"Bad Cat" (Bad Kitty)

Bad Cat (Grady calls him Bad Kitty) came to visit this morning and I tried and tried to take his photograph but he did not want to pose properly. He is such a good stray cat and he ate some turkey, walked all over our side yard, then came inside for a visit and an ear rub. He stayed for about five minutes and then he headed for the door and politely took his leave. He wanders all around the neighborhood and I think all of us love him. When Bruce died, he jumped into our truck when we were coming home, climbed onto each of our laps, put his front paws on our shoulders, looked us in the eyes, and then gave us a hug. I have never experienced anything like this in my life. He is very intuitive and sweet and loves the hedge on our side yard, along with the dirt and grass there.

Apricots!!!!

One of the patients at my clinic brought in a box of apricots for me yesterday, along with some apricot preserves. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. They are so sweet and much bigger and tastier than the ones in stores. I think I ate 10 on the way home from work!!! Here are the ones that are left.

Road Trip to See Canyon Flowers

Yesterday we saw wonderful vistas in one of the Cottonwood Canyons (Big or Little, I can't remember which one--but the one up past Alta and Snowbird Ski Resorts). We really enjoyed taking Grady's parents Willis and Edith with us, and drove their car. It was a very, very hot day and the car almost overheated in the mountains. After waiting a few minutes on the side of the road, we proceeded upward some more to the top. The flowers were not as spectacular as other years, I was told by both Edith and Grady, who assured me it was usually like a carpet of flowers from "The Wizard of Oz", but I still thought they were just gorgeous. I could not capture things adequately on film. We also saw a rainbow at the end of the trip and blessed rain fell!! In Lehi!!! It has been so awfully dry here lately and I am so glad for the grass that it rained!!! Here are some photos.

Laurie and Rachel (the Patterson's)

These two seemed to be having just too much fun at the reunion! It sure was great to visit with all of them. Esther was there too but she was not in this photo. Aaron was the only Patterson sibling missing. Carolyn and John were great to host us again this year.

Bethany Kimble (Dani's little one) at Carolyn's flowers

Isn't she beautiful? Dani and Sara are expecing a new baby soon.

Sara and Dave

They are celebrating their 15th anniversary this summer.

My sisters and brother at the reunion

Cool Daddy

Doesn't he look cool in his sunglasses? And Linda and him are cute posing together.

Trip to West Virginia

I had a wonderful trip to West Virginia this week and got back at 3:30 am today. It was great to see so many relatives at two reunions and to visit with them once again. Daddy sure looks great at age 95! Beth enjoys her workplace and she seemed very happy there. Sara and Jessie were at Andrew's grave site decorating on his 23rd birthday, and Daddy, Dee, Neil and Sue were also there. We had a precious time remembering him and releasing helium balloons with messages written on them. Here are some pictures.

Lawn Chair Cushions

I just wanted to show you my front porch lawn chair cushions I made this year. Last year I made floral ones that were very nice but we had a huge storm and they blew off the chairs and were lost forever one night. This year I made ties for the sides.

Tomato Plants

I am growing one patio tomato plant this year. We are not allowed to grow anything that is not in a pot. (My landlord mowed over my nice, expensive Burpee sunflower plants which were not growing according to the rules). The little tomatoes keep getting bigger but are not turning red! They will probably start turning red while I am in West Virginia this next week on vacation.

My Trusty old Schwinn

Here is a picture of my good little bike. I have put thousands of miles on it. It is over a year old. Grady has one almost like it. This is also a view of our shed in the back yard and part of our hedge. We have a big back yard which you cannot see from the photo, and all of it needs watered by hand each day in this heat. It takes me a lot of time and worry wrinkles because our landlord has written this into our contract, that we will take care of our own grass watering. (His children cut the grass though). How I miss those West Virginia rains!

Morning in My Neighborhood

Each morning I get up and ride my bike for a few minutes. Last summer I rode for over an hour on most days, but this year (due to a bad back) I only ride about 15-20 minutes. More than that and I cannot walk the rest of the day. It is so frustrating to be getting older! Hopefully I can fix this problem with time. Here is the normal view I get from my front porch.

