My sister said "You also took the fall off; now update that blog"

O.k. - o.k. o.k.  So I have become slothful . . . I mean, I am still.  BUT -  Here are some photos of events of the fall:

Love those new grandbabies who arrived in the summer.  Easton Matthew and Preston Wade.  Both were "blessed" in the Fall, so that is good 'fall' news.

Easton

(He's first since he is a whole week older than Preston)

That cute blanket was made by Kristine - Jason's wife.

Above:  Jamie holding Easton 'in the buff'

Below:  look at that cute little cowlick in front.  That is quite a swirl!

Easton dressed in his blessing outfit.  He looks pretty handsome I think.

Just a side note: On Easton's blessing day, this guy got up and walked to the podium as if he were going to address the audience with his testimony.  He did, in a way.  He got up and dedicated a song to BOTH babies and then on the piano he 'played' his testimony . . .  "I need thee every hour".  It was so, so beautiful.   I just thought, "Wow, this guy is really good!"  I was thrilled.  I thought to myself that I ought make sure I sought him out to tell him how wonderful the song was - thinking that maybe he didn't know how beautifully he played (like I do - it's always nice to hear that you did o.k.).  However, I didn't see him again and never got to say how wonderful it was.  It was not until we left the meeting and went to Jamie's house for dinner that I found out, uhhh! Duhhh! Yeah, he probably knows he has a bit of talent there - that was Michael McClean . . . do I feel dumb!  I bet though, he still likes to know he did o.k.

I do believe Easton looks a LOT like his daddy.

Note in the photo below - Matt can never not claim this child.

Note Matt's cowlick!!!

Speaking of looking like his daddy . . .

Preston & Wade

I adore this photo!

We were there with the family in September (as I mentioned in my last posting)

but we missed Preston's blessing day by one day.

By the way, I think Preston looks more like me

than any of my children,

let alone my grandchildren.

O.k. maybe just his hair color.

Unfortunately I can't claim any gene pool contributions

to this sweetie beautiful child.

But I love them both just the same.  

Thanks Wade and Cristy for arranging that for me!

Preston - you little doll!

* * * * *

Now the reason I missed the fall updating was because of this Play we were in . . . Savior of the World.  I will be posting that soon.  But in the meantime, here is Halloween at our house.  Isabelle and Gabrielle visiting us.

So happy Halloween and Thanksgiving . . . 'till we meet again.

I took the summer off

Hi friends and family. I love you.  Did you miss me????

Well, maybe not . . . I may be talking to just myself right now - and yes, I miss me - posting on my blog . . . If anyone had stuck around to read it at this point they would be dusty and old.  "Tis o.k. - but I do plan to post more things.  Gosh, I guess I just needed the summer off!

Since my last post, we had a gaggle of birthdays, but especially noteworthy were the birth days of my two newest grandchildren, Easton and Preston.  I don't think my daughter Jamie and her husband Matt coordinated their baby's name with my son Wade his wife Cristy's baby name on purpose. I'll be posting some photos.

I have been traveling quite a bit with my job.  Mostly to the St. George area and southern Utah.  I usually stay in this wonderful bed and breakfast there across the street from Brigham Young's Summer home.  You should go there . . . really!  It is called the Seven Wives Inn.

THEN

Jim and I went home to Cowley - love my home town. 

Love my mom and Dad.  Is this just so cute?

Dad mowing his acres of grass

with a push mower. 

He's 80!!! 

Oh! I took my turn, don't worry!

We also went out to the Denver area to see Wade and family.  You know, we have not been anywhere for years, literally. 

And we stopped here at this lovely restaurant to eat

while we were on our way there. 

NOTHING is too good for us! 

As you can see, we went ALL out!

Our sandwiches we packed were quite tasty.

We visited Rocky Mountain National Park during the 'elk rut' . . . 

You just can't believe the elk. 

The people there live with them as if they were tame cows.

  Here's pappa watching over his harem. 

If any other bull gets too close,

It's hell to pay for the poor hapless intruder . . .

unless he's bigger . . .  Then there's real trouble.

The whole harem leaves their man for the new guy

without complaint.  That's loyalty for you.

(you've got to enlarge this one)

My Granddaughter, Morgan - don't worry, she is perfectly safe here!

