal outdoor chair. The backdrop was a piece of fabric I picked up in Portland last year.

The photo was originally tagged "reject" and was not edited for use as a senior portrait so it remained in the Adobe Camera RAW format. It was also not what I would consider "crisp" specifically because the eyes were not in focus. Still I loved the pose and I chose to use it in the announcement layout because I thought it could be "desaturated" nicely.

While still in the RAW format and still in color -- I imported it into CS3 and did the following retouches:

- removed stray hairs from her face- healed the lines and darkness from under her eyes
- removed blemishes (albeit there weren't many) from her face
- cloned out the stray hair going horizontal from her face to the left side

To whiten the eyes - I copied the original layer changing the blend mode to "Screen" which brightened the entire picture, then applied a mask to the entire thing (which covered all the brightening) and with a small soft brush and my Wacom, I painted back in only the whites of her eyes. I then lowered the opacity of that layer to about 40%.

To sharpen the eyes - I copied the original layer and applied the "unsharp filter" to the image and like before I applied a mask and using a small soft brush painted in the "sharpness" only on the eyes, lashes and brows. I reduced the opacity to 50%.

Next, I used the Nichole Van Essential Black and White Action Set/Dark Moody to turn the entire photo a rich black and white copy of the original. Because Nichole's Actions preserves the layers you can then tweak to your hearts desire any part of the process. I think I messed with the curves and maybe the brightness and contrast to minimize the mid tone grays.

I loved the background from the photo and wanted to use it as an accent on the announcement. Since it was too blurry I used another photo from the same session (where the background was in focus) to "extract" the pattern and set it up as a narrow ribbon.

Extraction is another discussion altogether. The individual images, once extracted are copied and pasted into a pattern.

The border consists of several layers which are shown here: (just a little digital cut and paste...) You can see the pattern formed from the extracted images above.

When I first learned how text can be manipulated it was one of the most confusing things ever. I had always just accepted text just like I typed it. This is how it looks straight off the keyboard.

But...if you "rasterize" the text you can add effects like drop shadow and bevel & embossing and you can do what is called "kerning" the text making it more visually appealing because you eliminate what's known as "dead space" that traps and holds your eyes. You can also select individual letters (like I did with the first letter "E") and increase or decrease their size. Here's what it looks like after rasterizing, kerning, drop shadow.

Her photo is set on a white background where a gradient is applied bleeding the photo to white. The black border is a digital image of a vintage frame I purchased some years ago from Maria Designs (for commercial use) and the brown layer below is created by using a style in Photoshop called "burned paper".

Finally her name was set on the diagonal to lead the eyes around the layout. What I intended was to have your eyes first go to her eyes then to the quote then down and back over her name and back up to her face. For some reason -- diagonals are more visually pleasing.

And that...in a nutshell is how I created this project.

A Nice Excuse for a Project...or two.

2010-06-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, I taught a class in a local community education program entitled "Introduction to Digital Scrap Booking" The course was created to expose students to new and innovative possibilities available through the use of computer aided scrapbook design.

I was aware some purist scrappers might balk at the notion of flattened digital images replacing the textured feel of linen card stock, the charm of hand placed brads or the aroma of fresh glue stick, and that... clinging tightly to decorative scissors they might shun the idea.

Still...my approach held firm that traditional cut and paste scrapping could be improved using the technology tool.

Considering myself "hybrid", a term which described someone whose feet dangle both in traditional scrap booking and digital media pools, I had long known the benefits of both expressions and enjoyed the variety.

Illustrating the point, I created for the class, a photographic project using my computer.

Scanning photos from my childhood, I digitally cut, copied and pasted virtual layers of paper until the design was the exact measurements of the unfinished 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" pine box I purchased from my local hobby store. The image was then commercially printed on matte photo paper, glued to the box, sanded, stained and finally...decoupaged to my loving.

The first thing out of McKay's mouth when she saw it was... "When are you going to make me a box?" Shrugging, I replied... "Someday maybe."

Five weeks ago, while mentally tossing around ideas for graduation gifts...someday arrived.

Initially, I intended to simply replace my childhood photos with McKay's. However, a far cooler idea surfaced...which was instead...to chronicle preschool through graduation on the six sided wooden canvas.

Tweaking the original layout to accommodate three photos per side was relatively easy. Choosing photographs from each of the fourteen years including preschool and kindergarten proved slightly more time consuming. McKay's senior picture would grace the top of the box with photos from high school dances on the inside.

Photoshop CS3 is my digital imaging software of choice, (having just added CS5 to my birthday wish list) but these techniques can be accomplished using Photoshop Elements which is the home version in the Creative Suite family for significantly less investment. Although my monitor remains uncalibrated, I usually have very few color issues using Costco to print my layouts.

Each of the sides of the box measured 6.5 x 10.5 so I set up the layouts for the sides to those measurements. The top was 10.5 x 10.5 and the inside 10 x 10. When I got the individual layers as desired I flattened the images to jpeg for printing. Since Costco offers a wide variety of large picture and poster sizes, I was able to avoid waste setting the images to (2) 24" x 36" prints. They looked like this when I got them processed in just a little under an hour.

Once trimmed to size, the photo panels were affixed to the box via Mod Podge -- which some call expensive watered down white glue and I contend... is a bald face lie.

Left overnight to dry, sanded, stained, distressed, "ModPodged" (decoupaged for you children of the 70's) perched on plastic canisters, & abandoned for drying another six hours while I watched rented movies, finally my "someday maybe" box for McKay was complete.

Inside the box is a ring bound stack of recycled paper sack colored file folders I spotted at Staples a couple days ago. Cut to size and sewn up on one side they made perfect pouches for all the reports cards I saved over the years. It was custom sized and bound with a "Zutter Bind it All" to fit snugly inside the box.

I affixed McKay's school pictures, teachers name and school to the front of each folder. The edges of the pages and the mats on the photos were distressed using the new tool I just received in the mail called the Zutter "Distress it All" and inked with my favorite Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Antique Linen.

The second project simultaneously in process was a memory book with hand drawings, poems & kind words from many of McKay's youngest friends. What started out a simple collection of artwork soon mushroomed into sixty pages nearly bursting the capacity of the antique brass ring binding.

Most of the featured artists are under 12 and several barely old enough to write their own names. Many are McKay's former babysitting kids who wrote they'd like her to come play with them again. The pages were collected over a multi week period completely unbeknownst to McKay.

There were so many pages the size of the covers were increased to accommodate side by side stacks of art and poetry. This is the gift I most looked forward to giving.

As she opened the book and began turning the pages, McKay began to...cry BIG streaming tears. These are the kind of friends you keep forever. The book is titled "McKay's Best Kind of Friends Book" for a reason.

She said I was her most favorite mom and that she loved me so so so so so much. I kept back the reminder I was her only mom...

