last Christmas in September post

This year my job requires me to carry some stuff with me at all times - an iPad for the kids to use to communicate, my glasses so I can help find the right buttons, paperwork that I need to fill out at any given time, and a water bottle because it's been so darn hot (in the 70s and 80s!).  So I decided that I wanted a custom made bag - one that is the right size for me that I can wear across my shoulder, and one that I won't worry about if it gets worn out, messy, etc.  So I made one!  Woo Hoo!  I got some fabric out of my misc. material box, pulled out my sewing machine, put on some good tv and made a bag.  OH! And I also got Christmas material for 3 new stockings.  Happy Christmas in September!

a creative thinker

Luke is a pretty well rounded kid.  He is interested in philosophy, history and politics.  He listens to and considers people's theories and opinions and beliefs and takes a good long time to decide what he thinks about it all.

He also likes to draw and is an appreciator of famous works of art.  In fact, things he really likes around the house often end up in his room, on his wall.  He is also quite the cook - no worries about him being a starving college student.

And now here is some trivia -

If you are a friend or family member who lost or forgot this piece of artwork in the house, Luke has been keeping it safe and sound for you, and you can have it back when you come to visit!

my grandbabies songs

This might be one of those posts that interests me and nobody else, but that's okay.  It is info I want to remember!

Since Addy was a toddler I've had the tradition of each grandchild taking a turn sitting on my lap at the computer looking up Disney songs.  There always seems to be one song that sticks with each of them - whether in my mind or theirs.

I blogged a couple months back about how I have a song that reminds me of each of my 5 babies.  Now I have a song that reminds me of each of my grand babies:

Addy:  On My Way - Brother Bear

Audrey - Touch the Sky - Brave

Isla - Better When I'm Dancing - The Charlie Brown movie

Hannah - A Few Good Friends - Piglet's Big Movie

Elijah - Voyagers - Moana (I picked this one without his consent; haven't had a chance to watch it with him yet, but we will!)

Bear - Son Of Man - Tarzan

Avonlea - Sweet Afton - Nickel Creek

creativity in action

In Samantha's special box from her childhood are many drawings of playgrounds and villages and neighborhoods full of people with piggy tales.  As Samantha got older she didn't have much interest in the arts - she's not much into art projects or cooking, etc.  For example, in our "Great British Bake-Off" re-creation she chose to be a judge rather than a contestant.

But, I would say that as a child she oozed creativity in her dramatic play.  She always found ways and props to act out her favorite movies.  I never worried about her being bored.  Even if she was the only kid home I knew that she would entertain herself with her stuffed animals and her imagination - she has always had a wonderful imagination.

Now, as an Auntie, she uses her creativity with the kids.  She has them singing songs, playing games and is generous with the few toys she has kept from her childhood.  Creativity doesn't always produce a tangible object - sometimes it produces just pure and plain happiness.

Antique-ing

While in Clovis Mariah, Ross, Avonlea and I went window shopping, mostly to antique stores.  This is something Mariah & Ross have always enjoyed doing wherever they have lived.  They get ideas and then make the things themselves.  In their previous apartment they had up lots of classic looking signs that they had made, with wording that was special to them.  We especially enjoyed the signs we saw in the shops in Old Town Clovis:

The last one/blue one is my favorite!

I love their creativity and hope to take pictures of their own work next time I am there.

adding to the joy and satisfaction of life

Hillary has had some health issues during her young-mothering years which has kept her and the kids in the house during the day more than she would have liked.  Things are looking up, though, and they are starting to venture out more - hopefully that will continue.  But in those years of being home so much Hillary put her time to good use by taking on some self-taught hobbies - that of sewing and painting.  She made cute patchwork pillows and some dresses that the girls loved.

She was always interested in painting and so got some supplies and has done a lot of creative experimenting.  One thing she painted for us is a picture of the cliffs by our house - it is very accurate and very beautiful.  She and Andrew also recycled some old wooden boards and turned them into a painting of the ocean at sunset.

