FALL...

...has more than one meaning and I've got a band-aid to prove it.

The STOP sign

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

When you get to a stop sign, STOP. Don't just roll through the intersection. And, don't stop and then start going without looking around to see if any cars are nearby.

There are few things I miss about California and one is that people believe in the right of way.

Ten years gone

This morning at 7:00am sharp marked 10 years since my brother Robes died from brain cancer. My brother John goes to Tito's Tacos--one of Robes' favorite places to eat--on Robes' birthday and the anniversary of his death but since it's 3,000 miles away I thought I would list 10 things I miss about my older brother.













Robby and me in the front yard.


















Robes and me in New York City (August 1998).

1. Watching him raise his three children.
2. Reading his columns in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel Sports section.
3. Hearing him talk about Bruce Springsteen's music.
4. Calling him on the phone to share a funny story.
5. His quirky advice (i.e., "slam dance with life").
6. Seeing the clever things he did for his wife to show how much he loved her.
7. Eating delicious food he made and seeing how much he enjoyed cooking.
8. Receiving letters and postcards from him.
9. Laughing about funny memories.
10. His genuineness.


















Ian, Jamel and Adrienne in September '98.



















The Florida Pattons in early '98 (photo taken by Rick Egan).

During one of my trips to Florida when Robes was sick, sweet little three year old Adrienne said about her father being ill, "Poor all of us."

Robes, I love you, I miss you, and God be with you till we meet again.

Rainy Clambake

"Eating lobster in the gym at church is better than eating no lobster at all."

(Ellen Patton, Clambake '08)

The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch at MIT

Today is the annual MIT Glass Lab pumpkin sale. I stopped by yesterday on my way home from work to take a few photos of the handblown glass pumpkins. They are beautiful!!

I love these stamps!

My simple life

I received an "urgent notice" recently from the BYU Alumni Association requesting me to call a number to update my contact information for an alumni directory that is being published. "A brief telephone call will ensure your listing is completely accurate and up-to-date." I found the postcard tonight when I was going through my work bag and decided to call.

The guy on the other end of the line confirmed my address, phone number, email, and asked a few more questions. One of the questions was if I wanted to add a spouse or children to my profile. "Nope" I answered.

Then he said, "You're just keepin' it simple."

I never iron my clothes

Sometimes if my clothes are wrinkled (I know this is bad) I will just re-wash and dry them instead of ironing them. Bad, bad, bad.

This morning as I was getting ready for work I noticed that the hem on my white cotton blouse was wrinkled and all bunched up and the blouse was longer than the sweater so it was obvious. And then I remembered that conveniently my iron was on my ironing board downstairs (I've left it out since I've been doing some sewing) so I went downstairs and ironed my blouse.

I used the ironing board unlike one of my college roommates who ironed the collar of her blouse-----while she was wearing it-----and burned her neck.

True story.

Press zero to speak to an operator

We get a lot of interesting calls in our office (I'll leave it at that). Today an elderly woman called and she was very upset about not being able to reach a "real person" on the phone. (Actually, I don't blame her; it frustrates me too.)

My two favorite things she said were:

"We do not want to hear this stupid man. It drives people nuts."

And referring to her attempt to speak to a real person at the university up the street (Harvard) she said, "What are these guys, roommates or cousins? They sound the same."

Seen in upstate N.Y.

I haven't seen a Pinto in years. Have you?!?

Back from the Berkshires

The weekend update: It went by way too fast. We had fun watching movies, eating, talking, laughing, resting, enjoying perfect weather, and exploring upstate N.Y. I bought a really cool vintage apron at one of my favorite antique shops (in Saratoga Springs). It was a great weekend with great friends that ended too soon.

Feliz cumpleaños

Off to the Berkshires

Stay tuned for fabulous photos of Fall in New England and maybe an antique or two.

Benjamin's quilt

My dear friends (who of course used to live in Boston) had their 5th baby last month. I decided to make him a "cowboy quilt" and it arrived today. My friend left the nicest message on my voice mail that she loved the quilt. Thanks to my buddy Julie for doing the machine quilting (loopy loops) for me (I most definitely don't hate you).

Welcome Benjamin and enjoy your cowboy quilt!

You're never too old for a Happy Meal

It's almost sweatah weathuh

Twins turn 30!

I met these two clowns when they were 9! They are two of my favorite people in the world. I took them to the Hill Cumorah Pageant (when they were 10 or 11) and I'll admit when they got in the car I couldn't tell them apart. Within a half hour I knew which was one Cris and which one was Bryce--and I've never forgotten (Cris was the one yanking on my seatbelt)! We stopped at the Baseball Hall of Fame on the way. They could have cared less about baseball and kept running up and down on the escalator! I thought for sure we'd get kicked out (we didn't)! Then when we crossed over the border at Niagara Falls I turned to them and sternly said, "I don't want you to open your mouths." [I had visions of them telling the Border Patrol that I wasn't their mom and then dealing with the ramifications of having someone else's kids in a foreign country.] The Border Patrol asked me my nationality and I told him "United States." He turned to the boys in the back seat and asked them the same question and looking scared stiff they both replied "United States" (and said nothing else) and we eased back into the country! It was fun to watch them grow up------I loved going to their track meets, birthday parties, scouting events, missionary farewells/homecomings, wedding, etc. They are great guys and I hope they enjoy celebrating their 30th birthday(s) today!!!

