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Prophets and Apostles Speak Today

Photo Gallery (they are all my photos except the one of President Packer)

My fabric is organized

I've been doing some major decluttering and I finally tackled my fabric (which was in 5 different places in my condo). I've been wanting it in one place so I can see what I have. I bought a BILLY bookcase at IKEA and it's in the corner of my living room. I still have some fabric in this cool red antique pie holder (in the bottom photo) that I got from Maine. Here are my categories from the top down: blue/red/green (mostly fat quarters), favorites, kid designs, fabric that has at least one yard, Christmas/flowers, oil cloth/browns for Thanksgiving turkeys (or other projects), flannel/fabric for cloth napkins. It's colorful, it's organized and it's time to SEW!

Arlington Ward farewell

Tonight we met at Kimballs for our annual "farewell" to families moving out of our ward this summer (only six this year). Ice cream always makes goodbyes easier.

Dinner guests

Hot and humid

My first summer in Boston (1988) was almost unbearable, weatherwise. I had never lived where it was humid. Everyone kept telling me it only lasted 2 weeks during the summer. They were all liars; it lasted 8 weeks. And people didn't have air conditioners! What?!? I remember lying/laying on my couch and calling my mom to say "I don't think I can live here."

My next few summers weren't that bad. The humidity really did last about 2 weeks. Then another hot and humid summer hit. I decided to buy an air conditioner but they were sold out EVERYWHERE! For reals. It sounds totally crazy impossible but that happens here (air conditioners sell out in the summer, shovels sell out in the winter). My friend and bishop, Kip, suggested I have my parents buy one and ship it to me! That seemed ridiculous. A friend found an air conditioner for me at a yard sale for fifty bucks.

I was at Home Depot today and saw ALL these air conditioners. It doesn't look like they'll be selling out right away; especially since it's 59 degrees today.

Lucky me. My cool condo has central air.

Photos by Ellen Patton

I'm in the Church News!

The end. Period.

I went through early menopause around age 40. I always say I had 3 hot flashes and 2 mood swings. I tried to look on the bright side that getting rid of all those feminine protection products cleared up space under the bathroom sink. At the time I was dating a guy who had really short hair (he was balding--he cared; I didn't). One night after I had been to see a specialist to discuss my menopause my boyfriend and I were talking and he pouted, "I have no hair." I replied, "I have no eggs."

RS Closing Social

Tonight was our R.S. Closing Social. I don't know why we call it that because we really don't close. We had salads, desserts, and a terrific turn out. There was lots of visiting and then each of the women who are moving told us where they were going and a favorite Arlington Ward memory. We also wrote messages in books for each of them. Good bye to Kate (she's already gone), Rochelle, Laurel, Danielle, Sherene and possibly Amy. So long, farewell, and thanks for making the Arlington Ward a better place. We love you and will miss you!

Some pie

The Windsors

This picture was taken the day The Windsors moved (back) to Utah (maybe 2002...). Then they moved to Ohio (Jeff pursued a Ph.D. at OSU). Now they are moving back to Utah (Jeff will teach at BYU). They have added two more boys since this picture was taken and they are all older and wiser and now I have 9 more reasons to visit Utah.

MY photos

Click HERE to read the Deseret News article about yesterday's chapel dedication. And on the left side under the photo there is a link to MY photos!

Father's Day

Chapel dedication

Today was the dedication of the Longfellow Park Chapel in Cambridge. I was given some tickets this week (probably because I'm the RSP) and brokered them to people who had attended church in that building. I attended church there my very first Sunday in Boston in 1988. My brother Robes and sister-in-law Kim and nephew Ian (he was a baby) left that morning and I missed the Arlington Ward so my roommate and I went to Cambridge for church. The building holds a special place in my heart but I felt like there were many others who deserved to attend today. Then last night I got voice mail from my friend on the Public Affairs committee asking if I'd be an "official photographer" and that my pictures would be sent to the Church News (because they weren't sending a photographer). It was wonderful attending today's dedication and here are some of my favorite photos.

