Christmas shoes

These came in the mail today; I love Jack Purcells. My brothers and I wore these in junior high. This pair is leather. It was obvious who the shoes were for this time (unlike last year). Thanks, Chuck, for the Christmas present!

Moms are awesome

I picked my friend's mom up at the airport today. She's a great mom and will be a great help to my friend.

Birthday boy

Today is my brother John's birthday. I'm sure he did something fun to celebrate. Happy Birthday, Walt!!

A day in New Hampshire

A few months ago I saw a photo of Little Barn Antiques on a blog and I knew I had to find the place. I did some research (it's in Ossipee, New Hampshire) and my friend Leah and I went today. My big score was this red chair for $15. Leah found some beautiful candlewick glass bowls. We asked one of the shop owners where a good place to eat was--we mingled with the locals and had really good cheeseburgers. We stopped at Keepsake Quilting and then headed home. It was a great day for an out-of-state road trip.

Girls and boys

Soon after I received my current calling, I was telling a friend that I wasn't excited about the weekly Sunday morning meetings. He said, "You aren't supposed to attend every Sunday." I quickly replied, "If the boys are playing, the girls are playing." (Why wouldn't the RSP attend important meetings?!?)

Some friends haven't been able to shovel their deck after all the storms we've had lately. Last night I called one of my counselors and the two of us spent 50 minutes shoveling A LOT of snow off the deck into the backyard.

If the boys are shoveling, the girls are shoveling.

Click here to see the Valentine's Day cards in my Etsy shop.

Carl McNair | StoryCorps

Carl McNair | StoryCorps

I happened to turn the radio on this morning while stuck in crappy traffic. This story is so good. Listen. I promise you'll like it.

Click here to see the Valentine's Day cards in my Etsy shop!

Up and down The Ave.

I live on Mass. Ave. and I work on Mass. Ave. Different towns but the same Mass. Ave. This morning I drove to work--all the way down Mass. Ave. The schools were cancelled so the traffic was light. It was a slow and pleasant 35 minute drive (it's about 50 minutes or more, and not so pleasant, on a normal day).

Click here to see the Valentine's Day cards in my Etsy shop!

My winter BFFs

Click here to see the Valentine's Day cards in my Etsy shop!

Good morning!

Click here to see the Valentine's Day cards in my Etsy shop!

Happy Birthday, Adler!

My little buddy is 2 today!

Click here to see the Valentine's Day cards in my Etsy shop!

Friendship - part 1

I met my new friend Megan for lunch today and enjoyed getting to know her better. As I walked across Mass. Ave. and back to work and she walked toward the shuttle she yelled, "I really enjoyed talking to you!" I was flattered.

It reminded me that I've wanted to do a series of "Friendship" posts so I'm starting today.

Making Friends

Back in December while waiting to cross the street during my lunch break, I noticed a young mother with a stroller right next to me. She turned to me and said, "Hi Ellen, you probably don't remember me..." She did look familiar and I quickly realized who she was (friend-of-a-friend and fellow Cambridge Stake member). She said that she gets my Bostonfamilyfun emails and she heard me speak about "Loving Boston Living" at a Stake Women's Conference. We chatted as we crossed the street and then for a few more minutes until we both had to move along since it was cold. I suggested we meet for lunch and we agreed that I would email her after the holidays. Two weeks ago I emailed her and we made arrangements to meet, and after rescheduling once because of a snow storm, today was the day.

Megan is delightful and I really enjoyed getting to know her. I'm not worried about how many things we have in common (that's a topic for another post). We agreed to meet again for lunch. I'm happy to have a new friend.

Click here to see Valentine's Day cards in my Etsy shop.

Warming up...

...this morning while driving to work I looked at the temperature on my dashboard. It started with -3, then -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 and it was 4 degrees when I was walking into work.

Tonight on my way home from work it was a balmy 15.

FHE

It's ridiculous but I can't take my eyes off the train wreck. The Bachelor: Monday nights at 8:00pm. No refreshments needed.

