Where I'm From

A couple of weeks ago the oldest son came by looking for my opinion and assistance on a poem he was writing for a class project. You can see his masterpiece, which received a 10/10 and the teacher called intriguing, here.  

We had a fun hour talking about his childhood and some of our family stories.  When he left he challenged me to write a similar poem and sent me the template to follow.  

It took me a while to get around to it, but here is my version of 

Where I am From

I am from mountains,

picture from here

from McCalls 

and North American Decoys.

I am from the house on the hill -

Spacious, wide-open,

it felt as though all I could see belonged to me.

I am from the weeping willow,

the prickly pear cactus,

long, strong, encircling arms and sharp, pointy thorns.

I'm from the faithful and frugal,

from Byron's flock 

and Maureen's garden.

I'm from a thousand words

and the cut it ups and put it back togethers,

from "families are forever"

and "because I said so".

I'm from We believe ... -

second witnesses, living prophets and binding temple covenants.

picture from here

I'm from Heber City and England,

from bottled fruit and dry ice root beer bubbling in an old milk can.

me, with the pony tail, and my cousins Deanna and Bonnie.

From the frosted glass over grandpa's right eye, sight lost to a flipper rock,

my nephew Brian and Grandpa Cheever

from the service Mary Ann was rendering the morning of her much needed rescue from Martin's Cove.

Treasures packed into published books, 

three-ring binders,
plastic tubs, 

salvaged envelopes and 

cast off shoe boxes.

Names, dates and places,

little known facts and much loved faces -

I'm the cute little sister

all links bound together in an unbreakable chain of belonging.

Today I am grateful for

a wonderful fast and testimony meeting where I felt the spirit.
coincidences that make me wonder if they're coincidences.
anchor points - undeniable spiritual experiences that help get me through the hard times.
a son who motivated me to be creative.  It was fun.  

If you would like to try your hand at writing a Where I'm From poem let me know and I will send you the template. 

Hidden Hearts

Perhaps if you are a Disneyland fan, like I am, you have heard of the hobby of looking for hidden Mickeys at the Disney resorts as demonstrated below.



 I have tried my hand at it, but I am not very successful.

I do however have a similar hobby, that I am quite good at.  I find hidden hearts



and when I find them I count them as a sign from my Heavenly Father of His love for me.

There are actually a lot of heart shapes found in nature. Thus supporting, in my mind, the idea that they are symbols of the Creators' love for His children.

This picture of hidden hearts is one of my favorite.



I like to share my hobby with Shad and he is good at helping me find hidden hearts.



Love notes from God, that I save and ponder on.



I especially enjoy finding hidden hearts in the less obvious places.  In a random stick stuck in the Spanish moss used to decorate a crafty service project I am working on,

 in a pile of dirt left behind by a mischievous puppy,



in the abandoned orange peel on my morning walk,

and even in the poopiest moments of life.

God's love is ALWAYS there, and I will see it (and feel it), if I am willing to look for it.

Today I am thankful for

tangible reminders of God's love for all of His children, me included.
good friends.
a husband who was willing to sit at the repair shop for 2 hours, waiting to get my car (that apparently wasn't really broken) fixed, so I didn't have to.

Duct Tape - The Proud Sponsor of Today's Laugh

Today's laugh - Tonight I was sitting on the couch in the family room when the air came on.  There is a rattle in the duct right there and our air seems to not be working as well as it should (might have something to do with the fact that it was our first 110 degree day of the season today). Anyway, I began wondering if there was an easy way to check the ducts and see if they had a leak. I envisioned the youngest son crawling  through the attic checking out the ducts and thought, "Can you tape ducts and what kind of tape do you think you would use?'

I had to laugh when the word "duct tape" eventually popped into my head.

Duh. I wonder if that was what duct tape was originally invented for* way back before we decided to use it to make wallets and neckties and prom suits and scripture bags?

