Daily Q

Question:  Where would you like to celebrate Christmas next year?  Why?

Answer:  At this point in our family, we have a Christmas schedule every other year with the married kids in-laws.  So for 2012, Christmas is our 'off' year, meaning we will have our Christmas Eve dinner and program, but Christmas Day they will spend with their in-laws families.  Shaun will be in law school and we don't know what his holiday break will be yet.

So, I would say it will be here in California at home, and then go to the cabin the day after for a week and ring in the New Year.

We spent Christmas 2 years ago in Utah and it was a lot of fun.  We wanted to do that again last year, but Meredith and Natalie were pregnant and Meredith was at the end of her pregnancy and the doctor didn't want her to travel. Maybe 2013?  It will depend on who is having babies again and can travel probably.

From One Home To The Other

I think we both would have liked another day or two at the cabin, but it is conference weekend and we want to be home with the kids for our traditions.  Those are important and we hope as their families grow they will continue them.  Conference weekend is some of the best family time ever.

Out of character, I was the first one up and ready.  Duff hadn't slept very well and got some more sleep.  We closed things down, got a breakfast burrito at Beto's--the best ever--and were on our way.  I worked on appliqueing my peony wreath.  The lighting was perfect driving into the sun since we were going west and south.  I'm learning about how important lighting is in sewing and crafting.  I've seen advertisements for Ott lights for decades but always shrugged them off.  Now I am coming to understand their value, especially since I've noticed that as I'm aging--just a little, you know--my eyes aren't quite as sharp in dimmer light while I am crafting.

See how it's coming along?

I love it, and am so proud.

There are two more layers on top of each flower, and 3 buds in each group of vines and leaves.

I chose to do a blanket stitch with one strand of floss.  Our kit came with a green variegated floss, and I've decided it's not my favorite.  I would have gone with a solid for this project, but this is how we learn what we like and what we don't and what works and what doesn't.

This wall hanging won't be perfect by any means, but once I have it quilted and hung I will like being able to go to it and see the mistakes and realize how far I've come one day.

The guys were at Priesthood meeting and Duff met them after for their traditional dinner.  We girls got take out from Cinnamon Productions, visited, and fussed over Ainsley, who has changed so much even in 6 days.  When the guys came home, she heard Josh's voice and whipped her head around to find him.  As soon as he came over to her and started talking to her she broke into the biggest grin that just took over her face.  She loves her daddy!

Daily Q

Question:  What gives you "butterflies in your tummy?"  Why?

Answer:  Trying new things for the first time because I feel vulnerable, Babies, because they are completely precious!, my hubby because I still love him after all these 35 years, public speaking, because it's public speaking,  Christine in goal during a penalty shot because those are the hardest to defend and I am the goalie's mother (it's hard to be a goalie mother.  If the team wins it's all about the team.  If they lose it's all about the goalie...), flying because I'm not a comfortable flyer.  I get airsick from any turbulence. Dramamine is my best friend before a flight. 

Quilting Retreat--Day 4

I had an afternoon class today. 

It was a canvas sampler board.

Canvas fabric silk-screened with patterns to showcase your fun little hand crafts, fabrics, and stitcheries, stretched tight over a frame.

These are the class samples, not mine.

I'm doing mine in blacks, turquoises, with a hint of reds/pinks for Christine's room that we are getting ready to paint.

Look at all the FUN things you can use!

One lady in this class brought several of  her tatting and fine lace crochet small pieces and used them and her shuttles, pins, and supplies to create them and layered them over fabric and felt.  It was beautiful and so personal about her.  It will be a treasure on the walls of her home.

 Our teacher, Sandy Workman from Pine Needles at Gardner Village.

It was nice to finally put her face with her name and voice.  I order a lot online from them.

She is demonstrating how to make felt flowers.  Cute and work up very fast. You can use them to decorate or for pins/brooches, barretts, headbands.  She made two different kinds in 15 minutes or less.

These bracelets were simply darling.

And every item during this class doubles as quilt embellishments.

A two-fer class.

Well, my portion of the retreat is done.

I enjoyed it and learned a lot of new things.

I realized I just might be able to do this after all, and it's okay to be a novice.  My confidence increased.

Although April Mc. put it best:  When you're with about 75-100 Utah Mormon women who have been doing this their whole life, it's a bit humbling!

Here is some quilt 'eye candy'.

 This quilt is called Ferris Wheel.

