Awesome Amaryllis...................

I purchased a huge amaryllis bulb in November 2011.........it was way more than I have ever paid for an amaryllis, and I gritted my teeth when I purchased it.  

It bloomed for (3) months.....clear into March of 2012.  So I took great care of it.  I dried it out as the instructions told me.  I left it in a cool dark place (the cubbie) in weekend after Thanksgiving I brought it up and put it on my table and watered it.  

It grew............I was thrilled..............It bloomed, and bloomed, and here it is March 15th, and I'm just getting ready to cut off the partially wilted blooms.  It's heading down to "the cubbie" with the other amaryllis bulbs. 

So few things in life are worth what you pay for them (well, I've been driving a 1995 Honda Accord.....[that's 18 years] it has 275,000 miles....it was definitely worth what I purchased it for, although she's on her last leg.....or should I say tire,  but that is an entirely different post.)  But this gigantic bulb was so worth it, in it's blooms and the joy I got from looking at it's beauty for 3+ months.  I'm going to purchase another one this next winter.

I did it...........arggggg

The phone on the right is what I've been using.....yes I work for a communications company.  My job consists of me designing fiber optic networks for companies who want bandwidth......lots and lots of bandwidth.......these same companies are like crack whores.....more, more, more.......bandwidth.  I've been avoiding getting an upgraded phone for years................why? you ask!  Just because.....I think I like being a bit persnickety......and just to bug my family, mostly.  But, I decided that a new phone could make my life easier in many ways.  So, I wanted a BIG phone, one that would not get lost in my purse.............or as I refer to it as "The Black Hole of Calcutta".  So I went with the Galaxy Note II.   It's big....real big......and I'm sure it is wasted on me.  I'm sure it's for real tech weasels, peeps who know how to use it's many features.

So, wish me luck in my attempt to learn the many uses of my smart phone.  I'm not sure I know how to answer it.  Since I hardly ever answered my other phone, no body calls me, so I'm off to the home phone, to call my smart phone and try to learn to answer...........wish me luck.

Lunch Date

This was my date for lunch today.

I asked him to smile.................................

When I looked at it, I said: "Let's try again.....less enthusiastic"

The Menu:)

Milk (choice of plain or chocolate

A whole wheat roll (I didn't take)

Brocolli (I must say it was cooked perfectly)

Orange Chicken over brown rice w/ sliced scallions

Fruit choice (pineapple, pears, apples, fruit cocktail)

Isaac didn't want a roll (I can blame him, his mother's rolls are to die for and these looked a little sad) He also said he doesn't eat "green" veggies, and he wanted the fruit cocktail because he loves peaches.  When we were getting ready to leave, the little guy sitting next to him (whose tray was licked clean) ask "are you going to eat that?" Isaac had a piece of chicken not eaten,  he told the kid "no" then the little guy said: "can I have it?"  "Of course" said Isaac.  I felt kinda bad, like maybe this poor needed a 2nd trip thru the line.

This is his new book his parents and purchased at the book fair. 

This was a fun lunch.  I heard little tidbits of information about some of the kids.  There was a boy that Isaac pointed out, he said "that boy over there (whisper) says bad words, he even says (whisper quieter) the F*word." 

After lunch we went to the Book Fair.  The "39 Clues" is a book series that he likes, so another one in the series was purchased along with a book for Alex, some Batman staionary and a Tee-shirt for Mims.

Why oh why do my other grandkids live so far away......................

Visit to Dixie

I've been in Utah's Dixie for the week.................take a look above and see my Mom's poor hands.  The left one has a compression glove to help with the pain, the right hand had carpal tunnel surgery last Friday.  That said.....it will not stop her from surfing the web, and the only thing she can't do is the dishes.....that's what I'm here for.  She's pretty hard to do anything for......stubborn old lady.   I'm hoping it won't stop her ability to "bitch slap" dad when he needs it...............hahahahahahaha.

Actually, this is the biggest reason I'm here.....to help out with Dad.  Here he is "caught" in the act.,......................he looks surprised....huh..........he is a bit jumpy, when I go in to tell him to come eat.....he literally jumps.....I'm thinking too much caffeine......maybe a cup of de-caf in the mornings..............

 of watching TV......................this is M*A*S*H, but he usually watches westerns, like Gunsmoke or The Rifleman, or he has been on a Cary Grant Movie Marathon. He's also a fan of Hawaii 5-O

 On Wednesday morning.....it snowed...............

I caught this picture of dad doing his chores......or I should say chore.....changing out the garbage bag.  He faithfully changes it out every morning.....after breakfast.

It's My Babys birthday

It's her special day today......

Happy B-Day "Daddy's Little Pooper"

If this doesn't embarrass this girlie girl

nothing will.

 

I say: "Where did 28 years go....

How can this be.......

I still feel like I'm only 25 in my own head."

 

*************************************************************

On to Valentines wishes.