Hey!  Maybe that's why it was first only available in  silver - to match the ducts.  That makes so much sense to me now.

*So, if you know anything about me, you know that I had to research this and figure out who invented duct tape and why.

What is your guess?

You can find a more detailed answer here  or here, but the short answer is that duct tape was invented in 1942 by the Johnson and Johnson Permacel Division.   It was originally unnamed, but was frequently called duck tape because it was waterproof and make from cotton duck.  It was first used by the military to keep moisture out of the ammunition cases and its original color was not silver, but army green. From the very beginning the versatility of this tape has been appreciated and military personnel used it to fix just about everything including guns, jeeps and aircraft.  Perhaps we owe the successful end of World War II to duck tape and not to the atomic bomb.

After the war there was a major housing boom and a new use for the tape emerged. The name was changed to duct tape and the color changed to silver so it would match the heating duct work that it was used to connect.

Today I am grateful for

a son who motivated me to work on cleaning my dining room today.  He is really good at clapping his hands and saying, "Good Job!"

the ability to let go of some unnecessary items that have been living in boxes in my dining room for way too long,  Notice I said some, not all.  This is still definitely a work in progress, but I am getting better.

sloppy joes - they tasted really good to me tonight and they made me think of my sister whom I am also very thankful for.

Welcome March!

My good friend Smitty shared this video with me yesterday and it just makes me smile



and also makes me wish I were Irish or planning a trip to Ireland sometime soon.

The arrival of March makes me smile too.

It's such a beautiful month in my little part of the world.

Today was filled with family

and  flowers

and some basketball

All things I love, that sometimes don't go together very well.

These are the basketball casualties from my garden,

but today,

they even make me smile.

Hello March!

May I spend you singing out loud in God's choir.

Today I am thankful for

family time - to work and talk and play and eat and enjoy some basketball - together.

boys to dig up my weeds.

a phone call from the oldest daughter and Shad.

Distracted

So today is a new year with a clean slate to fill.

 I have been thinking of some great resolutions.

 Some positive changes I want to commit to.

 But, for some reason, the leftover Christmas goodies are still proving to be a big distraction.

 My focus isn't really where it should be.

 I think Ormie and I could be soul sisters right now.

    

Bet you can't guess what I need to work on this year.

Hope 2013 is going well for you so far.

Today I am thankful for

leftover potatoes that made making dinner quick.

the hope and excitement that comes with a new year.

Dropbox - it makes sharing photos with the oldest daughter a fairly easy experience.

Saving Money, Wasting Time

Yesterday I was going to go to Target to buy some cat food before we left town.  Before I went I decided to go to a fun money saving blog that I check out sometimes called “Totally Target”  to see if they had any great deals listed.  There was a post about some good savings on Emergen-C and since our family is working hard at staying healthy so we can hang out with Shad I decided it was worth looking into.  

If I bought two packages I could get a $5.00 Target gift card.  There was a link included to a facebook coupon for $2.50 off a 30 count package of Emergen-C.  Print it twice and I could save an additional $5.00 off my purchase.  That sounded good so I cruised on over to facebook.  I  liked the Emergen-C facebook page and printed my coupons. I thought since I was on facebook I  should check out my friends updates so I did a little reading for a while. 

Oh, wait I was supposed to be going to Target.  

While I was on “Totally Target” I was reminded that I could go to the Target website and download coupons from there.  Perhaps I should check and see if they had any good coupons.  I headed to the website,  I couldn’t see the coupon button right away, but there was this week’s store ad.  I should probably look at what was on sale this week before I look at the coupons anyway, so I browsed through the ad.  Armed with my new knowledge I seriously began to search for the coupons.  I located them on the dropdown menu under more and started scrolling through the 17 pages. 

$1.50 off 2 packages of M&Ms  - those were on sale and Target has an “exclusive” peppermint  M&M flavor for the holidays.  I needed that coupon.

$2.00 off any holiday decorating item $8.00 or more – you can never have too many holiday decorations. 