Postcard for Grandma and Grandpa Hardie

AND

We also visited the LDS Conference center this summer - they had an art exhibit from contributors from members from all over the world.  It was wonderful, and these are my personal favorites:

This one is entitled "They Did Not Doubt"

I just wept!

*

I also loved this scultpure

 

It is called "Mary and Martha"

Mary looking up with her spiritual eyes, scriptures in hand.  Martha looking down to earth, and holding a basket of produce to care for her families earthly needs.  We need to have balance as these two are doing.

(I'm sorry I am not giving credit to the artists.  I neglected to get the information)

Ohhhhh!  And finally . . . Our family is in a stake play called "Savior of the World".  My kids and my husband now hate me immensely cause they think I succored them into auditioning.  Jon and Ammon still have yet to actually attend a practice.  However, they have minor parts, so I think they will catch on.  But they are supposed to be singing.  That's going to be a trip - whew!  Jim, on the other hand, has a speaking part AND he has to grow a beard.  Now Jim has never in his life had a beard other than a few days 'sick leave' from shaving. Yes, they are all shooting blood from their eyes, but I just know it will be this great family experience . . .  well, please pray for me, would you?  

Oh, it is soooooo, soooo funny! . . . we discovered Jim has no chin hair in the front . . .  pictures to come.

JOY

Things to be Thankful for:

This is the joyful face of Granddaughter Macey.

Take a walk with me on Memorial day

I love graveyards - I don't think they are scary places at all . . . except in scary movies. In real life, I think they are peaceful. The epitaphs on some of the old gravestones are often funny, insightful, or just really odd. I like to look at them all. I travel a bit with my work, and I often stop at graveyards just to take a look at the old ones.

Natural Spring in the Memorial Park in Parowan, Utah

One of the oddest graves I have ever seen is a grave in the Peoa cemetery where a very large boulder rolled down the mountain and landed atop an unmarked grave. The good people of Peoa then put a plaque on the boulder explaining the circumstances of the poor soul buried there. Apparently he was one of the Mobbers who murdered the prophet Joseph Smith in Carthage.

Why he would move to Utah is beyond me (considering the story is true). In any case, the man was not liked, apparently, and was not nice, apparently, and when he met his maker he was all alone in his demise as his house burned down around him. When he was finally found, they buried him in a far corner of the Peoa cemetery, far away from any other family graves. They really did not like this guy apparently.

The plaque on the boulder tells the story, and whomever placed the history there believed the boulder was fitting - never wanting him coming out of that grave, I guess. I don't have a picture yet, but I will take one to prove I didn't make this up.

Here are some photos of other graves I did take pictures of.

I stopped in Parawan, where some of my Grandfather Eyre's
side of the family settled, lived and died.

This grave stone represents
my Grandfather Eyre's Great Grandmother,
Elizabeth Collins Gillins, born 7 Sep 1799
in Newton, Lincolnshire, England.
The children buried with her are her grandchildren
who died in infancy or as little children.

This next grave marks the resting place of my great great grandmother,
Susan Fish Smith, born 13 Mar 1824 in Norwich, Norfolk, England.

This is a grave I have photographed before; (in fact, I think I have it posted on my blog somewhere). But here's an updated one.

Great great Grandma's grave looks the same. I look older. I guess I should just have posted the old photo, but life does march on. We are talking grave stones here, after all. I may have one foot in there, so my children think.

How about this guy?

Just outside of Milford, Utah I ran upon this handsome fellow.

Milford sports at least one individual's odd and funny sense of humor. As you drive by, the lights of this old vehicle light up. That's when you look over and notice the driver. He may be more Halloween-like than memorial-like, but it was the funnest part of the graveyard walks.


This is a ghost town grave yard up Spanish Fork Canyon

This graveyard hold no significance to me, personally,
except that it is very well tended
and an interesting place, so I stopped to take photos.

I found that there were far more lizards there than graves.
The place was abuzz with the creatures.

Speaking of Ghost towns. I also stopped at Silver City


It's a lonely Ghost town these days.
I snapped this photo, but it is colored in photoshop.
It just looks fitting as a memorial, don't you think?