Cute Audrey

Here is little Audrey when she was 15 1/2 months old and I visited them in Columbia, South Carolina. Hannah and I stayed up late sewing the little dress she is wearing. What a wonderful week together!

Caleb with flower

I have the cutest grandchildren on earth. Really. They are not only gorgeous but they are funny, intelligent, happy children who know how to enjoy life. I love them so very much. When I visited in April, I took this photo of Caleb picking a flower, from a field behind McDonalds, which he presented to his mom.

ZEN SARCASM

Zen Sarcasm
>
>
> 1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.
>
> 2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt or a leaky tire.
>
> 3. It's always darkest before dawn , so if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
>
> 4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
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> 5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
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> 6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
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> 7. If you think nobody cares if you 're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
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> 8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
>
> That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
>
> 9. If at first you don't succeed................skydiving is not for you.
>
> 10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
>
> 11. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
>
> 12. Some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield.
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> 13. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
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> 14. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
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> 15. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
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> 16. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
>
> 17. There are two theories to arguing with a woman - Neither one works.
>
> 18. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
>
> 19. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
>
> 20. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative.

Better Photo of Wedding Pose

Picture of Julie "fixing me up"

Photos, Hopefully

Old Photos From My Wedding Day, 11/23/04

My friend Julie came over while I was at work and left some photos at my doorstep. It was wonderful to have another snapshot from my wedding day, 3 1/2 yrs ago. Julie was instrumental in getting my hair and makeup done and she made it such a wonderful event where I really felt "beautiful". I will always look back on that happy, happy time in my life with great joy and appreciation to a friend who spent several hours "fixing me up".

New Poem, Morning Beckons and I follow

Here is my newest poem:

MORNING BECKONS AND I FOLLOW

Morning beckons and I follow
Like watching a princess wave
half-circles slowly on a summer float.
I am welcomed
to easy sun,
and mountain mist,
dew still resting before flight,
birds busy with conversations and cat patrol.
The rainbow colors of roses cascade along fences,
And spiky larkspur dance with hollyhocks,
Laced with the enticement of smelly lavender
And cricket choir from green grass.
I should be so grateful for daily breath,
and I try,
I really do!
But it is hard to concentrate when Babylon calls
From polluted mansions across the shore;
And when red ants eat my extremities one bite after another;
And when I remember not the good sweet peas of life
But the sadness of defeat instead--
Many days I lost the battle and the war--
With no respite from harsh desert within my soul.
Estrangement is branded in my heart space;
If only I could travel back in time,
And fix feelings,
Listen more carefully,
Love completely without distraction.
Failure, over-the-hill type failure.
So much worse to be old inside
Dust and cobwebs at every corner,
Dreams lost and never reclaimed at life's airport baggage return.
And yet I am not entirely alone.
I see desperation in faces I cannot reach,
in places I cannot touch.
Life is a relevant paradox--
A game of red rover, oh won't you come over;
And freeze tag where I am thrown into an akward stance,
Waiting for salvation;
And chess without the Queen.
Someone, please turn my sprinkler system on
So the hot sun will grant a reprieve
Yet one more day.

Quilt for Chad and Julienne Wickland

I love to quilt. Here is an example of one I did for a belated wedding present (they have only been married 5 years!) for my nephew and his wife, Chad and Julienne Wickland (they live in Connecticut). Most of the time I did not have a sewing machine, and it is mostly done by hand. I spent many hours on it, and since I do not have a quilt frame either, it was difficult to tie and finish. Voila!

(I had made another quilt just like this for Ali and Matt, Hannah's friends. This was from the leftover fabric, which I did not want to go to waste).

This is a prickley poppy. They were everywhere along the roadside and were just beautiful! I picked one blossom and it cut my finger with it's thorns, which were tiny but powerful. Within minutes the bloom had shriveled up and died in the car.

trip to Lehman Cave,Nevada

July 4th was magnificent, because we decided to drive all day and visit Lehman Cave near Baker, Nevada. The trip was fun because Grady is so quick witted that he makes every conversation enjoyable and interesting, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking! We enjoyed the cave tour very much and learned much about the subject, even buying a book at the end (which I read aloud on the trip home). We enjoyed the little towns of Eureka! and Delta (where President Faust was from). We ate at McDonalds and gasoline was $4.25/gallon (ounch).