Off and On the List

It makes me feel good to check things off the list. But sdomehow I usually (read today) add more than I can take off. So here it goes:

"Ill take the big one please!"

From the list
Get a drink at Mooches- I will need the nourishment and calming influence!
too bad, they are getting a new machine in today. Head to Beck's other source-make do without the fruit punch on top!

Go to Lowes. return the bug stuff and buy the light bulbs. Now these are the most difficult bulbs to find! 25 Watt candelabra base (about the size of you finger tip) look a little lik C7 the Christmas lights but they screw in and have a different wattage. Kind of like a night light but see above. Not frosted, not 40 or 60 Watt, not haligon--I can't believe it finally found. Spent more time in Lowes without being offer help than EVER before.

Add to the list
Shopko-White rocking chairs-that match my missing one-are on sale--one day (today) only.
Since I am going there i will return the pants that are too big and look for a shirt that will be good for the Walk of Light assignment and the trip to Glacier.

The rocking chairs sold out last week-there were NONE in the Store. On in Brigham, but the could not hold it, even for an hour so I could get there because fo the sale. UGH!! and that was the answer after waiting (to find the scu#) and waiting (only one person on the sales floor and she was taking stuff out to c car where the man was 'moving things around to make room--I ovre heard that conversation after going through half the store looking for the sales associate that would not answer the page. . .oh . . ) and waiting (for the customer assistant to call Brigham (and waiting for their only sales person to answer the page and check inventory).

After stoping back by the house to pick up Granny-she didn't want to leave the house until she got her wash moved-we were off again.

Wallmart Drive by- tiny hard plastic pool and smaller plastic pools. It was pouring rain so we didn't get out. I just drove up onto the sidewalk to check them out. There seemed to be plenty so I choose to leave it for another day. Granny wanted to go to KMart.
KMart- She tried to get me to park in formt of kohls but I prevailed when she discovered we were not at KMart. Ran through the rain. Granny had a coupon for $14 off of any purchase of $14 or more. We picked out a couple of puzzles for Lily-She put the two I liked (wooden with handles, animals) back and got a wooden 50 statyes of the US and another cardboard type. After standing in line-next in line we couldn't even back out like everyone behind us did-waiting for the New cashier-her second day- open a Sears Charge account for the older couple in front of us . .that really did take some time.-she discovered she had only purchased $13 worth. I ran back to the displat we'd just passed and got her a bag of Dove chocolates (boy did I need those by then) final price for Granny $2.56. My purchase $18-I got the plastic pool and, of course, my own medication (Doves chocolates) . Back through the rain, at least I had the pool to hide under. I figured if I got hit in the parking lot--you can't see much with a pool over your head--it wouldn't be because they couldn't see me. Oh I forgot, with the pool hanging off the front of the basket we did swing by the clothing department. I found a really cute jacket and shirt set but at $17 an $12, I passed them by. It is not easy to get around a store with a molded plastic pool hanging around the basket. I ate chocolate all the way home!

Total
Rocking chair on and then off the list--too much to do no trip to Brigham
Lowes trip lights and bugs off the list
Clothes for Thurdsay's talk on the list
the drink taste awful when coupled with chocolate-but that didn't stop me.

Granny gone home for the day-
Life is good, I'm still here.
If I couldn't laugh at myself I'd be in big trouble!

Another day in Paradise

My only regret with this weeks schedule is that I would rather be in SLC helping Lexy with the newest member of the family. Dave said he would call if they need help. I do hope he will. After all-none of these activities are truly more important than family!

It was just another day in paradise. This is however, looking to be an very busy week.
Here is the outline of activities. It's a good thing I like to be busy!

Relief Society
We had presidency meeting today. We divided up the list of single sisters over 50 so the three of us (Anna is out of town) so we could call them and be sure they were notified of the High Priest Fish Fry scheduled for Saturday. I guess 12 each isn't too bad.
One Food Order
Call amber-where has she been?
Visits-watch for Sarah to be home---catch her when you can
Two Surgeries this week-Voniel and Wendy (both Thursday)

Young women
I guess that is the next activity on the list-I have to be at the Church at 5:15 to ride out to Cinnamon Creek. I get to speak at the Walk of Light. I am excited, it is alwasy gratifying to share my testimony about the Temple with the young women. (More about that after the fact)

Temple
Temple night is this Friday-if it weren't I am sure I would not go. Sometimes I jsut need motivation!

