Okay – so now that my niece’s have me blogging, I find myself thinking all the time about what words of wisdom I can pass on to my family. It’s great being part of a huge family and I love each member of that family so very much. Are we perfect – heck no. Are any two of us really alike – I think not. But it is the uniqueness of each individual that makes a family. From the squigglies to the circles and pyramids (leaner and hairball will know what I’m talking about there) each individual does things a little differently and that’s great. Wouldn’t life be boring if everyone were exactly the same like a bunch of robots.
I have special memories of each person in this big family – leaner sleeping in a drawer at my house when she was a baby (hey this was before pack ‘n plays were available – at least for us lower income people), tif going with me to Phoenix airport to pick up Aunt De for Grandma Carter’s 70th birthday surprise. Clint spending lots of time with us when we lived in Blythe and the night he was sick with what turned out to be appendicitis – I had read that you would know if it was appendicitis if it hurt when a person stood on one leg so I kept making him get out of bed and stand on one leg – poor kid. Elise and her mom taking Grandma and I to the airport for the big trip to Switzerland – I had on a leather strap necklace with 3 little silver buffalo beads dangling on it, Elise had a 3 or 4” bead chain that she put on my necklace so I’d remember her – I still have that necklace although the leather is pretty worn and has broken several times but the bead chain is still there.
Penny the one who made me an aunt – I worked with her Aunt Kathy in the cafeteria at high school during our lunch hour. We spent most of our time arguing about who’s niece she really was. Then when Shari was born, Kathy decided that she got Penny since I had a new niece. Carter and his comment the day after my big wreck – “Why didn’t you turn the key off and get out of the car before it wrecked?” So logical.
Stopping in cool-town and picking up Bri to ride with me to Grandma’s house. One day when I picked her up, she was sleeping and she seemed a little worried when I put her in the car. I kept telling her we were going to Grandma’s house but she didn’t seem to cheer up (she had the cutest little pouty face). All of a sudden, she broke into a big grin – “We are going to Grandma’s house. There are the bumpy bumpy mountains.”
How proud I was when my new little sister Polly was born and how I bragged to all my friends – and yes grandma’s right – we helped spoil her – what were we thinking? Sharing a bedroom with Suzy and how hard it was to get her to help clean up – in the red brick house our room was always a horrid mess. Then she turned into the perfect housekeeper when she got married and had a place of her own. Weekend camping trips with Suzy and Morris to the ranch before Max & Mary moved down there.
Riding horses with Jack – he would take off in the desert and I was supposed to follow his trail to find him. It always looked so easy on tv. Doing dishes with Tom and him refusing to wash them until I picked off every single bologna skin – that’s something you don’t see anymore either. Little brother Danny – I used to help him with his homework – he struggled so much with reading. I remember Grandma taking him to Tucson two or more days a week one summer so he could learn to read better. But my mouth runneth over so I’ll post this and get on with my day.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Multi-tasking
Had to mop the upstairs yesterday – I love my pergo flooring except for the 3+ hours it seems to take me to mop it. John can get it done a lot quicker, course he doesn’t move the furniture so doesn’t have to wait for it to dry before he puts the furniture back. Also, he is better at staying focused on a single task until it’s completed, I am all into multi-tasking. That’s great for my paying job but can wreak havoc upon my personal life.
It’s terrible when you go into the laundry room to move the clothes from the washer, but before you do that, you have to take the clothes out of the dryer and put them somewhere. Hmmm – the bed is a good spot, then you put them on the bed to fold and after folding the kitchen towels, decide to take them to the kitchen to put away. Once in the kitchen, start thinking about what to have for dinner so need to go downstairs to pull something out of the freezer.
Oh my, look at how bare the shelves are getting. Where is my list for restocking – need to add a few things to that list. Where did the pen go, have to go to my desk to get a new pen. Seeing the computer reminds me that I need to download some pictures so I go into the downstairs bedroom to that computer to plug in the phone line and start it up, sign in select pictures to download. Hmm, I really need to print out a picture of Madison and get it on the fridge. Run upstairs to get the frame so I’ll know what size.
Back downstairs, print out the picture, cut it out and take it back up to the fridge. Oops - got to get those clothes in the dryer so I can start another load. Then back downstairs to make sure the pictures are downloading. Grab something out of the freezer to toss in the microwave for thawing. Yes Remington – he’s home, quit whining – you can go outside in a minute.
8 o’clock time for bed now – uh, oh guess John can help me fold the clothes…..
It’s terrible when you go into the laundry room to move the clothes from the washer, but before you do that, you have to take the clothes out of the dryer and put them somewhere. Hmmm – the bed is a good spot, then you put them on the bed to fold and after folding the kitchen towels, decide to take them to the kitchen to put away. Once in the kitchen, start thinking about what to have for dinner so need to go downstairs to pull something out of the freezer.
Oh my, look at how bare the shelves are getting. Where is my list for restocking – need to add a few things to that list. Where did the pen go, have to go to my desk to get a new pen. Seeing the computer reminds me that I need to download some pictures so I go into the downstairs bedroom to that computer to plug in the phone line and start it up, sign in select pictures to download. Hmm, I really need to print out a picture of Madison and get it on the fridge. Run upstairs to get the frame so I’ll know what size.