A close call

My friend Cherie called from Utah this morning and told me about her sister Julie's health scare ten days ago. Julie spent a few days in a medically induced coma in ICU, more days in the hospital and is home now recovering and adjusting to a slower paced life with some restrictions.

Julie's dad and my mom met in their freshman English class (Monday morning, 8:00am) at the University of Utah. Our families ended up about 40 minutes from each other in southern California. I was a bridesmaid in Julie's wedding (4th picture down). We retreated to the Jensen's home in 1971 when we were evacuated after a major earthquake. There are 3/4 of the Patton kids and 4/6 of the Jensen kids in this photo. We have endless memories and funny stories about our time together. We are close like cousins. In November I had a great visit with all the Jensens that now live in Utah, which included Julie.

Cherie and Julie visited me a few years ago. The three of us spent a relaxing peaceful (they have 12 kids between them) fall weekend at the red cottage in Boothbay Harbor. I think it was that weekend that Julie told me that she had told her husband that if anything happened to her, she wanted him to marry me.

I'll add Julie to my list for prayers and cards as she recovers. And there are no wedding bells.

Click here to buy Valentine's Day cards in my etsy shop.

Where's the bus?

I waited 25 minutes this morning for the (trusty?) #76. Yep, more snow. With more in the forecast. This is a real winter.

Sometimes a brownie from a box...

...hits the spot.

Valentine cards for sale

Click here to buy these cards in my Etsy shop. Or email me if you are interested (patton_ellen@hotmail.com). They are 4 for $10.00 (plus $1 shipping). You can get one of each or any configuration you would like.

HEART ep

Today's commute: not funny

Backing up this blog

I've wanted to back up this big bad blog since I started it. And it's on that list of 50. Making it into books would be hundreds of dollars so I chose the pdf option. It is only $7.95 to make a pdf file. There is a limit to 1500 photos so I'm breaking it up into 18 month sections. I downloaded the first one today, saved it in two places on my computer, and I'm very happy.

I used blog2print.com. Try it, you'll like it!

Note: You will need to follow the instructions for making a book and once your blog is uploaded and you are previewing it you will see the pdf option.

Florida Patton family photos

They were all together over the holidays for about 24 hours which was long enough to get some family photos.

Coats and boots

I've said for years that I was going to write an essay called "Coats in New England". You need so many different kinds of coats here (dress coats, rain coats, ski coats, etc.) compared to my home state of California. Now I'm thinking it should be called "Boots and Coats in New England" because you really do need different kinds of boots here too. I bought these boots at in the kids department at Michelson's Shoes in the kids department (I'm a size 7). I don't wear them that often but they are handy when you have two feet of snow (or remnants of) to walk through.

Costco rule #1

I recently got myself a Costco card (does that mean I'm a real grown up now?!?). It's nice to not have to rely on my personal shoppers. I've been getting photo reprints done there and so far, so good.

Rule #1--never use a cart. I only buy what I can carry myself which is 2, maybe 3 things.

Condo fee at work

I always have to remind myself what the condo fee pays for when I write my check every month. This morning there was some snow removal activity in the parking lot and I was really glad it wasn't me out there.

Seems like a dream...

...that she was here for 12 days. I miss Aunt Camp.

Look alikes

Snow: it's everywhere

Fifty for 50

I'm still chipping away at my list of 50 things I planned to do the year of my 50th birthday. Believe it or not I haven't been to the Bunker Hill Monument (JW -- when are we going?!?), didn't make the lemon meringue pie and I started Pride & Prejudice but didn't finish it (yet). For the record I can cross some things off my list. I did read the Book of Mormon, go to a Red Sox game, finish a quilt for my friend Debbie, consolidate my retirement accounts, and try a new recipe every month to name a few so it wasn't a wasted year.

Here's to a new year and an old list...

Got snow day?

