Playing the Glad Game

Last night I was sitting waiting for a meeting to start at the church. A man walked in and was visiting with the folks already there when someone mentioned how cold it was outside. The man just casually said, " Yes, but we have have a warm building to meet in. Just playing the glad game."
I thought about what he said all the way home. It was so simple and yet I'm thinking that if I could work on playing the glad game a lot more, and grumble a little less, (okay, a lot less) that it could only be a good thing. Right?

Jaycee's 1st Standard's Night

Some of favorite memories growing up are the activities we did as a ward youth: Standards Night, New Beginnings, Youth Conference, etc. So I was really excited to go with Jaycee tonight to her very first big Young Women activity.
The theme was "Weddings." They showed slide show pictures of several of our stake young adults who have just gotten married in the temple, then a couple who have been married just a few years talked about things the girls need to be working on now, to go to the temple later.
We had refreshments after and each girl in the stake got take home a flower with a quote attached: "We believe in chastity before marriage and total fidelity after marriage. That sums it up. That is the way to happiness in living. That is the way to satisfaction. It brings peace to the heart and peace to the home." Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley
It was a wonderful night. I pray that Jaycee has as many good memories of her Young Women days as I do. Love you Jaycee!!

The Job Matt was Born For

Matthew was born in the wrong century. He would have been just happy living off the land, herdin' cows, and farming. Since that's not a reality in this day and age (if you want to make a decent living anyway) Matthew works cows for our friends and neighbors every chance he gets. This weekend was full of "cowboying". We sorted, loaded, and hauled calves to the stockyards to sell. We also helped doctor the cows remaining on the farm. (When I say we- I mean that Matthew did those things and I watched :)
The girls spent most of the weekend helping Grandma Sony, but Cody will probably walk in his dad's "boot steps". He loves all things cowboy and followed his dad everywhere we went.
I like weekends like this. Spending time together and doing something that Matthew lives for. (Sadly these were the only pictures I thought to take :(

To the Treehouse

Britnee's school class got to go the The Treehouse Museum in Ogden for a field trip on Tuesday. I was lucky enough to get invited as a chaperon.
The theme that they focused on was one of my favorites: Castles and Knights. They heard all about fairy tales and even got to act out one.
Britnee got to be the ugly witch that answered the right question for the king so she got to marry the knight (who was played by her cousin D.J.) She fell in love and the spell was broken and she got to turn back into a beautiful princess.
The kids split up into groups and got to have some free time. They ran to lots of different stations to play and learn.
All too soon we had to get on the bus and head for home. Britnee and I had a great day. I think I may just have to take another trip down with the kids and plan on spending the whole day.

Memory Monday- Creamed Peas

I remember one of my favorite treats at Grandma Ada's house was creamed peas. The peas usually came from the garden and more times than not, there were also little red potatoes to go with them.
My mom started making creamed peas a few years ago, mostly as part of the meals she makes for grandpa and a lot of Sunday's with dinner. Every time she makes it, she'll make extra and call me. I've gotten so spoiled having mom on hand that I haven't thought much of learning to make it myself until Jaycee asked for some for dinner tonight and my mom is out of town. So I called for the instructions (stuff like this doesn't have a recipe.) It goes something like this:
Boil a little water in a kettle with a pinch of salt. Add peas. When they're almost cooked, add a little sugar. Add some Half & Half or Heavy Whipping Cream. (Do not drain the water.) Then mix flour and water together and stir in to desired thickness. Cook out the flour taste, and eat.

That's pretty much it. I did fairly well tonight, it being my first solo run and all. I mashed some potatoes to go with it, all my kids seem to like that best.
Funny that a simple dinner request could invoke such memories. It's probably good too, to grow up and learn to cook for myself.

Homecoming '09

I remember being in high school before I got to participate in the Homecoming Parades but in Bear Lake, everyone gets to join in. The theme this year was Hollywood. Britnee helped plan the Paris Elementary float that was sub-themed Western.
She had grandma braid her hair and took our little saddle for props. It was the cutest float.
Jaycee decided to ride on the Kindness Campaign float instead of marching with the cheerleaders.
We had a fun time at the parade. Afterward, we went to Arctic Circle for lunch and later Jaycee went back over for the football game. Homecoming ended on kind of a sad note this year as the Bears lost 65-0. Oh well, maybe next year.