 Hillary is also interested in artwork as a whole and she and Andrew have enjoyed going to museums to admire them.

again:  "It is likely that each one of us has creative powers that can be developed and that can add significantly to the joy and satisfaction we experience in our lives."

Happy September 21st!

stories, drawings and pies

While going through boxes of papers last month I came across special papers from my children's childhoods.  My kids were and are all creative in their own way.

When Julia was in elementary school she loved mysteries - something that has not changed.  One of her favorite subjects was creative writing, and she wrote a very long, elaborate mystery just for the fun or it.  She also loved to draw and illustrated the whole thing herself.  It was so cute - we printed off several copies and she gave it to family members for Christmas.  Christmas presents FOR her often included special drawing pencils and pads.

As an adult I don't know if she write's much anymore (besides her blog which is and will be a treasure for her family) but her daughter Addy has inherited her love of drawing.  It's fun to come home to new pictures throughout the week.

Now, as an adult, Julia's main creative outlet is cooking.  She loves trying out new recipes, and she and Lester enjoy cooking together.  Julia is especially talented at making pies and is becoming known for them - known for how yummy and pretty they are, but also known for blessing people's lives with them.  She did a homemade pie fundraiser for one of Lester's co-workers who was battling cancer (and a lemonade and baked goods stand for her friend's little daughter who was battling cancer).  She also made pies for people in the ward that she and Lester just felt inspired to give them to.  And the other day I came home to a wonderfully fragrant house with Julia sharing her pie-making tips with some of her friends.

 "When you share the products of your creative effort, you will discover new facets for giving and for blessing the lives of others."

My creative Julia.

                                      (She and Lester also like making homemade pizza together)

Excerpts from an article on Creativity - love it!

I believe a capacity for creativity is inherent in our natures. Perhaps it is one of the godlike attributes we inherit as our Heavenly Father’s children. 

It is likely that each one of us has creative powers that can be developed and that can add significantly to the joy and satisfaction we experience in our lives.

 When you share the products of your creative effort, you will discover new facets for giving and for blessing the lives of others.

(Building Creativity by Dean L. Larsen

New Era August 1991 by)

visiting Avonlea

Since Avonlea is a fictitious town in the Anne of Green Gables books, it has never been possible to actually visit Avonlea - until now that is.  Since Mariah & Ross named their daughter Avonlea, I hope to visit her often for the rest of my life.  The last 5 days were a very good start.  I was able to take a few days off and stay with Mariah & Ross and Avonlea in Clovis.

We did a lot of walking and talking.  At random times during the day and some nights, while Mariah & Ross tried to catch up on their sleep, Avonlea and I walked around the house and talked.  We talked about what a nice place she has to live, how much family she has, on both sides, that love her, how much family she still has to meet, etc.  We also checked the weather each morning by stepping into their cute backyard and rocking on the wooden bench.  Guess what - the forecast was always the same - hot!  But actually, some days were less hot than others, and it was nice to sit outside together.  

Then, most evenings we all took a walk outside. One night we walked around the big beautiful high school campus.  Ross explained how they have "AG" classes, meaning agricultural classes.  There are beautiful orchards right across the campus, and lots of animals to care for - we heard the sheep before we saw them.  And I am so mad that I forgot my camera, because right on the sidewalk we came across the biggest garter snake I have ever seen.  It was colorful and creepy and fascinating as it slithered around.

Another night we went on a trail that followed a creek with the greenest water I have ever seen, and frogs jumping all over the place.  Again, I forgot my camera, so I borrowed these pictures from Google Images.

I also treasure the time I had just hanging out with Mariah during the day.  We did a lot of talking too, although she had more to say than Avonlea.  I brought some scrapbooking stuff to catch up on so we laughed and reminisced, and baked of course.  And most importantly we introduced Avonlea to the tv series "Road to Avonlea" on which my children grew up.

It is nice to have them close by now - actually, a 4 hour drive isn't necessarily close by, but it is very do-able and very worth it.  I especially appreciate Ross' parents' hospitality as it is their house that Mariah & Ross are staying for a little while, and so it is their house that they shared with me.  As I've said before, we won the lottery in the son-in-law department, and the in-law department for our daughters.

