"A rose by any other name. . ."

Driving into Mom's driveway tonight, Harry and I both commented on the vast array of rose bushes that greeted us. I should have snapped a photo. The bushes are full of blooms - if there were deer in her neighborhood, they would all think they'd died and gone to heaven!

So I picked a bouquet for the dinner table. I love flowers - and keep trying to grow them in my yard, but we have pretty deficient soil.

I'm not giving up though - there were never flowers when I was growing up there.

So there is hope!!

I love the Women's Broadcast!!

Let me just say that I love the annual Women's Broadcast. I especially love Elder Uchtdorf. He always says something that "speaks to me!!"

And Sister Beck - seems to have some Elder Maxwell influence going on there - "bleach the bones of faith" and "predatory and provocative influence of the adversary" come to mind!!

And our stake has a dinner beforehand - always a hit with me!!

What I miss about Utah -

I lived in Utah for almost 17 years - and had to be dragged kicking and screaming back to California - 32 years ago now!!

But I do miss autumn. In California, autumn seems to mean excessive heat and forest fires!!

The nip in the air, the changing leaves, the crystal blue skies - we could use some of that right now!!

The end of the day!!

When we were at Mom's last Saturday, Baby Harry said, "Take a picture of me falling down."

So I did. He thought it was pretty hilarious.

I'm glad it's so easy to entertain kids sometimes!!

People save the darnedest things!

I came across this sketch in my "stuff" as Mom calls it. My friend Laurie drew it back in 12th grade - we were bored to tears in Mr. Pitkanen's Econ class - I usually had a book hidden in my econ text to pass the time.

Laurie sketched! Click on it to see that she drew me reading Conscience of a Conservative - the one by Barry Goldwater. My politics have certainly changed over the years.

And so has my waistline!!

"When the family gets together . . '

Jesse organized a little luncheon for Grandma Helen - it was fun to see everyone who came.

Eve and I were having our Grandma's Birthday Sleepover, so I came a bit late to the party, but there was time to visit.

And take a group photo or two!!

A picture - worth how many words??

It seems like every event has everyone taking pictures. I suppose this has always been true, because there are certainly photos of past events. But it seems like everyone is always taking shots - except when you forget of course!!

After seeing all the wonderful photos on Hannah's blog, I'm feeling like I don't want to post my shots - they certainly pale in quality and interest!

But even a poor photo is better than none at all - especially once it gets old enough. I recall the group shot from Lyn's mission farewell - the one of Grandpa Clayton with all of his grandkids. It's small, grainy, and not exceptionally well-composed. But we all treasure it, because it's the only one of its kind!



But I probably will continue to take and post photos. And maybe I will improve. And maybe I will get a new camera too. But then I would need to take a class on how to use a new camera. But maybe I will do that too!

Another project for my "things to do when I retire!!"

An anniversary of sorts

48 years ago this month I headed off for BYU! This is an old BYU i.d. card.

So many things were different then - everything was done by hand - computers may have existed, but they didn't do the registration. We all pooled our money and cooked meals together in Heritage Halls. We walked everywhere we went. The Wilkinson Center (always the Y Center to me!!) did not exist. Women wore skirts - pants were not allowed. And we wore hose to school - and they weren't pantyhose either - we had girdles to hold them up!!

But I suspect some things were the same. The sense of fun and adventure and trying something new. Meeting new people. Having great experiences. Staying up late studying. Hanging out in the library. Making friends for life.

Meeting your one and only!!

Ah, trust me - time flies!!!

What brings out the worst in me!!

School started Monday. I'd been going to the campus daily for a week or so - every time I went, there seemed to be a new snag to fix. School started - and the enrollment in SPED skyrocketed - and we were inundated. My classes are at 18, 24 and 11. The 11 almost seems small!! (Traditionally my classes have been 8 to 10 or smaller.)

Those I talked to seemed to feel like I had to just buck up and carry on!! I figured I was talking to the wrong people.

Then I found the right people. They listened anyway. Said it was a problem. Said things had to change.

Our principal is new - not starting until September 12th. The VP came in today with two scenarios. One is better than the other, but both are doable.

I will let you know how it goes. Meanwhile I work on not taking my frustrations out on the kids. (My room only has 18 seats. Things get quite congested!!)

Retirement looks better every day!!

All good things come to an end!

I have had the great privilege of serving as the Arcadia Stake Relief Society President for the last 5 years. Today in Stake Conference, I was released. I had known about the release for a couple of weeks, but it became official today - and I could finally talk about it!

Here we are 5 years ago - the original presidency. First Brenda left to become the Relief Society President in her ward. Then Amy was released and became the Primary President in her ward.

Yukari was the new secretary, and Trina took over Amy's job. Elizabeth and I were the last two holdouts from the original gang of 4!!