Just like I predicted...this book whoppingly upstaged the i pod she has daily, for months, begged me to buy and thought might be her only graduation gift, but graciously instead of looking a gift horse in the mouth... she took the i pod too.

Sailor Daddy

2010-05-31T22:38:00.001-07:00

My daddy was a sailor. I knew his job must be important because his uniforms were always pressed crisp and he spent a lot of time shining his shoes. What I never realized as a kid, was how dangerous it was. When he went to Vietnam, I didn't understand there was even a possibility he would never come back. He always... came home safe. I recognize now that some other dads didn't. Today I am very thankful for the bravery and the sacrifice and the honor of those guys who never returned from battle defending my country. Thank God for each and every one of them.

FINAL: McKay's Grad Announcement

2010-05-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

Here's the final version of McKay's announcement to the world.

"I'm done with stinking high school."

After cutting several proofs, we discovered that my trusty 20 year old paper cutter is not completely precise in it's squareness... (or it may be... that I'm not completely precise).

Either way, I'm gonna have to pay someone else to cut them straight or get a straighter cutter.

I'll have to think about that one...

PREVIEW: McKay's Grad Announcement

2010-05-20T14:06:00.001-07:00

Costco's printer is down today so the announcement mailing has been delayed...What the trailer??

We have completed work on McKay's "nontraditional" graduation announcement. It is non-traditional in the sense that her diploma will say -- "Kamiakin High School" even though she completed coursework for Junior and Senior year online...at her own pace...often in her pj's...at home.

This educational plan, offered through the Kennewick School District's "Off-Campus Learning Program" worked extremely well for McKay allowing for significant increase in GPA as compared to her Freshman and Sophomore year attending classes on site at Kamiakin.

We are grateful such an option exists and wish to sincerely thank the staff and teachers who worked closely with McKay in preparation for graduation - specifically Lorna, Jennifer and Dave. McKay received individual attention and tutoring when needed which really helped her understand the material she was learning. I am still gasping at how quickly McKay went from preschool to high school. What was it...2.5 seconds?

McKay's announcement was set up in PhotoShop measuring 9.25" by 4" which will fit nicely in a top opening policy envelope we ordered online made of recycled Kraft colored paper. We are waiting on Costco and it's printer to double check the size and layout.

Kamiakin High School colors are red and yellow which are completely non-flattering to skin or creative design for that matter. We chose instead, a simple black and white layout using a less stark version of red and yellow in a side ribbon. The design of the ribbon was extracted from the fabric back drop used in the photo. Although it was somewhat time consuming, the final image was just enough accent to the otherwise hue less design.

I loved working on the project for McKay. She'll be addressing and mailing these out to friends and family just as soon as we get them back from Costco.

Chocolate Chip Sins...No Confession Required.

2010-05-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

In 1986, while employed at Northwestern Mutual Life, a co-worker slipped me a photocopied recipe that... she said was rumored to have been the secret ingredient list for the cookie Mrs Fields made famous. Gasp!

Handing me the clandestine document, she first looked around, then whispered... "You've gotta try them...they're addicting."

I'd had Mrs Fields before... paying nearly $1.00 a piece for the chocolaty goodness at the mall and even though it seemed a little too good to be true... I shoved the paper in my pocket anyway.

That was nearly 25 years ago and Mrs Fields Original Recipe or not...these are the best chocolate cookies I have ever mixed, scooped, baked, smelled or eaten. There's no heroin in the recipe, but I'm not gonna lie...they are a little addicting. You'll have to be responsible for yourself.

I renamed them "Chocolate Chip Sins" a number of years ago figuring a recipe for a cookie this good was no doubt obtained by theft.

You're very welcome...Enjoy!

She Was Listening...

2010-04-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

Fifteen year old daughters and their mothers just disagree.

Caught in the space between little girl and woman - where getting along is so important and yet so difficult, daughters rarely understand why their mothers push so hard or why they ease so little.

Mothers know exactly why... It's because... mothers of fifteen year old daughters remember being fifteen.

Frustrated after an especially charged disagreement with McKay, I desired to express my feelings in a more thoughtful less reactive way. That evening, I wrote what I called -- "An Epistle to McKay" I'm not sure exactly why I chose the format but it took most of the night to finish. I don't even remember McKay's reaction, if any, to the letter.

Recently, when I remarked (frustrated at a particularly difficult situation) that I wasn't sure very much of what I said made significant difference anyway - McKay disappeared - then reappeared with the note I had written her in 2006. She said it was one of her most favorite things.

Unbeknownst to me, my fifteen year old daughter was listening.

-Reprinted with McKay's Permission.-

An Epistle to McKay
April 2, 2006 1:24 am

1. And it came to pass that in the tenth month of the year one thousand nine hundred ninety one years after the birth of Jesus, a proclamation went throughout all the land. The wife of Tim was heavy with child and was burdened much with the burning inside her heart.

2. She had labored much in the preparation for the coming of this child and had packed the necessary supplies to take with her to the appointed destination where this child was to be delivered.

3. And it came to pass that there was great joy in the house of Tim, for he knew that soon his wife would be relieved of the swollen ankles and gastrointestinal upset that had so besieged her for nine long months. For behold he also knew that a child would be born in the likeness and image of God and resembling somewhat the parents entrusted to care for her

4. And now behold, it was not known whether that great day of delivery would yield a son or a daughter into the house of Tim, it was only expedient to know that this would be a special spirit sent straight from God above, whose loving hands would bestow upon the parents a solemn responsibility to love and protect this precious being forever.

5. And what doth it mean saith the mother to love and protect? Doth it mean that I must put aside all my selfish desires and weaknesses and strive to do whatsoever is in the best interest of this child? Yea, and it also must needs mean that I lay aside for a season my own worldly wishes and aspirations in order that I might provide the means by which this child should be clothed and fed and nourished by the good word of God. That whatsoever thing I should do for this child I would do it in love unfeigned never wavering, for there is no one save God himself that shall love this child more than her mother

6. And there is none other save God who had a foreknowledge of this child. For behold this child did kick and poke and hiccup for many months mostly during the dark of night where none else could know. And there is none other save God who could have looked so forward to the deliverance of this baby

7. And this is the manner after which the baby was to be brought into this mortal existence. She would be delivered by a surgeon with exceedingly steady hands who brought her to her mother’s cheek wrapped in white and wearing a pink hat of fine cotton. She would be called McKay which meant she was treasured and loved.

8. And when her mother saw her she wept tears of great joy and was humbled at the blessing bestowed upon her. She hoped for and received a precious gift from God.

9. And it came to pass that when they departed for their home McKay did cry mightily for the space of many hours. Behold her mother did not have the power to stop it save she fed her and clothed her with soft cottons, for only then did McKay cease crying and slept

10. As she grew to be a young woman McKay waxed strong and smart in all manner of sports and learning. She was a thing of beauty and was taught in the ways of the Lord. Her parents sought diligently to teach her to be honest and kind.

