My latest read -

Everyone - and I mean, everyone -  seems to be watching Call the Midwife.  I tend to not get into shows until you can watch the episodes all at once - much less frustrating for me.  But then at our book group, it was suggested that we read the book the shows are based on.  (Actually there are at least 3 books that Amazon has available - so they have plenty of material for upcoming episodes - in case you were concerned!)

So that is our May pick.  I promptly got it on Kindle, made the mistake of starting to read it, and of course had to finish it rather quickly.  (I have already got the second book on Kindle but am trying to finish the Ivan Doig book I had already started, since I don't want to get too far behind!)

I haven't watched the show yet, but sense that it will be good.  The book is well-written - it's non-fiction and the author admits that she's looking back on events from a 50 year perspective - but the story it self is compelling, and well-told.

A brief caveat - and it may only pertain to me - but there is one disturbing episode in the book.  The author is telling a true story about a young prostitute named Mary.  The author is not gratuitous or sensational - which may make the telling all that much more horrific - but it was upsetting to me.  Oddly enough it was most upsetting after the fact.  That is, I was caught up in the horror - and when it was over - I felt like I had been broadsided.

Just a little "reader beware" - you may want to skip the part about Mary!  Or consider it one more piece of evidence about the chilling nature of men who use women - and the women who are caught up in this terrible nightmare.

Sunday Dinner!

It's been a busy year so far.  Harry and I are often with our moms on Sunday, so regular Sunday dinners with Harry , Dawn, and family have been fewer and farther between.  We did get together at our house today - and we had a fine time - such a fine time that I forgot to take one photo.

So I got this one out of the files - not sure of the year - looks to be 4 or 5 years ago - and I suspect we are mutually dismantling a "Mimi Cake!"  

I was thinking today about our grandchildren - and how much joy and happiness they bring into our lives.  They are growing quickly, though, and I feel like it won't be long before we are once again saying the same things we said when their parents were growing up and away!

Ara and Ella are in high school, Esme and Eve are ending their elementary careers, Henry is getting ready to receive the priesthood, I could go on and on.

But instead I will focus on the here and now - on enjoying these wonderful children - and looking forward to enjoying them as adults too!

BFF - before they had BFF's!!

Today is Marguerite's 68th birthday.  I always remember because she is one month and one day older than me.  When her birthday came, mine was not far behind!!

Marguerite and I were friends from the very start of elementary school.  At the end of junior high, she moved to Chico - I took a bus ride there - by myself - the next year.  I was 14!!  No one would let a 14 year old take such a bus ride today, that's for sure!

She came back for one of the high school years, and then returned to Chico.  She was one of my bridesmaids.  She would write or phone sporadically.  Over the years, we have not often been in contact.  But when we are, the many years of friendship come rushing back.

Once she said to me, "I could call you anytime and tell you I needed you - and you'd help me.  That's what friends are for."  She's right.

I have many good friends.  They seem to go along with different parts of my life.  Some I am still in contact with.  Some have died - and I miss them still.  Some I have no idea where they are.  But good friendship memories don't have to have a current contact!

A favorite memory of mine:  Marguerite came racing up to me one morning in 6th grade.  "I have just read the very best book in the whole world," she said.  "What book is that?" I queried.  "Mrs. Mike," she shot back.

She was right!

Happy Day Marguerite!!

What else can happen??

Hannah posted on Facebook that this was "the week from Hell" for some of us Terrills.  It has been a week of events we could have lived without!

In retrospect, some of the events are more unsettling than others, some have a more lasting impact on our lives than others, and some might just be annoying when you examine them closely.  But put them all together, and it's just more than we really wanted to deal with!

For me it started on Friday when my mom had a little spell and had to be hospitalized for a few hours.  Harry was leaving that day for Boston, I had funeral for a good friend to attend, and of course, there's always school and other commitments!  I made arrangements to go out to my mom's to support Mom and Donna, and spent Saturday and Sunday there.  (Mom is doing fine - age can bring some little blips to our daily lives, and she pretty much takes them in stride.)