Brushes/phone calls with fame

I answered a phone call at work today and it was Bill Cosby. The real Bill Cosby. He was looking for a different office so I transferred the call. I wish I had told him that we used to listen to his record albums as a family and we loved them. Noah's Ark? Hilarious.

Add Bill to my list of brushes/phone calls with fame.

Note: Did anyone see the Bill Cosby movie from 1972 on racial prejudice? I've never forgotten it.

Sewing tutorials

Here are a few tutorials from the crafting weekend.

Coin purses

Drawstring bags

Little boxy pouch

Ready. Set. Sew.

Table runner

My friend Cami moved here about 9 years ago to get a Masters degree in Math so when I saw this fabric in Utah I thought it was so cool and bought some so I could make her something. I made this table runner during the crafting weekend.

Neighbor babies

I went to visit two new baby girls in the ward who happen to live on the same street with one house inbetween them. They are both beautiful.

Happy dad

The Ings have a new baby girl!

Crafting weekend

My friends and I had a crafting weekend. When it was over I had made 35 gifts.

Brunch in Concord with two friends

Happy Birthday, Nan!

Three word reminder

My friend President Beecher (from LA-Verkin) sent me this today with the following note:

Happy New Year!

For the Relief Society lesson today, January 2, 2011, I have chosen the topic "Looking Ahead". The start of a new year is the traditional time to take stock of our lives and see where we are going, measured against the backdrop of where we have been. The past is to be learned from, but not lived in. When we look ahead, we are exercising faith. Faith is always pointed to the future.

Let us use three simple words to help guide us this year in "Looking Ahead" exercising faith, pointing to our future: *NOT EVEN ONCE*

NOT EVEN ONCE:

*break the Word of Wisdom

*lie
*cheat

*gossip

*procrastinate

*dress immodestly

NOT EVEN ONCE miss an opportunity:

*to forgive someone

*to fully repent

*to serve and worship in the Temple

*to pray with faith

*to tell your family you love them

*to be kinder than you need to be

The list goes on and on. Sisters, I love you. I pray for you. I hope 2011 is a wonderful year for each of you and your families, "Looking Ahead" for a brighter tomorrow.

Hitting the jackpot

Tonight I was putting my backpack away after my last trip (I know I got home over a month ago) and I found these candies in one of the pockets. It doesn't get much better than that.

Cool gift

I received this gift today from my good friend in Texas. I absolutely love it! I hung it in my living room (on the same wall as this cool gift) so I can see it all the time.

Packing up Christmas

The tree is packed away. The ornaments and decorations are on the couch ready to be put in the crawl space. Christmas CDs are still in the car. I'm taking it slow.

CLICK HERE TO BUY ONE OF MY 2011 CALENDARS!

Aunt Camp: over

Adrienne left last night. I took her to the airport and parked so I could help her with her luggage. She went through security, I left the airport, and cried the entire way to my friend's house. Right after I got there, Adrie called saying her flight was delayed three hours so I went back to get her, took her to Sonic for dinner, and then back to the airport. She got out at Departures and she was the one crying this time. We said goodbye again and she marched into the airport with her backpack and trombone case. She landed in Ft. Lauderdale at two this morning. Holiday Aunt Camp was great. We watched lots of good movies, ate lots of good food, visited lots of good friends (and we visited some friends every day--you know who you are). I taught her how to drive. She made a skirt. I introduced her to the Bourne trilogy (she's a Matt D. fan now). I miss her clutter, her laugh, her hugs. It was a wonderful holiday.

CLICK HERE TO BUY ONE OF MY 2011 CALENDARS!

Miss Trombone

Last Sunday Adrienne played this song in Sacrament Meeting. I turned to my side when she started and all eyes were on her. You could have heard a pin drop. She did a terrific job and received lots of compliments. This video is of Adrienne playing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" on my parents' voice mail.

Note: Adrienne has played the baritone horn for a few years but just started playing the trombone in September when they needed one for jazz band.

CLICK HERE TO BUY ONE OF MY 2011 CALENDARS!