A Small Wish

New Year's Day 2012

2012-01-23T08:51:00.001-08:00

Nothing to say except the Lake was 27 degrees.

Way to go crazy family.

2012

2012-01-23T08:33:00.000-08:00

We have made a dream come true. It was a sacred moment when Burke and I stood on the deck of our cabin at Bear Lake and in humble voices whispered, "We did it." For probably 35 years we have owned 1/4 acre of sagebrush and rocks above that cold-in-August lake. We have planned and talked and come close so many times. And then, Spring of 2011, Burke said the holy words, "You own a cabin at Bear Lake." A birthday present for my 62nd birthday. Suddenly, we had an anchor, a place to gather, a place to put dreams and laughter and ourselves. We absorbed a summer of "Who Shot Jaunito Bandito" at the Pickelville Playhouse, raspberry shakes, bird feeders and swallows and a glorious night sky. In winter we set up the telescope, built snowmen, went skiing, snowboarding, sledding, watched movies, played "BANG," built a Pirates of the Caribbean ship with Legos and spent a quiet day curled up reading THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE. I am mindful of great grand parents resting in peace in Paris and Dingle. Grandpa's little store still stands on the corner. The past hums me to sleep and the lake blesses my mornings. I glory in hollyhocks and peonies. It is a feast for my soul and I am grateful.

Fall 2010

2010-11-26T05:51:00.000-08:00

2010-08-24T17:21:00.001-07:00

Kirtland, Ohio Winter 2010

2010-02-13T05:48:00.000-08:00

My adorable daughter

2010-02-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

2009-10-11T04:48:00.001-07:00

Cumberland Falls

2009-09-06T04:46:00.000-07:00

Grandma Marie at Cumberland Falls

2009-09-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

Cumberland Falls

2009-09-06T04:41:00.000-07:00

Pete's prizewinning rustic bread

2009-09-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

Grandma Marie

2009-09-06T04:37:00.000-07:00

Dulcimer, jam and picnic on a quiet porch

2009-09-06T04:33:00.000-07:00

Pete Kensicki, brought grandma rustic bread today. Pete won a blue ribbon at the Madison County Fair for this beautiful bread.
Then we were invited to a picnic up in Irvine at our friend, Marjorie Meeks', house. We took baked beans, grilled veggies, Peanut M & M's and Kosher hotdogs. All yummy. My friend, Jenny, gave us some jam. We sat in the porch swing and knitted and visited. We didn't want to come home. It is so quiet and peaceful up there. Marjorie played her dulcimer and the kids made smores and collected Chinese chestnuts. We drove home, down those windy Kentucky two-lanes, after dark.

Cemetary in Madison County Kentucky

2009-06-18T05:16:00.000-07:00

Winter in Kentucky

2009-01-27T06:31:00.000-08:00

Cheese grits and oatmeal pancakes

2008-10-29T23:04:00.000-07:00

Appalachia

2008-10-29T23:02:00.000-07:00

Snug Hollow

2008-10-29T22:57:00.001-07:00

Spring Break in New York

2008-03-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

Spring Break:
Philadelphia
pretzels and mustard
tasty cakes
Swiss Farm chipwich
Liberty Bell
Independence Hall
Rick's Cheese Steak
Elementary Schools
Wa Wa
Reading Terminal
Original Book of Mormon at Free Library
old friends
Zitner peanut butter eggs

New York
Mary Poppins
Little Mermaid
Guggenheim
Carnegie Deli
Tavern on the Green
Empire State Building
Carriage ride in Central Park
Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
Times Square
The Naked Cowboy
M & M World
Ground Zero
NBC

Happy Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-20T07:38:00.000-08:00

" . . . golden bells and pomegranites . . . "

2007-11-01T06:17:00.000-07:00

Fall Road Trip

2007-11-01T06:14:00.000-07:00

Fall in Shaker Village Kentucky

2007-11-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

Farmer's Market

2007-07-07T19:28:00.000-07:00

Brussel sprouts, beans, sweet bread and corn on the cob won me over at the Farmer's Market this morning along with a delightful pint jar of cut flowers.

Watching the Wind Turbines

2007-07-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

Wind Turbines outside Bloomington

2007-07-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

2007-06-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

2007-06-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

2007-06-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

the backyard

2007-06-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

Kentucky Derby Marathon

2007-04-30T06:03:00.000-07:00

Congratulations awesome family marathon runners!

Our New Life

2007-04-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

I haven't been able to get into this account forever . . . for reasons I don't understand. More coming soon!

Oh Holy Night

2006-12-24T21:28:00.000-08:00

37 Years

2006-09-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

Thank you to dad and Martin Studio in Berea, Kentucky for a very beautiful custom made anniversary bowl!

The Letting Go

2006-09-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

Scattered and stalwart we march south. My husband is in Kentucky, teaching and slowly settling into our 75 year old rental house. I'm back at work waiting. Our youngest came home to smell the new carpet and touch the granite countertops, drive past the elementary school and say "good-bye." We have cried and hugged and hoped together. Marigold promises of a rainbow future.

