Fiddler on the Roof

 Tara and Austin were in Fiddler on the Roof last weekend (actually their last performance will be tonight, but we went last weekend.)  Our family has a bit of a history with this play, Dave has played the roll of Tevia 2 times; once in northern Idaho and once at Ricks College.  So it was kind of fun to have Tara and Austin participate in this.

 Tayton didn't last very long - he crashed sometime during the first half of the play :)

 My pictures aren't the best, I never knew when Tara or Austin were going to show up, and the audience had been asked that no flash photography be used, so by the time I saw they were on the stage, turned my camera on and my flash off - I'd lost the best shots!!!  But Tara is right there in the center of the photo above with the red apron and blue skirt. 

 I was disappointed this photo didn't turn out better, that is Austin on the very left. 

 After the play when all the cast came out to visit with the audience. 

This is EvvaDeen and Hugh, Spender's parents, who attended the play the same night that we did. 


This last photo I just decided to slip into here.  This is the former site of the train depot where my grandparents lived when my father was born.  My grandpa was the Depot Master in Lave Hot Springs.  The depot was moved from town a little ways out of town and had been converted into a home.  About 20 plus years ago my parents and us (Carole too I believe) visited this building and took some pictures of Dad outside of it, I remember taking the pictures,but not sure if I know where they are now - don't remember seeing them in a long time.  Anyway, last weekend we were in Lava and tried to find the house and couldn't.  Finally asked and learned that it had burned down about 10 years ago, all that is left is the old stove as you can see in the picture.  So sad, it was a neat old building.  A link to my Dad and grandparents is now gone. 

Santa and babies

Little Man:  Santa is okay if viewed from the safety of Daddy's lap.


Elizabeth:  Not in the mood for the Christmas season at all.

A picture paints a thousand words.

Some fun recent pictures that have warmed my heart.

Life as I know it

Life continues to be busy, craft show is over and who knows if it was worth the effort since I was just advertising my LA quilting.  Blake and I might do wood crafts next year, I'm actually thinking about turning one of my store rooms downstairs into a wood working area like I've had in a couple of other houses, someplace where I can cut wood without being out in a cold/dark garage most of the year.  I'm seeing all kinds of wood things I'd like to do -- it's been a long time.

Quilting is crazy busy right now, as is typical for this time of year.  I'm glad of it or something would be wrong with my business!!

I've been called as the compassionate service leader in our ward (me and another lovely lady.)  Just turned in the last 3 missionary plaques and all my ordering information to the new people who will be doing it in our two wards (we were just divided).  I've taken care of that for about 9 years, it seems kind of strange to hand it over to others.  Someone else is doing the Sunday bulletin now as well.  It will be interesting to see how this ward functions -- I kind of had a few issues with the way callings were filled in the previous ward. 

Above are the piano lesson prizes my students have earned for September and October.  They have to practice 5 days a week for the month to get that month's prize.  It's not easy for me to get these made each month, I'm very busy, so I expect them to really have earned them. (It's amazingly difficult for students to accomplish that....you would think it would be a given/expected, you take piano lessons, you practice 1/2 an hour every day.) They have one more week to earn November's prize and I'm already wondering how in the world I'm going to get those made up.  But I enjoy doing things differently than other teachers and trying to make piano lessons a bit fun if possible. 

Our new rental (the twin home) is finally fixed up and rented.  We've already had to go back and fix a roof leak and the floor drain into the laundry room started backing up when they installed their washing machine.  Had a plumber over to fix that.  Eventually we'll get all the bugs worked out of this little place.  We knew going in there was a lot to fix on this place, but I think we've almost got it done until next summer when we will fix the yard. 

Our old house finally got the rest of the front landscaping rocks brought in.  Seems like it took all summer to get that project completed.  Looks really nice - I need to take a picture.  We still need to simplify the back yard there so it is easy to maintain...another project for next summer. 

Dave has had his annual Fall cough.  Ever since he had both lungs fill up with fluid after his surgery a few years ago this has turned into an annual thing for him.  Takes forever for him to get over it - don't think his lungs will ever be the same. 

