NOTHING TO ENVY

I read this book for book club. I would recommend it. It's about unspeakable conditions in North Korea. I could only read a few pages at a time, because it was so horrific that I had to give my mind a rest. I'm still thinking about it and it's been weeks since I finished it. There are some really sad/bad things in this world of ours.

"Gird" up our loins

Last year I flew to OKC to pick up the Taylor Tots and make the 1200+ mile trip back to Utah. It was the beginning of their trip, they were fresh, they were happy, they were excited. We hadn't spent much time together. It was a blast!!

Now, it's going the other way. We will be driving home, after 3 weeks of looking at each other!! After too few afternoon naps and too many early mornings and late nights. After a few coughs and sneezes and much playing with cousins. We will be stopping in Washington to visit Grams and Grandpa Paxman. We may do a straight shot from there with no breaks. . . . . except a mental break from reality. We'll see.

This should be fun. I need to check out things we need to see on the way. Wish us well, and say a prayer and light a candle.

Viv wants You (really me!)

I'm hoping when this littlest of Taylor Tots
gets to my home, she is happier than she
is in the picture. I'm sure she's thinking:
"Hey You Mims, I'm on my way!"

This is "Viv. . . .the Thinker!"

Have I mentioned ALL my grand kids will be
here this weekend. Can't wait
Can't wait,
Can't wait.

THE COUNTDOWN . . YIPEE ZIPEE

The countdown is at about 80 hours.
By 4:00 ish on Sunday afternoon,
I will have all 7 of my grand kids
crowded around my kitchen table!
I. CAN'T . WAIT
This doesn't happen very often.
McPhie 1 & 2 will stay at my home for
a few days while their mama has a
nasty surgery. The Taylor Tots will
be here until August, and the Lloyd
Boys will be in and out all hours of
the days/daze!!! I have marshmallows to
roast in the fire pit. Prizes for
some Bingo games, tickets to the Tracy
Aviary, tickets to float the Provo River,
lists of activities at the Library and
Thanksgiving Point and other areas around
the valley. A Parade and late nights and
pounding headaches!!! Bring it on!

LIFE LIST. . . .AKA BUCKET LIST

My ever-lovely Sister-in-Law, Miss Bev, mentioned having Washington DC on every one's bucket list. It is on mine. I call it "My Life List" I've had it for years, I add to it and I cross off as I accomplish items. A trip to NYC in 2008 allowed me to cross of (3) items. A trip to Hawaii in 2007 allowed me to cross of (1) item, but I will have to go back because I've added something else that will require another trip there. The above picture is "El Capitan" in Yosemite that is on my "list" not to climb but to witness it's grandeur.

A trip to Italy(hopefully next fall for 3 weeks) will allow me to cross several more items off my "list"

I want to stay at least (1) night at
Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island.

I want to visit the Great Barrier Reef. That trip would clear a few more items, the hardest of which would be to learn to scuba dive . . . I'm a bit claustrophobic.

Visiting Stonehenge would get several more crossed off the list.

A trip to Norway with a cruise to see the Aurora Borealis would be another biggie!!

There's lots of others that don't involve travel:
**Take a cab ride from my home to the Airport
**Learn Italian (enough to get me around)
**Write the children's books I have ideas for (3)
**Give anonymous gifts of $$$
**Take Boyd and I on a Limo ride
**Run a marathon (someone better tell me I'm NUTS)
**Read the Book of Mormon as many times as I am old (I'm about 47 too few times)
**Have all my composite fillings replaced with enamel fillings (Travis
can do this when he gets out of dental school)
**Pay cash for a new car!!
**Be on the Jumbo Tron at the Delta Center (it's changed names since
I made my list)
**Find something interesting when I "google" my own name!

What are some of your items?

The perfect food!

I double-dog-dare anyone to disagree with me on this most perfect of food.
The Tomato!!
My earliest summertime memories include the smell of a tomato plant,
It's a magical smell. . . you know it is.
The feel of a warm just picked tomato.
The taste of said tomato sprinkled with salt and pepper.
The juice dripping off my chin.
It's a summer memory that is so grand.
I love to pair it with another perfect food. . . . . .BACON,
or Divine Swine as we call it in my home.
The perfect sandwich. . . .The BLT.
I've had (2) in the last 4 days.
I'm in heaven.
Every afternoon I go out on the deck and look at my tomato plants,
I see if the tomatoes are growing, if the blossoms are setting,
I can hardly wait.

HAPPY 4TH
Enjoy pic's of July's past!