It's Nan's birthday today

I'm missing her (and my bird legs).  #pattonmemories

Coming home to a stack of mail

I had a dream last night (or was it a nightmare?) that I got home and only had a few pieces of mail waiting for me.  Not so!  I just read through 35 Christmas cards and notes.  #homesweethome #andnowineedtodigmycaroutfromthesnow

I waited over 50 minutes for this suitcase

#welcomehome #anditsabsolutelyfrigidinboston

LA/SoCal has great typography and signage

Next visit I'm taking more photos.  #epholidaytrip2017 #longbeachairport

Aunt Shirley

Aunt Shirley was my early morning airport shuttle.  It's been nice hanging out with her.  #epholidaytrip2017

My trip is winding down

I've got a 6:51am flight in the morning back to snowy/icy/frigid Boston.  I have loved driving in California.  On the 5, 405, 10, 101 and more!  There are more than 2 lanes!  People respect the right-of-way!  The traffic isn't so bad!  I have had a great trip.  It went by too fast; I wish I could have seen everybody.  It's never enough time.  #ILOVELA #epholidaytrip2017

The last supper

I met up with the Beutlers for my last supper at Philippe's.  Of course it was delicious.  #meandmy2desserts #ididnteatallofthem #philippes #epholidaytrip2017

It's a small world at the LA Temple

I saw down in the Temple and a woman leaned over and said she knew me.  It was Jose Lombardo's wife (he's the one who showed me around the church building the other day).  Then when I got outside and was taking some photos of the Temple this woman (Margaret Morris) asked me if I was Ellen Patton.  We were Van Nuys Stake friends.  I promise I'm not a celebrity.  #brushwithEP #epholidaytrip2017

I love being in the LA Temple

The first Temple I ever attended.  #iammormon #epholidaytrip2017

#LATemple

#epholidaytrip2017

I'm totally crushing on palm trees

#LATemple #epholidaytrip2017

You know my rule...

...always say hello to the missionaries.  #iammormon #soarethey #LAmission #caferio #epholidaytrip2017

Things are looking up

I found Cafe Rio and I got a flight home tomorrow!  #epholidaytrip2017

My old neighbor: Pearl Zakin

Meet Pearl Zakin, my old next door neighbor.  I rang her doorbell and she didn't invite me in but we talked on her porch for about 15 minutes.  I didn't really remember where she was from but one sentence in you'd know she was a New Yorker!  I asked what her story was and she said she was from Brooklyn (like I said...) and she and a friend vacationed in California for a month and she liked it and decided she would return and if she got a job she would stay.  And she did!  #rubiomemories #sneakyphoto #epholidaytrip2017

Van Nuys Stake

I was walking around the stake center yesterday and this guy drove up and asked if I needed something.  I told him I grew up going to church there and he said he knew me and he served on the high council with my dad.  His name is Jose Lombardo and he spent about 45 minutes showing me around, telling me about changes to the building, and we both talked about all our memories we have from spending time in that wonderful building.  It was so great.  I just wish that Hobart mixer was still in the corner of that nut gutted industrial kitchen.  I really wanted it to be mine.  #vannuysstakecenter #epholidaytrip2017

My schools

I tried to find my old high school locker but I think they've changed them.  It was really cool to see my schools.  #epholidaytrip2017

Disneyland for a day

I waited to park ($20).  I waited for the shuttle from the parking lot.  I waited in the security line.  And I waited over 45 minutes to buy my ticket.  I almost caved and called it a $20 day.  But I didn't and had a really fun day (expensive -- it was $124 to get in Disneyland for the day).  #epholidaytrip2017

This is definitely working out

#epholidaytrip2017

The story of a Disneyland balloon

Our family went to Disneyland about once a year growing up and we always asked for a ballon as we were leaving and the answer was always NO (or it might have been "absolutely not").  #whoneedsatreatafteradayatdisneyland #maybeineedtherapy #butnotaballoon #especiallyaninedollarone #disneyland #epholidaytrip2017

Photos from Disneyland

#epholidaytrip2017

I'm going to Disneyland!