I should have gathered them all up today for a final shot - but I was not that organized!! Suffice it to say that it has been a wonderful blessing in my life to enjoy a regular association with these women - and that is what I will miss the most.

President Magnusson once commented that when you accept a calling, you accept the notion that there will be a release. I understand that concept. I have had a few weeks to ponder, and I can report that I feel good about my efforts. I'm sure I could have done some things better, but I have no regrets. I raised my hand high to sustain the new president. The mantle has been removed, and that is as it should be.

School is starting, our house is in disarray from the recent "flooding" we experienced - and no one is sure how long it will take to get things back in shape, there are aprons to be sewn, grandchildren to host for sleepovers, letters to write, blogs to post, aging mothers to care for, and books to read.

And tomorrow is Monday!

"The wild blue yonder!!"

This is a photograph of the rings of Saturn. Dad got it through Larry Steimle. It was taken by a special camera that Larry helped design and build at JPL. I think it was involved with the Hubble telescope too.

Space is so thought-provoking. The last two years I have done a collaborative teaching assignment with the 8th grade science teacher - and we have studied chemistry, physics, and outer space. It has been a real education for me.

Just looking at the photograph sets your mind going in many directions.

If I indeed could hie to Kolob!!

Some points to ponder . . .

You may need to click on these to read them, but when we visited the Postal Museum in DC last week, I was impressed by these two very different thoughts - that were posted next to each other in a display.

The history of the United States is mostly meritorious. But the way we treated the Indians was not at all meritorious. In fact, it was downright shameful.

I think we need to ponder and understand the great wrongs that were done to the Indians - especially those done in the name of "manifest destiny."

Those who do not learn the lessons of history are bound to make serious errors - I think that's a variation on a famous quote.

But in these days of unrest and political polarization, we need to pause and think very carefully.

It wasn't just a Clayton Weekend!

The Taylors had some action this weekend too! Jack and Thalia brought son Mclean here for a weekend visit - he just got home from his mission to Russia last week!

They all went to church at Helen's ward, then came home for lunch before Mclean shared his photos and experiences from Russia.

Most of the get Taylor/Terrill get-togethers this year have been at funerals - so it was nice to have a more festive occasion to meet.

What we do around here!!

We enjoyed having Esme and Annika while Bonny and the big girls went to camp. A new craft has emerged - making accessories out of colored duct tape - very cool!!

And of course we visited with Grandma Mary - and Aunt Donna took the little girls to movies and to McDonalds.

We shopped for fabric for American Girl Doll sleeping bags - made our way - the cheap way!! They came out quite nice if I do say so myself!

The white board - always fun - especially for leaving reminders that you were here!!

We had a puzzle going the whole time too - on the last day, Grandpa helped us finally solve it!

We also enjoyed swimming, Grandpa Bob stories, chocolate milk and Milanos, and shopping for skirt material - I made the three girls matching skirts - need a photo now!

Our next event is the Clayton Reunion, then a trip to VA for the blessing.

The fun never ends!

Whare are those "hazy, lazy days" of summer??

This summer - and most summers actually - has been a busy one. I think "hazy, lazy days" of summer are lost somewhere in the past. I remember summer being a laid back time - way back when I was a kid!! Starting with the year I worked to save money for college, summer ceased to be a "kick-back" time!!

But this summer has seemed exceptionally busy - a very good busy, but busy nonetheless. And it's not liable to change before next summer!! First came going to VA for Lars' birth, having Phoebe and family here, having cousin camp, having the Little Women here while Bonny did camp, the Clayton Reunion, going to VA for the blessing, having the Little Women here again - and then school starts! In between there have been other visitors, other events - I have loved all of it.

But Saturday - a busy day also - I decided to sit down and watch Giant - I had ordered it on NetFlix and it came weeks ago - so I took up my crochet hook and started watching it. Harry joined me - and since it's a two-disc movie - and we spent two nights watching it. (I had ordered it because the Times did a series on movies that hadn't won Oscars but that should have - Giant was one of them. So I started ordering the films they had listed. I'm not sure I agree with their conclusions, but it's been interesting to watch the movies.)

I went through a phase in late high school, early college of reading all the books by one author. I read all the Edna Ferber novels, all the Sinclair Lewis novels, all the Ernest Hemingway novels, all the John Steinbeck novels - you follow my drift.

I had totally forgotten Giant - so yesterday I went and got it from the library - resisted successfully the temptation to buy it - and spent the day on the couch and on the swing outside - totally engrossed in the story!!

And it looks like the movie was pretty faithful to the book - some minor details have been changed, but the story line is intact. James Dean - always eerie to watch him on screen; Elizabeth Taylor - beautiful as always; Rock Hudson - I'm not surprised he didn't get the Oscar - surprised he even got nominated. Although Harry thought he did a credible job.

It was good to kick back - for at least a day anyway - today may be back to busy, but busy has its place too!

There oughta be a law!

