Quality verses Quantity

Clean and pitch, clean and pitch. I’ve been trying to wade through cupboards, boxes and drawers with a few target ideas in mind.

· Know what you have (sounds simple, but after 50 years of life . . .)

· Save only what you use or have a strong sentimentality towards

· Organize so that if someone else were to find it they would know what it is and why you saved it

One of the stacks was a pile of pillowcases. My grandmothers each made me a couple of beautiful sets, they were labor intensive and I wondered if I should even use them when I first received them. I think it was the right decision to wear them out with use. The rest of the pillowcases are simple pieces of fabric sewn together and given to my kids mostly for Valentines Day over the years. They were enjoyed for a brief period of time and discarded, as they should have been.

The lesson learned from the pillowcases can be transferred to many things. Value often comes with quality not quantity. No surprise here, right? There is a time and place for a quick fix but I know my behavior reflects that the corners were cut too often. Quality does matter.

Cleaning and organizing is good for more than the obvious organization. It's good for sorting out why you do or do not do things in life. I'm happy for the reflective moments to sweep cobwebs from inside my head.

We Do Hard Things

Today in sacrament meeting one of the speakers talked about the statement “We Do Hard Things”. I loved the visual he gave of a sign in a home where every time a family member said the task was too hard (homework, taking the garbage out, reading the scriptures, etc) all anyone would have to do is point to the sign --- WE DO HARD THINGS.

In our family we do really do hard things and will continue to do hard things. Life is a journey that is about-facing each day with what it brings you with courage and an attitude of strength and resiliency. I have been amazed at the letters we’ve gotten from Thomas week after week these last 10 months. Somewhere he learned how to do hard things. I could give examples for each of my children, rather I want to express the gratitude that they did learn, somehow, some way (even without a sign hanging up) when things get hard they keep going and I’m so grateful because life is always going to throw you a curve ball and it’s all about how you play the game.

The Leaf Quilt, Warming Generations

This week at quilt group I was asked to bring an “antique” quilt to show the group. I asked my Mother if I could borrow one of my favorite quilts that she has on display year round. It was a wedding gift, made by my father’s mother, Rosella Calder Smith. My parents were married late in the summer of 1956. The choice of the leaf pattern was perfect for the occasion in many respects. Grandma had someone do the machine appliqué (sadly we don’t have her name), but we have every confidence that she did the piecing, layout and hand quilting herself.

This quilt has been used from the very beginning of my parent’s marriage and right on through raising five children. My Dad remembers using it to stay warm in basement apartments while going to school at Utah State and my Mother said she would use it for just about every possible need where a warm quilt would come in handy. For me, I can’t remember ever not having the “leaf quilt” in my life. If we were sick, in body or soul this quilt was always around to warm us up.

When I took the quilt to QQQ’s our very own Quilt Historian, Jeanne Fetzer was there and looked it over. Here is her report-

· The fabrics are from the 1920’s and 30’s and likely purchased from the Montgomery & Ward Catalog, possibly in bundles

· The primary color used was “Nile Green”, common to the period

· It was quilted with a wool bat, easier for needling

· Hand quilted, machine appliquéd

· Gave instructions for how to care for it (her recommendation was to just leave it be and not worry about the red stains, treat it extra special and not to fold it on top of its self)

I hadn’t realized how much I loved this quilt until I took the time to write about it. I think it might be one of my favorite objects in the world. Thank you Mom for letting me borrow it, more than that, thanks for letting us use your treasure while we were growing up.

Rememb'ring My Good Friends

"I count myselt in nothing else so happy

As in a soul rememb'ring my good friends."

- William Shakespeare

Yesterday I went to lunch with some of my dear friends from High School. We try to get together a couple of times a year to catch up on each others lives and find out what our children and husbands are doing. We always have a great time and for the most part we don't relive the past but enjoy the present and our true friendships. And we always run out of time and promise to schedule a lunch sooner next time. I'm ever so glad I didn't sever my relationships with these strong, sensitive women who lend me a listening ear at times when only someone outside my immediate ring would do and who I love being with because I feel young every time I see them and learn from their great wisdom. Their lives haven't always been easy, but they have held firm and planted to what they know to be true and I love them for it. Hurrah for good women and unbreakable friendships.

Just a few pictures of some of my very best friends. I love you all!

" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."

- Arabian Proverb

And of course my family who not only are related, but are my friends as well and I love it!!

The Ball

While attending the Realms of Inquiry Auction that Stewart and Corie invited us to, John supported the school by purchasing a unique collectable that has made some noise in the neighborhood and put more than a few smiles on many faces.  No doubt about it.  John has made his place in history as a true Ute fan (disclaimer: an individual can be a fan of more than one school at the same time, especially during a great football season).  Everyone in the picture above was at one time a student at the U or is currently a student.  The photographer only worked at the U.  Go U of U.

Our two serious Ute Fans on the afternoon after the acquisition of the ball, note the over exuberance on both of their faces!  Such Joy!  If Maren had been here she no doubt would have been apart of this same group.

Canyonlands Half Marathon and the 5 Miler

The goal as I left last year's Canyonlands Half Marathon was to come back in 2009 and walk the 5 miler.  I  had a great time watching Ben and Maren run last year and I thought that it would be even better to be a participant.

