For the Beauty of the Earth

Don't think I'm a Provo groopie, but I can't stop listening to this. I got it here.

My aged TV

My friend gave me a DVD/VCR combo recently. I was all jazzed up about watching movies as I drifted off to sleep until I turned my small TV (that I've had for years) around and realized there was nowhere to plug the colored cables in.

Before you even ask, here are the answers.

1. Yes, it is a color TV.

2. Yes, I know you can get an adapter box.

3. Yes, Footloose might be the first movie I watch with my new DVD/VCR combo.

I want to be like Kay when I grow up

My friend Kay turns 85 today. She's a really cool lady. I have known her son and his family for years but I only met her a few years ago when she joined the church. Her son was one of the (4) YM presidents I worked with when I was the YW president. Kay's son and his wife serve in one of the singles wards in the Stake so she drives herself to church every Sunday. She is always there and she always sits in the back. Kay and her daughter-in-law attend the Temple every week and then they go shopping and to lunch. I like to visit Kay; she is delightful company. The last time I visited her she told me about a bat getting in her apartment and how scared she was. We both laughed about it. I always ask about her latest knitting project. She has made numerous sweaters and hats for her great grandchildren. One time I visited her she sent me home with a beautiful knitted hat. Kay likes to read and she read the Book of Mormon this summer. I made this treat for Kay (brownies) and I'm going to visit her tomorrow after work.

Resting Flo-J

Flora Jane ("Flo-J") visited with her parents this weekend. She's their fourth and she certainly resembles her siblings. It was a treat to see her. She napped all through church so I only got a sleeping photo before they dashed away to hop on their flight to the wild wild west (Utar). Flo-J's dad is now a professor at BYU (or "the why" as my mom calls it).

Apple picking

We tried a new orchard this year: Red Apple Farm in Phillipston. It was only about 45 minutes away and it was lots of fun. They have hay rides, farm animals, a fall BBQ (the food was delicious), apple cider donuts, apple soda, pumpkin and apple picking and a little store.

Apple picking through the years

Elle at 5 and Elle at 1.

Today was apple picking

It was another great New England Fall day. Lots of pictures to follow...

Now for the Fall visitors

It was a great Summer for friends visiting and I think the Fall will be too. Hello Truscotts!

I'm not peeling potatoes

I'm reading "Half Broke Horses" by Jeannette Walls (who wrote "The Glass Castle")--and enjoying it. I read this quote this morning while riding the subway:

...women who didn't marry became old maids, spinsters who slept in the attic, sat in a corner peeling potatoes all day,

and were a burden on their families...

EP in the Boston Globe

A few weeks ago I noticed this article in the Boston Globe. Imagine my surprise when I turned the page to see the picture that was taken the day the Boston Temple steeple was attached -- and I'm the one on the far right taking pictures in the picture! Let me back up. The Boston Temple was dedicated almost ten years ago (October 1, 2000) without a steeple. Almost a year later the steeple was put on and I was on the Public Affairs Committee and was able to be there that day with my camera. One of the workers even gave me a hard hat to wear as I walked around. I'll have to dig out some of my photos from that day and post them. I also ended up with the bolt that kept the Angel Moroni in place in a wooden box .

Pencil cases

A few weeks ago I couldn't stop sewing. I made cloth napkins, coin purses, 2 quilted table toppers, burp cloths and some pencil cases for some new kindergartners.

I also made a pencil case for my sister-in-law Kim who started grad school. Part of hers was a piece of denim from Robes' jeans.

I started sewing again tonight...this time I stopped after two gifts.

I don't swim or tan...

...but I love living on the coast.

Because it's my nephew's birthday today

Lost in textlation

A few weeks ago I got a text late at night from "Elaine":

Are you feeling Earl?

Ewww! Gross. Who would send such an inappropriate message? I didn't know any Elaine. It was clearly a mistake. I quickly erased the text and I think I even turned my phone off.

TODAY I got this email from my dear friend Elaine (my YW president when I was 14, so yes, I do know an Elaine): I was watching Earl to see how close it came to Boston. I texted you to see if you were on the watch. Didn't hear back so I figured you either don't text or Earl came over the "auditorium" (my condo) and swept you away.

Since Earl was a recent hurricane, we'll chalk that up as "lost in textlation".

Camera sniping

Friendship

My friend Blue, that I met for lunch a few weeks ago (and wrote about here), wrote a nice post about meeting me on her blog.

The perfect day for a Clambake

Beach baptism

This girl got baptized at Crane Beach before the Clambake today. It was really cool. Just like last year.

Eleven pounds two ounces

I met (big) Anna tonight; she's adorable and looks a lot like her two older brothers.

R.S. Opening Social

Soup, bread, cookies & milk. Signing notebooks for the fourteen sisters that moved this summer. A pop quiz (one of the women in the ward was on the U.S. national bobsled team and one has been to 45 countries!) to get to know each other better. Personalizing little notebooks. Classes on healthy snacks, life long learning, and teaching kids to read. I think there were about 35 in attendance and it was a good night.