5 coupons selected and I was ready to print but wait, it says I need to activate the coupon printer.  Oh right, I haven’t downloaded coupons from Target since I got my new computer.  Click on the download.  Yes, I want to run this program.  My coupons will print when I click next.  I clicked next and nothing. 

I tried it again and … still nothing. 

I went to my downloads and there was the program, but still my coupons aren’t printing. 

Back to the website. Perhaps if I just select print coupons again they will print.   I try that – “you need to activate the coupon printer”.  Argh!

I looked at the time on the computer.  Ought oh – I need to go buy my green beans and get them cooked before FHE group tonight.  I’ll just turn my computer off and maybe the download will update.  I can wait and go to Target tomorrow morning before we leave. 

So, this morning I once again go to the Target website, click on coupons and go to print.  Wait, all the coupons I selected are no longer on my list.  I get to go through the 17 pages of coupons looking for the five I wanted to print again.  Coupons located, select print.  “You need to activate the coupon printer.”  Yes I know.  Would you like to suggest how I do that?  I ask for the hubby’s assistance and he assists and still no coupons. 

About this time I remember that I have had a similar problem before in Google Chrome.  Perhaps  if I get on the internet using Windows Explorer  the program will download right. 

Close the internet, reopen the internet, go to the Target website, reload the coupons, click on the download, click on the yellow allow bar that appears at the bottom of the page, download, push next, hear the printer fire up and get ready to do the happy dance and then – No coupons. 

Wait, what is that yellow light on the printer.  Toner.  I guess it’s really time to put in that new toner I bought. Find the new package of toner, take out the old toner, wonder if it is really all gone this time, shake it all around, put it back in to try to get a few more copies, nothing, take the old toner out, put the new toner in and PRINT!

Armed with my Target coupons (and a stack of previously printed coupons from a different website just in case any of those items are on sale) I head out to Target.  I collect the things I need and the things that I can purchase using my coupons fairly quickly, but I have want to take a quick circle around the store to check the endcaps on all the rows for clearance bargains.  Nothing today, so I move to the checkout line. Check out, hand the coupons over, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, get my $5.00 target gift card, pay and I'm on my way.  

I am reading my receipt as I walk away and I only see one of my Emergen-c coupons taken off.  I peruse the receipt again, yup, only one.  I look back at the register I just left, that now has a line 3 people deep, and head on over to customer service.  I explain that I had 2 coupons and only one rang up.  "Perhaps was the coupon $2.50 off two"?  I think about it, but no, I'm pretty sure it was off one.  The worker calls for assistance, another worker arrives and is sent to the register to retrieve the coupon. Apparently the coupons are locked in an extremely secure location in the cash register, but finally here he comes back waving my coupons victoriously.  Wow! I was right $2.50 off a single item.  I'll be  friendly and discuss the merits of couponing and what a great coupon that is.  I pocket my two dollar bills and 2 quarters and leave the store.  I load my purchases in the back of the van and I'm off, one step closer to heading to California.  

When I get home I remember I need to take my wallet in the house and put it in my bag to take with me to California.  While I'm at it I should also grab my stack of coupons and take that too so when I go grocery shopping I can save a couple of bucks.  I get the wallet, but can't seem to locate the coupons anywhere. Perhaps I put them in the back with my purchases.  I open the back of the van and check.  Nope, no coupons.  I look in all the bags.  Nope, no coupons.  I walk backwards in my mind.  Where was the last place I remember having the coupons.  I see then sitting quietly on the seat of the cart.  Do I remember getting them?  Not really.  They are probably sitting abandoned in my shopping cart.  Now, the big question - is it worth it to drive back to Target and hopefully rescue them?  Not really.  But wait, there were some good coupons that I know I will use.  It's only a couple of miles to Target.  That's silly though, the cart might not even still be there.  Yes, no, yes, no, and I'm back in my van headed for Target.  

