Tuesday, September 1, 2015

This is a '57 Chevy for those of you who are too young to remember.  Even though I was a teenager in the '60's, this was the car of my dreams.  My older cousin, Danny Strickland, had one and I wanted to buy it from him.  When I asked,  he said it was a stick shift, which was fine because I learned to drive on a stick shift but Danny was a race car driver and he had it all "souped up" and was afraid it would be too much car for me.  I was disappointed.  One of my dreams that was never realized.  I still love this car!

James is on a roll.  He fixed delicious scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning.  He has to leave for Chandler, so I drive with him to get another rental car at Hatch Motors, to drive while I am here alone.

They didn't have any red '57 Chevy's, so

I settled for a Toyota Corolla.

James and I say goodbye in the Hatch Motors parking lot as he heads to Chandler and I head to Walmart.  Why do I buy so many sweets and carbs?

On the ride home to Vernon I enjoy the scenery, especially all the fields of yellow flowers.

 Sunflowers and small yellow daisies!

Blogger is driving me crazy, first I couldn't post pictures.  I solved that problem but now I have another problem.  I can't type labels for my posts.  I am not sure if it is Blogger or Internet Explorer, but it's driving me crazy!

The reason I stayed here in Vernon is to make sure the house is ready and there are clean sheets on all the beds for our company this weekend.  Also, I am going to lunch tomorrow with my brothers and their wives.  I do a little bit of cleaning then I stop to watch a movie or do something else I enjoy.  Today I watched two movies, "Recipe for Love", and "That Robbins Girl."  I get lonely when I am here alone and having the TV on helps.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

 

Monday, August 31, 2015

 James makes the most delicious oatmeal with walnuts.  He made some for me this morning for breakfast.  

I washed sheets today, getting ready for company this weekend.  

I am sorry to say that I am now 25 days behind on my blog.  How does this happen?  I get lazy, that's how.

On a more positive note, it rained most of the day today.

 After the rain came the rainbows!

James and I watched two movies today.  Yes, it was that kind of a day.  One was a mystery woman movie starring Kellie Martin and the other was called "Midnight Masquerade" starring Autumn Reeser.  We also read from our new Julie Klassen book, "The Dancing Master".  James says he feels like we are on our honeymoon when we are here alone like this.

I did do some work today besides washing sheets.  I dusted in our bedroom, which is no small task, and worked on this blog.  Since I am 25 days behind, I have to at least make two posts a day for 25 days to catchup.

James fixed dinner tonight besides fixing breakfast this morning.  He fixed what I call a "preparin' for the hard times" dinner.  Rice-a-roni, canned chicken, canned chicken broth and canned green beans.  Actually, it was quite tasty.

 

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Steve, Sherry, and Lilly Estes

Grandma Carmen

James's sister Carmen just became a grandma and I think she is really enjoying it!

We left Chandler at 4:31 am for Vernon.  We stayed last night to watch Joe's performance at SoZo and it was worth it.  James was going to drive his truck but instead he drives with me in the rental car because he says he wants to be with me.  We arrive in Vernon around 7:40, just in time to get ready for church.  

Today was the Butler's mission farewell.  The Butler's are an older couple in our ward.  Patricia has always wanted to go on a mission.  Her husband Stephen had to give her talk because she had to go to the valley to be with her daughter who was having a nervous breakdown.  Stephen gave her talk, but did not have time to give his own talk.  

Jackson Allen and Ed Miller were called up from the audience to give their testimonies.  

Bishop Miller gave a short talk about Lehi and the Tree of Life.  

After sacrament meeting I met Jean Howard, one of the sisters I am assigned to visit teach.  I gave her the visiting teaching handout which consisted of a quote by President Monson and a dish towel.  The story of the Savior washing the apostles feet was in the lesson.  I talked about how this towel can remind her of the importance of serving others.  I also visited with Elida Pope.  I was going to follow her home but she wasn't sure our rental car would make it.

I did not teach Primary today.  The teacher's had an inservice lesson presented by Lannie Gillespie.  I think Virginia Chafin taught my class. Marci Butler Westbrook did singing time today.  She let the children chose their favorite songs.  What a fun person she is.  Her parents were Wade and Jackie Butler.  When I was a teenager in Show Low Wade and Jackie lived across the street.  Jackie was my Beehive advisor.  Wade was a high school friend of my dad's and Jackie was a good friend of my mom's.  

I have Marci's daughter Kasey in my Primary class.  She is such a sweet girl.

Lannie Wilhelm Gillespie did our last sharing time on the miracles of Jesus.  It's been a great month, learning again about the Savior's miracles.  She encouraged the children to look for miracles in their everyday lives.  That is good advice for everyone.  

James and Rick Lauritzen home taught Virgil Cooper at the church after the block today.  He doesn't want them to come to his home.  He told the story how his wife and children left him over 20 years ago when she inherited $40 million dollars.  He says he hasn't seen her or the children since.  It is such a sad story.

Jen called and said someone wanted to see the house today.  I told her to call and talk to Stacy, which she did.  I guess everything went okay.  

I finished listening to last April's General Conference talks, including the Women's and Priesthood session for the 5th time.  One more time before October conference.

James and I watched a Hallmark movie: "So You Said Yes."

Sunset at Fool's Hollow Lake in

Show Low, the place where 

James proposed marriage to me.

 

 

 

Saturday, August 29, 2015

This picture was taken at Fossil Springs by Bryce and Alexis Case

on their anniversary.  I am amazed that this place is in Arizona!