11. Oft times she showed forth much sassiness and it must needs be that she was reproved with much sharpness. She did lie to her parents and did seek to disobey the rules. Her mother did pull her aside many times to deliver lectures some of which were exceedingly distasteful to her.

12. And it came to pass that after an exceedingly difficult lecture from her mother McKay did cry out once again in anger. Why must I believe as my parents believe, if I have not faith to know for myself? Why must I be tempted and tormented by the evils of life and the cliques that so try to ensnare me into their mean clubs and carelessly judge and use me? Why must I needs be respectful and obedient to my parents when I feel troubled and do not like the rules they so exceedingly heap upon me? Why cannot I just be free to do whatsoever I desireth, even wickedness?

13. For behold after this manner did she continue to murmur against her parents and so much was her desire to rebel that she did spew forth many angry words some of which did catch and cut her mother so that she cried.

14. And it came to pass that McKay's eyes did wax heavy and did close to slumber. She was carried away in a dream where she beheld her mother with many different types of people surrounding her. Some looked happy while others seemed scary and dark. These people represented all of the people her mother had ever known and all of the experiences she had ever seen. Her mother was trying to get through the crowd of people to the other side where there was a beautiful garden and house with a balcony on which her father and she stood. Her father beckoned come and join them on the porch so that they could enjoy the flowers and the sunset but as her mother tried to get through the crowd some of the people were tugging on her clothes trying to get her to linger. It seemed such an easy thing to get to the garden and the path was straight but her mother was taking a long while to work her way through the crowd of people that held her bound. In order to pass each person trying to hold on, she must look each in the eye and carefully take their hand and set it down to clear her path. When her mother reached her and she felt her hand it was as if they had never been separated. As McKay watched this scene in her dream it became clear that her mother was trying her best to reach her and that her delay did not mean she loved her any less.

15. And it came to pass that McKay awakened from her dream with an understanding of her mother's exceeding love for her. Behold she knew that her mother had trials and weaknesses to overcome. Behold even her mother was not a perfected being.

16. But inasmuch as her love for her daughter was exceedingly strong so also was her desire to protect and care for her to the very best of her ability. Sometimes this meant that McKay would needs be upset with her mother for not allowing her to partake in activities that would be harmful to her or which would cause her to be exposed to more peer pressure than she was able to bear.

17. For behold her mother understood that when she called her retarded it did not meaneth that she was mentally handicapped only that McKay was in opposition to her will and that sometimes it needs be that their heads butteth against each others.

18. Inasmuch as McKay did not agree with all of the decisions her mother sought fit to make, she did understand that her mother was only concerned with her long term happiness and that it would mattereth not in five years that she was not able to attend a movie she was deemed too young for.

19. For behold, what would matter in five years or ten or forever was that her mother loved her with exceeding zeal and fervor. And that she would just as soon lie down in front of a train than see her precious McKay injured in any way that she could have reasonably prevented. But in her wisdom, her mother also knew that McKay was given the gift of free agency by God to choose for herself and ultimately she would have to decide for herself what she would do with her life. Her mother could teach her but she would have to make the choices herself.

20. And so we see that a mother’s love will never die no matter how much the child sassith,and rebeleth and causes headache and heartache...that the love of her mother is unconditional and lasteth forever. Amen.

Behold, I loveth you with all my heart,

Mom

How'd All That Stuff Get Under There??

2010-04-23T15:25:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I moved around the furniture in our master bedroom. Vacuum cleaner at the ready, I expected to see dust build up and hoped to locate a missing remote in the far recesses under the bed. When I removed the mattress and box spring I discovered... so much more than expected. Certain the impact would be much less stunning simply retold to my family, I decided this one needed proper documentation... and proof I wasn't making it up.

In a perfect world and with the help of a obsessive compulsive domestic employee, the floor underneath the bedroom furniture would be vacuumed weekly preventing the accumulation of dust and other debris. In reality... it is much less maintained, more cluttered and for the purposes of this post...much much more interesting.

I laughed and photographed and then listed everything I saw under our King Size Bed.

I am not making this up.

3 pairs of shoes
9 socks
2 Rand McNally Road Atlases
2 hardbound world atlases
2 shotguns
1 rifle
1 (2009) stake directory
1 roll of purple curling ribbon
1 plastic cup
5 empty water bottles
1 baseball cap
1 elastic headband
2 empty tic tac containers
1 crocheted pot holder
1 nerf gun bullet
1 hair barrette
2 highlighter markers
4 pencils
2 pens
1 ipod cord
1 exercise hand grip
1 phone book missing the front cover
1 bottle of eye drops
1 pony tail holder
1 spoon
4 paper clips
1 pocket knife
1 movie ticket
1 bat
1 bottle cap
1 card board tube
1 fortune cookie fortune
1/2 of a corn chip
1 eye glass case
1/2 a pair of flip flops
1 DVD front cover
1 Knotts Berry Farm Pass
5 green fluorescent air soft bb's
A penny and a nickle
1 Faded Glory jean tag
2 spent bandaids
4 broken pretzels
1 computer screw
1 book
1 pillow
1 eye mask
Dust
and 62 gum & candy wrappers

Here's photographic proof.

Beautiful Graceful Thing...

2010-04-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

Thumbing through old MTC scrapbooks, I found handouts from a class I barely remember taking -- dedicated to the “Refinement and Beautification of Sister Missionaries”. It was known as “Belle Sorelle” which translated “Beautiful Sister” and was pronounced with the short “e” sound at the end of the second word. Since none of us were familiar with Italian pronunciation nuances and partly because of its ridiculous nature, we called it “Belly Sorelly”

The name stuck.

For nearly every sister involved, it was a reprieve from the exhausting gospel study grind and repetitive Italian memorization exercises the Elders continued to follow in our absence. Since we were all familiar with tweezing protocol for eyebrows and proper blending techniques of foundational make up, it was mostly review. The difficulty was managing a straight face when instructed to rub mayonnaise deep into our scalps, leaving on the natural alternative to commercial hair conditioner for a twenty minute treatment.

Under refined tutelage we learned whether our faces resembled inverted triangles or pears, which shampoo ingredient introduced supplementary protein blends onto the hair shaft and what qualified as a French braid. My personal favorite was the expanded beauty session known as the "Poise Workshop".

After all these years, the complexity of proper handling of hands, walking and ascending stairs escapes my aging memory. Fortunately, archived documents provide the answers.

From the “Poise Workshop”

What to do with your hands...

While Standing: "Let your upper inner wrists lay gently on your front hip bones, slightly off center of your body. You can lightly lace finger tips, thumbs together or place palms together. You can place the back of one hand in the palm of the other, fingers cupped. If you must fold your arms, do so lightly with your thumbs tucked under each arm and finger tips showing. Then stand tall and don't let your back slump."