My Mother - Leta Eyre Marchant

Leta Eyre - 8th grade

Leta Eyre
High School Graduation photo

My very first memory in this world is of my mother. It is not a visual one but I remember it well. We had an old rocking chair; it creaked with every back and forth motion and I listened to it's repetitive complaint with my eyes closed. It wasn't an annoying sound. No, it was more of a quiet sound of old wood complaining only a little under the weight, but perfectly at home with my mother and I in it. I actually had no ability to reason about wood squeaking or rocking chairs. But that sound was a comfort to me and completes the rest of the memory - the tender and joyful feeling of my mother holding me close, the motion of her rocking, and the repetitive sound I heard in that chair.

Actually, I think she was nursing me. I remember just being exceptionally close, comforted and completely at peace with the world around me. It was a spiritual feast if not a nutritional one. You probably don't think I'm serious. Well, the memory, as I said, is not a visual one - only sound and touch . . . and as close to God (in this world) as one can get. Yes! I do remember it, and be assured that my memory would not make THAT one up. 'Tis real all right.

To this day I am always trying to repeat that same comfortable and spiritual feeling. I am motivated by peace. Very little ever comes close, but occasionally the Spirit of God gives me a glimpse of it in other spiritual moments.

My Favorite Place to Be

I was very close to my mother as a tot. Being shy, I always reached for her to save me. My mother used to wear 'everyday dresses' almost . . . . well, every day. They had full skirts and I found that if trouble was nearby, all I had to do was grab a hold of her skirt and twist. I was in a little cabbage roll of material. I could feel my mom's warm legs in contact comfort, and I believed there was nothing, once I was in there, that could harm me. No doubt she was quite uncomfortable and exasperated, but I don't ever remember her scolding me for doing that. It was a great place.

Then I have this humorous and indelible memory of my mother washing the dishes. It seemed like she was always washing dishes. Mom sort of twisted from side to side in perpetual motion as her arms scrubbed the canning bottles. This would set her bottom in motion too. I thought it quite interesting (though I am sure she would be mortified to think THAT is what I was watching) as she scrubbed away, jiggling to and fro. And as she jiggled, she always sang. ALWAYS! I just thought that every mother sang when they did the dishes; it was just what mothers are supposed to do. It wasn't until much later I realized MY mother was special that way - singing that is. Nearly All mothers jiggle, I discovered. At least the good ones.

I do, however, look behind be now when I wash dishes to see if I am jiggling as I'm singing. I inherited both traits.

I used to have bad dreams. Really bad dreams. (I won't go into my dream world, that's another blog entry). When I had those, I just HAD to find my mother to make it better. That was a difficult proposition however, as I was also terribly afraid of what was underneath my bed. I thought devils lived there, so I was forced to jump as far out and away from my bed as I could to get away from the unspeakble things there on the underside of the bed. I would run downstairs and there my momma always tucked me in beside her in bed. It wasn't often, really, However, when I was 16 years old, tears streaming down my face, she tucked me in once more. That was a BAD dream, and I needed it.

If I could remove from my memory (and hers) of my teen age years, I'd do it in a heart beat. I am sure I caused her tender heart pain and anguish, and I nearly can't stand to think of it without terrible sorrow. My mom is so precious; she did not deserve the heartbreak I gave her. I think my crimes seem far worse than they actually were, just because my guilt about hurting her is so keen. Growing up in those teen years was just the pits for me, (as it is for many teenagers) and I didn't do it very well. Ouch, it still hurts. Oh Mom, I'm so sorry.

Leta in 1987

Mom is now 80 years young.

There is so much more to say, but I only have this little bit of space to say it.
In short - I would still let her tuck me in when I have a bad dream if I could.
She is an angel among us.
I love you Mom!

April Snow and the Fence

As he stood there alone, the April snow pelted him in the face. It's not supposed to snow in late April. Shivering, Ammon didn't dare move. The cement hadn't set up enough yet and the fence post had to be straight. Only five more to go. With no one to help him he perservered in the April Snow. He had but one more day to finish the fence for me, build three gates, get his car registered, kiss his girlfriend goodbye, pack and move to Chicago for a summer job.

Oh, my Ammon, you are a winner in my book. Of course you knew that already. But even through your gentle murmurings, (or maybe not so gentle in the snow storm) you never the less just kept on doing the fence until it was complete. Even a paid man with lesser fortitude than you would have called it quits. You did this out of . . . . hmmm - love? Loyalty? GUILT? (chuckle).