 I love the Book by Carol Lynn Pearson

"What Love Is"

Their first touch was at seventeen when the moon was high and her hair was soft and her skin was warm and her lips were full and her heart beat fast against her chest.

As he looked at her looking at him he had never seen anything so beautiful---And he thought, "Now I know what love is."

Another touch was at twenty-three when the rings were placed, and the sun was high and the church was bright and her gown was lace.

As she looked at him looking at her, his eyes were moist and his voice was soft as he promised to be true forever---And she thought, "Now I know what love is."

Another touch was at twenty-four when they shook hands on the deal they'd struck that he would stop saying when he saw her sneak a cookie, "A moment on the lips, Forever on the hips." And she would stop cutting out Ann Landers' column whenever it talked about what women want of men and just tell him what she needed, for crying out loud.

As she said "I'm sorry," and he said "Forgive me," they held each other tight and laughed---And they thought "Now I know what love is."

Another touch was at twenty-eight when he held her legs from shaking and pressed her back against the pain while her body wrenched and the head appeared. 

As he held his son he looked at her and her hair was wild and her skin was damp and her eyes were closed and he had never seen anything so beautiful-----And he thought, "Now I know what love is."

Another touch was at thirty-four when she kissed the back of his neck and watched him disappear down the hall, one arm holding the child who had been sick all day and the other arm holding the child who had drawn flowers with Magic Marker all over the new kitchen wallpaper after having flushed her earrings 'bye-'bye.

As she sat in the recliner and listened to him sing, "home, home on the range--hey, hush, pardner, the little lady needs quiet," she smiled---and she thought, "Now I know what love is."

Another touch was at forty-two when they gave high fives on that jubilant day when their boy graduated with a 3.8 and got the art department's first prize and  their daughter sang a small solo in the school play and was wearing the costume she'd made all by herself and landed a summer job at Pizza Palace and told them she didn't want to pierce her navel after all. 

"What a father these kids must have!" she said.  "Ah, no," he said, "you should see their mother!"  They hugged----and they thought, "Now I know what love is."

Thousands of touches through the following years in celebration and grief----when she stroked his hair and told him she just knew he'd get another job soon, and cheese sandwiches are her favorite---

when the sunset from the front porch was too lovely to watch alone

when they got that call from the officer in the middle of the night about their son

when she got "employee of the year" after the kids were launched and he e-mailed everyone he knew

when they strolled the beach on Maui after twelve years of putting all their quarters in a row of jars

when their daughter moved back in during her divorce

when they shared the first tomato their first grandchild grew all by herself

when all the children and grandchildren were with them at Thanksgiving and each one had a long list of gratitude's.

Their final touch was at eighty-nine, and her heartbeat rose on the monitor beside her bed as it always did when she heard his walker in the hall.

Her hair was thin and her skin was cold and her lips were dry, but she blew him just a hint of a kiss, which he caught with a hand that shook and pressed it to his cheek where the tear was. 

As he looked at her looking at him silent and smiling, he had never seen anything so beautiful---And they knew that they knew what love is.

Happy Valentine's Day

to all those lovers who

"Know What Love Is."

This is what 60 years of

Marriage looks like

This is my 80 year old Mother's hand..........her right hand, the hand that she uses to write with, and she has beautiful penmanship.  This is the hand that she used to wipe the tears off the faces of 6 children.  She used this hand to spank our butts when we were being naughty. 

She used her hands to wash clothes in a wringer washer, and hang them on a clothesline.  When she and my dad were first married, she used her hands to help him milk cows and to pump water because their first home didn't have running water.  She helped plant gardens with her hands.  She harvested those same gardens and then used her hands to bottle peaches, pears, apricots, apples, tomatoes, beans, corn, jams and jellies.  She used these hands to mix and knead batches of bread.........3-4 batches a week.......for years. 

These hands prepared special treats for her father, who came and stayed at her home some nights.    These hands would page through pattern books and hold up and feel material.  When the right pattern was paired with the right material, she would use her hands to cut and sew beautiful clothes for her daughters.

These hands rolled out countless pie crusts.  These pies would be sold to raise money to help build a place of worship.  These hands were used on a job to lift items from a grocery cart and bag them for customers. 

These hands helped and cared for her husband's Mother when she was sick and near death.    These hands took care of her mother when she became frail, and near the end.  They were kind and loving and worked tirelessly. 

These hands made a wedding dress and hugged the bride and made her feel special.  These hands held her 1st grandchild with pride, and because his mother was afraid, these hand gave that same grandchild his first bath.
 
These hands started a business, they made and sold pies, cookies, rolls, bread and doughnuts.  These hands helped sons and daughters and their spouses. 

They are still working today, taking care of her children's Father, lovingly making meals, assisting in his grooming, caring for his needs.  They will continue to work for as long as they are needed.

This is my 81 year old Father's hand......his left hand.  The hand that has proudly worn his wedding band for 60 years.