Plan to help out at Ashley's with the other girls when Addie has her surgery.  Our sweet little Addison, hope this finally gets her feeling good.  Still keeping our fingers crossed that Little Man becomes a permanent member of our family without any complications.  Spencer tried to amputate his thumb a few months back (a bit of an exaggeration...but just a bit!)  Last I heard it wasn't healing as well as it should, hopefully that's old news and it's doing better.  Blake and Sarah have driven to our place 3 weeks in a row to help us with the new rental...what good sports.  Finally they had a weekend to stay home and they've all had the flu.  Bummer. 

Well, I must go and work on something -- it's a toss up, do the bills or finish a quilt.  Hmmmmmm. 

New addition downstairs

 

We finally found something to sit Dad's new TV into.  It was delivered yesterday.  It's still sitting out from the wall so this weekend when some of you are here we'll need help moving it back.  Also, with this purchase we were able to buy a ping pong table for a real deal, so we got one.  It is still sitting in the box and weighs a TON!  After moving this entertainment center, if someone wants the fun of assembling the game table, go for it!  Our big empty room is finally filling up.

Salt Sugar Fat

 

I usually don't write about a book I've read until after I've finished it....I'm currently on page xiii (still in the prologue!), and find myself wanting to start marking the things I'm reading in the book.  (Drats - I thought I was being so smart to wait for it at the library and save myself the cost of the book.)  My guess is that I'm going to find many things that I want to share with people I love.  How to do it without preaching?  Especially since I eat as badly as everyone else in the country, and I've done enough digging to know better.  When you are in a hurry it's just so much easier to eat fast, prepared food.  So, I'll just post things that hit me between the eyes, if you want to read and learn along with me - great!  I really hope you do.  If not, then I'm not forcing anything on you.

"General Mills was dominating in the dairy aisle, showing the rest of the industry just how easy it was to influence America's eating habits.  The company's Yoplait brand had already transformed traditional unsweetened breakfast yogurt into a dessert-like snack.  It now had twice as much sugar per serving as Lucky Charms, the company's cloyingly sweet, marshmallow-filled cereal.  And yet, because of yogurt's well-tended image as a wholesome, life-giving snack, sales of Yoplait were soaring, with annual revenue topping $5000 million.  Emboldened by the success, General Mills'  development wing pushed even harder, inventing a yogurt that came in a squeezable tube -- perfect for kids -- eliminating the need for a spoon.  They called it Go-Gurt."

My life

1.  Rental:  painting over at the new rental.  Currently trying to get the first white coat on to cover 4 rooms that have very dark walls.  Took paint samples over to the hardware store and we now have matching paint to paint the outside of the house - but the weather has been either rainy or too cold, so the paint is waiting.  Got the carpets cleaned, as well as the refrigerator.  Found a heavy duty weed whacker to borrow, hope to hack down the weeds next week.

2.  Quilts:  I can feel my busy season starting.  Already have a back log and of course I had someone come in with one that needs to be done right now.  She is a good friend, so I try to accommodate.

3.  Grandbabies birthdays:  Have 2 this month having their first birthdays.  Received a request for quiet books - which are super time consuming.  So, I wake up about 5:00 a.m. each morning and work on those before I start my day.  If all goes as planned I hope to finish them up today. 

4.  I had an insane urg to apply for a booth at our local Holly Fair.  And wouldn't you know -- I managed to get one.  Not sure if I'm happy or mad about it!!!  A friend offered to share it with me, so hopefully she'll do most of the stuff to sell and I can just advertise my quilting business, which was the whole idea to begin with.  Still have some things that I need to prepare for it,  not sure how I'm going to get it all done, but with the quiet books finished now maybe I'll work on this at 5:00 am!

5.  Our ward was divided the week before conference.  I kept expecting to get a call and given an assignment, but so far - nada.  Not complaining - not sure how I could handle trying to deal with a new calling right now.  This sunday will be interesting, though, since we are in the new ward and there will be lots of people we don't know and lots of sustainings going on!

6.  Piano lessons:  still going strong.  I'm still struggling with how to organize myself, trying to instigate new programs for sight reading, composing, playing by ear, playing lead sheets, theory games, ensemble playing on digital pianos, monthly incentive activities (what have I forgotten?).  Just finished Sept and made about 8 music themed light switch cover plates.  Never done anything like that before and it took me awhile but they turned out pretty neat, kids seemed to like them.  Have October's practice incentive game up and running, and trying to think ahead to Nov and Dec.  My head is just buzzing. 

7.  House cleaning and cooking - not happening.