Summer reading

Back in May, one of the RS teachers (Cami Awesome Jones) asked what I thought about the sisters in the ward reading the Book of Mormon over the summer. I was all for it since it was one of my 50 things to do this year (and because it's always a good thing to do,right?!?). Forty women signed up (including at least two alumni of the Arlington Ward) for the summer reading club. Cami started a blog. She handed out bookmarks every week. We had two outside/outloud readings (one at the Ward Campout and one at Robbins Farm Park).

I read on the subway. I read in Barker Library at MIT. I read on my bed. I read for 2 1/2 hours at the red cottage in Boothbay Harbor, Maine (that was to catch up!).

Today is the last day of the summer reading club and I finished reading the Book of Mormon today.

It was a good experience for me and probably the most important thing I got out of it was understanding the many blessings we will receive when we do what is right.

From blog friend to real friend

I can't remember how I found her blog but it's one of my favorites. We've emailed a bit back and forth and when she left a comment on my blog last week that she'd be in Boston and was I interested in meeting for lunch I was happy that I'd meet her in real life! We had a fun time talking over tomato/basil/mozzarella sandwiches and I showed her a bit of MIT. Blue is delightful and I hope our paths cross again.

WHO'S TAYLOR DUKE?!?

Last summer I went to New York City with two friends. We drove in Friday night and went straight to the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. The line was a mile long (well, not quite but I wasn't going to wait for 2 hours to get a hamburger) so we drove to the Shake Shack on the Upper West Side. As we were driving around looking for parking I saw my friend walking along the street and yelled, "THERE'S TAYLOR DUKE!!!" (Taylor is a kid that grew up in the Arlington Ward -- I've known him since he was 4.) My friend said, "Who's Taylor Duke?" She thought Taylor Duke was someone famous! To me he is!! Taylor went to BYU, then West Point, then on a mission to Armenia, back to West Point, he did Ranger training and now he's in Iraq. His mom sent me this link today. She thought The Guardian was a local newsletter--but it's a famous London newspaper!

"Ba"

Adler calls his dad "Ba". It was so sweet to see this little bouquet of flowers with "Ba" on the ribbon. And today as they wheeled the casket out of the chapel, Adler yelled "Ba! Ba! Ba!" It was so sad. That is Adler with Dave's dad (Grandpa Chopelas) in the bottom picture. You can tell they love each other very much. Jenn is collecting memories of Dave to share with Adler throughout his life so he'll know how great his dad was and how much he loved him. Dave loved kids. One of the sweetest things is that he told Jenn once that he was so happy they had their own child because he didn't have to give him back to anyone.

Dave's funeral

The music was wonderful. The talks were so nice (his siblings, wife, and father spoke). We tearfully sang "God Be with You Till We Meet Again" as the closing song. The food afterward was perfect (I think people would have been sad to walk away after the service) -- people visited for 2 1/2 hours afterward outside on a perfectly beautiful day. We shared stories and enjoyed eating Dave's favorite "cowboy caviar". It was a good Dave day.

The last move

I dropped in on my friends today as their moving truck was being loaded. They are the last family -- out of 13 (or is it 14?) -- to move out of the Arlington Ward this summer.

S.A.D.

New digs

My friend Harriet and her husband Warren moved to an assisted living apartment recently and I finally got to see them today. They are "nicely situated" (as Grandmother Pitchforth would say). Harriet celebrated her 80th birthday on Monday!

Toilet training

We didn't get stickers, M&M's or a prize. There were no new toys when the training was completed.

We got underpants.

Note: that isn't Jabba the Hutt next to me; it's the photographer's shadow.

David Chopelas 1976-2010

I took this photo at the ward campout a few weeks ago. Dave is a saint, a friend, a legend. He is missed by many.

More Arlington Ward alumni visit

The Giordanos moved to Boston in 1991 for grad school. All four of their children were born here. It was so fun to see them today! When I worked in Primary and Marianna was 4-5 years old I remember telling people that I was sure she was smarter than me. I love living in a city that people love to visit!