We can't wait to have Avonlea visit us - she needs to be introduced to Grandpa and all the family here.  And maybe I will invite myself back to Clovis in the spring so that we can go to nearby Fresno.  I saw this picture online of the "Fresno Blossom Trail".  It looks like a scene right out of the Anne and Avonlea shows:

Okay, time to end with a few more pictures of our Avonlea:

she is SO alert, it was time to break out some toys to look at

elephant bath towel

Scotland

I have no desire to be a world traveler.  In fact, my bucket list for the rest of my life is to visit as many National Parks in our own country as I can.  But, as I've said before, I do like to "visit" other countries by way of movies, and lately songs.

I had a bluegrass station playing the other day and a band named Nickel Creek came on with a beautiful tune called "Flow Gently Sweet Afton".  It is hundreds of years old and about a body of water in Scotland.  It has nothing to do with my life or my heritage but I just love it and can't get enough of it.  Then, last week as a couple of nieces and nephews were visiting we went on a walk which took us on a hill above the beach.  We decided together which way to go to get us back to the original path - luckily we decided well and made it back before dark.  But I started singing to them "you take the high road and I'll take the low road" and was surprised that they had never heard of that song.  It too is about Scotland, and a place called "Loch Lomond" (which is funny because I thought the lyrics were "Glaucoma" - ha! ha!)

So anyway, here are the songs I found on YouTube - the videos aren't important but the songs are.  I'm sure I will never visit Scotland, but I'm certainly glad it exists.

Christmas in September

Well, I need Christmas now more than ever considering Samantha just left for another semester of college.  I can't wait till we are all together again!  My consolation is that not only am I turning her room into a craft room for the next few months - I think I will make it a Christmas craft room!  I'll start working on some homemade Christmas presents with some basic scrapbooking mixed in.

This has lead me to choose "Creativity" as the Christmas in September theme.  I think creativity has two meanings when it comes to Christmas.  There is the being creative with so many fun projects, and there is "we don't have much money for Christmas this year so we're going to have to be creative".  Either way it can be wonderful.

 Years ago I saw a "Mormon Message" (featured below) which made me realize that having hobbies and such is not only good but even necessary for some sanity and a happy life.  So I am going to embrace some creativity this month!  And, I will make sure I blog about Hillary's creative Christmas present to Reggie of a couple of years ago.  She meant it to be fun and funny, which is was; I don't think I have ever laughed so hard - I couldn't catch my breath for a few seconds because of it.

Merry Christmas in September!

a colorful scene

Funny when you step outside, are taken-aback with the thought "what a mess" and then you smile.  Yesterday and today the family had a water balloon fight because it is so darn hot!  All of the broken balloon remnants, along with the side walk chalk drawings has made a very colorful scene in front of the house - a very happy scene. They are cleaning it up soon, but I'm glad it sat out long enough to make me smile.

Sequoia National Park - which I'm counting as my hiking in September post

Samantha is leaving for another semester of college soon.  She does not need me to go with her, which means no renting a car and taking that road trip between Salt Lake and Idaho.  I know that is convenient for me, but I'm also a bit sad - I have really enjoyed the three times we've done that together.  So, to make up for it, she and I visited the Sequoia National Park as part of our trip to see Mariah, Ross & the baby; it is only a couple of hours from them.  Although, as I am coming to learn, a couple of hours away from a national park means a couple of hours to the official entrance; then it is sometimes another couple of hours, at slow speed limits on winding roads, to get to the most famous parts.  But it was beautiful and it was worth it.

It took a lot longer to drive out of the park than I had anticipated.  We had a room reserved at a cute little motel in Visalia called "Lamplighter Inn". 

We got there around 8pm and immediately went swimming - they had a great pool!  It was dark by then, but still warm, and we swam while looking at the moon and stars in the clear dark sky.  And now my Samantha is leaving me again this Sunday.  I'm so happy we had this time together.