Fish Fry
It is a High Priest Group Party but as usual. . .I just can't stand by and watch them spend two to three times what they should on potatoes so . . .
Get 6 volunteers to cook the potatoes
Purchase all the stuff to make the potatoes (Sams, Dollar Store, Albertsons)
Divide all the stuff up into the 6 parts and make recipe cards For each
Deliver the ingredients to the volunteers (find them at home)
MAKE THE TELEPHONE CALLS/INVITATIONS
Cook Potatoes

Attend fish Fry


My Sweet almost 2 Lily

Lily's Birthday
Order Balloons (call Rachael)
Get the Pool (Wednesday/Granny)
buy gift/wrap
pray for sunshine

Father's Day
(If everyone wasn't so busy I'd ask for help with this)
Buy Candy bars
design covers
copy covers
cut covers
put them together

Home
Get porch light installed
Buy lights for the Porch light
get stuff for Lasagna!
Friday-buy worms for Dad's Fishing trip! (Smith)
Get new connector for garden watering system
Return Bug stuff to Home Depot while you are at it.

Feeding Dad Pizza

Dad is only home for 9 meals a week. One might imagine that I could manage to cook that much. Add to that when asked, "What do you want to eat?" His answer is always either "Something good" or "what ever the cupboard can afford." Neither of which answers are very inspiring. After all I think everything I feed him is "good" and obviously we can "afford" it. I have yet to make him lobster, but I would love to. Actually I would rather go to Red Lobster and let them cook it . . .However, I am beginning to believe what I feed him is a direct reflection of my internal stress or 'busy'ness level.

This weekend reached new levels, let me explain via the menu.

Friday
dinner-Navajo Tacos (the scone mixture I had made up on Tuesday or Wednesday and needed to be made. It was topped with chicken that was dated 'best if used by 041209' but I tasted it and it seemed ok. It was only 2 months past. Neither of us got sick!

Saturday
breakfast-who is up for breakfast before 7 am? I was glas there was enough (not sour) milk.
lunch-we were on our way to SLC to meet Phoebe. there was no time to stop!
On the way back we tried to out run the rain but gave up in Layton. We visited Dennys, possibly of Dad's favorite. Then we actually had breakfast.
dinner- I was going to get some chicken at Sams but ordered a pizza at the deli before I remembered what I came for. So pizza and a vegetable tray it was. I also go thim a peach pie to prove I was conceerned about his happiness and "fullness." And I was really tired.

Sunday
breakfast- if there is leftover pizza Dad will eat it! He enjoyed it that time, I think. Again I was asleep. He felt the needed to be at church at 7:15 to set up chairs. I didn't need to be there until 8:30-half an hour before the meetings began. so I slept until almost 8 am.
lunch-Pat got home before me so he again ate pizza. This time he ate a few vegetables with it.
dinner- Well I had to leave at 5:15 to get everything ready for the fireside. Now I know he can cook frozen dinners and ther were two of them he cold have chosen from. In fact I made it clear that since I would not be home the (really good, extra special) frozen dinners were going to have to do. Can you guess what he ate? More pizza.
late night-about 9:30) he was looking around the kitchen, finding little to meet his needs. Note I had not done much more shopping than the pizza, vegi tray, peach pie, and bananas from Sams. he had been eating little pieces of the peach pie but that just was not going to do. finally I couldn't take it any more, (I felt so bad for him) I made him a chicken helper with canned chicken . He thougth it was great!
It's amazing what hunger and deprivation can do to the taste buds. It was actually pretty good.

Monday
breakfast-I believe he had cold cereal. But then again it could have been piza since I had not done the dishes and I know we were running short on bowls. Again, why should I be up and making breakfast before 7am if I don't have to?
11ees-(as in the Hobbit) he started to heat he last of the pizza (have you ever heard of a pizza lasting through that many meals?) I knew he deserved more so I made him an omlet. It has almost become a tradition on Monday mornings for 11ees. It is one of his favorites and I simply couldn't see him eating more pizza while I read email.
So, with a happy heart I made his omlett.

However, he wrapped up the last two pieces of the pizza and took them with him to SLC for a snack.

Who would have thought you could get that many meals out of one pizza?

Poor Dad.

Next weekend he will get his favorite, Lasagna. After all it will be Fathers Day and he deserves it. If he gets his way he will get it the next weekend as well. Lasagna will still be his favorite and it will be his birthday on Sunday. It will probably be a long time before I feed him pizza again, at least without some hungry sons (I include the imported fellows in that) to help him eat it.

And Phoebe makes 7

Welcome Phoebe!

We officially have seven grand children. Phoebe Alexis was born at 9:30 am on June 13. She is beautiful and healthy and a blessing to our family. Here are some pictures--if I can make it work this time.