The fence is fantastic! You said, "it's crooked mom" - but I think it is the best kind of crooked, and in a snow storm!!!!

Oh, you know, Marnee and I helped a little on Friday, and Matthew (bless him) helped finish the last remaining gate as the dark settled in so Ammon could take his sweetheart out on the town.

Ammon playing with Daisy - April 2009

You are amazing! But you know, I hate Chicago (Ammons co-worker was mugged the first week they were there - they even took his notebook. Ammon says they are in a better neighborhood now). Please be careful and prayerful! I LOVE YOU!

This Was My Day - How was Yours?

PART I

I heard the voices of the KSL announcers in the background of my dream somewhere. Amanda and Grant were talking about . . . I was slowly awakened as usual by my clock radio at 5:00 a.m. This same old routine begins my every work day morning. However, today I lightly snoozed an extra 20 minutes before I realized "Oh shoot, I had better get up . . . Oh shoot, I'm gonna' be late."

Actually, I do this same thought process every morning and I manage to get to work somehow. Although I think I ought to change my morning thought processes, when I am only half awake I don't have constructive thoughts or even processes - ugh! - I am just not a morning person.

However, I have to be at work at 7:00 a.m. My drive time, depending on traffic, can be up to an hour. On good days, 40 minutes - so hmmmm! . . . I should leave by 6:00 a.m. I guess I just always plan that the traffic that day will be good. Poor planning, I know!

Anyway, back to this morning - you see my routine was a little disturbed by the 'power outage' at 5:30ish - What perfect timing - I had just emerged from the shower and I was in total darkness. Not a light anywhere. "Uh Oh!" I realized as Daisy licked my bare leg, "she needs out . . . clothes, I need clothes, where are my clothes?"

I thought to myself "Self - where are your flashlights you have prepared for your emergency preparedness?" (note that for later).

I managed to feel my way to my dresser, count down the number of drawers 1, 2, 3, 4 to my underwear, and pick some out. (Putting them on took longer than I expected and I have no idea as of this writing if my underwear is actually inside out or not). As I helplessly rummaged for a bra I thought, "so this is what it is like to be blind and dress every day?" I then remembered to be grateful for eyesight and wondered how I actually was going to pick out an outfit for work?"

You know, if I were more organized like my sister, my clothes would all be neatly hung in a row by color, texture and genre. I'm not - Dang! (note that for later). Well, what to do? Oh! Yeah! I remembered that I had hung a pair of Khaki pants with a belt already attached to it on the edge of the pre-made closet organizer in my walk in closet. Clothes are not really supposed to be hung there, I just got lazy a week or so ago and didn't put them away properly. At the moment, I thought that must have been a brush of genius, "I can wear those, and the shirt I didn't put away - it was on top of the organizer."

"Now these clothes," I was thinking, "are not really the best office attire." Hmmmm, but at least I knew they wouldn't clash, like striped gray pants and a plaid maroon and brown jacket or something. I found the ill put clothes with relative ease and happily put them on.

By this time the dog was scratching me. Oh, Yeah! I had a lantern in the garage all set up for emergencies, I remembered. In fact, that lantern was supposed to come on automatically when the power goes out. I tripped (literally) down the stairs and out to the garage with my dog Daisy in tow to find it. Daisy really didn't much care about the dark problem. "How the heck does she see in the dark?" I wondered.

Problem! I reached the garage and I couldn't find the lantern which is SUPPOSED to already be lit. "IT'S NOT THERE! Shoot!" (Note that for later)

I pushed the garage door opener. Nothing - then I realized I could not open the garage door. Dang! I had to open it to put the dog out on her chain - but no power - Duh! I wondered where that red hand pull thingy was - what's it called? The 'red rope thingy with a handle on it to unlock the garage door so I can lift the door by hand thingy' . . .thing. "Shoot!" I couldn't find it . . . . could not find it . . . "shoot!" (and no, I was not swearing unless shoot is a swear word).

Daisy was restless. "Daisy, stop scratching me!" I begged - "O.K. Let's think. Well, if I open the car door, I'll have light! Good thinking! - but where are my car keys? . . . oh shoot, where?"
Oh Whew! In my unorganized fashion I realized that I had left the car unlocked. I opened the door and Wa La! the interior light beamed like a beacon on a light house. Well, not that bright but I could now at least see the pull rope AND the dog's chain. Dog out, another chore taken care of.