"Twins"

Cambridge Stake Center Groundbreaking

Nearly 10 years ago the Cambridge Stake was created when it was split from the Boston Stake. We haven't had a Stake Center and have had our conferences at the Boston Stake Center in Weston. A few years ago land was purchased in Cambridge and in Woburn. Word on the street was that the Woburn building wouldn't be built until the Cambridge Stake Center was built. Then we swapped land with someone. So, many years and a few transactions later, the groundbreaking for the Cambridge Stake Center was this morning! The building will be in Kendall Square (near MIT). It was great to be part of this celebration!

Scoot over

This afternoon I went across the hall to get a document from a printer. When I opened the door and started to walk back across the hall I was immediately HIT by a student riding a scooter in the hallway (Read: BIG NO NO). The student began apologizing profusely as I stood there in shock and eventually she rode away (she was probably shocked too). I have a sore arm and am still a bit shaken from being hit. My manager had me fill out an accident report and wanted me to go to MIT Medical but I had plans after work and didn't feel like it was so bad that I needed to see a doctor (maybe I should have).

So, when they say no riding scooters in the hallway, THAT'S WHY!

Remember this day

September 11, 2001...seven years have gone by. This is what I wrote two years ago.

We should all remember this day.

After you write a letter...

...eat your vegetables! hee hee

In an age like ours, which is not given to letter-writing, we forget what an important part it used to play in people's lives. ~Anatole Broyard














I love sending notes and letters and newspaper clippings to people. I love sending pictures from the newspaper to kids. I love when one of my photocards is perfect for someone. I love writing missionaries (even ones I don't know). When my nephew left on his mission I decided I would write him every week (real letters mailed right to Argentina). I still remember the day I found four letters from my mom in my college dorm mailbox.

People love getting mail. So write someone a letter. ~Ellen Patton

Happy Birthday, Jamel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's 18 exclamation points for his 18th birthday.

Life in the FAST LANE

Last Monday (Labor Day) I picked my friend up at the airport. As we approached the toll booths to the Sumner Tunnel my friend handed me money for the toll ($3.50). This all goes without saying, but I've gone through that tunnel numerous times and I'm an experienced driver. I saw a green light which I thought meant you could pay cash in that lane. As I got closer I realized it was only a FAST LANE. I panicked and put my car in reverse, looked in the mirror, and saw a cab close behind me. There was no way out! My only option was to go through the Fast Lane. My friend said she thought I'd get a bill in the mail for the price of the toll.

Today was a perfectly fine day until I got home and saw an envelope in my mailbox that had VIOLATION NOTICE across the front. I quickly scanned the letter and in bold it read: Amount Due: $50.00

I told my walking buddy about it tonight as we walked around the track and she thought you had to appeal the violations in person in Worcester (pronounced /ˈwʊstər/). I know the way to Worcester! Fortunately there was a Toll Violation Appeal Form included which I'll be filling out asap. Where is the line for "honest mistake"?

P.S. I'm joining the Fast Lane Program. The transponder will look dashing on Bluebell's windshield.

Aspen is back!

Aspen went to Idaho with her parents for the summer and I'm so glad she's back. Now if I can just convince her dad to get a job in Boston after he graduates we'd be in business.

Summer's over

And, I've got a tan!

Waiting for Hanna

New blogging buddies

Tonight a few of us Massachusetts Mormon bloggers got together for dinner. It was really fun and the food was delicious. Smart Mama was a wonderful hostess and she made us each a caramel apple! And, she gave me this painting that is going to look really cool in my kitchen! Thanks for a fun night, new blogging buddies!

Fall is in the air

Back-to-School

I have no pictures of little kiddies wearing new backpacks climbing on a school bus so this will have to do.

Baby gifts

Tonight I made these two cute smocks for some new babies. The little boy is #7 (5 older brothers and one older sister) and the little girl is a sweet #1. The smocks are even cuter than they look on the chair. [The pattern is in Amy Karol's book Bend-the-Rules Sewing.]

Strawberry ice cream

End of summer...homemade ice cream...














I googled "strawberry ice cream" and found this recipe on the Cuisinart website. I was easy to make and deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious! [I must admit I only allowed the strawberries to macerate in the juices for only 1 hour instead of 2 since I started this little project at 10:00pm.] I scarfed down a bowl and put the rest in the freezer...for later.

It was good to see beyond vanilla for a change.

#4

My friend (Neighborly Neighbor) is expecting #4 in a few weeks. I'm sad they aren't my neighbors anymore (for a lot of reasons) and will miss watching the three girls when they go to the hospital. It was fun to spend time with them over the weekend and I'm glad N.J. isn't all that far away.

I wasn't in Cougar Country

On this side of the Mississippi River the Y stands for something else.