I locate the coupons, right where I left them, turn around and once more head for home.  Who knew saving money could be so time consuming?  

Actually, I did.  

I may be good at saving money, but I am even better at wasting time doing it.

The verdict is still out on whether or not it is worth it, but it's what I do best and it's even fun -  most of the time.  

Today I am grateful for

a husband who likes to drive so I can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

a son who is willing to take care of things while we leave town.

the chance to be with Shad and his mom and dad again.  My mind is a lot more at peace about him when I am here.  

Heavy, Heavy Hangover

Don't be worried.

This isn't a blog about how I have given in to the stresses of life and decided to take up drinking. This is just a momentary step back into my more carefree childhood.

Tonight the youngest son, the hubby and I were gathered around the dinner table and for some reason (I'm sure it was something someone said, but I can't remember what ) I began to recite a familiar rhyme from the birthday parties of my youth.

Heavy, heavy hangover
thy poor head.
What do you wish this person
with a bump on the head.

The son immediately questioned my sanity and when I looked to the hubby for support or some sign of understanding, he just looked back at me with a totally blank stare.  No help there.

I know I am not the only person who has experienced this tradition in their lifetime.  In fact I'm positive since  I wasn't the only guest at the afore mentioned birthday parties, but apparently this is not the common childhood memory that I thought it to be.

I remember this activity done in two different, but similar ways. At gift opening time someone, usually the special guest's mother, would stand behind the birthday boy or girl, select a present and while holding it over the child's head would repeat the rhyme adding a gentle tap on the head with the gift as the word "bump" was spoken. The recipient would then wish the gift giver, which  up to this point was a mystery, a gift as well.  This was usually something totally out of the realm of possibility such as a million dollars, or a swimming pool or a trip to Africa and then the giver would respond with great enthusiasm, thus identifying him or herself to the birthday child.

My other memory is the same except the rhyme reciter was the gift giver himself and the bump on the head was usually a very energetic thwap!

I explained all of this to the men at the table and they continued to act like I was more than a little bit strange.

Of course, after dinner was over, I had to do a little internet research in an attempt to discover the origins of this tradition and to determine if it was really as rare of a ritual as they seemed to think.

I didn't find too much to report.

I did derive that it may come from an ancient childhood game.  That it was practiced most frequently in small town Utah, by Mormons, and is actually referred to in the book "Mama Married a Mormon", but it has been played as far away as Iran. Also, the poem sometimes differs from the one of my memory to be "heavy, heavy hangs over" or "my forehead".

But, the best insight I found, and the one I enjoyed the most, was discovered on a website from the United Kingdom called the phrase finder.  In a response by Dr. Jones to a question asked by R regarding this topic he stated:

"I believe the custom died out in affluent countries when the size and weight of gifts increased and the custom was found to cause unacceptable collateral damage to the upcoming generation of gift recipients.  It did, however, have a Darwinian purpose in prehistoric times, when clubs and similar weapons were handed out as gifts and the thin skulls of the weakest were crushed whilst the thick headed survived to perpetuate the custom: some of these survivors are with us to this very day."

Apparently the reason so few individuals have memory of playing this game as a child, is that many who participated in this activity failed to reach adulthood unscathed.

Another reason to be grateful that I grew up a thick headed Mormon.

Today I am grateful for

the sacrament. Due to Stake Conferences and staying with the grandson last Sunday it had been almost a month since I had the opportunity to participate in this sacred ordinance and I have missed it.

my ward family. I have felt the love and prayers of the "family I attend church with each Sunday" so strongly during the past couple of weeks and it was great to get to meet with them again today.

ham and cheesy potatoes.