I think there is some kind of natural law here at work. Last week, when we had Calvin, Porter, and Harry here for a sleepover, we got to bed pretty late. We had spent the day at the beach, then had been at Bonny's for dinner and racing about their property. I was certainly tired, but was up a bit later getting things in order. I assumed everyone would sleep late, since they sometimes do, and since it had been a long, tiring day.

Wrong! Porter was up at 6:45 - bright-eyed and ready to go. I have to admit that the kids were not crabby, as tired adults sometimes are! It's hard to be annoyed with someone who is so cute too!

Last night, Eve, Esme, and Annika had their second sleepover night in a row. We got them to bed relatively early, after chocolate milk, Milanos, and stories from Grandpa Bob. Eve had to be at gymnastics by 9 a.m.

Of course I had to wake them at 8:15!!

It still goes against every fiber of my being to waken a sleeping child!!

Way to go Sully!!

Text from Phoebe: "We made it home safe and sound. And Sully did not cry once the entire way."

That's my boy!

"Time to say good-bye . . ."

Getting ready for someone's visit is a busy, bustling happy time. Then they arrive and the it's even happier and busier. But before you know it, it seems like the visit is over - and it's time to say good-bye!!

Phoebe and family were here for nearly 2 weeks, but now it seems like they just came and went!! I do miss them all!

The carport is clear - no scooters, beach towels, bouncy balls, strollers, or car seats. How boring!!

Arcelia came, so the kitchen floors are clean - no dropped waffles, no hook-on high chair, no cluttered counters, no full fridge, no charming Sully to play with!! How lonely!!

I'm not looking forward to my solitary breakfast - maybe I can persuade Dad to eat when I do!!

But wait, maybe Annika and Esme will want whole wheat waffles one morning!!

And maybe they will want to ride the scooters up and down the driveway. And shoot water guns at each other. And play Golf and Mormon Poker. And draw on the driveway with chalk. I'm thinking they will keep me busy!!

But we still miss Phoebe and family!! Come back soon!

What's Wrong With This Picture??

Came home late Thursday night with Phoebe and the children. They were all asleep in the car, so it took a bit of time to get them all tucked in without awakening them. I walked around opening windows, checking the mailbox, listening to voice mails, and then I walked into the dining area.

Something seemed wrong, if you know what I mean. And something was wrong. This Nebeker print usually hangs on the wall - it doesn't sit on the floor!

The wire had broken in half - obviously. But the rather heavy frame just fell straight down - didn't fall over or anything.

I'm glad we weren't home. I'm glad Sully or one of the other kids wasn't crawling or walking anywhere near it when it fell. I'm glad it didn't happen when we had 20 people sitting around the dining room table eating. I'm glad it didn't happen the day I had the luncheon for Anna May - the food table was sitting under the print that day!!

But I'm not glad it happened.

I'll let you know what we did about it when Harry figures out what to do about it!!

What a difference a 43 years makes!!

Here I am at the beach in Mexico in 1968. Dad and I had had driven the Jeep truck down - camping along the way. Now I wouldn't think of going camping in Mexico! (Nor would I pose for a photo in a bathing suit!!)

Here I am at Will Roger's State Beach on PCH near Malibu - yesterday in fact!! I sit in the shade, fully clothed - sitting and crocheting. I'm content to be doing so, but I wonder what this says about me??

The years have changed lots of things. What I look like. What I wear. My weight. What I do with my time. What my priorities are. My energy levels. But I'm still wearing dark glasses! I would not change much - maybe I'd like to be thinner and have more energy and be more flexible (I have a friend who says, "I can't touch my toes, but I'm still flexible.") I want to be flexible physically - I'm not sure how or when that skill disappeared!!

I imagine being retired in some charming coastal town - maybe writing a novel. Oh the places our imaginations can take us!

I imagine being on a mission with Harry - not sure what that will be like, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

I imagine being retired and not having to be anywhere at any specific time. Maybe that would get tiresome though.

I imagine not having great kids who have chosen great spouses - that would be sad. They are work and they have used up time and resources over the years - but it was time and resources well-spent! I don't want to imagine a scenario that didn't have grown kids - problems and all!

I imagine - and it's not hard, since I have so many friends who have few or no grandchildren - life without a bevy of beautiful grandkids. Wouldn't want to go there. They can be rambunctious and time consuming and they leave chaos in their wake sometimes - but I love each and every one of them in a special, individual way. And that is a great blessing in my life - one I thank the Lord for each and every day.

Tomorrow we are going out to my mom's to visit and sew and catch up with my sister Leslie, who is visiting. I am so grateful to still have my mother in my life. That is a great and wonderful blessing - another one I thank the Lord for daily. (And I'm grateful for my sisters and brothers too!)

So what's a few pounds or a few wrinkles or a few gray hairs? I'd take today over a bathing-suit-ready body any day!