How to Walk…

The ideal walk is not really walking, it is more like floating. Keep your weight in the middle of your body. Don’t let it shift from foot to foot. One shouldn’t be able to tell by looking at your head which foot is stepping down. Watch your arms. Let them move moderately, but not propel you. Practice daily – and remember -- don’t walk…float.

Ascending Stairs…

You can float up and down stairs as any princess if you remember – “It’s all in the knees.” Never watch the stairs. Pause as you begin to take the first step. Keep your feet on a slight angle. Keep your knees bent and to get the floating feeling... practice walking around the room with your knees bent. Never grasp the hand rail to pull yourself up. If you do these things you will be graceful and it is truly a wonderful thing.

Stunned at the magnitude of education contained in the Poise Workshop none of us imagined there could be more. But, alas there was…Clothing Care, Laundry Tips, Mood Identity, Skin Analysis, Figure Balancing, Foot Fungus Identification, Food Measurement and finally…What to do if we suspected we had toxic shock syndrome.

The refinement obtained by the Elders, on the other hand, remained unclear. Surely they must have been reminded to withhold bodily noises in the presence of investigators, close their mouths while chewing and refrain from lighting anything on fire. Perhaps lengthy instruction in these and other areas would have exceeded retention ability and demonstrations of eyebrow tweezing make up application and hair braiding certainly would not have been appropriate use of their time.

In the end… we left the MTC as Christian Soldiers fortified by white bibles, Book of Mormons, Flipcharts and brand new two sided emery boards. As sisters we were prepared to teach… and preach… and work like missionaries did, with beautification training handouts serving as constant reminder of our graceful potential.

Long Live Belle Sorelle!

Big Fish On...Third Times a Charm.

2010-03-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

I've Outgrown the Babysitter...

2010-03-12T22:22:00.000-08:00

In the State of Washington, pressing a phone to your ear and talking while driving is against the law. Currently a second offense, this means drivers must disobey another traffic rule first, before they can be cited for what some have called a highly dangerous and distracting activity.

I would contend, that retrieving a screaming child’s dropped bottle from a rear floor mat or dipping double bacon cheesy fries in a milkshake perched in the steering wheel while driving are equally dangerous and distracting. Fumbling to prevent a single Cadbury Mini Egg from rolling beneath the front seat easily robs quadruple the attention answering a phone call does.

On taxpayer dimes, lawmakers in the state’s capitol debate whether there is merit in toughening the ban already in place; changing it to allow law enforcement the authority to cite wrongdoers even in the absence of another traffic infraction. A headset or hands free device would still be required for cell phone use while driving.

Much of the data collected simply does not support the “oh my gosh” belief that there has been an exponential rise in traffic fatalities related to traveling phone conversations. Further, requiring drivers to use headsets when talking on their cells has no demonstrable impact on the number of crashes, according to new findings from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).

While not disputing that distracted drivers of any kind may also be dangerous drivers, the haphazard over regulation in areas which should remain under the discretion of individual citizens, puffs up the system and restricts liberty. No law exists banning the “right handed retrieval of tossed binkies while driving” even though this also poses the risk of collision. No additional rules required for safe operation of my vehicle, I've outgrown the babysitter.

Any statute determined to micro manage individual behavior effects no absolute compliance and delivers only perceived increases in societal safety. The resulting outcome is ultimately a pudgy Uncle Sam who claims more space and smells increasingly stout.

Return my iphone usage discretion, get out of my van and quit eating the rolling Cadbury Mini Eggs.

I’ve got it from here.

Can You Believe it???

2010-03-07T08:32:00.001-08:00

Here's the exact story he told me..."I actually caught a much bigger fish. Just as I placed the camera on a rock to get it's photo, I took one hand off the fish to set the timer and it moved suddenly, wiggled out of my other hand, dropped into the water and swam away." The picture here is of the much smaller fish.......

For My Face Book Farmville Addict Friends...

2010-03-05T14:09:00.000-08:00

The following is for entertainment purposes only with no intended malice toward any group or individual … *

News from the “Committee for Responsible Use of Face Book”…

Four hundred thirty six thousand three hundred forty two virtual RSVP’s were received from iphones, blackberry’s, Mac Book Pros and library desk tops to the first meeting of “Farmville Addicts Anonymous” held through Face Book via both dial up and wireless high speed internet connection.

Barring the number of reservations, the actual attendance was significantly lower, understandably, in light of what some call, “The Complex Nature of Addiction”. Many were simply… not ready to stop farming.

During the meeting **, profile information statistics and birth dates were 128 bit encrypted scrambling data to protect the anonymity of the participants. Uploaded photo albums were replaced by a Joint Photographic Experts Group image of the addicts prayer – “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

A read only PDF version of “The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous” was available for reference with “Farmville and other Face Book Games” replacing the word “alcohol” where it appeared in each step.

The study portion of the meeting began with a reading from the “Big Book” page 328 entitled, “Crossing the River of Denial” Since few possessed an actual copy of the book, an immediate down loadable audio mp3 version was available by clicking on the “flowing river” hyperlink across the top of the homepage.

After the group study, a chat room was made available for the sharing portion of the meeting inviting all those willing, not to offer advice, but to humbly share their stories of recovery.

The first to virtually stand before the crowd admitted soiling his clothes numerous times rather than use a restroom because he was engaged in putting up a fence line on his property. Several others did not deny purchasing mini-laptops for use on the pot. A disheveled and obviously distraught woman sobbed recounting the recent loss of her precious escaped rooster from a half constructed chicken coop. Another interrupted the sharing fourteen separate times desperately repeating the plea, “I just need a one more horseshoe, I’m running out of time… “

Many divulged they deleted Farmville entries appearing on their recent status activity to conceal the actual time spent in hazy enjoyment. One confession that Farmville use led to experimentation of other similar intoxicants like Zoo World and YoVille, provoked the virtual nodding of agreement from many in the group. Unfortunately for some, when Farmville became less and less effective and produced less and less euphoria many turned to Super Farkle, Happy Island and Fish World for an additional fix only to discover themselves forever chasing the high.

The meeting rules accessed by clicking on a circular red and blue hyperlink button at the top of the homepage stated -- Recovery Meeting Rule # 1 -- “If you have used within 24 hours kindly refrain from attending this gathering.” Compliance to the rule was thought to be mostly present until it was discovered that several hundred thousand attending were engaging in relapse behavior by privately text messaging requests for horseshoes bricks and nails encouraging the trades by offering virtual gifts both large and small.

The meeting adjourned with a parting suggestion “To take what was wanted and leave the rest” and with this message from page 58 of the “Big Book” –

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.

There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average.

If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it – then you are ready to take certain steps. At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier softer way.

We beg of you to be fearless from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.

And then it ended… with a virtual unison hand holding circle… repeating the words, “Keep coming back, it works if you work it.”

* - poking fun is different than making fun
** - no actual meeting occurred... You didn't seriously think it did... did you???