Monday I was busy teaching and managing my classes when a note came to report to the principal's office.  I thought maybe I'd made some huge error!  Instead, my principal said, "There's been a bomb explosion at the finish line.  You can use my office and my phone for as long as you need to."  Just then my phone rang - it was Harry!!  (Wanting me to contact Eliza as to where to meet him!)

In retrospect, I never had the time to "worry" about Harry since I heard from him right away.  But thinking back on what "might have been" has been nerve-wracking enough!  I heard from Eliza right away too, so I knew she and her family were okay, but the "what might have been" was at play here too.  It was good to visit with her that night and know that she was safely out of the city!

Harry got home safely, but promptly became "under the weather" with coughing and sore throat.  A planned night out Friday was cancelled, and we ended up sitting in front of the TV Friday night to watch the conclusion to the capture of the Boston suspect.  We were both feeling bad that Eliza's birthday had once again been co-opted by terrorist activity!

Then  I came home from Mom's today to encounter a sky full of smoke and flame!! 

The Monrovia brush fire is "close" to us - we are in its path anyway.  We weren't sure what we should do first.  We found out sources to tell us what was really going on, and we listened to the water-dropping planes go back and forth across our house.  We finally decided to be ready to leave - I started going through shelves and boxes and setting aside "the things money can't buy" to quote Esme!  Harry wanted to run our things down to his shop, but then we found out that the police wouldn't let us back in if we left.

So we sit here, waiting, with boxes packed, paintings leaning against walls with blankets to cushion their ride, and clothes and supplies for a few days at the ready.

As the ward Emergency Preparedness person, I write monthly newsletter articles about being prepared!!  It's easy to make the lists and give the instructions.  It is quite another thing to look at all your "stuff" and try to decide what should go with you!!

I am now truly committed to getting my "stuff" in order!  I want to be able to quickly know and get hold of just what is truly important - just what it is that "money can't buy!!'

And I hope next week is way better than this week!!  

(I should do another post of all the blessings of last week though, shouldn't I??)

A Happy Friday!

6th period the attendance office manager came to my room with a bouquet of flowers.  She said they were for me.  I said, "I wonder who it's from?"  So Mrs. Bautista said, "Well, open the card so I know who it's from!"  The students seemed intrigued too.

I read the card out loud, "Dear Mom, Thanks for having me.  Love, Eliza"

What a sweet gesture!!  Made my day.  And Mrs. Bautista was impressed - as were my students.

You know what they say, "Say it with flowers!"

 

 

Reading, reading and more reading!!

Just finished this one - Ivan Doig is my new fave author.  This story begins in Scotland in 1889 - and ends in Montana in the 1920s.  The story is full of twists and turns and lots of historical events.  The picture it paints of a friendship gone bad is tragic indeed.  The scope is far-reaching, but the story is small and intimate.  Some have compared Ivan Doig to Wallace Stegner and William Faulkner.  The comparisons are somewhat apt.

But I'm a little frustrated.  This title is actually number two in his Montana Trilogy - number one is English Creek.    I made a resolution this year to not buy any more books.  Only Kindle and the library.

Number one is not on Kindle.  Not on iBooks.  Not at the used book store.  Not at the library.

I will solve the problem - never fear!!

Labor of Love

My Grandma Stevens was a knitter and a crocheter.  I remember getting cable-knit cardigans from her that kept us warm all winter!!  She also crocheted a lovely blessing dress for Bonny when she was born - we treasure it still.  Phoebe wore it for her blessing - as did Agnes and Bonny's girls.

Years later, my mom came across the dress that Grandma had crocheted for me to be blessed in.  It looked pretty hammered - ripped, stained, and unraveling in places.  I was not to be thwarted, however, and made it a project to resurrect the dress!!  And resurrect it I did, as you can see from the photo below, of Eliza wearing the dress.  Hannah also wore it, as did Ida and others.

A few years ago, actually maybe 20, my mom gave me an old bedspread that Grandma had crocheted in the early 40's or late 30's.  It was ripped and stained also.  I remembered it being on my grandparents' bed and was pretty sure it was salvageable.  But I just put it away instead of getting right to work on it.

