Projects

When we moved into my Mom's house, I gave my granddaughter my collection of beads. I figured I wouldn't have the time or space to play with them. She said then, "You like beads don't you, Grandma?" Yep. I do. And I haven't given them up. Here is my current collection:



This is my most expensive project - I made it for myself. Jade and polished jasper. Jade because I like the color. Jasper because I like rocks! And it reminded me of Utah and Survival. We used jasper as our flint in making flint and steel fires. I have several pieces I collected while living in Hanksville, UT.



I love the translucent quality.


Here are my leftovers from prior necklaces. Too pretty to discard. I'll find a way to use them.

I put these together and will make my next projects of of these. I like seed beads - I grew up in the 60's, remember. Love beads. I like to mix other beads with them. I want to find some juniper berries. Another Survival memory. They called them ghost beads and they are in a lot of Native American jewelry.

Here are my latest necklaces.

I have finished two lap-size afghans as well. (It's a sickness....)

That's not all I have been up to, either. I have been working on the quiet book again. I'm creating my own pages, based on the Book of Mormon. I'll post on that later. I want to do a quiet book with a gospel focus.

Bulb Update.

I got Mom an azalea for Valentine's Day. I wanted something we could keep and use for color out on the deck. It's really small but if we re-pot it I'm hoping it will be the ones we left in Tidewater. I can control the soil's pH in a pot better than I could if it were in the sand.

Nature out performed my planted bulbs - of course! These came up unexpectedly. I am going to make the spot and add to them for next spring, now that I know they WILL come up.

These are daffodils.

grape hyacinth

And the short-lived crocus - I LOVE their color!

As for my efforts in the fall, I'm so excited how they are turning out!

I planted tulips and daffodils together in this big tub.

This is my strawberry pot. I put hyacinths in the top and crocus in the little cup openings.

More daffodils and hyacinths!

The pink one is already blooming. You can see the colors on the other buds. they look like little pineapples in the center of their leaves. What I like about hyacinths is that they have a sweet fragrance.

This is one of those entries where I feel silly writing it, except that I am doing it for me. I am so "into" this project. I was soooo depressed when I planted them. It was an exercise in delayed gratification. And it has been sooo worth while. And I'm not talking about just the bulbs becoming flowers.

There are things we do that we never know why. Things that seems to have no "pay-off" as we are in the midst of doing them. The project of planting them actually WAS fun for me. (unlike some of the routine day-to-day things we have to do)

It was an amazingly beautiful day. I thought it would be a good project for my mom. She chose not to participate. It turned out it was for me after all. I had a glimpse in my mind of what was possible. I knew what I wanted for spring. I exercised faith in that goal. I'm enjoying my reward.

"MY Peace I Give Unto You..."

I find that I AM "getting a life." It's not very exciting, but it is my own. After 9 months of living with my mom, we are falling into a routine, of sorts. It's different than everything from before, but I am finally starting to feel "at home" at times. Some things just take me a while to adjust to. I am finding time for myself without feeling guilty.

A big part, for me, was admitting that I needed help sorting out all the feelings and pressures of the hand I have been dealt. I went to an Alzheimer's care giver support group which gave me much info. Gave me a map of the new landscape in th world I find myself living. Helpful, but not enough in the long run. As stress started attacking MY body and I started having physical symptoms as well as emotional overload, my good doctor suggested counciling. It's not like it is someting I have never done. Heck, I've spent a good portion of my adult life talking to SOME one about one traumatic event or another in my life. (Thank God) It wasn't a big step to say yes.
Enter the light at the end of the tunnel. Talking to this woman has been the best part of my life the last three months. She helps me see what I am dealing with in this bazarre relationship I have with my mom. She helps me define what is mine and what deserves to be left in the responsibility of others. This spring seems particularly significant for me. A re-birth. The fear just isn't there - which seems strange considering the events and economic conditions that surround us. I am peaceful.

John 14:27 - 27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

I'm there.

It's quite unusual for me to feel this way, but here I am. And I count it to the Lord. I'm doing what I need to be doing. It's even okay that there are days when I rail and complain. It's part of the process. I have a lot of grief. This is my path.

Psycho Says Hi

Psycho has been almost friendly to me since I started staying home.



He sit quietly under his cover in the mornings, until he hears my voice talking to Tom. Then he starts making noises. I have started uncovering him in the mornings. I fold the cover and open his cage. Then I get him a Cheezit cracker. He loves them. He knows the box when we take it out of the cupboard. He sees the red box and he starts hopping all over and chirping. We stick it into his seed dish and he hops right down and starts chowing down.