It was a free gift to all on-site retreaters!  The entire kit.  And all the fabric was already cut!

The picture doesn't do it justice.  It is fun and gorgeous, if those two terms can co-exist.  I should say the pattern if fun, and the quilting is gorgeous.

 A beautiful 9 Patch.

...and of course, real candy, when you need to walk away and clear your head for a second.

(I got these last photos from Diary of a Quilter who was a retreater.)

I will consider going again.

I would want to be a full-time retreat participant.  The give-aways (entire quilt kits, special hand lotions for quilters, rotary cutter covers, charm bracelets with  new charms every day, picnics, pin-cushion exchange), drawings, parades, souvenirs, trunk shows, instruction and tips make it worth it.  I just can't wrap my head around having to pay for the hotel bill if I can stay at my own place.  The gal considered me a 'local'.  I explained to her that I will have driven 1600 miles and used 6 tanks of gas to attend, which-in my opinion-doesn't make me a 'local'.  Hope we can figure that out for next year.

Daily Q

Question:  What makes you cry?

Answer:  When my children are hurting or wronged.  Losing Darla, (sometimes I still cry because I miss her so much.  She was more that a dog to us).  The Gospel can make me cry from peace and happiness and knowing God is real and He knows and loves me.

Quilting Retreat--Day 3

Got to class around 8:50am so I could be set up and ready to begin at 9.

Each morning they had large loaves of homemade wheat bread with butter and jams.

It's the best wheat bread I've ever tasted, for sure.

Today's class was called It All Starts With A Square.

We had prep work for this before we came to be ready.  Remember the 9 baggies of squares I cut last week?

This is how they turned out!

Pretty amazing, huh?

I'm telling you, the teacher moved this class along very fast because we had to cut, sew, iron, sew again, cut again, iron again, etc. and we only had 3 hours to learn all nine squares/patterns.  I liked it and learned a lot.  Something that I've noticed and appreciated is that everyone is very helpful.  If I didn't 'get' something all I needed to do was ask.  Sometimes I was the one who understood something and a person more experienced than me might not have and I could help her.  I liked that because truthfully, I was nervous about being new at this hobby and being overwhelmed.

After class I stopped in at the local quilting store, Seasons of Home.  I'm frustrated with this wool applique not being secured to the center square.  I'm not experienced enough yet to hold and stitch at the same time.  I really regret not knowing the fusible web was an option.  I don't care about 'loft' at this point.  The shop had the answer for me.  Yay!  It is an aerosol can of spray adhesive.  I came home, set them all out on paper toweling and sprayed the backs.  You wait 3-5 minutes and the spray turns tacky.  It makes it easy to place and stays for several weeks so there is plenty of time to do the stitching.  The adhesive diminishes/disappears after that time period.  What a relief!  I also chose a new fabric for the sashing and backing.  The one they provided in the kit wasn't working for me.  Patti laughed and told me I was a quilter after all if I was changing fabric from a kit!

We shall see....!

When I got home this afternoon,  I put a small roast in the oven.  We will eat it tonight and have leftovers tomorrow.  That will make dinners easy with getting ready to drive back to California.



Daily Q

Question:  What scares you about growing older?

Answer:  Disease, cancer, possibly getting fybromyalgia like my mom has.  Being alone if Duff dies first.  Losing independence.

Quilting Retreat--Day Two

Up and out the door for my next morning class.  Today I needed to bring my sewing machine and all my quilting supplies: rotary cutter, cutting mat, etc.

I took a class called The Peony Wreath wall hanging.  It is cute, but my reason for choosing this class was not so much about the end result project itself as it was about the different techniques used in it that I would learn.

I learned a technique called 'The Method' to make itty-bitty 9 patch squares that will be used as a border.

I learned to use freezer paper as a pattern.

I learned how to applique wool.

I learned sashing.

I learned binding.

The pattern called for us to use fusible webbing to secure the individual pieces of wool to the center square backing.  Our teacher didn't do that because she likes the little bit of loft that wool gives if left alone just to stitch.  For me as a novice, that isn't working.  I don't have that experience. It's too late to use it now, so I will have to figure something out.  It just seems like a lot of work to baste the whole thing or staple it.  Next time, I will use the fusible webbing.

I went home today and finished up all the rest of the teeny-tiny 9 patch squares and laid out the wool pieces of the wreath.  It looks good and I'm happy with how it's coming together.

