Thursday, December 17, 2015

A bald eagle in our tree

Today is the day I am fixing lunch for my visiting teaching companion and the sisters we visit teach.  I was up at six to get the potato soup started and the rolls.  I also got out my calico critters and my Disney tree.

Seven families of Calico Critters

I am very upset with myself.  I did not get a picture of the Disney tree, nor did I take a picture of any of my guests.  I must have been so busy getting everything ready that I forgot.  James helped me my decorating the Disney tree.  

I got a call from Elida Pope this morning saying she wouldn't be able to come because her car broke down.  When I told James, he said he would be happy to go get her.  She lives about 30 miles away over some pretty rough roads.  

My partner, Lorraine Tieman got here early and helped me set the table for the adults and one for Elida's three boys.   Hailey and her baby Hunter came next.  James and Elida, Ethan, Eli, and Edmund were a little late.  James helped finish the soup and helped me get everything on the table.  We have one sister that we visit, Jean Howard, who won't be here.  She is in the valley today.

 Even though I didn't get a picture of the Disney tree, I got plenty of this one.

For lunch we had potato soup, rolls, strawberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing, and homemade macaroni and cheese. To drink we had Shirley Temples.  I told them about having Christmas dinner at the Maxwell House and making Shirley Temples.

Edmund, who is two, said: "MMmmm" when he tasted the macaroni and cheese.  He had two servings.  

For dessert Lorraine made red velvet cupcakes and snickerdoodle cookies.  Lorraine also gave the lesson.  I had a handout to go with the lesson with a quote attached.

The lesson was on compassion and kindness.

Hailey had to leave at 2:20 to pick up her daughter Taylor at school in Show Low.  Lorraine left too and so did James and Elida and the boys.  James did most of the dishes before he left.  He was gone 2 1/2 hours because he got stuck and a good Samaritan had to come and pull him out.  

After finishing the kitchen I rested by the Christmas tree.  It is so beautiful I love looking at it.  I also had a roll with some of Lorraine's homemade raspberry jam.  It was delicious.  

Blain and Diana Curtis came by this evening and brought us a Christmas gift.  

Before going to bed we watched a Christmas movie.  I love the Hallmark channel.

 

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Lilies symbolize belief.

These flowers were the ones I got for my mother's grave.

 

Jesus is the Balm of Gilead.  His is the soothing ointment that heals the wounds of the brokenhearted.

"He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. (Isaiah 53:4)

 

" Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

(Psalm 41:9)

 

James, Terry, and Dave left at 5 this morning to go fishing at Saguaro Lake.  They took the boat that Yoshi gave to Dave.

The lake is so beautiful, especially early in

the morning.

The scenery was nice.  James got several

pictures of this bald eagle.  Terry was the only one

who caught a fish though.

James texted me on his way home so I was ready when he got here for our Taco Tuesday date.  This is where we went:

A very good choice!  The food was delicious!

James actually had three different kinds of tacos:

fish, shredded beef, and carnitas.  They were all great.

He said he didn't think he could find any tacos better than Elmer's,

but these were just as good.

 

Last week when I was looking for some decorative items for the house Trina told me to try Home Goods and she told me there was one by Sprouts, so I went there today.  I found a centerpiece  for the dining room table and one for the coffee table in the living room.

The great thing is they only cost $25 each so I was able to stay within my budget of $50!

 

Did my weekly shopping at Walmart and as is my custom on shopping day I bought a roasted chicken for dinner.  This time I made the mistake of getting a garlic roasted one and it was so strong it's the first thing you notice when you come in.  Next time, no garlic!

 

There was a "gathering" here this afternoon: Michael, Joe, Amanda, and Dallin.  The boys were practicing for an upcoming performance at Sozo.  It was quite noisy.  Amanda sat on the couch and watched cartoons and played with Holly.

 

This evening James and I went to Darrel & Trina's for a FHE.  I prepared a little something from the Friend about the last week of Jesus's life.  The three oldest kids all participated.  James made friends with Lola and I talked to Addy about finishing the Book of Mormon.  She said her favorite scripture is Mosiah 2:17.  I gave all three kids their own Book of Mormon's and both Addy and Rowan are committed to read.  It was a relaxing and enjoyable evening.  Too bad I didn't take more pictures.

 When he first came in Lola didn't want anything to do with James.  By the time we left she was begging to go to him.

 

We finished two books today, "A Lady's Honor", and The Book of Mormon.  Tomorrow we will start reading the Book of Mormon again.

 









Thursday, January 1, 2015

 This guy was perched in our tree this morning.  After he left a red tail hawk came and landed in the same spot.

It was a beautiful winter wonderland outside when we got up this morning.  We had about 5" of snow.

  We were a little worried about Kim and Brian coming up but they made it just fine.  They stopped to take some pictures of the snow on the desert.

The boys and Ian had fun playing in the snow.  First they made a snowman, or snowwoman, whichever you prefer.  

Evan named him Mr. Smiley

I renamed "her" Mrs. Smiley

Evan, ready to go sledding

Evan and Max tied to the back of the Razr

And away they go!

A little scary, as there are big rocks out there.

They did have a great time though!

James made a trip to Walmart to get his hunting license.  He forgot two things: 1) the Swiss Miss hot chocolate that I asked him to get and 2) Sheri's Polar Pop from Circle K.  He was in trouble for awhile.

I played three games of Five Crowns and won two out of five.  I lost when I played Sheri and Ben, won when I played Sheri and Max, and won when I played Sheri and Kim.  

We watched more Christmas movies and The Mentalist.  We also had a little celebration for Kim's birthday.  I made here a Texas sheetcake.

I am feeling overwhelmed, unorganized and a little discouraged, inspite of my good company.

  I still have my cough so Diana said she would teach on Sunday for me.

James and I issued a Book of Mormon challenge to our children and grandchildren.  Anyone who read the Book of Mormon by April 5th, Easter, will earn $50.  That's reading about 5 1/2 pages a day.