Recently I came across it again - and this time I got right to work.  The top photo shows me working on it Saturday night.  I have found a cleaners I trust, and I am taking it there tomorrow to get it cleaned.  I was at my mom's, and I would spread it out on the floor so we could spot the errors - as I did the big ones, the little ones sometimes got away from us!  It was fun to talk about Grandma Stevens and all the other projects she'd worked on over her many years as a wonderful needle woman.

Too bad I didn't get interested in crocheting myself until it was too late to have Grandma teach me anything about it.  I would have loved to discuss patterns and techniques with her.

But at least I learned to crochet!!

I probably post this every year at General Conference time - but it's not like I have an album full of General Conference photos!  (This was 1963 - my first time ever at Temple Square for conference!)

Anyway, I always enjoy Conference - and this year was no exception.  I sit and sometimes doze off.  Some years I stand and get all my tablecloths and cloth napkins ironed, but I wasn't feeling that energetic this time!!

I tried to keep my hands busy crocheting so I'd be less inclined to nod off  - and it worked pretty well.  (And I completed one pot holder too!)

I usually have to re-read the talks - or re-listen to them - it's a lot to take in all at once.  I loved seeing women give opening and closing prayers.  I loved hearing the Tab Choir - but did not like their pink dresses.  I wonder who their fashion consultant is?  (Is saying that blasphemous??)

Top marks to Elder Holland - I can't quote lines from his talk - but the feeling it gave me is still with me - so I will go look up and memorize the lines!!  (I still remember vividly Elder Bruce R. McConkie, in 1985, saying that even when he saw the Savior - and he knew it would be soon - he would not know it anymore than he did right now that he was the Christ - and the Savior of mankind.)

And President Monson!  Has there ever been a prophet who was quite as expressive as Thomas S??

Thanks be to God for Prophets - and General Conference!!

A little Spring Break read-a-thon!!

I managed to read three pretty good novels during my spring break.  Having two 5 hour flights helped!!

This one is my book group pick - and it is quite good.  I had never heard of the book or the author, but I like his style!!  And the plotline was pretty lively - and there was a nice twist at the end.  Give it a go - I think I will check out some of his other books.  An overarching theme is education - but it's not pedantic at all.

In addition to True Sisters, my spring break picks included one more Sandra Dallas novel.  This one was a little more "pat" - predictable.  But it was a great airplane read - and when you have a 5 hour flight to kill - a great airplane read is what you need!  Although it took place in 1933, it felt much more "current" - maybe things were like that in the 30s, but that kind of kept it a little out of sync for me.

I think I have one more to read - and then I will have read all ten of her novels!!  I like her style, so I may try out one of her non-fiction books too.

Another book to check off the list!!

My flight to DC was delayed by over an hour - and I had gotten there and hour and a half early anyway - so I was totally able to finish a book!!  The book in question was True Sisters by Sandra Dallas - number 8 of her 10 novels that it looks like I will finish - and it was a good read - compelling enough to keep me awake on a red-eye flight!!

The story is a novelization of the experiences of several women on the ill-fated Martin Handcart journey to the Salt Lake Valley.  I'm not sure how I feel about some elements in the story.  It was somewhat harsh in its condemnations of the actions of some of the men leading the trek.  The auther is not LDS, but she is not unsympatetic, and her issue is not with the gospel but with the men overseeing the journey.

There is one wife who is not LDS, and she is opposed to going, but she goes anyway.  She holds her self aloof from the other women at first, but she comes to appreciate their love and concern for her and her family.  One of the themes is the inherent sisterhood of women - regardless of religious beliefs - or non-beliefs.

If anyone else has read it, I'd love to get your response.

More Sunday night at the movies!!

I remember as a kid loving the old copies of the Saturday Evening Post that we'd get from my Grandma Stevens.  Apparently this movie was taken from a story in the magazine.  I used to read the stories, but I must have skipped the westerns.

Well, I probably could have skipped this movie too.  Some old westerns are true gems - and others - except for the chance to gaze once more into the handsome face of the tortured Montgomery Clift - like this one - are best left in the archives.

We need to find a new category to pursue.  Maybe Fred Astaire dancing movies!!  At least you could hum along!!