Tonight, Duff and I met up with Dave Nicholls for some dinner at Tarahumara mexican restaurant in town.  It was great to see him and we had a good visit.  He came up to the cabin after and we visited for a while more. 

Daily Q

Question:  If you had one opportunity to sing before a huge crowd--and you had the promise of a wonderful voice for that one song--what would you choose to sing, and who would your audience be?

Answer:  As with most of these questions, the answer might be different on any given day or season of life, but today, right now, I would say that I would want to sing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the song would be Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing and the audience would be in the Conference Center for a Music and The Spoken Word program.

Quilting Retreat--Day One

Today the Quilting Retreat kicked off.

When I arrived, you could feel the excitement in the crisp air.

Everyone was waiting outside the conference center for the doors to open so they could go in and get set up for the week.

I met up with the gals from home.  It was good to see everyone.

This is the conference center that was turned into all things quilty for the week.  The two ends were curtained off and used as smaller classrooms for individual classes.  The center area had tables, ironing stations, cutting stations, snack stations, and a mini store set up.  Each quilter had their own table large enough to pretty much accomodate everything they needed to for their projects.

Since I did not stay on site, I was not able to participate in the full experience. 

(Still don't understand how that works, just pro-rate the thing, but it's not up to me I guess.) 

Today, I took a knitting class.

It was really fun.

I haven't knitted since I was in Primary in the Firelight class.  It came back pretty well.  We are making a 'Potato Chip Scarf'.  It twists around and looks like a stack of Pringles when it's done.  Very cute.  Depending on the yarn weight, it will turn out differently.  Heavier yarn, thicker and wider.  Lighter weight, smaller and finer.  I learned that 'fingering weight' is baby weight yarn or sock yarn.  Those are small.  I got the stitches down and the pattern down just fine, but kept inadvertantly increasing my stitches.  I finally realized it and had to rip the whole thing out. :(

I got it going again and figured out what I was doing.  I wasn't making sure when I took the stitch from one needle to the next that the tension yarn over went behind instead of staying in front.  Ahhh.  I was so glad I figured that out.

The scarf is darling and it would make really cute, fun gifts.

I came home at lunch time.

Knitted the afternoon away.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

Daily Q

Question:  What do you like about growing older?

Answer:  I'm getting better at taking things in stride.  I appreciate others gifts and talents more instead of comparing myself to them.  I think my perspective of life is more realistic than when I was younger.  I'm realizing that no one can have it all; if it appears that way just remember it isn't.  I like seeing my children growing up and watching them.  I see so much of myself in them at that stage of my life, only they are better.  I like being more comfortable with myself and my thoughts.  I am more forgiving of others and myself as well.  I don't carry around as much guilt as I did when I was younger.  I'm learning to let go of things and be more patient.

On The Drive

Packed and out the door.
I slept from Cajon Pass to Las Vegas.  How did that happen?  I must have really relaxed and been out.  That's okay, because that's the worst part of the drive for me anyway.  It made the trip seem shorter.

I like these kinds of drives where Duff and I can just be silent or have whatever conversation we want.  I read a magazine and some of Daughters In My Kingdom.  I read a great interview with the general RS President, Julie B. Beck.  I have always liked and admired her.  The first time I met her was about 15 years ago at a regional training meeting when I was serving on the stake YW board.  I was so impressed with her calm demeanor yet commanding presence in conducting the meeting.  She deferred to the brethren respectfully, but was clearly in charge.  I also remember the scriptural knowledge she had and how she wove that together with the YW program.  I've observed those same qualities as she has led the Relief Society.  She has served for a while now and I have a feeling she may be released soon.  When that happens, I will miss her direction and personality a lot.  She is strong in a very loving but direct way.

All things at the cabin were in order.  We were greeted by two dead mice right in the great room.  Completely normal for being in the mountains, but always makes me let out a little scream.  We stopped at the grocery store on our way in and grabbed a few things for some dinner and breakfast tomorrow.  I reset the clocks, and turned on the Christmas tree.  It is always Christmas in Midway! We are settled in.

Daily Q

Question:  If you could change your average daily routine in any way, how would you change it and why?