We have made some changes in the room. We got a good tax return and it arrived in time for a special customer appreciation sale at the local furniture store. We got a great deal on two new recliners. I got Tom one when we were living in Hermiston, but I have never had my own chair before.

Here's what it looked like in the store:

Mine is leather and a little darker than I would have picked out myself, but I LOVE it. It is so comfy! Both have nice firm seats and are set up a higher off the floor than his old one. Makes it easier to get out of. Mine rocks as well. I would have liked to get a swivel-rocker-recliner, but am very happy with it being a rocker. It's perfect for me.

We got free delivery and they hauled off our old sofa bed for free as well. Here's what Tom's looks like:

He lost his little compartments in the arms and all the goodies, but it's a much nicer chair structure-wise. When he sits in it, his feet barely touch the floor! It's huge. And SOOO comfortable!

We did some re-arranging and like the new set up. We still have our office area, but we stacked the bookcases and moved my craft boxes over by the window by my side of the bed.

Preparedness Note

We have a new food storage/preparedness representative in our branch. She is the same lady who taught my mom the temple prep classes. I'm totally impressed with her and she has hit the ground running in getting us excited about preparedness again. (Our previous leader was totally inspired to get us all organized before the big winter storm December of 2007. During that one, we had hurricane force winds and power outages for three days. I mean the entire area was down, including the whole City of Newport.

She passed out some information that I am going to pass on. She brought it to our attention that the Church has set up a web page giving directions on how to prepare for the possibility of an avian flu pandemic. I haven't given much to attention to the media coverage of this, but when the church starts telling us things that we should do to prepare....well....

There something we are going to ordering, as a branch, that I thought was worth passing on, as well. She has found a stove that seems to be a great idea - and it is environmentally friendly! It burns both wood and charcoal VERY efficiently. AND it isn't very expensive.

I Have a Request

I know we are all busy. (Well - YOU are all busy - Tom and I float along wondering what will come up next...)

BUT keeping family contact up is important. My kids need to know that Tom checks your blogs almost every day. (I do too - ) It has been weeks (months in SOME cases) since you have updated. Your dear old, excitement-deprived parents LOVE reading your blogs. It doesn't have to be full of pictures, or earth-shaking news. We just like to "feel" like we are in touch.

Tom REALLY likes reading the blogs better than Facebook. I am seriously addicted to Facebook - it's embarrassing to admit. I waste way too much time with the games and all the distraction it affords. But I miss reading your entries and feeling your personalities. Even a few sentences. We enjoy even the most mundane things. You don't have to be profound.

Okay?

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Twas the Night Before Valentine's Day...

And it was Friday the 13th!!

No problems here. Maybe we are immune - still floating on our being an eternal family cloud. Things just FEEL different. Can't explain how - just that it does. There is a sense of ....peace. Way cool.

Today we got our tax refunds - both state and federal. We made a trip into Newport and got new tires on the Altima. (The back two were bald...) With two cars now, we don't have to use it as much and so have just been waiting for our tax refund. We had lunch out together, which is always fun. It was a beautiful day again. This winter has been quite unusually pretty. More breaks between the storms. The valley cities and metro Portland haven't had the same good fortune. Another blessing of being on the coast.

Tom is planning a trip to California next month, for any of you that haven't heard the news yet. He's going to see family and friends (include In & Out Burgers, Pinnacle Peak's, Molly's Cafe and Taco Joe's in his itinerary). Shall we say he WON'T be watching WW points for THIS vacation???

Molly's was the first "our place." He used to bring me breakfasts from there when we first started being interested in each other. It's located right across the street from the San Bernardino court house. It celebrates the Route 66 mystic. It is only open for breakfast and lunch. Amazing food. I LOVE their hash browns. Never seen found another place that makes better. They are my standard for judging anyone else's.

I've made trips away while he stayed home with my mom - most notably when I went to Utah to see Briggs. The only weekend that worked was Tom's birthday weekend. I went and have paid the price ever since! He would NEVER leave me home along on MY birthday.....sigh. So - this is his little mental hygiene vacation. Getting out of Waldport and my mom's house. He hasn't been down since before his mom passed away. This time he will have his own car and time to travel around and hit all of his old stomping grounds. He will get to spend time with his buddies at the county yard. I"m really excited for him. He deserves this.

January Was Busy!

The end of January was PACKED with events and I've been tardy in updating my blog - like my family in UTAH!! so - here it goes!

We had a whirlwind visit from Matt "Octane" Wright. He had contacts to meet for his job and worked in getting to build me a new computer! It's SO amazingly fast, I can hardly believe it. I now can play any game I want on it - probably WHY it has taken me so long to update....