Back downstairs, print out the picture, cut it out and take it back up to the fridge. Oops - got to get those clothes in the dryer so I can start another load. Then back downstairs to make sure the pictures are downloading. Grab something out of the freezer to toss in the microwave for thawing. Yes Remington – he’s home, quit whining – you can go outside in a minute.
8 o’clock time for bed now – uh, oh guess John can help me fold the clothes…..
Monday, September 05, 2005
Thoughts of Auntie Florence
Mom called Saturday night and said that Auntie Florence was going down hill fast and the next call I receive from her will probably be to tell me she's gone.
I have mixed thoughts about that of course but mainly, I think about the wonderful reunion there will be in heaven. My grandma died in1957 so Auntie Florence hasn't seen her mom in 48 years. Uncle Dickie died in July 1971. She's been a widow for 34 years - I know she's had his temple work done and hopefully he accepted the gospel and they can be reunited as man and wife.
Uncle Dickie was a character - he was probably one of my all time favorite people. He always rolled his own cigarettes so I thought he was a real cowboy. Auntie Florence once told me that right before her son Ted was born (so about 65 or so years ago), a man approached Uncle Dickie and wanted Dickie to take him up into the Superstitions to look for the Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine. Uncle Dickie agreed. The man from back east was going to buy all the provisions for the trip - they were going to be gone for 60 days. That would be fine Dickie told him.
A couple days after Ted was born, the man met Dickie with all the food. Since they were going to be gone for 60 days, he bought 60 loaves of bread. Can you imagine trying to tie 60 loaves of bread onto a pack mule - never mind how fresh they would be after the first week. Needless to say, their first stop was at the grocery store to buy the needed flour and other ingredients to cook bread as they needed.
My dad's been dead for 21 years now - he and Auntie Florence had such a special bond so I know there are going to be so glad to see each other. Yes, I'll miss Auntie Florence and I regret I didn't spend more time when I was down in Arizona last but I know she's lived her life on this earth and since her body is pretty worn out, it's time to move on to greater spheres where she can once more find enjoyment and learning of new things.
I have mixed thoughts about that of course but mainly, I think about the wonderful reunion there will be in heaven. My grandma died in1957 so Auntie Florence hasn't seen her mom in 48 years. Uncle Dickie died in July 1971. She's been a widow for 34 years - I know she's had his temple work done and hopefully he accepted the gospel and they can be reunited as man and wife.
Uncle Dickie was a character - he was probably one of my all time favorite people. He always rolled his own cigarettes so I thought he was a real cowboy. Auntie Florence once told me that right before her son Ted was born (so about 65 or so years ago), a man approached Uncle Dickie and wanted Dickie to take him up into the Superstitions to look for the Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine. Uncle Dickie agreed. The man from back east was going to buy all the provisions for the trip - they were going to be gone for 60 days. That would be fine Dickie told him.
A couple days after Ted was born, the man met Dickie with all the food. Since they were going to be gone for 60 days, he bought 60 loaves of bread. Can you imagine trying to tie 60 loaves of bread onto a pack mule - never mind how fresh they would be after the first week. Needless to say, their first stop was at the grocery store to buy the needed flour and other ingredients to cook bread as they needed.
My dad's been dead for 21 years now - he and Auntie Florence had such a special bond so I know there are going to be so glad to see each other. Yes, I'll miss Auntie Florence and I regret I didn't spend more time when I was down in Arizona last but I know she's lived her life on this earth and since her body is pretty worn out, it's time to move on to greater spheres where she can once more find enjoyment and learning of new things.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Oh summer where hast thou gone?
Wow - this summer has gone so quickly - what with spending almost 3 weeks in Colorado, a weekend in Arizona and another weekend in South Dakota it has just flown by. All the fishing and trips to the mountain that we were hoping to do this year have been put off until next. But seeing the look on Jules face when I told her she had a baby sister was priceless.
The closure of Beartooth Pass has even prevented me from taking drives up the pass this summer to see all the beautiful flowers. So much rain in May and June that the place greened up so. Grass was up past the chests on the horses when we turned them out into the pasture in late May - now it's been eaten down a bit and we are just hoping there will be enough to get them through October.
Hunting season is upon us - John and Blaine spent a week looking for horns - John will be home today empty handed but full of memories of spending a great week doing what he loves best with his son.
I stayed home and did the WYWO thing - can't wait to see his response when he sees the new tv stand. uh - well - maybe I can - getting nervous now.
The closure of Beartooth Pass has even prevented me from taking drives up the pass this summer to see all the beautiful flowers. So much rain in May and June that the place greened up so. Grass was up past the chests on the horses when we turned them out into the pasture in late May - now it's been eaten down a bit and we are just hoping there will be enough to get them through October.
Hunting season is upon us - John and Blaine spent a week looking for horns - John will be home today empty handed but full of memories of spending a great week doing what he loves best with his son.
I stayed home and did the WYWO thing - can't wait to see his response when he sees the new tv stand. uh - well - maybe I can - getting nervous now.
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