On The Market

2006-08-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

It's boring to live in a house that you can't make a mess in!

The Rainbows Are Back

2006-08-04T07:05:00.000-07:00

We had forgotten about the rainbows. They fascinated us when we first moved into this house eleven years ago. The windows with their beveled glass and leaded glass created magic on our walls and floors. Then, life grabbed us by the throat and for thousands of days we failed to notice the quiet and whimsical magic dancing through our lives. It was our sweet little granddaughter who called out with delight, "grandma! I have a rainbow!" that reminded us, surprising us, and catching us suddenly with a power that transported us back to before we let go and caused us, for a moment, to tearfully ponder the real blessings of this life journey.

2006-07-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Discounts and chaos

2006-07-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

They gave me a 20% discount at the dry cleaners because my birthday is this month.
We packed a bazillion more boxes and then went to Caseys for brats. They were grilling Boar's Head hotdogs out front so we had lunch. Friends invited us to go out on Lake Michigan in their boat tonight but we have a very fun conflict, dinner with our neighbors from India.

Brandy Cream

2006-06-30T20:23:00.000-07:00

The interior of the house has been painted - navajo white and brandy cream. The new carpet is down. The granite, "verde butterfly," is exquisite. The pod has arrived and is 1/3 full. And, tomorrow is July . . . a great month for raspberry shakes and birthdays.

reading: Bad Dirt - Wyoming Stories 2 by Annie Proulx

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

2006-06-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

brick wall

2006-06-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

Still packing. Granite counter tops are in. Painter will paint the foyer, navajo white, on Monday and then the painting will be done. Carpet decision has me in a quandry. Dry wall guy here Monday.

Living on the edge

2006-06-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

The "Steep Deck House"

2006-06-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

Have been packing boxes since 6:30 this morning when the trash trucks awakened me and I dashed downstairs to salvage the boxes one son had decided to discard. I didn't trust him to not throw away something that should be kept I guess. I hit the front porch running only to be stopped by my husband, watering flowers, who said, "I already pulled the boxes." (Have we been married a long time or what?) And, sure enough, there sat the $50.00 collectible GI Joes from many Christmases ago. This in mind, I'm sure you can imagine how the "dejunking" segment of the move is going!
And, short note to family - we are not buying the "steep deck house." Sorry guys. Put away the trampoline and the slip and slide. That dang house has two basements for heaven's sake! NO. Because I said so.

Bubble Wrap

2006-06-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

It's official. We're moving! My husband has accepted an Endowed Chair at a University in Kentucky and he will be awesome. He is so smart and such a good teacher. I am very excited for him . . . and us. Our amazing but scattered family has been wonderful about it and I can't wait to gather them all together . . . and anchor us all once more in a new spot.

Almost a quarter century

2006-05-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

Our youngest turns 20 today. This marks the end of 22 years of raising teenagers! Lots of memories - dare I even go there? Sky diving, things pierced, chocolate chip cookies, early morning seminary, summers in Utah, lacrosse, horseback riding, bike racing, softball, concerts, piano lessons, atari, raspberry shakes, helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon, speeding tickets, truck, tattoos, snowmen, ski trips. And laughter, tears, amazing accomplishments, courage, and miracles. What a blessed Mother's Day.

Mormon Desert

2006-05-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

Vacation

2006-05-12T20:25:00.000-07:00

I bit the bullet and dragged my bones into the principal's office to request two days off without pay. I have not been "home" for two years. I get so conservative and focused. We settled our daughter back into school and hugged our very courageous son who has valiantly walked a lonely path back to a safer place. Met my new sister-in-law. I like her! Ate pineapple and ham pizza from Fredrico's (our first date almost 39 years ago) with family. Breathed in the mountains and the fresh dry air. Then returned to 16 supported ed students who still can't remember to bring a pencil to class and have no idea what they did with their outlines for their career speeches. And rain. And a sore throat. But then, the return of son 2 from his first year of law school, the arrival of his cute girlfriend and . . . Chris getting bumped off IDOL! ! ! !

The Lion House in Salt Lake City

2006-05-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

Feeding the Soul

2006-04-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

For us, we were wild and crazy. Since Saturday is the one chance we have to organize our lives for the next week it was so not like us to take off for lunch at Grand Lux Cafe in Chicago where we indulged in my favorite - Asian Nachos! The median down Michagan Ave. was startingly gorgeous boasting mostly yellow and red tulips. Sorry I didn't take the camera. We even paused on the corner of Michigan Ave to "absorb the corner" - the perfect air, the sunshine, the tulips, the people, the morning, each other. One more detour to ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier. One more weekend before Em leaves for school. I'll miss her so much. We ended the day, Em and I, dressed in silly hats and out in the not-quite-chilly night to spy on dad through the window near the deck, got caught, punctuating the night with screams and giggles.