#epholidaytrip2017

TBT: 2003 Christmas card

I ordered my Christmas cards this morning (hooray!) so I'll throw it back to my Christmas card in 2003.  #epmemories #iamstillanangelallyeareveryyear

Sweet Sisters

I had the sisters over for dinner tonight.  Pizza.  That I picked up on my way home from work.  They asked me about my mission plan.  #oyvey #dontgotone #nohomemademealnomissionplan #iammormon #arlingtonwardsistersareforever #whydidimakethisblackandwhite

Cookie Swap recap

11 attendees and lots of fancy, delicious cookies.  My tin of gingerbread cookies was emptied out.  #braggypatton  I made a plate for myself and for my good friends who are dealing with some health challenges.  Being in Shaunna's beautiful home was nice.  Let's do this again next year!  #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever #arlingtonwardcookieswapsareforever

The best part of my day...

...until I go to my annual cookie swap that I host with Shaunna Baird.

Annual Cookie Swap

My friend Shaunna and I have hosted a Christmas cookie swap for a few years and it's tomorrow night so I'm baking more Finnish gingerbread cookies.  #cantstopbakinggingerbreadcookies #ilovetobake #madeatmidnight

Peddling Christmas pennant banners

Being neighborly

Every few weeks I leave cookies for my next door neighbor.  Last night I left him 2 big slabs of chocolate cake and this note was by his door this morning.  #ibethehadcakeforbreakfast #dontbejealousofmycarpet

Fancy lunch

#scallopsatscampo

Colton's elephant

I met Colton and his mom Labor Day weekend in Rhinebeck, NY and since then he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, had surgery, and is in Boston for six weeks of proton beam treatment.  Colton and his mom came over for dinner tonight.  I made this elephant for him; his favorite color is purple.

Alistair Snow Hilton in the snow

Taken at the Belmont Chapel where Alistair attended church the first 3 1/2 years of his life.  #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever

Christmas colors

Concord, MA

Alistair's in town

I'm hosting Alistair Hilton tonight who is in town for an interview at a certain medical school in Boston.  I met Alistair the day he was born and his family is one of my Arlington Ward favorites.  Funny story.  When Alistair was almost 2 and his brother Conor was 4 I watched them overnight while Bruce and Mariann went to the DC Temple or somewhere.  I woke up in the morning and the two boys were standing right next to my bed holding a box of cereal.  Maybe they couldn't reach the bowls!  It's a favorite Hilton memory.  #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever #thethinker #thefuturedoctorhilton

This door's for you

#firstsnow #epramblesaroundnewengland2017

The NYC Moores

I'm glad the Moores let me capture them on their NYC street.  #epnycholidaytrip2017

Missionary moment

This gal approached me at church today (I was attending the Manhattan 1st Ward) and said, "I recognize you; you are John Patton's sister."  My brother taught her mother the gospel while serving his mission in Sweden.  In his words--"my one mission success story".  It was so nice meeting Jenn and I wish we could have talked more.  #epnycholidaytrip2017

Yankee Candle pop-up shop in NYC

Afternoon reading.  #candlepowerNYC #epnycholidaytrip2017

Mimmu Hartiala-Sloan

Mimmu is Mother Earth x 1,000.  Her hospitality is off the charts, she cooks and bakes like nobody's business, is fearless and friend, and is the best storyteller (we all gathered around her and requested she retell funny stories--the best!).  I loved spending time with her tonight.  She makes the world a better place and is loved by everyone.  She is a legend!  She returns to her homeland Finland in a few days (they moved back there 9 years ago).  #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever

More friends moving

Gone are the days when I cry when people move away from the Arlington Ward (I'd be a non-stop puddle of tears) but in the words of my Texas cousin when her dog died, "I didn't cry, I's just sad."  I'm going to miss the LeFevres.  They've made lots of contributions to the ward, are good friends, and are really cool.  And I like to pride myself on being Ally's first customer when I bought a red pillow from her company @collectivco.  Godspeed, safe travels and don't ever forget #arlingtonwardfriendsareforever.

#retrogramboards

#mostpopularpieatthepieparty

#stepasidefruitpies Recipe cred: A Bountiful Kitchen

Sugar

I have about 1/4 cup of sugar to my name.  That is no bueno for a baker.  I had enough for a double batch of turkey sugar cookies for tomorrow and I'll be buying sugar on Black Friday.  #notborrowingfrommyneighbor

Turkey cookies

I have cookie cutters for every holiday and I'm making Grandma Pitchforth's sugar cookies.  #turkeyday #madeatalmostmidnight #treatsforwork