The 'Bear' Witch Project

Okay so I forced the title a little bit but last night's witches party was so fun. Ashlee Parry hosted it and invited everyone who wanted to come from the valley.
Lots of my friends were there and a lot of others that I got to meet and get to know. (Me, Candice, and Ashley Rose.)
We ate lots of yummy food, so much that my poor belly didn't want nearly as much as my mouth wanted to feed it. Candice brought these cute little pumpkin rice crispie treats. She said they looked like Fiona boobies. So funny!!
There were demonstrations of how to make cute hair bows for your girls and homeamde too-too's for dress up. (Me with my Amy Kearl friend.)
We also paired up and learned how to give hand massages to each other.
Over all, it was a great night. It's so fun to just let loose and have a good time.

Round 2, 3, & yes 4!

Wow this canning thing is addictive. It's so much easier than I thought and I feel such a sense of accomplishment that I just keep doing more. Last Saturday Brittney and Candice came over to make two different peach salsas and apple pie filling. On Thursday we also did two batches of plum syrup. Mine and Candice's ended up kinda brown and not so plummy. But Brit cooked the peels with her batch and it came out much prettier.
Today I'm just getting finished with Cinnamon Pear Jelly. After we juiced all the pears, the jelly doesn't take long at all and is way yummy!!
I'm not wonderful at this by any means but it's been so fun to pretend. And learning along with my friends makes it even better. Anybody have anything they want bottled??

Memory Monday-Grandma Iris

My grandma Iris is one of my favorite people in the world. And since she has a birthday tomorrow, I thought I'd dedicate this Memory Monday to her.

Iris Corlin Stringham was born on October 6, 1927 in San Fransisco, California to Jim and Velma Stringham. She was the oldest of four children.
She lived in California until 1941, when her parents moved back to Lovell, Wyoming where she still lives now. Grandma was well known for her amazing singing voice and she shared her talent often throughout her growing up years.
She married my grandpa Joe in the Salt Lake Temple on January 6, 1949. They had six children, 26 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren so far. (if I counted right.)
Grandpa's dream was to own and operate a cattle business and grandma's dream was to support grandpa in whatever he did. She loved my grandpa very much and stood by his side, no matter what. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1999.
My earliest memories of grandma are going out in the cold mornings with her to milk the cows. And driving back and forth with supplies into the ranch.
Some of the many things that grandma taught me was a love for Family History. When she was younger, she would pack up all the kids, drive to Salt Lake and work on her genealogy until Sunday, when she would drive all the way home so she could go to work on Monday morning.
She is one of the hardest workers I know. There haven't been very many days in grandma's life that she doesn't get up and go to work. She also knows her way around a computer better than most people.
In her spare time you can always find grandma reading a good book, working on a crossword puzzle, or her very favorite, Solitaire. She was so thrilled when computers came with the game so she didn't have to pack her cards anymore.
At 82, Grandma is still just as sharp and witty as ever. You always know where you stand with her, because she isn't afraid to tell you.
Grandma hasn't told me nearly enough stories about her life yet. But I'm sure that she will one day. :) Until then, I have countless memories of the wonderful person that my grandma is, and the many lives she's touched.
I love you grandma. Hope you have a happy birthday!!

The Shed Project -Part 5- Finish Work

Doesn't it seem like finish work is the hardest? We've really slowed down this past month, with going back to school and Matt working so much overtime.

We did get the ends finished though. The plank boards we used are from the floor where the shed used to live. We pulled each one up, washed and scrubbed a hundred years of grime and spiderwebs off, and hung them up.

This is a pretty bad picture of the inside but it gives a glimpse of how cool it will look when it's all done. Our original plan was just to use this as a storage shed for everything including firewood, but now that we've got it up, Matt says it's too nice to stack wood in. So now we're thinking of putting in plumbing and electrical next summer. Maybe even turn it into a guest house? :) Okay, I can dream!

We used the same floor boards to finish the interior wall. One of the main support beams was cracked and starting to break so we framed in a wall to help support the weight of the walls.

And on Saturday's agenda- Tin on the roof and finishing the doors. Let's hope mother nature decides to smile on that day.

The Shed Project -Part 4- Enclosure

August brought us a second story floor on the south end of our little project. And trusses. Lots of them.

Once they were all built and carried to the roof, postioning them was pretty easy and only took an evening. We did have my dad's help as well as my uncle Chad's for a couple of hours. Thanks guys.

Putting the sheeting on the roof was not my funnest part. I don't have pictures of this because I was on the 45 degree pitched roof, holding onto to sheets of plywood with one hand and for dear life with the other hand. Matt had no such qualms about being 30 feet in the air on a 2x4 railing, he ran around like a monkey. Show off!!

While Bret and Heidi were here visitng, Matthew talked Bret into helping us frame in the south side. We decided to frame in a door. It doesn't lead anywhere yet, but hopefully next summer we will get our little veranda built out there and will spend our evenings sitting in our lawn chairs on it.