Robes Patton quote

"Fenway Park is the best place in America to watch a baseball game."

He was so right.

Mormon Night (afternoon) at Fenway Park

Tonight was "Mormon Night at Fenway Park. It was so much fun! I loved my Fenway frank, sitting with friends, and cheering for the Red Sox. I left after singing "Sweet Caroline" when they were down 4-2. Someone just emailed me that I missed the exciting conclusion to the game -- THEY WON!!!

After I left the game I walked up to Mass. Ave. and over the bridge into Cambridge. My car was parked at MIT and I didn't feel like taking the shuttle bus between T stops (which I had to do on the way to the game because they were working on the tracks) with a bazillion Red Sox fans. It was a GORGEOUS night! Just perfect. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love Boston!

Watah heatah

My neighbor called me at work today to tell me that my water heater leaked water into the town Senior Center this afternoon (it is below my condo--and Friday is BINGO day!) and the fire department turned it off. They put something under the window to open it and popped (and broke) the lock. So I only have cold water in the kitchen faucet, I need a new water heater, and thank goodness for some water in my year's supply (which isn't a year's supply) so I can wash my hands in the bathroom. Fortunately for me my water heater is in my crawl space (and the floor is the old auditorium floor which slopes) and it appears that I have no damage). Unfortunately for my next door neighbor, the water leaked into his crawl space which now has soaked carpeting. It's time to go water heater shopping.

The fine print story

I bought a new computer recently. It had Windows 7 and some software loaded on it. I realized this week that the copy of Microsoft Office is a 60-day trial copy. Bummer.

Fine print

Read the fine print. On letters and boxes and signs.

The end.

Calvin

I mailed one of the Calvin & Hobbs stamps to my little friend Calvin. He was pretty excited about the stamp when I saw him last night. When he got it he told his mom that he wanted to send something to me using the stamp. How sweet is that? I think I might have another pen pal.

Boston Temple (tonight)

FHE

My HT (home teacher) helped me with some computer problems tonight. That was way better than a lesson and any refreshments. Bless him and his side kick (his 6 year old son).

The big four-OH

Today is my friend Mat's 40th birthday. I babysat for them last night and he and Kimberly went to dinner and a movie. I made him some homemade vanilla ice cream which he was very happy about (I'm his treat supplier). Happy Birthday, Mat!

Guest blogger: Trips & Travels

I'm guest posting on Blog Segullah today. Click here to read about some of my traveling adventures.

Happy Pioneer Day!

I can talk

I just got off the phone with my sister-in-law. We talked for 111 minutes and 11 seconds.

Let's talk!

Adrie goes to Utah

My niece Adrienne spent a month in Utah this summer. She went to EFY, visited lots of family and friends, and got the grand tour of BYU (from my sister-in-law). When I talked to her the other day she said "it was my BEST VACATION EVER." I said, "What?" Then she said, "It was my best SUMMER vacation!" Good thing. I was worried that Utah had out-ranked Holiday Aunt Camp.

This picture of Adrienne was taken in Nephi, Utah where her great grandparents (the Pitchforths) were born. My sister-in-law's friend Sue took the photo. I love it.

Reagan is MY friend too

I met Reagan through my friends the Truscotts (her husband went to high school with Tadd). She's awesome. And she's guest posting on CJane's blog today. Click here to read her post. One of these days I hope I get to meet Piper the rock star.

New stamps

I bought some of the latest stamps today at the Post Office (the MIT Post Office is convenient but they never have any new stamps). As I was walking into the elevator of my building one of my neighbors saw me holding them and said, "No one writes letters anymore." I said, "I DO!" And then I told her I mailed a hand-written card today. To a friend who recently moved to a very small town and said she would love some mail. I can't wait to use my new stamps.

Cheeries

A long time ago in a land far away (Utah) I bought some cherries at a farm stand. Since I was traveling home to California the farm stand gave me one of their business cards and they wrote "cheeries" on it. When I got to the border, the inspector asked if I had any produce. I proudly handed him the card the farm stand had given me and he asked me where the cherries were. I got out of my car, opened the trunk, and he promptly confiscated the contraband fruit.

In case you didn't know, California is very picky about produce crossing the state line.

A night in the kitchen

My plans changed tonight so I ended up "staying in" as folks say here. What did I do? First I made 8 of these for dinner (don't judge me). Then I made strawberry ice cream, hard boiled some eggs for egg salad sandwiches, washed cherries and put them in bags for lunches, washed and froze blueberries, and I've got congo bars baking right now. And, I can't forget unloading AND loading the dishwasher.