He also single-handedly took out the non-working stair lift we have been frustrated with since we moved in. What a bear of a job! But now the stairway is unobstructed!

While he was here, my mom and Tom got their patriarchal blessings. That was really a neat experience. My mom was quite impressed and was really excited to get the written copy so she could re-read it.

Matt left the morning of the 27th and we dropped him off at the airport on the way to the Portland Temple, so that my mom could take out her endowments. I had been worried about how it would go, with her memory problems; but with the wonderful temple workers help it turned out just fine.

This is a shot from the atrium, looking into the lobby area of the temple. It looked so beautiful!

Ericka was able to come in the session with us because Jared watched the kids for her. I was SO grateful to have her there. I was so nervous about my mom's reactions and attitude that having someone there as back-up relieved me. The couple who taught my mom the temple preparation classes also came to go through with her. It was really wonderful.

The 28th was Ericka's birthday! We celebrated with her while we were up the weekend before. I'm not sure it was a "happy" birthday - there were a lot of holes in our plans. I was balancing a lot of things and dropped quite a few...including doing a birthday post for her. But I DID get a cake....but it wasn't angel food...

Friday the 30th, we made another trip up to Portland. Samara and Scott and David and Jill were coming in on the same flight! We had a good visit catching up and getting ready for Saturday. \

Finally our big day arrived and we went to the temple early - WAY early. I guess that is pretty uncommon because no one there knew quite what to do with us. The entry desk was so surprised that they didn't even mark us off the list as having arrived. (Which scared all our guests later as they arrived.) Ericka and Jared were the first ones there for our sealing, and the temple workers thought THEY were the Archers! So the Skinners started wondering what could have happened and tried calling us to see where we were. Of course, our phones were off - we were in the TEMPLE! So there was a flurry of confusion and concern going on, of which we were totally unknowing.

We were asked to wait in the inside lobby area, as our escorts were still busy with another assignment. We WERE early. So, we sat and waited until a worker came with our file and took us into the records room to make sure all the paperwork was correct. We were doing four sealing that day and there were a lot of papers. We had talked to no less than three different people before going in the record room - but none of them passed on the information that we had arrived and were working on our paper work to our guest and escorts when they arrived. The concern and confusion continued outside our quiet little office.

Tom, as the time went on, felt the call of nature and excused himself to find a bathroom. He found a lot more than that outside the door. He was grabbed and questioned and all HE wanted to do was get to the latrine. Questions were answered. We were each escorted by our own little temple worker and things progressed. Before we could go into the sealing room, it was noticed that we hadn't been given our little yellow name tags that said who we were and that we were being sealed. I guess that is a big thing. They called the supervisor of the temple workers and she questioned us and made the trip back to the recording office to retrieve the yellow tags.

Coming back, she pinned them on for us and commented on the pile of paperwork we had left in our wake. I told her, "We don't do ANY thing easy. Sorry it rubbed off on you!" We then were able to take care of what needed to be done before going into the sealing room.

We walked in and there were all our family and friends. Samara was Tom's mother, which was neat. I had my mom there. It was so neat to sit and look at their smiling faces. He took such tender care of me as he walked me to the alter and helped me get on my knees. When we knelt across the alter from each other, it was amazing. We had waited so long for that. We just kept looking into each other's eyes and everything else seemed to melt away. We both had tears in our eyes by the end.

Then we had my mom sealed to my step-dad. Tom acted as proxy for my Poppo. The poor little sealer got confused with the names and had Tom as the one who was dead. He almost sealed Tom to my mom! Several of us said "No!" before it was too late. He realized his mistake and completed the sealing correctly. It was quite a day!

Then I was able to be sealed to my mom and Poppo. That was a lot more emotional for me than I thought it would be. It was the neatest thing. I had wanted to have "born in the covenant" on my children's records. It was just something that was really important to me. I wanted that blessing for them. And hearing the blessing that go with the sealing were just overwhelming for me. Suddenly I HAD those blessing for myself! I hadn't considered that and hadn't listened to the words before. They were to my very heart. It was such a wonderful feeling and moment.

Then Poppo was sealed to his parents. Quite a day.

New Quiet Book

Making the first quiet book was fun - after it was all done. Now that I have one under my belt, I have a better idea of what will work and what won't. I had several patterns that I didn't get done in the first one. My mom has lots of notions and so what does all that add up to? The courage to try again!

Page one: A counting page. It has a marine theme. I found the cutest little buttons - crabs, starfishes, fishies, and silver seals. The single button will be an airplane - Coast Guard, supposedly.