Mistake Averted...

2010-03-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, first of all it is completely pathetic that I have blogged nothing this entire year, the one video clip not counting. Really.....? I've been a "Blocker" which is a fusion between "Blogger" and "Slacker" -- mostly slacker.

Today I heard the story of a grown child's difficult decision which ended a multiple year relationship lacking long term potential. I know this kid... and for positive it probably hurt him terribly. His sting significant at causing the parting injury.

I thought of a situation from my own life... dusting off a pair of old photos, I sat to recount the memory and send it his direction. Interesting what emotions surfaced. Many years had past since that old flame crossed my mind. Flooding back came the certainty of a choice well made. Two pictures two stories.

Here’s my 5 year crush that began in 1980 before my mission. Hal got down on one knee and proposed which completely swept me off my feet. He had all the right ingredients -- RM, great family, raised in the church...

The relationship was long distance for a lot of the time which made it hard to really get to know him. I decided to go on a mission in the meantime. After my mission we were 5 years older and he was finally ready to make it official. I traveled to San Diego 2 weeks after I got home and within 2 days I knew the honeymoon was over.

He just wasn’t spiritually as committed as he once was. I hated that I had invested so much time only to have it over. I was on a different spiritual level at that point and I knew it just would not work long term.

Just writing this brings back some tough memories I forgot about mostly because choosing him would have been a GIANT mistake. Although the “wait” message I got felt really open ended -- I just had to trust.

Here’s the guy who annoyed me in Seminary beginning in 1979. I ran into him in the MTC and wrote him a half dozen letters in the mission just to be nice.

Mostly because of your mom I remained in SD after things didn’t work out with Hal. I felt like I should stay with no real reason I could pin point at the time.

Four months after my 5 year crush ended Tim traveled to San Diego for a post mission surf trip. Having a seminary teacher in common who also happened to be in town that week - a small class reunion was organized where I saw this former classmate with new eyes.

He was bright and funny with a spiritual foundation I was drawn to - plus he had grown two inches on his mission making us now the exact same height and which significantly increased his eligibility to date me.

Everything about him felt right even though I could not explain why. Had I not been in the right place at the right time I would have missed him. I converted to a full fledged believer in “proper timing”. Needless to say the last 24 years have been so worth the angst of prior lost love.

I am certain my beautiful children fully needed his cute genes -- who knows what they’d have looked like with the other guy.

On a very interesting side note -- looking at these pictures really brings home the huge difference between Hal and Tim. Looking back, Hal was not real warm and fuzzy. After professing his love the first time he expected me to remember it until he told me different. He wasn’t much for repetitive mush. Tim, on the other hand is the exact opposite making my life with him exceedingly more enjoyable.

I sent the email to my sweet Tim as well and his response was... "Lucky for me. Thanks Hal for swinging and missing"

I TAP!

2010-01-18T12:23:00.001-08:00

I got a what???

2009-12-26T15:29:00.000-08:00

Reload

2009-12-26T15:21:00.001-08:00

Dead bird 2

2009-12-26T15:18:00.001-08:00

Dead bird

2009-12-26T15:14:00.001-08:00

Sugar Cookies Greenstreet Style...

2009-12-20T18:52:00.000-08:00

Tonight we gathered around the dining room table after dinner to decorate Christmas colored sugar cookies. Frosting and sprinkles a plenty everyone had a dozen or so to do with as their creativity commanded. Tim won the "most frosted" award.

We delivered a dozen and a half to neighbors which was actually a dozen and a half more than one child wanted to part with.

The code cracking attempts have begun...

2009-12-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

Is it the wrapping paper or the placement of the ribbon? Are the bows the secret to the 2009 Christmas code?? I have already been begged and pleaded with for any morsel of clue. I give some... with the caveat that lying does inevitably occur at Christmastime. So am I lying about the clue or lying about lying about the clue? There is no telling and hopefully there is also no solving. Sorry Nessy, you'll have to wait until December 25th!

Christmas Pillow Covers...

2009-12-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

I made some covers for my living room pillows which are a drab khaki last year. I have not been able to locate them this year after searching the outside shed multiple times. What I did find was some scrap Christmas fabric which I cut into 3 inch strips, sewed together, cut the other direction in three inch strips and then sewed them together once again. There was no real rhyme or reason to the pattern and I prefer it that way since my piecing skills are quite rudimentary and random. Still, I like the looks of these pillow covers as opposed to the khaki milk stained originals.

Getting Ready for Christmas...

2009-12-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

Two Brothers...

2009-12-13T19:15:00.001-08:00

Christmas Tree 2009

2009-12-13T18:48:00.001-08:00

Jensen's 2nd Amendment Compromise...

2009-12-13T18:43:00.001-08:00

Jensen has 10 years before he can buy a handgun but nothing stops him from constructing an assault weapon out of Legos today.

McKay's Senior Pictures Part 1

2009-12-09T22:04:00.001-08:00

These are the indoor shots of Senior Pictures for McKay. We plan to do some outdoor ones as well when the weather warms up a bit. We would have done these last summer but McKay insisted they be taken AFTER her braces came off.

Interestingly enough they were all shot with the exact same background and similar lighting. I shot them in RAW format on manual settings so that I could process them in RAW before saving them as jpegs. I think I used a 50mm lens for the third shot since there is nice bokeh in the background.

Jensen shoot 2

2009-11-26T14:13:00.001-08:00

Cowgirls Rock

2009-11-26T14:12:00.001-08:00

Jensen shoot

2009-11-26T14:11:00.001-08:00

Jensen pownes the water jug

2009-11-26T14:10:00.001-08:00

Don't mess with the HT

2009-11-26T14:09:00.001-08:00

Tim shooting

2009-11-26T14:08:00.001-08:00

Our HT Jim joins us at the range

2009-11-26T14:07:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving morning at the gun range

2009-11-26T14:06:00.001-08:00

Regan Shoot Thanksgiving Day 2009

2009-11-26T12:56:00.000-08:00

Regan's YW in Excellence Poster

2009-11-21T16:32:00.001-08:00

McKay's Senior Poster

2009-11-21T16:30:00.001-08:00

Update on advice door

2009-10-30T21:22:00.001-07:00

Crafts are good for the Soul...

2009-10-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I get an idea for a craft project that really makes me smile. At a recent Enrichment meeting I saw a project with wooden gift tags with inspiring words on them. I thought it might be cute to make them bigger, add magnets to the back, cut out vinyl letters with reminders to my kids and stick them to the backside of the front door. Initially I made six, but since I have way more things to say I'll be making more.