Catsup Cooking at the Cannery

Today the youngest daughter and I volunteered at the Mesa Cannery. It's always exciting to try to guess what product we are canning by the smell that wafts out at you as the door opens. Our cannery only produces a few items including salsa, ketchup and syrup so it's  usually pretty easy to narrow it down. My canning sessions with salsa are always followed by an intense desire for Mexican food and the last time we did syrup I had to make pancakes for dinner.  It's sometimes nice when we do ketchup because, since I'm not a ketchup fan, it doesn't bring any food cravings with it.  (However, the hubby did take me to Culvers for a Butter Burger tonight.  I had mine ketchup-less).

As we entered and sat down by a gentleman from our ward I said, "Smells like we're doing ketchup today" and he replied, "Unless we're doing cat-sup."  Now I grew up in small town Utah and we (most people, but not me) ate ketchup.  Sometimes it was spelled ketchup and sometimes it was spelled catsup, but it was all the same thing and the names were interchangeable.  According to this gentleman there is a difference.  Of course when I got home I had to google ketchup vs. catsup and I am still pretty sure they are the same thing.

This is what I learned:
 ketchup was what it was called back when it was first introduced to the world pre-1700.
The British called it catsup somewhere along the way.
Southerners seem to prefer catsup.
Some people say catsup is spicier.
Ketchup is the most accepted name today and is what is printed on most brands.
Also, if you type catsup it shows up as a mis-spelling on the computer.

If you are interested in more info (and some ketchup/catsup pictures) you can go here.

Well, back to the cannery.  Today we canned (or bottled) catsup.  See Exhibit A below.

I got the job of putting lids on the bottles after the catsup was squirted in.  This is my most regular cannery assignment.  I must look like I have good manual dexterity or something. The bottles come out 4 at a time, pretty quickly, but there are usually 3 or 4 people in this area, so if you are at the front of the line and you miss a bottle someone else will catch it later.  If you are at the end of the line this is a REALLY BORING job and you spend most of your time spacing the bottles evenly to go through the machine that sucks the air out of them.  Today I was 2nd in line, a good spot to be.

The youngest daughter got to remove the bottles from the cooling tunnel and place them on the conveyor belt to get labeled and boxed.  I worked this area once.  I liked it because it is a loud area, I got to wear ear plugs and I could sing my entire repertoire of songs, at the top of my lungs and no one could hear me.  (The daughter says she thinks they could still hear me and that is embarrassing, but I asked the man who was standing next to me and he said no, and I trust him. He was reciting a 2 million stanza poem that he memorized and I only know that because he told me, not because I could hear him.)

We worked the afternoon shift and luckily we only had to work for about 2 hours. I got to man one of the clean up hoses when we were finished and squirt catsup off of all the equipment.  I managed to get a lot of hot, catsupy water all over me, but it was fun to spray everything.  I enjoyed spending some time giving service with my daughter, but I'm glad I don't have to work a production job everyday.

A final note concerning catsup.  Even though it is spelled catsup and the pronunciation dictionary says to say it cat- sup.  I was raised to call it all ketchup (catch up).  Cat sup sounds like something I would give my cats for dinner.  However, they might actually like some catsup on their cat food.  They have been extremely interested in the shoes that I wore to the cannery since they got marinated in catsup water.

Today I am thankful for

the opportunity to do service with my daughter.  I am enjoying having her around.
cheap and yummy wholewheat raisin bread from the Alpine Bread Bakery Outlet.
lentils.

And I Helped!

I love to do family search indexing. It is one thing I can feel good about doing when I don't feel like doing anything else productive. The big indexing project right now is the 1940 United States Census.



Today I received an e-mail saying the project is halfway completed and that my help was appreciated. I have mostly been doing arbitration. This is where I review what 2 individuals have indexed from a census page and when there is a discrepancy I decide which one is correct, or if neither one looks right I fix it. Usually arbitration goes pretty quickly and so I am able to do a lot of records in a short amount of time. The e-mail provided a link to a page with badges for every state I have assisted with. It was fun to see all the different states represented. There were a lot more than I thought there would be.



If you would like to join the fun go here to get started. This would be a good activity for your older children who are looking for something interesting to do this summer.