Page two: A peek-a-boo page. You move the mittens down and...

There is a little girl, who will have a ribbon in her hair to practice tying.



It's only sketched now. I will color it in and take another picture of it later. For a little reader, they could just practice playing peek-a-boo.

New Mileposts in America

In reading around the net this morning, I read the post of a friend who shared this link. America now has more people employed in government than in manufacturing. Wonder what that will portend? It doesn't bring peaceful feelings to my heart.

Second picture: The increase in mortgage foreclosures.

My Mom was born in 1929. The year of the Great Depression. I have been thinking a lot about how they must have felt then. A young couple with a new baby - and the economy in the hole. Probably not unlike a lot of people feel now. They must have been scared. They must of wondered "why?"

Cookie, Cookie - Which is the Best Cookie?

I found these two totally decadent chocolate chip cookies recipes (did I mention Tom and I started going to Weight Watchers again? If you can't eat, you might as well surf for recipes!)

Since we are practicing self discipline - I'm putting out a request for samplers. Try these two recipes and let me know which one is the best, in your opinion. If I am going to break it down and figure out the points - I want it to be for the best cookie. When the sugar craving gets too bad, I will have a recipe in reserve. There are days when I am perfectly willing to eat salads and veggie soup to trade for a good cookie!

Here we go:

Double Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Annette Brower
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1 ¾ c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3 c. oatmeal
12 oz. chocolate chips, more or less

Bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes




Double Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Kris Smith
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup Crisco
1/4 milk
1 egg
2 2/3 cups oats
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
(I always add about 2 cups chocolate chips)


Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes

Joseph Smith

Class today was interesting. I'm repeatedly humbled by the opportunity teaching Gospel Doctrine gives me to grow and learn. It teaches me HOW to read the scriptures. It creates the curiosity in me to look deeper, research more. Every Sunday, I am the biggest recipient of knowledge.

I'm basically a straight arrow person. And I have to say that getting a testimony of Joseph Smith's vision did not come easily to me. In taking the missionary lessons forty years ago (holy cow - how did that happen? 40 years??!!), there were things that I did not question. I believed that that we should still have prophets and apostles. I believed that I had a "father" in heaven - a personal, loving parent - not some ethereal formless god. He had looked after me for years and I spoke to Him.

I wasn't sure about the Book of Mormon. It was hard for me to read. But - I received a witness that David O. McKay was the living spokesperson for the Lord. He was a prophet. In order for that to be true, all the rest had to be true and I accepted it in faith. I've wondered why my testimony started in that way - but it was enough. For most stuff.

When I went on my mission, we had to memorize the discussions. We had to testify to the fact that we knew that Joseph Smith DID see a vision, that he WAS a prophet. I could repeat his testimony almost word-perfect. But I couldn't bear witness. I COULD (and did) bear testimony that I believed those things to be true. And I felt badly about it. I felt like a phony.

I thank that same loving Heavenly Father for sending me to New York for my mission. I was born in Missouri, the "show me" state. Doing always teaches me more hearing or seeing. I got to see the birthplace of the Restoration. I walked the Sacred Grove - in the snow. I will never forget that day. I felt the spirit there. I didn't get my testimony, but I WAS touched. He knew what I needed.

I came back to California and went to school. I attended church. Sitting in Relief Society, one Sunday, I got my testimony of Joseph Smith. I don't know what the lesson was on that morning. They weren't talking about the Restoration. But the Spirit took me back to that grove and gave me a witness that what I had been testifying to actually DID happen. Faith wasn't necessary any more. I knew.

And there I was today - teaching this wonderful experience - WITH a testimony of it's truthfulness. I don't know. It was just so choice. It was the way I always WANTED it to be like while I was on my mission. I could stand there and FEEL the power behind his words:

"I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."

Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History 1:25

In our little branch we talk a lot about the importance of having a personal testimony of this. We believe that times and occurrences in the world are such that we won't be able to stand the things to come without this personal witness. I know what it is like to be able to say that I know the church is true and yet not be able to say that I KNEW Joseph Smith did indeed have a vision telling him that what he was looking for wasn't on the Earth at that time. I know the peace that knowledge brings. I hope the same is true for you.

We belong to the Church of Jesus Christ. He lives and looks after it as a bridegroom cares for His bride. It's true.

Spring is Coming!

Back in October, I knew the "dark" was coming. I spent a day planting bulbs.