Pizza at Zesta Cucina in Yakima

2009-10-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

I can't get enough of those fall colors

2009-10-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

Lunch with McKay after the ACT

2009-10-24T18:22:00.000-07:00

My First Brown Trout

2009-10-11T16:52:00.001-07:00

I have always heard there's Brown Trout on the Touchet River. I've never been able to catch one, as they are a very wary fish. I was fishing a big fly yesterday. A #8 size olive body stimulator. The fly is about as big as a quarter. I was fishing a section of river that is about 30 feet across and about belly deep thru the middle. A tree had fallen into the river at the head of the hole. Browns like lots of cover for ambushing prey. Everything indicated this could be a great hole. I pulled two 14 inch rainbows out. I cleaned up the fly and made a perfect cast within 6 inches of the tree. The fly floated back to me in the current about two feet, when this pig came flying out of the water. He jumped two more times. Given I only had 2lbs test tippet on, I had to really play him out. It took about five minutes before he was willing to come in and get his picture taken. I then let him go. A fish this size is 10-15 years old. He had earned his freedom in my book. Plus, you want to keep those good genetics in the river.

Homecoming 2009

2009-09-26T21:43:00.001-07:00

Surfer Dudes...

2009-09-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

Old Faithful...

2009-09-02T19:00:00.001-07:00

In 1986 Tim and I paid $9000 for a brand new 1987 Nissan Sentra two door sedan, no air conditioning, no cruise control and no radio. It was our first major purchase as newlyweds. The car payment was $197 a month financed for 4 years.

We brought our firstborn son home from the hospital in the back seat and drove back and forth from Idaho to San Diego several times. As our family expanded faster than our car budget, at one point there were three car seats buckled in the rear.

Twenty three years and 200,000 miles later, it functions as economical teenage transportation. Although we paid $1500 too much at the time of purchase, it has turned out to be one of the best financial decisions of our marriage.

McKay is done standing on the porch...

2009-09-02T18:25:00.000-07:00

This years "first day of school" photo is McKay's last. She posed for me 13 times including kindergarten and now she's finished. Here's a look back...

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

9th Grade

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

School Starts 2009

2009-09-02T18:10:00.001-07:00

On the first day of school you must stand on the front porch and pose for the camera. No one really likes it but Mom don't care -- it's tradition.

Jr Triathlon 2009

2009-08-29T17:44:00.001-07:00

Floating the Yakima...

2009-08-29T17:40:00.000-07:00

Tim purchased a Pontoon Boat some time ago and enjoys floating the Yakima River fishing as he goes. This year for Father's Day he got another one so he could bring along a son.

Isn't this just Summer???

2009-08-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

J + M = Best Friends

2009-08-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

Uncle Ken's visit...

2009-08-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

Once a year or so Tim's brother Ken, a pilot in the Air Force, makes a trip to McChord AFB in Tacoma for training. Tim usually drives over to spend a couple days -- last year taking Jensen for the visit. This year Ken rented a car and drove to our side of the state and brothers spent the day fishing. It was Ken's first fly fishing outing in many years. Little ones count as long as the pose is correct.

Ta Da... New Washer and Dryer!

2009-08-05T11:54:00.001-07:00

More Greenstreet Garden 2009...

2009-08-05T08:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the photo John...

2009-07-20T16:01:00.001-07:00

Lavender Woes...

2009-07-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the smell of lavender!!! I love to spray it on after a shower, nestle it in my drawers, douse it on my sheets, sprinkle it in my shoes and soak with it in the tub. I love that it's purple -- a color by the way I have loved since childhood.

I normally buy it in liquid form or already added to the products I use -- because something I realized several years ago -- was that I am allergic to it. I have tried decorating with dried lavender but even handling it for short periods of time makes me really itch.

This year I tried a live plant outside and resist touching it. So far I have enjoyed the beautiful purple without the itch. The rest of my lavender stash is inside bottles of essential oil which cause me no itch problem.

Enough time has passed...

2009-07-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

McKay forbade me from blogging about the day she received her drivers license stating that she was way too old to be just getting it. Well okay but the day she drove off on her own 5 minutes after receiving her license was so cute -- I decided to let some time elapse before posting it.

Some time this year ___________ (exact time and date omitted) McKay got her drivers license and officially became the family go - fer. For the first six months by Washington law she can only drive around immediate family members which is a real benefit to me since she has younger siblings that need to be taken places. I LOVE the convenience of another driver in the family.

Raspberry Girl...

2009-07-19T20:46:00.000-07:00

When McKay was little she loved to pick (and eat) the raspberries in Grandma Wilder' s backyard patch. I searched and searched for a picture but couldn't find one. Fast forward to now -- we planted our own patch in the backyard prepared for the sweet crop to take several years to appear.

To McKay's sheer delight we have sweet berries ready for eating. The crop this year is small and we are still working on the trellis -- well actually, Tim is working on it, but the plants seem to be thriving.

Two Rows Behind the Dugout...

2009-07-10T21:47:00.001-07:00

July 8th Tim and the boys drove to Seattle to see the Baltimore Orioles play some baseball! Seated two rows behind the Orioles dugout, these were tickets like they'd never had before. Jensen scored three.. count 'em... three game balls, one thrown right to him by Nick Markakis. He also got three signatures on baseballs he brought to the game just for that purpose.

Girls Camp 2009 -- Camp Ensign Washington

2009-07-10T21:40:00.001-07:00

A perk of being a boy on a long car trip...

2009-07-10T21:16:00.001-07:00

There is really no need for an all boy van to stop except to get food on a long car trip... case in point. If even one girl were present this would NEVER happen and every boy in my house knows that. This does not prevent it from happening in their absence however. Fortunately it appears Jensen was keeping well hydrated.

And then there's the Mystery Plant...

2009-07-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

In the back yard near the raspberry plants there is an all dirt space awaiting decision on whether to house grass, bark, rock, pathway or some combination of any. For the most part the grass has been cleared and most of the stray rocks removed leaving only dirt.

Out of nowhere a mystery plant appeared resembling some sort of squash... which I personally would have never planted since squash of any kind once cooked refuses to go down my throat without a gag. Notwithstanding -- here's another Greenstreet Garden anomaly for your viewing pleasure. We decided to let it grow just for kicks and giggles. I really hope it's not that stringy squash some people try to pass off as spaghetti.

That Ain't No Watermelon...

2009-07-10T20:29:00.001-07:00

Confessions from a novice gardener...

This year after two failed attempts to grown plants for our garden from seed, we purchased plants already growing and acclimated to our region. The front flower bed was thus cleared of all soil and spent bulbs replaced with rich dark weed free garden mix. Eighteen l0ng by six feet wide was determined to be the perfect space needed for two watermelon plants and one each of honey dew and cantaloupe.

Zucchini could propagate somewhere else -- we had real crops growing here.

Day by day I watched leaves form and blossoms open anticipating the first signs of sweet seedless goodness. The plastic label from the nursery stuck in the soil showed a thumbnail of just what my late summer harvest reward would become.

Three weeks ago Tim noticed an oblong green fruit just behind the blossom and called me out for inspection. "That's an awfully long watermelon. -- Are they supposed to look that way?" Neither of us had any idea about that. Moving closer I noticed prickly white bumps characteristic of cucumbers.

