CROSSING THE FINISH LINE

It's 6:30 am & I can't believe I'm outside in our front yard in my robe with camera in hand. But it IS SO BEAUTIFUL, I couldn't sleep. Had to share it all with you. Amazingly, it was one week from start to finish. A guy with a small tractor helped move the really big rocks, but the rest were placed with the most powerful tool on the planet, dad & a shovel! And he enjoyed every minute of it! Next project? Gravelling the side yard where the motorhome rests, then the back

yard will be scalped & artificial turf in it's place along with fountain, patio pavers & more patio coverage, firepit, etc. But that will wait for $. Our water bill will soon reflect the arid landscape. We won't be sitting on our laurels for long tho, all of you know Darrold Hanna, nothing is safe from beautifying.

DECOR ON THE CHEAP!

Being on a tight budget can stifle decorating. I was flipping through a 'Phoenix' magazine while waiting for the chiropractor when a page for a art studio caught my eye. There were nine little pics (about 2"x 2") of some offerings (see small pic above.) Liked what I saw, stealthfully slid my retractable razor blade (attached to keys) and sliced out the entire page. Enlarged favorites on my printer & purchased cheap frames. Dad willingly hung them & Ta Da! We now have a smidgen of Southwest decor and a lot of color in our living room. Total cost: less than $20. Question: Should the red-backgrounded pieces be side by side & thus yellow side by side? Or top to bottom same.... you get the idea. Whaddya think?

WOMEN'S BROADCAST

We have a tradition here to have a lovely dinner preceding the broadcast for the entire stake R.S. It was a beautiful fall display, even tho we have nothing in our environs to indicate fall. Cactus do not drop their spines. What did I notice during the broadcast besides the words of inspiration & direction? Were they wearing heavy jackets? It must be dipping temps on the Wasatch front. We're still wearing shorts and using "high" for A/C in the car. Well, that's not the only distraction I noticed..... I hope no one with power to excommunication reads this; BUT I must say the Dieter factor is definitely distracting to us more advanced-aged sisters (some have even called him 'eye candy', not me, mind you!). He epitomizes how I want my airline pilot to appear. And Keira, don't you just love his accent? Somehow it has a more authoritative ring to it. Maybe that has something to do with WWII: Seig Heil! (translates Hail Victory!) But more to the point here.... Are we not a blessed sisterhood to be part of a church that values women so highly? We can be proud to be members of a gospel that encourages us to do good & improve ourselves and surroundings. We must not sink to the world's accepted level of behavior. Yes, we can do it and we can help sustain each other. Do not allow pity-parties; at least let it be a short, not well-attended party. Oops, now I'm preaching...sorry! But I have lived longer than all of you (not combined!) and have had my share of pity parties; believe me, they bring nothing uplifting. But, having said that; we sometimes just need a good cry. I find certain movies (old Yeller, The Yearling, Where the Red Fern Grows, etc) gives us a 'legal' reason to let loose. Husband can grasp that idea! Anyway, my heart to yours in the gospel. Be proud to be a woman in R.S. It's the largest & best organization for women in the world. Amen & Amen.

DAD ROCKS!

See Dad. See dad move rocks. See dad sweat. See Gerry. See Gerry make water drip. See Gerry unpaid. See good friend, Gerry. See Ramon plant tree. See yard most beautiful on the street!

Yep, it's coming along nicely. Dad had a vision & is bringing it to fruition. Many neighbors stop to express their approval. Now we are officially Arizonans.....& 'old people'....gravel replaces lawn. Water bill should reflect the change. I hope. FYI the tree is called a weeping bottle brush tree. Hoping to see shade to garage soon.

SHE COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT!

Okay, so it's mostly 'fluff', but I have to confess I love "Dancing with the Stars"! This season promises to be at least interesting and we all can thank 82-year old Cloris for that! She stole the show the first night. NOT THAT I GOT TO SEE IT HAPPEN!! Don't I deserve some 'props' for sacrificing my self-indulgence to carry out my calling? Dad & I are the 'empty-nester family home evening group coordinators. Which precludes my own interests. BUT I have a dvr. Which sounds like 'problem solved', right? It would be, if I knew how to use it. I believe I've managed to have it record that show whenever it's on....now all I have to do is figure out how to retrieve it & see it! But I regress....82 years old and she propped that leg up on the judges desk like a 18 yr old! I've always enjoyed her work & it won't be any different while watching her twinkle her toes. They'll be more surprises ahead, me thinks. A winner, yes; win the smalschy mirror ball trophy, no. But fun we'll have along the way. YOU GO GIRL! (if we're lucky we'll make it to 82 & still be able to 'strut our stuff'!)

And he huffed & he puffed....

It looked like a great idea, and it worked on the video. Maybe it was because our eggs were farm fresh. (It is well known fresh eggs are harder to peel.) When I tried, it only cracked them. (I'm a weenie) So I enlisted dad (he has more hot air than I do :) I boiled more 'eggsactly' per the directions... Sadly, no 'pop goes the eggo'. But it DID make them easier to peel, & to me, that's worth the effort! I hate peeling eggs when it comes off in micro bits! Made egg/tuna salad sandwiches with our experiments. If you have better results, let us all know!

Two Quotes, one pitiful, one good

This came across my screen this morning and had to pass them on:

"

My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world.

I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it."

Barrack Obama

Life's tough....it's even tougher when you're stupid!"

John, the duke, Wayne