On the speaking circuit

Today I had to get up early (well, early for a Saturday) because I was one of the speakers at our Stake R.S. Enrichment Activity. The theme was "Filling Your Vessel". I had been asked to take 3 minutes to share how I keep my vessel full and I talked about SERVICE (there were 5 other speakers). I read Mosiah 2:17 and shared four stories of service from my life, and from those stories these ideas:

---When I do things for others, I forget about my problems.
---I am happy when I think of ways to help my friends.
---It is not always easy but I am a stronger person because of serving others.
---I feel joy when I follow the promptings of the spirit.

After the program there was a brunch and tying quilts for the Church Humanitarian Aid Center. I didn't work on a quilt but did talk to some friends which is always fun.

Copies of my remarks are available for a small fee. hahahahahahaha

A night in New Hampshire

Sometimes I just get the itch to cross the state line (which in New England can take only 25 minutes). Tonight my friends and I headed north to the big city of Nashua, New Hampshire for a Night of White Trashiness. We started off with dinner at Arbys (in a mall food court) where I saved a few bucks by ordering a kids meal, dessert at Dairy Queen (also in the food court), and then shopping at Wal*Mart. One of my friends bought a New Kids on the Block CD that we cranked on the way home but I must admit I felt no nostalgia for the band; I was already old when those boys were making it big. We had a fun White Trash Night!

More cloth napkins

Last night I was feeling the need to make something (tonight I'm making/baking Danish Puffs) and whipped up a dozen cloth napkins (in an hour--in case you were wondering--I make things that are quick and easy). The idea came from Bend the Rules Sewing. I took the napkins to work today (show&tell) and also showed some friends the 32 photos I took of the napkins. One friend liked the picture with the blue bowl. Another friend liked the napkins stacked. Personally I like the napkins in the glass. These napkins aren't for me; I already have cloth napkins so some of my friends will receive these for Easter.

Work perk

This centerpiece was given to me on Friday after a big meeting/event. I was going to leave the flowers on my desk at work but decided to dump out the water, put them in a sturdy bag, and take them home. And, I'm glad I did. They've added some Spring to the week!

Another recipe book

You can never have too many recipe books, right?! I saw this one at my friend's house and loved that it had a picture for every recipe and is divided by seasons. I decided to use my Williams-Sonoma gift card to get it (I may get a rice cooker with the remainder of my gift card). I made the enchiladas with pumpkin sauce on Sunday and they were tasty. This recipe book book will definitely come in handy.

DDA has arrived!

My friends had their baby last night (the day before her due-date). I dropped by MGH for a quick visit tonight with my camera and took a few photos. I have a feeling she's going to be one of my favorite models!

I've never seen a day old baby suck their finger like that! She's so cute!!

Spring is around one of these corners

The Greencoats are coming!

I hate umbrellas

I haven't had an umbrella in...years. I hate them for a few different reasons and I've never minded my curly hair getting rained on. However...I've been doing more walking lately to and from the subway station and it's been raining more often. So I bought the smallest polka dotty umbrella I've ever seen at the Eddie Bauer Outlet in Kittery, Maine and I think I'm going to enjoy it!

The rain in Maine...

Today was another "Ellen Patton day trip to Maine"! I took my three friends Alicia, Sarah and Jennifer and we had a really fun day, despite all the rain. We went straight to L.L. Bean in Freeport, had lunch (Alicia and Sarah LOVED their lobsters) and then worked our way down to some antique stores in Wells, Nubble Light, York Beach, and some outlets in Kittery. It was lots of fun and we've already planned our next outing.

The next holiday

This decoration was purchased for $2.99 at the Christmas Tree Shop. The picture doesn't do it justice. It's very sparkly and very tacky.

Go green!

Tonight was our Enrichment Quilting Group. Since my quilt is in the mail--on its way to the long arm quilting lady of Iowa--my project was sewing some cloth napkins out of some of my favorite fabric.

I'm trying to be a little green...

Speaking of my freshman year

Here we are; the ladies of Lucy Mack Smith Hall! I still keep in touch with a few of these gals. I had great roommates that year. We each chipped in $7 a week and we ate dinner together every night (lots of casseroles and jell-O). I recently found out that little Ben--the son of the head residents--lives in Boston! We were all invited to his first birthday party the weekend we moved in the dorm!

A catchy phrase

My freshman roommates and I used to scream, I mean sing "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen. A few weeks ago I remembered that and decided my favorite line from that song would be a fun thing to get in vinyl lettering. And here it is (click on the picture to see the words):


















Looks like it's time to dump the upstairs bathroom trash...

A reading

Tonight I met two former co-workers and we grabbed dinner and then went to An Evening with Jhumpa Lahiri presented by the MIT Writers Series. Jhumpa read a chapter from her new book (that will be available one month from today). WOW---it was wonderful! The room was packed, you could hear a pin drop, and everyone was interested in her story.

In case you don't know who she is...Jhumpa Lahiri was the winner of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for her debut story collection Interpreter of Maladies. Lahiri's first novel, The Namesake, was published in 2003 and a film version was released in 2007. Her new book of short stories, entitled Unaccustomed Earth, will be published in 2008.

Inspiration

My coworker Diana received her first sewing machine as a Christmas gift. Last Monday night I took her fabric shopping and tonight I showed her how to sew. She made a smock and a pouch and she did a fine job! I think Diana has been inspired by her Singer Inspiration and maybe a little bit by her teacher.

Vinyl lettering

When people first come into my condo I always say, "This is the Ellen Patton Gallery" because I have 9 of my favorite photographs that I've taken framed in the entryway. I finally ordered some vinyl lettering so I don't have to say it anymore--people can see it! It wasn't very expensive and it was really easy to attach. There's my plug for vinyl lettering! Another day I'll show you what I put in my upstairs bathroom...

Meals on Wheels

I took Baby A's parents dinner tonight. It was White Trash Delight: tuna noodle casserole, strawberry jell-O, and cupcakes with chocolate frosting. I combined delivering dinner with taking more pictures. Baby A's parents are outdoorsy folks so I wanted to take a picture of her in their snowshoe.

This is not funny...

Elder P's P-Day

Mormon missionaries get one day off a week to run errands/do laundry/play soccer/see sites/etc.  It's referred to as "P-Day" (Preparation Day).  I'm guessing this photo was taken on one of Elder Patton's recent P-Days.