It was a beautiful day when they were planted. We are enjoying the same type of weather this week. I decided to check them again. I now have proof that spring is coming - perhaps sooner here than other places. I can handle the rain and wind that might be coming - I have crocus growing! This is the strawberry pot I wrote about. I planted daffodils and tulips in the top. The crocus was planted in the little "balconies." One has emerged.

I planted two basins of crocus.




As a mortal being, my memory is short. I get depressed when the days get short and there is mostly darkness. The storms wear on me. Our lovely ocean view often gets obscured. Sometimes the waves grow large and threatening.

And then a little bulb pops out of the ground. The promise of spring - and bigger promises come to mind.

First come the crocus. Then daffodils and tulips. The trees start blooming. The forest turns a thousand shades of green as each tree spouts new leaves in its own turn.

Then comes Easter. What a wonderful plan.

Celebrity Sighting in Waldport!!

Who knew Scooby-Do was in town??!

He didn't sign any autographs.

Bead Crochet

I tried combining two of the things I like to play with - beads and crochet. I tried this with Tom's discarded fish line. I thought it might work like those "floating necklaces" I've seen. It's different, but I really like how it looks.

They kind of remind me of Christmas lights. Maybe this would work for your ID badges, too, Samara, Chrissy? It's 20 lb line and has a little built in stretch because of the crochet stitch. What do you think?




The shot below is a necklace I tried making for Faith. I like how it twists.

I made myself a key chain holder, so I could find my keys easier in my bag.

And this little girl's bracelet. I'll have to see if the button/loop fastening works or not.

Sunday -Sunday

Ever have one of those periods when EVERY thing falls apart? It's like a spiral-effect. Things aren't going well. I start feeling depressed and frustrated, which adds negative energy, which saps all my intiative. Everything starts looking hopeless.

I find myself in this cycle over and over. And the answer is always the same. I am becoming casual with Deity. My grasp on temperal success depends on my dedication to spiritual things. Truly. The routine, mandane things build spiritual strength. Provides armor against the attacks of the Advisary. Mine has been growing thin. Now I am just talking about routine prayers and scripture reading. But reducing those leaves me vunerable. The power of the scriptures in my life can not be over-stated.

When I was working nights at the plant, I would get scared - unless I studied my scriptures. I saw it over and over. Still I forget.

We are going to the temple. There is ALWAYS adversity when you are preparing eternal covenants. ALWAYS. I KNOW that. I was even thinking that. Still I wasn't prepared for the direction from which it came.

Somehow, the Spirit got that through to me yesterday. Thank God. Whatever would we do without the Atonement.

Saturday Night

I can feel the brain cells dying by the hour. The boredom is killing me.

WHAT DO RETIRED PEOPLE DO???? I have finished my lesson. I have played computer games. I have facebook-ed. I have crochetted. I'm sick of TV. If I watch another movie I am going to scream.

Five things Tag

I wasn't tagged, but I did it anyway. I read it on Chrissy's blog and thought it would be fun to do. I tag anyone whom is likewise moved.

5 things I was doing 5 years ago:
1. Living in St. Helens, Oregon
2. Working graveyard shift
3. Making beads for girl's camp
4. Working for the City of Portland's Wastewater Plant
5. Enjoying our bird, cat, dog and guinea pigs

5 Things on my to do list for today:
1. Have plumber look at Mom's toilet
2. Replace caulking around roll-in shower
3. Go back to Weight Watchers
4. Get estimates regarding house's settling problem
5. Work on my journal entries

5 things I would do with a million dollars:
1. Buy a house with some acreage
2. Donate to church educational fund
3. Establish college fund for all grand children
4. Go to Alaska
5. Buy camping supplies for the stake

5 Places I have lived:
1. Cortland, NY
2. Hanksville, UT
3. St Helens, OR
4. Rowland Heights, CA
5. Lenexa, KS

5 jobs I have held:
1. Cost Accounting Clerk
2. Accounts Receivable Clerk, NASA, Moffet Field, CA
3. Wastewater Operator
4. Admitting Clerk, on Ortho Ward
5. Driver in Auto Auction

First Week of 2009

We've set another temple date - this time at the Portland Temple. We have an appointment for January 31st, at 2pm. I will be taking Mom to get her endowments Tuesday, the 27th. then she will be sealed to Poppo and Tom and I will be sealed Saturday. David and Jill Bozeman are flying out, so Dave can be Tom's witness. They will only be here for the weekend, but I'm thrilled they can make it.

Found an email address for Ann Finwall and was able to get a short note from her. She is teaching at the satellite college campus in Yreka, which just seems perfect. She says she has been there about a year.

Happy Birthday, Mom

Mom is 80 this year.