Summer peach pie

I'm having dessert first tonight. This peach pie was delicious. I've made lots of different crusts in my time (crisco, lard, butter, etc.). This crust--billed as flaky--had crisco, egg and vinegar. I got the recipe here on Pioneer Woman's blog. And the peach filling recipe was from the Joy of Cooking.

P.S. No pie fraud today. This was the real deal.

Mat's motorcycle

My friend Mat bought a motorcycle a few months ago and I was able to take some photos for him today. He was rattling off all this history about the style, materials and color. All I know is, it is One Cool Ride.

The blushing bride

REd Sox REfashioning

Tonight was my friend Alicia's bridal shower. I wanted to make her gift--something Red Sox-y. She's crazy about the Red Sox (she's the female version of Jimmy Fallon in "Fever Pitch"). I went to the fabric store and all they had was Red Sox fleece fabric. I asked about cotton fabric and was told that nobody sells the Red Sox licensed fabric anymore because someone stole the trademark and so they don't make the fabric anymore. I had an idea of what I wanted to make for her but I couldn't wrap my head around fleece placemats. Bummer...

Then I remembered my pillow cases. Years ago my sewing cousin Julie sent me a pillow for my birthday. And 14 pillow cases. Let's see if I can remember them: birthday, Christmas, Halloween, flowers, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween,...well, you get the idea. AND, there is a RED SOX pillowcase!










Sorry Jules, but I cut up the Red Sox pillow case and made two placemats. They turned out pretty cool, if I say SEW myself.

Junior's baby shower

They call him "junior" and he's due the day his dad starts dental school! Michelle's baby shower tonight was really fun--yummy desserts, adorable outfits and cool gifts, and good friends. Those overalls will be perfect for working in the LaPierre garden!

Arlington Ward native sons

I invited these two couples over for dinner tonight. Both the guys grew up in the Arlington Ward and have returned to their homeland (Adam for a job and Jamie for dental school). Their wives are delightful and it was fun to hang out with them tonight. I'm hoping Adam and Tory end up in the Arlington Ward while Jamie and Michelle have settled into a cute apartment and are expecting "jr." in the next week or two.

Engagement photos take two (film)

The twins on film

Anxiously engaged

It was fun photographing these lovebirds today (with a little break to photograph the family below). I also shot a roll of black & white film so will share a few of those photos when I get them developed (how old fashioned!).

More old friends

It's been a good summer for former Arlington Ward members returning to visit. I happened to see this family when I was taking photos at the Temple this afternoon. Like I say, if you lived in Dubuque, Iowa, you probably wouldn't go back to visit. But Boston. People who lived in Boston love to visit Boston!

A rarity

These are pay phones. Something you don't see very often any more. I took this photo at LL Bean----they still know a good thing or two.

Friendship

An "old timer" in the Stake said this a few years ago in a church talk: "The intensity of your friendships here (in Boston) will not be replicated."

The state of Maine

I was EP the Tourguide today in Maine. I went with friends and we had a great day. We drove up to Freeport and worked our way to Kittery. We shopped at LL Bean, ate lobster rolls, did some antiquing, got ice cream, saw the Bush Compound, watched salt water taffy being made, visited Nubble Light, hit a few outlets (Crate&Barrel and Eddie Bauer) and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant. We had lots of laughs and had a great time.

Eat (Doze) Pray Love

I saw Eat Pray Love tonight. I dozed during the Italian part (probably because I went to bed at 2am this morning) and other than that, I liked it, especially the last part, I mean watching Javier Bardem.

Another night in Boston

Tonight after work I took the subway into Boston and met up with some friends in the Public Garden. We discovered a new park in East Boston (the views of Boston were incredible! and then had dinner at Scups. The homemade mac & cheese, tuna melt and chocolate chocolate pudding were yummy. It was another great night in Boston.