What we have here is prime gardening soil space meant only for watermelons and yet ... growing cucumbers. I'm wondering how the budding plants got switched at birth or what comic genius swapped the identity sticks at the nursery hoping for just such a harvest prank. Curse you cucumber -- I wanted watermelons!

I built a trellis for the foreign invaders and will enjoy the salad condiment but I will not... make the same mistake next year.

Interesting Randomness...

2009-07-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

Some say Face Book is a colossal waste of time and I would have to disagree and agree all at the same time. Here are my status updates since I joined 6 months ago. They are really just snippets of randomness from my life but all together they are kind of interesting.

Starting from today and going backwards… Beginning with Brenda Wilder Greenstreet…

The boys are off to see the "Birds" play in Seattle with seats just two rows behind the Orioles dugout...I'll be off to Nouveau.

Nessy is home safe and sound. Thanks grandpa and grandma for a fun trip!

Welcome Home sign is complete -- c'mon home Nessy. (That's a nickname McKay gave him which stems from his name spelled backwards "Nesnej" (pronounced Ness-Nidge) and shortened to Nessy.)

is very much excited to see #42 who comes home tomorrow.

My washing machine is doing the death rattle so I'm looking for a new one and need your reviews of your own washing machines -- should I get the front loader or top loader???... Haven't shopped for a new washing machine in YEARS so I need real help

The happy campers are happy to be home.

iiiii got the new phone but iiiii don't know how to do anything except make a phone call and make what's on the screen bigger and smaller with my fingers thanks to # 11's help.

The campers come home tomorrow. Happy me!

The house is VERY quiet today... too quiet I must admit.

# 42 is going on a road trip with grandma and grandpa ... California or bust!

What happened to today?? ... it went by too fast.

Well I'm glad the girls made it safely to Ensign Ranch after the trailer tire blow out on the way.

No Face Book for #21 and #32 all week while at Girls Camp...How will they manage???

Ahhh...Sunday siesta here I come!

i i i i just ordered a new phone. Yipee!!

Back feeling better -- It's Saturday and I got things to do ... problem is all the cars are gone.

My BFF got the most a-dorable haircut ever!!!

After a nice clean shave I grabbed the icy hot stick instead of the antiperspirant... I wouldn't recommend it.

Is it against the law to do the dishes without being asked???? If so, I've got a whole bunch of law abiding citizens around here.

Sciatica is pretty much kicking my wimpy butt!

Half frozen strawberries are delicious -- even if I didn't grow them.

Are backaches contagious??

I'm looking for a new phone -- any ideas on which one I should choose??

I hope it doesn't decide to rain or I'll have to postpone the yard Sale.

Finally... got a contacts Rx for my bifocal eyes that seems to be working -- actually they are technically not bifocal contacts -- one eye is near and one is distance -- my brain will supposedly adjust and... got new sunglasses too!

Oh my -- I just had the BEST Bibb lettuce cut fresh from my garden (This is HUGE because I have only ever grown tomatoes before) I've got a couple extra heads if someone wants one and is willing to come and get it -- two types -- Bibb and Red Leaf. Doesn't Chef Salad sound good for dinner??

Yard Sale at our house on Saturday -- Should be a multi-family event -- I'm seriously going to de-junk!

headache, headache go away!

I need to wrap a present.

Hair appointment today....gonna wash that gray right outta my hair...

Casa Mia was de---licious - whole family together -- fun times!

Tonight is out to eat for Regan's Birthday, Jensen's Birthday and great report cards all around! Casa Mia here we come!

Dumb feet are way too swollen so I must alternate between working outside and propping them up and reading a good book -- easy on the computer chair today. --- ps. kids who drive (x2) and can run errands for me is fantastic.

anxiously waiting for my new glasses to come so that I can quit wearing these scratched loose ones!

is going to Yakima with McKay and while MC is ACT Testing I will be Antique looking and maybe... shopping. Then out to lunch with 21 and back to Kennewick so that I have plenty of time to get my camera ready to take some photos of Mallor - with an "i" and Mc - with a double "ll" at their dance recital. It's gonna be a fun day!

did we just buy three (3) laptops??? Oh yes we did. (Online school for all)

going to Costco to get new glasses since my stupid insurance will only pay for the lined bifocals. (Costco has the best prices on no lined ones) Why is it every year I get blinder and blinder? And the doctor asks -- "Do you spend much time in front of a computer???" Well...duh! Apparently I now need computer glasses -- go figure.

Why does PS3 have to freeze up just when I'm almost done??? Ugh!

Have I mentioned I like to alphabetize things??

Yesterday's tacos needed a little cilantro -- so Tim just went out to the garden and snipped off some. No more buying the whole bunch just to use a few and throw the rest away! Anyone got a great recipe using Lemon Thyme??

The title of the DVD is "CUL8R SSV" (as in... See You Later Sunset View) and I've written it over one hundred times.

still burnin' them DVD's -- there must be a faster way...

70 burned 5th grade memories DVD's down -- 50 more to go.

sees watermelon and cantaloupe growing up through the soil. We've got tomatoes too!

is finished with the SSV 5th Grade Video and now is burning it to 120 DVD's.

UPDATE: Not shingles -- just a viral infection that looks like a flesh eating type. :0

possible diagnosis -- shingles -- I am so hoping NOT.

is in the home stretch with last weekend's project and has a nice blister to prove it. Like Tim always says... (being the cost accountant he is) ... projects always take 3x longer and cost 3x more than originally projected. Not true on this one -- it only took 3x longer. Really...almost done.

putting on my grungy working clothes so I can cut some more wood. "Little" project from the weekend is now more than half completed. --- ps. NO project is ever little!

Today it's 90 minutes of MT with Skyler. Goodbye sore muscles and body aches.

Left over Carne Asada from Robertos on homemade corn tortillas for lunch -- de...licious!

This is REALLY a great invention -- Especially after using power tools all weekend.

I'm officially done for the weekend. Tomorrow I must blog -- or maybe Wednesday.

Okay -- Ran out of room -- Tom Kendrick, Now I can't remember anymore -- But anyway you know who you are!

Words cannot express how much I value the freedom I enjoy as an American and my heart felt thanks go out to all of those brave men and women who have made and continue to make that possible. My deep gratitude to friends and family who have and continue to so selflessly serve -- Thank you Dad, Grandpa Greenstreet, Ken Greenstreet, Mike Greenstreet, Christine Childers, Daniela Magnelli, Greg Corbaley, Biff Anderson,

One more day to this hard working weekend -- I've got stuff to do!

I officially miss the troupies -- they come home on Monday night.

found two ginormous artichokes at the grocery store yesterday and we'll be steaming those delicious things for dinner tonight.

looking forward to Church and then a Sunday Siesta.