Due to some unexpected complications, my walking partner could not make it to Moab.  I thought all was lost until one of my super hero's flew into rescue me from walking alone.  We took it at a nice even pace and enjoyed the details that most of the racers flew by--  

I loved the mandolin player, the drums (who knew they were all women?), the lady that took her baby on her back, the older gentleman that talked to any and everyone that would talk to him along the way, the volunteers, the young kids that circled their grandparents, and all the finishers.

I learned a few things as well.  You can take water to the top of the hill, there is plenty of time to wait before the race begins.  It really does get hot before the race is over, stuff your jacket in the bag.  Remember gum.  Run the last 50 yards at the very least or the announcers make way too much of your crossing.   Have fun, because it will all be over way too fast!

The Changing of the Guard

This Sunday our Stake Presidency will be released and and a new one will be called.  It has been quite a remarkable experience for John to be a part of President Clark Hinckley's presidency. Not only has it been wonderful for John, but it has been a great experience for each of us as family members as the past 6 and a half years John would come home with stories of the Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley as well as all the great news of our own stake.  We will miss not rubbing shoulders with all of those great men . . . but that's the way the church works.  As my good friend Alice used to say "Happy for the call, happy for the release".

7 RANDOM THINGS

Several months ago I got "tagged" to do this post and it's been sitting on the back burner just waiting for the right moment to be served up.   Well, today I have the time and inclination thanks to motivation derived from a variety of sources, all of whom I'm grateful to and who will remain anonymous.   However, let it be known that blogs are a form of history as well as an outlet of expression and I am happy to be fulfilling both within one post.

1. The Christmas of my eighth year all I asked from Santa was an Easy Bake Oven, and to my joyful delight my wish was granted.  My maternal Grandparents came to see us early on Christmas Day and I will never forget being able to cook my first teeny, tiny muffins for my cute Grandpa.  He made such a fuss you would have thought they were something special, but you see, the muffins weren't what was special to him, I was- and he treated me like I was Julia Child.  I was the luckiest girl on earth to have that Santa and that Grandpa.

2.  Hands and art.  Have you ever really looked at hands and thought about what a wonderful tool they are?  When I was growing up both my grandma's had busy hands.  Hardly ever did I see either of their hands sitting still but they had a basket close to them with some kind of art

that they were working on.  I have this thing about people calling quilting, embroidery, crocheting, knitting, or other handwork---CRAFTS.  It isn't a craft.  It's handiwork.  Take it from me, I learned it from my grandmothers, and they from their's and it takes skilled hands and it's an art.

3.  This past Christmas morning my eighteen year old son joined me in my favorite drink, well next to water.  Most people think it's nasty and he ended up thinking the same, but I loved that he would try it.  If you make it with milk and add just a bit of sugar and froth it up, it is the best thing in the world. It is somewhat hard to find in most of my local grocery stores, but I had a daughter point out that I could purchase an entire case online.  Pero

4.PESTS. I grew up being very confident about killing any size of spider.  Having a bedroom in an unfinished basement will do that for a girl.  However, I never did get used to rodents, of any

size or shape, pet or pest.  In fact I fear them and get a little faint when I think about them. Last summer we had some rather unpleasantness in regard to rats, (yes, rats- the kind that live in the ground and bushes and feed off of neighbors bird feeders, those kind of rats).  They were dancing in our driveway at random times of the day and making me crazy.   Thanks to a darling, daring husband  who isn't spooked by rodents,  the problem was tackled and we hope solved (all fingers and toes crossed).  

5. The first car that my sister and I got to drive was a green Maverick.  We lovingly referred to him as "Kermit" or  "the Mav".  It was more than great transportation, it was our very identy. We spent tons of time listening to the radio and dropping by the local Taco Time to pick up a Doctor Pepper and get the special cup of the week with the cartoon character on it.  We "cruised" by more boys houses than can be imagined, honked the horn to the rhythm of the school honk and everyone knew we were coming when they saw that green car comin.  

6. Bargains.  You know how some people get a surge of energy when they climb a mountain, or others when then write a great poem?  Well I get pumped when I find a fabulous bargain. I have to admit that the really big bargain days are mostly in the past-- but nothing beats finding a cut of meat that is quality, when the price is in the basement.  I love it.  It makes me feel, well, like I've beaten the odds.  And I guess I have. 

7.  This past summer we had big decisions to make at our house.  We had to choose the varieties of ten new trees going into our yard.  For many that wouldn't be a big deal, but for city

dwellers- 10 trees is enormous!  After doing some research we decided that we would love to have a couple of Ginkgo trees.  They are one of the oldest varieties around, fight disease, have a very unique leaf, roots run deep and we just fell in love with them . . . over the internet.  To be responsible we decided that we should speak with someone at a nursery and go and look at a mature tree and see if we really liked the tree in person as much as we did on the screen.  After much driving and searching we were unable to come up with any full grown Ginkgo trees locally.  We were so disappointed.  I believe that very day we were outside our house and started talking with a neighbor from across the street about Ginkgo trees at which time he pointed out two beautiful specimans three doors down from our home.  Surprise!