Mystery Castle Phoenix

2006-04-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

Lindt Raspberry Swiss Milk Chocolate

2006-04-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

Conference weekend is my favorite weekend. I like it better than Christmas.
I just ate a whole Lindt Raspberry Milk chocolate bar. I have yellow and white baby yarn for a new afghan. I love to crochet. Life is good.

2006-03-19T07:16:00.000-08:00

reading: brick lane by monica ali

Bursting with Life

2006-03-12T07:39:00.000-08:00

Storm

2006-03-09T20:06:00.000-08:00

Too many gloomy days
hover over endless thoughts
of how much longer
we can tread in this thirsty ocean.
Tiny bouyant bubbles of hope
glisten as we fill our lungs
only to burst mid-breath.
We are determined
to ride this storm.
Frozen pioneers walk beside us-
somewhere in our ancestral blood
sacrifice-strangled gasping souls
anchor us to eternity,
wrest free and tremble
valiantly bearing victory
as a curse, devouring death.
Perhaps the storm will pass
and allow us to curl up on the
sundrenched porch
healing
breathing deeply
absorbing
waiting
for the quiet rain
to begin
again.

Prairie

2006-03-09T20:01:00.000-08:00

barefoot
I stand in the sodden prairie
frozen mud enveloping
my numb feet.
tear stained
I announce to heaven
I can no longer stand erect nor
trudge through this weary life
for I am bent
and broken
I am empty.
I shiver in the silence,
wait,
then gather the pieces of my self
Like shattered glass
and press them
to my suffering breast
gasping,
then sighing,
resigned.

Brussel Sprouts

2006-02-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

I would choose brussel sprouts over Tuescher chocolates and hot fudge sundaes. Last week we had roasted brussel sprouts and butternut squash with rosotto. What a happy meal. It's like standing on the hot cement barefoot in the summer and looking at the mountains that really aren't very far away or sleeping at the cabin at the lake with the window open.

Snowstorm

2006-01-21T06:36:00.000-08:00

January 21 - Great Grandma C's birthday.

2006-01-10T18:07:00.000-08:00

Your guess is as good as mine . . .

2005-12-04T07:25:00.000-08:00

Not really.
What do you think this is?

Thanksgiving Thoughts

2005-11-23T23:35:00.000-08:00

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
- Melody Beattie -

Darla Isakson writes: ". . . expressing thanks for all that makes my life pleasant or comfortable, or for what I appreciate more because others have less, is living only the preparatory law of gratitude." To live the "higher law" would be to "thank the Lord in all things." D & C 59:7.

foil-relief

2005-08-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

This will be my 9th year of eigth grade counting the one I did 43 years ago. Every year, I feel certain it will be my last. It's a good job. I'm just a little worn out. I work in supported ed. We have about 17 mainstreamed kids on our team. They are all awesome. This year I have chorus first period. I love starting the day with music. Third period is art. I get to do the projects right along with the kids. We are doing a "foil-relief" and I have filled mine with Indian symbols for "peace," "happy," "bear," and "summer." I ran one tear drop from the center down a meandering path off the gold foil. I am not artistic but I can write poetry which is just a way of painting pictures with words. The house is empty 'cept for the two of us. It's so very quiet. Three in college, one in law school and one saving his little family from a soggy house suffering from a water leak. Some days are a lonely celebration of a joyous journey.

On a lighter note

2005-07-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday and it has been lovely all day from salmon with friends for lunch, Oprah's Faulkner books, bars of Swiss chocolate hidden under my pillow and in my purse, an exquisite fairy from my sister, calls from well wishers and a new toaster. And, near midnight, the arrival of our oldest son, his wife and our perfect and only granddaughter who turns two next week. A delightful celebration on an evening that blesses us with open windows and a cool summer breeze.

Being deaf

2005-07-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

My parents are here. Dad is 85. Mom is 76. That's four hearing aids. Three weeks ago, I got water in my left ear and still cannot hear. We have become a symphony of "what?" Grocery shopping, neighbors dropping by, wedding receptions and people are a jumble of sound. I suspect that I am also deaf to loneliness, dependency, aching bones, pricked diabetic fingers, slow walking, and a desire to be thought about and loved and reassured. It must feel disappointing when the thunderstorm fails to wake you in the middle of the night. It is certainly a small grief yet a reluctant march toward greater loss.

2005-04-24T16:09:00.001-07:00

Phoenix Botanical Gardens

2005-04-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

Phoenix Botanical Gardens

stardust

2005-03-22T10:52:00.000-08:00

I learned today that we are made of stardust . . . then, God created us out of stardust . . . what a neat idea.

2005-03-17T15:32:00.000-08:00

Spring at the Prairie Preserve.

2005-03-17T15:31:00.000-08:00

Ducks at the Prairie Preserve.

2005-03-17T15:21:00.000-08:00

This is my first picture. It's of the praire path.