His hands are big and meaty and strong.  They recognize hard work because they spent years doing it. 

His hands are the hands of a farmer.  They milked cows, planted hay, operated farm machinery, took care of sick animals, worked from before sun-up to sun-down.  They worked 7 days a week. 

These hands shoveled tons of dirt and picked up Indian artifacts when there was an afternoon available for recreation. They tied flies and they fished with his sons at "The Gulch".  These hands showed sons how to shoot and to hunt.

These hand volunteered in the town where he lived, these hands helped the Lions

These hands delivered produce and they groomed golf courses.

These hands turned the pages of seed catalogs, they planted beautiful gardens, they weeded them and provided food for his family. 

These hands walked daughters down aisles.  They held grandchildren and called the funny names.

These hands have been working for 60 years together.  They have made their children proud, and have given their grandchildren a loving legacy. 

 

WARNING WARNING....LOTS OF PICTURES OF OUR TRIP TO OKC....

This is me and my hunka-hunka burnin' love

on the flight to OKC.

On our 1st leg from SLC to Denver.......

I sat by a person who should

have purchased (2) seats.......

she was encroaching on my seat by about

(8) inches.............arggggg......

I had to practically give Boyd a lap dance

during the flight.
(this picture was taken before the
lap dance.....that's why he doesn't
look too happy....he smiled later! can you say
"boom-chicka-wow-wow") 

We we in the air about (5) minutes when the person to

my right who had already put me in a less than charitable mood, had to go to the bathroom................of course,

we tried to hang out in the aisle,

but they flight attendant came on and told

us that we needed to

stay seated until the "seat belt" sign was off......

so we sat down and just

got comfortable............back up to let her pass...........

After we arrived, we were hungry. So we went to Rudy's BBQ.  This is a picture of a smoked baked potato with cheese, sour cream, butter and smoked turkey, it was stupendously delicious.  

I ate and ate and ate........and this is what was left.  I took it back to the Hotel because i was thinking it would hit the spot at about 10:30 when I had the munchies.

This a large crate that they pack your order in......

it was huge, and they had

big pieces of butcher paper as your "plate".

Mr. Mr. had ribs, brisket, beans and slaw.................

he is not shy

when it comes to BBQ.

Swimming at the Hotel.

goober........... 

Goober #2

The reason for the trip is "The Bug's" baptism.........

I'm thinking my pictures are not

in the right order......I've been having

some issues in downloading massive amounts

of pictures.....please bear with me.

This is Sweet Bugly after she got wet..............

She was so excited to get baptized.  She was so happy

that everyone was there for her.........

until she looked out at a room full of peeps (40-50)

Then there was a look of panic on her face, her mom and

dad took her out......and about 10 minutes later she

reappeared and silently wept for the remainder of the program/ordinance.

too funny.  She is "high anxiety" like her mama.

It's hard to get (5) peeps together and looking in the same

direction.....but they did.

This is the Bug and her "bestie" checking out her necklace.

I cannot blog about a trip without mentioning food......

  we all went to eat.....I cannot remember the name of the

establishment.  They had a pretty varied menu.

I had the fillet.....cooked medium well and it was

perfect.,  There was some candied carrots cooked

with green and red peppers, yummmmmmy,

and some onions cooked with jalapenos.....spicy....hot

a little too much for my pitiful palate.

Jeff had some pulled pork....I think,

with homemade potato chips and pears,

ummmmmmm................

This is the crew......

Jeff's parents, his twin and twins wife and kiddos,

his sister.  Megan's dad and you cannot see Jeff, Boyd or I.

Megan and Norma were at the kid's table......

they are troopers.

Back at Taylor Compound......playing Monopoly Millionaire. 

Too much fun was had

Monday Morning Jeff made omelette's....they were fantastic.
It really is the best thing to do when you
have 97 pounds of leftover ham.

This is the best face........................

She is so so so sweet......love her to bits.

Jeff took us to downtown OKC to the Devon Energy Tower 

It's a 50 story building of glass and light....we were in the 10 story atrium. Which is the only place we had access to.
I would like to go back when they have it
finished, I'm sure it will be full of sculpture,
and plants and art.........it has the
potential for fabulous-ness
or fabulousity....pick your adverb (?)

Funny how an energy company has a big old
centerpiece to "Integrity" 
I guess if they post it enough it will be truc.

This is the view looking up in the atrium

and seeing the tower.
It was much cooler in real life.

She always gets the best seat in the house.

Soggy bottom and all.

This is our (3) generation picture outside. 

Notice we have our sunglasses on and we

are squinting because it was so sunny.....

I thought that with the  
inversion we've had in SLC, that I had lost my squint....
not so.....squint and eye wrinkles are worth
seeing the Sun.

Goodbye from The Devon Energy Tower in OKC............
I feel like Yertle the Turtle.....with
the world on my shoulders........