Exploring Bristol, RI

Longfellow Park Chapel dedication (Sunday)

The dedication of the Longfellow Park Chapel is on Sunday. It was damaged from a fire a little over two years ago. I drove by tonight on my way home to see how it looked. The dedication will be broadcasted in all the chapels in the Cambridge Stake on Sunday.

50+50 = 100

My sister-in-law Kim turned 50 last week (June 7th to be exact). Her gift--this round table topper--is in the mail.

Kim and I met in M. Smith Hall (Heritage Halls at BYU) her freshman year (my sophomore year) have been great friends ever since. She's amazing.

I told you I liked mustard

Late last night I painted this table that I bought on Memorial Day along "Antique Alley" in New Hampshire. It will end up in my entry way with an old typewriter on top of it.

Recipe Swap: Cupcakes

Tonight's theme was cupcakes. I took black bottom cupcakes. If you like chocolate and/or cream cheese these will rock your world. Click here for the recipe.

Photo taken Saturday at the Boston Temple.

Mustard is my new Red

Sealed today

Dedicated to Dad

PMC Kids

Ian and his friend Andrew rode 10 miles (and next year Ian wants to ride farther). Colin and Kimberly rode 3 miles and they'll probably try 5 miles next year. It was raining heavily when Ian and Andrew got back so we scooted. We all had a good time.

PMC Kids half milers

Watching a classic

Baking with Izzy

My friend asked me if I'd do some baking with her daughter to get ready for a yard sale/bake sale. I went over tonight and Izzy and I made mint brownies, Grammy's chocolate cookies, Kate's fantastic gingersnaps, and pumpkin chocolate chip bread. I gave them a bunch of baker's twine to use for packing. I'm sure Izzy's baked goods will sell out first!

PMC Kids

A few weeks ago my friend Kimberly was making an on-line donation to PATTON'S ARMY and the Brain Tumor Ride that we do every year. Her 10 year old son, Ian, looked over her shoulder and asked what she was doing. She told him about the ride we did and he told her he wanted to donate some of his birthday money so Ian donated $25. What 10 year old kid does that? I was very touched by his generosity and support.

[photo taken in December 2010]

Ian's dad, my friend Mat, died on Valentine's Day after battling neuroendocrine cancer for nearly six years. This Saturday Ian is riding 10 miles at a local PMC Kids ride and his little brother Colin is riding 3/4 of a mile. Have you heard of the Pan-Mass Challenge? It's a bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country. People ride 190 miles in two days! There are now PMC Kids rides scattered around the state. I'm going to go this Saturday to support and cheer for Ian and Colin as they ride.

Click here to support Ian.

Click here to support Colin.

Many kids, many bikes, one mission: cure cancer.

Thank you.

Two year anniversary

I tolerate the early Sunday morning leadership meetings and love the Recipe Swaps, Temple experiences, service projects, dedicated visiting teachers, compassionate service rendered, Sunday lessons and especially the sisterhood shared in our ward.

Sydney's got a quilt

My friend had her 4th girl last week and I made the baby this quilt. The fabric is from Denyse Schmidt's line sold at Joanns--DS Quilts. I like stripey quilts and rounded corners (and they're easy). Welcome, Sydney!

I hate calling them visitors

Half of the Truscotts are in town.

Hanging out after church

Families are Forever

Proud friend

The Trimbles moved here for Zac to go to MIT. While they've been raising two nice boys, Zac has finished his Ph.D. (today) and Amy finished her bachelor's at Wellesley (last Friday). They are inspiring and I'm so proud of them. They've got a bright future ahead of them.

Commencement bling

Boy Scout car wash

Last Saturday the Boy Scouts had a car wash to earn money for merit badge camp.

1. When I drove up I saw one guy washing his own car. I wasn't paying $15 to wash my own car. One of the leaders promised it wouldn't take that long (I was there about 45 minutes).

2. A Scout was using a brush on my car and I overheard the Scout Leader say, "So-and-So, don't use the brush on her car; it's for the tires." Note: if I cared that much about my car I wouldn't have gone to the Scout car wash.

3. I received this email two days after the car wash: If you got your car washed Saturday can you check and see if you have any random vacuum attachments in your car. A few of the attachments on the shop-vac are missing and the Scouts think they may have left them in one of your vehicles.

PRICELESS.