Back into the house I went. Now I searched and searched for my phone and keys. They are attached purposely to each other so I never leave my phone behind when I drive away, and the phone attached to the keys helps me remember not to misplace my keys . . . ingenious for someone with my problem. O.k., so it's not so ingenuous, but still, works for me. By the way, it's not my old age causing my senility; I have been like that forever! Ammon inherited it - sorry Ammon!

Anyway, as I was saying, I searched everywhere for my keys . . . everywhere that I would normally put my phone - but dang it was dark - Pitch Dark. "Where is that flashlight!" I realized at this point I had to wake up Ammon. "Ammon, call my phone, the power is out and I can't find it in the dark."

Ammon called as instructed, and by golly, there was my phone . . . on the stairs???? Why on earth did I leave my phone (and keys) on the stairs? I would never have found them in the dark. However, now I had a little light - my cell phone glowed in the dark. "Hmmmm, if it is fully charged I can see to find my shoes," I thought. I remembered, though, that my phone needed to be charged (note that for later) so I used the light sparingly.

Problem . . . my hair was wet. "I have to go to work with my hair wet and no makeup?" Ahhh! (swear word may have passed through my brain momentarily but I didn't say it nor entertain it . . . I was not going to resort to such baseness). I realized I would have no food for lunch either! NO! I DID NOT SWEAR but it was leaking out of my pours. I asked for forgiveness.

I found my shoes and socks using my cell phone light. Then I had to search for some kind of bag to pack up my makeup and blow dryer. "I'll just have to get ready for work AT work," I decided. By this time, according to my cell phone it was 6:20. I had been puttering around in the dark for almost an hour? I have to be to work at 7:00????

Then, just as I was leaving the house, the power came on! "Ohhhh! Thank heavens I don't have to show up at work looking like THIS," I thought. Then in complete disbelief, I looked down at what I was wearing. It was a completely different outfit than I thought I was wearing. In fact I had on blue jeans!

(Note - we do NOT wear blue jeans at work). I noted that My black and silver belt did not exactly look superior with my brown shoes, tan socks, red shirt AND I was in blue jeans. How did I find those blue jeans? Yes! I was late for work!

PART II

You thought this day was done? NOT finished. I had to do audits today on several of my licensees, including a strip club called Pinky's. I walked into the dark square box shaped building and fortunately saw nothing particularly noteworthy. There were only a few old men playing pool on a pink pool table. No dancers, just an empty stage with a pole in the center. The bartender informed me that the owner was not there - she told me that the owner's wife had her baby and he (the owner) would be gone until Monday. I guess a baby is a little more important that an audit. Do strip club owner's wives actually have babies???? Do strip club owners actually have wives???? Would you be married to a strip club owner???? I live a self imposed sheltered life I guess.

So, with nothing to be done but reschedule this audit, I decided to leave. Now that my eyes were sufficiently adjusted to the darkened room, I noted that the inside of the club was painted in pink and brown stripes and that the old guys (probably my age) were staring at me. I decided I'd rather not strike up a conversation.

I took my big black leather bag with my audit materials and opened the pink and brown striped door to leave . . . and . . . there I stared at a very dark small closet - errr! Well, no, there's a men's urinal??? Where was my car? Why was there a urinal in the closet?? I was momentarily highly confused. "Oh! Shoot - pull yourself together girl." I started laughing. I heard one of the guys chime in, "Both doors look alike," as I noticed the sign that said "MEN" sort of hidden in the stripes. By this time I fully realized I had picked the wrong door?

I looked over and saw the actual door I needed which would lead me out to freedom. It was right next to the one I had just pulled open. I turned around and faced the now smiling men and truthfully said, "I'm sure glad none of you were in there." I didn't wait to hear the guffaws and taunts that I'm sure followed me out the door.

But you can laugh at me if you want to!

Denim to Lace to a Mother's Grace

This is Jamie's new profile . . .

Update - Jem won the naming contest so I rewrote the Title to fit.