Relaxing weekend

Suiting up

I'll be away this weekend probably spending lots of time in the swimming pool (tomorrow's predicted temperature is 94). I've (finally) got a new swimming suit. It has a skirt. My last suit was purchased at Filenes the year I moved to Boston (circa 1988). One of my friends said it was an antique.

segue...

My mom was a Den Mother. One summer the Cub Scouts had a swimming outing and my mom wore her suit: a dress, bottoms, and a belt. I guess that's a 3-piece. One of the Cubs said, "Sister Patton, when are you going to put your swimming suit on?" She replied, "This is my suit."

Note: that's me with the gut and the sagging strap.

Summertime backyard fun: The series

The window

Tonight someone from Andersen windows was supposed to measure my window and give me an estimate to replace it. I'm curious how much it will cost to replace my one window so--for a goof--I signed up. [I'm guessing thousands of dollars since it's 5 feet wide and about 16 feet high.] Unfortunately the person never showed up so I may never know.

Recipe Swap: Ice cream

Each month our Relief Society has a "recipe swap". We pick a theme, bring food (or not) and eat and talk. Tonight's theme was ice cream and I was the hostess. I made tutti fruiti, vanilla, and strawberry (that never really set so it was more like a milkshake). Others brought carrot cake (2 kinds), ice cream sandwiches, mango sorbet, and 2 kinds of Ben & Jerrys. And, we had homemade rhubarb sauce and hot fudge sauce. We also had oreos for good measure. It was a yummy evening!

Oh calendar, dear calendar

For the first time ever, I left my trusty calendar at home and went to work. I felt out-of-sorts without it. I love my palm pilot for addresses and phone numbers and I keep lots of information in my email. But I love my trusty paper calendar. We've been reunited and it feels so good.

Bling-bling

My dear friend and travel buddy is getting married. She's got a beautiful ring and a smile on her face. I couldn't be happier for her (as long as I get to be a bridesmaid).

Twins' baptism

Pizza problem

Ernie ordered 3 pizzas for lunch. Pepperoni, ham and pineapple and this was supposed to be cheese! I've never seen anyone get an empty pizza box before!

Good day for a Yard Sale

I wanted to make enough money for a pedicure (twelve bucks) and after selling some junk (I mean stuff) I walked away with $35! Thanks to the Irish Whites for hosting a fun yard sale.

A few stars

Action packed. Filmed in Boston. Worth seeing.

Four Corners

The summer I turned 13 my Cadet Girl Scout troop took a bus to the Circle K Ranch (run by a Mormon family). This picture was taken at Four Corners (the one place in America where four states border) on our way to Dolores, Colorado. It was a great trip even though I got tonsillitis and was scared of the horse I was saddled with all week. At one point we were riding to a cookout and a roll of foil fell out of someone's backpack and rolled open and freaked the horses out. And, one of the horses rode through a river with a girl (scout) on its back. It was a week of adventures, campfire songs, day trips (Mesa Verde, Telluride), s'mores and good memories. It made selling all those Girl Scout cookies worth it!

Blurry birthday

Laree, #10 of 10, turned 19 today. It was fun to celebrate with her. Dinner and pumpkin pie were delicious!

Girls Camp

Kids...

I went to visit some friends tonight. I sat at the table drinking smoothies with the two girls (ages 3 and 5) while their dad held their baby brother in the living room and their mom fixed pancakes. The younger girl spilled her smoothie all over the table, the chair cover and herself--and started crying. The 5 year old turned to me with a straight face and said, "Can you help?"

Visiting friends

This afternoon I went to visit some friends in Lunenburg. They have a pool and I have a new swimming suit! We visited, played volleyball in the pool and had quesadillas and smoothies for dinner. The kids were painting mason jars when I got there. One of them painted one red with my initials on it. And, they let me choose another one to take home. I picked the cute red/orange/yellow polka dot one. I had a fun 5th.

Happy Fourth!

Boston really is the best place to be on the 4th of July! I scooted from church to the Charles River (I had to teach today so I couldn't leave early) to save spaces for friends, friends-of-friends, ward members, former ward members, a co-worker, and my cousin's neighbors (from Orem, UT). I think there were close to 60 people in our group. It was a perfect night and the flyover, Boston Pops and fireworks did not disappoint. Unlike years before it did not take forever to get home (only an hour). I hope your 4th was a great as mine!

Jude's blessing day