Answer:  I would make better use of my time.  Then again, where I'm at now I think it's okay to sit and read a book, or take a few and sit outside at the patio table and think.  I used to subscribe to the thought process that every single minute needs to be filled with doing something.  Accomplishing a task.  And my calendar still reflects some of that, BUT, now I'm coming to learn that making good use of my time often means taking some time for myself as well.  The house doesn't have to be quite so perfectly perfect and dinner can be simpler.  Although I'm still hard on myself on occasion about that.  Sometimes I have the tv on too much with my dvr'd shows.  I mostly work while they are on, but I do catch myself getting caught up in a few of them and sit for a while to watch.

I'm a night person, and sometimes I think it would be nice to become a morning person.

Finishing The Weekend

--Up early for a stewardship interview with the Stake Presidency.  They are good men and I appreciate their input and counsel.  They had many questions and we had a great discussion.

--Home to get dinner going.

--Our last Ward Conference visit.  On the one hand I'm glad they are finished, but on the other I will miss having them.  Each theme and message was different for the wards and I learned many things and appreciated their indiviuality. I truly loved being in each Primary.  Good, good leaders and precious children.

--Josh, Mere, and Ainsley came by to bring some boxes of things that needed to be taken to UT, and they stayed for dinner.  They made crepes and fresh fruit for our dessert.  It's one of our favorites.

--Got things ready to leave in the morning.  Duff and I are excited to go.

Daily Q

Question:  Have you ever made a REALLY dumb mistake?  (Don't lie!) Can you tell about it now?

Answer:  Yes. 

Here are just two. 

1-  When Duff and I were first married, I got a box of recipe cards from an Aunt.  She had gathered and saved them from a monthly company that was doing a promotion.  New Year's Day was coming and I wanted to make an impression on my Hubby with my 'new' cooking skills.  I saw a recipe card and the pictured looked really delicious.  It was chicken livers and scrambled eggs.  I thought, okay:  I like chicken livers and I like scrambled eggs.  The presentation was beautiful.  My New Year's Day breakfast table was a picture straight out of a magazine.  The food was AWFUL.  Duff was spitting it back out onto the plate.  I was devasted until I took a bite.  We just had to laugh.  I've never made or served something since that I wasn't fairly sure would be edible!  And we still laugh about the horrible chicken liver and scrambled egg breakfast when we relate it to our kids.  They all know the story.

2--This one is a little more sensitive and sobering.  It hurts to admit it, however I learned a valuable lesson.  I was a young YW president.  We were in a social setting with some friends and their families some of whom were also on the YW board with me.  I tried so hard to set a good example and do what was right.  I took it very seriously.  Not that the other women I served with didn't, but I was bothered by the fact that some of them didn't think anything was wrong with going to R-rated movies, and most of the girls knew it.  I had struggled with do I say anything? do I let it go? it was so important to set and be an example to these vulnerable girls who were learning to make decisions.  Please don't misunderstand what I am saying.  These women were wonderful people.  Many of them were older than me and I looked up to them.  I was young and learning to be a leader. 

Long story short:  We were all gathered around a picnic table talking about movies and what was out, what we had seen, what we wanted to see.  It was women and daughters who were in the YW program.  One particular current movie came up.  It was rated R.  These women had seen it and were saying that it wasn't that good or worth going to.  My heart started pounding and I took that as an opening to say something.  I don't remember the exact words, but it was something like, "And that's why as YW leaders we obey the prophet and don't go to R-rated movies!"

It went completely silent.  If I could have willed the earth to open up and swallow me I would have.  Everyone stood up and the subject changed.  A few minutes later one of my friends and fellow YW leaders asked if she could talk to me.  We left the others and went for a walk in the park.  She let me have it right between the eyes with both barrels.  How dare I call her out on her use of agency especially in front of her children.  It was none of my business.  I burst into tears, apologized, which at the time she would not accept and she left me standing there.  She was one of my best friends.

We were several families on a camping trip together and there was no where to go.  I had to pull it together publically.  I cried myself to sleep in our tent that night while Duff had his arms around me.

What I learned:  It was a REALLY dumb mistake.  I need to check my words before I say them.  It wasn't the last time I probably haven't said something the right way or hurt someone's feelings, but I do try harder now to assess the situation first.  I learned to apologize, I learned to forgive.  I learned to be careful.  I learned not to put a parent down in front of their children.  I would have not liked that either.  I learned that over time friendships can be repaired if both parties are willing and they can be stronger for it.  She and I are still friends today, about 25 years later.