After morning prayers and scriptures and listening to two conference talks I cleaned the bathroom before going to Max's football game.

 Max plays both offense as tight end, 

and defense as a linebacker.

 Max, #16!

 It was 110 degrees and my makeup was melting off my face!

 Thanks to Ian for letting me use his  umbrella

 We had to leave the game before it was over to make sure the house was ready for our "open house."

Gordon Bueler's son is also on Max's team.

 Thanks to Ian for the pictures!

Jared Ammon has been staying at the house the last few days.  He swept outside, but I had to finish up.  The Open House started at 1pm.  James and I went to see the movie, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Napoleon Solo and Illya Keriaken were much better looking than the ones I used to watch on TV as a kid.  

When we got back home we took a nap and then began to get ready to go to Joe's SoZo concert.  I had to take a shower because I was so sweaty from the football game this morning.  

We went to Taco Bell for dinner and I read to James from "The Lady of Milkborn Manor."  

Joe's concert was awesome!  He wrote many of the songs himself.

 Joe calls himself 

"Super Motel"

I got this picture, but James actually took videos on his phone of

Joe singing.  I think he is a big fan!

Friday, August 28, 2015

Happy 11th Birthday Addy!

 Addy's candy cake.

 She loved it!

James and I picked up Alex at school today at 11:45.  We all went to lunch together to Jersey Mike's.  

 We also took my car into Chandler Auto Body to have some work done and rented a Chevy Cruz at Enterprise just down the street.  Our insurance is paying for the rental car.

I like this little car, to drive in the city that is. 

James had an appointment with his heart doctor, Dr. Memon this afternoon.  Dr. Memon wants him to build an 18,000 square foot building for him and then do all of the tenant improvements.  I told James he needed to go see Dr. Memon more often.

I left to go pick up Addy by myself this afternoon because James is finishing the light fixtures and mirror in the master bath.  I give Addy her cake, and we go back and pick up James and go to Cheesecake Factory for dinner.

Two of my favorite people!

 The reason to come to Cheesecake Factory

After dinner we took James home and then Addy and I went shopping at Super Target in Gilbert.  

Earrings, a Barbie and Barbie clothes, and

a squealing pig.

Addy and I had so much fun together.  She told me stories about her life and I thoroughly enjoyed being with her.  She is a kind, thoughtful, and loving girl.

Addy sharing her birthday present from her parents

with Lola.

Michael's friend Alexis has a birthday this weekend too.  To celebrate she and Michael went to the D-Back's game.

Happy Birthday Alexis!

Thursday, August 27, 2015

 This is Greg and Florence Hatch and two of their children,

Alyssa and Ian. They hiked the alps from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland in 11 days.  118 miles, and an entire

bottle of Ibuprofen, and they made it to the end.  That is the

Matterhorn in the background.

James and I left for Chandler before 6am this morning.  We stopped in Claypool at a Circle K for gas and a drink for me.  We also had a short stop for roadwork.  When we arrived in Chandler we went straight to the job on Chandler Blvd and McClintock.  We were there just a few minutes before going home.

After a shower and a change of clothes James and I took Jared Ammon to lunch at Oreganos.  Of course I had the Vino Bambino salad.  I also tried their margarita pizza but it was nothing compared to Nello's.  

I love this salad so much!

James had his Oregano's Favorite salad and J.A. had wings.  While we were waiting for our food I realized I hadn't paid SRP for last month so I paid it on my phone.  Sometimes I love modern technology.  

It was overcast today and we got some rain.  I got a call from Kilee Hunsaker this evening.  Her parents are gone and I think she was hoping I was in Vernon and could come and get her.  I told her I was in Chandler getting ready to go shopping and I wished she were here to go with me.  I guess her grandma on her mother's side is dying of cancer and Stefani, Sean, and Tyler, Alicia, and Kip went to see her.

I went shopping at Hobby Lobby and Walgreen's for Addy's candy cake.  I got a couple of puzzles for Stacy at Hobby Lobby.  One is a 1,000 piece donut puzzle which she has been looking for, and the other a puzzle with several different gingerbread houses.  I liked both of them and so did she.

Speaking of donuts, I found this donut chart on Facebook.

 

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

This is a before and after picture depicting the horrible 

forest fires in Washington state.

James and I read scriptures and from our book outside on the porch so we could enjoy the cool weather, (I had to get a blanket), and watch the hummingbirds.

 James keeps the hummingbird feeder full.  We have seen up to 15 hummingbirds hovering around it at one time.  It is cool, overcast, and smells delicious outside!

Lorraine Tieman and I had visiting teaching appointments today with Hailey Chafin and Elida Pope.  Elida called this morning and asked to reschedule because she has sick boys.  

Lorraine drove her pickup to the Chafin's ranch which is a good 25 or 30 miles from Vernon on dirt roads filled with mud puddles and rocks.  It was quite an adventure!

Hailey came out to rescue us and we followed her in.

They have over 20,000 acres and run 175 head of cattle.  They have solar power and their own well so they are completely off the grid.

Hailey's kids go to school in Show Low so she makes two round trips a day which takes her about 3 hours.  She said she loves living there though.

James spent five hours today working on income taxes.  My back hurts from polishing floors yesterday, so my plans to finish cleaning our bedroom are delayed.  

For dinner we have enchiladas and salad.  We read from our book and watched the Hallmark movie, "Good on Paper."