I think I just sneezed out saw dust.

shaking off saw dust so I can eat a quick sandwich. I'm getting closer.

not going to lie...got a little serotonin boost in the lumber aisle at Lowe's today

just me and 11 and we're going to get a snack - half price you know where.

...just me and my power tools.

thinks every Memorial Day Weekend needs three things -- An American Flag flying, A project and homemade icecream.

has an idea for a project.

is getting ready to go spend her Mother's Day Gift Certificate to Nouveau for a facial!

so the thing about the hoax was a hoax.

is pretty sure it's going to be a good week.

is getting ready to blog about that big fish Tim caught this weekend.

wonders which would you choose -- James Taylor's Greatest Hits or Greatest Hits 2??

just downloaded the completed album for Three Dog Night's Complete Hit Singles. Good Stuff!

stayed up too late watching "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and really liked it a lot more than expected.

just had a Thunderbird snafu and is determined not to freak out that all my Relief Society Reminders email addressed are not somewhere in outer darkness. I will tackle this problem tomorrow with a fresh mind.

Had a delish dinner cooked by Tim -- Grilled Chicken and Beef Fajitas on homemade corn tortillas -- Got notes from the kids and will be having a Mother's Day Nouveau Facial this week sometime and took a wonderful Sunday Siesta -- Great Mother's Day!!

is waiting up for # 21 to get home from Prom.

's # 11 just replaced the alternator in the car and saved her a bunch of money -- gotta love smart/handy kids.

is making a 3 month dinner menu with a list of all the ingredients so that if she times it by four she will have a whole year dinner menu.

is going to IT DAY with Kendrick. Admittedly, we are both part computer geek.

just made homemade corn tortillas for the first time -- Happy Cinco de Mayo!

has enjoyed a nice quiet Sunday afternoon.

is preparing to teach RS on Sunday.

left a Schweppes in the freezer too long and yep... it exploded.

Today is a fine day to take some snapshots of #11 in the park!

made some delish homemade bread yesterday and McKay froze me a ginger ale tonight -- life is good!

agrees that McKay hardly ever loses at Rock Paper Scissors -- How does she do that???

is waiting for the Ginger Ale she put into the freezer to get almost frozen enough to burst but not quite so it's still slushy. Hint -- do not forget about it and let it explode. It's the PERFECT way to drink it!

just finished doing taxes and with more than 3 hours to spare -- I'm that good!

wants good ideas for what to put on signs for the Tax Day Tea Party.

TAG ME IF YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS...

What bill do you hate paying the most?
THE DIRECT TV BILL BECAUSE I ONLY LIKE A FEW CHANNELS - SEEMS LIKE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET JUST THE CHANNELS YOU WANT.

Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
CEDARS RESTAURANT -- LOVE THEIR PRIME RIB -- GOT ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY DINNER THERE COMING UP THIS SATURDAY.

What do you really want to be doing right now?
READING A BOOK

How many colleges did you attend?
THREE -- RICKS COLLEGE (THAT AGES ME RIGHT?), BYU AND IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY (GRADUATED FROM THERE)

Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAN AND PRESSED

What are your thoughts on gas prices?
I LIKE FILLING UP FOR $40 NOT $70 -- STILL I THINK IT'S A RACKET.

First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
DUH...SNOOZE IT.

Last thought before going to sleep last night?
THINKING HOW WEIRD THE SHOW "MEDIUM" WAS LAST NIGHT

Do you miss being a child?
NOT FOR AN INSTANT EXCEPT THAT MY PARENTS WERE PAYING THE BILLS

What errand/chore do you despise?
MATCHING SOCKS AND COOKING MOST OF THE TIME

Get up early or sleep in?
WOULD RATHER SLEEP IN BUT I HAVE MOMMY TAXI TO DRIVE

Have you found real love yet?
OH YES 24 YEARS AGO

Favorite lunch meat?
PROCIUTTO

What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
9MM AMMO

Beach or lake?
BEACH

Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
ABSOLUTELY NOT

did all this week's work last Friday (except for a little) and so is thinking a project might be a nice idea.

is waiting for the Mix cousins to come over for a visit and have tacos and cake with us. We haven't seen them in a long time!

is about to participate in the exciting Saturday activity of ... grocery shopping.

Brenda is working --- b...b...b...boring!

My Blog Book arrived and it is 100% Wow! I've been published!

's blog book is out for delivery... Fedex tracking better not be jerking my chain about this!

just got back from RS Pres Meeting at Applebees.

's blog book has been shipped and is due to arrive on March 12th!!!

need to get working on a project.

is very pleased the house is clean and everyone gave me 1/2 hour in the garage and it's mostly clean now too! YESSSSS!

is going to pay attention to her neglected house today and get it cleaned.

is VERY HAPPY her blog book is DONE -- now maybe her laundry will get done.

just made chili with cinnamon and cardmom for the ward party tonight. It'll be crocking the rest of the day.

is yep -- still working on that blog book. I WILL get it finished!!

wants to ask -- Is it raining outside?? Answer -- Oh Hail No!

is changing her mind again and having a sandwich instead.

is thinking a bowl of cereal sounds good for dinner.

Winning Fan and Losing Fan Together -- See our BLOG for the full story.

is chatting (in italian) with my italian companion who lives in Milan and works nights at a hospital. Isn't FB the best???

is thinking she needs to clean out her closet...well maybe.

is enjoying that Tim cooked tonight -- chicken fettucine alfredo wiith broccoli YUM!

s so excited that she found her italian companion from Milan on Face Book!!!

is hoping the Mix's are having a safe trip out west.

is wiring the photo lights one down one to go

is buying the parts for my photo lights

is up early today

is waiting for McKay to get home from "the club" aka the stake dance and eating a bowl of cereal while waiting

is just finished doing RS stuff for tomorrow

is wrapping a birthday present for a friend

Water Bottle Flying...

2009-07-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

The other day while driving in the car I finished off a 33 oz Smart Water and without even thinking twice tossed it headlong into the back of the van. If I aim just right -- I can, while continuing to drive, propel the empty plastic container over the tops of the car seats into the space between the rear window and the back seats. Score two points for mom.

It is curious to me why this is such and automatic reflex and puzzles others why I would toss it back only to have to retrieve it later. I don't know why I do this except that it is funny and sort of ... well, tradition. Finish a bottle of water -- toss it back. Periodically I must retrieve the empties to the recycle bin and notice then just how much water is consumed in my vehicle.

This most definitely only works with empty water bottles and frankly I would be appalled if other refuse were thrown back -- everyone knows the rules in my van -- only empty water bottles allowed -- all other garbage must be thus properly disposed.

The other thing funny is that if a water bottle sits and condensation forms on the inside of the container it must be shaken up -- immediately. This is a procedure made famous by McKay because of her disdain for condensed water beads.

So in review -- get in the car, notice the beads of condensation -- shake -- drink -- toss.