Mom and baby only 4 hours old
(No one should look that good four hours after giving birth-no on but our Lexy)

Pat and Granny and I made a quick trip down yesterday. We had a rainy drive back but it was all worth it to welcome this precious little girl into our family. For all the challenges and trials of life there is nothing like the birth of a baby to put things into perspective. there is no greater gift that can come to this life than life itself.

"You did good!"

WELCOME to our world Phoebe!

Where can I turn for peace?

Why is it there is a certain segment of society that seems to think they can take what clearly does not belong to them?

I have always felt safe in our home here in peaceful city. Now I have to lock the doors even during the day! It is so annoying to have to get out a key to get into my own house. but, it just isn't worth the risk any more. Yesterday i purchased the motion light for the front porch. I think I will ask my hometeachers to help me put it in. FYI Conner, the little boy on the corner had his bicycle stolen just the other day. So locking down the front porch furniture I believe was fully justified. but listen to this.

A block or two over a fellow turned on his sprinklers only to have guisers go off all down the row. Someone had stolen all the sprinkler heads. They just screw off, but why? that just seems so juvenile. I can't believe it!

Somewhere some parents failed to teach their children to respect others property. and, unfortunately the police don't seem to bent on getting after the problem either.

Wait, we the law abiding, hard working citizens, pay our taxes, obey the laws, and always get caught for every little infraction should be protected from the bad guys!
When i asked my neighbor, Susan, what she thought we should do her only suggestion was to pull a "Dennis and Janice" and move up on the hill. Why can't the thieves just go up there, where the citizens can better afford to replace the stolen items.

Why can't people just respect each other and leave what is not theirs alone? I bet if someone stole something from them . . they'd be really mad!

What is this peaceful village becoming? Where can I turn for peace?

The Green Green Grass of Home

Missy Mia love the green green grass of our house!

I really like the grass in our front yard. Dad supports it through the spraying and watering and cutting, of course. but now, there are bugs in it. Clumps of grass just pull right out. Little holes are turning into bit holes. Our neighbors to the south had big, big patches of dead grass in their front yard just a week or two ago. So, I inquired of them regarding the turn around. Bayer bud granules, $17 a bag at Lowes. I just couldn't spend that much on holes, or could I? After reading way too many labels I settled for a $12 bag, I think it is the same stuff, I hope it is the same stuff. Maybe I should just take it back and get the real stuff, after all, I do love the green green grass of home.

While at Lowes I (on Dad's credit card) purchased a motion sensor light fixture for the front porch. they only had one design. and it takes those silly candelabra types bulbs. Ugh, I do not want to be constantly purchasing and replacing the bulbs, but I do want the fixture and the added security it promises. Evidently the new energy saving bulbs do not work in these type fixtures. I think I will go to Home Depot tomorrow.

Speaking of which, Granny and I went to Home Depot yesterday. I purchased a concrete block, a heavier chain and combination lock to use on the front porch. I do not want to lose my other rocking chair or glider. So, they are now chained down! I forgot to look for the light. But I did look for the stuff I would need to make more tomato cages like the ones we have been using for 20 years now. I am tired of the little ones that fall over and in the end do not do the job they were purchased for. However, the only stuff I could find was $139 and 330 feet. Lowes had nothing really and neither did IFA. Now what? I do not know. But the tomato plants are growing and something does need to be done soon. I do love tomatoes! I can hardly wait!

Catch up time

I so enjoy reading all the family/friends blogs I can't imagine why I haven't written lately. Sorry, I . .won't even try to make an excuse.

Mothers Day was wonderful. The men and Sarah cooked a yummy lunch while the mothers all sat around talking. Dad washed dishes too. And there were plenty of them. It was just plain old enjoyable. Thanks guys!

The garden tilled-thanks to the Hansen family-got mostly planted-with the help of the Lees-the week before memorial day. That is the earliest the Nolan plot has ever been improved. It has even started to grow. Although, we couldn't grow more grass if that was all we planted.

We celebrated Ella's birthday on Saturday in Willow Park. She is a darling five year old. Memorial Day was great too. Lots of kids, card games, food, and movies makes for a fun. We also got to visit John's resting place. It is so assuring to share the spirit of one that means so much to us.

Other than Relief Society activities and the usual church related outings life has been rather peaceful. Well except for the untold number of trips to various doctors. Everything seems to be healing well just too slowly for my time table. I will have another MRI close to the end of the month. If the tumor has regrown . . .we may have to do radiation but what ever will be-will be, no need to worry about it now.

There I feel better, all caught up.
Sorry if I left something important out. My brain is still coming out of the "fog" caused by the surgery. But, it is getting better.

Life is good and there are an abundance of good things to look forward to.
We'll soon have another adorable grandchild and yet more pictures to post.