Arise and Shine Forth

We got home from the lacrosse tournament with only a few minutes to get ready for the YW General Broadcast.  Chris got in the shower fast and I freshened up and we drove to the Stake Center.  We made it as the opening song was being sung.  We were both so tired.  The program was worth every bit of our busy day to be at.  The messages were timely and good.  The music uplifting and inspiring. We both had a smile and chuckle when Sister Mary Cook, during her talk, showed a picture of her Primary embroidery sampler:  I Will Bring The Light of The Gospel Into My Home.  It is the same one I did when I was a Primary girl and I have since had it professionally framed and it hangs in our bedroom.

We got some dinner at Miguel's restaurant and visited Joanne's so I could gather up some last minute supplies for the quilting retreat next week.  We had a really nice time and good talks together. 

I love you, Chris!

Sticks and Stones Lacrosse Tourney

As soon as our day camp site was cleaned and 'left better than we arrived' (Boy Scout rule...), I drove down the canyon to make it to Christine's last game of the tournament.

 Action Shots.

 After the game, the goalie leads the team in a respectful high-five with their competitors.

 Face-Off.

Look at the ball position between the two sticks.

Very tricky.

It gets thrown up in the air and whichever team gets it first has the offense.

 Team yells.

Get that adrenaline pumping.

 Teamwork.

 In the goal.

It was a shut-out.

 Fighting for that ball.

 Christine saved this penalty shot to keep the shut out.

(The newspaper article)

Surprising many with their rapidly developing skills, the JV girls lacrosse are making a definite impression in southern Orange County. In the annual Sticks and Stones tournament, the Tesoro girls brought up the intensity in their game against Corona Del Mar High School but fell short 2-4. They returned with a win of 6-2 against El Toro, and ended the tournament with a shut out ( yeah, that's our goalie girl:  CHRISTINE!) against the renowned Mater Dei. The wins were a true success, but the memories of the event proved just as wonderful. Sophomore Faith Duarte said “the best part of the tournament was definitely playing hard and growing together as a team. I thought it was going to be pretty exhausting but there was never a dull moment; the spirits were high and everyone was so supportive and positive. Overall it was an awesome experience and I would for sure do again!”

Most importantly, the strong bonds played a huge role in their success. Sophomore Leah Jelaco said, “the whole team worked really hard and everyone contributed to the wins and the scores really showed how far we have all come to work together.”

The shutout against Mater Dei was magical. It is a private religious school with one of the best programs in socal.  Their coach used to be our coach until she accepted a position there this year.

Go Titans!

Eleven Year Old Scout Day Camp

It turned out fantastic.

No rain after all, only a little bit damp and foggy.  Better that than too hot.

All of the rotations were fabulous.

The first aid 'victims' were more than perfect.  The wounds looked right out of a hollywood movie.  Especially the compound fracture.  It made me a little bit queasy when I first saw it.

The boys learned a lot.  We leaders learned just as much.  We always evaluate after an activity, conference, etc.  What would we repeat, what would we change, did it meet our objectives, and so on.

Lunch was really good.  There is always something unique about eating outdoors.

 Flag ceremony and patrols.

Axes and Knives.

They learned safety, handling, splitting logs, sharpening.

I learned things I never knew before too.

No injuries.  Phew.  You know--boys and knives.

Our secretary was the designated photographer today.  I quit taking pictures once I realized I didn't need to, so these are the only ones I got of the day.  I was too busy rotating around with the boys and doing the food.

The boys had fun and earned their Totin' Chip card which will be presented to them at their next Court of Honor.  Scouting in Primary is complex.  You have one foot in Cub Scouts with the 8-10 year olds and the other foot in Boy Scouts with the 11 year olds.  You need to know and be able to function in both parts and sit on both committees.  It's a big job. A lot of people don't realize that.  I kept looking at those cute boys with messy hair and dirty fingernails and thought how they will be receiving the Priesthood this year.  It made me smile.

It was successful and we all--boys and leaders--had a great time.

At closing ceremonies we did our Stake Leader Patrol yell:

Don't Mess!

Don't Mess!

Don't Mess with the Best, 'cause the Best don't Mess!

Don't Fool!

Don't Fool!

Don't Fool with the Cool, 'cause the Cool don't Fool!

Don't Mess with the Best, Don't Fool with the Cool--

DON'T MESS!

Yeah.  We yelled it till our throats hurt.

It was fun, and the boys eyes and mouths were wide open and the ward leaders were on the ground laughing.