My lovely youngest daughter


. . . She and her husband Matt are expecting
their baby boy in July.
Jamie laments that the baby is
overly large for his wee in utero age.
(She must have inherited my propensity
to have very large babies - poor child).
So, we have been taking photos along the way to
document the event.
This is one I took last Sunday.

However, when I downloaded this picture I was rather stunned. Notice the print on the wall behind Jamie; it is a painting that she posed for as a young girl. The artist is Greg Olsen and his painting is entitled "Denim to Lace."

What I noticed however, is the look on the face of my daughter in the painting and her face in the photo in which she is now posed. Take a close look . . . they are nearly mirrored. Gosh! still so, so, much alike. A little more grown up, but that not much, really (thanks Matt for robbing the cradle)! But I see the beautiful serenity in both faces - they look alike, and it is very touching.

Oh yeah! . . . she has one very prominent difference - (I'm so sorry, very bad humor).

But for Jamie (and for me) a NEW phase, "Denim to Lace to . . . . cotton?" (as in burp rags?) That doesn't sound very sweet. How about "Denim to Lace to arms filled with love?" O.K., How about a contest for the best caption on the photo since I'm not doing so well.

All jokes aside, this reminds me of a Harry Belefonte song my mom taught me (and I sang in a music program at church when I was a little girl).

Turn Around

by Harry Belafonte, Malvina Reynolds and Alan Greene

Where are you going, my little one, little one,
Where are you going, my baby, my own?
Turn around and you're two,
Turn around and you're four,
Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door.
Turn around, turn around,
Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door.

Where are you going, my little one, little one,
Little dirndls and petticoats, where have you gone?
Turn around and you're tiny,
Turn around and you're grown,
Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own.
Turn around, turn around,
Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own.

Whatever phase Jamie is in, she has always been beautiful
and the photo and the song made me cry.

It Rocks to be seven - Joshua's birthday party

Joshua turned SEVEN and we celebrated in true kid style at Boondocks.

I have to digress here . . . Don't cha' just love those blonde curls?

Joshua counting his tickets for the games at Boondocks

Joshua lived with us (Grandma and Grandpa) for several years and Jim used to relentlessly tease him that he took 'curly hair pills' every day. Josh used to just go right along with the silliness and tell us that he did in fact, take 'curly hair pills'.

I am so jealous. How can I get my hands on some of those pills? Josh rightly get his blonde curls naturally - They're just like his Momma's . . .

Holly and Matt

. . . only Holly straightens out her curls. How come I want curls like Holly and Joshua, and yet Holly goes to great lengths to make her hair straight like mine? Issabelle (below)

Isabelle, Becca and Margaret

has curls too, (Holly's daughter sitting on Becca's shoulders - see her cute locks?) which reminds me, Becca's hair will curl too if she lets it. BUT she brushes HERS out straight too!

Don't we always want what we don't have? Or is it just me? In my 'old age' I finally decided to leave my hair straight and quit fighting it. Well, except for the gray - I'm fighting that still. Yeah! I'm fighting that big time!

Sooooo - back to the topic at hand. Joshua's party was held at BOONDOCKS - a kids haven - Whew!

Boondocks is like a giant pin ball parlor - only, I don't even know if they make pin ball games anymore? You can see some of their wares in back of us in this photo, and though you can't really tell here, the place is huge - very annoying, flashing lights, noisy, hyper and . . . did I mention annoying? However, the look on the kids faces ? look below . . . now that is precious.

I don't actually know this child, she just looked really awed
by the goings on and it made me laugh!



Isabelle was just happy to be there.

Joshua and his birthday friends - goofing off!

I don't know the two kids on the right but they are part of the party goers


Jason's boys - Justice, Carter, and T.J.

Oh, Jason's number 4 - Derrick was there too - sort of. He didn't much care for the hoopla going on around him as evidenced by the photo below:

Derrick


Jason Counting his tickets. He's just a big kid too!

And the next bunch of photos - all part of Josh's family.

Oh, notice that ball on the wall. It looks like it's gonna' take Jim's scalp off at the top

Isabelle being held by her two grandpas


Holly's Uncle Mark (right) and his two kids


Jeremy, Ammon and Marnee


Grandpa and Grandma Milligan, Holly and baby Gabrielle



Dianne holding Gabrielle and Jim holding Isabelle



So, we wish you the best year yet Josh -
your Eighth trip around the sun.

Love You so Much!